Note from Tom: Michael's player info at the end of Chapter 527.
Level: 243. Rank: 24. Current Health: 100%.
Stamina: 100%. Mana: 100%. Psi: 100%.
Species: Human. Lives Remaining: 4. Ghost’s Lives Remaining: 4.
Active Pacts: 6 / 20.
True Marks: Powerful Initiate.
True Marks (hidden): Worthy Adversary, Wolf Protector, Wo...
2024-10-25 17:06:17 +0000 UTC View PostThe thieves’ pamphlet was a quick read.
It contained a rundown of the underworld’s structures, its officers, and the guild’s code of conduct, which unsurprisingly, was not very stringent, and by the end, I could not claim to have learned much of value.
Importantly, though, my perusal triggered a response from the game.
You have completed the task: The...
2024-10-25 16:31:02 +0000 UTC View Post“I’ve come to a decision,” I said as I walked back into the cavern.
Safyre and Adriel’s expressions were resigned. They weren’t expecting good news, I realized.
“You two were right,” I stated bluntly. “Rescuing Saya must wait.”
Adriel’s brows rose, Safyre’s mouth dropped open in shock, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shael shift uncomfortably. Only...
2024-10-19 08:58:47 +0000 UTC View PostThe task of hauling the scales fell not unexpectedly to Shael, Anriq, and myself. That was not to say, Adriel and Safyre did nothing. Working in tandem, the pair kept a portal open between the cave and the surface, and even Ghost was put to work, hauling a sled.
Working thus, we made steady progress, and by the end of the first hour, nearly all of the scales had been successfully relocate...
2024-10-18 04:08:23 +0000 UTC View PostI took Adriel’s pledge first, but I didn’t just induct her into the faction, I assigned her to office too.
You have accepted Adriel, a non-player, into the Forerunners faction and have furthermore appointed her to the role of custodian. Only a custodian may create items bearing a faction’s name.
Note, the custodian designation is a hidden one that cann...
2024-10-16 07:13:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all,
This year, I entered the Grand Game in the Self Publishing Fantasy Blog Off competition run by Mark Lawrence. If you're keen, check out the initial review of it here. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgLyuAmvaFw&t=959s
2024-10-12 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe target is a nether portal leading to sector 107 of the Endless Dungeon. Warning: an unidentified stygian infestation has taken root in the ley line connected to this gateway. Infection type: unknown. The portal may still be used, however the consequences of doing so cannot be predicted.
Remaining time until the infestation is purged: 4 hours. 2024-10-12 05:58:55 +0000 UTC View Post
A level 236 stygian naga has died.
A level 240 stygian naga has died.
A level 241 stygian naga has died.
You and Ghost have reached level 243!
For achieving rank 24, you have been awarded 1 additional attribute point and 1 Class point.
Your sneaking has reached rank 23 and ...
2024-10-10 13:07:54 +0000 UTC View PostThe naga fell on me like a ton of bricks, its weight crushing.
A level 241 naga has critically injured you!
Your health is now at 42%.
Trapped by the naga above and the solid cushion of air beneath, my bones broke. My body compressed. My eyes popped. The air from my lungs was squeezed out. And the pressure… the pressure ratcheted upward with...
2024-10-09 14:32:07 +0000 UTC View PostThe windslide took us all the way to the edge of Adriel’s black dome which flickered off just as we arrived.
Great timing, I thought, scanning the surroundings. The survivors of the second stygian pack, while still sizable in number, remained scattered. They were of no threat yet. The pursuing serpents and hydras from the first pack, on the other hand, were closing in rapi...
2024-10-04 12:17:35 +0000 UTC View PostBefore the stygian naga’s attack hit, I managed another buff. And once again, it was not vanish.
You have cast enhanced reflexes, increasing your Dexterity by +16 for 20 minutes.
I wanted the stygians to see me; I wanted them to focus their attacks on me rather than my allies. The battle would be easier that way.&nbs...
2024-10-03 10:18:47 +0000 UTC View Post
The German edition of The Grand Game, Book 6 has been released and is available on amazon.de
2024-10-02 17:07:23 +0000 UTC View PostI tossed Shael a nether protection crystal. “You don’t have to use it but keep it somewhere safe.”
The half-elf stared incredulously at the object in his hand. “You’re taking me into the nether?”
“Not quite,” I replied. “The void is present in the sector we’re going to, but we won’t be staying long.”
“I don’t understand any of th...
2024-10-02 16:06:52 +0000 UTC View PostYou have acquired 6 x greater portal scrolls.
You have lost 3,000 gold coins.
Before leaving the emporium, I restocked my supply of portal scrolls, almost draining my remaining funds to the dregs. Money was tight again, unfortunately, but the added mobility the scrolls gave me made their hefty price tags worth it.
“Bad news?” Shael asked a...
2024-09-28 03:45:16 +0000 UTC View PostYou have teleported 97 yards. You are hidden.
I teleported out of the Crooked Man using the furthest mindglow visible in my consciousness. I’d been tempted, for just a moment, to stay within the confines of the tavern and exact revenge on Dinara’s men.
That would’ve been petty though—not to mention dangerous.
But more importantly, it wouldn’t have se...
2024-09-26 07:08:03 +0000 UTC View PostEsteban continued to yap excitedly, but I no longer heeded him. The arcane markings along the tablet’s edge were moving and, here and there, had begun combining to form recognizable letters.
Keeping my gaze fixed on the artifact, I waited to see what it had to say. After what seemed like entirely too long, the text fully resolved itself, and I scanned through it feverishly. <...
2024-09-23 06:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe den chief’s office was huge but surprisingly lacking in the opulence of the rest of the level. Bookshelves lined the walls, a sturdy leather rug lay underfoot, and magelights floated near the ceiling. It was the large oak desk on the opposite side of the room that dominated the space, though. Sitting behind it and facing the door was a gray-haired man.
Dinara.
The mom...
2024-09-22 07:43:37 +0000 UTC View PostNote from Tom: Minor update made to correct issue picked up.
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You have cast mimic, transforming your visage into that of Jasiah, a level 152 human duelist. Duration: 10 hours.
You have cast enhanced reflexes, load controller, and tr...
2024-09-20 04:18:36 +0000 UTC View PostYou have unlocked an unmarked chest with a key card.
The chest didn’t hold one million. Studying the paltry contents, I could immediately tell it was less than that—a lot less.
“Two bags,” I muttered. Why in hells are there only two?
“What’s in the pouches?” Shael asked, peering over my shoulder.
“Stygia...
2024-09-18 06:56:17 +0000 UTC View Post“I told you I’m here to help—” Esteban began.
“Forgive me, but that hardly seems likely.” Flexing my hands, I took a menacing step forward.
The count didn’t miss the implicit threat but nor did he back away. “If you kill me, there’ll be no getting out of here for you,” he blurted.
I shrugged and took another step. “At least I’ll get to enjoy the taste o...
2024-09-15 07:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostYou have successfully dominated Shael, a level 121 half-elf red minstrel. Duration: permanent until death.
Warning: you have cast enslave twice in one day and cannot recast it again today. The blood memory requires a full sleep cycle to recharge.
Releasing my grip on Shael’s shoulders, I staggered back and nearly fell. The dizziness from casting e...
2024-09-14 05:27:53 +0000 UTC View PostYou have acquired a cache of 28 miscellaneous items.
You have acquired all 30 farspeaker bracelets that form part of the matching set named: Sintar’s link.
Looting the corpses was as unappealing and tedious as I expected. Some of the equipment the thieves carried was intriguing, but ultimately nothing I looted was superior to my own gear. In fact,...
2024-09-12 07:42:57 +0000 UTC View PostNote from Tom:
Hi all.
This post is something a bit different. Some of you may recognize it—it's the opening scene of a short story I wrote for a LitRPG anthology a while back—now, I'm thinking of reviving it and running with it (developing it into a full novel). The story has potential, I think.
As for why I'm doing this... This is strictly ...
2024-09-10 17:32:17 +0000 UTC View PostThere was no easy way to deal with Narq and Agtor.
Killing the pair would be simple enough but slaying them before they could cry out in warning—whether verbally or through the farspeaker link—was going to be a little trickier. I would have to rely heavily on both my stealth and speed.
The other two players in the room were not an issue though. Reaching out with my...
2024-09-10 07:34:32 +0000 UTC View PostFive minutes later, Hugo and I entered the building where Shael waited.
“Who’s this?” the bard demanded, shooting to his feet.
“My minion,” I replied laconically.
“Your minion—?” Shael’s mouth snapped closed and a moment later, a Game message dropped open in my mind.
Your blood-bound slave has been analyzed.
Now that’s inter...
2024-09-08 05:06:34 +0000 UTC View PostThe bard stared at me. “You can’t be serious? You can’t really expect the two of us to take on twenty players by ourselves!”
“I said at least twenty. There may be more,” I murmured. “And it’s better if I did this alone.”
“Saya was right, you are crazy,” Shael muttered under his breath. In a louder voice, he added, “I’m not letting you do this on yo...
2024-09-06 06:49:21 +0000 UTC View PostI stared at the garment sitting on the table but made no move to take it, admittedly more than a little surprised by how easily Kesh was offering up one of the emporium’s famed red robes.
“That’s it? You’re just giving it to me? With no strings attached?”
“I trust Safyre to use it wisely,” Kesh said simply. “She understands the danger, not just to me, but her f...
2024-08-31 06:57:09 +0000 UTC View Post
That's right, the audiobook is done, uploaded to audible, and ready for pre-order. It isn't quite synced with the e-book release, but 11 days apart isn't too bad. :)
Check out the link if you want to pre-order.
2024-08-30 02:24:40 +0000 UTC View Post“Tell me,” Kesh said.
Gathering my thoughts, I wondered how to phrase my request, then realized it was best to just come out and say it. “Safyre needs her robes back.”
Kesh’s eyes widened. “She wants to rejoin the emporium?”
I shook my head. “No. She wants to borrow a set.”
The old merchant frowned. “That’s not the way it works.”
“I k...
Hi everyone,
Ancient Debts, book 7 in the Grand Game series, is out, or rather the hardcover edition is. Michael has finally rejoined the wider Game, resulting in some unexpected twists and turns. For those who prefer physical paper, you can read all about it in the hardcover edition (out now) or ...