This is not the chapter I wanted to write, nor am I particularly happy with how *little* got done. This last week has been... fraught. To understate things greatly.
I won't burden you with my difficulties and just say that I apologise for the quality, delay, and that I will try to do better.
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"Seven hundred." Amelia said bitterly as she stared out into the dark an...
2023-10-14 11:03:02 +0000 UTC
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Late chapter, sorry. I spent most of yesterday asleep due to how much Resistance-3 kicked my arse. Will update with the beta'd version when it's done.
Edit: Updated.
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As the crowd below began to roar, calling for blood and throwing rotten produce or even worse filth at the villains being brought up onto the stage, Vivi wrapped her arms protectively around Gwen and pull...
2023-10-08 09:35:43 +0000 UTC
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"Just how much longer are we gonna be underground?" 'Licia muttered, staring up at the cavern roof far above. Sometimes, when the conjured lights shone just right, she felt like she was standing in the maw of some great beast – a thousand thousand teeth all ready to clamp down on her. She was a girl of the seas and headlands, salty winds and freezing wet spray cutting to the bone.
Only a dwarf could understand this maze of tunnels, not that Dougan seemed to be enjoying them. He and Li...
2023-10-07 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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"Circle around, warriors!" Varok roared at his warriors as he knocked aside the demon's claws, then was forced to jump to avoid the crushing cleaver wielded by the lumbering and rotting mockery of an ogre. His wolf, brave companion that it was, latched its fangs onto the monstrosity before being crushed underfoot. "Do not allow them to approach the sleepers’ isle! Our blood wins us honour this day!"
"You speak true in part." The demon hissed viciously. "Your blood will be spi...
2023-10-01 09:00:07 +0000 UTC
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"–thus you will find that refusing to construct the House of Lords as formulated by the Northgate Charter will be difficult. Too many have become enamoured with the possibilities it offers them, including those that turned their coat following our victories or Godfrey's... actions." Father said calmly, a faint hint of regret offered within his voice.
He held his hand over his heart, down on one knee, and head bowed low staring at the floor; unflinching even in the face of having to re...
2023-09-30 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Riding with Anessa atop her hippogriff was much more pleasant than being stuffed into the saddlebags with Nari. The conversation was better too, the elven girl a remarkable font of information about druids – witches in all but name, in Aderic's mind – despite not being one herself. Including utterly ludicrous customs that the kaldorei held to.
Of course, he couldn't simply try to stir up trouble within the gender-based caste system the kaldorei had established for ...
2023-09-23 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Sorry for the delay, this much action – and important action at that – kinda kicked my arse.
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Hauling her cutlass out of yet another sodden and rotting corpse that had crawled out of the river next to her, Alicia surveyed the battlefield around her. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, only a slow trickle of corpses crawling out of the river, but it was still a mess. And there...
2023-09-17 09:36:29 +0000 UTC
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So, this week was my birthday week, which I had meant to take a break in. But as I forgot entirely to actually plan and notify anyone of that I chose not to. Then it also coincided with being the week that the arc ends (next chapter, officially, though this morning's chapter technically).
Due to the lack of notice I will not be doing a full break, but next weekend, the 23rd and 24th, I will be posting only one chapter to Patreon while no public chapters will be released.
I will th...
2023-09-16 11:00:05 +0000 UTC
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"Salute, lads!" One of the many, many sergeants yelled as we rode down the column towards the front. "Light knows we're lucky to have 'em, so give the proper respect!" The resulting salutes were a little awkward, some doing the proper Gilnean salute with their palms held out, fingers just above the right eye, but most weren't so... formal.
Amongst the fumbling attempts by the Lordainian refugees, which made up a large portion of this cohort, there were a few who smacke...
2023-09-16 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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"Finally," I muttered tiredly as the town came into view. Reaching Twycross and meeting up with Darius' army, having to change course multiple times to catch up along the way, was one hell of a relief. All of the mess Vivi and I'd been handling was, at last, officially not my problem. Or at least it wouldn't be much longer.
After I'd finished the hangings the tone of our march had changed noticeably; foremost with the way that, word having spread remarkably fast, villa...
2023-09-10 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Light shone forth, burning and scalding pale flesh as Magroth strode forth and waded through their foes' lines. "May the Light grant you peace, may the Light grant you rest, may the Light forgive your sins." He uttered stoically, eyes fixated on a single monstrous soul amongst those many faces he recognised from a village that had so readily offered him welcome and succour. "For you shall not live to atone. Your foul acts end here, necromancer."
The zombies were no impediment to him, no...
2023-09-09 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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When she had first been posted to watch over the borders of the forest, to watch for intruders that dared approach the sacred woods of Ashenvale, Anessa had imagined daring battles against the beasts of the plains and the defilers of the once verdant lands south of the Stonetalon mountains.
Over the years that youthful enthusiasm had waned, the highlight of her months-long sojourns on the frontiers being the occasional shot at quillboar or centaur that wandered within range of the fores...
2023-09-03 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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"Finally finished playing with that mage and your traitorous little friends, are you?" Tulvan asked the moment I stepped into her command tent, lounging nonchalantly in a plush armchair some poor bastard had to lug all the way here. She even took a moment to sip from a glass of wine, looking the very picture of a spoiled noble, as she met my eyes. "About time. Having heard the excuses of the Mistmantles, I would hear yours. Why, exactly, did you allow Godfrey's escape? Was your v...
2023-09-02 09:00:03 +0000 UTC
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"Sodding honourless nobs," I swore under my breath, keeping my eyes fixed on the grains of the wood above us and away from what was happening in my chest right now, "arrogant bastards and their–"
"Quiet!" The surgeon ordered abruptly, perfectly punctuated by the thud of a cannon crashing into the wall. "You are the one who chose to remain awake. If you keep moving I will sedate you for your own good!" As I gritted my teeth and obeyed, however unhappily, she resumed t...
2023-08-27 09:29:02 +0000 UTC
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"A little higher, if ye don't mind." Commander Smith asked politely, and I obliged by spurring the tree-formed emplacement we were standing on to grow just a fraction taller. "Thank you kindly, good sight lines all the way to the bend – I'll set the lads to bracing the lot with earthworks right away."
Nodding to the commander I held back a sigh of relief, waiting for him to start down the wall and give orders before stretching. It didn't really help per se, magical exhaustion...
2023-08-26 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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"Warchief, we've been trudging through this wasteland for a week with nothing to fight but centaurs and pig-men!" Grunt Coraz argued loudly as he marched beside Thrall. "We should have sought out the tauren's humans to test their mettle! Driven them back the sea and secured our claim on this land!"
Thrall shook his head lightly. "No. We do not know if the pink-skins Cairne's people encountered were humans and we will not court new enemies in this land." In his mind he could not imagine ...
2023-08-20 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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"–so while it doesn't mean that you have to act in any professional capacity and you wouldn't be expected to provide classes for students, unless you want to of course, it's very prestigious!" Frazzle explained exuberantly as she managed half a dozen saucepans and pots simmering away on the stove, having decided to go all out on tonight's dinner after she came back to find me in tears. "Any recognition at all from one of the Threefold Universities is a very big deal!"
"I can imagine, ...
2023-08-19 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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The wind stirred softly, silently, nary a whisper in the leaves and branches of the bushes around me, and yet once again it carried the scent of blood and raised my hackles. Once, even twice or thrice, could have been attributed to the war, the many casualties of the rebellion – but for the sixth day running? A warning given so constantly and quietly?
If I could without giving away I'd finally noticed, I'd kick myself for not noticing it sooner. The signs we...
2023-08-13 08:58:07 +0000 UTC
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"Isolde, it's good to see you." Vivi greeted her sister-in-law politely as they were escorted into Tambleton, their horses being seen to, as they had declared their allegiance to the rebellion on their approach. "You as well, Caleb. I assume you're heading for the same place we are?"
"Of course. What other reason would we have to march in this Light forsaken weather?" Isolde replied disgustedly. "Rather than horses, it seems we should've brought boats."
Caleb rolled his e...
2023-08-12 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Though Genn held his pen against the page, the opening lines of salutations written and the intent to complete the draft in his mind once more, the words still would not come. The reply to Lady Tulvan's declaration of intent, her banners raised against him, so rightly deserved – needed – a response, but try as he might, hours had passed and little had been done.
He deeply regretted the death of the archbishop, one who had served Gilneas and his family faithfully for so long...
2023-08-06 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Pausing on the edge of the clearing surrounding the township, Vivi and I slowed our horses. Branches and what little undergrowth flourished in this time of year had parted to allow our passage after we left the road, letting us approach in relative secrecy, but there were limits to the secrecy of a cantering horse.
Without Lorna and Donovan available we'd been forced to ride on horseback to try and catch up with the northbound forces. It rankled, more than a little with either mud <...
2023-08-05 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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In the early morning after the skirmish in Roningham, the most notable members of the rebellion were assembled in one of Darius' orangeries. Myself as the one who originated the topic of discussion, Frazzle as an experienced expert on the topic, and Lord Candren, Lady Tulvan, Darius, and Bishop Warren as those who needed to be convinced.
Lorna was here too, but despite her being the one to pass it all along to her father without me knowing, she was here in the capacity of being his heir...
2023-07-30 09:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Sitting in my kitchen by the window, safe from the cold and the snow, I sipped away at my sweet tea and watched Vivi train while knitting more enchanted mittens for the soldiers. She'd gotten it into her head she needed to master all the elements – water, earth, air, and fire. For some reason I was tempted to call her an Avatar, but I'd resisted so far.
Making references no one got wasn't much fun when you were included in the number of people who didn't get it.
<...
2023-07-29 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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I was not happy with the review pass I gave this chapter, specifically of the ending of the War Planning scene and the final scene with Vivi. They were rushed due to the whole 'aunt blew up the house's power' problem I had and the exhaustion I felt from fixing it. That's also the reason it was titled wrongly initially.
Re-reviewed and those sections ahve been adjusted; the Vivi section has been rewritten entirely and feels a bit more... real, less 'show person telling story' forcing.
2023-07-23 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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In the great hall of the manor, cleared of any pretence of being used for a meal, Darius spread out a map of Gilneas upon his table. Aides moved as directed to place down tokens marking the support of the various holdings; grey stones for the royalists and a verdant green for the rebels; Mistmantle colours.
"Outside of a few areas of resistance, largely in those I received from Godfrey so recently and at the gate itself, the Northgate is ours." Darius said plainly, and indeed the forest...
2023-07-22 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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It wasn't even a full day before we reached Crowford, and yet, as we flew overhead, it was clear enough that they were already preparing for what was to come. A rough palisade was being erected around the town and manor house, the gardens peeled back to make space for more training grounds.
Some of the changes would have been those meant for the town's use as a supply depot for the siege, a place for the materials of the Ember Hills to congregate before moving on to the wall, but most h...
2023-07-16 09:00:05 +0000 UTC
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"He wouldn't want you to cry, Trix." I said softly, stroking my apprentice's golden hair as she wept into my side. "Just think of what he would say if he could see you now; the little brat would call you crybaby until you got mad enough to chase him down, making you have to trip him up with roots to stop."
Just thinking of the kids I'd cared for, I'd taught for years, and how Trix and Richard would never play off their rivalry again made me want to cry.
The funeral hit bo...
2023-07-15 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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"Oh! Oh my!" Kinder Tindersnap declared as the dwarven cannon boomed overhead, the heavy balls of lead crashing through the lines of the troggs as they tried to reclaim their tunnels. "Well, can't sit by! Not at all, not at all."
Dusting off her robe from where she had been shoved out of the way of a blasted trogg's club by a kindly axedwarf, she started calling the chill of the mountain peaks to her hands. It was all quite nostalgic, elementary magic and all – quite literally, in fac...
2023-07-02 09:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Worgen clashed with undead with unbridled ferocity, their fangs and claws rending undead flesh from bone as they tore their way through the force that had come to press against the wall. They were fast, unbelievably swift, leaping into the trees and back again to assault abominations and crypt fiends from above.
Alongside the sallying troops, taking up temporary positions to keep the area clear, Gilneas controlled both sides of the wall for the first time in weeks.
Even now work c...
2023-07-01 09:00:08 +0000 UTC
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As Rokkri furled her wings and settled atop the bramble tomb which held Detheroc's corpse, there was a moment of stillness and silence. Lord Renard folded his tails and tilted his head up at the raven while she cocked hers in turn; all seemed to pause in anticipation of what words or deeds would come from the Wild Gods next.
"Medic!" A man yelled desperately into the pouring rain. "Need a healer here now!"
The spell was broken, a dozen ravens scoffing loudly at the interruption. B...
2023-06-25 09:00:03 +0000 UTC
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