Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

Lay on Hands: 45 -> 44

The girl gasped awake, staring at the strangers above her, her brows furrowed in confusion. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and glanced around at those around her, noting all the strangers, from the mermen, to the inasir, to the half elves. 

The girl called out something that sounded like popping bubbles, the mermen glancing between one another, popping bubbles back towards her, causing the girl to gasp, before the drakken fellow slapped Jan upside the head, dropping down to his knees, the man laughing as he popped bubbles at her. 

The girl, who had almost made to cry, stared up at the drakken, pointing at his horns, saying something undoubtedly problematic, though Tovi just laughed, bowing his head as he showed off his horns, the drakken allowing her to touch his horns and scales, though the girl shook her head. 

“So, what’s she doing out here?” Adam asked. 

“She does not remember.”

“Where is she from?”

“Fifth Rock,” Tavi said, sighing lightly. 

“Where is that?”

“Everywhere,” Tavi rubbed the side of his neck while his younger brother made a joke towards the girl, causing her to cackle, letting down her guard. “There are hundred, if not thousands, of villages called Fifth Rock.”

“There are thousands more even we do not know of,” Ashuk said, letting out a large sigh. 

“Excuse me, Tovi, could you ask her the name of her ruler?” Adam asked.

“King Koffi?” Tovi replied, rubbing his chin. ‘Which of the Undersea Kingdoms was his again?’

“At least it’s one of Emperor Moto’s,” Jan said.

“Oh? So is King Koffi related to Prince Merza?” Adam asked.

“The Prince would be one of his many nephews.”

“Should I send word to Princess Miza or Prince Merza?”

“You… can?” Jan asked, wondering how this half elf knew two of the mermen royal family. 

“Yeah.”

“That would be a good idea…”

“Alright.”

Mana: 34 -> 31

Spell: Sending

“Sorry to bother you, Prince Merza. We found a random merman child floating in the sea. They’re alive, but don’t remember much. We are heading-,” Adam felt the spell fade, slapping his forehead. ‘Oh, right.’

‘Is this a way for you to meet with us to discuss the Reavers? They are your problem, landfolk. Deal with them yourselves.’

Adam blinked, turning to face Jurot, his eyes burning with annoyance, an annoyance he hadn’t displayed in some time. “Remind me to beat the days out of that Merza prick next time we meet. He’s speaking to me like I didn’t hand his ass to him, the nonce.”

“Okay,” Jurot replied.

Jan glanced between the pair, since Adam was certainly threatening one of Moto’s family, while the Iyrman was encouraging it. ‘Just how fearless are you?’

Mana: 31 -> 28

Spell: Sending

“Prince, you watch your tone with me, pal. We’re heading to Arisa, and then the capital. She says her ruler is King Koffi.” Adam glanced towards Jurot, who revealed his finger and thumb. “Thank you.”

‘Watch your tongue, boy. I am a Prince. Since she is one of ours, we will collect her from Aria. Leave her with the Faro.’

“He’s picking a fight with me, Jurot,” Adam said, slowly growing riled up. “I’m gonna beat him so hard, day’s going to turn to night, man, I swear to Baktu.”

“He must still be angry you beat him so terribly.”

“It was two or three years ago!” Adam exclaimed back, defending himself. “He shouldn’t have picked a fight with me when my wife was sick! He should be lucky I didn’t kill him at that time!”

“You were surrounded by his guards,” Jurot replied. 

“My axe was still at his neck, and he needs to remember that,” Adam replied, far too darkly, even he had to let out a small sigh. “I shouldn’t have beaten him so quickly.”

“Yes.”

“Anyway, Prince Merza said we need to hand her over to the Faro, who is the…”

“Duchess,” Jurot translated for the half elf, who nodded in response.

“Though, does she speak Elementi?”

“She may,” Jurot said, though he wasn’t sure.

“He didn’t give us a time line, so chances are it’s going to take forever. Also, I don’t know, it feels weird leaving her to a noble. They probably don’t know how to treat a child, plus when the rich get their hands on a kid…” Adam cleared his throat. “I don’t want Vonda to divorce me, but if something happens to the girl while we’re doing what we’re doing, the Shen’s going to need to find another Faro.”

“That would be difficult.”

“You know how easy it would be for me to set up a situation like that,” Adam whispered to the Iyrman, threatening to kill the Faro right in front of the crew of the Windy Warhawk. 

‘Fearless is not the right word,’ the merman thought. 

“Look, all I’m saying is, let’s not put me into that situation in the first place. I assume you guys don’t want to look after her?”

“No.”

“Even though the Prince would take kindly to it?”

“Would he?” Jan asked, raising his thick brow.

“Okay, yeah, fair. So, does anyone with us speak Elementi?” Adam asked, rubbing the side of his neck. 

“I do,” Tagak admitted. 

“Would you watch over her?”

“Taygak is my priority.”

Adam let out a small sigh, but said nothing, the half elf scratching his neck lightly as he thought. “Give me a second.”

Jurot noted the half elf’s eyes glancing slightly to the side, as though reading something in the air, the Iyrman placing a hand on Adam’s shoulder, taking him to one side so they could look out to the sea.

‘Man, can anything give me Elementi? Doesn’t…’ Adam blinked. ‘What? Heavy Armour? Smithing? I already had those, didn’t I? What a useless pick! Hey, Bell, never mind, I’ll check myself.’

[Thank you.]

“Jurot, I’m so stupid,” Adam whispered in the Iyr’s tongue.

“Okay.”

“I’m about to get a whole less stupid, though. What do you think? I can take one more language, which should I take?”

“Elementi too?”

“Yeah, Elementi and one more.”

“Aswadic.”

Adam remained quiet for a long moment. “Okay, maybe I won’t become a whole less stupid, but a little less. Also, I get to pick some knowledge, but I already have Arcane Lore, but I can take History, Nature, Religion, which should I take? Though, it does give me Mastery, which could help with…”

Jurot noted Adam’s look, wondering what it meant. 

“You know, to make money.”

“Ah,” Jurot replied, slowly nodding his head. “Are you able to gain Mastery in another way?”

“Yeah.”

“It may be best to take History and Religion, for if you are to speak with nobles often, knowing these matters would assist.”

“Maybe I don’t want to take those then…” Adam frowned slightly. “I was thinking Nature, to help with Alchemy, since I am the Head Alchemist.”

“That is also a good idea.”

“Nature and Religion, then?”

“Yes.”

XP:  28 700 -> 27 700

Ability Unlocked!

Blessings of Erudite

Learn two languages. 

Pick two from Arcane Lore, History, Nature, Religion to gain Mastery in such Skills. 

“You know, now that I think about it, I really know a lot of languages,” Adam whispered. “It feels really cool.”

“Yes, it does,” Jurot agreed. 

“I should take all the languages so I can spoil all the children in every language,” Adam whispered, mostly as a joke.

“Do you know of the Tongues spell?”

“No, but that is a decent spell.” Adam reached into his pocket for his journal. 

Jurot wondered if he should allow Adam to speak the languages he had just learnt. Jurot reached into his pocket and revealed a small ring he had brought for Pam. “Wear this.”

“I’m sorry, Jurot, but I’m a married man, and we’re brothers,” Adam replied, but he accepted the ring, plucking it from his brother’s fingers, too embarrassed to allow the Iyrman to slip it onto his pinky. 

Jurot decided to show mercy, but he was beginning to think perhaps Adam was more of a half elf than he let on. “You must keep the ring on until we are deeper within Aswadasad, without the crew.”

“Sure,” Adam replied, returning back to the group, before understanding why Jurot had started with the theatrics. “Hello.”

The girl’s head darted to the side, towards the half elf, even causing the drakken to raise his brow in alarm. 

“My name is Adam, what’s your name?” Adam asked.

“I am Kizwolima.”

“Oh? What a pretty name! Can I call you Kiz?”

“No, my name is Kizwolima,” the girl said, taking a half step towards the drakken Oathsworn. 

“That’s right!” Adam chuckled, dropping to a knee. “Kizwolima, I sent a message to Prince Merza, and he said he’s going to take you home soon, but for now, you’re going to have to stick with us. Do you see my brother there, the one with the tatoo on his forehead.”

“Deathsinger,” Kizwolima confirmed. 

“No, no, he’s-,” Adam paused. “Oh, right, yes. That’s another word for them, but we call them Iyrman on the land, usually.”

“Are you a Deathsinger?”

“No, no, I’m not,” Adam replied, rubbing his forehead. “I’m a… I’m his brother, but I have a special relationship with the Iyr. We have the same sister, that’s why we’re brothers.”

“Oh! I have a sister too!”

“Oh! Really?”

“Yes! I have three big brothers and I have two big sisters and I have one small sister and one little brother, he is a baby, so we have to be quiet when he sleeps,” Kizwolima informed the half elf, who felt the urge to spoil her rise within his heart. 

‘Let me adopt her, please!’ Adam thought, though he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he noted the looks he was receiving from the nearby crew. “Since she’s all alone, I should be allowed to spoil her until she returns back to her family!”

The outburst confused the others, Kizwolima gasping, retreating back to the drakken, who kept a curious glare upon the half elf, who was apologising so profusely to the little merman child.

“Adam is known as the Crazy Father,” Jurot said. “She holds as much protection as Taygak now.”

The warning did not go unnoticed. Manager Jonn stepped beside the half elf, while the other John glanced between them all, feeling the heaviness in the air, though it quickly dissipated as the crew realised what the Iyrman was saying.

‘Why is he accepting another child when we must protect Taygak?’ Tagak thought, deciding against thinking too deeply as to how the half elf could suddenly speak another tongue, nor speaking the words aloud within ear shot of Laygak, who would certainly wish to beat him.

General Adam: A fine addition to my collection.