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Duke John's Revenge:
By Willie Gaffer:
January 5, 2004:
Our story continues in Lance Town, the capital city of the
duchy of Fivelakes. Fat John was the lame duck duke. His term
would expire in a bit more than one year. By law, he would not
be allowed to succeed himself again.
Now, when George, the former duke of Dungland became king of
all Trivia, Fat John had hoped for an appointment to the king's
court in Grafttown the capital of all Trivia.
John's appointment did not happen, because George had not won
Fivelakes in the recent election for King. John had promised
that George would win Fivelakes, but he did not deliver. The
rabble of Fivelakes had turned on John and voted for Tweedledee
out of spite. With the help of the Supreme Jesters of Trivia,
George managed to squeak in anyway, but he never forgave John.
As a result, Fat John was in a vile mood.
"I am really angry," he snarled to his second.
"Me too," agreed the second making the safe reply.
"I should be in Grafttown now, running the see of energy."
"For sure," agreed the second.
"I could have had a fat position there."
The second had to turn his head quickly to hide his grin. ‘A
very fat position for a very fat man,' he chuckled to himself.
"I think you would make a splendid director," he said
smoothly.
"You know what happened, don't you?" demanded John
vehemently.
"For sure," agreed the second. "Fivelakes went
against King George.
"No!" Roared John. "Hard Stone went against him."
"True." said the second, "but so did Rustville
and Carriagton."
"I know that," snapped John testily.
"Of course, you do," soothed the second quickly.
"But I can do nothing about Rustville. It is too big and
the Baron is too powerful."
"Best not anger him," said the second.
"And Carriagton is just not important."
Right," agreed the second. Carriagton is really nothing
more than a suburb of Rustville."
"So that leaves Hard Stone," grinned John nastily.
"What do you mean?" asked the second.
"I mean," grinned John, "to get Hard Stone."
"A vendetta?" queried the second with large eyes. "Oh,
I love vendettas!"
"Let's just call it a reckoning," snickered John.
"Wonderful," giggled the second. "What will we
do."
"I will explain as we go" promised John.
Now Hard Stone was a city in a bit of trouble. For many years
it was ruled by a Baron who thought more of himself that he did
of the city. This was not uncommon and would have gone unnoticed,
but for one thing. The city lost a huge source of revenue through
the decline of a local transportation business. As often happens
with selfish leadership, the loss of revenue was ignored until
the city was bankrupt.
So it came to pass that the city of Hard Stone began to decline.
Potholes appear in roads, building were abandon, and many of
the people were out of work. Unsavory types began to appear in
the streets along with those who were simply desperate.
Not all was lost however. Some of the more thoughtful people
decide to act. In a very difficult power struggle, the Baron
was finally deposed.
There was to be a special election to bring a new Baron to power.
A man named Big Red was prepared to run and he seemed to be a
sure winner. Hard Stone was about to turn its fortunes around.
However, the city had not reckoned on the malice of Fat John.
In Lance Town, the authorities of Fivelakes acted to prevent
the election. It mattered not that their action violated the
law of Fivelakes and of reason. Fat John was still in power.
Big Red was blocked from becoming the Baron of Hard Stone.
Of course, the city appealed to the local court of Jesters and
their appeal was upheld.
Back in Lance Town there was some chagrin.
"What will we do now?" worried John's second.
"Now," growled John, "We will go to the Supreme
Jesters of Fivelakes."
Of course, the Supreme Jesters were very helpful to John.
They said the lower court Jester did not have the authority to
enforce the law. The lower court Jester capitulated. He had no
choice. That was that. Big Red was shut out.
There was nothing left to do. The city did not have the necessary
wealth to continue. Even if they had, there was only one more
place of appeal. That would have been to the Court of Supreme
Jesters of Trivia. That was the same court that had appointed
George King of Trivia.
There was no hope there.
After that, Fat John moved in and installed a man in his own
image to run Hard Stone. He set up one of his henchman, Czar
Fat Eddie. Hard Stone's turn around and recovery was effectively
blocked. The city would remain under duress for a very long time.
Fat John's revenge was complete.
In the end, it did not help Fat John.
The election still came about. John did the best he could by
supporting another War Party candidate. However, in a rare political
switch the grovel party's backroom dealers selected and supported
a woman, Jennie, the Princess of Photoop.
That proved to be effective. When the election was over The Princess
of Photoop became the duchess of Fivelakes.
The war party of Fivelakes not only lost their leader Fat
John, they lost the main Castle in Lance Town to the grovel party.
In Hard Stone, there was some hope that the new duchess would
reverse some of the damaged done to them. They hoped that she
would remove John's Czar and see to a reasonably legitimate election.
Of course, she did none of that. Nor did she explain why.
To be sure, she was quite busy with her old village of Photoop.
It is probable that Hard Stone did not stand out as a priority
for her. It was a local problem for the people of Hard Stone.
So, it came to pass that the people of Hard Stone elected
a local nobleman and folk Hero, Don Don, Son of William, to represent
them as titular Baron of Hard Stone.
It was the will of the people that he challenge the power of
Fat Eddie.
The legal question involved was to what extend the duchy can
impose it's will against the people's will upon a city within
its jurisdiction.
Don Don threw down the gauntlet in the palace at Hard Stone.
Fat Eddie picked it up and carried it to Lance Town.
There he expected to be confirmed in his dictatorial rule of
Hard Stone.
He had numbers on his side. Although the palace was in the hands
of the grovel party, the legislature was still in the firm control
of the war party as was the Court of Supreme Jesters of Fivelakes.
Still, the people of Hard Stone had hope and faith in their hero,
Don Don.
To be continued:
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