Illustration by Damon Dykes (http://damondrawsart.com)

A continuation of the story and setting from Swords of Orlandia (2007), Swords of Orlandia 2: Throne Into Chaos once again dealt with the royal family of Orlandia. A recap of the story was provided the following year to help launch Swords of Orlandia III: The Khaz’Radan Prophecy. It is provided below.

Characters

King Horus — a right good king beloved by his people, the victim of an untimely death in a riding accident. The twin Sword of Orlandia which was the servant of all that is good and righteous was wielded by our fair King in battle against his brother.

Prince Hesperus — brother to the king, but lost to the darkness of an ancient prophecy as told to him by a Raven/Crow. Run through by his brother Horus’ sword at the hand of The Lady Rayne to save her betrothed. Though older than Horus by only a few years he appears decades older.

Prior to his death Herperus has begun to spiral toward the darkness and his outward appearance showed it. He is gaunt and pale, skin so pale as to be translucent with dark purple veins appearing at his temples and on his hand. Cold unfriendly eyes deep set and framed by thin dark eyebrows, an almost constant snarl set upon his lips with a thin strip of a beard which dangles slightly below his chin. His hair as pale as his skin is worn in a Mohawk.

Queen Rayne — She reigned next to her husband for nearly 17 years before his untimely death. Though she did many good things for the people, the one thing that was most important was to deliver a healthy son to Orlandia, the heir apparent to the throne, Prince Validus.

A pretty moon-faced woman of slender build (but well busted), always with a ready smile. She is usually seen in her regal, courtly gowns of blue or purple trimmed with white & gold (sample sketch available).

She and the King have raised their son knowing he will be the next King, and with the passing of Horus that responsibility has come much too soon. Rayne is strong, though sad at losing the love of her life.

Prince Validus — Saddened by the loss of his father, the young Prince has been keeping to himself, and as his mother says seems more and more like his uncle before his death. Sulky and brooding he has begun to stray off the path of goodness.

Recap

Swords of Orlandia: “What has Gone Before…”

Darker times indeed have never graced fair Orlandia. Her favored family destroyed, her people in dire distress and her sovereignty ruined by the ominous and powerful Yaoguai despot, known to all as simply the Emperor. With King Horus dead, unceremoniously killed by a falling chandelier, the people looked toward his son, Prince Validus, to guide the land back to glory. But a shadowy figure came into the lives of the royal family and with strange words and actions threatened the peace that had been bought with such a high price. The mysterious masked man constantly warned the crown prince that his closest advisor, an old and seemingly harmless sage, was also Orlandia’s most mortal enemy.

But Validus was unaware of the old man’s secret schemes and actually looked to him for guidance. This folly of youth only proved to highlight the Prince’s temerity to come. It was soon revealed that the shadowy figure was none other than Hesperus himself, seemingly back from the grave, conflicted, misunderstood perhaps and still out to take control of the entire kingdom. His pride and lust for power drew him deeper into the darkness. However, Hesperus professed his love for the land and cast his suspicions on the old man in Validus’ camp. At the same time the presumption of Queen Raine’s truthfulness concerning Validus’ father was challenged as Hesperus revealed that the boy was his, not his now dead brother’s! With both parties locked in combat over the shattered pieces of the old swords, Van and Nifl, the people of Orlandia rallied behind both sides, going on expeditions to collect the many lost shards.

Alas…all was for naught. For at the end of our journey when last we all met under the celestial moon of Orlandia a trap was sprung. The old man divulged that he’d stolen the shards away from the ‘evil’ camp of Hesperus and offered them to Validus in the hopes of ‘saving the king’. In a desperate bid to free the shards and stop his son from falling into darkness, Hesperus charged after Raine, Validus and the Sage. His attempt was in vain, he was imprisoned and only returned to the great hall once the shards had been reforged into one ultimate weapon. Validus approached the new blade and upon grasping it opened the gates between Orlandia and the dark void beyond. It was only then that the old man showed his true power which had remained hidden and growing within him. The Sage cackled and screamed and bellowed out his victory. For Validus had indeed saved the king…but not the one he had planned on saving! The banished Emperor of the Yaoguai now stood before them, the wolf in sheep’s clothing revealed at last. He had been trapped for millenia, his anger had grown, his vengeance was swift. Validus enslaved, Raine blasted into oblivion and Hesperus banished into the very hell the Emperor had languished in for so, so long. But he wasn’t finished yet for then he scattered all the adventurers from Orlandia, vexing them with his chides of ruler ship and daring them to return in one year’s time and make a choice…serve him or be destroyed!

Videos

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Ending Video