Enter a hidden world of magic and mystery where you will discover that legends and myths actually do exist. Unfortunately, the most notorious legend of all time is none other than Vlad Dracula Tepes, a vampire who surrendered his humanity in the 15th century to become the Prince of Darkness. His monstrous methods of dealing with all who oppose him have earned him the moniker, "Vlad the Impaler," and for good reason. Throughout history, he has continuously defied death at the hands of even the strongest of vampires hunters to resume his quest to proclaim world domination and perform his long-desired ethnic cleansing upon both the magical and mortal worlds. Not one living creature is safe from harm as long as he and his devotees known as the "Veiled Nocturne" exist to sow discord and plant the seeds of destruction; one step at a time. Do not despair for hope is not lost. There will come a day where the Prince of Darkness will be put to rest for good and all that is sacrilegious will die down with him. It may be a fruitless endeavor, but as long as you never stop learning about how the world functions and always remain aware of corruption even within your own society, there is a sure chance that this dream will come true. Will you take the risk and fight back against Vlad the Impaler and the Veiled Nocturne? Download and play for free and never let the light fade away. Episodes are released periodically and separately. Disclaimer: Anything regarding Heliotrope Journey's development and related projects is subject to change at anytime. Furthermore, in-game content and some of these blogs posts contain subject matter that may be disturbing to younger audiences. Viewer discretion is advised!
Heliotrope Journey: Passion of Rancor’s official level aka its second level is out. Vlad the Impaler welcomes you to his domain, but his hospitality comes at a heavy cost. Don’t expect friendly service from his minions and we’re obliged to tell you to be prepared for hidden traps, nerve-wrecking works of art, sentient suits of armor, feasts guaranteed to be lit*, and unexpected blood loss at the hands of a devious, youthful vampire that finds you attractive. Did we neglect to mention that Vlad’s entrance courtyard is the easy part? If we did at one point in time, that was a good time to remind you. In this level, Florentin and Angela will only be visiting the courtyard. Constructing Dracula’s castle, even with what little free time Sidiyq Qadim has, is too big a task for the team to take on in one sitting. We’ll be putting together each section one level at a time, including a hidden passageway that you’ll visit later when Florentin and Angela locate the spell needed to disperse the waterfall from the River Phlegethon that is blocking the way in. Photo by Snap Wander on Unsplash.
*we mean that literally so we recommend excusing yourself before the main course is served.
For the time being, only our heroes from Passion of Rancor have been invited to venture inside Castle Drăculești. Their mission to rescue Florentin’s younger brother does take place in 1962 so later, when Frederick and co. get their turn, Florentin and Angela can describe the castle’s logistics to them. We can’t guarantee if they’ll be the same when we get there in The Heliotrope Chronicles. We’re still on Book 1 Volume II and an old wives’ tale alleged that the castle takes a different shape every century. It can only be that, right?
The fourth level in The Flower That Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version) will be released before the winter solstice time permitting. Afterwards, we’ll catch up with Michaela in Son of a Hustler as she confronts the vengeful Arachne in the web-covered treetops. Check out my itch.io page and follow me so you’ll be one of the first to know when it’s out. To hold you over, enjoy exploring Dracula’s front courtyard in Florentin’s shoes and let me know what piece of architecture draws your eye. ;)
Thank you for playing our games in the Heliotrope Journey series as always and we hope to catch you in the autumn months. Want to support the development? Leave a tip on my Ko-Fi page to get your name in the credits in any level/video I release and a shout-out in my next post, but please only do so if you can afford it. Any help is appreciated. :)
As an added bonus, if you can cover the cost for my next bag from Bones Coffee, you'll see yourself as a background character in the hub area in Son of a Hustler.
We are thrilled to inform you that Passion of Rancor's second level will be out this coming August. A huge thank you goes out to Chubbo and KawaiiPixelArts for finding time to pitch in despite real life pulling us every which way. As you can see, our visit to Dracula's castle is too rare of an opportunity to pass up so our focus is going to slightly shift toward designing the artwork for it in future levels for a while. For now, though, starting with the release of Passion of Rancor's second level, you'll have the courtyard to explore. Don't let that adventure slip away into a moment in time. It'll be yours before you know it. Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Unsplash.
To hold you over while we prepare this level, the following century-old manuscript has been discovered in the courtyard;
"I have found the bridge that connects the courtyard to the entrance inside this fortress of evil. It is almost weird that Dracula would leave it unguarded. He had decorated the pathway leading to the grounds with impaled bodies of his enemies and a battalion of bloodthirsty creatures can always be spotted within an arm's length away. If one were unarmed, they'd join the unfortunate souls before they reach the courtyard. I started making my way across the bridge. At first, I thought that Dracula would be expecting me. The only reason any vampire or monster in his coven would leave visitors alone is if he has granted them an audience with him. He is beyond human first and foremost, but he is not above generosity if he can benefit from it. Today was unfortunately not the day I would receive it.
Halfway across the bridge, a stag whose build reminded me of a centaur's came charging toward me. I moved out of the way as soon as I could and I looked up at the statue I was next to. There was Artemis, aiming her bow and arrow at whoever was within eyesight. But why her? Why would Dracula place a statue in her likeness at the entrance to his castle? She cared for wildlife, the natural world, and would never be on friendly terms with the Prince of Darkness. It matters little if my education led me astray because gazing at that unusual stag caused me to be struck by a terrible truth; the prince cared deeply for the natural world just as much as the goddess does and he often pledges to his new recruits to return our society to the way it was meant to be, according to him. I dread to think about how bleak of a life this could be, but I could not do that with the stag invested in trying to kill me. He looked at me and pointed his spear at me, threatening to kill me if I tried to get up.
I knew at once that his name is Actaeon, the foolish hunter that peeped in on Artemis as she bathed. The statue in her likeness torments him and it drives him feral. The recollection of his flesh being torn off by his dogs could not have been good for his soul. I could do him a favor and destroy it in the hope I'd set him free from Dracula's command, but I daren't take that chance. I could not afford to risk incurring the goddess's wrath myself. I get the feeling that sometimes her consciousness may be inside the statue and Dracula keeps her there to prevent Actaeon from leaving his castle alive. I made my escape by rolling over into the moat and pretending to be dread until he walked away. I gently swam with my eyes closed back to the courtyard in a safe spot to record my findings. I feel great sorrow for him. Dracula's magic may have twisted Actaeon's body to the point where he became the hunter again after losing his humanity all those millennia ago, but one day, I fear he will be hunted down again not by a pack of dogs, but by a brave soul that is hunting for Dracula himself. I lament that his curiosity has ultimately costed him his peace and I hope adventurers use his tale as a lesson to be vigilant in their quests."
Thank you for supporting the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a terrific weekend. Want to support the development? Leave a tip on my Ko-Fi page to get your name in the credits in any level/video I release and a shout-out in my next post, but please only do so if you can afford it. Any help is appreciated. :)
The courtyard in Dracula’s castle is his first line of defense. Though it is a magnificent relic of Wallachia’s past, it is laced with traps, mandrakes, and heart stopping statues that warn adventurers that if they wish to challenge the Dark Lord, you stand alone. No one will help you when you enter its gates. Only you with any equipment you are armed with or might find inside the castle can bring hope and salvation to the world. This has been the Chinezu family tradition since a timid knight stood up to the voivode that became the Prince of Darkness the magical sector has known and feared. With his brother taken in as subsistence by one of his loyalists, Florentin has no other option but to carry on that tradition. Except he will not be alone. He’s got his ancestral Bucegi Night Cutter and a chain whip should there be a need for it. He and his brother don’t always see eye to eye and they have their squabbles, but one would give anything to see the other free and he must pray it won’t be too high a cost. Photo by Elizabeth Jamieson on Unsplash.
Heliotrope Journey: Passion of Rancor’s second level will be out later in the summer. We do not know when exactly, but we’ll do our best to aim for that goal while we overcome life’s obstacles. :)
Thanks for supporting the series as always and we hope you had a terrific Pride Month.
Dracula’s infamous castle of evil and corruption hides many secrets behind its walls. Besides the valiant vampire hunters from the Chinezu clan, curious explorers would venture inside hoping they do not get caught, but only the most daring escape with a treasure in hand. In the year 2000, without the Dark Lord to keep close watch on the castle grounds during his escapades in the United States, Abigail, archivist extraordinaire, and an intern from Caspian Academy traveled there on Florentin’s behest. Photo by Ani Adigyozalyan on Unsplash.
They have been instructed to look for key information that might serve Frederick and other young heroes when it comes time for them to be sent to Baudelaire City. They have recovered a manuscript from a deceased scribe with the following passage written;
Few people know that before the House of Drăculești ceased power in Walachia, the courtyard was once a part of the an estate looked after by a feudal lord and his wife. They were brave, noble people respected by their subjects and it was due to their kindness that crops and medicine were aplenty. Their goodwill, unfortunately, came at a price. Obey the lord without question nor attempt to compromise and you shall live a prosperous existence. These were the old ways, but the feudal family have hidden many unsettling secrets within the villa’s walls. The patriarch’s temper is as scorching as the sun on a hot day and the control he exercised on his subjects extended to his own blood.
No one dared to object or offer advice without horrific retribution. A peasant family whose boy spoke out of turn at a gathering was denied food for three days. The patriarch’s eldest son, whom he loathed most of all, resisted quietly by learning to speak the language of animals and collected magical relics wherever he may find them. One night, he was daring enough to sneak an apple to a starving peasant that was also denied food as punishment for his disobedience. That peasant became the eldest son’s lover in the days that followed. Not one sentient entity knew of the affair so with careful planning, they got together in secret as often as they wanted.
One day, tragedy had struck the feudal lord’s family. His youngest son was killed by a knight that acted as an informant for the Veiled Nocturne. He was sentenced to life in the villa’s dungeon. Later, the eldest son escaped his arranged marriage by running away with the peasant he courted after saving him from starvation. Both have not been seen since, though a little girl on her way home from a marketplace in a port town reported the sighting of two golden rabbits in Hoia Forest. Her claim was dismissed by the villagers as a symptom of psychosis. The feudal lord’s eldest daughter was mysteriously drowned in a lake and her mother had passed away from a heart too broken from the family's losses to continue beating. Humiliated and blinded by grief, the feudal lord commissioned his only living child, a sculptor, to carve a effigy of Marzanna in her likeness, so he could pray to her in the hope his loved ones would return from the dead.
The goddess materialized before him one night and coldly told him that these events happened exactly as they were ordained to. The rule that the dead were forbidden from leaving the underworld had been made absolute by Hades as a result of Orpheus’s failure to escort Eurydice back to the land of the living. Marzanna urged the feudal lord to swallow his temper and cherish what’s left of his family because if he does not keep his daughter close to him, she, too, would join the rest of his loved ones. An illness had killed the feudal lord two weeks after his conversation with Marzanna. His daughter survived. She spent the rest of her life as a doctor, a profession that women were forbidden by the clergy to take up. Immediately after her death, the peasant family that the late feudal lord had condemned to starvation for three days took ownership of the land. Centuries have passed and that family surrendered it to Vlad II Dracul with the promise he’d protect it from the approaching Ottoman invaders. From then on, a massive citadel was built in the villa’s place.
The intern from Caspian Academy theorized that the moral of this story is to remain humble to those you love whether you are destitute to make ends meet or have miraculously gone from rags to riches. Abigail semi-agrees. She sees it as a cautionary tale about selfishness and the consequences of poor teaching. Thinking the duo have found what they needed to collect, they embark on their way back to Baudelaire City.
The 2025 Year in Review is Here! We've released three levels last year and we don't intend to slow down no matter how long it takes to develop one. We've still got a groundbreaking world to build. Let's keep up the good work. ^_^
Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and we hope that May was well for you. :)
Lucinda, Esther, and Carl have unearthed a beautiful relic in a field of daffodils on Easter Sunday. It took the entire month for a trained carrier pigeon to deliver their letter to Frederick. They're so used to instant messaging that sending written correspondences the way witches and wizards do seemed like a downgrade for them, but Esther argues it is necessary if Frederick is being truthful about Dracula's forces investing in using spyware to track his location.
The origin of the egg-shaped relic is not entirely certain, but the intricate carvings and depiction of a well-respect monarch seemed to indicate that it belonged to a noble. The carvings on the egg appear to transcribe a love story about a prince that escaped his arranged marriage by fleeing his kingdom with his squire. Lucinda deduces that the two were a couple and theorizes that their story inspired Theodora Salazar to write a song about a similar triumph in her life. She tries to relay this to Esther and Carl, but much to her annoyance, they were too distracted by the chicks and a territorial rooster to listen to her. Photo by Eilis Garvey on Unsplash.
While Lucinda tries to dissuade her boyfriend and sister from chickening out of the conversation about the relic she wants to start, Chubbo, KawaiiPixelArts, and I are doing some gardening in Dracula's castle. Relax, the Dark Lord hasn't been to his own estate since his defeat in 1962 and his occultists haven't been outside since the sun came up. It's the perfect time for us to tend to it, but we might need to poke a fourth artist before the mandrakes emerge from the dirt. The skeletons pull them to make their coffee. Let us know if we made the checkpoint too hard to reach. :D
Thanks for playing the games as always and have a great weekend. Want to support the development? Leave a tip on my Ko-Fi page to get your name in the credits in any level/video I release and a shout-out in my next post, but please only do so if you can afford it. Any help is appreciated. Do you have any fun plans besides playing video games?
Frederick, Eforie, and Gelliewich have taken a break from their adventures to come to Alastair’s coming-of-age-party in a hidden area in the New England forests where four-leaf clovers are abundant. Where that might be is a secret. Otherwise, trespassers might have so much good luck from the clovers they might steal that their heightened arrogance and sky high hopes would lead to great trouble. Alastair is an antisocial druid that’s protective of areas in the forest where he frequents so to disclose the location of one to another individual is a symbol of their trustworthiness. He approaches Frederick, Eforie, and Gelliewich to invite him to his gathering when he noticed that these heroes have saved a bear cub from being poached by a loyalist to the Veiled Nocturne.
To them, it was a simple gesture to ensure the safety of a small animal, but to Alastair, it shows that the trio is passionate about preserving nature like he is. He gleefully rewards them with an invitation to this party and when they arrive at the hidden area, they find that it is frequented by wood fairies. The trio is served a sweetened butterscotch soda in ceramic mugs while Gelliewich serves himself mint clover ice cream on a cone. He loves his ice cream, but he’s going to love that bit of good luck even more because he and his friends will need it to help them find their way back to Baudelaire City without getting lost. Eforie asked Alastair if cake would be served at his party when she noticed there wasn’t one served at the table. Embarrassed, he answered that butterscotch soda is easier to make because he tried taking up baking a week ago but couldn’t find an alternative to eggs. He explained that tasting them makes him nauseous and Frederick nods his head. He could not stand the thought of eating eggs himself for that reason. Eforie chuckles and states that drinking butterscotch soda bears drinking one that’s parsley-flavored, a sentiment that everyone agreed with. Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash.
Now that I mentioned nature, the first level in Heliotrope Journey: Passion of Rancor has begun development. Florentin and Angela have entered Dracula’s front yard. Chubbo brought a deadlier monarch butterfly that’ll blend in with the dangerously deceptive flora to life. That’s just the easy part. They should worry more about the mandrakes hiding in the bricks and an idiot hunter that got his just desserts for being a peeping tom. It's not an April Fools joke so find yourself a pair of earmuffs and an excellent sword.
Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and wish me luck with getting the team prepped for that level and the Easter ad coming out this month. I’m going to need a four-leaf clover to help me manage that stress. Want to help me out with that? Leave a tip on my Ko-Fi page to get your name in the credits in any level/video I release and a shout-out in my next post, but please only do so if you can afford it. Any support is appreciated.
Frederick and Joerrelt Push Their Luck on Friday the 13th
Good evening, vampire hunters.
The spring equinox is upon us and we've put out Chapter 5 for The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II to warm up your remaining winter nights. Frederick and his compatriots have began their search for the pieces of the Blade of Acedia. The Veiled Nocturne has the village from our heroes' childhoods under its grasp and since the manor house contains their escape route, they'll need to assemble this iconic but bloodthirsty sword.
Don't get carried away by this apt miracle. The misuse of this sword has costed the lives of three of the Conifers Kingdom's greatest warriors in the history of its existence. Our heroes should do well not to repeat their mistakes. Eh, we're going to need to come up with a valiant team name for them. Does Team Frederick sound corny to anyone? Yes? Fine, I'll think of another name when we work on the next level. -_-
The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II starts the hunt off with Ioana and her otter familiar, Gani, going with Frederick to find an edible meal for him. What was supposed to be a non-lethal hunting trip* became a walk to an operational power facility run by an agent of the Veiled Nocturne overseeing a smuggling scheme. Whatever that could mean, Frederick and Ioana are about to find out and two of the prisoners they'll meet will reopen an old wound caused by a traumatic event that occurred during a graduation party at Lionhead Mansion.** Part of letting go is to stay in the present. The darkness inside you and your enemies will triumph if a painful part of your past tethers you to the ground. Everything you and Frederick dream to achieve will be yours if you both focus on the present.
Thanks again to Doopie Doodles for illustrating the cover art for this installment. She captured Eforie's adventurous, optimistic side in her illustration. :D
Meanwhile, in a metropolis where the river is dyed green to commemorate St. Patrick's Day, Joerrelt and a young changeling has a Veiled Nocturne occultist in hot pursuit. The changeling's friend was snatched by a greedy devotee to Lord Dracula that is desperate to get out of sight. Any need to take a breather will cause you to lose sight of both the occultist and the child he kidnapped so if you feel the need to rescue them yourself, you either better have the stamina of an Olympic athlete or an intermediate practitioner of earth magic. A decent petrification spell will usually stop an occultist in their tracks if running is not up your alley. Photo by Benjamin R. on Unsplash.
Once you take it upon yourself to rescue an abducted child from a Veiled Nocturne occultist like Joerrelt has done, you have to fight them with everything you've got. You cannot surrender or die because the occultist will make the most of your defeat even if it meant taking you as a prisoner yourself. Since Joerrelt has once again chosen Friday the 13th of all days to embark on a rescue mission with a changeling, he'll need all the luck he can get. It is on that day that black magic becomes dangerously unpredictable.
Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and we hope luck was on your side today.
Sincerely,
WN
*No deer, frogs, fish, black bears, and beavers were harmed in the making of this level, we promise.
**Play Heliotrope Journey: Son of a Hustler Book 1 today to see the consequences of that occurrence.
We made a groundbreaking update to the first two pilot episodes of Heliotrope Journey, Son of a Hustler, and Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Book 1 Volume I. These games contain trampolines in some areas that allow you to jump to an out-of-reach platform to progress through a level. Before recently, you'd hear nothing but crickets if you jump on a trampoline. Now you'll hear a "Boing" sound that might tickle your funny bone or have you wondering if the trampoline you're using is possessed. A big thank you goes out to Odin for letting me record that voice memo on such short notice. I can never forget when you first made that noise while I watched you struggle to play Son of a Hustler and that update is a reminder that now I never will. Photo by Andrew Mol on Unsplash.
Odin's disembodied voice will be implemented to the trampolines in The Flower that Blooms in Red (Westley's Version), Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Volume II, and the last two pilot episodes at later dates along with other new features in their updates.
While Frederick, Michaela, Treyton, and their friends make an effort to adapt to the noise, let's join the fun at the Valentine's Day party at the rose garden. Doughnuts and pink lemonade will be served and the DJ will be playing romantic lo-fi music to get the introverts to feel right at home. Photo by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz on Pexels.
Theodora Salazar, a mega pop star whose name is renowned in both the mortal and magical worlds, goes to the party to take her mind off her recent breakup, unaware that a quarterback that's been crushing on her since she started off performing at karaoke nights is present. Thomas Kiteridge decides that now's the time to ask her out. He previously couldn't strike up the courage to approach Theodora for whenever he tried to talk to her, she always said she was busy. That was a lie and Thomas knew it! KawaiiPixelArts tapped his shoulder and told him that if he wanted to get her to open up to him, he must give her something that no one else can; commitment.
To prove he can be faithful to her, Thomas maxed out his card to buy a life-sized teddy bear and with all this strength, approached Theodora with it towering above his head. Theodora was so awe-struck by this gesture that she smiled and offered to get him a pink lemonade. She didn't agree to go out with Thomas right away, but she was willing to connect with him at the party and the rest is history. Just in case you comment, "How was the rest history? What happened? Don't leave me hanging!", the answer is that Jennifer Krueger, an attendee at the party, drank too much pink lemonade and took a seat on a heart-shaped sofa to rest her head. Theodora and Thomas noticed this and they both got her a pitcher of iced pomegranate-flavored water from the self-serve table to help her feel better. Theodora glanced at Thomas pouring Jennifer a glass and became attracted to him when she saw for herself that he is a caring, selfless person.
Joerrelt is sadly running late to the party and there is a huge chance he might not make it before everyone goes home. He witnessed a Veiled Nocturne occultist abduct two kids and rushed to Dracula's castle to rescue them. He successfully freed them from their cell in the dungeon, but leaving the castle grounds is one piece is a more challenging task. Armed with a sword sculpted from a rose bush, he'll bring the pain from its thorns to his foes. Or will he? Will he? Photo by Fermoar.ro on Unsplash.
I typed the script for the final cutscene in The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1's fifth level in my notes app during a power outage so expect it to be released on my itch.io page in early March. I'll see you then. :)
Sincerely,
WN
Play the Heliotrope Journey series for free today!
The Lantern Stones Will Light Your Way, But They Won't Comfort You
Good evening, vampire hunters.
Lantern stones are essential magical objects for storing energy from the sun in the event of its absence and using it to turn vampires to dust if one were to try to seduce you. Once you find a lantern stone, don't take its energy for granted because unless you are an adept light magic practitioner or can scale a mountain and hold it toward the sun, you might not replenish it. Even in the mortal world, young people are cautioned by their elders not to go out at night without a source of light. In hindsight, it's good advice, but don't expect that finding a lantern stone in the middle of the night means you're completely safe from evil.
Their general purpose is exactly what it sounds like; to illuminate the area around you and nothing else. Most lantern stones you might find will only have enough energy to help you see at night. Fusing them to a weapon is not recommended because their energy will be depleted after you swing it. It's a better idea to conserve it and seek a safe shelter until sunrise. Frederick and Ioana, armed and prepared for the unexpected, are surrounded by artificial lights at the power plant and weakened lantern stones. They'll be perfectly fine for a while, or are they? Photo by Kamekichi Photos on Unsplash.
Meanwhile, does anyone smell roses? Why is a quarterback football player approaching Theodora Salazar in a fine dining establishment? Onlookers previously oblivious to their presence have all eyes on this quirky guy as he tries to impress her. Will he convince her to have this dance? Their conversation will be juicy.
Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a great weekend ahead.
It Was the End of a Year, But the Start of an Adventure
Good evening, vampire hunters.
Another year has come and gone like a river. 2025 brought the beginning of Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Volume II and fully immersed us into the world of Son of a Hustler. A young Frederick and his mentor Elijah have come to a young water mage’s aid in the corn fields while years later, Michaela played her rescue mission by ear when she asked a student to drop her off in the treetops where Arachne made her nest. These are times of anxiety and terror, but if that year taught me anything, it’s that being fearless means feeling these things but taking chances anyway knowing that helping a loved one is greater than the risk. Photos by David Field and Stephen Mease on Unsplash.
The young adult Frederick and his friends have entangled themselves in situations that are just as perilous. While the aforementioned hero and Eforie have rescued Esther from a clan of fearful but protective dryads, Frederick and Ioana, his other travel companion, are searching for supplies in the woods surrounding Baudelaire City some years later, unaware that an unfortunate soul nearby needs saving. With Dracula’s coven and hungry creatures of the night hiding in society, there’s never a moment where an innocent life or an entire city is safe.
To end 2025 with a New Year’s Eve to remember, Frederick’s team, their allies, and enemies that put aside their differences are taking the night off from saving the world to party at a Theodora Salazar concert in a sports stadium that’s a short walk away from Amelie. It’s predicted to rain when the sun goes down and hopefully, the gingerbread men brought their ponchos with them.
Just as Theodora’s music is popular in the mortal sector, it is widely acclaimed in the magical sector as well. Wizards, witches, druids, fairfolk, changelings, and even the necromancers-in-training listen to Theodora’s songs by spending hefty amounts of gold coins on gilded music boxes with her face on it. Some nymphs adore her music and envy her natural beauty so much that they recreate her famous apparel and sometimes mimic her mannerisms, causing the real Theodora to be difficult to identify on the rainbow road tonight. Frederick had hopes of meeting her to make up for a sour ordeal they both went through at Lionhead Mansion, but Esther encouraged him to simply enjoy the concert and the oncoming rain showers. It would ruin the experience for him if he spent the entire night searching for Theodora. He responded with a smile when the clock struck twelve and he heard the first sound of thunder overhead. He is with his supportive sister and his friends below are having the time of their lives. What reason is there to worry now? Theodora performs her first song of the evening, signifying the beginning of the new year.
Not to rain on our heroes’ parade, but we can’t open 2026 without sharing one reason to worry. You’ll be facing it very, very soon. ;) Photo by Ahmed Fahmi on Unsplash.
Thank you so much for bearing with us and enjoying the series. We can’t wait to release new levels and content for you to view. Don’t let us down, 2026!
Sincerely,
WN
P.S.: Joy Luna completed a reimagining of a scrapped song tonight. This version of this song will be featured in The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II while a version of this song with vocals will be featured in the next update for The Flower that Blooms in Red (Westley's Version) so keep an eye out for both. It's gonna be a tearjerker. :')
I got some last-minute Christmas shopping done at Barnes and Noble and uploaded an enormous video essay that took me two months to finish, but I’m taking some time to write to you and hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday week. Besides gaming, how did you spend the 24th and 25th? Photo by Alexandra Diaconu on Unsplash.
Idyia spent hers aiding Miles, a young ice warlock, and a grizzly bear cub named Dzántik'i with infiltrating the ice queen’s palace. Before they get inside to confront her, first, they must deal with the nutcracker guards and her floating snowflake lackeys. The gingerbread village of Frørthorpe is still in grave danger for she had plans for Miles, the presumed son of the baker that abandoned Dracula’s coven. Queen Ijsivrou desired children of her own but she could not love. The warmth that comes with joy and compassion had been devoid of her since her own daughter perished at the hands of her treacherous fiancé. So she would lure unsuspecting children to her palace with the promise of gum drops and force them to fight to the death in a frozen arena she had constructed in her throne room. The last child alive would be raised in the place of the Queen’s deceased daughter.
When Miles told her the story before they embarked on their quest, Idyia shuddered. It was dreadful enough that the Veiled Nocturne is seeking to punish the baker and it bothered her that a vampire with ambitions to upstage Dracula is living in close proximity to Frørthorpe. Ioana, Gani, Rachel, and Kyra* volunteered to stay behind to look after the baker who has been overcome with paranoia and refused to leave his own home. Dzántik'I’s mother, the feared but respected protector of the frozen peaks surrounding the village, had been missing for several years and without her, the gingerbread inhabitants are defenseless. Cody and Tobias haven’t been around since the day before, feeding into Idyia’s concerns that the Queen may have snatched them in the middle of the night. She doesn’t have the luxury to be scared. A giant nutcracker threatens to crush her, Miles and Dzántik'I from where they stand and as the adult in the group that is herself a master water sorceress, she won’t let anything happen to them.
Look on the bright side and I mean that literally, if you’re having a bad day, you can take in this gorgeous sunset view and take deep, cleansing breaths for a few minutes. Don’t you feel better? :)
Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a delightful remainder of 2025.
Sincerely,
WN
*Confused? Check out this entry from December 2022 to read the beginning of this Christmas mini-series where Rachel Oates was introduced.
This Thanksgiving, Thalia gathered with Frederick’s sister, her partner, Carl, and Gobblet in the autumn woods to hold a vegetarian picnic. They gathered around the table to say grace, not realizing that a flock of turkeys walking past them noticed that they were holding hands with one another. Having mistaken this ritual for an offering to a grieving Demeter, they walk toward the group to perform a melody that’s disturbing to human ears but serenading to earth magic practitioners for they have the ability to speak to and understand animals. Fearing that trying to get the flock to shoo would make them more aggressive, Thalia and her party except for Lucinda reluctantly decide to make the best of this interruption and carry on with their picnic. Lucinda was having a harder time regaining her appetite because she was so startled by the flock’s arrival that she fell into a freezing pond behind her, ruining her freakishly expensive designer dress. Carl snickered and told Lucinda that she’d get used to it. He’s used to his jacket being exposed to the elements and sees the wear on it as adding a sense of uniqueness. Lucinda, unfortunately, did not see it that way and develops a grudge against the turkeys. I didn’t get a chance at my Thanksgiving dinner to say what I’m thankful for so I’ll give my thanks to Lana Kravchenko for uploading the ambient photo I used for the background to Pexels and to Chubbo for setting aside time from his busy schedule to add a couple finishing touches to this ad. A long-term project for my channel and sketching new art for The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II’s fifth level has taken up much of mine so the contributions are always appreciated. ^_^
Now that I mentioned the making of this level, I am pleased to welcome pixel artists Victor Gil and Pixelias to our team. Victor has successfully passed a trial run by fleshing out a reindeer for this year’s Christmas ad and will be illustrating a common enemy that’ll be introduced in The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II. Pixelias has gotten started with its boss enemy this week! Wow, talk about a leap of faith. She also has a page on Ko-Fi to promote her craft. Please check it out when you get a chance; https://ko-fi.com/pixelias
I’m going to be spending the rest of tonight and the weekend doing my share. The Blade of Acedia’s looking good so far, but don’t expect Frederick and Ioana to find it in one piece. The rest are somewhere out in the Conifers Kingdom and their party is on the move. The fifth episode is only the first step before this mysterious sword can be put together.
Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and happy Thanksgiving!
I recorded a gameplay video of Heliotrope Journey: Son of a Hustler's Chapter 4 for my main channel and noticed a few minor errors and an oversight in the credits where Benjamin was not listed. The typos and a grammatical mistake in Lolatasha's dialogue has since been fixed, but a thorough update will be coming by the end of the year. When you return to Krasbeck's bar after we roll it, you'll encounter a new patron that likes her whiskey sour the way she likes her friends. What would be a good flavor to describe cancelled, though? Lime? Grapefruit? Sauerkraut? Granny smith apple? Or maybe parsley?
Meanwhile, in the future, Treyton transcribes a new entry in his journal about his travels to Teodosie on All Saints’ Day night. Click on the links below to read the previous pages. Photo by ELAINE CAITANO on Unsplash.
“We barely survived that disfigured monster.” Treyton told his friends as they walked down the darkened streets of Teodosie in a daze. “I’ve seen what black magic does to a person, but the thought of this demon being human once is scary enough to haunt my nightmares if I go back to sleep.”
“We still don’t have the luxury of resting.” Amanda said woefully. “We need to keep in mind that three solomonaris-in-training are still after you three.” Miron shot his human friend an urgent look that signaled him to hide the philosopher’s stone in his robes.
“Do you know what time is it until sunrise?” Treyton asked. “It could not come any sooner. Then those hoodlums would lose their powers and get expelled from Scholomance.”
“You’re gravely misinformed if you assume getting expelled meant the students in questions can just walk off campus.” Amanda reached into her pocket for a pineapple gourmet lollipop. “One of the condemned that I bumped into the Circle of Hersey is suspected to have been a former student. Based on his account, anyway.”
“Was he a witness to one expulsion, Amanda?” Miron asked him.
“No, he was the individual expelled.” Amanda pulled out a grape gourmet lollipop. “Would you like one?”
“Of course.” Treyton took it and sucked on it. “I need something sweet to get me through the next couple of hours.”
“Actually, the lollipops are sour.” Amanda said. “Never sweet. Ingesting it all at once could burn a hole in your esophagus. Take your time with it.”
“He seems to be tasting it alright.” Miron pointed out. “For a super acidic lollipop like that, he doesn’t mind it.”
“The lollipops can still sting your tongue.” Amanda reached into her pocket for a blood-flavored lollipop. “A few small licks at a time is probably safe. When the sensation wears off, the aftertaste is out of this world. It’s so savory you’d want another even if your tongue is partly dissolved. I have this specially-made lollipop mixed with human blood and sugar cane just for you in case you’re thirsty.”
“You sure it’s not gonna kill my tongue, lady?” Miron joked. Amanda laughed.
“I’m sure.” She answered. “I said it was mixed with sugarcane, not acid.” Miron took the lollipop and licked it.
“Thanks.” He nodded. “I don’t feel any missing taste buds. But anyway, what were you saying about the expelled solomonari student?”
“He said that one of the occultists that taught a course brought him before Bael.” Amanda answered. “Lucifer is the head of the Scholomance, but as you know, his physical body is bound to Lake Cocytus from the waist down so Bael runs the school on his behalf. Reading and speaking Enochian was one of his weaknesses. That teacher didn’t tolerate his abysmal marks so he told Bael he could no longer teach him. Bael deemed to be better suited as a gremlin and sent him out into Târgoviște to wreak as much havoc as possible to divide the populace, rendering them vulnerable to an incoming invasion Dracula had planned for years since his first defeat. A descendant of a knight that betrayed him caught the gremlin minutes into the attack and killed him. He was sentenced to the Circle of Hersey where I eventually found him.” Treyton, Miron, and Mitica looked at Amanda in disbelief. Mitica had his mouth open in shock. He wondered what could make a devil so cruel that he’d rob a student of his humanity over failing a language class.
“Could that happen to the three students that are after us?” Treyton asked her. “Are they also going to turn into gremlins and sent to scheme on tormenting us night and day?”
“My guess is as good as yours.” Amanda licked her pineapple gourmet lollipop. “Bael is the most dangerous, crafty dark sorcerer to walk on the Earth’s soil. He punishes insubordinate students to amuse himself. He doesn’t care if they were academically gifted or got on his good side once before; the slightest infraction could shift that opinion in an instant. In some ways, I think the three students tracking us down are afraid of him.”
“The time went by so much tonight that I feel like the dawn will greet us at any minute.” Treyton commented with a hopeful tone on his face. “I need to know how long it will be-.”
“Shoot! Hold that thought!” Amanda held her arms out to get the boys to stop walking. They looked straight ahead to find a girl in an orange jack-o’lantern-themed dress providing Homer with a gourmet lollipop. Treyton took the philosopher’s stone from Mitica and hid it in his pocket, worried that it would catch Homer’s eye.
“Speaking of the devil and I mean that literally,” Treyton said. “We need to walk down another street. I’m not sure that we’re ready for another fight so soon.”
“What difference would it make?” Amanda asked cautiously. “We’re in his line of vision so he’s going to corner us anyway.” The girl in front of them handed Homer a blue raspberry-flavored gourmet lollipop.
“I have a treat for you, sir.” She told him politely. Homer smirked.
“Aren’t you a darling little girl?” he asked her. “Confectionery is difficult to come by when I’m studying.” He licked the lollipop and let a satisfactory hum. Just when he was about to take another lick, he glanced at Treyton, Mitica, Miron, and Amanda. Frowning, he tried to step toward them, but the little girl shoved the lollipop down his throat, causing him to fall to the ground in agony. She runs toward the group to greet Amanda.
“I’ve given you and your new friends time to run away, Amanda.” She told him. “Use it now!” The boys ran down the street ahead of them. Amanda shook the girl’s hand.
“Brilliant move, Jacqueline.” She smiled. “I was hoping you’d be nearby.”
“I’m actually glad we bumped into each other.” Jacqueline replied. “It won’t be long before dawn and we’re both forced to go home, but if these boys are in trouble, that means solomonaris are sneaking about.”
“That takes care of one.” Amanda admitted. “But let’s hurry and catch up with the boys. We can’t predict if the other two will ambush them and if we’re not by their side, they’ll risk losing the philosopher’s stone.” Jacequline’s eyes widened with interest.
“Please tell me everything on our way.” She said. “We’ll need more than lollipops to keep that stone from falling into Bael’s clutches.” She runs after Treyton, Mitica, and Myron to catch up with them. Amanda closed her eyes and smiled.
“Now I can’t wait until I feed him one just to see that sucker’s reaction.” She licked her pineapple gourmet lollipop before running down the street as well. The acid from the lollipop burned a hole through Homer’s throat, rendering him unconscious. A cloaked occultist shows up to the scene a couple minutes later to pick him up. It is with great certainty that Bael would not be lenient on the unlucky solomonari-in-training and that is with the assumption he’ll still be one.
We hope you enjoy this entry in this All Saint’s Day mini-series and have a splendid week ahead.
Sincerely,
WN
P.S.: The most bizarre part of today was that in a panic, I thought I deleted that entry by accident while tossing out unneeded files from my documents folder last night and when I came home from work, I checked Microsoft Word in a panic and to my relief, it was still here. It’s a reason why organization is essential as a writer.
Frederick and his band of heroes have only just begun to get settled in living off the land and some of them have never camped in their life. As a skilled baker that brought her trusty frying pan with her, Ioana has little difficulty adjusting to this momentous change. In between breaks from searching for The Blade of Acedia, she would assist a teammate with the cooking by suggesting herbs to improve the flavor of their meals. Ioana and Gani have gathered enough food from their fishing trips to the lake to get their compatriots through two days and wanting to help Frederick find a vegetarian alternative, she goes with him on his search for a piece of the blade. Should they venture past the apple orchard, they’ll uncover more than just a warm bite to eat.
Meanwhile, in a twilight area near a rocky path that connects the serene woods in the Conifers Kingdom to the Lachrymose Blood Forest, Amanda and Jackie have established a temporary rest stop to aid wizarding students that have gotten lost finding their way back to Caspian Academy*. When the fifth episode is released, Frederick is free to stop by to introduce herself to her in exchange for a piece of candy, but subsequent requests for treats or favors will result in having to pay this mysterious witch a gold drachma**. Amanda’s stay in the physical world is limited expires after midnight on November 2nd and she must gather as many ingredients as possible to give herself ample time to prepare for next October. No amount of preparation to serve candy to passersbys, sadly, can have her expect a presumptuous but well-intended non-magic girl, Libby Laurelstockings, to pop in and give one too many suggestions. Rescuing her in the yet-to-be-developed sixth level in The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II will cause her to appear in the installment’s hub world with Amanda. Photos by Audrey Svistunov and Erica Marsland Huynh on Unsplash.
We hope you have a wonderful Halloween and are traveling in groups if you’re out trick-or-treating. If you stumble across a lone candle displayed in an old wooden museum in Salem, we strongly advise against lighting it. Just don’t do it!
Sincerely,
WN
*Chronologically, The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 takes place before the events of Son of a Hustler. Until Michaela came along and played an active role in protecting the students, Amanda had her work cut out for her that October.
**The current engine we use for our installments doesn’t have an in-game system so there’ll be a lore explanation in The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II explaining where Frederick has gotten a drachma from.
Heliotrope Journey: Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Book 1 Volume II is out now on my itch.io page. Frederick is staying up a little later than his typical bedtime to assist his mentor Elijah with patrolling the field corn for wolves hiding in the stalks. The tired boy expects the task to be simple because he loves his sleep, but what he and Elijah might find will probably scare him enough to keep him awake afterwards. It’s a cost of being a full-time hero after all. Play the first level in this installment for free now on itch.io; Photo by Summer Stock on Pexels. https://darkinfern0crystal1.itch.io/heliotrope-journey-waltz-of-sepulchral-silence-book-1-volume-ii
Meanwhile, Amanda is making delicious lollipops to hand out to wizarding students exploring the forests in the Conifers Kingdom to get their homework done. Anticipating that they’ll get lost, she places her cauldron and weapons stash near a dimly-lit clearing and adds a type of melted sugar with a potent odor into the warm corn syrup that she hopes would attract their attention. Jackie questions this method based on how dark witches and Veiled Nocturne occultists have a reputation of luring children to their gruesome demises with chocolates, but Amanda fears that setting up a table in a nearby town is riskier.
She is rarely permitted to visit the physical world as it is, let alone in human form, so her presence in a public place on October would cause her intentions to be misconstrued as doing Dracula’s bidding. Giving out her homemade treats inside a dark forest is the best way to keep her generosity a secret. She knows these students will tell their elders stories about their visits, but she is contented in the fact that she is dismissed as a folk legend. She softly smiles and dips a stick with a hardened sugar ball on it into the syrup and adds green food coloring.
Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a great week ahead!
We’ve got a lot going on this month. Chubbo and KawaiiPixelArts are hard at work with helping me plan ahead for a couple of future levels in Passion of Rancor and Waltz of Sepulchral Silence respectively while I got a werewolf problem on my hands. An adversary I’m reintroducing from my scrapped project, Nero II, is not a big fan of getting dressed and who can blame him? Wearing overly formal clothing is not my cup of tea either, but Nero II is a lot more uptight about it than I am.
If you thought getting a werewolf dressed is hazardous, you’re going to want to check if you have any wolfsbane on you because you’ll be facing a group of them in the fifth episode of Heliotrope Journey: Waltz of Sepulchral Silence. Help Young Frederick and his mentor Elijah Take them down to save Brianna before she’s stuck in the doghouse.
Speaking of Frederick, he and Ioana will start off The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II with searching a power plant for food supplies to bring back to their colleagues and if they’re lucky, they may come across a piece of the Blade of Acedia. Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash.
This will be my most nostalgic level yet so don't miss out on its release day. It'll be in development as soon as we get the werewolf problem under control.
Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a good week. :)
We will briefly return to Heliotrope Journey: Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Book 1 while Chubbo and I work out a backup plan for the fourth level in The Flower That Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version). A freelance pixel artist I reached out to has a fully booked schedule and we have yet to receive an update on his progress on the boss enemy’s second form. If the animation assets aren’t ready by the time development begins, they’ll be used at a later date in another installment.
Frederick is staying up late to help his mentor, Elijah, with patrolling the cornfields near Baudelaire City for any sign of wolf activity. The corn stovers are huge and that could mean some of the wolves or something worse might be hiding in the fields. As long as the sun is still up, master and student won’t have much of an issue with their patrol, but if the sun goes down, let’s hope Elijah has some silver daggers handy. It is time that Young Frederick must learn that a skilled vampire hunter should always come prepared when on a dangerous mission. Photo by Luke Hodde on Unsplash.
Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a fantastic first week of September. Are you looking forward to sipping apple cider? :)
