Chapter 19: Grave Import
In the end, I did what everyone kept whining at me to do and set up a basic bureaucracy. Not because I couldn’t handle it, but because I clearly had better uses for my time.
I’m sure future generations would come to curse me in triplicate, but for now, Ishanti, Rel, and I assembled a simple system to track resources and labor, t...
2022-05-10 18:55:39 +0000 UTC View PostRead the first two chapters HERE
Chapter 3: Three’s a Crowd
“You,” I decided, “don’t deserve a sword.”
Darkness, from where she was trying to yank her blade out of an errant tree...
2022-05-06 19:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostA/N: We're back at it.
Chapter 18: Backfoot
“Jeez, Em, you were supposed to sleep last night.”
With a mumbled curse, I pushed myself up from my desk, rubbing at my eyes. They felt puffy, and my mouth tasted like something had crawled into it and died.
“I did.” My voice was raspy, grating like sandpaper in my throat. “For a few hours.”
E...
2022-05-02 02:00:40 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 17: Pico-Economics
I was utterly furious.
The buttons of my biggest dress shirt—one I’d bought before I figured out Japanese sizes and never got around to returning—dug into my skin as I walked down the street. I was drawing stares, and for once I knew it wasn’t because I looked like I was about to kill someone, because none of the men were ...
2022-03-26 21:35:20 +0000 UTC View PostA/N: When I first posted this chapter, I forgot I was supposed to put it up on Tuesday.
Chapter 17: Relationships 2
It was a testament to just how big Lady’s Port had become that Rel almost got lost on her way to find Electra.
She knew where the blond woman would b...
2022-03-16 17:07:55 +0000 UTC View PostYou can catch up to the adventure so far HERE
Chapter 16: Pro-Social Behavior
In the end, no one believed me about Gekota.
The Railgun was too cool to like some childish mascot, and Kuroko refused to back me up. ...
2022-03-11 17:12:12 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 18: The Void is Filled with Many Whispers
There was, of course, a grand ball.
If I thought the splendor of the Menethil Palace was awe inspiring, I would have been struck dumb by the all-encompasing elegance of Sunfury’s grand ball room. The ceilings were high, and vaulted with thin filigree scaffolds pretending to be buttresses, but set so that there coul...
2022-03-06 18:11:11 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 17: You Think This Is Your Time?
We were conveyed to Sunfury Spire with all the pomp and circumstance you’d expect from a regional superpower like the elves.
There was music, played by musicians who’d practiced their craft longer than the United States had been a nation. The dancers moved with what I would call irreplicable grace, if every step ...
2022-03-06 18:05:48 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 16: Relationships 1
Rel wanted to get the soldiers sorted quickly so she could deal with her main concern.
Still, she took the time to watch Lady Via stride away down the broad, airy road that was quickly forming into the town’s main thoroughfare. Exhausted as she was, the woman still held herself as tall as her d...
2022-03-01 21:54:40 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 15: Returning
If Rel had been watching my back before, after the monster chased us across the river, she was practically glued to my side.
On one hand, it was nice to know I was appreciated. On the other, she really wasn’t making it easier to walk in the darkness. Every few steps her leg would bump mine, almost sending me stumbling in the darkness.
I...
2022-02-23 03:36:26 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 16: No Time for Games
“I have never known a High Elf named Mur’azond.” Kael’thas’ voice was pensive after Calia and I relayed our encounter with the elven merchant. Of course, the nature of our journey meant that neither we nor Muradin could wait to sort things out. Ships had routes, We were expected to cross the border into Quel’thalas within the next...
2022-02-20 23:57:36 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 15: A New Hope
Calia Menethil decided that she did not much like Arthas’ new friends.
“So this is Stratholm.”
Which was most unfortunate for her.
“Aye, lass.” Muradin nodded. “And if ye look up the quay ye can see our vessel, the Bronze Barge.” He shook his head, running thick fingers through his beard. “Dwarves were nae ...
2022-02-20 23:56:48 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 14: Here There Be Monsters
With Lady’s Port well in hand and my enchanter on the way, next I needed to procure raw materials.
The original communication mirrors that had proved so vital in taking out the adventurer’s guild had been…sidelined in lieu of setting up my powerbase. The original pair had eventually wore out and broke, as fitting for a rush j...
2022-02-16 17:57:27 +0000 UTC View Post
This is a sample from the audiobook of The Devil's Foundry, available for preorder now and releasing on February 22, 2022.
2022-02-16 17:50:56 +0000 UTC View PostTHE DEVILS FOUNDRY NOW IN AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK
You heard that right! The First book of Devil’s Foundry has an audio-book and 2022-02-16 17:48:58 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 14: A Diplomatic Mission
The Royal Palace had beautiful gardens, complete with hedgerows spotted with hundreds of blooming flowers, and shade-dappled paths for courting nobles to wander and get lost in.
Jaina, Princess Calia, and I, for our part, were sequestered in an elegantly painted gazebo near a short row of fountains depicting doves. The servants had p...
2022-01-21 22:06:42 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 13: Aren’t You a Little Short for a Mage?
Arthas’ knighting was, in comparison to the parade, a subdued affair.
Oh sure, all the important nobles and advisors in Lordaeron were present, but despite that, the ceremony was somber, held in the small chapel attached to the palace itself, instead of the grand cathedral to the Light we’d gone past on our way...
2022-01-21 22:05:45 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 25: Honest Men
I didn’t show it, but internally I was still shaking. Once again, I’d gone into a fight that should have seen me splattered against the wall, and it was only my prep and my plan that saw me through mostly unscathed.
Even then, it had come down to the extra knives Nezza picked up for us a few days ago. If she hadn’t blinded Gyeard, and in...
2022-01-08 05:50:11 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 12: Imperial March
A full company of knights met us a mile out of Lordaeron City.
In their full ceremonial regalia, in case their purpose wasn’t entirely clear.
“My prince!” The head knight leapt from his saddle, kneeling before Arthas. “It is an honor to welcome you back to Lordaeron.”
“Samson.” Arthas clapped the man on the should...
2022-01-08 05:44:05 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 24: The Imperial Magistrate
Scionus’s office was every bit as organized as you’d expect from such an exacting official.
Unfortunately, that meant there weren’t any handy documents declaring his benefactor just sitting out for anyone to find. Whoever sponsored the Magistrate was keeping it close to their chest.
“Can I get a look at the safe?” ...
2022-01-05 23:25:28 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 23: Heavy Weighs the Knife
I stretched, just happy to get out of the sewers. We were in some storage area, not unlike the room that I’d first met the Boss in more than a year ago.
I cracked my neck as Nezza slinked around the room, idly brushing her fingers over stacks of cloth and other piles of junk. I had to use the magelight to get a good view of the r...
2022-01-05 05:22:58 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 22: Wetwork
The well was dark, other than the lone magelight hanging above.
After a while, I warmed up again. I had to wring out my shirt, and it still sucked pulling the damp fabric over my head, but as long as I kept moving I wouldn’t freeze.
It was pretty cold underground, go figure.
“So, where are we?” Nezza asked. She looked around, ey...
2022-01-03 23:21:11 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 13: The Lady and the Lacky
**
Safe Words
Your words cannot be overheard unless you want them to be. If this effect is penetrated, you will be immediately aware of it. In addition, your orders will be conveyed immutably through (lvl)2 intermediaries.
I raised my eyebrow at the description of the skill. Usually, I ...
2022-01-03 23:14:04 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 21: Point of Entry
Of course, it wasn’t as simple as looking at the plans and getting into my target’s basement via the sewers.
For one, the maps weren’t that good. I think I’d pieced together a route into Queens Row, and close to our target’s house—emphasis on think—but even then, it’s not like every house had a direct maintenance connection...
2021-12-28 20:55:39 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 12: Level Up!
The last thing to deal with was my class up.
Over the course of setting up the newly renamed Lady’s Port (and setting it’s first ship The Little Mistress out to sea), I’d finally maxed out all five of my skills. Ever since then, I’d felt a sort of pressure on the back of my neck, like I could finally push beyond the level 10 ba...
2021-12-28 00:05:25 +0000 UTC View PostA/N: Entering what will probably be the last week of daily updates for Royal Blood. After this I will be returning to a more sane update schedule for the sake of my poor fingers, but until then, let's finish out strong!
Chapter 20: Blood Tells
“So why do you need those maps?”
Boss, of course, wasn’t just going to hand over valuable intel...
2021-12-27 23:54:58 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 11: A Study in Balance
After buying the clothes and other such supplies for travel, there really wasn’t anything else left to do but get on the road.
Or the air, as the case may be.
Dalaran was about two days from Lordaeron City, as the crow flew. Which was far more relevant on Azeroth than it would have been on Earth. Prince Arthas and his few guard...
2021-12-24 20:24:21 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 19: Royal Route
Unlike last time, it wasn’t just as straightforward as walking up to the magistrate’s house and hiding in his closet. For one, there were guards this time.
For another, I was also wrestling with the question of why. Like, if Magistrate Scionus knew I was the prince, and that was still a big if, why did he react so strong...
2021-12-24 20:19:42 +0000 UTC View PostHello everyone! I've created this poll because we've reached the next Patreon Goal! I was so surprised when we made it, so thank you all for the support! I will be increasing the number of advanced chapters available to everyone in the coming weeks/months.
Now, if you are a long term or return patron, you know that I've tried mini hiatuses in the past and they rarely work out for me, so i...
2021-12-23 01:06:48 +0000 UTC View PostHello everyone! I've created this poll because we've reached the next Patreon Goal! I was so surprised when we made it, so thank you all for the support! I will be increasing the number of advanced chapters available to everyone in the coming weeks/months.
Now, if you are a long term or return patron, you know that I've tried mini hiatuses in the past and they rarely work out for me, so i...
2021-12-23 01:05:36 +0000 UTC View Post