“And that is the exact reason for which we need to go beyond the preexisting ‘borders’ and purge the inhuman infidels from existence!” High Veran Leiteli was so impassioned by his speech that sparks and embers could be seen materializing around him as his fist smashed into his lectern for emphasis. The man’s belly s...
2024-12-20 04:00:32 +0000 UTC View PostThough some of the outcasts from the subjugated swarms resisted the idea of being under my rule in this new land, Sybil’s warning combined with my obvious support kept any keelish from breaking off from the rest of us. Now that they’d been presented with a beautiful, rich environment, it seemed like they weren’t willing...
2024-12-19 04:27:01 +0000 UTC View PostI stopped torturing myself with [Spear of the Many] as the swarm stepped into the mountains’ shadow. According to the Administrator, these should be the Shandise, assuming they were the mountains where Nievtra once was.
[Yes, these are the Shandise Mountains.] The Administrator answered. [They’ve gotten smalle...
2024-12-18 04:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post“I recognize what you’re doing will do you good for the long term, but I must recommend that you either cease practicing so frequently, or wait entirely until we reach our destination.” Vefir continued to lecture me as I laid nearly insensate on the ground. His healing was the only reason I could still walk, but even so...
2024-12-17 04:01:53 +0000 UTC View PostI have learned that once again true saharliard exist in the world. Now, I do request additional funds to facilitate my journey east, as the funding will allow me to travel in greater security and at a greater speed, but even if I receive no advances or additional financial backing, I will leave. I am currently in ...
2024-12-14 04:10:42 +0000 UTC View Post“If I catch them, I will break their every bone and slurp their marrow while they still live. I will force their damnable trunks down their throats and enjoy the sight of them choking on their own bile as they vomit. If I see another indlovu, it had better be their heads spitted on a post and left to rot.” Shemira seethed...
2024-12-13 02:44:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe original message given couldn’t be believed. It came from a gods-forsaken. However, Illan’Klli deigned to demonstrate their infinite wisdom and reveal one of the fated prey to one of the trustworthy scouts. It did not take long to begin our preparations for the Great Hunt. I will lead our people to glory, ...
2024-12-12 03:27:44 +0000 UTC View PostEvery word he spoke was the right thing to assuage my fears and frustrations. Even so, there was something wrong with it, and I felt my scales prickle right alongside my skin. My discomfort and instincts notwithstanding, I bowed my head at the herdmaster Silumkulo. “I appreciate your willingness to stop and converse with me...
2024-12-11 05:00:21 +0000 UTC View PostMost of my elites scattered with a hurried purpose while the young male that had just joined my “protectors” sprinted to get my spear. Less than a minute later, he returned, and I held it more like a walking stick than a weapon as Sybil, Brutus, and another of my guards walked alongside me towards the moving mountain and ...
2024-12-10 04:21:27 +0000 UTC View PostSeveral buildings patterned the back of the tortoise, and seeing indlovu walk in and out of them, I was again reminded of how truly mountainous the tortoise must be. Each of the building’s doorways accommodated the indlovu with space to spare in every direction, so maybe twenty feet tall, if the truly massive Allatsu was am...
2024-12-07 04:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostThe swarm couldn’t move as swiftly and unimpeded as before, now that we numbered nearly two thousand and our herds several thousand more. What once would have been the journey of a single hour or two stretched into days, and as I waited for the axebeaks, oryx, oxfiends, and hyenas. Though we experimented various paths and a...
2024-12-06 04:37:20 +0000 UTC View PostWhat brings contentment? It is not glory, for glory demands victory, and victory begets loss. It is not success, for success requires effort, and effort destroys the soul. It is not family, for family require your mind, and your mind is yours alone. It is not station, for station puts you above others, and social ...
2024-12-05 04:50:37 +0000 UTC View Post“I am Ashlani, chieftain of my swarm, the fahvalo of Bloodpriestess Ana of the Moonchildren and the Disciple of Nievtala. I have come to speak with you, and see if our tribes can work in peace and friendship or must take up the iklabhu to protect ourselves and defeat our foes. Please, counsel with me, break bread with me, a...
2024-12-04 05:24:02 +0000 UTC View Post[Skill evolved. Status updated.]
With a wide grin, I helped shepherd the swarm’s growing herds onward. One herd each of axebeaks, a deerlike thing called an Indlovan Oryx according to the [System], and something else it called hyenas. Only the axebeaks numbered more than 100, to allow [True Dominance] progress. Then, ...
2024-12-03 04:04:31 +0000 UTC View PostA bit of a shorter chapter today. See you on Monday!
My hand dropped from Arwa’s head and I stood tall with a sigh. It wasn’t too surprising, but these indlovu didn’t care about who Bekizo or the Enkulu were, but I was a little surprised to see no reaction to Qaqambi or the Yegolide either. Even so, there were som...
2024-12-01 04:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostArwa POV
The master gave orders, and Arwa listened. He didn’t speak the way that she could, but still, she listened. Something was coming, and Arwa needed to help. She snarled loud enough for all of her pups and the others to hear. They were needed! Her little ones hated how she treated them, bu...
2024-11-30 00:25:27 +0000 UTC View PostI'm sorry for no chapter yesterday! It was a busy day, and my night was full. Too tired to write when I got home. I think I'll post another Ashlani's chapter not tonight, but the makeup on Saturday. Thank you!
After that fight, without Vefir or Etra’s ministrations, I expected to be wounded, or at least sore or achey,...
2024-11-29 05:00:50 +0000 UTC View PostThe most notable changes from the keelish to the Keel was not, as many would assume, the physical and magical growth. Much of that could have been remedied by the substantially greater rate of reproduction within the keelish’s race, given that quantity can be a quality all on its own. No, the greatest difference...
2024-11-27 05:00:13 +0000 UTC View PostI don't hate this chapter, but there's something about it that feels... off to me. Let me know if it feels that way to you too.
Hundreds of rioting keelish surrounded me, both my allies and my enemies mixing together. I counted us lucky that the physical differences between the two swarms were so apparent, as the shorte...
2024-11-26 03:53:52 +0000 UTC View PostBefore your own safety comes that of the Zaaktif. Before your comfort comes that of the Zaaktif. Before your survival comes that of the Zaaktif. We are the Alqat, never the Alqats. We are one body, and our body lives to serve, protect, and save the Zaaktif.
-Initial address gi...
2024-11-23 04:27:53 +0000 UTC View PostI cut through the throat and spine, the assistance from [Destructive Wave] tearing through muscle, fat, and bone effortlessly. The oxfiend, magically calmed by Sybil’s magic and cowed my [Adversary] and [True Domination], died in mere moments. The rest of the oxfiend herd didn’t react to one of their own’s slaughter due...
2024-11-22 04:31:17 +0000 UTC View PostLaugh and dance and joy and sing
Let all your greatest glories ring.
Enjoy the time our Gods allow,
But when they come then you must bow.
For they who the divine do scourge
Will find themselves put through the purge
And when the Absolute do reap
That is the time that we will weep.
2024-11-21 04:16:30 +0000 UTC
View Post
It was only a couple of minutes that passed before another 30 or so indlovu stepped with still-surprising stealth from the grass with several huge casks held over their shoulders. Qaqambi prepared a massive bonfire with his guards’ help, and in the space of fifteen minutes or less, a roaring fire with a spitted oxfiend was ...
2024-11-20 04:50:06 +0000 UTC View Post“Welcome to my swarm, Qaqambi of the Yegolide. I know nothing of your customs, so forgive any impoliteness.”
He waved his trunk in a way not dissimilar to a dismissive wave. “And I know nothing of yours. Let us learn and work together.” The chieftain leaned forward, his dark eyes searching my own. “Tell me, ho...
2024-11-19 04:02:19 +0000 UTC View PostAnother six days passed with nothing noteworthy occurring, the swarm pressing onward while attempting to stay relatively difficult to find. With as many of us as there were, going was slow, especially since we now had nearly half as many subjugated beasts as we had keelish. Were they entirely domesticated, it wouldn’t have ...
2024-11-15 21:44:22 +0000 UTC View PostShould one embrace the Words of Power? Should they enjoy the heresy of the deeper Words? Should the Sanctuary offer respite to those that have turned from the deeps? Should the Sanctuary darken the halls of the divine?
The Sanctuary is built to darken the view of the Tower, to...
2024-11-14 22:54:02 +0000 UTC View PostTrue to my personal vow, one more of the ambushing indlovu lay dead at my feet, making three of them. Even so, I felt no glory after the hunt. Fifteen splatters of crimson on the dirt were all that remained of my own subordinates. The mauls of the indlovu didn’t leave anything solid behind, a puree of pulped person were all...
2024-11-14 05:15:25 +0000 UTC View PostYou, as the awesome Patrons, can vote here AND on RoyalRoad (if you so desire). Basically, the gist of it is this:
I've gotten back into System Apocalypse books recently. I'm feeling a little burnt out in writing other things, so, in my off time after writing what I already am, instead of reading or playing video games,...
2024-11-13 06:24:42 +0000 UTC View PostAfter the establishment of the New Empire, there was an increase in desire to chart, excavate, and understand the ruins of previous civilizations. After all, if there were such extensive histories left behind that would benefit the Veratocracy’s enemies, would there not be relics and gifts that our esteemed ance...
2024-11-13 05:04:42 +0000 UTC View Post“You asked me before to tell you about the [System]. What do you want to know?”
“Are all creatures under the influence of the [System] even if they do not have direct access to their personal [Status]?” Her responding question was immediate.
“I…” I took a moment to ask the [System], relaying its answ...
2024-11-12 04:58:31 +0000 UTC View Post
