The four wolves came to a stop in a half-circle around me, their minds shuttered and their gazes inscrutable.
My legs suddenly shaky, I drew to a halt and knelt in the snow. “It is good to see you again,” I said, unable to help the wide grin that split my face. “I’d begun to fear…...
2023-02-21 12:08:39 +0000 UTC View Post“What bargain did Loken strike with the Marauders?” I asked.
“What makes you think there is one?” the envoy asked, her composure in place once more.
I snorted. “I know Loken. Whatever ploy he has to get control of this sector—and more importantly, Erebus’ dungeo...
2023-02-21 11:02:07 +0000 UTC View PostOursk pushed our small company hard, taking us farther east and higher up into the mountains. I didn’t try questioning him or any of the other wolves again but kept my senses trained for danger and urged the twins to do likewise.
As we headed deeper into the mountains, we crossed the snow...
2023-02-21 06:18:24 +0000 UTC View PostThe wolves and the twins exited the lair an hour later.
The wolves looked sated, and the twins were covered in blood, filth, and offal. I hide a smile. Sometimes, it was nice having minions to do the dirty work. Especially two motivated minions.
Rising to my feet, I dusted my...
2023-02-20 14:59:50 +0000 UTC View Post“Go away.”
The words were hurled in my mind with such force, I was almost pitched forward and into my foe—the fire lizard had not stopped attacking.
“Easy there,” I said to the other. “I’m a friend of the Pack.”
I hadn’t recognized th...
2023-02-20 13:05:09 +0000 UTC View PostA few minutes later, the tunnel opened into a large cavern reminiscent of the first level of the guardian tower.
Multiple hostile entities have failed to detect you! You are hidden.
Dropping into a crouch, I scanned the chamber. While the cavern contained no lava, the...
2023-02-20 10:58:59 +0000 UTC View PostYou have left a safe zone.
“Alright,” I said, stopping the twins at the edge of the village. “Time to decide where we’re going.”
I looked at the two questioningly.
“Don’t look at us,” Terence said. “We’ve died every time we left the village....
2023-02-20 06:21:16 +0000 UTC View PostA mailed first banged on my door, and my eyes jerked open. What time was it? Two hours couldn’t have passed already, surely? It felt like only moments ago that I’d lain my head on the pillow.
“Michael! Are you in there?”
I groaned. It was Terence. “Go away and come back in t...
2023-02-20 05:49:58 +0000 UTC View PostBy rights of your bill of ownership, you have renamed the tavern ‘Sleepy Inn’ in the safe zone of sector 12,560 to ‘Wyvern’s Roost.’
After I renamed the inn, Saya hurried away to change the tavern’s signage, leaving me and Cara alone again.
“Do you have ...
2023-02-13 15:20:33 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all,
After some thought on the direction of book 4 and where I thought it would go and where it has actually gone, I've decided to change its title and cover to: House Wolf (with cover as shown above). Its the more appropriate title and cover.
Writing is not always a linear approac...
2023-02-09 17:38:23 +0000 UTC View PostI left the bounty hunters’ glade deep in thought.
Matters with the Marauders were far from resolved, and I was certain my actions would have repercussions. But the situation had also revealed an unforeseen opportunity.
I’d spent most of last night pondering what the Marauders were...
2023-02-09 17:16:53 +0000 UTC View PostThe trip back to the safe zone was undisturbed and surprisingly pleasant for the most part. The woods near the Marauder base were quiet, and I ran across no foes—players or monsters.
But as I drew closer to the village, the forest grew busier. Spotting a squad of soldiers in the distance,...
2023-02-08 14:46:13 +0000 UTC View PostYou have reached level 152!
Your deception has increased to level 111 and reached rank 11.
I sighed as I closed the Game messages.
Despite killing fifty players, I’d gained only two levels—not unexpected given the new disparity in rank and t...
2023-02-07 15:55:37 +0000 UTC View PostBefore searching the camp, checking my Game messages, or attending to the dead, I secured the gate.
I didn’t expect the Marauder teams to arrive until dawn, if then, but if any returned early, I could not afford to be caught unprepared. The wards about the camp would prevent the players f...
2023-02-05 13:15:01 +0000 UTC View PostI was right.
Not a single soul stirred as I padded from bunk to bunk, murdering the Marauders in their sleep. After the first dozen victims, I got the killings down to an artform.
Clamping my left hand over my target’s mouth, I placed ebonheart under the ear and behind the jaw, then...
2023-02-05 08:44:16 +0000 UTC View PostTwo hours later, I opened my eyes.
The Marauders’ raucous laughter and loud singing had died down, leaving only the sound of clinking glasses and soft murmurs, but nearly half the camp was still awake. It was not the lack of noise that had shaken me from my trance, though.
It was th...
2023-02-03 12:31:29 +0000 UTC View PostI didn’t immediately head into the Marauder camp.
If the Hound could track me from the ambush spot to here—and at this point, I had to assume she could—then first, I had to lead her astray.
Which meant laying a false trail.
Not attempting to conceal my scent or mind, I hea...
2023-02-02 14:57:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all,
See the draft cover art for book 5. Let me know your thoughts. Something things to note - this is artwork for paperback, so ebook cover will only be what's on right. Also, the MC details still need to be fleshed out.
Cheers
2023-02-02 07:51:41 +0000 UTC View PostThe Marauder did not go far.
Thirty minutes later, Tevin stumbled to a halt in front of a tall palisade. Twenty yards behind him and perched on a stout tree branch, I paused, too, taking in the scene below.
The trees on the other side of the wooden wall were just as dense as on this s...
2023-02-01 03:44:56 +0000 UTC View PostHi all,
The last chapter of book 4 has been posted, and as said earlier, I plan on taking a break in March. The story will resume in April.
Happy reading!
Link to the Grand Game Book 4 (pre-order): https://...
2023-02-01 03:27:34 +0000 UTC View Post“Where’d he go?” Tevin whispered.
You have healed yourself. Your health is at 65%.
“He’s hiding,” the first mage replied. “Be careful. He’s still close.”
“What is he?” the knight asked, nervously eyeing the darkness.
The mage...
2023-01-31 04:51:00 +0000 UTC View PostMy first target, of course, was Hosen.
Disregarding the battling players about me, I materialized behind the priest’ cloudy gray shield.
You have teleported 25 yards.
My blades a blur, I struck at him supernaturally fast.
You have cast whirlwind ...
2023-01-30 08:17:34 +0000 UTC View PostAfter a satisfying, if rushed, meal, I headed back to my room. There was a reason I’d asked for a room on the top floor. It gave me easy access to the roof in case I needed to make a quick exit.
Putting out the chamber’s only magelight, I opened the shutters and peeked out. My room over...
2023-01-29 12:07:08 +0000 UTC View PostI awoke a few hours later.
Rising from my bed, I walked over to the shuttered window and peered outside. Just as I thought, night had fallen, and I spent a moment studying the village below. At my request, Saya had given me a room on the top floor of the tavern, leaving me with an unobstruc...
2023-01-26 10:51:31 +0000 UTC View PostSaya spoke for hours, detailing everything she knew about the armies in the valley.
It turned out Captain Talon was still present in the region. He and his legion were entrenched in the valley’s center, allowing the tartans to respond to threats to the village in the south and st...
2023-01-25 06:23:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe street beyond Pitor and his men was deserted. That was no accident, I knew. The blockade we’d just passed was responsible. My gaze slid to the opposite end of the street and picked out a second cordon.
I grimaced. Pitor’s operation was no two-bit scheme. He was going to great pains ...
2023-01-23 14:25:53 +0000 UTC View PostYou have entered sector 12,560 of the Kingdoms.
This area is part of the Forever Kingdom’s wild borderlands. It is currently neutral territory, unclaimed by any faction or Force. No additional restrictions apply to this region.
You have ente...
2023-01-21 06:12:44 +0000 UTC View PostCara and I did not exchange any words until we exited the emporium. Once through the gate, I turned to her. “I’m sorry. I’ve just realized I didn’t consult you before my request to Kesh. I hope you don’t mind the trip?”
Cara chuckled. “Not at all. It’ll make for a welcome ch...
2023-01-18 04:56:56 +0000 UTC View Post“That’s enough talk of criminals for now,” Kesh interjected. “Back to business.” She looked at me. “You’re ready to leave?”
“Almost,” I promised. “I need to replenish some of my supplies first.”
“What do you need?”
I told her, prompting another shake ...
2023-01-12 04:54:55 +0000 UTC View PostMy appointed meeting time with Kesh had come and gone, and so, despite wanting to visit the stygian brotherhood, I hurried north towards the safe zone’s south gate.
I had only one detour to make—a visit to the bounty hunters guild.
As I made my way through plague quarter, I kept a...
2023-01-10 04:03:15 +0000 UTC View Post