Chapter 19
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Corwyn Mauntea spent the final year and a half of his life mentoring Liam to take his place. When he died, Liam became the new high king of Darokin. Although Liam had initially been surprised when Corwyn Mauntea named him as successor, he adapted fairly quickly. It was clear that he had been chosen because he represented perhaps the best chance of uniting Darokin and preparing for the possibility of war with Faerun. He had married princess Margaret, and hoped for another child who might one day be his successor. Liam also brought his daughter Bridget to Darokin City. Liam did not forget how, shortly before he was named as the next high king, one of the other princes had tried to murder him. The possibility that there would be another attempt did not escape his mind either. Asterius had saved his life that night, but only helped after it became clear that Linton would lose. Perhaps, if that fight had been going another way, Asterius might have let Liam die, eliminating two of his rivals. Perhaps Asterius just made the best of the situation and endeared himself to someone who might be the next high king. Or had he killed Linton to keep him from talking? If so, what was he afraid of him talking about? If Asterius was planning anything else, he was doing an excellent job of hiding it. Asterius soon rose to become one of king Liam's best advisors. Maybe he was innocent of these fantasies, or maybe he'd decided that being the high king's top advisor was the most powerful he would ever become. Perhaps Liam would never know for certain, he learned to try and push this paranoia out of his head and do what was best for his people. The merchants ruled most of the city states in all but name, they pledged their loyalty to Liam, and he allowed them much autonomy. He also made certain that they took care of their respective peoples, far fewer people went hungry in Darokin, thus they were far less likely to revolt. Early in his reign Liam even had visionary dreams of ending slavery altogether in Darokin. But Asterius advised against this, the wealthy slave traders would ally with Faerun if he did this. All he could do was negotiate with the Ork tribes, get any citizen of Darokin freed from bondage. But a number of Orks were also held as slaves in Darokin, most had fought against Liam 20 years ago, or were their descendants. There were negotiations, exchanges of populations. But the idea of ending slavery completely seemed impossible. Besides, holding Orks as slaves was one way of frightening the free Orks into leaving Darokin alone. Liam also gave some support to the Goffs in their feuds with other Ork tribes. Asterius and the Church of Darokin looked down on all Orks, viewed them as barbarians, but he understood the neccessity of this. Faerun had a similar stick and carrot approach with the Trogolodites. The cold war between Faerun and Darokin would likely be decided in the wasteland of Mystera. Towards that end, at least some Ork tribes would have to be placated, maybe made into allies. Of the five pieces of the original Gorgostone one resided in Darokin, one in Faerun. Nobody was entirely certain where the other three pieces were located. The legends said that, after the destruction of Mystera, one hermit kept it hidden, and still held it somewhere in Mystera in secret. There were ofcourse rumors of the nomads, forever wandering to keep their piece protected. Another legend said that one of the original five trusted no successor and placed it where noone would ever find it. King Liam's spies told him of rumors, but so far none could ever be proven. In theory, three of the five pieces were scattered through Mystera. Liam wanted to find these pieces because Faerun wanted these pieces. And if the current leader of Glantri wanted to rebuild the middle kingdom, what better way to unite all the factions than with two or three pieces of the Gorgostone. So long as none of the kingdoms trusted each other, there would always be those looking for every piece of the Gorgostone. And what one side might do with all of the pieces, was anyone's guess.
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As high king Liam did try to find the remaining pieces of the Gorgostone, because he was certain that Faerun was also searching for them. A number of defectors came from Faerun, offered what information they had in exchange for assylum. Corwyn had taught Liam to give such defectors sanctuary, let them live in the nicest homes, even paid for a few servants. He wanted other potential defectors to know, they would be rewarded for their betrayel. But the intel they gave, was always incomplete, often times it contradicted what other defectors were saying. Ofcourse each man and woman could only tell what they knew. But Liam wondered, whether some were merely telling him what they thought he wanted to hear. Maybe some were spies, sent to give false intel. But how could he be certain which ones were spies. There was no test he could give that couldn't be faked by a well trained operative or a fanatic. And even his closest advisor might very well have tried to murder him at the beginning. As much as Liam did not want to become consumed by paranoia, it was hard to ignore. His wife Margaret had not been a willing participant in their marriage, and had yet to give him a child. His daughter Bridget was of marrying age, but resisted marrying a man. Liam wanted his successor to be his descendant, one he could train to one day be worthy. Three years after becoming high king Liam discovered that his wife was having an affair, with Bridget. He became enraged, became convinced that one or both of them was plotting against him. Yes, they wanted him eliminated. Liam had them arrested, was prepared to execute them both. But then, he realized this would likely eliminate his hope for having a descendant succeed him. If he spared Margaret, she might yet bear him a child. If he spared Bridget, he could marry her off to secure an alliance, and she could bear him a grandchild. But such betrayel could not go unpunished. Liam knew the princes would use these rumors against him, he had to give them something. He summoned them all to Darokin City. There, in front of the princes and various merchants, Bridget and Margaret were forced to fight to the death in a sword duel. Perhaps these two women had been in love, but each one knew that her own survival was on the line. Margaret seemed to hesitate to deliver the death blow, but in the end she killed her beloved Bridget. Although it pained Liam to see his daughter die, he had established himself as a strong ruler, given the other princes sport, and re-established his family's "honor." It would be his descendant who would succeed him, he would make certain of that.
