Chapter 18: Bird and Blood
Velar didn’t think it was all that strange for a bird of courage and bravery to volunteer to assist a noble cause in the Tournament of Freedom. He’d spent his childhood sleeping in war camps and listening to stories of Gavin the Just, and the loyal friend he made in the minotaur Mel’darak, when he volunteered to assist the creature in just such an event as this. Griffins were creatures of superior moral character, that was where their right to rule came from in the first place. If the former wasn’t true, then the latter wouldn’t be either.
He would have expected his own father—as virtuous and upright as he was crafty—to see the political advantage to such a move. What could show the slaves whose work they now depended on for survival how valuable they were to Accipio then a ruler protecting a slave in a disadvantaged contest?
Gaius did not raise a claw to stop him, as he could have done. He also didn’t express any kind of endorsement. He could see the typical fearful, frightened reaction from Guinevere he would’ve expected from any female. Nature just hadn’t equipped females to understand the importance of things like this. A show of virtue could inspire these birds—and maybe help Starlight understand them a little better. Maybe she wouldn’t hate him so much if she saw how much he cared about every citizen of Accipio, even its slaves.
He landed on the tournament ground, a few strides ahead of his personal guard. Anthony hurried to catch up with him. “Please, sire. Let me fight in your place. You don’t belong here. You shouldn’t be in danger like this.”
“It isn’t even to first blood,” Velar argued, waving Anthony off with a dismissive wing. “It’s just to submission, and we won’t be using real weapons. If I lose, I step out of the ring and that’s that. What’s the danger?”
Velar had the advantage in this contest now—he knew the enemy, and what he was armed with. Velar selected the heaviest, slowest armor, made from steel and padded with cloth. Without spikes on the morning star, it could withstand several direct hits without subjecting him to injury. The perfect protection from a foe like this.
As soon as he selected it, tournament armorers rushed over to help him into it. The armor was crude and didn’t protect as well as proper plate did—a true set of plate armor would’ve been tailored to his body, and fit in overlapping sections with chain mail underneath. There was none of the latter here, since there would be no blades to stop in this contest. Only blows, for which thick cloth was lighter, cheaper, and more effective.
“I knew there was at least one bird in this stadium who remembered what we used to be like,” said Gallard, striding over with apparent confidence and watching the armorers at their work. “I didn’t think it would be from house Virtue.” There was bitterness there that this young bird should not have been old enough to feel. He looked about Velar’s age—he should’ve been about the same age when clan Purity had been conquered. They had been the last imperial clan, after all. There was a reason Virtue now ruled, and it was not their superior virtue alone.
“You could refuse my help,” Velar said good-naturedly, though he made no move to stop the armorers at their work. “My noble mother would probably buy your freedom right now out of gratitude. And you’d stop my friend Anthony here from having a heart attack.”
Gallard only shook his head. “I don’t see any other volunteers. I can’t refuse you.”
Velar nodded. The armorers were working quickly, and nearly done now. The suit fit poorly, and there were several gaps a blade or arrow could’ve been shoved through to kill him. But there would be neither in this bout, and so it would be fine. Just uncomfortable. “We can sing about the victory tonight in my favorite winehouse. I promise you’ve never had wine until you’ve had Gracie’s Cranberry Sour.”
Gallard looked away. “We have to win first. Do you think you can do that, uh…” He trailed off. “I don’t know all the heirs, I’m sorry. You’re the emperor’s son.”
“Velar,” he supplied, pride only slightly wounded. But this was a slave. It wasn’t terribly surprising that he wouldn’t be abreast of the state of every noble family. The Purity clan had been mostly bought by Vengeance when their house fell, at least those that had become slaves at all.
Velar selected a warhammer from among the many weapons, one with a handle long enough he could swing it from outside the minotaur’s reach. It was a massive hunk of metal, maybe even meant for those wearing the enchanted armor. Lots of hand-me-downs end up in this arena. It was badly dented and the handle looked like it was a few blows from coming off. But that was no worry either—he could get a new weapon if this one broke during the bout.
These were not the duels to the death that had been the mainstay of ancient Accipio. Such violent conflicts were reserved for matters of succession in civilized times. It would do no empire any good if any of the ruling houses thought they could challenge for the throne at any time and survive it. Like house Purity, the price for defeat was terrible. Regardless of which side of the conflict you were on.
“We have a second!” shouted the referee—who had been much too quiet to hear from the upper stands. She was more here for the competitors, a few volumes of the tournament rules open at her table beside the arena. The birds took the ancient customs very seriously.
“This is your last chance to change your mind, competitor Torgo. Are you certain you submit to the results of this bout? Whichever side wins will proceed to finals. Whichever side loses will exit the tournament completely.”
“I’m sure,” said the massive muscular slave. Now that Velar was up close, he could see just how massive he was. The minotaur was covered with scars, and had arms that were as thick as Velar’s neck. “I could do three. But I will not invite loss by testing it.” He stepped into the ring, dragging the massive flail weapon along through the plain dirt behind him.
Velar looked around the stadium, and was a little disappointed by what he saw. The ancient stories of battles like these had taken place in Scythia, or in others of the ancient cities. There were supposed to be huge pillars of stone, and a hundred thousand cheering birds. Instead there was a sky too orange with ash and raised wooden benches. Most of the birds watched from clouds instead of the ancient architecture of their forefathers. Those wonders were now buried in ash.
“The bout proceeds until all members of one side yield!” shouted the referee, mostly for the other slaves. They would have to do this soon enough. And Velar wouldn’t be helping all of them. But he could help this one. “They need only make their intentions clear by stepping over the dividing line. If you are forced out, it will not be considered a forfeit so long as you reenter the arena within ten seconds.” She gestured, and a nearby slave smacked a massive bronze gong. Smacked it loud enough that Velar’s ears rang with the noise.
Velar stepped over the line and into the arena beside Gallard. He kept his voice low, exactly as he might do on the battlefield. It would’ve been quite easy to have this conversation before entering the arena, but that was theoretically against the rules. The entire custom was meant to symbolize the events of many of their most important stories, where unlikely allies had arrived at the last moment to rescue a bird in need. That meant you couldn’t coordinate or strategize until it began.
“Have you ever fought a minotaur before?”
Gallard shook his head. Their opponent began to close on them, taking slow, confident steps. He lifted the flail in his paw and began to spin it around and around, building momentum. Even without spikes that could crack my head open if I lose my helmet.
“We have to flank him!” Velar whispered under his breath, voice harsh and urgent. “Wear him down. No individual blow will incapacitate him. And it’s better if we don’t draw blood, even by accident.” Unlike actual contests to first blood, this one would continue in the event of a minor wound. There were many old stories of such battles, where a heroic bird had fought until they died, even though that kind of sacrifice wasn’t required. “You try and beat his legs with the butt of the rifle! Forget the blade, it’s more dangerous to us. If you stab him hard enough to make him bleed, he might go into a frenzy.”
“Is that real?” Gallard sounded doubtful. “That only happens in songs!”
Velar glared at him. “It’s real! And if it happens, you lose. He’ll fight until he dies.”
Many of the accidental deaths in tournaments like this came from such events—a minotaur would enter a rage, then beat their enemy into submission. Then keep beating them until riflemen had to put them down. By then, often both candidates were dead. There were no riflemen around the arena now—the birds watching had crossbows. He could see Anthony whispering to them even now, likely instructing them to be ready to kill to protect Velar if that happened.
Velar might be the son of the emperor—but unless someone in this bout broke the rules, there would be no consequences for anything that happened from this moment on. They were not clan Vengeance, likely to ignore the spirit of the tournament’s rules if something happened. But the minotaur won’t be trying to kill us. Just get us to surrender.
Velar spared a glance for the stands, and was pleased to see Starlight Glimmer practically hanging out of their box, watching the conflict below with obvious fear on her face. She cares what happens to me. I knew I wasn’t a total failure at this diplomacy stuff. That was what their relationship was called, right? Diplomatic?
Velar couldn’t dodge very effectively, not wearing plate. As Torgo finally closed on the two of them, he planted his legs as firmly as he could, preparing for the fight. The minotaur towered over him, taller than a bird in Voidsteel. Not nearly as dangerous—if Torgo had Voidsteel and Velar didn’t, he would’ve taken to the air and tried to bring the minotaur down with rifle fire. It could happen, if you had enough powder and the armored foe didn’t have friends. Otherwise, just run. “I’ll fight him from the front. Do as much damage from behind as you can. Back off when he targets you, and I’ll try to get his attention. We can do this.”
Torgo laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the stadium. “I never thought I’d fight a prince before. Son of the emperor, pampered bird in a cage. This is rare chance.”
He swung—completely ignoring Gallard.
Velar spun the hammer in the air, catching the flail around the haft and wrenching backward. The movement was perfect—or as perfect as it needed to be. He didn’t need much precision when there were no spikes to avoid on the flail.
He had hoped to yank the weapon out of the minotaur’s hand, but no luck. Torgo didn’t let go, and so the gesture sent him smashing to the floor beside Velar.
“Now!” He couldn’t retaliate with his own weapon twisted up in the flail—his claws were covered, just like the minotaur’s horns. But Gallard could. Even that awful rifle could land a few thumps.
And Gallard did. Velar heard a strange clicking sound, one he knew shouldn’t have been possible. Then there was an explosion, and a blast of dark smoke through the air around him.
He felt the pain in his chest as though it belonged to someone else. The bullet went right through the thin steel on his back.
His ears were still ringing—he couldn’t hear the shouts. He wobbled, toppling forward beside his tripped enemy. Red blood oozed out through his armored front.
He shot me. The thought came only with surprise, not anger or betrayal. There was too much shock for that. Then he collapsed, and didn’t think about anything.
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And thus the betrayal of the Gryphon houses comes to the surface. If they'd omitted and danced around on the issue of slaves, why not weapons?
8791780
And Starlight saw It. If Tia wasn't pissed before, once she finds out...
8791784
Assuming Starlight gets a chance. With their betrayal revealed the houses responsible might accelerate their plans.
I saw it coming, but... please don't be dead...
That's going to be pretty bad timing for Stalight's announcement that every pony in New Accipio are leaving in protest of them keeping pony slaves - you just know some griffon's going to take the opportunity to suggest they had something to do with it...
8791789
Starlight is capable of multiple long range teleportation. Good luck catching her.
Okay, looks like the excrement is approaching ventilation unit quite swimmingly...
8791853
And shields. Expanding shields.
8791807
Indeed we did!
It's possible Starlight knows some magic trick that'll stop the bleeding and keep him stable, however. The Griffons would have to be monumentally stupid not to allow her to try.
8791784
Perfectly true. Starlight saw it, and Starlight only needs to reach her hideout, which has been established to be pretty much impossible to enter if you don't use magic or powers like turning into smoke.
By the way, Velar is such a Noble Bigot, it's actually kind of hilarious. He's so wrong about so many things (from his racism to his sexism), but at the same time, he's like a naive little kid who's trying to do the right thing. And he did care that he managed to piss off Starlight in a major way and felt bad for it.
This doesn't look go.
Equestria is not going to come out of this unscathed.
SERIOUSLY, HOW STUPID ARE THESE BIRDS?
8791973
Yes, because you wouldn't want to sneak in a defense in case a massive rival nation that has a massive public disapproval of you attacks.
8791931
Bullets > Shields
'
An enemy touching your prince with magic (a thing you have no access to whatsoever) might not be the best of ideas. So, they would have to REALLY trust starlight....
That is, unless you, I don't know, put an explosive in there?
Oh shizzle. Nice work.
8791987
That depends on how powerful the shields are in this story. At the higher levels of the show, Starlight and Twilight are about evenly matched, and Starlight's shields are capable of standing up to Twilight's attacks, and Starlight's own attacks are quite capable of disintegrating boulders.
8791931
I do like how this chapter shows his mindset, and how tragically backwards yet endearing and honest he is.
8791979
A massive rival nation whose interference is the only reason you survived a volcanic cataclysm and who your entire history suggests is non-violent.
That, and it has been repeatedly stated in griffon-viewpoint chapters that their plan is to conquer Equestria because they view this extension of territory as a weakness that should be exploited.
They are not defending themselves. The griffons are treating this as a war footing.
I look forward to the unsolicited treatise on why griffons (apparently the latest stand-in for humans) would totally beat ponies in a fight, because guns are definitely better than magic.
oooooooohhhh.
Heads. Will. Roll.
Let's count the bad moves.
1 the assassination attempt
2 violation of tournament rules
3 violation of honour
4 violation of treaty on slaves
5 violation of treaty on firearms
6 You've just pissed off Starlight Glimmer. She will not stop, she will rewrite time itself to get her revenge. Just kill yourself and give up.
8791987
Not according to Equestria's Unicorns. So far, Equestria has given them a bloody nose every time they warred.
Starlight isn't an enemy. She's an envoy. A diplomat. Plus, she could have killed Velar at any time she pleased before, including back when they fled Accipio. Openly treating her as an enemy now, when Velar is on the ground bleeding out, would be rather stupid.
If they prepared to blow their way inside, then yeah, they can get to her. That much is true. They might be better advised to try to kill her that way in the first place, since an angry Starlight isn't something they want to face.
8792128
This. So far, Equestria has done nothing to deserve the treatment it's getting from the Griffons, except not wanting to be enslaved, which is apparently a huge crime in the eyes of some.
I'm sure he's fine. It's fine. Only a flesh wound. Walk it off, Velar.
Even putting aside that the gryphons brought gunpowder weapons, how did Gallard get a hold of a functional gun? His weapons was supposed to be from the supply of tournament weapons, and the guns in that supply aren't real, even before the eruption.
Man, it would really screw things up if the prince is about to get himself killed in this tournament. Could have been worse though, it could have been the emperor himself that volunteered.
Well, shit. It would be really very convenient if Starlight had the right trick up her metaphorical sleeve to salvage this before Velar bleeds out.
8792128
Well said.
8792128
I am not going to argue why guns are always better than magic. Celestia would probably just disintegrate them all. My point is that Gatling guns (star scribe has stated the griffons have them) will probably utterly destroy the equestrian army, and enough concentrated Musket fire will destroy a shield quickly.
It depends on the announcement. Also, since the griffons have warred Equestria in the past, they might believe that Equestria is using the volcano as an excuse to destroy the griffons and take their wealth or something.
8792196
It depends on when the announcement about the loophole is made. If before, fine. In after, she is an enemy.
8791979
Okay, I've seen your other comments here and I gotta ask... do you just hate Equestria? Or is it just because they made them get rid of guns that you're trying your hardest to paint Tia as the bad guy in this situation?
8792329
I tend to not like Equestria very much.
Also I am literally the only one defending the griffons.
8792333
Yeah. Because the Griffins run a slave empire that's conquered the rest of the planet and plan to conquer and enslave Equestria even after they saved them. The Griffins are the ones who, judging from the veal thing eat other sapient beings.
8792327
Why?
Seriously, why? Why is she suddenly an enemy because she informed her superiors that their partner was subverting the treaty and not even being secret about it? Should she have kept that to herself? It wasn't like they asked her not to tell anyone.
She's only an enemy insofar as many of the birds consider her an inferior creature destined for slavery.
8792323
Oh, will you stop touting gun superiority? Literally nothing from the show has given any indication that a bullet wouldn't be stopped by a powerful shield, or couldn't be vaporized by a laser beam. Why the hell do you automatically assume that a lump of metal fired at high velocity beats magic?
Something very weird is happening. If someone just planned to assassinate Velar, then this is a bad plan because it relies on multiple improbable things:
"Consequences" part may in principle be addressed if someone is taking over like right now, and there going to be no consequences. But I still can't see the point behind implementing this very specific plot. Attempt to blame Starlight (who supposedly used mind control) and provoke griffons? (bad guess, but I have nothing better for now)
8792227
Easy...they snuck it in without anyone noticing. There's more than one to sneak in a gun if know what you're doing.
8792370
It's entirely possible this scion of House Purity simply decided to voice his objection to the system in place by shooting the current imperial prince as the opportunity arose.
8792419
That may be how the plotter got Gallard's cooperation. The rest of the questions still persists.
8792454
No no, what I meant was that perhaps some bird had smuggled actual rifles into the tournament, maybe just to make the statement that they could. Then Velar just happened to jump right into Gallard's sight, leading to a frustrated member of a former royal house to shoot the heir of the current one.
In other words, maybe it wasn't a plot at all. Gallard had a rifle and Velar just happened to offer himself up as a target.
Assuming it really was Gallard who shot him. We don't actually know yet.
8792506
That would require multiple irregular events to happen independently at random (probabilities multiply). Best similar and relatively realistic thing I can imagine is if Gallard already planned to shoot that minotaur for some reason (but why and who helped him?).
8792323
[citation needed]
NO! Not Velar! He's in my top five favorite gryphon OCs so far.
8792614
This is what starscribe said:
8792705
Okay, clearly I need to spell it out for you.
Cite proof that gunfire would have literally any effect on magical shields.
Welp... the road apples just hit the rotating air movement machine
8792818
Maybe bullet's material has anti-magic qualities or some shite like that. U know, balancing thing's for everyone. One has different kinds of guns, other has adaptive magic. If one side is too OP, story would be BOOORING when sh*t starts to happen. Plus; griffons don't have seemingly immortal rulers who move celestial bodies. They would need something for such beings to"fear".
8793039
Yeah, pretty sure this isn't actually a story about war, it's a story about diplomacy, and the text has made it pretty clear that the Equestrians mostly object to guns on a moral basis, not a genuine fear.
As for balance, if one assumes you've actually been reading this story, you'd know about the pretty frequently name-dropped Voidsteel, the anti-magic armor of awesomeness that the heads of the griffon families have. If for some inconceivable reason this slow-burn story about diplomacy and culture shock wants a fight scene between Celestia and the Griffon Emperor, it can have it without bullets.
Also, 'maybe' =/= proof. Point to the paragraph in this text that identifies guns as being magic-proof, and I'll concede point.
8792818
Shining's shield was broken by changelings bashing it. This means physical objects attacking magical shields do have effect. This is pretty fucking obvious.
8793245
And I hope war does not happen, even thou there are already some element pushing towards it... Thanks to volcano destroying large empire's built achievements and straining resources for everyone. Also wondering when the aftershock from it hits?...
And the balance stuff was about offensive weapon's, not about protective gear, like the Voidsteel armor you reminded me about (, I know about it, got this story in follow list too, but did not remember it at the time of earlier comment because of reading some other stories with different mindset etc..). I don't remember anything special about griffon gun's or other weapons at the moment. Just theorizing.
And I don't have any special paragraph to point at, I'm just waiting to see what happens... Happy?
8793245
Lol, no. The Equestrian's identified gunpowder based weaponry as an extremely effective and destructive source of power that, if the kittyhawks want to roost up in their backyard, they can not have. I don't see this "moral" objection you're referencing, of course the objection is based on a legitimate fear of these weapons being used on Equestria. It's also, as Velar stated, their primary means of waging war, or at least had been up to the migration.
And all this talk about "Ooh, magic beats gunz dummy!!" riddle me this; for every Starlight that walks Equestria how many Trixies exist as a ratio of pure magical potential and ability? Unicorns are what, one third of Equestria's total population? How many of that one third can shoot a laser out of their horn, or raise these apparently unpenatrable shields? Now take a regular old Griffin, any Griffin, place a rifle and a cartridge box in his talons and wallah, you've just taken a bird and given him the ability to kill, through plate armor, at range, and with minimal training to boot. There is a reason why firearms were so revolutionary in the West upon their arrival.
And that's JUST the Unicorns. What are the ground pounders gonna do when it's starts raining volleys of lead from birds firing from position
in the clouds, or hell even the Pegasi who's homes are made of cloud? Cloud doesn't seem like a good bullet trap to me, could be wrong though (probs not). The only ace in the hole is the Royal Sisters and whatever abilities they possess (or don't) but haven't yet been seen.
But you're right, this is a story of diplomacy and culture shock, not of a war, so I don't foresee any of that actually happening. And that's why I love the story, war is BORING, give me some good ol diplomatic cultural exchange any day!
Ooooohhhhhh shit
8793457
You mean the shield being powered by the pony who was all-but-mind-controlled by the leader of the invading army? That shield?
8794694
So what? Doesn't affect the fact that it proves bullets can effect shields, as they are physical matter.