Lords of RPG

The small boy lay tucked comfortably into his bed, his sheets pulled up around his neck. His father sat on the edge of the bed his hand resting lightly on his son's chest. They both had light brown skin, the color of weathered leather,  and even darker colored brown eyes.

"It is time for sleep, Juli.  It is late,  and we must open the shop early tomorrow."

"But, Dad... A story!  A quick story,  and I promise to go right to sleep."

"Juli..."

"Please,  Dad...the one about Extica."

The father sighed.  "Alright. Quickly though... And then you must sleep."

Young Juli nodded, a smile upon his face.

"So long long ago. Long before your great great grandfather traveled to the City of Garmon for a new life. Long before our family took up furniture making. Our ancestors were soldiers and fought for the king of Dourado. They wore bright clothes and shiny armor and bristled with blades, these Vencedores."

"Our ancestors fought for their King in Wars against the other kingdoms of the south. They explored unknown lands and discovered great riches and resources beyond horizons no one else dared cross. At times the king of Dourado would even let his Vencedores fight as mercenaries, in order to enrichen their families."

"A Time came when the king's scholars after studying maps and legends, recommended that ships be loaded with horses and provisions and the tools of war. A conquering army would be carried West by the king's ships to a vast undiscovered land ruled by savages.  The land of Eztica."

"The old Scrolls and tablets suggested a level of wealth unimagined by the people of Dourado.  The tribes of the unknown land wore gold as though it were clothing. They constructed their temples of silver and platinum and encrusted them with the finest jewels the size of a man's fist."

"The King's greed was contagious and the Vencedores had a glint in their eye.  A hunger for riches and the bloodlust necessary to destroy anyone that stood in their way."

"An army of 300 men and their horses set sail from the coast of the Reinos do Sul.   Across uncharted waters they sailed following the scribbled maps of the king's scholars."

"The leader of the expedition was Tiago Matos. His Greed for gold and the finer things was excelled only by his bravery. When the storm-tossed journey stretched on longer than expected, lesser men with a lesser man at the helm would have mutinied and returned home."

"But these were Vencedores... and Tiago Matos inspired absolute loyalty."

"Several days into rationing of the food, land was sighted, and the men girded themselves and their horses in the finest armor.  Swords and quivers were belted on, and broad feathered hats were donned."

"Tiago Matos gave a rousing speech... Invoking in the men a love for their king and enflaming their already overwhelming lust for gold."

"The ships anchored and the army of 300 rode their horses ashore through shallow water.  On the beaches they found an entire village waiting to greet them.   The savages placed garlands of flowers around the necks of the soldiers.  The women..."

Juli interrupted, "... with no shirts on?"

The father chuckled. "Yes... With no shirts on, and very little else, for that matter. These savages lived as animals.   And what use for clothing do animals have?"

"The women smiled and giggled at the handsome Vencedores and how they were dressed.  The native men wondered at the great beasts the soldiers rode,  clearly never having seen horses before."

"A great feast was gathered by the savages, and though the people of our lands and these strange folk could not understand each other's speech, they seemed to get on well throughout the day and evening."

"After the feast,  while sitting around raging fires,  Tiago Matos demanded, using gestures and charcoal etchings, that gold and gems be brought forth and paid in tribute."

"The chieftain of the savages seemed to understand the request, but gestured to the food and beautiful women,  as though this was tribute enough."

"Tiago Matos' demands became more insistent,  but the chieftain seemed to be denying there was any gold or treasure to be surrendered.  Tiago Matyos thrust his sword through the chieftain, and this signaled the Vencedores that the ransacking and pillaging should begin."

"The homes of savages were tore apart.   Many of them died that night.  The soldiers took from the village and the women by force, what likely would have been given freely."

Young Juli winced at the thought of the violence done by his ancestors.   "Did they find any gold?"

His father smiled.  "Juli, you've heard this story at least a dozen times.   You know they found no gold."

"I know...this is my favorite part."

"Our ancestor among the Vencedores did not find gold among the savages.  He found something more important.  So shocked was he by the pillaging and rape, that it shook his faith in his fellow Vencedores, their leader Tiago Matos, and even his King.  Helpless to stop what was happening, he helped a young woman escape unharmed into the dark jungle.  She in turn, led him to a vast city deep in the interior of the island."

"The savages marched in great numbers on the murderous Vencedores, and took vengeance on them for their crimes.  What few survived, made it back to one ship and sailed back to Dourado.  Our ancestor fell in love with the woman he saved, and the two of them were bound for life by the customs of her people."

"Our ancestor felt out of place in Eztica, but he and his savage wife would find no welcome in Dourado.  So, north they sailed in a sturdy outrigger.  They were picked up in the ocean by a merchant ship, the young couple were taken to the Free City of Garmon.  And there they made a new life.  New for both of them."

Juli's eyes were drooping with oncoming sleep, but he had the hint of the grin.  Quietly he asked, "So, I'm part savage, Daddy?"

Juli's father touched his son's cheek.  "Yes, Juli...through your veins flows the blood of Vencedores...and noble savages, alike.  Now, sleep and dream.  I'll wake you in the morning, so you can help me in the shop."

Juli drifted off to sleep.