Krete
“More?” I whispered.
More.
A shrill laugh echoed around me. Where had that come from. Had I made that sound?
I stepped over the bodies, heading deeper into the dungeon.
Just a little more, Krete. Do this for me, and yo...
2024-07-26 17:48:12 +0000 UTC View PostI was getting used to keeping an eye on the map in the corner of my vision. Small stories played out all over the dungeon, represented by dots and “X” marks. I found myself getting invested in certain clumps of dots and their struggles—internally cheering when a group cleared through some r...
2024-07-25 12:31:10 +0000 UTC View PostLyria’s face was a picture of pure concentration. She sat cross-legged, chest heaving as she took deep breaths through her nose. Her eyes were closed.
Come on, come on. I watched her, silently rooting for her to succeed.
She had just equipped her Shield corestone a few minu...
2024-07-24 15:22:24 +0000 UTC View PostMy map showed no nearby enemies, so I decided to let Lyria keep resting.
I gave the opening in the cave-in one more close look. There was an opening at the top of the pile, and a large, flat rock was balanced on rounded boulders above the hole. In other words, there didn’t seem to be any ...
2024-07-23 18:34:16 +0000 UTC View PostOne huge, clawed hand pushed away dirt and rocks, punching straight through the rubble.
“We have to get farther away,” I said. I imagined the Silver Scream arrow had plenty of time to pump the creature full of explosive liquid already. I didn’t want to find out what would happen if it...
2024-07-22 16:41:26 +0000 UTC View PostI got my first real look at the creature. It was massive—at least seven feet tall—with a hunched back and long, sinewy arms that dragged on the ground. Its body was covered in matted, filthy fur with patches of skin visible through the tangled mess. The exposed skin was sickly gray, mottled w...
2024-07-19 17:46:14 +0000 UTC View PostOur footsteps crunched on loose dirt as we descended into Beastden.
Ahead, I heard the muffled sound of voices and clattering armor. I heard hammering, too, rhythmic and piercing through the relative quiet.
I paused mid-step as something flashed in my vision.
I blinked, re...
2024-07-18 17:16:29 +0000 UTC View Post[Hunger 41%]
The area outside Beastden reminded me of a video I had seen of the base camp at the foot of Mount Everest back on Earth—minus the snow, of course. Oh, and if all the climbers were cosplayers with really legitimate-looking armor, robes, and weapons. The compar...
2024-07-17 17:47:20 +0000 UTC View Post[Common] Active Skill: Devour Mana. [Tier 1] Cause your target to devour their mana in exchange for health.
[Rare] Active Skill: Mana Shield. [Tier 1] Create a barrier of pure mana.
[Common] Passive Skill: Mana Leech [Tier 1] When ...
2024-07-16 17:43:13 +0000 UTC View PostRake
“Of course we’ll split it even,” I said, leaning back in my chair.
The man across from me was supposedly some kind of “poison” mage. He claimed he was only a quarter Forsaken, but there were some signs he was further gone than he let on. I saw the black at the ...
2024-07-15 18:31:18 +0000 UTC View PostI held the purple, metallic coin between my thumb and forefinger, turning it over in the torchlight of Lyria’s personal space.
Both sides of the coin showed a slightly raised plus symbol but nothing else. The metal was a deep, satisfying color. Back on Earth, I had always enjoyed collecti...
2024-07-14 12:45:39 +0000 UTC View PostWe were given a “temporary” personal space key for five silver from an innkeeper, and then headed downstairs. The hallway leading to the personal space in this particular building was downstairs.
“So the key will magically vanish after a day?” I asked. “But what stops us fro...
2024-07-13 12:37:39 +0000 UTC View Post“Dungeons are a different beast?” I asked. “How so?”
My question had drawn the attention of some of the Riverwell townspeople, who were now shifting their attention from Bloody Steve’s story to Kass.
Kass grinned, clearly enjoying his new audience. “Well, you’ve seen an ...
2024-07-12 19:47:02 +0000 UTC View PostBed bugs? Seriously?
I reread the stats several times, quietly trying to convince myself I hadn’t just made a terrible mistake.
Lyria stood beside me, one arm folded over her chest and the other lifted so she could gnaw a nail, eyes locked on the ominous bedroll.
I ha...
2024-07-11 17:08:10 +0000 UTC View PostAfter what felt like two or three solid minutes of walking downhill, we reached a simple door. My sense of direction was completely thrown off, but I thought we must have passed all the way beneath the street and entered through the rocky, underground mountain the city of Thrask was wrapped aroun...
2024-07-10 17:59:15 +0000 UTC View PostOur group of fifteen headed for a huge table in the back of the tavern’s common room. More people were playing Vice inside the tavern, and a small crowd was watching and placing bets. Vice and betting went hand in hand, it seemed.
I eyed the game with jealousy but knew I didn’t...
2024-07-10 17:56:36 +0000 UTC View PostEveryone was waiting outside Trustworthy Quillon’s shop when I stepped outside.
Kass rolled out his neck as I emerged. “Finally, Helmet. I thought maybe we’d have to heroically go in there and stage a rescue if you took much longer. Steve said you were probably just in the can. Perch ...
2024-07-09 17:02:25 +0000 UTC View PostThe alchemist’s shop was loaded with things I wanted. Exotic scents filled the dusty air, drifting from packed drawers, shelves, and crates. There was an entire section of mushrooms and fungi, where a wart-covered tomte and her small, bearded child were browsing. A pair of young human boys were...
2024-07-08 18:08:55 +0000 UTC View PostWhen we made our slow way across the crowded bridge, the sunlight was already fading fast. The strange blue planet in Eros’s sky was tinged pink from the receding sun.
I stood on the bridge and watched the crush of strange races, suddenly struck by how strange this all was.
St...
2024-07-05 19:12:53 +0000 UTC View PostI was beyond exhaustion by the time we finally reached a road. Maybe the word “road” was generous. It was a flat stretch of dirt, packed down tight by what looked like countless pairs of boots and wagon wheels. The road bustled with life.
Carts drawn by creatures that looked like horses...
2024-07-04 19:26:10 +0000 UTC View PostI followed the group, feeling completely wiped out. Minara had patched up my wounds, I had chugged all my remaining recovery potion vials, and I still felt hollowed out.
I pulled up my notifications and my accomplishments, giving them my full attention for the first time since escaping the ...
2024-07-03 13:39:22 +0000 UTC View PostLyria
I paced at the center of camp, gnawing on one of my nails. Brynn left to get firewood almost an hour ago. Before that, he’d been dumping poison all over his body, screaming bloody murder, and then repeating the process until I’d strongly suggested he take a break and gath...
2024-07-02 17:09:03 +0000 UTC View PostMusky pheromones dripped from my chin, fingers, and clothing. I stood in complete silence, eyes wide beneath my helmet as I watched the largest carapax of the group approach me. It was holding a two-handed ax with blades almost as big as my torso.
I held my breath, watching and waiting as I...
2024-07-01 12:33:44 +0000 UTC View PostThe carapax guard came toward me, halberd drawn back as if it was planning to cut me in half from my nose to my crotch.
I didn’t know if it was my adrenaline, my steadily increasing experience levels, or repeated exposure to terrifying shit, but I was ready for it. I’d alr...
2024-06-30 17:40:41 +0000 UTC View PostThere's a major spoiler in this topic if you haven't reached chapter 21, yet. So warning, warning, warning... Anybody who has not read past chapter 21, don't read ahead unless you want spoilers.
Safety space.
Buffer zone.
Spoilers below.
Continue at your own risk.
<...
Minara was surprisingly willing to be on hand to heal me if anything went wrong. Bloody Steve was happy to watch—not that I asked him to—as long as I agreed to let him have any blood that might result from my little experiments. When I got set up in the center of an area where Bloody...
2024-06-29 12:29:20 +0000 UTC View PostThe morning was unusually cold. I wondered if it was a lingering effect of the briarwraith’s presence. As usual, I drifted toward the back of the group and spent time practicing my abilities. I was happy to see my progress in summoning a fully formed Forge Echo of my weapon had lingered. I coul...
2024-06-28 11:53:11 +0000 UTC View PostLyria, Minara and Bloody Steve leaned over me. I was on my back in the cave where we’d left the townspeople.
“What?” I asked. The last thing I remembered was the briarwraith, freezing everything and drifting toward me. But no… That wasn’t true. I’d had a dream. Or was it a memor...
2024-06-26 13:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostThe Acolyte ran for the cauldron of liquid bait, lifting it and nearly sloshing it on his tunic. He was headed for the rest of the party, who were on their feet but still too dazed to see what was happening.
I ran to cut him off.
Frozen, fast-crawling trees tore through the woods towa...
2024-06-24 12:10:46 +0000 UTC View Post