** authors note **
This is the start of the short story I said would come. Expect a chapter a week at first, anywhere between 1400 and 2200 words.
** -- **
In the middle of a vast stretch of dusty wasteland, a stream of small white skeletons poured out of a crevice in the ground. Silent and quiet only the clicking of their bones against each other made any sound.
"Run, and this time don't stop!' A scream tore through the silence, and a taller skeletal figure rushed awa...
2021-05-02 19:10:09 +0000 UTC
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Kernstalion:
So, I hope you've enjoyed Kernstalion book one! Chapter 82 marks the end of what became an over eight hundred pages long story that started with a simple idea I had. It's also my longest book and the first one I plotted instead of pantsed. For those who don't know what that means: some writers just sit down and write a story without any planning ahead. You will find many D&D dungeon masters amongst those. Others have an idea for a plot and work out ever...
2021-04-30 18:55:13 +0000 UTC
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As the temperature rose, the scent of grass after a rainstorm was what finally jogged me awake, and I turned to the trees. The small ones were slightly wilted, the green leaves curled on the edges. Those on the large tree were still green and healthy, and I was stunned by the number of pulsating and growing pods.
Only half…
I sighed as I remembered the souls that had exited into the Primal Chaos. How many of those had been grabbed by the Primal Demons?
There w...
2021-04-30 18:30:16 +0000 UTC
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Est, they are coming through!
Rathica's voice jogged me from my frenzied scraping and cutting, and I looked up. The finished Manticores stood in front of the portal. The second one hadn't turned out like the first but remained a simple and jagged wooden construct.
A steady stream of small white and fiery balls streaked out of the portal, shooting towards the tree with pods and disappearing into them. As soon as one touched a pod, the pod began shivering and glowing. Some ...
2021-04-30 18:29:47 +0000 UTC
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I had expected many things, a massive green world with a towering city or some infinity hall of training rooms, but not what we arrived in. By my best guesstimate from the curve that I saw running away on all sides, we were on a hundred diameter ball of dirt. Above us was a thin blue shell beyond which a chaotic churning mass of stars, energy swirls, and fire raged. In between, massive beings that vaguely reminded me of the demons we saw in the sea. With arms and the backside of a squid, they...
2021-04-24 18:36:52 +0000 UTC
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Without the weight of the pack and with just my ax on my back, I surged forward, my feet ripping out chunks of the grassy soil. Within seconds I was a hundred meters away and still speeding up. Even the wind seemed intent to help me as it pushed me forward. My eyes constantly looked for a smidgen of green in the grey and brown hills. An angry scream came from behind, and I suddenly remembered the insects.
How could I forget those? I wanted to turn back but suppressed the desire. I had t...
2021-04-24 18:35:41 +0000 UTC
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Sumil listened to the loud thudding and shuffling of her pursuers as she crept stealthily from shadow to shadow. Her gaze was fixed on the jagged opening of the box canyon she was hiding in, her skeletal body coiled and ready to spring up and flee. There was no sign of the telltale glow that usually emanated from her bones, which were now a dull, steely blue. She was actively suppressing the light, a skill she had gained from Domain, unbeknownst to the other.
At times like this, she was...
2021-04-20 13:40:55 +0000 UTC
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"Est, slow down!"
I turned around to see the others struggle forward, even Laurel's head hanging down, her breathing coming in sharp, ragged bursts.
A trickle of morning light filtered down the dark foliage above us, enough for Haltir and Eliandra to see where they were going.
Seeing Eliandra barely standing, I cursed. I had been so focused on leaving that I had forgotten to pay attention. Even now, I felt the intense, burning desire to continue on, at the top of my speed. T...
2021-04-18 20:30:47 +0000 UTC
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We continued running for a long time, although we had to slow down within minutes as Eliandra and Haltir couldn't keep up a high pace. When Haltir couldn't move past a tottering jog, I called Laurel.
"We have to stop and rest! Or we can't even fight if we run into something!"
Laurel stopped, turning to look at the others. Her face showed she didn't want to stop, but after a moment, she nodded.
"Fine. We can rest for a few minutes."
Haltir and Eliandra crashed onto the ...
2021-04-18 20:30:03 +0000 UTC
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To my slight astonishment, nothing happened during the night, nor as we traveled through the morning. Haltir seemed in a great mood, jumping around more spry than someone his age had any right to be. Even Laurel seemed less agitated, and the two hadn't had a row since waking up. She and Eliandra were moving in the back, talking softly.
Stepping around another fallen tree, I sniffed.
What's that smell?
It was a sweet, rotten smell, a bit like sewage mixed with fruit....
2021-04-18 20:28:28 +0000 UTC
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"This will be fine," I said, holding onto the rope dangling down the hull with two hands. To my relief, Lark began slowing down and stopped a good distance away from where we had seen the Worg. I didn't know if it would get us out it's territory, but it was worth the try. Any further would take us too far, of course, though. Besides, being dragged behind a magically powered boat wasn't my idea of a fun time.
Looking up, I saw Eliandra stare down, the grin on her face not able to hide th...
2021-04-15 18:12:51 +0000 UTC
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I woke early in the morning, alone. I felt small wood chips poke my arms and belly, wondering how they hadn't woken me in the middle of the night. Shuffling and heavy breathing came from somewhere nearby, and I rubbed my bleary eyes to look around.
Eliandra stood in the middle of the room, wielding two axes and moving through a set of slightly familiar movements. It was still somehow wooden, and I could see she was holding the axes like she would a sword, but I was impressed nonetheless...
2021-04-15 18:11:47 +0000 UTC
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Laurel stared at the door. She was standing as far from the door as was possible on the small ship. Loud chopping and mad roaring came from inside.
"He isn't really listening, is he?" Haltir muttered.
"Quiet. He is distracted now, but if he hears us, he might come charging outside. I'm not sure the two of us could hold him down until it's out of his system," Laurel whispered, her words barely audible above the waves.
Lark, whatever you do, don't speak to Est until I tell...
2021-04-15 18:10:05 +0000 UTC
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Lying on my sleeping bag, Eliandra snug against me, I stared at the dark ceiling. Laurel and Haltir had taken the first watch after a day of sailing and keeping a lookout for any ship in pursuit, though none had come. There were also barely any demons, which was mostly thanks to Lark's navigation. It meant the trip would take half a day or more longer, but I could deal with that trade.
So far, we hadn't heard from Flowheart, and I hoped it stayed that way. I'd sent a message about it to...
2021-04-15 18:09:18 +0000 UTC
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So, after a gruesome day of battling with the great demons called print margins, amazon book upload timeouts, and wrong cover dimensions, I have come out victorious!
Book two in the Nothing but bones series has been uploaded successfully and is slated for a release this coming Friday.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0927J2KQP
For my patrons: Expect the epilogue to be released Thursd...
2021-04-11 17:44:56 +0000 UTC
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Thanks, Joseph, for supporting me! The previous two Kernstalion chapters were extra to show my appreciation. I'll release two on RR early tomorrow.
I can't promise chapters for each new Patron, but I'll try as long as my backlog keeps up.
2021-04-10 21:28:43 +0000 UTC
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I started by examining the main cabin but found it empty. Staring at the empty room, I sighed and left. Even if Eliandra brought back a ton of stuff, Lark was still going to be empty.
Outside, I scanned around the deck and stamped with my foot. A hollow sound came up, so there had to be something below.
Why are you kicking me? Lark asked, sounded slightly aggrieved.
"Not kicking! I'm trying to find out if you have a cargo hold," I retorted.
Of course I do!...
2021-04-10 21:26:20 +0000 UTC
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I woke slowly, my mind seeming to resist the process. At some point, I realized I was lying in a soft bed, covered in blankets. For two seconds, my fuzzy mind convinced me that I must have had a long day at the office and was sleeping in. Then a finger traced the curve of my leg, and my mind snapped fully awake. Right, I thought, blinking a few times before Eliandra's face stopped being blurry. She was leaning on an elbow, using her other hand to trace contours around my stomach and ...
2021-04-10 21:25:28 +0000 UTC
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After walking through the city for a whole afternoon, we eventually returned to the crossroads with the bookstore, as I still wanted to check it out. We were planning to find a place to eat after that before returning to the temple. If Eliandra's heated gaze meant anything, we were likely going to do something interesting after that.
It wasn't as busy anymore, and we agreed it was probably because most people were working whatever jobs they had. Still, groups of scantily dressed men and...
2021-04-08 17:06:43 +0000 UTC
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"Come again," I said as I scrambled up and looked at Rathica in disbelief. She had not just said what I thought I heard.
"You heard right, Est," Rathica said as she looked at me in sympathy. "Most of the other humans are either dead or captured by Preyatar or Lischen."
"How? Why?" Eliandra's angry shouts mirrored my thoughts perfectly.
Rathica looked between us, and for the first time that I knew of, she hesitated. Then she glanced at the entrance for a moment, and ...
2021-04-08 17:03:03 +0000 UTC
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"No, you divine failure. When you showed up, I helped you against those three old monsters, and look what it got me." Flowheart spoke in cold, even tones, frost crystals hanging in the air around her. "She is my Prime. When you came and asked me to make her one, I agreed as she showed promise. And now-"
"Now what," Rathica snapped back as she glared at the smaller deity. "You don't even want her, and the only reason you turned her into a Prime is that I told you of the potentia...
2021-04-08 17:01:15 +0000 UTC
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The trip back to the temple district took half the time, but it was almost completely dark when we arrived. The only light was provided by the sconces set in the walls, a yellowish glow to guide our way. Well, Eliandra and Haltir's way.
Looking around, I could see almost as well as during the day, just in grey tints, and I was enjoying my night vision a lot as I gazed to the left, down into the city with its innumerable small flickering lights.
Eliandra and I were still walking si...
2021-04-08 17:00:41 +0000 UTC
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I strained to push the rear of the three-meter wide cart forward, trying to ignore the awful smell of the two guards beside me as they groaned and cursed. The cart was moving like a snail as we pushed from the back to help it across the last part of the slope leading to the temple road.
"Almost there, just a little longer!" Haltir shouted from his spot at the front of the wagon. A deep, rumbling moo came from the same area, as the Charbull strained as much as we did.
A section of ...
2021-04-08 16:59:46 +0000 UTC
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Laurel fell in line with me as we walked through the massive room.
"So, you do know they won't just let us inside a temple to look around?" she said.
"Don't worry, I think I know the perfect temple to go and have a look," I replied, quickening my step as I realized Eliandra might be here.
A short while later, we moved along the line of temples until we reached that of Flowheart. I didn't see any guards outside, and scanning inside through the stone-carved entrance showed a s...
2021-04-08 16:59:04 +0000 UTC
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"Come on, Lisle! You know how good my cooking is. Accept already. You know you want to!" Crow-feet said, smiling at the nimble-looking waitress who stood beside our table. She shook her head, her partially purple-dyed pony-tail flailing around aggressively.
"No! Last time was horrible," the waitress said in a disgusted voice. "Besides. You know what I said," she glanced at Laurel and me before bending over to whisper something in Crow-feet's ear.
Crow-feet sighed and shook his hea...
2021-04-08 16:58:37 +0000 UTC
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The water took forever to rise; at least, that's what it felt like as we stood on the deck. From above us, dozens of heads kept poking over the edge to stare down on us. Some seemed impressed, but not all. A helmeted man's face was the one that had me most worried. He looked down at regular intervals, and I could almost see him check if both of us were still there.
"Do you think your pet got away?" Laurel asked, referring to Redtooth.
I stopped looking up and scanned the rough wat...
2021-04-08 16:58:04 +0000 UTC
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For an entire day and night, we continued underwater, beset by demon-squids on all sides. When it was late in the morning of the next day, I sat wearily on the prow, looking ahead for the next batch of demon-squids. Redtooth was swimming beside the bubble. The Manytooth had found us in the middle of the night, somehow having managed to get past the demons. He was larger than before, almost half again as long, and from the moment he arrived, most of the demon-squids had stayed away.
My t...
2021-04-08 16:57:12 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys,
First, a big shout out to WorkForFood for supporting me! Welcome, and I hope you enjoy the things I write!
Beyond that, Kernstalion has almost caught up with Royalroad, and I'm going to release those and all of my (edited)backlog here Sunday. After that, I'll post the chapters I write imidiatly after they are edited.
Finally, two things on Nothing but bones:
I'm having some difficulties with the third and final story involving Solus as the main characte...
2021-04-01 07:59:19 +0000 UTC
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I stared silently at the sleek vessel that hung motionless in the water in front of us, stunned by the voice that had just bubbled up in my mind. It was cold and slimy and brought images of swamps and coiling slithering shapes.
"You created a sentient ship?" Laurel said in awe.
Don't compare me with those pathetic unnatural minds, the ship hissed. I am far sssuperior to them, even in this odd form!
I swallowed and quickly summoned my status window.
&g...
2021-04-01 07:45:51 +0000 UTC
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We searched around, and for the next hour, all we did was move from vegetation to vegetation as I absorbed the life energy inside.
When my health bar finally moved back to full, I sighed in relief. Scabs were peeling from my arms, drifting away, and as I flexed my shoulders and back I felt a horrible itch on it. I tried scratching it off but couldn't reach the middle. In the end, I had to rub my back against the cliff until the itch was gone. I left behind a dark, brown patch of skin cr...
2021-04-01 07:45:16 +0000 UTC
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