Red Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, not such a bad hangover
Cuda Bite, Throne Gazer, Salt Wall, the champions of the Reef, and Turtle Jaw, their Quill, preparing for a fight
Gauntlet, Healer of the 3rd Renown, the Trolkin, once believed in bountiful harvests
Mockery, Knife Master of the 8th Renown and Quill of the Trolkin, once believed in meritocracy
***
26 Meltz...
2025-01-23 20:16:55 +0000 UTC View PostRed Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, high
Esoteric, the trolkin mage, a tour guide
Mockery, Knife Master of the 8th Renown and Quill of the Trolkin, it was all her idea
***
25 Meltzend, 61 AW
The Crown, North Continent
95 days until the next Granting
Warm water reached up to Red Tide’s waist. A small gasp escaped her lips—not a sound sh...
2025-01-16 23:45:09 +0000 UTC View Post***
Red Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, sleepless in the house of giants
Throne Gazer, Trident Master of the 4th Renown, The Reef, in consideration of his own hostility
***
25 Meltzend, 61 AW
The Crown, North Continent
95 days until the next Granting
The sun hadn't yet inched back over the horizon and probably wouldn't for hours, but something in Red Tide's body ...
2025-01-13 22:34:18 +0000 UTC View PostNB: I noticed in doing my Royal Road posting that I left the First Granting tease off the start of the Nortmost sequence. I'm including that here. (It's meant to lead into Nortmost, but I think it works as a chaser, too!) Then, the latest First Granting bit follows.
The foremost stratagem of King Mudt were displays of strength. These had rarely failed him on the traditional battlefield. And so, when the gods asked him to choose a place on the map and declare his wish, he did not co...
2025-01-06 20:51:46 +0000 UTC View PostTraveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Soldier’s Rest, master of dumb luck
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, will have his answers
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, almost made it
***
19 Meltzend, 61 AW
Ascending the Nortmost Mountain
Day Twenty of the Trial
Traveon perched...
2024-12-30 23:43:24 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, and Orryn es-Salvado, Beast Master of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, on the precipice
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, getting what he asked for
***
19 Meltzend, 61 AW
Ascending the Nortmost Mountain
Day Twenty of the Trial
And she fell again. Her body plumm...
2024-12-19 22:31:40 +0000 UTC View PostCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, sinking
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, and Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in the embrace of allies
***
14 Meltzend, 61 AW
Ascending the Nortmost Mountain
Day Fifteen of the Trial
Cortland was surprised by how little it hurt to be dragged into the mountain. The oppo...
2024-12-09 22:44:39 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, and Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in the company of the champions of Fornon, always on their best behavior
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, and Traveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel and Soldier’s Rest, on the wrong side of the mountain
***
13 Meltzend, 61 AW
Ascending the Nor...
2024-12-02 17:06:04 +0000 UTC View PostCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, and Traveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel and Soldier’s Rest, taking chances
Yasmin Hel, Archmage of the 5th Renown, and her two candle champions, Magelab, taking donations
Henry Blacksalve, Healer of the 8th Renown, and Rivian Stonespirit, Sword Master of the 4th Renown, Soldier’s Rest, early risers
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the...
2024-11-22 20:57:38 +0000 UTC View PostLaughing Monkey and Wrathful Elephant, Assassins of the 11th and 3rd Renown, Brokerage of Blades, causing trouble
Carina Goldstone and Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Logician of the 3rd Renown and Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in good hands
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, and Traveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel and Soldier’s Rest, debating sonnets
<...
2024-11-09 18:06:45 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in need of a ride
Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in need of a few more hours of sleep
Emmad Beet and Yasmin Hel, Archmages of the 16th and 5th Renown, Magelab, accompanied by two candle champions
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in a foul mood
Traveo...
2024-11-05 05:27:55 +0000 UTC View PostRed Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, the guest of honor
Cuda Bite, Throne Gazer, Salt Wall, the champions of the Reef, and Turtle Jaw, their Quill, fish out of water
Mockery, Knife Master of the 8th Renown and Quill of the Trolkin, tour guide through the madness
***
9 Meltzend, 61 AW
Trolkin territory, North Continent
111 days until the next Granting 2024-10-28 21:16:53 +0000 UTC View Post
In the furthest east, on the frozen coast of the north, at the edge of the oca’em’s sprawling Reef, in the smoke-shrouded city of Endpass, champions and their Quills watched the first sliver of sun break the horizon.
And, in the blinking of an eye, the gods plucked them up and dropped them elsewhere.
The first arriving Quills and their champions found themselves in a vast courtyard of stone, a castle with walls as high as the sky rising around them...
2024-10-21 21:20:53 +0000 UTC View PostCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, trudging toward understanding
Orryn es-Salvado, Beastlord of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, a follower
Henry Blacksalve, Traveon Twiceblack, Watts Stonework, and Rivian Stonespirit, the champions of Soldier’s Rest
Theo Adamantios, Axe Master of the 6th Renown, and Sylvie Aracia, his sponsor, Penchenne, who have a burden to share with the...
2024-10-15 19:48:14 +0000 UTC View PostAuthor's Note: I've been playing around with how some of these scenes go. Chronologically, this chapter comes before the previous Cortland chapter. When it goes to Royal Road, those two chapters will be reversed. (I don't think it really matters for the reading experience.) Anyway!
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, encountering ghosts
Theo Adamantios, Axe Master of the 6th Renown, and Syl...
2024-10-12 16:38:49 +0000 UTC View PostCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, bringing his newest champion north
King Cizco Salvado, Quill of Infinzel, Kingdom of Infinzel, in the past
Henry Blacksalve, Healer of the 8th Renown, Soldier’s Rest, and the three other champions of the broken wall
***
1 Trollove, 61 AW
The pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent
149 day...
2024-10-08 04:29:27 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in a crowd she can’t control
Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, back to his old self
***
28 Trollove, 61 AW
The village of Tiptop, North Continent
122 days until the next Granting
For a factionless village at the top of the world, Tiptop felt crowded. At the doc...
2024-10-04 14:02:17 +0000 UTC View PostThe days passed. The year slipped away.
King Mudt and his champions rode the land in pursuit of Ink left for them by the gods, yet found their progress ever impeded by the banishments enacted across the north. Thus, the last Orvesian King spent his days chasing power and his nights screaming at invisible walls, promising those who would shield their lands from him that they would all be put to the sword upon the island. But the world was large, and his shouts small by compa...
2024-09-30 18:39:37 +0000 UTC View PostUicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, for whom life is a trial
Milena Russi, Duelist of the 11th Renown, Merchant’s Bay, knows a treasure when she sees one
Curse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, waiting on that harpoon
Akoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, keeping to a safe distance
The merchant gelle...
2024-09-23 18:55:53 +0000 UTC View PostUicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, surveying the competition
Akoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, keeping to a safe distance
Curse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, know what’s down there
The merchant gellezza Mastermind and an unnamed vessel carrying the Gen’bi
<... 2024-09-16 22:22:39 +0000 UTC View Post
Uicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, possessed of a heartbreaking story
Akoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, great believers in an underdog
Curse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, reads in languages others can’t
The Bloodless Executive, Quill of Merchant’s Bay, and their champion Milena Russi, Duelist of the 11th Renown,...
2024-09-11 20:18:35 +0000 UTC View PostUicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, has everyone’s attention
Akoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, commandeered by champions
Curse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, knows a score when he sees it
***
8 Trollove, 61 AW
Aboard the Dartmyth, Central Sea
142 days unti...
2024-09-05 17:24:14 +0000 UTC View PostAs the days ticked down to the First Granting, not all on Emza had yet accepted the new order of things. There were some who were not ready to exit the First Age, or to lay down their arms from the Final War.
In the woodlands to the southeast of Infinzel, a great host of Orvesians gathered. They had been banished from the walls of the pyramidal city, and from conquered cities like Noyega and Cruxton. They trudged toward Penchenne in the hope that the city of diplomats would...
2024-08-30 20:35:23 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of Infinzel
Those they have met so far…
…and those they will meet soon
***
30 Frett, 61 AW
The pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent
150 days until the next Granting
Vitt Secondson-Salvado expected treason. Or, if that was too much to ask, to catch Carina and the cocky little bartende...
2024-08-27 18:19:09 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of Infinzel
Those they have met so far…
…and those they will meet soon
***
30 Frett, 61 AW
The pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent
150 days until the next Granting
The gods watched Infinzel. And they waited for their moment.
***
The spy felt the...
2024-08-13 04:38:52 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of Infinzel
Those they have met so far…
…and those they will meet soon
***
30 Frett, 61 AW
The pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent
150 days until the next Granting
Cortland waited by the Garrison entrance off the Underbridge. He had a feeling they would come in that way—Orryn es-S...
2024-08-05 19:20:30 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of Infinzel
Those they have met so far…
…and those they will meet soon
***
30 Frett, 61 AW
The pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent
150 days until the next Granting
Black smoke billowed up from the outer districts. A new fire. This one wasn't in Soldier's Rest but in a neighboring di...
2024-07-24 14:27:55 +0000 UTC View PostCarina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of Infinzel
Those they have met so far…
…and those they will meet soon
***
30 Frett, 61 AW
The pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent
150 days until the next Granting
“I should be going with you,” Carina Goldstone said.
“Should you?” King Cizco did not look back at ...
2024-07-21 17:08:42 +0000 UTC View Post***
Uicha de Orak, Wildcard, representing The Forgotten One
Those he has met so far…
…and those he will meet soon
***
30 Frett, 61 AW
The Gen’bi Desert, South Continent
150 days until the next Granting
“....let those unwelcome travel upon it.”
Sosupacia finished the incantation. Despite the sharp winds, the gods e...
2024-07-17 05:09:28 +0000 UTC View PostUicha de Orak, Wildcard, representing The Forgotten One
Those he has met so far…
…and those he will meet soon
***
30 Frett, 61 AW
Aboard the Dartmyth, Central Sea
150 days until the next Granting
Uicha stood at the front of the boat with his elbows braced against the wooden rail, letting the salt wind whip across his face. It stu...
2024-07-14 16:13:06 +0000 UTC View Post