Chapter 28: Alma Again
After her failure at the fort she had returned to her mistress. Camille was kind and understanding but Alma couldn’t stop beater herself up over the loss, she hadn't even tried. She waited for a while with Camille to observe Orlando. He arrived at the fort, decked out in shining golden armour, no doubt bought with gold extorted from common folk...
2024-06-23 01:21:28 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 27: The Ghibellines
Something deep within Dante’s soul teared desperately at its enclosure when he saw his lute brake. The ghost had seemed trustworth even if Sqwent was screaming the opposite in his head. Why would he trust a demon over someone who had been entrusted with a noble title. Now more than an instrument was broken.
He could not hear the word...
2024-06-22 17:01:31 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty Six: The Magic of an Archmagus.
I might have stood by, watched the child get killed for his stupidity and looted the magical items I felt were stored below when the coast was clear. I might have, if not for Vento. He sensed in the lad, as in himself, a pure soul. I could feel his need to help the pair and I wasn’t so cruel as to ignore his desire. ...
2024-06-20 00:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty Five: What Lies Beneath.
I was given directions to the nearest sewer access point and was eager to get my first payday in centuries. As the wealthy know wealth begets wealth and I owned a number of businesses in life which provided more than enough income to maintain my experiments.
As I strode through the throngs of groggy city folk I tried ...
2024-06-19 16:33:25 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty Four: First Quest
Wind Domain was a strange spell. It was less of a spell and more of a technique. It turned the air around me into an extension of my mana network. If I could learn to use it accurately I would be able to cast from any direction around me at reduced mana cast as none would leak to the ambient mana and I would be able to ...
2024-06-18 19:32:35 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty Three: Adventurer
There were a number of particularly nasty death magic spells I knew that would only use a little of my ectoplasm. I could cut the priest in half with a Wind Blade or crush him with a Rock Throw. I could release my illusion and take the man by surprise with my Bone Claws.
I c...
2024-06-17 19:22:44 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty Two: A City Named Wiccawich.
“I see her face, when I see my lute. She’s pale and gaunt. I need to see her.” Dante mumbled. I tried to get him to elaborate but he refused to speak more, although unlife did return to his eyes. After this odd statement he seemed to be conversing with his inner demon but still not with. I was not totally comfortable wi...
2024-06-17 10:22:42 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty One: Ghost Busting.
When the two boys finally made it through the dark maze and caught sight of the glowing spirit. Wand was the first to react, firing off a Wind Blade with much more power than before. It slid through the apparition with barely any effect before slicing a dust sheet and the portrait beneath. When he caught my...
2024-06-16 18:40:33 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twenty: Woden’s School
“If you must know, I am undercover.” I lied, smoothly, much as my master would have. This seemed to put the two apprentices at ease.
“Why did you show yourself then?” The braver, Staff, asked.
“I no longer believe you are capable of conducting this task unaccompanied.” I responded.
“What, just for that....
2024-06-14 22:44:23 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Nineteen: Staff or wand?
The next few days of travel were harsh on my old bones. We walkinging through the underbrush, avoiding the roads. Although I now had a spell that allowed me to disguise myself this part of the kingdom was quiet enough that any travellers would be worthy of investigation and I didn’t know how well an illusion might fool a Palad...
2024-06-14 19:26:44 +0000 UTC View PostStatus 3.0:
Name: Osseus
Titles:
Archmagus(ish)
Savant
Spell Slinger
[ locked ] Lord of Far-Reach Fort
Archmagus(ish): Unique
With the knowledge and experience one hundred times that of
a common mage...
2024-06-13 20:54:48 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Eighteen: Blood and Demons.
I was being marched across a wheat field towards the waking demon, trying to figure how I could save Dante when something in the ambient mana changed. It took me a moment to recognize the feeling but soon it hit me. Years ago when I had been studying aquatic buffalo to discover how they seemingly parted the water as they ran across i...
2024-06-12 16:02:11 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Seventeen: Escape?
Nine pairs of eyes stared at me, uncomprehending. I was surrounded. Slowly I reached out a reboneified hand toward the unspilt glass of holy water. Lifting it gentilly from the side table, with my other hand I took the coaster it had been resting on and held it on top. That was as far as I got before all hell broke loose.
David Wainwr...
2024-06-10 17:19:11 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Sixteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Final Part.
The sound of bone bouncing of stone brought some of me back to my senses, unfortunately I wasn’t the only one to hear it.
“Coming.” A reedy voice announced, followed by slapping foot steps not feet inside. Slightly panicking I hid my shortened finger behind my back, just in time as seconds later a tall ...
2024-06-09 13:18:55 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Fifteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 4
My Life Sense had allowed me to notice the woman as soon as I entered the room so when Joseph asked, open mouthed, “How?” I was forced to just smile.
“Wow!” David exclaimed, “I knew your Detection skill was something but how? I didn’t see anything.”
Jumpin...
2024-06-09 13:17:13 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Fourteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 3
I wanted to declare the case closed, wrap this whole thing up and get my holy water. I was about to open my mouth to do just that when what came out was not what I expected.
“Vicar, would you be so kind as to retire to the other room with the others? I believe Mr. Cain and I need to have a little chat.” I ask...
2024-06-09 13:12:20 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Thirteen: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 2
I bounced nervously on the balls of my feet. Part of me wanted desperately to barge past the guard and make my way into the town, his words finally registered and I chose to follow the man. It wasn’t that I cared much for this town's criminal matters but he had indicated that this murder had happened at the vicarage ...
2024-06-09 13:09:52 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Twelve: Murder at The Vicarage. Part 1
The fleeting hours of the night went by in a mutual silence. On my part caused by Dante’s disrespectful comment having hit a deeply buried insecurity about my current condition. In his case it was caused by a mixture of embarrassment and worry.
Not long before dawn we found a suitable place to make camp, having b...
2024-06-09 13:08:38 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Eleven: Orlando Roncevaux Shall Pass
“You seem to have saved us monk, allow me to congratulate you.” The mountain of a man said, breaking into an equally giant grin.
The startlement wore off, melted by this man’s earnest warmth.
“Osseus.” I announced, sticking out a bony hand and immediately regretting it.
“As soon as he grasps h...
2024-06-09 13:07:17 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Ten: The Dark Forest
I plodded along, crossbow swaying on my back. The thousand elephants that were using my skull to practise stampeding didn’t appreciate Dante's insistent strumming.
Still I didn’t complain as I was observing an interesting phenomena. It appeared that because Dante was composing a piece rather than playing one it had absolutely no...
2024-06-09 13:05:29 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Nine: Bioremediation
I stumbled, nearly falling, before I was able to catch myself. My Life Sense swam as I staggered from the circle of ash.
Skull throbbing, I made my way to Dante who was still frozen. Sitting next to him on the steps I rubbed my sphenoids.
This was probably the worst case of mana sickness I had ever experienced...
2024-06-09 13:04:00 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Eight: Alma
Alma was a good girl, or so she would have you believe. Born to a mother she’d never met and a father she’d never known she had little by the way of role models, only the Church.
A Church who outwardly promised salvation, helped raise orphans, and fed the homeless.
Behind closed doors however it was that same church who ransomed pe...
2024-06-09 13:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostStatus 2.0:
Name: Osseus
Title: Archmagus(ish)
Lord of Far-Reach Fort
Spell Slinger
Savant
Archmagus(ish): Unique
With the knowledge and experience one hundred times that of a common mage
with the power to mach one is granted the Title of Archmagus, lacking
experience in this w...
2024-06-09 12:58:43 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Seven: Underlord
Pater’s plan was obvious; first he showed me the carrot - the skill of this group’s leader, their ability to defeat a well defended enemy, and their willingness to provide me with luxuries. Now he was showing me the stick, trying to prove that he was in charge and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.
It may have worked had n...
2024-06-09 12:57:14 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Six: If Both of Them are Dead
Dante was a rather stranger person, not that I was the best judge of character. I only ever had time for magic and the secrets of the universe.
Dante seemed incredibly helpful, kind even, but even at the mention of hurting Pater (someone whom he never spoke ill off) his teeth would sharpen, his eyes squint, and he would aff...
2024-06-09 12:55:53 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Five: Two Can Keep a Secret
As I walked along the hallway, cells to my right a stone wall to my left, The whistling tune changed from a happy melody to a chilling lament.
The tune had a weird effect, I had never known much about music but my brain told me the inconsistent tone and occasional squeaking combined to make a horrible sound. Yet my undead bod...
2024-06-09 12:54:16 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Four: An Infernal Comedy
Dante was born to a loving mother with little means and a father she always claimed died in the last war but Dante always heard the rumours, that he was the bastard of the local lord. Heard them and dismissed them, he was content to believe his mother’s story.
Growing up he was regarded as a good if naive boy, he wasn’t, he ...
2024-06-09 12:53:02 +0000 UTC View PostStatus 1.0:
Name: Osseus
Title: Archmagus(ish):
Archmagus(ish): Unique
With the knowledge and experience one hundred times that of a common mage
with the power to mach one is granted the Title of Archmagus, lacking
experience in this worlds magic and with power still to be tested one (and only 2024-06-09 12:50:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter Three: Temptations of the Flesh
My first thought was to use the air around me as the material for a wind blade spell. It would be horribly inefficient and require a ridiculous amount of my mana to function that way. Luckily I wasn’t forced to waste my mana as the Zombie's hammer caught in a hole in the floor, yanking him backward, laying him out flat on his...
2024-06-09 12:40:44 +0000 UTC View PostChapter Two: Undeath
I awoke, to my surprise, without any pain. Without any sensation whatsoever.
“Is this death?” I thought to myself.
I didn’t expect a response so I was surprised when out of the darkness came green text:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
2024-06-09 12:37:30 +0000 UTC View Post