In the twenty second epoch of the ninth throne of the Atlan line

There rested, Emperor Atlan Ortis, of the Kingdom of Kanth

The emperor’s aged mind had finally succumbed to madness, death

His first born, Atlan Kyvan was positioned to take the throne

But Kyvan was a cruel man, and harbored a love for torturing would-be spies

*

Late one night, Kyvan, deep in the prison cells beneath the castle

Mere days before his coronation,

Was torturing a low level courtier he believed to be a spy for the Kingdom of Ag’vante 

Kyvan worked alone, as none could stomach the cruelty Kyvan conjured

But Kyvan grew too confident, he let his guard down, the man broke free and killed Kyvan

*

This fortuitous night paved the way for Emperor Ortis’ only other child

The son of a woman Ortis spent a night with during his one and only visit to the lower quarter

Kyvan’s half-brother, Mecyda

Though the ministers would have liked to forget young Mecyda, As it stood a blemish upon Ortis’ honor, They had little choice

And so, albeit reluctantly, the ministers awarded Mecyda the mantle of Emperor

And Mecyda took the name of “Atlan”, albeit… reluctantly

*

Mecyda, who grew up poor and unwanted in the lower quarter,

His mother, having passed away at an early age

He grew wise to the deceitful ways of swindlers and thieves

The ministers found Mecyda would not be easily controlled

And so they would hold secret meetings,

Arguing to a point of whom may take the Emperor’s place upon his inevitable assassination

*

But Mecyda was not a fool, nor did he suffer any of the kind

His exposure to the toxins and pollution in the lower quarter as a child,

Saw him immune to the many attempts to poison his morning tea

His witness to muggings and murders,

Took to his donning of plated armor beneath his robes

And foresaw the inherent dangers of lust and greed

*

Mecyda went on to redistribute the kingdom’s resources amongst the people of Kanth

And as the kingdom’s coffers shrank, 

The hearts of his people grew

It is said that Mecyda went on to reign for another eighty years

Before passing on peacefully in his bed

And though the kingdom has long since dried up, Emperor Atlan Mecyda’s legend lives on