The Headless King
A mausoleum of black stone etched with astrological symbols. A larger-than-life statue sits atop the building depicting a headless man sitting cross-legged, holding his crowned head.
Young women who do not wish to marry leave their families to tend the king's grave. They wear white dresses with charcoal rubbings of the symbols of the crypt. Their breath cures leprosy, mummy rot and 4-in-6 poisons. Horrible deaths befall any man who touches them.
The oldest of the women, who does not look more than forty, claims to have been there when the king was interred a century ago.
King Brudolap the Arcane was a boon to magicians and enchanters across his kingdom funding research, building universities and laboratories, and filling his court with wizards and seers. Unfortunately, he couldn't tell a real wizard from a shyster and half of his support went to quacks and grifters.
One of Brudolap's close advisers, fortune teller Kramus the Distant, came to the king with a vision. A man would be executed that day, an unrepentant thief. Kramus' vision showed him that the next person executed would be reincarnated as king. Brudolap needed to act quickly to stop this unscrupulous person from gaining the throne.
Kramus had merely wanted the king to intercede for his friend the thief, call off the execution. He was baffled when the king abdicated his throne, naming Kramus as his successor. Brudolap shed his royal garments, dressing in the clothes of one of his servants and practically dragged Kramus down to the platform where the execution was to be held. He demanded that the newly appointed king have him beheaded.
Kramus protested, but not for long. Brudolap instructed him to hold the throne and keep watch for Brudolap's next incarnation, to be ready to transfer power back. Kramus promised, having no intention of ever giving up the throne.
Kramus was a despot. He drove the magicians out and filled the palace with his fellow con artists. They spent through the treasury in a three month long orgy of excess (and also regular orgies). He raised taxes and sent out conquering armies to refill the coffers. He mercilessly executed every dissenter, and every newborn who even vaguely resembled the old king.
King Kramus the Distant lived a long time and ruled with an iron fist until he died in his throne, choking one of his advisors. His kingdom fell as soon as he died, a decade of war followed as the aggrieved neighbouring kingdoms fought over the scraps.