Your hometown holds an annual pub crawl that has become a little bit famous thanks to social media. The town was founded by Orcs ages ago, and as such, a large number of pubs have always been the norm. The crawl started when your grandfather was a young man, and others like him charted it meticulously. Back in those days it was seen as a triathlon, a feat of strength and a test of endurance. Even for the Orcs it was seen as a challenge, and one they took very seriously. As the years went on i...
2019-08-25 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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I chuckle and shake my head. “No, he did ask me to shave my face.”
“Then let’s go! We have a lot of work to do!” She grabs me and we go back to our quarters. There, she shaves me, trimming my beard and taking a razor to the stubble. She has me wash, and she uses her special oils on my skin. My mother then trims my hair and styles it into a braid. Come morning, she shaves the stubble again, takes my hair from the braid and combs it out, making my hair into a mane of luscious wa...
2019-08-24 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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The cabin in the woods retreat was supposed to be a reward, a sweet and simple vacation your family had given you. But the more you actually say ‘cabin in the woods’ you start to believe in the trope. You had always loved camping as a kid, going out with your folks and straying into the forest, swimming in rivers, and making fairy houses under the roots of trees. You had bragged your entire life about how you were going to buy a cottage in the woods, grow mushrooms, and live out your days...
2019-08-24 19:00:01 +0000 UTC
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I set my phone down, then walk over to Jian and take hold of his two big hands. “Okay, let me see if I can get this right.” I let go of him and start signing with my hands. Jian’s eyes go wide, and he starts to sign as well.
“Whoa! Whoa!” I laugh and hold my hands up. “Slow down, you talk too fast.”
Jian lowers his hands and speaks slower. “I thought you said you didn’t know sign language.”
“I started taking a class,” I say ...
2019-08-23 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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It had been dark and cloudy even before you came into the cafe. As soon as you ordered your drink it began to get dark, and the moment you take the cup of coffee into your hand, sure enough, it’s raining. You sigh heavily and move over to an empty table to sit down.
“Of course,” you say. “It figures.” Not that you’re in a hurry to get home, anyway. It’s been that sort of day, week, month, quite possibly even year. It’s easy to feel barrel-rolled after a breakup, an...
2019-08-23 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Jian smiles and nods his head.
“Okay. So, uhm, questions,” I huff. I think again for a long time. “Do you like movies?”
Joan gives me a look.
“Okay, okay, everyone likes movies,” I grumble. “Do you like pina coladas?”
A knowing look crosses his face and he glances towards me.
“And getting caught in the rain?” I start to grin at my own joke.
Jian reaches over and pinches the tip of my nose. I giggle and smile up at him. “Sorry. St...
2019-08-22 21:00:01 +0000 UTC
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I accidentally walk into one of the many pleasure rooms of the palace, and see a bit more than I care for. It is true what they say about Aqrabuamelu men too, and no matter how many times I see it, I am still surprised. Anyway, I am still learning the layout of the palace and am currently working my way around to deliver a snack to Rajarshi. He has a fondness for a sweet melon and sends out for it often. He’s remained in his study most of this week, working on something important.
I f...
2019-08-22 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Ruby thinks for a moment. “I would talk to Heathcliff first, he’s in charge of the props department. Maybe he knows where there are some more, and if not, he’ll know how to go about ordering some.”
You’ve heard the name before, but mostly it was whispered backstage. Several people in the carnival have huffed and puffed about how hard Heathcliff is to deal with.
“Anyone else?” You ask.
Ruby shakes her head. “That’s the best place to start, I’m afraid...
2019-08-21 21:00:59 +0000 UTC
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Every third new moon, the Golden Guard comes down from the palace to one of the surrounding villages, and they ask for volunteers to come work for the King. They ask for young men and women who have come of age and who are hard workers, capable, and willing to do as the King commands. For those who go, their families are highly compensated. They are given large sacks full of gold, enough to last the family all their lives. For some, it is a necessary sacrifice in order to help save their fami...
2019-08-21 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Kuno leans in and presses his lips to your ear. “Remember that night in the bathroom?” He whispers. “You had come to spend the night after Halloween and Elva passed out watching Buffy reruns?”
Your cheeks grow hot from just his lips on your ear. “Uh huh,” you nod.
“Remember how the cold tile felt on your skin?” His deep voice rumbles through every nerve in your body.
“I remember your tongue more than anything.” You move closer to him, placing your hand on...
2019-08-20 21:00:01 +0000 UTC
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As I walk into the medical tent, I see the familiar sight of Lumineux slumped over and sleeping by his son’s crib. For the last month, Lulëzim, his son, has been healing after getting his wings fixed from a birth defect. I had made the new patch on his wings as well as helped Dr. Haytham attach them in the surgery. Lumineux has been attentive ever since, barely leaving Lulëzim’s side while he recuperates. It’s been a long process, but everything is coming to an end.
“It’s ti...
2019-08-20 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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It goes quiet after a while, and you don’t fall asleep until late into the night, or perhaps the early morning. When you wake, there is a gentle breeze on your face and the scent of fresh morning air wafting through the cabin. You sit up and rub your eyes, grumbling about the draft. You then see that the window is open, vines have grown in and are holding the window open while growing all along the walls and even onto the floor. You peek outside, only noticing the vines growing from somewhe...
2019-08-19 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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A heavy rain pours down and all I can see are the lights of the inn before me. I’m anxious to get out of the storm and find somewhere warm and dry to sit and rest for a spell. Taking my sleeping son I cover him with my coat to make sure he doesn’t wake or get wet as I go into the inn.
Inside, I see there are tables and chairs and people are lingering around, having coffee, a warm meal, and probably trying to escape the torrential rain like I am. A woman comes towards me as I stand d...
2019-08-19 14:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Ria smiles and shrugs. “It’s still nice to have someone like that, even if I am my own knight. You know? Someone who will make you feel safe, it’s comforting to have.”
You nod as your smile goes soft. “I get it. I’ve been going through a breakup, and trying to find something of comfort is hard to come by.”
“Oh gosh-” Ria sighs. “No wonder I thought you were cute. You’re a little bird with a broken wing. It figures.”
“It was a while ago,” you try t...
2019-08-18 21:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Ever since coming to the Hephaestus Academy, I’ve been sleeping so much better. It’s been nice not having to hide or be on the run. I’m able to relax a bit, take some classes at the academy, and try and work things out. I’ve made a lot of friends and the last few nights we‘ve hung out, eaten, and drank way too much.
I was waking from a dream, dreading that dull ache a hangover would bring on. Instead there was another slow, throbbing ache below, and something trying to s...
2019-08-18 19:01:00 +0000 UTC
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My heart rumbles around in my chest. “No, my king.” Giving someone a bath is a ritual of sorts, a showing of trust and felty to someone. It was not an act a king showed to someone who served him.
“There’s something I wish to give you,” he whispers to me. “Something that I feel is only fair after I bathe your beautiful body.” He presses his lips to my ear. “I soiled my temple, let me take care of it.”
I tremble as his words trail down my spine. “That is not what...
2019-08-17 21:00:01 +0000 UTC
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There’s so much happening in the Empire, it seems staggering, but every incident is just another building block. Each battle, each union, they all stack on top of one another, forming what will become the next era. Right now, my family is working hard to keep this new structure from falling, but Sanguis has been plucking bricks one by one as he goes along.
I know I am just the baby of the family, and usually, I get looked over or coddled because of this. I am the youngest, so th...
2019-08-17 19:01:00 +0000 UTC
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“They really went all out in choosing you.” He pets my cheek and brushes his fingers along my braids.
I duck my head down as my entire body shuts down from the shock. “I should brush your hair first,” I sputter out. “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”
“Is it?” Rajashi steps back. “If you need to calm down first, I would be happy to help you relax.” He splays out his massive palms to me. “I’m not as good as the people in the bath, but I can massa...
2019-08-16 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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In my dreams I see a black wolf. It’s coming towards me as vines tangle at its feet. I stand still, watching it and realizing it’s wounded and bleeding. I call out to the black wolf, asking it to come closer so I can help it. It stares at me, burrowing it’s eyes into mine and I am unsure if it is going to attack me or accept my offer. I always wake up before I find out what the wolf wants or even means.
I wake up this time in the carriage, it’s warm and cozy and I’ve laid my h...
2019-08-16 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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When I wake up, I rub the sleep from my eyes and Lumineux kisses my cheek. “Did you sleep well?” A seductive grin crosses his lips.
“I had no choice, some brat clung to me the entire time,” I chuckle. “You’re the one who needed a rest. How did you sleep?”
“I only had good dreams.” He props himself on his elbow. “Your goodnight kiss worked like a charm.”
My cheeks burn and I roll onto my side to look at him. “I’ve not been kissed like that in a long ...
2019-08-15 21:00:02 +0000 UTC
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I’ve barely slept since Sanguis tried attacking Ophirin. Actually, I’ve not really slept since my father, Armand, died last year. Dealing with Sanguis and his kind was hard for him, and it’s been extra hard for me. I have night terrors now, ever since witnessing the war, ever since I saw the devastation in Bastat. I feel hopeless in all this. I feel out of control. I try to keep a smile on my face, to crack jokes and make light, but I was terrified and I am lost.
I have come to Ra...
2019-08-15 19:00:01 +0000 UTC
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“I’m an apt seamstress,” Nyxie huffs. “And I have stitched many a wound. I’m a trained nurse and I’ve seen more war battles then you will ever know.” She points a finger in my face.
“A combat nurse,” I murmur. “Impressive.”
Nyxie nods. “This will be a cakewalk compared to the limbs I’ve reattached!” She then sighs. “But your son will be treated with the same care and delicacy as I’ve used on any soldier. He’ll be safe and have every need seen to, ...
2019-08-14 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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“I have such a headache,” Arlan bemoans as he rubs his temple.
Hisede smirks and does nothing to suppress her chuckling.
“I can cut your head off would that help?” I peer up at him from over my book. “Take care of that pain like that,” I snap my fingers.
Arlan grimaces and sticks his tongue out at me. “I can’t understand how you can read in the carriage! I feel nauseous just looking at the title.”
“Just catching up on some histories,” I murmur. ...
2019-08-14 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Eli glares up at me, he’s a student at the academy and has become a good friend as well. He had volunteered the extra room in his dorm to us when things were getting cramped in Jack’s place. He also got me into the art classes he took off campus, and I’ve really been enjoying my time. He’s some sort of lab experiment that was rescued by Hepheastus. He’s tall and thin with this glowing orange skin and fluorescent green eyes. His hair is always moving about as if suspended in water an...
2019-08-13 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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I have been conflicted for some time now and with barely anyone to talk to. With everything happening in the Empire these days, not to mention in my own backyard, all these turmoils have become a cauldron bubbling over. Right now, supporting Arlan has been my main goal. He has always been like a little brother to me and now that Arjun has placed so much on his shoulders, he’s struggling.
There are those who think my main asset is to marry, my council thinks so, the other houses ...
2019-08-13 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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I totally forgot to do the artist Spotlight last month but it was by CelestialKiri (on tumblr) and artcelestial (on twitter) It was their artwork of Mythri and Amit!
2019-08-12 21:09:55 +0000 UTC
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This month’s mail outs are in the mail! And this month’s featured monster is Morris! The artwork is by @chopshoppar! Go visit them on twitter and send them lots of love!
2019-08-12 21:06:37 +0000 UTC
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“You do realize, Giants aren’t your average men?” Albion shakes his head at him. “Sure, send three Orcs after each and see how that turns out. One Giant equals ten men. So lets say they have twenty? That’s two hundred men! Fifty? Five hundred. Gods forbid they have a thousand, we wouldn’t stand a chance.” Albion’s low glower makes the room rumble and Arlan take his seat.
I stand up and look over the room. “Isn’t there some other way we can communicate with the Scheer...
2019-08-12 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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It’s been a year since I moved, but I’m still unpacking boxes. Technically, where I’m at is an old hunting cabin that’s had a bathroom added on to it. It’s obvious how much the place was gutted for it to be habitable and it’s sometimes funny to go from the modern bathroom and back into the rustic cabin. I can’t complain though, the place is far enough for the main part of town I can live peacefully, but close enough I can still ride my bike to the farmer’s market every weekend...
2019-08-12 19:00:01 +0000 UTC
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That evening I am afraid I drink quite heavily. I am so relieved and I have not felt this light and joyous in far too long. I celebrate myself into a stupor and poor Hisede has to drag me back to my quarters.
“You’re so pretty Hisede,” I slur as she plops me into bed. “You got such big pretty muscles.”
“You sound like an idiot,” she grunts as she removes my boots. “You’re going to be sick come morning.”
“You have the best ass in all the Empi...
2019-08-11 21:01:00 +0000 UTC
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