Chapter Text
BOOK 1 - MY CHAMPIONS
In four Kingdoms throughout the Country, four Kings went about their duties, paperwork, internal affairs, paperwork, receiving council, even more paperwork; when four pages ran to where they knew the four Kings could be found. Their sudden entrance and harried appearance caught the attention of all in those four rooms, but especially the four Kings' as they saw the conspicuous letter in the pages' hands, recognizable by the subtle but distinguishable (f/c) shimmer around it. Before the four pages could stutter it out with worried urgency the four Kings already knew what it was.
"A letter from the Sorceress!"
All other matters were pushed aside promptly, the four Kings eyeing the letters with trepidation. The Sorceress never sent a letter unless it was something of great importance, something about seeing the deceit in one's eye for herself.
The letters were placed in Royal hand, the casing torn open in each King's preferred way.
Greetings Your Royal Majesties,
Unfortunately this letter comes with not so very good tidings and so I must be brief.
Something wicked has decided to prey on our lovely country.
I know not the specifics, but it is dark and corrupted and slowly traveling here.
And sadly, at this same time, I have decided I no longer care for cleaning up messes.
At this point a few of the Kings pause to breathe a sigh through their nose, no matter how many times they had to deal with it before, the Sorceress's impertinence was always infuriating. Nevertheless, all continue reading. She is the most respected magic-user in the realm for a reason, whatever it was...
However, rejoice! I have decided to dip into my boundless benevolence and bestow upon the nine Kingdoms a parting token of my kindness.
One of the Kings grit his teeth and half roll their eyes but still they continue.
In the absence of my protection I will train champions of my choosing to be the new shields of the Country.
As true and fair as Your Majesties of the nine Kingdoms are, I must entrust the safety of the land into the hands of a trustworthy and impartial few, and since I know you would somehow gripe about the unfairness of it all, the chosen will be picked from the citizens of all nine Kingdoms, again, from my judgement.
I'm sure you all would agree that I am the one who cares least for proprietary gain.
Three of the Kings nod introspectively while one grudgingly agrees. One of the qualities of being a good King is having the best and most of everything for his people.
In three weeks I will send a messenger of mine to the castle.
In these three weeks, one by one the champions will be chosen and revealed.
It is up to you, as their King, to collect them and inform them of the situation.
Also, I have no idea how many champions will be chosen nor how they will be revealed.
Good luck with that.
And there it is, the infamous ambiguity that all magic-users, no matter how respected they are, are recognized for. The Kings all react in ways that reflect their varying degrees of amusement-tinged frustration. But there is still more.
And a word of advice for Your Majesty,
these champions, chosen, heroes, whatever Your Majesty wishes to call them, are there for you and your Kingdom's protection.
It would be in your best interest to treat them with respect.
It is my personal duty to train them, but it is their choice whether or not to help you.
With best regards,
The Sorceress of Yevoll
When they finish reading the letter the four Kings gather their generals and spy masters and order thusly,
"Go and be my eyes and ears, watch over every village and infiltrate every estate, bring every piece of news about and every possible person that may be suspect of being chosen by magic."
And somewhere, sitting in front of a crystal ball flickering with images of different people and quill in hand perched over a parchment paper filled with names, of which more than a few were crossed out, a young woman with a black pointy hat perched sassily upon the side of her head, sighs.
"Those idiots are gonna muck it up somehow, I just know it."
-So said it was, and so it was said.-