The Sleeping King

The Sleeping King is an old prophecy thought to originally be passed down in oral form before it was eventually written down, and it's poetry-like format is sometimes cited as evidence of this. It tells the story of a benevolent king, wise and well loved by his people. When crowned after the death of his father, he was the king of only a small city state. Over time his leadership lead to the prosperity and growth of his city, such that around the city population and infrastructure bloomed. Many travellers and refugees settled there and set up roots being welcomed with open arms. Farms became villages, and villages became small cities as his kingdom grew.

Like all of his line, he was strongly gifted in magic and more importantly clever. Rather than use his power as a weapon, he used his ingenuity and strength in magic to think of new ways to improve the lives of those living in his kingdom and shared the knowledge freely. Concerns over food and water were almost non-existent as crops prospered and water was pure and plentiful.

But sometimes success has a cost. The six neighbouring countries had been content to fight each other for years, but seeing the growing prosperity of his kingdom as both a threat to them, and a bait too tempting to pass up, the six ruling warlords began raiding his land. Though each warlord was powerful in his own right, at first these raids were easily rebuffed as each warlord was still distracted with fighting each other and sending raids individually. Eventually they saw that as they continued, the king was only growing stronger while they grew weaker and so begrudgingly joined forces. Their combined might was too much for the king and so, out of desperation and worry for his people, he appealed to their pride and presented a challenge to them. He meet them in the plains outside his city walls. He would fight them personally one after another and if he could defeat them all they would leave, never to trouble his kingdom again. They accepted, at the agreed upon time, met him.

When the first dual was underway however they all attacked at once. The king was overwhelmed, but having expected this, he was prepared and through powerful magics managed to defeat them all, but in so doing he taxed his body too much and fell to the ground, unmoving. His healer was able to stabilize him, but he remained unconscious, apparently asleep.

Days, then weeks passed with no improvement. Fearing an attack or assassination while the king was helpless, his most trusted healers and guards kept him hidden away. To this day it is said he sleeps still, kept alive by powerful magics. The prophecy says that one day he will awaken and claim his rightful kingdom once more ushering an age of peace and prosperity in the process.

Summary

The prophecy of the sleeping king tells of an ancient king locked in a sleep who will one day return and usher in an age of peace and prosperity.

Variations & Mutation

Most versions vary only in the small details, but one version is quite different. Rather than a benevolent king, it tells the story of a tyrant who was defeated by six heroes of legend who were themselves lost in the battle.