Argentorum

Devil's Foundry 2: Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Grave Import

In the end, I did what everyone kept whining at me to do and set up a basic bureaucracy. Not because I couldn’t handle it, but because I clearly had better uses for my time.

I’m sure future generations would come to curse me in triplicate, but for now, Ishanti, Rel, and I assembled a simple system to track resources and labor, to make sure everyone got paid and all of the projects had the materials they needed.

Then, we ...

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle: Chapter 3

Read the first two chapters HERE 

Chapter 3: Three’s a Crowd

“You,” I decided, “don’t deserve a sword.”

Darkness, from where she was trying to yank her blade out of an errant tree stump, gasped in appalled shock. “Y-y-you can’t say that to me! This is my sword! I bought it!�...

Devil's Foundry 2: Chapter 18

A/N: We're back at it.

Chapter 18: Backfoot

“Jeez, Em, you were supposed to sleep last night.”

With a mumbled curse, I pushed myself up from my desk, rubbing at my eyes. They felt puffy, and my mouth tasted like something had crawled into it and died.

“I did.” My voice was raspy, grating like sandpaper in my throat. “For a few hours.”

Electra pushed into my office. She looked tired too, but more from all the work I’d had her doing o...

Chaos Theory: Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Pico-Economics

I was utterly furious.

The buttons of my biggest dress shirt—one I’d bought before I figured out Japanese sizes and never got around to returning—dug into my skin as I walked down the street. I was drawing stares, and for once I knew it wasn’t because I looked like I was about to kill someone, because none of the men were looking at my face.

More than once, I’d shoved a teen with a goofy expression on his face ou...

Devil's Foundry 2: Chapter 17

A/N: When I first posted this chapter, I forgot I was supposed to put it up on Tuesday. 

Chapter 17: Relationships 2

It was a testament to just how big Lady’s Port had become that Rel almost got lost on her way to find Electra.

She knew where the blond woman would be; Lady knew that Rel was the one who wrote the other woman’s schedules most days. Expanding the e...

Chaos Theory: Chapter 16

You can catch up to the adventure so far HERE 

Chapter 16: Pro-Social Behavior

In the end, no one believed me about Gekota.

The Railgun was too cool to like some childish mascot, and Kuroko refused to back me up. She was a Misaka supporter to the hilt. Or maybe she just wanted to horde the secret knowledge to he...

Damned if I Do: Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Void is Filled with Many Whispers

There was, of course, a grand ball.

If I thought the splendor of the Menethil Palace was awe inspiring, I would have been struck dumb by the all-encompasing elegance of Sunfury’s grand ball room. The ceilings were high, and vaulted with thin filigree scaffolds pretending to be buttresses, but set so that there could be no doubt that it was magic holding the tower aloft. The lights seemed to be at once sourceless ...

Damned if I Do: Chapter 17

Chapter 17: You Think This Is Your Time?

We were conveyed to Sunfury Spire with all the pomp and circumstance you’d expect from a regional superpower like the elves.

There was music, played by musicians who’d practiced their craft longer than the United States had been a nation. The dancers moved with what I would call irreplicable grace, if every step by every dancer had not been in perfect unison. Even the crowds managed to be part of the display, w...

Devil's Foundry 2: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Relationships 1

Rel wanted to get the soldiers sorted quickly so she could deal with her main concern.

Still, she took the time to watch Lady Via stride away down the broad, airy road that was quickly forming into the town’s main thoroughfare. Exhausted as she was, the woman still held herself as tall as her diminutive frame would allow, black cloak and black hair trailing behind her like paired banners. Eac...

Devil's Foundry 2: Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Returning

If Rel had been watching my back before, after the monster chased us across the river, she was practically glued to my side.

On one hand, it was nice to know I was appreciated. On the other, she really wasn’t making it easier to walk in the darkness. Every few steps her leg would bump mine, almost sending me stumbling in the darkness.

I gave her a look after the third time it happened, but even with the moonlight, I didn’t ...

Damned if I Do: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: No Time for Games

“I have never known a High Elf named Mur’azond.” Kael’thas’ voice was pensive after Calia and I relayed our encounter with the elven merchant. Of course, the nature of our journey meant that neither we nor Muradin could wait to sort things out. Ships had routes, We were expected to cross the border into Quel’thalas within the next day.

So the shop had been impounded, and Muradin hadn’t been allowed to take his precious b...

Damned if I Do: Chapter 15

Chapter 15: A New Hope

Calia Menethil decided that she did not much like Arthas’ new friends.

“So this is Stratholm.”

Which was most unfortunate for her.

“Aye, lass.” Muradin nodded. “And if ye look up the quay ye can see our vessel, the Bronze Barge.” He shook his head, running thick fingers through his beard. “Dwarves were nae meant tah sail, if ye ask me. But it gets me where I need tah be.”

Taylor chuckled. “It’...

Devil's Foundry 2: Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Here There Be Monsters

With Lady’s Port well in hand and my enchanter on the way, next I needed to procure raw materials.

The original communication mirrors that had proved so vital in taking out the adventurer’s guild had been…sidelined in lieu of setting up my powerbase. The original pair had eventually wore out and broke, as fitting for a rush job.

This time, since I had the time, I’d be building a much more comprehensive infrastructur...

The Devil's Foundry Audio Sample

This is a sample from the audiobook of The Devil's Foundry, available for preorder now and releasing on February 22, 2022.

Get it now HERE! 

DEVIL'S FOUND AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK

THE DEVILS FOUNDRY NOW IN AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK

You heard that right! The First book of Devil’s Foundry has an audio-book and eBook that will be released on February 22, 2022! Preorders are available now ...

Damned if I Do: Chapter 14

Chapter 14: A Diplomatic Mission

The Royal Palace had beautiful gardens, complete with hedgerows spotted with hundreds of blooming flowers, and shade-dappled paths for courting nobles to wander and get lost in.

Jaina, Princess Calia, and I, for our part, were sequestered in an elegantly painted gazebo near a short row of fountains depicting doves. The servants had prepared a luncheon—because calling it lunch wouldn’t do anything justice—for the three of us, ...

Damned if I Do: Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Aren’t You a Little Short for a Mage?

Arthas’ knighting was, in comparison to the parade, a subdued affair.

Oh sure, all the important nobles and advisors in Lordaeron were present, but despite that, the ceremony was somber, held in the small chapel attached to the palace itself, instead of the grand cathedral to the Light we’d gone past on our way into the city.

I caught my first glimpse of Paladin Uther as he said a few words before knigh...

Royal Blood: Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Honest Men

I didn’t show it, but internally I was still shaking. Once again, I’d gone into a fight that should have seen me splattered against the wall, and it was only my prep and my plan that saw me through mostly unscathed.

Even then, it had come down to the extra knives Nezza picked up for us a few days ago. If she hadn’t blinded Gyeard, and instead went for the kill, he would have just splattered us both with two knives sticking out of his n...

Damned if I Do: Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Imperial March

A full company of knights met us a mile out of Lordaeron City.

In their full ceremonial regalia, in case their purpose wasn’t entirely clear.

“My prince!” The head knight leapt from his saddle, kneeling before Arthas. “It is an honor to welcome you back to Lordaeron.”

“Samson.” Arthas clapped the man on the shoulder. “I see you made captain while I was away. I couldn’t ask for a better escort into the city.�...

Royal Blood : Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Imperial Magistrate

Scionus’s office was every bit as organized as you’d expect from such an exacting official.

Unfortunately, that meant there weren’t any handy documents declaring his benefactor just sitting out for anyone to find. Whoever sponsored the Magistrate was keeping it close to their chest.

“Can I get a look at the safe?” Nezza poked at the metal tumbler. The safe itself was a large metal edifice bolted to the floor. The...

Royal Blood : Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Heavy Weighs the Knife

I stretched, just happy to get out of the sewers. We were in some storage area, not unlike the room that I’d first met the Boss in more than a year ago.

I cracked my neck as Nezza slinked around the room, idly brushing her fingers over stacks of cloth and other piles of junk. I had to use the magelight to get a good view of the room, but Nezz, as always, was completely at home in the dark. I left her to it for the moment.

Royal Blood : Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Wetwork

The well was dark, other than the lone magelight hanging above.

After a while, I warmed up again. I had to wring out my shirt, and it still sucked pulling the damp fabric over my head, but as long as I kept moving I wouldn’t freeze.

It was pretty cold underground, go figure.

“So, where are we?” Nezza asked. She looked around, eyes glinting in the darkness.

“Some weird cistern thing.” I looked back towards the stone t...

Devil's Foundry 2 : Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Lady and the Lacky

**

Safe Words

Your words cannot be overheard unless you want them to be. If this effect is penetrated, you will be immediately aware of it. In addition, your orders will be conveyed immutably through (lvl)2 intermediaries.

I raised my eyebrow at the description of the skill. Usually, I had to use the skill a few times, work things out on my own, before the description would update. 2022-01-03 23:14:04 +0000 UTC View Post

Royal Blood : Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Point of Entry

Of course, it wasn’t as simple as looking at the plans and getting into my target’s basement via the sewers.

For one, the maps weren’t that good. I think I’d pieced together a route into Queens Row, and close to our target’s house—emphasis on think—but even then, it’s not like every house had a direct maintenance connection to the sewer system, like, holy shit. Who would want that?

So what was even the point then, i...

Devil's Foundry 2 : Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Level Up!

The last thing to deal with was my class up.

Over the course of setting up the newly renamed Lady’s Port (and setting it’s first ship The Little Mistress out to sea), I’d finally maxed out all five of my skills. Ever since then, I’d felt a sort of pressure on the back of my neck, like I could finally push beyond the level 10 barrier I’d been sitting at for so long.

No one from my crew in Silverwall really knew much ab...

Royal Blood : Chapter 20

A/N: Entering what will probably be the last week of daily updates for Royal Blood. After this I will be returning to a more sane update schedule for the sake of my poor fingers, but until then, let's finish out strong!

Chapter 20: Blood Tells

“So why do you need those maps?”

Boss, of course, wasn’t just going to hand over valuable intel to a kid.

“Because I figured I could use the same trick you pulled.” I shrugged. “Eithe...

Damned if I Do : Chapter 11

Chapter 11: A Study in Balance

After buying the clothes and other such supplies for travel, there really wasn’t anything else left to do but get on the road.

Or the air, as the case may be.

Dalaran was about two days from Lordaeron City, as the crow flew. Which was far more relevant on Azeroth than it would have been on Earth. Prince Arthas and his few guards had ridden into Dalaran on gryphons, and Kael’thas had magicked up some sort of flying carriage ...

Royal Blood : Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Royal Route

Unlike last time, it wasn’t just as straightforward as walking up to the magistrate’s house and hiding in his closet. For one, there were guards this time.

For another, I was also wrestling with the question of why. Like, if Magistrate Scionus knew I was the prince, and that was still a big if, why did he react so strongly to my presence?

Obviously, he wasn’t actually here for me. Like the innkeeper had said, t...

Patreon Update Poll

Hello everyone! I've created this poll because we've reached the next Patreon Goal! I was so surprised when we made it, so thank you all for the support! I will be increasing the number of advanced chapters available to everyone in the coming weeks/months.

Now, if you are a long term or return patron, you know that I've tried mini hiatuses in the past and they rarely work out for me, so instead, what I'll be doing, is working on getting more advanced chapters for one story at a time, be...

Superb Delegate Update Poll

Hello everyone! I've created this poll because we've reached the next Patreon Goal! I was so surprised when we made it, so thank you all for the support! I will be increasing the number of advanced chapters available to everyone in the coming weeks/months.

Now, if you are a long term or return patron, you know that I've tried mini hiatuses in the past and they rarely work out for me, so instead, what I'll be doing, is working on getting more advanced chapters for one story at a time, be...