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The rise of the Black Lion

Sequel of the Fallen King



Episode 2 of the Artonian Saga



For twenty-five years my father has ruled over our kingdom. But our story begins all those years ago after my fathers victory over the Redheart King. My father is John Blackstone.



Our house was founded by my grandparents. My grandfather fell in love with a girl from the Redheart dynasty. However he was a minor nobleman. Not really important. All changed when he safed the king of that time from a lion. The king rewarded my grandfather with lands in the north and he allowed his daughter to marry my grandfather.

The king of that time is the father of the Fallen King.



Our house of Blackstone always remained loyal towards the Redheart dynasty. The Fallen King killed or tortured anyone who dared speak out and he expanded without mercy. my father could not stay loyal forever and so where most noblemen. John Blackstone therefore easily gained all the support in the north as we rule there supreme. My father was like the heroes of legend. The kingdom believed he would bring the evil king down and start a new golden age.

How foolish they where.



When the Redheart dynasty fell my father was crowned the next day. "All hail John Blackstone, king of Artonia!" The new king quickly changed everything. He executed all loyalists of the Redheart dynasty. Then he started follies. My father had created a knightly order. The order of the Lion. Those that did not desire to join where beheaded. I was just a little boy back then. I remember watching. Twenty men where standing in a row. The first ten lowered there heads on the numerous blocks. And the other then raised large axes in the air and on my fathers command they where beheaded. I still remember seeing the blood. The heads rolling. The eyes looking still and unmoving at me. I was young but I could see the shock of the croud. Later many joined the order of the Lion. The order was supposed to be the personal guard of the king. My own youth was also unpleasant. John Blackstone was a tyrant. He hit me so many times. Sometimes even with whips. John Blackstone believed it to be about learning respect. My mother once spoke out against him. John Blackstone choked her to death with his bare hands in front of me and all the court. One knight dared to speak out agains the king so King John hit the knight with his fist. The knight died at the spot. John Blackstone was very strong.



In the next year John Blackstone raised an army and forged a fleet. The king desired to sail to the west and conquer lands. He changed his ways. He lowered taxes. Paid money to those he wronged. Even to me he acted kinder. There where two reasons: First he had another mistress and this one had a good inpact upon him and second the thought of adventure. My father loved the sense of adventure. The adventure failed. Some ships sunk and the surviving fleet arrived in the west. There my father was utterly crushed. He barely made it home. Our kingdom was attacked from the north beyond our borders as a result. Again John Blackstone was crushed. Why the defeats? The first time in the west his army was broken,tired and hungry and needed rest. John Blackstone did not care so he attacked the enemy. They took advantage and ambushed him. Thirty thousand men went with him upon the adventure. Two thousand came home. Using the unrest the queen from the distant north invaded. My father gattered what soldiers he could and charged at the enemy. The knights have always been superiour to any other army. So he attacked with knights.

The enemy used spears and almost everyone died. My father was forced to pay a fortune in order to go home as he was captured. The king was forced to give the lands conquered by the north queen to her.



For the remaining years my father had lost all cruelty or even the reason for good. He ate and he drunk. That was all. He ignored matters of state. John Blackstone sought comfort with the whores.



Now the kingdom is poorer,weaker and more in debt then it ever was. There is a great famine threatening the land and people are revolting.

Still my father does nothing.

Someone has to do something.



My name is Henry Blackstone. I am the sole son of John Blackstone and heir to the throne. My father was supposed to be a glorious founder of a new dynasty and age. In its place he brought an age of pain and misery.



On a normal day like any other, after I left the throne room (someone has to rule so it is me I suppose) I went to my fathers chambers. I have been preparing for months. I have been raising my allies towards positions of power and I have been raising troops. In the throne room I meet the soldiers I gathered. Their captain salutes me and tells that all is ready. I took on my armour and we marched towars my fathers chambers. The personal guards, the Order of the Lion at first resisted but after two deaths they quickly surrender. I personally break open the door and we march in. John Blackstone was once big and strong but now he is old and fat. He is lying with a girl even younger then me. I am Thirty. He is so stupid. The king does not even know what is going on. He only screams: "Get out you scum or I will hang you all" I answer: "Father it gives me great pleasure to stand here today. You are just a pig"

Then I raise a sword and stab him. I stab him,again and again. With my sword inside his huge fat belly. The blood and meat seems everywhere. Finally I look and there he lies. King John III Blackstone, the pig king. He was not a lion, he was a pig. I am the true lion.

I turn around and my men all shout in happines: "Long live King Henry! Long live the saviour!"



The next week I quickly married a noblewoman. Angelina Moltovia. Her family is the most powerfull noble family in the land so there support is needed. Also I allowed the head of my father to be put on a huge wooden stick on my walls. I was crowned the end of the week. Now as King Henry IX Blackstone of Artonia, I will change everything.

A new beginning. I will make this a country to be loved. Artonia will be more powerfull then it ever was.



This is the true rise of house Blackstone.

Now is the age of the lion. Enemies beware.

This is the rise of the Black Lion.