A SHRIEK OF ASH AND FIRE 1(WIP) [approx 90K UPDATE, 2 Million TOTAL-13th April 2026] (2.07 Million on Patreon)

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Hi @Lucha_Markre

Glad to see you in this thread again!

To serve the Evagreys as a whole, you must support the royalists.

To serve either Lord Evagrey the Younger or Lady Evagrey the Younger (the twins), you must become a Deck Dispatch. The best way to do this is to prioritise Charm during the first phase of the game and, when Father Roach gives you your ‘class’, become a Charmer Chameleon. If your Charm is the highest stat, he will let you become this. Those with goblin and dwarven heritage are unlikely to become this class, so it’s best to start off with an MC with elven or halfling heritage.

After your arrest, on the train ‘Lancer Direct’, Avalina will bestow the Deck Dispatch job on Charmers. Do not escape the train. Once you reach the Despair’s Demise, you will be introduced to Lord and Lady Evagrey. You will get a chance to swear fealty to one of them by kissing their spider ring. This will bond you to them.

Ensure you don’t piss them off. This choice can have massive ramifications in the latter half of this book, providing the royalists win the revolution.

You will have to stomach a good bit of grovelling, though…

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Including the bits I’m working on now, A Shriek of Ash and Fire, Book 1, has surpassed 1.5 million words. Whoo Hoo! It is a bit mind-boggling. I planned to be finished by now. Still, not too much more left. I am not aiming to reach a certain amount, so we will have to see where we end up.

In some listings, “An Unexpected Journey” is 1.6 million words; in others, it is 1.5 million. The 1.6 million figure is rounded up, AFAIK. A Shriek of Ash and Fire, Book 1, will more than pass 1.6 million, so it will be the longest game I have written, in the end.

Book 2, while it will be a long one, should not be as long as this, as we will follow a similar path in the second half of it. Choices will be modified by what we have already done in Book 1. Book 1 has some very distinct paths, which adds to the wordage.

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Aight so I tried the Basilisk route and wow I was hoping for a dwarves update since Dwarves are engineers and best in technology but holy cow Basilisk route is 10 times even more integrated with the mechanical-like tech, and are like more part machines…. Perhaps wholly machine.

They remind me of a quote I read from Dune House Harkonnen book spoken by Rhombur Vernius when he was reconstructed using cybernetics after an explosion left him in critical condition, “I am an Ixian, no stranger to machine” which fits perfectly with the Basilisk’s main vibe.

Overall they are my new fav faction and I hope to see the certain future come to fruition ushering in a new era of machine.

Edit: From what I can observe, the difference between Processing Capacity and Data Throughput is that Data throughput is commanding at a more tactician level and Processing Capacity is more like commanding at a strategical level, plus Processing is more based on a computers memory and throughput is the computers Ghz clock speed

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Thanks @Zahmed, I thought you just wanted to grow a massive, wild dwarf beard!!!

Yes, the Basilisk route is much more technology-focused than the dwarves here. The dwarves we can join operate on a crawler built by Yondefolde, which is an infusion of necromancy and industrial tech. There are 2 crawlers specifically built by dwarves working with the Cold Pact, although we won’t see them in Book 1, but the dwarves never become the tech, only make it.

The Basilisk route was tricky. I had to contrive reasons not to let us join it fully in Book 1, since this would take away all player agency and, by necessity, become linear – we would only obey, nothing else.

However, in Book 2, we may fully integrate with the Basilisk if it is impressed with us after events come to an end or are nearing the end. I abandoned old plans and put together something new. I hope it is an interesting enough contrast with other paths to warrant another playthrough. One good thing about writing fantasy is that I can leave much of the inner workings up to the player’s imagination, too, as I am not a techie!

Yeah, with the new stats, I wanted an equivalent for the old ones, but machine-sounding. Some do overlap a bit. Processing Capacity is, as you said, the strategic hard drive of all information, replacing ingenuity. Data Throughput is the speed to utilise this information, so it is much more tactical and the equivalent of dexterity.

In many ways, Yonderfolde’s necromancy and the Basilisk are dark reflections of each other, although which is the darkest reflection depends on the player’s view – soulless machine drone or soulless, shambling zombie? Of course, if you are the one controlling the drones or zombies, you can sit back and enjoy the power trip!

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Yeah, it is quite fascinating @NumberedEntity to control entire units of machine drones and small fleets to do your bidding. And in terms of how much independence that the Basilisk can give you, I would presume that they would leave us semi independent to control the fleets and cities that are too far for the Basilisk’s signals to reach but the Basilisk will still monitor the leading operators for any signs of error. This would allow for a lil bit of independence in terms of governing decisions or the kind of upgrades and research different Basilisk fleets would want to excel in which would help the Basilisk improve itself and in turn the entire network. Let me know what you think? Why would the Basilisk leave some semi independence to its leading operators?

And in terms of the carrier and road fleets, I would say they closely resemble the Coalition and Soban fleets from Deserts of Kharak but of-course the only difference is that they don’t look gritty enough and have air fields on top of em but those carriers and vehicles are still quite similar to the road fleets described in the game (minus the gritty look)

And btw can you explain in more detail what all the skills would mean? Like what role does each propel you too? The greatest confusion comes from Data throughput and processing capacity since both have intertwining roles in terms of the fact that both command units are central command hubs. What roles would each of these propel you too in the functioning of the Despair’s Demise?

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The Despair’s Demise is, under the Basilisk, a collective-driven node, existing on the edge of everything. I could see the Basilisk giving this fractured part of the entire collective a degree of independence, but not an individual component, not controlling such a huge weapon. We are in Zthullu too, far away from the Grand Array in Grandardgard. Some settlements sparsely dot the eastern expanse, but the west is virtually empty, apart from the Drekiana’s Wish.

This is a desperate gambit to gain control of Zthullu, or at least a part of it, with many stray variables. In the next HG Forum update, the Basilisk path is expanded, but after an initial flourish, malfunctions set in. Perhaps the Basilisk might learn to invest more in individuals in the longer term, but having to stray from a broader collective is anathema to it. But what our MC does here can very well set them up for an important role in Book 2, when we return to the far west of Behatland. In the furthest reaches of Zthullu, every path has bitten off a bit more than it can chew, including the Basilisk.

I can be firmer in the direction of things when I focus on Book 2. I like your ideas. They are definitely something for me to consider – perhaps in Drekiana’s Wish? First, we must establish our MC in Book 1, give them a chance to rise a little bit, kick the feet from under them, and then leave them ready, bruised and determined to become the force they are destined to be in Book 2.

Yes, Processing Capacity and Data Throughput cross over a bit too much. Let us say that Processing Capacity is the size of the library, and Data Throughput is the speed at which we can read the books.

Basically, with the four new stats, Power, Integration, Capacity and Throughput, they cross-reference each other when deciding how we might act. Capacity is also closer to a commander position. Throughput also refers to the energy-flow systems.

Power – weapons systems, tactical, cannons, fleet, silver angels

Integration – communication systems, strategic, broadcasts Basilisk signal and can ‘correct’ foes to bring them into the cult.

Throughput – energy systems, tactical, able to set priorities and rapidly adapt,

Capacity – commander systems, strategic, the ‘boss’

Each stat will allow us to access other systems, those which work well together. Capacity can give us the most options, with fewer available to the other systems further down the chain.

It won’t be too much longer before I upload the next HG update, which deals directly with this path. You will get a chance to prove you value the Basilisk above mere mortals. However, a second option emerges, which might test your loyalty.

Also, loves this mate. I don’t really know much about Homeworld, but Dune snippets have been sprinkled into the overall package of Ash and Fire. Bits of Mad Max, Mortal Engines and Warhammer Fantasy/40k, too.

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UPDATE 16! Spirals and Fireworks!

Hi, cog and coil-laden golems of flesh and metal,

We take our place in our sanctum aboard an empowered Despair’s Demise. The Basilisk guides us from the Grand Array in Grandardagrd. We are the harbingers of the Certain Future…

Apparently, not quite yet…

*Overpower the Cold Pact Crawler Grey Torment in a display of overwhelming efficiency and might. Hopefully.

*Investigate the cause of persistent errors under the suspicious gaze of the Collective. Rise to a position of trust, or be declared an erroneous variable in the machine of Certain Destiny.

*Find out more about Avalina’s intentions. Perhaps from a bond which will have far-reaching ramifications in Book 2.

*Investigate a Zthullan anomaly, a cavern strewn with dragon bones and traces of an element known as pre-ether.

*Endure an attack from the Bastion Knights and an old friend, now turned foe.

*Wrestle control from the Basilisk… Or fail and damn yourself.

Once I completed the battle of Fort Ard, I thought I could join paths and see through the journey west, to the Dragonlander Colony, in 2 months. Wrong! It has taken me much longer to bring us here, but the Royalists, Rebels, Cultists and Road Fleet are now frozen in a state of fear and, for some, hope. We will turn back to them in time.

For the next few months, I shall be working on the Cold Pact route. I will need to plan this out. It is a big job. This path must be as rewarding and valid as any other while providing a distinct player experience, albeit still on a crawler.

Thanks to everyone supporting me. Please report bugs and typos, if you can. You can post them in the comments or DM me.

Godspeed!

The HG Forum Update can be found in the introductory post: :up_arrow:

ALSO – NEW PATREON UPDATE

The newest Patreon update has been released, titled Cold Torment. Here, we join one of the Cold Pact Crawlers, the Grey Torment. Here, we’ll join the ranks of the 5th Deep Cavern legion, if a free dwarf. Or, we can aspire to become a Yonder Sentinel and dabble with necromancy. Or… we are a poor, downtrodden slave plotting to overthrow our oppressors. Failure here results in… zombification! Zombie path not yet implemented, but it will be!

Available to Krog Tier patrons. PATREON LINK

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@NumberedEntity

IhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyouIhateyou

Like Why??!?!!?!

When I was so set on the Basilisk path to become the most primed cog for the certain future you had to play your card with Avalina??? And to top it out you had to insert an image of her like whyyyyyyyy stop messing with my head

And even if we remove her out of the equation, the solarpunk like future she describes with all the different races living with technology peacefully is too much to pass.

By the way what is her main plan anyway? Like she wants you to replace the Basilisk and herald a future of solar punk rather then Ai punk? Cuz to be honest that does sound very tempting despite the fact that you won’t have mindless drones to control (I love how you basically just clap the Grey Torment in under one hour like wow I didn’t expect the Basilisk to be that OP).

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Hi @Zahmed

I am glad Avalina worked! She is supposed to be a convincing manipulator. She cannot be fully trusted… Although this isn’t an unchanging facet of her personality. Compared to Zuan, who is trying to manipulate our MC but is self-assured and arrogant, Avalina is operating from a place of sheer desperation.

I really like how you framed it – ‘solar punk rather than AI punk’. Her proposed way is to fuse tech and nature and let nature lead… But is ‘nature’ benevolent? And who does she want to be in charge of this process? Do we believe her?

I don’t want to say too much to break our MC’s point of view. He/she is dealing with a wily elf who has her own demons, an elf who has lived far longer.

I read, somewhere, that AI fighter jets make a thousand tactical decisions a second. Even if those decisions are not the best, the sheer speed of it all means the greatest human pilot is outmatched. I needed to, somehow, show a version of this. The crawlers are a bit like battleships, a thing of prestige but an unknowable dead end, replaced by smaller, faster ships and aircraft carriers.

I am glad you enjoyed it. I had to get a bit creative to show the Basilisk’s power and then give valid reasons for our MC not to become a machine-god so early in a 2-book arc. Thankfully, fantasy allows us to stretch our imaginations!

Cheers, my friend, for the continued interest and support and very interesting comments.

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@NumberedEntity. Hi everyone, i loved those last updates, i just have some questions so far… Will there be a full romance with Gibleti or she is just a fling ? And how do i romance her ? I´m trying to romance this goblin woman but so far i just managed to sleep with some random goblins that she proposed to me. Same thing with Coireal the Siren, will we see more of her ? And will she have a full romance or will she be just a fling ?

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Hi @Augusto_Sampaio

The Testing Starts I provided might not be configured for ROs. I‘m not sure…

Most of the ROs are path-dependent.

In Book 1 (this book), at least, Gibleti can roll in the hay with you a few times. She is very promiscuous. Her heart cannot be won, although our MC can be her favourite chew toy. Maybe Book 2 might change this…

BUT the Gibleti wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am events are only available to Swabs. Shadelurks are likely to be employed as Swabs by Avalina, on the train to Despair’s Demise. When you first arrive in the underdecks, talk to Gibleti and impress her. Then, whenever presented with a chance, talk to her. Sometimes, you’ll get to ‘bump nasties’. It is always a bit chaotic with her, though.

Coireal should be waiting to visit our MC on the Royal and Rebel routes. I intend for her to grace our MC with her presence, those who have been nice to her (and definitely not killed her), when I begin the conclusions for this book. At present, we get the odd tease, nothing more. If our MC is in good standing with Sera, the MC, Sera, and Coireal may well get a scene together, all three at the same time. But this isn’t available yet. Coireal will, eventually (going into Book 2) be a character that may fall in love with our MC and become more than just a fling.

I hope this helped, mate! The concluding events, for Coireal, are likely to be worked on once I have completed the Grey Torment path and caught it up with the others.

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I played your new update. More of the Basilisk Path. Interesting. It is like if the MC became Iron Monger of Marvel, I know the MCU Variant.

I wonder how powerful the MC will become depending on the path he/she takes on book 1, I think he/she will become even more powerful in upcoming book 2, Royalist, Rebel, Basilisk Agent, Road Pirate… There are factions the MC can take part in, and the ending, power, and influence will vary.

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Yes, our MC definitely rises to prominence in each path so far, depending on choices. Although, if you fail the Fort Ard rebellion and join the Road Fleet as an outcast, you end up with less influence. (Not counting the Cold Pact paths).

But we cannot rise too far in Book 1! And we have already risen too far!! It is a rise before a fall…

But, in Book 2, our MC will be wiser for it and able to draw on this position. I do plan for the position they reach in Book 1 to be a very important factor in Book 2. It is one of the choices which will influence the ending of the duology.

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I see, I’m looking forward to coireal, sera and I, thanks for the reply :grin:

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ghoulpic
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KROG-TIER Patreon Halloween Special Update

All our times have come

Here, but now they’re gone

Seasons don’t fear the Reaper

Nor do the wind, the sun, or the rain

(We can be like they are) come on, baby

(Don’t fear the Reaper) baby, take my hand

(Don’t fear the Reaper) we’ll be able to fly

(Don’t fear the Reaper) baby, I’m your man

Spooky greetings, rotting corpses. Almost 20k, the zombie path brings our total to just under 1.59 million words, available for all Krog Tier patrons. This update will be publicly released on Cogdemos at the end of next month, combined with the rest of Update 17.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-update-b-142401807?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

HINT: The quickest way to join the zombie path is to choose the Testing Start for the slave. When Krayvas bullies you in the slave pit, resist. The bully will overcome you… Yep, he will kill our poor MC.

The fool! His end, at your hands, will be something far, far nastier…

The Zombie Path is reached by failing. You fail during your early days in the Road Fleet, and the Cold Pact enslaves you. You fail in Brakka, and the Cold Pact enslaves you. You fail as a slave, or a Yonder Initiate, or a Dwarven Legionnaire; the Cold Pact kills you.

Yet, it is not game over. Not by a long stretch. You arise as a near-mindless zombie pushing the cranks to power the coils on the Grey Torment. But something awakens the sliver of life inside. You won’t be a zombie for long – you’ll be ‘promoted’ to something far more terrifying (see the picture).

This path is shorter and more linear than others so far. Partly, this is because, as an undead, you lack the ability to make choices; not that there aren’t choices, but they are greatly restricted. Also, to reach the zombie path, a player may have almost completed the early Slave, Yonder or Dwarf paths, meaning, in some playthroughs, this will add length to the experience.

Oh, for those who like this sort of thing, a lich may get to caress your brain sensuously… Eeek.

I end with a warning (don’t fear the censor) – things get very bloody and violent.

Don’t fear the Reaper!

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Hi! Enjoying your game and how many paths there are. Very impressive!

Found a couple of typos during my playthrough:

Typos

What does Vincent say to you?
“Wake up, lad!”(You are a male youth. This has no effect on stats).
“Wake up lass!” (You are a female youth. This has no [affect] on stats).

“I fancy making a scene, pull in the gawkers while you two dip in a few pockets,” [whisperes] Sera, deftly weaving through the preoccupied crowds and onto the tram lines.

“Toot toot!” Sera squeals, pulling at your hand as she steps onto the pavement. A tram rattles past, belching a cloud of steam. Barely stepping out of the way, Vin glowers at the labourers and [gents] on board.

Clearly the authority among this flock of gossiping ladies, her words spur a flood of sympathetic smiles and gold grandes. You stand dispassionate and stern, only bowing for each donation. “My lord will be humbled by your gifts. I shall endeavour to tell him that it was the ladies of the [Mother’'s] Brew who rose to the occasion when nobody else would.”

Slapping footsteps echo from the top of the closest alley. A dirty figure, in a loose, tatty shirt, skids to a halt, gasping for breath. [Your] know this short, scrawny elf, a fellow Roachpede called Small Paul.

“[What] wrong, Paul? Deep breath. Calm down,” says Sera, crouching by his side and wiping his face with a frayed silk handkerchief. Taking Paul by the hand, she goes through the act of inhaling and exhaling, which the young elf copies until he regains a measure of composure.

You make it easy, moving at a pace the eye can follow. It matters little, your intuition is far beyond the perception of the average citizen. You will tendrils of ether into action, almost seeing the translucent hands which push through the blanket and snatch the ball away, only for it [to to] materialise under a more inconspicuous cup.

“Who’s Basil Lick?” whispers Sera. You shrug and place a finger on [you] lips.

This is on the south, Road Pirate path as a snake mage:

“Wait,” yells [Tinnafri. handing] you a knife in a leather sheathe. “We all get a combat knife, just in case. You never… I will say it again. NEVER. You never leave yourself unarmed.”

“She is correct,” says Zuan. “You will find a great mix of personalities among the raider bands. Those who survive learn how to take advice and stick together. Oh… [Tinnafri!.”] Zuan claps his hands and nods at the little lass.

“Let me tell you something,” says the little lady. "A carrier ram is thickly [armoured. it] can take a wallop, even from explosives. You can fit a dozen raiders on the back to pump away with the mounted blustercrank.

Zuan scoffs. “We are not barbarians or money-grubbing industrialists. You can serve your interests by riding your metal contraptions across the waste just as well as serving them with the blessing of serpents. Here, [playername. you] are free to make your own choices.”

“And so, you have come back. Bitten, poisoned and immolated, yet still, you come back,” yells Zuan when he sees you, his voice full of joy. “Gone is your strength, agility and empathy, yet [sill] you come back. We are awed, Lyra.” As one, the snake mages bow.

“Ah, Lyra, a word,” say the Man-Without-Title before you join the fleet. “New Yeirshee has provided fuel and ample supplies, You [wont] go hungry or thirsty,” he says, flashing his smile.

“The serpentine ether coils around [you , its] fangs sink your throat and fill your blood with power, Abhidhar. Use it to awe your foes but be wary for the power is fickle. The chaos of Zthullu may not always heed your call. The ash serpents are best summoned when near streams of fire and used not for trivial reasons. Wait until great events are before you.”

Now standing straight, Zuan’s brown eyes twinkle with reflected light from a place far from the black tent. “This camp is protected by Nagarese mages. To outsiders, it will appear faint, a mirage. Most of the time, what with the constant ash winds, you will be nigh-on invisible. As for the coming action, I have told Tinnafri to treat you as one with authority. [You] words and decisions will be respected.”

Under the cover of the rattling metal roof of the workshop, you listen to the outside wind howling in anger at its denied entry. Shrill voices carry, wishing you harm and death, cursing the road pirates. ‘Take off your masksss… [Breath] the air.’ But this does little to disturb the hardy band as they plot to take on the Zthullu Zoomers.
(Not sure if the typo for breathe → breath was intentional)

Choosing a speedster to ride:
“A fine [speedster, You] can’t beat the hum of an engine between your thighs.” Tinnafri’s eyes twinkle.

Fighting the Pale Lady:

Visions form in your mind, of other serpents, vast things of flesh and blood battling even larger hulks, one-eyed brutes with powers to warp and stultify minds. You feel the terror of your serpent kin…

  • Summon the flames from your gut.
  • Harden [you] scales and unleash internal heat to smooth them into a reflective surface.
  • Scream into the silence with all the pain of the extinct serpents of Zthullu.
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Hi, @foldedmoon

Big cheers for playing! Even bigger cheers for giving me some typos.

My feeble brain cannot spot these things and insta-corrects them in my thoughts. Although when I take a month or so to give everything a final read-through, I hope to catch more of these. The earlier parts of the game are now less familiar to my brain, which may help me typo squish. I appreciate you taking the time to signpost where these are too.

May the ash serpents not give you too much hassle!

EDIT: The corrections will appear in the next update.

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Update 17- Cold Torment (approx 110k, 1.59 Million words total- 21st November 2025)

Hi, rugged dwarves, downtrodden masses and those with a passing interest in necromancy,

With the Cold Torment update, 110k, we have crossed the 1.5 million mark. 1.59 million words in total, exploring the adventures of our MC and the bleak lands of Zthullu.

We take 1 of 4 paths: that of a dwarven legionary, an aspiring Yonder Sentinel, a slave, or a zombie. Misbehavior and/or failure risk us being turned into a zombie.

HINT: The quickest way to join the zombie and ghoul path is to choose the Testing Start for the slave. When Krayvas bullies you in the slave pit, resist. The bully will overcome you… Yep, he will kill our poor MC.

*As a dwarf, join the 5th Cavern Deep Legion and earn a place in the ranks of the Grey Torment’s garrison. You’ll train in martial skills and, perhaps, tinker with gadgets.

*Non-dwarves can join the hopefuls vying for a place among the Yonder scholars and sentinels, potentially, one day, becoming a citizen of Yonderfolde. Train with a farsnipe and learn some of the magical arts used to power the Grey Torment, as well as mess with the undead. Charm a wraith or an undead orc and turn a zombie into a ghoul.

*Or become a slave, pushing the cranks to power the vast coils. Suffer bullying and indignities… and plot against your oppressors.

*I have also linked all appropriate paths, including failed Road Pirates, to the Grey Torment. Here, you are destined for slavery.

*Become a mindless zombie, and then something much, much more horrifying…

*Added 3 new testing Cold Pact starts after you create your character.

Thanks to everyone supporting me. Please report bugs and typos, if you can. You can post them in the comments or DM me.

Godspeed!

FIND THE LINK TO THE NEW UPDATE IN THE FIRST POST OF THIS THREAD!

PATREON NEWS:

The Patreon update, number 18, sees us attacking New Yeirshee as part of the Cold Pact, with 75k new content.

Patreon link

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@NumberedEntity I wonder… regarding the Cold Pact Path, can the MC become Mortal Sage or Sage-Lich (There is a higher rank called High Sage-Lich, but I don’t know if the Ether-Touched MC has the potential to rise that high in Book 2, if he/she does, then the MC has the potential to become one, after all… Your MCs from both games have the same OP Potential as an Isekai Protagonist) from the Pactfolk Path or the Centurion (I don’t know what other ranks aside from Legionnare are there) from the Cavern Leigon (Reminds me of Roman Soldiers) in Book 2?

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@Patrick_Cody02

Many of the choices we make in Book 1, as well as giving prestige to our MC, will affect potential allies when we return to Behatland in Book 2.

The Cold Pact Yonders have numerous ranks, which are depicted by the way they wear sashes and belts; however, for narrative reasons, I don’t have the space to delve into this in the game and just allude to it. I might make a post about it on Tumblr or Patreon. They are very cultish- a bit Freemason-ish. The Dwarven army bears some resemblance to the Roman Legion, specifically the contingents sent into the crawlers.

As in the other paths, we will be able to get a big boost to our authority, forgoing the usual slow progress up the ranks. Circumstances will spiral out of control!

I want to make our MC before breaking them, leaving them wiser and hardened in time for Book 2. All but one path will let them briefly touch the commanding heights of authority, to varying degrees. Even in the path which doesn’t (for MCs who fled Fort Ard and joined the road fleet without establishing the Free Nation), they will have made a name for themselves as a free spirit defying the odds and becoming someone possessing a survival instinct born of pure tenacity.

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