In 1863, refugees from a Pacific island nation, having been lost at sea for over three months after fleeing the country, finally made landfall on the mainland. Not everyone who began the journey ended it with them. Many died along the way due to various diseases, accidents or the general lack of food. Others got separated somewhere in between because of strong storms and waves. But this group didn’t let these things keep them down. They pushed on.
The coast they met wasn’t the best. It was rocky with an assortment of cliffs. But the people, tired and weary from the ocean voyage, took what they could get and made passage through the slight and narrow valleys between the hills. They settled atop the plateaus, just off the coast, calling this area and their newly-formed colony Knightdale (for “the valley that rescued us”). But a name isn’t all this colony would gain
As time went on, life seemed to become more and more in order. The men were building, surveying the land, farming, and more importantly hunting, while the women were cooking, making clothes and reproducing. My grandfather, James, was the firstborn of Knightdale. You might say he was the result of much “celebration” after the ships found land. This would prove to be important later on.
Years passed, as did some of the settlers. But not before expanding and establishing new “boundaries” of sorts. By 1919, the year my father Richard was born, there were a few villages beyond Knightdale, each with their own name, though they still considered themselves to be extensions of the original settlement. As such, the idea to officially unite and become one nation was realized.
So, after much discussions and even heavy debate from those who feared creating a nation like the one we escaped over half-a-century ago, a compromise among the villages was met. In 1924, a charter was signed by the community leaders, establishing a nation. However, this kingdom would not adopt the name Knightdale as its continued common name. Instead, it would be known as Reminisci.
To the people of Reminisci, this name would not only help them to remember where they came from and how not to be as a nation, but it would also help them to reflect on all the good that has happened to them since – all the blessings they’ve received. And who better to serve in the capacity created as king than the firstborn male of the new dawn, my grandfather James.
King James helped strengthen ties between towns, bolstered the economy and introduced the revenire as the standard currency, had roads and irrigation systems built, expanded the role of government, and had a hand in many other advancements throughout the kingdom. Things were looking better and better each day.
By 1934, the construction of the king’s castle was mostly complete. So the royal family and its staff left Knightdale and moved to Galloway, the new capital of Reminisci. Galloway was still a coastal city, though it was less treacherous than Knightdale, and was tucked away in a natural harbor. The castle was built to be well-protected and still direct access to the water, and the king’s navy would use the still waters of this sanctuary for its home port.
Sadly, my grandfather only ruled for another decade before dying in 1944 at the age of 81. He was a good man, and many remembered him as a blessing. As it was written in the charter, my father, Richard, being son of the king and heir to the throne, assumed the crown. The people were kind to him at first. But it didn’t take long for them to start using his father’s death as an “in” to try to have their way with the ruling of the nation. However, King Richard was a stubborn man, and did things his own way, oftentimes in a way the late King James wouldn’t dare.
This way of ruling didn’t make settle well with the people. But he was the king, so they would either live with it or else. He raised taxes, using the money for land ventures. Sometimes he would even have his guards seize food from the citizens in order to have a feast for the residents of the castle. His favorite food was meat from the wisent (now the national animal, mind you). He was becoming increasingly unpopular, and rightfully so. This was the very same type of king our ancestors fled from 100 years ago. In fact, a few people were slain for conspiring to kill him.
Realizing his age, however, he began to calm down and focus on his legacy, and more so who would carry his legacy on. Sad to say, even by the time I was born in 1976, the damage had been done. He was destined to be unpopular throughout history. After hearing the news of my birth, deciding their efforts to have my father killed were futile, and fearing the trend of increased tyranny would continue with me, a plan was made to end my family’s rule for good. So in 1981, King Richard had me sent to another land, to hide and protect me.
I never saw my father after that. Five years wasn’t a long time to get to know him. Although I did hear he adopted a son in 1985. I guess he missed having me around. I don’t know for sure, though. All I know is, he died tragically in 2008, of a massive heart attack at the age of 89. And that’s where I come in. I returned to Galloway that year, claimed my seat at the throne, and began ruling Reminisci the only way I knew how to – my own way.
Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t grow up with my father. Perhaps he would have taught me his way of doing things, and I’d start out as unpopular as he finished. Instead, the people accepted me as new, and a light of hope. Some even began to refer to me as Magnus the Great. Either way, it hasn’t been an easy transition, nor have I quite gotten the hang of being a king now three years later. But I’m just taking it one step at a time, trying to make a better image for my father’s legacy through my own.