Sovereign Stones

Here's what I wrote today! Something different from my regular stuff... it's tropey as hell, full of systems, numbers, cores and tiny little maids. (They'll be featured a lot if continued)

Seriously though, it was inspired by the very FF image I linked in the post. I would absolutely give the artist credit, if I knew who they were, but I don't.

Anyways... I wasn't happy with the 'system stats' part. It was thrown together as I wrote, and if I continue writing this I'll plan it out more.

Hope you enjoy!

Synopsis

Aereth is a world where rulers are not decided by strength, integrity, or support of the people. No, the ones that rule here are the ones that control the Sovereign stones. These stones allow rulers to grant magic, systems and classes to their followers, along with creating vast armies of magical constructs (they’re pretty much dungeon cores) These stones allow almost anyone to create a stable kingdom, safe from both aggressors and monsters.

As long as they follow the rules associated with them. The sovereign code.

That doesn’t mean that everyone is happy living in the kingdoms. Medea Ashborne was a duke’s daughter, and fiance to the prince, until she and her retainers were exiled from the kingdom to fend for themselves on the frontier. 

Despite the constant threat of monsters, there is plenty for the fledgling village to discover. New friends, and maybe more, hidden beyond the boundaries of civilization.

Prologue - Former Lover’s Spat

Even with the frigid alpine wind whipping through the narrow mountain pass, I didn’t dare move from my position, standing on the edge of a small plateau overlooking the area. The enemy would only see that as a sign of weakness. Instead I just pulled my thick wool cloak closer and waited for the small retinue to slowly trudge up the  narrow path towards me.

Behind them was an army designed to crush my fledgling kingdon. Hundreds of massive silver knights, covered in ornate golden filigree, standing in perfect ranks, covering the valley floor. Although they might have appeared human at first glance, the entire force was made up of magical constructs. 

Even before they marched into the valley, I knew that would be all they would field. Despite the Iskel kingdom having dozens of high level nobles, the Rothchild royal family never trusted any of them enough to take them into battle. Their paranoia would work to my advantage. I could only pray that it was enough.

“You think there’s any chance they’ll actually negotiate?” Camille, my steward and oldest friend asked.

I turned towards the tiny blond girl, and tried not to laugh at her comically over bundled form. Beneath her heavy white cloak, she had a thick fur jacket and heavy auburn sweater. The layers made her outline balloon out like some sort of small fluffy animal. She was so rotund that her massive longbow had to stretch to fit over her shoulder.

“They won’t. You know that Archibald, and his family, are unable to admit they’re wrong, or back down from a challenge. They surround themselves with yes men, which they can blame when something goes wrong. Even with the Sovereign Stone’s ability to influence everyone in the kingdom, many families have already lost faith in them,” I said. “The only reason they’re still in power is that the other noble houses are afraid of losing access to their systems, and magic.”

“Well, not everyone is as spiteful, and willing to abandon their status as you are,” Camille replied. 

“Have you heard from Abigail yet? Is she in place?”

As she opened her mouth to say something else, but paused when the small group trudging towards us crested the ridge. Instead, she just nodded, then leaned in closer. “You sure you don’t want me to just kill them?” 

“Two months ago I wouldn’t have hesitated, but now that I’m bound to a Sovereign Stone of my own, I’m bound to the rules of engagement. We can’t attack until one side makes a formal declaration of war. We just gained access to a stone of our own, I’m not willing to risk breaking the rules, and being penalized for it this early.”

“But the plan…” Camille mumbled under her breath.

“There’s a difference between bending the rules, and breaking them,” I whispered back at her, shoeing her back towards the small unadorned tent at the other side of the ridge before turning to meet our guests.

One of the retainers, a man I didn’t recognize dressed in a gaudy red and gold outfit that might have had a palace in the royal court, couldn’t be great insulation halfway up a mountain. Bowing low the man started spouting nonsense. “Presenting his Royal Magnificence, Heir of the Iskel Kingdom, and Protector of the golden lands, Prince Archibald Rufus Rothchild.” 

As he stepped to the side Archibald stepped forward. Even though he was dressed in his royal garb, a red velvet cape draped over a purple dress jacket and pants, Archibald’s clothes were sloppy and his golden brown hair was a mess. He probably spent the entire trip up here in the back of his carriage, wrapped around one of his numerous concubines. 

“We’ve met,” I snorted. “Looks like you still haven’t learned any decorom, or common sense since we last met.”

“Show the prince some respect, wench!” Samuel, Archibald’s oldest friend and bodyguard hissed. 

“Why? It’s not like you’ve shown me any respect over the years, and you certainly haven’t done anything to earn it.” 

Samuel’s hand drifted to the thin blade at his belt. “I’m warning you…” 

“Warn away. This meeting is bound by the rules of hospitality, and engagement. If you even scratch me, the Iskel Kingdom will be penalized,” I scoffed. “Besides, do you even know how to use that thing?”

“I have decided to bestow the class of Swordmaster upon him, in recognition of his years of service,” Archibald declared as he stepped forward. 

The letcher looked me up and down several times before breaking out into a wide smile. “Well Lady Ashbourne, or should I say Medea now that you’ve been stripped of your title?” Archibald grinned at his self perceived snub. “I have to say, if I’d known you were so attractive without that scar over your eye, I wouldn’t have had you exiled from the kingdom.”

“It’s Queen Ashborne now,” I replied, shooting him a smirk of my own. “I retrieved my last name when I found a stone of my own. As for the scar… I know, that’s why I gave it to myself. The idea of being married to you disgusted me so much that I had to come up with a way to get you to break up our engagement, even if that meant being exiled into the wilderness. Thankfully, you’re as shallow as you are stupid.”

“Villainous wench, I should have killed you and the rest of your family, instead of just exiling you!” Archibald sputtered.

“But the rules of nobility your ancestors established would have prevented that,” I replied calmly. “Honestly, I should thank you, you did exactly what I wanted you to.”

Scowling, I folded my arms and stepped closer to the small group of clowns. “Can we just get to the point already? I already know why you’re here, and I have interest in listening to your babbling any longer than necessary.”

Archibald straightened up, put on a smarmy smile, and waltzed up to me. 

“Very well! I’m here to deliver a formal declaration of war. The goal? Full annexation of your territory, and subjectation of your Core to ours,” he declared before turning to one side and calling out. “System!”

Of course he had his system windows set to appear completely transparent to other people, so he looked like an idiot as he slid his finger through the air. Swishing and poking. A couple seconds later a musical ding sounded in my head, a sign that I had a system notification.

“System,” I whispered, summoning my own widow. 

Unlike Archibald’s invisible screen, everyone could see my forest green displays. I preferred to just make the text unreadable to any onlooker, rather than hiding everything. As I flipped to my messages on one window, I casually flipped the second over to the inspect function. Despite watching me do everything right in front of them, the others didn’t appear to have a clue what I was doing.

Archibald - Class Royalty - Level 17 

Class Seducer - Level 21

Abilities: Royal Command

Magic: Fire Intermediate

Samuel - Class Noble - Level 19

Class - SwordMaster - Level 3

Abilities: Basic Swordsmanship, Basic Horsemanship

Magic: Ice Basic

Thomas - Class Herald - Level 34

Abilities: Booming voice, Expeditious retreat, Unimportant

Magic: None

I almost laughed at them. The Iskel royal family had implemented restrictions, so no one within the kingdom could inspect another person their rank, or higher, without permission. It was obvious why they did it, I just didn’t think Archibald’s stats would be that embarrassing.

Flipping open my messaging function I pulled open the newest message. As promised, it was an official declaration of war between Iskal and Horfrost, my kingdom. It was, of course sloppily done, only containing the absolute minimum required information to be valid. I expected nothing less from the Rothchilds.

“Just accept it already, I already explained the terms, and delaying will only buy you twenty four hours before the declaration automatically goes into effect. There’s no point in delaying,” Archibald ….

“I had to double check, make sure there weren’t any surprises in the fine print,” I explained. “Of course, you idiots were too stupid to actually include any. Thanks for that.”

“Thanks? Why would you thank us for declaring war?” the stupid prince asked.

“Because there’s nothing preventing me from doing this,” I muttered. 

With one hand I pressed the ‘Accept’ button on my window, which automatically closed the system window, and with the other I drew my sword, slashing through Samuels throat.

The boy collapsed, clutching at his throat as he slowly began to drown in his own blood.

“You cannot do this! It’s a violation of the rules!” Archibald screeched as he stumbled away, leaving his friend behind.

“The rules of engagement only prevent the enemy from directly targeting royals, and you chose to not add any additional stipulations,” I explained, wiping the sword off on the dying boy’s pants. “Next time you bring a bodyguard somewhere, make sure they’ve actually skilled. Giving someone a class does not instantly give them the skills necessary to take full advantage of said class. You know, like learning advanced swordsmanship before gaining the perks of being a swordmaster.” 

Once my blade was clean I sheathed it, and turned back towards my small camp. “It also doesn’t prevent me from doing something like this. Camille!”

The petite blond darted out of the tent, most of her layers shed and bow at the ready. She shoved the arrowhead into the fire for a second, before firing the projectile straight up.

Within seconds the side of the mountain exploded, causing an avalanche to rain down upon the motionless constructs below. Hundreds of thousands of foot tall maids in full armor poured from my territory, through the pass and down towards their enemies, while the cannon emplacements that had been setup in advance revealed themselves and opened fire.

Archibald staggered back in horror for a minute, then raced back down the hill towards his forces. 

“I’d also recommend not letting your enemy choose the meeting place, or at least delaying the start of the war a few hours,” I yelled after him. “You never know what the enemy might do!”