Versatile Die Caster

The dragonborn looked out in front of him at the destruction he had caused with a satisfied gaze. Served those gnolls right. Nobody messed with his place of business and got out without at least burns and a black eye. He stretched his arms looking around in case one of the hyenafolk survived. It wasn’t likely, but was still possible. He saw some movement from the corner of his eye and his hand reached under the pile of gnoll bodies on top of it, pulling a male from the pile that was on the edge of death. Leengard pulled his fist back and flames leapt from it as he slammed the flames into the face of the gnoll and burnt its muzzle to a crisp. 

“Listen, you don’t have to worry about it. We’ve got a party handling it already.” “In all fairness your highness, whatever they can do I can probably do better.” The dragonborn told the noble sitting in front of him. “I know you fancy yourself the most potent caster in this province, but-” “But what? You think I can’t handle some oversized beastfolk with a loud laugh? I can easily take him on.” “The thing is three times your size and it’s weapon can paralyze and disorient you. He would see you coming a mile away and even if you do get the upper hand, he can teleport anywhere.” “I have counterspell and I can cast wish to get rid of paralysis. Hell, I don’t even need to get close to the thing, just banish it with wish.” “We’ve got specialists working on it. They can do everything you just said without needing to put the region in danger of losing its best protector.” The lord was starting to look agitated. “What’s the point of being the protector if I can’t protect this fucking place?!” The sorcerer growled and slammed his fist down on the desk in front of the noble, leaving a sizable dent and crack in the wood. 

“You are a last resort. If they fail, you’ll have your fight, but for right now you don’t have a dog in this fight.” “I can end this with a-” “Stand down, Leengard!” The lord raised their voice for the first time. “It’s handled. Go back to your tavern.” 

I do my job. I work with my folks, and they work with me. I get their families home to them safe and sound, and put people behind bars who did things they ought not to. 

But I wasn’t the best. I’ve lost people, some of the best, to my poor aim or my poor physique. I’ve had more than my fair share of runners get away. On a recent pursuit, I found something. Someone had left a weapon of theirs behind. It looked like a shotgun, thinly coated in frost despite how hot it is here. I could feel it calling out to me. Maybe it was my heritage of the coldest part of Hell, maybe it was my own morbid curiosity. 

Once I touched the weapon, it sucked itself rapidly into my palm, and now the calling was an actual voice. It said to me “Tell me what you want to accomplish, and I’ll help you to that if you use me to do it.”  I rose from where I had fallen in shock and looked at the palm the shotgun had gone into. “I want to protect people.”

His name in his previous life was Furvus. He was a Wyrmspeaker in the Cult of the Dragon post-Tiamat's failed return. He was, unfortunately, killed by a group of adventurers trying to tie up loose ends. His congregation, his church, and his freedom were all ripped from him. Soon after his detention began, he performed a ceremonial sacrifice of himself. When the new him awakened in Avernus, before Tiamat, he was informed that she had selected him as one of her chosen, his sneaky ways had made him perfect for the darkest of the Abishai. He was told to redeem himself for allowing that adventuring party to defeat his sect of her cult. So, he has returned to the material, seeking to procure the ultimate sign of his dedication, and Her splendor: a metallic dragon's soul, delivered to Her Grace. This was not the only thing he strived for. He made and reforged connections, reinvigorating Her cult and worship of Her. He was living proof that dedication to her would save you in your afterlife, so the usually logical thinkers were swayed to his side. Hail Tiamat, hail Dragon Queen.

He enlisted with his brother, Arcum. The two acted as an elite team with Ferrum fighting in the thick of it while Arcum rained down fire. On one of their assignments, a trap was set for them. Arcum didn't last long since they were surrounded, and Ferrum barely managed to get out with many deep cuts. 

His wounds were tended to in the Academy of Arcane Arts (commonly referred to by the staff and students as "Triple A"). He was the test subject for the students to practice life transference on. While there, he met an elven girl who was becoming a mage, her name was Selena. The two of them grew fond of each other and she visited him in his cot once a week. Then every other day. Then every day. Eventually, he told her what made those wounds on him. About how his brother didn't make it. She consoled him, mostly by saying that he was either where he wanted to be or he could be brought back by a priest. Ferrum was grateful to her words, but he knew he could never afford it with what the military paid him. He and Selena continued to talk until he was deemed fit for combat. 

That is, fit until his first assignment. He was given a legion to lead into an engagement with an enemy force that he can't remember any more. The moment the fighting started, he froze up, flashing back to when his brother died. Ferrum ran from the fight. 

“You killed someone. Do you really think they’re ever going to want you back?” Rebecca asked Michael desperately.

He looked up at her, desperate, his brain scattered.

“I’ll always want you, even if they don’t,” she kept talking. “I understand what it’s like. It was an accident, wasn’t it?” “I… I…” Michael couldn’t form words as he looked back at the body in front of him, the pain in his arms, legs, and stomach all numb to him now. The man with the earthen fists had put up a good fight, but now he lay burned to a crisp on the ground.

Rebecca embraced him from behind. “Michael… please…”

He placed his hands over hers as his head turned slowly to the ground and his shoulders started to heave. Salty, wet tears started to come from his face. “I don’t think it was.” His hands gripped hers tightly, clinging to whatever support he could get.

“Don’t worry.” Rebecca started stroking the side of his head. “I can help you through this, just let me.”

“I-I-I can’t. I’ve done this… I don’t know when I’ll break that rule again… You need to stay away from me. I need to stay away from everyone.” He grabbed his head like he was having a headache and began to openly sob.

“Michael, look at me.” She moved to sit in front of him and made him look at her with his now red eyes. “He was trying to kill you. There were only two options there. You made the right choice.”

“I could’ve-should’ve found another way. Heroes don’t kill. I-I’m supposed to be a hero. What am I now?” He hung his head and leaned against her.

Rebecca wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned her head on his. “You’re my hero.” She whispered to him. “You save me and who knows how many others by taking him from this world.”

“I shouldn’t be judge, jury, and executioner though. That’s why those things exist in the first place.” “You’re one of the smartest people I know. If anyone can weigh the benefits and drawbacks faster, I need to be introduced to them.”

“Anyone right now. I… I can’t do this anymore. Not with what I’ve done.”

“Alright. Let’s get you home.” She held onto him tightly and helped him on the walk back. Sometime later

A streak of flames passes by in the street. It lands in the middle of an intersection, and screams “Where?!” The individual blasted flames down each of the streets he was blocking, roasting the people in their cars.

A crash is heard with a dust cloud rising from it, a glowing of white flames shines from the inside. A black suit with a half broken heat mask walks from the cloud. “Here.” Michael told the person across from him.

“Finally.” They smiled and yellow flames ignited above their hands, before calling a column of flames to erupt beneath Michael and burn for half a minute before a voice was heard from the inside.

“You done?” This made the new pyrokinetic falter and the flaming tornado disappeared. “What?”

“You’re supposed to be having fun.” Rebecca said with a playful frown, spinning Michael in a circle as the two of them danced through the crowd, Rebecca leading. No one paid any mind or seemed to know that Poison Cherry Blossom and the Burning Angel were in their presence, and for that, Michael was grateful. Rebecca had known who he was for a long time, and was now using it for leverage, forcing him to dance, and he knew exactly how bad he was at dancing. He was not enjoying himself, and was pretty embarrassed.

“It’s not fun. It’s humiliating and awkward.” Michael grumbled in response to her.

“Who said it can’t be all three?” Rebecca joked, a smirk starting to grow on her lips as she dipped Michael and pulled him back up to look her in the eye.

His face was getting warm and reddening a bit. “I get that you’ve been working out, but could you not do that?” The fire hero asked his villainous rival.

She moved herself close to his ear and whispered to him, “I can do whatever I want with you as long as you want your secret kept.”

Michael scowled. “Fine. You’re in control then.” He admitted defeat.

She pulled away from his ear with a warm smile. “Good. That’s the way it should be. Maybe you’ll actually learn a thing or two about moving in rhythm.” “I’ve learned that you’ll make me do something I don’t want to do if I start to protest.” “So, I suggest you don’t and start to pay attention to how I’m moving.”

Michael’s face grew a shade redder as he started to look down to Rebecca’s hips and legs to watch how she was dancing.

“Try your best to not get distracted.” She teased him.

“Shut up.” He muttered as he glanced up at her face. She had a smug smirk glued to her face.

After a few more minutes, Michael was finally being able to replicate the simple movements of her legs. “Congrats, you’ve got the basics down.” She said almost condescendingly.

“Yeah, thanks.” Michael replied sarcastically.

“Go find a table for us while I get some business done. When I find you, we’re having a conversation.”

She took her arms off of his shoulders and walked off into the crowd, leaving Michael standing there. He looked over towards the door wanting to leave, but that obviously wasn’t an option. He sighed in frustration and looked towards the tables that were set up for this fancy shindig honoring “the best hero this town has seen in decades.” Michael moved through the seat of the tables that already had occupants and the people moving between the dance floor and their table to eventually get close to the back of the hall and took a seat at a table. There he sat, waiting for her to arrive. Then he heard a voice over the speakers that were meant to be playing music. “Hello, everyone!” Rebecca’s voice echoes across the hall.

Michael’s eyes widened as he stood up quicker than a spark ignites a flame. “Please, no…”

“I hope you all are enjoying the party, but I have a feeling I know what could make it better.” She was speaking with a big smile stretched across her face as Michael started to retrace his steps towards the front of the dance hall. “So, this banquet was to celebrate the town’s hero: the Burning Angel. Unfortunately, you guys were lied to earlier.” Michael started to move faster, pushing people to the side as he went through, thinking that she’d out him for sure. “You were told that he wasn’t going to be able to attend, but guess what.” She paused for dramatic effect with a grin on her face as she moved closer to the mic. “He’s here~” She said in a singsong voice. The distress on Michael’s face grew as the crowd applauded and one man screamed out a “Woooo!” She leaned back from the mic and looked very pleased with herself. “I know exactly where he is among you too.” As Michael was about to climb up onto the stage, she finished with, “You’re going to have to figure out that on your own though.”

Michael was shaking as he stared down this new foe. He had encased Rebecca in stone and was now looking towards the Burning Angel.

“It’s alright to be scared,” he gloated. “Fear keeps you alive. It’s a built in warning system.” He held out his arms and the earth flowed to surround them to make massive fists of soil and concrete. “Of course, only when it’s the right fear response. Some prey freeze because it means a predator won’t see them. In their primal, animalistic brain, they know running means they’re dead. Others have to run, when capture means they’re finished…” The man with the gaian fists moved closer still, gaze fixed on Michael. “You going to run?” Michael’s brain was moving at a mile a minute. He still didn’t know what kind of villain he was facing.

The man took one step closer and Michael’s body wreathed itself in flames. He looked the man in the eye. “You’re right. Prey does freeze or run, but I’m nobody’s prey.” He held his arm out to his side and a 3 foot long concentrated blue flame shot out on his arm, resembling a blade. “Predator’s compete, don’t they?” He held his newly made fire blade in front of him, and the man with earthen fists smirked.

I was bolted up to the wall with the camera pointed right at me. No mask, my suit damaged beyond repair. The girl in pink with an air compressor in her hand smirked smugly at me. “And here I thought you’d be a challenge.”

I glared at her silently.

“You know, we could’ve been wonderful together.” She walked forward and reached out. I pulled my head back as far as I could before hitting the wall, thinking she was going to try and strangle me, but she traced her fingers down my jaw. I looked at her confused and she had an almost sad smile on her face. “I never really wanted you gone, just… out of the way.” “Yeah, big surprise that didn’t work out for you.” I snarked at her.

“Finally, some bark from the chained dog.” She clamped a thick metal collar around my throat.

“You let me out of this and you’ll see that I’m a lot more than just bark.” I strained against my bonds uselessly. The most I could do was try to light a flame in the air between us, but I couldn’t call on my powers.

She giggled. “Oh, I took every precaution possible to make sure you couldn’t do anything I didn’t want you too. I know how you like to… get heated.”

“Good for you. Can I go?”

“Oh, but sweetie, the show is just about to begin.” She smiled and walked back a curtain was lowered around me. “Hello, world. Poison Cherry Blossom here. Took over this studio to bring you one super important message. I am holding a couple things for ransom.” I heard her through the curtain. “First: the world. You pay up or it’ll smell like me all the time. And I smell like everything in a candle shop mixed with everything from a Bed, Bath, & Beyond.

Second thing is right behind this curtain, it’s somebody you guys and gals might recognize.” The she whispered something to the camera I couldn’t quite hear. “Right here, we’ve got…” She pulled the curtain back and there I was, “the Burning Angel as you folks call him. I just call him Michael.”

“Or as-”

She put a hand over my mouth. “There might be kids watching! We’re not having any bad words on this program! Understand?!”

I rolled my eyes and nodded.

“Good.” She pulled her hand from my face and kissed where my lips were forcibly pressed to her palm with a wink. Then she turned back to the camera. “You have three options here: pay a million for him, two million for the world to not smell, and two and a half for both. You’ve got three hours. Call at this number!” She held up a sign and smiled to the camera like she was the second coming of Billy Mays. Once the light on top of the camera turned off she looked back to me. “Can’t help but notice you’re not squirming anymore.” She grinned as she pressed herself up onto my torso.

“Please get off of me.” I told her flatly.

“Oh, come on, I know you like being held like this.” I could feel a little bit of heat rising to my face. “What’s your point?” “You wanna be a thing again? They pay for you, I won’t do this ever again. I promise.” “Why would I want to get back with my ex when they’ve gone down hill since I left?”

“Because that shows I need you?” She asked hopefully.

“I don’t need you. Frankly, other than today, my life has been going great.”

“Yeah, I noticed.” Her mood turned sour and she turned away from me, pouting. “All the saving the day and the adoring fans. How many have you slept with?” “What? None. You know I wait to do that.”

“Oh, so the news isn’t always accurate it seems. What else did they make up? Were you just playing to a script the whole time?” Her voice was cracking and her shoulders were shaking a bit. I couldn’t see her face as she turned away from me and wiped at her face with her hands. “I did all of this just to get some attention from you. Even when we were together, you barely had any time between being everyone else’s hero and work.” I looked down to the right. “Rebecca… I’m sorry. I was doing what I thought was right. I shouldn’t have led you on.”