Omen: 4, 17

Adam gasped for air as he submerged through the water, before he swam towards land, quickly scrambling up. He rolled onto the land, panting for air as he stared up towards the sky. The sun’s rays began to peek over the land, nature’s melody of the gentle swaying of branches accompanied the sight.

‘The water is so scary,’ Adam thought, panting as he shook his body, trying to dry himself. He sat up, seeing they were beside a small lake, with rock all around them, keeping them closed in from the four sides. Vines fell down like a skirt, keeping the most of the walls covered.

“Where are we?”

“We are in another realm,” Jurot explained. “We must be careful, for it is dangerous.”

“So I won’t have access to my spells?” Adam asked, before glancing to the side, expecting to see a baby. ‘Bell?’

[Yes?]

‘Oh, thank Baktu you’re here at least.’

“Your magic will be sure to work, for it is still within the grasp of the Divine,” Jurot began, shaking himself to dry himself. “You should be careful, for magic is not welcome here.”

“Not welcome?”

“The people do not like it.”

“Can I use some now, though?”

“Yes.”

Trick: Tricks

Adam used his trick to dry them all, before he stretched out his body. The water had woken him up, and seeing that the sun was still rising, he was thankful for it. “No magic in front of people. Got it. How about my smites?”

“You must be careful with your smites.”

“Alright, alright,” Adam said, sighing. “Would this world be considered dangerous even if I had my magic?”

“Yes.”

“Damn.” Adam let out a groan, before stretching out his body. “So you guys know about this world?”

“We were briefed.”

“How come I wasn’t?”

“You are no Iyrman.”

“Yeah, rub it in my face, why don’t you?” Adam grumbled quietly, before he glanced between the trio. “Alright, so who wants to be in charge?”

“You do not wish to be?”

“I wasn’t briefed.” Adam squinted towards Jurot’s forehead, and glanced between their foreheads. ‘…’ He was certain they realised it. ‘No, what if they’re under some kind of illusion.’ “Your, uh, tattoos…”

“They are not welcome here,” Jurot stated, as though that explained everything.

“Right.”

“Do you wish to lead?” Jurot glanced towards his companions.

Jaygak looked to Kitool, and then to Jurot. The pair were the most likely to lead, Kitool being the most likely, but she preferred to remain at one’s side, offering her advice, rather than to make decisions.

“You may lead, Jurot,” Kitool eventually said, bowing her head lightly.

“Okay.” Jurot led them out, picking up the vine to the right of the stone, revealing a tunnel which led out. He led the way in the darkness, counting the steps, before coming across two exits which led out in two different places. His first decision was to pick which way they should leave, and how they should explore the world.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

After a moment, the Iyrman chose a path, and the trio followed silently. Adam felt awkward not talking, but he trusted Jurot, who seemed to know what he was doing. Also, he was busy thinking about the children who would be enjoying the Twilight Month without him. He recalled the previous Twilight Month, and how one of his children had fallen sick, while magical healing was basically forbidden.

‘It’s okay,’ Adam thought, feeling his body grow cold and tense. ‘They’re in the Iyr. Aunt won’t let anything happen to them. The old man will cause a mess if something happens too…’

Light eventually seeped into the tunnel in the distance, but as it did, Jurot stopped, causing the others to stop. Kitool, who did not have vision in the dark, unlike the other two behind her, was also counting Jurot’s steps. Jurot stepped to the side, into the wall, the rock becoming almost soft against his skin. He continued to press himself into it, until he was completely engulfed by the rock.

‘…’ Adam blinked, watching as his brother disappeared into the rock, before Kitool followed after him. Jaygak threw a glance back towards him, shrugged her shoulders, and she stepped into the rock too, the rock swallowing her. Adam inhaled deeply before he followed after her.

‘Oh!’ He continued to push through it. ‘Feels just like a sponge!’ He continued to push through, finding that it was becoming difficult to hold his breath, and he wondered if he was going to pass out. His mouth finally opened and he inhaled in air, realising it had been all for naught.

Adam continued to push through, and as the seconds turned to minutes, he felt the rock continue to give in more and more to him, before it felt like he was walking through a gentle wind pushing against him. After a short while, he stepped out into the land, and saw his companions across from him, Jurot glancing around to try and catch signs of civilization, while Kitool and Jaygak kept an eye and ear around for threats.

Adam decided to keep his mouth shut. ‘I guess I don’t want to know what happened.’

The four trekked their way through the land, and as the sun crested well over head and beyond, they came across a path. Jurot glanced either way before choosing to walk one way over the other, with Adam following after.

“Hey,” Adam whispered. “Do we have to be silent?”

“No,” Jurot replied.

“Oh.” Adam blinked.

He said no more.

The trees began to thin out slightly, before they noted the fields nearby, and then figures moving around working them in the early spring. As the figures noticed them, some rushed over and began to ring a bell.

“We gonna be okay?”

“It will be fine,” Jurot said.

As they continued to walk through the path, heading towards the village centre, which was fenced with logs, they saw figures beginning to gather along the entrance. They carried spears, many of them wearing thick clothing, while a couple wore shirts made of scale over their thick clothing, while the last, an older man, wore leather with palm sized metal discs set within.

“Travellers,” the older man called, stepping forward. He was bald, with a large burn mark against the top of his head, and he had a thick, grey beard, sprinkled with strands of black and white. “What brings you to our humble village, Farm by the Lake’s Way.”

‘The Lake,’ Adam thought, wondering if the group was familiar with the lake they had emerged from.

“We have come to assist the village if it requires help,” Jurot said. “We wish to make a name for ourselves within this land.”

“Warriors trying to make a name for yourselves?” the older man asked, glancing at the group, noticing two of them wore plate armour, and the other two wore clothing which allowed them freedom of movement. They were all heavily armed too.

“There’s been a few wolves who have been attacking some of us when we go to cut down trees, so if you can deal with them, we’d be happy to welcome you inside,” the older man said.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Where are the wolves?” Jurot asked, simply.

The old man narrowed his eyes at the four ahead of him. Of course, if they wanted to cause a bother, the villagers would have a hard time dealing with it. Most of the villagers weren’t trained warriors, and they wouldn’t be able to even nick their armour, never mind wound them.

“What my brother is trying to say is that we’re happy to take the task,” Adam said. “We just need someone to guide us, or point us in the right direction, and we’ll do our best to deal with the wolves. Speaking of, I assume you want us to bring the bodies back? I’m sure the pelts would be useful.”

“Yes,” the old man replied, narrowing his eyes at the man in the dark purple plate mail. “It would be best not to waste the creature’s pelts, meat, and bones.”

“Alright.” Adam nodded, before a horn was blown nearby, towards the east of the village.

“Gah! Shadows take you!” The old man’s entire body jolted from the sound of the horn, before he gripped his spear tighter. He remained tense as he stared at the strangers, unsure of whether to leave.

Jurot moved first, running towards the sounds of the horn, while his companions followed after him. The older man was suspicious of the four who were rushing forward up ahead of him, and he wondered if he should start shooting at them now. Jane, Emily, and Maisie each had light crossbows that could probably hurt them quite hard.

“I guess wolf meat’s on the menu tonight,” Adam said, still unsure of how this land was going to help him grow stronger. ‘I could have slain wolves near the Iyr…’

The howling up ahead spurred the group as they watched as villagers scrambled away from the unseen wolves, until one burst from the heavy bushes, before snapping its jaws around one of the lumberjack’s side.

‘They’re not even that strong looking,’ Adam thought, until a wolf, easily the size of a brown bear, leapt over the villages towards the four, before its attention snapped towards them.

‘Alright, fair.’

Battle Order

D20 + 1 = 16 (15)