[b][i]Freywyn[/i][/b] [hider=Nation Status] [b]Current Leader/Government:[/b] Toryllis Brosca / Unitary State [/b] [b]Settlements Owned:[/b] 3 [b]Provinces Owned:[/b] 1 [b]Population:[/b] ~300,000 [b]Standing Army:[/b] [indent] - /<10,000>/[/indent] [b]Standing Navy:[/b] [indent]-/<20>/<10><5>//[/indent] [b]Population Happiness: 80%[/b] [b]Imports:[/b]- [b]Exports:[/b]Stone / Gold [b]Wealth:[/b] Average [b]Alliances:[/b]- [b]Trade Pacts:[/b]- [b]Cease Fires:[/b]- [/hider] [center][b][u]The Scarlet Blade[/u][/b][/center] It wasn't a morning like the others. This one was a sunrise hundreds of 15-year-old boys have been training for since they could understand basic vocabulary. They would get their once-in-a-lifetime chance to literally fight for their future. Each one, depending on how well he fared in the Provings, would be assigned to a caste and from there, he would learn his trade and aid the nation while keeping his body trained and his sword sharp as dictated by ancient law. [i]«My lord, your presence inspires us all.»[/i] [i]«Master Ellis, a pleasure to see you.»[/i] Toryllis Brosca, the Blademaster of Freywyn, First of the Forgotten, Lord Oblivion himself, replied, his young face serious as always and carrying a wisdom unexpected for his age. [i]«Tell me, what of this year's class? Will they put me to shame or shall I carry the title of Blademaster for a year longer?»[/i] [i]«You're too hopeful Lord, swordsmen like yourself appear once every ten generations and you're still young and healthy.»[/i] the short but respected Ellis Vinfordell, trainer of thousands of men and slayer of even more according to the stories spread like wildfire between his students, replied to his ruler -and former student of his, of course- before they sat on the pleasantly cool stone surface surrounding the Gauntlet, a marvel of architecture and a place where the blood spilt made the sea pale in comparison. Soon, the 392 boys split into four teams and marched towards the center of the arena under the cheers of three thousand of Freywyn's finest. Once they stopped, the whole stadium went silent as it was time for the Lord's speech. [i]«Brothers and sisters.»[/i] Toryllis began. [i]«Once more, our children will prove to themselves today that there is indeed nothing they cannot achieve through unity. Some will rise higher than ever before and some will fall, the first lesson we are ever taught.»[/i] he continued as he stood up. [i]«Vol naurn dethan kongo!»[/i] he yelled, the ancient phrase which pretty much defined their culture before hearing the crowd excitedly reply with the also ancient answer. [i]«Av'Vol kongo, naurn!»[/i] *** The fights began and before sunset, 294 men were left standing and allowed to join the nation as true sons of Freywyn. *** Once they were cleaned and dressed, they presented themselves before the Lord who was now holding the prize of the finest among them, the Scarlet Blade for the fighter who stood above the rest. [i]«Move forward Akun, son of Keras.»[/i] Toryllis's calm voice echoed throughout the arena. A man, for someone who has seen so much death cannot still be a boy, stepped forward and bowed in front of his Ruler, barely holding the tears back. [i]«These tears, why are you wasting them boy?»[/i] [i]«For my brothers!»[/i] he yelled, breaking down. [i]«Stand and bear this blade! This will never let you forget how killing your own brother feels like, how killing in general feels like! I was once, in the same situation as you and still there are nights when the faces of the slain visit me in my dreams. Rise soldier and wield this blade with pride, for you are carrying not only your dreams but the dreams of those who fell as well!»[/i] the Lord said and the young one accepted his prize, if one could consider it a prize. *** [i]«What a beautiful afternoon.»[/i] Ellis's soothing voice sounded behind him. The ceremony ended a few hours ago and Toryllis was taking a little break from his duties, enjoying the view of Freywyn's valleys before returning to Admeryn where he spent most of his days in the Halls. [i]«It would be nice if the Queen was here, wouldn't it, Ellis?»[/i] [i]«Well Lord, for me, I'd rather if my Lady wasn't here.»[/i] the old man said and they both laughed, unaware of the days to come. [center][b][u]Halls of Unity[/u][/b][/center] Avaris Tonya, appointed Master of Commerce and representative of every trader in the nation, kept pacing back and forth with a candle in his hands, praying to the Gods for a way to convince the rest of the representatives about the severity of the problem at hand and how dire their situation would become in a few months time if they didn't take immediate measures. Behind him, the rest of the Whispers sat in silence and in darkness since only the one speaking could carry the flame. The Hall of Unity was located in Admeryn's Cloud District and it was built in such a way that even the weakest of whispers could be heard inside its stone walls while blocking the noise of the always busy port below. [i]«Dear brothers.»[/i] He never liked the complete blindness and silence of the Hall. It made him uneasy. [i]«What is a trader's most valuable possession?»[/i] [i]«His pouch o' coins!»[/i] a voice yelled, earning many laughs. [i]«I kid you not, but 'tis not the pouch! It's his horse! His trusty horse which carries the cargo through winter and spring, day and night, rain or snow. It'd even tread on Hell's dirt if we ordered it so!»[/i] He paused to catch his breath. [i]«But what if I told you that, the current number of horses in our lands will not hold us for another year? 'Tis imperative that we break these walls of solitude that we built so many years ago and start trading with the outlanders! Who knows what luxuries and what materials we have ignored for so long! We should immediatelly contact our neighbours and be it through gold or through blade, we must get our horses!»[/i] And of course, after such a proposal and as expected, Hell broke loose. Avaris couldn't quite make out what the representatives were saying since there were so many of them with each one yelling at the top of his lungs but he was certain that a third of them was openly challenging him to a duel, another third was swearing on their mothers' bones that they had seen a vision where the Gods warned them of this while the last third was declaring war on every horse owner out there. And all that, in total darkness. [i]«Witness world, the Whispers of Freywyn. The men representing the nation.»[/i] The woman's mocking voice stopped the 100 yelling men faster than an arrow travels. Only one had that kind of power and only one was allowed to set foot in those Halls. [i]«Queen Myra, we... we were not aware of your presence. We do know that Lord Oblivion is currently attending the Provings in Caan but we thought that you wouldn't be interested in such... mundane matters.»[/i] [i]«Master Varanis, a matter where the breaking of the Oath is discussed is something I do find myself very interested in. Would our Lord not attend this meeting? Would he find it, how did you put it, mundane?»[/i] [i]«No, of course not, milady, apologies.»[/i] [i]«Do not apologise lord, for it is great courage and love of the nation that drove you to face the Whispers with such a seemingly mad proposition. And fear not for the fate of this country for we will do what we must do therefore I, by the authority vested in me by our Lord, call for the Oathbreaker and with the Mother as my champion, I will prevail.»[/i] The silence was even deeper this time as Myra Falkenbrough, a woman with twice as many haters as fans and someone who was not part of Freywyn but rather found as an abandoned newborn, invoked one of the oldest traditions in their culture, the right for her to drink a potent hallucinogenic poison which, if she survived, would proclaim her Godborn, someone with the blood of a God in her veins and mark her worthy of carrying the Oathbreaker, a blade which would give her the right to break the oath to never forge ties with other nations taken so long ago.