Oath of the Honour Bound

Side blog for my IF, Oath of the Honour Bound, inspired and based on the Arthurian legends. Asks are welcome but I may not answer them.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Oath of the Honour Bound

So... introduction post for my IF. Everything on this post is subject to change.

There is currently no demo. I am working on the prologue.

Oath of the Honour Bound is a fantasy interactive fiction inspired by and based on the Arthurian legends (and some Welsh mythology). The story focuses on character development of both the people around you and, well, you. As an emotionally constipated general who hasn't had a chance to explore what it means to be yourself, you have a ways to go before you can call yourself truly happy. And now, you might finally have that chance.

The game will be released chapter by chapter until it's done. I don't have any current idea of how many chapters there'll be nor do I know when (or if) it'll be finished (or posted on itch). It will remain free to play.

I'll try to make regular posts but please know that I have a tendency to disappear off the face of the planet. This is just something I'm making in my free time. I am also extremely slow so bare with me, please.

I'm okay with asks, but please nothing nsfw or pregnancy asks as I am uncomfortable with those types of topics. They will be deleted or not answered.

SUMMARY

The story is set in the kingdom of Annwn, the fabled Otherworld in Arthurian legend. It is a magical place where souls go to rest after they die, to leave behind their regrets before moving on to an eternal afterlife. A heaven on earth, if you will.

You are the General of the Annwnian army and the third born child of King Arawn Pencleddyf and Queen Maelona, the king of Annwn and the queen of the Spring Court respectively. Ever since you were a child, you have been trained to be the perfect soldier, to be without self, to obey the King's orders without question.

You are bound by oath - and duty - to do so. You don't have a choice. Even when the land speaks to you, tells you that this isn't what you're destined for, you can't listen. You weren't taught to.

For five years now, you have led the war against Lord Hafgan, a noble who wants the throne for himself. But he has gone into hiding and his hired army seems to be infinite. Your soldiers are growing wearier by the day and you yourself can't last much longer. The kingdom can't last much longer. Annwn cries out with every drop of blood spilt and you hear it all.

Every. Last. Scream.

You hear it in your nightmares. You hear it in your visions. You hear it in every waking moment and you're breaking down little by little by little until there's nothing left but a rotting corpse wandering the halls of the castle-

Annwn needs help. But your father is refusing to ask for it and he has forbidden the court to send for aid.

No one is coming to help.

That is, until your siblings defy your father and travel to Logres, the kingdom of King Arthur Pendragon.

Peace may finally be on the horizon.

Whether you'll still be here to see it...

OotHB is intended for mature (17+) audiences. There are potentially triggering topics all throughout the story including but not limited to PTSD and its symptoms, trauma, blood, violence, injury (potentially life-threatening), death (including descriptions of bodies), and abuse. I will make a more extensive list at some point but for now, PLEASE NOTE that this won't be for everyone. Not every story is going to be to your liking. This might be one of them.

FUTURE FEATURES

Be an emotionally constipated war general who never had the luxury of being themself. You're a blank slate, literally. Discover what it means to be you.

Customise your General's appearance however you like. Play as male, female, or non-binary (with trans options!). You can also choose to be asexual (note that being asexual will not lock you out of romance. You can still romance all ROs.)

Choose one of four Fae Courts to be associated with. Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter.

Choose a magic attunement! This will effect fight scenes and certain interactions with characters.

Develop relationships, both platonic and romantic, with far too many characters that I honestly should have accounted for when I made the game.

Have 6 siblings and a cousin, all with different personalities and their own struggles to get through.

Pursue a romance with one of 9 ROs.

Have a pet. Or 2. Or 3.

ROMANCE OPTIONS

There are currently 9 ROs to choose from. Whether all 9 are going to stay ROs is still up for debate. I really hope so because I worked my ass off making these guys. There's also a chance that I might add more but I won't bite off more than I can chew. 9 is already horrendous enough as it is.

King Arthur Pendragon - The Once and Future King

Ser Lancelot du Lac - The White Knight

Ser Guinevere - Princess of the Queen's Order

Ser Dagonet - The Craven Court Jester of Camelot

Ser Heraut - King of the Hundred Knights

Ser Griflet - Never Was A Man So Frequently Taken Prisoner As Griflet

Ser Kay - Blood of the Crown

Lucan le Bouteillier - The Royal Butler

Dyfrig Apynyr - Wanted Dead Or Alive

Character profiles have all been added, just click on the links and it'll take you to their posts. Ask all the questions you want about them because it helps me develop their characters! :)

That should be everything for now but like I said, everything on this post is subject to change. It's just an introduction for now.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

What about MCs parents ?

Hi, anon, thank you for asking!

I don’t really have a fleshed out profile for the parents yet but I can still give some information :D

Your father is King Arawn Pencleddyf, the king of Annwn and a prince of the Autumn Court. Your mother is Queen Maelona of the Spring Court.

Arawn is an interesting character to me because he’s loving and attentive but is so, so cruel. Here’s a scene I wrote when I was trying to get a feel of his character:

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- (MC is around 8-9)

Red.

On your hands.

On the cold stone pooling beneath you.

It hurts. It hurts so, so much. Lying on the floor of the training grounds, your little hands clasped over the gushing wound on your side. Sword pierced straight through your leather armour like it was nothing.

"P- Please…" you whisper.

"Come on. You can keep going," your father's gentle voice cuts through the pain. You struggle to lift your head to look at him.

He's just standing there with a kind smile on his lips. There's a sword in his hand, the blade dripping red. His clothes, once the purest white, now dyed a light red from your years of training. There’s a fresh stain on the cuffs of his pants.

Tears fall down your cheeks, your groans of agony threatening to turn to screams. Your limbs refuse to cooperate, your muscles giving out on you.

"Father… please!" you beg, your voice breaking as you sob. You want this to end. Please. Please.

"It's alright," he soothes, "You can do it. Get up and we'll try one more time."

His patience hurts more than the pain ever could. And yet, it’s like a balm on your mind, knowing that he’ll wait for as long as he needs to. He’s gazing at you expectantly, those eyes alone encouraging you to get up and try again. Loving like a father should be.

Your head falls to the floor. Everything is so hazy…

But you push. It takes the last of your strength but you push. You nearly fall over, your vision going black but you push. Standing on shaky legs, you will yourself to get into a defensive position, ready to try again.

You can hear the smile in your father's voice as he says, "That's it. Don't let anything distract you."

Through the haze, your mind just barely registers your father raising his sword. Your breath quickens.

You move just as the blade comes down. It wooshes past your ear then changes course to cut through your abdomen. You jump back and bite down on your tongue as the movement jostles your wound.

Father beams at you as he stands up straight. "Good!"

He taps your foot with the tip of his sword. You flinch away and he hums in approval.

"Remember to keep your feet light and ready to move. If you're just a second too slow-"

Woosh. You duck and a few strands of hair fall in front of you. You stare at the wisps mixing in with the smears of blood on the floor. Bile crawls up your throat but you swallow it down.

"Your reflexes are improving. Well done."

That proud smile…

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Maelona is similar in the sense that she’s also loving but she’s sort of distant, doesn’t really pay attention? She’d know you like desserts but won’t know your favourite and will simply pick out whatever she believes is best for you. She'll get you a nice new outfit without considering if it's your favourite colour or even the right size. But at least it's nice and she was thinking of you when she saw it. That has to count for something, right?

I need to flesh out her character more but that's the basic gist.

And she has a tendency of paying more attention to her daughters than her sons, especially Nest as her oldest daughter (even if you choose to play as a woman. Since Arawn called dibs on you, Maelona chose the next best thing: your sister).

Match made is hell. One parent is too attentive, the other doesn’t pay attention enough.

I imagine that they're both going to be fun (the painful kind that hurts just as much as it makes you happy) to write because I have a very specific image of them in my mind and I want to get it right.

Thanks again for asking!!! :)

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Family - Princess Indeg

Indeg is your youngest sister and the literal embodiment of sunshine.

She loves you despite everything. She doesn't know who you are or what you've done but you're her big sibling. That's everything to her.

DESCRIPTION

11 year old fae. Tightly coiled dark brown hair that sits on top of her head like one big cloud. Large olive eyes that always see the good in people. Round face and cheeks, small rounded nose. Russet brown skin with a golden shimmer, glows when using magic. Short and broad shoulders. She has dimples when she smiles.

She likes to wear knee length dresses. Prefers yellow, green or light purple but will match her clothes to fit with the rest of her siblings. Wears a thick banded gold diadem, has little star engravings.

PERSONALITY

Bubbly and endlessly playful. She's everything a child her age should be. Not having any responsiblities as the youngest child has left her with far too much free time to simply do whatever her heart pleases. The castle is never quiet when she's around, her giggling and endless talking a delight to her servants. The noise lets her forget how quiet and empty everything really is... how she doesn't really know what her siblings' voices sound like.

She spends her free time wandering around the castle with Eiron, looking for something to do. Sometimes, she can be found in the stables braiding the horses' manes.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Uh, evening lads, I decided to change Lucan's role in the IF. He's no longer Arthur's valet, he's the MC's. I thought about it the past couple of days and realised it makes so much more sense (I don't know why I didn't think of it before lol) and it makes things easier for me to write.

I will edit his profile in a bit.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

I changed the profile.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Uh, evening lads, I decided to change Lucan's role in the IF. He's no longer Arthur's valet, he's the MC's. I thought about it the past couple of days and realised it makes so much more sense (I don't know why I didn't think of it before lol) and it makes things easier for me to write.

I will edit his profile in a bit.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Okay, so apart from Indeg, that's all the profiles I have planned at the moment. Just the siblings and the ROs for now. The problem is that I have no idea what to post now. yippee for me i guess.

I suppose the only thing I can say is that I'm still working on the prologue and that I think it's going well(?)

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

RO - Dyfrig Apynyr

The mercenary Lord Hafgan hired three years ago.

Dyfrig made a name for himself early in his life as a mercenary who could do any job. For the right price. Stealing from nobles, assassinations, staging coups, slaying beasts, he's done it all and now he swims in gold. He has been on Annwn's and Logres' wanted list for years now but he always evades capture, either slipping away at the last second or finding a way out of his prison. You've had multiple first hand experiences in the past.

His latest job is leading Lord Hafgan's army against you. It's not his cup of tea but it's the best paying job on the market. He's killed hundreds of soldiers over the years but his main target is you.

Cut the head off a snake and the body will follow.

DESCRIPTION

39 year old man. Thick salt and pepper hair, fringe that frames his face and is parted in the middle, shoulder-length and tied back. Dark grey eyes filled with cruel mirth. Narrow face, roughly shaven stubble, has laugh lines around his mouth. Rough beige skin with a ruddy complexion. Taller than average, stands with his head held high, lean but not very flexible, large calloused hands. He has two iron hoop earrings in his left ear. He faintly smells of burning wood and smoke.

PERSONALITY

He likes to think himself a charming and good looking fellow who would give you the clothes off his back. But there's days where he can't keep up that attitude and he shows his true colours. Cunning like a fox and as persuasive as a merchant, he could convince a moral man to commit a murder just by talking to him. And he doesn't have any issues doing so. It's just another way of getting the job done. Hey, as long as he gets paid in the end, all's fair in love and war.

Anything for the money.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

So it turns out that I am a moron and I didn't realise that Indeg's profile wasn't finished before I started posting all these profiles. So I'm going to skip her for now and post Dyfrig's profile instead.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

RO - Lucan le Bouteillier

Your personal butler.

For generations, Lucan's family has proudly served the various noble houses of Annwn. His father is a cook and his mother a wetnurse. Being taught from a young age that serving is the most noble vocation there is, Lucan wanted nothing more than to follow in his parents' footsteps.

He started working when he was only 15, serving the Corneu noble house as a valet. He spent a great deal of his childhood there and learnt almost everything from serving the Corneu's only son. When he was 27, the Corneu's son sent Lucan away. The reason why is something Lucan is tight-lipped about.

Lucan started working as your valet not long after and has faithfully served you for the past 5 years.

DESCRIPTION

32 year old man. Short blond hair, unruly and sticks up in places. Grey eyes that can spot even the smallest imperfection. Friendly face and a sloped nose, smiles with his eyes. White skin with a healthy glow. Average height but looks tall, long legs and curvy waist. He has two white gemstone earrings in each ear.

No matter what he wears, it will look sophisticated and would put emperors to shame. He prefers softer clothing that keep him warm.

PERSONALITY

Polite and intuitive. He knows what's wrong with a person long before they can figure it out and always knows just the right thing that can help. It's sometimes difficult to tell whether it's a part of his job or if he genuinely is this kind. He's selfless but knows where to draw the line, refusing to be door mat for his superiors. That includes you. Yes, you are vastly more important than him but your wellbeing is his top priority. If he pesters you enough, you will listen to him eventually.

He spends his free time cleaning and sewing. He doesn't like to sit around but he doesn't like the wild outdoors either. The furthest he'll go is the gardens but only because everything is clean and uniform.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Family - Princess Eiron

Eiron is your younger sibling who only bows to the whim of your little sister Indeg.

She never was and still isn't close with you. While you, Llyr, Olwydd and Nest grew up together, she grew up with only little Indeg to keep her company. She doesn't really know who you are.

DESCRIPTION

17 year old fae. Shoulder length dark brown hair twisted into thick braids. Bright blue eyes with no pupils, often compared to sapphires, black sclera. Will pierce your soul with that gaze, don't try to hide anything from her. Heart shaped face, full cheeks and straight nose, hasn't lost her childlike charm. Black skin with a cool undertone, dark blue iridescence. Average height, lanky limbs and pointy elbows. She is cold to the touch.

She doesn't care much for fashion, instead following whatever Indeg wants her to wear. One day she'll come to dinner in a poufy dress, the next wearing a surcoat and pants. Anything for her little sister to smile. Wears a silver diadem with a single blue gem in the centre.

PERSONALITY

Everything about her is calculated and thought out. Her words, her body language, her facial expessions, nothing about her is impulsive. Speaking with her is like a game of chess except she's already won before you even sat down and you didn't know you were playing. People are pawns to her and she will only pay attention to those she deems worthy - and even then, who she sees as worth her time changes as often the tides.

She spends her free time with Indeg, playing all sorts of games with her in her room. She's become exceptionally well at storytelling and making shadow puppets. On the rare chance she isn't with Indeg, she'll be in courtyard making ice sculptures.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

RO - Ser Kay

The most feared and loyal knight of the Round Table. She is also Arthur's older sister.

Kay was born into a family of knights and was raised on a remote farm in the south of Logres. When she was 6 years old, the wizard Merlin arrived at her family's doorstep with the newly born Arthur. Ser Ector, her father, took the baby in and raised him alongside Kay.

She did not always dream of becoming a knight and only became a squire at 17 years old. But that did not stop her from becoming a renowned knight; when Arthur pulled Excalibur out of the stone, stories of the High King's sister circulated around the kingdom, her fierce loyalty and fighting style now admired by many. She stuck by her brother's side for the 10 years he roamed the land.

She continues to do her sisterly duty as the first Knight of the Round Table.

DESCRIPTION

36 year old woman. Chin length dirty blonde hair, messily cut as if she took a sword to it. Hazel eyes that appear olive in the sun, squints a lot so they're rarely seen. Harsh face, strong jaws and large mouth. Sun-kissed beige skin, freckled on her shoulders and back. On the taller side, visably strong with wide hips. She has scars from various battles over the years.

She likes to wear nice robes and tunics that look sophisticated but simple, will sometimes wear dresses if comfortable enough.

PERSONALITY

Changes between snarky apathy and destructive anger. A very no nonsense person who will not hesitate to snap at you if you irritate her. She can be civil but only if she likes you. She doesn't like very many people. Gaining her loyalty is like climbing a mountain but once you've reached the summit, you will have a steadfast friend who would do anything for you… even if she grumbles the whole time. Just be prepared for blunt words and unnecessary insults. Lots and lots of unnecessary insults.

She spends her free time caring for animals. For some odd reason, she always encounters hurt animals on her travels and has learnt how to nurse them back to health.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Family - Cynhaern

Cynhaern is your younger brother and a lieutenant of the Annwnian army.

You're his hero.

DESCRIPTION

25 year old fae. Slicked back silvery blond hair curled at the tips. Dull blue eyes that have seen far too much. Gaunt face with prominent cheekbones, pointy chin and straight nose. Pale white skin, ashy complexion with no visible shimmer. Often mistaken for a ghost. Average height with a soldier's build. He has multiple scars on his face, one scar across his right eye spanning from his hairline to his jaw, one jagged scar across his left temple. He has a large beauty mark under the right side of his mouth. He has dimples when he smiles.

He likes to wear his armour as the weight is comforting to him. If it is not appropriate to do so, he will instead let Nest or Llyr dress him into something more fitting. Likes blues or purples. Wears a silver diadem.

PERSONALITY

Cynhaern did not gain his reputation as a ghost just for his appearance. He's quiet, unnaturally so, his footsteps silent even in his armour. He doesn't speak unless spoken to, doesn't act unless told to, and makes himself as unobtrusive as possible. When it comes to you however… he lets some of his true self shine. Protective, a little naive and loyal to a fault, he will defend you until the day he dies.

He spends his free time locked away in his room. The servants stopped bringing his food to the dining hall a long time ago.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

I've decided to go back and add more things to the other RO profiles. Mostly just background stuff like where they came from and who they are. They'll all be updated in a second if you want to go back and learn more about them.

If there's any spelling mistakes or missing words, please tell me. I'm useless at spotting these things because my brain likes to fill in the blanks.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

RO - Ser Griflet

Nobody is quite sure where the young nymph came from. They abruptly appeared before Arthur during his 10 year journey around Logres and vowed to become a knight the future king could be proud of.

And while they did become a very good knight that Arthur is proud to have the loyalty of… some things leave much to be desired.

"Ah. Um- Could someone… pull me out of this mud? I'm afraid the swamp has decided to claim me."

"Your Majesty! Up here, Your Majesty! Yes, I'm stuck inside the tree. Could you help me get out?"

'Dear Kay, I am in a cell and about to be married off against my will once again. Please get me out of here at your earliest convience. - Griflet' There's a small heart drawn in the corner of the paper.

Dagonet does not have to work very hard when Griflet is around.

DESCRIPTION

28 year old swamp nymph. Curly light brown hair that appears red in the sun. Dark green eyes with slit pupils, like a frog. Round face and full rosy cheeks, sloped nose. Smooth skin with a brownish green tint, appears shiny but is not wet to the touch. Short with a round stomach and chest. He has gills on the sides of his neck that let him breathe underwater, sharp teeth.

Prefers wearing soft and silky clothing that doesn't irritate his skin.

PERSONALITY

Reckless and chaotic, they have a tendency to barrel into things headfirst without thinking of the consequences. Anything that piques his interest is something worth investigating and investigate it he shall. Even if it's a very, very bad idea. They're rather fearless in that sense, poking their nose into dragon dens just because they were curious about what was inside. Very much like a hunting dog who just spotted a hare.

He spends his free time learning. Languages, recipes, candlemaking, fortune telling, nothing is off limits to them. Do you want to here about this cool new fact that old man just told him?

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Family - Nest

Nest is your younger sister. She is an Annwnian diplomat and court representative.

When Uther was still king, she often visited Camelot as a representative to maintain and build alliances and relations. Uther and his court ignored her attempts but some nobles still hold her in high regard for even trying. She stopped visiting when the war with Lord Hafgan started, her focus directed to maintaining alliances with the Fae Courts.

She is the only one who still smiles just as freely as she did when she was younger. At least, she only does that around you.

DESCRIPTION

28 year old fae. Wavy dark brown hair, too thick to be comfortably tied up. Large olive green eyes that betray her every emotion. Pointed chin, full cheeks and a small rounded nose. Light brown skin with a sunny yellow shimmer. Short and impeccable posture, radiates confidence, flat-chested. She has faint freckles dusted across her nose and forehead.

She likes to wear anything lightweight and graceful. Prefers green, yellow and gold. Wears a gold diadem that resembles vines.

PERSONALITY

Not afraid to put her foot down, even against the king. People step out of her way in halls, not out of fear but out of respect. She's tenacious and does not care if the opposition is her own flesh and blood. Everything is for the people and she will work until her hands bleed and the people get what they deserve. Empathy comes easily to her but sometimes it can come a little too easily, getting angry or upset over others' misfortune.

She likes to do anything that keep her mind and body occupied. She gets fidgety when sitting in one place for too long.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

RO - Ser Heraut

The unofficial king of the north and a Knight of the Round Table.

Heraut started off as a simple farmer but is now considered the king of the north. With the local council corrupt and cowardly, allowing the Vikings from the eastern lands to pillage and plunder innocent towns and villages, Heraut took to the life of a knight - though many people from the richer circles prefer the term 'mercenary' - and defended their people from all manner of monsters.

Originally, they were against Arthur's rule and aided the many rebellions against him. He's Uther's son, how could he be any better than his father? However, after a prophetic dream that showed them the truth, they reluctantly joined Arthur's side and became a Knight of the Round Table.

DESCRIPTION

34 year old person. Tightly coiled black hair cut short. Dark brown eyes, the weight of their gaze is like sinking into peat. Square jawline, cold expression. Black skin with a reddish-purple undertone. Very tall and bulky, large muscles - a formidable figure that you definitely do not want to see across the battlefield. They have very few scars on their body, has one across their nose. They seem to perpetually smell of fresh soil and flowers.

They wear anything that makes people fearful of them. They find that the more intimidating they appear, the less people want to talk to them.

PERSONALITY

Stoic and unashamedly crass, Heraut isn't a kind person by any means. They'd sooner cut a man down than endure a conversation with them with the simple reason of not wanting to use their voice. It gives them a chance to show off their remarkable sword handling, the blade slicing through any foe with a beautiful arc. At the very least, it'll ward off any other potential social interactions. Though if they stand a little taller when the young squires point and poorly imitate them, it is not because their heart is swelling with unimaginable affection.

They spend their free time alone where no one can disturb them. What they actually do when they're alone is up for debate.

[oathofthehonourbound-if]

Evening lads, I will be posting more profiles soon, either tonight or tomorrow. Life just decided to get a bit hectic and I don't have time to be on my laptop. The ao3 author curse got me I'm afraid.

The next two profiles will be... *checks notes* Heraut and Nest. So look forward to that, I suppose.