Interlude
A Day with the Mane Character
“M-m-my… Nahhhm… Mo-kuh,” she tried working the sounds out slowly, using muscles and a smaller tongue that she wasn’t used to for the one-hundredth time.
She let out a very exasperated groan. It was so frustrating learning to talk like an elf. Her mind and body simply did not want to work that way.
Akane sat in front of her, the fox-human ever patient and friendly. The two of them were stuck in Iris’s room within ...
2023-08-23 11:31:59 +0000 UTC
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A Desire to Learn
Sloane stared at the elf woman in front of her. She was shorter than her, closer to Maud’s height, and seemed extremely weary. The brunette with pink eyes looked at her with a hint of desperation. She wasn’t sure what the woman had been through, but Sloane figured it wouldn’t hurt to listen to her.
“Alright. Let's talk in my suite. It's more private there.”
Not only would the suite be more private, but it was significantly more comfortable. The ...
2023-08-21 09:42:17 +0000 UTC
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AN: Here is the first installment of a bonus story that I've worked as a slight experiment with some perspective and tense. It's going to come out slowly for Artificers until complete. This is an extremely early draft and look at it. Final version may have massive changes. Chapters may get edits randomly as well.
This story follows Lexi, a woman who lives through the aftermath of mana arriving on Earth. The same Earth that Sloane and Gwyn were taken from. Enjoy :)
F...
2023-08-19 14:44:38 +0000 UTC
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Just Some Errands
“Baroness…”
“Sloane, please. After all, we went through some shit together to get here, Toren,” Sloane replied with a smile.
She looked around at the man's office within Nornport's Banking Guild. While he wasn't the branch's Guildmaster, he clearly had a lot of authority being a representative that Grandmaster Markus had empowered to expand Sloane’s Runecard system throughout the guild.
The telv smiled. “Of course, Sloane. I...
2023-08-17 22:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Quest Completion
Nestled within the inn, the main room was awash with the glow of firelight. A hearth crackled nearby, its flames dancing energetically. Around a sturdy, worn table, a mismatched group gathered. The walls, lined with old wooden beams, absorbed the echoes of their voices while the rustic atmosphere and scent of pine added a touch of homeliness. Nearby patrons threw curious glances their way, but the group remained undeterred, ensnared in their intense discussion.
...
2023-08-17 02:04:43 +0000 UTC
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First Impressions
Earlier
Nestled amidst the fragments of its egg, a white, glittering form started to unfurl. As the shell fell away, a small, scaled creature was revealed that shimmered with a breathtaking radiant brilliance. Gwyn stared in wide-eyed astonishment as the creature moved clumsily within the remnants of its once protective shell. As it tipped over, it rolled onto its back, revealing a tiny, round belly that was just as shimmering whi...
2023-08-14 10:42:14 +0000 UTC
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Resilience
In the early days of the Great Change, the potential that lay within each of us was little known. What is now a commonplace fact of life due to the efforts of the Church, was then a mystery to many outside of that same organization–the significance of Core Quality and the advantages it provided.
In our present times, nations understand the importance of individuals with higher quality cores. As such, they require licenses and ...
2023-08-10 10:53:39 +0000 UTC
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A Bright Return
‘Hang on!’ Mocha warned with a neigh that reverberated around the area.
Iris instantly clung tightly to the saddle–after all, Mocha didn’t wear reins, her knuckles white as she braced herself.
“Hurry!” Iris cried out, pure terror filling her.
Then with a powerful surge of strength, Mocha leapt forward, accelerating towards the only exit that the monstrous throng had unwittingly left open. The world around them seemed to blur into ...
2023-08-09 13:37:00 +0000 UTC
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Hey everyone!
It's been a minute since I had something outside of Author's Notes. So, I wanted to take the opportunity to not only drop the book 1 and book 2 epubs, but to give you guys some updates.
First, book 2 has officially been sent to the publisher. Woo!
And book 1 has been copyedited by the publisher. I will be going through it this week. It's looking good though!
The drafts that are attached are what was sent to the publisher, so they will not have any cop...
2023-08-07 15:12:23 +0000 UTC
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AN: I just submitted book 2 to the publisher. Woo! Expect an epub soon of the final pre-publishing edits. All told, there's roughly 45k words worth of additional content.
Book 1 will be taken down from here, RoyalRoad, and Scribblehub on 16 December. (So we have some time.) It goes on sale for epub, paperback, and audiobook (Along with being up on Kindle Unlimited) on 16 Jan 24.
Fateful Encounters
Past ...
2023-08-07 11:31:55 +0000 UTC
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AN: Didn't forget about this week's Mayhem!
The Marauder Prince
“You,” the Marauder Prince seethed, his breath crystallizing in the chill. His gaze met Iris’s and she froze, a shiver coursing through her that had nothing to do with his frosty magic.
Recognition flared in his icy glowing eyes, a mirror reflecting her own shock. The world around them seemed to fade into the background as ...
2023-07-26 13:05:35 +0000 UTC
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AN: I am on break! I will be back 7 Aug (So three release days). Taking this time to finish the book 2 edits (23/40 done as of this post) and to get started on book 5.
Lots of work, so little time to do it.
Wish me luck!
Uncertain Futures
Amari materialized in a flash of white and blue amidst a sea of paladins, perched atop the fortress walls, aching and disoriented from wha...
2023-07-24 08:18:55 +0000 UTC
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AN: Monday is the last chapter of book 4. I will be going on my break a bit early (3 release days instead of 2) after that to finish my book 2 edits and to get things prepped and started for book 5. We will be back 7 Aug
The First Mage
Few examples better capture the essence of the trailblazers that contributed to the world we know today than House Reinhart. Its meteoric rise surprised many across the political...
2023-07-21 01:53:05 +0000 UTC
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Storm Under a Clear Sky
Iris found herself sitting next to a fire with the guide harpy and the harpy queen who wore a persistent scowl. The queen bore Iris's presence with thinly veiled disdain while their guide filled the air with an incessant stream of chatter. In a moment of quiet, Iris saw her chance to steer the conversation toward their primary objective.
“So, what's the plan? Where can we help? You know this forest the best,” she said, hesitating befo...
2023-07-20 10:18:20 +0000 UTC
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A Meeting of Thorns
The echo of footsteps and distant laughter filled the dorm hallway as Gwyn and Lorrena stood before the recently posted room assignments for Year Two. The list of assignments had the names of everyone in their hall, and Gwyn’s eyes scanned over it as she searched. Quickly, a frown pulled at the corners of Gwyn's lips as she spotted her and Lore's names on different sides of the sheet.
“Wait,” Gwyn muttered, eyes still locked on the list. “We're not ro...
2023-07-17 09:43:18 +0000 UTC
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Never Stop Learning
“Happy Birthday, Your Highness!”
The chorus of voices made Gwyn jump in fright, her heart pounding in her chest as she walked into the dining hall of her House’s residence. The room was filled with friends and members of the House who all stood excitedly while beaming at her with delight while the princess, her two House Paladins, and Sabina walked in.
Turning around, she immediately zeroed in on Sabina, her trusted knight who now sported a playfu...
2023-07-13 08:06:13 +0000 UTC
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A Cursed War
“She’s going to be fine,” Bree declared. The sun elf medic ran a tired hand across her forehead, smearing away the streaks of sweat that had accumulated in the furrowed lines of stress.
Iris nodded. “That’s good.”
On the makeshift cot they'd fashioned inside a tent, the harpy woman slumbered, her avian chest rising and falling in steady, if somewhat ragged, rhythms. Her features were etched in tranquility, her violent flailing and ...
2023-07-12 08:29:23 +0000 UTC
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Suspect Invitations
Taking a deep breath, Gwyn turned from the view of the royal gardens and moved to reenter the ballroom. As she passed Amari, the paladin reached out, a comforting pat landing on her back.
Gwyn paused, her gaze rising to meet Amari's orange eyes. The woman's scar, a deep line slicing through her lip, seemed softer, as if the harshness Gwyn had first noticed in the Grand Temple had faded with time. Her hair, once short, had grown over the year that Gwyn had kno...
2023-07-10 03:25:23 +0000 UTC
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Birds of a Feather
Iris turned around and looked at the kitsune who was watching her warily with her mismatched eyes.
She had to remember, Akane was not human–or elf or all the other races on Eona. Even Mocha was closer to Iris in a way as her entire time during her growing sapience was spent with the adventurer.
The kitsune’s mind was almost entirely alien to Iris.
Iris took a deep breath, focusing on the vulpine girl. “Akane, I’m not angry ...
2023-07-06 12:51:44 +0000 UTC
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Having a Ball
Gwyn took a deep breath as she looked in the mirror, Aleanora was behind her working on her hair with the guidance of one of the House Tiloral servants. She was only permitted to have one lady-in-waiting attend with her to the ball, which she just knew was a slight from the twin jerks. It was the first time she really had to choose which of her three Crew she would bring, and even the other two had agreed that Nora should go, despite the fact that Ilyan...
2023-07-06 12:49:14 +0000 UTC
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AN: Hey there! We're back. I managed to meet my goal, now the next one is to work on book 2's edits! Artificers should start seeing updated chapters in discord tomorrow. Hopefully.
Expanding Ambitions
Early Summer
Count Siveril Norric exuded an air of calculated composure as he entered the dining hall of the Reinhart Manor. He had returned to the ducal capital due to needing to attend the first court of the s...
2023-07-03 11:45:49 +0000 UTC
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AN: I am on break! Be back on 3 July with Gwyn and the last arc of the book.
The plan this admin week is to write all of July's Mayhem chapters. We're getting close-ish to Mayhem book 1's completion. After that, I have a fun short side story for Manabound planned.
In addition to writing current Manabound--about to start book 5 in my backlog--I'm going to spend all of July editing Manabound book 2 for the publisher....
2023-06-22 14:59:44 +0000 UTC
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A Shelter in the Storm
The disagreement with Captain Morek went on for a solid fifteen minutes as Kaira forcefully defended Gryff. Iris suspected that the only reason Morek had eventually dropped the subject was due to Laken's owlbear companion. The creature radiated an aura of menacing protectiveness, emphasized by Laken's thinly veiled threats.
Eventually, they bade Helda farewell and departed from Cosdale. Iris had hoped to say goodbye to Neri as well, but sh...
2023-06-22 04:23:42 +0000 UTC
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Time To Go
It took two bells.
Two long, agonizing hours until the chaos outside finally subsided, leaving Sloane and Mariel in a tense silence. Sloane found herself repeatedly checking her grenades, seeking some form of reassurance. Her caster was back in its holster, and she had no idea who had won, but she definitely heard some noises that could have been from magic users casting spells.
I should have gone out there.
She knew the paladin and her t...
2023-06-19 11:10:48 +0000 UTC
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A Brief Respite
Sloane sat in the workshop, meticulously inspecting her new golem for any potential issues with her runework or any mechanical discrepancies, and so far, everything appeared to be in perfect order.
Which made her extremely happy.
Vesper emitted her eerie purring sound as Sloane closed the panel that housed the two cores within the displacer beast's chest, using her magic to seal it securely.
Her huge golem had kept to the workshop over the past week, ...
2023-06-15 08:06:07 +0000 UTC
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AN: Man, I'm still trying to figure out a workable schedule here. We'll get onto a set thing for Mayhem hopefully by next week. See you tomorrow for Manabound.
Leaving the Past Behind
“Iris Stuart,” Helda, the telv innkeeper, said in an incredulous tone. Her stern gaze bore into Iris as she leaned over the counter.
“Yes, Miss Helda?” Iris replied, her voice sweet and light, masking the exhaust...
2023-06-14 03:52:05 +0000 UTC
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AN: This may be thereabouts the time I post for the next few months. We'll see! Either way, hope you guys enjoy this one!
Let me know whatcha think :)
Artificer’s Insight
The gentle prodding of a metallic beak against her cheek roused Sloane from her sleep much too soon. She groaned, her eyes fluttering open to find Tiberius, her mechanical falcon, perched on the edge of her bed and staring at her with his beady onyx e...
2023-06-12 10:12:07 +0000 UTC
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AN: I am currently getting ready to head to the airport and hop on a plane. There *shouldn't* be any issues, but if there is, I'll be up-and-running ASAP!
Taking Shape
As Sloane followed Stefan into the Guildmaster's office, she was immediately taken aback by the stark contrast in decor. In contrast to the utilitarian and drab hall that hosted the Blades Guild outside the door, the room was spacious and brimming with an eclectic collection of artifacts...
2023-06-08 07:00:04 +0000 UTC
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AN: And we're back! And with Sloane's last arc of the book!
Not So Safe House
“Sloane, watch out!”
Heeding Stefan’s yell, Sloane dove to the side, and in the act, narrowly evaded two crossbow bolts that flew through where she had stood. She shot to her feet, casting two [Mana Bolts] in the direction of her attackers. A cry of pain confirmed that at least one of them had been struck, just as she...
2023-06-05 07:28:54 +0000 UTC
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Fury of the Storm
Mocha roared as she witnessed her human, her Iris, seized by a monstrosity of earth and slammed into the ground.
Mocha's eyes darted to the side as a flicker of movement caught her attention. There, the other mage had begun conjuring a sphere of intense fire, its heat radiating in all directions.
With a low growl and a wave of her tails, Akane stood, her fur bristling with raw aggression. Her magic swirled around her, an ethereal...
2023-06-03 21:58:58 +0000 UTC
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