The Regicide Prince

The following lore is undecided in which world it belongs, nor in what part it plays in that world. The prince could be a BBEG, a warlock patron or just a bit of flavour text.

The Regicide Prince is a children's story common all across the world in many forms and languages. It is often used as a cautionary tale against jealousy and greed as well as to discourage disobedience in children. It has been written in many languages and nobody is quite sure from where exactly the story originates as it seems to date back to oral tradition rather than a specific writer.

The Regicide Prince

Once, long ago and far away did live a fair and noble king,

when they saw him, the people would cheer, dance and sing.

For he was much loved by all,

as he cared for all his subjects, great and small.

Nothing did bring him more joy than the hope of a child,

when a son was born, never wider had the king smiled.

To all the kingdom he decreed, a joyous celebration,

let laughter and song fill every house in the nation.

As the new prince grew, he saw his father with awe,

he could see why the people choose him to adore.

The glow of his smile and the gleam of his dress,

and the prince did want what his father possessed.

But jealousy did turn the prince's heart black,

as he took a dagger, and plunged it into his father's back.

With bloodied hands, he did pluck the crown from the king's head,

and declared himself king as the floor turned a crimson red.

But the prince was soon unable to celebrate his win,

as the king fell, he did curse his child for the sin.

With his very first words of utter resent,

the king did condemn the prince to an endless torment.

Into an earthly cage, the prince was thrown,

where he withered till naught but bone.

With not a drop to drink, nor a bite to eat,

it did seem as though his life was complete.

But the prince could not expire,

the curse would not allow his body to retire.

Now all he can do is suffer and cry,

never to escape, never to die.

There he has been ever since,

so ends the tale of the regicide prince.

Theories

(Caution Potential Spoilers)

While most know the story as a fairy tale to scare children, some believe there is an element of truth to the story. Many historians have tried to trace the tale back to specific figures that could be the basis of the story.

Vellatorix

The most common theory is Prince Vellatorix, a prince from an ancient and long forgotten civilisation. We know very little about Vellatorix except that he disappeared at the same time his father was murdered, leaving the kingdom with no heir and a power vacuum that led to the kingdom's demise. Naturally rumours surfaced that Vellatorix was the murderer as did rumours that his disappearance was the result of a curse or divine punishment.

Diphea

Another theory is that the prince was actually Princess Diphea, who later became a queen. She was not a popular queen, whereas her father was extremely popular. If this was her fault, the result of prejudice and bias, or both, is debated by historians.

A popular bard of the time, whose identity is also the source of speculation, supposedly wrote and performed the poem as a song but changed the character to a prince when they feared the queen would end up hearing it. Allegedly the queen did hear it and loved it so much she requested the bard be found, so that they may perform the song at court. Perhaps fearing a trap and retribution, the bard seemed to have remained anonymous.

This version of events is notably absent of the curse or eternal prison, so some suggest it was metaphorical, a prediction for the queen's future or simply creative embellishment.

The Secret Verse

The poem ends with the prince sealed underground and facing eternal starvation without the release of death. This somewhat anticlimactic ending is unsatisfying to some, leading to suggestions that the story is incomplete and final verse is actually a little different. Supporters of the secret verse say this verse was censored as it could be interpreted as suggesting the prince deserves to be rescued and thereby escaping punishment. As a counter-argument, some have claimed the final verse to actually be a warning. The warning is either against the prince literally being released and seizing his throne or as a metaphor for any ruler taking power by corruption and betrayal becoming equivalent to the prince as an evil ruler who will face endless suffering.

The most popular alternative version of the final verse is as below:

There he has been ever since,

but this was not the end of the regicide prince.

Deep below the ground, he is not alone,

with a little help, the prince could yet take the throne.

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