Background
History
NOTABLE KINGS OF REIKHURST
The First King, Edwin Reik: A man of incredible renown in the region, he united the ancestors of and established Reikhurst during a time of great upheaval and crisis. Yet he did not desire anything more than to return to his farm, the warriors under his banner all swore undying loyalty to him and begged him to become Lord of Reikhurst. This title of Lord was changed to King after Reikhurst secured its first vassal town. After twenty-five years of rule, King Edwin willingly abdicated the throne, but not before he had set up the system of Elective Monarchy by Citizen Warriors still in use hundreds of years later.
The Third King, Jürgen Kaiser: Mysteriously vanished six years into his reign, leaving no trace. Soon after his disappearance, his wife and family likewise disappeared. King Jürgen nor any of his family were ever found at the time. The Lord Commander of the Golden Blade at the time, so overcome with his failure to protect his King, reportedly committed suicide--though his body was never found either.
The Fifth King, Kurt von Spiers: King Kurt ruled a Reign of twenty-five years. However, at the end of it, he was unwilling to abdicate his power and did not hold the election for his successor. He was good friends with both the Lord Commander of the Golden Blade as well as the General of the Guard, and so thought he could cast off tradition. He thought wrong. King Kurt was confronted by the Lord Commander and enough Knights to fill the throne room of the Citadel, and was forced to abdicate, and was sentenced to hang shortly thereafter. Reikhurst's Elective Monarchy has not been challenged by a sitting King since.
The Ninth King, August Schulze: King August faced a crisis which threatened to subjugate (or outright destroy) Reikhurst as its citizens knew it. Gothia, Reikhurst's longtime rival across the Sayve River, had amassed a mighty alliance and waged war on Reikhurst and its vassals. King August himself led the army in several key battles, lifted a siege that had befallen Reikhurst in the army's absence, and even personally seized the Gothic King in the decisive battle which ended the war and dissolved the alliance against Reikhurst. He is remembered fondly by all Reikhurstans, and revered on par with Edwin Reik himself.
The Fifteen King, Otto Meyer: King Otto's rule was preceded by an unusual interregnum. If a King dies before his twenty-five year Reign is done, the First King's instructions were to have the Lord Commander of the Golden Blade (or the General of the Guard, if the Lord Commander is likewise indisposed) rule in the interregnum while the next vote is conducted. But the Fourteenth King did not die. Instead, a powerful storm soaked and destroyed all of the collected ballots during the election of the Fifteen. This freak occurrence led to the Queen of the Fourteenth, Kristinnia Vahlen, ruling after the Fourteenth's necessary abdication and while the election was sorted out. This marked the only time in which a Queen ruled Reikhurst, brief as it was.
The Sixteenth King, Grundunn Forgefire: The first dwarven King of Reikhurst. King Grundunn worked to solidify weakening relations with Belgrath. During his Reign Reikhurstan prospecting and mining ventures were expanded into vassal territories (this, partly because the Old Gold Mine in Reikhurst proper was showing signs of being tapped). King Grundunn also oversaw the expansion of the walls of Reikhurst, a massive project which not only strengthened the city's defenses but also created more living space within the city itself for its increasing population.
The Twenty-Third King, Rommel Klein: The last King of Reikhurst before its sacking in 364 at the hands of the King-turned-Vampire Lord Jürgen Kaiser and his massive host of vampires. King Rommel holds the unenviable distinction as being the only King slain by enemies of Reikhurst.
Lore
* * * * * (SANDBOX NOTES) * * * * *
-- The term "Reign." An elected King may only reign for 25 years before abdicating power. As such, 25 years, or a single "Reign", has become a kind of special time until for Reikhurstans. It is a special occasion for celebration for citizens, more so than regular birthdays, to have lived for a Reign or two or three (or, if one is extraordinarily lucky, four).
-- King's Avenue parade. Holiday.
-- Victory Arch of the Ninth King. Point of Interest. Saying: "Like the Ninth," meaning won handily or performed well or, of a person, of impeccable and extraordinary character.
-- Militaristic city-state, winner of regional wars. Some waves of migration from other towns/city-states in the region. Becomes largest and most powerful over time.
-- Traditional, conscientious worldview and culture. Elective monarchy stemming back to the First King, who did not wish for power and abdicated voluntarily after 25 years. Unlike elsewhere, "nobility" is based on merit/service/wealth as opposed to bloodline; it is not unheard of for sons of Kings to be disappointments, and "descend" down to the rank of common folk.
-- Instances of "stolen valor" are punishable by public execution. Corporal punishment, compelled service, culture of shame, used to punish crimes (no jails/prisons in Reikhurst?)
-- KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN BLADE. Ranks: Knight-Gallant, Knight-Valiant, Knight-Captain, Knight Commander, Lord Commander.
-- Jura, the old religion.