Vowron Prime

Ashborn 326: May The Fastest Demon Win

“Begin!” Thaman’s voice thundered, and the race was on.

Having had ample time to prepare, the vast majority of the contestants scrambled madly through the Gate, trampling over one another and hurling prana attacks at each other to be the first to get through.

Vir, Shan, Cirayus, and Tara watched the spectacle with a mixture of shock and pity.

Already, Vir spied broken tablets and knocked out demons—who were then trampled underfoot by the passing horde. A gro...

Soulweaver 47: It's Weasel Stomping Day!

Congratulations! [Nobleman’s Steel Shortsword]’s Ability [Venom Strike] has leveled up to F - 3.

Congratulations! [Nobleman’s Steel Shortsword]’s Ability [Venom Strike] has leveled up to F - 4.

The messages kept coming in as Aerion ripped into the Weasels, even as I stood around doing nothing. It was kind of amazing, watching Aerion do her thing. She’d even gained a level, bringing her [Sylvan Reaver] Blessing to 2024-04-24 18:00:07 +0000 UTC View Post

Ashborn 325: Trial by Ash

Vir stood in front of the enormous Ash Gate, pretending to be as shocked as everyone else. Murmurs could be heard throughout the crowd of nearly four hundred, and it didn’t end there. Grandstands had been erected nearby, forming a ring around the Gate, and thousands of spectators watched, cheering, and hooting for their favorite competitors.

It was, in every way, a spectacle.

Even the unflinching Cirayus was staring wide-eyed at it, albeit for very different reasons tha...

Soulweaver 46: Ambush

NOTE: Wanted to mention an edit I made to ch 34 - now, the soul crystal Greg gets from the dragon not only bestows stats, but also has an ability. Description below:

— Obsidian Dragonfire: Imbues the strength of the black flames of a Trial Guardian. Caution: VERY HOT!
- - -

“So tell me about this monster you’re supposed to kill,” I said as we prepared to enter the forest before us. “What does it look like?”

“The contract calls for the eradi...

Soulweaver 45: Venomous & Skunky

I slept miserably. Something about sleeping during the day just didn’t agree with my body, and I found myself waking up mid-morning with just a few hours of sleep. I took some moments to wipe away the cobwebs before noticing Aerion was gone. Likely Hunter’s Guild work.

Getting up, I put my clothes on—yes, all of them—before armoring up and heading out. My stainless steel cuirass was quite a bit lighter than the iron crap I’d found in the troll’s lair, and I’d grow...

Ashborn 324: A Meeting of Lords 

When Thaman, Raja of Clan Baira, wished to speak in private, Vir hadn’t expected the demon to ask him to meet at a location in another district in one hour. And he certainly hadn’t expected to meet the demon alone. Thaman had emphasized that not even Cirayus ought to attend.

After seeing Tara off to her carriage and returning home, Vir consulted Cirayus, who said that he should absolutely meet with the Bairan Raja.

“If that brat’s wanting to see you, it c...

Soulweaver 44: Layer Up

As I found out on the way back to the inn, wearing three layers of pants was just not doable. This wasn’t thin, synthetic clothing you could easily layer with, after all. Even the fine-woven stuff I’d bought was decently thick. Making matters worse, my jeans were never built as an inner layer.

Even without Aerion sniggering at me the whole way back, I would’ve ditched a pant layer, pronto. The jeans just weren’t working with the other two layers, even though I’d picke...

Ashborn 323: The Fighters Banquet (Part Two)

As Vir stepped into the ballroom, he thanked the gods for his prior experience escorting Tia in Avi. It hadn’t been much, but it was enough to make himself not look like a total fool.

Even, slow strides, to allow Tara—wearing high heels—to maintain her rhythm in those precarious shoes.

The situation was made worse, because unlike himself, Tara looked absolutely at home in this setting. He could scarcely believe it, considering she’d been crushing his bone...

Soulweaver 43: [Common] vs [Uncommon]

Note: I gave RR a bonus chapter on Monday. Expect a bonus on Friday for patreon to catch us up to 12 again.

I returned to the inn too tired to do much of anything. Aerion was already asleep—she liked to rise early—and so, I had the inn staff heat some water for a quick bath before I also crashed.

Taking my equipment off to sleep felt so wrong… And I had the sneaking feeling that I’d end up wearing my armor and clothing 24/7, despite the inconvenience.

I wasn...

Ashborn 322: The Fighter’s Banquet (Part One)

Vir’s meeting with the Clanlords hadn’t lasted long. After congratulating him and exchanging pleasantries, the two departed, citing that they were eager to converse more at the function later that day.

Cirayus had told him on the way back home that they wanted to be the first to see him. It seemed both the Panav and Bairan chiefs knew of Vir’s true identity—being allies of sorts to Cirayus.

Even so, they had refused to simply hand over their Ultimate Bloodline Tat...

Soulweaver 42: Blacksmith… Recycler

It turned out the answer was ‘as soon as possible’, and so I ran back to the inn and quickly grabbed my laundered jeans and shirt that had been drying outside our window on a clothesline. I wore them under the clothes Aerion—the stingy, penny-pinching Aerion—bought me. That she’d gone out of her way to get me clothes regardless really meant a lot. 

Ever since I’d learned I could Initialize clothing, I’d wondered about layering up to see how much I could abuse...

Ashborn 321: Qualification Duel (Part Two) 

Vir faced off against Tara at a distance of ten paces. They were both unarmed and unarmored.

“Alright, so the rules are pretty simple,” Tara said, cracking her neck. “First to yield, be pushed out of the ring or knocked out, loses. No Chakras. No tattoos allowed. This is pure, basic, physical combat. Anything goes so long as it’s not lethal. Any questions?”

Vir shook his head. “None.”

There was just one tattoo he needed to keep active, whether Tara min...

Soulweaver 41: Rejected

“Get lost.”

“Wait! I’m telling you, I know a bit about metal! I know you need to heat iron to get it white-hot to bend, and that different metals have different melting points. And that better steel has more carbon in it!”

I was wracking my brain to come up with every morsel of useful info I could. “You shape the metal with a hammer. And then you sharpen it on a grindstone.”

The blacksmith looked at me like I was a stray dog.

“I said… Get 2024-04-12 18:10:50 +0000 UTC View Post

Ashborn 320:  Qualification Duel (Part One)

NOTE: Looks like Patreon is now including the collection below the chapter, so I'll leave out the links from now on as they're redundant.

Vir followed the Bairan registrar down the halls of the Colosseum, along with Cirayus and Shan.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is finding a proctor right now? Everyone’s up to their ears in preparation.”

“Looks like everything is coming along,” Cirayus commented as a group of Bairans jogged by, carrying boxes and furled flag...

Soulweaver 40: Stale Bread & Fresh Plans

NOTE: Turns out patreon includes the collection at the bottom of each chapter now, so I'll omit the links from now on.

I stared at the hard bread and the soup before me. I couldn’t say it smelled especially good, but as they say, hunger is the best seasoning.

I ripped off a piece of bread and soaked it into the soup, then took a sip.

Divine.

Way too salty, but divine nonetheless.

“Isn’t it great?” Aerion asked, slurping her own soup up. “I paid for mo...

Ashborn 319: Tournament Registration

There were so many giants walking around that Vir was fearful he’d be trampled upon. He felt like a child in a city built for adults, which was likely how most children felt growing up in any city, and he suspected parents must have had a similar issue with young children—maybe they wouldn’t be outright stepped on, but it was very easy to miss them.

This worry wasn’t without merit. Several incidents he witnessed on the way to the registrar’s office gave him ample reas...

Soulweaver 39: Basecrest

I didn’t know how long I slept, but considering how refreshed I felt, I guessed I’d finally gotten my long-awaited twelve hours. Actually, maybe even more, judging by the bright sun shining through the window, blinding me.

I rolled over and found that Aerion’s bed was empty.

Shit.

My stomach lurched and I bolted upright, banging my head against the loft-style sloped roof. 

My eyes scanned the room, coming to rest on a big bag sitting on her bed, alo...

Ashborn 318: Camar Gadin

The city was oversized.

That shouldn’t have surprised Vir—he’d imagined it would be. It was, after all, built for giants. Yet there was a difference between knowing something and seeing it in person.

Vir had imagined the walls would be taller, the gates wider and sturdier. 

Only, he hadn’t imagined well enough. It wasn’t just the major structures. Everything, from mugs to chairs to tables—everything was built for giant hands and giant physique. Even...

Soulweaver 38: Crossroads

I returned to the real world as sober as I’d been the moment I’d stepped into Cosmo’s bar. With what was coming, I wish I wasn’t. 

With heavy steps, I trudged back to the inn, not knowing if Aerion was waiting for me, or if I’d find an empty room. I barely even noticed the thunder and the rain.

I thought back to the sixth floor. To the castle where I’d Initialized Aerion.

Did I regret it? Of course, I did, to some degree. But that was hindsight spea...

Ashborn 317: To Baira

Shan awoke soon after, looking no worse for the wear. He loped around, the same as ever, and were it not for the shaved fur, Vir wouldn’t even have known the wolf bore a tattoo.

“I imagine that’ll grow back rather quickly, thanks to all the prana that beast stores within him,” Cirayus commented as they headed back to Samar Patag.

Since Aida lacked the movement arts the rest of them possessed, she sat on top of her grandfather’s shoulders, one leg stra...

Soulweaver 37: The God of Order

NOTE: Another double length chapter today! Think you'll enjoy this one :-D.

“Greg! Buddy! Long time no see! Drink?”

“Cosmo… We need to talk.” I said, feeling my frustrations simmer at the sight of the tuxedo-wearing white-haired deity, overpowering the surprise I felt from being dragged to his bar again. “Or, I suppose I ought to call you Order, shouldn’t I?”

I walked up to his bar and took a seat. 

“Greg. Greg. I’m not Order anymor...

Soulweaver 36: Aerion’s Dilemma

NOTE: Double length chapter! Enjoy!

The moment she touched the stone tablet, Aerion was transported elsewhere. Not physically—she could still feel her body, frozen in place in Dominion’s temple—but her mind had been taken to the top of a vast volcano. Magma erupted, spewing forth ash and lava. Lava that, Aerion guessed, would eventually turn to Obsidian.

Please choose the name you wish to show the world.

The divine words floated befo...

Ashborn 316: Shan Empowered

NOTE: I'm trying out the patreon scheduling feature for the first time. This week's chapters will all release at this time, and I'll plan the same going forward as well.

Aida looked at Cirayus, who nodded. “I know what you’re thinking, lass, but this wolf’s a bit special.”

“I can see that his mind hasn’t been tainted by the Ash,” Aida said, inspecting the wolf, who bristled, baring his fangs at her. “But that’s all. Looks like just anot...

Soulweaver 35: Entering Axius (Arc 2)

There was no warning or fanfare. One moment, we were in that white room, and the next, I smelled cow dung.

Light rain fell from a dark, cloudy sky, and thunder rumbled somewhere far away.

I lifted a shoe and found it sticky and caked with wet mud. A small wooden palisade stood some distance away. A mud road led up to a gate, where someone wearing what looked like a thick, heavy cloak was sitting in a chair, elbow on his thigh, head propped up. He was definitely dozing. 2024-04-02 16:40:27 +0000 UTC View Post

Soulweaver 34: The Spoils of War

For some reason, I thought killing the Trial Guardian would magically warp us outside the dungeon. Maybe with a pile of rewards and a whole page of level-up notifications to go with it.

I didn’t even get a single System Message. And I was just as deaf and injured as I had been moments earlier. This was odd. Beyond odd. It made me wonder if we weren’t out of the woods yet.

Wearily, I sat up and looked at the headless dragon, which was quickly disappearing into small bl...

Ashborn: Art for Camar Gadin

Soulweaver & Ashborn Schedule Announcements

Hey everyone, some announcements for both Soulweaver & Ashborn readers.

Soulweaver readers:

As stated in chapter 1 on RoyalRoad, starting next week (April 8th), Soulweaver will release 3x a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Ashborn readers - a slightly longer message:

Over the past months, I've been working 7 days a week & recently, 13 hrs a day to write and edit ashborn, polish my outline, consult for a video game project, and als...

Soulweaver 33: Dances With Dragons: Not Recommended

The moment I heard the Obsidian Dragon’s screeches, I thought something was wrong. Not that I was an expert on dragon-screech, but this one sounded twisted. Warped with anger. 

I doubted very much that lobbing a bomb into the ravine would’ve done that. Actually, I was worried the thing wouldn’t even hear it.

At least my worries were unfounded. I braced myself, gripping the rock I’d practiced throwing a hundred times while waiting for Aerion.

I wasn’t ...

Chapter 32: Commando Aerion

Aerion moved through the burning forest as fast as she dared. Skirting the edge of the blaze lengthened her route considerably, but there was nothing to be done about that. In just a few hours, the dragon’s ravine would be inaccessible, ringed by fire. 

Strapped to her back was an Aural Siege Bolt, albeit one that was unenchanted by Greg’s strange magic.

That he could make this already deadly device manifold more lethal struck Aerion with awe… and some fear. He...

Ashborn 315: Giant Granddaughter Thaumaturge

“Shan. Keep watch. Push me if you see anything. Or anyone,” Vir said, sitting cross legged on the cracked clay soil of the Bairan countryside.

If there was one thing Vir loathed, it was wasting time. Rather than sit and wait for Cirayus, he had a better idea.

Closing his eyes, Vir entered his mindscape and summoned Shardul.

“So, you have returned,” Shardul said. “Are you ready to meditate again on the concept of the Life Chakra?”

“I think… there’s no ...