Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

The estate, made up of wooden buildings, surrounded by greenery one could only find in Aswadasad, was a bulwark against those who wished to meet the group, so surrounded by rumours. The guards, adorned in their turbans, scale, wielding spears in hand, sabres at their side, kept most away, especially considering their badges, which denoted they were under the Faro’s command.

“How relaxed do you wish for us to be?” Vasera asked, since they probably weren’t here to defend the half elf, but rather, because of their magical steeds.

“Relax until you’re needed,” Adam replied casually, readying himself to go bathe after the fight, his second bath of the day, and probably not his last, for once he had bathed, and had changed into his shalwar, a turban upon his head, with the scarf covering his ears, his axe at his side, he readied himself to step out in order for the greatest battle of all, the battle of having a heavy purse.

Adam knew trouble would come to him this day, he could feel it in his heart, but thankfully, he had his own shield against such trouble.

‘Darling,’ came a voice within the half elf’s mind, who instantly stopped within the middle of the road, causing various figures to pause. ‘Jirot says if you do not know she loves you, she will not speak to you again.’

“Tell her this fool of a father knows, because though he is a fool, he is still a father. I miss you all very-“ Adam felt the magic fade, freezing once more. He sighed, glancing aside towards the figure in black, wearing a silver mask in the fashion of a lion, with golden trim around his eyes. The half elf smirked. “Aren’t I the luckiest husband in the world?”

“…”

“I am the luckiest father too!” Adam declared, beginning to walk forward again, letting out a heavy sigh. “Jirot misses me a lot, it seems.”

“Your daughter…” Uli began. “She is quite boisterous.”

“She is, isn’t she?”

“She is one of the most intelligent among all the children I have ever met.”

“Isn’t that right,” Adam replied, smiling like a fool. “She knows how to hurt me, that little punk. If she’s my daughter, how can she be so smart?”

Uli remained silent.

“You thought something quite rude, didn’t you?” Adam asked, casually stepping forward.

“I will guide you,” Uli said.

Adam chuckled, flashing another smile towards the Black Lion. “You’ve remained with us for quite some time, Kal Uli.”

“I will remain here until you depart and I will return to the Order.”

“I apologise for stressing you so much.”

Uli remained silent, but bowed his head.

“I expected you to be far more hostile upon my journey, so it was a pleasant surprise when you were so lovely,” Adam admitted. “So, if you require any assistance, yourself, Kal Black Lion, send word and we will see what we can do, at least once.”

“Thank you.” Uli was certain the half elf was dangerous, perhaps in the worst way, but at the same time, Adam’s heart was as large as Black Mountain.

As the day passed, the group were invited to visit the Faro once more, this time to meet with another special guest.

“It is a dragon,” Hassa said, revealing her painting, which was rather impressive considering she was barely older than his eldest daughter.

“I can see that!” Adam said, smiling wide. “What a wonderful painting it is!”

Hassa flushed lightly, swinging her feet under the chair, but she stopped, since it was not ladylike to do so.

“Do you like dragons?” Adam asked.

“Yes! I love dragons! They are so beautiful, so wise, and so powerful!”

“I love dragons too!”

“You do?” Hassa smiled wide, revealing her pearly white teeth. “Mister, do you know any dragons?”

“I’ve met quite a few, actually! There was Lord Taymoraleaf, who I met earlier this year, and I’ve met quite a few others. I’m fairly friendly with Queen Silvari too, Lady Entalia.”

“You know Queen Silvari?” The girl’s eyes narrowed.

“I do.”

“That is not true!”

“Ask Jurot!”

“Mister Jurot, does mister Adam know Queen Silvari?”

“It is true,” Jurot said, watching the girl’s eyes beam, her mouth forming a tiny circle. “They have met several times. They are friendly, at least.”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Adam asked a shocked Hassa, who remained a painting of shock from the half elf’s words.

“How did you meet?”

“We met a few years ago, back when she was…” Adam paused. “I can’t say what she was doing, but she was one of our first clients for our business. Now that I think about it, I haven’t spoken to her in a while…”

“Wow! I want to meet a dragon! I want to learn the dragon’s tongue so I can speak with them, because that would be lovely.”

“I know Drakken,” Adam admitted.

“By Noor!” Hassa gasped. “Can you teach me, please?”

“I can teach you a few things at least, some greetings?”

“Thank you, mister Adam!” Hassa said, flushing gently. “I want to be a dragon when I grow up.”

Adam chuckled, his lips forming a wide grin, because even if she was a Prince’s daughter, she was still a little girl. “Perhaps if you learn enough magic you can.”

“I will ask grandmother to send me to an academy so I can learn magic,” Hassa said excitedly, pursing her lips slightly in excitement, rubbing the table gently.

Adam couldn’t help but smile, for it was a child’s dreams that could ease his heart, and the half elf thought of his own children, their smiles, their warmth, and slowly his smile faded, for he was so far away from them, and for what?

‘No, no. If I don’t hand over these weapons, at least the spears to the Amira, then the soldiers won’t be able to face against the Reavers properly…’

The half elf’s eyes darted around to a guard who shifted slightly, the guard’s eyes firmly squared upon the half elf.

Insight Check (Wisdom)

D20 + 1 = 14 (13)

The half elf assumed their behaviour was such because they didn’t trust him, a figure who they didn’t know, so close to the Faro’s granddaughter, all the while Tanagek spoke with the Sabres of Dusk, the group invited to the estate in order to relax, but potentially for business, if they were up for it.

“Do you have a book with the Drakken alphabet?” Adam asked, smiling politely towards a guard.

“I do not believe so,” the guard replied.

“Perhaps, Lady Hassa, you can ask for someone to get you a book with the Drakken alphabet, and then you can learn the alphabet, then hire someone to teach you later?”

“I have to study?” the girl gasped, betrayed by the half elf’s words.

“Of course,” Adam replied, lips twitching into a smile. “You have to study for the things you want.”

The girl furrowed her brows, glancing down at the table in front of her, taking in this new information. ‘I must… study?’

“My children are all learning from the Iyr,” Adam informed. “Each of my children, they seem to have some goal in mind. My eldest, I believe she wants to be a great warrior, her younger sister too, and their younger brother, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wants to take after his mother, since she is a Ray.”

The girl raised her brows, having forgotten the half elf’s wife was a Ray.

“My daughter, Jirot, she…” Adam thought against mentioning what she wanted to be. “She’ll grow up to be trouble, that’s for sure. Her younger brother, Jarot, was named after his great grandfather, Jarot, the Mad Dog, who is like Butcher Marmak, but for Aldland.”

The girl’s brows raised suddenly, glancing aside towards the Sabres of Dusk, because she had always heard that name when she was misbehaving. “Oh…”

“There is an old hero who is considered their ancestor.”

“Kal Giahroh?” Hassa asked.

“Yes!” Adam said, surprised the girl knew. “That’s the one.”

“Wow!”

“Right? My son, he wants to be very strong so he's studying, training. Even my youngest daughter, Virot, she has studied all her life, because she is a bigger bully than even my Jirot.”

Hassa laughed at the half elf’s words since he began to laugh. “Do you like it when they study?”

“Yes. I want them to have some skills so they'll be okay in case...” Adam paused, for he couldn’t bring himself to say it. “In case I can't help them if I'm elsewhere.”

“You must love your children a lot because you always speak of them.”

Adam flushed slightly, smiling. “I love them more than everything.”

“Everything?”

“Yes.”

“More than money?”

“Yes.”

“More than clothes?”

“Yes.”

“More than painting?”

“Yes.”

“More than your mother and father?”

“My mother and father are gone, so yes.”

“I'm sorry,” Hassa said quickly, flushing lightly, frowning.

Adam smiled wider. “I love my children more than everything. Even more than working for an enchanter. Even more than being strong. I want to make sure they are happy and healthy. I had to let them be Iyrmen so they could grow up happy and healthy.”

“Are you an Iyrman?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I shouldn't be an Iyrman.”

“Why not?”

“It's just a feeling?”

“Oh,” Hassa said, considering the half elf’s words. “I have a feeling I should be a dragon.”

Adam almost snorted. “Then I wish you the best of lucky, Lady Hassa.”

Hassa smiled even wider, puffing out her cheeks in delight, all the while her guards remained on edge.