![The Glimmerstone Enigma [Epic Fantasy] [D&D Inspired][Book 1+2 - Complete]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalroadcdn.com%2Fpublic%2Fcovers-large%2F100605-the-glimmerstone-enigma-epic-fantasy-dd.jpg%3Ftime%3D1740432153&w=640&q=75)
by Bryn Norel
"Always know who you're stealing from." — Teffel’s Fourth Rule of Modern Thievery History elevates grand gestures, champions, and legends, ignoring the actions of ordinary people and their pivotal impact. This is their story. When demonic forces turn an isolated monastery in the Glimmerstone Mountains into a killing ground, the world beyond remains blissfully oblivious to the coming darkness. Hoping only for a bit of revenge and a retirement fund, two driven survivors align with a quirky mix of amateur spies, treasure-hunting thieves, and an elven ranger, more wine merchant than mercenary. Isolated and underpowered, these unremarkable heroes quickly learn that raw steel and sorcery won’t be enough to succeed. To unravel the enigma behind the slaughter, their plan escalates into a high-stakes grift: steal a mysterious prize right from under the nose of an unseen adversary—violating Teffel’s cardinal rule in the process. What could possibly go wrong? For fans of the high-stakes chemistry of Six of Crows, the sharp wit of The Lies of Locke Lamora, and tactical, D&D-inspired party dynamics, The Unexpected Vanguard is a witty, high-stakes fantasy adventure. What to Expect: A Richly Woven Narrative from Diverse Perspectives: Dive into the minds of multiple main characters – imperfect non-human adventurers with varied skills and backgrounds – as their individual journeys interweave to confront a looming threat. Collaborative Problem Solving: A group of desperate underdogs struggle to combine wits in an intricate heist to outmaneuver a powerful foe. Exploration and Discovery: A world with history, magic, and cryptids waiting to be discovered, understood, harnessed, and overcome. Authentic Character Progression (without the stats): MCs develop personally and professionally within the story's context, honing themselves and their craft as they go. Dungeons and Dragons flavor: A homebrew world that follows the magical system, mechanics and constructs of the game. Book 1 and 2 Complete - Book 3 coming soon! New chapters publishing every Friday around 7pm Eastern. Read and Support External Links: Read chapters directly via email posts on my Substack Newsletter. Purchase and download the complete novel files at Buy Me a Coffee.
| # | Title | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1. The Monks - A Cabin with a View | — |
| 2 | 2. The Monks - Aftermath of the Ambush | — |
| 3 | 3. The Monks - Nothing but Questions | — |
| 4 | 4. The Monks - The Thing about Ladybugs | — |
| 5 | 5. The Spies - Caught in a Rundown | — |
| 6 | 6. The Spies - Exit, Stage Left. | — |
| 7 | 7. The Spies - Snuggles and Sweetheart | — |
| 8 | 8. The Spies - With a Dragon?? | — |
| 9 | Welcome to Venn - Maps and Character introduction | — |
| 10 | 9. The Thieves - A Horn and Bottle Joint | — |
| 11 | 10. The Thieves - The Give | — |
| 12 | Prologue | — |
| 13 | 11. The Thieves - The Take | — |
| 14 | 13. The Ranger - Eyes Wide Open | — |
| 15 | 14. The Ranger - Unexpected Enemies | — |
| 16 | 15. The Spies - Dancing with Demons | — |
| 17 | 16. Rumble at the Riverside | — |
| 18 | 17. The Tide Turns | — |
| 19 | 18. Blossoms of Tribute | — |
| 20 | 19. Insight by Firelight | — |
| 21 | 20. A Call Answered | — |
| 22 | 21. The Hermit's Secrets | — |
| 23 | 22. Turning the Corner | — |
| 24 | 12. The Thieves - The Consequence | — |
| 25 | 23. Following Breadcrumbs | — |
| 26 | 24. Into the Wildlands | — |
| 27 | 25. A Pound of Flesh | — |
| 28 | 26. The Horde Descends | — |
| 29 | 27. Beneath the Dim Light | — |
| 30 | 28. Chasing Whispers | — |
| 31 | 29. The Glimmerstone Gambit | — |
| 32 | 30. The Mastermind and The Wild Card | — |
| 33 | 31. The Cast takes the Stage | — |
| 34 | 32. The Pawn and the Instigator | — |
| 35 | 33. The Roper and the Wheelwoman | — |
| 36 | 34. The Greaseman and the Grab | — |
| 37 | 35. The Rabbit and the Red Queen | — |
| 38 | 36. The Glimmerstone Enigma | — |
| 39 | Post Mortem Thoughts and Observations - The Glimmerstone Enigma | — |
| 40 | Book 2 - The Siremirian Conundrum - Sneak Peek - Blurb and Cover! | — |
| 41 | Book 2 - The Siremirian Conundrum Sneak Peek - The Map! | — |
| 42 | Book 2 - The Siremirian Conundrum is on the way! Release Update and Sneak Peek! | — |
| 43 | 1. The Hunters become the Hunted | — |
| 44 | 2. The Crimson Dominion | — |
| 45 | 3. The Seeds of Avarice | — |
| 46 | 4. Scheming in the Old Growth | — |
| 47 | 5. The Return to Chagrothlond | — |
| 48 | 7. The Roc and Raven | — |
| 49 | 8. Rumble in the Alley | — |
| 50 | 9. The Hounds of Pursuit | — |
| 51 | 10. The Elusive Garrett Ferrier | — |
| 52 | 11. The Ransom of Sanity | — |
| 53 | 12. Sprouts of Contempt | — |
| 54 | 13. The Best Laid Plans | — |
| 55 | 14. Confessions and Confrontations | — |
| 56 | 15. What the Nose Knows | — |
| 57 | 6. Compulsions of Necessity | — |
| 58 | 16. Everyone has a Plan... | — |
| 59 | 17. A Needle in a Haystack | — |
| 60 | 18. Visions of Sugarplum | — |
| 61 | 19. Dining with the Departed | — |
| 62 | 20. The Sweetheart Signal | — |
| 63 | 21. The Shade and The Smother | — |
| 64 | 22. Embracing the Ghosts of History | — |
| 65 | 23. Cat and Mouse | — |
| 66 | 24. Mustache and the Milkmaid | — |
| 67 | 25. The Side Door Pivot | — |
| 68 | 26. Anchors and Aftermaths | — |
| 69 | 27. The Weight of Water | — |
| 70 | 28. One Bite at a Time | — |
| 71 | 29. Blossoms of Brutality | — |
| 72 | 30. Clocks and Sundials | — |
| 73 | 31. Descent into the Zulm | — |
| 74 | 32. The Mark Takes the Stage | — |
| 75 | 33. Disposable Utility | — |
| 76 | 34. Acoustic Displacement | — |
| 77 | 35. The Cost of Doing Business | — |
| 78 | 36. Steak over Sizzle | — |
| 79 | 37. Be Careful What You Wish For | — |
| 80 | 38. Hiding in Plain Sight | — |
| 81 | 39. The Siremirian Conundrum | — |
| 82 | Observations from The Siremirian Conundrum | — |
| 83 | The Unexpected Vanguard - Title and Cover Sneak Peek! | — |
