grandgame

Grand Game 433: Preparing for Battle

“Ah,” I exhaled.

“Tell us,” Ceruvax said, his words almost a demand.

Opening my eyes, I told them about my new Class and the benefits I had to choose from.

“That’s no ordinary Class,” Adriel said.

“I agree,” Farren said. “I know the Wolves have produced...

Grand Game 432: The First of a Line

“Oh my,” I said in a half-strangled voice.

“What is it this time?” Adriel asked, sounding exasperated. “Don’t tell me the Adjudicator has more to say.”

I nodded numbly. “He certainly does. I’ve completed a hidden task that allows me to undergo a second highe...

Grand Game 431: Wolf Progenitor

I clasped the high captain’s hand. “Thank you, Algar.”

“There’s just one other thing,” he said.

“Go on.”

“When you spoke to the council, you seemed pretty adamant about needing one thousand soldiers,” he said. “Has that changed?”

“I’m not sure,�...

Grand Game 430: A Choice of Punishments

Predictably, my words did not please the possessed. But I pressed on, ignoring the crowd’s dangerous mood. “You are angry,” I said. “You are resentful. It does not matter. The possessed are finished.”

The crowd swelled in outrage, and this time, not even the threat of the lichs be...

Grand Game 429: Into the Court

Day Thirty-Five in Draven’s Reach

It was early morning when we approached our destination.

“That’s the archlich’s court?” Ceruvax asked, his eyebrows rising as he studied the elegant compound backed up against the dungeon’s southern rim.

I grinned. �...

Grand Game 428: The Third Option

My eyes wide, I stared at Ceruvax. “Is that true?”

He nodded reluctantly.

My head whipped in Adriel’s direction. “Could that work?”

She bit her lip. “I’m not sure…”

It was not the straight-up ‘no’ I’d been expecting. “Explain.”

Adriel inha...

Grand Game 427: A Suitable Reckoning

“You will kill them all?” Adriel asked softly. “All thousand-odd souls? And what about Farren and myself? Will you see us dead too as payment for our crimes?”

“No,” I said softly.

She tilted her head to the side, her face still devoid of animation. “No? You will spare us...

Grand Game 426: The Arrival of Death

Day Thirty-Three in Draven’s Reach

After accepting Ceruvax’s oath, I fell promptly asleep. I’d run halfway across the dungeon—on very little rest—and was exhausted. But no sooner had I set my head down than it felt as if the old wolf was shaking me.

“Michael, wake up.” 2024-02-11 08:14:31 +0000 UTC View Post

Grand Game 425: An Exchange of Tales

“Where do you want me to start?” I asked.

“At the very beginning,” Ceruvax replied. “From the first day you entered the Game.”

I winced. Relaying my tale was going to take even longer than I expected, but I didn’t begrudge the envoy his desire to know everything. I was g...

Grand Game 424: A Meeting of Wolves

Day Thirty-Two in Draven’s Reach

Panting from my long run, I drew to a halt in front of Ceruvax. Unmoving, the envoy studied me while I caught my breath.

You have passed a mental resistance check! Ceruvax has failed to analyze you.

The old wolf rubbed his ch...

Grand Game 423: A Favor

I didn’t end up witnessing the oaths of all two thousand soldiers.

After the first hour—during which I only managed to accept the pledges of fifty of the warband’s most senior officers—I’d made my excuses and left Algar and Ghost to see to the rest of the ceremony.

Neither c...

Grand Game 422: Bane Wolves

One hour later, I was standing in the fortress’ courtyard, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

I sighed heavily.

“Thinking you should have cut and run?” Elron asked with a grin.

I nodded.

The four councilors were on a raised dais with me, attending as witness...

Grand Game 421: Duty

The council meeting drew to a close soon after that.

Despite Gamil, Regus, and Lorn’s insistent questions, I refused to share any details of my plans. It was not that I distrusted them, but I was wary of making promises I was unable to keep. But I had meant what I’d said. When I was don...

Grand Game 420: A Matter of Conscience

Once we were seated, Lorn gestured to Regus. “Begin, please.”

His mien serious, the possessed took his time responding. “Things in the court have not panned out the way we hoped.”

I sat up straighter. “What does that mean?”

“You already know about Castor,” Regus ...

Grand Game 419: The Visitor

I leaned across the table. “Tell me about these soldiers,” I said intently.

“We’ve asked for volunteers from our personal guards,” Lorn replied. “Men and women willing to serve under you.”

“We will outfit them, of course,” Stormhammer said.

“Many more volunte...

Grand Game 418: No Good Deed Goes Unrewarded

Day Thirty-One in Draven’s Reach

While Algar and his men collected the spent arrows, Nyra and I investigated the wisp’s cave. Just as I hoped, there was a chest.

Disappointingly, though, it was only bronze.

“Go ahead, open it,” I said.

Not needing to be told twic...

Grand Game 417: Befuddled

Between one instant and the next, my thoughts slowed, and even thinking became hard.

You have sustained shadow damage.

Your void armor has reduced the damage incurred by 15%.

Void armor charge remaining: 95%. Your health has decreased to...