aeridinae

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 13

High above the bald peak around which Warlord Khrol’s contingent was encamped, Ilyshn’ish watched as the Stormcasters directed a dozen assistants to sweep the stone clear of snow and move supplies around their ritual site. Nearby, hunters from the Yeti army kept a watchful eye on the proceedings, but most of their energy went into scanning the jagged mountainside. They were still a problem, however. Ilyshn’ish didn’t doubt that they would start pelting her with rocks if she threatened...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 12

“Ngalngaw.”

“Ngalngaw.”

“Tsinau.”

“Tsinau.”

“Dhol.”

“Dhol.”

“Ngalngaw. Tsinau. Dhol. Who strongest?”

Brother Jhola chuckled gently, gesturing to the three main pillars of the temple. Each represented one of the Yeti gods and each bore engravings of their respective iconographies.

“Our gods are equally powerful,” he told her. “Ngalngaw is the heart of stone. Tsinau is the shield...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 11

“So,” Ilyshn’ish said, “how are we ‘addressing the issue’, precisely?”

“We will speak to those responsible,” Vltava replied.

Ilyshn’ish recalled the vast civilisation hidden in the deepest valleys of the Worldspine. Where would ‘those responsible’ be in all of that?

“Those people have had no qualms driving out the countless tribes in their path,” Ilyshn’ish said. “Rol’en’gorek probably doesn’t even mean any more to them than ...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 10

The blizzard was still howling away when Ilyshn’ish returned to the village. With the massive flock of Skrili long gone, Ghroklor’s warriors had mustered up enough courage to investigate the surface and she found several of them loitering at the entrance of her tunnel. 

“Good morning,” Ilyshn’ish said.

Shouts of alarm filled the air as the warriors jumped in collective fright, shedding some of the ice that had caked on their fur. A few turned to fight while ...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 09

Ghroklor’s reaction to the brutal sight was immediate.

“Skrili!” He roared, “Take cover!”

More shards of ice sailed in on the winds of the mountain storm, forming a razor gale that scythed down Beastman and Haugrarl alike with every howling gust. Within seconds, the village had become a landscape of severed limbs and victims impaled by their icy assailants. Ilyshn’ish scurried into one of the village’s stone dens. The building normally served as a communal ho...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 08

The first thing that Ghroklor did after his meeting with the town leadership was send runners to call for reinforcements from the previous town. Next, he sent another set of runners to confirm the status of the adjacent territories on the frontier. After that, he busied himself organising the town’s defences, as he had little other choice but to wait for the outlying warbands to report in.

In all, it was a reasonable response for an experienced Commander, but Ghroklor clearly wasn...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 07

“I think we lost him again.”

“Probably.”

Stopping to stand between the roots of a Kapok tree, Ilyshn’ish peered down the mountain trail.

“Someone should carry him,” Ilyshn’ish said. “It will take us a week to get to the Worldspine at this rate.”

The Krkonoše remained silent. Five minutes later, a figure appeared in the shadows of the undergrowth. Heavy panting filled the air as Ghroklor nar Ki’ra closed on their location....

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 06

While a bit scrawny, the nine-metre-long Juvenile Green proved far too much for Pinecone and Pebble to eat in one sitting. They elected to share most of its meat with their host, but it wasn’t nearly enough to feed all of the feast’s attendees. As a result, the carcass was divided between several tables and picked clean within the first few minutes of the meal. 

Bloody platters piled high with cuts of freshly slaughtered Nug were served shortly after. They weren’t sure wh...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 05

“That’s a joke, right?” Chimali said, “Tell me you’re joking.”

“I’m joking,” Ilyshn’ish replied.

Chimali glanced at Pebble and Pinecone, who were each loading a bullet into their slings.

“Then why does it look like they’re preparing for a fight?” Chimali asked.

“Because there’s a Green Dragon flying over,” Ilyshn’ish answered.

“But you said that you were joking!”

“You told me to ...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 04

“Me?”

“Pleeeeease?”

Extending words to stress one’s desires seemed to be a common behaviour amongst mortals. Ilyshn’ish didn’t know how it worked, but she had seen some success in imitating it. It didn’t work on her, though.

“You’re travelling in that direction, anyway,” Xoc pawed at her arm. “And your memory is good. All you have to do is tell the lords that you meet during your travels what I’ve been telling the lords that’v...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 03

“Your retainer, Chimali – he’s quite an exceptional fellow.”

“He takes some getting used to,” Xoc replied, “but I think so too. Chimali’s worked hard to be who he is today.”

She wouldn’t have thought of it that way when they were younger. Back then, everyone saw him as a troublemaker at best. Even the local Merchants never gave him a chance, which was strange considering how well he was doing as one now. Xoc supposed that one hungry city youth did...

Before the Storm: Act 6, Chapter 02

“You grew feathers.”

“I didn’t grow them.”

Xoc flicked her ear in annoyance as she came out of her home and into the morning light. Several days had passed since she had sent invitations to the lords of the nearby cities through Merchants plying Ocelo Pa’chan’s growing trade network. In the meantime, the world seemed to constantly find things for her to do, definitively proving that there was no way she could leave the city to represent her clan w...

Before the Storm: Act 06, Chapter 01

“Il-Enxoc.”

“Il-Enxoc.”

A claw poked Xoc in the ribs.

“Gyah!” She started, “Wh-What is it?”

“They’re calling for you, il-Enxoc,” her father said.

They’re always doing that.

“I’d appreciate it if everyone didn’t arbitrarily promote me,” Xoc said.

“But it is only right, il-Enxoc,” the first speaker, a Lup named Hgroli said.

2024-03-29 12:08:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Before the Storm: Halftime Notes

Halfway. Yay. You’re still around? Inserts Chacmool comment.

Scheduling Disruptions

Back in December, I figured I’d be too busy with stuff over Christmas to keep up with posting. So I paused the schedule for a week. For some reason, I decided that I could somehow juggernaut my way through Chinese New Year – which is far busier – and I was definitively proven wrong. Oops.

After flying back and forth a...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 22

The sunlit grotto stood in stark contrast to the sombre scene of Princess Ramani weeping over Pravin’s headless corpse. Her brother, Prince Bajirao, showed no visible remorse for the death of their former retainer. His words, however, had a visible effect on his sister.

“So low a cost?” Princess Ramani’s voice was a bare whisper, “How could you even think that, brother? Pravin has been at our side since we were cubs! We grew up together; went to the academy...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 21

“What does that one say?”

“Super Addictive Beef Fried Soba.”

“Does that mean it contains poison, my lady?”

Lady Aura gave her a funny look.

“Why would they poison the food?” She asked.

“Some people willingly consume poison,” Ludmila answered. “Alcohol is the most prevalent example. There are all sorts of poisonous materials used in food. Most of the effects are minor when taken in moderation and many are considered welcome.”

“What ...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 20

“It’s time to settle the score, once and for all!”

“Mm.”

What score?

From her seat beside Lady Shalltear in the arena’s VIP seating, Ludmila watched as Miss Delta and Miss Zeta squared off for the day’s afternoon match. Much like the Grand Arena in Arwintar, only the big ticket matches in the evenings filled the stands, though it certainly didn’t feel that way in the proximity of the Sorcerer King. That only made it feel as if everyone was there for ...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 19

“I wonder if there’s an alternative account of these events,” Ludmila said. “The author of this book clearly has something against these people.”

“I know, right?” Lady Aura frowned, “Why do the villains keep losing? This isn’t realistic!”

I suppose this just means that propaganda is a thing wherever or whenever one finds themselves.

Crimes Against Humanity: Inuit Atrocities Against Miners in Greenland chronicled a conflict in a land once...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 18

What should I do now…?

Ludmila had no desire to chase after Fluder Paradyne, but she also had no idea what to do with the pile of books he had picked out for her. After flipping through each of them, it became abundantly clear that she had no hope of translating them on her own. She carefully placed the books into the Infinite Haversack on her left hip before investigating her surroundings. Upon doing so, the first thing she realised was that she was lost.

It w...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 17

I hope the recruits are cleaning themselves up after training.

The thought dominated her mind as she struggled to keep a straight face in front of the malodorous madman. Was he one of the librarians that the Sorcerer King had mentioned? Why did His Majesty disappear? At least he had taken Lady Aura and Lord Mare with him. She wouldn’t want any child near the questionable entity standing before her.

The old man peered at her suspiciously, which only served to increase he...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 16

“The casino…? Or maybe the spa? No, hmm…”

Ludmila glanced at her surroundings as the Sorcerer King considered the next destination of their tour. Her mouth opened and closed several times to ask about some of the locations, but it was probably a bad idea in their present company.

Following the commotion caused by her attempted escape from the Ninth Floor, a not insignificant chunk of the royal household had attached themselves to the Sorcerer King’s entourage. In additio...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 15

When Ludmila stepped out of the teleportation gate, she found herself in a brightly-lit foyer. Muted grey stone formed the floors and the walls followed a pastel scheme emphasising cream, lavender, and pink. Crystal chandeliers of incalculable worth illuminated the corridors leading out from the foyer, and a grand staircase dominated the way directly in front of them.

A familiar figure in a Maid uniform stirred from her place along a wall nearby. The Maid’s eyes widened slightly as th...

Before the Storm: Act 05, Chapter 14

Ah, hmm…what would be the appropriate thing to say in this situation?

“Umu,” Ainz Ooal Gown said with the most regal bearing he could muster.

After the NPCs finally returned to their respective tasks after the tournament matches, Ainz found himself with little to do. Suzuki Satoru would have retired to his home to immerse himself in the world of Yggdrasil before collapsing into his bed for a few hours of sleep. That life was no more, however. Perhaps one co...