Coup (koo) –
1. a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.
2. a notable or successful stroke or move.
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Once upon a time, in the plains of yonder, there lived a kingdom. This kingdom was very lively, from children running around playing tag to people shopping in the market. One day, Ash Coup (Koo), a tall young knight with blue eyes, and long brown hair, stood in the town square chatting with his best friend, Paul Mane, a tall fellow knight with brown eyes, and short blond hair, Ash has known since they were children. When suddenly, the head guard, a strict man of high stature with green eyes, short black hair, and wearing black iron armor with his sword in its sheath, comes to them saying that they need to travel through the forest on the outskirts of the kingdom to find a group of criminals. Ash and Paul quickly agreed, both trusted the decisions of the head guard and they knew they could handle themselves well.
And so, they went, wearing their own set of black iron armor with their swords in their sheaths, to the Blood Red Forest, where the famous group of criminals, the Dastardly Rattlesnakes, were rumored to live. As they trudged through the forest, they suddenly had a thought, “Why would they send us, two knights, to find and possibly capture an entire group of criminals?” They started having doubts that they could return home safely as they both knew the true strength of Vince, the muscular, middle-aged leader of the Dastardly Rattlesnakes and is primarily seen wearing a long red cloak.
After some time, the two friends came across the ruins of an old home. The house was in very poor condition and looked like it had been abandoned and pillaged by bandits. After some discussing, Ash and Paul decided to explore the building. What they saw saddened them: children’s toys scattered around, a couple beds, and a skeleton laying by the wall.
They couldn’t tell if the skeleton was from one of the previous residents or someone who tried resting there for the night, only to be attacked when they least expected it. One thing was clear though, the place, including the skeleton, had not been touched in a while.
After settling down for the night, they noticed something on the skeleton, it was a copper coin. “This is!” Paul gasped out as Ash picked up the somewhat shiny object. “It is.” Ash confirmed. The coin, while somewhat rusted due to age and weathering, had the emblem of the Dastardly Rattlesnakes. This fact filled them with caution and excitement. They knew that they had to be close.
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They set out the morning after, still full of caution and excitement from the night before. Eventually, after many nights, they came across a settlement. There were people running around, a muscular looking man was standing in the middle of the camp, ordering his men. As they silently watched them, Paul noticed a symbol on the wall, it was the Dastardly Rattlesnakes.
As they pondered this fact, they noticed a small hole in the cliff-face of the mountain to the East of the settlement. The cave had guards stationed at the entrance and people occasionally going in and out. They decided to check out the cave as silently as possible. When they had gotten close to the cave, they thought of a plan, Paul would distract the guards while Ash would sneak into the cave.
After discussing the details fully again, the plan started. Ash quickly ran in the cave while the guards chased after Paul. The scenery was surprising, instead of some treasury, like Ash and Paul were expecting, it was instead the armory. Different weapons decorated the room, from daggers to cannons and even armor too, the room had it all. Ash quickly noticed the gunpowder in the room and hatched a plan. Ash scattered the gunpowder all over the room then lead a trail of it outside. After he left, he used a lit torch from the outside wall to light the powder then Ash ran for the trees as quickly as he could.
The explosion sounded right as Ash reached the trees on the edge of the camp. The explosion was so loud that people came streaming out of their tents and it gave Paul the perfect opportunity to escape the guards chasing him. After Paul and Ash grouped up again, they were wondering what to do next when suddenly a loud booming voice could be heard from the direction of the camp. “Everyone, gather what you can!” The voice boomed. “We will find these intruders and make them pay!” The voice promised. Ash and Paul, after hearing the announcement, quickly decided that returning to the kingdom is safer than staying where they were.
As they were trying to sneak away, they noticed a couple of bandits, clearly looking for them, not that far from them. As Ash and Paul wondered what to do, one of the bandits noticed them and quickly shouted to alert their partner.
Ash and Paul started running as fast as they could as soon as they heard the bandit’s shout. They ran so fast that the bandits had no chance to think and they chased after the two. Ash and Paul eventually lost the bandits in the dense trees then the two set up camp. In the morning, the two set off towards the kingdom to give their report.
As the two got through the gate of the kingdom, they were greeted by two others. One was Ash’s lover, Roseline Valentine, a young feminine woman of average height with brown eyes, long black hair, wearing a white Victorian dress, who greeted the two warmly and happily as she went to hug the two. The other was the head guard who had been informed of the two’s return. “Ah, I’m glad to see you two back alive!” He said. “We have something to report, sir.” Ash replied. “I believe you will enjoy this, sir.” Ash said proudly. Then the four walked off while Ash and Paul explained the events that had happened on the trip. The END.
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*Loyalty leads to moral choices that will test your faith in others. *