NationStates Jolt Archive


The Sword’s Saviours

Midlonia
28-10-2006, 23:08
We defend only you my Lord…
Thou art our only King my Lord…
We shall defend you to the death Lord…
And beyond it…

We defend only your personal possessions my Lord…
They art thou only belongings that remain here when you go…
We shall defend your belongings to the death Lord…
And beyond it…

~Oath of the Silver Order.

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Adrian sipped his cup of coffee as he read the magazine, it was a simple glossy affair entitled “History and Antiques weekly” the article he was reading was a recent study into the history of one of the most secretive of tombs. The first King of the Greater Kingdom, Gidwon.

…long been rumoured and written of in stories past that the suits of armour that stand guard over the King’s marble casket are the bodies of the knights of the Silver Order, Gidwon’s bodyguard who were with him at the final battle in Laputia in 1645. These Knights are the stuff of legends, many secondary sources claim they had some sort of magical powers to protect their Sovereign, however no actual primary account of the era claim such things, perhaps it was their legendary fighting ability that eventually spurned on these stories years later in pubs and around travellers campfires.

The suits themselves are empty and inert, but each displays a beautiful ornate silver patter of a sword, shield and Dove, each suit stands at the corners of the marble tomb of their sovereign, still guarding him, swords down and mounted in pedestals.

The marble tomb itself depicts the great battles of Gidwon right up to the great final battle in which Laputia, the grand castle which is now the second home of the Royal Family today, is shown. The carving depicting the final battle shows many detailed troops including the early riflemen fighting the Laputians who hold a wide variety of weapons, the castle itself is set behind it, clouds wreathing it as if it were floating.
Atop the tomb on the lid itself is a lifelike statue of Gidwon, his body apparently being cast, clothes and all in plaster for the stone masons to work from. Placed carefully in the statue’s hands itself is Gidwon’s own war blade, an ancient Steel affair which is covered in 9 jewels, each representing a Kingdom he conquered and united. Around this central masterpiece are tapestries and valuable items from all over the…

“Interesting article wouldn’t you say?” interrupted a voice.
Adrian looked up to see the short elderly gentleman sit opposite him, he wore an old trench coat and trilby hat.
Adrian sighed and smiled slightly too.
“What do you want you damn old baboon?” he hissed, all the while keeping the slight smile on his face.
“A job performing.”
Adrian sighed, shook his head and went back to reading.
“Its about that article, ironically enough.”
“Really, fascinating, just fascinating.”
“18 million in it for you.” the gentleman remarked casually.
Adrian choked on the coffee cup he had brought to his lips and his eyebrow twitched for a moment.
The old man smiled broadly, showing off a few golden teeth, he laughed behind the shining grin, Adrian could see himself in the reflection, shaggy unkempt hair that fell into a vague style, a pair of sunglasses sported on his small nose.
He put the cup down a little too forcefully and looked up at the gentleman.
“Thought it’d get your attention.” he grinned.
“What. What could possibly be worth that much for such an undertaking.” Adrian asked, shivering slightly at the sheer amount of money, he’d always done contracts to procure items of value before, and was known to be quite good at it, but never had he been offered so much money for a job like that.
“That.” he tapped a picture in the article
“That?” Adrian exclaimed, shifting back in his seat a little.
“Mhm”

He whistled and sat back properly.
“Done, give me the details then…” he leant forward and removed his sunglasses to show he meant business, showing off a pair of sparkling green eyes.

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Adrian walked slowly down the corridor before reaching the old heavy oak door, he was barely a shimmer, the optical cloak blacking him out “By about 80%” according to the manual, he had stolen it from an emptied Army base. Rustling into his pocket he grabbed a small circular device and clamped it to the large lock of the door, he pressed a trigger before letting go and sitting down for a minute or two. The device clicked and hissed, the ceme-foam expanding into the lock itself, filling in and pressing down the pieces of the mechanism, clacking the foam began to rapidly harden, with a gentle beep Adrian moved back to the door and turned the device, the lock clacked audibly and the door swung open easily.

“Hrm, typical history junkies, not interested in security until its in a museum.” Adrian shook his head and entered the tomb.

The room was pretty much unlit, so he checked his Night vision goggles and sighed, the world awash with green, a table with several of the artefacts had been set up, mostly gold and silver urns, along with several small goblets. Adrian picked one up for a minute shrugged and placed two in his backpack.

Along the walls were ornate angelic busts made of marble, they began to glow very faintly, barely noticeable in the faint moonlight the windows cast into the room. Adrian approached the tomb itself and looked, the world washed in the low green light. The sword itself was slotted into the statue on top, just as the article had said. Adrian sighed and looked at the four knights stood sentry around the grave.

“Sorry gents,” he bowed slightly to the inert figure on the tomb, “my Lord, but I need this item.” Adrian shook his head and chuckled. “Man I must be loosing it.” he then cracked out his fingers and placed his hand on the hilt and pulled, it came away easily. The angelic busts glowed brighter, a gas began to leak from them. He admired the sword and sucked through his teeth.

“18 million for this? Man this has to have been the easiest job I’ve done in a while.” he tucked the sword into a sheath he had brought with him and headed back for the door, swiping another goblet in the process. He closed the door behind him and removed the disk, the ceme-foam remaining in the door, whistling slightly to himself.

The metal shod foot clacked onto the floor, the gases swirling around the suit and slowly being sucked into it, its eyes glowed faint blue in colour as it pulled the sword from the pedestal and swung it, it sang lightly in the air. With stiff movements it headed for the door and pulled on the handle.

Adrian smiled as he began to creep back down the empty stone corridor, he suddenly realised his goggles were whiting out, as if some sort of great lamp had been snapped on, he lifted the goggles and realised the whole corridor was bathed in a cool blue light.
“What the?” He turned behind him and froze, his face turning pale.

The wooden door slowly splintered and cracked, nearly 2 feet of solid Midlonian Oak coming slowly apart along the grains, the handle cracked in two and fell to the floor.
“Holy…”
The light shone brighter as the wood began to fall away, the figure standing behind it, sword raised into a ready and guarded position.
“…shit.” Adrian scrabbled slightly as he ran, his feet now banging and clattering as he stormed down the hallway. The figure merely followed at its own pace, an almost gentle trot as it walked down the corridor.

Adrian turned a corner and stopped, regaining himself he realised that he was still wearing the optical camouflage and breathed, he hustled down next to a window and crouched while he got his breath back, he could hear the figure clanking its way towards him.

It came slowly into view, the blue light highlighting its figure, a suit of armour with the domed, almost shapeless helmet of the ancient Midlonian Knights, sword held aloft. Adrian smirked at the figure, it had to be some sort of rival with some fancy toys up his sleeve to pull this kind of crap off. Adrian stood perfectly still as it turned and proceed along the corridor, the optical hiding him from view in plain sight. Suddenly the suit leapt forward and lunged with his sword right for Adrian’s head, he ducked only just in time and managed to roll clumsily away as a second blow tore his optical cloak from him. Screaming, Adrian ran for the half-open window he had come in by and threw himself out of it and wound up rolling uncomfortably on his side for a few metres before hitting rather painfully into a small decorative wall. He quickly got up, ignoring the pain in his side and began to limp rather quickly away. The suit of armour merely watched as the figure vanished into the darkness, before turning back to the bright blue light.

Entering the chamber again he raised his fist and pounded it on its chest, the light faded and split into three, before flying into the three remaining suits, each came to life and each took a weapon, a short sword, an axe and a bow. They then each left the room, stopping to bow at the door before departing.

OOC: Just a smidge of a creepy thread for the season :D