Razzmatazz | horror | Complete
In the dark and treacherous abyss of Oratoria, Esper lives a solitary existence among the dead. Trapped in a lifeless prison, she makes a desperate bid for freedom as she sets out on a journey to the surface, guided by an ancient whisper carried by the winds. But the path ahead is fraught with danger, as strange and unseen forces conspire to stop her at every turn. As she battles to overcome the grim machinations coming into motion, Esper discovers that her journey is not just about physical escape but also a quest for the truth about her past, her true identity, and the reason for her confinement in the abyss. Along the way, she will encounter a host of fascinating and mysterious characters, some of whom will aid her and others who will seek to impede her progress. With her courage and determination, Esper must overcome the obstacles in her path as she races against time to reach the ever distant surface, which she so desperately dreams to see. Will she finally escape the abyss and see the light of day, or will she be doomed to live out her days in the depths of Oratoria? Find out in this epic fantasy adventure! (Complete!) (Neuro-Divergant Protagonist) (Classic Fantasy) (Dark)
57.27 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:37
Dosei | historical | Complete
ARC 1 'THE FORLORN KINGDOM' done.ARC 2 'THE FIELDS OF RED' done.ARC 3 'THE WANDERING FOREST' undergoing extensive editing. Trapped in a foreign realm, where reality and the supernatural are blended into a game-like trial all for the amusement of some absurd Deity, Aomori Aiko has to battle with her missing memories and the many previous lives she has lived within this strange realm. She struggles greatly to come to terms with being well-known and renowned under the moniker "Raven-Black", despite having zero memories of what actions led to this. Aiko quickly finds herself facing a sadistically-designed trial that punishes its 'players' in countless ways, such as robbing memories and abilities if they are gravely injured, but she has to continue to rise and rise again, because only by progressing can she regain her past and figure out how to escape the Exiled Realm. As she advances through the Stages of the first World, The Forlorn Kingdom, and uncovers its story, she encounters people who idolise the person she was in the past, but also people who wish to harm her for simply trying to progress. Despite her lone-wolf nature, she makes some friends along the way, who teach her about her past self and her famous exploits. I have been writing on this story for about 4� years, and thus have roughly 1400 pages' worth of material (though most of it needs proofing).This story is my baby that I have been raising for many years and is what originally brought me to RoyalRoad in the first place. It took the release and success of my other story Father of Monstrosity to make me finally decide to put this story out on here. I have tried for all of 2021 and 2022 to find a publisher for this story, and, though I got far with a few publishers, it was deemed "too dark" to be released by them, so, I thought, "Oh well, I'll do it myself". Given that FoM is waaaay darker than Exiled Realm, my hope is that the audience here will enjoy it and prove the publishers mistaken about the following such a story can garner. I use Footnotes extensively in this story to convey a fourth-wall-breaking commentary by Aiko, as well as explanations of many elements in the story that require explanations (such as the extensive segments about language, culture, and weapons). I wish I could add more genre tags, as the story has elements of Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Psychological, a sprinkling of Romance, and, lastly, Tragedy. For now, I believe "Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, and Psychological" play the biggest roles, but I may change it later if I come to a different conclusion. The cover was made by the amazing @panjoool (please look him up on DeviantArt and other art-sites: he's very talented and his style and method of 3d-render mixed with traditional painting is really fascinating). I commissioned the cover from him back in 2021, as a treat to myself for sticking to the story despite some setbacks with publishers (treats are important!) and it depicts the The Forlorn Kingdom, which is the first World in Exiled Realm. I have plans to get covers for the other Worlds, as they are all visually distinct, but this is what I have for now. I have a Discord group where you can connect with other readers of my stories.
89.66 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:16
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
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
J.M. Clarke (U Juggernaut) | action | Complete
The land is conquered. A thief and a demon killer run afoul of its new overlord and the wizard that serves him. Now the wizard seeks his life's ambition, an artifact that will make his word law. Hearing this, the demon killer and thief begin to have ambitions of their own. The race is on for who will reach the artifact first, and an entire barbarian horde is in the running. Yet the prize lies within the Forest of Giants, grown from the corpse of an empire. There are tales of things that stalk the trees. Tales of those that hunger endlessly. Tales of those that feast on human flesh. Tales of ogres. A fast paced, dark fantasy adventure! Complete.All stories and characters - including The Ogre's Pendant and The Rat in the Pit -written by Traitorman are created by and are the intellectual property of J.M. Clarke
84.66 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:00
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
Kira Hawthorne was just another teenage girl until the day a 'god' told the world their 'realm' was getting assimilated, since they lost some War no one on Earth even knew about. A System is installed on the whim of a very old and capricious god. Kira immediately gets trapped in a pocket dimension, and emerges to find a once familiar world turned foreign... And very hostile.
87.82 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:43
tenqui | contemporary | Complete
Normal over 30 science teacher is "abducted" and tested by the GREAT GAME as a beta trial inductee. The GREAT GAME will eventually be implemented and remake the world. Our protagonist however is the only one that actually passes the beta test, which was not designed to be survivable, through sheer dumb luck and thus has an extreme head start on all other citizens of Earth. Follow the journey of our hero as he tries to walk a thin line between preparing to save as much of his family and friends as possible while also trying to make sure that he will have enough power to make other people do most of the work while remaining safe and sound. Poor guy is just a proto-hermit who wants to be left alone but also realizes the importance of others and family. The new reality just complicates things.
96.47 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:38
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
AMBLE | contemporary | Complete
The arch-wizard Orton hasn't been an ordinary human for many years, but traveling back into his own past for a fifth chance at defeating the evil magus Gentry puts him back in the year 1997, in his teenaged body as punk-rock dishwasher Dennis Wilkerson. Now he must retrace his steps through his adventure yet again -- recruiting his allies, defeating his enemies, and accruing his spells and powers all over again. But this time, one thing is different -- he's not alone.This novel takes place in the setting of Entangled Shadows, an urban fantasy quantum-physics magic system in development for use in Tabletop RPG play!
77.91 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:33
beddedOtaku | contemporary | Complete
A story of two people in their early twenties, an always expressionless(?) Aya, and cool(?) Tyson. Loves, friendships, and the small moments pile up in this odd(?) love story. Tyson, suffering from long-lasting unrequited love, meets Aya, an odd, expressionless girl from his classes. As the curiosity about each other draws them together, it slowly sparks a friendship founded on honesty with which the two deal with one another. It is a story about two ordinary college students with their own, small circumstances, and love which blossoms between the two of them. Check out 1 page comics titled Ay's and Ty's Daily Lives for some funny moments between the two:http://fav.me/dc4q2wf COMPLETED
66.56 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:31
Not_Important | contemporary | Complete
Ray is an aspiring artist trying to live the best he can after he became persona non grata from his rich family and after two dramatic events of his past. Sadly for him, a particular evening where he decides to go out for a drink on his own brings him truths that a normal human being should not have to face, and one particular truth that decides it'll just eat him. This is the story of his survival, and of the fallout of chaos it brings (Version 2, Proofread)
69.67 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 15:31
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
A. T. Engel | adventure | Complete
Nathan Seldon was on what he thought was a normal date. He didn't expect to be mugged, he didn't expect to be fatally stabbed, and he certainly didn't expect Maggie, his date, to deal with their attacker using magic. In fact, what she did was so shattering that it cracked open a doorway between worlds. Now Nathan is trapped in another, far more dangerous reality, and the only way home is if Maggie kills again. It could be worse. After all, Maggie is an assassin on her way to the next mark. All Nathan has to do is tag along. What could go wrong?
68.55 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 14:05
Space Pickle | sci_fi | Complete
Devenez un chevalier du troisi鑝e mill閚aire! READ IN ENGLISH Au temps jadis, l'humanit� r間nait sur Terre et r陃ait des 閠oiles. Mais cette 閜oque est d閟ormais r関olue. La civilisation telle que nous la connaissons n'existe plus. Irr閙閐iablement balay閑 � la suite d'une myst閞ieuse catastrophe, elle est aujourd'hui � l'agonie ; oscillant entre un pass� bris� et un avenir sans espoir.Erol, arch閛logue et aventurier du IIIe mill閚aire, parcourt dans le secret les ruines souterraines de l'Ancien Monde. Bravant la mal閒ique Inquisition et son obscurantisme, il r閍lise un jour une remarquable d閏ouverte. Dans un sarcophage de verre au plus profond des dangereux labyrinthes, repose une jeune femme ultime t閙oin du cataclysme.En qu阾e de r閜onses, Erol va provoquer des 関鑞ements en suspens depuis mille ans et lib閞er des forces qui auraient d� rester ensevelies � jamais. L'Empire De Cendres est le tout premier roman de Quentin Raffoux et Ali閚or Rossi, auteurs de l'irr関閞encieux KITTY KITTY - Le futur qui ne fut jamais. L'histoire, qui se veut plus sombre, vous maintiendra en haleine jusqu'au dernier acte de son antih閞os, Erol Fueurhammer. Pour plus d'informations, visitez notre site internet: raffourossi.com Le livre est disponible en kindle et broch� sur amazon Les chapitres seront t閘関ers閟 sur Royal Royal tous les Jeudi, 15:00 - heure de Paris
50.13 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 13:56
NicoleHayes | romance | Complete
In the finale of Sagan's trilogy, and the seventh in the overall Vast Collective Series, Sagan and the other Progeny pay for the mistake of trusting in the wrong people. Trapped and terrified, Sagan fights her way back to the worlds where she belongs. Likewise, Korac battles the restraints of his past to save her. With Sagan exhausted, starved, and disarmed, it seems impossible. Razor, the Pain Curator, made certain of it. Meanwhile, Imminent and Enki close in on the Shadow. The former culminate millennia of careful scheming and test the Progeny's familial bonds. The latter moves closer to finding the Ancient's Atheneum, a library of bones. A sleeper, a puppet master, and a black flame threaten the Shadow's worlds while Razor arranges the ascension of his empire. With Sagan gone, will he remain unchallenged?
57.67 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 13:40
Princess Nadjela is a fifteen-year-old girl, beautiful and intelligent, as primitive as she is gentle. In her quest to save her people from the torment of a rotten land, she will meet Chester Lancaster, an eccentric and mad nobleman of high birth who has been banished from heaven for a terrible crime.
53.34 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 13:22
gusdefrog | fantasy | Complete
Begun on a whim, to be written in fragments... [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] A mythical take on current events and old legends. When mankind retreats, the earth shifts, and the sleeping dragons awake.
52.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 13:15
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
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
