Fowl’s hands pressed against his formal jacket for a third time.
“You going to be okay?” Max asked as he stood beside his friend. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re a tower climber and a successful one too.”
His friend looked up at him and shook his head.
“We’re meeting my parents and the King! The bloody King!”
Nodding, he looked at his own clothes, glad to have had them cleaned and stored afterward. He noticed each of the women was also ...
2025-02-26 14:10:01 +0000 UTC
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A tsk came from Erwini as she ran her tongue across her lips.
“You know what that is?”
“It has a lot of different names, but many call it a Fire-Forged Bar. I can tell by–”
“A FIRE-FORGED BAR!”
Both Max and Erwini looked at the dwarven warrior who stood there, arms slightly raised, both eyes wider than ever before and with his mouth hanging open.
“Yes, now please close that trap and let us talk.”
His friend's jaw began to move but Max saw ...
2025-02-25 14:00:33 +0000 UTC
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Three days flew by quickly, and the boss on the 5th floor was a three-headed undead variation of the twynhart. Even with Max killing it, no skills had been acquired.
Only two yellow crystals had been their reward for such a kill.
Now, on the seventh floor, Max smiled as everyone held out their hands, a yellow gem gently pinched between their fingers.
“Ready?”
“Gods, yes!” exclaimed Fowl.
“For once, our warrior is right,” Cordellia added, s...
2025-02-24 14:10:01 +0000 UTC
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So I’ve been trying to stay up to date on story comments. Been a little distracted on lifes end with wife and house flooding this week when a pipe burst due to the 15 degree temps.
We’re fine and doing ok. Got a few more weeks before everything hopefully returns to normal.
Book 7 - I know some like and don’t like the current pace. For those that don’t I’m sorry if it’s killing the story you love.
I promis...
2025-02-23 18:26:44 +0000 UTC
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The tower was surrounded by forty-foot-tall walls that appeared to be made from a single piece of stone. Max had spent some time inspecting the white stone, which seemed a stark contrast to the often darker-colored stones used for the roads, sidewalks, and buildings that weren’t painted.
Only two entrances, one from the north and one from the south allowed access, and each required passing through a checkpoint.
As they approached, neither of the guards did much beyon...
2025-02-23 14:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Max stood at one of the ledges that overlooked the city inside the mountain.
“It’s amazing,” he stated as Tanila stood beside him, nodding.
“Makes you wish you were a dwarf, doesn’t it?”
“No, then I’d be shorter,” Max replied, elbowing his friend. “Still, this is beyond what I had expected.”
Before them was a vast open area, all lit up like the sun, with a clouded section hidden and not in the center of the five-mile-wide area.
“That’s w...
2025-02-22 14:10:01 +0000 UTC
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“We’ve been expecting you,” Erwini declared as she greeted the five of them. “Everett sent a message and told me to be prepared. Beyond that, he just laughed.”
Fowl and Batrire started to chuckle while Max moved to shake the red-headed dwarven leader of the Golden Axe faction in Nalgrun.
“We’ll try to behave for you. Still, we appreciate you giving us a place to stay while we’re in town.”
“Bah,” she said with a huff. “Your team has everyon...
2025-02-21 14:00:06 +0000 UTC
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I appreciate the prayers. Wife is doing good. In some pain (which is to be expected with neck surgery).
Nerve is already showing signs of improvement and her hand which was impacted by the problem is already a little stronger. Downside is nerve is 'firing' which is sending pain radiating the length of the arm but that should eventually stop after a while.
Update on UL1 -
I know some of you are like 'arggg slice of life'
Trust me - I'm an action writer an...
2025-02-20 16:37:26 +0000 UTC
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The three days it took to get to the capital were spent in fun conversations as well as games.
Max quickly learned that Tanila could defeat most of them in strategy games unless Bob helped him cheat.
Cordellia was talented at using her imagination and creating stories to entertain, while Fowl simply passed gas that could almost kill someone.
As Nalgrun began to come into view, Max got his first real look at the famed dwarven capital.
Giant mountains that se...
2025-02-20 14:00:04 +0000 UTC
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“How is he doing?” Tanila asked as Max appeared in the room she was sitting in.
“You didn’t even flinch?”
“I knew you were going to return in a few and besides, who else would use a purple portal to magically show up in a random tavern in a random town in the dwarf kingdom?”
Nodding, he moved to where she was sitting, and leaned over giving her a kiss on her head.
“Rakonath has grown… like doubled in size. All in just two weeks. Aerthen sa...
2025-02-19 14:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Having secured a room at the tavern run by the local ‘humans’ as Fowl and all the dwarves called them, Max left Tanila in the room to find a local rancher. He needed to find some cows and keep a promise he had made.
***
I was wondering when you would return.
Max scratched Rakonath’s head, grinning like a fool, needing both hands to accomplish the desired job.
“You’ve grown… so much.”
It is the–
2025-02-18 14:00:05 +0000 UTC
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“Those four are going to be up all night,” Tanila informed Max as she snuggled down into his armpit. “I can’t remember seeing Fowl ever smiling that much in a single day.”
“You know what would be better?”
“What?”
“A longer bed,” Max replied. “My feet are touching the end and I know yours would hang off if your leg weren’t draped over mine.”
“Is that a complaint?” she asked.
“Oh no, I’m just saying one doesn’t think about the ...
2025-02-17 14:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Hey all - its monday and today is the day my wife has neck surgery.
I'll be 'around' but kind of not as the next few days are going to be potentially intense. If something messes up on the site - please feel free to ping me but I double checked (all chapters should go out per normal unless patreon does something weird).
Appreciate you all and the prayers and will check in later!
2025-02-17 13:49:29 +0000 UTC
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The forge they came to wasn’t like any Max had seen or visited before.
He had grown accustomed to open blacksmith areas like the one in Windsor Wheel. Many of the shops and forges in his hometown were like that, allowing the natural wind to sweep through the workspace.
Even in Peltagow, Zach’s weapon crafting place had been somewhat open to the elements.
Only inside the Faction’s crafting area had he witnessed the power of magical exhaust systems an...
2025-02-16 14:00:03 +0000 UTC
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A commotion from the door's entrance to the ale house ended as a dwarf barged through, pushing Ruggula out of the way as she tried to hold back the man.
Max was already on his feet, having left the booth as his sonar picked up the name being shouted over and over.
“FOWL! FOWL HAMMERFALL!”
When the brown-haired dwarf came inside, he looked almost like a copy of their dwarven warrior, except with arms that were a few inches larger and covered in small burn marks. ...
2025-02-15 14:00:08 +0000 UTC
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“There I was, surrounded by almost twenty red skeletons, each taller than Jataic, while the boss, who stood over twenty feet tall, came at me, sword in its bony hand, trying to hack my arms off.”
Fowl rolled across the stone table, knocking off a few mugs, but stood up, one arm held upward, his shield suddenly appearing as he rose.
“With a twist of my hips, I sent the sword to the side, feeling the metal grind against mine, swinging my hammer and causing its armor to crack....
2025-02-14 14:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Came here to write and attend the Brandon Sanderson Thursday night lectures.
Got here early and found a good seat.
Chatting with others.
TA walks in….
Class canceled 😩😩
On a side note - 50k words written in the 5 days I have been here! Book 8 is done! (Need to do some touchups but its done!)!
Book 9…. Omg I’m so excited
2025-02-14 02:49:30 +0000 UTC
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Max had been near a few dwarf ale and beer houses in Peltagow, but he had never actually stepped foot in one. The noise inside made him wonder just how many armies must be inside.
“It’s so loud,” he moaned at first, his sonar skill taking the brunt of dozens of conversations all being had at the same time, each person almost yelling to be heard over the din. “How many are in there?”
“Maybe a hundred,” Batrire shouted, seeing him wince for a moment. “It’s a slow d...
2025-02-13 14:00:06 +0000 UTC
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“You’ve been gone a while. You two have missed out on a lot since that fateful day.”
Max watched as the three dwarves walked ahead of Tanila, Cordellia and himself, each of them having spent some time already discussing the ongoing of the city.
“Nomgrom has been busy since the last brew festival and your father won another trophy to put on his wall.”
“How many does that make? Seventeen?” Fowl asked.
“Eighteen,” Batrire replied. “He’ll be excited a...
2025-02-12 14:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Max stared in awe as the structural quality of each of the buildings inside Nomgrom was easily better than the ones he was used to back in Peltagow or Rumstant.
“I knew dwarves were good with stone, but is there a magical skill I’m not aware of that allows them to shape it like this?”
Batrire smiled and nodded, leading the group, tugging Fowl slightly as she pointed with her other hand.
“That building is one of the main breadmakers from the olden days. If I told you ...
2025-02-11 14:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Wew - its a great week so far.
I’m actually in Utah on a writing trip. Wife sent me away for a week so i could focus on writing. Did 10,000+ words yesteday and I’ve got 2 chapters done so far this morning. Really trying to get some serious words in so I can give a little love to my other stories as well.
Even better news - Thursday I get to attend Brandon Sanderson’s lectures he does. I sent an email asking of I could join and was given permission! Super excite...
2025-02-10 17:23:13 +0000 UTC
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After Merla hugged Batrire, Max coughed to get the older elf’s attention.
“Is he always so serious?” the healer teased as she frowned at him.
“Yes, but I can’t complain. Thank you again for healing me.”
She winked at Batrire and smiled.
“It’s my job but still I’m glad I could make it in time. You four gave me a little excitement in my usually dull life.”
A few chuckles came from Fowl and Tanila as Cordellia kept her distance.
“Our Fact...
2025-02-10 14:00:12 +0000 UTC
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“Be safe Max Hoste,” Kathleen said as she bowed outside the door that would lead back to the main part of the temple. “I have sent a few letters to stop any who might be foolish enough still looking for you.”
“I appreciate that. Too many have died and I would prefer to keep that number to a minimum.”
She bowed slightly and then pushed on the door, the sound of the area beyond immediately flooding the hallway they were in.
“Until next time.”
Max grinned ...
2025-02-09 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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He is coming.
Max’s eyes opened as he stood, the sensation of the room changing slightly.
Power flowed within the crystal lines on the floor and a pulsing purple light flashed half a dozen times.
Then it stopped and a purple portal formed from floor to ceiling.
From the other side, Phaius strode through, his eyes locked on Max the moment he could see him.
“I wondered… the summon seemed out of place and yet I hoped. Well done Max...
2025-02-08 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Max walked around the room they were in, studying the crystal lines that ran along the floor.
These are like the ones in the Adventurer Hall. Does that mean these crystals are far more special than I initially thought?
Yes. Like… when you made that weapon for Dexic and how you had to control the energy orb's power, making paths for the magic or whatever you wish to call it travel through, this crystal has a connection within the system.
...
2025-02-07 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 10 - I accept your challenge.
“Thrash car tilapia... door... vacuum!” I screamed with all the force my lungs could muster. I expected a reaction from the devil before me—anger, bloodlust, or maybe amusement—but instead, he just stared at me, his eyes partially narrowed, his face unreadable.
“By the dragons, what did you just say?” the devil finally asked, spreading his arms in bewilderment. “Did you understand any of that?” He looked to his right and left, ...
2025-02-06 14:09:12 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 7 - You owe me.
Before I could say anything, Max shoved my arm away and strode toward the devil. His steps were quick and spaced. I followed him closely, quickening my pace when I saw his warrior’s blade materialize in his hand.
“Wait!” I called, grabbing his arm and making him spin on his heels to face me.
Max’s teeth were gritted, and his blue eyes were wide.
“What?” His voice, heavy with his European accent, to...
2025-02-06 14:08:42 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 4 - Why?
I stared at the message with a good deal of apprehension. The system's intention was to eliminate 80% of the competitors immedietly. The sheer brutality of it made me hold my breath for a couple of seconds. Besides, the system seemed to also incentivize competition between players.
Players? Is that what I'm gonna call myself now? Am I already so deep into this? The words lingered in my head as I read the message repeatedly.
...
2025-02-06 14:08:20 +0000 UTC
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I have a new author I've been trying to help with the LitRPG side of things. Systems / tension / etc. So his story is going live on the 10th of this month and I wanted to try and get him some last minute feedback before it does.
I'll post 4 of these (each with 3 chapters) and if you're willing to comment on what you liked or didn't for each one I'd appreciate it as I pass that on to him.
Currently working/coaching a few different authors who are trying to understand the LitR...
2025-02-06 14:07:42 +0000 UTC
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“Sir! I must protest! You cannot do that here!”
Max shook his head and didn’t pull back the healing potion he was offering the older woman whose face was stained with tears.
“Are you saying that Phaius couldn’t have instructed me to come here and help his people?”
The woman’s cheeks turned red, and her face matched the color of her hair. Everyone nearby focused on her, not the man who had been giving out gold and potions.
“No! I mean yes! I–”
...
2025-02-06 14:00:09 +0000 UTC
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