The elite died without protest.
Using a combination of backstab and whirlwind, I made short work of his defenses, and before his paralysis or the smoke cloud could dissipate, I slit his throat with faithful.
You have killed Mer...
2024-02-22 06:11:31 +0000 UTC View PostThe target is…
The target is…
The target is Nevin, a level 121 dark elf.
Him.
The dark elf in question was one of the weakest possessed I’d analyzed, and if ...
2024-02-20 17:04:09 +0000 UTC View PostYou have cast heightened reflexes, load controller, and trigger-cast quick mend.
“Where is he?” a possessed asked.
“Stop asking me, Meg!” another replied. “For the last time, I don’t know!”
“Well,...
2024-02-20 15:32:52 +0000 UTC View PostNote from Tom: I know some of you have been anxiously awaiting the next few chapters, but I didn't want to post the fight until I'd written it in full. It's taken three chapters, all of which I'll post in the next few hours after some clean up...
2024-02-20 10:58:34 +0000 UTC View Post“Ah,” I exhaled.
“Tell us,” Ceruvax said, his words almost a demand.
Opening my eyes, I told them about my new Class and the benefits I had to choose from.
“That’s no ordinary Class,” Adriel said.
“I agree,...
2024-02-17 16:23:50 +0000 UTC View Post“Oh my,” I said in a half-strangled voice.
“What is it this time?” Adriel asked, sounding exasperated. “Don’t tell me the Adjudicator has more to say.”
I nodded numbly. “He certainly does. I’ve completed a hidden task...
2024-02-17 05:47:54 +0000 UTC View PostI clasped the high captain’s hand. “Thank you, Algar.”
“There’s just one other thing,” he said.
“Go on.”
“When you spoke to the council, you seemed pretty adamant about needing one thousand soldiers,” he said....
2024-02-15 17:23:09 +0000 UTC View PostPredictably, my words did not please the possessed. But I pressed on, ignoring the crowd’s dangerous mood. “You are angry,” I said. “You are resentful. It does not matter. The possessed are finished.”
The crowd swelled in outrage, ...
2024-02-14 16:55:22 +0000 UTC View PostDay Thirty-Five in Draven’s Reach
It was early morning when we approached our destination.
“That’s the archlich’s court?” Ceruvax asked, his eyebrows rising as he studied the elegant compound backed up agains...
2024-02-14 03:57:41 +0000 UTC View PostMy eyes wide, I stared at Ceruvax. “Is that true?”
He nodded reluctantly.
My head whipped in Adriel’s direction. “Could that work?”
She bit her lip. “I’m not sure…”
It was not the straight-up ‘no’ I’...
2024-02-12 23:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post“You will kill them all?” Adriel asked softly. “All thousand-odd souls? And what about Farren and myself? Will you see us dead too as payment for our crimes?”
“No,” I said softly.
She tilted her head to the side, her face s...
2024-02-12 15:25:56 +0000 UTC View PostDay Thirty-Three in Draven’s Reach
After accepting Ceruvax’s oath, I fell promptly asleep. I’d run halfway across the dungeon—on very little rest—and was exhausted. But no sooner had I set my head down than it felt as if the old wo...
2024-02-11 08:14:31 +0000 UTC View Post“Where do you want me to start?” I asked.
“At the very beginning,” Ceruvax replied. “From the first day you entered the Game.”
I winced. Relaying my tale was going to take even longer than I expected, but I didn’t begrudg...
2024-02-10 16:44:12 +0000 UTC View PostPanting from my long run, I drew to a halt in front of Ceruvax. Unmoving, the envoy studied me while I caught my breath.
You have passed a mental resistance check! Ceruvax has failed to anal...
2024-02-10 11:33:47 +0000 UTC View PostI didn’t end up witnessing the oaths of all two thousand soldiers.
After the first hour—during which I only managed to accept the pledges of fifty of the warband’s most senior officers—I’d made my excuses and left Algar and Ghost t...
2024-02-09 13:50:37 +0000 UTC View PostOne hour later, I was standing in the fortress’ courtyard, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
I sighed heavily.
“Thinking you should have cut and run?” Elron asked with a grin.
I nodded.
The four councilors w...
2024-02-08 20:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostThe council meeting drew to a close soon after that.
Despite Gamil, Regus, and Lorn’s insistent questions, I refused to share any details of my plans. It was not that I distrusted them, but I was wary of making promises I was unable to kee...
2024-02-08 13:08:28 +0000 UTC View PostOnce we were seated, Lorn gestured to Regus. “Begin, please.”
His mien serious, the possessed took his time responding. “Things in the court have not panned out the way we hoped.”
I sat up straighter. “What does that mean?”...
2024-02-07 15:48:33 +0000 UTC View PostI leaned across the table. “Tell me about these soldiers,” I said intently.
“We’ve asked for volunteers from our personal guards,” Lorn replied. “Men and women willing to serve under you.”
“We will outfit them, of cours...
2024-02-07 04:54:02 +0000 UTC View PostWhile Algar and his men collected the spent arrows, Nyra and I investigated the wisp’s cave. Just as I hoped, there was a chest.
Disappointingly, though, it was only bronze.
“Go ahead, ope...
2024-02-06 05:57:19 +0000 UTC View PostBetween one instant and the next, my thoughts slowed, and even thinking became hard.
You have sustained shadow damage.
Your void armor has reduced the damage incurred by 15%.
Void armor c...
2024-02-05 07:05:36 +0000 UTC View PostIt turned out that the gorge in which New Haven was located had a spawn point. According to Algar, it was only a minor spawn point and one the city’s soldiers had regularly cleared out—before the advent of the stygian seeds, of course.
S...
2024-02-04 09:17:20 +0000 UTC View Post“A follower…” Nyra mused, her brows crinkled. “I’m assuming you don’t mean in the general sense of the word?”
My lips twitched. “No, I’m referring to what the Game terms followers.” I paused. “A follower is a player who...
2024-02-03 05:47:05 +0000 UTC View PostNow that Nyra understood becoming a player wasn’t an automatic death sentence, she looked on the notion more favorably. In fact, if the eager glint in her eye was anything to go by, the prospect excited her.
“You know,” I said as we st...
2024-02-02 16:04:24 +0000 UTC View PostI didn’t quite slam the door behind me. Matters were not proceeding as I had hoped, and instead of a grateful council, I was staring down the possibility of Stormhammer and Lorn reneging on our deal.
The die was cast, though, and I’d don...
2024-02-01 09:21:54 +0000 UTC View PostNote, I've taken the comments in the last chapter onboard and have made a small, but significant change to the last lines of it. Instead of saying, "Present your candidate,” Stormhammer says, "Present your case.”
____...
2024-01-31 08:17:20 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all,
Today is release day for Empyrean's Flight
2024-01-30 14:24:13 +0000 UTC
View Post
I froze.
I hadn’t heard right. I couldn’t have. “Say that again,” I whispered.
“The Adjudicator, he asked me to—”
You have teleported 4 yards.
I blurred into motion, moving so quickly...
2024-01-28 07:06:34 +0000 UTC View PostPlayer Profile: Elana Shanis
Level: 35. Rank: 3. Current Health: 100%.
Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.
Species: Human. Lives Remaining*: 3.
M...
2024-01-27 09:07:20 +0000 UTC View PostThere was only one player still standing—Enari.
Staggering around, I turned in her direction. The mage’s shield was still up, but it had grown noticeably dimmer.
Only six fighters remained to face her. Their number included Soren, ...
2024-01-27 09:06:51 +0000 UTC View Post