Tales of a King Apart - Fallagantis de la Fontaine in the Time of Uther Pendragon

 Greetings once more, to those who follow the unfolding story of my house. It has been some years since I last penned these digital missives and much has transpired in the realm of Britannia. The Saxon menace continues to press upon our shores, but now a new element has entered the tumultuous mix: civil war.

Uther Pendragon, the self-proclaimed High King, faces a significant uprising. Many of Britain's most powerful lords have risen against him, most notably Duke Gorlois of Cornwall, whose beautiful wife, Igraine, is whispered to be the spark that ignited this rebellion. While many disgruntled nobles flock to Gorlois' banner, I, Fallagantis de la Fontaine, find myself… apart.

Though I hold no love for Uther Pendragon, believing him unworthy of the title of High King, I find Duke Gorlois and his followers even less appealing. Indeed, a thought has taken root in my mind: is such an exalted title as High King even necessary for the security and prosperity of our individual kingdoms?

My own realm, centered in the verdant depths of the Forest of Dean, thrives without the need for Uther's protection or his burdensome taxes. My people are content, and our borders are secure. To prove this, I have made a bold statement. In the heart of my city, once known as March4 ZI Flanc de Colline but now increasingly referred to with a different name, I have placed a large circle of gold atop a simple wooden pole in the public square. Unattended. Unguarded.

Many among the other lords believe it will not last a single night, a tempting prize for bandits or ambitious knights. Yet, my own people understand the deeper meaning of this Circle of Gold. It represents the profound trust their king has in them, a testament to the honor and peace that prevails within our native land.

Furthermore, my wife, Queen Elisbeth des Yeux Azur, a woman of formidable intellect and… certain arcane talents, has woven a spell upon the ring. But let it be known, this enchantment is not to protect the gold itself. Rather, it is to aid those who would defend the peace and integrity of our kingdom. The nature of this aid… that remains to be seen by any who would threaten our tranquility.

Thus, while the rest of Britannia descends into civil strife, the Kingdom of the Circle of Gold stands apart, a beacon of self-reliance and quiet strength. I offer no allegiance to Uther, nor do I support the ambitions of Gorlois. We shall chart our own course, secure in our own borders and trusting in the loyalty of our people and the subtle protections that guard our realm.

The path ahead remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the age of unquestioned High Kingship may be drawing to a close. Perhaps the future of Britannia lies not in centralized power, but in the strength and independence of individual kingdoms, each secure in its own right.

Continue to follow these chronicles, and you shall see how the Kingdom of the Circle of Gold fares in these turbulent times, a testament to a different way of rule.