![No Roads to Timbuktu [LitRPG/Progression Fantasy]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalroadcdn.com%2Fpublic%2Fcovers-large%2F157909-no-roads-to-timbuktu-litrpgprogression.jpg%3Ftime%3D1774441526&w=640&q=75)
by Y.M Neutrino
“Robin Hood Meets Elden Ring” Gavin and Asani were two brothers of a different color, raised by the poverty-stricken streets of Zanzibar. With every morsel of food they struggled to find, their appetite grew, and their desire for a better life grew with it. When they heard of Mansa Musa, the richest and most powerful king in all the lands, their resentment festered. Could it be true that gold grew like plants in the kingdom of Mali? Why was this one man living so lavishly while their village languished? And what in the world was this Greed Rot sickness spreading from West to East? Our story begins when the boys set off to rob the king, an adventure that will take them across countries, cultures, and creatures they could never have imagined. Join Asani and ‘Snowboy’ as they meet a grumpy old scholar who teaches them the power of the Soul, and as their heist for gold turns into a quest that will determine the fate of an entire continent. What to Expect: - A fresh setting with creepy mythology you aren’t used to - Walking… So much walking… - Native system with light stats - Constant progression - Tight-knit fellowship and wholesome buddy moments - 100% Human-Written Inspirations: - The Dark Tower series by Stephen King - Tolkien’s LOTR - Elden Ring by FromSoftware and other Soulslike games - DCC by Matt Dinniman - Super Supportive by Sleyca
#2
5/19/2026
Peak #20
15d
#1
4/13/2026
Peak #18
35d
One state-enhanced oracle order, filtered by each list. Observed Royal Road ranks remain separate ground truth.
Rank updated 2 Oct 2026, 07:58 UTC
Entry forecast updated 2 Oct 2026, 07:58 UTC
Ranking model: rs-public-oracle-state-v1
Forecast model: rs-model-entry-v1
Chart history contains only this ranking model's runs; legacy points are not spliced in.
Previously appeared on Rising Stars, but no supported current projection is available.
beats 99% of similar stories
beats 24% of similar stories
needs about a week of observations
Benchmarks: 8,060 active Royal Road stories, percentiles within the 20–49 chapters band, cohort of 2026-07-02. Conversion is measured as followers gained per 1,000 views lifetime.
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