The K1NG of D3vTH stood ten foot tall and towered above his Kingdom. His greatness extended beyond his height - he was known for his gentle nature and his love and dedication to his subjects, no matter their status. Above all, he loved his daughter. Losing his wife at his daughter's birth, the K1NG had brought the Princess up alone, and showered her with gifts and love at every waking moment. On the Princess' twenty-first birthday, a Stranger requested council with the K1NG. "I will make this offer once, and you would be unwise not to take it. Give me your daughter, and she will wed my son. I will give you riches beyond your wildest dreams. This is my offer, and I warn you, Sire, that you would regret sending me away without granting me what I want." The K1NG stood fast. "My daughter is not a commodity to be sold," he replied. "She will wed to a man of her choice, when she wishes." The Stranger smirked, and, bowing to the K1NG and Princess, silently took their leave. The next day, the K1NG descended to the dining hall to find there was just one place set at the table. A lady-in-waiting informed him that his daughter had been taken ill, and would not be joining him as per their routine. As midday came around, the same message was delivered. By the evening, the K1NG had grown worried. He ascended the stairs to the Royal chambers, hearing screams and snarls. He rushed in, and found his daughter in a state he had never seen. Her skin had taken a grey hue, and her eyes were sunken and bloodshot. Her arms had been fastened to the bed frame: "to prevent her from tearing off her own skin", the court physicians explained. The sickness worsened as the days dragged on. Messengers were sent to every Kingdom, begging them to send physicians, pathologists, psychologists - anyone, at any cost... And they came in their hundreds. But none could help, and all bowed and took their leave, terrified of what the Princess had become. Days became weeks, and a message came for the K1NG - the sickness was not contained to the Princess. A woman from the village, pale and shaking, brought a list to the K1NG of those who had fallen. "I am... so sorry. Please forgive me", he whispered. The woman returned each day with a new list, and each night the K1NG sat by his daughter's side, whispering the names to himself in a hushed voice and watching as his subjects screamed and writhed in the streets. The sickness did not stop. Every day, the K1NG would open the gates to his Kingdom and the messenger would bring him a list of the dead. And every night, the K1NG would sit by his daughter's side and recite the names. The list grew longer, and longer, and the K1NG would recite the names through the night, on in to the morn, and throughout the day. Then, one day, he opened the gates... And there was nobody there. The Kingdom was quiet, and still. The K1NG walked the streets, whispering names. He saw house upon house deserted and still. Vines overgrew doorways, and flies buzzed around the alleyways. All was gone. The K1NG returned to his daughter, and looked at her properly for the first time since the sickness set in. She was unrecognisable. Her skin was blackened, her mouth cracked. Yet now, she was still. The K1NG saw a glimpse of the daughter he knew in this creature's eyes, which glistened with tears for the first time in months. "Please...", she rasped. The K1NG drew his sword. The Kingdom was still. No children laughed in the streets, no chatter of court goings, no goblets clinking or food sizzling. No smell of herbs and food cooking in the taverns, or sound of feet on the cobbles, or bargaining in the market. All was death and decay. All was gone. The K1NG was alone save the names of the dead. The names weighed him down, hanging around his shoulders and his neck until he could barely stand. Guilt pulled him down, down, in to the void. And then, he fell. Down, and down, a fall as long as the list of names that would never leave him. And he continued to whisper, a never ending plea for release of the sin in his soul.
None have seen death like the K1NG. It was burned in to his very being. And one eye saw things no other souls could see... whispers that drove him mad.

th3 K1NG of D3vTH 004 + 025 ONE OF FIVE H0770W K1NGS

Holds: +1 SPECIAL