puddles4263

Moving Forward

I'll start by saying that this isn't a post that I'm not sticking to my November schedule. I have three chapters written, and I believe I owe you four. Idk if I'll get the fourth today, but I'll make it up.

The goal of this post is to be candid about my future plans and goals.

So I didn't state this expressly, but I've been out in LA for Patrecon, which is a convention hosted by Patreon for creators to talk to each other and about the platform. Wow. It's been life changing, and hopefully...

Chapter 698

I'll probably have a few hours before my second writing session, so in my comments, do we want to see Rand's first fight next  or finish Naffur's little jaunt? (For reference, I think Naffur is just two more chapters and he will be done for a while).

P.S.: You have no idea how many paragraphs of deep exposition about the post-System economy I deleted, hahaha. It's an interesting diversion, but not one that would be exciting to most people.

2018-11-01 21:33:40 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 697

Traveled yesterday, I'll be in California for a few days. Goal is to get four chapters out today, so here are the first two.

Also, due to time zone stuff, posting schedule might be weird...

NANOWRIMO MODE ENGAGGGGGGEEEEEE

“It was an accident,” The man coughed.

Naffur looked at the man with disbelief.

“An accident,” The woman said icily. In the darkness, her eyes flashed different colors: one blue and one ...

Chapter 696

With a deep breath, Naffur brought his focus back. Although his hands were trembling, he picked up the letters.

Just take steps forwards. The results will come with practice.

There was note that gave Naffur some encouragement. After the Lottery, Naffur had access to a new Path: the Path of the Order Ducis I. It had even been a measly 50 PP. In the intervening four weeks since it had happened, Naffur had even been able to finish it. But the rewards he got were...

Chapter 695

“It won’t be a big thing, but my new employer is throwing a party for me before I return with him to Donnyton,” Mareen said excitedly. People flowed past them on the sidewalks, but Naffur barely noticed him. His breathing was short and his skin was tingling as he stared at the purple invitation Mareen was offering him. “It will be at the Eastern Gardens, in one of those cute little gazebo things. It’s close enough to my birthday that my family will be there too. Because...

Chapter 694

Randidly woke to the omnipresent feeling of danger. It felt like the world was crashing down around him. The pounding of his own heart in his ears did nothing to distract from the impending doom.

Sharpening his senses, Randidly immediately sensed the source: a figure was floating above Hastam. His heart dropped out of his stomach. Someone was here? And they were going to-

A searing pain in his chest silenced him, and Randidly hissed in annoyance. It was on something o...

Chapter 693

As they passed each other, the spears tapped against one another with surprising gentleness. It was only a spar, so neither Helen nor Azriel were really giving their all to win. It was more a way to explore each other’s capabilities.

Besides, sparring with lowered intensity was necessary. Generally, Helen didn’t have a problem controlling her bread and butter Skill she had earned on the front lines, but since hearing she would face Randidly… it had become increasingly...

Status

Apologies for the no notice, I effectively took this weekend off to celebrate Halloween and have family time.

Because starting Monday, full NaNoWriMo gear. Goal is two a day, but overall looking to break 50 chapters in November.

I did read your comments on whether to spend some more time on the Soulskill, and it seemed cautiously positive. So I'll have another mini-arc in there, but keep it rather simple.

On we go!

P.S.: remember when I thought I could finish in 80...

Chapter 692

Just the one tonight. I thought this one was important, and I can't decide how I want some other things to be paced. So I'll ask you: Keep the plot moving or show more of Lucretia and Alta? Keep in mind that we will have some Naffur chapters coming up.

Slightly disappointed with Shal's response, Randidly returned to his room in the Hall of Stances. On his way back to his room, he asked one of the young initiates of the hall how busy the main part of the ...

Chapter 691

As Shal charged forward, Versault raised his other hand. Once more, those woven reeds filled Shal’s every sense. It seemed like he could smell the dirt and running water. There was the soft rustle of wind amongst them.

Grinning, Shal stepped to the side. If nothing else, he knew that testing that image was not an easy thing. Better to start with more probing strikes. His spear lashed out towards Versault’s foot.

The man clicked his tongue and the bare palm turned ...

Chapter 690

Randidly blinked. “... you think the Spearsource didn’t show up until the Spearman left.”

Trentyon was watching Randidly with a half smile, but when the other man spoke Trentyon scowled. “Well, I suppose that is a rather inelegant way of saying it, but I suppose I couldn’t call such a sentence inaccurate.”

Considering that Randidly believed the Spearsource was probably a manifestation was somehow a personification of the images of spear use, it made sense ...

Chapter 689

Only one today. This chapter and the next one just are pretty critical, so I want to make sure I didn't make any dumb mistakes in the histories.

Randidly’s eyes glazed over at the level of detail his sudden “guide” went into. The man had swiftly gathered over thirty scrolls and brought them back to his desk and subjected Randidly to one of the most headache-inducing presentations in his life. It was stress inducing how closely they resembled colleg...

Chapter 688

As the White Martyr stood, Lucretia’s eyes narrowed. Based on their movements, these four were powerful, but not on the class of the Earth Golem she had faced at the Minister’s residence all those years ago. These were the distraction, while the closer would come in later.

Unfortunately, one of the foolish two that were attacking the surrounding people was making a beeline for Lucretia and Alta. Time seemed to slow.

With a below, the White Martyr leapt forward to ...

Chapter 687

In the wake of the death’s of Alta’s father and brother, Lucretia had not been idle. While Alta slowly came to terms with her new shift in lifestyle, Lucretia had already begun gathering information. For all that these stranger who brought the Soulless had caused the pale flower to bloom in Alta’s chest, Lucretia was extremely wary that they wouldn’t let the young daughter of the Bounty line continue to live.

Despite Lucretia’s growing martial prowess and hundreds of yea...

Chapter 686

“Shit,” Alta announced to the room as she threw her hands up to the sky. The two assistants that worked part-time in the workshop kept their eyes on their own work as the circuitry in front of Alta fizzled in submission as connectors gave out.

Lucretia smiled helplessly as Alta obviously got annoyed no one asked her what was going on. A warm feeling filled Lucretia’s heart as she watched the younger woman turn around and glare at the ceiling, waiting for someone to inquire a...

Chapter 685

Only one tonight. Want to give a little extra time to the historical account of the Spearman.

Randidly winced and raised his hand to his chest as he walked through the illuminated streets of Hastam. Was it heartburn? To think that since he gave the recipe to Claptrap all that time ago, burgers would already become this ubiquitous…

Either way, the pain quickly passed, so Randidly paid it no mind. It did, however, remind him of Claptrap. His face fell int...

Chapter 684

Sometimes I look at the chapter numbers and shake my head. They don't even mean anything anymore. 

“Who do you think will win?” Helen asked as she slowly moved through her warm-up routine.

Azriel didn’t even blink as she replied. “Randidly.”

Inwardly, Helen was thankful for Azriel spending time with her over the past few days. Knowing she would need to fight Randidly, and one of them would lose in the tournament… It pissed her the f...

Chapter 683

“This is a serious matter. Are you certain?” Skarch asked him for the fourth time.

Randidly did his best not to roll his eyes. Although he understood the connection that Skarch had to her spear, this was getting ridiculous. “Yes, I am sure. Based on my understanding of your spear, this should be an exceptionally simple procedure. In addition, you now have your own Soulstone from the tournament; with it, you will be able to continue using your spear’s abilities indefinitely...

Chapter 682

These chapters are fun to write. Back to Rand for a few, then we will get the next leg of Lucretia's story.

The carriage driver had stopped and was staring down the track with a pale face when Lucretia carried Alta back. When he saw Lucretia’s state of dress, he blushed further. “Miss, the mounts, they can smell-”

“I know.” Lucretia cut him off with a sharp glance. Being reborn into the body of a attractive young woman was a complicated experien...

Chapter 681

When Alta hopped off her mount she stumbled, but for a 10-year-old she was surprisingly balanced. Although it certainly looked like she would faceplant into the dirt track, a mad pinwheeling of her arms managed to stabilize herself.

Lucretia’s mouth twitched. For all the girl’s faults, fearfulness was not one of them. 

Alta scampered across the dirt track to the edge of the sunflower field, her eyes wide. Lucretia reigned in her mount and spared a glance for the servant followin...

Chapter 680

 Her new body wasn’t ideal, Lucretia reflected was she was led down the labyrinthine halls below Taft’s Assembly of Minister’s. The capital of the Spriggit empire might be described in many ways, but simple was not one of them.

She was currently five and was following quietly behind one of the Under-ministers, the almost faceless people that performed the bureaucratic tasks of the Assembly. Unlike the ministers themselves, they were not elected and therefore spent quite a long time ...

Chapter 679

Only two today on the rewrite. Mondays are harder than Sundays. But I'm super enthused about these next few chapters.

Randidly sat in the room provided for him by the Hall of Stances, meditating. Unlike most of his peers, he did not choose this time to excitedly enter into the Hall of Stances itself. Not only was the inner sanctum portion barred to him, but there were also quite a few fellow competitors who would be using it at the moment. It would not be the p...

Status

Bah, my editor pointed out that I made a pretty big mistake in the chapters I was going to post today >.<. I'll need to rewrite today's chapters, and they will come out tomorrow instead. Baaaaaahhhhh.

Oh, in other news, finally heard back from an artist about making some Randidly swag. So I'll hopefully have that for November. Anything specific you guys in interested in seeing? Let me know in the comments.

Chapter 678

A rare tip of the cap to the reaction chapter. Slightly amusing to write, but I don't expect such things very often. 

Silo was torn.

He partially was horrified at the needless and excessive violence he had engaged in. Although the guard was an asshole, that was no reason to strike him. The other part of him glorified in it. There was a simple satisfaction in being physically superior to someone else. It was a simple pleasure like nothing else Silo ha...