[966] – Y04.066 – Finally Adventuring III

[966] – Y04.066 – Finally Adventuring III

‘Did I do too much?’ Adam thought, finally having cooled down from the fight. ‘Oh man...’

Royce inhaled deeply, flexing his muscle. He commandeered the main tent and invited the group to sit with him, and as he poured them tea, he eyed each of them up.

“When did you become so powerful?”

“I’m not that powerful,” Adam replied, smiling innocently as he did, which proved the old man’s point further. “This axe is perhaps the greatest the Enchanter has ever made, and it allowed me to go toe to toe with you. Well, that and my armour, and so on.”

“How many times do you think I have bothered Harry?” Royce asked.

“Harry?”

“That’s King Merryweather to you, boy.”

“I don’t know?”

“You don’t know who King Merryweather is?”

Adam raised his brows, feeling the sense of disappointment rise within him. “I don’t know how many times you’ve faced the old man.”

“Do you think I don’t know what a Fourth Gate smite feels like?” Royce’s eyes took Adam within his sights, and seemed to look through him.

“Did I not hold back enough?” Adam asked, reaching up to scratch his chin, an awkward smile across his lips.

“Had we fought another round, I’m uncertain who the victor would have been,” the man noted. “You are difficult to strike.”

“My great armour is one of my greatest abilities, that’s for sure.”

“The Enchanter made the weapon?”

“Yes.”

“Even without it, you are among some of the most powerful I’ve faced,” Royce admitted, sipping more of his tea. “Have you had any business with the North yet?”

“Not yet. We’ve been busy for a while. We have been thinking about heading north for some ore from Jaghi, but...” Adam shrugged his shoulders.

“The Knight of Death needs a weapon, one like this maul of mine. It’s greater than most mauls, not Legendary Enhanced, but it’s among the best of the Greater Enhanced weapons. Can your Enchanter make something similar?”

“I’m not sure. I’d have to Identify it first to explain it to the Enchanter, if that’s alright?”

Royce allowed Adam to take it, letting him study it over the course of the next hour, while conversing with the others. “How have you been?”

“Well,” Jurot replied.

“I’m too tired to face you too, so relax those shoulders of yours.”

“Hmm.” Jurot groaned quietly, letting out a long sigh, trying to calm himself.

“Tell me about your stories,” Royce said, before listening intently to not only the childrens’ stories, but their family’s stories too.

Deathly Night

Requires Attunement

You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.

Deals 3D6 bludgeoning damage.

Headsmasher. When you down a foe with this weapon, increase it’s damage to 4D6 for an hour. Downing an enemy when Headsmasher is active refreshes the timer.

‘Damn, it’s not that bad,’ Adam thought, staring down at the weapon. ‘3D6 is already greater than most great weapons, but 4D6?’

“They could create something around this level, though exactly this? I’m not sure.”

“Then meet with the Grand Duchess of the North.”

“The Grand Duchess?”

“She is the greatest noble across the entirety of Aldland.”

“Isn’t there the King?”

“Did I stutter, boy?” the old man almost snarled.

“No, no,” Adam replied, raising his brows again in alarm. ‘Maybe I should have downed you?’ “A weapon like this will cost quite a pretty penny, more than any other weapon we’ve made, I’m sure.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate the wealth of the North!” Royce almost growled. “The North is rich in blood and gold!”

The Iyrmen nodded their heads, while Lucy’s eyes sparkled, wanting to see how rich the North was, especially when it came to a particular type of resource.

“A few of their heirs have died, so they need to take a step back to recuperate. Terrible news, since they’re one of the only good orders around.”

“I wonder if they’re in the business of buying magical weapons?”

“They couldn’t afford it. They pass down their items from generation to generation. They receive gifts from nobles or wealthy merchants, and payments from villages now and again, but it’s far too little. There are Orders which remain held up in their walls near villages and towns that are treated better then the Order of the Wings, who work harder than maybe every Order combined. Save Life’s Rose, perhaps.”

“Perhaps,” Adam replied, keeping his eyes glued to the old man. ‘That really sucks for them.’

“The Order of the Wings is too small. Too insignificant. Even if most of them are quite strong, I hear everyone but little Maggie is a Grandmaster at least, but no one important would bother to look at them if their leaders weren’t Paragons.”

“Damn...” Adam frowned. He had met a couple of them during his journey, and though tone of them had an apprentice who was rather rude, they were decent folk. “What do you think of them?”

“An Order that actually does what it says it does? A neutral force who does their job even if no one appreciates it? Aye! They may not be Northerners, but I’ll respect them as much as anyone can be respected, even little Maggie. I have to do that much since I’m sitting in a comfy little castle now, keeping my arse warm beside the candle fire, with maids bringing new flowers every morning, not even giving the flowers proper respect to allow them to wither first.”

“Sounds like you’re enjoying your new life down here.”

“It’s too damn hot!” Lord Royce growled.

Adam chuckled and finished his tea. “Well, it seems like someone should start supporting the Order of the Wings properly if no one else is going to.” ‘We could enchant them some weapons and have them advertise. The Order of the Wings is maybe the most well respected Order, even if no one puts their money where their mouth is. Plus, they’re decent enough folk.’

“Can you afford it?” Royce asked.

“Well, maybe it won’t be too much, but it should be at least something if no one else is going to step up. I’m sure it’s cheap for a nation to support them, especially when they do so much, but I guess since they’re willing to work for free, the nations aren’t going to throw them even a copper?”

“They get their coppers, but they need silvers to live. Damn shame. Orders going about wasting gold, but the one right and good Order?” Royce shook his head.

“Yeah,” Adam replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Ah, right. Lord Royce, you’ve faced me, so I’d like your opinion. Do you think I could beat the Bloody Knight? Azazael, was it?”

“I haven’t fought him properly yet, but... I’d bet on him.”

“Even if I had Phantom?”

“He’s... strange,” Lord Royce stated, uncertain even he could defeat such a fellow.

“Alright...” ‘Damn, seriously?’

Night fell upon the camp, and Royce, who had interrupted Adam’s ability to rest, decided against killing him. It would have been difficult, considering the Iyrmen beside him, but upon listening to the boy’s words, he was either an idiot, or a genius posing as an idiot to lower his guard, or perhaps a bit of both.

‘Since he’s promised to do me the favour, and the Iyrman promised to assist, it should be fine.’

Mana: 11 -> 8

Spell: Sending

“Greetings, Sir Magpie. This is Adam. Half elf. We met a few years ago in front of the Iyr. Are you busy?”

‘Greetings, Adam. I vaguely recall you. I am always busy, my Oath is eternal.’

Mana: 8 -> 5

Spell: Sending

“Great news. I wish you great fortune with your Oath. Are you too busy to accept magical weapons and coin?”

‘Do you wish to donate to our cause? We can meet soon to discuss. We are in West Aldland at the moment.’

Mana: 5 -> 2

Spell: Sending

“Correct. Currently out. We shall return to Iyr by nightval. Please come around then. All the best, Adam.”

‘We appreciate your kind words. We shall busy ourselves until nightval. Many blessings upon you and yours.’

Adam smiled slightly, hearing the woman’s voice fill his mind. ‘As long as you don’t try to kill my kids, I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of, Wings.’

Before Adam slept, he completed a shorter rest in order to regain some Health and Mana, but, somehow, nothing happened during the night.

Perhaps his fortunes had turned?

‘Also, Belle, you don’t need to show me the die rolls for the damage any more, it is getting to be a bit much.’

[Okay.]

‘Thank you.’

Politics? In my fatherhood simulator?