Fowl’s hands pressed against his formal jacket for a third time.
“You going to be okay?” Max asked as he stood beside his friend. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re a tower climber and a successful one too.”
His friend looked up at him and shook his head.
A tsk came from Erwini as she ran her tongue across her lips.
“You know what that is?”
“It has a lot of different names, but many call it a Fire-Forged Bar. I can tell by–”
“A FIRE-FORGED BAR!”
Both Max and Erwini looked at the dwarven warrior who stood there...
2025-02-25 14:00:33 +0000 UTC View PostThree days flew by quickly, and the boss on the 5th floor was a three-headed undead variation of the twynhart. Even with Max killing it, no skills had been acquired.
Only two yellow crystals had been their reward for such a kill.
Now, on the seventh floor, Max smiled as ev...
2025-02-24 14:10:01 +0000 UTC View PostSo I’ve been trying to stay up to date on story comments. Been a little distracted on lifes end with wife and house flooding this week when a pipe burst due to the 15 degree temps.
We’re fine and doing ok. Got a few more weeks before everything hopefully returns to normal. ...
2025-02-23 18:26:44 +0000 UTC View PostThe tower was surrounded by forty-foot-tall walls that appeared to be made from a single piece of stone. Max had spent some time inspecting the white stone, which seemed a stark contrast to the often darker-colored stones used for the roads, sidewalks, and buildings that weren’t painted. &...
2025-02-23 14:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostMax stood at one of the ledges that overlooked the city inside the mountain.
“It’s amazing,” he stated as Tanila stood beside him, nodding.
“Makes you wish you were a dwarf, doesn’t it?”
“No, then I’d be shorter,” Max replied, elbowing his friend. “Still, thi...
2025-02-22 14:10:01 +0000 UTC View Post“We’ve been expecting you,” Erwini declared as she greeted the five of them. “Everett sent a message and told me to be prepared. Beyond that, he just laughed.”
Fowl and Batrire started to chuckle while Max moved to shake the red-headed dwarven leader of the Golden Axe factio...
2025-02-21 14:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostI appreciate the prayers. Wife is doing good. In some pain (which is to be expected with neck surgery).
Nerve is already showing signs of improvement and her hand which was impacted by the problem is already a little stronger. Downside is nerve is 'firing' which is sending pain radia...
2025-02-20 16:37:26 +0000 UTC View PostThe three days it took to get to the capital were spent in fun conversations as well as games.
Max quickly learned that Tanila could defeat most of them in strategy games unless Bob helped him cheat.
Cordellia was talented at using her imagination and creating stories to e...
2025-02-20 14:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post“How is he doing?” Tanila asked as Max appeared in the room she was sitting in.
“You didn’t even flinch?”
“I knew you were going to return in a few and besides, who else would use a purple portal to magically show up in a random tavern in a random town in the dwarf kingdom...
2025-02-19 14:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostHaving secured a room at the tavern run by the local ‘humans’ as Fowl and all the dwarves called them, Max left Tanila in the room to find a local rancher. He needed to find some cows and keep a promise he had made.
***
I was wondering when you would return....
2025-02-18 14:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post“Those four are going to be up all night,” Tanila informed Max as she snuggled down into his armpit. “I can’t remember seeing Fowl ever smiling that much in a single day.”
“You know what would be better?”
“What?”
“A longer bed,” Max replied. “My feet are ...
2025-02-17 14:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostHey all - its monday and today is the day my wife has neck surgery.
I'll be 'around' but kind of not as the next few days are going to be potentially intense. If something messes up on the site - please feel free to ping me but I double checked (all chapters should go out per norma...
2025-02-17 13:49:29 +0000 UTC View PostThe forge they came to wasn’t like any Max had seen or visited before.
He had grown accustomed to open blacksmith areas like the one in Windsor Wheel. Many of the shops and forges in his hometown were like that, allowing the natural wind to sweep through the workspace....
2025-02-16 14:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostA commotion from the door's entrance to the ale house ended as a dwarf barged through, pushing Ruggula out of the way as she tried to hold back the man.
Max was already on his feet, having left the booth as his sonar picked up the name being shouted over and over.
“FOWL! FOWL HA...
2025-02-15 14:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post“There I was, surrounded by almost twenty red skeletons, each taller than Jataic, while the boss, who stood over twenty feet tall, came at me, sword in its bony hand, trying to hack my arms off.”
Fowl rolled across the stone table, knocking off a few mugs, but stood up, one arm held upw...
2025-02-14 14:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post
Came here to write and attend the Brandon Sanderson Thursday night lectures.
Got here early and found a good seat.
Chatting with others.
TA walks in….
Class canceled 😩😩
On a side note - 50k words writt...
2025-02-14 02:49:30 +0000 UTC View PostMax had been near a few dwarf ale and beer houses in Peltagow, but he had never actually stepped foot in one. The noise inside made him wonder just how many armies must be inside.
“It’s so loud,” he moaned at first, his sonar skill taking the brunt of dozens of conversations all being...
2025-02-13 14:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post“You’ve been gone a while. You two have missed out on a lot since that fateful day.”
Max watched as the three dwarves walked ahead of Tanila, Cordellia and himself, each of them having spent some time already discussing the ongoing of the city.
“Nomgrom has been busy since the...
2025-02-12 14:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostMax stared in awe as the structural quality of each of the buildings inside Nomgrom was easily better than the ones he was used to back in Peltagow or Rumstant.
“I knew dwarves were good with stone, but is there a magical skill I’m not aware of that allows them to shape it like this?”...
2025-02-11 14:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostWew - its a great week so far.
I’m actually in Utah on a writing trip. Wife sent me away for a week so i could focus on writing. Did 10,000+ words yesteday and I’ve got 2 chapters done so far this morning. Really trying to get some serious words in so I can give a little lo...
2025-02-10 17:23:13 +0000 UTC View PostAfter Merla hugged Batrire, Max coughed to get the older elf’s attention.
“Is he always so serious?” the healer teased as she frowned at him.
“Yes, but I can’t complain. Thank you again for healing me.”
She winked at Batrire and smiled.
“It’s my job but sti...
2025-02-10 14:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post“Be safe Max Hoste,” Kathleen said as she bowed outside the door that would lead back to the main part of the temple. “I have sent a few letters to stop any who might be foolish enough still looking for you.”
“I appreciate that. Too many have died and I would prefer to keep that n...
2025-02-09 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostHe is coming.
Max’s eyes opened as he stood, the sensation of the room changing slightly.
Power flowed within the crystal lines on the floor and a pulsing purple light flashed half a dozen times.
Then it stopped and a purple portal formed from floo...
2025-02-08 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostMax walked around the room they were in, studying the crystal lines that ran along the floor.
These are like the ones in the Adventurer Hall. Does that mean these crystals are far more special than I initially thought?
Yes. Like… when you made that weapon for Dexic ...
2025-02-07 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 10 - I accept your challenge.
“Thrash car tilapia... door... vacuum!” I screamed with all the force my lungs could muster. I expected a reaction from the devil before me—anger, bloodlust, or maybe amusement—but instead, he just stared at me, his eyes partially narrowed, his ...
2025-02-06 14:09:12 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 7 - You owe me.
Before I could say anything, Max shoved my arm away and strode toward the devil. His steps were quick and spaced. I followed him closely, quickening my pace when I saw his warrior’s blade materialize in his hand.
“Wait!” I called, grabbing his...
2025-02-06 14:08:42 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 4 - Why?
I stared at the message with a good deal of apprehension. The system's intention was to eliminate 80% of the competitors immedietly. The sheer brutality of it made me hold my breath for a couple of seconds. Besides, the system seemed to also incentivize com...
2025-02-06 14:08:20 +0000 UTC View PostI have a new author I've been trying to help with the LitRPG side of things. Systems / tension / etc. So his story is going live on the 10th of this month and I wanted to try and get him some last minute feedback before it does.
I'll post 4 of these (each with 3 chapters) and if you're w...
“Sir! I must protest! You cannot do that here!”
Max shook his head and didn’t pull back the healing potion he was offering the older woman whose face was stained with tears.
“Are you saying that Phaius couldn’t have instructed me to come here and help his people?”
Th...
2025-02-06 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post