grandgame

Chapter 16: Meeting a Ghost

I spent what felt like hours telling Soren about Adalinda, how we’d met, and our bond, but in reality, it was only a few minutes. I told him about the spirit binding the Game had performed between us, the way dad’s ring had melted into me, and how Adalinda appeared as a living mist when I activated the artifact.

“So, let me get this straight,” he said when I was finished. “Your celestial… companion is a spirit but also not sometimes. She’s lived before, but has lost her me...

Chapter 15: Consequences

For a long moment, I said nothing.

This was the conversation I had been dreading since I’d activated the Class stone. It was a necessary one, though.

If I wanted to mend the breach in my relationship with Soren, I had to find a way to get him to come to terms with who I was now. Taking a deep breath, I ordered my thoughts. “What do you want to know?”

“Why enter the Game?” he began without preamble.

“To save you.”

“I get that, but becoming a player...

Chapter 14: Truth

It took us the better part of the day to reach our destination, but that was more a function of excessive caution on our part than the distance we had to travel. Not sure who we could trust, we kept to the back alleys and avoided anyone we knew.

The morning’s events had left matters strained between the three of us. Each time I considered rectifying things, I would catch the questioning look in Soren’s eyes and be reminded yet again that he and I had weighty issues to discuss.

Chapter 13: Getting Out

We didn’t have long to get ready.

Alon was right about the courtyard being the perfect killing ground, and if there hadn’t been such a disparity in numbers between the Devils and us, I would’ve even applauded his choice.

But the odds were far from even. And there were too many unknowns.

Right now, it was probably only the Devils’ lead group out there, creeping through the alley. But how long would it take the others to catch up? Five minutes? Ten? Thirty?

I did...

Chapter 12: On the Run

The early morning sun warmed my back as we weaved through the streets of the poor quarter of Mesina. The Devils were hot on our trail and had been since we left the shack that had been Soren and my home since… well, since forever.

We moved quickly, but the howls and shouts coming from behind did not dissipate. Cantos—the not-so-ironically named ‘Butcher’ and Devils’ leader—must have sent the entire gang after us.

I guess he really didn’t like what we did, I ...

Grand Game Empyrean's Flight - Update

Hi all,

After a trying few weeks and many sleepless nights, I've finally re-edited and, where necessary, rewritten Empyrean 2.  If you read the earlier version, you will notice that huge chunks of the story have changed, especially in the later part.

I've been forced to work through this...

Grand Game 410: Ambushed in the Dark

Day Thirty in Draven’s Reach

All eyes in the room were on me, and along the edges, I sensed the guards jerk into belated movement.

“Back,” the marshal snapped. “Hold your positions.”

Thank you, Elron. Once more, the marshal was showing me more trust than I thought I warranted. “Ready Ghost?”

“I am,” she replied serenely, keeping pace beside me.

“What is the meaning of this?” Carnien demanded shrilly as I advanced o...

This week's (2024 - week4) Grand Game Chapters

Hi all,

Just to keep everyone updated, this week's grand game chapters will be delayed until Saturday. I'm in the middle of the final editing slog for Empyrean 2 before the upload deadline on Friday.

Please bear with me. :)

Regarding Empyrean 2 - I've extensively re-edited the story, and some parts I've re-written completely. Should I repost the chapters? If there is enough interest, I'll do so.

Happy reading,

Tom

Grand Game 409: The Hiss of Steel

Rumors traveled fast, and a host of orcish and dwarven dignitaries waylaid us en route to the council hall. Before the chief, thane, or myself had a chance to exchange more than curt farewells, the pair were swept away.

“We must talk later,” Lorn called over his shoulder. “The council will meet in the morning. Make sure you are there.”

“I will,” I shouted back before he disappeared from sight.

“Still creating a stir wherever you go, I see,” a quiet voice said...

Grand Game 408: Mopping Up

I sagged down onto the corpse. “Well, that wasn’t too hard, was it?” I murmured.

Ghost looked at me askance, unable to tell if I was joking.

Chuckling, I labored back to my feet and checked the waiting Game messages.

You and Ghost have reached level 204!

Your shortswords has reached rank 19, and your chi rank 17.

My skills had improved only minimally during the battle, but that was to be expected at this stage. Sadly, none ...

Grand Game 407: A Fight to the Death

Not unexpectedly, I failed to charm Castor, but it was not him I had intended on bewitching anyway.

“Attack,” I barked, tugging on the mental leash I’d wrapped around the minds of the warrior and two scouts. Lorn and Stormhammer, I gave an altogether different command. “Flee,” I instructed the moment their chains fell free from the warrior’s hands.

My five enthralled subjects burst into motion. In the meantime, I kept casting.

You have c...