An article in the Voice of Karrnath, dated 19th Eyre, 998 YK.
Our king, Kaius III, emerged from the shadows like a villain in a play on the date of his coronation. He was kept hidden throughout his youth, whilst his aunt Moranna served as the regent of Karrnath. Many in Karrnath didn't even know about the boy when he appeared to claim the crown, and his power. Most today won't remember Kaius I, the ruler who plunged Karrnath into the Last War and instituted the brutal laws that share his name, but those who do state that this new king bears a striking resemblance to his "grandfather".
Given the mysterious nature of his rise to power, the king has faced many formal challenges from our proud warlords. Many questioned his lineage, was he really who he said he was? Some challenged his ability to command, where did he come from, and where did he learn to lead?
The most interesting challenge, however, came from the warlord Drago Thul. The warlord questioned whether the new king was actually alive. Kaius I elevated the Blood of Vol in Karrnath and made it the official religion of the state, and instituted the vile undead as weapons of war. Many state this was justified, Karrnath had been decimated by famine and plague, and to the great shame of the state, couldn't feed it's own people. The undead don't need feeding, we were told. This was for the greater good, they said, but what of the cost to our immortal souls?
Warlord Thul asserted that Kaius III was actually Kaius I, a vampiric monster seeking to drain the lifeblood of Karrnath itself, like the parasites vampires are. This was a serious accusation; the undead have no rights under the Code of Galifar and cannot inherit titles or lands. If this was true, it would mean that Kaius could not sit on the throne of Karrnath. The challenge spread like wildfire, only to be crushed when Kaius III met the warlords under the midday sun, and cut his palm to show his freely flowing blood.
The tale of the Vampire King of Karrnath has proven to be surprisingly resilient, however. Some say that the king developed special magic to avoid the effects that the sun has on vampires. Others say that it was not the king who met the warlords at all, but a changeling impersonator. As for warlord Thul, he refused to stand down when Kaius III pushed for peace and the Treaty of Thronehold at the end of the war, and had to flee the country to escape the king's wrath.
What do you think of this tale? Is it far fetched, or could there be a hint of truth to it? Our journalistic integrity demands we must acquire more evidence before saying conclusively either way.