UPDATE 6/10/2024::
We're back! Updates resuming weekly with 1-2 chapters following my deployment to Iraq and Syria. Thanks for the kind words and thoughts during my overseas travel.They only tried to kill me a few times, so it's all good.
A failed seer and a hapless pit fighter find their paths to power inextricably linked
Darcent of Stitch Alley had it all: A visit from a mother-murdering fel witch, a latent magical talent that somehow defeated her, and a mysterious destiny. It's the perfect trifecta to earn him an all-access pass to the Soul Seeker academy, where students learn to harness the power of the Deck of Wills to summon spells from other worlds.
But when his powers and his destiny fail to manifest, Darcent finds himself unceremoniously ejected from the academy and left with little more than a stolen set of Soul Seeker robes and a stack of cards he can barely use. Alone, penniless, and back on the streets of Dragonmaw, the city that swallows all, he quickly becomes embroiled in the many factions warring for control of the streets, slums, and docks. From fixing fights to faking fortunes, Darcent soon learns that understanding his path to power doesn't involve lecture halls and textbooks. And it's inextricably linked to the destiny of a devilborn pit fighter of seemingly endless resolve.
As Darcent learns to control and grow his magic to climb through the ranks of the city's underworld, the enemies arrayed against him grow ever more dangerous. Not just petty rivals and monsters from the ruins beneath Dragonmaw. Old allies of the fel witch begin to stir, continuing in her pitch-stained footsteps. And each of them is intent on using Darcent to reshape Dragonmaw according to their own design. But when they dredge ancient dangers to threaten the city, will he be strong enough to hold on to what he's built?
What to expect:
A progression fantasy adventure through the mean streets of a deadly, nocturnal city. Updates 2 or more times a week (Thurs, Fri)
Short, snappy arcs of 15,000-25,000 words
A unique magic system based on a tarot deck and the meanings behind its cards.
A strong platonic friendship between a pragmatic mage MC and his capricious fighter sidekick as they grow from weaklings to powerhouses.
Twists on many classic magic school, chosen one, and tabletop RPG story tropes.
No harem. Ever.