nemorosus

Chapter 185: Left Behind, but Catching Up

Argrave told Galamon, Durran, and the very out-of-place Silvic that he and Anneliese intended to check up on their books before rejoining the party to discuss what needed to be done.

“Was almost like things correcting themselves,” Argrave mused as he pushed open the door. He didn’t see anything immediately out of place, but he stepped inside. “Drezki… god damn it. Why did it have to end like that? I should’ve…”

“Should have what?” Anneliese pressed.

Argra...

875 patrons!

We met another Patreon goal. Truth be told, I hadn't designed these with the intention to do three in one month. That said...

I'm not going to say, 'oh, 150+ people have already cancelled their subscriptions, and so we're not doing this!' or 'it's near the end of the month, so we're not doing it!' 

We met the goal, and I'll deliver on my promise :)

I hope to have T3's up to 35 chapters ahead by the end of September. That said, considering I'm starting 5 chapters per wee...

Chapter 184: Testimony of the Divine

Argrave stepped into Orion’s camp in the ruined fortress, walking past the vast tents and buildings full of refugees. His stride was confident, but the Brumesingers walking at his feet were frenzied, belying his true nervousness. Everyone watched him walk—this time, not because of his imposing height, but because of the two following behind: Silvic and Drezki.

His entry into the camp was like a great ripple that intensified rather than weakened. Though the sick could not be bothered...

Chapter 183: Coward's Choice

Argrave and Anneliese sat in their tent, which had been pitched in a relatively dry spot of the wetlands. Argrave leaned up against Anneliese as she read, feeling a little exhausted. Galamon sat atop one of the crooks of the tallest trees, keeping watch vigilantly, while Durran read a book just beneath him. The two of them had separate tents just by each other.

There were two other guests—one anticipated, and the other wholly not so. Silvic laid down on the ground, doing nothing but m...

Chapter 182: Spirit of the Wetlands

“I do speak truly,” Argrave confirmed, placing his hand to his chest and lowering his head slightly in a display of deference. “I intend to stop the Plague Jester.”

The swamp god Silvic stepped forth, her radiant body glowing with liquid light. When she spoke, her face remained still. Her voice was decidedly feminine. “And you believe one already infected with the rot the Plague Jester has conjured will be of use to you?”

“My Lady and Light, please do not waste words...

Chapter 181: Flower in the Wetlands

With Argrave tapping into the power of his Black Blood with the use of blood magic, what was a pitched battle quickly inverted in their favor. Argrave had a keen aim, and the constant biting of pain distracted him none—indeed, it only sharpened his focus, tuning him like an instrument to be dead set on his task at every second. He seldom missed. There were too many targets.

Argrave advanced alone, leaving the protection of his companions to give him a better vantage point. He knew the...

Chapter 180: Marred Hallowed Grounds

Having a preplanned route makes travel all the faster, especially when good terrain is chosen. When traversing uncharted wetlands, such a thing was largely impossible—with Anneliese’s Starsparrow, though, they picked out a relatively flat and dry route devoid of many obstacles. It facilitated quick travel through the northwest… and their destination was not so far, fortunately.

As the day neared dusk, the cold, foggy wetlands bloomed into a scene more befitting a summer retreat, c...

Chapter 179: Purpose Established

“Met halfway?” Orion repeated Argrave’s claims.

Argrave nodded. “I know your situation. Without you, this camp falls apart. Your blessings are the only thing keeping the vast majority of the people in this camp alive, and more come every day.” Argrave stepped closer. “But with this many people, things become more difficult every day. Even with spellcasters to create clean drinking water, food is a pressing concern in these wetlands. You have to dedicate your royal knights to...

Chapter 178: Herald of the Ninety Six

There were a few reasons that Argrave had chosen to come into Orion’s hand and collaborate with him. The first was that the Prince did genuinely intend to combat the waxpox and nothing more. He had no ulterior motives, no sinister plots—nothing of the kind. He was dangerous, to be sure, but Argrave was sure he could avoid drawing any of Orion’s ire. The man was quite tolerant, as long as one avoided the sore points. What’s more, he hoped Orion might draw the bulk of the attention for ...

Chapter 177: The Holy Fool

“I’ve come to see my brother. It’s clear to me he needs help, despite his abundant capability. I’m told Prince Orion is ahead, tending to the plagued,” Argrave spoke to the Waxknight before him, staring at the man’s dead eyes barely visible behind his bandages.

“Do you mean to say our Holiness is your brother?” the leading knight demanded, taking a step forward.

“Half-brother,” Argrave removed his hands from his horse’s reins, holding his palms out. “But a ...

Chapter 176: The Northwest

The air grew colder as they moved further north. For Anneliese, Galamon, it was no issue—indeed, it may have been some respite. Argrave was largely unbothered. After the experience in becoming Black Blooded, it was easy to overlook minor annoyances. Durran, though, who’d spent his whole life in a desert, complained all throughout the journey about numb fingers and ears, and constantly requested more blankets at night.

Argrave’s Brumesingers, desert creatures that they were, sought...

Chapter 175: Into the Plagued Lands

Galamon stood on the docks of the seedy underground Smuggler’s Cove with Argrave, watching the slightly turbulent waters. Elaine had told them that the Veidimen were going to be coming by today—Argrave hoped to the pickup some Ebonice here. Considering Jast was a city of magic, it stood to reason the smugglers that come here would bring some for protection.

Argrave had taken some extra days to do that little display with Durran. He didn’t like idling about for too long, but he fel...

Five chapters/week starting next month.

Wasn't expecting to make another of these posts within the same month, let alone within a week... but we met another Patreon goal. As promised, I'll make writing my sole focus moving forward. I suppose it's good timing-- classes haven't started for the fall semester yet, so I can withdraw with a full refund. 

Considering I've yet to release all the chapters for the previous goal, I've decided to make the switch next month. I was planning on doing a Mon-Fri release schedule.  2022-08-15 18:01:57 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 174: Even the Greatest Fall

The time spent at Jast passed in much the same way as their first visit… though without the feeling of tension from the last time. Jast was allied to House Parbon, now, and the sentiment was reflected in the streets. Flag-saluting patriots abounded, whereas last time had the atmosphere of a heated, tense debate. Parbon was well-loved and supported by the Count of Jast.

Yet the plague was an imminent issue. Count Delbraun was managing things in a stern way—any plagued refugees from t...

Chapter 173: Looping Road

Elaine watched Argrave as he ate his breakfast. It was more than a bit disconcerting, considering she deliberately chose him out of all his party members to stare at. Anneliese was feeding her Starsparrow, Durran was examining all of the food curiously, and Galamon sat in silence. Of the three, he certainly didn’t picture himself being the most interesting to look at.

Elaine had long ago finished her meal, but Argrave still had much and more to eat. Ever since becoming Black Blooded, ...

Chapter 172: When Will You Learn?

“I might choke you if you weren’t flying this damned thing,” Argrave shouted above the wind. “We’re headed that way,” he pointed, looking down at the old compass Titus had given him.

“Did you see his face?” Durran giggled, then erupted into laughter. “Gods, what a rush. I climbed out the privy’s window—it was about ten feet up—and then scaled along the damned mountain wall, glaive tied to my back. The wyvern was a bit fussy, but I used some of that newfound druid...

Chapter 171: Out of Containment

The Margrave leaned back in his chair at the dining table, staring at his now-empty platter of food. He tapped one foot on the ground, glancing towards the door. Argrave had still yet to return.

Reinhardt’s old friend, Duke Enrico, had been entirely right from the beginning. Having a motive other than mere rebellion would be good for the rebellion, upsetting though it might be. The Margrave did not wish to play the kingmaker. He merely wished to do what was right.

But part of do...

Chapter count increase/Patreon goal met!

We hit a Patreon goal, which means the chapter counts will increase!

T1s and T2s have two more chapters to read right now (up to 12/20, respectively). 

T3s will reach 30 chapters ahead in the days to come. I will release them when they are ready (probably on off days, i.e. Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays). I am relatively confident I will reach this figure before the end of the month.

All of your support has been a huge blessing in my life. You enable me to do somethi...

Chapter 170: Dissonance

In the days that passed, Argrave’s strong suspicion that the Margrave intended for him to stay became a certainty. The head of House Parbon lacked subtlety and had all but said ‘you will stay here.’ It definitely did not have the same atmosphere as the first time Argrave had been restrained by Reinhardt—he was not yanked about by a rope and tied to posts, and though their party of four was guarded strictly, there was never a hostile atmosphere.

The Margrave continued to insist t...

Chapter 169: Stay Awhile and Listen

The family of House Parbon ate in a quiet, if harmonious atmosphere. The Margrave ate the same thing he had for breakfast—a simple steak, unseasoned, with water. His eyes fell upon the gray-haired woman beside his daughter, still eating quietly. “Is everything alright, Ridia?” the Margrave questioned.

“Oh,” she lifted her head, as though drawn from a daydream. “Oh—umm, yes. Everyone has been very kind to me here.”

The Margrave nodded. “I apologize that my son cou...

Chapter 168: Looking Backwards

Why was Argrave wasting his time talking with the crippled daughter of Margrave Reinhardt? That was a good, if somewhat cruel, question. But the answer to that question was the same as why he was here in the Lionsun Castle at all—information gathering.

The meeting with Orion, though still some weeks away, was looming over his head like a guillotine. As far as Argrave knew, there were few people directly connected with the original ‘Argrave.’ Rose of House Parbon had spent her earl...

Chapter 167: Captive Audience

“You are fine with meeting him?” questioned Reinhardt, who ate a plain, unseasoned cut of beef with only water as a side.

“I am. In truth, I have a poor memory of the happenings that day,” Rose said truthfully, whose decadent breakfast meal stood in stark contrast to the Margrave’s ascetic portion. She shared the Margrave’s prominent features—red hair and red eyes. Her legs were hidden underneath the table, but her chair had two wooden wheels on the side. “What rumors sp...

Chapter 166: Tension Before a Plunge

Argrave stared at the Margrave beside his wyvern. Reinhardt did not advance or retreat, merely stared at them with an indiscernible expression, one hand on the pommel of the sword at his belt, and the other on the horn of his wyvern.

“Couldn’t have spotted him, Galamon?” Argrave whispered to his companion.

“There was a wall,” Galamon noted. “And you gave no time to scout.”

Argrave ground his hands together. “I know. I just want to complain.”

“That�...

Chapter 165: Lion's Lap

Anneliese and Argrave stood shoulder to shoulder, their arms stretched out ahead. His arms were just a bit longer than hers. Spell matrixes swirled in their hands, and then, they proceeded to blast Galamon with the C-rank [Skysunder] again and again and again.

The corridor they were in filled up with sound and white light both as they rained lightning upon the elven vampire. Durran stood at their backs, shielding his eyes. The sound echoed out of the small tunnel dug into mountainside s...

Chapter 164: Giantkillers

Galamon had taught Argrave a lot about combat, commanding, and strategy. The man was a great general, and Argrave was eager to learn whatever he could from him. Barring his own personal interest on the matter, as things proceeded, he would be talking to and commanding a lot more than a group of four and their pets. He needed to learn these things.

He told Argrave of a simple principle—when fighting multiple foes, focus on ending one foe quickly so as to upset the balance in one’s fa...

Chapter 163: The Skyburnt Fortress

Argrave tossed aside the newly acquired knife. It clattered against the floor. Some of the knives could be good loot, but he had nothing to evaluate them with.

“Give warning before you do something like that,” Anneliese rebuked Argrave, placing her hand to her heart and sighing to dispel her tension. Galamon put away his sword.

Argrave shrugged without a response, watching Durran walk past the golem while giving it a wide berth. He bent over, leaning on his glaive, and retriev...

Chapter 162: Spiteful Sparrow

The verdant, sheltered grove atop the mountains between the Burnt Desert and Vasquer was not an especially large place, but it was teeming with creatures thought long dead or shrouded in myth. It was like a little microcosm atop the mountains. Though the winds were harsh and the air cold outside, here a pleasant, temperate atmosphere persisted.

In ‘Heroes of Berendar,’ this place was a hotspot for players seeking out rarer herbs for potent alchemical potions.  Its only superior...

Chapter 161: Step on Heads to Rise

Argrave naively estimated the journey back to Vasquer would take ten to twelve days. As it turns out, Argrave was not particularly good at estimating the length of fantasy backpacking trips. The journey took, altogether, seventeen days… and that was only to make it to the mountain highway.

It was not because of slow movement—indeed, Argrave actually found himself enjoying things when they traversed across the black sand dunes. Anneliese had described the Burnt Desert as having an �...

Chapter 160: Sunset for the Desert

“Argrave,” Anneliese called out, drawing him from a book. He read beneath the shade of a palm tree just beside the oasis. His Brumesingers stood near the buried bodies of the veterans that had fought at Sethia. He had thought the southron elves might be bothered by this, but rather, they saw it as an honor. They hoped the Brumesingers would replicate the forms of their fallen warriors, some day.

“Hey,” he greeted, shutting the book at once.

“Reading what Garm wrote for y...

Chapter 159: Back to Work

Argrave had wanted a break. In a way, the week spent at the oasis town of Otraccia became just that.

The normalcy of opening new spell books and delving into them for hours at a time became a welcome respite compared to the unending torture that had occurred at the residence of the Alchemist. He felt like someone who had just recovered from surgery returning to their job—and in a way, that wasn’t too far off.

The Alchemist had said that every function of Argrave’s body would...