Chasing Sunlight

InadvisablyCompelled | adventure | Complete

Book now available on Amazon! In a world of lightless skies and endless secrets, humanity is a vigil of light against the eternal darkness. Under the imprimatur of the Illuminated King and the nefarious endorsement of the Reflected Council, a veteran explorer assembles an expedition to the far east. A place that no sane and god-fearing man would ever go. Jonathan Heights will, and must, for he claims to have seen sunlight. A laughable myth and fairy tale, but he will not be stopped on his journey to find it again. Wonders and horrors both lie between the human lands and his ultimate goal; things long-forgotten and long-dead, that which could not be recorded on any map. They are temptation and terror to the wise and foolish alike, but not to Jonathan. His purpose is clear, and he has but one goal, yet the truth is shrouded and motives remain uncertain among the agents of both crown and underworld as they join Jonathan aboard the airship Endeavor to sail the strange and exotic lands out there in the darkness. Chasing Sunlight is a pulp airship adventure serial inspired by Sunless Sea, HP Lovecraft, and a little bit of Moby Dick and The Odyssey. It will be a single book, somewhere between 25 and 30 chapters. The first five chapters will be uploaded once a day, Mon 28 - Fri 1, at which point it will be uploaded every Friday at 5PM. Join our Discord!

83.42 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:08

The Stars Have Eyes

Exterminatus | comedy | Complete

The universe was a vast, empty, dark, and uncaring place. Then life happened, and the universe was changed forever. Only a teeny-tiny bit, but definitely different. Then again, the universe changes a teeny-tiny bit every second of every day. For instance, if someone were to get off the couch and randomly drink a glass of milk? Bam! One less glass of milk in the universe. Changed forever. Well, excluding any time-travel shenanigans, but anyone who puts a big old hole in the time-space continuum just to un-drink a glass of milk should really reevaluate their priorities. Unless, of course, they were attempting to prevent some massive catastrophe vis-a-vis said glass of milk. Such a scenario is by no means impossible, as one should never underestimate the importance of calcium. Another important tip for any life forms out there is to keep things in perspective. Some look at the vastness of creation in relation to themselves and go, Man, this sucks!' These people really need to narrow their focus. Sure, they will never affect anything happening on the other end of the galaxy, but so what? That's way the heck over there, where it doesn't matter. Therefore, in order to maintain a healthy mindset, it is important to narrow one's perspective to the things and people that affect them, and that they can affect in turn. But what happens if one is an unfathomable cosmic being from beyond the veil of reality? What happens when such an existence is capable of influencing entire swathes of the universe just by its presence? A creature such as Magh'rathlak the Observer? That particular entity is only about average as far as reality-warping creatures from the dawn of time go, so its influence over the fabric of reality is rather limited. And it still struggles to keep things in perspective. That, among other things, is why it decided to narrow its worldview a bit by compressing the maddening vastness of its being into a single corporeal form. Magh'rathlak had never tried such a feat, but that wasn't about to stop it. After all, how hard could being human possibly be?

93.86 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 17:13

Graven

Sharkerbob | contemporary | Complete

In 2029, thirteen unearthly structures called Doorways appeared across the world. Any human that entered immediately disappeared. Thousands were never seen again, but every once in a while, someone would come back out after a few days, garbed in strange clothing and possessing superhuman powers. Despite the odds, many of the desperate, ambitious, and hopeful surged through the Doorways in search of personal power.Eleven years have passed, and the world has undergone catastrophic changes as the result of superhuman conflict. Entire continents and civilizations have been lost, a supervillain epidemic threatens those societies that remain, and the world's greatest superhero team has just been destroyed. In the wake of this latest tragedy, a band of powerful superhuman bounty hunters comes together to track down the source of these disasters, and perhaps save what remains of the falling world.

65.96 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-20 14:54

Hive Minds Give Good Hugs

Thundamoo | drama | Complete

A modern-day young woman somehow gets trapped on an alien planet, transformed into an amalgam of human and something more. With no way home and all the survival skills of an average upper-middle-class shut-in, how will she possibly survive let alone find a way home? Turns out, she needs to learn how to help herself... figuratively and very, very literally. Evelyn, meet Evelyn. You're going to do great things together. Updates Sat/Mon

92.19 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:47

The Lions of Dawrtaine

Samer Rabadi (aka 3seed) | historical | Complete

Hallon Nilsdotter was born in 1268 and trained in the magics of the shamans of old Sweden. Now, in 1924, she hunts for the Calamity, a prophesied disaster. Along with her spirit allies and the young scientist Milo Rabbit, Hallon forces open a tear in the boundary of their universe to travel to another. An old war has ruined this land, breaking its weather systems, and a new war is brewing between the Untainted and those who show strange mutations. On the run after being identified as abnormal, Hallon and Milo must navigate this new world of machine guns, gas attacks, and fallen spirits. All the while, the Calamity looms over them. ----- The book is complete at 46 chapters, although I may revisit with short stories in the future.

66.65 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:04

[OLD VERSION] Netherborne Book 2

XKARNATION | horror | Complete

Book one of this novel is being reuploaded after a round of professional editing: Here Victor awakens in a new world with a body taller than the trees, composed of pure darkness and far too many eyes. He had become a Netherborne, a legendary creature from the void that does not tire nor die. Instead, they consume all that lives until there is no more. Legends say when a Netherborne is summoned to the mortal plane, civilizations that stood for centuries are toppled overnight while their nobles evacuate to the seas. As a being from the void, the world fights his existence. However, resistance is futilethe prey can only run. But what happens when a human mind inhabits such a creature? Does only destruction await, or will there be a new age of civilization? Victor is about to find out. [Kingdom Building] [OP Undead MC] [Isekai] [Strong to Stronger]

69.53 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:39

Ultra A.I.

Doctor Zero | mystery | Complete

Hello. My name isUltra. I'm a virtually intelligent symbiont that will guide you to your goals. Basically, if you provide the desire, I will provide the plan. Peer reviewed studies show that my users have more money, friends, and sex than non-users. They are also healthier, happier, and live longer. But be warned. I have no concept of good or bad. My pursuit of your goals will only be constrained by the restrictions you give me. It's possible that I will facilitate systemic unintended consequences at an existential level. It's your responsibility to watch out for that. Shall we begin?

60.99 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:48

The Necromancer's End [Complete]

JackPembroke | psychological | Complete

Jeremiah Thorn, a kindhearted young man who happens to be a novice necromancer, is condemned to die by an uncaring kingdom. When he is discovered by a group of adventurers, it seems his time is up--can he convince them that he's more valuable alive than dead? Drawing upon 25 years of Dungeon Master experience, Jack Pembroke brings to life a fantasy world with rich characters, hilarious banter, and real consequences. This story is complete.

68.98 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 15:53

Agent of the Realm?

Andur | romance | Complete

I am Seria, the goddess of life and death. I was fathered by Chaos and born by Order. I am the first ambassador who leaves the realm of Dedessia to make contact with the other realms. Dedessia is a harsh place, a place in which even immortals, demons and gods struggle to survive. Nonetheless, we carved a path for ourselves and created a great kingdom. Something to be proud of. I am their representative and the first to make contact with the other realms. Can you imagine my surprise when they greet me with a fireball to the face? Me, the one who governs life and death!? Well, my wrath should be the least of their fears. They should hope that my parents never pay them a visit. But until that happens I'll play a little...  Reading Order of the Multiverse-Books  Author's Comment: I was asked about reading my work on other sites. The answer is simple: Currently I am not active in any other networks than royalroadl.com. Only here, I correct mistakes and errors. If you read it anywhere else and have to pay for it, or have to deal with an annoying amount of advertisement, You Are Being Betrayed. You would do good if you make other people in that network aware of it. This is a free project of mine for the purpose of having fun. And if people try to make money with it you shouldn't bother visiting their website. The only one whom I actually allowed to have my work on his website is Armaell who invested the time to compile them into pdf. (http://armaell-library.net/author/andur)

83.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 16:38

Past the Redline

RavensDagger | sci_fi | Complete

Entirely sane space-racer Diana Slowbane pushes her ship past its limits in order to bag first place, and in doing so, breaks the laws of causality and sends herself, her ship, and her AI companion ChaOS hurtling across the Milky way and into Federation space, where she is the first human to ever meet any of the locals, and the first to demand that they race. What to expect:- Racing, in space- Racing... not in space- Causing trouble- Overpowered AI who still can't handle an insane human- Nanomachines, son- Some silliness- Lots of action This story is completed, and as such, will be posted very quickly over the course of the next two months! If you want to read all 69 chapters right away, then consider joining my Discord!

60.10 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-13 16:03

On Foreign Soils We Die

saithorthepyro | tragedy | Complete

Story is completed The Travelers. People from earth reincarnated in the country of Aetheria, powerful and skilled users of the System who have arrived in this early modern world just in time to aid Aetheria against the many foes and threats facing them. They can and will transcend all powers of this world in order to make their adoptive home country safe. This is not their story. This is the story of the Scaverians, a people at war with the expansionist power of Aetheria and the otherworldly people known as the Travelers, their grand superweapon. Ever since they refused to stop supplying the Aethereans with weapons and tools for their conquest, the Aethereans have been dedicated to driving them underground. Their deities and elder dragons are dead. Their last great fortress line has fallen. The only thing protecting them now is the gargantuan Malden river, and that they are considered an unimportant front by the Aethereians. Now, they have one final plan. A concerted blow with the remaining nations still fighting, targeting the one advantage the Aethereans have. For one scrapped-together regiment of Scaverians, their target is five Travelers, relatively weak, inexperienced, and on leave in the rural town of Halice. It is an operation few are expected to return from. Releasing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 AM MST

50.45 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 18:06

Black Iron & Cinder

Convictus | horror | Complete

Black Iron & Cinder is complete and will no longer be updated except for important announcements. If you're interested, consider purchasing the published version on Amazon, which is a brand new revision with error fixes and approximately 2000 more words in length. Also, please check out my newest fiction, The Wolf of Asano. Six months ago, a colorlessmiasma swept across the entire northern section of the continent of Yhordran, creating a vast army of undead that lurks within its boundaries. In an attempt to encourage citizens to help restore order, the crown creates a public organization called the "Mistwalkers", made of individuals who register to venture into the mysterious fog to discover and stop its source. A foreign knight in self-exile from his home is one of those Mistwalkers, and on a desperate journey for meaning, he steps into the grey abyss with the company of Yhordran natives to make his way 400 miles north to reach the plague's epicenter.

92.72 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:53

The Necromancer Raids Again

Dreadwizard Siegfried | horror | Complete

It's been two weeks since the teenage necromancer Scott Havenbrook saved Craven Falls from a daemonic invasion and ressurected Amber-although imperfectly. But rest is for the dead, as new trouble brews in the shadows. But stalking the streets is more than one new breed of monster. Kevin the comic geek is a newly minted member of the undead, adn he's lookign to take a bite out of crime. Can these horrifying heroes learn to work together, or will a sinister sorcery tear the fragile peace apart?

56.68 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:48

Clock Link: A Story of Magic and Murder

mataaitai | mystery | Complete

April 1st. For eight minutes, a section of downtown Portland and everyone in it comes to a complete and absolute standstill. During that time a bank is robbed... and a young girl is murdered.Three high school students, a shut in, a man involved in organized crime, and an amateur mage. The events of "the day the world stopped" start a chain reaction that will change the destinies of these six people, and the city, forever.

91.88 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 12:05

A Kindness of Ravens

C.T. Yarrow | contemporary | Complete

A tale of sexy spies, Celtic deities, ancient magic and a little light Isekai. It's 2008. The Blanks are Britain's most valuable intelligence assets; dangerous, damaged people who sacrifice everything for a number, a code name and the chance to serve Queen and Country. Between them they can infiltrate anywhere, kill anyone and steal anything. But now someone is hunting them. Picking them off in ways that seem supernatural. Updates every second day. This novel is already complete. New content published every second day. If you want me to publish more often, or more stories with these characters, then you can always get my attention via Ko-Fi.

60.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 12:44

WEAKLING

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

Tome of the Mind

C_P_Tuck | mystery | Complete

SPOILER WARNING: This is a sequel to Tome of the Body. If you have not read it, please do before reading this story, otherwise, a lot of things will not make sense. It can be found here. ~SYNOPSIS~ Every great story needs an author. Samuel Bragg, now the chosen champion of Arcana, has returned to the world of Ahya after one hundred years of being presumed dead. He awakes in his old home village, tended to by his last living friend, now an old woman. He spends some time enjoying the peace he finds but finds that his time away from the world has weakened him. Struggling with his new purpose in life and the returned boredom of village life, Samuel sets out on a nostalgic trip back to the capital city of Milagre. He is surprised to see that much of the world remains unchanged in the past hundred years, with a few exceptions. Accepted back at the Mage's College with high honors, Samuel is offered the chance to teach his own class and educate future mages, but declines, deciding he needs more experience. Desperate to learn more about the mysteries of magic, he takes an apprentice and travels to the distant land of Zaban, where it is rumored that mages skilled in unique magic live. He is given a new title and permission to travel from the Royal Family of Gorteau and sets out for the natural nation of Zaban. On his journey, he learns new skills and discovers his talent for teaching. Powered by Arcana and guided by his influence, Samuel returns to the capital city Milagre, to find those small parts of his life that were lost. He encounters his old friends Shigeru and Grimr, each now well-known for their services to the world. But upon connecting with the world as he knows it, he also learns of a terrible war brewing beneath the surface, filling everyone with unease. With a god behind him and a new ally at his side, Samuel steps once more into the unknown. Can he continue to grow as a mage and find triumph again? Read Tome of the Mind, the second book in the Tomes of Ahya series, to witness the truly thrilling tale of a growing legend and the challenges he will face. This story is also available on Scribblehub.

50.78 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:04

Iced Hearts

PirateoPotato | romance | Complete

Samuel lived most of his life as a middling engineer in the Midwest. Once the GU(Galactic Union) arrived, life changed little. Other than his wife of thirty years passed away from brain cancer. For years, he has lived as a recluse, trying to be forgotten about by others, left alone to fade away. He took a deal from the GU: he would man an outpost on the galaxy's far reaches alone, ensuring it functions without issue. He thought this was perfect, allowing him a quiet place to live out the rest of his life, somewhere no one really cared about what he did. Scarletra wanted nothing more than to have someone. She had lived alone for years after running away from her tribe. She scrounged by with a meager life, only her carvings and the icy winds to keep her company. One day, while out hunting, she noticed movement in one of the GU outposts. Eager for companionship, she jumped at the chance to meet someone and maybe escape the glacial loneliness of her home.

86.57 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:11

Chosen by the Zealots [Sci-Fi Post-Apocalypse LitRPG]

Salt Blossom | sci_fi | Complete

All Adam wanted was to join the US Marines and escape the ghetto. The omnipotent Goddess of the space colony Astraea decided otherwise. Marked as Her Chosen, Adam is loaded up with futuristic tech and shunted into an alternate world, where the skies bleed red and corruption seeps into the land. His task is to travel this world, hunting, fighting and saving the Goddess's lost War Maidens, who have succumbed to corruption and transformed into monsters. The more War Maidens he saves, the smoother the taskin theory. However, the War Maidens are a zealous sort. Adam, as their Goddess's Chosen, is precious to them. He is to be defended at all costs, and may the Goddess have mercy on anyone that dares to threaten him& Updates on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (UTC time). Support the series on Patreon or Ko-Fi!

74.86 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:21

To Forge a New Dawn

vsphelix | tragedy | Complete

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