Under the scorching sun Alecrast rules over the kingdom of Mariposa. Gaining its name from the desert flower that grow aplenty in the surrounding dunes, he took the throne after his father, Alecrast the III passed only days from his 80th birthday. Alecrast the IV brought with his rule a wide array of changes and reforms. He would not be the warlords of old like his great grandfather, nor was he content with sitting on his wealth while his people died like his father had. Repairing relations with the nearby neighboring kingdoms opened the old trade caravans of old legend, an so new wealth and opportunity flooded the streets of every town, city, and the capitol. His new golden age brought on in only five years shot him to the pinnacle of praise by his people.
After the era of reformation, driven by his political tactics and charismatic diplomacy, the safety and security of his kingdom was all but secured. In exchange for the wealth and riches his kingdom continued to produce he could pay surrounding kingdoms to fight his wars for him, keeping the bloodshed far from home and out of mind of the citizenry. Despite all the success, and after eight years on the throne cracks began to show within Alecrast and his closest advisors. Since his kingdom could kick back its feet and have all their worries taken care of by method of payments in gold and fine jewels, a growing sedentary mindset had begun to form at the higher level of society within the nobles. From dukes, duchesses, royal advisors and even Alecrast himself falling further into decadence and debauchery, becoming blind to the growing troubles on their borders with envious eyes seeking to claim their wealth for themselves and cut out the middle man. His closest advisors warned him of what was to come, but Alecrast had grown willingly deaf to their news and pleas to take action once more, preferring to spend his days with a full glass of wine with the company of his concubines. What will become of the kingdom of Mariposa? Who is to say, but it all rests on the shoulders of a once great king who like his father, is set to rest on his laurels. History is doomed to repeat itself once again should he not stray from this destructive path.
