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The Grey Knight: Chapter 1 (PREVIEW)
Chapter 1: EntombedThe dead can’t walk.Another of those small, comforting lies.He’d heard many of these simple platitudes. Telling someone it will be all right when you both know it won't be. Telling someone there is plenty of time, knowing that they will rush anyway.Yet here, breathing in the musty, stale, ancient air of the cavern he stood within, he knew the lie.The dead can’t walk.He...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 81
Chapter 81: Like a ChildCROWN(Wryna)I stood very still and stared at the elder. I didn’t have to fake surprise and shock – I was actually feeling both of those things. The question had been so sudden.What are you?I didn’t know.| DUCK: Okay, boss, don’t panic. She used a skill on you called Memory Weft. | DUCK: It doesn’t rely on anything in the System, and doesn’t try to read your ...
End of Book 1 Neophyte World Builder and Next Week
Earlier today, the final chapter of Book 1 dropped. Of course, this means that chapters will stop for a week while I get some editing done and prepare for Christmas. Chapter 81 will drop for Paid members on the 19th, the same day Chapter 71 posts for everyone else.This does not mean I’m not posting anything during the next week.I may make some ‘Extra’ posts for Neophyte as I put things toget...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 80
Chapter 80: Simple VillageCROWN(Wryna)The monastery was quite impressive for its size. I knew that only a small population – a few thousand – actually lived here full time, and most of the elves still in the original areas had more developed cities. Yet as I hiked up the winding path with one of the sentries by my side, I couldn’t help but admire what they’d done with limited manpower – ...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 79
Chapter 79: The Gods Must Be CrazyCROWNI materialized the Avatar within sight of the monastery, but far enough away to have a leisurely walk towards it. That would give me enough time to get my bearings. At least, that was the idea I had when I set myself up.I took stock of my current situation. I’d ended up in a duplicate of Tastka’s body, as a matter of convenience – I hadn’t bothered to...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 78
Chapter 78: Stranger in the CitySENAThe three servants chatting in the hallway abruptly dispersed, shuffling to either side to make way for Sena’s passage. They were typical laborers, each one sporting short cropped hair and the telltale fuzzy, slightly pointed ears of the totems that made up their caste – the humble gezar. Physically sturdy and with a reduced need for sleep, they made excelle...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 77
Chapter 77: When It RainsCROWNWhen I had first learned about the idea of Proxy Avatars, I’d been looking forward to the idea that I could experience ‘life’ and things like true flavor while relaxing in the Sanctuary. Just the thought of more intense sensations had been tempting, and I’d only hesitated due to the cost.The reality was, while the taste and feeling were more intense, the whole...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 76
Chapter 76: The Magnificence of ChallCROWNI really didn’t want to spend more than a few weeks here, this time. I could do a more thorough exploration of the culture later. Twenty years in a Totem tribe gave me plenty of time to learn the gestures, language, and habits of the region, if not the nation I was currently in.Fortunately, the city was more organized than I expected. I’d seen from my ...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 75
Chapter 75: The Myths We MakeCROWNI hadn’t been sure it would work, but it did. Both the guards and the villagers in Kelstad were eager to hear the myth I’d made up to prepare them for incursions… once I made it sound like it was common knowledge elsewhere.This was a technique that I had heard about when I had been Tastka, but I had never considered myself a storyteller so I had never tried ...
Big Changes, Employment Stuff
So, I’ve just been informed that I’ve been laid off from my actual day job that brings in most of my cash.This is (probably) not a crisis! I have an emergency fund, I’ve been getting a bit of money from Patreon, and it doesn’t go into effect until Jan 5th. I also have a huge backlog of PTO that is getting cashed out. I’m not in immediate danger.It does mean I’m going to be on the job h...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 74
Chapter 74: What Lurks BeneathCROWN(????)The tribe was far from any others, but that was fine with them. Their nearest neighbors were a Totem tribe of peaceful gatherers, hardy but not aggressive.At the edge of the known wilderness, this tribe had everything they needed. Fresh, clean water, fertile land for crops, a largely quiet forest around them… ideal for making a life. They had no metal, bu...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 73
Chapter 73: Scenic RoadCROWNI’d learned a lot about what to consider, lately. I tried to pay attention to some of these details that I knew would be important later while I approached the checkpoint.The terrain was idyllic and pleasant enough. Much of the continent was covered in forests, aside from some mountainous areas and the coasts or lowlands. A large crescent-shaped region broke up this m...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 72
Chapter 72: Where the Wild Things AreCROWNI had failed to consider the effect of cutting off an Incarnate Avatar early. I wasn’t sure how the friends and family had reacted, but I doubted it had been pleasant when my Avatar just fell over and died one day. I’d have to figure out a cleaner way to handle that. I felt bad for everyone my ignorant self had known.Yet it had worked. I’d grown up f...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 71
Chapter 71: A Day In The SanctuaryIt was a big day.Well, “day” was a loose term, in my Sanctuary. Time didn’t work quite the same way here. It was intrinsically linked to the universe that constituted my real ‘body’ now, in a very real sense. Right now that universe was experiencing time at a leisurely rate of about five times as fast as I could feel it here, which was basically a snail...
Book 1 Completion, Book 2 Plans, Vacation
Well, this now marks the completion of posting Book 1 of Neophyte World Builder, a series that will have at least three books.For those of you in the free tier, this doesn’t mean anything until you get to December 11, because that’s when the finale is publicly available.For those in the paid tier, tomorrow marks the first day of releasing Book 2 chapters. You’ll get 10 of these before Decem...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 70
Chapter 70: All These Worlds…ADMINISTRATOR POVThe Perception Filter had updated while we were in the temporary afterlife, leaving Orpheus looking a bit less professional now.She still looked sharp and competent, despite my discovery that she was in a disorganized panic. Her purple hair – a constant that gave me the feeling it had something to do with her true form – now held springy ringlet ...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 69
Chapter 69: Reunion and ChoiceEYSSA POVEyssa woke up with a start, her ears and nose both twitching.Something was off.She wasn’t bleary. Her eyes blinked in the dim light, but didn’t have the blurriness she was used to. The aches she’d gotten used to – especially in her side and back – were gone. She felt… strong, but somehow light.“Eyssa’s up.”That voice was familiar. Eyssa was ...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 68
Chapter 68: What Is Reality?“Have a seat.”Orpheus gestured to my recliner, while she herself sat… a comfortable easy chair appearing behind her just in time to catch her. I wondered about that, since she had earlier indicated no desire to sit, but maybe it was for my mental comfort rather than something she needed. Even that would be odd for her, as Orpheus rarely showed any consideration fo...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 67
Chapter 67: What Have You Done?REALITY POINTS2,471.093DEBT14,840.982Gross Generation +75.94/cycleUniverse Maintenance -0.383/cycleCluster Tithe -37.779/cycleDebt Garnish -22.667/cycleNet Income +15.112/cycleNow I was completely lost.It was thirteen years later, in the universe I’d created. The expedition had returned, to a tearful and happy reunion. Tastka’s friends were changed, some scarred,...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 66
Chapter 66: AfterlifeADMINISTRATOR POVNothing ever goes as planned.If my original ideas had worked, I wouldn’t have spent so much time making adjustments and fine-tuning everything. It had taken a while, but I was convinced that over a little time, energy generation – and the spread of the elf species – would pick up dramatically.I stretched arms over my head with a sigh. All this was nice, ...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 65
Chapter 65: Fond FarewellFISK POVA day ago, Fisk had never heard of dragons.Now, he was watching his childhood friend talk quietly to the second dragon they’d seen. This one was smaller, yet still huge compared to an elf, easily able to grasp and pick up any of the explorers in its talons. Unlike the vegetation-covered Kesseken, the newcomer – called here through magic by Kesseken – showed s...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 64
Chapter 64: Higher PurposeTASTKA POV“You want to know about your class, the Soulkeeper. It was an accident, but one I’m not unhappy with. You weren’t supposed to be able to sense me, but since you can… hello.” The figure of me made a strange expression, baring her fangs but lifting ears as if being friendly. “I could try to explain more, but I’m not sure I can in a way you’ll under...
Wrapping Up Book 1
As I write this, I am pecking at Chapter 70 of Neophyte World Builder. This will be the final chapter of Book 1. The Patreon should also be 9 chapters ahead of public release for Tinkerer-level Patrons.While I didn’t plan this, it will be released on November 28th, Black Friday, for Tinkerer-level Patrons. It will be publicly released sometime in December.After the PUBLIC release of Chapter 70, ...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 63
Chapter 63: The Green TenderTASTKA POVI took a deep breath and turned away from the problem.It had been a rough journey – first the marsh, then that monster that had attacked us, and then our capture by the Aravel before the long trek through the high-mana lands. Kelas had been invaluable in helping us avoid further danger. His familiarity with the region had guided us away from creatures we cou...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 62
Chapter 62: Dancing With the StarsEYSSA POVThe moment she set foot on the new land, Eyssa gained another level.That wasn’t particularly surprising to her. It had been difficult enough to reach level five while staying close to her community, but now that the journey had taken her and the others into lands they had never even glimpsed – much less imagined – she was advancing rapidly. Already ...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 61
Chapter 61: A New PerspectiveKELAS POVAfter nearly a tenday, Kelas finally understood why he had not seen the other Calen elves in such a long time.“Are you sure this is where they came from?”The one called Fisk had asked the question, his ear cocked upward as he stared at Kelas. Like all the Calen elves in his group, Fisk was a little taller and much bulkier than Kelas – and despite the lac...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 60
Chapter 60: Thinking ForwardADMINISTRATOR POVThings were finally proceeding the way I’d like. Sure, they weren’t perfect – there were certainly a lot of zigs, zags, and unexpected twists – but for the most part, it looked like my tweaks were working.I hadn’t gotten around to checking every settlement or group to see if they would also spawn the [Horizon Bearer] class, but the fact that t...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 59
Chapter 59: Horizon BearerTASTKA POVThe hushed murmurs rose to a volume that made my ears twitch before the Grand One raised a hand, and the noise died down. Our guide was staring at us in concern, his ear twitching as well when the Grand One quickly spat out a string of words so rapidly I could catch only one or two.Instead of immediately translating, our guide had a very short exchange with him,...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 58
Chapter 58: ObjectiveTASTKA POVAfter days on the trail, and spending last night soaking wet, awakening in a dry and warm place was refreshing.Of course, we were a little crowded all tucked into this single shelter, and we were technically captives, but our captors had put us up in a very comfortable place by our standards.The shelter itself was shaped wood and woven mats for the roof, made up of s...
Neophyte World Builder: Chapter 57
Chapter 57: The Pieces In PlayADMINISTRATOR POVThings had not gone quite as planned, but it seemed as if they’d still work out. Then again, when had my plans ever gone exactly as I wanted, lately?It turned out, running a universe was hard – who knew?I had hoped that Tastka would manage to work out some ways to pierce Umbral veils before she ran into the other elves in the area, but that had be...
