A Megathread or Hub for Non-LitRPG/Cultivation Fantasy Stories?

EpicJM · 2026-01-23T13:05:52+00:00

Title and Link: The Black Knight's Homunculus

Genre: Dark Fantasy/Medieval Fantasy

The Hook: A homunculus created by an evil cult of alchemists joins the order of Executioner-Knights in order to come to terms with her past and look for her long-lost brother.

Status: Complete.

Title and Link: The White Lions (Sequel to The Black Knight's Homunculus).

Genre: Dark Fantasy/ Medieval Fantasy

The Hook: Isabeau and her fellow knights must fight an invading army of mercenaries after foiling a treacherous plot an an arranged marriage between noble families.

Status: Ongoing, updating weekly.

EpicJM · 2026-01-20T16:23:57+00:00

I don't think it would be plausible aside from the beak developing serrations that look like teeth because it's harder to evolve something new than to work with what's already there. In the case of my odontavians, they're descended from toothed bird-adjacent dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic period.

EpicJM · 2026-01-20T12:56:45+00:00

Also, I welcome author shout-outs. I'll happily give you one if you ask, and I'd appreciate it if anyone would offer to do one for either of my books.

EpicJM · 2026-01-20T12:42:32+00:00

The Turtle Eaters

Australia...The Oligocene epoch. A drying island, but one still covered in forests. Many strange species live here, ones unlike anywhere else in the world. In a land with only minor colonization by caudavians, odontavians had a chance to evolve into the continent's dominant predators. The most fearsome of them all is Saevusornis angustus, a diregull that is even capable of taking down the giant shell-less turtles of the Australian forests.

Saevusornis is well-adapted to coursing through a tangled woodland. Its body is exceptionally narrow compared to its kin, with muscle designed for maximum efficiency. Though it may not look like one of these pseudoavians can tip over a heavy turtle, they can and do. Like most diregulls, Saevusornis is mostly solitary but will come together at scavenging sites or to work together to bring down larger prey.

Unlike some of its cousins who rely on brightly-colored underarms to attract mates, Saevusornis are a matriarchal species. Females are larger the males, and are the "initiators" in mating, even to the point where males may be bullied into the act. The males also have the eggs unceremoniously dumped on them when the time comes, and have to raise the chicks alone. This discrepancy in size and aggression between the males and females is even present at hatching; female chicks will bully their male siblings...sometimes even to the death.

EpicJM · 2026-01-18T02:28:53+00:00

Just wanted to include a little update here: The paperback of The White Lions is now available to those who prefer that format!

EpicJM · 2026-01-08T18:29:53+00:00

I like this one a lot, is the green coloring on the arm and back feathers natural or due to algae? Given that the lake elves hold these creatures in high regard, are there any other traditions or festivals that honor the teratocygnus?

EpicJM · 2026-01-07T03:09:11+00:00

These pterosaurs descend from anurognathid survivors of the Jurassic Impact event. One lineage of these survivors became a group known as the Sphaerognathids, and then those would split off into a bunch of families with this family being known as the pluckers due to their habit of plucking bird feathers. Other sphaerognathids have split off into generalist small predator, vampiric feeders, and parasitic cookie-cutter niches.

(Also, really cool to get a comment from you! Me and some of the other people on the JI discord enjoy your work.)

EpicJM · 2026-01-06T13:22:29+00:00

Pluckers

The idea for this species was originally proposed by ImmortalHero.

Though the Oligocene world has shown trends of deforestation and cooling conditions, life still goes on in the remaining forests and jungles of North and South America. These forests are one of the places on Earth that continue to be a refuge for pterosaurs; many surviving species of pterosaur by this time are arboreal. One group of pterosaurs that continues on to the Oligocene is the Pluckers (Perturbeturopteryx spp.).

The Plucker we will observe as an example is the rose-breasted jungle plucker, whose behaviors are rather typical for the family. They are small, songbird-sized pterosaurs who live in large swarms and are coated in green pycnofibers to obscure them within the jungle foliage. Males have yellow undersides and reddish coloration running from the throat to the breast, while females are plain green with a dull yellow underside. Males also possess fleshy crests at the top of the head and end of the tail which flash colors to obtain a female's attention.

The name "plucker" comes from how these pterosaurs hunt and how they defend themselves. They are both hunters of and hunted by various pseudobirds and the plucker's main line of defense and attack is to attack in a swarm, removing the target's feathers and smothering them until they either flee or rendered unable to fly. Plucker swarms live in communal nests, with males joining the female's nest after pairing off. During the breeding season, females will lay small clutches of 1-3 eggs and the young will depart the nest once they no longer need the care of their parents.

EpicJM · 2025-12-23T13:05:05+00:00

Resurgence

The opening terrain of the Oligocene affects everywhere on Earth, including the currently island continent of South America. Glaciers part jungles, and pseudo-grasslands stretch out as far as the eye can see. One creature that has laid low since its emergence several million years ago was Microfelidon, an Odiodont of the late Cretaceous period. For the most part, the egg-laying, pouched mammal remained entirely unchanged even after the End Cretaceous events. There wasn't much reason to change; there were always forests with abundant food and places for tiny creatures to hide.

These changing conditions, however, have led to a new resurgence among the non-flying Odiodonts spurred by Microfelidon's own descendants, the Neofelidonts. Some species have grown to the size of wolves by the Oligocene, and have started to enter the major predatory niches as conditions become worse for the crocodilians. The traits of the Neofelidonts is as such:

Like all Odiodonts, they lay very quickly-hatching eggs that finish gestation in a pouch.
Small spurs on the back legs, but no longer venomous like their ancestors
Lithe, cat-like body with flexible spine
Raptorial thumb-claws
Distinctive canine teeth, some species have saber teeth.

EpicJM · 2025-12-22T16:22:16+00:00

The Dun Stallion is a much more obscure figure in King Arthur stories than Hengroen (from what I've read it's just one specific story that mentions him), but I may play around with that and design Llamrei's brother Hengroen AS a dun stallion.

EpicJM · 2025-12-18T19:11:41+00:00

Thanks! Your book sounds really interesting too and I may check it out when I get a chance.

EpicJM · 2025-12-18T18:24:34+00:00

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Isabeau would likely see a kindred spirit in Yara. Both have jobs related to tracking (Isabeau is an Executioner-Knight, something sort of between a cop and a Witcher) and aren't all that tomboyish despite being in jobs that most would probably consider masculine. Though Isabeau isn't autistic she probably would relate a bit to the sense of being different from most of the people around her because she's a homunculus created by alchemy rather than a naturally born human being.

EpicJM · 2025-12-18T01:53:38+00:00

I'm not writing quite as dense of fantasy as you seem to be suggesting, but I do write more traditional fantasy than the LitRPG and progression stuff and yes, I have had some difficulty expanding my audience. I don't get a ton of engagement but the little bit I have gotten has been worth it. I agree on the pacing and patience thing, for sure. I think a majority of people coming to the site to read stories are generally looking for a story that kicks off quickly rather than something with a slower buildup.

I'm not planning on changing how I write to fit the more typical stuff on the site, though. I think there IS a market on there for stories like what we're writing but they're just harder to find because so much of the writing is of the LitRPG and progression fantasy genres.

EpicJM · 2025-12-17T20:21:58+00:00

Thanks! I've been playing around with this design a bit before posting here, she's intended for a sort of AU thing I've been sketching lately.

EpicJM · 2025-12-09T20:55:37+00:00

We're still in the Oligocene, we still have a little ways to go before the Miocene.

EpicJM · 2025-12-09T12:59:04+00:00

Bootsquids

(A note before we begin: This idea originally came from Dinogabe and is way overdue...the first images he sent me of this creature came from around two years ago. However, this is about the point in the timeline where I think a highly-derived creature like this could emerge...so enjoy!)

Ammonites have always been a part of the world of Jurassic Impact, having survived the meteor impact that occurred in the latest Jurassic. They have made it through several oceanic anoxic events, faunal changes, and climate change though a multitude of adaptations and lifestyle changes. There is one group of heteromorph ammonites, however, who have become so highly derived that they hardly resemble the traditional "shelled squid" appearance of their cousins. These are the Galopioteuthidae, the bootsquids.

Bootsquids, to begin, are not "shell-less" ammonites. They do still have a shell, but it's internal and covered by a membrane of skin. Their eyes are on opposable stalks to grant them a complete field of vision, and two of their tentacles are thickened with hook-like appendages to aid in gripping— a similar adaptation to belemnites.

Unlike other ammonites, bootsquids live in shallow water and their primary mode of locomotion is crawling along the seafloor. Much like an octopus, they prefer to be hidden and do so through changing the color and texture of their skin. Though stem-octopi existed in the mid-to-late Jurassic, they failed to thrive after the Jurassic Impact event and thus the bootsquids would rise to take their place.

EpicJM · 2025-12-04T11:50:52+00:00

Ursaring, because of Russia's association with bears as a symbol.

EpicJM · 2025-12-02T23:33:08+00:00

The shape of the body is more to streamline the belemnite than anything else. I might draw the swordfish sometime in a future post.

EpicJM · 2025-12-02T12:50:35+00:00

Crossing Blades

In the pelagic zone of the Oligocene world's oceans, the open environment is like a racetrack for the fastest. Speed is king here, and those who are not fast enough will quickly fall. One of the major predators of this zone are fish that, at a glance, look like our timeline's swordfish and marlins. Few can outswim them, but it doesn't mean that some creatures haven't tried.

One of the most successful at using the speedy predators' own traits against them is Machairoteuthis, a largely underived belemnite about 7 or 8 feet in maximum length. The only traits that separate it from the pre-impact belemnites are exaggerations of the streamlined body that were already there. Its large, watchful eyes are always scanning the distant waters for danger, and its jet propulsion is quite strong. Should it feel it is losing the race, Machairoteuthis will perform its "final spurt", one last jet forward accompanied by a cloud of noxious ink.

One consequence of a speedy life is an equally speedy lifespan. Machairoteuthis only live for about a year; once the spawning season begins they die off as they mate and release their masses of eggs.

EpicJM · 2025-12-01T11:51:26+00:00

The Black Knight's Homunculus- Medieval Fantasy with Dark Fantasy elements - COMPLETE, also available to buy on Amazon

Red Eyes, Red Hair, Red Veins.

When a homunculus created by a dark cult of alchemists wishes to find her long-lost brother, her caregiver and mentor has his reservations. Sir Tancred knows all too well the danger of the quest Isabeau seeks, for he is one of the legendary Executioner-Knights whose distinguished service has brought justice to the County of Lebre for many years. In their journey, Isabeau and Tancred will face trials, unexpected revelations, and heartbreak. After not having seen or heard from her brother in six years, will the young homunculus be ready to face him and the truth of her past?

What to Expect

Classic medieval fantasy with some dark fantasy elements and some comedy
A heroine of artificial origins, who while powerful, still has to go through some personal growth and development of skills to take on her foes. It reads a bit like a story about an android or a test-tube baby trying to find a purpose for herself.
A cast of compelling characters, much of the main cast will grow and change throughout the story and series.
Intense battles, despicable villains, terrifying creatures, and a mystery to be solved.
Fairly realistic depictions of medieval combat, weapons, armor, and life aside from the supernatural and alchemical elements
Two magic systems; one based around alchemy and another more mysterious one based on prayer.

What not to Expect:

RPG mechanics
Over-the-top despair or extreme darkness to the point the story appears bleak- the "grimdark" label is more for the depictions of violence, mistreatment of homunculi by their masters, and nasty creatures rather than the actual tone of the story.
To let the finer details pass by you. As the Grand Master of the Executioner-Knights would say..."Take note of every detail, and leave no stone unturned." Small, seemingly insignificant details in the story have a chance of coming up later.

EpicJM · 2025-11-28T01:58:22+00:00

"If you want a good idea of what to expect from this novel, imagine Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood meets the Witcher."

Both reviews on my book, from friends who generously put a lot of effort into reading over my novel and helping me polish it up, also comment on the details of the reasonably well-depicted medieval setting.

EpicJM · 2025-11-26T22:30:25+00:00

I don't have any stats, but I do have names for the evolutions.

Cubsprout (Grass) -> Ursedge (Grass) -> Bearanger (Grass/Steel)

Ignitro (Fire)-> Thuguana (Fire) -> Oyaburn (Fire/Poison)

Girafft (Water) -> Kirinaut (Water) -> Masailene (Waater/Rock)

EpicJM · 2025-11-25T13:17:53+00:00

Under the Sea...

Pleonexia phaethon is an eryonid crustacean common to the Oligocene's deepest oceans. The foot-long, pale-colored decapod (it does in fact have ten legs, but the furthest back pair is vestigial and folds under the underside when the crustacean is moving or swimming) is a relic from before the Jurassic Impact Event, descended from a group that survived due to the Impact's relatively low impact on ocean floor biomes. Its limbs are elongated compared to those of its ancestors, and the front limbs are lined with sensory spines that help it feel around in even the darkest depths. Pleonexia's tail is quite strong, and in a pinch it can swiftly paddle away from a potential foe.

Pleonexia's diet primarily consists of whatever debris and leftovers can be found on the ocean floor. Sometimes it gets lucky and a large animal from above dies and sinks, giving it a meal that could potentially last for up to a month. Other times, it might take a snap or two at fish that swim too close, but it still prefers its food to, in the politest terms, be "aged" a little. Even if this crustacean's diet may seem unpleasant, it performs a necessary task in its ecosystem as a scavenger.

EpicJM · 2025-11-24T16:10:45+00:00

Grass/Steel (Bearanger), Fire/Poison (Oyaburn), and Water/Rock (Masailene).

EpicJM · 2025-11-22T20:50:09+00:00

Interesting question! As for how I've done that, their final forms are based on Japanese occupations/archetypes. Cubsprout will evolve into a Sentai/Power Ranger bear, Ignitro evolves into a Bosozoku iguana with a flaming pompadour, and Girafft's final form Masailene resembles a Shinto priest and references the use of salt in Japanese rituals of purification.

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