He swears his blade to Wraithvine. For as long as he lives, and for generations to come in his family, they swear to be the bodyguards of the eternal elf, and those the elf bade them to protect. The wizard saved him and his entire family, now, his family swears, they will protect the wizard.
@internutter/challenge-03307-i019-the-sword-often-loses -- FightingFit
After the bloodiest of bloody coups, a man of knives takes a knee once more. Offers his blade to a Wizard he could not possibly defeat. "I swear my blade and my arms to your protection, if you will it so. The world is violent, dangers are many, and at the very least... I can put my body between you and those who would attack you."
"That's a waste of a good body," said Wraithvine. "I'd much prefer that you employed it in the protection of those who truly need it. The victims of oppression, for example."
That was almost a century ago. What came out of hir words was another secret society. Two kind hands once helped a family. They helped the man of that family help others. Others who swore to the same benefit as the first.
They became the Honourable Guard. A shield against tyranny and a double-edged blade sworn to justice. Protectors of the weak, defenders of the innocent. Destroyers of fascism and despots wherever they may be found. They lived frugally, despite being knights in full armour.
Some called them the Paladins of Balance. Some called them the Steel Fist. Wherever they came, they left justice in their path. Though they attempted to do so with a minimum of collateral damage, there were some situations with... fallout.
Such as when the Honourable Guard met up with the Wizard who started it all. Wraithvine recognised the symbol of crossed rapiers on their shields and said, "Oh gods no..."
There was a burning castle on the hill and bodies hanging from a tree. The peasants had stopped revolting and had raided the castle cellars and storerooms for the festival in progress.
The leader of the Honourable Guard recognised Wraithvine by hir hat and dappled skin. They took a knee. "Great Wizard, we can explain."
"It was me," said a junior. "An accident with an oil lamp. We do try to not set things on fire. And the children have been spared."
"You're all sworn to the god of justice?" said Wraithvine. There was a Kobold hiding behind hir knee.
"Yes, Great Wizard. If you would judge us, judge all of us. The lord of this realm was bleeding maidens of his realm for blood. Blood that he and his wife and mistress bathed in as an attempt to stay young. Those he didn't literally bleed dry were also bled by their taxes. We were asked to step in and set things right."
"And the children were spared," said Wraithvine. "What do you do with them?"
"The same thing with all the orphans," said the Junior. "We take them in and train them in our ways. When they reach their majorities, they decide where they go... but we see that they get a good start."
"Armed maniacs deciding what is just," sighed Wraithvine. "How well do you try to convince them first?"
"We send envoys first, of course," said the leader. "If they don't come back or if they come back in pieces, then we send a troop."
"Then we inform them of their mistake and give them a chance to make amends," said the Junior. "We never look for a fight, Great Wizard, but we can supply one if it's required."
"A fair fight, a fair trial, and then a hanging?" wondered Wraithvine.
"Absolutely not! A fair fight, a thorough investigation, and then a trial before an impartial judge."
"Sometimes we have to go really far to find that judge," said the junior. "We even tried to get a bucket chain for the castle, but none of the people wanted to save it."
Wraithvine raised an eyebrow. "A fair enough judgement of the ruler's character, I suppose. The Kobold is currently my trainee and associate. She is learning to be better."
"That," said the leader, "we appreciate. Just as we appreciate your mercy."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / fcarucci]
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