I don't actually hate the story of Hattan, of a city proper in the heart of the Bowl. The blasted lands. Of a city so greedy, so corrupt, that the land itself rejected them, or was turned evil by the taint of their presence. Of a city wiped so thoroughly off the earth, that only their graveyard remains.
Three levels of underground catacombs, with fissures that lead deep into the morlock-infested world which we live upon.
A fence of black iron, worked in with wards and meant to hold in the worst of things that gathered around the dead. A fence now broken in the northwest corner, letting pure Death out into the world.
About which, I could do nothing in my past life. When I was stronger in magic than I now was.
[Type: Magical Creature.] my System insisted.
So, the weekend is close, and I want to get that chapter or two ahead. And, to be honest, I've been to enough meetings that it's hurting my productivity. Worse, I can see the need for each meeting, and I'm not even close to being buried under meetings the way my bosses are.
And I guess the backlash hit this chapter. Almost nothing that resembles a civil conversation. The old outline had him traveling with the children direct from Whitestone. Another post-it had him with the army until it was over, and then hurled physically into the Agoge to replenish the empire's critically reduced soldiery.
Instead, I'm blathering on about what isn't; I hope you like the chapter that is.
As always, thank you for your continued readership; it means enough that I try to train myself, if only a little bit each day.