[gardenofbones-if]

You, a mortal, awaken in an unfamiliar land of heat and sand, staring into the unfeeling mask of a spindly stranger who claims to rule the deathless kin of the air.

Beholden to an unremembered promise to assassinate their disgraced twin sibling, bound for an eldritch garden hidden somewhere in the arid plains, and compelled by an enchantment you do not understand, certain choices are beyond your control...

...yet even so, the power of life and death is forever fated to slip through immortal fingers. It lies within your hands, and yours alone. Many questions plague you, but only one can you answer.

What will you do with it?

GARDEN OF BONES is a 17+ interactive work-in-progress with an emphasis on relationships, and includes some content that may be triggering; complete warnings will be included within the game and updated if necessary.

MAIN CHARACTERS

The Younger (M/F)

Weary of being disregarded and mocked for their aspirations, the Younger needs their disapproving sibling and crowned ruler out of the way, for good... and only a mortal can kill an immortal. Will you be their weapon?

The Elder (M/F)

A banished ghost haunts a garden removed from the flow of time; they had not considered that their beloved twin would stab them in the back... and now they are doomed to rise and fall by your hand. How far will you take this lie?

The Mortal (N/A)

A forgetful assassin, sent to dirty your hands on behalf of an immortal ruler from another realm. Cling to the past with bitterness or longing, or abandon it all if you wish. Forge a path built on vengeance or mercy. What will you sacrifice?

Note: as the siblings are identical twins, both ROs must be set together, so you will have the opportunity to play the game with immortal sisters or immortal brothers as your romantic options and potential allies.

SIDE CHARACTERS

The Servant

Sworn to the younger's cause, just like you, yet she seems to be little more than a thorn in their side... there is a history between them that remains unspoken. Will she ever trust you?

The Guard

Nameless, voiceless, faceless, and unwaveringly loyal: the younger twin is rarely seen without their personal champion shadowing their footsteps, and others fear that silent presence. Do you believe the rumours?

FEATURES

CURRENT FEATURES

⮞ fey-adjacent immortal folk ⮞ 2 M/F selectable romance options ⮞ customize your appearance ⮞ shape your personality ⮞ 45+ minute playtime

PLANNED FEATURES

⮞ a curse (may not be discovered) ⮞ bones (quite a lot of them) ⮞ riddles and revenge ⮞ finished romantic route ⮞ finished platonic route ⮞ 4+ highly variable endings ⮞ impactful decisions

Everything here is subject to change.

LINKS

DEMO | ITCH.IO | RO INTROS | PINTEREST

Current word count: 100,000.

I find friendships to be equally as captivating and fulfilling as romantic affection (and also fully support your right to antagonism and arson if desired) so expect me to do my best to ensure that each route is as lovingly detailed as possible!

Thanks for your interest and I hope to craft a most distressing and positively delightful journey for you.

Ask me anything!

~ Effie

[lemoninkorporated]

Villains Leave No Graves Masterpost

You know what it's like to die. Intimately so.

After all, that's something you only get to do once. Or, at least that's what most would think, but when you're reincarnated into an old book series you used to be obsessed with as a kid, you're forced to reckon with the idea that there's more to death than an ominous veil of darkness and everlasting peace. Far from it—after all, no rest for the wicked, and you've reawakened as the most wicked of them all.

Live and die and live again in a story of second chances, perspective, and peddled narratives, whilst you navigate the precarious world of upper society as the villain of a tale you used to know so intimately well.

Make enemies, friends, and maybe even something more with a diverse cast that once enchanted you in your childhood, and perhaps see a bit more to them than the author was willing to explore.

Play to the classic image you've grown accustomed to or don't, just be prepared to face the consequences either way.

And remember, always remember, that villains leave no graves.

DEMO || FORUM || DEVSITE

Current Public Demo Contains - 17k Words; Prologue -> Ch.1 Pt.1

Two separate customizable characters: The Player and The Villain

Play as male/female/nonbinary and inhabit a male/female body

Pursue one of 4 romance options: The heroic betrothed, the tragic original protagonist, the witty playwright, or the devout guard

Decide how to play your villain: Earnest or Calculating, Virtuous or Wicked, and Forgiving or Vengeful

Determine how willing you are to let fate take the reins, or whether your previous life meant more than just its end

WARNING - This game contains themes of death, violence, religion, dysphoria, homophobia, sexism, and other adult content

Araminthas/Araminta (Aramin) de Doloryn - The Villain

(Appearance Customizable; NOT an RO) The villain of A Tragedy of Grace, Arami was taken in by the heads of the house of Doloryn shortly after their mother's death, being seen as a sort of replacement to the child the couple lost from stillbirth. Growing up, Arami held an ill, almost inexplicable temperament, and, combined with their complicated relationships with the remainder of the head family of Doloryn, went on to become a venomous and vengeful noble of upper society.

Eventually revealed to be the cursed devilspawn of prophecy which threatens the future the reborn saint would bring about, Arami is eventually smited and cast back down to the hells which birthed them.

Maristel/Maristella (Mari) de Fiorenselle - The Saint

(Same Gender as Villain) The original protagonist of A Tragedy of Grace, Mari was born to a minor family in the house of Fiorenselle, a quaint childhood in the countryside giving way to rigorous lessons in virtue and purity, as is custom of the house. They are everything one would seek out in a hero—humble, self-sacrificing, and dedicated to doing good.

Of course, it goes to say that no one ever thinks to check in on such a blessed individual—after all, the story says the weight of the world on one's shoulders is a privilege, not a burden, and no one goes against what is written.

Domenico/Domenica (Domeni) de Cavalleux - The Betrothed

(Opposite Gender from Villain) The romantic lead for the original protagonist, as well as the inconveniently betrothed of the villain, Domeni was born to the head of the house of Cavalleux. Practically bred and raised for greatness, Domeni sits as the shining star of society, always loved, always looked up to. Their kind and responsible nature, however, can at times be overshadowed by their naïve ideals of justice and their clumsy but earnest attempts at enforcing it.

The perfect partner for a perfect protagonist, Domeni is depicted to be a prize more than a person.

Violetta de Nerozziere - The Playwright

(Female) Quick-witted and sharp in both mind and tongue, Violetta was born under the house of Nerozierre, quickly finding her place in this home of performers as the one behind the quill and parchment. Her astute observations and biting delivery via weekly plays has made her a well-respected playwright that noble society relies upon to get their weekly dose of gossip and opinions.

Lenient with every truth but her own, she is the one responsible for ousting the prophesied villain to the public, thus effectively signing their death warrant.

Oliviero de Serenne - The Guardsman

(Male) An orphan taken in by the house of Serenne, Oliviero maintains a strong sense of duty and fealty to the church which took him in. Honorbound and litigious to a fault, he does his best to justify his fortunate circumstances and distance himself from the street rat he once was, eventually landing in the position of the executioner for a villain suddenly ousted to the public.

One must wonder, though, how his devout and steady nature will interact with such a sinful interest in the so-called proclaimed villain of the story.

[god-syndicate-if]

DEMO - Latest release on 11/15/2024 - Current wordcount 90k.

COG forum - Side Stories You've always been angry.

Rage comes naturally to you. With how much life has messed with you it's only fair that you use your anger. That's why you became a boxer. The thrill of breaking an opponent. And hoping they might break you in turn. They never do though. Every fight is a disappointment, almost as much of a disappointment as they pay for each fight.

Enter Jackie Roth, club owner, mob boss, and former god. When she offers you a job you can't say no. Not that you would, not when she and everyone in her gang feel so familiar to you. At least with this job you'll be able to use that rage inside you more.

As you learn the ways of the criminal underground you reconnect with people you never met. Reforge bonds that you've never made. And recall memories you've never had. You were a god once upon a time, can you become one again?

God Syndicate is an interactive novel where you play the newest incarnation of Ares, The God of War. It's 18+ for violence, explicit sexual themes, drug use, morally questionable behavior, and more.

Customize your MC, play male, female, or nonbinary. With transgender options and pronoun selection. Customize your appearance and develop your personality.

Romance or befriend a cast of characters, including gods with more issues than you can count or even a mortal! Asexual and Aromantic options available.

Show the gods why you were feared all those years ago or prove that you're better than your past lives.

Uncover the mystery of disappearing gods as well as the mystery of your past.

Help out Elysium, the club where you'll practically live from now on. It seems to attract gods and that isn't always good.

Take out your anger on people who might even deserve it.

Zeus: Jackie Roth - She/Her. [Not an RO]

Jackie is The King of The Gods and she makes sure everyone knows it. Her word is law in Elysium and beyond. Fail her and you'll have a storm waiting for you. In the years since your disappearance Jackie's love for her family has seem to only grow. But she has a criminal empire to run and you're just the weapon she needs.

Hermes: Riley Liao Zhi - Gender Selectable. [RO]

The Messenger of The Gods. Or in Riley's case, the ever bored personal assistant to Jackie. Riley's an adrenaline junkie with a heart of gold. As the one who found you they feel almost responsible for you. But why do they also seem so afraid of you?

Apollo: Franco Valerio - He/Him. [RO]

As expected of The God of Music, Franco's your classic rich and famous rock star. Well he would be, if only he could get out of Elysium. His love of singing and love of his family are two chains he can't break that tie him here. Will your arrival help break those chains or tighten them?

Aphrodite: Damiana "Dame" Rivette - Gender Selectable. [RO]

Quiet and Serious, Dame is no longer The God of Love they once were. The passion of their life faded and now bitterness grows where love should. The only friend they have in Elysium seems to be their fiance, Johnny. To make their life even worse, you arrive.

The Mortal: Sigourney Hawthorn - She/Her. [RO]

Newly divorced from a god, Sigrouney struggles with juggling her (demigod) child, relentless job, and love life. As her daughter, Claudia, grows she wonders if she can keep up or if she'll be left behind. And now with your arrival Claudia's godly family gets bigger and her presence gets smaller.

Artemis: Rebel Reyes - Gender Selectable [RO]

How can The God of the Hunt thrive in the city? The prey here are either too weak or too annoying to hunt. The only thing Rebel craves is to feel that thrill again. With your arrival they have a perfect chance, who better to hunt than the God of War? They can't wait to meet you.

The Old Flame: Harper Ward - Gender Selectable [RO]

A friend from a better time. Harper and you were once inseparable. They saw you at your darkest and kept you calm. Years after an explosive break up they've reemerged into your life far different than you knew them. Can you find the dying embers of your old friend? Is it even worth the pain?

[redspringstudio]

i, too, would need a night of drinking to accept my fate as Vere’s handler

[tosahobi-if]

GAME OUT NOW

Misfortune begets misfortune; evil will prey upon itself. Just as how the fox cannot live without the rabbit, the predator must understand what rises will fall.

Long before you were born, the Great Calamity, a calculated effort by Magyo cultists nearly wiped out the entirety of the Jungpa sects. If not for the noble sacrifice of the peerless Sword Saint of the Mount Hua Sect: the Divine Blade, Yeo Jinhu, demonic forces would have rent the heavens and the earth asunder.

Despite his triumph, nothing would ever be the same – the losses were staggering, the task of rebuilding the sects to their former glory seemed to prove an insurmountable challenge. Yet nearly two decades after his death, peace returned to the land once more.

After the death of your parents, you lead an ordinary, if not monotonous, life as the playmate of the spoiled young master of the Mount Hua Sect. However, all is not what it seems. Following the mysterious arrival of an amnesiac with strange abilities, whispers of a plot brewing in the shadows start to surface, and the world as you know it begins to fall apart around your feet.

Suddenly confronted with the uncertainty of the future, you must unravel the tragedy of what truly conspired all those years ago before you risk losing all you hold dear.

tosahobi (18+) is a muhyeop choose-your-own adventure game centered around elements of korean folklore and taoism in a tale of family, grief, and heritage.

play as a customizable main character: choose their physical appearance, gender, pronouns, sexuality, and more.

explore different relationships: from platonic to romantic to familial, build a variety of relationships with the cast (and hopefully make more friends than you do enemies.)

choose from different skill sets: pick between medicine, weaponry, tactics, and hand-to-hand combat. each field comes with its own advantages and disadvantages that affect multiple scenarios as the story progresses.

choice-driven story: with several routes and (many) choices, fail or succeed and find your way to an ending (whether it be happy or not.)

something is incredibly wrong: can you feel it too?

THE YOUNG MASTER

Yeo Jinwol of the Mount Hua Sect, is the youngest son of the sect leader. Contrary to his charming public demeanor, he has a childish side and can be extraordinarily stubborn. Having grown up in the shadow of his elder brothers he is fiercely protective of those he considers precious to him and struggles to measure up to the expectations placed on his shoulders. Assigned his playmate at a young age, whether you consider it fortuitous or not the two of you have been stuck together for years.

THE ENIGMA

Yul is your sajae, a disciple under the same master as you. Despite their amnesia, they're preternaturally talented at whatever they set their mind to. With strange yet unexplainable abilities that seem to stretch far beyond the scope of their powers, their missing memories may be the key to unlocking the answers you seek. Reclusive yet dedicated you'd almost think they were far, far older than their age if not for their intense sweet tooth and their tendency to follow you around like a very clingy second shadow.

THE PRODIGY

Baek Iseul, the Frozen Blade, is the rising star Emei Sect and has long been hailed as the next Sword Saint. Contrary to her cheerful personality you've never met anyone with a sharper gaze before. Hailing from obscurity, her power rivals even those who have trained for years and years, and has amassed an ever-growing collection of heroic feats under her belt. Popular and well-liked with a mischievous streak, you're really not sure why someone with such a promising future has taken a liking to you.

???

if to transcend means to leave the world behind, bind me to the soil so even long after my death, long after my body has turned to dust, i can find you once more.

[ellariouss]

i don’t usually gachapost on here… but pearl hsr reminded me so strongly of perfect match … like would you perhaps call that quality “indescribable”

[actualbird]

hey. you there. ever wonder which of the NXX boys is shown being submissive the most in card CGs?

WELL, i just quantified the (visual) submissive instances of the NXX boys by counting every instance i could find in card graphics, all so i could see who is the most (visually) subby freak among them

FIRST, HOW DID I GO ABOUT THIS?

i created three sheets, each quantifying a different type of subby instance: Kneeling, Bondage, and Rosa on TOP

here's how i scored each of those instances:

additional notes:

i counted each of these instances in unique CGs each card has. this means that SSRs and SRs, have the opportunity to gain 2 points maximum (as they have a Base, an Evolve 1 (which is almost the same as the base) and an Evolve 2), while MR and R cards can only gain 1 point maximum.

i did not count instances of submission within the story. this is because that would necessitate that i read Every Single Card Story In Tears Of Themis, and im Not Strong Enough For That. this quantification only takes into account the visual instances seen in CGs.

now without further ado, let's get to the numbers!!

AND THE MAN WHO IS TAKING HOME THE SUBMISSIVE AND BREEDABLE CROWN IS.....

....LUKE PEARCE!!!

NOBODY IS HAPPIER WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT THAN I AM. THIS IS LIKE CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY TO ME. I GENUINELY DID NOT KNOW WHO WOULD WIN THIS WHEN I STARTED COUNTING BUT IM SO FRIGGIN HAPPY

if i missed a card or miscounted, do let me know! this whole thing took me THREE HOURS of looking through Every Card CG and my head started to hurt, so i mightve made mistakes!!

but anyhoo congratulations to luke pearce!! may he get his shit rocked 24/7, god bless!!

[ellariouss]

just binged all of the thicker than demo. so so delicious i cant recommend it enough. divorcee arc ftw

[sophriac]

Idk how tumblr works but first posts 🤞

[gumi-writes]

commissioned from crowme

To man, a higher power worth believing in was usually a long-distance affair—an unapproachable god and the hope that they should deign to bless you. To monster, it so often meant something far more tangible. More able to be… partaken in.

[tartutuu]

i've been thinking abt Vere all day i missed drawing him 💔

[heart-forge]

A long struggle ends today.

You are the Iron Consort, partner and oracle for the Iron Scion—your wife, Drusa. The two of you have been locked in a prolonged war of succession against her uncle, and thus far your powers have kept the two of you one step ahead of defeat. The battle today will decide your fates.

Written for the 2024 Single Choice Jam.

[ellariouss]

(minecraft poison damage noises)

[ellariouss]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[ellariouss]

also if anybodys curious i picked alchemist backstory for my first playthrough...... bc it reminded me of albedo genshinimpact....... </3

[ellariouss]

oh but i really enjoy this... a hero in a world that isnt kind to heroes.....

[ellariouss]

i REALLY like the concept of leander and hes intrigued me a lot so far its just that. he has the eye makeup of the guy from killing stalking