hermitscave

Chapter 137 - Pettiness

As he looked down the hill, onto the torch-lit tents, Fadelio did his best to suppress a frown. Although he would have loved to continue their march all throughout the night, the commoners were in no state to continue. Most of them would lie asleep right now, too tired to continue, or would lie awake, too afraid to find rest. This really wasn't going how he thought it would.

“Hey, Fadi.” Under fleet steps, Brym rushed his portly figure up the hill and towards Fadelio's command t...

Work in Progress - Chapter 1

Hermit's Notes: Hiya, this is chapter one of my second work in progress. It follows the prologue from Monday. There'll be another chapter on Friday (and of course another chapter of Enlightened Empire tomorrow, on Thursday).

I held onto the cold, smooth plastic handles, fingers cramped. After all, I wanted nothing more than a successful assessment. As a mysterious force spread throughout my body, so did the buzz under my skin. This was magic, I knew.

Terrified of the re...

Chapter 136 - Inevitability

Eyes focused into the swamp, on the powers of fate before him, Wayra's hands clutched the wood of the watchtower's windowsill. While the bloated wood's moisture seeped into his fingers, so did fear seep into his heart. A heavy breath banished the demons for the moment. At least for now, he was still the master of Harkay. He would have to set an example for the others. “That looks like trouble,” the master said in a calm tone. “Where is our messenger?”

“Still not b...

Work in Progress - Prologue

Breathing heavily, Eileen's head spun around, in search for a way out of her nightmare. Still in full sprint, her magic power exploded from her heels and slung her haggard body around the corner. As the black machinery along the walls whizzed past her, Eileen's feet carried ever further away from her prison. Beyond the bubbling pipes and churning pistons she would find her freedom, that was her desperate hope. Although her bare feet slapped on the hard steel floor, all she could hear was her ...

The Ape King's Banquet

Far back into the past, long before man's great empires rose from the ground, the beasts ruled over Yakuallpa. Back in those days, the tigers had not yet reached these shores, just as humans were nowhere to be seen. Thus, the rulers of all the beasts were the great apes, powerful creatures who could live in the forests just as they could in the hills. 

Once upon a time, they had crossed the northern mountains to reach this place, from their ancestral home beyond the wa...

Chapter 135 - Loyalty

 “Lord Macuy, welcome back to Saniya!”

“King Corco, this lord is glad to return to this grand city.”

With a hug, the lord and his king celebrated their reunion after only a few months.

“You were almost late,” Corco said. Although he had a jovial smirk on his face, the lord frowned, reminded of their path.

“There were some problems when we made our way through Lord Ogulno's lands. However, every other lord along the way has been very a...

Chapter 134 - Preparations

 Although he had received the message about his uncle's mad charge into the south, Corco wasn't all too worried for now. They were mere days away from winter and Pacha still hadn't assembled all of his troops either. For now, their intelligence network had done its job, and they had time to prepare. Thus, Corco made his way out of Chukru Island to check on his new troops.

“King Corco, this servant truly needs to protest. Beyond the walls is no longer safe, not without any fur...

On the future of the tiers

Hello, hermit here.

I thought it was time to make it clear what I intend to do with the tiers over the next week and a half while I don't post new chapters on various webnovel sites.

For now, this is what the new tiers will look like after that perios (I hope)

1$: 2 advanced chapters

5$: 5 advanced chapters

15$: 10 advanced chapters

25§: 15 advanced chapters

All the other tier rewards will stay the same, of course (except maybe 25$, still thinking on...

Enlightened Empire, Cut Content - Distance

The small room was airy, with balconies on two sides. Even so, it was loaded with tension. As Dedrick's eyes ran away from the open sky and to the woman to his opposite, a frustrated sigh escaped his lips.

“Is that really all we have on the northern armies?” he asked with the sternest look he could offer.

“To this servant's dismay, this is the best we can provide,” Tama answered, and gestured to the table between them. Atop sat a number o...

Chapter 133 - Cheat Codes

 Lined up along the walls of the room were several large tanks of metal and glass, connected through various pipes and tubes. Interspersed between the machinery were fire places as well as tables and shelves lade with bottles and bowls of glass and ceramic. Some were filled with liquids or powders, while others still awaited their purpose. Most people would have considered the room bizarre. However, the two figures in its center were absolutely not within that group. To them, this was th...

Chapter 132 - First Invention

For the second time in a month, Corco made his way over to the blast furnace on Chukru Island. He hadn't, in fact, become addicted to the heat. Rather, after the inception of the blast furnace, there was another important milestone to celebrate, one the king would have to be present for. Ronnie was busy after all, which only left Corco able to identify their newest creation.

“I'll be fine from here, Quato. You'll make sure no one enters for now.” Although he ...

Chapter 126 - Old Friends [End of Book 3]

With a sigh, Elder Caelestis made his presence felt again. After a few seconds of silence, his son looked up from the tactical maps he had strewn across the floor . Although his face was dominated by the same frown he had sported for months now, at least the King of the Center still took notice of his elder.

“Pacha, why can't we include your uncle, or at least your mother? No matter what plans you have, how can we succeed without support from your family?” Caelestis tried again. As ...

Chapter 131 - Secret Alliance

 When they rushed past the guards of the inner city gates, Fadelio found Inri ready and waiting for them. With crossed arms, Fadelio's sister stood across the road, to keep an unobstructed view of the gate. Of course, the girl had changed quite a bit since they had last met. Gone was the practical, martial style of robe. Now she wore a more feminine type of dress. Otherwise she wouldn't be allowed inside the inner city. How could a woman be allowed to dress in such scandalous fashion, af...

Chapter 130 - Recruitment

 “Master Rimaq, thank you for meeting us at such short notice.”  

With a smile, Fadelio lowered his head only the slightest amount. He wouldn't want to spook his host, after all. Even so, the middle-aged man's tiny eyes grew to normal size as he swallowed in surprise. With his yellowed fingers, he forced the warrior back upright.

“Please stand, Official Fadelio! This servant is not worthy to-”

“Stop!” The official raised his hand to brush of...

News about payment types

Hi all, hermit here.

I really wanted to avoid this, but from now on, all patrons will be charged upfront.

I really don't like asking for money before you even get to see what you're buying, but over the last few weeks, I've had multiple instances of people becoming 15$ patrons and then leaving a day later, once they read everything on the page.

While I always try to be as accomodating as I can, being taken advantage of really doesn't feel great, so this step feels necessary,...

Chapter 129 - Precision

 Even after a lengthy wait, Egidius hadn't been let into the castle. Impatient, he stood in the evening sun and tapped his foot. However, before he could get angry enough to leave, one of the guards had led him back into Chukru Island, but took a turn downstream. An uninviting wall separated the northern half of the island from the commoners in his own home. Beyond this wall, it was said that the king kept his most valuable secrets. Once he entered, the clock maker's eyes began to beam. ...

Poll for End of Book 2

Hello. Took me a while, but now that I finally know what I wanna ask you guys, I feel it would be a good time to wrap up book 2.

Since everyone here has either read all the way to the end, or at least close enough to it, I think you guys and gals should be capable of answering this one. So here's the question:

Which parts of the story do you want me to focus on in future books?

honestly, my story has been getting.. pretty big. It's a really complex vehi...

Chapter 128 - Old and New

 The quiet rasp of the file on metal had always been a satisfying sound to Egidius, but what the sound represented was as much part of his fascination than the noise itself. Nothing could ever come close to the feeling he had when he strove ever higher on his path to perfection. Despite all of his interest in new knowledge, all of his thirst for discovery, this here was his favorite part of a clock maker's work. By the time Egidius had finished his day's work, a sharp sting of metal hung...

Chapter 127 - Bandits in the Forest [Start of Book 4]

East of the Sallqata Mountains most days were sunny, as the mountain range formed a natural barrier for the rain. Today was no different and the sun stood high in the sky. However, a darkness loomed before a large donkey carriage's path. Like fingers from an ancient evil, the shadows of the primeval trees loomed ahead, ready to swallow the wagon whole, and all of its passengers with it. Without a care in the world, the donkeys shook their necks and trotted on, their eyes focused on the narrow...

Chapter 125 - Opponents

 “Aah, that was tiring.” While he rubbed the back of his neck, Corco let himself down on a sofa and put up a leg. “Do we still have any tea left somewhere or have the vultures emptied the entire kitchen?”   

Even though he knew that cultivators would eat more than normal people, today's host had still been astounded by the appetite of his guests.

“Yes, King Corco. I have told the staff to retain a few pieces. Quato, please bring some tea,” Tama s...

Chapter 124 - Two Sides

 Once Uchu had left the guards behind him and left the castle, he was presented with the infinite splendor of the stars above. Relieved, the hardened warrior let out a long sigh of relief.

Finally Uchu had left the confines of Rapra Castle behind him. Finally he could breathe.

“Let's get out of here,” he said towards the rat who still followed along his every move.

“You know, brother, there was no reason to be so hung up on leaving right away. Leaving ...

Chapter 123 - Grand Finale

 “And now, I am sad to say, that for the final time, I can present you a new treasure of Saniya. To celebrate the end of this banquet, I have the privilege to present the full work and dedication of Saniya's unique ensemble of chefs. Here it is, the great creation of master Chuku, and unique treasure of Saniya, lemon supreme!”

His arms spread wide to mirror the smile on his face, King Corco stood in front of the tables of the various lords, in between a large array of men a...

Book 2, Ch. 39 - Light and Dark

 “If that was all you had to offer, then I believe we would be done here.” When they had met in private, in one of the dark hallways away from the great banquet, Epunamo Villca's anger towards his brother Uchu had disappeared as if it had never existed. However, even if he had put on a show for the other nobles before, Epunamo's snide attitude, arms crossed and head raised into the sky, didn't make Uchu feel any better about his brother.

“Yeah, that's it. For now. It look...

Book 2, Ch. 38 - Mortal Danger

Tawo's plan had been a success, beyond his own belief. After his request for an audience, he had first been asked to wait for a while. Then he had begun to doubt himself. Had he been discovered? Would the empty hallway the warriors had led him to be the last place he would see? However,, it hadn't been long until he had been called upon, to be led to a meeting with Corcopaca Titu Pluritac, the new King of the South. In the end, the king's warriors didn't so much as search him for weapons and ...

Book 2, Ch. 37 - Power Struggle

 Only a short while after Corco had left the familiar comfort of his own sales pitches, he had shifted gears. Gone was the merchant prince, arisen had the King of the South. His head raised, the king looked down to the man who had requested a private audience. Normally, any interruption in the banquet's formalities would be impossible. However, Corco would make an exception this time. After all, the man who sat before him was his cousin, and someone whose support would be invaluable.
...

Book 2, Ch. 36 - Surrounded

If nothing else, at least the food was delicious. Pork, veal and venison, braised in a fancy sauce. According to what the king's servant had said, the food had been stewed for half a day before it had been presented to the guests. No wonder the pieces practically melted in Uchu's mouth. Even then, the Villca heir was still in a lousy mood.

Their entire plan had been so clever, so simple. He would come announce his claim to the throne as a member of the Villca clan. Once the king wou...

Announcement and the future of my novel

Before anyone asks: No, I'm not dropping my story and I'm not quitting.

With that out of the way, I'm sorry about the one day delay of today's chapter. Yesterday my mother was hospitalized and while it ultimately turned out to be no big deal, I still had neither the time nor the interest to finish my chapter.

In general, with all my work and other real life issues, I've been writing a whole lot less than I would have liked. As a result, I feel like my writing has actually suffered...

Book 2, Ch. 35 - Chances Missed, and Taken

 “What an impressive piece of work this is.” Even though they had moved away from the clock maker's painting, it appeared as if Egidius wasn't the only one capable of great feats in the new Saniya. What Tawo turned in his hand was a piece of pottery as delicate and beautiful as a seashell. As the stars were his witness, for the first time in his life he held real Chutwa glaze in his hands.   

“They say that the product has been imported from Chutwa itself.” to...

Book 2, Ch. 34 - Two Sides

 The first half of the evening had been restrained, despite the interruption's best efforts. After a loud bang from the castle had brought a halt to all proceedings, a ripple of fear had gone through the isolated groups of commoners. How could it not, right after a loud bang had rocked the very foundations of the castle and with it, the foundation of the very power they had subscribed to?

Bit by bit the thunder from across the river had turned into a rumble of the crowd. Alread...

Side Story - Reborn From the Waves

Hermit's Notes: Today, I actually wanted to write an April Fool's chapter, transform my novel into an exploitativepowerfantasy  nonsense harem thing for a day. Then I realized taht I was wasting my, and your, time. So instead, I wrote a side story I've been wanting to write for a while now. This one slots in somewhere in the first book, after Chapter 16 - Three Captains. Enjoy.

At first, he had been engulfed in a storm of feelings. He had felt pain, regret, desperation, ...