How should the interlude chapters be handled?

Cognosticon here, announcement time. Chapters will resume next week on the normal schedule, but I'm taking today to cover longer issues. Skim for info that may be interesting to you, plus some key developments and ultimately the poll.

As I said before, my new pledge to readers is that I will continue at least through the fourth arc. You've now seen the conclusion of the third arc, so I can say that the fourth book will take the characters to Cloudspire, to deal with some major plot threads.

Darkmist Honeymoon

First, however, we have in interim period, which introduces a potential problem. Not really spoilers: the characters get to go to Darkmist Island and nothing terrible happens for once. This brings us to split opinions: some readers hate when anything whatsoever is skipped, while some want absolutely all downtime to be skipped. I don't think it's possible to make both groups completely happy.

My solution was to place chapters 358-367 into a novella that takes place between the third and fourth books/arcs. During this period they do some training and fight some monsters, but there's no plot-critical material. You could pick up the story with chapter 368 without being confused, as the chapters before and after somewhat cover what happens. There are some story beats that do happen during this part, such as Kai becoming completely immune to Omilaena's strongest poisons and eating a new monster that will play a minor role later, but nothing that would be confusing to miss.

So the reason for this poll is so patrons can vote for which they prefer. Spend two weeks posting these chapters like normal, or jump to the action and start on the fourth arc? In the latter case, these chapters would still be made available on Patreon, which brings me to...

Patreon Bonus Content

What I promise is that I'll finish the fourth arc here, but I would prefer for this project to be viable in the long term if possible. To that end, during this arc I will be making more attempts to make things work. That will include an Amazon release as well as Royalroad ads, but I'm also added more content to the Patreon in an effort to entice readers.

To that end, the $25 tier now includes access to bonus content (links here). This could include side stories, and this will also be the place for NSFW content, since readers were so split on including that. The main story will continue with the current levels of fade-to-black sexuality you've seen so far, while more will be available if you want. Might also add system stuff if it's wanted.

Right now I've uploaded the following:

• Chapter 337.5 - Since this was much-requested by patrons, I've written out a "bonus chapter" that's the conversation between Zae Zin Nim and Omilaena at the Kama Altar. It takes place in the night between the other two chapters and is SFW.

• Hidden Services at the Potion Shop - This is a NSFW Kai/Juray scene from back in the first book.

• Firsts at the Kama Altar - Another NSFW scene, Kai and Zae Zin Nim's first time.

The mainline Darkmist Honeymoon chapters are SFW, but there will be a NSFW version as well that will join this content. I have a minimum plan to keep expanding the bonus content at this level, which I will follow, and then at some point I'll have to decide.

If people are enthusiastic enough, I can take requests and keep expanding it. Patreon also keeps bugging me to use the new "pay for one post" method. I can activate it for these if people want just one or two, but I'm inclined not to unless people like that idea.

Right now I'm committed to giving this story my best shot as a professional endeavor. If it doesn't work out or I can't continue this way, we may have to discuss a different chapter rate or conclusion. But regardless, what I definitely promise is the conclusion of the fourth story arc.