In a deforested future, still powered by carbon, it became apparent that oxygen was becoming an invaluable commodity, much as water had been in the century before and oil in the century before that.

Anticipating the trend, Lord Javor consolidated his power by gaining the most direct control possible over that vital resource. Step one was a course of genetic and cybernetic alterations in which he converted his respiration system to expel O2. Step two was the eradication of every other oxygen source through the buyout and intentional drought of chloroplast farms. The bottleneck in oxygen distribution caused a global collapse of civilization and the die-off of everyone unable to reach shelter in his fortress. Tank hauling platoons were able to make temporary trips outside, working the fields for food production and extending Javor's power beyond the throne room, but for the most part he had to distribute oxygen directly to his subjects.

Now, in order to keep his tiny feudal economy running he must devote every minute to keeping his subjects breathing, either directly or by tending to storage devices. Soon, he thinks, he will give up and rest. As he slowly starves to death, he will take pleasure in the fact that no one remains who can dethrone the Oxygen King.