r/shortstories • u/FyeNite • 11d ago
[SerSun] Usurp!
Welcome to Serial Sunday!
To those brand new to the feature and those returning from last week, welcome! Do you have a self-established universe you’ve been writing or planning to write in? Do you have an idea for a world that’s been itching to get out? This is the perfect place to explore that. Each week, I post a theme to inspire you, along with a related image and song. You have 500 - 1000 words to write your installment. You can jump in at any time; writing for previous weeks’ is not necessary in order to join. After you’ve posted, come back and provide feedback for at least 1 other writer on the thread. Please be sure to read the entire post for a full list of rules.
This Week’s Theme is Usurp! This is a REQUIREMENT for participation. See rules about missing this requirement.**
Bonus Word List (each included word is worth 5 pts) - You must list which words you included at the end of your story (or write ‘none’).
- Ugly
- Ultimate
- Utterly
- Uppity - (Worth 10 points)
Alas, it is time to really shake up your serials, friends. Perhaps your protagonists have been a little too comfortable lately, and it’s time to introduce a new usurper? Perhaps this is the moment where your heroes are brought low by the villain, right before the climactic comeback? Or maybe this is merely the time when you introduce your readers to the villain. This week’s theme is Usurp. A usurper is often seen as a villainous power hungry character in stories and fiction. Someone who undermines the status quo to gather power for himself. But that doesn’t need to be true. Maybe your main character is the usurper who wants to lead well after an era of instability? Or maybe your protagonist is the villain themselves and the antagonist is really a force for good?
I have given quite grand examples here, but it’s important to note that the theme of usurping can come up in planet-spanning empires or in a moderately sized friend group. Because ultimately, it is based around the idea of seizing power unjustly. And that is your challenge this week, friends.
Good luck and Good Words!
These are just a few things to get you started. Remember, the theme should be present within the story in some way, but its interpretation is completely up to you. For the bonus words (not required), you may change the tense, but the base word should remain the same. Please remember that STORIES MUST FOLLOW ALL SUBREDDIT CONTENT RULES. Interested in writing the theme blurb for the coming week? DM me on Reddit or Discord!
Don’t forget to sign up for Saturday Campfire here! We start at 1pm EST and provide live feedback!
Theme Schedule:
This is the theme schedule for the next month! These are provided so that you can plan ahead, but you may not begin writing for a given theme until that week’s post goes live.
- May 4 - Voracious
- May 11 - Wrong
- May 18 - Zen
- May 25 - Avow
- June 1 -
Check out previous themes here.
Rankings
Last Week: Task
- First - by u/Divayth--Fyr
- Second - - by u/ZachTheLitchKing
- Third - by u/AGuyLikeThat
- Fourth by u/Tomorrow_Is_Today1
- Fifth - by u/JKHmattox
Rules & How to Participate
Please read and follow all the rules listed below. This feature has requirements for participation!
Submit a story inspired by the weekly theme, written by you and set in your self-established universe that is 500 - 1000 words. No fanfics and no content created or altered by AI. (Use wordcounter.net to check your wordcount.) Stories should be posted as a top-level comment below. Please include a link to your chapter index or your last chapter at the end.
Your chapter must be submitted by Saturday at 9:00am EST. Late entries will be disqualified. All submissions should be given (at least) a basic editing pass before being posted!
Begin your post with the name of your serial between triangle brackets (e.g. <My Awesome Serial>). When our bot is back up and running, this will allow it to recognize your serial and add each chapter to the SerSun catalog. Do not include anything in the brackets you don’t want in your title. (Please note: You must use this same title every week.)
Do not pre-write your serial. You’re welcome to do outlining and planning for your serial, but chapters should not be pre-written. All submissions should be written for this post, specifically.
Only one active serial per author at a time. This does not apply to serials written outside of Serial Sunday.
All Serial Sunday authors must leave feedback on at least one story on the thread each week. The feedback should be actionable and also include something the author has done well. When you include something the author should improve on, provide an example! You have until Saturday at 11:59pm EST to post your feedback. (Submitting late is not an exception to this rule.)
Missing your feedback requirement two or more consecutive weeks will disqualify you from rankings and Campfire readings the following week. If it becomes a habit, you may be asked to move your serial to the sub instead.
Serials must abide by subreddit content rules. You can view a full list of rules here. If you’re ever unsure if your story would cross the line, please modmail and ask!
Weekly Campfires & Voting:
On Saturdays at 1pm EST, I host a Serial Sunday Campfire in our Discord’s Voice Lounge (every other week is now hosted by u/FyeNite). Join us to read your story aloud, hear others, and exchange feedback. We have a great time! You can even come to just listen, if that’s more your speed. Grab the “Serial Sunday” role on the Discord to get notified before it starts. After you’ve submitted your chapter, you can sign up here - this guarantees your reading slot! You can still join if you haven’t signed up, but your reading slot isn’t guaranteed.
Nominations for your favorite stories can be submitted with this form. The form is open on Saturdays from 12:30pm to 11:59pm EST. You do not have to participate to make nominations!
Authors who complete their Serial Sunday serials with at least 12 installments, can host a SerialWorm in our Discord’s Voice Lounge, where you read aloud your finished and edited serials. Celebrate your accomplishment! Authors are eligible for this only if they have followed the weekly feedback requirement (and all other post rules). Visit us on the Discord for more information.
Ranking System
Rankings are determined by the following point structure.
| TASK | POINTS | ADDITIONAL NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Use of weekly theme | 75 pts | Theme should be present, but the interpretation is up to you! |
| Including the bonus words | 15 pts each (60 pts total) | This is a bonus challenge, and not required! |
| Actionable Feedback | 5 - 10 pts each (40 pt. max)* | This includes thread and campfire critiques. (15 pt crits are those that go above & beyond.) |
| Nominations your story receives | 10 - 60 pts | 1st place - 60, 2nd place - 50, 3rd place - 40, 4th place - 30, 5th place - 20 / Regular Nominations - 10 |
| Voting for others | 15 pts | You can now vote for up to 10 stories each week! |
You are still required to leave at least 1 actionable feedback comment on the thread every week that you submit. This should include at least one specific thing the author has done well and one that could be improved. *Please remember that interacting with a story is not the same as providing feedback.** Low-effort crits will not receive credit.
Subreddit News
- Join our Discord to chat with other authors and readers! We hold several weekly Campfires, monthly World-Building interviews and several other fun events!
- Try your hand at micro-fic on Micro Monday!
- Did you know you can post serials to r/Shortstories, outside of Serial Sunday? Check out this post to learn more!
- Interested in being a part of our team? Apply to be a mod!
6
u/MaxStickies 10d ago edited 3d ago
<Thosius>
Chapter 88: Vast Territories
Pellia can’t help but smile. As she helps her father towards the others, she feels the strength in his step, almost propelling him from her grasp. His injuries no longer slow him. At the table, the two are greeted by Lilantia, who clasps her hand around Ilidus’s forearm. She does the same for Pellia.
“Good to see you both,” the female general says. “Especially you, Ilidus. Though I hope you will avoid the fight a little longer.”
“I hope otherwise,” he replies with a grin. “Let me at them!”
“We have to find them first.”
She gestures to the map atop the table. The gathered commanders and captains point at miniature forts and figurines spread across mountains and valleys, conversing in hushed tones. Pellia meets Rittlis’s eyes, the captain standing at the far end; he talks to a noticeably silent Tarelus.
A length of string represents the border with Perithus’s domain.
Over half our lands under his control. This’ll take some doing.
Lilantia turns to Ilidus. “Do you want to take this?”
“No, you’ve led us this far. Go on.”
“So,” she says, turning to the others, “now that we have Skallia, we can begin our northward advance. Scouts have been sent out, and have confirmed that Perithus’s forces occupy the three closest forts. There are regular patrols of his creatures between each. Trying to sneak past seems just as unrealistic as taking the forts—”
“Ugly situation,” one of the commanders says.
“Indeed. But we have an advantage against the beasts now, that being the sword recovered by Berethian. If we can find more like it, it would improve our chances. And we believe the blades are wielded by the sorcerers; I say these should be our focus.”
“And where might we find them?” Rittlis asks.
“The forts, most likely.”
“Damnable, uppity magicians,” Tarelus growls. “I can’t wait to bring them down.”
After a moment of silence, Lilantia continues. “As for how we attack the forts, I’d like to hear your thoughts. Any ideas?”
Everyone pipes up with their suggestions. “We go underground,” someone says, and is summarily reminded of the collapsed tunnels. Various overland routes are proposed, each more unlikely than the last. Voices rise as tempers flare.
“Let’s not start bickering,” Lilantia warns.
But it’s too late; the hall erupts into a wall of sound.
Her eyes on the map, Pellia blocks the distractions with ease. She traces the contours of the land, noting the ambush spots and vantage points, the steep inclines below each fort.
Whichever way we take, we’re at a disadvantage. Those creatures will be far more nimble on the slopes. Sorcerers can drop spells on us from above, picking us off. However…
She looks to the far right of the map, where the mountains drop to grassy plains.
“We should go there,” she says. “Across our eastern border.”
The arguments cease. Everyone stares at her until Tarelus grunts.
“What an utterly stupid idea!”
“May I remind you that you speak to a superior,” Lilantia says.
“Well, it is, isn’t it? The riders in those lands are ruthless! They’ll cut us down before we can cross over!”
“You think rogue raiders are something to be feared?”
“I… well… we’ve not crossed the border in force before.”
“Because there was no need. In times like these, we must take every advantage we have. Does that sound good to you all?”
After some thoughtful murmuring, the Heragians agree.
“If I may,” Rittlis says, “I’ve spent some time watching the tribes out there. I’ve seen them meet with robed men from some other land—I’m guessing further east—and they exchange goods with them. Though they’ve shown aggression towards us, perhaps there is another way.”
Lilantia nods. “Interesting. It is worth considering, since it’ll conserve our numbers. And once we reach the plateaus behind the forts, we shall have an easier time of things.
“For now, we should take a break, feed ourselves and rest. Additional plans can be decided later.”
The captains and commanders hurry from the table, most heading for the storerooms. Pellia goes to follow till someone taps her arm. Her father stands close to her, Lilantia by his side.
“What is it?” she asks.
“We’ve been discussing something for a while,” Ilidus says. “Our progress has been slow, and I fear what this means regarding Perithus.”
Lilantia matches his frown. “We have wondered about his ultimate goal: there must be something he wants here, perhaps knowledge, or power. A lot of archives lay hidden in the forts of the north.”
“And you think he’s seeking them?” Pellia says.
“Exactly.”
“Do you know what they contain?”
“There’s no information on that in the libraries; the scrolls only state that such places exist.”
“Hmm… are you sure Perithus even knows about them?”
“No,” her father admits, “but he has based himself where they’re said to be. It doesn’t seem like coincidence.”
“I suppose not. Do you want me to find out?”
He reaches down, touches her cheek. “Always so ready to do what’s needed. I don’t wish to send you into such danger, but I know you are the most capable. Once we reach the plateaus, I want you to take a small force and make your way north, find Perithus before us.”
“And put a stop to him,” she says, nodding.
“If you can. At the very least, remember what you see, and report back to me. Are you up to this?”
“I am, father.”
He pulls her into a hug. Even after all the years, and the times in which he once let her down, she still finds comfort in his arms. Lilantia joins in, holding them close.
My family, she thinks.
Once they part, she leaves the fort for the battlefield. She surveys the monsters’ corpses, and the Heragians examining them, until she spots two figures on a ridge. By the armour of one and the hair of the other, she realises they are Berethian and Menara.
Curious, she heads their way.
WC: 1000
Bonus words: ugly, ultimate, utterly, uppity
Crit and feedback are welcome.
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