Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

‘Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have toyed with his life…’ Adam thought, though as he thought it, the guilt eating at his heart, he still thought it was best to have toyed with the Grand Commander. However, he could not allow such a seed to grow within his children’s hearts, for they were too sweet and pure, and had already suffered enough.

The Full Moon remained silent, for though she had come under the half elf’s might, she still hadn’t believed he was so powerful to defeat the Grand Commander, not until the words had come from the Iyrman’s lips.

“We still have not heard the true details of what occurred,” Mother Crescent admitted, and though one might have wondered why the Aswadian Orders were not invited, most understood the King was trying to foster better relations with the Aldish Orders after the civil war.

“Last year, while I was minding my own business, a Vice Commander of the Thousand Hunts killed my sons, and wounded my daughter,” Adam said, swallowing, feeling his entire body tense up, as though he were turning into a statue. “My twins, my son and daughter, were not even five, and Larot is even younger. My sons, they’re so sweet, they don’t deserve death, and my daughter, even though she bullies me so much, she still doesn’t deserve death since she’s so lovely.”

Mother Crescent could see the rage behind the teary eyes, for she had heard particular rumours, but even if those children of his were one thing or another, they were truly his children in his heart. “Your children…”

“Iyrmen,” Adam confirmed.

“Iyrmen?”

“Since Adam requested mercy, we showed them mercy,” Jurot stated simply, crossing his arms, understanding the Mother’s question, but at the same time, annoyed they weren’t able to completely erase the Order.

“Had we of the Iyr been given permission to act as we please, the Order of the Thousand Hunts would have disappeared before the season’s end,” Kitool stated, as though it were fact. If the King had chosen to step forward, it would have taken a year or two, for they would have needed to slip through the army to assassinate each one.

Mother Crescent was pretty sure that was true, considering the tales she had heard from the Order in the mountains all those years ago. However, to think the Iyr would decide against completely razing them to the ground when they had killed their children… it was inconceivable.

“My wife would have been sad at all the death, and what with the Reavers around the corner, I showed them mercy by killing the two that hurt my children,” Adam stated, but they could still see it. “I killed his apprentice in front of his very eyes so he could feel a fraction of my pain, and I killed him, too cleanly. I should have butchered him like the beast he was. What kind of animal kills children?”

“Is it true? That your children are-,” the Full Moon began, only to be interrupted.

“Iyrmen,” Kitool and Jurot stated firmly.

“I am not speaking from the Iyrman’s perspective, but that of the world’s.”

“The world should know they are Iyrmen, if the world wishes to remain safe,” Kitool said.

“You know,” Adam began, only for Jurot to stop him, by slamming a hand down onto the table.

“My granduncle, Butcher Marmak, dotes upon the children,” Jurot warned, the Iyrman glaring at the Full Moon.

“Do you think such a name would frighten me?”

“No, for I would mention Adam’s name to frighten you,” Jurot replied, his eyes full of a glare.

The Full Moon narrowed her eyes towards the Iyrman, tensing up lightly herself.

Adam flushed lightly, his heart still pounding in his chest. “You know, Mother Crescent, you’ve been rather polite to us, and though I appreciate that, I worry for your Order when the rest of your Moons hold less than half your wisdom. I understand, since the Aldish are the same way. Even though I’ve killed the Grand Commander of High Garden, they still don’t know fear. Even though I have defeated a number of Paragons, Grand Commanders, and even though I work for the Enchanter, and even though I, so on and so on, this and that, this and that, you still won’t show me the respect, because of that, right?”

“What?” Mother Crescent replied, holding the half elf’s gaze, which seemed so clear, and tired.

“It’s because you are comfortable. Just like me, I make the same mistake every time, because I’m comfortable. I think, because I’ve dealt with all these different, crazy, situations, and I’ve survived, mostly, that I can continue dealing with all kinds of different, crazy situations. You think, because your Order has lasted for three hundred or so years, that your Order will remain in the future, just like the Order of the Fifty Blades, actually, a better example would be the Order of the White Dragon Knights.”

“We are not the White Dragon Knights.”

“You’re right because at least they lasted for a thousand years,” Adam replied, his eyes judging them for being idiots. “How is it that your Order was formed near their demise and you haven’t learnt from history? At the very least I’ve only had about four or five years to learn my place, but you’ve have centuries to learn from your mistakes, and for some reason you see this random half elf walk into your Order, stronger than your Full Moon, and just to be clear, I would have absolutely bodied your New Moon too, no offence New Moon, but I’m still near the tip top of my strength, and you still don’t realise how insane I am? I have Bael, who is a dra-,”

“Adam,” Jurot said, cutting the half elf off.

“You see me walking around with the Mad Dog’s grandson, my brother, and also he’s my grandfather too, Mad Dog that is. You see me walking around with Kitool, whose grandaunt almost exploded the Platinum Shield last year. You see the grandchildren of all kind of crazy monsters, and the grandson of the previous Elder Wrath, and for some reason, in your thick, fucking head, you can’t put two and two together? Are you that fucking stupid that you don’t realise who you can and cannot start trouble with? Even after hearing how I cut the Grand Commander’s head off, by the way, as easily as I defeated you, Full Moon, so you better watch that glare, and you still think you can big dog me?” Adam asked as he stood up, tapping his skull with his fingers towards them. “The Divine gave you two eyes to see, two ears to listen, and one mouth to speak, so see and listen twice as much as you say stupid shit.”

“Adam, what does it mean to big dog you?” Jurot asked, since even he didn’t quite understand the difference.

“It means like… you know, you’re bigger, you bark louder to try and scare someone, you think you’re better,” Adam replied, his entire face red with heat, the half elf having allowed the rage to fuel him, his frustrations boiling to the surface once more. “Aswadasad treats you like dirt, so why the hell are you trying to pick a fight with me? Do you have any idea who, or what, I am?”

“You-,” the Full Moon began, as Adam held up a hand.

“Wait, wait, wait! I just realised what that sounded like, and that’s my fault. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I’m someone that likes the underdog. This place, Five Moons, is really similar to Black Mountain in a way, really similar to the Iyr. Black Mountain worships Lady Arya, you worship, well, not Noor, and you both, presumably, get a lot of disrespect from Aswadasad. I’m the type of person that wants to be your friend, and I understand some other people that look like me did some terrible things, but I’m not those people. I came here with gifts of silver, and magical weapons, and I came with respect, and the only reason why we’re having this conversation is because of your stupidity!”

“Adam!” Dunes called again.

“No, man! Let’s stop sugarcoating this nonsense! You know I don’t speak like a noble, I didn’t come from that type of life. You’re hiding behind your civility, your nobility, but that’s some bullshit! I could act all passive aggressive, listen, you have no idea! I come from Greyland! You think I don’t know how to speak sophisticated, and certainly, one could ponder the situation we have found ourselves within, with those who are the root cause of such consequences, of coming under the tip of my blade, or rather, my niece’s blade, but how about you listen to what I’m saying, huh? If you dress a pile of shit in a suit, it’s still a pile of shit! It doesn’t matter if it looks nice!”

Dunes tilted his head, trying to understand the metaphor, fairly certain he understood, though it was still an awkward metaphor.

“Listen to my words, not the way I’m saying them! Why would you pick a fight with the Iyrmen after their wounds are still fresh? Are you insane? Naqokans nephews were killed, her niece hurt, and you’re asking for the sword of the woman you betrayed? Pick a better time! A better avenue!” Adam exclaimed, tapping his forehead once more, and they finally understood what the action meant.

‘He’s a damn savage!’ the Full Moon thought.

The New Moon also glared at the half elf, who sat back down and let out a sigh, glancing aside at his companions, realising he had gone a little too far. However, the half elf popped his collar and undid the button to cool himself down.

“This is why I hate people who are used to wealth and power,” Adam said, his eyes darting to Kitool. “You see this? We offered them the magical weapons, and they think it’s because we want to trade with them. They think they’re the only Order in the world that wants magical weapons? We’re risking our lives to offer them magical weapons, and they think they can disrespect us. I’m the one that showed them mercy, and they think they’re in a position to pick a fight? Fucking muppets, man! Fucking pricks! They still have no idea the trouble I could cause!”

“Adam…” Kitool called out.

“I knew it! I should have killed the bastards more! I should have told everyone it was me that killed that Grand Commander! When I beat the shit out of the other guy, the Grand Commander of the other Order, I should have told everyone! Why did you stop me from beating the New Moon? I should have beaten up the other Moons back to back! Then they would have known their place, thinking they can glare at me!”

“One fights in a similar manner to me,” Kitool said.

“Okay, not her then, but all the other ones,” Adam stated, slamming the table. “Is this how it’s going to be every time? We come with gifts of silver and magical weapons, and they treat us like this? I’m sick of it, damn it! Bellflower! Primrose! Honeysuckle! How many times do I need to teach them? This fucking little half Order, even High Garden can’t look me in the damn eye, so why is this piece of piss Order-,”

“Adam!” Dunes exclaimed.

“What? What? Don’t interrupt me unless I’ve spoken a lie! I don’t give two shits about the appearance of fucking propriety when they don’t deserve even licking my goddamn boot!” Adam’s face had turned so crimson, his head pounded, the rage within his eyes certain, and for once, the others could see how close he was to exploding.

Jurot placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, catching the half elf’s eye, walking the fine line between allowing Adam to burst forth, without pushing too far. “Mother Crescent has treated us well.”

“Well, yes, except for her, obviously!” Adam replied, his raised voice lowering slightly. “I’m sick of it, man! All I need to know is how many Grand Commanders I need to beat! How many do I need to kill? Do I need to complete erase an Order myself? I’ll do it! Do you have any idea the stuff I can come up with? With the Enchanter, the mess I could make?”

Jurot held Adam’s shoulder, the half elf letting out a long sigh, finally cooling down, the half elf’s eyes still full of annoyance. Adam stood, rolling his shoulders, fixing his shirt, before tossing gems onto the table.

“Thank you for the tea, Mother Crescent. I apologise for my outburst, and it’s not your fault, and you shouldn’t have been at the point of my wicked tongue. I think it would be best if I settled in for the night, and if you want me to take responsibility for my word, you should probably do it when Taygak isn’t within our group, which will give me the time to erase this Order from the map.”

“Adam, please,” Dunes called, standing with the half elf.

“No, I’m done,” Adam said, his voice full of exhaustion. “This is my only warning to this Order. If you want to punish me for speaking, go ahead, but I’m going to return the favour tenfold for your words. If the Order of Five Moons wants to pick a fight with me, I swear, on Baktu’s name, on Lord Sozain’s name-,”

“Adam!” Jurot called, standing, reaching over to his shoulders.

“I will wipe this Order from the-,”

Health: 126 -> 116

Save (Constitution)

D20 + 8 = 13 (5)

Condition: Stunned

Even if Kitool’s finger had not jabbed within his back, Adam would have certainly frozen from the look of genuine fear upon his brother’s face, for the half elf, in his frustrations, had almost sworn an Oath to the Divine.

Adam snapping was not on my bingo card.