Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

The Faro had also listened intently to Adam’s story, but much of it was surprising to her. Though Adam spoke the tale, there was little chance he would lie, for the Iyrmen around him would not appreciate it. She understood how quickly the matter would spread through the land, though many would chalk it up to nonsense, while others would pay keen attention to the other names within the tale. It was not just the elders who held such a fine name, for Adam’s uncles and aunts, and his companions, also held great feats.

He had fought Vasera and Rook at once, that much she knew, especially since they were now under him, but to hear the half elf had defeated such great figures, and…

‘He could not have killed the Fariq,’ the woman thought, but at the same time, Adam had been so vague about it. Considering his strength, he could probably clash with the now deceased Fariq, but…

“Your tales are quite impressive,” one of the merchants said. “Even if they are tall, if but half is true, then you are truly impressive.”

“Perhaps more than half is true, for then it could explain why I was able to defeat your escort, who is roughly a Master, I think?” Adam mused.

“He is so,” Abdul confirmed. “Are you a Grandmaster?”

“I’m officially a Master,” Adam replied.

“Officially?”

“Well, I have defeated those greater than a Master, but technically, I am but a Master, though you can consider me a Grandmaster, if you wish,” the half elf replied, smiling innocently.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty four.”

“You-,” Abdul stopped, taking in the half elf’s words, as did the others around him. “You are twenty four?”

“Just like my brother, who is a Master, and just like my cousin, who is also a Master, and just like…” Adam began, glancing aside to Tanagek and Chosen. “Though they are not Masters, you should at least be a Master if you want to cross blades with my cousins.”

Vasera and Rook chuckled, glancing between one another, though when they had sparred with the pair, it was true enough they were so violent that one should be a Master, for one’s heart needed to be stained with that much blood.

“Ahm, I realised I do not know who you are, may I know your name?”

“I am Abdul Shums, the heir to the Setting Sun Merchants,” Abdul said.

Adam suddenly sat upright, for the name was familiar, oh so familiar, familiar enough that it instantly sparked the memories. “Oh! I see! Abdul Shums, of the Setting Sun Merchants, though I heard another was the heir, an Akbar Shums?”

“He is my eldest son, though he is not the heir, he is the eldest son of our humble merchant family.”

“What a humble merchant family it is, for it could not afford the price of Yasha’s service, the Flaming Spear Dragon.”

“The Flaming Spear Wyrm,” Abdul corrected.

“Ah, was it?” Adam thought. “She was quite expensive, I suppose, so I can’t blame your son for being unable to afford her service, though I suppose, it’s not a matter of affording her service when one has the Wild Cobra Sword in their employ?”

“I have heard your trouble with my son, but was there such a need to covet a warrior within my son’s eye? We have no trouble with you.”

“Ah? Well, you see, I also had my eye on such a warrior, so if the Setting Suns could outbid me, I would have let her go, but what could you do, for I’m sure the Reavers have disrupted your trade, that you could not defeat us in the realm of gold, and apparently, steel?” Adam teased, the half elf smirking wide, as though courting death.

“My son has a strict allowance, it was his wisdom to allow the woman to go, for she was not worth as much as you paid.”

“An Expert at twenty two, perhaps one would pay thirty, forty, fifty gold, but what could I do, when my pouch was so heavy with coin, I needed to drop a hundred that day, for my shoulders aren’t so broad?” Adam joked.

“Since you only deal with magical weapons, I can understand you do not possess various magical items to assist with carrying your wealth,” the merchant said. “If you are in the market for such, I am willing to assist, for we have such connections, our humble merchant family.”

“We craft and trade in magical weapons, and, rarely, armour, but who said we don’t craft magical items?” Adam asked, raising his brow. “It’s just that, even with all the magical items we have to hold our wealth, we were too rich. In fact, my children are quite wealthy too, and it’s troublesome to hold all their wealth, thankfully the Iyr is so expansive.”

“I am sure your family’s wealth is grand, but you are a family of steel, and we are a family of gold.”

“Firstly, we are a family or blood and steel, but… I’m certain that my children’s personal wealth is greater than your son’s personal wealth.”

“I doubt it.”

Adam smiled, and though he was about to speak up, he paused. If he spoke the next few words, when he brought his children here, they would be in danger, and he couldn’t allow that. “Ah, perhaps it’s true, for we are a family of blood and steel, not a family of gold.”

‘As long as you know your place,’ Abdul thought.

“At least, my children are more oppressive than yours,” Adam said.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, your son has the Wild Cobra Sword, who, if I recall correctly, is an Expert. My children, on the other hand, have the likes of Manager Jonn, who was once a member of… well, let’s just say he’s an Oathsworn, and though he is not a Master, he is greater than an Expert.”

“How does that make my son oppressive?”

“Well, considering how your son sent forth Wild Cobra Sword when a woman denied him, wanting to deal with things the hard way, so the Wild Coba Sword said, because the young master was still being polite or some such-,”

“How dare you speak ill of my son, you fiend,” Abdul snarled.

“Don’t ask me, ask Kal Uli,” Adam said.

Uli turned his head, furrowing his brows. “I heard of the matter, but I did not see it.”

“Really? Oh, right, it was when we passed by Arisa the first time, right? Then it was Mo Dunes, of Black Mountain, who was there, as well as my brother here, though he does not understand Aswadic, so I doubt he could be a true witness.”

‘Mo Dunes of Black Mountain?’ Abdul thought. “If you do not have proof of your words, you should not speak with such slander.”

“It’s not slander, it’s-,” Adam began, blinking. “Oh right, libel is written, although how can it be slander when I heard it with my own two leaf shaped ears, this treehead, so your son called this Mo.”

“How dare you! My son, with his heart so pure, would never call you such a vile term!”

“He called me it at least twice, maybe more,” Adam said, raising his brows. “Although, I can’t blame him, since I am so handsome.”

“If you do not have proof, I suggest you do not speak of this matter so easily, or I shall inform the appropriate authorities.”

“Ask your son, and tell him if he doesn’t speak the truth, I will call for Mo Dunes, of Black Mountain to confirm the matter, for he was there, and he speaks the Aswadic tongue fluently, that handsome fellow.”

“If you are so close, how can we trust his words?”

“I’ll pay for a Zone of Truth to be cast,” Adam replied, as simply as that.

Abdul remained silent, for if the half elf was going that far, he could not rile the half elf up further.

“Though, you should be proud of your son, since he managed to outbid me for quite some paper,” Adam said.

Abdul flushed, for he recalled his son procuring much paper. “It is no shame.”

“No shame at all,” the half elf confirmed, smiling wide. “Thankfully, Mo Dunes had procured other books for cheap, and that was more than enough for me, and, credit to your son, he stepped back when I bought a book for Kizwolima, so I can’t hold him too poorly within my mind.”

“Who are you to hold him poorly?”

“Me?” Adam mused. “I’m Mo Adam, High Alchemist of the United Kindom, he who killed Vice Commander Kris Huntsmaster of the Thousand Hunts, he who shall claim victory at the Clash of Red and Amber!”

Abdul swallowed, narrowing his eyes, but before he could speak, Adam exclaimed.

“I!” Adam stood, placing his hands on his waist. “This fool who stands before you, who has married the most beautiful wife, and am father to the most adorable children! Yes, it is I! I, the Crazy Father!”

Bael inhaled sharply, lightning running through from his elbow to his fist, suddenly causing everyone to freeze up, ready to pummel the half elf.

“Bael,” Jurot warned, for though Adam was acting the fool, the half elf needed to speak the words to threaten everyone around.