Portrait of a Dying City

by JamBurglar

Out With the Old

Step into my parlor, little pony. You’re a very long way from home, I can tell. Gruff is the name. Once a general for the Great Griffon Army, I am now but a humble purveyor of curiosities. If you want, I could spin you a tale of a once great kingdom lost, for a couple of bits, that is…
He trembled. Nervous, I’m sure. Out of his wits, no doubt. Who wouldn’t be in this unforgiving countryside? After a couple moments, he managed to squeak out an, “Um, sure?” Not before digging clumsily through his change purse, however. Once my payment was secure, I began my tale.

It all began back in the glory days of the Griffon Empire. We served under the noble King Gideon, the fifteenth monarch of Griffonstone. I was known as General Gruff, the highest ranking officer in our Griffon Armada, and second only to the king himself. Our troop was more than brutish warriors, though. We also served as diplomats and adventurers, seeking only knowledge and peace. Above all, we were progressives only wanting to broaden the reaches of our fair empire, as did our humble king. Ours was truly a thriving colony. But that all went to pieces one day.
You see, Griffonstone had a rather lenient policy on lordship. Kings were usually the generations of the royal family, although any member of the griffon empire, no matter their stature or wealth, could challenge a king to a duel for the rights to the throne. Many tried this, after all, who wouldn’t want to be king? Either way, all who attempted this fell to the might of the noble kings. All that is, except one.
During the reign of Gideon, the fifteenth king, there was an up and coming scholar by the name of Guto. He talked endlessly of the glory of our empire, and how Griffonstone could be a world superpower, if not for our king. Guto was rather vocal about his dislike for Gideon, to say the least. Most griffons paid his language no heed, and viewed it more as the inane rantings of a bookish lunatic. That is, until he challenged the king. I remember it like it was yesterday.

The throne room doors swung open. I entered quietly.
“There he is!” Gideon said. “How goes it, General Gruff?”
“Rather well, my king.” I answered dutifully. “I’ve just finished bringing B Company back from our scouting mission in the Iskandar territory.”
“Tell me, general. Did any problems arise?” The king shifted about on his throne.
“Other than their incessant complaining of the immense cold, no.” I quipped.
“Excellent.” He replied. “With any luck, we’ll expand our diplomatic relations throughout the entire northeastern territory within a month, perhaps two.” Gideon called for his manservant. “Good work, general. You are dismissed.” He shot me a grin as I turned to leave.
Not a moment after we finished our conversation did that pathetic whelp Guto burst through the throne room doors with several guards in tow. He was sweating profusely and had a deranged look in his eyes.
“King Gideon!” shouted Guto. “I challenge you to a royal duel for the rights to the kingdom!” There was a pause before everyone in the room began scoffing at him. It’s safe to say the king was guilty of laughing at him the most. Once the uproar had died down, the king responded in a condescending manner.
“If this is what you wish, young scholar, then so be it.” Gideon rose from his throne and unsheathed his powerful sabre. “Name the time and date,” he said, while entering a defensive stance. “That you would like to die.”
Guto, unwavering in his stance and speech said, “The duel will commence tomorrow at midday’s sun.”
“Very well.” Gideon said. I suggest you take care of any affairs and say your farewells today, while you can.” Guto gave only a disapproving glower, and left.
“My liege,” I began. “Aren’t you the least bit concerned?”
“A bookworm like him? Ha! He has about a snowball’s chance in hell of besting me in combat!” He sat back on his throne. “Besides, a griffon has never defeated a king in a royal duel. I don’t see why this one will be any different.” He gave a haughty laugh and dismissed me. I returned home to further ponder this predicament.
That night I sat by the fire in my study, goblet of wine in my hand. I had spent many a wistful night in that room, pondering. I thought back to the exchange at the castle, and about how certain of themselves they both had seemed. I also feared that Gideon may have underestimated Guto. Worst case scenario, Guto would win and all of Griffonstone would have to pay for his incompetence. The very thought terrified me. Unpleasant as it may have been, I had a sinking feeling that Gideon would fare far worse than he assumed.

The sun was hot and heavy the next day. All of Griffonstone had gathered for the royal duel. They all stood in a circle around the town square where the king and the scholar were readying themselves. They strut in circles around one another eyeing each other up and down, waiting for the duel to commence.
“Scholar.” King Gideon said. “I admire your wherewithal. Not many griffons have the courage to challenge a king. You are either very brave, or very stupid.” Guto stood tall, unphased by the king’s backhanded compliment. With the match about to begin, he said three simple words.
“Goodbye, my king.”
The death match began with both griffons flying rapidly at each other, propelling themselves with their powerful wings. Their blades clashed together, causing sparks to fly and emitting an audible clang. After the initial strike, the two went at it with all their might and fury. Within seconds, they had created an endless barrage of thrusts and parries. This continued only until they grew fatigued at which point in time they returned to their corners of the makeshift ring. I was at the side, watching every move. I noticed Gideon’s face as he stood there, panting. It was a look of quiet uncertainty, as if he knew he had underestimated Guto. Nevertheless, he returned to the fight, as confident and wayward as ever.
After a few more rounds of back and forth, the fight began to really heat up. At around a half hour in, Gideon retreated briefly from Guto’s oncoming blade. I’d seen him do this many a time before in his previous duels. He’d try and catch his opponent by surprise with a sudden flunge. He did just that, but unfortunately Guto countered with a skillful Passata-sotto, passing harmlessly beneath Gideon’s blade and landing a touch on each of his legs. Angered, Gideon once again retreated. In the seconds he had to spare, he wiped the blood away from where his legs had been cut.
The process of it all was fascinating to watch. Suffice it to say, I realized during this match that Gideon’s strategy was very much a defensive one. Perhaps this was how he became such a successful dueler. After his brief recovery, King Gideon executed a successful balestra, not without a pained wince due to his newly injured legs. Guto retreated at this, taking a moment before countering with a feint to the hand, and then a fléche. He went sprinting past Gideon’s left, trying to swipe at his back. However, Gideon blocked his rapier with a successful parry of nine. He then spun around and administered a powerful zornhau, slicing Guto across his breast. He dropped his sword and fell to the ground, grasping his chest. He lay there, vulnerable, with Gideon looming over him. I knew what was about to happen. Gideon would execute his famed, “hell’s gate,” maneuver, the same way he finished off Gilbert, the last griffon foolish enough to challenge him. Sure enough, he flew straight up into the air, hovered for a few moments, readied his sabre, and then plunged himself straight down, free-falling through the sky. At the last moment, Guto rolled out of the way of the oncoming blade. Gideon struck the ground with such force that his huge sabre became lodged in the earth. Guto propped himself up with one arm and picked up his rapier with the other. He swung it hard enough to sever Gideon’s right claw. The whole crowd gasped in shock, myself included. Gideon reeled back in surprise and pain. Guto got to his feet and shot Gideon a menacing glance. Seeing this, Gideon backed up, turned, and flew away. I’m certain any one of us griffons would have done the same, were we in his position. Needless to say, Guto gave chase.

Gideon had started off for the snow-capped mountains of the northeast, bleeding profusely all the while. I and a few other griffons followed them surreptitiously. We made sure to keep our distance, as interfering in the royal duel is illegal. They flew all the way across the mighty acropolis for what felt like hours. Eventually, Guto got close enough to Gideon to lash out with his rapier, slicing him across the back and sending him spiraling into a nearby mountainside. I and the other followers camped out on a peak nearby, taking care to remain hidden. We could see everything that was happening, but we were unable to hear. Guto was standing above the now injured Gideon, who lay crumpled on the ground.
“What are they saying?” Gabriel, the griffon next to me asked.
“I don’t know.” I said. “Guto’s probably spouting more of his usual calumny, no doubt.”
We watched as Gideon slowly got to his knees, utterly powerless in the situation at hand. We saw what looked like Gideon bring his left hand to his right wrist, as if begging for mercy. His pleas fell on deaf ears, however, as not a moment later Guto struck him again. We griffons perched on that mountain knew what was coming next, unfortunately. Sure enough, Guto lowered his sword, and with a supinated wrist, brought it upward in an instant, slicing Gideon from the navel to the chops. His body stayed upright for a moment, before slumping over in the snow. We did not like what we saw, yet we could not divert our eyes. Forced to watch as Griffonstone’s greatest king was slaughtered like a feral animal. We watched as Guto began to callously hack away at Gideon’s neck, undoubtedly looking to keep some sort of morbid trophy. When the deed was done, he took Gideon’s newly severed head and began the long flight back home. We too, began flying through the peaks so as not to be noticed by our new monarch. One could only imagine what he had in store for Griffonstone’s future. In the span of an hour or two, the viewing party reached the kingdom. We quickly dispersed through the awaiting crowd so as to remain inconspicuous. Guto arrived shortly thereafter, still grasping Gideon’s head. He spoke.
“Citizens of Griffonstone! Behold, your worthless king!” He shouted, before throwing Gideon’s head into the town square. It bounced and rolled along the ground; some horrified bystanders even had to move to avoid it. “As for the rest of him…” Guto continued. “Well, let’s just say he’ll provide sustenance to many a timberwolf!” The crowd let out a collective gasp. I could see those who flew with me sneering in disgust. Guto stood in the exact center of the town square. “Now, bow before your new king!” The denizens of Griffonstone, not wanting to incur anymore of Guto’s wrath, hastily complied with his demand. I begrudgingly got down on one knee, as Guto soaked in his newfound lordship. “Yeeesss…” he said, ominously. “There’s going to be some changes around here…”