January 2024 Royal Road Community Magazine Contest Entry Nico Caro is living out his fondest TTRPG fantasies. All the things he wasn’t strong enough for in his former “real” life, he can handle in this new one. All he has to do is level up until he’s basically a god, and then he’ll never need to take any crap from anyone ever again. Godhood is a ways off, though, and Nico’s current quest has grouped him with untested party members and pitted them against challenges that seem a tad more powerful than they’re ready for. Especially if Nico’s luck with the dice doesn’t improve, and fast. Occasional mild language (usually associated with dice rolls).  Tower of Dust is a short story set in the same world as my longer, ongoing story Fatebreakers. It employs the same basic premise and system, but there is no overlap in characters or plot.