The elves lived in a glorious kingdom. It was a world where nature and technology lived in peaceful harmony.
A kingdom ruled by a king who had learned to harness the magic of witchcraft
and a queen who had learned the magic of the genies.
The kingdom was a welcoming place to both groups and had finally brought peace rather than division among the different groups of magic users.
Despite their elevated status, the king and queen did not hold themselves too high to walk in the midst of their people. Indeed, they preached a government based upon equality and fairness. Theirs was a kingdom of peace.
But they were getting older. Indeed, it was only a matter of time until they would need to pass the right to rule to one of their children:
Caoin, who was a good and proper gentleman but overly shy and timid, had learned genie magic like his mother,
Alainn, who was lovely but had a somewhat self-serving nature, practiced witchcraft,
and Breagadoir, who had an evil streak but had the leadership skills Caoin lacked, also used witchcraft.
The king and queen called their three children in to meet with them.
"We are well aware," began the king, "that you are all intending to bear the crown when your mother and I determine it is time to step down."
The queen then added, "We are also well aware of you fights,"
"your attempts to sway each of us to your own side,"
"and even your attempts to give one another poison apples in the guise of gifts."
"Thus, we have decided," continued the queen, "to issue a challenge to determine which of you will attain the right to rule."
"But how are you going to give the sniveling baby a chance to win?" asked Breagadoir, indicating his brother.
"Indeed," said Alainn, "we all bring different strengths, mine being far superior of course. So how will you gauge it?"
"Silence, you arrogant twits!" interjected a fed up Caoin, "If you'll cease your infernal bickering for a moment, mayhaps they'll tell us."
The king and queen simply stared at ther children in silence until all three resumed quiet and meek posture.
The king then resumed, "We know that so long as you remain in the kingdom, you will continue to try swaying the members of this proud land to join your cause and to renounce your siblings."
"That is why the challenge will not take place here. Rather, you will each be sent to a series of other lands where your ability to carry out successful relationships with others, complete lifetime accomplishments, and effectively raise generations of your own heirs will determine who is most fit to reign."
"But how are we to succeed in raising generations of heirs? We'll die or at best be as elderly as you are now when and if we return," objected Breagadoir.
"You're a clever lad," quipped the queen, "I'm sure you can come up with some clever way to handle it,"
"just like your clever scheme of seducing my handmaiden to try to find out how we would settle the issue of succession."
"Well played, mother," said Alainn with a wicked smile for her brother.
"Go and say your goodbyes," said their mother, "for you will all be sent away tomorrow morning."
Their father then added, "You will each find a list of our rules for your challenge awaiting you when you return to your quarters. Rest well. You'll need it."
"He's not coming for you," said Alainn to the handmaiden on her way out, "he's got a new route to the throne."
Here are the rules they discovered:
-You will begin with a severely limited budget, but your financial goal is to earn at least $50,000 in each land you visit.
-The original home/lot selected at the initial move into each town will be the permanent residence for the duration of your stay.
-You must find a spouse or partner in the first new land you visit. You and this partner will give birth to an heir. If you have multiple eligible children, you may choose which becomes the heir.
-The heir must have the features of an elf rather than a human.
-Your heir must achieve whatever lifetime wish they may randomly have before you will be permitted to go to the next land. In the first land where you are placed, you must achieve your own lifetime wish before you may advance to the next land.
-No magical devices may be employed to prematurely age any of your children. Toddlers must be taught all skills before they age up.
-The heir must make honor roll at least once.
-The heir must become a young adult and be married before you may move to the next land. This heir will give birth to the next heir.
-You are only required to bring the heir and his/her spouse with you to the next land, but you have the option to bring any others who reside in your household.
-Each of you will be provided with a randomized list of the lands you will visit.
-The winner will be the one who sees the final heir in the final land reach their lifetime wish first.
Note-This story is based on the Random Town Jump Project started by judewright
