Hart posts
Posts: 100
Files: 2
84. [Red Tide] Killing Feather
Red Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, not such a bad hangoverCuda Bite, Throne Gazer, Salt Wall, the champions of the Reef, and Turtle Jaw, their Quill, preparing for a fightGauntlet, Healer of the 3rd Renown, the Trolkin, once believed in bountiful harvestsMockery, Knife Master of the 8th Renown and Quill of the Trolkin, once believed in meritocracy***26 Meltzend, 61 AWThe Crown, North Continent94 days until the next GrantingRed Tide awoke back in the vault filled with empty coffers. Turtle Jaw crouched next to her, the look of co...
83. [Red Tide] The Lurker in the Smoke
Red Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, highEsoteric, the trolkin mage, a tour guideMockery, Knife Master of the 8th Renown and Quill of the Trolkin, it was all her idea***25 Meltzend, 61 AWThe Crown, North Continent95 days until the next GrantingWarm water reached up to Red Tide’s waist. A small gasp escaped her lips—not a sound she’d normally allow herself to make, but she was alone. The tension in her muscles, the brittle chill in her bones, both loosened as the gentle waves lapped against her. She dipped down lower, letting...
82. [Red Tide] Circular Thinking
***Red Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, sleepless in the house of giantsThrone Gazer, Trident Master of the 4th Renown, The Reef, in consideration of his own hostility***25 Meltzend, 61 AWThe Crown, North Continent95 days until the next GrantingThe sun hadn't yet inched back over the horizon and probably wouldn't for hours, but something in Red Tide's body told her that it was morning. Or, at least, something within her refused to expend any more effort trying to sleep.Before disappearing to her own chamber, Mockery ha...
81. [Red Tide] The Crown of the World
NB: I noticed in doing my Royal Road posting that I left the First Granting tease off the start of the Nortmost sequence. I'm including that here. (It's meant to lead into Nortmost, but I think it works as a chaser, too!) Then, the latest First Granting bit follows. The foremost stratagem of King Mudt were displays of strength. These had rarely failed him on the traditional battlefield. And so, when the gods asked him to choose a place on the map and declare his wish, he did not consider any options that might be regarded as subtle.“I...
80. [Nortmost] Twenty Days Up, Conclusion
Traveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Soldier’s Rest, master of dumb luckCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, will have his answersCarina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, almost made it***19 Meltzend, 61 AWAscending the Nortmost MountainDay Twenty of the TrialTraveon perched on his tiptoes and slammed the pommel of his knife against the sheet of ice that covered the cavern's ceiling. Powdery snow sifted down through the cracks and the sunlight leaking in brightened. A...
79. [Nortmost] Twenty Days Up, Part Six
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, and Orryn es-Salvado, Beast Master of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, on the precipiceCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, getting what he asked for***19 Meltzend, 61 AWAscending the Nortmost MountainDay Twenty of the TrialAnd she fell again. Her body plummeted down through the clouds and snow, helpless and flailing. She could use her [Force Armor]but the impact would still be—Carina gasped and lurched forwa...
78. [Nortmost] Twenty Days Up, Part Five
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, sinkingCarina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, and Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in the embrace of allies***14 Meltzend, 61 AWAscending the Nortmost MountainDay Fifteen of the TrialCortland was surprised by how little it hurt to be dragged into the mountain. The opposite, really. The aches and pains of these last few weeks, the ever-present burning chill across his toes—these sensations were gone in an instant. Nothing repla...
77. [Nortmost] Twenty Days Up, Part Four
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, and Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in the company of the champions of Fornon, always on their best behaviorCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, and Traveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel and Soldier’s Rest, on the wrong side of the mountain***13 Meltzend, 61 AWAscending the Nortmost MountainDay Fourteen of the TrialCarina had been being good. Well, mostly. On their way up the Nortmost, she had largely avoided using ...
76. [Nortmost] Twenty Days Up, Part Three
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, and Traveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel and Soldier’s Rest, taking chancesYasmin Hel, Archmage of the 5th Renown, and her two candle champions, Magelab, taking donationsHenry Blacksalve, Healer of the 8th Renown, and Rivian Stonespirit, Sword Master of the 4th Renown, Soldier’s Rest, early risersCarina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, and Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in the company of the champions of Fornon, ke...
75. [Nortmost] Twenty Days Up, Part Two
Laughing Monkey and Wrathful Elephant, Assassins of the 11th and 3rd Renown, Brokerage of Blades, causing troubleCarina Goldstone and Vitt Secondson-Salvado, Logician of the 3rd Renown and Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in good handsCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, and Traveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel and Soldier’s Rest, debating sonnets***1 Meltzend, 61 AWAscending the Nortmost MountainDay Two of the TrialWrathful Elephant unhurriedly patted out the small curls of fire that...
74. [Nortmost] Twenty Days Up, Part One
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in need of a rideVitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in need of a few more hours of sleepEmmad Beet and Yasmin Hel, Archmages of the 16th and 5th Renown, Magelab, accompanied by two candle championsCortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in a foul moodTraveon Twiceblack, Skulker of the 2nd Renown, Soldier’s Rest, sticking his nose in***30 Trollove, 61 AWAscending the Nortmost MountainDay One of the TrialThe In...
73. [Red Tide] A Whirlpool on Land
Red Tide, Enchantress of the 4th Renown, The Reef, the guest of honorCuda Bite, Throne Gazer, Salt Wall, the champions of the Reef, and Turtle Jaw, their Quill, fish out of waterMockery, Knife Master of the 8th Renown and Quill of the Trolkin, tour guide through the madness***9 Meltzend, 61 AWTrolkin territory, North Continent111 days until the next GrantingThey could see the fires and smell the smoke from the trolkin camp from more than a mile out. Their destination cast a hellish glow on the horizon. The night sky already felt closer to the g...
72. [Red Tide] Lady Mockery
In the furthest east, on the frozen coast of the north, at the edge of the oca’em’s sprawling Reef, in the smoke-shrouded city of Endpass, champions and their Quills watched the first sliver of sun break the horizon.And, in the blinking of an eye, the gods plucked them up and dropped them elsewhere. The first arriving Quills and their champions found themselves in a vast courtyard of stone, a castle with walls as high as the sky rising around them. Inside, they found an uncountable number of rooms, all the same, with beds and basins and pri...
71. [Cortland] The Confession
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, trudging toward understandingOrryn es-Salvado, Beastlord of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, a followerHenry Blacksalve, Traveon Twiceblack, Watts Stonework, and Rivian Stonespirit, the champions of Soldier’s RestTheo Adamantios, Axe Master of the 6th Renown, and Sylvie Aracia, his sponsor, Penchenne, who have a burden to share with the hammer master***1 Meltzend, 61 AWThe village of Tiptop, North Continent119 days until the next GrantingOn the embankment above the d...
70. [Carina] Debt Collectors
Author's Note:I've been playing around with how some of these scenes go. Chronologically, this chapter comes before the previous Cortland chapter. When it goes to Royal Road, those two chapters will be reversed. (I don't think it really matters for the reading experience.) Anyway!Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, encountering ghostsTheo Adamantios, Axe Master of the 6th Renown, and Sylvie Aracia, his sponsor, Penchenne, the latter in a state of fever***29 Trollove, 61 AWThe village of Tiptop, North C...
69. [Cortland] The Cracks
Cortland Finiron, Hammer Master of the 12th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, bringing his newest champion northKing Cizco Salvado, Quill of Infinzel, Kingdom of Infinzel, in the pastHenry Blacksalve, Healer of the 8th Renown, Soldier’s Rest, and the three other champions of the broken wall***1 Trollove, 61 AWThe pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent149 days until the next Granting“Mark my words, hammer master, we can use this to our advantage.”It was well after midnight when Cortland returned to the pyramidal city with King Cizco. The a...
68. [Carina] Old Angles
Carina Goldstone, Logician of the 3rd Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, in a crowd she can’t controlVitt Secondson-Salvado, Hunter of the 9th Renown, Kingdom of Infinzel, back to his old self***28 Trollove, 61 AWThe village of Tiptop, North Continent122 days until the next GrantingFor a factionless village at the top of the world, Tiptop felt crowded. At the docks, wedged into berths chiseled out from ice, fishing boats scraped sides with barges from further south. The local boats were in better condition than Carina would have expected, many outf...
67. [Carina] Cold Future
The days passed. The year slipped away.King Mudt and his champions rode the land in pursuit of Ink left for them by the gods, yet found their progress ever impeded by the banishments enacted across the north. Thus, the last Orvesian King spent his days chasing power and his nights screaming at invisible walls, promising those who would shield their lands from him that they would all be put to the sword upon the island. But the world was large, and his shouts small by comparison, and much like his blade and his armies, his words could no longer ...
66. [Uicha] Grasping Hands
Uicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, for whom life is a trialMilena Russi, Duelist of the 11th Renown, Merchant’s Bay, knows a treasure when she sees oneCurse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, waiting on that harpoonAkoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, keeping to a safe distanceThe merchant gellezza Mastermindand an unnamed vessel carrying the Gen’bi***10 Trollove, 61 AWAboard the Dartmyth, Central Sea140 days until the next GrantingUicha yanked his arm awa...
65. [Uicha] From Below
Uicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, surveying the competitionAkoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, keeping to a safe distanceCurse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, know what’s down thereThe merchant gellezza Mastermindand an unnamed vessel carrying the Gen’bi***10 Trollove, 61 AWAboard the Dartmyth, Central Sea140 days until the next Granting“Marvelous, isn't it?” Akoni asked, rubbing his hands together. “That hot feeling in your gut, little brot...
64. [Uicha] Hero's Journey
Uicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, possessed of a heartbreaking storyAkoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, great believers in an underdogCurse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, reads in languages others can’tThe Bloodless Executive, Quill of Merchant’s Bay, and their champion Milena Russi, Duelist of the 11th Renown, who find themselves atop some Ink***8 Trollove, 61 AWAboard the Dartmyth, Central Sea142 days until the next GrantingThe Forgotten One had wa...
63. [Uicha] Little Brother
Uicha de Orak, Wildcard of the 5th Renown, representing The Forgotten One, has everyone’s attentionAkoni de Emasyn, Captain of the Dartmyth, and his crew, commandeered by championsCurse de Mou, Ocean Master of the 9th Renown, the Flamingo Islands, knows a score when he sees it***8 Trollove, 61 AWAboard the Dartmyth, Central Sea142 days until the next GrantingSlowly, Akoni turned to look at Uicha, who tried his best to maintain steady eye contact, even as he felt Sheppa take a subtle step away from him. Meanwhile, Curse stayed behind the capta...
62. [Uicha] Cursed
As the days ticked down to the First Granting, not all on Emza had yet accepted the new order of things. There were some who were not ready to exit the First Age, or to lay down their arms from the Final War.In the woodlands to the southeast of Infinzel, a great host of Orvesians gathered. They had been banished from the walls of the pyramidal city, and from conquered cities like Noyega and Cruxton. They trudged toward Penchenne in the hope that the city of diplomats would remain open, and that they might return home to Orvesis by sea. Some fli...
61. [Infinzel] Solstice, Conclusion
Carina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of InfinzelThose they have met so far……and those they will meet soon***30 Frett, 61 AWThe pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent150 days until the next GrantingVitt Secondson-Salvado expected treason. Or, if that was too much to ask, to catch Carina and the cocky little bartender in some illicit tryst. He wanted an undeniable, present day link between the logician and the troublemakers in Soldier's Rest who had raised her. Of course, such a discovery would do little to smooth relatio...
60. [Infinzel] Solstice, Part Eight
Carina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of InfinzelThose they have met so far……and those they will meet soon***30 Frett, 61 AWThe pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent150 days until the next GrantingThe gods watched Infinzel. And they waited for their moment.***The spy felt the wind shift northward, which turned the fires in the opposite direction. She stood in front of the wagon-sized double doors that fed into the warehouse she had purchased a year ago using a false identity and breathed out lightly. Three more clumps of ra...
59. [Infinzel] Solstice, Part 7
Carina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of InfinzelThose they have met so far……and those they will meet soon***30 Frett, 61 AWThe pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent150 days until the next GrantingCortland waited by the Garrison entrance off the Underbridge. He had a feeling they would come in that way—Orryn es-Salvado usually did his guard shifts there. The cadet on duty when Cortland arrived raised his eyebrows at the sight of the champion and glanced around nervously. He’d probably been told to keep the door clear fo...
58. [Infinzel] Solstice, Part Six
Carina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of InfinzelThose they have met so far……and those they will meet soon***30 Frett, 61 AWThe pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent150 days until the next GrantingBlack smoke billowed up from the outer districts. A new fire. This one wasn't in Soldier's Rest but in a neighboring district wedged between the Troldep and the Continental Highway, an area mostly used for warehouses and cheap traveler housing. Cortland would not have known those details weeks ago. In the days since the st...
57. [Infinzel] Solstice, Part Five
Carina Goldstone and Cortland Finiron, Champions of InfinzelThose they have met so far……and those they will meet soon***30 Frett, 61 AWThe pyramidal city of Infinzel, North Continent150 days until the next Granting“I should be going with you,” Carina Goldstone said.“Should you?” King Cizco did not look back at her. The leader of Infinzel was crouched on his hands and knees, sleeves rolled up and hair tied back, making subtle alterations to a rune that had been hidden beneath a stone block. “I think not.”Carina stood over him, le...
56. [Uicha] Solstice, Part Four
***Uicha de Orak, Wildcard, representing The Forgotten OneThose he has met so far……and those he will meet soon***30 Frett, 61 AWThe Gen’bi Desert, South Continent150 days until the next Granting“....let those unwelcome travel upon it.”Sosupacia finished the incantation. Despite the sharp winds, the gods ensured his Ink kept its shape. He looked up from the symbol of an overflowing coffer he had dribbled onto the clay-colored sand. From his perch atop the dune, Sosupacia had a clear view of the Bay's settlement below. The colorful ...
55. [Uicha] Solstice, Part Three
Uicha de Orak, Wildcard, representing The Forgotten OneThose he has met so far……and those he will meet soon***30 Frett, 61 AWAboard the Dartmyth, Central Sea150 days until the next GrantingUicha stood at the front of the boat with his elbows braced against the wooden rail, letting the salt wind whip across his face. It stung, but in a good way. Nothing but open sea in front of him, the ship slashing through peaceful waters, panels of sunlight shimmering where the clouds parted.The bow, he reminded himself. The front of the ship was called t...
