Finally free in death, the Taraskans wake up in a nightmare worse than where they came from: watching their hell happen all over again to a peaceful kingdom that has no concept of war.
How does one coexist with another who can’t imagine a life of blood and torment? The battle-hardened Taraskans have to move fast to seal borders that aren’t their's, training a species that walks on all fours and thinks they're safe behind millenniums of powerful magic.
Unable to relate or warn their new neighbors, monsters thought to have been left behind quickly regain their strength and do what they do best: spread without fear or mercy.
It takes a broken man to fit into two worlds. Raiden will not only have to save both countries, but also himself from truely being the King of the Dead.
Not all monsters are of metal and teeth. The Taraskans are caught off guard when these beasts suddenly start using tactics...and trauma.
One menace roams the world who doesn’t fight with magic or weapons. He walks without a name but lurks behind every corner. His mind is his weapon and his words drive the will of these fiends. Without compassion and without blunder, it seems that the harder the Taraskans fight, the further they achieve his plan.
Raiden and company must work quickly to logically deduce how to combat an enemy who fights like no foe they’re ever encountered, while breaking free from the reckless anger that’s kept them alive for generations.
Raiden may lead most of his people, but his friends hold him together more than he thinks. Lucretia was almost discarded at birth and despite her muscular dystrophy and dyslexia, became known as the most brilliant tactician the Taraskans have. When swords dull and supplies are limited, Emeris’ silver tongue can make or break the morale of his choosing.
As they slowly run out of time, resources and troops, each country must start deciding on what their priorities are.
Other tags:
-Structured scifi that spans multiple genres such as gene manipulation, time travel and alternate dimensions.
-Complex romantic relationships between two broken individuals
-Psychological thriller problem solving
-Interspecies romance and how real humans would react to it
-Complex characters and villains
-Vast backstory and worldbuilding
-Detailed infantry tactics and fightscenes
-Enjoyable comedic scenes
-Intense war scenarios
-heartbreaking depictions of torture
-occasional DBZ-like magic combat
Author's Note: KOTD is finished and I'll be uploading one of the final four chapters every day before marking it complete, starting from the 26th to the 30th of May
Author's note #2:
"King of the Dead has been a large pot for me to pour stuff into. I wanted readers to empathize with mental health. I wanted them to understand the paranoia and emotional fatigue that I do with my PTSD. I wanted readers to see a character with weaknesses and flaws, who gets tired, who gets emotional, who gets irrational and watch him pay for those flaws. I wanted a female character who doesn't hide her femininity but doesn't upplay it either. I wanted characters who solve a lot of their problems with their minds and strategy, not brute force. I wanted romance that was complicated and tiring. I wanted the woman in Raiden's life to understand why he's so broken, but not tolerate his toxic behavior. I wanted an antagonist who was overwhelmingly powerful, intelligent and extremely manipulative. I wanted characters who had to use good old detective work to fight against magic they had never seen before."
Accepted into
Side stuff:
I paid to use the cover image, it is NOT available for free use under the artist.
This story is based around half way through season 5, with the Mane 6 away on a mission.
Special thanks to Thesixthguardian, TenaciousLotus and Boardgamebrony for all your help!
Original artist: http://chevsy.deviantart.com/
71 Chapters:
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Chapter 1: In War We Trust [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Oct 27th, 2019
6,721
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Chapter 1: In War We Trust Part 2 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Oct 7th, 2019
6,408
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Chapter 2: As Madness Takes Its Turn [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Feb 9th, 2021
3,767
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Chapter 3: Meeting Confusion For Tea [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Nov 12th, 2019
4,962
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Chapter 4: The King And His Misery [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 10th, 2021
2,155
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Chapter 5: A Vacation From Inferno [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 10th, 2021
2,180
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Chapter 6: Enemies Or Friends [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 10th, 2021
3,225
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Chapter 7: A Road Home [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 10th, 2021
2,057
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Chapter 8: King Of The Dead [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 22nd, 2018
6,727
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Chapter 9: Choosing Honor Or Reason [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 25th, 2018
4,000
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Chapter 10: Safety Is Secondary [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 26th, 2018
5,170
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Chapter 11: Infectious Past [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 26th, 2018
3,544
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Chapter 12: Taking A Backseat [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 26th, 2018
2,676
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Chapter 13: Operation Shock and Awe [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Aug 1st, 2018
6,504
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Chapter 14: Operation Rapid Dominance [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Aug 9th, 2018
2,810
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Chapter 15: Operation Rapid Dominance phase 2 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Aug 11th, 2018
4,162
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Chapter 16: Full Metal Patriot [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 11th, 2019
2,890
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Chapter 17: Full Metal Patriot part 2 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 12th, 2019
3,145
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Chapter 18: The Reaper of Royals [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Dec 23rd, 2017
1,851
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Chapter 19: Warchild [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 6th, 2018
2,273
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Chapter 20: Heart Of Metal [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 6th, 2018
1,941
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Chapter 21: A Knife All Blade [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 6th, 2018
2,138
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Chapter 22: A Knife All Blade Part 2 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jan 19th, 2020
2,449
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Chapter 23: Holy Hell [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 7th, 2018
5,541
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Chapter 24: The Bright Side Of The Moon [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jan 19th, 2020
6,311
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Chapter 25: When Heaven Falls [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 13th, 2018
8,847
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Chapter 26: The Water Boils Over [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Oct 20th, 2019
3,585
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Chapter 27: A Symphony Of Rage [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 19th, 2018
4,098
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Chapter 28: More Than Human [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 6th, 2021
3,891
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Chapter 29: Jekyl and Hyde [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Apr 24th, 2018
6,253
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Chapter 30: Secondary Affairs [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Apr 25th, 2018
2,657
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Chapter 31: For Love And For Honor [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Nov 2nd, 2019
2,709
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Chapter 32: This Is My War [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Apr 29th, 2018
3,924
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Chapter 33: The Price Of Freedom [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 16th, 2018
4,791
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Chapter 34: Snake In The Grass [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 16th, 2018
3,468
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Chapter 35: For The Sake Of Peace [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 17th, 2018
5,762
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Chapter 36: Made Of Stone [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 17th, 2018
3,460
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Chapter 37: Trial By Fire part 1 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 18th, 2018
3,357
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Chapter 38: Trial By Fire part 2 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 18th, 2018
2,980
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Chapter 39: Trial By Fire part 3 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 19th, 2018
3,267
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Chapter 40: Trial by Fire part 4 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Aug 13th, 2019
2,776
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Chapter 41: Trial By Fire part 5 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 24th, 2018
2,544
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Chapter 42: Trial By Fire Finale [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 23rd, 2018
3,048
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Chapter 43: Midnight Masterpiece [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 23rd, 2018
3,570
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Chapter 44: Drinks From A Well Of Blood [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 23rd, 2018
2,460
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Chapter 45: Bachelor Party [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Sep 9th, 2018
5,895
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Chapter 46: Hearts Of Night [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Sep 23rd, 2018
4,281
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Chapter 47: Feet Of Flame [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Sep 23rd, 2018
5,814
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Chapter 48: Dagger In The Dark [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 10th, 2018
5,099
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Chapter 49: The Clock Strikes [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Aug 13th, 2019
3,332
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Chapter 50: Come Hell Or High Water [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Oct 3rd, 2018
3,299
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Chapter 51 Come Hell Or High Water Part 2 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 7th, 2021
3,977
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Chapter 52: Come Hell Or High Water part 3 [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 10th, 2021
5,742
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Chapter 53: To Die And To Be Reborn [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Aug 13th, 2019
3,061
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Chapter 54: The Last Stand [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 13th, 2021
3,346
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Chapter 55: Not One Step Back [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 1st, 2019
3,253
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Chapter 56: Love In Blood [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 29th, 2019
3,456
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Chapter 57: The One Who Ran [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 14th, 2021
2,887
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Chapter 58: Ode To Fire [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Aug 8th, 2019
3,515
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Chapter 59: Joy Of Death [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Oct 1st, 2019
2,943
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Chapter 60: The Heinous Ocean [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Oct 22nd, 2019
2,614
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Chapter 61: Hail To The King [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Nov 27th, 2019
4,825
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Chapter 62: The Edge of the Abyss [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jan 5th, 2020
3,357
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Chapter 63: The Scalding Truce [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 2nd, 2020
3,447
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Chapter 64: Poisonous Fate [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 22nd, 2020
3,355
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Chapter 65: The Rage Within [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Mar 22nd, 2020
4,902
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Chapter 66: The Deadline For Death [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jul 1st, 2020
6,040
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Chapter 67: The Legend Of Taraska Part One [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 27th, 2021
2,984
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Chapter 68: The Legend Of Taraska Part Two [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 28th, 2021
4,930
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Chapter 69: The Legend Of Taraska Part Three [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
May 29th, 2021
6,156
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Chapter 70: The Legend Of Taraska Part Four [Fimfiction.net] [Cache]
Jun 17th, 2021
2,574