Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

Konarot turned the page, her tail rubbing from one of her greatfather’s shoulder to the other, the Iyrman pulling back slightly from the habit. The girl’s eyes followed along each word, her words following a moment later, as she read to her family. She read to her babos and her nanos, her sisters and brothers who sat patiently and listened intently, save for one whose lips were mouthing the words of the tale.

“The dragon was… Slumbering Claw!” Konarot gasped as though she didn’t know the dragon’s title, and her siblings each gasped at the same time, as though they hadn’t known who it was, even Jirot, who had mouthed the name along with her elder sister.

“Ohohoho, my greatdaughter reads so well,” the older Jarot gushed, pulling the girl’s head to his chest, planting a firm kiss atop her head. “Now that you have read so well, you must be so hungry, yes?”

“Yes, babo,” the girl replied back, her tail swaying from side to side playfully.

“Kaka is hungry because she is hungry,” Jirot replied, rubbing her forehead in worry over how silly her greatfather was.

“She worked hard reading so well, so she has grown hungry.”

Jirot blinked at the rebuttal, finding no way to argue against her greatfather’s words. The girl’s eyes remained glued to her greatfather, full of a peculiar sight, the kind that meant she had no idea her greatfather was actually smart. “Ah! Of course!”

“Of course!” Jarot exclaimed with laughter, the old man drawing his greatchildren in closer.

Lightning fell, thunder crashed, and the triplets cuddled their greatfather as they ate, the soothing sounds of the rain accompanying their meal.

“Babo…” Konarot held up the spoonful of porridge for her greatfather, who pretended to be busy holding Karot close to his chest to eat, allowing his greatchildren to feed him.

“My greatdaughter is too sweet,” the old man praised, not for the first time that day, not for the last time, and no one could stop him.

“Eat lots of food and you will grow big and strong,” Konarot informed her greatfather with complete earnestness. “You eat lots and food and your arm will come back?”

“I do not think that…” Jarot began, but upon seeing how innocently his greatdaughter was staring up at him, with this adorable silver eyes of hers, the Iyrman’s closed his eyes and accepted his defeat with a greatfather’s peace. “There is such magic?”

“I find it for you babo,” the girl assured, patting the old man’s shoulder gently.

‘Hmm…’ The old man held onto his greatdaughter closer, and against, he understood the wisdom of the previous generations.

As the old man pondered the vast magics of the world, many miles away, the village welcomed the five’s return. The villager’s relief blanketed them with a warmth that one could only find in prayer.

Adam spotted the eyes of the villagers, whose faces were painted with worry, but he nodded his head casually, but in the way that was trying too hard. He met Dunes’ gaze, and he motioned his head to the side, doing the same to Mork too. They made their way to one side, allowing Jurot and the others to deal with the villagers and their curiosity.

“Do you two, uh…” Adam began, inhaling deeply before letting out a defeated sigh. “Do you have your diamonds?”

Dunes held Adam’s gaze for a long moment, for it hadn’t been the first time Adam had asked, even in the last two days, but this time there was something different about the way he asked, something which couldn’t allow Dunes to make the joke he had made last time. “I do.”

“Aye,” Mork stated, nodding his head, also noting the seriousness upon the half elf’s face. He had no idea Adam’s eyes could hold such a serious glare.

Adam slowly nodded his head towards them, reaching up to pat his inner pockets, feeling the remaining diamonds within. He shuddered lightly, before stepping to one side, taking a moment to gather himself.

“With this blade, I will no longer need a blade from you for accompanying you,” Bael said, resting the sheathed sword over his shoulder. The sword was as straight as an arrow, black and blue, like the Reaver once Bael was done with it. The figure, who still appeared as a drakken or a half dragon, could feel the power of the blade, which had increased since it had bonded to him.

“We can discuss something another time,” the half elf replied, letting out another sigh.

“Oh?” Bael called out, his tone full of sarcasm. “You are more reasonable than I thought.”

“I’m quite reasonable as long as you don’t mess with me,” Adam replied simply, catching Bael’s deep blue eyes. The pair exchanged a glare before the half dragon grinned wide and burst out into laughter.

Meanwhile, Jurot informed the Iyrmen of the matter, and of the warning Adam and Bael had given to him.

‘These guys… they’re tough.’

‘It was a decent enough fight.’

While Adam had wiped his axe clean, staring at the creature questioningly, Bael had been wounded during his bout. It wasn’t easy to wound someone like Bael, even Jurot was uncertain of how he would fare against the man. If he was using Phantom, he felt he could defeat Bael, with more than his share of luck, but without it, he thought Bael had the edge, unless he stopped holding back.

“The other blade must be buried,” Jurot informed, handing the wrapped blade to an Iyrman. While the other blade had shed its wickedry, this blade remained as vile as ever, sapping away at Jurot’s motivation with every passing moment.

“Okay,” Kamrot replied, feeling why Jurot had not buried it where they had fought.

Merl rushed towards Nobby, the woman grabbing at his forearms, staring up into his eyes, which were full of thought. “Nobby…”

“Merl…” Nobby embraced his wife tight within his strong arms, though quickly let up after feeling her push at his chest, though a hand remained gripping his collar tight.

Adam approached the pair, though his attention quickly fell to the boy who stomped his way towards his mother and father. “Little Boss!”

Merry stopped, the boy’s eyes darting up to the half elf, squinting. The boy coughed, but remained standing tall and proud, without a single care in the world, even as Adam lifted him up.

“Ah, right. They stole you away from the business, didn’t they, Little Chief?” Adam teased the boy, smiling brightly at him, while his heart ached. “What am I to do? I’ll have to spoil you to steal you back, shouldn’t I?”

Merl eyed up the half elf, noticing his lips forming such a wide smile, and yet his eyes, though shining, were marred by a darkness she hadn’t seen in a while. He had seemed far more cheerful earlier in the day, but now…

“You need to grow up well, yeah?” Adam whispered. “If you're as smart as your mother, and as strong as your father...”

The boy blinked at the half elf, before squirming, reaching towards his mother with a hand, even though he had cried so loudly for his father not long ago.

“You can’t be handsome! Are you trying to seduce my daughters? You punk! How can you do this to me?” Adam surrendered the boy to his mother after his rant.

“Adam,” Jurot called, approaching the group, sans the Reaver’s blade. “You wished to be serious this year.”

“Let me be an idiot in front of the Little Chief for a little bit at least…” Adam frowned, feeling his heart grow heavier. “Ah, you're right.”

Merl remained focused upon the half elf, before her eyes slowly returned back to her husband, who stood tall and silent. However, within her sight, he almost seemed… small?

“You cute punk, how can you do this to me?” Adam whispered to Merry. ‘When I get back, I should spoil them a lot.’

“Executive…” Merl called.

“Yeah?” Adam replied, before noting the look within the woman’s eyes. “I’m… it’s o-,”

“Thank you, mister boss,” Nobby said, cutting the half elf off.

“Of course, I-,”

“Thank you, mister boss,” Nobby repeated, stopping Adam, catching the half elf’s eye.

Adam paused a moment, seeing the look within Nobby’s eyes. He was so different now, not the Nobby who he had first met all those years ago, not the boy who knew so little of the world. This Nobby who stood before him was someone who had gone through so many near death experiences at his side, and now had a family to worry about. The half elf bowed his head, understanding the young man’s true meaning. “Any time.”

Merl glanced between the pair, understanding something was up. She reached over towards Nobby’s arm, clasping around the thick cloth which made up his clothes. Her eyes darted around towards the cuts and tears within his clothing, and then to the skin, which was difficult to bruise or bleed, but…

Nobby remained silent, with the understanding he couldn’t tell her. He didn’t know what she’d say, but he’d rather face that unknown than admit to her what happened.

This would be a secret he’d take to the grave.

Our Nobby has grown up.