For your enjoyment...
Part 1 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6329
Part 2 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7933
Part 3 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11085
Part 4 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12976
Part 5 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14726
Cautionary Tale - part 6
A great deal of time passed in the kingdom. There were clouds - huge black clouds - of gloom and dismay. It was a tough time for the loyal people of the kingdom.
The revered Sir Gawen did not return. Instead he ended up in a lesser role in another kingdom, and talked openly about missing the true kingdom. The evil William was vanquished, but much too late. His memory was cursed but lingered...
The new castle was not to be, either. The chattering nabobs who should have been able to find a way to get the job done took so long and told so many false tales that the people of the kingdom grew weary of it all and refused to give their support. The GREAT WIZARD, David of Stern, saw the turmoil in the kingdom and appeared to try and find a solution for the Kings and the people. For the first time, the people who relied upon the castle felt there might be a way. The Wizard Stern left the fair city by the river but made it clear that he would return and he would be watching from afar the progress on the plans to build the new castle. So, for now at least, the issue of where the Kings might reside in the future was no longer of prime concern.
The start of the competitions was encouraging for the people in the kingdom. The combined Kings looked as though they would follow their new leader, Eric. For a while they looked as though they would spit in the face of the doubters, proving them wrong and doing it with something new - defense.
The start, however, did have some indications of what was soon to come...
The brave Bibby was not himself; he appeared at times to be under some sort of spell or curse. His once-true shots did not fall. His heart appeared heavy and he seemed lost and distant.
It was revealed the Tru Warier had feet of clay after all. His heroic deeds of the time before were forgotten and the rumblings in the kingdom among the people were not good. Some questioned his heart, others his mind and still others his desire to even stay and do battle in the kingdom.
The one shining star was the former knave, Sir Kevin. He of the hamlet of Zanesville alone seemed willing to pick up the banner and carry forth the pride of the people into battle. His name was heralded throughout the land and every town crier wanted to be the one to proclaim him warrior among warriors, fleet of foot and sure of eye.
Slowly but surely, the inevitable began to happen. The Kings started to lose. And they didn't just lose in close contests. They found ways to lose that not even their remote Sacramento Kings ancestors could have envisioned. They were able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a variety of ways that boggled the mind and caused anguish to the heart.
Rumors began to circulate among the people. The Kings would be themselves during the first part of the contests but, once they had left the field of battle and gone to take a brief rest, they returned with glassy eyes, leaden limbs and a general malaise. It was soon figured out they might be partaking of something while out of sight of the true fans that could be causing the problem. Placards were spotted urging the Kings to keep from
consuming certain beverages: DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID became the cry of the land.
There were the right number of knights to do the competitions but many felt they were not the RIGHT knights. Some of them were simply unsuited for the roles they had been assigned. Some clearly didn't fit and others, too old to do anything but sit and watch, didn't even show up at the contests any longer. Some spoke publicly about their discontent, others kept their comments to themselves. For the most part, however, their slumped shoulders and lack of joy was enough to send a clear message - all was not well in the inner sanctum of the Kings.
There were problems with he who had been chosen to fill the shoes of Sir Richard, too. What had at first been perceived to be shrewd plotting became less and less shrewd, in the eyes of many, and more and more like a controlled experiment gone terribly awry.
And it became even more obvious that Eric was no Richard. The people of the kingdom were split in their feelings. Some desired to give him more time; others wanted his head on a spike outside the castle, preferably close to the large numeral that had long since become more of an embarrassment than anything else.
It was and is a time of turmoil in the kingdom. There is no happy ending - at least yet. Some of the people have wandered away; others are busily sharpening their pitchforks and amassing vast quantities of flammable materials. It is a time of unrest, confusion and yet of hope.
The people of the kingdom will wait - at least a little while longer to see what the future will bring. But soon tomorrow will become today and what will be, will be...
Part 1 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6329
Part 2 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7933
Part 3 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11085
Part 4 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12976
Part 5 - http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14726
Cautionary Tale - part 6
A great deal of time passed in the kingdom. There were clouds - huge black clouds - of gloom and dismay. It was a tough time for the loyal people of the kingdom.
The revered Sir Gawen did not return. Instead he ended up in a lesser role in another kingdom, and talked openly about missing the true kingdom. The evil William was vanquished, but much too late. His memory was cursed but lingered...
The new castle was not to be, either. The chattering nabobs who should have been able to find a way to get the job done took so long and told so many false tales that the people of the kingdom grew weary of it all and refused to give their support. The GREAT WIZARD, David of Stern, saw the turmoil in the kingdom and appeared to try and find a solution for the Kings and the people. For the first time, the people who relied upon the castle felt there might be a way. The Wizard Stern left the fair city by the river but made it clear that he would return and he would be watching from afar the progress on the plans to build the new castle. So, for now at least, the issue of where the Kings might reside in the future was no longer of prime concern.
The start of the competitions was encouraging for the people in the kingdom. The combined Kings looked as though they would follow their new leader, Eric. For a while they looked as though they would spit in the face of the doubters, proving them wrong and doing it with something new - defense.
The start, however, did have some indications of what was soon to come...
The brave Bibby was not himself; he appeared at times to be under some sort of spell or curse. His once-true shots did not fall. His heart appeared heavy and he seemed lost and distant.
It was revealed the Tru Warier had feet of clay after all. His heroic deeds of the time before were forgotten and the rumblings in the kingdom among the people were not good. Some questioned his heart, others his mind and still others his desire to even stay and do battle in the kingdom.
The one shining star was the former knave, Sir Kevin. He of the hamlet of Zanesville alone seemed willing to pick up the banner and carry forth the pride of the people into battle. His name was heralded throughout the land and every town crier wanted to be the one to proclaim him warrior among warriors, fleet of foot and sure of eye.
Slowly but surely, the inevitable began to happen. The Kings started to lose. And they didn't just lose in close contests. They found ways to lose that not even their remote Sacramento Kings ancestors could have envisioned. They were able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a variety of ways that boggled the mind and caused anguish to the heart.
Rumors began to circulate among the people. The Kings would be themselves during the first part of the contests but, once they had left the field of battle and gone to take a brief rest, they returned with glassy eyes, leaden limbs and a general malaise. It was soon figured out they might be partaking of something while out of sight of the true fans that could be causing the problem. Placards were spotted urging the Kings to keep from
consuming certain beverages: DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID became the cry of the land.
There were the right number of knights to do the competitions but many felt they were not the RIGHT knights. Some of them were simply unsuited for the roles they had been assigned. Some clearly didn't fit and others, too old to do anything but sit and watch, didn't even show up at the contests any longer. Some spoke publicly about their discontent, others kept their comments to themselves. For the most part, however, their slumped shoulders and lack of joy was enough to send a clear message - all was not well in the inner sanctum of the Kings.
There were problems with he who had been chosen to fill the shoes of Sir Richard, too. What had at first been perceived to be shrewd plotting became less and less shrewd, in the eyes of many, and more and more like a controlled experiment gone terribly awry.
And it became even more obvious that Eric was no Richard. The people of the kingdom were split in their feelings. Some desired to give him more time; others wanted his head on a spike outside the castle, preferably close to the large numeral that had long since become more of an embarrassment than anything else.
It was and is a time of turmoil in the kingdom. There is no happy ending - at least yet. Some of the people have wandered away; others are busily sharpening their pitchforks and amassing vast quantities of flammable materials. It is a time of unrest, confusion and yet of hope.
The people of the kingdom will wait - at least a little while longer to see what the future will bring. But soon tomorrow will become today and what will be, will be...
Great job, VF21. 
