sovereign_of_wrath

Chapter 92: City in Flames

The earthquake rocked the old warehouse, loose shingles raining down off the roof outside to crash and shatter on the damp boardwalk. Junk rained off decrepit tables and shelves, mixing with the trash on the floor. Lorton was thrown off balance and he watched Aretan and the man he was fighting both stumble. The Navanaean man grimaced, as his opponent’s blade dug into his shoulder. The spry and nimble Nelys, unperturbed by whatever massive problem has just appeared elsewhere, drove their bla...

Chapter 91: The Raid pt. 2

Like an angel of wrath, Seyari tore into the room, steps bolstered by her wind magic. Beams of holy light fired from her hands, burning holes through the immense limbs where they struck.

An ear-shattering screech tore through the room and back into the halls. Reflexively, I put two hands to my head. Seyari didn’t so much as stumble, circling the opening, trying to burn away the limbs as more and less humanoid-looking ones began to shove through. The scream split into a keening wail of...

December Side Story Suggestions & Last Month PDF

Hi all!

I'm opening side story suggestions for this month! You can reply here or in the discord, and I'll get a poll up with the new ideas plus the old ideas that received votes in about a week. I'm considering taking a month hiatus from side stories in January (if that's okay) to get some more time for the main story itself and a second project I am working on that seems to finally be taking shape. I might be able to do everything--we'll see.

I also want to apologize for being a ...

Chapter 90 The Raid pt. 1

“Hey, Renna?” Taava whispered.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks again for, well, ya know.” The former assassin looked down at her feet. Clad all in black, the demure pose she’d adopted looked somehow wrong. “I really meant all the stuff I said, I just couldn’t…”

I smiled softly. “I already forgave you Taava; it’s alright.”

She looked up at me and I rubbed her hair before she could say anything else. She recoiled, but didn’t move completely away.

“I...

November 2022 Side Story: Pine Crush

I ran through the rain, sneakers pounding on the tree-lined gravel drive that led up to my new school. Late on my first day! I swore and kept running, swiping my long hair out of my face with a hand, only for another few damp strands to find their way into my mouth. I spat and pulled at them without slowing down. I must have looked a mess.

Way to make a first impression, Zarenna, I thought glumly.

Six new schools in as many years. At least this would be the last one, give...

Chapter 89: Before the Storm

The rest of the week passed in a blur. Fira, Rodrik, Lorton, and the others were informed of the potential demonic threat. Rodrik was furious at the possibility, Fira seemed anxious, and Lorton somehow looked even more tired. Regardless, all of them followed up with our theory, and while they found the number of missing to be higher in Mudrat territory, we never got a clear confirmation of the cause. Naturally, this made all of us even more worried.

Also, during this time, word...

Chapter 88: Some Calm

No one takes baths during the middle of the day. Well, fewer people do so than at night—especially at a merc company where people were out and about. Using that knowledge, I booked our hall’s bath for the whole middle of the day today. The last few days had seen Taava get antsy and me get anxious. Seyari was the worst, however; being “in reserve” just didn’t sit right with her. We all understood how it made sense for us to lay low for now, but that knowledge really didn’t...

Chapter 87: Making a Plan

I took my seat again, sitting sideways so my tail would have room to curl around by my feet. The floor was pleasantly cold and I focused on the feeling to calm myself down. The atmosphere in the room had calmed significantly, though tension was still obvious in everyone’s postures. Though, I had to admit, the reasons were likely different for my friends and those who weren’t close to the big red demon sitting quietly at attention.

Rodrik coughed to clear his throat then started. “...

Chapter 86: Poking the Bear

The tension of everyone knowing I was a demon dissipated slightly over the trip. Paula kept away from me, but I caught her sneaking glances and I tried to politely ignore them or gently smile back.

However helpful or antagonistic she ultimately decided to be wasn’t something I could change—not without undermining my case that I was a “good” demon. Fira would handle anything, hopefully, and I had some solace in the fact I’d done nothing wrong. Hopefully, we’d all be ...

Chapter 85: Field Camp

They executed Erik that afternoon, once they’d found the bodies. It was a private sort of affair: no public spectacle, just his softly weeping parents and Drin returning to say it was done. The decision, ultimately, had been left to the people of the town. He would be buried that evening, after we’d already left

Only Erik’s family had been against the execution.

I couldn’t be sure myself whether I was or not. I tried not to think about it too hard and the day flew by in a ...

Chapter 84: An Agreement

When Fira stepped off their crate, they stumbled. I darted forward and caught them before quickly letting go and moving a few paces away. Up close, they looked a mess: short red hair mussed and hastily pushed to one side, their clothes dirty, scratched, and stained.

They took deep, shaky breath. “Thanks. Today’s been a hell of a day.”

“Yeah, tell me about it,” I replied drily. “Is there any chance what we say in here will actually be private?”

“Not down here....

October 2022 Side Story: The Run pt. 2

Hi everyone! 

Here's the other half of last month's story. I'm going to stick to shorter outlines in the future. Even though part 1 technically met obligations, I felt like finishing it and hopefully will also not fall too far behind on actual SoW writing for the week...

Almost 7000 words is definitely up there for side story length!

Anywhoozle, poll for this month ends in an hour or so if you see this and h...

2022-11-16 01:26:18 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 83: Definitely A Demon

Erik had quieted down by the time I’d made it back to the edge of the forest. I’d made myself look totally human again just to be sure, although I left aura sight on. I knew where we were supposed to meet back up—by the well nearest Erik’s family home. I just wasn’t sure how to go about this.

I didn’t get to make that decision. I only barely noticed the figures hidden up on the roof of the closest building before something magic was fired my way. Barely, I was able to dodge ...

November 2022 Side Story Poll

What do you want me to write this month?

Cyberpunk pt. 2 will come out around the time this poll ends. I apologize that I didn't do much with the "mafia" part of it, but there will be a nod to it in part 2.

This side story will release by the end of the month.

Chapter 82: Not an Angel

Seyari walked quickly with Nelys and Aretan all the way to the city guard headquarters. Next to the barracks, and with the jail under it, the large stone building was tarnished with damp in way that would’ve been poetic to someone with more of an artistic inclination.

Seyari wasn’t that someone. She scowled next to Aretan and Nelys, then followed a pointed finger deeper inside, letting the other two explain in her wake. Reaching the marked door, she banged on it. A tired-sounding mu...

Chapter 81: I Can Explain

The demon that stepped out of the ritual circle looked like some entity had tried to recreate a human from fragmented memories. The limbs were too long, and the face was devoid of features other than big, solid red eyes and a far-too-wide slit of a mouth. Its skin was almost porcelain-white and covered in shifting gray spots, and its long limbs ended at many-fingered hands and feet, each tipped with small claws.

With the ritual completed, Erik turned to us. His eyes were focused, intens...

November 2022 Side Story Suggestions

Hi all! Thanks again for everyone's awesome support! There's been some cleanup done to tier descriptions, especially as I move toward more chapters for both tiers.

Anyway, this post is to say that I'm opening up side story topic suggestions for this month. The only restriction is that whatever I write won't be more explicit than the story proper.

The second part of October's side story will be coming out by next Friday, so look for it! Normally, I won't split side stories up, but ...

Chapter 80: Stakeout

“I have to admit,” I whispered to Drin, “this is boring.”

“Yep,” she replied with the resigned tone of someone far too used to this kind of stakeout.

The two of us—four if you counted Tren and Salvador nearby, and five if you counted Fira somewhere—were lying along the top edge of a barn roof, covered in hay that I really, really wished was dryer. I’d try to dry it out with magic, but I didn’t want to risk a fire. The two of us stayed damp and uncomfor...

Story-to-Date October 2022 (Volume 1 Complete!)

Hi everyone! First off, I want to say thanks again for another month of awesome support! Next month I'm going to work toward bumping the Patron Demon tier to a proper 3 weeks ahead, and will also extend story suggestions to that tier.

The Sovereign Demon tier I am trying to get to 20+ chapters ahead by month end, and I think it's pretty doable.

Volume 1 is attached as a pdf. And soon, I'll be able to shorten up the overlong table of contents post.

The only major changes are ...

Side Story October 2022: The Run pt. 1

A/N: Hiya everyone! This side story was super fun to write. I am a big fan of Shadowrun and getting a chance to write in the setting (all the prompt said was cyberpunk and this is deffo cyberpunk) is making me write something bigger than I ought to. I have a suitably long and fun first part that I can post on time. The second part will be out in early-to-mid November. If your sub is ending before then and you want the other half when it comes out, contact me here or on discord or RR ...

2022-11-01 02:24:24 +0000 UTC View Post

Surprise Halloween Crossover Featuring Lunar Marked!

Hiya! Here's a seasonal treat for you

2022-10-29 18:02:19 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 79: A Little Late

Taava wasn’t back by morning. Seyari and Salvador had only just stopped me from going to Riverside and finding her. I had to admit they were right—I had no idea where to look, and ripping through houses wasn’t a good image.

I cursed myself for letting her go as well. Seyari hadn’t been able to say much to that, but it was Salvador who’d shaken his head and knocked sense into both of us. “Sometimes, you have to let someone you love take the risks they want to, alone....

Chapter 78: Freelance Work

Aretan brought the blunt end of his polearm around, cracking it against the immense man’s head. The thug teetered, then fell to the floor with a groan. Hopefully he would live; knocking someone out without killing them was never a sure thing, but the former mercenary captain didn’t like killing if he could avoid it.

After they heard a woman’s scream, Nelys had dashed off, leaving Aretan to handle himself. He could, but Nelys’ impulsiveness was a constant source of worry.

T...

Chapter 77: Meeting in the Night pt. 2

The old warehouse was like Taava remembered it: exactly the same as dozens of others up and down this blighted river. The warehouse wasn’t special. What was under the warehouse was special. The place was on a small rise—the last bend in the river before the ocean; and the part of the Underwash that ran under it didn’t flood with the tide.

The Mudrat base here was secure, defensible, and little-known considering the warehouse had been mostly buried before Garvin and his cr...

Chapter 76: Meeting in the Night pt. 1

“Don’t even ask if I’ll blow Garvin off,” Taava started as soon as we’d sat down in our closed-off room. She twitched her tail irritably behind her, ears low and eyes focused. “I do that, and he goes ta the guard and I end up wanted—prob’ly not even for shit I’ve actually done.”

I took a breath, but the Kazzel continued, staring at me. “And we can’t just kill ‘em all either. They’re not all gonna be in one place and ya can bet your big red tail they�...

October Side Story Poll

Vote for your favorite below! You can vote for multiple options.

Thanks again for some really fun suggestions this month! Story will be out by or on Halloween.

One last order of business: As of next month, I am updating things so any tier of Patron can suggest story topics here or on the discord. 

Chapter 75: Pulling Punches

Anxious as I was, I hardly watched the spar between Rodrik and Taava. I had expected some kind of structured fight, but what I saw absolutely wasn’t that. Rodrik was fast for his size, and he used his training sword almost as more of a club. Taava darted side to side, literally flipping out of the way of some attacks.

The whole time I watched, my anxiety grew. How the heck was I supposed to restrain my strength and also not just get laid out on my ass? I hadn’t expected to actually ...

Chapter 74: Playing Dumb

We’d hardly left the square when Taava noticed she had a tail; a second tail, that is—and one not attached to her body.

I was glad Seyari and Salvador had already gone to our inn room to retrieve our stuff. While this tail and whoever they worked for, presumably the Mudrats, probably didn’t know where we were staying, that wouldn’t last. And if things got ugly, I wanted to have our stuff given that we were also nearly broke.

I stayed close to Taava and watched for our tail...

Chapter 73: Low Tide

“Dual affinities are really rare, though!” Taava whined to Seyari.

“Yes, they are,” Seyari replied exasperatedly, “but for the last time, I am not also a demon. Demons can’t even use holy magic.”

“Are ya an angel, then?” Taava squinted at Seyari. “Stupid illusions!”

“I don’t have an—”

“We’re approaching the ferry town,” Salvador cut Taava’s incessant questioning off. “Be careful what you speak about.”

Ta...

October 2022 Side Story Suggestions

Spooky Edition!

I totally didn't forget to open suggestions for this month (I totally did)! Anyway, they're open now! Reply to this post or post on discord. I'll write anything that isn't too explicit.

As a reminder, I'll take suggestions until the poll goes live, sometime next week.

One last order of business is a poll! I've been thinking about opening side story suggestions to the $5 tier as well. It also makes organizing things with discord easier, but I wanted to know yo...