Home can also, as it turns out, be a giant platform outside a family mega-fortress.
“Eldest, are you smelling me?”
“Yes! I can smell you perfectly well. Finish what you’re saying, sheesh!”
“Fine,” Tungstant says, watching me suspiciously. She turns and gestures to the platform still under construction. “This will be one of the intake points of the nest. ...
2024-12-02 03:29:16 +0000 UTC View PostHoly moly, the fifth is no longer mucking around. Mana levels continue to rise, and I have to say, if I thought the fifth was unpleasant before, it’s completely awful now. As the toxic mana grows more dense, everything that makes it world-renowned garbage gets upgraded in the worst possible way. It invades my body more effectively, seeping into me faster than before and doing more dama...
2024-11-29 02:50:36 +0000 UTC View PostOne of the most important and fundamental features of the fortress is that the entire structure has been peeled of mana veins. Naturally, allowing of the native mana of the fifth to be released within the walls would defeat the entire purpose of the fortress and weaken the strength of the cleansed mana inside. Removing Dungeon Veins from such a large area was in and of itself, a monu...
2024-11-28 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostTyron stared at the massive double door entrance to the Red Tower, a strange pulse thudding in his temple. Beyond these doors lay the people who killed his parents. Beyond these doors, somewhere, the array that was used to torture them could be found. Soon, he would destroy it all. He couldn’t wait to destroy it all.
He didn’t even realise his teeth were clenched ...
2024-11-28 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostJust as monsters experience exponential growth as they evolve and reach higher tiers, so too do Skills become stronger and stronger as they reach higher ranks.
A tier seven Skill isn’t necessarily twice as strong as a tier six; exactly how much a particular Skill will progress in a single rank-up can vary from Skill to Skill. Mana Affinity Skills are a perfect exampl...
2024-11-27 01:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostDespite the crushing defeat inflicted on the Krath, the pressure in the tunnels is still relentless. Either more of the slugs have arrived, or they have put in place something that is helping them ramp up the number of monsters heading our way. Then again, it could just be the rising mana levels in the fifth. Every day that passes brings the next wave closer, and it goes without saying t...
2024-11-26 01:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostA flicker of light shifted in the corner of Feolin Brightshield’s vision. She cursed and brought her staff to bear, words of power rolling from her tongue as she turned the magick that flowed within her into scorching flames. A ghost emerged from the building to her right, its mouth agape, screaming with silent rage. Near-invisible hands reached for her, tipped in claws. Already, she c...
2024-11-26 01:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostAfter spending an hour burning mental energy trying to figure out just how this new spell form works, I give up for the time being. Well, sort of. The nice thing about having multiple brains is that I can have the others continue the work while the main mind gets on with other business.
Gweheheheh. Yes, sub-brains, work hard for me!
I know I’m technically laughing at ...
2024-11-25 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThere are many strange magics in this world, different forms of mana and ways of employing that energy that combine to make almost anything possible. The Colony has put enormous time, effort and resources into attempting to map all of these, to create a complete record of every type of mana and magic discipline, but at some point we began to believe that our quest may not be possible...
2024-11-22 01:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post[About time you got involved,] I rant, prodding at the roots of the Mother Tree with my antennae.
The roots quiver and slide around each other, creating a menacing hissing sound, but I’m not intimidated.
[You want to threaten me? Down here? I don’t think so!] I roar, prodding at the fibrous plant matter more aggressively. [You said you’d turn up ages ago, and only now y...
2024-11-21 01:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostTyron allowed his wights to coordinate the charge as he moved away from the arch before de-summoning it. The wide road before the tower gate would soon be filled with his enemies, and if they got inside the ossuary, who knew what they might do?
The arch faded from existence, taking the door with it, and Tyron turned to stride back toward the battle. Archers continued to exchange fi...
2024-11-21 01:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostThe Legionary Commander and the Krath glared at each other, each wishing they could destroy the other, while Solant stood to the side, observing their interactions calmly.
[I refuse to say a word in the presence of this metal-clad usurper,] Goszi hissed into the general's mind. [Get rid of her immediately.]
Solant clacked her mandibles, somewhat amused.
[Do you think I ...
2024-11-19 05:44:18 +0000 UTC View PostIt wasn’t easy for Chyron to get a meeting with Solant. Not because the ants prevented them from speaking to each other, but because the demands on the ant’s time were so extreme that opportunities for them to get together were scarce.
They’d met several times since the initial agreement had been formed, and the Commander expected things to go much the same way as they ...
2024-11-19 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostPower thrummed within Tyron. Every fibre of his being was awash with it. His personal reservoir of magick boomed like an ocean, crashing against the confines of his soul with the fury of a hurricane.
And he could sense all of it. Almost like he had been granted a sixth sense, Perceive Magick gave him… an extra sensory organ tuned only to the ebb and flow of arcane energy...
2024-11-19 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostCommander Chyron of the Abyssal Legion stomped away from the meeting with the infuriating ant, her mind awhirl. Morrelia hurried along in her superior's wake, wondering just what was bothering the woman so much.
She didn’t get any answers until they’d made their way back to their outpost. Without a word, the Commander strode through the camp and into the command tent, taking of...
2024-11-18 06:38:49 +0000 UTC View PostWhoo!
It's that time of year folks and I actually remembered to make a post announcing my christmas break on time! Who could believe it!? It's insaaaaaaaaaane.
Anyways. I'll be taking a two week break over the Christmas period starting on December 23rd and ending on the 6th of Jan. Big family plans this year, with a ton of people travel, so I'm very excited it all to kick off.
I was going to visit the healers anyway, so being prodded by the Legion at the same time isn’t a big deal. I’m the one who agreed to their conditions, after all; it’s not like I can complain now.
Well… I can… and I will! Just… internally.
Advant and I wind our way through the myriad tunnels of the burgeoning fortress, and I’m pleased to see how far along t...
2024-11-15 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe ambush went well, but Solant doesn’t seem all that pleased. Not that she looks mad, she just looks… like Solant. Calm and cool, the little general sits amidst her swarm of generals, scouts, mages and other leaders at the heart of the command post, absorbing all the chaos with the equanimity of a monk.
Of course, I’m happy to barge in and make a nuisance of myself, which I...
2024-11-14 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe Lady Recillia Erryn was furious. Beyond furious. She sat behind her desk, demeanour so icy the unfortunate Magisters summoned to her office felt their breath should have been misting in the air.
Unlike the various functionaries, who scurried in and out of the office, for Grand Magister Tommat Baln, there was no escape. Seated at a second desk at a decidedly lower level th...
2024-11-14 01:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post“Abandon the captives,” Zluth told his war party, “slide as fast as you can!”
His group were much further back than most and had managed to avoid the crushing force of the large ant’s spell entirely, but many others hadn’t been so lucky. As Zluth raced to escape before the twisting roots could block the tunnel, he turned one eye around to see what was happening behind.<...
2024-11-13 04:36:23 +0000 UTC View PostThe Krath left their captives behind, safely secured within their living nets and swarmed onward. The mass of monsters they had driven into their attackers was starting to run out of momentum, yet there was life in it still. Zluth watched carefully as he slid toward the defenders once more.
Confident that the invaders were pressed and unable to strike back, more of his fellow...
2024-11-12 07:49:14 +0000 UTC View PostTyron made good time through the sewers, pushing himself hard. As he ran, he combed through the new knowledge the Unseen had placed in his mind, trying to tease out all the details of his new spells and abilities he could, in order to make use of them sooner rather than later.
Of course, it would be more ideal if he had a few days in his study to work through magickal theory and de...
2024-11-12 01:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostA horde of monsters crashed into the ant lines, who were already engaged in a fighting retreat. The blue mana continued to be blown back by the concentrated power the Krath had created.
There was a way in! Finally, the invaders were on the run!
Zluth couldn’t restrain a gurgling bellow of glee as he and his fellow Krath’sizz charged forward, their war parties following in...
2024-11-11 10:56:06 +0000 UTC View PostThe Krath reinforcements slithered forward, their bodies pressed flat to the rock, using every fold and crevice within the rock to conceal their presence. Changing the colour of his outer flesh to blend in, Zluth crept alongside them, drawing ever closer to the battle raging at the edge of the wall of blue mana.
Once he was in position, alongside the other Krath’sizz, he gr...
2024-11-08 02:32:21 +0000 UTC View PostThe Awakening.
Tyron Steelarm. Your expertise in wielding the energy of Death continues to grow. More power will be placed at your disposal; use it well.
You are Ascending.
You have received the Class: Bone Mage
Using a blend of offensive and defensive magick, the Bone Mage can conjure bone formed of magick for a myriad of p...
2024-11-07 07:31:30 +0000 UTC View PostHow many of these monstrous killing machines were attached to this invasion?! Zluth could scarcely believe his eyes when, instead of the ant he’d expected, a giant bear had come waddling down the tunnel. At first, he’d seen it as a positive thing, especially so when the creature didn’t seem all that strong at first.
He had been quickly disabused of that notion. The beast was n...
2024-11-07 01:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostSarah approached the boundary between the safe-zone and the native mana of the fifth with a deep sense of trepidation. From everything Anthony had said, she almost expected toxic, knife-faced fish to spring out of ground beneath her paws the second she crossed the line.
[The Krath have been very active in this area,] the general in charge, a little ant named Antvantage told her. [D...
2024-11-06 05:52:18 +0000 UTC View PostBit short, and there are a few changes I need to make to the previous chapter, but I didn't want to keep you all waiting too much longer. Enjoy!
After making so many selections, Tyron still had a number of feats to choose, and the options there were tempting almost across the board. Except for the Forbidden One options, they were still… odd. He wasn’t sure what his pa...
2024-11-05 10:15:53 +0000 UTC View PostSarah wanders off to get armoured up, as does Odin, the weirdo. Fully suited up, the truly enormous bear is even more deadly looking than before, which is hard to believe. The specially crafted gear will enable her to operate out in the toxic zone for half an hour at a time, which isn’t half bad.
[Any advice for me?] she asks, sounding a little nervous.
I can’t blame her,...
2024-11-05 01:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostI know I can’t exactly get tired, due to my rather unique set of circumstances, but I am getting tired. The Krath have been working their slimy backsides off, being pests in all the ways they can. The Colony is still holding the line, but the number of monsters reaching the safe-zone is getting higher with every passing day.
With the building teams still working on the i...
2024-11-04 05:56:42 +0000 UTC View Post