The Dark Ages

[Kaboom]

In a sinister castle, perched on a hill overlooking the city, a blue-striped and red-clawed Zangoose faced the window, looking at the black clouds drawing across the sky.
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The clouds knitted together, slowly covering the whole sky. The city below was plunged in semi-darkness.

Zangoose appeared pleased, and turned to the other, younger, ones who were waiting behind him.

"My sons," he said, "come with me. It is time, at last, for your test. Only one of you will gain the rule of this kingdom, and that one will be determined by me."

He led them out of the door and away down the corridor.

A crack of thunder and a flash of lightning broke the silence.

A sinister wind blew through the city.

[Kaboom]

The Zangoose assembled in the city centre. There was nobody around. Everyone was taking shelter at home. That suited the Zangoose just fine.

The king paced a little while his sons stood in line. Eventually he stopped and faced them.
"I can only pass kingdom over to one of you. If I choose one myself, the others will be jealous and mutinous. So, I can only choose on merit. Starting today, everything you do will be judged. The worthiest will gain the throne. Are there any questions before we start?"

The sons knew their father too well to ask questions. So, even though they were bubbling with them, they remained silent.
"Good. I shall be giving you a series of tasks. I will use these tasks to determine which of you is the most deserving."

A paced a little more. His sons looked around, because they could feel their father was waiting for someone or something.

They didn't have long to wait. Several explosions shook the earth, and five of the most important buildings went up in flames.
"Off you go," said the king. "There's five of you, and five fires. Go and do what you must, then return to me."

The Zangoose set off, each towards a fire, each thinking of cunning plans to sabotage the others' attempts.

[Kaboom]

The first Zangoose had his fire in the Magisterial Gardens. He took stock of the situation, and saw that the fire was in no danger of spreading immediately. He calmly sought out the nearest source of water and doused the flames with little difficulty. He decided he ought to have time to hinder one or two of his brothers, so he headed towards another fire.

This second fire was located in the Parliamentary Block. The first Zangoose clambered up onto the roof in order to see without being seen. His brother was by the fire, taking measures to prevent it from spreading. He then left the fire to fetch water. This was the Zangoose's chance.

He slid down to the ground and padded over to the fire, carefully placing a stick on the edge of the fire. The flames spread and caught on the rest of the building again, such that when the second Zangoose returned, the area was black with dense smoke. He threw the water on the flames, and somehow got lucky and doused them in one.