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EV B2 Chapter 50, 51 & 52

// I really wanted to post this earlier, but I got in my head a little bit. I was starting to feel weird about posting EV as I know most people are here for legion and so I figured I would just post a few chapters at a time and it would feel less like spamming people with stuff they didn't sign up for.

//Sadly I wrote one chapter and then sitting on it made it hard to write the next one. Eventually, I just buckled down and figured out where I was going with the arc and knocked a few out...

B2 Chapter 19: Map Quest

B2 Chapter 19: Map Quest

Tiberius once again found himself in an all-too-familiar position, standing bent over a map on the table before him. With how often he found himself here, he’d honestly begun to think that he might develop a permanent stoop. Then again, maybe his improved stats would ward off any such thing.

Potential back problems aside, he couldn’t help but marvel at the sight before him. To call it a map would be a disservice. No, this was a miniature model landscap...

B2 Chapter 18: Echoes in Eternity

B2 Chapter 18: Echoes in Eternity

The group of the Baron’s conscripts shambled forward uncertainly through the grassy plains. Their progress had already been agonizingly slow, far more so than Sharath would have liked. That was only to be expected, given the speeds at which a [Rogue] like her could travel. But in recent days? Their pace had been reduced to little more than a crawl.

It was more frustrating than she could adequately explain. The delays threatened ...

B2 Chapter 17: What We Do in Life

Previous chapter posted today

B2 Chapter 17: What We Do in Life

As soon as they registered the coming threat, the Legionnaires sprang into action. Men rushed to the sides of the boat, grabbing oars and beginning to move the ship in a more intentional direction. Gaius took up ...

B2 Chapter 16: Getting Amped Up

B2 Chapter 16: Getting Amped Up

When Marcus had initially offered to take Tiberius through the ruins, he'd pictured a slightly different situation. One where he'd go on a nice hike with the big boss, perhaps use the time to talk about some of the less important matters on his mind and use the opportunity to further ingrain himself into the man's good graces. Once they got there, maybe the men would set up a pavilion for their emperor and investigate while they relaxed.

That was no...

B2 Chapter 15: Gadgets and Gearheads

B2 Chapter 15: Gadgets and Gearheads

The ringing of hammers on steel echoed through the camp, their sheer volume dampened only slightly by the leather of the tents. Nearly a hundred Legionnaires bent over anvils and worktables as they focused on their work. The smell of sweat and smoke filled the air in a thick, pungent cloud.

It wasn't hard for Quintus to pick out Gareth among them. The massive bear-like figure of walked amongst the stations, evaluating the men's work and occasio...

B2 Chapter 14: What Have We Learned?

B2 Chapter 14: What Have We Learned?

After the elf and his entourage had left, Tiberius once more found himself at his desk studying the glass before him. Around him, the polished wood walls and fine windows of the former mayor's manor shone with reflected sunlight, filling the room with a warm glow.

Though a Legatus's place was with the Legion, Tiberius's encounter with the envoy made him realize the importance of appearances. As such, he decided to make an effort to better acqua...

B2 Chapter 13: Swords to Plowshares

B2 Chapter 13: Swords to Plowshares

Quintus stared at the supervisor for a long, long moment. Long enough that the man began to squirm beneath his gaze. When he eventually spoke, his tone was laced with deadly calm.

"That is certainly an idea. However, and I will speak plainly… why in the everloving fuck would we do that?"

"Well, er…" The supervisor began, sweating. "Normally, it would be unthinkable. Absolutely ludicrous."

"And it's not here?" Quintus ges...

B2 Chapter 12: A Long, Long, Time Ago

Don't miss that chapter posted earlier today...

B2 Chapter 12: A Long, Long, Time Ago

Tiberius came to a halt, prompting the guards accompanying him to do the same. The town continued to bustle around them as the elven envoy stared up at the in-progress statue looming over them. ...

B2 Chapter 11: Horsing Around

B2 Chapter 11: Horsing Around

The soft sounds of boots treading over grass and labored breathing filled the air. In the fading light of the setting sun, a group of silhouettes moved across the rolling hills of the Eastern Marches. Nine men, haggard and exhausted, stumbled forward at what could've been imaginatively deemed a "march" if one squinted hard enough. All except one.

Quintus led the group with his head held high and his back straight, as though the past two days of marchi...

B2 Chapter 10: The Emperor Finds His Groove 

B2 Chapter 10: The Emperor Finds His Groove 

Tiberius held the elf's gaze unflinchingly. Iladrien waited, his long-fingered hands folded on the fine table before him, and clearly expecting some sort of apology. But that wouldn't be happening.

The Emperor didn't apologize. This was something Tiberius knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. It didn't matter if they really had wronged the elves, and an apology was warranted—doing so here would be a severe showing of weakness...

B2 Chapter 9: When in Rome

B2 Chapter 9: When in Rome

Tiberius took his time getting ready. He dressed in full battle gear, his armor freshly repaired and polished after their latest battle, in lieu of any formal wear like a toga. That, too, was a deficiency he would need to remedy—though he hadn't honestly expected to engage in any diplomatic talks so soon.

He marched through the town, accompanied by some of his most senior officers and an escort of guards. The first messenger had left him slightly confu...

B2 Chapter 8: The Age of Man

B2 Chapter 8: The Age of Man

Marcus was having an incredibly peaceful morning. The most peaceful one he'd had in a long while—since the Legion had arrived, in fact. Now that the rebellion was over, the bulk of Tiberius's forces had returned, and the unspoken feeling of lingering tension had begun to settle, it truly felt like things were finally returning to normal.

Well, as normal as an extraplanar army running a tiny backwater logging town could be. But that was besides the po...

B2 Chapter 7: A Battle of Wits (And Ballistae)

B2 Chapter 7: A Battle of Wits (And Ballistae)

The next day, Quintus stood at one end of the practice field, a century of handpicked men at attention behind him. Across the way loomed a towering gray wall, thirty feet tall and set behind a deep ditch. Atop it waited a matching century of Legionnaires headed by Tiberius.

Quintus locked eyes with the Legatus and nodded. Then, he called over his shoulder. "Positions!"

The men split into groups, the majority remaining on the fie...

B2 Chapter 6: Those Who Throw Stones

B2 Chapter 6: Those Who Throw Stones

Quintus heaved himself against the winch, leveraging all of his supernaturally increased strength as he did. The ratchet latch slipped one more time, settling into place as the ballista's string tightened even further.

"Stand ready!"

He stepped back. At this point, the weapon was so taut that if something broke, everyone within twenty feet of the machine would be in serious danger. He had seen a cord snap once, the end detac...

B2 Chapter 5: Spearheading the Improvements

B2 Chapter 5: Spearheading the Improvements

Gareth woke just before the sun peeked over the horizon, rolling over in bed with a soft groan. By his side, his wife continued to sleep soundly. She looked as peaceful as ever, the sight only mildly spoiled by the thunderous snores that threatened to rattle the very windows. It brought a smile to the blacksmith's grizzled face.

Quietly, he rose from the bed and got dressed. In a few moments he'd made it downstairs to his forge. The damp...

B2 Chapter 4: Dad's Home

Tiberius once more sat in his rightful place behind his desk in the command tent. The finely carved wood, smooth as it was, had nearly disappeared beneath stacks and stacks of new reports, orders, and other unattended work. They practically drowned the desk in their sheer quantity, each representing something he had missed or a matter that required his input to move forward.

The scene made him realize that there would soon come a point where he'd need to upgrade his accommodations—tha...

EV B2 Chapter 48 & 49:

// two chapters together as they both came out shorter than planed

EV B2 Chapter 48:

The reaction I received was not at all what I expected.

Astrid looked up at me with a sort of indignant look—the look of those with wounded pride, as if her father was crazy for saying something like that.

"Now fuck you!" She snapped, and I couldn't help but blink and stammer as she laid into me.

"I made this choice freely, wholly, and completely on my own. You didn't coerce me...

Legion B2 Chapter 3: Homecoming

B2 Chapter 3: Homecoming

Quintus had been right about the importance of stats. The next day, the Legion's march had them closing in on Habersville before the sun even began to set.

Despite the blistering pace they'd set, he felt good—even better than he had on the way to Stonewake—well, Stonester now. He had slept for a whole five hours, which was significantly more than usual. As he'd aged, his need for sleep had dwindled to short catnaps a few times during the night. A solid...

Legion B2 Chapter 2: Stonewalling

It took an effort of will for Quintus to maintain his posture, with his head held high and his shoulders back. Before anything else, he was a centurion, the first among them all, and that meant he had an image to maintain. All of the enlisted legionnaires and even young officers needed to know for a fact that he was made of steel, that he could chew iron and spit it out with unbroken teeth. They needed to know that he could be relied upon in any circumstance or trial, no matter how dire.

Legion B2 Chapter 1: When the dust settles

Tiberius once more stood atop the high wall of Stonewake, gazing down upon its interior. Or rather, what remained of it. What had once been a populous town now had been rendered little more than charred ruins. Only a few still-burning logs and blackened piles of partially-collapsed stone still stood amongst the wreckage that the Legion had left behind.

Despite the destruction, he felt no real guilt or regret. The fires that he'd ordered throughout the place had been necessary, after all...

EV B2 Chapter 47:

We ate in relative silence. Alana—her noble heritage showed through even as she daintily ate the chicken with her fingers. But Astrid and I scarfed it down like normal people. She ate quickly, but I could tell there was no real enjoyment in it. Her appetite clearly hadn't come back.

While we ate, there wasn't a whole lot to say. It wasn't the right time and... well. Hopefully, a small break would let Astrid gather her thoughts and start to feel more normal. And I hadn't realized how h...

Epilogues: Mage, Entity

Mage

Far away, nestled high in the far reaches of the Glimmervein mountains of the north, stood a tall tower of iridescent stone. Its sheer walls seemed to shimmer in the light, bestowing an almost dreamlike quality on the entire thing. It was enough to make most who ventured to the area doubt their eyes—after all, who would build such a thing here, amongst the barren peaks of the mountains?

The man in question stood atop the tower, his comically frazzled beard whipping in the w...

Epilogues: Baron, King

Baron

Baron von Latimore rubbed his temples tiredly and closing his eyes, Dark bags hung below them, their appearance one of many unwelcome surprises he'd received as of late. Despite the exhaustion, he considered whether he should perhaps cut back on the strong tea in the mornings, as the caffeine was starting to give him headaches. Of course, the idea that his daily caffeine consumption was the sole cause of his splitting migraine was just wishful thinking.

On his desk lay a pai...

EV B2 Chapter 46:

The pursuit was immediate, and it didn't bode well for us. Carrying the unconscious Astrid in my arms as I dashed through the streets, I stood out like a sore thumb. I could hear the sound of footsteps running behind me.

There were more than a few pursuers; I wasn't in any position to fight them. Not that I would have, given our previous encounter. Especially not with Astrid in my arms.

I turned hard right at the next intersection and saw Alana hiding just around the corner. She w...

Chapter 56: Light at the End of the Tunnel

Chapter 56: Light at the End of the Tunnel

Quintus's arms felt like lead. His feet hurt, and his jaw ached from gritting his teeth through the long slog of battle. He still felt stronger and more capable than when they'd started, but at some point, those temporary buffs from the deaths of his brothers had worn off. That, combined with the sheer exhaustion of the day, hit both him and his men like an elephant.

Despite the mounting exhaustion though, they'd accomplished their goal. ...

Chapter 55: Justice is Served

Chapter 55: Justice is Served

Marcus understood now what Servius had said—that Rudolf had been the lucky one. Truly, death had been a much kinder fate for the [Ranger].

They left the temple to find the rest of the Legion already sweeping over the newly freed town like a hungry tide. But this was unlike the first time they'd captured it. No, this time, the Legionnaires were far less kind.

The townsfolk were fine, for the most part. Only those who got in the...

Chapter 54: Field of Ashes

Chapter 54: Field of Ashes

When Tiberius's vision returned, he was already checking over his surroundings for an ambush and other threats. Luckily, none appeared. The momentary blindness had been temporary enough that no enemies could take advantage of it. Of course, he couldn't always count on that to be the case. But luck had a much more significant impact on war than almost anyone would like to admit.

Once he was certain that his immediate surroundings were safe, his attention ...

Chapter 53: Closing the Gap

Chapter 53: Closing the Gap

Augustus walked through Habersville, exuding confidence even as his eyes scanned his surroundings with caution. The ill-fated rebellion had been put down quickly and efficiently, and Legionnaires filled the streets in the aftermath just to ensure that no one else even considered such foolishness again. Still, it never hurt to be careful.

After the dome had shattered, Gaius had wasted no time in mobilizing the Legion to regain control of the area. August...

Chapter 52: Scorched Earth

// Quick update. We went through and made improvements in chapters 42-50. Most of them are small minor text fixes, or doing a better job of including skills and variations to make the combat more momentous. The changes went live over the last couple days.

I think the changes are significantly better and it might be worth giving them another look. However, I don't believe there are any updates you need to read to understand what is happening now. There are two slightly more...