Quiet street where magic and mechanics live side by side. The bookstore offers a fine selection of volumes about the theory and practical use of the Aura, while the workshop next door builds the finest contraptions.

The Applied Magic Corporation's headquarters in the back proves that magic and mechanics can indeed work together. They certainly did not skimp on the Aura... Makes one wonder what the Spire thinks of this use of magic energy.

#Steampunk1877 #sketch #steampunk #drawing #fineliner

Inspired by Monty Python, of course. This is the artwork for Chapter 16: The Mad Happy Scientist. Not related to the title, but the character Harriet paints this on the wall of their hideout for "cute but with a dark side," she says with a spooky wiggle of her brush-holding fingers. It was fun playing around with drawing lines in Inkscape to resemble fur and a few repeating shapes to look like grass.

#steampunk #books #booktok #montypython #killerbunnies

Beware the Ills: Part 39

I leap in close to him and spin my sword around narrowly. He’s too close to pull his spear point around to counter it. He blocks my quick slashes with the handle of his spear. I kick him in the chest. Blood sprays out comically from his mouth. I’m not pulling any punches now. He falls and scrambles away. I stab him leisurely. He knocks my blade away with his hand and kicks me in the stomach. I cough, the pain feels good. He’s up and he’s holding a knife in his hand. It’s curved and long. He slashes at me wildly.

I was arrogant.

I retreat and run slightly. I need some distance for my sword to be able to block that knife. He leaps at me as I withdraw. He lands on top of me, grinding the knife into my blocking sword. He has leverage; my strength can’t keep up with him. My sword presses against my chest already. He’s going to try and throttle me with my own blade. He’ll kill me and take the city. Calm down. Calm down. I pull my left arm free of my hilt and double my strength to my right sword hand. It’s the last of my strength in this lock. I don’t have any more. The gauntlet on my left wrist sits curved and perfect. The hooks are round and sharp, ready to catch any blade or scrap of flesh. I slam my left arm into his face. The pain doesn’t stutter him. He doubles his strength, and my sword gets rammed into me, bleeding into my armor and my first layer of skin. I’m such a fool.

Keep pushing me down, feel safe captain, feel safe.

I hook his right cheek with my left hand’s gauntlet and wrench his face around. I knock his knife away with my right foot as I twist him. I stab him through the chest as he falls over, a slow wound, enough to buy time with the invader’s response on the shore.

A scream blasts on the west riverbank. Snow whirls around the river like it’s terrified. I’m on my feet now. The river shutters some more, like it was running from something. Another explosion on my left, black water flies everywhere. I feel the pressure of the air bubble towards me.

It’s her.

I’ll be releasing my novel Beware the Ills in segments every Friday. You can find out more about the book right here, or check out Amazon’s info. I love this book. Happy to simply share it. 

This major battle scene will be coming to a close next week. Loved writing this one. I enjoy a long and stretched out fight scene. Enjoy.

#writing #reading #fiction #books #novels #horror #fantasy #darkfantasy #steampunk

https://patrickwmarshauthor.wordpress.com/2026/04/17/beware-the-ills-part-39/

Demo available on Steam for Tracks n' Turrets!

#indiegames #steamtrain #steampunk #steam #game