grandgame

Chapter 46: Opposing Views

We entered the chamber running at full tilt.

Although, technically, it was not a chamber. More correctly, it was an arena, a small one, but an arena, nonetheless.

The passage w...

Chapter 45: A Change of Plans

“How many?” I asked at the same time as Odenna snapped, “Which sworn are with them?”

“What?” Soren asked, his face a picture of confusion. “No! Sorry, I meant the spies. Only th...

Chapter 44: Preparations.

All eyes turned to Eoman. The plan was clearly to be his. “If we are to save the poor quarter,” he began, “we must do two things: kill the players, and make sure they don’t escape....

Chapter 43: Broken

Odenna’s words were like a punch in the gut, knocking the life out of me and I sagged back in my chair.

“Elana! Elana, I don’t care what that old elf says,” Adalinda said ang...

Chapter 42: An Ancient Heritage

It didn’t take one hour, it took four.

After the meeting had finished, my brother escorted me to his tiny quarters to rest—even though I’d insisted I didn’t need any. Too many unhappy...

Chapter 41: Who You Are

About who you are.

Those words haunted me all the way back to Eoman’s hideout. They certainly sounded ominous, but I couldn’t say I was surprised. They’d been plenty of hints t...

Chapter 40: What Lies Beneath the Muck

The instant I crossed the threshold into Cantos’ room, I rocked to a halt.

The sight of the Butcher’s corpse transfixed me.

For that singular moment, nothing else impinged on my awa...

Chapter 39: Swept under the Covers

“Ada, it’s over,” I murmured.

“You got him?” came the instantaneous response.

“Yes,” I replied tiredly. “You can retreat.”

�...

Chapter 38: A Miserable Death

The dark-clad figure staggered back, then righting herself clapped sarcastically as she looked me up and down.

“Well, well,” she sneered. “If it isn’t the poor quarter’s girl wonder...

Chapter 37: Searching For Revenge

“Cantos has a house in the center of his gang’s territory,” Eoman said. “Ordinarily, he doesn’t have much use for the place, but since you wreaked the Devils’ main base—the Black Sewe...

Chapter 36: The Show Must Go On

I didn’t return to the safe house until hours later.

With no meaningful amount of money remaining in my pockets, I whiled away the time browsing the many shops in the district. Everything w...

Chapter 35: In Bed with Insurgents

Despite my earlier nap, I slept like the dead.

Too much had happened yesterday, and I’d been both emotionally wrung out and physically exhausted when I’d gone to bed.

In spite of th...

Chapter 34: Missing in Action

We walked in silence for another ten minutes before Odenna came to a sudden halt before a decrepit manor house that had obviously seen better days.

Roots had pushed up from the surrounding br...

Chapter 33: Unfolding Secrets

Despite my confident tone with Adalinda, I knew returning to Odenna’s shop was a long shot, but it was not a plan without merit. The elf and my family went back a long way, and she would help if ...

Chapter 32: Evil’s Soft First Touches

My arrow flew unerringly towards its mark, burning as brightly as my fury. The elf tried to dodge, but hampered by his earlier injury, he moved too slow to avoid the projectile entirely.

2024-01-27 08:55:03 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 31: A Prole’s Fate

I smacked the axeman’s chest—hard.

“Oow. What did you do that for?” he protested.

“Idiot! What were you thinking? We’re in the middle of a battle. I could’ve killed you!�...

Chapter 30: Death of a Player

The half-orc had obviously been reborn and, from the looks of it, was out for blood. “You,” he sneered as he drew closer. “How fortuitous that we meet again.”

“For me, perh...

Chapter 29: The Council Hall

The old council hall was only a short distance from the Raccoon base. Everyone called it the ‘old council hall,’ though no one knew if it had ever been used for such a purpose. The ruins were c...

Chapter 28: The Home I Once Knew

As Adalinda and I stepped outside, the sun caught my eye and blinded me. I had been in the dark too long, and it would take some time to get used to the brightness again. Shading my eyes, I looked ...

Chapter 27: A Moment of Peace

I opened my eyes to find myself on a battlefield. The haunted figures of Devils I had killed were all around me. A haze of purple covered their bodies, and they paid no attention to me.

Looki...

Chapter 26: The Circle of Truth

I awoke in a dark room.

My vision was blurry, but I could make out three figures standing in front of a wooden door. Above me was a single, dim light—and it was doing no favors for my throb...

Chapter 25: Betrayal

“Wait, Elana!” Odenna called suddenly.

I didn’t stop.

“Please,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.

I hesitated, then turned around. Had she had a change of heart? ...

Chapter 24: Enter the City

Not long after leaving the broodmother behind, my darkvision buff faded, which forced me to use light’s fury to navigate.

Doing so was both more tedious and dangerous, but fortunately, I ra...

Chapter 23: Broodmother

Adalinda took point again as we moved into the intersection.

“Elana…” Adalinda began, stopping suddenly.

“What is it?” I asked. The celestial was at the entr...

Chapter 22: The Gutter Highway

It did not take me long to reach the closest sewer entrance marked on Vigil’s map.

The entrance in question was set inside the locked basement of an abandoned building. Locking the basement...

Chapter 21: Liabilities

“I told you,” Celeste exclaimed triumphantly. “She’s a player!”

“As always, my dear,” Eoman murmured, “you’re right.” He turned to Soren, his gaze solemn. “What do you e...

Chapter 20: A Desperate Appeal

Warning! Your health is at 40%.

I scowled as the Game message opened in my mind. I was still leaning over the half-orc and not much time had passed since I had been taken the...

Chapter 19: What Iron Resolve Brings

We made for an uneasy trio as we strode through the streets of the poor quarter.

Soren had not left the bolt holt empty-handed. He came carrying a threadbare but clean hooded cloak, which he ...

Chapter 18: Wanted

It was noon when Alon and Soren returned.

They came silently, but both were breathing hard as if they’d been running; there was tension in their shoulders and worry in their eyes, too.

Chapter 17: A Gift for Summoning

I knew the first thing I needed to do was to attend to my skills and abilities. Thus far, I’d been operating with only a single ability: light’s fury. Now, it was time to expand my repertoire.<...