This is the history of Agronar, Conqueror and Ghost King, tamer of the Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis and scourge of all its Black Princes.
In 4902ey the Eight Kingdoms were at last united, not only in name, but in practice. Favian III had succeeded Marten the Good, also called the Pauper King, to the High Throne and had become the liege lord of the Eight Kingdoms. The Northruners had been beaten and driven afar off. The hordes were cowed, as well. So there was peace across all of the Eight Kingdoms.
At that time, across the narrow Sea there was a vast land on the edge of Eastrun which traded with Westrun and Eastrun alike. It was the home of the Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis -- these were the human domains which had been raised on the last of the old Dragon Kingdoms which themselves had once ruled all Erenth. And the wealth of these domains was without peer for they often sold slaves and hired out mercenaries to kings of all lands. These people were also great exporters of dyes and of spices from around the world. More importantly Vyruma Serpentis was home to the great lending houses of old which had lords great and small in their debt.
The Principalities had grown fat during all the war years of the Eight Kingdoms for their houses had provided many of their wares to the High King. Agronar had been a general of good King Marten at that time, and having earned the fealty of both Collonia and Balduren, was called the General of All the Armies of Westrun. He was recalled to Peakshadow and returned at the vanguard of a massive fleet. It anchored off of the shores of Bolden and a large parade conducted him to the Silver Keep in Peakshadow, City of the High King. There he did obeisance to the new king, Favian.
Though Favian was pleased that the Goblins had been vanquished, the Northruner driven off, and the Eight Kingdoms finally united, he was nervous about the return of the general. For Agronar had a massive army which still numbered in the tens of thousands, and a vast allegiance with the Lances which had won Balduren and the Rangers which had won Collonia. His ships filled the harbor of Bolden so that a man standing on the shore could not see the horizon. It is known that even the slave armies and mercenaries of Vyruma Serpentis had grown to love Agronar their general, and were loyal to him beyond what money could pay. All of this greatly discomfited Favian, who desired Agronar dead.
And Favian was also a greedy man who loathed to pay the debts that the Throne had incurred. For while good King Marten had made regular payments, he had done little to diminish the principle of his debt. And though Favian collected the shield money from his Eight Vassal kings, he would not part with it and be called the Pauper King as his predecessor had. So Favian did not repay the moneylenders of Vyruma Serpentis. Many threatening letters were sent by the Principalities to the High Throne, until the High Throne was pressed on all sides by those calling for repayment.
So it was that Favian declined payment, and instead he brazenly demanded tribute from the Principalities that he claimed was overdue. Favian asserted that he had spared Vyruma Serpentis from the goblin hordes and that the money he owed the great lending houses should be paid by their own Princes. But these Black Princes protested, saying that the Narrow Sea had saved them from the hordes which had never threatened their lands at all. They were swift to point out that the goblins knew nothing of shipbuilding. Moreover, the Princes said, the Narrow Sea was the border of Westrun and Eastrun, and as such, they were subjects of Eastrun from old, and had no part of Westrun, at all.
So the High King answered saying, "If you be subjects of Eastrun, let Eastrun defend you." Now Favian had spent much of his youth in Eastrun and knew well the politics of those dynasties. He knew that Vyruma Serpentis was a holding of theirs in name alone and one they would not march to defend. So then Favian III, High King of Westrun went to war with the Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis. With the idea of war, he was greatly pleased. For he thought to diminish the armies of General Agronar and also to renounce the debt he owed the lending houses. It seemed to him that war might accomplish both.
Now Agronar was no fool, but he was loyal to his oath and landed his ships in the Principalities of Vyruma Serpentis and marched first to the Old City of Calta and demanded their surrender. When they would not, he sent his first general over the wall and narrowly defeated the guard which held it. With the gates opened to him, the wrath of Agronar was swift and sure, such that in Old Calta, no two stones remained atop one another, except the White Tower of Ris which was left as a monument of his conquest.
And bypassing the fiery darts of Old Cieral, the next city that Agronar came to was Old Dovaris. As the city prepared for seige, some of the mercenaries of that city remembered the general that they had loved, and opened the gates to him and joined his army, once more. So Agronar broke his first seige in less than a day and the cities round about quickly surrendered. And many of the people of Vyruma Serpentis were pleased for they had long languished under their Black Princes corruption.
So then Agronar went, Prince by Prince and province by province, until all was vanquished. Many more doors were opened to him, but some where not and these battles took many lives and many months. So that for 7 years the general was engaged in the art of war until at last the work was done. At the Battle of Seabird Bay he threw down the last of his opponents and tamed the Principalities and named them the Free Provinces of Westrun and appointed new lords and forbade to them the building of walls. He took from each of them the Oath of Everlasting Fealty and from that day forward the mountains called Rampart were reckoned the border between Westrun and Eastrun.
And Agronar was greatly loved though he was a conqueror. News of his exploits had reached the Eight Kingdoms so that men there were filled with great love for him. And banners began to be hung announcing that he should be made King. And many thought that he would return and throw down the rule of Favian, who they named the Tax Collector.
But Agronar's ship, the Waves Whisper, was lost at sea in 4909ey and did not return to Bolden. Many weeks later it was seen adrift and towed to port. All those aboard, the General, his Captains and Lieutenants were missing. The Captain and its crew, sailors and soldiers alike were dead, though their bodies did not show sign of violence. Some believe that the Black Princes had arranged for his death, for what they cannot achieve by war, they have long been rumored to accomplish through treachery. His ghost ship was burned at sea, for it was called cursed.
Ever after Agronar became known as the Ghost King, for his banners still flew in the Eight Kingdoms and people loved him all the more in death than they had in life. For all his schemes and taxes, Favian could not kill the ghost which haunted the rest of his reign.
