the bad king - quotes and descriptions to inspire creative writing

The bad king feared his subjects. He thought the revolting peasants would soon revolt if they weren't given more to worry over. Yet one thing to worry over would never do, never really be effective enough, they needed many! And so he made it the fashion for them to be thinner than was natural, so that their own bodies would be their enemy day and night. The bad king saw to it that poorer peasants were driven from their homes in the countryside to compete in the citadel for the most basic of wages and sustenance - "Ha!" said the bad king, "they will now fight endlessly with one another and never look at me who has so much!" The bad king was pleased.

Alas! From time to time the peasants would start to unite and find peace, the gentle natures of the meek arising, he would bring upon them a disaster that he, their monarch, could not be blamed for. The fear of an overseas enemy or group was always handy and he wielded "patriotism" like a blunt club. Upon that cold gilded throne he laughed in the cold way cold people do. The "little-folk" would always need a personal battle such as their own vanity, an enemy within the town such as competing with each other for survival, and the fear of an external enemy, one they assumed they needed their king to fend off.

This storyteller would love to tell you how the peasants finally saw the "game" he played and found peace, yet dear reader, this went on for generations... the simplicity of the evil and emotionally indifferent scheme to the suffering of others was never suspected by the people who cheered their bad, bad, kings and queens through the broken streets.

"Slaves are costing too much these days. The day wages are atrocious. It is time for a crisis. Put the poor into distress, let them be grateful for any slice of bread no matter how small or dry, and let them drag down the middle classes. Once they're fighting it out at the bottom for survival their prices will go down. And, here we'll be, the beloved royal family, sitting pretty at the top, being every so gracious."

When words and thoughts are good anchors or control; when role models can become cages or keys; the wise support with wisdom and the foolish man becomes a king.