Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

‘How did we…’ Yasha thought, knocking upon the with its heavy metal knocker, the large gate set a few steps within the entrance, providing shade for the figures, and also keeping the gate knocker cool, for the Aswadians of old had realised how difficult it was to work if one kept burning their hands on metal gate knockers.

Adam’s calves burned, for they had walked up a nearby hill towards the top, where a large number of estates loomed over the rest of the district, the young woman leading them to one of the many gates that separated the estates within from the rest of the district. He spotted a large number of figures, and considering their familiarity with Yasha, and how they each carried a weapon at their side, Adam gathered this area was for soldiers or guards and their families.

“Grandfather!” Yasha exclaimed.

“Betti!”

‘Betty? I thought her name was Yasha? Is Betty an Aswadic name?’

“It’s an affectionate nickname for a child,” Dunes whispered, noting Adam’s face.

‘How did you read my mind so easily?’

“Your thoughts are written upon your face,” Dunes said, noting Adam’s furrowing brows. “Yes, it is.”

‘What the hell!’ Adam blinked rapidly, before shutting his eyes tight, completely neutralising his face, clenching his teeth tight as he glared at the world in front of him.

“It’s fine, Adam, you don’t have to do such a thing,” Dunes assured, while the gate opened to reveal an older Aswadian, with a face worn by the sun and time, and just like the young woman, the old man was lean, but strongly built. The old man’s white hair was cut short, but curled about his head like the waves. His beard was cut short too, though was thick enough to cover his lips. His dark eyes, first glad to see the young woman, quickly darted around to see the others around, the lighter skinned young men, those whose skin was the colour of the sea, and finally the dark skinned Aswadian, whose vestments betrayed he was from the north.

“Noorshukur, what brings a Mo of Aria to this humble estate?” the old man asked, his voice deep and low, full of humour, certain the young woman had not caused any trouble.

“We have come to speak with you about hiring miss Yasha,” Dunes said, only just realising they had followed the young woman home, though he supposed Adam would want to make sure his investment did not run off with so much gold.

“Please,” the old man said, inviting them inside. “I am Zabir.”

“I am Mo Dunes of Black Mountain, and these are my companions, Brother Adam of the United Kindom, a business that works with the Iyr, and Jurot of the Iyr, as well as John, Jash, and Kizwolima.”

“Blessings,” Zabir greeted, bowing his head, allowing them to enter the estate, which was walled in on each side, a near circular building within the centre, surrounded by a large open area on all sides. The smell struck them at once, and quickly the bleating revealed source of the smell, as the goats grazed all about them.

‘Sandstone,’ Jurot thought, eyeing up the building as they approached it, the building an octagon with windows on each size, large enough to house four or five comfortably, and considering the goats all around, Jurot assumed he was a retired guard, most likely a tutor for the guards, and once held the rank of Mulazim.

“Over ten years, not spoken with Iyrman,” Zabir admitted, trying to find the words in Aldish as he invited them to sit under the open air, the old man allowing them to sit at the table, the tarp providing them shade under the terrible heat of the noonval sun. While Yasha stepped within, Zabir smiled towards Kizwolima. “Is she your daughter?”

“No,” Jash replied, glancing aside to the half elf.

“We found her drifting at sea, and she is under our care at the moment,” Adam explained, flashing an awkward smile.

“Is she a resident of the Undersea Kingdom?”

“She is,” Adam confirmed. “I sent word to a Merman Prince, who is going to collect her from Arisa, some time in the future.”

“You know of a Merman Prince?”

“He is a friend of a friend.”

“You have friends who are friends with royalty?” Zabir asked, narrowing his eyes towards the half elf.

“He is also royalty,” Adam explained, doing his best not to crack too wide of a smile. “He and I, we met a few years ago. We ended up bonding since he and I are both crafters. Also, my children were really fond of him, so I let him be friends with me.”

Zabir’s eyes darted towards Dunes, who smiled, the kind of smile that said more than words, and Zabir understood Adam was one of those. “You are so blessed.”

“I’m not blessed because I’m tangled with royalty, but I am blessed to have such a good friend as Mo Dunes, and a brother like Jurot,” Adam said, gently elbowing Jurot. “Isn’t that right, Jurot?”

“I do not speak much Aswadic,” Jurot replied.

“Oh. Sorry, my bad.”

“I noticed your tattoo, but it is not the same as those of the Iyrmen,” Zabir admitted.

“No, this tattoo is a gift from the Iyr, to show our connection, but I’m no Iyrman. My brother is an Iyrman, though, and you might have heard of our grandfather, actually. Mad Dog?”

“Mad Dog?” Zabir gasped, his eyes darting to Jurot. “Giaroh?”

Jurot’s lips twitched into a small smile, the young Iyrman nodding. “Yes.”

“Noorshukhur!” The old man slapped the table in shock, eyes darting to Dunes. “Giaroh, he is related to Butcher Marmuk, I heard?”

“He is,” Dunes said. “The Mad Dog’s wife is the Butcher’s cousin.”

“Oiyoyoiyoyoi!” Zabir gasped, staring at the young Iyrman’s forehead, realising he had seen the tattoos before. Indeed, no one could forget this set of tattoos.

Yasha returned, carrying a platter of dates, and a jug of fresh water, and various empty cups.

“Yasha! The Iyrman is related to Butcher Marmuk and Mad Dog Giahroh!”

Yasha slammed the platter down onto the table a little too harshly, her eyes darting to the Iyrman, who sat proudly with his arms crossed, enjoying the attention. ‘Eh?’

“This is getting out of hand,” Adam whispered in Aldish. “John, you hear that? These guys, they know Butcher Marmak and the Mad Dog. You see what I need to deal with whenever I’m with Jurot?”

“Aren’t you his grandson too?”

Adam huffed lightly, his eyes darting to the side, a guilty smirk encroaching upon his lips. “Seriously, seriously, how can they do this to me?”

“Noorshukhur, noorshukur,” Zabir said, leaning over to shake Jurot’s forearms, the Iyrman standing and doing the same. “Many years ago, I fought Marmuk! Very strong! He had very big sword!”

“Yes,” Jurot confirmed, shaking the older Aswadian’s forearm, allowing him to sit.

“Have you heard of Flame Brand too?” Adam asked.

“I have! I did not meet her, but I fought Butcher Marmak, and I met Mad Dog Giaroh, many years ago. Flame Brand, I remember it, the Orders, it is said they helped her slay a dragon, or a wyrm, a very powerful creature, but they asked her to leave since it was at that time when the ithna were…” Zabir paused for a moment, wondering if he was allowed to mention that. “It was an unfortunate time.”

“Yeah, well…” Adam spotted Dunes’ look and he decided not to say anything too scary. “Flame Brand is our… well, she’s my grandmother, she’s his grandaunt?”

Zabir stared at the half elf, befuddled.

“Jurot, is that right? Flame Brand is my grandmother, but your grandaunt?”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, as though it were really that simple.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Adam informed the older Aswadian. “Anyway, it’s a complicated story, and I understand it’s unbelievable, but Jurot and Dunes, they can confirm my words.”

“Adam is a fool, but he does not lie,” Dunes confirmed, reaching up to rub his forehead.

“I believe it, I believe it,” Zabir assured, his eyes darting between them all. “You wish to hire my granddaughter?”

“Yeah, uh, John here uses a spear, and we were looking for someone to teach him while we were…” Adam glanced aside to John, then to Yasha, then to Zabir. “Actually…”

Zabir slowly nodded his head as he listened to the half elf’s explanation, about who he was, about the business, and then what happened with Yasha and the heir of the Setting Sun merchant. The old man’s eyes narrowed slightly, since as much as he was a commoner, he was an Expert, and so carried the informal title of Kal. He was still a guard, too, and as much as the merchants and guards worked closely, he was a guard of Arisa, and not a guard of the merchants.

‘Bastara, you think you can trouble my granddaughter?’

Adam noted the look in the old man’s eyes, causing him to smile slightly. ‘Yeah, that’s right. That’s the kind of look you should have.’

‘Hmm?’

“If you need any assistance in this matter, let me know,” Adam said. “When it comes to spending money, I’m pretty strong too.”

“It is an expensive matter, but my name carries some weight.”

“Well, apparently not enough weight, so if you need to use a name, you can use the name of our business, because as much as I don’t know what the Setting Sun Merchants deal with, I bet they don’t deal with as many magical items as us.”

“I will send a letter to the guards and they will let the merchants understand,” Zabir said.

“You know how to read and write?”

“Most guards know,” Zabir admitted. “I had to learn to become a Mulazim.”

“Oh,” Adam replied, nodding his head gently. “You said you fought my granduncle, Marmak?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

“Your granduncle was wanted for killing a noble.”

“Yo!” Adam looked to Jurot. “Granduncle killed a noble.”

“Yes?” Jurot replied, fairly certain Adam had heard the tale.

“Damn, what the…” Adam paused. ‘I feel like I knew that already.’

“He was hunted for some time. We fought, but he defeated me. I almost died. He fought ten of us, killing seven, and the rest of us were hurt. I still have the scar.” Zabir unbuttoned his shirt lightly, revealing the large mark against his front, his skin sunk within, paler than the rest of his dark skin. “He cut through my chain, and it was good chain.”

“Well, I’m very glad you’re alive, since you seem like a great guy,” Adam said, reaching down for a date, taking a bite. “I’m sure whatever the noble did-,”

“Adam,” Dunes called, causing the half elf to flush.

‘Oh, yeah. I forgot the nobles still hold power.’ Adam reached up the side of his neck. ‘I need to-,’

Dunes noted the half elf stopped his dangerous thought, or at the very least, had realised he was thinking something dangerous and quickly stopped his expression from showing his thoughts. ‘Adam…’

Adam can defeat Grand Commanders, but facing the system?