You are a mistakeāthatās what youāve been told all your lifeāa curse, a bane, a burden. Now, you are given a chance to prove them wrong, or live up to the claims.
The Ursa-Frost tribe is a close-knit and fiercely loyal clan. Living in the cold north, they are both hardened yet brimming with life. The same hand that gently pats your head, could snap anotherās neck without hesitation. They took you in and treated you as one of them.
Once you had watched merely them through a screen; now they stand before you, in flesh and blood.
Unaware of the danger that lurks in their own home; of the voice that commands you, hungering for chaosāa voice that slowly begins to sound like your own.
Will you fight back against the story, grasping to hope that you can all live peacefully? Or will you follow the whims of fate, revelling in the chaos?
Choose between three types of beastkin; a snowy owl, an artic fox, or a snow hare. Each species has their own strengths and weakness, as well as exclusive scenes/ dialogues
Shape how your character acts; is she bold or shy? Quick to joke or earnest to a fault? Can she hide her emotions or do they control her?
Form bonds with the lively Ursa-Frost clanāwhether as enemies or allies
Fight against the voice in your headāor heeds itās commands, laughing the entire time
Demo | CoG forum | Characters
Disclaimer:
This game isĀ gender-locked femaleĀ and has onlyĀ 1Ā RO; you may choose to pursue a platonic or enemy routeāI might even add flings but no guranteeābut the prominent RO will remain only one. Depending on your choices, the romance/ relationship might even becomeā¦ disturbing. Tread carefully.
In this game, you are allowed to be an insufferable, petty and frankly āevilā characterājust donāt be surprised if consequences are had. Similarly, you can also play a character with good-intentionsābut donāt be surprised if youāre not always rewarded for it
(and yes, I forgot I couldnāt change the game title on Cogdemos after setting itāoh well)
Warnings!
This game has potentially triggering themes and dark topics.
This work may contain, implied or directly mentioned:
Violence and blood
Death
Hunting
Religion (fictional)
Corruption
Manipulation
Mental/ psychological instability
A deteriorating mind and/ or morality
Dubious/ unhealthy mindsets and coping mechanisms
Self-harm
Cursing
A very territorial chicken that will make her displeasure clear
A few years into the future, scientists were able to open a door into alternate dimensions. This made destiny and faith nothing more than an old fairy tale. People were able to visit various parallel universes where their loved ones were still alive, or worlds where they managed to have a more successful life than back home. This seemed to be one of the biggest discoveries ever at the moment.
But everything started to fall apart when the wall between each universe became too thin, all the layers of parallel universes nearly merging into one, which resulted into allowing one particular anomaly to end up where itās not supposed to be at, entering our world and create complete chaos. This virus was called a āReplicaā, and the Replica must be found before it is too late.
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Feedback form! (Begging on my knees for sweet stats)
Absolutely fucking love the demo! Merlin is so far my favourite RO. I love that whenever you flirt with him his reactions are like: what is this? What are you doing? Stop that. Andā Iām ignoring whatever this is.
The several centuries old, inhuman, widely feared sorcerer when the nineteen/twenty year-old calls him a rose and says his weak arms do it for her:
Thou art Morgan Le Fay, sister to King Arthur, apprentice and student to Merlin the Enchanter... for now.
A great destiny steeped in magic and mystery has been foretold to you, and the unnatural forces of this ancient world are guiding you towards it, whether or not you are willing. Having escaped heartache and woe, you are currently at liberty to enjoy a merry life at the court of Camelot, surrounded by kin and comrades. Raise Ywain, your little son, learn from your ever-disgruntled warlock mentor, go on fantastical quests and romance the knights of the Round Table, or someone else entirely!
Customize your Lady Morgan's name and appearance, study rituals, raise your skill in different domains of sorcery (warcasting, trickery, divination and more), shape your relationship with your child and much more in this text-based fantasy interactive fiction based around Arthurian legend.
View Morgan's family tree.
Love interests (see their links for appearances):
Merlin (m). He's old, prickly, sometimes mean... but less so to you than others, which is gratifying. His study is your sanctuary, his wit your sparring partner. You suspect your tutor is hiding a great many things from you, so pursuing him could be a bad idea. But perhaps you cannot resist an attempt to wiggle your way into his affections.
Sir Gawain (m). The bastard brother to King Lot, who's your sister Morgause's husband... small world. He is Sir Kay's best friend, though the two could not be more different. Fair Gawain is charitable, popular with the men at arms and so charming that he's widely known as the Maidens' Knight. Not that he is without his shortcomings; you would know, given he has somehow become a dear protector and confidant. Perhaps you still want him.
Sir Galahad (m/f*). An upstart knight from a backwards province, he should be fated to obscurity, but possesses strange talents and seems to carry a touch of the divine. Sir Lancelot brought him to court, so impressed was he with the young lad. Maybe you knew him long before he was presented to the Round Table, though. Maybe you've seen him in your dreams. If only Galahad, put off by your witchcraft, didn't hate you to the point of obsession...
Guenevere (f), the golden Queen of Camelot. Your brother's wife. She's the most beautiful woman in Albion, and the most talkative, and perhaps, paradoxically, the loneliest. She desperately wishes for your approval, but with the way she acts sometimes, it's hard not to wonder what else she might be wishing for.
Ninianne (f). The Lady of the Lake, ancient and most powerful fairy in all of Albion. She is the mother of Sir Lancelot, has tested your brother's might and appears to share a complicated history with Merlin. She's a mystery and seems to know much more about you than you can be entirely comfortable with.
Friends and family:
Ywain (m). The son you had by the husband you hated. Ultimately, your relationship with the child is up to you, but as he matures, one thing becomes certain: Ywain is nothing like his father. He's his own beast, strange and emotional, diligent and good.
King Arthur (m). Your half-brother who is five years younger than you. He found you, rescued you and now loves you as though you'd known each other your whole lives. He dotes on your son, aiming to provide you both with the best possible life and asking for naught but fealty in return. He's a sanguine, adventurous and chivalrous young man who was pushed in the role of regent extremely early in life, but is bearing up under the expectations.
Blanchefleur de Beaurepaire (f). Your best friend and penpal with whom you entertain a teasing mentorship. When first you meet, she's but a young girl, but already whip-smart, sharp-tongued and too persuasive by half. Over the course of your acquaintance, she has grown into the epitomy of grace and confidence. She still looks up to you.
Sir Perceval (m). The youngest man to ever be knighted at the court of Camelot and easily the weirdest. He's his own brand of innocent; blunt, cheerful and with the attention span of the average housefly. He is Ywain's favorite playmate.
Queen Morgause of Orkney (f). Your eldest sister. You haven't seen her since she married King Lot. You know that she's had two sons by him, but that's about it. Something about her is different, not at all as you remember... but then again, it's been such a long time.
Queen Elaine of Garlot (f). Your middle sister. Much like Morgause, you lost sight of her after her own marriage to King Nentres. She's passionate, wistful and a hopeless romantic. She seems hopeful that your sisterly relationship can be rekindled.
Setting: this is not a precise retelling of any particular Arthurian cycle and lots of liberties were taken with the characters. Albion is a highly fictionalized version of/inspired by 12th-13th century England and Brittany.
*literally.
dividers by @/pixopix; artwork is a commission by the wonderful @/theoasiswinds and the blog's header image is an illustration by Mary MacGregor from her 1907 book "Stories of King Arthur's Knights".
curtsying and humbly presenting this to @interact-if
Since Iāve been getting a lot of emails lately and there seems to be a bit of confusion, I thought Iād make a small post here too:
I made the game public again. š«£
Mostly because I finally felt brave enough to share it again. And honestly, my partner also encouraged me a lot when it came to putting it back out there.
To clarify one thing though: Iām not really ābackā on Tumblr itself. I just donāt think the platform is really the right one for me... Or maybe Iām not right for the platform? Either way, thatās okay haha.
Iām still active on Discord, through email, and occasionally on Patreon where I share updates, announcements, progress, and so on. (Everything remains completely free, as always.)
And for anyone wondering: I never stopped writing.
This story has been with me for years now and, gods willing, I honestly donāt think Iāll ever stop working on it, no matter how long it takes me to finish.
Iām also planning to add a proper update log directly into the game itself soon, so even the silent lurkers among you can more easily keep track of where things currently stand without having to hunt through posts and announcements.
I hope you all have a beautiful summer and get to spend a lot of good time with the people you love. š«¶
Thanks for catching that. Unfortunately am on phone rnātab chargingāso I can't update the files yet
I'm glad you like my writing! I really tried to make the PC feel the dread and terror of being teleported in a world that is harshānot even including the cold game aspect of it
Though I plan to lighten it up soon. The Stray aka player has been there long enough
As for Leif, he is not a yandere yet. However, depending on your choices you can push him in that directionājust be careful you don't make yourself seem like a threat to the clan
Or you could do what a 'previous you' did.
I'm glad you like that snippet! I know there are people who are obsessed with getting secret endings or 100%-ing a game, so I figured might as well bait y'all lol /lh
Hmm, is that where you attack or ask? Imma assume the former lol. Also, curious, in what way?
Did you expect Leif to just sit back and allow you to attack him without a fight? He is a soft and kind manābut he is far from defenseless
You'll do well to remember that lil stray.
(sorry got into the game/ narrative a bit there at the end lol)
Thanks for catching that. Unfortunately am on phone rnātab chargingāso I can't update the files yet
I'm glad you like my writing! I really tried to make the PC feel the dread and terror of being teleported in a world that is harshānot even including the cold game aspect of it
Though I plan to lighten it up soon. The Stray aka player has been there long enough
As for Leif, he is not a yandere yet. However, depending on your choices you can push him in that directionājust be careful you don't make yourself seem like a threat to the clan
Or you could do what a 'previous you' did.
I'm glad you like that snippet! I know there are people who are obsessed with getting secret endings or 100%-ing a game, so I figured might as well bait y'all lol /lh
Hmm, is that where you attack or ask? Imma assume the former lol. Also, curious, in what way?
Did you expect Leif to just sit back and allow you to attack him without a fight? He is a soft and kind manābut he is far from defenseless
You'll do well to remember that lil stray.
(sorry got into the game/ narrative a bit there at the end lol)
Really enjoying this IF so far! Love that you can just ask in the new chap... also the rumors surrounding the one good ending? Eyes? Love that I can play a miserable crybaby. 10/10, looking forward to what comes next.
Awh, I'm glad to hear that! I haven't gotten much feedback on the game/ story itself so idk if people actually like itāthough I'm of course grateful to y'all who took the time to report all the typo and errors!
And yep! Fun fact, that was the first branch I finished lol. Love me some disturbingly tender moments. Also if you're playing but you don't get the option, it's cause you need certain stats to unlock it (it's also the only choice without a fail variant)
Hehe. Of course, though good is subjective~
Eyes?
And yep, be as miserable as you want lol! Or even petty and cynical. Honestly, I quite like writing for the latter cause your opinion/ personality will change the narrativeāor at least the way it is shown/ interpreted
Spoiler under cut
If PC sees Leif as admirable or even neutral:
You know for a fact that despite his gentle exterior, Leif is still a viking, raised in the harsh and unforgiving winters of the North. He was strong, there was no doubt about that. Sure, you could pounce on him, catching him off-guardābut glancing at his paws, his claws out and gleaming, you know you won't leave unscathed.
Hell you might not even be able to scar him, especially if Leif really tried to fight back. Not to mention, if such an attempt failed, it practically gurantees you a bad end; kind as the Ursa-Frost are, no one would let someone who attacked one of their own stay amongst them.
If PC sees Leif as pathetic:
'Oh, oh,' you feel your lips curl into a sneer, 'this will be too easy.'
Leif is, bluntly speaking, weak. Your gaze lingers on his thin arms, delicate little wrists and nearly completely unblemished skin. No one would've believe he was a viking princeāhell, you barely believe it yourself. He's just so... un-viking. You're pretty sure he never has been part of a raid or even been involved in an actual battle.
Honestly, could there be an easier target?
So yeah, your opinion will start 'poisoning' the narrative
Hii iām having a little trouble imagining what the characters look like can you describe them in a little detail please
Ooh, my first ask! Thanks for the question anon. Anywho...
Funnily enough, Leif is the only who has a canon/ concrete design. This is because he is my own oc that I have prior to even making this game. The twins were created purely for this game while Sigurd is basically just a bigger, rougher and older version of his son lol
But of course if you'd like specific descriptions, here ya go! (Not 100% set in stone)
________________
Note that the Ursa-Frost tribe are vikings + bear beastkin, thus many have big and generally muscular builds, with some exception/ variations.
Leif
He has short pale green fur [muted teal according to Coolors] and shoulder length cyan hair with highlights, though the back of his hair is shorter. His side bangs are tied/ wrapped. His eyes are also cyan.
He has ashy-grey markings all over his body, a symbol of both his faith and role as heir. The wrap all around his body and are matching so to speak; his feet, circling his calves, two stripes on hips, his thumb, a ring like pattern on his middle fingers, around his biceps, on his left shoulder, and over his right eye.
After becoming a cleric, he also is often wearing cream hakama pants and a grey waistcloth-loincloth with blue patterns.
He is a reasonably tall guy, about 1.8 metres/ 5'9" ft. But he has a very slim and thin build. This makes him seem like a munchkin compared to his clan.
Also he is usually shirtless
Sigurd
As said, he's basically a much bigger and more muscular version of Leif; same hair and fur colour, though his hair is much longer. He has multiple braids of varying sizes, with a few beads in thereāhe leaves some loose, which softens his face. His beard is also 'wrapped'/ tied.
Sigurd's markings are more red-ash but is located in similar places to his son's. The chief's are also more geometric/ 'harsh'. He also has plenty of scars, some deeper than most. In particular, there's a prominent, deep slash on his back, from his left shoulder to right hip. Though it's not always seen due to his hair or cloak hiding it.
He wears thick leather and furs. Most noticeably, his heavy cloak that is meticulously embroidered. And of course the chieftain's headdress though he doesn't wear it unless for formal/ important matters.
Like his son, he is also often shirtless. Tho he wears several necklaces, including two that is a single fang with some delicates runes carved in them. If you look close enough, you can make out a name on each
He is about 2.4 metres/ 8' ft and very muscular, bulky build. He is far from the tallest but he's certainly someone hard to miss.
[If you need a comparison, then Burning Spice Cookie worksābut much, much less angry lol.]
Erik & Erikka
While in the current game both are very similarāErikka has more fierce and sharp features, while her brother's is more softerāwhich becomes even more prominent as they grow older.
Both have the pale green fur of their tribe, but Erikka's is especially pale, nearly white. Her eyes are also a grey-blue. Erik's eyes are sky blue, making them stand out agaist his mint green fur
Erikka keeps her hair incredibly short, a pixie cut. She wears a simple head chain with a blue gem in the centre (it matches her brother's eyes) She takes it off only during hunts
Erik meanwhile has his hair in a braided top knot, with a bone hair stick. It doubles as a weapon (a gift from his twin)
Their markings are the same colour but different appearance to reflect their different roles; a hunter and a merchant respectively.
Also, Erikka may or may not have an arm.
Erikka is 2 metres/ 6'5" ft while Erik is 1.9 metres/ 6'2" ft. The older twin has a more athletic but balanced build while the other is more slim.
Henrietta
Henrietta is a very chonky gal (don't tell her that) but she's also very puffy. She wears a necklace that has the clan's emblem etched into a small wooden piece with a simple wire necklace.
She also wears metal talons, in-lined with gold. It protects her feet but also serves as a weapon. While it usually makes noise when she moves, she can also be terrifyingly silent when she needs to be.
She is noticeably bigger than even the other chickens but nothing too abnormal.
________________
While Leif has a canon design, please feel free to interpret it however you wish! I'll leave some references of his appearance under cut
I remove his references as I realised/ remembered; I do not have permission. While I have revamped the design, I am unsure if the original creator allows me to use the design for this thus I decided to 'revoke'
Design notes:
The pale brown markings are required. They are symbols of both his clan and being a cleric
The glow and wings only appear if he's calling upon his patronāin other words, in dire/ desperate situations. Please do not draw him with them otherwise
His claws are non-retractable
Leif is above average heightābut for his clan/ vikings, he is seen as an adorable munchkin.
Leif wears hakama pants (like Douma from Demon Slayer). This is his 'default' attire.
During ceremonies/ rituals or events/ celebrations, he'd obviously change into something more fittingādepending if he needs to be 'Leif, the Hearth's Cleric' or 'Leif, son of Sigurd, heir of the Ursa-Frost clan'.
His staff can be shrinked for ease and convenience. He often wears it like a bracelet, flicking his wrist for it to take back it's staff form. While he can alter its size to a degree, his staff is usually comically bigger than him.
A knock on the door breaks through your thoughts. You turn to look at it, straining to hear a voice or perhaps another knock. You wait a moment, then twoāyet nothing. Doubt starts curling inside you when finally another knock is heard, followed by a muffled voice asking whether they could come in.
You suck in a sharp breath, instinctively leaning back into the pillows and pulling the blanket to cover yourself more.
'Wait, it must be... one of them right?' Your thoughts shift to the duo who found you. You suspect this would be the shorter one, silent and ever watchful.
With a deep breath, you call out for them to enter.
Another tense silence before the door is slowly and smoothly pushed open. With your gaze pinned on the door, it flits immediately to the strangerāand you feel your tensed jaw go slack. Your eyes widen as you take them in, scanning them disbelievingly from head to toe. Yet no matter how much you try to force yourself to focus, you are painfully aware the person is someone you recognise.
Of course you do. You spent hours planning and even researching meticulously on how to destroy his life, how to wipe the smile off his face and replace with anything else.
He has never hesitatedāheās not going to start with you
Calm and serene, Leif is the heir of the Ursa-Frost tribe. Do not let his soft-spoken nature fool you thoughāthe beastkin can be frighteningly calm and steadfast, rarely shaken or affected by chaos. Perhaps thatās why fate decided you should meet. Despite the clashing personalities of his clan, they all love and cherish him dearly, never treating him as less.
That peace, that easy acceptanceāit fills you with envy.
Youāve spent hours planning his ruin, how to destroy his happy life, how to make those calm eyes quake with any other emotion.
Will you be able to go through with it, now that he stands before you, with no screen to hide behind?
The rest of the characters:
Sigurd, son of Ander
āYa got a home here lass.ā
His laugh is a war cryāit can be a sign of assurance and warning in the same rumble
Sigurd is a loud and proud viking. Quick to joke and easy to laugh, with a voice that many swear could wake the dead and endless cheer. Yet one defining trait he and his son shares is their integrity; both are true to themselves.
Heās always been supportive to Leif, the very reason the heir is so self-assured and never doubtful of his worth. That said, under his cheer, lies a perceptive and wisen man. One that has lived too long to be fooled by a brat and her āmagic knifeā.
Which is exactly why you had to eliminate him. To watch the giant of a man be reduced to less than the air itself, to watch the pain and fear and worry eating away at his son. To watch the entire clan grieve the loss of such a lively, beloved soulāwho still walks beside them, now less a person, more a hollowed shell
Will you be able to kill him again, now that you can feel his warm arms wrapping around you in a firm embrace?
Errika & Erik Finn
āAwh, cāmon, you love us!ā āHorrible decision, reallyā
Her soul is filled with so much light, it spills into her smile
He cares deeply, in the silence between whispers and the laughter of his family
The twins are near polar opposites; Errika is bubbly and cheery yet a formidable hunter while Erik is sharp and wry, prefering using his intellect. Yet the two are near inseparable, always seen together. They are close to you and Leifās age thus becoming close friends to you as well. Both siblings care for you, trusting you just as they trust one another.
In one life, you had ruin them, taking away Leifās closest companions so that only you are left. Made him rely solely on you, the only one who hadnāt left him.
Will you be able to do so again, now that youāve shared laughter and smiles, after they treat you as their own?
Henrietta
Her hatred of you is only outmatched by her love for the tribe
Also often called the Iron Beak, The Feathery Tyrant, this chicken is absolute menace and is not sorry for it all. Players either hate or loved her; she hates all of you irrevocably. Protective and territorial, the hen immediately took a disliking to the player, often pecking or squawking at you.
During the previous game, she would often patrol and watch you closely, trying to find any semblance of wrongdoing before crying out loudly to alert the clan. It meant you had to be extremely carefulāor eleminate her early.
Will you let her ruffle your feathers once more, or will you try to befriend this fierce guardian in chicken form?
The Ursa-Frost
A family that if crossed, will remind you that theyāre also a viking clan
