Mantle: Mask On

Please direct bug reports to the CoG Forum (link in pinned post). Thank you <3

[jjdove]

Game Link for Mantle: Mask On

Mantle: Mask On

In New Cronaca’s city streets and back alleys, where corruption and ugly hearts fester and scramble over one another for the prize of innocents’ lives and well-being, in a city where the police prove impotent and private armies pick up the slack, where vice starts to rust minds so deeply that such struggles seem as life should always be. In this city, where life turns a blind eye to death, a vigilante is born.

Naturally, this responsibility falls to you.

Balance two identities as you embark on the journey of becoming an adult whilst spending your free time plunging your fists into the murky waters of New Cronaca’s underworld—where the ripples always seem to come back to you.

Play as male, female, or non-binary. Options to be straight, gay or bi-pan.

Choose your defining attribute and feel it influence your role as a vigilante and all the everydays in between. Are you brain or brawn? The thinker or the bruiser?

Experience a cast of characters from all over the city, control how you interact with them and shape your personality in the process.

Separate your identities. Do you smile behind the mask and frown without it? What top will you wear to work? And, when you fight crime, do you subscribe to the idea of a cape?

Build the beginnings of deep romantic or platonic relationships with four featured characters throughout the story: a socially anxious delivery driver working for the local café, your privileged and haughty co-worker, or a police officer knee deep in their work, and, of course, your best friend.

Wrestle with choice and consequence as you define not only only the story, but also the world’s first meaning of the word hero.

You’ve been burdened by this mask for so long; it’s about time you put it on.

--

Link to the Choice of Games Forum post:

(Feedback welcome!)

[WIP] Mantle: Mask on (Character-driven superhero story) [155,000+ words]

In New Cronaca’s city streets and back alleys, where corruption and ugly hearts fester and scramble over one another for the prize of innoce

[jjdove]

Editing Sitrep:

That’s amazing, that’s probably the best thing I’ve ever written!

The very next line:

That’s shit. This is actual garbage. Burn it and bury it where no one will ever find it.

…Wow, that’s amazing—!

[jjdove]

Honsetly the prospect of a Redfern not only NOT hostile to MC but actually being their ride or die (to the detriment of others possibly) and the only person they LIKE to hang around with makes it even more appealing

I'm curious, would their crush on the vigilante in this AU also be fueled by how familiar they feel to Redfern? And how would they react to finding out the Vigilante is their childhood best friend? (that's not spoilers because that's not the reaction we'll have in the main story right?)

Haha, I’m not quite sure about that last question, lol. I think there would still be more than a few similarities ;)

For the first question, though: I actually think it would have an opposite effect. Redfern would have less of a crush on the vigilante because they were such good friends with H.

Subconsciously, I think they’d already feel “satiated”, I suppose.

And, honestly, since they’re a much different person to Foster (less trusting, more stubborn)—I think they’d start to become quite suspicious of what H was up to, as well.

That would become their hobby—instead of thirsting over Crier posts about the vigilante.

[jjdove]

I meant how that AU Redfern would react to H getting hired at their workplace

Ah, okay!

Well, being besties and all, I’m sure Redfern would’ve already known H was gunning for the job.

In fact, they’d probably strong-arm (be a brat to) Mr. Spence into hiring H over the other candidates.

Then they’d have someone to hang out with all day, rather than brooding in their office. Alone, at least.

[jjdove]

for information in your pinned post, I personally find the chapter count of the current demo to be more useful than word count, since it gives me an expectation of when the demo will end, but I'm not sure how prevalent of an opinion that is. just something to consider if nothing else though! :)

No, I agree! I’ve got chapter count—both current amount and left to complete—already noted down. Alongside wordcount.

Like you said, it’s a potentially easier way for a reader to get a quick-glance look at the progress of the book.

This book is a 1,00,000 words long!

A million words of what?

This book is on chapter 2/30!

Oh.

[jjdove]

Srry Foster but childhood friend Lee/Redfern just hits different.

Pls Dove how would that Redfern acts if mc as in the prologue said they were hired and like in the story next day they go to Redfern work

Cover your ears, Foster, they don’t mean it…

But—sorry, I’m not understanding the question!

Could you explain it more?

[jjdove]

I find funny how in that AU mc is treated as Redfern favourite toy

I mean, if you think Redfern is ill-educated in social graces now, just think what they were like as a snooty child!

Of course the entire world should be geared towards benefiting them—otherwise what’s the point of it?

[jjdove]

Question about the pinned post.

I’ve been thinking about it more, since it was mentioned…

What kind of information would you like to see/feel is currently missing? I’d like some idea for what to include in the overhaul :)

Just a heads up: I don’t wanna do in-depth descriptions of the ROs, just because I feel it’s better left to the book to introduce them.

Thank you! x

[jjdove]

Is it possible for you to put the date you update to the pinned intro post? I sometimes lose track of what IFs have updated and which haven't yet. 🥲

That’s no problem!

I actually have a whole overhaul for the pinned post planned, but I’m saving it for when the new update comes out.

But, a record of the most recent update will be there when I get round to it :)

[jjdove]

Delinquent Lee and sergeant’s kid H have awoken something in me, they would make such a cute duo?? H sneaking in to talk to the Cool Kid™ is so cute, imagine a surly young Lee sitting in the break room only to look up and see a little kid looking at them like “hi! 😀”… cute lololol.

Funny that, now that they’re older, the dynamic’s kind of reversed, lol!

H is more secretive and serious—in terms of their vigilante mindset. And obviously quite reckless.

Whereas Lee is more flippant and socially open. And, I would say, more experienced.

Either way, they make a good pair, for sure…

[jjdove]

Okay so youre busy now but you can answer the what if other ROs had Foster's role later when youre not busy right?

Leaving this ask in ur inbox for later

Alright, I’m waving a white flag. I just can’t gear my head to work on this and it’s stressing me out now, lol.

I’m really sorry!

I’ve got the prompts, though—so it’s only half the disappointment!

Right?

Cass: Cass moves away from home earlier than before, arriving in the city around the time H is starting secondary school.

It’s Cass who actually happens to intervene when H is having trouble with some bullies (it’s harder when you’re not a walking tank).

Luckily, Cass’ strong words are enough to prevent things from becoming further physical—and the bullies no longer feel the ordeal worth their time.

A short, but pleasant, conversation after is where H finds out Cass is actually one of their new peers in the year.

Not only is H thankful, but they’ve never met someone from the country before. It’s all very exciting.

Cass is surprised when H wants to talk more.

But they don’t say no.

Redfern: Instead of sending H to Greene Hill high, their parents instead fork out the cash to send them to Madame Nero’s in the Cradle—where Redfern is also due to start for their first year of primary school.

Little H doesn’t recognise the Heir to New Cronaca (they haven’t been allowed online much yet)—and happens to choose an empty seat on the same big empty table as them during lunch.

Naturally, Redfern is suspicious, and hails a RedSec guard from the wings to move H somewhere else.

Naturally, H doesn’t take a hint. Having been confused by the odd interaction all day, they wait in the playground after school until the redhead emerges—and then tail them.

Where they see them escorted to a giant car with insides like a palace.

Their mouth busy being agape—a RedSec trooper picks them up by their backpack, changing their surprise to fear.

This time, though—Redfern’s suspicion changes to border curiosity.

They tell the trooper to release H. Much to their relief.

The car door closing, the two kids watch each other with differing bemusement as the car drives away.

The next day, at lunch, having been educated by their mum—H steers clear of the Heir.

…Until Redfern finds them, and asks them to come sit with them.

More of an order, really.

Lee: Lee, in their more renegade years of adolescence, gets into trouble with the police—one Sergeant H the apprehending officer.

She takes the young teen to the precinct.

As she’s dealing with the kid at her desk, though—another walks over.

Her kid: H. Who says they’re bored. They eye the teenager, about 6 years older than them, sitting across from their mum.

The teen averts their eyes with attitude and folds their arms.

Sergeant H gets her kid to go back to waiting—until she’s done for the evening.

H leaves in a strop.

Lee’s eyes swivel back, watching them go.

After Sergeant H handles the teen—she sends them to the break room to wait for their parents to pick them up.

A break room where, eventually, H sneaks their way into.

To talk with the cool kid.

[jjdove]

Does redfern like that the mc doesn't treat them different than another colleague

Yes.

And no.

[jjdove]

will foster ever be able to walk again? Not saying he has to or that i want him to! i love him already but just wondering bc I feel bad for him. its easier to be born without the ability to walk then lead a life and then have to adjust to that?

Don’t worry, I get you’re just being curious! I think that’s fine—in this instance, at least anyway, lol. :)

We’ll learn more about their injury as the story goes on.

[jjdove]

So if mc and t got together what our father and their parents thinks if we are of the same sex?

Obviously the specifics are up to head-canon—but H has come out to their Dad, so I don’t think he’d bat any eye about them being the same sex.

As I said, I think the fact that they’re the Heir to New Cronaca would be more alarming.

Redfern’s parents?

Well, it’s complicated, lol. Certainly something I want to save for the book, if I do touch on it in more detail.

I think there’d be some arguments about Redfern needing to continue the family tree.

[jjdove]

Right enough of these perverts! What’s next emotional support and mutual respect and care ??? Eat ass like a proper society!

Most people already do, judging by the amount of shit they talk.

Also, I may draw the line at hand-holding—but emotional support is my mega kink! Don’t yuck my yum like that.

[jjdove]

Then how Cass is reacting to the .... h-hand ho-holding?....

I swear, if we get one more ask about hand holding, I’m gonna have to quarantine the blog for extreme levels of smut indulgence.

Calm yourselves, it’s like the last days of Rome in here.

[jjdove]

hear ye, hear ye!

I come bearing a rare find; a wholesome ask

What are ROs fave foods and desserts, respectively?

Also, how would they be with an MC who loves to bake/ cook. Even before the crushing stage, MC already loves making or even just buying lil treats to share with others

Foster: Anything often described as ‘yummy’ is their favourite food. And they like to follow that up with ice cream.

Cass: Isn’t much of an eater, honestly. They work with food all day—it’s a chore for them, lol. Their favourite kind of food is the kind that sustains them, nothing more than that.

They usually skip dessert.

Redfern: Smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toast, as prepared by the family chef. Nowhere else does it justice—though, that never stops them from ordering it.

They’re not much of a pudding person—they usually go for seconds of the main. Not too much, obviously; they need to watch their weight.

Lee: Roast dinner with all the trimmings, especially around Fest-Rest. It may be their favourite, but they rarely have time to enjoy the delicacy, however. They’re usually eating on the go, even at home.

For dessert: they have a chocolate fetish.

As for your second question…

Post by @jjdove

💬 1  🔁 2  ❤️ 58 · Okay, counterpoint-how do the ROs respond to an H who is actually a fantastic cook and maybe brings them lunch (my H has t