thealloquist

Announcing Project 21

Hello, everyone!

As you might be aware, I'm a person who writes a lot, one might even call me an author. On top of writing prompts responses, a narration series I may someday release, I've also been working on several different books (including some shelved serials that I hope no one remembers). The primary project, A Lord of Death, will continue to be published in a serialized fashion, BUT...

I crave the feeling of an actual, physical book of my own in my hand. ALOD is c...

ALOD - Part 44

“Fix you?” said the paladin, face scrunching up at the statement.

“Yes, fix me. To deal with this,” she said, holding out her arms to expose the dark scars, “the dreams, the visions, if I go with you, will you fix me?”

The paladin opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Naia.

“We can teach you how to control your abilities, and how to resist their effects. Am I wrong?”

“That’s an oversimplification, ...

ALOD - Part 43

The carriage ride was uncomfortable, in more ways than one. The silence between the various occupants weighed heavy between the group. It was only broken by the occasional cough from a paladin and the murmuring of the two twins. The girl, Sorore, glanced at her now and then, her whispers ecstatic and frequent.

Her brother, on the other hand, seemed a fair bit more reserved, but still engaged in their indeterminate conversation. The first time he opened his mouth to speak, Aya...

ALOD - Part 42

A few minutes later Naia acceded to the request, though his discontent with the vagueness of the offer was made clear. He left, promising that the troops would be ready in a few hours. Efrain, for his part, decided to return to the ridge where he’d watched the sunrise, the sky already lightening to a pale blue. It was warmer here down the Stairway, despite the occasional deposits of snow.  Efrain tapped on the rock, missing the solidity of his throne, however nice the view was.

<...

ALOD - Part 41

Efrain deigned to sit down on a rock, the cold of the morning seeping through his clothes and undead status. He made a motion as if to stretch, while he watched the man’s eyes. They were playing a game, the two of them, to see who could secure what from whom.

“Like I said, there’s a road, of a kind,” Efrain said, waving his hand to the forest around them, “It’s one of those you can’t use unless you understand magic, and the land you’re within.”

2021-04-05 18:07:56 +0000 UTC View Post

ALOD - Part 40

After that was even more waiting, the hours mostly passed with riddles and games. Occasionally the commander joined in, prompting them with a query that hadn’t considered, or suggestion on new rules to freshen the experience. The orange wash of sunrise was drifting over the tent when they heard the commotion. Sorore at this point was struggling to keep her eyes open - the experiences of the day had drained her

The vague milling about of soldiers turned to shouts ...

ALOD - Part 39

The lack of progress had surpassed frustrating to become truly infuriating to Sorore. The temporary camp that had been set up at her ‘whim’ as some of the soldiers mumbled buzzed with activity. Sorore couldn’t even go out to see, as the paladins had insisted that they be keep at its centre- the heavily-guarded command tent. 

The hours passed, made slower by each progressive report of little and less. The glances at the instigator became more obvious with each one, ...

ALOD - Part 38

“Naia,” Efrain mused as he let go of the man’s hand. 

“Commander, if you have the mind to respect convention. I understand if you don’t,” he said, the smile that accompanied the statement easy and inviting.

A commander, one that had the authority over an entire of battalion. Efrain wondered just where the rest of his men had gone off to, perhaps this was a ‘best and brightest’ situation.

“Commander, then. Tell me, if yo...

Quick Update 21/03/24

Hi all.  I'm just writing to tell you that a) I'm not dead b) I'll resume publishing chapters starting Monday next week. I was/am doing some employment stuff which is keeping me very busy. Continuations of the demonology series is coming soon for 5$+ patrons, as well as some... other things for 7$ series.. Art and memes might be also coming, depending on my time left.

ALOD - Part 37

Efrain had seen many battles in his time, but most he had been running away from, not toward. Unfortunately, he seemed to have little choice now as he barrelled down the hill. Though he was not a warrior by any means, he had studied military history and strategy, and was putting all of his knowledge into use.

The creatures looked as if they’d been thrown out of Carnes’s laboratories. Twisted constructions of bone, flesh, and gristle, with bony protrusions and sharp joints...

ALOD - Part 36

The woman was promptly knocked aside as the appendages slammed into her. The monster advance, driving Aya backwards. Before it could fall upon her, two further men stepped from the shadows, steel glinting as it rushed down.

The thing spun to bring its lashes all of which missed or were sent flying away into the woods. Ducking and dodging the pair hacked away at it, driving it to its knees as it wailed. Finally it pitched into the forest floor, a bubbling rattle escaping from ...

ALOD - Part 35

Aya twisted to look for the source of the sound, finding what she sought at the edge of the outcrop.

The thing was tall, dark, and thin, standing still in the moonlight that shone through the canopy. Black rags obscured the creature’s frame, but Aya could see the gleam of metal underneath it. A guttural growl echoed from the other end of the road.

The pale thing was tall, too tall, it’s limbs growing from merely unnatural proportions to terrifying lengths...

ALOD - Part 34

As it turned out, Tykhon wasn’t too far from where they’d left him. At the present moment, he was busy ripping at the corpse of what looked to be a eagle of some sort. Presumably it had wrenched it out of the air, judging from the blood on the talons on its front pair of legs.

Carnes, you really outdid yourself with this one, Efrain thought.

Fortunately, the beast seemed satiated with its meal and all too happy to welcome its riders back. Innie hopped bac...

ALOD - Part 33

The sun was beginning to set as Assiera spun her tale of the plight of her daughter. It’s totality kindled a long forgotten joy of discovery, as well as various misgivings. He listened sitting on the porch of the small home, for the husband would not permit him in, and Efrain was not keen to cause unnecessarily trouble.

“And so, we were left here. Can you… can you help my daughter?” she finished.

Efrain leaned back, his head resting on the railing as ...

ALOD - Chapter 32

“My lady? Lord Frare? What is-” Lillian asked as she turned around to stare at the back wall of the carriage, then back at them, “I don’t understand. I haven’t done anything to offend you, have I?”

Sorore said nothing, feeling a gut-wrenching sorrow that had no apparent cause. Her brother turned to her and the two embraced, holding each-other as they always had when such memories advanced. She could feel the boy, even with seemingly limitless endurance, shudder li...

ALOD - Part 31

The air was bitter, not in a chilly way, more like being in the same room as a person scorned. The tension, knowing that there was an external existence in the same space that was terribly angry. That sensation plagued Sorore as the sky brightened, and she sat silently in the confines of their carriage while the soldiers ate, packed, and relieved themselves. Finally, when Lillian and Niche had double checked every inch of the carriage with one of the stable hands, they almost felt like they w...

ALOD - Part 30

“Where is he?!” came a voice.

Efrain turned to see a tall, slim woman, draped in furs. Her dark hair and complexion indicated that she was likely born far to the south of here. Her eyes were wild, red rimmed from weeping, which promptly locked on him. She strode toward him, her pace so furious he prepared for a blow. To his surprise, she dropped to her knees and bowed her head, fresh tears sliding down her cheeks as she stared up at him.

“Lord Efrain?�...

ALOD - Part 29

The villagers were, unsurprisingly, proving curious at the unannounced appearance of a mysterious black-coated man and his bizarrely large cat. Most of them stared conspicuously at him as he passed, walking behind the pair that had led him into this ‘Visaya’.

Giyeth, the wainwright, turned around to address him as they passed into the town ‘square’ or ‘circle’ as the case may be.

“Well, lord, this is Visaya. If you don’t mind, I should fetch t...

ALOD - Part 28

The fire pit, with its crackling flames and wood smoke, was a welcome respite despite the relative warmth of the day. The smell of toasting nuts and sweating onions was even better, bringing a sense of familiar comfort in the unfamiliar woods. Her mother retrieved two clay bowls and spooned some of the soup into it. Aya for her part, gratefully drained the soup, almost feeling a deeper connection to the forest after.

“At this rate, we’ll reach the Frozen Vale in perhaps a...

ALOD - Part 27

The door squeaked almost mournfully as Aya and her mother stepped out into the morning. The moon was almost at the point of setting, indicating that first light wouldn’t be that far behind. In accordance with the time, the ground was hard and cold, though thankfully Aya, this time, actually had boots. As they began trudge down the path toward the village, she turned to glance back to her house. 

How small it seemed, the wooden and stone building, with its fenced-in pas...

ALOD - Part 26

Efrain barely managed to dodge backward as the claws exploded back into mist. The thing was gone, merging back into the. By this time, Innie had joined him, floods of sparks leaping into the air as she assumed a form closer to her true one.

“What is it?” she called to him.

“I don’t know, some kind of apparition. Maybe a wraith by the way it’s greeting us.”

“A wraith that takes form by mist?” 

“Working t...

ALOD - Part 25

Tykhon slowed to a halt as they passed over a brook, edging out into a clearing. Efrain slid off his broad back, searching for any sign of the offending creatures they had been sent to hunt.

“Can you feel anything?” he called back to Innie, who, contrary to her usual behaviour, was sitting alert on the saddle.

“No. There’s nothing. Not even a trace.”

“How could they just disappear like that?”

So far, they had be...

ALOD - Part 24

Finally, when he was landed on his behind once more, he raised his hands in defeat. Lillian laughed as she walked over to haul him up.

“You’ll beat me one day, I’m sure. But I’m not going to make it easy for you.” 

“I can tell,” groaned Frare, rubbing some of the reminders that Lillian had left him with.

“Well, either way, there will be plenty of time for that later,” she said, “you two should be sleeping by now.” 2021-02-17 17:45:16 +0000 UTC View Post

ALOD - Part 23

The day had gone from boring, if fundamentally enjoyable, to filled with tension. Knights and footmen paced around nervously, hands at their hilts. Sorore and Frare had been placed at the centre of them, near their plush carriage while Lillian went to report to the commander. 

“What do you think it was, Tyri?” her brother said.

She had little love for her mother’s pet name, but she didn’t rebuke him.

“Trouble. Those lost were w...

ALOD - Part 22

“Just your retainers, padding around your revered hole in the wall. Tell me, I’ve never figured it out- do they gather around you for the warmth, your magic, or something else entirely?” said Efrain. 

Innialysia gave a snort as the air slowly cooled around them.

“They are hardly my ‘retainers’. I have no need of a court. If they choose to ‘pad reverently’ in my presence, then I suppose they can simply recognize majesty when they see it.�...

ALOD - Part 21

The cabinet locks turned with oiled ease, letting the wooden doors swing out. Efrain carefully reached inside to retrieve the articles of clothing made when he was younger and a great deal more foolish. He laid them out, a long sleeved tunic, pants, a pair of boots, a hooded cloak, gloves, and finally, from a bracket at the very back, a cowl and mask.

It was an old thing, the only part of the ensemble that wasn’t handcrafted by Efrain. Carved  of dark indigo stone, fle...

ALOD - Part 20

“Well, then I have a list of things I’d like you to go down to the village and- Aya, where are your shoes?”

“I, uh, I forgot them.”

“Oh, Aya. If you were any more clumsy, you’d freeze your toes off,” she laughed as she stood, walking over to pull her daughter into an embrace.

“I’m so glad you’re feeling better,” she said, then pulled away.

“Now, there’s no time like the present,” she said, moving...

ALOD - Part 19

The wind bit even colder up on horseback, despite the relative slowness of the horse. Aya and Naia trotted through the woods in relative silence, the trees growing more defined as the sun climbed higher and higher. When they were half-way from the village, or thereabouts, Naia finally spoke.

“So, Aya, what were you doing in a church at so early an hour?” he said.

There was always the hint of a smile in his words, even when his face was relatively impassiv...

ALOD - Part 18

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen a crystal like it. And what’s more…” Efrain held out his hand, focusing on the crystal. He envisioned a series of sparks, coursing like a river to crash upon the snow below him. Flecks of light poured out to fizzle upon the surface of the snow. Where it touched the crystal, they passed through, as if the crystal wasn’t there, to disappear within its depths. 

“That’s disturbing,” said Innie, who’d backed some ways away ...

Alright, alright. I'm back. (Patreon Update 21/01/2021)

Hi all! 

Just a quick update for some upcoming content.

First, new stuff for the tiers, starting next week.

Art is being moved down to the $3+ tier, side-stories to $5+, while advance chapters are getting a slight revamp as follows:

$3 will have one advance chapter per cycle (i.e one chapter ahead).

$5 will have two advance chapters per cycle (i.e. two chapters ahead).

$7 will have three advance chapter per cycle (i.e. three chapters ahead).

Note...