Twine WIP author and illustrator (they/them). You can call me Fen. Currently writing Stygian Sun: Total Eclipse, a dark fantasy interactive story. Patreon https://www.patreon.com/FenofCattails
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/fennyth
Check out my art blog @fennythofcattails-ifs https://www.tumblr.com/blog/fennythofcattails-ifs and my website at https://cattailsart.carrd.co/
Nsfw blog @stygian-sun-if-after-dark
After the deaths of your four oldest siblings, taken from you by war, your older sibling, Nour, once fifth in line for the Solar Imperial throne, is now the heir.
This day never should have happened.
As recompense for the ravages your kingdom’s war has inflicted upon the Lunar kingdom of Celestyl, and as assurance it will not happen again, your sibling is to be sent to Celestyl to marry the Lunar King’s heir. An arranged marriage, meant to unite the kingdoms. Or, at least that’s how everyone prefers to phrase it. But you all recognize this for what it really is: a guise. Your sibling will be a political hostage.
And—Theia, grant you guidance—you have had a premonition this is not the worst to come. Should your sibling go to Celestyl, they will not survive.
So you will take their place.
Stygian Sun: Total Eclipse is a dark fantasy interactive fictional story where you play as the sixth child in the proud and grandiose Solar Imperial Dynasty and leave your homeland for a foreign country, where you will take your sibling’s place in an arranged marriage to the heir to the Lunar Kingdom. But something sinister simmers on the horizon—you have felt it in your premonitions; apprehension crawls beneath your skin, foreboding pricks at the back of your neck, dread sinks low and heavy in your stomach. Theia is warning you—of what, you know not, but you have seen the way the Lunar King looks at you. His stare, the dagger, and you, the sacrificial lamb on the altar.
Beware the wolf, little lamb.
Content Warnings: "Stygian Sun: Total Eclipse" contains many upsetting themes, such as arranged marriage, child abuse, child neglect, child death, death, murder, violence, gore, sexually suggestive scenes, optional sexual content, suicidal themes and ideations, and more. "Stygian Sun: Total Eclipse" is intended for mature audiences 18+. Viewer discretion is advised.
Customize your MC's name, gender, pronouns, appearance, personality, and sexuality. Play as straight, gay, lesbian, bi, poly, and/or asexual. MC intro post here.
Shape your personality through your choices and see how it affects dialogue with other characters.
Navigate through the difficulties of court life in a foreign country.
Develop your magic—powers bestowed upon you through your divine bloodline.
Romance one or more of five romantic options, including your betrothed, the Lunar heir; your charming and overly flirtatious retainer; your acolyte, a priestess in training; a kind yet darkly mysterious Celestylian noble; or a peculiar and chaotic mage.
Develop deep and lasting friendships or make enemies. Platonic relationships will be just as deep as romantic ones.
Uncover a sinister plot that threatens everything you hold dear—and decide what you will risk to protect it.
Nour Al’Teia, your older sibling. (Gender dependent on MC’s.) Non-RO Once fifth in line for the Solar Imperial throne, Nour was perfectly content to play a supportive role to Parim, first in line, and the rest of their siblings. Now first in line for the throne, Nour is doing their best to step into a role they were never prepared to fill. Despite their best attempts to reassure you, you can tell this weighs more heavily on them than they let on.
Luca Lupine, your childhood friend. (Gender Selectable. She/her. He/him.) Non-RO Your childhood friend who, at the age of 13, perished in a fire, consumed so completely you were left with not even a body to mourn. Ever since then, whether as a manifestation of your guilt and grief, through some connection beyond the planes of life and death, or through some other means unbeknownst to you, they appear in your dreams, aiding you in parsing through visions and prophecies. [View: Character Profile]
Kieran Zeleskas, the Lunar Heir. (Gender Selectable. She/her. He/him.) RO The Crown Prince/ss of Celestyl. Though not of noble birth, events put into motion by their father have elevated them to this position, one they seem to have adapted to rather well by all appearances. Stoic and aloof, they seem less than pleased about this arrangement between the two of you. You’re inclined to agree. [View: Character Profile]
Alektis de Celestys, the lone princess. (She/her.) Non-RO The adoptive sister to Kieran. The slaughter of her family during the coup that brought Kieran’s father to power has rendered her irascible and hostile to most everyone. Though she mostly keeps to herself, with only her retainer, Nihm, for company, you often find her tumultuous glare trained on you, a complex look on her face you can’t quite decipher. [View: Character Profile]
Nihm de Circené, the guardian. (They/them.) RO Devoted retainer to Alektis and last surviving member of House Circené. Kind and sociable, Nihm is well-regarded in both noble and commoner social circles alike. However, their warm and affable disposition cannot completely hide the apprehension in their gait, nor the trembling in their hands. Still, they do their best to welcome you in a place where everyone seems dead-set on hating you. [View: Character Profile]
Aurynn Anouar, the retainer. (He/him.) RO Seeming to have appeared from out of nowhere, Aurynn rescued you from a dire situation during your first battle experience, and afterwards was appointed your retainer and has served you as such ever since. Charismatic, laidback, and flirtatious to a fault, Aurynn tends to either charm or annoy everyone he meets. Despite his insistence that he is an open book, sometimes you can’t help but feel the opposite; indeed, everything about him seems shrouded in secrecy. [View: Character Profile]
Samira Nahdiri, the priestess. (She/her.) RO Certain events left her family deeply shamed and nearly destitute until her exceptional accomplishments as a healer elevated her to the renowned position as your acolyte, drawing upon the power of your blood to learn healing magic in her pursuit to become a priestess. Strong, loyal, and compassionate, she is devoted to caring for her family above all else, and she counts you among them. [View: Character Profile]
Lilith/Lucien de Arcanis, the mage. (Gender Selectable. She/they. He/they.) RO The adopted heir to House Arcanis, a line of powerful and highly skilled mages. Wild-eyed with a wolfish grin, their peculiar and eccentric mannerisms tend to unsettle their peers, leaving them rather isolated in social circles—a circumstance which doesn’t seem to bother them one way or the other. For better or worse, it appears they’ve taken a rather intense interest in you. [View: Character Profile]
Poly Options (subject to change): any ROs will be able to be romanced independently or simultaneously.
Sibling Character Art: Farah, Nour, Aurora, Parim, Ember, Castor
Hiiii Fen quick question. Who is your favorite character to torture normally? I know all of them are gonna go through it but who do you get the most ideas for.
Honestly, they all go through the rotation and I have lots of horrid ideas for all of em. They each get their turn spinnin in the microwave, but recently Nihm has been on the rotation ☝️😌 I am so ready to make them unravel; tbh their route is gonna have some brutal shit :D 👍💖🐛
Hi Fen!! How's the heatwave treating you? It hasn't passed where I live yet (or it did and we got another one back to back? Idk climate change sucks) and it got me wondering, how would the ROs react to an MC who when it gets super hot just walks around butt naked whenever they can. Bonus points if if anyone tries to start some smexy times (I'm looking at you L) they just go "my entire body is covered in a thick sheen of sweat if you put a single finger I am Cutting it Off"
Sorry for the long and self indulgent ask but it hot as hell in this fucky ass hot ass room that I'm in
It’s too hooooooot :(((( 👎 (under the cut)
Kieran: they prefer the cold and are used to a cooler climate, and while they won’t complain, they are miserable. And unfortunately MC walking around naked is not helping them cool down, tho they can’t blame MC. They’d like to take their clothes off too but don’t feel comfortable walking around naked. Invites MC to go swimming.
Nihm: used to cooler temps, so the heat can bug (🐛) them but they don’t complain. If post relationship, they’ll avert their eyes if mc walks around naked but might sneak glances. In an effort to help cool them both down, they might propose a cool bath together or going down to the water, be it a lake or the sea.
Lilith/Lucien: tbh they’d make half-hearted flirtatious comments, but they absolutely HATE being hot and would also be a miserable naked wreck. Over dramatic moping and suffering. They don’t use their magic often, but they might make an exception now for a lil ice magic.
Samira: she can handle the heat, but obvs it gets bad when it’s crazy hot. She does prefer the heat over the cold tho. Assuming shes in a relationship with mc, she would not remark much on them being naked, tho if they’ll put at least some clothes on they can come join her in the shade with handheld fans and she’ll make them a nice glass of a hydrating drink. Even better if L can make her some ice cubes.
Aurynn: he can handle arid heat to a degree, but detests being all gross and sweaty, esp if it’s humid. Too busy complaining and whining to flirt. Feels like he’s in soup :(( 👎 And he’s all stickyyy :(( Can we go swimming?? :(( (coincidentally i do have a very horrible mental episode planned for him on a hot day preceded by him whining :D 👍)
Do you have any recs for websites about meaning and symbolism of flowers? 👀
The ones I have bookmarked rn are some on flowers with negative meanings here and here, and some more comprehensive lists here, here, and here. :))) 👍🌹🪻🌸🌺🌷🌻🌼💐🥀🪷
The amount of beautiful poses I get where the model is in WATER is worrying, seeing the history we have with water..what is my Pinterest trying to tell me😨
I just reread the IF as Cecilia and hello???? The added "drink the tonic for Samira, maybe then she'll let you stare at her" choice?? I usually went for the choice that ends with Aurynn terrified by the mc just drinking it with no issue, but just couldn't NOT go for dear Samira
And then the "you're so trainable", the way Cecil's "Im what?" Came out so insanely high pitched the noise might as well have only been audible to dogs, poor girl is discovering something new about themself
Also, in the garden, after asking Raya if Sam has any suitors, and Samira saying Aurynn has done the same thing before, i can only imagine Ceci mentally going "ah, so he's the competition, damn traitor"
And i can't help but laugh at this girl being oh so cold, calculated and manipulative with everyone, only to turn into the sweetest, most docile thing as soon as Sam is there
I mean, I know what being nonbinary is, but like im confused how it works when you chose you're not Trans while being nonbinary. Yes, its just that you dont correspond to any specific sex, but how are you born that way? I've just been assuming it meant we were intersex at birth
I suppose I am a bit confused at your question then—right now the only options are cisgender or trans/other. If you select trans/other as an umbrella category, you’ll have an opportunity to expand on MCs identity, but it won’t be set up in such a way that you can choose one identity but specifically not another, like nonbinary but not trans in your example. You would just select nonbinary when given the option to elaborate on MCs identity. MC would have either transitioned into that chosen identity in their youth or adulthood.
I've always been confused by this, but if you choose to be nonbinary and not Trans, does it mean you are born as intersex?
Not necessarily—nonbinary is just an identity that does not correspond to any specific sex. Right now in the character creator, you can choose cisgender or trans/other. There will be a choice to expand on trans/other in Act 2. :)
Hi! I was wondering, how many chapters are planned for SSTE? Since MCs bonds and their love for their friends and family will be a central theme, I'm assuming MC will inevitably end up becoming closer with the rest of the cast, but for some MCs that road will probably be.. Slow. Reluctant. Painful even. So I'm curious about the pacing and stuff!
Answered in the FAQ in the pinned post! :) I have the storys plot planned out and I map those points down more concretely as I get to each part, so I have only a rough estimate of how many Acts I will map those events into. 🤔 but yeye mc shall become frens with everyone whether they like it or not. Get Loved, Idiots 💖
Wait, does Samira know how to make whatever this world’s version of HRT is? Can she be our girlypop diy hrt supplier?
(Nah but seriously, we know she’s fond of producing medicines, and transitioned at a comparatively early age. Would she have helped trans Mc transition in some way? Cause if so; omg awwww)
She sure does :) 👍💖 Her surrogate mother provided her with her HRT meds growing up, and she knows how to administer them to others now too. Early Act Two has a choice eventually that will expand on a trans MC’s identity, and I’m thinking that will include a choice on if MC transitioned young or somewhat recently. If older, Sam would have helped, yup 👍:3 💖🐛🌈✨🏳️⚧️ and she can still supply meds etc if it was younger
You're jealous because Rynn has other friends. I'm jealous because they're not my friends (yet. this is a threat). We are not the same. Slash joking slash reference
Fr tho I think my mc would be a bit relieved to see him this familiar with other people too.
That might probably serve as a bridge between my mc and the circus (is this their team name now?), hmmmmm. Cause like, if Aurynn doesn't hate them, I guess they could be fine 🙄. Maybe. Surely his taste can't be that horrible (there's us and Samira after all).
mimicry is a common bonding behavior in social species ☝️ time to put on your clown makeup
OOH IM DONE!! Thank yous for the references🫶 random daro drawing #1 ⬇️
The refs i used from you guysss⬇️⬇️
Pose😗⬇️
OMG YOU FINISHED THAT SO FAST!!! :O I didnt even have time to answer your other ask :O BUT AAAA 🐛👍💖🌈✨🤙👀‼️🙏🫣🫵😳👌💖 SO PRETTY!!! I love the refs you used and all the gold looks so pretty on Daro!! I love the hair pulled up like that too and the pose def suits them!!! :3 AMAZING BEAUTIFUL WORK AS ALWAYS 👏👏👏👏💖💖💖 Thanks so much for sharing!!!
