Shirtaloon

PDF Bundle 136-140

Here are some chapters that you've already seen, but in a bundle. I don't use emojis but I gave my monitor a laconic thumbs up, which is a thumbs up emoji for middle-aged people.

Chapter 150: Make the Most of It

Anisa stormed through the main hall of the temple of Purity making for the exit. The church functionary at the doors stepped out to meet her.

“You go out late, Lady Priestess,” he said. “Worship is carried out under the sun’s pure light.”

“You think you know the doctrine better than me?” Anisa snarled.

“You are the one stepping out in the hours of dark deeds,” the man said.

Anisa stopped, looking the man up and down. No essences in his aura and somewher...

Chapter 149: The Price We Pay Doesn't Matter

Jason and Sophie were sitting on a fallen log, eating sandwiches.

“It’s about time to head back,” Jason said. “Looks like we weren’t tantalising bait after all. It’s a little ironic, given all the people who were chasing after you.”

“They might try on the way back,” Sophie said. “How likely do you think this is to work?”

“I figure it’s less likely to work than not,” he said. “Still worth a try, though, given the stakes.”

“How bad are these peopl...

Chapter 148: Impossible to Subdue

“What is it you need me for?” Sophie asked.

“You’re not happy with enjoying a nice day in the delta?”

They were strolling along an embankment road, Jason setting their meandering pace.

“It’s not terrible,” Sophie conceded. “I’m just not sure why you need me to join you on the hook.”

“You know about fishing, but you didn’t know about rain?”

“I probably heard someone mention it, but it isn’t something that really comes up.”

“Seems lik...

Chapter 147: I Don't Like This Plan

The marshalling yard was full of adventurers, waiting for Emir Bahadir to arrive. The third and final boatload of iron-rankers had arrived the day before and a meeting had been called to finally explain the job. Along with all the imported adventurers, the locals were out in full force. After the expedition, only those confident in their abilities were going to participate, but iron, bronze or silver, everyone wanted to know what had brought Emir to Greenstone in the first place.

Christmas Schedule

There will be no new chapters the week of Christmas (next week) as I take the week off for the holidays. Chapters will resume the following week as normal, before the new year. This will be a pause at all tiers, including the free-release chapters.

Chapter 146: Versatile

Jason was sitting in a meditation pose on one of the cloud palace’s open terraces when Rufus wandered along with his parents.

“This is Jason,” Rufus said.

Jason turned his head and opened one eye to look before springing lightly to his feet.

“Gabriel and Arabelle Remore,” Rufus said.

“So this is the Jason Asano I’ve heard so much about,” Gabriel said.

“You have?” Jason asked, surprise clear on his face. “Most people only pay attention to the big...

Chapter 145: Full Jason

As the boat was still moving into the dock, the aeronautical early arrival of Gabriel Remore drew quite a lot of attention. The curious crowd pressed in for only a moment, though, before he pressured them back with his gold-rank aura.

“I see you haven’t been working on subtlety while I’ve been away,” Rufus said.

“Gods, you sound like your mother. She told me I shouldn’t fly over.”

“She’s here, too?” Rufus asked, gaze moving from his father to the approaching...

Chapter 144: Arrival

“You can begin, candidate Wexler,” Vincent said. Sophie nodded and stepped off the road and into the field of crops taller than she was.

“There were nine grass darters reported,” Vincent said to the other candidates. “While candidate Wexler chases them down, we will have time to discuss the remainder of the day’s notices. Those of you who have yet to demonstrate your aptitude to a satisfactory level should be looking to volunteer…”

He trailed of and looked to the cr...

Chapter 143: The Second-Best Adventurer

After the initial chaos, the two clashing teams were starting to get their bearings. This was the moment that winged death plunged out of the sky in the form of Humphrey Geller. Careening downwards with his dive bomb special attack, wings splayed out behind him, his powers were amplified by both Clive and Neil. A circle of magical runes floated around him and his sword glowed with light. He was twice his normal size, with an attendant increase in strength from Neil’s giant’s might sp...

Chapter 142: This Town Ain't Big Enough

The mirage chamber had created a sprawl of ancient, desert ruins. It was a town, long since dead and dry. Built into a hillside, crumbling buildings clung to the steep slope or were dug right into the yellow desert rock. Tunnels and stairwells were alternately exposed or buried by the dilapidating power of time, forming a rat’s nest of unsafe passages and hidden nooks. Of the handful of intact buildings, none had a neighbour in the same condition, the slope a mess of tumbled brick and...

Chapter 141: Weaponising a Barbecue

Jason met Neil at the entrance to the cloud palace, along with one of Emir’s staff who added Neil’s aura signature to the access list for the palace.

“There are some restricted areas,” Jason explained as they entered. “You shouldn’t bump into any of those except the guest suites, which are individually locked to guests who can provide you entry or not.”

Neil didn’t say much looking around, wide-eyed as Jason led him to the guest wing. He was nervous, second-guessing...

Chapter 140: Potential

In his guest suite in the cloud palace, Rufus was at a desk with papers arrayed in front of him. Ground assessments, potential designs, integration requirements. He wearily ran his hands over his face, trying to maintain concentration. While he awaited word on various investigations, Rufus had resumed the task of establishing the academy annex he was working on with the Geller family.

Adris Dorgan had kept his word and was making progress in chasing down the materials on the list...

Chapter 139: Manifestation

Four people were in Sophie and Belinda’s guest suite as a recording was playing on a crystal recording projector. Sophie and Belinda were both present, as were Phoebe and Jory. Phoebe had brought the recording crystal while Belinda had roped Jory into taking a day off. He had been reluctant, but he hadn’t taken a break since the clinic re-opened, and with a priest of the healer on hand, he let himself be talked into it.

Phoebe was the only one who had seen the recording of Jaso...

Chapter 138: Resurrection

Emir’s private study occupied the entire domed top floor of the cloud palaces tallest and most central tower. One of the restricted areas of the palace, the only access without the power of flight was an elevating platform from lower floors. It would not activate for anyone but Constance and Emir, requiring Constance to escort Jason and Clive up. Emir had the dome set to almost full transparency, subtly dimming the bright sunlight while keeping the room fresh and cool.

At a glan...

Chapter 137: More Than One Clown

Phoebe Geller walked through the Adventure Society campus to the north shore. The cloud palace loomed off the end of the dock, dwarfing any building in Greenstone. Emir’s chief of staff, Constance, came across the cloud bridge to meet her.

“Mistress Geller,” Constance greeted. “This way, please.”

“This is a treat,” Phoebe said as they crossed the cloud bridge to the entrance. “Everyone wants to take a look in here.”

“Mr Bahadir has had many fruitful dealings...

Chapter 136: Any Team Except Yours

Jason walked up from the loop line into one the most verdant neighbourhoods on the Island, with streets and residences both full of vibrant greenery with long leaves and colourful flowers. The water-affinity of the green stone that was the foundation of the Island helped the flowers deny the encroaching autumn. The houses didn’t have yards so much as grounds, with low walls that were more about decoration than security. There weren’t street numbers, but family names appeared on plaqu...

Chapter 135: Fabulous Prizes

The day’s first light found Jason meditating on a porch. It was attached to just one of the Geller family guest houses, each larger than the four-bedroom home Jason grew up in. Like most of the Geller estate building, it was nestled amongst the lush greenery of the gardens.

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• Ability [Cloak of Night] (Dark) has reached Iron 6 (100%).
• Ability [Cloak of Night] (Dark) has reached Iron 7 (00%).

PDF Bundle 131-135

Here is this week's PDF chapter bundle. early birds note that this includes today's chapter, released a little bit early. Unless I've horribly nobbed up the PDFs, somehow.

PDF Bundle 126-130

Here is the bundle I should have put up last weekend, but a heady combination of barbecue, board games and mini golf conspired to make me too lazy. I realise that 'I had a nice day and couldn't be bothered' isn't an excuse, but it is a reason.

Chapter 134: World Building

The sky was nearing full dark but the pathways of the Geller estate were lit up by magical lights, albeit ones selected and placed more for aesthetics than practicality. Rather than simple illumination, the discretely placed lights washed the gardens in shifting colours.

Clive had no time to stop and appreciate it as he led Rick and Belinda through the gardens in a rush, striding with his long legs. Belinda did have time, as Clive's enthusiasm outpaced his ability to navigate, re...

Chapter 133: It Just Takes Practise

In the late afternoon, Humphrey, Sophie and Jason were walking down a road with tall, leafy crops to either side. Finally starting to feel better, Jason let his head fall back as he drew a deep breath. He felt the warm sun of early autumn, smelled the fresh, earthy scent of the crops. He let out a contented sigh.

“This is it,” he said happily. “People talk about the money and the power but this is the adventuring life I want. Meandering through beautiful places with a good fri...

Chapter 132: Cleansed

“That should be the nest in there,” Humphrey said. They were on a wide embankment road, running through a stretch of wetlands. The largest portion of high ground had a sizeable stand of trees, in which they had been informed were the trap weavers.

Humphrey and Sophie looked at Jason, who still had bags under his bloodshot eyes. His gaze focused on the trees and Sophie noticed a shift in his posture. The confident, laconic, half-slouch became more upright, his feet ready to move...

Chapter 131: What the Geller Name is Worth

Rick led Clive and Belinda through the grounds. Clive and Belinda were both enraptured as Rick took them through pathways off the main thoroughfares, the visitors rapidly talking.

“See that flowering vine?” Clive asked, pointing it out to Belinda. “See the way they have it growing over the bamboo frame?”

“That’s floating ghost flower, right?” Belinda asked.

“Good eye,” Clive said.

“I know a guy who grows it.”

“A herbalist or apothecary?”

Chapter 130: Events Loom Large

Rufus arrived at Arella’s office and knew she wasn’t there when the door didn’t swing itself open at his approach. He knocked and it was opened by the deputy director. Rufus had few dealings with the elderly elf, Genevieve. He had heard she was the one person Arella completely trusted, but he’d heard a lot about the director that turned out to be false.

“Something I can help you with, Mr Remore?” she asked.

“I was looking for the director.”

“She was called aw...

Chapter 129: Picking Out the Good Ones

Sophie, Jason and Humphrey left the wagon in the first town they came to. Being the closest to the city, it was a busy distribution hub. Making their way through the town, Sophie was startled at how many people seemed to know Jason. Some would wave, others approaching for a few words of greeting. How Jason kept all the names straight was beyond her.

Sophie observed the difference between how people treated Jason and Humphrey. Jason was approached without reservation and greeted l...

Chapter 128: Damage You Shouldn't Walk Away From

Since Humphrey lacked extended movement powers and Jason’s stomach lacked a tolerance for movement powers, they hitched a ride into the delta on a trade wagon for a spirit coin each. Using supply crates as furniture, they bounced along in the back of the wagon, Jason looking decidedly peaky.

They had stopped at Jory’s clinic to pick up potions, at which point Jason discovered there was no easy hangover cure. Jory explained that he had one for regular hangovers, but trying it on...

Chapter 127: Let's Just Fight Monsters

Rufus opened the door to his suite to admit Clive inside.

“I thought you were busy these days,” Rufus said.

“I am, which is why I needed a break. Jason’s back, by the way. I just saw him outside.”

Rufus frowned.

“That boy needs a talking to. You can’t just wander off without telling anyone when there are monsters looking to eat you and silver rankers looking to do worse. Not to mention the woman he is meant to be teaching.”

“I wouldn’t go too har...

Chapter 126: Poison Pill

It was late morning, the sun high in the sky. Clive arrived at the cloud palace, finding someone standing near the platform that touched the shore.

“Acolyte Pellin,” he greeted.

“Mister Standish,” she greeted in return.

“Are you waiting for something?” he asked.

“I’m waiting for Mr Asano,” she said. “I’m going to deliver a gift from my goddess, as promised.”

“Jason has been gone for almost two weeks,” Clive said. “I take it, as an acolyte of...

Chapter Bundle (121-125)

Here are last weeks bundled chapters.