Breach-King

Written by horrorlocke

The Breach-King (titled regardless of the gender of the occupant of the throne) is considered to be the true ruler of all human owned settlements on the Remnants. Initially considered a glorified merchants title, the Breach-King is now a position of respected power.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BREACH-KING

The Breach-King was originally known as the leader of a starting merchants guild in the early 10th century . Initially a family run merchants guild in the early days of human establishment, they accrued property and gave out enough loans to have the majority of the kingdom in debt to them. As time passed, the original Breach-King (though the title had not yet been coined, the original family name has been struck from all official record) was said to have struck a deal with the last 'true' King within Alendal, gaining ownership of the vast majority of the land. The exact circumstances surrounding the contract and how it came to be signed is under dispute over three hundred years later.
At the time, the Breach-King was still a family-run merchants guild, but the new King expanded their kingdom. Their family was made even richer by the discovery of the Sunken Islands; earning the official title of Breach-King when a descendant established a trade line between Above and Below using ingenious ships capable of surviving travel through the Breaches connecting the worlds. An unknown Breach-King was the first to establish a mining outpost on one of the nearest Sunken Islands. Both human and non-human natives were hostile to the invasion, but it shows on record that Breach-King Roe established a treaty with The Hives that allowed for construction on the island that would become the first Sunken City, The Carcernatorum. 
Upon her fiftieth year of reigning, Breach-King Roe passed the throne to Breach-King Jakobi ; the exact circumstances of her decision have been debated, as his competing Heir was considered a favourite of the people, but his untimely death hours before the announcement was to be made left Jakobi as the only option. It is unknown what happened to Roe after she abdicated - she hasn't been seen or heard of ever since - but Breach-King Jakobi quickly altered the treaty and established a prison on the island, importing the Remnants prisoners and political enemies alike to the city below the ocean. 
Since then, the days of the merchants guild are forgotten; the Breach-King still owns all the trade between Above and Below with an iron fist, but the role as a manager has been replaced by the role of a king. Military power has been built up to wage wars against any who question the Breach-Kings claim to the throne - anyone that a Breach-King cannot buy, they'll certainly have killed. Currently only the people of Odshore contest the Breach-Kings claim, and the two factions have been in an unofficial war for over 200 years.

THE TRIALS

As the position expanded from a trade merchant to the sole ruler of the lands, the position of Breach-King became more and more desired - and more and more difficult to obtain. At first, every fifty years the current Breach-King chose one of his heirs to take upon the mantle. Typically, a Breach-King made as many heirs as possible within his reign, and his children would reside upon one of the Breach-Kings isles to train and prove themselves as worthy of the title. As time went by and the title became more desired, with the additional pressure of lifelong training for a position with only one spot, Heirs began to attempt to eliminate each-other before the fifty years were up. Instead of disqualifying those who killed their blood for the crown, it was viewed as a feat of strength. Over time, the tactic became simply another rule of the Trials.
Nowadays, the only requirement to being the next Breach-King is to be the last Heir standing; for the last three Trials, there's only been one Heir remaining to elect.

Requirements

A Breach-King must be related by blood to the previous, though the bloodline does not have to be direct.

Appointment

An heir is selected through the Trials. Heirs must pass the Trial, or rather survive longer than their rivals; upon the fiftieth year of ruling, the current Breach-King will select a suitable Heir. The ceremony in which the announcement is made is first in private, but the selected Breach-King will publicly show their face once more before they adorn their helm for all to see their new claim.

Duties

A Breach-King owns 90% of the trade in both worlds; the duties include managing those trade routes, stock and prices. As the role expanded to ownership of the land as well, the duties have expanded to management of various factors of the economy, politics and well-being of the people; though the Breach-King tends to be preferential to the rich.

Responsibilities

Officially, many, but the Breach-King rarely leaves their Isle. Their role is in making the decision, but they often hire advisors and others to fulfil their wishes directly. A Breach-King may only leave their Isle in combat, and so must train to be able to fight well enough in armour made to be decorative and heavy, but the majority of their work is done sitting on a throne.

Benefits

The benefit to being a Breach-King is absolute control and power over Alendal and the  The Carcernatorum.

Accoutrements & Equipment

The Breach-King keeps his or her face hidden; ornate masks and armour is crafted specifically upon the Breach-Kings anointment to the throne, and they are not to be seen outside it. The armour is often made to look as elaborate and expensive as possible, though is also built to be functional in battle.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

A Breach-King cannot be removed or dismissed. They simply pass their title on to a suiting Heir upon their fiftieth year on the throne.

THE BREACH-KING

Type

Nobility, Hereditary

Form of Address

His Majesty

Alternative Naming

The New King / The False King

Equates to

A King

Length of Term

50 years

Current Holders

• Breach-King Jakobi