Reynardine looked up from the paper he had been writing on. The rain had stopped falling and the sun was beginning to rise. A nearby clock read 6:30am.I'd like to apologize, for a couple things.
First, I shouldn't have become angry at anyone. Perhaps some of my choices were bad, but I made them fully believing them to be right. I know you were only looking out for Shireroth, just as I tried to. Mike Fors, this applies to you especially. You are the legal expert here, you know what's going on and how things work. I never should have yelled like I did. I do care about your opinion, but I've too much pride to act upon it.
Second, I should never have accepted this throne, for this I am sorry. I have no right to be where I am. I've been in Shireroth for a tad better than a year, and I have nothing to show for it. I've done one or two little things in McCallavre, and I filled in at the MiniEx, but other than that, I've sat on my lazy ass and been a nuisance. No offense, Jake, but even Jess was more qualified than I to be Kaiser.
You made a poor choice.
Last, I'm sorry for letting my reign last as long as it has. I knew from the beginning that I shouldn't be here. As I went on, I became more and more aware that this is not my place. More and more people were hurt. But I wanted to hold on, and I wanted so much to be able to fix it all. The blood of Raynor that flows through me must be far too diluted, but I don't deserve to have any at all.
Hubris shall be my downfall.
I have broken traditions innumerable. I've nearly started a war, and I've thrown Shireroth's name into the pools of several others that never were. I made a stupid promise that kept me from a simple solution to my first crisis, and then I created a poorly justified solution that just made me break that promise anyway.
Today marks one month of my reign, but I will not see beyond.
I'm not a Kaiser.
I leave the Sword of Vengeance to another, more able person. Let Kaiser Agni I be more fruitful than I. May the gods smile upon him, because they did not for me. They must grow tired of such sorrow.
I shall leave this place tonight. It is not my home and would do better without my presence. Perhaps one of my descendants will return in the future, I know not for I cannot see forward in time.
I wish a few things before I part, though I do not expect some of these wishes granted:
To all those who supported me, you have my undying gratitude. You made this past month bearable. To all those who opposed me, I thank you also. I am in desperate need of humbling, and you were there to give it to me.
- I have 5055
to my name, and I leave it divided as such:
- Ari: 2500
- Jess: 1055
- Maksym: 1500
- I wish the Landsraad to consider a "Ministry of the Arts". This idea was pitched to me by Jess, and I find it particularly interesting. My assumption is it shall handle things like sports teams, heraldry, and I guess would advise the MiniTrade on bountification. Perhaps Agni I shall create a Ministry of Prophesy within it on the upcoming Fishday.
- I wish to have my recent transgressions forgiven. I don't want to be remembered as I remember myself. This one may be a stretch.
- I would like, if he decides it fitting, for any epithet granted me to be chosen by Count Avon-El. If anyone, he could judge my character and my reign better than any other. Please send all suggestions to him.
May death spare you all,
Reynardine Ozymandias Llewellynn van der Sluijs
94th Kaiser of Shireroth
Rey looked through his clothes for the most common outfit he could find: simple black trousers, a white shirt, and a brown heavy travelling cloak. He made for the door, but stopped short. It would be a nice gesture to leave something behind for his successor. He slipped off a gold chain, on which hung a small fox carved from a ruby, and laid it with the note. He took a deep breath, "I've done enough, I need to be off now before I do any more."
The former-Kaiser left the palace with a walking staff in hand and made his way toward the main gate of the city, which was beginning to get busy.
It is hard to miss a man who stands nearly 2 meters tall and has fox ears and a fox tail. To see their Kaiser walking through the streets of Shirekeep in plain clothes was shocking to the citizens. Most stared as Reynardine walked past. He left the city to the west and walked into the forest.
No one knows the whereabouts of Reynardine, but few believe he died. Some claim to have heard a feral howl come from the west not long after Reynardine's departure, and several villages west of Shirekeep have reported sightings of a peculiarly colored fox wandering among the trees, although none report missing livestock as would be expected if it were an ordinary fox. Seeing as no remains of the Fox Kaiser have been found, and considering the peculiar phenomenon following his disappearance, the fate of Reynardine remains a mystery.
