The Misadventures of Dainan T'Kalian - Hero of Dyron - ROLEPLAY

"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Dainan said to the Council with exasperation. "You mean to tell me there's NOTHING the guards can do about this?!"

The crowd of harvesters present for the meeting muttered discontentedly amongst themselves as the Chief of Dyron's Guard addressed the young adventurer. "At present, our contingent is heavily outnumbered by the dangers surrounding this town," Xyla Ibiraan said with equal frustration. "I know it's disappointing to hear, but between the ocyx, varynx, kirostas and frahir there aren't enough guards to take on a tyrancha - let alone a GIANT tyrancha."

The town intendant rose, raising a hand for the silence and attention of the discontented harvesters. "I'm afraid Chief Ibiraan is correct," Ulyrus Deps said strongly to the group. "The situation is what it is. Until we can either recruit outside assistance or somehow lure the beast within range of established patrols, the only thing that can be done is to be mindful of the creature's presence and work around it..."

"Don't feed us that line of mektoub mess!" Dainan interrupted, prompting more murmuring from the crowd. "Our tax dappers pay their salaries, and we need them to earn their keep by safeguarding the area! So get off your overpaid duff and order 'em to..."

"ENOUGH!" Deps roared. The room fell silent as the hotheaded adventurer traded stony stares with the intendant. "The Council has spoken and we will NOT tolerate your tone! Life's not fair sometimes, and if you can't accept being patient and waiting for outside help or for the beast to be lured into proper range, then HARVEST SOMEWHERE ELSE!"

Dainan's face hardened at the admonishing, refusing to avert his gaze away from the visibly agitated intendant. What seemed like eons passed in the deathly silent room before a slight smirk formed on the lips of the rabblerousing adventurer.

"Then I guess it's up to one of us," he said softly as he wriggled his hands into a pair of worn, poorly-crafted magic amplifiers, "to do the work FOR you."

A mirthless laugh escaped Deps' lips. "Now this I've GOT to see," he chuckled tonelessly. "Are you as lucky as you are foolish, I wonder?"

Dainan turned and strode toward the door with purpose. "Only one way to find out, cupcake," he said to Deps without looking back. "Only one way to find out."

***

Dainan awoke at the Kami altar just across Lake Dyron in a stupor. As he tried to stand, the searing pain in his torso - or, at least, where much of his torso used to be - shook the cobwebs sharply and swiftly from his freshly-resurrected mind. Wincing, he fell to the sand and struggled into a seated position, allowing the healing magics of the concerned harvesters that saw him fall to the slayer tyrancha do their work. After a few minutes, Dainan was able to stand again.

Immediately, he readied himself to take another shot at the killer beast when one of the other harvesters spoke up.

"No, really, are you insane?!" the young Fyrosian said to Dainan. "Did the Kami miss the front part of your brain when reviving you this time, or did they miss it one of the OTHER FIVE TIMES?! You can't do this! None of us can!"

Dainan sighed, then resumed preparing himself for another run. "Somebody's got to do it, and there's no one around but us," he replied without looking up. "I don't know about you, but I've got a contract to fulfill and that tyrancha's in the way. Unless someone shows up - and does the work for free - we're all kinda boned."

"Well, have you even tried asking around?" shot back the harvester, causing Dainan's attention to focus on her.

"Yes, I have, actually," he said with a glare before returning his attention to his preparations. "I don't see anyone out here yet, do you?"

A voice spoke up from behind Dainan. "Travelling can be a bit time-consuming, young one, but I assure you I got here as fast as I could."

"Oh, yeah?" Dainan retorted as he turned to address the newcomer. "And I suppose you're..."

As soon as Dainan saw the source of the voice, his own failed him. Whoever this guy was, he definitely seemed more prepared than anyone else. Clad in some of the most ornate and solidly-crafted Tryker armor Dainan had ever seen and bearing the standard of Project Mayhem was an elder, battle-scarred homin. Wielding an equally impressive pike that was easily taller than its owner, the newcomer seemed slightly amused by Dainan's lack of words.

Dainan quickly recovered. "...like I was saying, I suppose you're going to try taking on this beast as well?"

The newcomer laughed, a hearty, almost fearsome sound that reverberated in the ears of any who heard it. "No, I'm going to be taking on this beast by myself," he grinned. "My name is Bijam, and I was sent by my guild in regard to a distress call about a rather large tyrancha?"

Bijam turned away from Dainan before the latter could respond, scanning the shore across the lake. After a moment, he turned around to address the group of hopeful harvesters. "Where did the beast manage to hide itself after your friend here tried to... well, do whatever it was he intended to do with such a large creature?"

Dainan's cheeks turned crimson as the group of harvesters chuckled furtively. "To be honest, the last I saw of him was over the hill on the north shore of the lake, just west of where the old Stronghold used to be," he replied to the stranger, "but I don't..."

The look on the elder adventurer's face immediately became stony, and without a word he dived into the lake.

Dainan blinked, then prepared to go after him.

"You ARE insane!" said the Fyrosian who admonished him previously. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Dainan turned and smiled at his detractor. "I don't like sending others to do what I need done, so I'm going to help him out," he said with a wink before plunging into the waters himself.

"You're just making more work for the Kami!" he heard as he swam after the Project Mayhem warrior.

***

Dainan was fifty meters from the shore when he saw the elder warrior on the shoreline, knelt over and drawing figures in the sand. Hearing the splashing the younger adventurer was making in the water, Bijam's head rose from his planning and fixed his gaze on the harvester that foolishly trailed after him.

"Stay in the water," Bijam instructed Dainan. "Death may not be permanent, but that doesn't mean I like it happening any more than it truly has to."

Dainan floated where he was, unsure he had heard the elder warrior correctly. "You sure?" Dainan asked. "I mean, my healing ability's not the greatest, but I can still toss a few out to help..."

Bijam raised his hand, silencing the younger adventurer. "I'm sure," he said. "Just be ready in case I fall."

Without even so much as a war cry, the elder warrior charged into battle. Dainan swam along the banks, safely in the water but ready to charge out if need be.

Bijam landed a fierce opening blow on the slayer tyrancha from behind, followed with another quick swipe before the blind beast was able to ascertain his tormentor's whereabouts. The elder warrior fought back bravely, clearly outmatched as the beast and the homin traded attacks. Dainan swam to the shore, ready to cast his meager healing magics on the struggling fighter, but was waved off as Bijam slowly retreated toward a closing patrol of guardsmen, swinging all the while.

The gambit worked. The guards caught sight of the elder warrior's struggle and rushed to assist, two mages firing bolts of ice and flame as a third charged in wielding an axe. Together, the team made short work of the beast that haunted Dyron's shores. Cheers from the harvesters witnessing the battle carried across the lake, their celebratory tones heard by the aranas and lumpers that also seemed relieved the horrific interloper was finally stopped.

Dainan swam out of the lake as soon as the creature's corpse fell to the sand and he rushed up to the hero that selflessly risked his well-being for a bunch of total strangers.

"That was AMAZING!" Dainan cried as Bijam poked over the corpse of his fallen foe. "Please, I don't have much, but I do have some spare catalyzers that I'd very much like..."

Bijam held up his hand with a faint smile, once again silencing the excited young adventurer. "No payment is necessary, sir," the elder warrior replied. "Just happy to be of service."

"But..." Dainan started.

The elder warrior stood quickly and wheeled around to face the flabbergasted young homin. "I mean it - put them away," he said firmly. "The only reason a true warrior does anything in life is because it's the right thing to do. It's the only payment I need."

Dainan allowed the clasp of his satchel to fall back to its resting place, knowing from the tone in the elder warrior's voice that there was no way to win the argument. "Well, then, for what it's worth, you have my undying gratitude," Dainan finally replied. "If there's anything I can ever do -"

"There is," interrupted Bijam with a smile. "Do the same for others when you have the chance. That's all I ask."

The elder warrior then produced a teleportation pact, recited it quickly under his breath, and faded away as quickly as he had arrived. The lesson he taught the younger adventurer, however, would always remain.

(Thanks again for the help, Bijam!)