Beyond Chaos – A DiceRPG

“Daddy!” Jarot gasped, before turning up to look towards his mother. Jirot, who had wanted to bully her father, also turned to look at her mother, her eyes full of shock. Konarot frowned, rushing up to her father, while Kirot and Karot followed.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Adam called out, wincing, reaching down to hold onto his children’s hands. The half elf was as pale as death, his veins dark and pulsing. He spotted Amira’s gaze upon him, but the half elf just smiled. “Daddy just needs a little time to rest, that’s all.”

“Daddy, you are okay?” Jirot asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Daddy is fine, daddy is fine, daddy just needs to sleep for a while,” Adam assured, dropping down to embrace his daughter tight. ‘I forgot how much that hurt!’

XP: 23 700

Exhaustion: 2

Dexterity: 11/12

Intelligence: 12/16

Health: 79/112

“Daddy, you must be okay, because you are first place.” Jirot clutched at his shirt, hiding her face within his chest.

‘Okay, maybe I should have rested a few days instead. How could I worry my children like this?’ Adam planted a firm kiss atop her head, feeling her thick hair tickling his cheek and nose.

Sonarot forced Adam to take the entire week off, even though he felt much better half way through. ‘Even if you are young, you need to rest.’

“Let’s go play in the park?” Adam offered one morning, grabbing a small pack, filling it with snacks, gourds of water, and a set of balls. “Vonda, do you want to come with?”

“I will remain with Virot and Damrot,” Vonda replied.

‘Now that I think about it, we haven’t really gone on a date in a while.’ “Alright.” Adam smiled warmly towards her, his thoughts written upon his face, causing his wife to smile. “Churot, do you want to come along too?”

Adam led his children to the park, Jirot and Jarot each holding a hand, while the triplets followed him out. Jogak and Citool brought along the rest of the children, including Larot, who held Jazool’s hand as she led him forward, while another group of teens from the extended family estate escorted them. As they made their way, Churot glanced towards Elder Zijin’s estate, noting he wasn’t within his estate.

Elder Zijin sat opposite Elder Gold, who poured him a cup of tea. He sipped the tea, tasting the gentle flavour of berry, before he reached into his inner tunic, and brought out the book, placing it down onto the table between them. Elder Gold continued to sip her tea for a moment, before she took the book, flipping through it.

“The Reavers will arrive soon,” Elder Gold stated.

“It is best to complete this matter swiftly so we are prepared,” Zijin replied.

Elder Gold bowed her head, before skimming through a few of the pages, picking them at random, before closing the book. She held the book out towards Elder Zijin, who reached out for it, but she kept it within her hand for a long moment. “It is best for Churot to return to work quickly.”

“I will not request such of the new Family Head.”

Elder Gold let out a soft exhale. “Okay.” Ultimately, Zijin understood the situation best, so she needed to trust in his knowledge in this matter. ‘Kiara is still working, but now that we have another Chaos Enchanter, we are able to spare Adam once more. Losing Churot’s mathematical abilities is a shame, but he can still complete some before and after his enchanting.’

“I hope you will consider his age,” Zijin said, still holding the book.

“He is young enough to work hard.”

“I hope you will consider his grandfather.”

Elder Gold let go of the book, clasping her hands together. ‘How is it that the Rot family possesses all three Chaos Enchanters?’

“Elder Gold,” Zijin called out, his voice low, his eyes narrowed.

Elder Gold held the Elder’s gaze, before she bowed her head, and dismissed the Elder. ‘Since he is also eager to assist the other families, we can place aside such thoughts.’ She was glad the Mad Dog was currently training outside of the Iyr, for even just some light trouble from the Mad Dog would have stressed her out too much. She could only hope the Chief would return soon, since her hands were mostly tied when it came to dealing with the half elf.

The aura within the Iyr had changed. Though the Iyr worked efficiently, there was new surge of motivation within the Iyrmen. Each Iyrman worked slightly harder and slightly longer, preparing for the new world which would come to pass once the Reavers stepped foot upon the land. Unlike the Aldish, who could throw away a hundred thousand people before realising the threat of the Reavers, the Iyrmen could not waste a single soul.

Adam kicked the ball gently to his eldest daughter, who passed it to Kirot, continuing all the way to Jarot. Jarot looked around to find Larot, who ran around with Jazool. Jarot blinked.

“Jarot, Larot is busy, so pass it to daddy.”

Jarot looked up towards his father, smiling brightly, before kicking the ball excitedly to his father, the ball veering off to the side slightly, but Adam skipped to the side to catch it.

“What a strong kick!”

“I can kick strong too!” Jirot said.

“Alright. I’m going to pass it to you, and I want you to kick it strongly back to daddy, okay?”

“Okay!” Jirot prepared herself, and as the ball rushed to her, she kicked too early, and almost stamped on the ball when she righted herself. Her head tracked the ball which continued past her, before her head snapped towards her father in confusion.

“Oh dear, oh dear, daddy kicked it too slowly?”

“Smelly boy.” Jirot shook her head, placing her hands on her waist. “What am I to do with you.” She then reached up to her forehead, sighing.

“Even if you hurt my soul, I’ll forgive you, since you’re so cute.” Adam refrained from allowing a single tear to run down his cheek as the children all laughed at their father, not understanding it wasn’t really a joke.

Adam set up the blanket for their picnic, his uncles and aunt and cousins also joining him, the group all sitting together, while the other Iyrmen and their children played within the park. Adam spotted a few families he had spent some time with, though they were not those he personally knew. All save for one boy who rushed up to them, his legs waddling confidently.

“Sammich?” Dagek asked.

“Are you hungry?” Adam asked, reaching up to the boy’s lips with a sandwich.

Dagek reached for it, but allowed his cousin to feed him, before finally accepting the sandwich from his hands. He chewed the sandwich slowly, looking at the other children, settling himself beside Maygak, the pair eating quietly.

‘It was only a few years ago you were drinking milk, and now you are at school?’ Tonagek thought, dropping himself down onto a nearby bench, allowing his youngest son to remain with his cousins. He closed his eyes, recalling the face of the little girl, the same girl who had glued Adam to the Rot family. ‘Time is moving so quickly.’

“Baba?” Konarot called, holding up a glass for the Iyrman.

“Thank you.” Tonagek checked the water, seeing his reflection in the clear water, before he poured the water from above his lips, before holding the back of the girl’s head and feeding her the water. “You must drink too, since you are playing so well.”

Konarot’s tail swayed from side to side, allowing her granduncle to feed her.

As the week passed, Adam thought about how many weapons he could make for the Iyr. He also thought about how he was going to replace the auctions of the Fireblades within Red Oak. More importantly, he thought about how he could spoil all the children before he had to go adventure across the land.

Once he finished his week off, he was called to meet with Elder Gold, much to Jirot’s chagrin.

“Since it is Elder Gold…” Jirot said, her lips pursed together, her head tilted forward, her accusatory eyes following her father.

Adam approached the Great Elder within her gazebo, sitting opposite her. She had cut her hair shorter, revealing her ears more clearly, and the piercings within. She closed her book, tossing it onto the pile beside her. She then raised her hand, in the same motion she had previously, and after a moment she eyed up the half elf.

“Elder Gold?”

“I wanted to thank you for Awakening Churot. Another Chaos Enchanter in this trying time is a boon we could have only prayed for.”

“Ah, well, I was the one who wanted to Awaken him, so I’m glad you accepted.”

“Even if we cannot publicly announce such, please understand we shall not forget this favour.”

“I know.” Adam smiled slightly, bowing his head lightly. “Is there anything else you needed?”

“Since you have gifted Churot the ability to enchant weapons in a similar manner, I ask you to protect the second village.”

“The one where Sky was killed?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything wrong?”

“Not as of now, but we cannot be sure if a greater dangers lies beyond the horizon.”

“Alright. Uh, would you mind if I donated some money and some magical items to them as an apology?”

“You may.”

“Thank you.” Adam smiled awkwardly. ‘I really should have enchanted something for them.’

“Do you wish to take your children to the fort?” Elder Gold asked.

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I… don’t think the Iyr views them the same way as the Rot family, and I don’t want that to become an issue.”

Elder Gold held the half elf’s gaze for a long moment, before she bowed her head. “Okay.” She watched the half elf go. ‘You will age quickly if you carry so much stress.’

I thought it was going to happen soon, but apparently it’s a ways off. 

At least that thing will happen soon!