Gyldan

 An extended metaphor for the Gilded Age

Daybreak.

Peasants, still weary from yesterday’s work, filed into the fields. Shuffling into their positions, they resumed their mind-numbingly repetitive tasks. One man cut, while the other tied. Cut and tied, cut and tied. Sunrise to sunset; day in and day out. 

The Lords of the Manors said it would be faster this way; faster and more cost effective. These seemed to be the only things they cared about as they dreamed the stereotypical rich person dream- becoming more rich. However, they didn’t so much as cling to the stereotype handrail as they stood in the deep end discussing prototypes. 

Haggles over manor size were commonplace. Everyday large manors ate up entire small ones. The goal apparently was to keep this going till no two (now monstrous) manors produced the same thing. As manors grew, their Lords grew with them, grew both wealthy and powerful. Their wealth allowed them to experiment, to come up with faster new ways to produce goods. The faster they produced the wealthier they got. The wealthier they got, the more money they gave away to public institutions. In fact it was this very cycle that had ushered in prosperity and security to the glorious Kingdom of Gyldan. “With great wealth, comes great responsibility”, the Lords often quoted. With great wealth also came great power. Power, that some reckoned virtually rivalled that of the Forgettable King. 

The Forgettable King of Gyldan was shrouded in mystery and legend. Was there just one? Had there been a couple over the years? Nobody knew. The Forgettable King never actually met anybody or did anything, thus, it was easy to forget about him. One question always plagued the minds of the people. Looking to the power the Lords wielded, they couldn’t help but wonder about the sheer magnitude of power the Forgettable King wielded. Maybe that’s why he wouldn’t let just anybody see him. He was far too special.

The sun hung low in the sky. The peasants put down their tools and marched to their quarters. 

Repeat.