Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

“They are still planning to leave to Aswadasad?” Marmak asked, pouring his companions warm milk, filling all five cups. 

“They are,” Gangak replied, staring at her cup, the memories of the past filling her mind. The warm winds, the gentle sand, the terrifying Aswadian warriors who had almost killed her. 

Ah, yes. 

Those were the days. 

“If they wish to go, should I escort them?” Marmak pondered. Even though he had recently retired, it hadn’t been long since he left Aswadasad, the Iyrman having left a trail of blood that was only matched by a handful of other Iyrmen.

“Should I kill you?” Jarot snarled at Butcher Marmak, who was to Aswadasad, what he himself was to Aldland. “You have retired in the Iyr, so stay here!”

“I can escort them,” Gangak offered, mostly as a joke. “My promise was fulfilled long ago.”

“If old women like us travel with them, they will not be able to have fun,” Mulrot said, sipping the warm milk, which did not warm her heart as much as her greatchildren’s smiles.

“Have fun?” Gangak asked. “They are married!”

“Adam would not have his fun, but Jurot,” Jarot began, and they all noticed the instant in which Jarot understood the mistake he had made. “Since he is grandson, he will remain loyal, as I have!”

“I meant to fight,” Mulrot glared at her husband, who sipped away at his milk, his lips forming the smallest of smirks. His words had shocked her slightly, only to recall that Adam was not from this world, so there was no way he had slept with an elf. 

“It is dangerous with the Reavers,” Marmak stated, and though he understood it was futile to argue, he still wished for his fun.

“So they need your help?” Jarot asked, his voice full of his greatdaughter’s incredulity. However, even his heart fell at the thought of his grandsons leaving the Iyr at such a turbulent time. 

“What of… Taygak?” Otkan asked, the one armed Iyrman finishing her milk, pouring herself another round, doing the same for the others.

“She is too young,” Gangak stated firmly. 

“Adam has promised to train her,” Otkan replied, deflecting the finality of the woman’s statement. 

Gangak’s gaze remained firmly fixed upon her cup of milk, which she had yet touched. Her eyes slowly trailed to the side, to meet Otkan’s gaze, which was as cold as ever, revealing none of her thoughts. The last burst of emotion from the woman had been when she had given up her arm in exchange for the Mad Dog’s life.

“It may be best to allow her to go,” the one armed woman stated. 

“She is still a child.”

“Alongside Adam, no harm shall befall her, and you will gain the justification to escort them.”

Gangak returned her attention to her cup of milk. The matter between herself and Aswadasad’s Orders was perhaps the greatest tale she had earned, however, could she return to the land that had banished her away? The land which had stopped her rise? 

No. 

It was her own fault for being so weak to allow them to banish her, and to allow the doubt to creep into her heart back then. 

‘Taygak cannot see me wallowing in pity.’

As the days passed by, Adam spent much of his time with his children, as well as the young cousins. 

“Virot, you cannot bully daddy too much,” Jirot said, hugging her younger sister, who returned the hug with twice the vigour. “Sometimes daddy feels too sad.”

“Jee woh!” Virot said.

“Yes! I am your kaka so you must listen!”

“Kaka!”

Jirot inhaled sharply, unsure if the girl was listening, but as she stared down into those beautiful eyes, the girl planted a kiss upon her sister’s forehead, letting her go. “I must go for a walk now.”

“Wohk!” Virot reached out to hold her elder sister’s hand, reaching for her elder brother’s hand too.

Jirot let out a defeated sigh as she led her younger siblings away. ‘My heart always feels so warm when I see my kaka! How can I discipline her?’

‘Virot…’ Little Jarot stared at his younger sister, who clutched at his hand, the girl beaming brightly at the world as she walked with her siblings, her giggles like music.

Adam’s eyes trailed after the trio until little Xarot distracted him with a yawn, the boy rubbing his eyes with the back of his small hand. “Are you tired, Xarot?”

“Googoo…” The boy replied as his eyes narrowed, opening slightly as his father placed the dummy within his mouth.

“Okay.” Adam also picked up Monarot, rubbing his cheek against hers, kissing her forehead, before stopping as Damrot stared up at him from the side. “Do you want to come too?”

Damrot responded with a shy smile, instantly defeating the half elf. 

As Adam placed down Xarot and Monarot, he nodded towards the teen of the Rot family who assisted in watching over the babies, then slipped away with Damrot. The boy held his uncle’s hand, following the older half elf with his waddling legs. Adam noted the side eyes he received from a few of the Iyrmen, but upon seeing who was escorting the boy, they nodded their heads. 

“Uh oh,” Adam said, picking the boy up, holding Damrot close to his chest. “It looks like your papo is in trouble?” 

“No,” Chief Iromin replied, reaching out a hand to ruffle Damrot’s hair. “I wish to speak with you.”

“Alright. Okay, Damrot, let’s go back to mama.”

“Mama?” Damrot asked, perking up instantly.

Iromin was about to say there was no need, but Damrot was already glancing over his uncle’s shoulder to find his mother. Iromin waited for the half elf to surrender the boy to his mother, leading the young man to the Chief’s estate to one side. The familiar gazebo welcomed Adam, who nodded towards the Iyrmen, while Iromin raised a finger, which was joined by the rest of her hand, dismissing his aides. He placed his dry dough snacks upon the table. 

“The Great Twilight has revealed new land, to the east of Aldland, along Aswadasad’s northern borders,” Iromin said, noting Adam drawing the map with his eyes in his mind. “It is stated the land reached further east.”

“That’s pretty big.”

“It is. We assume it is the Reaver’s land. Chaos is overtaking the Aldish and Florians, and their neighbours.”

“Damn…” 

“We have not yet confirmed their true force, and there are rumours that several great warriors have gone missing recently in Aldland and Aswadasad.”

“Missing?”

“They are most likely dead.”

“Damn…” Adam whispered, reaching up to rub his chin. “It really is that bad…”

“We are uncertain of their true strength for now. It is not unlikely several great warriors may pass during the war, but to go missing before the lands have gathered their forces, it is ill omens.”

“Didn’t the King make his new army?”

“He has sent several of his legions to the islands, but Aldland and Aswadasad are no strangers to raising their banners. The Reavers have arrived at an ill time, for Aldland had already begun to reorganise their armies, Aswadasad has trained their blades against the Aswabayds, and even Floria has prepared their defences.”

“Oh? So…”

“If they had appeared only a few years earlier, or a few years later, they may have found a land ripe for the taking. Even with their preparations, the lands need to be careful, since they are not Iyrmen.”

“Yeah. I mean, I see how quickly you guys move. It’s pretty insane how…” Adam swallowed, shuddering lightly. “I am so glad I’ve been grovelling to you.”

Iromin bowed his head lightly, for though Adam had given them plenty of reasons to kill him, him understanding his position within the Iyr has saved his life countless times. “Aldland has taken the initiative to formally declared war against the Reavers.”

“That quick? Did they finally move quicker than the Iyr for something?” Adam asked, raising his brows, the half elf smirking, though it quickly disappeared due to the small smile on the Chief’s face.

“You know King Blackwater as the one who lost an entire town to the elves and lost the civil war, which tore one fifth of his land. Ignoring the great success within those words alone, we of the Iyr know King Blackwater as the one who bound a rising Aswadasad, could dare to challenge the elves, and the one who may finally rid the land of the Tribesfolk. His loss to the elves was expected, for the elves hold great defences, and had moved uncharacteristically quick. His loss to King Merryweather was slim. Blackwater fought against Floria and Aswadasad, while he was worried of the islands, and was against the likes of Lord Asa.”

Adam remained silent for a long while. It wasn’t exactly rare for the Iyr to praise the King, and as he thought back to each time he heard of the current King, he furrowed his brows. ‘Looking past the surface, the King is pretty damn impressive.’

“If not for those blunders, without a doubt, he would be considered the greatest alongside Kal Blakvatr, and to we Iyrmen, Solomon the Wise.”

“You know, now that I think about it, I haven’t really heard much about Kal, outside of him having a really nice sword. Drakkenslayer, right?”

“Yes.”

‘I should ask Jurot about it…’

“Since Aldland has declared war against the Reavers, the Union shall also declare war, and Noska may also do the same due to their dealings with Aldland. The Confederacy will defend themselves, but the Empire is a bigger threat to their land than the Reavers.”

“Is the Empire a bigger threat?”

“To them? Yes.”

“Damn,” Adam whispered. ‘How strong are they?’

“Since Aldland has declared war, we will send a hundred soldiers to assist, as is our duty,” Iromin said. 

“Who are you going to send?”

“The families will discuss among themselves.”

“Oh…” Adam tilted his head slightly. “Right, I forget how… democratic you guys are.”

“We must return trust in kind.”

“Oh? I trust you guys, so do you trust me?” Adam joked, chuckling lightly.

“Yes.”

Adam stopped chuckling, and pulled back as though he had been punched in the face. “Really?”

“Yes.”

Adam blinked, still reeling from the blow of the words, and how bluntly the Chief had spoken them. 

“Lord Stokmar will enjoy facing the Reavers on their own terms, but we have already called in our own favour to assist the Iyr.”

“Who?”

“You.”

“Me? I’m not exactly good enough to be a favour, am I?”

“We called Prince Morkarai during the Year of Silence. You are of similar abilities with your power and crafting.”

“I don’t know. He’s pretty strong and his ability to craft items is great, especially magical items.”

Iromin raised his brow expectantly, causing the half elf to flush at the realisation.

“Well, I mean... I guess you're right?” Adam flushed red in embarrassment, but he could feel the chill in his spine. ‘Didn’t Crowseer warn me about becoming too strong? Will Starsword come after me? No, he’ll go after the Reavers since they’re…’

Iromin wondered what Adam was thinking about, especially since the half elf was making such a disgusted face. ‘Is he thinking of nobility?’

“Who else have you called in?”

“We call in favours to protect the Iyr. We do not call in favours when it comes to fun.”

‘You don’t have to sound so scary…’

“You may continue your business, but you should spend time with your family,” Iromin said, reaching into his cloak, and withdrawing a small slip. He placed it down on the table, allowing Adam to read it. 

The half elf almost cried from how hard he was laughing, since only his daughter could trouble the Chief this much.

I really hope one day I can show you all just how terrifying the Iyr really is.