Truth was wearing what he thought of as his Desrin disguise, unwilling to acknowledge that he had gotten alarmingly comfortable wearing it over the last few weeks. The white Zeph (no tassel, keep it low key) was comfortably snug on his head, his sensible trousers and shirt clean and looking sharp, and his sword rested on his hip. Although the latter still felt odd.
The Tongue of One Who Speaks For God, and wasn’t that a mouthful, was a two-handed sword. It was on the...
2023-07-05 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Truth allowed his inner vision to float up into his soul. Everyone knew that the body and soul were connected and that mind and apertures touched both. Being able to see your soul was just one of those side effects of cultivation. Do it enough, and it happens. Even old-timers at Level One could do it.
A Level Three who had the benefit of a Stellar Dowsing ritual at a comparatively young age? He could absolutely do it. There just wasn’t much to see. Not to sneer at the mysteri...
2023-07-04 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Etenesh offered her slender hand, ripping talons now long gone, leaving neatly trimmed nails in their place. Truth gently took it and pulled her into the room. He looked deep into her burning eyes and deliberately closed the door. Her ocher eyes widened, breathing faster. Truth lightly pressed his hand to her chest and pushed her against the wall. Etenesh raised her hands, fingers splayed as though she were pushing back, but she didn’t touch him. Her nose traveled along his neck, breathing ...
2023-07-03 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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It's the 4th of July next week, and I just wanted to let you know that there is no schedule change- chapters will go out at the same days and times as usual. The joy of writing far in advance, I suppose. Thank you for being a patron!
Warby
2023-06-30 19:56:50 +0000 UTC
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The stands were quiet. A young man, a flower of faded nobility, had been hacked into five parts, his heart eaten, and his soul condemned to Hell. Even then, those who supported Etenesh might have cheered.
The religious minorities, the civic unity set, the conservatives who wished to preserve the life they knew, all should be cheering. Her family alone took up a big section of the stands. They were an ancient line and remarkably unified. They didn’t make a peep. They looked awed....
2023-06-30 16:00:16 +0000 UTC
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Etenesh launched herself at Alemu as the Seraphim’s chiming cry echoed off the stands. The crowds roared and cheered as the long feathers on her belt and crown flew with the speed of her attack.
Alemu froze for a half second in shock- he had drawn himself up like he wanted to say something. Etenesh wasn’t interested. He quickly spun the hoop on his left wrist, snapping out a quick shield.
Etenesh’s copper flail slashed at the shield, raising a shower of sparks but unable to ...
2023-06-29 16:00:10 +0000 UTC
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“No. You must hold Mrs. Proudwhiskers in an arm cradle. You must support the whole body, or it is painful for her, as well as an offense to her dignity. Observe how I do it with Crabknuckle.” Truth was strict, but Merkovah had to learn. This was a special place, and things were to be done properly.
“I think I was on firmer ground with the hedgehogs. Shame we can’t feed them more.” The old monster finally seemed to fit his youthful face as he juggled the cat in his arms. Mrs. P...
2023-06-28 16:00:08 +0000 UTC
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They were sparring back and forth across the basement floor. Etenesh wouldn’t be able to use her spirit in the duel, so she was making heavy use of talismans.
Her weapon of choice was a long flail of copper reeds that she could flick through the air in astonishingly precise arcs and lines. Thin cuts of wind or light followed those occult traceries. Charging at her was like charging into a razorblade hurricane. And it only took a single swing of her flail to launch that mess of v...
2023-06-27 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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“Necromancy? I don’t really know much about it. Combat-capable necromancers are a pain in the ass, I can tell you that. And I know that they run most funeral parlors.”
“Short version… very, possibly too short version… is that necromancy is one of the foundational areas of magical technology. No reason you would know this, but we can trace the origins of a lot of our demon summoning and binding magics straight back to necromancy. Indeed, separating the two, summoning the dead...
2023-06-26 16:00:59 +0000 UTC
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Teasing the girl you like is fun. Truth was feeling giddy as he quickly walked away from the little chapel. Teasing the girl you like is fun, watching her wriggle and not move as you whisper secrets and affection in her ear. It was scary too. Opening up. Speaking a name he had left unspoken since his murder. There was something about the saying of it, setting the words free on the wind. As though they would be carried directly to his killers.
It was scary because it meant that Truth Med...
2023-06-23 16:00:12 +0000 UTC
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Truth pulled into the garage under Temple Nag-Hamadi in a thoughtful mood. This was one of those “No taking it back” decisions. He hadn’t read many spy novels. They just didn’t take him away from himself the way the romance or thriller novels did. But this seemed like volunteering to be an asset, and assets were ultimately disposable. Some were more important than others, sure, but as someone who had been a “valued” corporate asset before…
Hard pass.
Still, just walk...
2023-06-22 16:00:11 +0000 UTC
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Truth slipped out of Temple Nag Hamadi that night. He kept the sword and wore his new scarf but ditched the Zeph. Old Mek’elle’s gift just looked like a fashionable variation of a Brickies’ scarf. He blended. Nobody looked at him more than one and a half times. Without the zeph, he was just a handsome foreigner.
He didn’t have much money, hardly any, actually, but that was all right. He had a full belly, inexpensive vices, and there was nowhere in particular he...
2023-06-21 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Truth stood guard outside the conference room at Temple Nag Hamadi. His thoughts bounced around, as they tend to do when you are on staring-at-the-wall duty.
Kissing Etenesh was pretty great. Not… one hundred percent comfortable with what he seemed to need to get comfortable. Simultaneously thrilled and alarmed that Etenesh had figured it out and seemed ok with it. Enthusiastic about it, even.
Was this the bad boy effect? Many of his romance novels described it in detail. It was...
2023-06-20 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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[AUTHOR NOTE: I am on the road for a few days, and updating from my iPad. This shouldn’t have any impact on chapter releases, but it will mean that I am not as communicative or responsive as I might normally be. I will be checking Patreon at least a couple times a day, and I will try to make things as seamless as possible. However, in the event a ball gets dropped, I wanted you to know. Thank you- Warby.]
Truth and the cousins stayed in the little conference room while the ...
2023-06-19 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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The cousins were too mad to even swear. Their faces were rigid masks, hands clenched, taking deep, snorting breaths through their nose.
“In case you haven’t figured it out, panoufe is a kind of traditional alcoholic drink. Pretty much only drunk on formal social occasions in the University or by graduates feeling nostalgic.” Jember grounded out. Etenesh refused to look at anyone. Her shoulders shook now and then.
“Tiffen? Temusht?”
“Tefen and Te’mu...
2023-06-16 16:00:10 +0000 UTC
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The opening prayer and invocation continued for thirty minutes. Spirits were invoked, beseeched, reprimanded, and employed. A censer was paraded around the room, the swinging basket pouring out white smoke that smelled like church pews and charcoal and the faint thrum of cedar. A fish was condemned, carried on a lead platter widdershins just outside the circle of sunlight. The brilliantly robed Fellows of the University turned their backs to it as it passed, carefully covering their mouths. T...
2023-06-15 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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“A few quick points before we go. Jember, Etenesh, this Congress has been convened, as I said, to investigate a particular talisman, or really a cartouche, found by Tommy when we investigated that possed building a few days ago. What you don’t know is that it is connected to some extremely classified matters. So classified, I am genuinely bewildered by what diseased, witless creature asked the University Senior Fellows as a whole to investigate!”
Merkovah had cast a priva...
2023-06-14 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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“I can feel you trying, you know? You sort of shiver. One part of you overruling another part.” Etenesh smiled up at Truth. “It's kind of sweet. And kind of sad. But mostly sweet.”
“It’s not rational. I know that. I’m not even sure where the people allergy is coming from. For most of my life, I have dreamed of someone wanting to be with me. Now that there is someone willing to touch me, I can’t stand to let people close.” Truth forced himself to smile.
“It migh...
2023-06-13 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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The ducks eventually decided they had had enough seeds and paddled off. The elegant wake behind them was as fine as ever a duck did make. The sunlight reflecting off the tiny ripples seemed to contain some blessed harmonies, silver flashes dancing in time with the world.
The little group just sat there a while longer, each letting their thoughts drift across the pond. Finding that calm moment within the chaos of their lives. Stillness is a powerful thing. It lets you really see yourself...
2023-06-12 16:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Truth discovered a new sort of agony that morning. It turns out that being stuck in a five-seater carriage with an old monster you don’t trust and two people you blew up at is excruciating. And they were stuck in traffic. If he was riding his trusty iron horse, he could split the lanes and be there already. Or they could spend the modest sum necessary to hire a flying carpet. Or, given that Merkovah was Level Seven and clearly a person of some importance in Siphios, he could probably simply...
2023-06-09 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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For a few hours on June 8, there was a typo where Awakened was listed as receiving twenty advanced chapters instead of ten. (Which is actually 15 at the moment, but the tier only guarantees 10.) This was an error on my part, as I tried to correct something in another tier. I apologize for the confusion it caused anyone, and if you purchased an Awakened tier expecting 20 chapters, I apologize and would be happy to refund your money. Please DM me, if you want a refund.
I apologize f...
2023-06-09 02:45:55 +0000 UTC
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You are me? My soul? Part of my soul? What the hell are you talking about?!
Think about it a bit. Most medical exams can’t detect me. Even a Level Seven Exorcist that has a massive hate boner for Starbrite has to really focus to see me. I can move around inside the bounds of your body and can easily interface with both your mind and your soul. Even your spell apertures. Bypassing all the usual defenses and resistances you would have to possession. And I...
2023-06-08 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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“Tommy, what the Hell?” Jember yelled.
“Hero, hero, hero, hero!” Truth giggled, his eyes wide and unblinking. “Such a goddamn hero. A hero of the North, which I guess is true as I was born well north of here. Or south, depending on what you call “born.” His fingers shattered the bit of the armrest that remained in his hand.
“They aren’t wrong about home always being with me, either. Every day I ask myself, “What would Dad do?” then I do the opposite. Or I thi...
2023-06-07 16:00:15 +0000 UTC
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The projection opened with exterior shots of Old Mek’elle. People gathered to leave flowers and signs, hugging fiercely and sobbing freely, watched over by a heavy police presence. The enormous triskelion of Old Mek’elle itself hovered over the stadium and was soundly ignored.
“Shocking scenes this afternoon at Old Mek’elle. First, a double sacrifice on the pitch, then horrific terrorism off it.” There was a cut to the studio. An elegant woman was brightly made up, her hair st...
2023-06-06 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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The feathered serpent slithered through the air toward Truth, leading the dozens of demons that came through the portal with it. Truth really, really wanted to run. But they were moving faster than he could, so there really was only one choice- fight. He raised the angelic blade and braced himself.
The Police around the stadium finally got their act together and rushed in. Heavily armored mages pressed forward, enchanted riot shields between them and the fire. Their summoned angels soar...
2023-06-05 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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The stadium echoed back and forth, the roaring sea of a song washing away the rage. It would come back. It always came back. But for now, the sea of grief brought everyone together. For now, in the brilliant afternoon light, they were all fans of a beautiful game. For now, they came together to mourn two heroes.
The six surviving players came together. Jerseys were stripped off and turned into a litter to carry Gionne’s body off the field. Two players joined hands to make a seat for R...
2023-06-02 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Due to my error, the chapter for the Awakened Tier was unlocked yesterday, in addition to the usual correct chapter. I am not unlocking any additional chapters today, to get things back on the right track. Thank you for your understanding and support-
Warby
2023-06-01 16:30:35 +0000 UTC
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“So this is a little different than what you have seen before. That was lower-league stuff- basically zone invasion where players try to move the ball through the other team’s zone to reach a scoring location. This is a little different- still zone invasion, but you see how there are sloped walls on either side of the pitch? With the markers on them? You hit the other team’s marker. You get a point. First to twenty-one wins.”
The markers were quite narrow, Truth noticed. Since y...
2023-06-01 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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[CONTENT WARNING: If you are reading Slumrat, you probably have a high tolerance for bleak things. This is going back to the Old Testament here, where nothing is nice, and no choice is good. If the theme of women being forced into having children by uncaring men/corporations/institutions/social conditions is something you would find particularly upsetting, SKIP THIS. You may want to skip this entire series of side stories, in fact.
That being said, I hope you do enjoy t...
2023-05-31 16:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Now that you are all here and looking at the site...
2023-05-31 16:02:39 +0000 UTC
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