alwaysrollsaone

A Soldier's Life - 381 - Relieving Some Frustration (edited 4-26-25 +300 words)

Chapter 381: Relieving Some Frustration

My steps echoed in the stairwell as I descended to the common room. There were maybe a dozen patrons in the inn, but most seemed amused by the entertainment this late. The proprietor and the tribal man's arguments grew louder and louder. Half-dressed, Anika rushed down the stairs to join me, which was good because I needed a translator if they did not speak Elvish.

I turned my head to address Anika. “What is he asking?” 

I alr...

Soldier 255 and 256 moved from Seraphim to Book 5 Collection

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1393506

This week's schedule:

• 4/27 (Sun) OFF (think this is an off week for Town Builder and I will check to confirm)

• 4/26 (Sat) Soldier Seraphim 384

• 4/25 (Fri) Soldier Seraphim 383 (SOLDIER BOOK 4: The Hounds hits Amazon!!)

• 4/24 (Thur) Soldier Seraphim 382

• 4/23 (Wed) Wor...

  2025-04-22 00:19:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Town Builder - 97 - Flip The Script

Chapter 97: Flip The Script

All we needed now was an actual fleet to use the secret base. As the marines spawned one each day, they could defend the secret base without drawing suspicion. We needed to complete our agreement with Eternal Legacy before assembling our steam-powered skyship. I also needed to get the heavy weapons mounted around the illusionary entrance as marines became available to crew them. Adding four heavy, repeating crossbows to Golden Storm’s purchase list was easy...

A Soldier's Life - 380 - (minor update 4-19-25 +500 words)

Chapter 380:

I was awake well before morning. I was concerned for both Evie and Lexi: Lexi for being taken advantage of, and Evie for possibly being killed for what she might become. Both girls had endured a lot of hardship and violence since coming to Desia, yet they still retained their innocence. I left the terrible inn, having healed a number of flea bites during the night. I had eventually used a light dusting of myconid powder to fumigate my room. I was certain the others had diff...

World Sphere - 44 - Qualifiers

Chapter 44: Qualifiers

Things do not return to normalcy after the Sadian attack. The farm became fairly quiet without Cilia and Lena. In fact, Wynna moved to Hen’s Hollow to stay with her daughter Ennet. Callem left every morning to go to Hen’s Hollow to supervise the rebuilding of the old barracks that were used as the first-year academy for those kids coming of age, their 17th birthday. 

I suspected I was funding a portion of the reconstruction as Callem had a...

A Soldier's Life - 379 - The Two Yutes (this is homage to My Cousin Vinny) (edited 5-1-25 to explain Lexi's resistence)

Chapter 379: The Two Yutes

Castile managed to bring Lexi to me without Karina or Anika in tow. Karina had drunk some ale and was passed out, while Anika was talking with Selene, expanding her vocabulary. If they wanted to know their attributes, we could do so in the future. For now, Castile was focused on confirming Lexi’s healing affinity. Since Castile couldn’t talk to her, it was up to me to explain.

Lexi had a big smile and a full belly. “Eryk, is it time for Evie to com...

World Sphere - 216 - Secrets of the Goblin Vault

Chapter 216: Secrets Of The Goblin Vault

The expedition to the Goblin Vault took three days to pull together. I worked on the Bacon and Eggs, getting the skiffs ready and artificing six swivel aether cannons. I also attended classes and weapons training at the Dungeon Academy. Erin was shocked to see me back.

“Where have you been, Tarrant? Everyone thought you got kicked out.” Erin whispered to me in my ear low enough that Instructor Abraham couldn’t hear....

General Announcement!

Soldier Book 4 editing is done! The ebook, softcover and hardcover will be on Amazon on the 25th of April. I could publish it today but I'm trying to get it tied closer to the audiobook release. The audiobook will be finished on the 21st and takes 10 days for ACX to approve, so expect it to be available on May 2nd or so. Those of you in the Seraphim tier who made the free audiobook list will get the code when I have them.

With Soldier Book 4 done, the next book up is World Sphere 2. It ...

A Soldier's Life - 378 - (taking chapter title suggestions)

Chapter 378: 

The metallic smell of death hung in the air. I told Lesna to gather the guild medallions from the bodies while I collected their essence. Their horses had scattered, so Benito and Sylph had gone to collect them. Lexi was healing Helena under Castile's watchful gaze.

I knelt over the mages first. The elf woman reminded me of Raelia, so I closed her shocked eyes before using the collector on her. The apex fire essence that formed was not unexpected. She had demons...

A Soldier's Life - 377 - Guild Hunters (edited 4-15-25 +200 words)

Chapter 377: Guild Hunters

“They cooked the stag beetle with fire magic,” Castile announced unceremoniously. “I am guessing at least four mages in the group—one of their scouts was severely injured by the beetle, but I believe one of the mages is a healer.” She paused. “Never mind, he bled out before they could heal him. They are arguing, but I am too far away to overhear.”

Castile had a limited range on her spell. It helped that they were in the open on a clear...

A Soldiers Life 253 and 254 moved to book 5 collection

Moving them over today instead of tomorrow because I get absent-minded on Mondays

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1393506

A Soldier's Life - 376 - Unearthed Secrets

Chapter 376: Unearthed Secrets

The obfuscation stone got warm intermittently as we moved through the woodlands. It occurred to me the stone may also be a beacon. If a mage could not look in a specific area, they knew it was an area of interest. The stone should have acted as a blind spot for any clairvoyance spell. But they found our camp when I had ranged away from it, and they most likely had a clear trail to follow.

If we could push hard enough, we might be able to se...

Town Builder - 96 - State of Affairs

Just back from my 3 days in Maine/New Hampshire and lots of driving. This is last weeks Town Builder that I just ran through Grammarly. I still owe one Town Builder and 2 Seraphim Soldiers for this week that ends tomorrow.

Chapter 96: State Of Affairs

The streets of Malcum were lively, and the NPCs acted like their lives had not just been threatened two days ago. The successful defense gave a temporary moral boost, but my NPC morale was already at its maximum...

World Sphere - 215

Chapter 215: 

The nine skyships of the Bruton fleet were mostly mid-sized warships. The Wasp spotters in our fleet identified them over the echo stones as we closed the distance. 

“Three Klithye Eels.”

“The scout coming in from above is an old Kratoire Skirmisher.”

“The big boy in the center is a Titorgon Mining Platform that they just added some cannons to.”

“The other four are Eslam Escorts.”

I was sorting out the implicatio...

A Soldier's Life - 375 - Premonition (minor edit 4-13-25 +250 words)

Chapter 375: Premonition

I allowed Lexi to heal Anika, as she was slightly bow-legged from the long ride. Then, I followed Anika to an area mostly free of rocks. I couldn’t tell if this challenge was an attempt to prove that she was useful, or if she just wanted to see how good I was. Her face was emotionless, but held curiosity in her eyes. I tossed her a roll of tacky cloth from one of my belt pouches. I took a second and wrapped magebane. I had chosen magebane because it was alread...

A Soldier's Life - 374 - Stop Horsing Around (edited 4-8-25 +300 words)

Chapter 374: Stop Horsing Around

The camp at the top of the hill was far too loud for my liking as I hurried toward the thundering hooves. At least no beacon of light shone behind me. I had been somewhat concerned that Lexi might have panicked and used her finger light when she was awoken. The centaurs' path was diagonal to our camp, but they were going to cross the path we took to approach the hill. You couldn’t conceal the trail of seven horses in muddy terrain. Just as that thought...

A Soldier's Life - 373 - Into the Woods (minor edits 4-7-25 +200 words)

Chapter 373: Into The Woods

My companions formed a line atop their mounts a safe distance away. Blaze looked at me, and I gave him the hand sign that everything was okay. I could see the women from Earth were still very tense and were now outnumbered. Karina turned to me, “You travel with a lot of women. And why do you have a child with you?”

I looked at my companions. Ginger was dancing eagerly to rejoin me, her reins attached to Blaze’s mount. Blaze and Benito flanked the ...

Soldier Seraphim Tier POV poll

For those new to this tier, POV polls do affect the story - rounding out characters - pushing plots in certain directions. There may be some foreshadowing here in the options but maybe not - depends on your vote!

You may want to wait on casting your ballot on this one of change it later after the last 12-15 chapters of book 6 are done. Please note the epilogue of Book 6 is a POV for Renna.

Soldier 251 and 252 moved to book 5 collection

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1393506

Please note that Book 5 has not been edited for plot or content yet. As I go through each chapter, I read all the comments, so please don't hesitate to comment. The rewrite of Book 5 is probably going to focus on Eryk's motivations and smooth out some scenes that people did not like. I don't want to post spoilers here, but just remember you are reading the draft ...

Town Builder - 95 - Defensive Mindset

Chapter 95: Defensive Mindset

It turned out the admins had not been trying to screw me. As part of the update, we quickly learned that to make the game more challenging, cities and towns with high populations of players received greater threats from the Incursion portals.

The updates had overestimated the player’s flexibility in dealing with challenges. Mad Dog was in the forums, “Shit on a biscuit, mate. Half the battles are still going on, and two major cities have fallen!�...

A Soldier's Life - 372 - My Name is Eryk (minor edit on 4-7-25)

Chapter 272: My Name Is Eryk

Even with the steady rain, I kept my distance from the group. The women switched watches roughly halfway through the night, with the sword woman standing but using the tree for support as she appeared weak and fatigued from a distance. One of the young girls was roused and appeared to cast a spell or spell form on the swordswoman. She looked too young to have imprinted a spell form or learned actual spells.

The auburn-haired girl quickly fell back asle...

A Soldier's Life - 371 - The Otherworlders (edit 5-10-25 +3300 words, still might add more)

this chapter introduces the otherworlders from Earth and their tribulations before meeting Eryk. This is still a draft as I try to fill in the holes from later in the book

Chapter 371: The Otherworlders

The two girls strained to look out the window of the plane as it took off. Both were excited as this was their first time on a plane, even though the flight was going to be less than thirty minutes.

Evie loosened her seatbelt so she could get closer ...

World Sphere - 214 -

Chapter 214: 

In the morning, I spoke with Pakkam and, at his insistence, and conducted a walk-through of the Night Wraith to see its readiness. The crew was almost entirely from my household Wolfsguard. That thought was strange in itself—household guard. Although the Wolfsguard in my employ were well-paid and equipped, they were essentially a private martial force I controlled.

Even the Night Wraith was a peculiarity. Initially, having...

A Soldier's Life - 370 - Aether Shaper

Chapter 370: Aether Shaper

We reached the expanse between the two rivers by mid-morning. The gap between the rivers spanned over twelve miles, and the ground was churned and barren from the constant passing of herds. It was the observant Blaze who discovered the footprints. I knelt on the ground, and a combination of earth speak and my tracking skills revealed that there were two adults and two children. One of the adults maintained long, purposeful strides, while the other three had sh...

A Soldiers Life - 369 - Closing In

Chapter 369: Closing In

As we rode, I realized the attack had been the fault of my leadership, mostly because of where we had decided to camp. This river was the only water source in the plains, so naturally, the herds would stay close to it. That meant the predators would not be far away either. I should have anticipated nocturnal predators would find our campsite a mile from the river.

Although no one had died, I felt the need to do better. I moved our path to parallel the river...

Soldier 249 and 250 moved to book 5 collection

https://www.patreon.com/collection/1393506

I have a Soldier Seraphim Chapter coming tonight - 369

I still have a Town Builder (95) that is at 1400 words from last week that I am working on but the Soldier Seraphim will be published first tonight.

I added two more "Final Edit" Chapters to Book 4 today. Some minor changes, but nothing huge. There was a final message from Zyna through th...

World Sphere - 213 - The Rising Tide Raises All Ships

I landed the Maelstrom softly on the academy tower, disembarking with the cats. Bleiz was off to check on Freya, so I was alone this morning. I took a long moment to admire the view from the tallest structure in this part of the city. The foundations for some of the academy apartments were being laid ahead of schedule. There was also a lot of other construction going on throughout the city. The avian race that had once ruled the floating island had built magnificent tall wh...

A Soldier's Life - 368 - Blood Harvest (minor edit 3-29-25 +200 words)

Chapter 368: Blood Harvest

Helena was off collecting two of the horses that had broken free in fright. But everyone looked alive and healthy as the chimera primarily focused on me.

“How are you still alive?” Lesna’s voice echoed many people’s thoughts.

Benito chuckled as he sat up. “Told you he would kill it.”

Blaze snapped at him, “Stop trying to bet on Eryk’s survival in the middle of a fight!” He softened, grinning at me. “At least do it before t...

A Soldier's Life - 367 - Chimera (pic attachment) (edited 3-28-25 +150 words)

Chapter 367: Chimera

Waking instantly, I was on my feet. I must have woken at the first sign of danger. Benito was yelling over the thundering roar, “Stampede!”

Blaze was yelling to gain control of the horses so they wouldn’t bolt. Lesna raised her hand, and a bolt of light shot into the air, illuminating the savannah. It was not a bad idea since she wouldn't be able to give everyone night vision quickly, but it also served as a beacon. My mind quickly processed that there h...

A Soldier's Life - 366 - Hot Pursuit

Chapter 366: 

As we collected Selene, Helena, and Sylph’s horses, Benito and Lesna chatted away. I was not sure where Lesna learned Telhian, but she appeared quite fluent. I just hoped she didn’t trick Benito out of all his coins. As we left the city gates, Castile rode next to me at the back of our procession heading north.

“Where are we headed?” She asked softly. I palmed the compass, activated it, and then returned it to my belt. I checked the sun and made an estim...