Emperor Leonidas I of the Holy Columbian Confederacy

The American South, the once-proud land of Chivalry and Hospitality, was hit particularly hard by the trauma of the deluge, collapsing into a land ruled by whichever warlord could muster enough men to kill the last one. Gone was the proud Southron Gentry-Knight-Farmer that the tales speak of, in its place rose cold and hard men who had little care for honor and faith. Eventually, the ever-changing borders began to settle, as powerful warlords became cruel and unjust kings. But this sorry state of affairs would soon be changed with the rebirth of the Southern ideals, as brought about by believing men of God.

Service to Charleston
Our tale begins with Leonidas, a young and charismatic Knight from the Free State of Charleston. Beset at all sides by heretics, warlords, and idol worshippers, Charleston's wise lord, Jerome Findlay, sought to establish a pact with Hardin Titus, the Duke of Augusta. Leonidas had made a name for himself in a particularly bloody siege whereby Charleston was saved from the scourge of the idol-worshippers. Leonidas was knighted for his feats in this battle - legends hold that he singlehandedly saved his friend Johnathan, the lord Jerome's son, from a band of devils conjured by a Damnyankee idol-worshipper.

In order to cement this alliance, Count Jerome, lord of Charleston, sent his brave knight Leonidas along with his two sons, Johnathan and Jeremy with offerings of gold and other gifts. As the three braves rode through the lands down yonder, they witnessed the sad state of affairs. They came across a battle, with the sides unclear to them. The three braves charged valiantly and joined the side with fewer men, aiming to be fair and just in all matters. The enemy, who wore the fifty-star mark of the idol-worshipping Yanks, was soundly driven before them, crushed under the brave valiance of the warriors. The man they had saved was none other than Hardin Titus, who promised his favor upon Leonidas in front of all of his men. With the treasure delivered and the pact secured, Leonidas rode forth, leaving Johnathan and Jeremy with Hardin Titus to finalize the deal.

Leonidas spent many moons away from Charleston - he'd been running all over hell's half-acre - waging fair joust against the enemy who had beset his fair city, hoping to earn his lord's favor. For Leonidas had but one desire: he had long yearned for the king's sole daughter, the fair Eleanore, but the two were bound by duty and honor to remain apart. Nor was any illicit relation even thought of, for both were noble God-fearing Southrons, true to their faith and to their cause.

After a brutal duel, Leonidas was resting, attended by his men-at-arms, when he received a vision, directing him to Myrtle Beach along the Grand Strand, proclaiming that there, he will receive the Sword of the States, by which he shall have the South rise once more. There, in the sands of the coast, Leonidas pulled forth a sword, destined to be his as granted by God. Many of his companions marveled at this artifact; supposedly, the sword had been lost to ages before the deluge, and to now turn up in Leonidas' hands must have been a great blessing. With this sign of divine intervention, Leonidas was determined to return to his city and serve with Jerome once more.

Relation with Titus
Months after he departed to crusade against the injustice of the Idol-Worshippers, the Snakemen, and the other heretics, Leonidas returned to Charleston but was met with jeers and taunts from the gate. The banner of his lord had been struck down; nay, the banner of Hardin Titus, Duke of Augusta, flew over the walls. At once, Leonidas rode past the weak guards, overpowering them with his strength. He dismounted his valiant steed and sallied forth into the fortress, where sat Hardin Titus, who had betrayed the pact and had long executed Jeremy, Jerome, and Johnathan. With fury, Leonidas nearly drew his sword, but recognized wisdom would allow him his victory.

The Chivalrous Knight was welcomed by the Tyrant, who announced he had no quarrel with Leonidas, merely his lord, who reigned over lands which Hardin wished to possess. Leonidas was allowed to ask one boon of Hardin, the Tyrant of Georgia, on account of his previously-mentioned favor. Hardin was many things, but deceitful was not one of them. Leonidas, noticing fair Eleanore bound near Hardin, boldly asked for her hand in marriage, upsetting Hardin greatly. Hardin had plans to marry Eleanore to himself, but, bound by what little tradition remained, was forced to accept, though he rankled at giving his bride up to a charismatic upstart. The two were happily wed in a grand ceremony. It was here that Hardin recognized that Leonidas was beloved by the people; many of whom, in drunkenness, exalted him before Hardin.

It was not long until he grew jealous. After all, Leonidas had a growing reputation that the king felt ill at ease with. Leonidas was sent to on several quests the king intended to be suicide missions, but each time Leonidas returned victoriously and his legend grew. Many of his fellow soldiers had begun following his example as a pious Southron knight, and even swayed some of the honorable enemies Leonidas had met in battle. The king grew bitter and intended to poison Leonidas at a feast held in his honor. However, it is said that divine intervention led to the unworthy king himself drinking the poison intended for the brave knight. In a stupor, Leonidas stood up and revealed the truth to the gathered Knights and Nobles, most of whom sided with Leonidas. In a short duel afterwards, Hardin Titus, Tyrant of Georgia, was no more. With his death, all was revealed, and Leonidas, through the course of several months, had restored his former Lord's dignity and grace.

Ascension to Monarch
Upon the kings death, many looked to Leonidas the Good for leadership, and thanks to his marriage with the princess he claimed the throne for himself. He soon found many allies amongst the faithful Sons and Daughters of the South, and together they vanquished the cruel, the unjust, and the unchristian from the land. There are many tales of the Good King Leonidas turning foe to a friend by good deeds and honest words, and there are just as many of him punishing the evil for their sinful acts. Soon his armies spread across the entire south, liberating the people long held under dishonorable rule, and uniting the realm into a grand Confederacy like the days of old. Under his leadership the South blossomed once again, men could do their work and ply their trade without worrying about brigands or greedy lords, women were treated chivalrously, and travelers and merchants were once again treated to Southern Hospitality.