King Murphy Toadstool
King Toadstool already exists as a character in multiple comics and manga. However, in terms of the actual games, he is basically nonexistent: he is mentioned in passing in the “Super Mario Bros. (NES)” manual but specifically only in the English localization (the Japanese version doesn’t mention him at all). Otherwise, it’s just Princess Peach (...and the various kings of the Mushroom World from “Super Mario Bros. 3”, but Nintendo seems fine with ignoring them, so I’m also fine with ignoring them). So the King Toadstool here is basically an original character. The name Murphy itself comes from a proposed name for the king in the “Super Mario Bros. (1993)” film.
Backstory
King Murphy Toadstool was born into Mushroom Kingdom royalty and therefore had a pretty cushy life. However, once he eventually took the crown as the new king, he found himself very underwhelmed by his kingly duties, often shirking them and leaving his young steward Toadsworth to pick up the slack. Murphy’s disenchantment with his current life only continued to grow until it reached a head: he needed to leave.
A somewhat rational part of Murphy realized that the Mushroom Kingdom would still need a monarch, however, and Toadsworth alone shouldn’t hold down the fort. So Murphy wished for a child who would be a good leader for the Mushroom Kingdom, and the storks soon delivered a baby Princess Peach to him. Delegating baby duties to Toadsworth, Murphy Toadstool left the Mushroom Kingdom and never looked back.
At least partially coasting off the money from his crown that he pawned off, Murphy goes from tourist trap to tourist trap before returning to his semi-permanent residence in Isle Delfino. He enjoys his share of relaxation, food and drinks with hardly a care in the world.
The Mushroom Kingdom isn’t the most well-known kingdom, and so not many recognize him as the king who left his kingdom (especially as the years go on). He was tracked down once by Toadsworth and some guards, but during that confrontation, Murphy made it clear that he had zero intentions in coming back. They haven’t bothered him since.
Murphy doesn’t regret much of what he did—the Mushroom Kingdom is still standing, after all, isn’t it? (Murphy isn’t exactly aware of how his departure led or at least contributed to the political weakening of the kingdom and the widespread distrust from and then eventual emigration of several subjects who were majority Goomba. Murphy definitely doesn’t know how that all culminated as the initial main reason for Bowser’s decision to try and take over the Mushroom Kingdom to give Bowser’s Kingdom, still recovering from a dictatorship, more political power. And Murphy is blissfully unaware that suddenly burdening Toadsworth with the responsibilties of both a baby and an entire kingdom resulted in the Toad developing an anxiety disorder.)
Sometimes, however, Murphy hears snippets about Princess Peach, and he thinks about meeting her proper at least once. Surely she wants to meet her dad, too?
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