State of the Scribe: November 2023 · 7:57pm Nov 1st, 2023
For those in the northern hemisphere like me, happy beginning of winter everypony! Hope those jackets are nice and warm, and you're ready for another festive season. It's coming for us whether we want it or not!
You'll probably notice a few changes to this compared to what it has been over the last few months. Trying to standardize update dates a little. The only updating story that I've actually moved was Digital Effigy, still listed by its working title of "Machine Learning." I'd rather focus on updating on the same day every week, so I've moved a few stories around to fit that date. Hand of the Ancients also moved, that way we have a day in the week that I'm more or less always updating.
Next, you'll see that two of my longest running stories ended last month. (working title) Deep Below (proper title: Vestige) finally reached its conclusion, and also got a proper PDF/EPUB release. If you're interested in reading it now that you don't have to fight through the awfulness of Patreon's interface for stories, you can do so here: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/1025459/full-story-deep-below
This also brought the end of Don't Bug Me, a story that has been going for well over a year. If you were waiting until that one was complete to check it out, you can read it here: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/513304/dont-bug-me
In its place, we have another incoming story, Shattered Pentacle. Shattered Pentacle follows Lyra and her friends in a darker, more sinister version of the modern world, the World of Darkness. Magic is real, but it is usually dangerous, and often part of some ancient, unknowable thing that would devour you if it could. After her girlfriend saved her from a life of service to the vampires as a Ghoul, Lyra has always known there had to be more to the world. It can't all be evil monsters out to get them--there's magic out there too. She'll soon discover the people she knew were hiding incredible secrets, and join their secret world. But can she hide her new powers from her girlfriend?
This one is waiting for its cover this month, so will be stuck on Patreon until December. X.x. Hoping for a release fimfiction release next month, will keep fingers crossed.
We also have another shortfic entering the queue. It may not be the only one--as my time horizon shrinks, I've accepted a few more of these, to keep me writing pony stuff. I've say more about it next month, since it's still in the early drafting stages right now.
I've waited for last to talk about that new block of orange, currently called "Forerunner's Child." What's that? A new project--one that's already finished, in fact. This novel came from my desire to tell stories that are somewhat connected to the parts of the pony fandom that brought me to this point, while still making wholly original novels that I could potentially sell as my own one day, part of my goal to write 4 novels this year.
Its name is no accident--it takes place in the same universe as Message in a Bottle, the one I intend to use for many science fiction stories in the future. In it, one of the first pioneering explorers of faster-than-light exploration is revived around a distant, sunless moon, by a colony of the Pioneering Society. Her mission was a failure, her technology lost to history--but Forerunner was able to revive what remained of her from frozen death, where she is greeted by the colony with friendship.
The Institute of Perpetual Luminescence is unlike anything she could have imagined for the future of humanity. Its citizens are the brightest scientific and artistic minds, gathered together into a state of endless learning and exploration, exporting their many innovations across their new home. She can understand how such a place would have the experts to bring her back to life. Less clear is the way they govern themselves.
The Institute's experts are all children, relying completely on Forerunner for their daily needs. Not only that, but each is genetically modified, with very slight additions of animal traits. Not enough to offer measure tangible benefits--just enough to cause disorientation and disassociation. They concern themselves only with the nobler pursuits, remaining utterly dependent to their AI for everything else.
Kit isn't content to just join their number. Since the Institute won't let her leave, she's determined to find out what is really behind the Institute's strange ways, and what dark secrets the computer has been keeping across its long history.
Anyone familiar with Message in a Bottle will be well aware of the universe--but I would stress that this is not a crossover with that story. They take place across vast gulfs of space and time. More importantly, that one is so closely tied to ponies that adapting it for a non-pony world would rob it of its core character. Forerunner's Child is entirely original, though I think it retains much of the spirit that my long-term readers would enjoy.
I'll be releasing it on Patreon--free to everyone--while it's in a beta reading stage. At some point I may take it down and list it elsewhere, we'll see. But for now, check it out! All chapters will be free on my Patreon. There's an option to "watch for free" to get notified of updates. You don't have to support to read it.
And that's the scoop for now! Everything else is continuing on from what was already happening, so no need for new updates. I'll close with my usual links:
Spirits of Change still has many chapters to go. This story inspired by His Dark Materials, but with Pokemon instead of animals as the daemons. There the legendary pokemon rule the world with an adorable but iron grip. When Hayden settles as a mew instead of an eevee, their life is turned upside down, as they're swept up into the dangerous world of legendary politics. Think My Fair Lady and Game of Thrones with pokemon and you're in the right zip code. This thing is one of my longest running passion projects, something I never thought I'd get to write, so the chapters really get crazy. You can check it out here: [url=[url=[url=https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters[tag]=Spirits%20of%20Change&sort=published_at]https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters[tag]=Spirits%20of%20Change&sort=published_at]https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters[tag]=Spirits%20of%20Change&sort=published_at]https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters[tag]=Spirits%20of%20Change&sort=published_at]https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters[tag]=Spirits%20of%20Change&sort=published_at
Second String, the tale of earth's brave football warriors turned Equestrian liberators, can be explored here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-in-78044865
Legio IX Hispania, our historical journey into the question of what if the lost Roman legion ended up in Equestria, unravels here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-legio-78027950
My Discord, a hub of fun writing activities and lots of other pony-related shenanigans: https://discord.gg/J8hq6MX
Obligatory Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe
Want a copy of one of my books? You can see what I've printed and buy a copy here: https://starscribe.net/
What's this about a vestige?