grandgame

Grand Game 364: The Beginning of the End

Day Twenty-Five in Draven’s Reach

I left Adriel’s underground complex the next morning.

After much back-and-forth last night, the lich had finally agreed to my proposal, conceding it might work. But only after I promised Ghost and I would leave the dungeon and seek outside help if it didn’t. It took us hours more after that to beat out the details, but when we were done, Adriel and I were both happy the plan stood a reasonable chance of success.

Before leaving, I said ...

Michael and Gnat

Hi everyone! 

I hope you are enjoying the new chapters of Wolf in the Void, you can expect more soon :)
For now, I am happy to share a sketch of Michael and Gnat from Book 1.

Keen to hear your thoughts!

Grand Game 363: The Final Piece

I stared at Adriel aghast. “The archlich? You’re telling me the sector boss is the archlich?”

She nodded.

“But how?” I demanded. “The possessed were once players. How does a former player become a sector boss?”

She laughed humorlessly. “We were surprised as you. But as Farren likes to say, the Game cannot be tricked. The Adjudicator sees all and has his own way of punishing those who bend the rules too much.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, confus...

Grand Game 362: Figuring out Things

I didn’t intrude on Ghost and Adriel’s discussion.

As alpha and scion, I already had too much sway over Ghost, and I didn’t want to influence her choice unduly. The form she chose was hers to decide. I had already played my own part and reignited her will to live. The rest was up to her.

Two hours later, later, Adriel returned to the room I sat waiting in. “Has she decided?” I asked.

“She has,” the lich answered, not elaborating.

I didn’t pry. “Good. ...

Grand Game 361: A Crisis of Mind

Sitting at the entrance of Adriel’s underground complex, I stared out into the dungeon, pondering the path ahead.

What was the right thing to do here?

Adriel had killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, if not directly then indirectly.

Every one of Elron’s soldiers that had died, every New Haven citizen that had perished because of the void, and every young player whose life had been stolen to feed the possessed’s undying existence could be laid at the hands of Adr...

Grand Game 360: Death Matters

Day Twenty-Four in Draven’s Reach

After Adriel left, Ghost and I spoke.

I filled her in on what had happened in the safe zone, and she told me her own tale. Ghost, it seemed, had managed to hide from the harbinger and the spores. That, however, had not stopped the oblivion spell from reaching her. It had not killed her outright, but like the lich had surmised, had hurt her badly.

Despite her fraying spirit, Ghost had ventured out to search for me as soon as the stygians ha...

Grand Game 359: Shocking Revelations

Bowing my head, I lowered my face into my hands. It was one shocking revelation too many, and I struggled to process Adriel’s words. “All of you are scions?” I muttered, looking up a moment later.

“Former scions,” Adriel corrected.

“Even Castor and Avery?” I persisted.

The lich’s lips twitched again. “Even those two, yes.”

“But… but that must mean you entered the dungeon millennia ago!”

“We did. Just right after the Primes’ fall, in ...

Grand Game 358: A Spirited Discussion

I was a spider caught in a web of the lich’s making.

My hands refused to budge, and even psi had been stolen from my reach. Still, I met Adriel’s gaze unflinchingly. “Let her go,” I growled.

“Answer me!” she demanded, paying my own words no heed.

“Release Ghost go first,” I insisted. “Then I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

“Don’t toy with me boy,” Adriel hissed. “I don’t know which one of Loskin’s sick sycophants dreamt up this plo...

Grand Game 357: Blood Ritual

I managed all of two steps before a shockwave of air rippled outwards from the exile. Picking me up, it tossed me heedlessly into one of the white brick walls.

An unknown entity has trigger-cast repel the living.

You have failed a magical resistance check!

Your void armor has reduced the death damage incurred by 10%.

The exile turned around unhurriedly as I slid to the floor, and I caught my first glimpse of m...

Grand Game 356: The Spider at the Center of the Web

The chasm was as deep and narrow as it had appeared from afar. Looking straight down, I studied its depths.

A little more than a jagged tear in the plateau, the chasm zigzagged from west to east before devolving into a network of even smaller scars that ran right up against the dungeon’s northern boundary. Its two side walls marched in unison, so close together that no light penetrated to the rocky floor.

It must have been a tight fit, I thought, finding it surprising t...

Grand Game sketches

Hi everyone!

I am excited to announce that I am going to start sharing some sketches that are inspired by events, characters, items, sectors, and more in the Grand Game series. The first, here, is a map of the dungeon Michael explored in Book 1.

I have more sketches to share from Book 1, and I am hoping to continue sharing sketches inspired by the entire series. Looking forward to seeing what you all think! 

Grand Game 355: Pondering Cardinal Points

On death, the Force Multiplier crumpled into dust.

It made for a sizable pile that for a few minutes, and left me scrambling frantically for my lost gear. Thankfully, though, I found the equipment without much effort.

You have equipped a ranger’s kit, gaining +40% physical damage reduction and +4 ranks in stealth.

You have equipped the sword, faithful blade, gaining…

Grand Game 354: Battling Oneself

The mimic did not give me time to recover from my shock.

Blinking out of existence, the thing reformed at my back, and if not for its startling inner light, I would not have realized it was there at all. Death would have followed swiftly.

As it was, I did not manage to avoid my foe’s assault entirely.

A Light mimic’s attack has grazed you.

You have failed a magical resistance check! Your void armor has reduced the light damage incurred by 5...