Ancient Debts Cover Art
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2024-07-03 14:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
grandgame posts
Grand Game 481: Smuggling Ways
You have slept for 5 hours.
Hellfire dome expired.
I awoke hours later, feeling far from refreshed. Nonetheless, I forced myself into motion, knowing I couldn’t afford to oversleep. First things first, I thought blearily and checked the status of my buffs.
Mimic active. Remaining duration: 5 hours.
Satisfied that my Jasiah-face was still in place, I glanced at the curtains enclosing the partition...
2024-07-03 04:11:39 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 480: Dire Threats
Nicola and the ten merchants he’d selected got to work immediately. Moving from corpse to corpse in the storeroom, they stripped them with practiced ease.
They’ve done this before, I thought.
For a moment, I was tempted to stay and watch, but I forced myself out of the room. I’d assigned the task to Nicola, and now that I had, I had to let him get on with it.
“Delegation,” I muttered sourly. If I was going to lead House Wolf, it was someth...
2024-06-29 05:59:19 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 479: Mercenaries
I was half-way to the trapdoor when a Game message interrupted me.
Sector 75,172 has reverted to neutral territory!
The Devil Riders have failed to reinforce the safe zone defenses in the stipulated time and, consequently, have lost control of the sector. All previously applied restrictions have been removed. Anyone may now trade in the safe zone, and you may teleport into and out of it at will.
“About damned time,” I said, chuckli...
2024-06-26 04:57:55 +0000 UTC View PostPlayer Profile: Michael as at end of CH 478
A Note from Tom: Since it's been a while since I shared Michael's full profile and considering some of the recent upgrades, I thought this might be of interest now.
________________________________________________________________________
Level: 235. Rank: 23. Current Health: 100%.
Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.
Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 4.
Ghost’s Lives Remaining...
2024-06-24 15:20:01 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 478: To the Victor goes the Spoils
My next stop after Jone was the storeroom, and I wasted no time hurrying in its direction. I was not on the clock per se, but there were too many unknowns in the current situation for me to be comfortable with taking matters slowly.
With my luck, Mammon might finally decide to turn up. Or Riders from another sector. Or Blythe. Or even those Reapers Tyelin had mentioned.
I shook my head, imagining the possibilities. I wanted no more surprises. And that meant doing things in a...
2024-06-24 15:06:47 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 477: Sworn-Locked
Things did not end there, of course.
The paladin kept fighting, sparingly using his remaining mana to activate hell’s helping hand to heal himself, but the battle’s outcome was a foregone conclusion.
And we both knew it.
So, it was no surprise, when a few minutes later, the big Sworn sagged lifelessly to the floor.
Malikor has died.
You have slain an envoy of Mammon!
You have fulfilled all your Pact obliga...
2024-06-24 07:59:29 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 476: The Devil Himself
I didn’t expect my ploy to fool Malikor long, but it didn’t have to, and even a few seconds would’ve helped.
In the end, it was a full five minutes before the paladin bothered to leave the storeroom. Ghost and I spent that time killing the Riders guarding the entrance to the basement level.
Slaying them was almost laughably easy. Disorganized and leaderless, they put up only a token resistance, and by the time Malikor arrived, we’d already moved onto the fort’s upp...
2024-06-20 05:41:50 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 475: A Minefield of Auras
Note from Tom: Just a heads up, I've made some minor corrections to the previous two chapters to cater for inconsistencies and plot holes a few of you picked up. Some of the things changed:
The dialogue of Rider elites in response to Michael's appearance.
The void thief triggering messages.
The Pact messages (to account for him being in disguise).
Added Sworn-related messages after killing Sworn.
Thanks once again for all the comments. I take everything ...
2024-06-19 06:04:36 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 474: Underlings First
Updated 19-06-2024
I was watching Leafbright’s face as I released the casting and so, didn’t fail to observe her reaction.
An entire host of emotions ran riot across the elf’s face. First confusion. Then shock. And finally fear. Stunned into inaction, she watched helplessly as the surrounding vegetation came alive—but not under her direction.
The vines grew.
Wriggling free of their fellows, individual stalks pushed further into the chambe...
2024-06-15 10:23:21 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 473: Negotiating Under Duress
Updated 19-06-2024.
As Ghost raced back to rejoin me, I surveyed the room.
That the battle had turned was obvious. Now, it was the Riders who fought with renewed vigor and the Blades who were disheartened. It was not the ordinary players who concerned me, though. Focusing on Zultan and Leafbright, I considered the pair.
The two Rider elites were still chanting. Besides Malikor and Tyelin themselves, they were undoubtedly the biggest threats in th...
2024-06-12 06:56:16 +0000 UTC View PostThe Grand Game 472: A Decisive Turn
Malikor and his Riders had not stood idly by while the enemy ran amok with their spells, of course.
But the castings of lower-ranked Riders were less… effective than those of the Blade elites. And unfortunately for the Riders, they had only one elite in their own ranks—Malikor himself.
Mammon’s Sworn did his best to restore the balance, but he fell far short.
Malikor has cast demonic fury, doubling the damage dealt by all allies in a 150-yard radius...
2024-06-11 13:00:10 +0000 UTC View PostScion's Duty Audiobook Finally Out!
Hey everyone!
It's finally happened! The Grand Game 6 audiobook is live on Audible. I know I've kept many of you waiting countless long weeks on this one, and for that I'm sorry. But it's here. Finally :). You can find it here: https://amzn.to/3KEDycq
Grand Game 471: Wow, Indeed
Bulezu has died.
You and Ghost have reached level 224!
I did not let the minute we had remaining pass idly by. First, I invested my new attribute points.
Your Dexterity has increased to rank 113. Other modifiers: +24 from items.
Then, I retrieved two of the ability tomes from my collection and began to read.
You have upgraded your trap detect ability to superior trap detect.
You hav...
2024-06-10 15:24:47 +0000 UTC View PostDas Große Spiel Hörbuch released
The DE (german) version of the Grand Game Audiobook 1 has been released!
2024-06-07 14:10:10 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 470: Rue the Day
You and Ghost have reached level 223!
Your insight has reached rank 24, your dodging rank 20, and deception rank 22.
You are hell-tracked. Remaining duration: 30 seconds.
You are psi dampened. Remaining duration: 30 seconds.
Ignoring the Game messages scrolling through my mind, I turned away from the downed aspect. On my right, a much-weakened Bulezu was being held down by a trio of Blades, while on my...
2024-06-06 04:42:27 +0000 UTC View Post
Grand Game 469: Battling with One’s Demons
Much to my surprise, the moment the blue flames vanished, the survivors of Yara’s group charged into the shaft corridor—some of them, anyway.
I did not join in.
No matter what Tyelin had said about the danger of letting the aspects into the storeroom, there was no way I was going to try battling the three demons in the tight confines of the corridor, especially not with dozens of other players hampering my attacks.
Glancing left and right, I realized I wasn...
2024-06-04 10:02:38 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 6 Audiobook
Good news everyone, the narration of A Scion's Duty is finally done! Expect to see it soon on audible. I will share the link once it's available.
2024-06-01 06:50:25 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 468: Aspects of Power
Message from Tom: Note, I tweaked the Task description at the end of the last chapter slightly.
I rubbed my chin as I considered the Game message. In many ways, it gave me carte blanche. By my reckoning, I could do anything—including nothing—and I would still complete the task. In that sense, the Adjudicator’s task seemed almost frivolous.
Yet it was not.
In the past, my bloodline Mark had only strengthened when I’d adhered to the ways of Wolf. And while my ...
2024-05-27 05:04:59 +0000 UTC View PostLaunch of my new website: TomLitRPG.com
Hi all,
My website has been re-vamped, and re-launched! Check it out at: tomlitrpg.com and please let me know your thoughts. In particular, I would really appreciate it, if you would:
1. use the "subscribe to my blog" link and let me know if there are any issues with the subscription process
2. try the "unlock with patreon" and let me know if it works.
3. provide whatever general feedback you want,...
2024-05-24 06:37:03 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 467: The Tenets of Wolf
You are hell-tracked. Remaining duration: 14 minutes.
Auris assigned me and the rest of the survivors of Yara’s band to guard the west door. I fell into position willingly enough. Right now, I was exactly where I needed to be—in a room filled by scores of Blades and Tyelin, no less.
Nor was the envoy the only elite amongst the Blades. There were three others: Auris, Haiken, and a player named Lune. When Malikor and his Riders arrived—and I had no doubt...
2024-05-24 04:48:54 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 466: The Dues of the Feckless
You are hell-tracked. Remaining duration: 20 minutes.
Your deception has reached rank 21.
The Riders knew I was fleeing, of course. Indeed, they would be able to track the exact route I used. I didn’t let it bother me, though. The Blades were guarding my rear—albeit unknowingly.
Shimmying down the rope after a player who didn’t give me so much as a backward glance, I entered the shaft.
It was not what I expected.
Coar...
2024-05-22 05:19:20 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 465: Facing off with the Devil
Riders and Blades. One group was coming through the shaft, the other up the stairs.
And Ghost and I were caught between.
I dared not trust the Blades, and the Riders could follow my every move. “What’s the plan?” Ghost asked, echoing my own thoughts.
I hesitated a moment longer, then said, “Unmanifest.”
“You sure?” she asked, her mindvoice thick with surprise.
“Yes,” I said more decisively...
2024-05-20 05:21:01 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game Audiobook(s) Update
Hi all,
Some of you might have noticed that the audiobooks for Grand Game books 2 to 4 have been removed from Audible. This is a temporary measure as they are being moved around behind the scene (it's a publisher thing :P). They should be back in three weeks.
As for the audio for Book 6, I still haven't received the finished audio from the narrator, but based on his latest feedback, he is still on track to complete this month (May).
Cheers,
Tom
2024-05-17 04:46:43 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 464: A Shaft to Nowhere
The servants were gone.
But there was no doubt they’d recently been in the pen. Their scents still lingered in the air for one. For another, boxes filled half the small space, testament to the fact it had never housed a hellbat.
The servants, I suspected, had been using the pen as a storeroom. So how did they leave? I wondered.
My gaze fell to the dark hole backed up almost against the wall. A rope disappeared down its depths, answering the mystery. Ste...
2024-05-17 04:40:58 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 463: The Upper Hand
The three follow-up tentacles hit me in rapid-fire fashion, wrapping about my arms and torso. Then, they too, began sucking away my life.
Even though I was still invisible, they seemed to have had no trouble anchoring themselves on me. Hells! How am I going to—
You are no longer stunned.
I moved immediately. Rolling to the left, I got my legs under me.
4 slime tentacles have drained 2.6% of your health (1.4% damage reduced). 2024-05-15 05:58:31 +0000 UTC View Post
Grand Game 462: Dangerous Prey
Note from Tom: I've made a slight change in previous chapter. North stable wing is now south stable wing.
You are hell-tracked. Remaining duration: 56 minutes.
6 tier 3 traps have been successfully configured! Remaining trap-making crystals: 170 of 200.
You have recast vanish.
You have cast load controller, granting you a 10-minute encumbrance aura that slows any armor-wearing foe within 5 yards by 50%...
2024-05-13 05:27:37 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 461: Track and Trace
The eight Riders advanced down the corridor in a tight-knit group, with the mages’ shields touching and the fighters standing shoulder to shoulder. It was a good strategy against an invisible foe but was exactly the wrong approach to use with Ghost.
Ghost has cast explosive manifest. She has 90% mana remaining.
The pyre wolf emerged in a blaze of glory.
Where before she had always coalesced gradually out of streaming trails of shadow, this time...
2024-05-11 08:09:45 +0000 UTC View PostGrand Game 460: Something Untoward
Traveling by air, we reached the fort considerably quicker than either I—or Tyelin—originally anticipated, and I couldn’t help but wonder what this meant for the envoy’s schemes. If he was planning on launching an assault soon—which I suspected to be the case—then the Blade forces had to be badly out of place.
Tyelin must be scrambling to recover right now, I thought, unaccountably cheered by the thought.
It made no difference to my own mission, thoug...
2024-05-10 11:00:11 +0000 UTC View Post