Tyron stalked through his lab, unsure how to feel as he checked on his experiments and scribbled down measurements in his notes. It was promising to note that his tests had been progressing in line with his expectations. Either he was lucky, or he was on the right track.
The work he’d done on the Raise Dead spellform had come a long way as well. In another few days, he would have completed his reconstruction of the conduit magick built into the ritual and already he w...
2023-06-15 08:39:21 +0000 UTC
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I’m not a huge fan of my insides turning into my outsides, or having my carapace replaced with candy floss, or indeed, of being flattened/expanded into less/more dimensions than I’m comfortable with.
Having said that, the moment when Brilliant drops me into the fourth stratum makes it more than worthwhile. Instantly, I feel a wave of relief wash over me as both my gasping core relaxes, and the insatiable gnawing of the Call fades away.
It’s still there, obviously,...
2023-06-14 11:05:18 +0000 UTC
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And book four is finally out the door! Whoo! Full steam ahead!
Even now, Solant did not allow herself to think of victory. She tried not to think at all. As she raced underneath the Eldest’s carapace, between their legs and out from under their abdomen, she thought only of moving her legs, two at a time.
The ball gripped tight between her mandibles, the general tried not to focus on the touchline, looming ever larger in her vision.
She tried not to think a...
2023-06-14 05:15:13 +0000 UTC
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AAAAAAAAND WE'RE BACK!
Obviously I didn't hit the quota of Chrysalis chapters last week... I succumbed to the temptation of street fighter six and failed you. I'll catch up on those this week! Eight Chaps of Chrysalis? Oh my!
Hmph.
I have crushed their will. I can see it in their eyes, I can sense it through the Vestibule and I can smell it in the air. The hope has been drained out of the Endless and I take no joy in it.
A l...
2023-06-12 08:37:26 +0000 UTC
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They want me to talk to the generals now. Of course they do. I should NEVER have agreed to do this. What are the generals even going to get from this? You’re soldiers, you’re smart, you know what it’s all about.
My intention was for the generals to lead from the front. A big body that could provide auras, leadership, directions and strategy from the thick of the action. I probably shouldn’t have called you generals to be honest, captains is probably close...
2023-06-01 10:33:37 +0000 UTC
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Gweheheh. Feeling a little heavy over there? Is your guilty conscience weighing you down?
Or is it the weight of the gravity well I’ve snuck underneath the stadium yoinking you down to the ground!
Muahahahahaha!
It’s not as if I even need to do it. I could turn thier entire half of the pitch to muck and bury them in it, or wash them away with a solid wave of water without having to bind the Endless to the ground, but I’m doing it anyway.
2023-06-01 08:20:20 +0000 UTC
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Bit of an odd chapter this one. Was fun to write though. With this, you're caught up on BoD for the week! Whoo! I apologise for falling a chapter behind, but now you're caught up.
I'll be off next week, then I'll catch you with two fresh chapters the week after. Be well!
Once the bodies were safely stowed in his study, Tyron took a moment to think about Filetta’s proposition. She wanted them to discuss the sale of bones at an upmarket e...
2023-05-31 12:03:58 +0000 UTC
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“I apologise for keeping you waiting, venerable,” Tyron said as he bowed his head.
A wheezing cackled came from the emaciated figure sat on the large wooden throne at the back of the room.
“No you don’t,” the old man rasped. “You couldn’t give a shit. But that’s fine, I don’t think the three of them care much either.”
He waved a lazy hand up toward the three figures carved and hung on the wall above his head. The two-faced lady, the storm-eyed bird, the w...
2023-05-31 04:39:34 +0000 UTC
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Been sitting on this for a while now, but I thought I should finally share.
We have a map of the Western Province in which Tyron has been doing his stomping.
Huge shoutout to the dedication and persistence of editor and contributor Mr Gravelord for making the map and putting up with my endless delays!
2023-05-31 03:57:00 +0000 UTC
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2700 words. A long one!
“Couple of quick things,” Tyron announced as the staff gathered inside the shop prior to opening. “First, I’m going to be taking a trip out of the city, starting next week. I’ll be gone for approximately six days. That means you and I are going to be extremely busy making sure our storeroom is filled with stock, Flynn.”
“Not a problem, Master Almsfield. I’m not afraid of hard work.”
“Just make sure you let me know ...
2023-05-31 01:32:53 +0000 UTC
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Writing this post to announce a one week vacation for yours truly starting next week.
I've been thinking long and hard about this decision... too long since it made me dither and question for so long that I'm announcing the break far too late. For everyone who would want to cancel their membership for the next month and no longer can, I'm very apologetic.
Although I miss deadlines frequently, it's extremely rare for me to actually have a week off from posting of my own accord. No ...
2023-05-29 08:58:35 +0000 UTC
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“Well, that’s a little intimidating,” Sumant remarked as she stared at the Eldest across the pitch, slamming those enormous mandibles together.
“We can’t afford to let the Eldest affect our spirit,” Leonidant urged them.
“Easy for you to say, you aren’t likely to get chomped,” the big soldier pointed out.
“The Eldest won’t bite any of us,” Solant said with confidence.
“How are you so sure?” Sumant asked.
“Because if they d...
2023-05-29 08:53:49 +0000 UTC
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My hope gleams in the darkness, a diamond shining in the night.
My hope is a builder, a shifter of earth and stone.
My hope is a seer, who glimpses that which is yet to come.
My hope is a speaker, their words know no boundaries.
My hope defends, protects and shields, a barrier between the light and the dark.
My hope bears the weight of the world upon their carapace, and controls that weight.
<...
2023-05-26 11:01:45 +0000 UTC
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[And there you have it, folks. We bring the first half to a close in record time. Blisteringly fast rounds here at the stadium, but I’m certain none of the crowd are disappointed with the action.]
“Absolutely not. We are witnessing history here today, and I for one am just thankful we get another half of this incredible spectacle.”
[You really have to give it to the Endless. Every round, on offence or defence, they’ve tried something different and shown us some ...
2023-05-26 05:14:37 +0000 UTC
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[I’m hearing from my sources on the dome that my siblings are absolutely riveted by what they’ve seen so far.]
“I’m not one of your siblings but I’m definitely in that camp. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
[The Colony will welcome you as a sister in spirit Peter.]
“You’re very kind.”
[For the majority of us, myself included, we’ve never seen the Eldest in person, or if we have, we’ve never seen them fight. There aren’t many sti...
2023-05-25 05:56:14 +0000 UTC
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Back with Chrysalis finally. Multiple chaps coming today!
Gweheheh. With my superior magic, I don’t even need to worry about chasing my opponents down. If I can keep them in their defensive half without even moving, then that seems like it would be the logical way to play.
I wonder if there’s a way for them to deal with it? I wouldn’t think so, given my higher ranked Skills and mind constructs.These young ants will gain those things in time, but for now, I h...
2023-05-25 01:25:09 +0000 UTC
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Tyron stepped out of the backroom and came face to face with Cerry.
“Oh, hel -,” he began.
“Oh good goddess!” she gasped, a hand flying to her chest. “Master Almsfield? You look like death!”
The Necromancer blinked and noted that his eyelids felt as though they scraped over sand as he did so. He blinked rapidly a few more times, trying to moisten his eyeballs.
“Do I really look that bad?” he croaked.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say… you look...
2023-05-24 04:13:42 +0000 UTC
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Magister Poranus wasn’t happy.
“Hurry up,” he snapped to his manservant and the man immediately began to bow and scrape.
“I’m sorry, Magister. Please forgive this humble servant.”
“Don’t stop working, you blithering idiot!”
“Apologies, Magister!”
The young man immediately straightened and got back to adjusting Poranus’ robes. He hated the formal robes. Multi-layered, tassled, with gold chains running down the sleeves, they were ...
2023-05-23 04:44:15 +0000 UTC
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Gweheheh, with the ball reinforced like this, I won’t break the damn thing in my mandibles. If I’m not sabotaging myself, I really wonder how my little opponents can possibly hope to handle me?
With the ball gripped firmly (but not too firmly!) in my mandibles, I begin to stride forward. The Endless are arrayed before me and I can already feel them trying to attack the ball and break it down from within the shell I’ve constructed for it.
No chance!
I dedicat...
2023-05-19 04:35:03 +0000 UTC
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I’d intended to score on every offence, but the damn ball is too soft. When I flex my legs and get ready to dash, my mandibles tense up and I crush the stupid thing in an instant! Isn’t this supposed to be solid rock? Is there cheating involved? Has someone given me a hollow ball?!
Whatever. It’s not like they beat me when I’m playing defence. My mind-constructs have picked out the ten ants on the field from the Vestibule and I can read their streams of will in real t...
2023-05-18 02:16:37 +0000 UTC
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It was often stated by Jordant that her greatest regret was not being able to play against the Eldest. She was there when they played their one and only game, and could only say the match was… indescribable.
- Excerpt from ‘History of the Greatest’ by Commentant.
[Hello Peter, it’s nice to see you again for another live recording of this history making match.]
“Commentant. Wonderful to be with you, as always, and I must say I can’t be...
2023-05-18 00:58:53 +0000 UTC
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Rage gripped him.
Tyron’s fingers curled into fists as the breath whistled between his clenched teeth. Clear as the day it happened, he could see Magnin and Beory on the ground before him, eyes closed, faces at peace, the knife still stuck in his fathers chest.
Muscles knotted in his forearms and shoulders as he struggled to release the tension. The more he fought against it, the more it gripped him. He felt possessed, trapped inside his own body as grief and anger to...
2023-05-17 10:57:55 +0000 UTC
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When the Colony goes all in on something, they really do go all in. I was obviously aware of that, but seeing the gigantic stadium that they’ve built to host games somehow still manages to shock me.
Did they really need to go this hard? Holy moly. The thing is enormous!
And there are ants everywhere. As well as people! I was asked to head to the venue well ahead of the game, there’s a waiting area for the teams before they go out onto the pitch apparently, bu...
2023-05-17 04:28:56 +0000 UTC
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Turns out the rules are pretty straight forward. I question the poor man for far too long, getting him to explain the foundations of the game and how it’s developed over time, as well as asking him about my specific opponent.
As expected of a Champion general, it appears that Solant has already developed quite the reputation for devious strategies, trickery and ingenious tactics. The twenty members of her training group have followed her, forming the core of her following, ...
2023-05-17 02:47:40 +0000 UTC
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The entire city was abuzz about the upcoming match. Among the humans who made their homes within the nest, several hundred at this point, there was little conversation about anything else. The Great One, as the ant was usually referred to by the people of Renewal, hadn’t been seen by the people for a long time. Even aside from the new, fanatical following that Tunnel Ball had created, every human who could get a ticket would have shown up just to see the famous ant in the flesh.<...
2023-05-14 13:25:13 +0000 UTC
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“What’s the plan, Solant?”
Of course, the responsibility for determining the strategy of the team fell to her, and she embraced it. Even under these circumstances, against this level of odds, she welcomed that pressure.
“I’m not sure yet…” she said, “I need some time to think on this. There are many unknowns and we must plan for them all.”
The others nodded. They knew her abilities and trusted in her judgement, just as she trusted in them. Withou...
2023-05-12 09:15:52 +0000 UTC
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[What do you think of the season so far, Peter?]
The farmer smiled as he scratched idly at his chin. He still wasn’t used to talking so much, especially in public, but on the subject of Tunnel Ball, he could wax lyrical for hours.
He leaned forward a little to make sure he was speaking into the small, enchanted gem on the table in front of him.
“Well, Commentant, I could talk about the tactical advances in the game, the general shift from running plays to a So...
2023-05-12 05:58:08 +0000 UTC
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It was interesting to see the mixed response to the previous chapter. I was EXTREMELY hesitant about it and unsure how it would be received. I had plans to go both ways, leaving Dove dead, or bringing him back, and in the end I went with what I felt better served the story.
Feel free to disagree of course!
Chrysalis tomorrow!
Cerry Tiln said goodbye to her mother as she stepped out the door into the bustle of Shadetown, the ...
2023-05-11 06:33:20 +0000 UTC
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Tyron pulled his cloak a little tighter around himself. A chill wind blew down the cobbled roads of Kenmor, the tall buildings providing less shelter than one thought they would. Perhaps these large stone edifices were responsible for conjuring the city's infamous breezes? He didn’t know, but travelling inside the walls at night was always particularly cold even in the summer months.
The Western Road was filled with traffic, even at this late hour. Thirty metres wide, the t...
2023-05-10 02:03:48 +0000 UTC
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After thinking about it for a while, I decide I don’t want to think about it anymore and get some sleep.
I mean, there’s humans in there already, why not some demons? Who cares, the more the merrier. All that good stuff.
There’s definitely some serious ramifications of something like this, but I can’t work out what they are, so I’m going to stop trying.
When we wake up, we consume the second half of the Biomass, and then go back to sleep again. ...
2023-05-06 05:27:32 +0000 UTC
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