Tarl, Berdol, and Olander stand near the trunk of the Tree of Cycles, all of them nicely warmed up by the encounters. I could have probably tipped them more toward tired, since I don’t expect any actual fights with my denizens, but it’ll probably be better for them to still have energy for inspecting the spawners. And for probably a few fights. I can tell them about the ne...
2025-11-14 03:14:47 +0000 UTC View Post“Stop pouting, Boss.”
I’m… mostly not pouting.
Teemo chuckles as he sits atop my core, as if I could somehow move it without him knowing, or relaying the order himself. “Oh, ok. It sure looks a lot like pouting, which is pretty impressive, all things considered.”
I suppress the chuckle at that, and try to keep up my definitely-not-a-pout. ...
2025-11-11 02:11:13 +0000 UTC View PostCount Schmitty Werber Jager Manjenson the First relaxes in his carriage, swirling a glass of wine in his hand as he muses on the events of the day. He had only attended the supposed funeral on a whim, deciding his territory near Meeting was safe enough for him to take a week or so off. Not that the city-state causes much trouble, but the Principalities and the Holds both like to probe for wea...
2025-11-10 01:27:51 +0000 UTC View Post__________
Olander
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This may have been the most stressful ‘vacation’ he’s ever had. He’s going to need some good delves to recover his nerves and vent all this energy from having to do nothing for so long!
Is this what it’s like for Thedeim? Is this what it’s like for the King? If he gets s...
2025-11-07 03:01:33 +0000 UTC View Post______
Pul
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He hopes everything is going well. The thieves are mostly laying low while the funeral happens, though there are still a few out being eyes and ears. Life doesn’t stop for a bit of death, and that’s especially true for the thieves.
Though if things go well, the guild won’t be seeing another sunset. His own...
2025-11-04 03:46:21 +0000 UTC View PostKardul spends more time than he'd like to admit at the inn, sipping tea and chatting with Halae. She knows a lot of the places around the city, including an alchemy supplier he should check with: the Bounteous Cauldron. She hasn't been there herself, but she's overheard a few customers mention it. It's a fair ways across the city, but should be popular enough he can get better directions onc...
2025-11-03 01:48:33 +0000 UTC View PostI feel kinda bad for the Earl. It’s difficult to feel too bad, though, as I can literally read his transgressions as they etch themselves into his skin. I’m not happy to see him writhing in pain on the floor like that, but it’s also the consequences of his own actions. Not that everyone seems to agree with me.
His maid must think Kennith is attacking the E...
2025-10-31 01:59:27 +0000 UTC View Post__________
Rezlar
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He looks down at his father, in more than one sense. Some small part of him had hoped he had somehow not been involved. But the look of shock is all the proof he needs. It’s not a happy shock, of seeing a tragedy avoided. It’s the shock of a tragedy to come.
“You look surprised, father, bu...
2025-10-27 01:25:35 +0000 UTC View PostThere won't be a chapter monday because I'll be spending the time with my mom for her birthday. But, before anyone considers rioting, I'll be posting the new chapter here, later today, too. And, to give a bit of meat to this peek, how about the pho recipe I'm making her?
For those not in the know, pho is very similar to ramen, which is a comparison that those who are in the kno...
2025-10-26 22:53:00 +0000 UTC View Post___________________________________________
Earl Paulte Heindarl Bulifinor Magnamtir if'Gofnar
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The Earl smiles as he gazes into the mirror. Platinum accents were definitely the correct choice. Black and platinum with just a few little splashes of blue make for a sombre and dignified suit t...
2025-10-24 01:10:00 +0000 UTC View PostI didn’t expect so many people to show up. We didn’t exactly give a whole lot of time, so I was expecting the people who would want to be there would mostly be locals. Considering how many are nobles… it’s probably the Earl’s doing.
That tickles my paranoia a bit, but I probably should have expected something like this. I don’t think it’ll mess with the pla...
2025-10-21 01:56:05 +0000 UTC View PostKardul greets the dawn with an eager smile. He has the permit to start Lord Thedeim's new church here in Horlon City, so now he just needs to get the deed. But first, he should get something to eat. If he's going to be negotiating for a land contract with the owner, he'll need the energy to do so.
Thankfully, the inn has a small restaurant attached, and though it's certainly no Cobble ...
2025-10-20 01:19:53 +0000 UTC View Post_________
Aranya
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A short red kobold strides through the cathedral, her white silk robe subtly billowing, yet never obstructing the pendant at her neck with a small orange orb attached. It’s probably a bit vain of her to use the trickle of mana to achieve the dramatic effect, but walking through what will soon be Lord Thedeim’s public...
2025-10-17 02:26:51 +0000 UTC View PostI somehow always manage to forget to tell Patreon specifically about the stubs as the same time as other places, but here it is now, hopefully not too late for any of you to make your own preparations. Book four will be removed November seventh, which means up to the chapter the Earl gets Thedeim's letter of welcome. Kindle is very specific about not letting other digital options exist, but t...
2025-10-14 02:11:31 +0000 UTC View Post_________
Jana
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The timing needs to be perfect, but it’s not something she can simply rely on a clock for. She has to watch the Head Maid, but not look like she’s watching her. With someone like that, it’s far easier said than done.
Luckily for her, she’s not on her own. Even better, she can rely on Gerlfi’s gr...
2025-10-14 02:02:58 +0000 UTC View PostSue lays next to the spawner, the compies swarming and playing around her as she thinks. Teemo said a lot of the new scions need some time to adjust, and she wonders if she's going through that, or even more. Or something slightly different, even.
Teemo told her not to worry too much about her name, but that's one of the few things that makes sense to her. It's a simple name, one that ...
2025-10-12 23:32:00 +0000 UTC View Post________
Miller
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The ashen elf looks in the mirror, noticing just how little he had to add to make himself look appropriately upset. He knows the Young Master would hardly be safer than in Thedeim’s Sanctum, but he still worries. Said worry is tempered with pride in him working so hard, but that doesn’t remove his concerns.
___________________________________________
Earl Paulte Heindarl Bulifinor Magnamtir if'Gofnar
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“Is everyone ready?” he asks Jondar, not bothering with pretending the elf is the one in charge here. The so-called Guildmaster looks out over the yard at the gathered adventurers, checking them against the...
2025-10-07 01:48:16 +0000 UTC View PostOrder doesn't often get to be bemused, so he enjoys it while it lasts as Thedeim tries to get his attention by shaking the quest notification. Who even gets the idea to try it? Thedeim, clearly. Still, it's not difficult to guess why the odd dungeon and young deity would try to get his attention without coming by or otherwise sending a proper message: he's about to progress with the spawner....
2025-10-06 01:06:22 +0000 UTC View Post______
Pul
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He really hopes Thedeim knows what he’s doing. It seems pretty likely, and he doubts the dungeon would just have him actually kill his friend, but he still worries. On the brighter side, he can feel part of the incoming advancement shift away from the assassination aspect of the ninja when he sends Rezlar over th...
2025-10-03 01:26:23 +0000 UTC View PostTempting as it is to immediately go play with my new toy, I should make sure things are going smoothly before I get nice and distracted. It only takes me a few moments to look around and see the kids have already left safely. I can only assume Freddie and Rhonda are off to the adventurer’s guild, or maybe to Miller. Pul should be at the thief HQ reporting in, too.
I ca...
2025-09-30 01:58:57 +0000 UTC View PostKardul tries to keep his nerves in check as he gazes at the elven capital city of Horlon. As an elf himself, he should feel welcome, but he hopes to bring Change with him. A well-established city like Horlon is often very resistant to Change. His hand moves up to the pendant and the small orange glass marble hanging from it, calming his nerves as he takes a moment to meditate at the top of the ...
2025-09-29 02:24:01 +0000 UTC View PostWell that’s not ominous at all. Especially not with Tiny suddenly wanting my attention, too. Teemo?
“On it, Boss. I’ll be back in a few minutes, Rezlar. Tiny needs something, and I bet it has to do with whatever you saw.”
The elf looks uncomfortable, but simply nods in reply before turning his attention back to my core. His eyes don’t unfocus ...
2025-09-26 02:00:55 +0000 UTC View Post_________
Rezlar
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He’s been in Teemo’s shortcuts before, but something about this one feels special. It might be the healing slime and handful of magmyrm following him, or Fluffles leading the way. If he’s honest with himself, it’s probably because he’s almost positive it leads to the Secret Sanctum.
How many have la...
2025-09-23 01:38:29 +0000 UTC View PostMarle awakens with a smile and says a little prayer to Thedeim before getting out of bed. She would have never thought she'd willingly follow a dungeon after getting free of the Maw, but Thedeim is not just any dungeon. Not only did He save her people, but He gave her a new and wonderful class, an actual hauler advancement!
The kobold hops out of her small bed and washes herself up a bi...
2025-09-22 00:40:05 +0000 UTC View Post_________
Rezlar
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It’s time. He and his friends stand just outside the gates to Lord Thedeim’s territory, each building their courage for what they’re about to do. To onlookers, they appear to be steeling themselves for their most challenging delve yet. Each of them has their best kit, with even Pul having a few nice bit...
2025-09-19 02:19:08 +0000 UTC View PostI don’t quite convince Order to practice evil laughter together, but we’re both on the same page with the Earl, so that’s almost as good. I dunno exactly what Order is going to do to the Earl for this, but I know it’s not going to be something the Earl will enjoy, and that’s good enough for me.
As for my end… I think it’s about go time. I could try to buffalo the...
2025-09-16 02:33:07 +0000 UTC View PostShe is trapped.
She is not sure how that happened, but she is still trapped without comprehending how. Perhaps this is why most of the denizens sent on expedition are able to fly, or to tunnel like the rockslides and wyrms. But they are not the only denizens sent on expedition.
'Preemptive target acquisition' is a complex concept, but one the orb weaver spider can understand, even...
2025-09-15 00:59:29 +0000 UTC View PostZorro’s doing good work. So are Gerlfi and the others inside the Calm Seas, but they’re not my scions, so I don’t feel as responsible for them. I’m still glad they’re doing well, we’d be in trouble if they weren’t, but there’s a difference, you know? And I’m feeling rather proud of Zorro’s network of disguised foxes and how they’re able to get small repor...
2025-09-12 01:59:07 +0000 UTC View Post________
Jana
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Where Noynur likes to go over his book while he thinks, the foxkin woman prefers to go over her gear. While she knows every speck of her equipment as well as Noynur knows his book, it soothes her mind to go over everything, and her mind could use some soothing right about now.
She can’t believe the orc actually wasn...
2025-09-09 01:41:12 +0000 UTC View Post