Adventure Zone Fanfiction
The McElroy family's actual-play podcast whose first campaign, Balance, accidentally became one of the decade's beloved genre stories — three goofs, a moon base, and a finale about love remembered. Fic lives overwhelmingly in Balance's world: Taako and Kravitz's death-and-the-chef romance, Lup and Barry's lich devotion, the Starblaster crew's century of found family, and post-Story-and-Song domesticity across the planar system. The fandom's art-and-fic culture famously built visual and narrative canon the audio never specified.
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What is Adventure Zone fanfiction?
Adventure Zone fanfiction is fan-created stories set in the The Adventure Zone universe. With over 15,000 works on Archive of Our Own, Adventure Zone is one of the most popular fandoms in the fanfiction community.
These stories explore beloved characters like Taako, Magnus Burnsides, Merle Highchurch, Kravitz, and many more. Writers create everything from short one-shots to epic novel-length adventures, exploring relationships, alternate universes, and "what if" scenarios.
Most Popular Adventure Zone Fanfics
These are the highest-rated Adventure Zone stories on AO3, ranked by kudos from readers.
Frankenjeans
by Noodyl
Lup's goal is to try and make a new friend, and she's doing a good job! It's a shame this Kravitz guy wants to stand in the way.
i have abandoned hope to the fury of a tacit turncoat mercenary (maelstrom)
by quantumnavigator
"And through all of it, through Wiggenstaff’s, through the brutal, devastating war he'd helmed—gods, he'd lost so much—through his coronation and the shredding of the last remnants of the rebellion, he's carried with him that feeling, that hatred, of being completely unable to change his situation,
and at a certain age the child is grown [Podfic]
by CheyDoesPodfic (mrs_sakuma)
There are people in his grandpa's house. AU where the IPRE family all moves in together and find the place less empty than they've been led to believe. Title from Childhood is the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies, by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Where's Lup? (I Need My Sister)
by Eeyore_Geek
“We need a medic here! Please, someone cast a spell on Taako and we don’t know what’s happening to him!” Magnus shouted as soon as they were clear to exit the bubble. ----------- Or after getting hit with a curse, the Bureau of Balance is stuck with a child version of their biggest menace to society
Some Strings Attached
by Rozavie
Taako doesn't date. Not after the cluster-F that was his last, and longest relationship. Nowadays, Taako prefers a less committed approach—one date for each guy. No strings attached. It's a great plan! That is, until Kravitz, handsome, tall, new to the city, and completely unfulfilled in his boring
We Give It All We Got
by soitshaunted
Waking up to a purple sky, burnt partially orange from the morning suns was a common occurrence in Taako's lifetime. What makes this morning unusual is that this happened after their 100 cycle journey in the other fucking planar direction. Taako's quite proud of himself to only have panicked a littl
vanilla chai on the moon
by illbeallalright
Angus breaks his magnifying glass, drinks tea with Magnus, and realizes he deserves nice things; in that order!
One For One
by fandomsnstuff
Every action has its equal opposite reaction. Lup’s trapped in her umbrella, then suddenly she’s not. She’s alone in a world that’s almost completely forgotten her and the destruction she brought upon it. From the shadows, she has to figure out what to do next.
Happy Accidents
by acaciapines
Taako's first memory went a little something like this. He was staring up at someone much, much bigger than him. There was a fear flooding the back of his mouth, so thick he could hardly swallow, and this terrified voice in his head. He thought she might be crying, and his first thought was, she sho
Just Your Average Shareholder Meeting
by remaz0r
He was a water genasi, she was a firbolg; can I make it any more obvious? She was a druid, he did ballet (probably). What more can I say?
Mirrored Image
by AlasPoorestYorick
Perhaps it's the vanity speaking, but you've always felt at home in your own skin. At least, that's how it was before. Now, you don't recognize the face that stares back at you. You have been changed, but you feel like you lost so much more than just your "beauty".-Taako sacrifices his "beauty" in t
trying to recognize myself when i feel i've been replaced
by petalswrites
Taako had never been alone, not since the moment he was born. He stumbles over the thought like a loose stone. Two weeks he's been with a sister, and she still won't stick in his memory.
these dirty hands just won't come clean
by quantumnavigator
“Poor boy. All the power in the world couldn't stop you from destroying the things you care about.” His Royal Highness, King of Thunder and Lord of Lightning, Sir Fitzroy Maplecourt, the Stormbringer has done something very, very bad. Or good, depending on who you ask.
Of Cold Hands Reaching
by galavantingTaxidermist
“So, let me get this straight.” Indrid smiled coyly and plucked at fuzz on his robe. “You want me to play hero and help you… get over the yips?” Duck cringed guiltily but nodded. Indrid continued matter-of-factly, counting on his fingers as he spoke, “You’re not coercing me to do anything I don’t wi
draw the blinds, light every candle
by Sprinkleofstarrstuff
Indrid's foolproof plan of ignoring his growing feelings for a certain forest ranger is tested when he gets a vision of something he was never meant to see.
safety off
by captaincremepuff
“What’s this?” Lyndon asked curiously, his voice a bit hoarse from having been woken up so suddenly. In their line of work, it was somewhat obligatory to feel a certain measure of apprehension upon seeing a firearm, but in Montrose’s hand, it felt more like a joke than an outright threat. Montrose w
The Crows in the Garden Are Laughing at My Expense
by crown_coconut
For once in their lives, Argo and Fitzroy tell each other (some of) the truth. Set after episode 11.
the art of seduction
by captaincremepuff
Montrose leaned forward, playfully shaking Emerich by the shoulders. “Keep up, Emerich! I have to turn him. I’ve gotta seduce him.” He was feigning desperation, but it wasn’t too far off from how he was feeling. “Okay, buddy, you—” “I neeeeed him!” Montrose wailed, making sure to pantomime himself f
Raven’s Roast
by StaticStarlight
Working a second job on the days you don’t have much happening leads to some sweet encounters.
[PODFIC] RE: NO DOGS ON THE MOON BASE
by LRRH_Collabs (LittleRedRobinHood)
Podfic (00:12:40) Author's Summary from yasaman:Seekers, Reclaimers, and Regulators: please submit timely reports of your seeking, reclamation, and/or regulation-related missions on the surface. The Bureau of Balance must maintain complete and accurate records related to our organizational objective
Adventure Zone Fanfics by Length
Pick a reading commitment — from one-sitting one-shots to 100k+ epics:
Best Adventure Zone Fanfic Rec Lists
Popular Adventure Zone Ships
Taakitz
Taako/Kravitz
A fugitive wizard and the Grim Reaper sent to arrest him end up on a date in The Adventure Zone: Balance, because Taako flirts his way out of everything including death. Canon keeps them together through the apocalypse — Justin McElroy simply decided his elf got a boyfriend.
3,000 works →
Blupjeans
Barry Bluejeans/Lup
A denim-clad necromancy nerd and the universe's most incandescent elf fall in love over a century of dying and resetting aboard the Starblaster. The Adventure Zone: Balance canonized them through duets, lich transformations, and an umbrella-shaped tomb.
800 works →
Common Adventure Zone Tropes
Popular Characters
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Adventure Zone fanfics are on AO3?
There are over 15,000 Adventure Zone fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own, making it one of the platform's largest fandoms.
What are the best Adventure Zone ships?
Popular Adventure Zone pairings include Taakitz, Blupjeans. Each ship has thousands of dedicated stories exploring their relationship.
How can I read Adventure Zone fanfiction on my phone?
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