icehead Wrote:What is Paula's solution to the Zander-Lance-Heather situation?

What is the next move in Mina's bid to get Marcus on board?

What are the next steps in Raven's plan, and what part do her family still have to play?

Jhotenko Wrote:Sirius is dead, and Harry has reached his breaking point. A chance meeting with a pale girl and her family moves Harry's life in a new direction. Rated M for macabre themes, and later on for suggestive adult content.

And then he Wrote:Ophiuchus Atropa Black is turning eleven. Sit back, and enjoy a wholesome Addams birthday party. Complete with party games, cake, and of course presents.

icehead Wrote:It's time to put Paula's idea of pairing off Zander and Heather into practice. Will it turn out to be the magic pairing that she hopes for? And will pairing them in a double date with her and Lance equal two and two?

icehead Wrote:Mina's games with Marcus are coming to an end, and it's time for her to admit straight up what she wants with him. Will Marcus accept and give in, or will he continue to resist her? Can he resist her anymore?

For that matter, can Kenneth continue to resist Heather and Andie? With his stepdaughters throwing their sexuality in his face, can he continue to keep himself away?

icehead Wrote:Here we witness the morning after for Marcus and Mina. How is Marcus going to deal with what he and his cousin have done?

Then, it's time for one small part of the truth to come out. Carlos and Srishti are about to reveal to Rick and Krista the real circumstances of how they met them in St. Martin, and the relation they have to someone Rick knows. How will they take the reveal?

Dukerino Wrote:Hello, folks! It's May, so my hope is that Princess of the Void returns from its hiatus this month. However, April has been tricky for a couple of reasons that have prevented me from putting as much work into Princess of the Void as it deserves. The first is that I am in the middle of a long and sad goodbye to a family member, an aunt, who is in hospice with late-stage dementia.

The other is that I am being sued, lmao.

The other is that I am being sued, lmao.

There is very little I can say about this right now, except that me and my fellow defendants (a number of other web series authors) firmly disagree with the lawsuit's allegations. We have retained counsel and feel that we have a robust defense.

Writing started as a silly little hobby for me and accidentally became the most important thing I do in my spare time, thanks to my enthusiastic and wonderful audience. The great gift I've been given, besides all of you, is that–contrary to the old chestnuts about how bad it is to make your hobby your job–the joy of writing has never gone away. This past month, I have been much more productive than I thought I would be, getting about seven chapters into PotV on Patreon, because writing these silly little stories has proven to be a wonderful escape from the difficulties I currently face.

Because of the legal action currently happening around it, that is not true of Princess of the Void at the moment. And so, despite my great love for the story and high excitement about where it is going in Volume 6, working on it continues to be very difficult. It's not impossible, and I'm still doing it. But it's slower than I want it to be, and until the legal path forward for the story has cleared up, I can't update it here on ($website). I hope to do so as soon as possible, ideally this month, but that depends on a few factors (including legal ones) beyond my control. Volume 6 is ongoing on Patreon but somewhat slow going. My backup plan, if this legal stuff continues further than May, is to return to updates at the reduced rate of one chapter a week. Ideally the legal stuff is finished quickly and I can return in full force to the 6th and most exciting (in my opinion) volume of the story.

I don't really know how to conclude this update except to thank you for your continuing support during this period. I am optimistic that I'll have good news for you, and chapter 6.1 of Princess of the Void, very soon.

icehead Wrote:It's time for some more confessions. Lily decides she's finally ready to tell Marcus her secret...

...ironically on the same day that Raven and Mina decide (to) let him know theirs.

Warning.

Warning: explicit defloration of a consenting (or at least willing) daughter by her father.

icehead Wrote:Paula and Zander's birthday is coming up, and their nearest and dearest are planning a very special celebration for them. And given their new relationships, and with devious minds like Raven and Bobbi behind the scenes, you can bet this is going to be a night to remember.

icehead Wrote:It's Prom night! Zander, Paula, Heather and Lance are headed out for their senior year rite of passage. Including a special celebration afterward in their own style.

A few surprises are in store for them tonight. Some of them pleasant...

...some of them... not so much.

Dukerino Wrote:Hey, it's still May! This counts!

Welcome to Volume 6 of Princess of the Void.

The situation I described in my previous update is still in effect. The legal issues continue, and while they are ongoing, I need to split my attention between this story and others that I have full legal ownership of. However, it's unfair to you, my readers, to stop entirely. Instead I am updating Princess of the Void once a week. We'll be doing Fridays only going forward for a time.

icehead Wrote:Marcus has completed his classes and is headed home to the circus that the Greenfield house has become. Is he ready to join in with his siblings' new lifestyle?

If Bobbi has anything to say about it, he might find it hard to say no.

icehead Wrote:What do you want? Such a simple, yet complicated question.

What does Paula want? Now that Marcus is home and wading into the waters of his siblings' new lifestyle, does Paula want to partake with him too? Is Zander the only brother she wants to cross that line with, or is she open to sharing that with more of her family as Bobbi has?

What does Keiko want? Is she tempted to cross that line with Marcus too? Would doing something like that with her son be better or worse than what she's been doing with Barry?

What does Lily want? Does she want to keep running from her past? Is she ready to face her family again?

What are each of them going to do?

Dukerino Wrote:Hello, folks!

I have some news for you up top here. You might remember that I've mentioned a few times another story I'm working on while Princess of the Void's legal future remains in question. That story is called Headless Over Heels and its first 100k word volume is already complete over on Patreon, but I am happy to announce that it will be launching on Royal Road this month! Once it does, I will post an update (and a bonus chapter in all likelihood) here to let you all know that it's here and where to find it. As an early preview, the below spoiler is its cover drawn by Cromsferatu, portraying its heroine: Annalise al Ydris. Dullahan, executioner, and mother of two.

Spoiler

Dukerino Wrote:Love can make you lose your head.

Seth il Gutierre is a thief with bad habits and worse luck. He has one chance to clear his debt: steal from a deadly warrior with black eyes and a soul-drinking sword.

Annalise al Ydris is a Verdugo, a traveling executioner of the Sorcerer General’s legion who must spill enough blood to fuel the ancient necromancy holding the seraph hordes at bay. When she catches Seth, he’s sure his head is forfeit and his soul will be fuel for the deathspell.

Instead, she gives him a job.

Now he’s Annalise’s personal thief, helping her carve her tithe from the enemies plaguing the last surviving continent. Seth must survive monsters, madmen, and the strange, simmering desire building between him and the cheerful headtaker he serves.

Headless Over Heels is a romance in a 1920s-inflected dark fantasy setting, about the healing power of love and the harming power of massive necromantic greatswords.

---

This story contains mature themes, explicit sexual content (though scenes have been censored for the RR release, with links provided to the full versions) and graphic violence. It’s not suitable for readers under 18.

What to expect:

- A slow-burn monogamous romance between a down-on-his-luck thief and a sword-swinging murder MILF

- Monsters, mayhem, and magic

- An unorthodox found family carving a cozy niche in a darkening world

- No litRPG or system elements, light progression. No harem (though Annalise has different heads with different personalities).

Cover by Crom Carpenter. First volume already completed on Patreon.

Join us on Discord for discussion, character art, and more!

In the prolegomenon to the RR edition of 1.1. Accidents Happen, Duke Wrote:I'll be posting seven chapters today, with a new one every two hours. After that, we'll be posting daily for a couple of weeks, and then dropping to a 3x/week cadence.

I am overjoyed to introduce you to Seth il Gutierre and the strange, deadly family that's about to change his life.

At the end of the RR release of HOH 1.7 Reasonable People, Dukerino Wrote:I know I said 7 chapters, but in recognition of how many followers we've already gained, I'm doing one more in an hour so as not to leave you on a cliffhanger, and to show off what a fight scene with Annalise al Ydris looks like.

On RR, Dukerino Wrote:Welcome to day 2! For the next couple weeks, it’ll be one chapter a day for HoH while I chase that Rising Star dragon.

---

(...)

“Couldn’t expect you to swing the headtaker around in a pinch. Only reason I do it is so it can harvest hexis, and I’m stingy about letting the stuff go to waste. If it’s not the Verdugo sword it doesn’t count, y’see. Otherwise, I’d keep the fuckin’ thing in the carriage. Or an attic.”

“It does seem cumbersome.”

“Now this little beauty.” She plucked her side sword from the ground. “This is a sword. Got it forged custom in—hmm.” She took it by the blade and squinted at its handle. “That a tooth, you think?”

Seth squinted. “Maybe a piece of one.”

Annalise flicked one of her knives from her baldrick and set about prying the sliver from her sidesword’s handle. “I talked with Charlie about reforging the two-hander into something less stupid a few times. I mean, wouldn’t a nice hand-and-a-half suit better than a fuckoff bluntheaded fucker? Takes a head just as clean if you know what you’re doing.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“Anyway he said awh well ya know Annalise ‘tis a relic from a Promethean age of yadda yadda. And they’re afraid to touch it.” Annalise replaced her dagger and dug the splinter the rest of the way out with two fingers. “Definitely a tooth.”

“Charlie?”

She buckled her sidesword back on. “Charles il Nekropoli, Fifth Sorcerer-General of the United Legion Territories.”

“You call the Sorcerer General Charlie?”

“When I wanna impress muddy little cutpurses, I do.”

icehead Wrote:I have just submitted chapter 34 of THE GREENFIELD FAMILY.

A Taste of Someone New

The Greenfield siblings are headed on a little outing, away from anyone else and free to explore their unique relationship, especially Paula who is ready to expand her horizons and give incest with her other brother a try.

And Paula is not the only one who is about to get a taste of someone new. Rick and Krista are arriving for their usual playtime with Carlos and Srishti, unaware of the special surprise guests they have planned to join them.

Dukerino Wrote:Rohan exuded mindfulness and control over every monitored step. Even as the right heel of his white captoe tracked Fits’ blood into his manor. “We’ll figure this out, us two. Two Syndicate men. Men of expertise. The Verdugo out there, she’s a hard nut. But all we need is a moment.” He paused at the top of the stairs. “We do for her, and her little assistants, and then I’m in your debt for a change, how’s that? And I have some friends who can ensure the story is whatever it needs to be.”

Seth shook his head. “It’s gone beyond that, Rohan. Prossimo’s watching.”

“That woman out there has killed half a dozen of Prossimo’s sons. Means to kill more. A little bit of lingering in the right doorways, a few braces spread around. And the replacement is someone who respects the peace we work for and maintain. And all we need is a moment.”

“All you need is a moment, Rohan.” Seth indicated the stairs with the barrel of the gun. “And if you try for it, I’ll shoot you.”

“You wouldn’t shoot me, Seth. I couldn’t bear to shoot you and I’m a flinty bastard. Had to get someone to do it for me, just like you are.”

“You saw what I did to Fits?” Seth’s fingers flexed on the wheelgun’s knurled handle. “I killed Prichard, too.”

“Prichard was an asshole and Fits was an idiot,” Rohan said. “Me, I’m you. You’re me, son. Looking out through time.”

And he was right. Seth saw it in him. Sudden and gut-wrenching. The same beady desperation, the same preoccupation with corners and contingencies. Rohan was the same sick, feral animal Seth was, and the revulsion stuck a stone in his throat. Being a patre of the syndicates, that was the dream of every cutpurse. This was the best that Seth could hope for. The same exact rotten thing he’d been doing all his miserable life, with a nicer chair.

Duke also Wrote:Grant lets out a long, wary sigh, getting enough air that Ziavra lifts slightly up and back down again at his chest.

“We don’t have to do it right away, dove,” Sykora says. “You’ve already had such a day.”

“No, no. I need to rip the bandage on it. The researchers are already halfway to panic.” Grant strokes his thumb across Ziavra’s cheek and looks into her big staring red eyes. This is your daughter. These are your people. This is your life. You belong here, with the Taiikari.

No matter what they say to you next.

Crew of the Black Pike. This is your Prince speaking.

(...)

An undisguised look of concern settles on Vora. “Do you have it written down anywhere? Would you like another set of eyes?”

Grant shakes his head. “I think I’m just gonna get it started. Wish me luck.”

Vora hugs him around the waist. “Good luck, Grant.”

A hush falls across the deck as he moves to the banister. The camera blinks blue in the dim. Its maximum height has been raised to accommodate his height.

“Crew of the Black Pike. This is your Prince speaking.”

Breathe in on a four-count, and out on a four-count. They care about you, Grant. You care about them. Give them honesty, give them love, let them give it back.

“By now,” he says, “I imagine word is spreading among you of the uniqueness of my people. You have many questions. I am here to answer the chiefest one. And the answer is yes.”

Behind his back his right fist wraps around his left thumb, and squeezes hard to keep from shaking.

“I am immune to compulsion,” he says.

Quote:Moments later, my phone was full of the faint sound of tinkling dust, and Leopard's exaggerated, throaty voice. She'd been clearly working hard, and sounded quite full of herself. "Leopard's Wrecking Crew, you call it in we send it to the bin!"

"Ah, good, an explosives expert!" I joked. "Great, so there's a single-family residence I need vaporized in Ginza…"

Trailing off, I waited for Leopard to cut it out with the joke, but she seemed to be writing it down. "Single family home in Ginza… can you get me a street address?"

"762 White Spring Lane," I answered by default, giving one of the properties that Sugou, a friend of the family and no longer a friend to me, owned. Even if he was still fairly charming and a frequent guest to dinner, I had my suspicions of him for a while given how tightly he was wrapped up in the development of SAO– and more critically, the fact he wanted my hand in marriage. "Make sure it doesn't look like an accident."