The Beleaguered King

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"You dream that you are standing on the ramparts of the castle, amongst a cluster of soldiers. You are gathered around the Beleaguered King. He is ancient and tired. His eyes are wells of sorrowful wisdom."[1]

The Beleaguered King is a powerful being residing in Parabola.

If Chance Would Have Him King[edit | edit source]


"The Beleaguered King stands impassively, shaking his heavy head. 'The thunder told me,' he says. 'I do what the thunder said.'"[2]

The Beleaguered King leads the white side of the Moonlit Chessboard.[3] He is thus associated with honor, respect for the order of things,[4] and the Judgements.[5][6] The King additionally worships the zee-god Storm,[7] often using the god as a source of advice,[8] and the connection between the two has associated the King,[9] his family,[10] and his loyal subjects[11] with the way NORTH.[12]

A melancholy[13] and contemplative individual,[14] the King scrupulously respects his promises and bargains.[15] Like his counterpart the Red-Handed Queen, he is capable of possessing denizens of the Neath, making them his avatars.[16][17]

While the King and the Red-Handed Queen are now rivals,[15] they once got along amicably.[18] It would seem the two rulers are married, in fact; the Queen is the mother of at least one of the King's children, the Innocent Princess.[19] The King intends to sacrifice the Princess to Storm in order to gain an advantage in war,[20][21] but her fate is left uncertain.[22] The King also has a young son, called the Silver-Eyed Prince,[23][24] but it is not made clear whether the Red-Handed Queen is his mother.

Historical and Cultural Inspirations[edit | edit source]

The Beleaguered King's intent to sacrifice his daughter to Storm bears some similarities to an event in Greek mythology, which is said to have occurred early in the Trojan War. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, incurred the wrath of the goddess Artemis (although stories differ as to exactly how), and was told that he would have to sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia in order to turn the winds back in his favor and sail to war in Troy.

Agamemnon's family tree had been cursed by the gods thanks to the treachery of one of his ancestors, and as such, this was just one of many horrific events in the king's life. It is pertinent to note that the last of these events was his murder by Clytemnestra, his wife and the mother of his children.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ A dream about a king, Fallen London
  2. ↑ Implore the King to attack, Fallen London
  3. ↑ The Fair Unknown, Fallen London "'Here I am,' he says in a voice like the creaking of ice on a frozen lake. 'The White King to the Red Queen.'"
  4. ↑ The Fair Unknown, Fallen London "What does he want? 'Only to advise you. Stay true to how you've fought thus far – with honour. I would fane reward you.'"
  5. ↑ The Fair Unknown, Fallen London "The sky shakes with her anger. The orange light of Parabola filters through the cracks in the Queen's constructed firmament. 'I will put out his stars.' The Queen's voice is thickened with thunder."
  6. ↑ The Fair Unknown, Fallen London "For a chance moment, the sky rolls back to reveal the cold dreams of stars shining their chill light over the tourney."
  7. ↑ Swear fealty. And mean it., Fallen London "Will you go to the North for me? Will you bring me the fire that the Masters use in battle? Will you sacrifice something precious to the Thunder?"
  8. ↑ Implore the King to attack, Fallen London "The Beleaguered King stands impassively, shaking his heavy head. 'The thunder told me,' he says. 'I do what the thunder said.'"
  9. ↑ Swear fealty. And mean it., Fallen London "The Beleaguered King looks into your eyes with pity. "We ask more of those who make their sacrifices willingly. Will you go to the North for me?""
  10. ↑ Play in the water, Fallen London "As you splash in the pool, a rainbow appears in the spray from the fountain. "Iris!" says the Silver-Eyed Prince. "Goddess of refraction! She points North. North!""
  11. ↑ Make the sacrifice, Fallen London "You step forward, and leap off the cliff. The thunder speaks. "You are foolish and brave. I will take you to the North, and I will show you where the Masters play at battle. [...] I will save you from the sea and I will take you to the spring that the dead men long for.""
  12. ↑ Remain loyal to the King, Fallen London "The King sets off down the stairs, but you are arrested by the mirror above the mantelpiece. Swimming misty letters form on the surface, spelling out 'HTRON'."
  13. ↑ A dream about a king, Fallen London "You are gathered around the Beleaguered King. He is ancient and tired. His eyes are wells of sorrowful wisdom."
  14. ↑ A glimpse of a king, Fallen London "For a moment, you are in a room, high in a castle. It is the Beleaguered King's solar. The King is there; he has his head in his hands."
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 The Fair Unknown, Fallen London ""This kingdom must only ever be a reflection of your desires. I will not allow it be otherwise. To do would be to behave like she does." […] The King seems about to object, but then gives you a small nod. "I cannot deny your request. I must not: I am a White King not Red."
  16. ↑ The Fair Unknown, Fallen London "I am not the Antiquarian; I merely borrow him when I have need."
  17. ↑ Bear witness (Tied), Fallen London "From the other side of the field comes the Aged Governess. Her blue eyes are pale, as is the white crown in her hair. She stops before the Red-Handed Queen and bows. "It seems neither of us have won." [...] The Aged Governess steps before her and kneels. Her face changes. It is the Beleaguered King who kneels before the Queen."
  18. ↑ Watch a chess match, Fallen London "The Beleaguered King is playing the Red-Handed Queen. [...] "I treasure even this little existence." "As do I. What of the message?" "Some of them have taken steps to ensure it is not delivered." "We should have done the same, to that message that passed between us." "We should. Shall we call it a draw? Perhaps they will also." Now they shake hands."
  19. ↑ A dream about a flight from danger, Fallen London "[...] the Innocent Princess rides with you [...] She is hooded and blindfolded. You have taken on the duty of bearing her to safety, spiriting her away from beneath the enemy's nose. You assured her mother, the Red-Handed Queen, that you would protect her with your life."
  20. ↑ Philosophical discussions, The Silver Tree "In my dream, the Innocent Princess was sacrificed to the North Wind in service of her father's ambitions. The priests pushed her from the cliff to be swallowed by the sea, so their god would grant their King victory."
  21. ↑ A dream about a sacrifice (A Game of Chess), Fallen London "You must make a sacrifice. It is what the thunder said. Before you stands the Innocent Princess, barefoot and blindfolded, wrapped in her robe. Her hands are outstretched, but she is calm."
  22. ↑ A dream about a flight from danger, Fallen London "Huddled behind you, hands clasped tightly around your waist, the Innocent Princess rides with you, concealed by your cloak. She is hooded and blindfolded. You have taken on the duty of bearing her to safety, spiriting her away from beneath the enemy's nose."
  23. ↑ Pay lip service only, Fallen London "The Beleaguered King is unaware that you hold so little holy. [...] He offers you his trust. A precious thing, the King's trust. [...] The Silver-Eyed Prince is having a tantrum in another room, but his Nurse is with him, and you can safely ignore him."
  24. ↑ A dream about geometry 2, Fallen London "You dream you are in a peaceful garden. [...] You are talking to a small child – the Silver-Eyed Prince – about mathematics."
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