### Prologue - The Dawn of Compliance Before the Protected Kingdom flourished, the landscape was a wild frontier of unchecked data transactions. Cardholder data was left unprotected, ripe for malicious forces to exploit. The kingdom was in dire need of order, structure, and security. One day, the wise Compliance Wizard arrived with a mission. He carried the standard of PCI DSS, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, a beacon of light amidst the chaos. With the principles of PCI DSS guiding him, the Wizard began to transform the kingdom into a fortress of cybersecurity. He helped King Cardholder understand the value and vulnerability of cardholder data and instilled the importance of protecting this treasure. With the King's support, the Compliance Wizard assembled a team of specialists – from the steadfast Firewall Knights to the crafty Password Enchanters, each playing a critical role in safeguarding the kingdom's treasure. Thus, the Protected Kingdom was born, a realm guided by the principles of PCI DSS, a testament to secure transactions and data integrity. This is where our adventure begins.