I spent what felt like hours telling Soren about Adalinda, how we’d met, and our bond, but in reality, it was only a few minutes. I told him about the spirit binding the Game had performed between us, the way dad’s ring had melted into me, and how Adalinda appeared as a living mist when I activated the artifact.
“So, let me get this straight,” he said when I was finished. “Your ...
2024-01-27 08:47:17 +0000 UTC View PostFor a long moment, I said nothing.
This was the conversation I had been dreading since I’d activated the Class stone. It was a necessary one, though.
If I wanted to mend the breach in my relationship with Soren, I had to find a way to get him to come to terms with who I was now. Taking a deep breath, I ordered my thoughts. “What do you want to know?”
“Why enter the Gam...
2024-01-27 08:46:51 +0000 UTC View PostIt took us the better part of the day to reach our destination, but that was more a function of excessive caution on our part than the distance we had to travel. Not sure who we could trust, we kept to the back alleys and avoided anyone we knew.
The morning’s events had left matters strained between the three of us. Each time I considered rectifying things, I would catch the questioning...
2024-01-27 08:42:49 +0000 UTC View PostWe didn’t have long to get ready.
Alon was right about the courtyard being the perfect killing ground, and if there hadn’t been such a disparity in numbers between the Devils and us, I would’ve even applauded his choice.
But the odds were far from even. And there were too many unknowns.
Right now, it was probably only the Devils’ lead group out there, creeping through ...
2024-01-27 08:32:48 +0000 UTC View PostThe early morning sun warmed my back as we weaved through the streets of the poor quarter of Mesina. The Devils were hot on our trail and had been since we left the shack that had been Soren and my home since… well, since forever.
We moved quickly, but the howls and shouts coming from behind did not dissipate. Cantos—the not-so-ironically named ‘Butcher’ and Devils’ leader—mus...
2024-01-27 08:31:19 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all,
After a trying few weeks and many sleepless nights, I've finally re-edited and, where necessary, rewritten Empyrean 2. If you read the earlier version, you will notice that huge chunks of t...
2024-01-27 08:25:05 +0000 UTC View PostDay Thirty in Draven’s Reach
All eyes in the room were on me, and along the edges, I sensed the guards jerk into belated movement.
“Back,” the marshal snapped. “Hold your positions.”
Thank you, Elron. Once more, the marshal was showing me more trust than I thought I warranted. “Ready Ghost?”
“I am,” she replied serenely, keepi...
2024-01-27 07:09:29 +0000 UTC View PostHi all,
Just to keep everyone updated, this week's grand game chapters will be delayed until Saturday. I'm in the middle of the final editing slog for Empyrean 2 before the upload deadline on Friday.
Please bear with me. :)
Regarding Empyrean 2 - I've extensively re-edited the story, and some parts I've re-written completely. Should I repost the chapters? If there is enough...
Rumors traveled fast, and a host of orcish and dwarven dignitaries waylaid us en route to the council hall. Before the chief, thane, or myself had a chance to exchange more than curt farewells, the pair were swept away.
“We must talk later,” Lorn called over his shoulder. “The council will meet in the morning. Make sure you are there.”
“I will,” I shouted back before he ...
2024-01-22 09:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostI sagged down onto the corpse. “Well, that wasn’t too hard, was it?” I murmured.
Ghost looked at me askance, unable to tell if I was joking.
Chuckling, I labored back to my feet and checked the waiting Game messages.
You and Ghost have reached level 204!
Your shortswords has reached rank 19, and your chi rank 17.
My skills ha...
2024-01-18 09:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostNot unexpectedly, I failed to charm Castor, but it was not him I had intended on bewitching anyway.
“Attack,” I barked, tugging on the mental leash I’d wrapped around the minds of the warrior and two scouts. Lorn and Stormhammer, I gave an altogether different command. “Flee,” I instructed the moment their chains fell free from the warrior’s hands.
My f...
2024-01-17 09:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostGhost had as little trouble with her half of the skirmish as I had. She, though, did not suffer any of the possessed to live.
Your familiar has killed 9 hostile entities.
Your deception has reached rank 19.
Ghost’s magma maw has reached rank 3 and her stygian claws rank 4.
“Should I chase him?” the pyre wo...
2024-01-16 09:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostDirk told me everything I wanted to know, and more.
The possessed described the layout of the next level, the location of Castor’s personal chamber, and even the elite’s daily routine. So eager was the healer to please that he described in minute detail every trap and ward between me and my target.
“Do you think he told you the truth?” Lorn asked when the possessed was done....
2024-01-15 18:17:35 +0000 UTC View PostFreeing Lorn and the other orcs was only the work of a few minutes. Healing them all was beyond me, however—which was why I had spared Dirk in the first place.
“What is that thing?” I heard one of the newly freed orcs mumble.
“Some sort of devil dog,” the dwarf helping him muttered.
“If you ask me it looks like a stygian,” another said. A pause. “We should kill...
2024-01-12 09:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostYou have killed 10 hostile entities.
Ghost has killed 4 hostile entities.
You and Ghost have reached level 202!
It did not take long for me and Ghost to mop up. When we were done, fourteen more corpses littered the chamber, including all of the original possessed torturers. Only Dirk remained alive.
Deliberately so.
<... 2024-01-11 09:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostYou have evaded Arcla’s attack.
Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.
Heavy, hobnailed boots skidded past, missing me by only inches. I exhaled noiselessly. That was too close, I thought.
Ghost thought so too, and through the familiar bond, I felt her sudden alarm.
“I’m alright,...
2024-01-10 09:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post“You’ve found the tunnel entrance?” Ghost guessed.
“I have,” I replied, turning back to Lorn. The New Haven councilor was in a bad way, but there was nothing I could do for him.
I had three health potions left, having given the rest to Adriel and Farren in preparation for the fight against the harbinger, but trying to get one to Lorn meant revealing mysel...
2024-01-09 09:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostMultiple hostile entities have failed to detect you!
Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you!
In the end, navigating the barracks proved as easy as I expected.
My biggest fear had been being interrupted by a change of watch or a chance-waking guard, but thankfully neither of those eventualities materialized.
Dragging myself p...
2024-01-08 09:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostYou have cast heightened reflexes, load controller, fade, and trigger-cast quick mend.
With my buffs in place, I rose to my feet anew and peered through the small window.
Five hostile entities have failed to detect you!
The guards had resumed their card game, and no one was looking my way. It was time to act. Drawing psi, I flooded their minds...
2024-01-06 12:15:47 +0000 UTC View PostThe stairs leading down to the fortress’ storerooms were guarded, at least in principle. The two soldiers on duty were slovenly and their uniforms unkempt. The door beyond them hung open and both held mugs of ale in their hands.
Getting past would be easy, and for a moment I was tempted to simply stroll past the pair, but prudence won out in the end. Slowing down, I checked my surroundi...
2024-01-06 12:14:29 +0000 UTC View PostSlumber’s sentinel activated. Caster awakened.
My first response was relief. The ward had activated. And it had not harmed me.
Trepidation followed on its heels. Things were going too well. Was this a trap?
It isn’t. It’s just nerves. Brushing aside the feeling, I pushed open the door and stepped across the threshold.
The room was...
2024-01-06 12:13:20 +0000 UTC View PostMultiple unknown entities have failed to pierce your disguise.
The Game message reassured me, as did the soldiers’ open expressions. Neither was suspicious—yet.
“Duty calls, as always,” I replied with an easy smile as I drew to a halt before the guards.
“You have come with more news about that player, haven’t you?” the second guard guessed shrewd...
2024-01-06 12:12:02 +0000 UTC View PostEDITING NOTE: I've made some changes to Ghost's familiar data for balance reasons, and reposted chapter 390 and 390. You might want to skim over them when you can!
________________________________________________________________________
“I have a few ideas on how to go about that,” Elron said.
I studied him curiously. “You do?”
Elron laughed. ...
2024-01-06 12:10:39 +0000 UTC View PostCompliments of the season and happy new year everyone!
2024 is upon us, and all the best to you and yours. I'm back (obviously :P) and will be resuming the Grand Game story. You can expect regular updates on Patreon from hereon out. But first, some news.
A lot has happened in the last two months, sadly not all of it good. The biggest change and the one with the greatest impact is th...
2024-01-06 06:55:55 +0000 UTC View PostPlayer Profile: Elana Shanis
Level: 34. Rank: 3. Current Health: 100%.
Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.
Species: Human. Lives Remaining*: 2.
Marks: Lesser Light. Lesser Dark.
Attributes
Available: 0 points.
Strength: 0. Con...
2023-12-12 09:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostAmelia, here :)
This is the final chapter of Empyrean's Flight! Thanks so much to everyone who read with me and gave feedback. The final book will be out on 31 December, don't forget to place your preorder here.
****
I closed my eyes and braced for the attack of the elemental.
But it never came.
Opening my lids slowly, I saw Adalinda hanging onto the fist of the boss. Her teeth sunk into the gems, I saw some blood trickle from her jaw, and the elemental swinging its arm around to try and get her off.
But the celestial clung on for her life—and mine. Readying light’s fury once ...
2023-11-30 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post“Soren,” I whispered, pulling my brother back as we walked toward the large wooden door leading out of the chamber. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Trust me, sis,” he said equally softly. “If he can lead us to this treasure, then maybe we can get it for ourselves and kill him later.”
“That’s…” I started, pausing to think of the right word. “That’s quite d...
2023-11-29 08:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post“You have acquired your final reward,” the woman continued. “Please come forward to receive it.”
Not seeing any change in the chamber, I assumed she meant we would need to walk toward her. The three of us stepped forward slowly and, when we reached about a foot away from her face, she started speaking again.
“A player, non-player, and celestial companion,” she said. “Y...
2023-11-28 08:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostAmelia, here! :) This chapter was a little difficult to write, as I had to take some time to think about how the final trial would go down. Let me know what you think!
****
From the corner of my eye, a bright light shone through the door of the hovel. I felt it calling to me and, stepping outside, found myself back in the nymph forest. The trees were swaying softly in a win...
2023-11-23 07:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post