No one really knows how the river gained the blessed properties that connected itself to the ruling families. However, today was especially important to the ruling Halheim family. King Sigmund Halheim has just passed on - And at the River Styx that flows through the capital of Stoneford, the populace watches the river as the normally clear waters that nourishes the farmlands downstream glows a colour that symbolizes something.
A few hundred years ago, anyone who had sat on the throne as the Head of the Halheim family in Stoneford watched in amazement as their forebears, upon passing, appeared as a ghostly apparition that walked down the River Styx, dressed in their full regalia. However, what followed behind them was how many viewed their legacy.
Take the Warring King, King Edward Halheim who had waged wars on neighbouring nations till his death, but was wise and just in rule - As his ghostly apparition walked on the River Styx, behind him followed a ghostly army, their eyes unseeing, holding their weapons and marching, as if saluting their onlookers as they eventually vanished in a puff of green smoke as the waters glowed red beneath him.
The Midas-touched King Francis Halheim who had brought a backwater kingdom on the brink of financial collapse to a prospering one - He who had died while holding a quill in his hand as he pored over the financial records.
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King Francis Halheim, who had often dressed in robes with little fanfare to emphasize the importance of frugality appeared in the most luxurious robes that made many other sovereigns copy it while ghostly apparitions of what seemed to be peasants and so on knelt along his path, weeping alongside the many people who watched the proceeding.
Of course, there were the outliers - Those who had nearly brought their own nation to ruin. King Jacob Halheim squandered the fortune made by King Francis, his father and committed suicide as his brother's rebel army neared the gates. His ghostly apparition appeared as a rotting corpse, barely keeping his head above the surface as it seemed to be washed down the river.
Today, Prince Liam Halheim watched as his father, King Sigmund Halheim walked calmly on the river - The river glowed purple as he arrived riding a ghostly horse, while holding a bow in his hand. As he passed the royal family, Queen Elisa screamed in grief, only held back by a solemn Crown Prince Hubert Halheim.
King Sigmund's horse trotted on, oblivious to their screams as ghostly courtiers followed behind, pacing slowly behind their king. In a few moments, the horse stopped moving and King Sigmund looked upwards to the sky, as if noticing something and his ghostly lips parted as if he was laughing - Then he and his courtiers, with the horse, vanished in a cloud of purple smoke and the river returned to its clear colours.
With that, Crown Prince Hubert Halheim, became known as King Hubert Halheim - And his first edict was the appointment of the 15 year old Prince Liam Halheim as the Protector of the East, ruler of Validor - Probably the most undeveloped lands of the Halheim Kingdom.