Leveling systems create overpowered main characters. Cooking systems create master chefs capable of conquering any stomach. Founder systems create monstrous sects from nothing. However, who creates the systems? This is a completely serious story written by the author of The Blue Mage Raised by Dragons. Now available on Amazon.
142.56 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-19 15:31
Starsail Nightmare | horror | Complete
Alexandra Bedford is a weapon, a young woman with telekinetic powers capable of leveling entire cities, born to fight in the desolate remains of post-apocalyptic North America. There is only one problem: she may be losing control of her abilities. Sixteen years after a global pandemic devastated the earth's population, the lines in the old United States have been drawn between the Cheyenne Directorate in Colorado and the New England Alliance on the East Coast. The Directorate, of which Alexandra is a part, is a small but powerful organization dedicated to returning the country to its former glory. However, when a diplomatic mission to the New England Alliance goes wrong, Alexandra finds herself at the center of a bloody civil war. Battles are fought on the old highways and in dilapidated towns and once-great cities. And as the conflict escalates, all of North America faces the threat of being burnt away by nuclear fire. Against this backdrop of war, Alexandra tries to uncover the long-hidden secrets behind the plague, her abilities, and the two men fighting to decide the fate of the United States - Henry Bedford, Alexandra's father and leader of the Directorate, and John Martin, the mysterious figure at the heart of the New England Alliance who may hold the key to everything she seeks. None of this will matter, however, unless Alexandra can prevent the power growing inside her from taking over and consuming the very world she is fighting to save. Author's Notes: I appreciate you taking a look at my novel, The Girl from the Mountain. If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, military thrillers, and/or cosmic horror, I think you'll enjoy this story. I completed the novel's first draft back in 2011 and made significant changes in 2016. Since then, I've more-or-less sat on the manuscript while working on other projects. Thanks to a bit of prodding, I've decided to send this story out into the wild with some touch-ups and additional revisions. I welcome any comments or criticisms, and I hope you enjoy The Girl from the Mountain!
137.87 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-19 15:30
parkertallan | one_shot | Complete
In the deepest reaches of space lies the planet Catalonia. Here two powerful cat nations vie to impose their desired cat scratching material upon their world. The nation of Felinia hopes to score a public relations coup by sending the first cat into space, but the rival nation of Catstroph is working to achieve the same goal and will stop at nothing to keep Felinia from beating them. Join Major Thomas Fluffison as he rockets into orbit, unaware of the adventure which awaits him. But wait, there's more. Join cats Henri and Cassie on their travels as they and we learn more about Physics. Look up in the sky. Yes, it's Dynamics Cat, that feline hero of acceleration and motion who uses his abilities to fight evil and keep the city of Newtonville safe. Warning: This short story collection contains scientific information explaining how rockets get into orbit, how to perform orbit transfers, and the secrets of reentry. In addition, there is the presence of other Physics related topics.
18.32 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-19 15:30
The dread visage of the lord necromancer, sending forth a sea of rotting flesh to mould the world in his image. This wonderful picture flickers and dies as Lucien's undead construct stumbles and promptly melts into an unmentionable slurry. As Lucien struggles to become the dread necromancer he knows he should be, he gets dragged into a nationwide conflict by a hapless priest and a girl from another world. An evil cult, an equally evil empire and a general lack of relevant skills are the only things standing between them and bodily cohesion. Can they survive the chaos around them? Will they accidently save the world? Will Lucien ever get over himself? Find out here in Darke Mag'yx!
84.48 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-19 15:29
Lady Siv | contemporary | Complete
Long ago Wendigos settled in the cold north away from most other Beings. Their almost secretive nature often gives Beings the impression of deep spirituality. And then there is Yrsa. Flighty at best she lives in her deceased grandparent's RV in the middle of the desert. Taking up the job of a mail carrier she earns enough money to keep her lights on and not much else. When a fairy on her route causes her to crash it triggers a chain reaction leading up to her finding a purpose.
20.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-10 16:02
Lack of Poochline | tragedy | Complete
Terus doesn't exist. He breathes, speaks, and walks. He learns. He thinks. Yet he is not. Dreamed to life by a slumbering dragon, Terus and the rest of Cirruin's dreams inhabit Ludlun, a settlement that shares their nature. They exist solely for the old dragon to destroy the town and revive his glory days, again and again. Yet, one day, an unusual man arrives to the town, igniting Terus' desire to know more about the people that "move like pebbles rolling down a hillside", leading him to venture outside of the dream-town and into a city that couldn't be more real. In this city, he will try to become a bit more like the man he is supposed to incarnate and less like the dragon that dreams about him. This, of course, without forgetting that he should always care not to turn Cirruin's dreams into nightmares, and that the dreams of a dragon's dream are a dragon's dream all the same...[This fiction participates in the Royal Road Writathon challenge of April, 2023] (A milliard thanks to DragonOfRochester for the new cover! The aforementioned created the typography and applied it to a base image made with the Midjourney software.)
30.30 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-02 15:05
DWS | contemporary | On going
Hideki is a young man who lives with his grandmother after the loss of his parents. Despite the tragedy he finds simple pleasures in his everyday school life and playing with the music club, of which he is a member. He greatly admires the council president, Reina, who he meets in the corridors after school. Hideki's life is turned upside down once again and he finds himself drifting with nowhere to go. Reina offers him a chance, an evening meeting between the two of them leads to Hideki taking on an entirely new life as her second sister, Miyako. But not everything is as it seems - and accepting the mercy of another isn't always easy.
30.81 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-02 15:00
DrBlackJack21 | drama | On going
Book 1 is now available on Kindle, or in paperback/hardcover! You can buy it here! Jack crash-landed on a planet where the natives are seven-foot-tall carnivorous cat-lizards currently somewhere between stone and bronze age. The good news is the natives think the ship that crashed into their mountain is a dragon and are steering clear of it. The bad news is they just left one of their own as a sacrifice to appease the beast. No matter what Jack and his AI co-pilot decide, his life just got a lot more complicated... ATTENTION: This is soft sci-fi rather than hard sci-fi, hence why I chose that tag. For those of you unfamiliar with the distinction, here's what Wikipedia had to say. 1. It explores the"soft" sciences, and especially the social sciences (for example, anthropology, sociology, or psychology), rather than engineering or the "hard" sciences (for example, physics, astronomy, or chemistry). 2. It is not scientifically accurate or plausible; the opposite ofhard science fiction. Soft science fiction of either type is often more concerned with character and speculative societies, rather than speculative science or engineering.The term first appeared in the late 1970s and is attributed to Australian literary scholarPeter Nicholls.
100.77 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-02 15:00
ArDeeBurger | historical | On going
This story is a tale classic in its tragedy, about the foibles of Man and how he destroys the things he loves, all to prove himself superior over the Universe. In a quest to defeat Hilter during Wold War II, Winston Churchill and Franklin Deleanor Roosevelt barter with a race of serpents who come from outer space. There are a few inconveniences for the leaders of the West when dealing with these creatures. For one, they can't even talk to them, for the aliens 'speak' by manipulating light. But in exchange for the knowledge of how to build an atomic bomb, all the monsters want from us is to live in peace at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. What could go wrong with that? * * * This story is my entry in The Royal Road Community Magazine Contest * * *
5.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-04-02 14:59
Razzmatazz | comedy | Complete
[I was reborn as a sin-eater and now I want to eat the demon-king ] [litRPG] [R16+] In the depths of a decayed, ancient dungeon, Canta is given a second chance at life. With a new body and the powerful, ancient class of a Sin-EAter, highly revered by the holy-people of the surface-world, he sets out to leave his past behind and forge a new path for himself. But his journey is not without obstacles, as he discovers that he is not alone in the darkness. Trapped with him is a mysterious and powerful being who shares Canta's desire for change but is presumably consumed by evil if his gut feeling is to be trusted. As they embark on a journey together, Canta must navigate the dangers and secrets of the dungeon as well as confront the darkness within himself and his new partner beside him. With each step, he is forced to question what it truly means to be a good man and whether redemption is truly possible for someone like him. As the two unlikely companions battle their way through the world under the dreadful shadow of the Demon-King, they will encounter terrifying monsters, treacherous traps, and ancient magic. But the greatest challenge they face may be their own inner corruption and old mannerisms. Can Canta even rise above his past and become the hero he was meant to be, or will he succumb back to the darkness that fully surrounds the two of them? Find out in this thrilling fantasy adventure by renowned and trending fantasy author D.M. Rhodes! [Also available on Amazon!]
76.81 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 19:00
Chet is your average college student. He works at a part time job to help pay for his education and clips coupons on the weekends to help save a few dollars when he goes shopping. However, dreams of a simple life and working at a decent job are quickly tossed aside as he finds himself transported into what he assumes to be a fantasy world! Everything was going exactly as he expected it to go, as he had read a few novels describing situations exactly like the one he found himself in. But those expectations are quickly thrown out the window when the Demon Lord herself shows up for a surprise visit! Perhaps this land of fantasy isn't so fantastical after all. (Updates whenever this funky cat completes a chapter.)
28.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:58
TowerCurator | action | Complete
Alyssa Meadows, a worker at a local home improvement store, returns home one evening to her home invaded by burglars. A bad night gets worse when, after accidentally killing one, an angel appears before her and tells her she is destined to die. Alyssa takes exception to that and saves herself, only to find out that angels don't like destiny being messed with. She finds herself shunted off to an alternate world filled with magic and monsters to preserve Earth's future. Story is complete, though you may find a handful of extras at https://www.towercurator.com/vacant-throne/.
556.70 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:57
The sequel to The Dungeon Hive is here! After a huge fight against the humans, Ioplon's first dungeon is still here and the hive that controls it is now more bored than ever. As the world of Ioplon would soon find out, you must NEVER EVER let dungeon cores get bored. Strange things tend to happen when they do...yes; I said 'they'! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For edited version of the story, the full trilogy (Book_1: Fantasy Begins,Book_2: Dungeon Flames,Book_3: Spread of the Dungeons) arenow available on Amazon. Please take a look, and leave a rating. Thanks
34.50 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:57
Loaka Of The Wind | adventure | Complete
Yenna Bookbinder loves learning magic. As a teacher of the Arcane, she has helped countless students to become magesyet the world outside her classroom beckons to her. When a band of adventurers comes through town as part of a grand expedition to parts unknown, she finds herself offered a position on the crew as the party's mage. Leaving behind her old life for exciting days on the road, Yenna travels with new allies to uncover all manner of magical mysteries. Between uneasy alliances, ancient dark magic and a plot that threatens to swallow the expedition whole, Yenna Bookbinder's discoveries may shape the future of magic irrevocablybut will she live to see her findings published? My first serious attempt at a novel! Based loosely on a much older work of mine, this has been a story that's been swimming around in my head for a long time. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! A huge shoutout to all my friends who have supported me so much through the writing, editing and panicking processes! Updates are Monday and Wednesday (~7PM UTC+0) for the foreseeable future. Cover art by Eneli Dolinaek.
132.01 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:56
[In the process of being rewritten/edited!!!] Winston June hasn't always been a potato. In fact, he used to be a normal human, living out his life as a baron in a small territory. But in the world of Erobeus, where monsters run amiss, magic is common, and a snarky god oversees the land, nothing is ever peaceful for long. Everything changes when one day, Winston finds a magic stone in his garden, and strange texts begin appearing out of nowhere. [Congratulations on your ascension! You have been transferred to the Path of the Potato God.] [Currently on hiatus!] Warning: This is a first draft and is not perfect in any sense. Season One: Rescue Mission "A potato a day keeps the doctor away" Season Two: ??? [Winner of the Royal Road Writathon challenge!] Also on ScribbleHub.
43.92 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:54
Luna BigCat | adventure | Complete
Story is completed and going through edits. A sapient Dungeon Core appears in a world overseen by a divine System and its slumbering god. The god had originally created Dungeon Cores with the intent of having them rid the world of evil while empowering good people by aiding them in fast leveling. But Dungeon Cores aren't as effective when controlled by algorithms and randomness as they could be if controlled by a conscious mind. Determined to follow the divine Mission to rid the world of evil while helping good people, the only sapient Dungeon Core in the world will use the power of dragons and karma to better the world! Even if it means having to go up against slavery, speciesism, and mind control.
147.94 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:52
Edwin is a tall, strong, handsome young man from a remote but otherwise unspecified village in the faraway countryside, who is not at all secretly an undead mage in disguise. The completely normal Edwin wishes to join the Adventurer's Guild, an association of government-funded mercenaries that protect the citizens from dangerous monsters that lurk in the wilds. Edwin's journey will be a perilous one as he learns to fight, makes new friends, and slowly begins to realize that even the best-laid plans don't survive contact with the enemy which, often enough, is none other than he himself. DISCLAIMER: This is not one of those regular OP MC hidden master stories. Edwin won't suddenly start slinging spells and murdering everyone like he's in a bad anime. While magic plays a major role in the world and the story, the actual fighting contains very little magic, at least in the beginning. If you're interested in a realism-focused world where people don't just shrug off hits, with a unique, hard magic system, where the main character doesn't have the power to change the course of history but gets impacted by politics and intrigue just like everyone else, maybe have a look. You might like it.
183.14 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:50
Halosty | adventure | Complete
A somewhat spoiled rich kid enters Royal Road to stalk his crush. Instead, he finds himself on a dark (read: fun) path that will inevitably lead him to becoming a Necromancer.
90.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:50
Benjamin Mwakonya | tragedy | Complete
I'm tired of emotional, character driven stories. This will be my escape from trying to write narrative nuances, peculiar plots and stellar storytelling. This story is simple! It's about a guy, who dies, gets reincarnated as a goat and must survive on a planet that is suffering from the aftermath of a cataclysmic war. ... now that I think about it, this may not be as simple as it seems. Oh well. I'll be uploading chapters whenever I feel like it!!! What to expect: � A vast fantasy world full of deep lore and colorful characters which vary from small goats, powerful knights that can flatten mountains and dark, unknowable gods! � Our protagonist will go from eating grass (as goats do) to playing a metaphorical game of chess with beings that can destroy entire worlds with the snaps of their fingers! � Epic, gory battles which will determine the fates of thousands! � Layers, upon layers of lore to dig through all which connects to story threads that run all throughout the story! � A F*CKING GOAT!!! UPDATE - Here's a more serious synopsis since I'm actually quite invested in the story now: The story is about Raily. A normal, although rather nihilistic guy who dies and gets accidentally reincarnated into the body of a goat. The world he finds himself in is called Edenton and its a world that's struggling to heal from the wounds of a Great War. Raily, or Kats韐i as he's known in Edenton, must abandon his old nihilistic ways to help those he can. On his journey, he will meet a colorful cast of characters. One of which is Yna. A woman with a mysterious past. Perhaps a dark secret is hidden behind her golden gaze. UPDATE FOR THE SECOND ARC: [SPOILERS AHEAD!] With some hard work and a lot of determination, Kats韐i and Yna have made some allies in the Dark Expanse. However, their allegiance will soon be tested. Whispers of a coming war travel with the wind. Is Kats韐i ready to witness what might very well be a repeat of the Great War? One where the skies blacken and the rivers run with blood... find out more in the [Black Summer Arc]!!!!!! UPDATE FOR THE THIRD ARC: War has come for the Expanse and Kats韐i must lead his allies against an army led by demigods and their lord, the Golden Prince. Is history doomed to repeat itself? Is there a way for Kats韐i and his allies to win against an army that brought down the very dragons themselves and does this war mark the beginning of a new age? Find out in [Defending Hope Arc]!!!!!!! UPDATE FOR THE FOURTH ARC: The border between Lanceberg and the Expanse has turned into a war zone. Countless soldiers die every day. Kats韐i and Caligo have bound themselves, by oath, not interfere meaning the victor of this war will not be decided by godly intervention, but by the blood and steel of ordinary mortals. Expect this and more in [The Kindling War Arc]!!!!!!
259.19 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:48
IcedFairy | adventure | Complete
The Immigrant Realm. A crossroads between magical domains. A place where heroes from the Greek legends, fairies from Avalon, and youkai from the Realms of Illusion, can meet, trade, and hide from people who want them dead. Exiled witch Helena Aoede falls in the last group, having fled her home in Thebes after angering Apollo. Now she lives in the ghetto, trying to scrape together rent money. So when she's called on to help solve a supernatural murder case, she leaps at the chance. But what was supposed to be a simple consultation rapidly escalates into a blood feud with the 'Living Dragon,' a magician backed by an unstoppable undead monster. Now she's caught in a magical gang war, with only a clueless undead martial artist as backup. Life was so much easier when she could just turn people into pigs.
44.05 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:42
