A long time ago in a village far far away, on the far side of
the mainland to be precise, there was a city called Winterbloom. The city had
been founded by elves but after thousands of years there were many races that
inhabited it. The elvish nobility still were the ruling class however, and one
minor elf noble was called Bauglir. All of his life he had wanted for nothing,
as his family was well to do. He was quite skilled at playing the flute, and on
his 30th birthday, the Elvish King gave him a golden one as reward for the
entertainment he provided at parties and festivities. He often wandered the city
playing songs for the peasants, the poor, and the children, all of whom grew
very fond of this strange elf noble.
One year a severe drought occurred, and food was scarce and highly priced. To
make matters worse, one of the worst winters in memory set in, cold and stormy.
The combination of these events caused an unforeseen event to occur in the city.
Beggars and orphans were common now, starvation a real threat to the poor. For
their survival many began resorting to thievery because the wealthy of
Winterbloom, in particular the elves, showed little to no charity or compassion
for those who were without gold or food. Soon, the theft was at epidemic
proportions, at the same time the elvish nobility held grand feasts and
extravagant parties. Bauglir continued to wander the streets and gave what he
could to the destitute beggars and orphans.
In an attempt to end the theft, the King decreed that begging and theft were now
crimes punishable by hanging. Bauglir was astonished at this and could not
believe that the poor had to now choose between starving to death or being hung.
He sought an audience with the King but was dismissed outright when he pled for
compassion and aid for these poor peasants. The next morning when he entered the
town square, the sight of 45 beggars hanging dead met his gaze. Tears flowed,
and an emotion he had never felt grew; anger. He knew he had to act, the rich
and powerful had lost sight of the hardships the poor endured daily. Gathering
together the beggars, he led an ambush attack on a contingent of town guards
that had arrested 17 women and children for theft of food. The guards perished,
the beggars were freed. Thus began the Beggars Rebellion Of Winterbloom.
After several weeks of assaults, many guards had died but few beggars. The King
saw that he could not win a war of this sort, so he sought a truce with the
leader of the beggars. He was quite surprised to see it was Bauglir, the
flutist, a noble. After many hours of negotiations, an agreement was reached.
The food stores of the city would be opened to the starving hordes for the
winter, and begging would be legalized again. Charity to those who had nothing
would be encouraged amongst the nobility by the King and the beggars would agree
to not commit thievery. In exchange for this, Bauglir was to be stripped of all
titles and property, and he was to leave the city with nothing but commoners
clothes and his flute. An addendum to the treaty allowed Bauglir to return
periodically to ensure the beggars were not being abused, but he could not stay.
In effect he was banished from Winterbloom.
When the peasants, beggars and orphans found out the terms of the treaty, they
gathered together, and summoned Bauglir before them. One of the beggars leaders
stepped forward, the spokesman. “You are no longer a noble, nor are you rich.
This you did for us, who have nothing. It has been decided you are more noble
than any in this land, so we name you now, Bauglir, the Beggar’s King. Your
wealth is before you, your loyal subjects!” he said, and they all bowed to
Bauglir in respect and adoration. Bauglir was so filled with emotion at their
gratitude, he could not speak, so he played a song on his flute instead, as a
parting gift for his friends, his subjects now. He left the city that very day,
determined to visit every city in the land and ensure the well being of the
poor.
Word spread faster than he could travel, and every peasant, beggar, and orphan
knew of Bauglir, the King of the Beggars within weeks.
Hundreds of years later, Bauglir found himself on an isle, in a city called
Moorgate. The beggars there constructed a throne for him out of old crates in an
old alley near the Pilgrimms Tavern, an inn long closed. He stayed for several
months and then left to continue his lifelong mission in other cities. After 75
years absence he has returned to Moorgate. Where his alley and throne once were,
a casino now stands. He yet has his flute and his loyal subjects. His throne has
been relocated and he might remain for many years this time as he needs a rest
from traveling.