Rot festers beneath a nation's glory, unheeded by those who rule. In the humble halls of the Archives, one scribe cannot stay silent in the face of corruption. One spark ignites the flame that will consume the world. As the scribe unites an army to topple an empire, he gains followers whose loyalty and ambition will outlast his own. This is a tale not only of ascension, but of the order and turmoil that flourish in the wake of a revolutionary. Five paths intersect under the scribe's vision of a new order, driving the ebb and flow of power throughout the land. Ver. 20221222. Cover art by Fuyu Dust.
55.97 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 12:46
Victor Lawson; a son of a King. Quite a scandalous King, but over the years, he had proved his own worth to the people that he ruled not with force but with words. Yet, this story isn't about The King. It's about his son; a Prince in a frozen land, a noble-born with a pedigree as clear as the driven snow. The boy had everything; wealth, title, inheritance to the whole kingdom. Everything that could make his life of lavish luxury and comfort. Or at least it was promised to him, a promise he believed because he is the only heir to his father's crown. Such abundance came with its own problems and restrictions. To him at least, it made daily life drowned out by the mundane and the inane obedience of others. Yet a few people make to his life, temporarily filling that void. Hope was something he had; If only he could break this mundane loop he called life. A harmless wish of youth, he believed at first. Or so he wanted to believe until he met a...
55.93 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 18:41
Attending the Spark Ceremony is mandatory for all Scintilla citizens when they turn twenty. With spark ignition at an all-time low of five percent, it must be closely monitored and controlled. Join the newly ignited charges of S.W.O.R.D. Academy as they try to tame their awakened air, earth, fire, or water spark. Will they achieve glorious balance with their spark? Or will the feral, awakened beast eat them for dinner and everyone else for dessert? A/N: This is a plot-driven story (7 POVs, something for everyone) with some slow burn romance(s). It doesn't blaze dead bang at the beginning for most of the characters. That fire has to be stoked. It's silly more than serious, adventure more than mystery.
55.84 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 12:41
Dr_Nemo | historical | Complete
Pride & Prejudice & Superpowers! In this England the gifted have ruled since the Norman's invaded. How will a series of unexpected attacks in Meryton shortly after the Assembly impact Elizabeth and Darcy? This is a different look at canon with the addition of powers, politics, adventure, and espionage. But the heart of our story is still the rough road to romance for our dear couple. The story is complete.
55.73 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:40
LSR | contemporary | Complete
Synopsis: John Brunsen has failed at most things in his life. His most recent mistake has left him the unwilling host to an unknown lifeform that has reprogrammed his brain to pursue unending violence. With alternating cycles of pharmaceutical grade stimulants and depressants as the only means to keep his sanity in check, John is thrust into the role of Savior as the lifeform spreads across the planet fueled by a combination of destruction, evolution and ultra-capitalism. Can a man who can't hold down a job prevent an impending planetary apocalypse? Probably not! But it's worth a try. What to expect: 1)a complete book, it's already done, upload is done. 2)a pretty wild adventure story that goes a lot of places and does a lot of things3)hopefully a few laughs and an entertaining read.
55.72 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 16:50
TedSteel | contemporary | Complete
Billy-Bob Bain plays BetterVerse to get away from his problems, but life in-game is not much better than his daily grind - he's broke, unappreciated, and there's no prospect of things getting better. Until he becomes the only player worldwide to receive a seemingly useless skill book... And becomes the world's first - and only - Dungeon Consultant. Dungeon Park is a hilarious tale of creativity, triumph over adversity, and cute skeletons. "It's a real rollercoaster ride of a story!"
55.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:58
A man who only wants to kill dragons. The only man who can save the world. A man... who might be the most obnoxious force in the entire universe. The adventures and misadventures of a man named Gideon. Die, dragon, die!
55.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 17:41
isnt_it_pretty_to_think_so | action | Complete
In an archaic empire that rose from the ashes of past wars, 14-year-old Ko is committed to supporting his family by any means necessary. When Ko's sister falls ill, he travels to the realm's black market for affordable medicine. On his way there, Ko encounters General Killi醤, divine leader of Lady Death's formidable army. When Ko saves a child who turns out to be Killi醤's heir, he's offered an intriguing contract. To make good on the deal, Ko must survive until the end of the month. It's easier said than done. Bloodstained is a coming-of-age story with rich characters, extensive world-building, and plenty of humor. Cover art: Modified Andracor armor image used with permission.
55.41 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 16:39
Somewhere in the lost galaxy of Earis, somewhere in the star system of Neula-V, lies the exiled world of Delirith; a planet whose inhabitants perfectly embodied the survival of the fittest, where one lives under their own definition of normality and conform. Not astray from the trigger-happy population is our protagonists; Mako the Little Witch (who practiced no sorcery) and Fyra the One-Horned Devil (who is not a demon and in fact, 100% human), wandering children orphaned by the manic society around them (just like 90% of Delirith's population). Follow Mako and Fyra, as they wandered the lawless world encountering psycho baddies, monstrous wildlife, and stupid conflicts doing whatever crap the plot wants them to do in this Sci-Fi slice of life of the Devil, the Witch, and the Wicked World of Delirith!
55.28 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 15:52
When a serial killer emerges on the robot-populated planet of Zynima, a few machines form a group of vigilantes to end what seems like a simple open-and-shut case. Join Aural Automaton and Shock System as they uncover the ugly truth behind this string of murders. Also in the AUU-16 universe: Soulless (Apparently) The Departure Night Game Ystets Lake
55.07 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 14:07
Adrian Cassius | psychological | Complete
Everybody wants to be free from daily life, but when faced with the opportunity to achieve complete freedom, most crumble under the fear of their own limitlessness and yearn to go back to a restricted, comfortable life. Some people, on the other hand, rise to the occasion and do everything in their power to reach freedom. Among these types of individuals, there is Akir, a psychologically tormented young man with an unusual history. After he is transported into a mysterious construct called the Ruins, he starts a ruthless journey towards true freedom, which he believes will bring him happiness. Things don't go according to plan, though, as the trials he is put through start making him question his morality and the opinions he lives by. Eventually, his identity comes into question, and he starts to lose himself, his life goals threatening to fade into nothingness. *** This is a rewrite, so there's the perk of chapters being uploaded consistently without fail, and there is no chance of the story being discontinued or anything like that. The final product is about 370 pages long. I hope you enjoy reading. *** Upload schedule: One chapter every day at 8 p.m. Central Time.
55.04 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 13:30
rkgoff | historical | Complete
In May, 1899, a hundred and fifty unassuming envelopes are delivered to households across the city. Most of them will be picked up by butlers and carried on silver trays to their recipients. All of them contain invitations to the wedding of Lady Eleanor Serrs to Mr. Ryce Penn. When the newspapers hear about it, they start buzzing. Who can blame them? This would be the wedding of the century! She's the daughter of Duke Erravold Aubrey-Serrs, and the Marvelous Mr. Penn is one of the most famous men in the country. But Penn is famous for being the city's most notorious thief. He's an unrepentant attention-seeker with a taste for gems and danger. And Eleanor swears that she's never met him. Chief Inspector Lucas Haley, Penn's long-time nemesis, is called in to protect the Aubrey-Serrs family and try to figure out what the master thief is planning. He'll need all his experience and tenacity for this case, as it quickly becomes obvious more is at stake than the reputation of an innocent woman.
55.02 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:15
Faenon | contemporary | Complete
A geeky highschooler develops superpowers and is recruited to an international peackeeping unit at the same time as struggling with mental health problems. * Gonzalo Lopez, nicknamed 'Weakling' by his bullies, is just a normal teenager except that now he has superpowers. Ever since that fight with the bully where his powers first manifested and he broke his attacker's hand by accident, everything has been spiralling out of control. Now all of a sudden he's getting invited to parties, his psychiatrist's started dating his Mom, and at least two different international organisations are trying to hunt him down. Then there's Ali--the new girl at school, the only other person who believes any of this is happening to him, who seems to be hiding a secret of her own. Is she really his friend like she says she is, or does she have some sort of ulterior motive for being so nice to him all the time? Should he tell her about Miracle Force, the superpowered United Nations peacekeeping unit he's just been recruited to? And is any of this really happening, or is it all just going on in his head? * You can read deleted scenes on my Patreon.
54.41 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:07
Of The Exps Author | horror | Complete
The story of a quirky assassin's shadowed past, his transformation into an other-worldly being and his adventure as the father of a guardian angel.Predates the events of The Main Character!: The Hero's Epic Journey Begins! and Guardian Angel.
54.14 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 17:15
Etzoli | contemporary | Complete
Revised version now available! Amazon paperback, ebook, audiobook, Kobo, B&N, Google In the war-torn land of Cyraveil, four heroes strove to overthrow an empire. By cold steel and elemental sorcery, they brought peace to a warring land on the brink of destruction. As the flames died, the realm needed strong leadership, and who better than the champions who had saved the kingdom? But when the people sought out their saviors... they vanished. Matt, Blake, Jen, and Carl: the four mysterious companions, who together had deposed an insane ruler and saved countless lives, were gonespirited back in a whirlwind of magic to a sleepy suburb in Mellbridge, Oregon, never to return. The friends found themselves home inthe real world, exactly as they'd been the night they were taken, as if no time had passed... except only threecame back. Hi there! This was my entry for National Novel Writing Month, because why only write one series at a time? The more the merrier! (meanwhile, my keyboard bursts into flames...) I'm also the writer of The Last Science, an ongoing low-fantasy/speculative sci-fi series. If you're familiar with that, you know what to expect here: lots of character-focused drama and dialogue, not a whole lot of traditional action. However, I'm writing a bit differently than usual here, and in a very different structure, so there should be some surprises for returning readers. I hope you enjoy it! [Discord] for those of you who want to hang out and chat. Cover art (fullsize): Path of Revelation, by taenaron (Tobias Roetsch), modified by Etzoli. Normally I like to do my own cover art from scratch, but I was in a rush for the contest. Might be replaced down the line if I get time. [winner of the NaNoWriMo Royal Road 2018 challengeMost Favorites]
53.94 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:38
rkgoff | contemporary | Complete
Emerra Cole died just short of her twentieth birthdaybut that won't stop Jack Noctis, the embodiment of death, from asking for her help. Not that Jacky raised her from the dead. He says she came back on her own. He only dug her up, pulled her from her casket, and gave her a place to stay. While he hates to impose, he hopes she'll lend him a hand with a murder that's been giving him trouble. The anthropology professor, Trevon Wayde, was shot in the chest. The police are looking for his murderer, but Jacky wants to know why his soul is missing. Emerra returned from death with the Eyes of the Sphinx, a legendary ability that allows her to see things others can't. Jacky thinks her new powers could be useful when it comes to uncovering what happened. When Emerra agrees to look around, she's dragged into a world of magic and monsters. There isn't much time for her to adjust. She'll have to get her bearings while working side by side with a vampire, making friends with a wolfman and a bog-creature, and learning how to deal with an abrasive teenage witch. Thank god the mummy is there to help. Life after death is going to be interesting.
53.82 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 18:51
Lykanthropy | mystery | Complete
[Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] What happens when heroes are sent back in time to stop a terrible apocalypse, given blessings and physical boons beyond comprehension. In all seven survivors managed to survive the great purge. The only problem was, the heroes fought the gods to a standstill, it was clear no side would truly win, though both sides had losses. The solution, offer up one wish to each of the survivors. The only problem, is that the Gods cheat, lie and steal. The first six asked to be sent back in time so they could prevent the apocalypse from unfolding as it had.Of course, only after those six left did Maria, the last of the legendary seven realize the flaw with the wish her companions asked. They went back in time with no clear advantage, with no means to be able to enact the change they so desperately wished to be upon the world. That was why Maria asked to be sent back with powers. This exception was granted, but modified slightly, making it so she would begin with maxed out attributes, and the legendary exceptional growth skill. Feeling confident in her amended choice she accepted the compromise and was sent back. The only problem, none of those who went back in time to prevent the apocalypse from happening, asked to retain their memories the horrors they went through. Now Maria finds herself in the past, her body and mental acuity has seemingly changed over night, the only sign that something life shattering is about to happen is the fact that she keeps remembering bits and pieces of her past life, in her nightmarish dreams that constantly warn of the impending doom coming to claim everyone.
53.67 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 12:08
Elbowsnapper | drama | Complete
Aiden Neve, a CEO of a construction company wakes up inside an Attack Ball that is headed on a course straight back to earth, and it only gets stranger from there. Complete. Young Justice. Dragon Ball Z. OC.
53.66 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:17
I'll be blunt. I am NOT going to finish this story, not in its current state. That's why, I'm rewriting it from the very beginning. The new version of Forgotten, and the one that will have a proper ending, you can find here on Royal Road under a brand new title - Terra's Demons: Forgotten. Lucas, codename Helix, is the combat techno-medic of Demon squad. It was their task to protect Station 37-H and project Goliath. All Lucas is certain of is that something went terribly wrong in what was going to be their last stand. He was prepared to meet them on the other side. Instead, he finds himself in a familiar place surrounded by faces he has never seen before. His last memory separated by centuries from the present. His first priority is to find his squad. His second one is to keep the secrets of Goliath.His third priority is to figure out how to achieve the previous two because he and the entirety of Demon squad have become nothing but spectres in the annals of history. He has become forgotten.
53.60 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:23
T. A. Cambel | contemporary | Complete
Keep Breathing follows lung cancer survivor Eury as she returns to her sleepy hometown, dreading coming home to her parents and the complicated past that still haunts her. Even with every amenity afforded to her by modern society, Eury has a hard time staying alive. But when the townspeople are driven insane and begin attacking one another at random, Eury is cut off from everything and everyone she holds dear, and left with a dwindling supply of oxygen. Hardships and heartaches, bloodshed and violence, once she's through it all, will Eury be able to Keep Breathing?
53.55 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-20 14:25
