When a new dungeon is born, it wants nothing more than to have the most vicious monsters, the most cunning traps and the most shiny of loot. There is only one problem, but it's a rather big one; it finished its first floor years ago, but it still hasn't been visited by any adventurers! In order to find someone or something to explore its floors, or perhaps just to find someone to talk to, this dungeon will have to go way off script. But it soon discovers that going off script brings problems of its own, and that adventurers are not the only thing this world is missing. A shortish story about a dungeon's journey of exploration and self-discovery in a devastated world. Cover made (poorly) with POV-Ray. Prequel to An Unbound Soul Published here, scribblehub and amazon.
36.47 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:37
HWPerfidy | historical | Complete
Lin is a Weaver of Fate, someone who can see and weave the Threads of Fate. Her family had always cautioned her to be aware of the boundaries her role imposes upon her, to know that she is merely to watch and witness all that happens. But Lin is not convinced. She will do all she can to write a shining legacy, no matter what Fate has to say about it. (Community magazine contest submission)
9.02 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:20
Given the hereditary nature of classes, everyone expects Damienthe child of two high-tiered adventurersto be granted a high-tier combat class of his own. Expectations are betrayed, however, when Damien finds himself instead saddled with a crafting class of the lowest possible tier: [Neophyte Tailor]. Left practically crippled compared to those with better classes, Damien wants to avoid becoming a pawn in the machinations of the nobility, desiring only to grind his level in peace while wondering why the usual rules of inheritance were broken. Was it his desire to excel by his own effort, rather than an unearned blessing from a god? Did the Five take offence at his opinions on the unfairness of hereditary classes? Or maybe it was something to do with the alien voice that intruded on his ceremony? A voice that offers great power, and freedom from the tyranny of the Five, but that never names its price. This story is litRPG-lite. While the class someone possesses controls most of their lives, people don't get dinged at for every level they gain, nor can they see their status without undergoing a special ritual. The MC has no romantic interest. Crafting is merely a way to game the system, and doesn't feature heavily in the story, aside from a few descriptions on how they're carrying out the system abuse. There is, on one unfortunate occasion, maths. The pace is quick. Published here, Scribble Hub and patreon. This was a participant in the Spring 2022 writathon. (i.e. it was posted as-written at high speed, with no pre-planning.)
67.60 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:49
T.D.Terrell | mystery | Complete
In 2090, climate change, war, and a virus called the Retrophage have ravaged humanity. Most children are stillbirthed, and those who manage to survive are born with a host of defects. Only Gen-perfects, children artificially engineered and grown in artificial wombs, are free from the devastating effects of the Retrophage. A technology exclusively controlled by Bioloxys. Gabriela is a Gen-perfect officer in the security company Taurus. When she learns of the possibility of a ring of implant harvesters, she heads into the lower city with Geraldo, a street-smart officer. Together they uncover an insidious plot that stretches into the highest levels of government, and all clues lead to Bioloxys.
41.78 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:49
First, Spring's favorite hu-man left for somewhere and didn't return, then his pack leader met an accident and died, leaving him alone in a pack on the cusp of splitting away. He's alone and angry and goes to sleep one night, wishing for them to come back so he could play and run and bask in the sun. A miracle happens and his pack leader comes back to life! Or does he?
34.66 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 18:47
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
Few people are purely evil or good. Everyone has their own desires and their own principles guiding what they are prepared to do to achieve those desires. A duke who wants to expand the influence of his house, his wife who is fiercely loyal to her friends, and their child who just wants some comfortable clothes. The queen who wants what's best for the kingdom, the king who wants what's best for his family and a prince with an inferiority complex. Even if everyone acts in a way they deem 'correct', sometimes people can still get hurt. This was the first story I finished writing, although not the first I posted. It's a very short (11k word) story about a 'villainess' who just wants to get away from it all. Only posted on scribblehub and royalroad. Cover image is from the graphics fairy.
6.62 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:39
Doctor Zero | mystery | Complete
Xan is the world's most dangerous criminal mastermind. He's also in hiding and completely broke. That's fine. He's between master plans. It's normal to be at rock bottom between master plans. He also forgets stuff and may be trapped in a dream. Because at night, Xan thinks he's an old lady, trapped in a dingy apartment, by an angry fellow who wants to kill her. Not her idea of a good time, but she's keeping an open mind. It is excitingly visceral. Could turn out awesome. Hyperstitiousis a sci-fi, progression, comedy. Guaranteed to cause more mental problems than it solves.
36.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:50
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
SealJohnson | mystery | Complete
Saskia thought her life was finally getting back on track after the accident. Thenshe got trolled. Now she'supa tree the size of a planet,andall who meet her either run screaming or attack on sight. If everyone would just calm down and stop trying to kill her for one moment, shemight get a chance to explain that this has all been a horrible misunderstanding. Containslight GameLit/LitRPG elements, but no number crunching. Chapters average around 4500 words / 16 pages. Updated weekly. Cover art by Ben J.
246.11 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:46
Elysium July | horror | Complete
The kids warned you not to enter the forest, but you didn't listen. Now, you're stuck with nothing but your dead phone and the clothes on your back. You will experience a series of strange events, which include meeting an entity who calls himself Lone Man. Learn more about the forest, the cursed people, and all its strangeness, but don't forget that you have to survive. Remember, your choices influence not only your future but also the characters and the plot itself. The choice is yours to make. There are over 20 different endings! There's only one rule in this game: trust the Lone Man. Warning: Do not read this book from beginning to end. There are options to choose from at the end of each page. Do not try to get all the endings at once; you'll be confused. GO TO PAGE 1 Originally made as a Tiktok slideshow game. Check out my TikTok: @elysiumjuly.
31.05 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 15:12
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
After Harold, ex-[Hero], dies mysteriously in a locked room, it's up to the world's only [Detective] to solve the mystery. The prime suspect is a mirror, but everyone knows mirrors can't eat people! ...Right? A murder mystery done LitRPG style! [RRM Contest June '23 3rd place]
11.60 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 16:48
NolanConrey | horror | Complete
The Sapient Union city-ship Craton, twenty-five light years out from Sol have an encounter with a terrifying life-form. The giant entity, known as a Leviathan, has been asleep for deep ages of time, but now . . . they may have woken it up. Other-Terrestrial is a hard sci-fi story with cosmic horror elements.
15.57 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:53
Gyoded | psychological | Complete
First a soldier, then a blind man. Could he ever be anything else? Suffering from a massive change of perspective, Cain finds himself in a new world as Earth is altered by unknown forces. With change comes pain and opportunity. Can power be gained, when he has no eyes to see? Book Two release date: TBD.
58.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 15:45
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
DWinchester | horror | Complete
[June 2023 Royal Road Magazine Contest Entry] This story is a work of Lovecraftian horror set in the 1920s, detailing the inexplicable happenings at the Bergen Estate, and the only one Josephine can turn to for help is a 200-year-old vampire. Though she has thwarted many smaller evils, and is not without her own powers, sometimes only a monster can hope to defeat another monster.
6.30 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:43
DarthKirby | tragedy | Complete
Perhaps the most well known of all devils, demons, or fallen angels is the one known as Lucifer, Satan, the Father of Lies. The cultural influence of this figure throughout history is by no means small. Despite that, it wasn't until the time of Milton's classic Paradise Lost that we saw an attempt to portray a dramatized version of the events leading to this figure's fall from grace and power. And while this is the case, Paradise Lost is not about Lucifer though it goes into great detail about his potential musings. No, Paradise Lost was, and still is, about the fall of mankind. So, in light of this, and the feeling that the classical story deserved another telling, I present to you all The Fall a story focused particularly on Lucifer's fall from grace and his musings both before and after.
4.75 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:30
LittleCreepy | tragedy | Complete
GOD´s are real and they give out strange Power. Lily wants nothing to do with them and especially not with death. The creepy fuck can stay way away from her, just as anyone else really. She is deeply afraid of human touch and not even her boyfriend is allowed near her. But she has to choose, she has to choose. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you could give me a comment I would be overjoyed! The picture is from ElectricSixx - Deviant Art. If you dont want your picture up here, just text me and I take it down.
1.93 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 17:49
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
