Extra Short Stories (For Those Who've Been Enjoying My Audio Offerings)

Folks who have been enjoying my fiction releases recently have likely noticed I've been putting together a lot of short vignettes and flash fiction series when it comes to my audio dramas. And while the ones most folks see are taken from the introductory material in my TTRPG supplements, there are some longer, more in-depth stories out there. Some bigger, complete tales that are just waiting for you to come check out.

And if you haven't given them a look yet, I'd highly recommend stopping by my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary, in addition to following the Azukail Games YouTube channel.

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my bi-weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

A Few Examples From "The Rejects"

Most of the audio dramas I've put together, like the one above, are only a few minutes long. Typically they're dramatized versions of vignettes that set the scene for a supplement, but even when I put together a series of these little shorts they can feel more like eating several small, bite-sized candies instead of a meal.

However, for folks who don't know, I write more than just TTRPGs. In addition to the nearly 200 supplements and games with my name on them, I've also written several novels, and even a few collections of short stories. And in my free time a while back, I started dramatizing some of the short stories from my collection The Rejects, which is a book that features all the short stories I wrote that kept almost getting chosen by publishers, but which were ultimately passed on.

 

EDIT: Both of these tales have been moved over to the new YouTube channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files, which I highly recommend checking out if you haven't yet! 

 

The first story is Dead Man's Bluff, a weird Western. A ghoulish little story that features a game of cards between an itinerant gambler and a mysterious young man, the twist at the end is a particularly dark one. The moral of this story, of course, is to never cross a witch, and be careful where you bury one if you do.

 

 

The second story is Suffer The Children, which gives us a glimpse into the dark underbelly of a modern fantasy setting subtly unlike any other you've come across before. We meet Malachi, an angel walking the shadowed back alleys and nasty streets of Los Angeles, as he attempts to stop a cult of child stealers. This is, technically, the second story featuring Malachi and his adventures, but it gives readers a glimpse into the sort of hard, nasty choices he often has to make. While I haven't added to Malachi's world since this tale, there were plans for more stories (as well as a few novels) featuring additional cases that he had to handle. If it turns out more folks are interested in Malachi's saga, though, it's something I could squeeze in if folks wanted to hear/see more!

What Other Stories Would You Like To See?

My original plan with these tales was to give my readers (and potential readers) a little taste of the stories that could be found in The Rejects. However, I would like to dramatize at least half of them, leaving the other half as a mystery for readers to uncover for themselves... but which stories would you like to get this treatment?

Would you like to hear the tale of the young boy, his uncle, and the dark, dangerous secret no one else would ever believe that we see in Bloody Bones? Perhaps the gritty, sword and sorcery tale Champion For Hire is more your speed, with weaving steel and dark plans in a city desperate to avoid a bloody war of succession in its underworld? From the steampunk gruesomeness of Eyes, Hands, and Heart, to the strange, harsh reality of The Mark of The Legion, there are a lot of options in this book... but which ones would you like to hear?

And, lastly, if you haven't left a review of this book yet, please consider dropping by Amazon and leaving me some stars and a review so more people can find these stories!

What's Next on Table Talk?

That's it for this installment of Table Talk! What would you like to see next? I'm listening for your comments and votes!

For more of my work, check out my Vocal archives, as well as the YouTube channel for Azukail Games or the ongoing audio drama channel The A.L.I.C.E. Files! Or, to check out books like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife, my hard-boiled noir series featuring the street beasts of NYC in Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, or my recent short story collection The Rejects, head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, as well as on Pinterest where I'm building all sorts of boards dedicated to my books, RPG supplements, and greatest hits. Lastly, to help support me and my work, consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi, or heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron! Even a little donation can have a big impact.

What Shows Would You Like To See on The Azukail Games Channel in 2024?

So, we're approaching the end-of-year wrap up. While I've still got plenty of stuff to polish off, edit up, and turn in, I'm trying to keep an eye on the calendar, and to figure out what I'm planning on doing for the coming year. While I've got quite a few TTRPG supplements planned, along with the full release of my first RPG Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic, I've been putting a lot of stuff out for the Azukail Games YouTube channel (which you should subscribe to if you haven't yet), and my hope is that I'll be able to really expand that in the coming year.

However, part of that is going to be up to you all! So before we ring in 2024, I wanted to test the waters, and see if I could get some thoughts from folks out there who regularly read this blog about what they'd like to see regarding the shows we have, and potential expansions in the coming year.

Because there's a lot of stuff in the works right now...

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

Show #1: Discussions of Darkness

Going strong for just about a year now, the 19th episode of Discussions of Darkness should be up on the channel before the year is over, and I'm currently working on the 20th episode. That's something of a milestone, so I'm hoping to make it a little special.

A majority of the episodes have, thus far, been focused on advice for Storytellers who are planning on running a World or Chronicles of Darkness game, the big traps to avoid falling into, and some tips on how to really challenge your players, or to make the atmosphere of your game better. And while some topics seem to be more popular than others, I wanted to hear from my audience if there was anything you wanted to see covered in the future, or if you'd like to see me change-up the formula and try out different things.

For example, would you like to see something more scripted where my face isn't as present? Would you like some background music to go along with me talking? Should I bring in some mechanical topics, or review some products out there to give my viewers some insight into useful supplements for their games? Or would folks like to see me really sink my teeth into particular games within this setting, such as Changeling, Geist, Vampire, Werewolf, etc., and talk about topics specifically related to those games?

This last one might be important for the next section, as they might dovetail together quite nicely...

Show #2: Expanded Audio Fiction

Audio dramas are one of the oldest types of videos I've been making for the channel, and they also hold the top slot for most views something I've made has received. For those who are curious, my most-viewed piece at 1.6K is the Changeling: The Lost story The Butcher's Door. However, all of the audio dramas that appear on the Azukail Games channel are so small because they're the dramatized introductions to various TTRPG supplements I've written, which the company has published. They're meant to give the listener a peek into the world, and to figure out if this is something they'd like to get a copy of for their table.

However, over the past few years, several of my listeners have asked me why I don't make full-length podcast-style stories. And the answer is, quite frankly, money. However, if we can get the channel monetized (we still needed about 1,000 hours of watch time when I last checked in) that is something I'd love to dedicate time and energy to!

My original idea was to make a Dark Pack project for the Chronicles of Darkness, and to piggyback off of several of the shorts I've already made, and to use the series as a way to see what kinds of supplements listeners might want more of. If this is the first you're hearing of it, I suggested a Changeling season 1 titled Grim Promises in "Windy City Shadows," A Chronicles of Darkness Podcast Proposal, and then I recently followed it up with a more recent Table Talk post titled Dead City Blues: A Potential Second Season For "Windy City Shadows" for those who were interested in where it could expand to once the first season was done.

I must re-iterate that this project would be a huge undertaking. While I have plots and ideas, along with several other voice actors who've helped me out over the years, I have not written scripts or confirmed anything. Which means that if you'd rather see a fantasy audio drama series told in my Sundara: Dawn of a New Age setting, or you'd rather I continue on with some of my sci-fi audio dramas, that is still an option as well. And if that's something you'd like to see, then make your voice heard in the comments, and share the videos for the stories you'd most like to see expanded on in a big way!

And if you're someone who'd like to check out longer audio dramas by yours truly, make sure you stop in and subscribe to my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary! I've been slowly adding content there for a while, and I've dramatized several short stories, along with using the channel as a back-up for my show Tabletop Mercenary!

Show #3: Tabletop Mercenary

Speaking of Tabletop Mercenary, this is my newest show on the channel. With the 3rd episode dropping last week, and the 4th one being chosen as I write this, the goal of this show is to pull back the curtain and talk about how the sausage gets made when it comes to being a professional TTRPG designer. And since I've been in the trade for about a decade now, I figured that I'd share what I know, and do my best to help folks out there avoid making the same mistakes I made earlier in my career.

This show is still in its infancy, and though I have a lot of topics to cover, I want to make sure that I'm answering the questions you all have in the audience. So, to that end, what is something you've always wanted to know about the TTRPG industry, but you've been unsure who the hell to ask about it?

While I've received some questions about crowdfunding (and I have an expert waiting in the wings to help me tackle that topic), along with some questions about intellectual property, there have been relatively few specific inquiries thus far. So whether you're wondering about whether or not you can write for a particular game, or use a particular system, or what sort of supplements work best in the market, my ears are open! Just leave a comment (preferably on the video itself, so my publisher sees them as well), and I'll make sure to bump up that topic in the script line!

And, once again, make sure you subscribe to my channel The Literary Mercenary on Rumble, in addition to the Azukail Games YouTube channel to stay on top of this particular show!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or my Daily Motion channel!. Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

"Tabletop Mercenary," The New Show About The Business Side of TTRPGs, Is Here!

A few weeks ago I let people know that I was putting together a new show titled Tabletop Mercenary, which is going to be me (and possibly an occasional guest) trying to pull back the curtain, and to show people how the sausage gets made in the tiny niche of the publishing industry that is tabletop RPGs. Well, the first episode dropped this past Friday, and as I've said with my previous endeavors, if you want to help shape the content going forward, now is the time to make your voices heard!

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

What The Show's About (And What I Need From You)

Just to re-iterate what I said above for those who skimmed to this point, Tabletop Mercenary is a show all about the business side of TTRPGs. I want to dispel the mystery behind being a creator, answer questions about what it is that goes on behind the scenes, and give what advice I can for those who are hoping to make gaming a side hustle, or perhaps their entire career. In addition to being featured on the Azukail Games YouTube channel, episodes of this show will also appear on my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary, alongside various audio dramas and other, long-form creative projects I've worked on previously.

And for those who have expressed curiosity as to why this show is appearing in two different places, it's at least partially as a dry-run for bigger, more involved content that would need to be able to both reach a bigger audience, and to have multiple income streams in order to keep it going. Especially since the Azukail Games YouTube channel is not yet monetized (we still need at least another 1,000 hours of watched content to make that happen), and I've got to do what I can to keep the lights on while I'm making things.

For those wondering what those "other" shows I'm talking about are, I mentioned this a while back on Discussions of Darkness.

But, back to Tabletop Mercenary and how you can help me going forward.

First and foremost, if you've ever had questions about how games go from ideas to products, or about how creators actually get paid, please go to the first episode of the show, and leave your question in the comments on the video! Additionally, it would mean a lot if you could share the video around on your own social media channels to help me reach a larger audience, and get more eyes on this show while it's in its larval stages so we can build up the momentum to keep going.

As to which link you should share, that will depend on how you want to help. If you share the episode on YouTube, that will bring more attention to the Azukail Games channel, and help get it monetized, while also growing the subscriber base. If you share the episode on Rumble, that will help me get noticed on that much smaller platform, but it will also help me build up the earnings from the video, since Rumble doesn't have a 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hour requirement for creators... they just pay you straight from the get-go based on your traffic.

I would also appreciate it if folks could tell me what I could offer as a creator to get your support for this show via my Patreon page. Would you want early access to new episodes? Shout-outs in the outro for your support? The ability to request specific topics, rather than merely lobbing a suggestion at me and hoping I take it? These are all on the table at present, but if you have other thoughts that would get you to throw money at the operating budget, I'm all ears!

Speaking of funding...

On that note, if you want to help me keep this show going through the early stages (as well as support me keeping this blog and my sister blog The Literary Mercenary running), then please consider putting some money in my tip jar on Ko-Fi, or becoming my Patreon patron. It takes a lot to keep the content flowing, and the more fuel my readers help put in the tank, the more stuff I'll be able to make going forward.

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or my Daily Motion channel!. Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

My Sci-Fi Audio Drama Trilogy is Complete!

As regular readers are no doubt aware, I've been putting together little audio dramas on the Azukail Games YouTube channel for a hot minute now. It all started when I began adding introductory vignettes to my gaming supplements, and I wanted to give readers some kind of preview as to what they were going to be getting if they picked up a copy. So while you might argue these are glorified commercials, I thought I'd try something a little sneaky and string together some of the stories into a single, continuous plot.

I first did this with some of my Changeling: The Lost supplements, but those are kind of niche as far as gaming interests go. So I thought I'd go a little bit bigger with a series of sci-fi shorts, given that the supplements they were attached to seem to be quite popular.

And in case you haven't seen them, I didn't want anyone to miss the update!

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron!

Lastly, to be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree!

A Trilogy of Tales

This whole thing began with the supplement 100 Spacer Superstitions, which was a sci fi response to the popularity of 100 Superstitions For a Fantasy Setting. A relatively short tale, it gives us some insight into the world of long-haul space transport, and the adjustments one can have moving from military life onto a simple ice hauler. It also has a warning about the sirens that dwell in the void, and the strange things that might (or might not) lurk out in the deep black.

That story was originally just a stand-alone piece, not really meant to go anywhere, but both the video and the supplement were so popular that I decided to expand on them, and go a little grander with the next installment. In 100 Sci-Fi Cults (which was the answer to 100 Cults To Encounter) we find that the ice hauler from the first story has been set upon by space pirates. All seems lost, until a single boarding torpedo delivers them their salvation, in the form of a member of the Knights of The Void.

The last part of the story takes place in the middle of a warzone. In the intro story from 100 Knightly Orders For a Sci Fi Setting (which follows on from the fantasy supplement 100 Knightly Orders), we find a squad of Titansworn Knights, and their colossal war machines defending the space port our ice hauler was bound for... and they are in for one hell of a fight!

Would You Like To See More?

I've been interconnecting my stories more and more frequently as I write more TTRPG supplements. I mentioned I've done it with Changeling, but there's also a deliberate plotline that starts in my 50 Geists supplement where a former hitman named Johnny Hammer makes a deal with a creature called the Six-Gun Saint, and we follow that up with the tale from 100 Shadow Names (And Their Meanings), where the mafioso who took over Johnny's family is revealed to be the Moros known to the Mage community as Cyprian.

I would like to expand this part of my work, though, and do something a little grander.

This video, for those who aren't familiar with it, is something I put together a little while ago. Suffer The Children is a modern fantasy short story taken from my collection The Rejects, and it follows an Old Testament angel Malachi as he stalks through the bloody back alleys of Los Angeles. Old gods and new sins lurk in that place, and he does what he can within the rules he's been set. He bears witness to the worst humanity has to offer, but when a kidnapper takes a child under Malachi's protection, he intervenes before it's sacrificed to one of the true powers that claims dominion in Hollywood.

This is one of several videos I'm intending on sharing on my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary, so consider stopping by, following, and giving me some likes and comments if you have the time!

The question I have for folks this week, however, is do you want to see more stuff like this? If so, what form would you like to see? Would you be more interested in:

- More vignettes (which will likely just be more audio versions of supplement short stories).

- Longer, complete short stories (stand-alone pieces like Suffer The Children, and others).

- Longer, connected series (likely in the form of a podcast).

Lastly, if you have a preference, would you like to see more content for:

- World/Chronicles of Darkness

- Call of Cthulhu

- Golarion

- Sundara

- Unspecified Sci Fi Setting

- Stories not related to pre-existing TTRPG content/settings

Please leave your thoughts in the comments, as well as on my social media channels! I like to try to give my readers things they're actually interested in, and I don't want to put in the hours making something folks don't really want to see... or hear, as the case may be.

What's Next on Table Talk?

That's it for this installment of Table Talk! What would you like to see next? I'm listening for your comments and votes!

For more of my work, check out my Vocal archives, as well as the YouTube channel for Azukail Games. Or, to check out books like my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my recent short story collection The Rejects, head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter, as well as on Pinterest where I'm building all sorts of boards dedicated to my books, RPG supplements, and greatest hits. Lastly, to help support me and my work, consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi, or heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron! Even a little donation can have a big impact.