Chapter 30: Order of the Crimson Blade
Two weeks passed in the Cho Bok prison New Prisoners came in almost every day and all were assigned to the four blocks. Marius had found out from the Former Lords that many of them were part of a resistance that was formed by many of the Highland Kingdoms common citizens, and the Mountain Clans were putting up a fight in the mountains and Highlands around Culmar Castle.
However many who continued to resist inside Cho Bok gave up after spending a few days in Solitary. Marius and the other lords bided their time and watched the operation of the prison the Guard Changes and anything that might give them an edge if they were to attempt an escape.
Marius sat in the prison eating area near two guards who were talking, Marius listened most of it was just friendly talk until.
" I heard from one of the new guards, he saw that old man break through the chains, and then saved the inventor then single handedly killed twenty men and escaped The General is searching High and low for them but can't find them." Said one of the guards.
"Twenty?" Said the other guard. "That's insane, how can anyone do that after being up on the chains for so many days."
"Who knows, but I heard those Mountain Tribes are giving the expansion effort quite the fight." Said the first guard. "I also hear that an order Calling themselves the Order of the Crimson Blade is on the move from a mountain stronghold."
"The Order of the Crimson Blade was wiped out over a hundred years ago." Said the second guard laughing.
"Apparently they escaped to this continent." Said the first guard. "If they come we shall crush them."
"You have heard the stories haven't you, how they can bring down entire armies of benders without bending themselves." Said the first guard. "Our bending won't work on them."
Marius quickly finished his meal and headed to his cell for the night On the bunks, Clais, and three more of his men sat talking, when Marius entered he smiled.
"What is it My Prince?" Asked one of the men.
"Father, and Pyra's father escaped." Marius said happily. "Have any of you heard of The Order of the Crimson Blade?"
Clais cleared his throat.
"There is rumor of a fortress in the mountains where a group of Warrior Monks reside though no one has seen them since they came to this continent, My father saw them as a boy I Myself have never seen them, why do you ask?" Clais asked.
"One of the guards said their on the move, and that they can beat whole armies of benders without Bending, but many of them were wiped out over one hundred years ago. Marius said.
"Well if that is tru.." Clais began before several of the guards in the hallway fell clutching their throats their armor clattering as the hit the stone floor.
Marius poked his head out the door and saw a single man holding a strange sword and wearing crimson outlandish armor the likes of which Marius had ever seen.
The man in crimson turned and Marius saw a young man, with long black hair, and a thin mustache and goatee.
"If you want freedom now is the time!" Yelled the man in crimson to the prisoners as he began to walk down the corridor.
The prisoners looked at each other through the bars then opened their cell doors and burst out like an endless wave and set upon the fire nation soldiers who were already fighting other people wearing Crimson as the man from before.
The prisoners took weapons from the dead Soldiers and turned them to attack the other Fire Nation Soldiers that still held the prison. One by one each Cell Block fell to the Prisoners and Men in Crimson until the entirety of it was overrun and taken by the Prisoners.
Marius put his hand to shield his eyes as he saw sunlight as they went into the prison yard. As he looked for the people in Crimson they were nowhere to be found. Marius went to the top of the wall with several of the lords and prepared to speak to His people.
"My people we are liberated, but our fight does not end here, we must continue to fight for this lands freedom. " Marius bellowed. "Those that wish to may come with myself and the other lords to the Mountains where we will join the Mountain Clans in their fight to free this land. Those that don't wish to follow us may return to their homes."
"We'll follow you my prince!" One man shouted from below.
More and more people joined until the sound became a roar. Marius motioned for them to be silent before he continued to speak.
"Very well grab all the provisions you can carry, and weapons and prepare to march." Marius said proudly.
The freed prisoners quickly went back into the prison to gather supplies and anything else they could carry.
"My prince where should we look for the Mountain Clans?" Asked Clais.
"They will find us." Marius said with a smile. "If we make enough noise."
"As you say my prince." Clais replied.