Mecanimus posts
133. Hive.
The room chosen for the negotiations is an office on the second floor. The room has been cleared save for a long table with three seats on each side. Couches adorn the corner for a handful of spectators.
To my surprise, I have been asked to attend by Sephare as an observer. Our side is represented by Constantine, Sephare herself, and Islaev. The Natalis lord acts as Jarek’s second and his representative since the old monster is still captive. By pushing for this, Sephare effectively m...
2021-03-29 22:50:30 +0000 UTC View PostThe Calamitous Bob part 2
This is the second collection of chapters. First readers take note, it contains a large amount of new content so have fun!
Also I wanted to share something that happened yesterday. I had to buy a lot of meat to help with my wife's low-sugar diet. It cost me the money I get from the monthly support of a bit over twenty readers. It means that twenty of you smiled at Ari and Bob's shenanigans, and decided to send money out of your own pockets to allow me to do that for a living. It's bec...
The Calamitous Bob Part 1
This is the first edited, corrected collection of chapters. It should be easier to read.
2021-03-26 04:16:18 +0000 UTC View Post132. Snapped shut
June 1st 1862, Boston. Accords Headquarters.
“Pierce. Shred. Bind.”
Constantine moves lazily and counters each attack one by one, slipping a bolt between two deflects. I expected it this time, and I manage to shield it.
“I need a break,” I finally say, as I feel a painful drain on my essence. The Speaker nods and vanishes his soul weapon.
“You are making progress. I must admit that I was wrong. Your style is compatible with magical duels...
2021-03-23 09:54:03 +0000 UTC View PostSmall announcement.
Ok, time to announce three things.
First, I'm going to be unavailable for a week in the middle of May or before. The reason is that I am going to be a dad! Hehe. I'll be too busy to write efficiently so I'll take a small break.
Second, we're going to get the cover for book three soonish. I'll post it here.
Third, due to all the massive name changes and other corrections occurring with Bob, I'm going to erase everything and post three or four large files containing a dozen c...
2021-03-16 13:27:07 +0000 UTC View Post131. Uncivil
Our return to Boston is triumphant, and Sephare throws me a bone by publicly announcing that my contribution to Bertrand’s capture was decisive. Since she alone was the artisan of our victory, the exaggeration becomes public truth. Constantine, the only person apparently in the know, supports her version. I am nominated as coordinator for the Union war effort for both my service and the high contribution I already make by supplying most of the Union’s artillery guns. Although the vampires...
2021-03-16 13:15:41 +0000 UTC View Post130. Plans within plans.
I land on the floor, rolling on myself and coming to my feet in a well-practiced move, only to exchange spells with another figure in Yann’s boudoir. Our spells devastate the precious furniture, sending shards and upholstery up in the air.
“Bolt.”
“Shield… Flay!”
“Hive. Bind.”
I slash with Rose and a claw to keep the chains at bay. They do not break. I merely manage to fend them off as I spring back.
My foe’s voice is ...
2021-03-11 04:12:29 +0000 UTC View Post129. Vampire War
Boston, December 2nd, 1861
“We may begin,” the Speaker says. I find it hard to gauge the mood of an assembly of people whose survival depends on self-control, and yet I can taste concern in the air. One of us has had less need to manage their own emotion on account of being powerful from the start. I do not believe that I had ever seen Constantine angry before.
“Before anything else, we have an unfortunate affair to resolve. Sephare, if you will?”
<...
2021-03-07 10:20:53 +0000 UTC View PostThe Calamitous Bob 35: Minutiae
RETCON ALERT: Due to a conflict between my love for the letter V and the supposed inability of people to say it properly, I have proceeded with the following changes:
Venetti is now Benetti
Varan is now Baran
Varska now comes from the city-state of Helock, in the north. It's a city of mages.
As a general rule, uneducated people from Enoria and Baran have trouble with the letter V. Nobles etc have learned it and can pronounce it properly, except Farran who has iss...
2021-03-06 08:10:15 +0000 UTC View PostA Journey of Black and Red 128: First Blood
The heavy axe slides against Rose at the perfect angle. Most of the strength bleeds away along the edge and I strike the man facing me with the pommel. A series of quick jabs pushed him away. A hint from my intuition, and I dodge under a back attack while sweeping. Rose deploys, hitting both the target close to me to the front, and the one farther at the back in one perfect strike. They reel.
“Darkness.”
I will not use Likaean here, especially not when those around ar...
2021-03-01 01:40:34 +0000 UTC View PostAnnouncement.
Due to Bob's story enjoying a high level of inspiration recently, I am unlocking up to chappie 18 to first readers. Enjoy.
2021-02-24 10:23:22 +0000 UTC View PostA Journey of Black and Red 127: A House Divided
Author’s note:
So far, the effects of magic on the world of Journey have been minor. However, the supernatural populations of the world will now start altering it around them, using their powers and influence to affect history in ways that our own world has not known. Major historical events will now start to diverge from our reality, and this effect will only grow more pronounced as time passes by.
The world of the nineteenth century still accepted magic and mysticism as possib...
2021-02-22 03:33:13 +0000 UTC View PostThe Calamitous Bob 28: I can explain!
NB: The land of Varan is retconned as Baran. Why? because they should be able to pronounce V if it's in their country's name... dammit. Anyway, the change will be implemented in previous chapters over the next days when I can be arsed to do so.
2021-02-19 04:25:21 +0000 UTC View PostA Journey of Black and Red 126: Shadow Diplomacy
Boston, October 1861.
“I don’t like this at all, Ariane. We have seen war before, you and I, down in Mexico. This will be nothing like it.”
Sheridan grumbles as we pass the door leading into the Boston vampire compound. The three-winged edifice was expanded with cliffside structures overlooking the river to accommodate the rising number of night denizens.
“How do you figure?” I reply with curiosity. Although he seldom voices his opinion, Sheridan has proven adept a...
2021-02-15 15:57:35 +0000 UTC View PostA Journey of Black and Red 125: Tempus Iterum Fugit
Warning: change of point of view.
ad-Dār al-Bayḍāʼ, three days after the Parisian night.
The inn had seen better days.
The man in a hat poured himself another goblet of rum. He nursed it, savoring the burn as it went down his gullet. Even the stench of piss and vomit disappeared under the heady savor of processed sugarcane. It brought the man back to decades ago, when his world was simpler, and the sun of the Caribbean shone on endless opportunitie...
2021-02-09 03:13:08 +0000 UTC View Post