YELLOW SWORD | 100
The kingdom's villages sent tributes into the wilderness on the annual journey to the capital city.
Audience with the king would be the reward for whoever eluded the knights of the realm which hunted them in the traditions of old.
I had found the one that stalked me, his armor bejeweled and glistening in the light of the fire of my torch as we dueled.
After hours I finally felled the bastard. Afterwards I didn't know what was more peculiar: the yellow blood that adorned my sword or the black tentacles coming from the helm, feet from where the rest laid.
IN GOOD COMPANY | 50
The Golden Palace was deserted. Along with all the dwellings and abodes that littered the planet wide city of Or.
For a millennia the Golden Kingdom had ruled the stars since humanity's pilgrimage from our ancient homeworld.
The various hued banners and colorful standards that it ruled were granted some sort of autonomy. As long as it sweared fealty to the benevolent Golden Crown.
The Scarlet King was frustrated. His forefathers had planned this usurpation for centuries. Resentment had come to a head over the years and his court informed him that the time was right to strike.
He walked absentmindedly past his knights to the throne of his rival. He wanted to avoid this. A quick capitulation is what his advisors and mystics foretold would happen.
His soldiers knew the winds of war were starting to blow. Some would never see the Homeworld again.
The banners would take sides and the stars would be ripped apart by the bloodshed to follow.
The Golden Kingdom had called his bluff and fled to the stars along with it's people. The king knew his reign would not be steady until those who may threaten it were dealt with.