27. Roles

27. Roles

“Are you really not going to tell me the next part of the story?” Adam grumbled, staring up at Dargon. He had been waiting for the continuation of the Blackwater Crisis for a while now, and he couldn’t help but feel they were going to do the same thing when it finally reached the ending.

Dargon just smiled. “There’s no need to rush, Adam, son of Fate.” It was rare that someone was so enticed by the stories of the Iyrmen in this way. Many others liked the stories, though some no doubt believed them to be fairy tales, but Adam seemed so eager to learn more about the Iyr. The sweet sensation of denying him sweet release filled his soul.

“The more you wait, the greater it will feel,” Tazwyn said, noting the look in Dargon’s eyes. ‘Have we been bullying Dargon too much? He’s finding too much pleasure in denying the boy.’

“What if the mood passes?” Adam asked, glancing away, obviously annoyed by their refusal to continue the story.

“Is there ever a time where you won’t have a mood for a good story?” Tazwyn asked, glancing back towards Adam.

“If I was on death’s door,” Adam replied, simply. “I don’t want to hear a story when I’m dying, probably.”

“What would you like at that time?” Argon asked, having not expected Adam to speak about his death so easily. Most preferred not to talk about dying or death, especially their own, but Adam was quite open. ‘Did you really die so many times?’

“I want to hear the voices of my family,” Adam said, nodding is head to himself. “I want them to tell me that they’ll live happy and healthy without me, so I can die in peace.”

The Iyrmen hadn’t expected it to be so awkward and sappy.

Kandal threw a quick glance to Adam. ‘How manly.’ He nodded his head slowly, understanding the want for a large family. ‘A hundred grandchildren...’ Kandal wondered how many children he would need to sire for so many grandchildren. ‘If I have ten, and they have ten...’

“How will your family tell you to live happily and healthily if they are in danger?” Dargon asked, shaking his head.

“Do you not want to go down in a fight?” Argon asked, throwing a look to his brother, wondering why he brother would ask such a stupid question.

“Why would I want to go down in a fight?” Adam’s voice was full of confusion. “Do you think I’m an Iyrman? We’re not all as manly as you guys!”

“Then how do you wish to die?” Tazwyn asked, wondering if that was meant to be a compliment.

“I want to go peacefully, after living a wonderful and long life, surrounded by all of my family. I want to see at least a hundred grandchildren before I die.” Adam paused for a moment to think. “No, I want a thousand great, great, great grandchildren!” Adam looked up to the sky, pointing up towards it. “You hear that, Sozain? If I die too young, I’ll come and haunt you!”

The Iyrmen stared at Adam, blinking at him. They could only imagine someone being so drakkenhearted. Even the Iyrmen dared not provoke the wrath of the gods.

“You are a dangerous young man,” Dargon said.

“If you bring down the gods’ ire, even we won’t help you,” Tazwyn said, shaking her head.

“Even though you’re the Iyrmen? Isn’t that what you’re mean to do?” Adam smirked at his terrible joke.

Charisma Check

D20 + 3 = 17 (14)

The Iyrmen just shook their heads. “If it isn’t the God of Death or the Goddess of War, we would be willing to fight by your side.”

“Really? It just so happens that I quite like the God of Death and the Goddess of War.” There was something wrong about the statement he had just made, but he didn’t catch it. “I like the Goddess of Balance too.”

“The Goddess of Balance as well?” Tazwyn asked. “Why?” She wasn’t one of the Divines the Iyrmen prayed to typically.

“She’s the reason why I died last time,” Adam said.

The Iyrmen blinked. “You died because of her and so you like her?”

“Ah, well...” Adam looked up for a moment. “Not quite. I think she was quite nice to talk to when I spoke with her. Her father asked me to die for her sake, and...” Adam glanced to Jurot and then looked away. “I wasn’t able to keep a promise of mine. Still, I think it’s fine.”

‘He always says such impossible things,’ Tazwyn thought. ‘He doesn’t seem to be lying. Is there something wrong with his mind?’

Dargon noticed the look in Tazwyn’s eyes and nodded his head. He would need to keep a closer eye on Adam, who spoke such wondrous words full of mystery.

Eshva drew her warhammers quickly, causing Argon to raise a hand. The Iyrman growled something in their language. Tazwyn, having heard the growl, drew her sword, moving to the side, and Kandal grabbed his mighty greataxe and swung it twice, warming up his muscles. Argon remained up ahead, not yet reaching for his greatsword.

“Looks like Baktu has some issue with your words,” Argon said, motioning with his hand.

Dargon stepped in front of Adam and Jurot. “We need to leave,” he said, pointing away from the Iyrmen and the unseen terrors which had caused them to take action.

“What? What is it?” Adam asked as he followed Jurot, who hadn’t even thought to disobey the Iyrman.

Jurot looked to Adam, blinking at him. ‘What are you thinking, Adam? Do you think you could go against someone like Dargon?’

Adam sighed. “Whatever.” He waited with the two Iyrmen, crossing his arms as well. His fingers tapped along his arms. Sometimes they could hear the sounds of the combat, screeching, growls, roars of both beast and man.

“Thank you for healing me, Adam.” Jurot eventually said, feeling the thick tension coating the air.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it,” Adam replied. “You aren’t allowed to die yet, not until we face a dragon.”

“That would be a good story to tell.” Jurot couldn’t help but smile.

“Is that why you want to face the trikro?” Dargon asked. “To die a decent death?” The Iyrman understood that feeling, though they had just had a conversation about how Adam wanted to die. Did he say that as a joke?

“I don’t want to face it!” Adam grumbled. “Well, I mean...” He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes. “I wouldn’t mind the experience...” Adam though about how much experience he would earn from assisting in defeating the two trikro. It seemed the system counted any effort to assist, so if he attacked with earnestness, he’d gain some experience from the fight.

“Once they’re back, I’ll continue telling you about the Blackwater Crisis,” Dargon said, feeling bad for the half elf.

Adam frowned. “I just don’t want anyone to die. I was the one who wanted to go to the Iyr.” He could feel the guilt slowly eat at his heart.

“No one could have expected this,” Dargon said, trying to relieve the boy’s worries.

Adam grit his teeth, looking down at the floor. “I shouldn’t have come so soon...” It was his selfish desire to take Jurot back to the Iyr to see Sonarot. At the same time, he wanted to make sure they were okay. He shook his head again, trying to get rid of the terrible thoughts which were plaguing him.

“You should have more faith in we Iyrmen,” Dargon said. “We aren’t as weak as you think.”

Before Adam could reply, a horn was blown in the distance. It was carried along a breeze, from where they had fled from.

Dargon pulled away from the tree. “Come,” he said, leading the way back.

The scene was carnage.

Trees had been uprooted, the earth beneath displaced. Bushes had been burnt to bits, and another area had a pool of black ooze, which still bubbled.

Two large creatures lay dead.

They were giant lizards, but with three heads, scales which were black as starless night covered their bodies, though some had been cut and blasted apart, and a few had been crushed. They were about as tall as Adam, but twice as long as he was tall. Each head was almost the exact same, though Adam couldn’t see too well since they had been cleanly cut and were bunched together.

The Iyrmen were injured, as one would expect if they heard that four Iyrmen had gone against two trikro. They were covered in burn marks, melted flesh, and deep cuts through their bodies. Tazwyn looked the best out of all of them, though her armour had taken a harsh battering from the fight, with deep cuts in her armour, and there were some bits which had holes through it from acid.

“It’s good to see you’re all well,” Adam said, sighing with relief. He rushed towards them. “I can heal those with melted skin.” He reached in to grab his die.

The Iyrmen allowed him to heal them, since they didn’t believe he would try anything against them. Though they were wounded, and quite heavily so, they were still powerful enough to slaughter him like he were a sheep.

Mana: 3 -> 0

Spell

Cure Wounds

1D6 + 3 = 7 (4)

1D6 + 3 = 4 (1)

1D6 + 3 = 4 (1)

The Iyrmen gave their thanks as he healed the three who were unarmoured.

“We don’t mind our skin being marked,” Argon said. “Though we prefer blade marks and such against marks from the elements. The skin becomes too tender, and it becomes difficult to move.”

“I’m not sure I can patch you up that well,” Adam said. “I do have a healing potion for anyone who still needs it.”

“Healing potions are expensive to those who are new to adventuring,” Tazwyn said. “Keep it.”

“It’s only fifty gold,” Adam said. “Well, it cost me about five gold or so.”

“You made it?” Tazwyn asked.

“Yeah,” Adam replied back.

Tazwyn exchanged another look with Dargon, who shrugged his shoulders.

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Blackwater Crisis continuation confirmed?