Iron Lung writes

CC: Chapter 27

'Winter'

The cold touch of winter ran its chilly tendrils across the tops of the Ramor-Tai communes.

In the Wasteland, winter brought more than just simple cold. It was a time when darkness reached across the land, and malevolent spirits had greater sway over all mortal minds. With the onset of year’s end, many villagers from below the mountain came to Ramor-Tai seeking blessings of protection from its mighty Cultivator Masters. Both Longhua and Yoma-Dur ...

FG: Chapter 29

The journey to Razork was mercifully uneventful.

Well, uneventful with the exception of Skeever staring daggers at him for just about the entire duration. But then, Marcus had bigger issues to worry about.

He nudged his Spinegrinder with his foot lightly to try and slow the creature down and was met with nothing but a snap of its long, alligator-like jaws in response. He felt like he was going to vomit for the last half-hour since they’d left Fleapit.

“Now, to ride Spine...

FG: Chapter 28

“Okay,” Marcus began. “Skeever has run me through the basics of your Northern tunnel geography. Here’s how I see things.”

Marcus stood up and began pointing out various locations on the dark paper map as he mentioned them, making a few extra doodles with his quill pen as necessary to illustrate the finer points of his battle plan.

“Your main advantage is this chasm itself. Skegga would lose far more men than he would gain in a long, protracted assault on this pl...

CC: Chapter 26

If XJ-V had thought his life in the monastery had been challenging before he had officially joined the ranks of the Cultivators, he now regretted his ignorance.

“SHAH-HAH!”

Fai-Deng’s lightning fist came flying at his abdomen. With a swift sweep of his right arm he repelled the blow. Then another. Then another. When the next fist jabbed at his body he managed a counterattack, striking the Tiger just beneath the side of his ribcage and knocking him back.

“You are hold...

CC: Chapter 25

“Concentrate.”

He didn’t have to hear the word. But all the same he was thankful. He was thankful to have his Master sitting before him, to have his voice as his guide.

“Arha is rooting for you, XJ-V!”

That voice was another story. It was the squeaking of the little fox rolling around behind him. It was curious. In attempting a Dao-Walk, a Disciple was supposed to enter a state of sensory deprivation so complete that his mind opened to the realm beyond all mortals....

FG: Chapter 27

Marcus had to admit that he had never been one for theatre or pomp – those domains were Mari’s specialties. But he was enjoying the charge his entrance had sent flying through the rats in the war room.

“Shai-Alud Marcus,” King Shrykul began, trying his best, Marcus knew, to conceal his surprise. “Thank you for joining us.”

Marcus could sense the eased tension in the ratman-monarch’s voice. But there was also an element of anxiety still present, as though the surprise...

FG: Chapter 26

*Note: the next few chapters make extensive mention of the map of the North Warrens. For proper immersion, please see: FG: Region Map #1: The North Warrens

King Shrykul watched the columns of troops press through his Castle gates and squeeze themselves into his courtyard. The banners they flew bore the tattered symbols of the Clans he had called for – the bleeding fangs of Clan Marro...

CC: Chapter 24

The next morning, a general alarm that flared up in the Eternal Dragon Commune. It seemed, from what the Disciples within could gather, that their Sect was under assault.

Within XJ-V’s chamber, it was Little Arha rose first, uncurling herself from the foot of his bed and stretching her lithe body.

“So much commotion does not fit the rise of the sun!” she whined. “Arha wants more sleepy time!”

XJ-V ticked the fluff of her chin and told her to stay put. There was no ...

FG: Chapter 25

“You knew, didn’t you?”

Marcus’s accusation brought a deathly silence over the Ratman he’d called to his chambers within the palace.

“Sire, I was not lying,” Deekius replied slowly. “The Prime Putrefact is your only way of making it back to realm beyond.”

“But you knew he was gone, and you kept that little piece of information from me, didn’t you?”

Skeever, who had answered Marcus’s summons knowing there would be trouble, looked from the rat-p...

CC: Chapter 23

'Brother'

“Symmetry.”

The word echoed through the walls of the Tiger sanctum as it left XJ-V’s mouth.

He received nothing but silence in return. Then, an almost imperceptible upturn of the old Master’s lip.

“Expand,” he said.

“Prophet Genli-Roth talks of the symmetry of the tiger,” XJ-V continued, putting together the final pieces in his mind to construct the words he needed to express his idea – the slippery notion that ...

FG: Chapter 24

“In my life, I am knowing only one thing for certain: I am loving my Queen”

King Bekblast of Clan Marrow, five minutes before his consumption by Queen Eradeka

While the Queen sniffed Marcus like a voluptuous snake seasoning its meal, Shrykul, who measured up to about one eight of his Queen’s size, shuffled noiselessly into the room.

“This – this is being the Shai-Alud, dear,” he said. “The one who is bringing us –“

“I KNOW W...

CC: Chapter 22

'Den of the Pride'

XJ-V strode purposefully across the great courtyard of Ramor-Tai, intent on reaching the Tiger Sect’s commune.

Those Disciples who saw the machine dared not approach him, knowing that a raging dragon should not be impeded lest their interlocuter wished to be burned.

Only one being dared to approach the determined form of the metal man.

Her name was Arha.

“XJ-V!” the little fox-spirit called. “Thank goodness you a...

FG: Region Map #1: The North Warrens

The following map details the contested Northern Region of the Underkingdom occupied by Clan Red-Eye and Boss Skegga's Kobolds.

This map will be coming up in some new chapters and I want to put it up here as a basic concept of the landscape and some of the key towns/forts Marcus and his forces will be contending with.

One of my goals is to commission more map art in the future. This one was made with Inkarnate.

FG: Chapter 23

“We are having a problem, Shai-Alud Marcus.”

If he was being honest, Marcus heard these words with a complete lack of surprise. In the pit of his stomach, he had known escape wouldn’t be so easy. Not with all those rats out there singing his name in the streets.

He summoned all the knowledge on monarchical etiquette he had, and then remembered that it was probably useless in the face of the King of spume and slime.

“I was given assurances,” Marcus nevertheless repl...

CC: Chapter 21

“Come on.”

He approached the peak of the mountain, pushing through all stray twigs and thorns in his path, throwing off the ghostly visages of burning villagers, broken Cogs, and the banner of the golden eagle.

“Come on…”

He saw the shadow at the peak. It turned, eyes ignited with fury.

“Come on!”

His feet wavered on the path when he saw what the shadow-fiend was holding in its hand – the ashen remains of Fai-Deng’s arm.

Then he fell, surr...

Patreon Goal #1: Met. +5 advance chapters

My first Patreon goal has been met - 10 Patrons.

Thank you everyone for reading, commenting, and most of all supporting me as I continue to write these stories. We're only just getting started.

As promised, all Patrons will now have access to +5 chapters ahead of official release for both Cog Cultivator and Reborn as a Fantasy General. I've already uploaded the extra chapters for you all.

The next goal is 50 Patrons for +10 chapters in advance. Let's see if we can make it. <...

FG: Chapter 22

The grand palace of Clan Red-Eye was both more, and less, than Marcus had expected.

The domed ceiling dripped with loose spume and had caused wet puddles to lie upon the tiled flooring. Loose pieces of once pristine stonework was no corrupted and ravished by fungal growths and other bulbs of pink, polyp-like bulbs that ran up every column and stairway that led to the throne room of King Shrykul of the Red-Eyes.

And yet, there was a certain charm to parts of the abode. As Marcus st...

FG: Chapter 21

The next morning, Skeever packed up the camp and led his men down the long, craggy ridge towards Fleapit, Marcus following in the rearguard beside Deekius, eyes taking in the sights of the city that slowly revealed themselves to his haggard mind.

The first thing that assailed his senses was (of course) the smell. Putrid would be a euphemism.

The second thing was the coiling spires and domed huts that lined the city streets. Marcus couldn’t tell from above what comprised these st...

CC: Chapter 20

'Burn'

Fai-Deng struck first, his fists flaring with energy as he launched two steaks of lightning at his face.

In an instant his body reacted, both his hands surging with the power of his internal engine, and he deflected both strikes with two counter Dragon Tooth strikes. Still, the impact of the light against his flames sent him flying back, and though his stance remained unbroken, the Tiger’s eyes were the next thing he saw.

His fists’ impact ...

FG: Chapter 20

A little earlier than usual today. Enjoy

In the aftermath of the sniper’s gauntlet, the forces of Talon-Commander Skeever numbered approximately fifty men, including the six Kobold auxiliaries commanded by Ix.

Marcus counted them, having nothing else to say, as they resumed their slow, solemn march towards Fleapit, leaving the city of Dwarven ruins behind.

The atmosphere was more solemn than it ever had been. Even looking into the eyes of the rats, Marcus could tell...

FG: Chapter 19

Pieces of rubble fell from the cavern ceiling and danced along the barrel of his gun.

He barely even blinked. After his last shot, he hardly moved a single muscle. Now, he was pure focus. The only sound he heard was his own short, raspy breaths.

“Come on. Come on…”

The long, unbroken silence stretched out and lay across the city like a ghostly veil. But it did nothing to cover the litter of Ratman corpses he’d left strewn across the streets.

Vermin, he...

FG: Chapter 18

“GO!”

Marcus’ command was barely needed. At his word, Deekius raised his staff to the broken roof of their position and channeled a Glow-Glob directly at the sniper’s position. The globe flew towards his tower and exploded in a dazzling display of blinding light, and then the running began.

The rats poured from their position and started zig-zagging across the streets, stepping over the corpses of their brethren. They ran in groups of five, as instructed, with Marcus havin...

FG: Chapter 17

The dark world of the underground ruins shook before Marcus’ sight. His ears adjusted to the ringing sound that reverberated off the walls of his brain and he felt his legs being pulled back into the safety of a building’s shadowed interior.

Just before he was lifted inside, he saw the face of a Ratman that was following him disappear in a cloud of red before its body slumped to the ground, and the dull ache of the bullet’s sound caught up with him.

He thrashed, kicking out ...

Schedule and Discord update:

Firstly, thanks all those who have subbed and are enjoying my stories.

Five quick notes for anyone new:

1) All chapter updates here will be posted 09:30 CST.

2) Discord is set up! Join here: https://discord.gg/Bh7w32ytJ9

3) You are all smart + handsome/sexy.

FG: Chapter 16

The march of the Ratmen echoed through the chasms of the North Warrens uninterrupted.

To the onlooker, nothing about such a force would have looked strange in the tunnels at this end of the Underkingdom.

Nothing except, of course, the human scribbling away with a quill and notebook at the center of the horde.

Evidence of sophisticated architecture used as defensive measures, Marcus was writing, barely paying attention to the chittering of the rats around him – or, at least...

FG: Chapter 15

-Grindlefecht, Boss-Skegga’s compound-

“BRING ME ANOTHER PRISONER!”

The bellow from Boss Skegga’s swollen larynx sent sonic shockwaves rippling through the ancient Dwarven architecture that comprised his stronghold. He swiveled on his floating throne, the sputtering blue flames licking at the skulls of Dwarf, Ratman, and Kobold alike that had been crushed under the claws heel of his armies.

His minions rushed to grab another one of his torture...

FG: Chapter 14

When Marcus came to, he realized with no small degree of despair that he was still in the underground empire of the rats.

“Sire,” a voice said nearby. “You are being awake.”

Marcus rose steadily, groaning with weariness beyond his years to see the twitchy Deekius sitting next to a bonfire that warmed them. They seemed to be at the edge of a huge chasm overlooking a set of small, desolate buildings that looked like towers to Marcus’ untrained eyes.

He ran a hand thr...

FG: Chapter 13

Kill with a borrowed knife”

-The Thirty-Six Strategems

As the wrought iron door to the scape tunnel opened, Marcus braced himself for what had to happen next.

The door shuddered open, revealing pained, animalistic cries of death punctuated by the cracking of bones and squelching of teeth tearing through pliable flesh.

But he focused. He raised a hand to signal to the shield wall positioned right behind the door to ready themselves for combat....

FG: Chapter 12

Jump-Jump! Little Yip

Catch the sun-sun in your hands

Jump-Jump! Little Yip

We will be here when you trip!

- Popular Kobold rhyme

The sounds of the Kobold raider’s war cries pierced the air of Knifegut’s cavern.

The defenders of the walls took aim and fired as they had been instructed. Their arrows had barely flown before the cavalry was upon them, digging their claws into the remnants of their walls a...

FG: Chapter 11

Nearly all men can stand adversity. But if you want to test a man’s character, give him power’

-Abraham Lincoln

Klega tried to still his ferocious heart as it knocked against his ribs.

Ratties die-die, his mind told him. Kill. Kill-kill them all for Boss Skegga!

Behind him rumbled the yips and cries of his army – 70 of the big Boss’s finest Skog riders, with complete control over their hopping mounts. Klega had always mocked the Skogs o...