Synopsis
The fully edited book #1 is on Amazon if you'd like to read and support me that way; otherwise, I hope you enjoy it!
We're into Book 2 now.
Average-Guy Tom was expecting to have a fun, and romantic, camping trip with his girlfriend Casey. That was until the world turned everything upside down and he found himself in the middle of the Tribulation. The biblical prophecy of the end times is real and Tom has no clue what to expect or how to survive it. Maybe the Bible had some clues, but if he had one of those, he probably wouldn’t still be stuck down here, would he?
His only hope lies in using his head, cobbled together plans, and the Penitent System, an obtuse thing that enhances your own natural abilities, empowers you with skills, and grants rewards all for the low low cost of performing memorable Feats. There's only one problem though, and it's kind of a biggy. The Penitent System isn't exactly... user-friendly, and why would it be? It was built for heathens and comes filled with its own hidden dangers and pitfalls that will trip him up unless he can piece together enough information to avoid them while still, somehow, growing stronger.
As he faces threats from nature, beasts, and other humans, Tom must make hard choices and find his faith in a godless world. Or, at least, learn to survive in it.
What are Feats? What are the dangers of the Penitent System? Well, I can't really tell you because this junky piece of crap system didn’t exactly come with a manual.
Uh hey, sorry about that, my name’s Tom.
Except for the last part, the start of my memoirs came out pretty nice if I do say so myself. Even if It does sound sort of grim. Well yeah, I mean it kinda is, but it doesn’t all suck. Granted, I’m still waiting for the ‘not-sucking’ part to pan out, but I'm sure it will.
First things first, I gotta get out of my car.
"Will you shut up out there!"
Even though Tom isn't a 'believer', there are also, OBVIOUSLY, Christian themes in this work. If you can't be mature when reading those, then please, for both our sakes, don't proceed past Go (or this point, right here).
I couldn't include it on this page, but heads up, Tom uses coarse language. I haven't decided if this is the final route I want to take, but as of now, it's how it's written. There's also some... fighting with animals. Some household ones, some wild ones. So if you're sensitive about Fido turning feral and getting stabbed... then you should probably skip this one.
I'd especially welcome feedback about tone, style, pacing, and other overarching concepts. Typos and bit-by-bit stuff? Not so much. Since I'm doing my final edit on a separate file from here. On RR I'm publishing rough-draft (single-pass through) chapters here 4 times a week, Tuesday-Friday. We're publishing book 2 here and I'm working on book 3 right now.
Chapters are typically 2000-2500+. I reserve the right to publish more or less, story dependent. That said, I know people want meat on the bone so each chapter should have progress or move something forward (beware there will be a few 'stat heavy' chapters).
How long will it take Tom to get System access?
Chapter 3 intro, chapter 8-12 access and exploring it.
Tags
Table of Contents
- 11 | Average Camper2024-11-13
- 22 | The Snap2024-11-13
- 33 | Man's Hubris2024-11-13
- 44 | She was the lucky one2024-11-13
- 55 | Good doggy?2024-11-13
- 66 | My kingdom, or something of near-equivalent value, for an eye. Preferably both.2024-11-13
- 77 | Am I awake?2024-11-13
- 88 | I can't really tell how you feel about me2024-11-13
- 99 | Will is worth what?2024-11-13
- 1010 | Some Information, stingily given2024-11-13
- 1111 | Affinity Tests and other Inconvenient Things2024-11-13
- 1212 | You have that... "QUALITY" about you.2024-11-13
- 1313 | 'Day' of Peace2024-11-13
- 1414 | Catageddon2024-11-13
- 1515 | I... Need a plan. Again.2024-11-13
- 1616 | Sweep and clear.2024-11-13
- 1717 | Nothing Personnel Kitts2024-11-13
- 1818 | Felinid Arrogance2024-11-13
- 1919 | All the worst apocalyptii2024-11-13
- 2020 | Intergenerational First Impressions2024-11-13
- 2121 | Street Therapy (aka: 'Friendly Conversation')2024-11-13
- 2222 | Town Guards2024-11-13
- 2323 | Class Advancement2024-11-13
- 2424 | Apocalyptic Trading Sesh2024-11-13
- 2525 | Too much info for n00bs2024-11-13
- 2626 | Status Digging… and Quests?2024-11-13
- 2727 | Quik-Trip2024-11-13
- 2828 | Let's head back... You first.2024-11-13
- 2929 | Consecration2024-11-13
- 3030 | Here's the deal2024-11-13
- 3131 | Divine and Mortal Negotiations, aka Tuesday2024-11-13
- 3232 | Squire Skillz2024-11-13
- 3333 | There can be only One2024-11-13
- 3434 | Town's not big enough for the two of us2024-11-13
- 3535 | Time to Go (End of Book 1)2024-11-13
- 36(Book) 2 (Chapter) 1 | The Next Steps2024-11-13
- 372:2 | Second First Impression2024-11-13
- 382:3 | State Secrets2024-11-13
- 392:4 | The Official Tour2024-11-13
- 402:5 | What is THAT doing here?!2024-11-13
- 412:6 | Bribery and Insurance2024-11-13
- 422:7 | Investigating in Peace2024-11-13
- 432:8 | Seems like everybody has a plan2024-11-13
- 442:9 | CSI2024-11-13
- 452:10 | Suspender Jon2024-11-13
- 462:11 | Vivi... what the fu-2024-11-13
- 472:12 | The Cook2024-11-13
- 482:13 Attempted Booty Call2024-11-13
- 492:14 | Oaths and Plans of my Own2024-11-13
- 502:15 | Rats have plans too2024-11-13
- 512:16 | Proactive Measures2024-11-13
- 522:17 | Shopping Spree2024-11-13
- 532:18 | Change of Plans2024-11-13
- 542:19 | Fork and I; Me and Fork; I and Fork?2024-11-13
- 552:20 | Manison2024-11-13
- 562:21 | Boss Bitch Bambi2024-11-13
- 572:22 | Accelerated Time-Table2024-11-13
- 582:23 | With Enemies like these, who needs friends?2024-11-13
- 592:24 | Non-Consensual Guest2024-11-13
- 602:25 | Sacrificial Lambs2024-11-13
- 612:26 | Hold 'em to their Word2024-11-13
- 622:27 | Salty Revenge2024-11-13
- 632:28 | Time to Go2024-11-13
- 64(Book) 3: (Chapter) 1 | On the Road Again2024-11-13