Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

The wave of shock filled the air, and all of a sudden, the thought of wanting to strike down this half elf escaped the minds of all those about.

‘Seriously,’ Adam grumbled within his mind. ‘If you hadn’t have rushed me, I could have had so much more fun.’

‘What did he just say?’ Sir Harold thought.

“I wonder who took the life of the Grand Commander with such a blade?” Adam half whispered, his fingers curling around the hilt of the sword, tugging it out of Sir Harold’s grip, the man letting go of the blade due to his thoughts currently overwhelmed by the half elf’s words.

“The reason why Manager Dunes has this blade with him is because this blade belongs to his daughter, our lovely Ranya. She’s my niece, you see. She’s turning two this year, and she’s so adorable, you have no idea.” Adam smiled warmly as the warriors around him reeled from their surprise, finally returning back to the world.

“Now, all of you are probably thinking… why is this stupid half elf talking so much? Some of you might even be a little bit smart, I’ll give you that much credit, that you’re soaking in the information I’m telling you. Knowledge is power, isn’t that what they say? Some of you might think that I’m a fool for telling you all of this, for you could use it against me, sure, and that’s why you’ll keep letting me talk, and talk, and I’ll continue to bury myself, but… why is it that this stupid half elf talking about that? How is it that he understands that, but he keeps talking?” Adam raised his brows, flashing an even wider smile towards them all.

“That’s because I know. I know that even though I’m telling you the truth, you won’t listen. You won’t believe my words. That’s why I worry for my dear Ranya, my niece who smiles so brightly, whose heart is full of innocence. My niece who complains when I try to steal her peppers, complaining to me, her ahm, her uncle. That’s why I did all I could to make sure the Enchanter enchanted such a blade for our dear Ranya. I know something will happen to her, my sweet Ranya, who is too pure for this world.”

‘He… requested such a powerful blade for a babe?’ Sir Harold was uncertain of what he saw. For the half elf stood tall and proud, the trail of his tears dry, his eyes still gleaming with a light wetness, filled with fury.

“I wonder. If I told you who decapitated the Grand Commander of High Garden, a Paragon, with this blade…” Adam held out the blade in front of him, his eyes trailing along it, and yet he saw none of its details, instead he saw the scene before him. He closed his eyes, feeling the resistance against his hand as he cut through the thick powerful neck.

“No. Obviously you wouldn’t believe me. That’s why I worry for my Ranya. For my Enisa. For my children too, who have lived through such suffering, when they should have been coddled within my arms. My sweet. Innocent. Babies.” Though there was a father’s grief in his words, there was something deeper lurking within his voice, a terror beyond the trembling of his voice.

“So the question is, how do I navigate these complex waters. Of course, I can do what I usually do. Kick up a fuss, and then have you criticise me for being disrespectful, but I promised my brother I wouldn’t cause trouble.” Adam smiled again, though there was little joy within the half elf’s smile, who rested the blade over his shoulder, gripping it tightly until his knuckles were white.

“However, I’m sure you understand, I can’t go around letting you pick fights with my people and not doing something about it, for otherwise you’ll continue to disrespect us. Not just that, you might end up killing someone you shouldn’t, and then telling me to control my man.” Adam tutted, his eyes darting up to meet the Honeysuckle Sword’s eyes. “My, my, my, how complicated all this politicking is. If I was dealing with Iyrmen, this would be so much easier, since we can speak openly and honestly, for though they have their pride, their ego, they know when to speak of pride, and they know when to speak of honesty.”

“Do you believe we do not speak honestly?” Sir Harold almost growled through his gritted teeth.

“There you go again! You see? You think I won’t call you out? Why?” Adam pointed at the Grand Commander with the sword’s hilt. “It’s because you think I’m weaker than you. You think we, of the United Kindom, are weaker than you, of the Heroic Honeysuckle.”

Even Dunes was impressed with the lack of vitriol he spoke of the Order’s name, but though Dunes did not like how he had spoken of Ranya in front of them all, even he couldn’t speak up, for the pressure Adam was exuding was something… indescribable.

“How can I show off my strength, so you know how to respect us for our strength, but in a way that all sides feel like they’ve gained something, because I promised Jurot I would do my best to be polite, and respectful, and to form a good relation with you, of the Heroic Honeysuckle.” Adam let out a small huff, almost frowning as he held Sir Harold’s gaze.

‘What is he…’ Sir Harold had been unable to keep up with Adam’s words. He had never spoken to anyone as erratic as the half elf, for he was truly living up to his epithet.

“I think…” Adam said, narrowing his eyes as he leaned back, almost looking down at Sir Harold. “I may know of a way, if you are so willing to indulge me, Sir Harold, Sir Honeysuckle Sword, of Heroic Honeysuckle.”

Sir Harold narrowed his eyes. “I wish to ask you a question, once I have indulged you.”

“Sure, and I promise to answer it truthfully, or I won’t answer it at all,” Adam replied.

“What is your idea?”

“Aha!” the half elf snapped, pointing the hilt of the blade towards the Grand Commander, with such a violent swing, the warriors reached for their blades. “That is a great question, Sir Honeysuckle Sword! My, my, my! No wonder you are so respected! Is that why you came into the possession of this fine fort? Since you are so wise, the King has, in his infinite wisdom, placed you in charge of the greatest Order of all Floria, which is but a day’s journey from the greatest city of all, Gold Port!”

The half elf’s laughter filled the air, and they all felt the annoyance within them rise.

“My idea is simply this. You. Me. Sundown. We will spar, a friendly spar, at sundown, so that whatever happens, we can say that we weren’t able to see clearly because it was so dark, and you’ll be able to say the same too. If you win the spar, I will hand this blade to you, Thunder’s Triumph, my niece’s blade, the very same blade which took the head of the Grand Commander of High Garden, who was once the Grand Commander of the Thousand Hunts, who stood where you stood, who commanded where you commanded, who shit where you shit.” Adam held out the hilt towards the Grand Commander, still holding a wild grin towards him.

The rage filled Sir Harold, but he kept it at bay, because…

‘If I win, I get that blade?’

“If I lose, I will gift this blade to you, Sir Honeysuckle Sword.” Adam pulled the hilt back to his shoulder. “However, if I win… well, what can your Order give me that I can’t get from any other Order? From the Order of the Blooming Bellflower? From the Order of the Preserving Primrose? What is it that your Order can hand over to me that no other Order can give?”

“…”

“I had a couple of ideas, but… no, no. I could ask you to change your name, because being able to say I was the one who did it, does sound amazing, but… that would only build resentment from your Order, and I did promise my darling brother that I would try to be nice, as long as you don’t annoy me too much.”

“I have heard enough of you, half elf!” a Vice Commander snarled, reaching for her blade, but she was kept at bay with a wave of Sir Harold’s hand.

Adam kept Sir Harold’s gaze. “You and me. A friendly spar at dusk. What would you offer, Sir Honeysuckle Sword?”

“If you will offer your blade, I will offer mine,” the Grand Commander replied, the greed entering deep within the depths of his heart.

Adam smiled wide, reaching out a hand. “Put it there! Go on!”

The deal was sealed with a handshake, but what no one expected was just how annoyed Adam would be after agreeing, the half elf fuming while in the guest quarters, pacing from wall to wall.

“What is wrong?” Dunes asked.

“He didn’t even bet anything, the prick!”

“He bet his sword?”

“Dunes, come on! I can’t take his sword from him once I win! They’ll get mad at me for winning even though he offered it! I’ll have to return it right away, but knowing them, they won’t appreciate it!”

Dunes blinked. He didn’t like this version of Adam who was actually smart and wise, for it caused the cold grasp of fear to grip his heart.

‘I need to beat him up properly!’

Adam suddenly gaining +10 INT and WIS for the end of the chapter is the biggest cliffhanger.