Chess Pieces

Today I was bored and for some reason started thinking about the chess pieces and how they move. I came up with a little story for each and thought I would share the result with you. Warning; sorta depressing. Also, I don't do all the pieces, who has that much time? You can come up with a story for the White nation if you want, I'm lazy:

Backstory: Two nations (alike in dignity *ahem* I totally didn't rip that off Shakespeare) are at war. They have assembled their armies for the deciding battle. Think Waterloo, Hastings, Battle of D-Day. A truce cannot be reached, too much blood has been shed and far too much pride stands in the way of a clean end. Only one side will prevail.

Black King: The king is very old. He's been ruling for almost thirty years and he's not really long for this world. Though he was once a just and intelligent ruler, his mental proficiency has drastically decreased with age. He doesn't have any power lately and advisors and generals tend to do what they like without his consent. He's only a symbol of power, a morale boost for the people. His physical condition is also incredibly poor, so much so that he can only move one square every turn (but in any direction, his carers let him have that much). A spectator at the battle, he must be protected by the participants. He fears for his life.

Black Queen: The queen is much younger than the black king, a typical gold-digger. She has never loved him, except maybe for his money and expensive gifts. She has done her duty to the nation and given the king two sons (although only the younger of the two actually belongs to the king, the elder the son is the oblivious son of the King's first general; the Black Rook). The queen does what ever she wants and she wants vengeance. The White King had a brief affair with her sister and, when a servant discovered the truth, had her and the servant boy secretly executed. The Black Queen received a letter containing the real story a few days after her sister went missing. She has taken it upon herself to slaughter the White King for his misdeed, and will kill anyone who stands in her way.

Black Rook 1: The Black Rook is the King's first general and young rival. He is brave, strong, cunning, everything the king no longer is. He has no long term partner and likes to think of himself as a real ladies man (he also secretly fathered the eldest prince, the second Black Rook, although the queen has not told him this). He has his own agenda in this war, hoping that 'terrible accidents' will befall the princes so that he can swoop in and sieze power. He in confident that he will survive the war. He walks on the sidelines, commanding other soldiers, going right in for the kill if he gets the chance.

Black Rook 2: Oldest prince and heir to the throne, he wants so desperately to do well. He is terrified that any day his 'father' (he is unaware that the first Black Rook is his real father) will pass and he'll have to take over as king. He's young, only just turned twenty three, cripplingly insecure and shy having never been exposed to normal social situations. He hopes that this battle will give him some kind of self confidence so he can figure out who he is. The thought that he might die hasn't really occured to him. He stays at the edge of the battle field, naively attempting to aid lowly pawns.

Black Bishop: A corrupt and self righteous priest, risen to power in the church throught deciet and murder, he has been drafted into this final battle as last resort, due to his army experience as a young man. A malicious killer, he often feigns injury to save his own skin, sacrificing lives on either side of the battlefield. He believes that he is god's labourer and so should do whatever is neseccary to survive. He weaves diagonally through the field and stabs attackers from behind.

Black Knight: The youngest prince and true heir to the throne, he is sixteen years old and a cocky, wild spirited, little prick. He has never had to work nor has he ever been given any responsibility. One of his favourite things to do is annoy the shit out of his ernest older brother, walking all over him the majority of the time. He has been sent into battle as punishment for one too many crazy parties and totally trashing the whole palace west wing, in the hope that he'll get his act together under a bit of pressure. This plan hasn't gone very well, however, the prince has taken it as a sure death sentence and gotten pissed off his head just before the battle. Someone had the bright idea to put him on a horse to avoid him causing further damage to himself. He controls it well enough to stay on but moves in an irregular, erractic way, often placing himself in more danger.

Black Pawns: The Black pawns are young soldiers, labourers, war prisioners and veterans. They are very weak, tired and half starved. They no longer care who wins the war but most of them do not expect tosurvive the battle.

Everywhere there is a story to tell. You just need to find it. And always, embrace the madness