text: [Themes: fantasy, true story]
  
  Your opponent is dressed in a padded gambeson and is thus lightly armoured. Assuming from his stance and balance he appears to be moderately skilled. He assumes the fool stance. What do you do?
  
  > Fool stance
  You assume the fool stance, the same as your opponent. Your opponent gets enough time to give you a hard blow from his stance, however you manage to easily deflect his blow to your left flank and simply place the blade's tip in front of his forehead. The momentum of his strike drives his forehead through the tip of your blade, and he falls down dead.
  
  Your guards manage to dispatch the remaining two due the superior reach of their great swords as compared to their long swords and immediately cover your left and right flanks. Maintaining the trio formation, you head up towards the closest carriage and quickly step inside. The guards commandeer the horses and you ride away.
  
  As you look through the opening in the back, you see fire. The cathedral is on flames...a single drop of tear passes from your skin down your face. Your father is dead.
  
  > Continue
  The return back to Prague is a gloomy one. Everyone is shocked and cannot believe your words. The great King Charles has been slain in battle, and his body is nowhere to be found. A few days later, news comes that Herr Ansel has formed and gained support of a large number of lords and nobles and is openly rebelling against the crown.
  
  "How much bloody longer will it take them to see the light," you mutter under your breath.
  
  "Fear not about those treacherous scoundrels mein Herr," says Edward your royal advisor. "They have been taken care of for good. As of now there are a lot more pressing issues that needs your utmost attention."
  
  "Go on Edward."
  
  "The death of king Charles has put forth a feeling of dread and despair among your noble subjects. They fear for their land and the safety of their villages. The lands have been strife with war and pillaging. Since your coronation mein Herr, a lot of the lords have lost their faith in the crown. There are even rumours spread on you..." Edward stops for a second, refraining from speaking any further.
  
  "Go on, I'm listening."
  
  "Rumours that the new king Wenceslas is unworthy, that his father gave up his life for him being elected as the emperor...that all he does is sit idly on his throne and pursues the more...greater pleasures of life..."
  
  "6 months, mere six months to my coronation and they accuse me of hedonism and idleness...doesn't matter. Perhaps this is the influence of the great stick picker Ansel."
  
  "Indeed mein Herr, I assumed the same. With more than half of the kingdom embroiled in civil war, trade routes have been blockaded, farmlands barren...the kingdom has seen better days."
  
  "Call court tomorrow and send invitations to all the lords who still have faith in the crown, best to act on this now before it's too late."
  
  "As you say so mein Herr, I'll take my leave."
  
  "God be with you."
  
  Henry nods and takes his leave. You stand up looking around the room, the white chambers of the corridor glisten in the dawn sunlight. So much has happened in these last 6 months since the death of your father. Your coronation, the splitting of the kingdom between your half-brothers, civil war...it's all so very stressful. You thought that you would be a Just and great ruler like your father, instead all that's happened is your wealth being distributed 4-ways and then your share being robbed by the coup. Father had the great idea of having a strong bloodline to keep our house as the rulers...little did he now the repercussions of doing so. You need to I still order and instilling order requires wealth and wealth has been next to impossible to come by. At times you fear for your life and sleep with a sword at your bed...other times, in order to alleviate the intense stressful environment you've made some...unwise decisions.
  
  There's a knock on the door.
  
  "May I come in mein Herr?", says a melodious and beautiful feminine voice.
  
  "Who's there?"
  
  "How mean of you mein Herr, you don't even remember my name? Have you forgotten all the fun we had last time?" Says the voice as the door opens. In steps a beautiful maiden, dressed in an extremely revealing gown. 'Isabella' you recall her name, she was the Italian wench you met yesterday.
  
  "But I forgive you, I've got a kind heart after all," she says while holding her chest, "and I've even got a few of my acquaintances this time, they would love to have fun and pleasure you..."
  
  > Agree
  "Of course, how could I refuse such fine comely ladies," you say. "I have an idea too," you say while walking towards the hallway. "Raphael! Bring us the best wine and cheese available!" You shout out to your servant.
  
  "Keep it a bit low on the wine this time mein Herr. You tend to get a bit...out of hand...overdoing that."
  
  Is doing this the right choice? Being in luxury and plushness while the land below you is strife with war, death and carnage? Is this the right thing you're doing? Was this the will of your father?
  
  "Will of my father. My father has left me with a curse and not a will. This kingdom, this kingdom is beyond all hopes of improvement. These actions are just a way of releasing a bit of stress, and this kingdom is beyond any hopes of improvement anyway. Might as well enjoy as much as I can before I'm overthrown."
  
  The next day, you fail to attend the court in time and decide to cancel it in the end. The lords and nobles are extremely furious. Many of them have made the arduous journey to the capital, all because they had some hope in you. They believed that you had the capabilities to end the strife and war.
  
  One of the nobles is extremely angry and demands to see you. Edward calms him down, and goes to check on you. He pushes aside the guards of your chambers, who demand that they have been ordered to not let anyone in, and opens the doors. What he's greeted with is a sight involving tables of half eaten delicacies and broken wine glasses. You're on the bed, along with three other maidens under the sheets sleeping soundly.
  
  "They were right about you, you're worthless 'Wenceslas the idle'." He mutters in disgust and closes the doors.
  
  After Edward left renounced his duties and left, things started to fall apart. The civil war continued on. The few remaining nobles loyal to you beg you and plead you for your help; you however are busy in lavishly spending the treasury for your own pleasures.
  
  In order to commemorate the great wedding of you and your wife Isabella, you order that a recreation of the bible be made, which would include art of you and your wife drawn by the most famous artists of all time.
  
  "Charles IV, your father deemed the addition of text or images by men in the holy scriptures as heresy. By doing this action, you risk going against your own father mein He-"
  
  "It's an order" you tell the priest firmly.
  
  "Very well."
  
  There was a huge controversy regarding this decision, the church and the clergy did not take this lightly. In the end, the book was never finished and upon your questioning you're given excuses. You let the matter go though, since there's a more pressing issue currently at hand.
  
  > Continue
  "You're telling me the royal treasury has diminished?"
  
  "Yes mein Herr."
  
  "How did this happen?"
  
  "Due to the ongoing civil war and...other factors; most of the lords have reduced to pay their annual tithes to the crown. This year's tithes were only payed by the townsfolk of Prague. The economy is very do-"
  
  "Enough," you say putting your hand up, tired of listening to his lecture on the economy of the kingdom. "What is the solution?"
  
  The royal treasurer thinks for a few moments. "Well, mein Herr I know of one person who could provide aid to the crown in this dire circumstance. The Benedictine Abbey of Kladruby."
  
  "The abbey of Kladruby? Do you jest with me? Or do you suggest that priests have the holy power from the lord himself to create gold out of nothing?"
  
  Completely oblivious to your blatant heresy, he continues, "The abbey of Kladruby needs a favour from the crown, for which he would be willing to pay generously. You would get a better picture of the whole idea if you meet him in person mein Herr. Do I have the permission of presenting him in court tomorrow?"
  
  No matter how dubious this seems, you currently have no alternatives. "Very well, you have my permission."
  
  Next day during court, the treasurer is accompanied by a man dressed in the robes of the parish. With a silver chain bearing the cross dangling down from his neck.
  
  "It's an honour to meet you in person, great Wenceslas IV. You have my deepest regards and my respect for gracing me with your presence mein Herr."
  
  "The pleasure is likewise sir..."
  
  "Lauffen, the name's Lauffen mein mein Herr. I suggest we discuss matters with a bit more discretion."
  
  You nod and signal the guards to leave the chamber. Only the treasurer and Lauffen remain behind.
  
  "I heard that you're in need of some favour?"
  
  "Ah I see, straight to business then. Have you heard of the Avignon Papacy mein Herr?"
  
  "Group of heretics who claim to be the pope and live in France instead of Rome?"
  
  "Group of influential heretics, and let's just say as an abbot I would gain a lot of profit if they were supported. Profit that I would willingly share with my allies."
  
  The Avignon Papacy. A group of rebellious clergy men who separated themselves from Rome and settled in Avignon France claiming that the pope Bonafice was a heretic; and that they were the true pope of the Christendom. This had been an ongoing political issue during the time of your father's reign. You remember seeing your father giving an eloquent speech to the clergy of Bohemia and reassuring them of his support in the true Pope. Though currently you're short on options. You'll surely be chastised for this action and the church might completely withdraw their support from you; but if this monetary issue isn't resolved you're not going to hold on to your power for long. Let's just hope you could get some support from this impersonator pope in the future.
  
  "Alright, you have my word. I will favour the pope of Avignon and publicly declare my support, in presence of the clergy of my kingdom."
  
  "That's all I need from you mein Herr, I'm sure both of us will gain a lot from this endeavour."
  
  > Continue
  Next day, you walk down the streets of Prague along with 40 men-at-arms. The state of the capital has been in better condition. The roads and are full of filth and beggars. Peasantry dresses barely in rags, and with bodies as thin as paper hurry along out of the path of the march. "God's teeth the stench! Hope I get out of this filth as soon as possible."
  
  Soon you reach the major town square. This area is extremely busy with vendors and merchants peddling their goods on the street. You see the Abbot in the distance at a stage in the town square and head towards him, along with him is the Archbishop of Bohemia and a group of other clergy. They bow in your presence.
  
  "I'm here today to discuss with all of you the Abbot of Kladruby's decision to support the pope of Avignon. My father, god rest his soul, was the man of legends. He was gifted and destined by our lord to guide us to legacy. However during his reign, he was blinded by pope Bonafice. Since he was a child, he was taught to have unconditional love and support to the pope regardless of one's own personal expectations. That was a time of blind faith. Today however, we aren't bound by this one sided belief; and I can say this with certainty that the current pope is undeserving of his post. I am not blinded with one-sided faith like my father was; and I believe that the true pope who follows the principles of piety and devotion is not pope Bonafice of Rome but the pope of Avignon. It would be for the benefit of this fiefdom, and for the Christendom if we accepted this fact." The priests are surprised and shocked to hear this. One of them, begin to argue with you implying that going against the true Pope of Romewas heresy.
  
  "Heresy? You dare to call your king a heretic?"
  
  "The true pope and prophet of the lord is the pope of Rome mein Herr, or are you trying to imply that there is more than one pope? Why do you wish to instigate this into a schism?"
  
  "Because I said so, this is my kingdom and I can side with whoever I want and please. I don't need the advice of a loudmouth who does not know how to respect his king!"
  
  "Honour? You speak or honour mein Herr? After all the sins you've committed?"
  
  An eerie silence settles over the entire hall.
  
  "What do you mean?"
  
  "Wenceslas the great, son of a legacy,
  
  Resolved to rule, and change our destiny.
  
  He came forth as promising, a noble just king,
  
  Little did we know, 'bout this person hedonic!
  
  Pleasure and plush, was his only desire,
  
  His subjects ill-treated, forced to retire!
  
  O great Wenceslas! Great wise king!
  
  Is it your wish, to be disgraced by this thing?
  
  Have you stooped so low, that for mere wealth,
  
  You'll be the prophet, of the devil himself?"
  
  Upon hearing this you're enraged. Feelings of anger, shame and guilt all come to your mind at full force. These are then replaced by sheer anger and hatred. You look directly in the eyes of the priest.
  
  "What is your name, treasonous perpetrator?"
  
  "John of Pomuck."
  
  You immediately order your guards to arrest him.
  
  The archbishop steps forward, "This man right here, is a part of the parish. Putting him through any harm is an attack towards the lord himself!"
  
  "I am the king of Bohemia and the elected king of the Romans. This is my kingdom and I have the right to do what I please. Drown this treasonous piece of scum in the Vlatva river. May everyone know the ramifications of going against the king!"
  
  The guards wordlessly drag the priest towards the river. The parish and priests warn you once again but you do not budge. The guards proceed to violently beat the priest with whips, he begins to lose consciousness with the pain and strife. You grab his head by your hands and drown his face in the fast running river. He begins to writhe uncontrollably for a few moments, until he stops moving. You then dump his dead body in the river.
  
  "You will regret this Wenceslas," is all the archbishop says before silently ordering the remaining priests to follow him. The priests stare at you with bloodshot eyes of pure hatred that threaten to pierce your eyes.
  
  Over the next few days, it becomes evident that you have lost all support from the church. You get a letter from Rome, the pope wishes to meet the king of all Romans personally, in order to discuss recent events. You, however ignored the letter and in a few months time you receive news that the prince-electors have renounced you as the king of Romans. The payment that you were promised by the abbot is never received. In fact you don't hear from him ever again, he seems to have disappeared. After all these events, comes forth the moment that you had feared the most.
  
  > Herr Ansel
  "The imperial cities army is huge mein Herr, we are very highly outnumbered, for each of our soldier there are 10 enemy soldiers," says the general.
  
  Of course there would be, that bloody stick picker has managed to convince the whole of Bohemia against you! He might also have the support of the church behind him. At these odds, victory seems impossible. Maybe it would be better for you to give up now and surrender? No, no you're never going to surrender to that scoundrel! These are your lands and you're either going to fight for them or die trying!
  
  A group of four riders ride forward, each dressed from head-to-toe in a suit of plate mail. This seems very similar to a situation in the past...
  
  "Herr Wenceslas! It's a pleasure to meet you again, it seems that in your short reign you've gained quite a reputation for yourself."
  
  "Shut up, you rebel stick picker! Begone from the lands and my castle that is rightfully mine!"
  
  "Right fully yours you say? If you had ruled these lands which are rightfully yours then with even a little semblance of honour then we would not have been in this situation today! I'm giving you two options Wenceslas, surrender or die trying."
  
  Standing on the fortifications, you stare upwards towards the bright blue sky. It's the time of summer. The beautiful green vistas are completely filled with soldiers. They number in the thousands. You stand absolutely no chance of victory in this war.
  
  Thinking back to the choices you made, the mistakes you committed, only you have to be blamed for this. You still remember advice given by father...'to look before you leap' which you completely failed to follow. You know, you very well know they whatever choice you make now will be irrelevant. The reign of the king Wenceslas IV has come to an end. Regardless, you make your choice...
  
  > Fight
  "Set up and load the catapults and ballistas!"
  
  As soon as you give the command, Ansel turns around and gallops away with his three guards. The enemy army marches with formation, the entire earth shaking beneath your feet.
  
  "There's a fault in the mechanism of the siege engines mein Herr!"
  
  "What? How is that possible?"
  
  "Lack of repair and upkeep."
  
  Cursing under your breath, you order all the archers towards the wall and fire volleys upon the enemies. This however does little to stop their momentum. It is not long before the enemies manage to infiltrate and scale the tower and your forced to engage them in hand to hand combat.
  
  A heavily armoured man in plate mail, manages to breach the formation around you and strikes at you. You manage to narrowly side step and draw your long sword. The enemy, seeing you equipped with a weapon paces himself and assumes the ox guard.
  
  What do you do?
  
  > Ox guard
  Instantly you perform the ox guard, hitting his sword and putting both of you in a bind. The clash of the two swords brought out silvers of sparks. The force of the clash causes sends a violent jolt of vibration coursing through your arm. Trying to remember your grandmaster's advice on a bind, you feel your opponent is about to push downwards with the the strong of his sword. What do you do?
  
  > push your sword forward
  You try and put all your strength against your opponent and push hard, but your opponent had a head start and manages to overcome your sword pushing it away. With the sword out of his way, he takes advantage of the opening thrusting his blade straight through your forehead. The thrust stings, stings like a thousand hornets, and then you fall into darkness.