[ WP ] The hero was killed , the princess was sacrificed , and the evil king rules the land . For the average citizen , though , things have taken a turn for the better .

The death-bells tolled for the king and continued on into the wedding song. The war had ended when the Sword of the Sun had died defending the Sun King, and the Princess had sacrificed herself and her royal name. She paid for her life with her hand in marriage. 
 
 The necromancer had wasted no time in securing the kingdom. Although the peasants were unnerved by the king's attendance at his daughter's wedding, the free bread and ale quickly overcame their reluctance. It was a bit plain, but they had been hungry for a very long time. 
 
 The wars did n't end, of course. Everyone knew that necromancers were inherently evil. The Land of the Sun had become Shadowfall, and brave knights and greedy kings often waged war to bring it back in the light. But the peasantry no longer sent their sons to war. They sent their fathers instead. The vast graveyards of all the previous wars opened, and the dead flooded out to protect the land. There were so many dead, in fact, that the king sent the extra skeletons to work the fields, to build roads, or perform other menial tasks. 
 
 Crime also decreased. The necromancer watched his kingdom ( and later his kingdoms ) through the eyes of the undead. He employed Black Dogs as scouts and spies. They were terribly efficient creatures, and are only visible for a moment from the corner of the eye. Thieves, rapists and murderers often vanished before their crime could be committed. 
 
 The peasants grew fat and wealthy. They devoted their time to the arts and sciences, often sending their children to the necromancer's School for Minions to teach them letters, numbers, and basic necromancy. 
 
 The necromancer often toured these schools, searching for exceptional talent. On one of these trips, a bold child asked `` Why are you doing nice things, if you're supposed to be evil?'' 
 
 The scholars and pupils waited, both expectant and fearful. 
 
 `` If I killed everyone, my kingdom would never grow. One must keep the living alive or there will be no more dead. So I make sure you have enough food to make many children. I have been alive for thousands of years. You only live for a hundred. I can wait.'' 
 
 The child's eyes widened. 
 
 `` The Black Dogs keep the peace. Ca n't have you all killing each other too soon now, can we?'' 
 
 The child shook its head slowly. It tried to ask a question, but the question refused to force its way out. 
 
 The necromancer smiled. He'd found one. `` You wish to ask about the schools?'' 
 
 The child nodded. 
 
 `` Once in a great while, there is a person who is born but will never die. These schools help me find them. You, for instance.'' 
 
 The child finally found a voice. `` Then what?'' It asked. 
 
 `` Care to find out? I'm afraid it will be a very long time until you can come back here.'' The necromancer extended an emaciated hand. 
 
 The child took the hand and went with the necromancer. The village had a great feast in the child's honor, toasting the necromancer with their finest ales. 
 
 Back at the Sun King's castle, the child was bathed, fed, and brought into the ritual room. `` What now?'' it asked. 
 
 The necromancer grinned. `` I have been so very hungry, for so very long. And we are so much more delicious when we're young.'' 
 
 Later, the necromancer admired his form in the mirror. He now looked like a muscular, ordinary young man. Of course he took care of the people, made them happy. Rebellion was too much effort, too much risk. He was evil, not stupid. 
 
 It was too bad the princess had already died. He might have put his restored form to some use.
