~Digit~'s first prologue competition entry

Once, in a far away land, not unlike our own, there was an elderly king. This king had a magnificent kingdom spreading from many land masses and they all were connected through sea trade. Magically, his crown granted anyone who had possession of it the power to travel to lands far away. As he neared his death his advisor tried to steal the crown, but while he was taking it away the king hurled his scepter at his advisor like a spear. The advisor leapt out of the way just in time, but the crown was not so lucky, it was shattered into 8 pieces. The advisor, now fearing for his life fled away, and the king hid the 8 pieces of his crown into different artifacts and sent them on sevral merchant ships, telling the merchants, "Go now, take these artifacts and scatter them in the ocean, I will find one who is worthy to wield their power." The king blows into a trumpet and says, "Anyone who heard this blast has been summoned to my kingdom to search for my hidden artifacts, the winner will have the power to see great new worlds and he will be rewarded with my beautiful daughter, Princess Anniléa. This person will also take my kingdom and become king over all my lands, as I fear that my days are now becoming short and I will soon head into the afterlife." with that, a trumpet blast rings in your ears and you know... You have been summoned to go to his kingdom and search for the artifacts.
Godspeed to you in your hunt!