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Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 44 - Retreat
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 44 - Retreat“The Revolution saw a revival in Itrian artistry. Before, only those lucky enough to obtain nobleborn patrons could practice their craft, meaning that only art that appealed to the fads and fashions of our former overlords was produced. Now, art flourishes across the Republic with new styles appearing every year. Personally, I have a particular liking for the works of the civic revivalist school.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Just as Ester opened her mouth, the world dissolved i...
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 43 - Overwhelming Numbers
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 43 - Overwhelming Numbers“One of the cornerstones of society in the Republic is our system of guilds. Guild members pay a small fee for their membership and in return their guild provides them with support if they find themselves in difficulty and helps to maintain proper quality standards across the Republic. I myself am a member of the Writers’ Guild.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Ester leaned over the wall and gestured at the ghoul she spotted. “Gränn ai’diwaien.” The creature wa...
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 42 - Special Ammunition
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 42 - Special Ammunition“The Republic is surrounded by hostile powers that would like nothing more than to return the People to the oppression of the past. We can and do extend the hand of friendship to our neighbours, but it is vital that every Citizen remembers that that hand may be bitten off if we do not take care.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Another deafening clang sounded out as the necromancers’ spell slammed into the wards. Once again, the silvery translucent dome surrounded the f...
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 41 - The Sound of Marching
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 41 - The Sound of Marching“Ideology binds nations together. It is a shared consciousness which allows diverse groups of individuals to achieve more than the sum of their parts. That is why the Republic’s ideological unity is such a strength.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====As she stalked along the walls, Ester was still fuming at Captain Lovas’ insinuation that she was having some kind of tryst with Vegard. But she needed to focus. This was a war, not a time for her to sulk over some stu...
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 40 - Alarm Bells
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 40 - Alarm Bells“The integration of the Republic’s Talented into its army has helped it to become one of the foremost fighting forces in the world. After the disaster of the Battle of Grathbridge, the way in which our Talented soldiers support their fellow Citizens was thoroughly reexamined. Now, rather than operating semi-independently, our Cantrists and Arcanists are integral parts of their units with all of the benefits that that brings.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Ester was stood on ...
Shadws in the Smoke - Chapter 39 - Guard Duty
Bonus chapter, woo! Next chapter will be the regular Thursday one.Shadws in the Smoke - Chapter 39 - Guard Duty“Before the Republic, hunger was the natural state of a large portion of humanity. Barring famine and similar disasters, most nations produce all they need to feed their peoples. However, in less advanced systems, the nobleborn accumulate a surplus far above their needs and in doing so create a deficit for the majority of their subjects.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Jakob Rostad stood on the fort’s battlement...
Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 38 - A Conspiracy Against Her?
First up, happy New Year to all of you and thank you for your support. I'm very excited for 2026. Book 1 is going to be published and we're getting into the real action now for book 2. I think my writing speed has increased, so I'm expecting a few more bonus chapters too. First bonus chapter will be on Tuesday.Shadows in the Smoke - Chapter 38 - A Conspiracy Against Her?“The Republic is not an insular nation. We seek to bring friendship and prosperity to the world. It is through positive relations and trade that peace and w...
Shadows in the Smoke - 37 - Republican Breakfast
Shadows in the Smoke - 37 - Republican Breakfast“In order for a society to function properly all of its inhabitants must have a stake in its success. A share of prosperity if you will. Under outdated political systems such as that of the Empire, this is limited. While the ordinary subjects of the Undying Queen will benefit when the Empire prospers, the vast majority of that prosperity goes to the nobleborn. In the Republic, every Citizen gets their fair share and so we become a stronger nation for it.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne ...
Shadows in the Smoke - 36 - The Long Walk Home
Shadows in the Smoke - 36 - The Long Walk Home“Freedom of speech is fundamental to the Republic. Its Citizens welcome constructive criticism because that is what helps it to grow. Due to the protections granted by law, we can be sure that our journalists, writers and politicians tell only the truth.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====By the time Ester reached him, Loga had managed to sit up and was looking around with bleary eyes. When his eyes settled on her, he stared for a moment before speaking. “That was incredibly da...
Shadows in the Smoke - 35 - Testing a Chartered Mage
Shadows in the Smoke - 35 - Testing a Chartered Mage“The Empire boasts of their Archmages, privileged individuals who epitomise the inequality and inefficiency of their government. They claim that the Republic has had nothing like them, since the overthrow of King Tobin. Let them make their threats, if they are foolish enough to follow through on them, they will find that, just because we do not subscribe to their need for hierarchy and titles, does not mean our Arcanists cannot match their best.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun...
Shadows in the Smoke - 34 - All You Do Is Talk
Shadows in the Smoke - 34 - All You Do Is Talk“The lifeblood of the Republic is coal and iron. Our mines are among the most productive in the world, using the ingenuity of our Citizens to dig deeper than any of our neighbours could hope to. Productivity is ensured through Svendsenite efforts on the part of miners, inspired by the Agnar Svendsen who notably mined over fifteen tons of coal in only six hours.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====“My surrender?” Lindholm sounded like a man under her illusion spell, but her voic...
Shadows in the Smoke - 33 - A Skeleton Wreathed in Arcane Fire
Shadows in the Smoke - 33 - A Skeleton Wreathed in Arcane Fire“Many things are repulsive to good Citizens. Corruption, inequality, unearned privilege are all sickening. However, little is more depressing than seeing the servile way in which commonborn subjects of the Empire practically worship their queen. They are so blind to the reality of their oppression that they choose to perpetrate it themselves.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====The next day, Ester found herself yawning her way through a meagre breakfast. She hadn...
Shadows in the Smoke - 32 - The Laws of War
Shadows in the Smoke - 32 - The Laws of War“Where base factionalism divides the other nations’ leadership, the Republic is united in its quest to better the lives of its Citizens. Each member of National Assembly acts on their own conscience to represent their electorate, avoiding the jockeying for power and infighting that dominates less-advanced societies such as the Empire.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Captain Loga saluted and hurried out of the room. Ester’s eyes widened as she looked to the door and then back to...
Shadows in the Smoke - 31 - We Have a Small Problem
Shadows in the Smoke - 31 - We Have a Small Problem“Equality is a fundamental principle of the Republic. Every Citizen has the same rights, freedoms and duties as every other. However, that does not mean that we have no hierarchies. The Republic’s military, like any other, has officers of differing ranks to command the soldiers. Where we differ from more backwards nations is that these hierarchies are underpinned by the knowledge that every man and woman is the equal of every other, even if in the moment one has seniority.The Struggle f...
Shadows in the Smoke - 30 - Murder in the Night
Shadows in the Smoke - 30 - Murder in the Night“Life for the living in the Lands of the Dead is nasty, brutish and short. Every living person there survives knowing that their survival is entirely dependent upon their usefulness to the Liche Kings. Sadly for them, this generally manifests in the form of being vital ingredients for one necromantic ritual or another. Only the most disgusting traitors would ever willingly choose to work for those monsters.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Ester froze as a group of Republicans ...
Shadows in the Smoke - 29 - A Rude Awakening
Shadows in the Smoke - 29 - A Rude Awakening“Inheritance is the source of many of the evils of society. By allowing the accumulation of property and titles based on nothing more than birth, a nation ensures that the most talented will not have the chance to rise to the top. Nowhere was this better illustrated than the pre-Republic Kingdom of Itria. Now, the Republic is able to prosper in the knowledge that every Citizen has an equal chance at success.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====That night, Ester was deep in thought as...
Shadows in the Smoke - 28 - Escort Duty
Shadows in the Smoke - 28 - Escort Duty“Base superstition permeated Itria until the foundation of the Republic and continues to grip its neigbours. For example, in the Empire they regularly swear by the Spirits. Imagined benevolent beings that influence the world in their own inscrutable ways. Any good Citizen knows that, to the extent they exist at all, they are merely manifestations of Weiryin with all of the horror that accompanies such creatures.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====Jakob watched the Imperial Mage as she sl...
Shadows in the Smoke - 27 - A Change of Command
Shadows in the Smoke - 27 - A Change of Command“It is fortunate that the Lands of the Dead have such a backwards political system. The Lands of the Dead suffer for a myriad of reasons, but one such reason is their backwards political system. Organising a society on the basis of power and allowing the abuse of anyone weaker is both inefficient and morally wrong. Like the Empire, the Liche Kings cannot benefit form the true potential of their subjects because of their disgusting policies.”The Struggle for Freedom by Bjarne Midthun=====With...
Shadows in the Smoke - 26 - Sore Feet
Shadows in the Smoke - 26 - Sore Feet“The proximity of the Lands of the Dead to our northern regions means that Citizens must be vigilant for infiltration by the undead. Skirmishes along the border are not uncommon, but at the time of writing the Liche Kings have been relatively quiet for over ten years. Long may that continue. Nevertheless, free-willed undead regularly cross into the Republic seeking to feed and spread their curse on the innocent. Some think it is a deliberate tactic by the Liche Kings to sap our resources, others that t...
Shadows in the Smoke - 25 - The First Shots
Shadows in the Smoke - 25 - The First Shots“In the Empire, no one will willingly touch a Mage. With direct contact, they can murder or harm a person with no possible defence or, in the Empire’s backwards system, legal recourse. However, in the Republic, friends and comrades will embrace whether one has the Talent or not. The servile subjects of the Empire’s Queen know that power is constantly abused there and so they fear anything that might give another power over them. In the Republic, we are all Citizens together. Of course an Arc...
Crush Them Beneath Our Feet - A Republican Marching Song
Here's the whole song from Chapter 24, as written by me (no AI assistance). Now free to everyone as Chapter 24 has gone public.ChorusCome arise one and allWe must march lest we fallTogether soldiers stand For victory is at handVerseThe liches crawl down from the northMarching on sore feet we set forthAvoiding death, it's us they fearWe dug them graves, their end is nearCrush their bones beneath our feetFor the Republic they shall never beatChorusCome arise one and allWe must march lest we fallTogether soldiers stand For victory is at h...
Shadows in the Smoke - 24 - A Rousing Chorus
Just to say, the song is entirely my own work. No chatgpt! Shadows in the Smoke - 24 - A Rousing Chorus“Education is core to the success of the Republic. Itria is not a rich land, much of its territory lies far to the north where the soil is less productive and Citizens must struggle against the elements to survive. This means that it must find its wealth in the People. Every child of Itria is guaranteed at least six years of schooling and, for those with the ability to benefit from it, more. This knowledge allows the People to better t...
Shadows in the Smoke - 23 - Time for a Party?
Sorry for the slightly late publication, there were technical difficulties. I decided to take a last minute trip to Mainland Europe on the overnight ferry and didn't think of the fact that there's no mobile phone signal in the middle of sea (well, technically the ship has its own network, but data is so obscenely expensive that I'd need a new mortgage) and I couldn't get the paid wifi to work on my laptop. Anyway, I'm now in sight of the Netherlands and hotspotting off my phone, so here's the chapter. Enjoy!=====Shado...
Shadows in the Smoke - 22 - Never Trust a Republican
As I'd hoped, I've managed to get enough written to give you a bonus chapter this week. Ester is trying out being a spy and getting invovled in some gambling, which is all going to end in lots of fun for her no doubt.Shadows in the Smoke - 22 - Never Trust a Republican“The Republic treasures equality. That does not mean that all aspects of life must be the same for every Citizen, it simply means that the inherent dignity of being human is valued and the same opportunities and respect is given to all Citizens in good standing. Some ...
Shadows in the Smoke - 21 - On the Rails
Here's the next chapter. It's got the first perspective from a Republican too.I'm hoping to have some more free time over the next few days, so might get a bonus chapter out on Tuesday next week, but we'll have to see how the writing flows.Shadows in the Smoke - 21 - On the Rails“The Republic is beset from the south, north and east by hostile, larger and more populous neighbours, at least if such a word can meaningfully be applied to the Lands of the Dead. Citizens must show constant vigilance against infiltration by spies, ...
