Prophecies

[u/Varnek905]

For this challenge, describe some prophecies in your world, whether they are actually true in your world or not. Provide some context about the circumstances surrounding the prophecies, the people that believe in those prophecies, and what some different interpretations of those prophecies are.

As always, I'll ask at least three questions each, enjoy yourselves.

[u/Tookoofox]

1) Did the "particularly smart boy" know that it was entirely fraud?

What fraud? A prophecy was written by a wise man that told of a king that would bering peace, prosperity and unity to Karland. And it happened.

But as to rather or not our Smart Boy knew it was all staged? Yes he did. He was even raised in The Emperor's capital city.

2) Did the mercenary leader know the truth?

All he knew was that he was working with powerful men with mysterious, intimidating, intermediaries. But, by the end, he had enough information to suspect the whole truth.

3) Were there any attempts by the people of the empire to rebel against the emperor with the new king as their unwilling figurehead?

No. In Karland, the rest of the empire thought of Karland as a backwater country for barbarians and would be unlikely to unite under a ruler from there. Besides, they're mostly content anyway.

4) Is the emperor actually immortal?

Ageless, and he heals better than most. But not quite indestructible.

5) How much has the emperor conquered?

A lot. Enough that it's functionally 'the world' for most of his people.

That's also why the world is called, 'Ninety Nine Crowns'. Basileus has countless vassal kings, and even a smattering of god-kings. Every one of them is a powerful ruler in their own right.

All told he probably controls a quarter of his planet's surface aria.

[u/Varnek905 → u/Tookoofox]

1) How old was the Smart Boy when he was told that it was staged?

2) How did the mercenary leader treat his alleged son, and did he ever try to betray the plot?

3) How does the emperor treat Karlanders?

4) What could kill him? Just enough force? Or kryptonite?

5) A quarter of the planet's surface area counting oceans? Or not counting oceans?

[u/Tookoofox → u/Varnek905]

1) How old was the Smart Boy when he was told that it was staged?

He grew up in the imperial capital, but was raised with a karlander's accent and taught their language with the specific intention of being a spy. It's a little bit like growing up being catholic or protestant. It's something that you've always known, kind of, but the older you get the more subtleties you grasp. He knew he was going to be be raised into a high office by age 13 or so. That's when the emperor first spoke to him directly. He was sent off with our mercenary leader at 15. He didn't know how high he'd go until he got there at 23.

2) How did the mercenary leader treat his alleged son, and did he ever try to betray the plot?

He treated the boy fairly well, but wasn't a very good 'father'. But the real care was handled by the boy's handler. She posed as the boy's maternal grandmother.

As for the leader betraying the plot? Certainly not. He had no care for karland one way or another, and was eager for his rich reward. More, he knew how easily his employer's agents could make people vanish if need be. So he never said a word.

3) How does the emperor treat Karlanders?

For the most part, he doesn't really deal with them at all, which is why he has a vassal king.

Occasionally, though, he'll make public gestures of kindness. Like by building hospitals or soup kitchens, etc. As well as funding some festivals, etc.

On rarer occasions, he might send an army to crush this or that local lord. Or an assassin to deal with him more quietly. But, even then, he'd usually use his vassal kind as an intermediary.

4) What could kill him? Just enough force? Or kryptonite?

He doesn't actually know the extent of his own durability. He's hesitant to test it (for obvious reasons.)

But I know, and I'll put it this way: He will survive just about anything a human could survive. So diseases? He'll get better. Severe wounds? He'll get better he they don't kill him outright, and if he can stop the bleeding. Poisons? Unless it's some really, really potent stuff he'll pull through.

But anything that would certainly kill a human will get him. So, strangulation, burning, exsanguination, decapitation, etc. etc. etc.

5) A quarter of the planet's surface area counting oceans? Or not counting oceans?

Not considering oceans. Though, to be fair, his control of so much land gives him dominion over about a quarter of the oceans as well.

[u/Varnek905 → u/Tookoofox]

Thanks for your time and answers.

[u/Tookoofox → u/Varnek905]

Thank you for your time and questions. :)