The Serpent King

All Serpéans know of the Serpent King. It is a tale that every child is taught when they are very young. They are raised to believe that, if they excel in their training and fight valiantly on the battlefield, there is a chance that they might be the figure from the prophecy.
The prophecy itself tells the story of a citizen of Serpé. This citizen, like any other, would be recruited as a soldier and sent off to fight in a great war. They would fight and they would kill like their comrades, however, they would survive where others would not, and succeed where others might fail. Battle after bloody battler, they would take to the field and fight with the strength and passion of fifty of their enemies.
This citizen, following their heroics on the battlefield, would slowly begin to climb the ranks. As an officer, they would demonstrate their great skill as a leader, inspiring loyalty and bravery in their troops with words alone. At the head of a team of soldiers, they would lead missions that were thought to be impossible, however, the citizen would always be victorious without ever suffering a casualty.
The Serpéan would continue to rise until they could go no further, reaching the top and becoming the leader of their army. It is here that they would establish their talent for strategy and devise plans that other officers had never dreamed of. Using this creativity, the citizen of Serpé was able to turn the tide of the great war and began conquering the aggressors.
One by one the other armies would fall before the might of the Serpéan's army and the continent would finally be united once more. No longer just a leader of an army, the citizen would finally be recognised as ruler of the continent and crowned as Serpent King. In their new position as ruler, the Serpent King would prove themselves to be a fair and just monarch to all of their subjects, rich and poor, young and old alike.
The Serpent King's ambitions would grow too large for just the continent, however. Desiring world peace, they would point their now unified armies towards the southern continent of Bastique and beyond to consolidate each and every person under one global empire. In a world now enjoying eternal peace, the Serpent King would finally be able to rest, leaving this life with a smile on their face and an unburdened heart.

Historical Basis

No one is quite sure exactly when the prophecy was first written. Due to the fact that all documented evidence of the prophecy makes mention of the great war as a future event, most scholars agree that the prophecy must predate the war. Despite the fact that the true origins of the war have been lost to time, some scholars believe that it may have been the prophecy itself that provoked it.
If this is in fact the case, this prophecy is one of the few remaining pieces of literature that remains from the Pre-War era. It may even be the last remaining hint at what Serpéan culture may have looked like, as well as who and what the factions once were. Pursuing this knowledge is seen as a waste of time and funding, however, and the oldest copies of the prophecy are kept locked away in vaults of each factions capital.

Spread

Everyone who calls Serpé their home has heard of the prophecy. They are raised on it, believing that they or a prominent figure in their lives is the Serpent King, finally coming to them after all this time. The prophecy has spread so far that even the nobles of Bastique are aware of it. Realising the threat that a unified Serpé would be to their independence, the nobles have incorporated it into their games of politics. They often provide funding to underprivileged factions, sponsoring them as the chosen faction and home to the true Serpent King, all in the hopes of prolonging the war and ensuring that they never march their armies south.
Once in a while, a figure will rise through the ranks and begin to make headway in ending the war. This is the only time when the nobles of the two city-states take a break from their games and work together to remove them from the board. They have been involved in many of the deaths and defamation of many notable figures throughout Serpé's history.

Variations & Mutation

There are several versions of this prophecy, each one adapted by the person telling it to suit their ideals or their audience. Some, when attempting to give a more fanciful retelling, will provide a vivid description of the Serpent King as a tall, muscular, blonde woman of incredible grace and beauty. Others might describe them as a heroic, bearded man with silver hair cascading down their back to their waste.
When told to children, tutors might tell the prophecy as though their favourite or most promising student is the Serpent King. When discussed by officers, they may attempt to describe the First General in an act of sycophancy, while the First Generals will always describe themselves as the Serpent King.
The truth is that the original prophecy never described the Serpent King's physical appearance. As such, the Serpent King could be anyone, which is what has ultimately led to the continued conflict throughout the continent.

In Literature

While the prophecy has been written down hundreds of times, the most prized possession that each faction claims to own is one of the original copies of the prophecy. All of the factions make claims that, as they have the first written copy of the prophecy, clearly that means that their faction is the one that is destined to rule.
In truth, despite the fact that all of them have very old copies of the text, none of them possesses the first.

Date of First Recording

Predates the Great Serpéan War

Date of Setting

Unknown date in the future