In the annals of history, the Mundar Kingdom stands as a testament to what might have been—an Empire of Commerce that never reached its zenith. The potential for greatness lay dormant within the veins of the Mundar Bloodline, a lineage blessed with a divine power that could transmute the ordinary into gold with a mere touch.

This extraordinary ability, however, proved futile in the face of the kingdom's rulers, whose incompetence cast a shadow over the realm's promising fate. Despite the inherent potential to amass wealth beyond imagination, the Mundar Kingdom faltered under the weight of poor leadership.

The sacred gift that could turn mundane into precious gold had, in a previous era, disrupted the natural order of realms. Its potency had been so immense that it sent shockwaves through the lands upon its initial manifestation. Yet, instead of flourishing under the stewardship of capable leaders, the Mundar Kingdom found itself shackled by the ineptitude of those who held the reins.

Amidst the lineage of Mundar rulers, the First Mundar King, Aurum the Great, stood as a beacon of competence and benevolence. In stark contrast to his later descendants, he was not plagued by incompetence but rather marked by exceptional leadership and a genuine love for his people.

Aurum the Great, etched into the annals of history, was a monarch of remarkable kindness and pacifism. His reign was a testament to a different kind of royalty—one defined by compassion and a vision for enduring prosperity. Had it not been for his innate benevolence, he might have forged an empire that could have withstood the test of time for generations.

In the era of Aurum's rule, he crafted a kingdom tailored for merchants, a realm where commerce thrived under the aegis of a wise sovereign. His people flourished in what could only be described as a paradise, nurtured by the generosity and care of a ruler who prioritized the welfare of his subjects above all else.

Aurum's enduring legacy manifested in the form of the Royal Bank of Mundar, an institution that stood as a testament to his commitment to the well-being of the realms. This financial cornerstone served not only as a symbol of his reign but also as a practical mechanism that benefited the people and the broader realms.

The legacy of the Mundar Royalty was inseparable from the formidable power they wielded—the Touch of Gold. This extraordinary ability, revered for its martial lethality and economic significance, was a force to be reckoned with. Yet, even amidst its grandeur, the Touch of Gold bore its own set of limitations.

In the realm of combat, the Touch of Gold was a formidable force, capable of turning the flesh into petrified gold with but a touch. Yet, even with such formidable might, it was not impervious to skilled adversaries. A master archer, armed with precision and preparation, or an equally powerful caster, could easily kill a Mundar Royal from a distance.

The economic weight carried by the Touch of Gold was not without its toll. As gold flowed from the mere touch of a Mundar Royal, so too did their life force. The power to transmute the ordinary into gold came at the cost of consuming the very vitality that sustained them. Financial prosperity and martial might, therefore, walked hand in hand with the sacrifice of the life force that fueled such unreasonable power

In the earlier days of the Mundar Kingdom, long before Aurum earned the epithet of "the Great," the First Mundar King took a calculated step that would alter the course of their history. Faced with the looming shadows of powerful nations deeming him a threat, he chose transparency as his shield.

Publicly disclosing the limitations of the Touch of Gold, the First Mundar King offered a glimpse into the vulnerabilities that lurked beneath the surface of his seemingly invincible power. The revelation of these constraints acted as a strategic gambit, an attempt to quell the fears and suspicions that had painted a target on the kingdom's back.

In the wake of this disclosure, the atmosphere surrounding Aurum's ascension to power was fraught with tension. Deemed a potential menace by powerful nations, he found himself navigating a perilous landscape where assassins were dispatched to extinguish what was perceived as a looming threat. However, the dissemination of knowledge regarding the Touch of Gold's limitations wrought a notable shift in the geopolitical dynamics.

The cessation of assassination attempts marked a turning point for Aurum and the Mundar Kingdom. Nations, once eager to eliminate the perceived threat, reconsidered their stance in the light of newfound understanding. The calculated act of transparency, initiated by the First Mundar King, became a shield against the shadows of conspiracy.

Within the hallowed walls of taverns, the tale of Aurum the Great echoed through time, a narrative woven with threads of admiration for a king of unparalleled prowess. The cessation of assassins had granted him a reprieve, yet the shifting tides of political machination had birthed a new peril.

As the shadows of scheming nations loomed, their ambitions pivoted from assassination to abduction. Aurum, once shielded by the transparency of his power's limitations, found himself ensnared in a dangerous game. The mercenaries he had enlisted proved insufficient against the orchestrated efforts of rival nations, and in his solitude, the odds tilted against him.

Time pressed upon him like a relentless adversary, its ticking metronome a reminder of the urgency that enveloped him. Alone, yet burdened with the weight of a realm's destiny, Aurum stood at a crossroads.

In a strategic move born from necessity, the beleaguered would-be King, Aurum the Great, unveiled his solution to the looming threats encircling him—the establishment of the Royal Bank of Mundar. A proclamation echoed through the realms, promising not just a secure bank but the most fortified bastion of wealth ever conceived.

Contrary to conventional security measures, the Royal Bank of Mundar drew its strength not from an army of bodyguards or enchanted vaults, but from the very essence of Aurum himself. In a bold declaration of commitment, he pledged his own life force to safeguard the treasures entrusted to his care. Gold, the coveted currency of a perilous world, would be transmuted by Aurum's touch, and he willingly became the collateral for the safety of the wealth stored within his bank.

Amidst a landscape where dangers lurked in every shadow and gold exchanged hands for nefarious reasons, Aurum's unconventional approach resonated as a beacon of assurance. The would-be King himself stood as the ultimate security measure, a living testament to the trustworthiness of the Royal Bank of Mundar.

Clients, drawn by the allure of unprecedented security, flocked to entrust their fortunes to Aurum's care. The covenant was clear—should robbery or theft befall the treasures sheltered within his bank, Aurum would bear the burden, utilizing his life force to compensate for any losses suffered by those who availed themselves of his bank's services.

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As word of Aurum's unprecedented pledge and the security of the Royal Bank of Mundar spread far and wide, merchants from distant realms flocked to him, seeking the assurance and prosperity promised by the would-be King. Deals were struck, alliances forged, and soon, Aurum found himself at the helm of a burgeoning city.

With a vision that transcended mere commerce, Aurum christened his newfound city "Mundramon," an homage to an ancient golden dragon of legends. The mythical creature said to abhor wealth and cherish companionship over riches, lent its name to the city that now thrived under Aurum's benevolent rule.

Emboldened by the success of Mundramon and the resounding trust in the Royal Bank of Mundar, a diverse array of seekers descended upon Aurum. Mercenaries, adventurers, and even magic casters, drawn by the promise of security, flocked to deposit their treasures within the sanctum of his bank.

The formidable reputation of Aurum's financial fortress had become an impenetrable barrier. No nation dared to entertain the notion of kidnapping the burgeoning king, for every attempt met with failure, thwarted by the vigilant bodyguards whose presence Aurum's wealth had summoned to his side.

As the stream of wealth flowed into the Royal Bank of Mundar, and the city of Mundramon prospered under its benevolent ruler, Aurum reached a pivotal moment. With the acclaim of his people and the trust of those who sought sanctuary for their riches, he cast aside any semblance of ambiguity and officially declared himself King—King Aurum Mundar.

Despite the prosperity and benevolence flourishing within the borders of Mundramon, the desire for Aurum's unique power lingered like a persistent shadow among his neighboring realms. Unwilling to relinquish their ambitions, these neighbors, undeterred by the newfound strength of the Mundar Kingdom, stoked the embers of conflict.

War unfolded as several nations mobilized their armies, intent on claiming the wealth and power that Aurum embodied. The echoes of tumult reached the ears of the newly crowned King Aurum Mundar, casting a somber hue upon his once-peaceful reign.

Faced with the encroaching threat, Aurum, burdened by the weight of his unruly neighbors' aggression, found himself with no recourse but to take decisive action. In a strategic maneuver, he orchestrated a series of diplomatic interventions that set his neighbors against each other. The once-united front of aggressors soon crumbled as neighboring realms, fueled by their own ambitions, turned against the very nations they had conspired with.

Aurum's eloquence served as a potent weapon in this diplomatic theatre. Through heartfelt pleas and strategic denouncements, he convinced other kingdoms that allowing any one nation to acquire the power he possessed would pose a threat to the delicate balance of their realms. The distant nations, recognizing the peril of a singular power dominating the lands, heeded Aurum's call for unity against their unruly neighbors.

In a surprising turn of events, war never reached the borders of Mundramon. The orchestrated discord among Aurum's neighbors spared his kingdom from the ravages of conflict. The resilience of diplomacy, coupled with the strategic alliances forged by Aurum's entreaties, became the bulwark that shielded Mundramon from the storm of war.

Throughout the entirety of Aurum's enduring reign, the soil of Mundramon remained untouched by the scourge of war. This peaceful era earned him the accolade of a pacifist among his grateful citizens, who marveled at the rarity of such tranquility in a world often plagued by conflict.

Aurum's commitment to peace extended beyond the absence of warfare. In matters of taxation, he took a stance distinct from his contemporaries. The burden on his subjects was the lightest when compared to neighboring kingdoms, earning him the title of a benevolent ruler. His coffers, enriched by the prosperity of Mundramon, became a source not just of governance but of support for his people.

High above Mundramon City, King Wensel Ton Mundar the Third, draped in an ostentatious display of self-indulgence, stood upon the balcony of his colossal palace crafted from gleaming gold. Half-naked, he surveyed the city below with an air of self-satisfaction, a sovereign immersed in the glow of his perceived greatness.

The layout of Mundramon City sprawled beneath him, a testament to his rule, and a source of gratification for the monarch. Wensel Ton Mundar considered himself the city's providence. A smug smile played on his lips as he reveled in the notion of the fortune bestowed upon his subjects by the virtue of his regal presence.

A middle-aged man, his locks mirrored the hue of gold his powers could effortlessly conjure. His physique, a blend of muscularity and slim elegance, reflected a man who took meticulous care not to mar his self-obsessed beauty. In the grandeur of his palace, he reveled in the opulence that surrounded him, a physical manifestation of his perceived entitlement.

However, beneath the golden facade of his palace and the radiant glow of his city, a darker truth lingered. King Wensel Ton Mundar the Third was no benevolent sovereign; rather, he wielded his power with selfishness and tyranny. As the current ruler of Mundar, his reign bore the weight of despotism, a stark contrast to the benevolent legacy once woven by his predecessor.

Basically, he was a rich asshole.

Reclining on his opulent bed, King Wensel Ton Mundar the Third reveled in the presence of his most recent acquisition—a gift from the Fandral Empire, a subtle bribe woven in the form of a woman. Lying beside him, naked and vulnerable, was Izabella, a Fandralese Woman whose raven-black hair and captivating beauty eclipsed that of his other wives.

Izabella's allure had caught the king's eye from the moment he laid eyes on her, a captivating figure amidst the lavish spoils bestowed upon him. Her name, Izabella, resonated with a delicate beauty that mirrored her physical attributes. Beyond her aesthetic appeal, the Fandralese woman possessed qualities that suited Wensel's desires.

Tame and subservient, Izabella was a stark contrast to the spirited nature of the other women in the king's harem. Her demeanor, often described by the palace servants as kind, further endeared her to Wensel. In the intricate dance of courtly affairs, Izabella became more than a mere gift; she evolved into a prized possession, a symbol of his dominion over the offerings of neighboring realms.

Wensel, his eyes fixed upon the sprawling panorama of Mundramon City, declared his whims with an air of authority. "I have decided, I would make you queen," he proclaimed, his voice resonating with the arrogance of a king accustomed to having his desires fulfilled. Izabella, lying motionless on the bed, absorbed the weight of his declaration.

As Wensel's words hung in the air, Izabella, tearful and recalling the coercive moments that transpired earlier, mustered the courage to voice her concern. "And... W-what of your current queen?" she inquired, fear etching her features.

Wensel, seemingly unfazed by her trepidation, responded with a callous resolve. "I will have her beheaded," he declared, a coldness in his tone that betrayed the ruthlessness of his decisions.

An audible gasp escaped Izabella's lips at the chilling proclamation. "N-no," she stammered, a plea laced with both fear and desperation.

Wensel, however, seemed to contemplate her plea for a moment before offering an alternative, a twisted semblance of mercy. "Hmmm... I hear you. Then I would be kinder," he mused, a deceptive kindness in his words. "I will have her be petrified in gold, a death like those of Mundar Kings," he declared, revealing the macabre fate he deemed a more merciful end for his soon-to-be former queen.

Izabella was rendered speechless and consumed by fear, struggled to find words in response to Wensel's heartless decree.

Wensel, his eyes ablaze with ambition, addressed her vulnerability with a condescending air. "Though you are a bastard daughter, Fandral blood still flows in you. Be grateful for my love," he declared, the flames of his aspirations burning fiercely within him. In his twisted perception, the merging of Fandral blood into the Mundar lineage was a strategic move, a means to enhance the kingdom's power.

"With the Fandral bloodline merged in the Mundar line, Mundar Kingdom should become more powerful," he asserted, a ruthless determination underscoring his words. "One way or another, I will have a descendant who can have both power—the Touch of Gold of Mundar supremacy, and the Eyes of Truth of Fandralese majesty," he articulated, outlining a vision where the strengths of both bloodlines converged in a future heir.

As Wensel spoke, Izabella, now silently crying, found solace in her silent prayers. Her pleas reached out to the divine, a fervent hope that they might intervene and deliver justice to the tyrannical Mundar King.

"Oh Spinner of Fate, end this evil..." Izabella silently whispered in her Fandralese tongue.