I've finally finished the shadows for the new title card! Highlights, here I come!
I've got to say, things have been awfully busy lately! Between my full-time job, moving, and all the things I desperately want to be working on, I feel like I've still been getting nothing done! Hopefully, now that things are settling down outside of my art, I can start focusing more on releasing new chapters of IMR and creating art! I still have some lineart for my Sailor Scout/Arcana MC project I'd love to get back to as well!
All that aside, I'm so happy with how this is turning out! Hopefully, I can have it completed soon!
Dorian.live and NixHydra please please please consider making Billie Smee and Scarlett Blackwood from Fictif's Isle of Enchantment a route or consider them being a love interest. If you have the time, please consider it. I can see or sense that these two characters have a story to them as the other characters but we want to know more specifically about these two. I hope you can take it to consideration.
I've decided that Faust (from 'The Arcana: A Mystic Romance') should be my first decorative addition to the tip jar! This gave me a chance to play around a bit with layering; I think I'm at least getting a little more efficient. Coming along bit by bit! This will be the image I'll be using at the end of my episodes! 🐍
Please feel free to use this piece in your own Dorian stories if you'd like; just be sure to credit me. <3
(You can download the hi-res PNG file on my Ko-Fi page).
One of my favourite relationship dynamics in The Arcana is between Julian and Mazelinka; and honestly, they're some of my favourite parts to write in 'In Medias Res.'
Here's one of my favourite exchanges between them from Chapter 2: 'Crossed Paths' (II - The High Priestess / III - The Empress/ IV - The Emperor)
You can read this story on Dorian.live ♡ There are currently 8 whole chapters to play, and many more to come!
Play as either Anya Strekoza, my Apprentice character, or insert your own name/art for your own! You can also select your pronouns at the beginning of each episode! Immerse yourself; fall in love with your favourite auburn-haired scoundrel all over again ♡ He's waiting for you!
So... when I'm writing a new chapter of 'In Medias Res,' one of the first things I do is create a "skeleton" of the storyline. Basically just a rough trajectory of the events of the story, some notes, etc. so I can just go back and start filling things out with more detail (and half-decent grammar. I needed to change 'deep' to 'deepen').
Sometimes, I forget what my 'notes' turn into when I'm overtired.
I literally don't even remember putting this in, but I mean... points for accuracy? 🤷🏻♀️🙃
(Side note: obviously, I do not actually make Muriel say this in the story. 🤣 I wouldn't do him dirty like that.)
I have a new game in the works set to release on Dorian! I thought I'd put out a little info on what can be expected going forward.
If you're curious about the project, I've got something of an FAQ under the cut ♡
I've never heard of Dorian. What is it?
Dorian is a game/streaming platform that allows it's creators to write their own visual-novel-style games by offering a community and an easy-to-use game-making engine. You can then release the games to be played by others, where they can stream their playthroughs, leave comments, etc.
If you haven't already, go check it out here!
What is this story?
This story takes place in the universe of the original 'The Arcana' series.
It will follow the story of Anastasia "Anya" Strekoza - my own original character for the game. It will start from the day of her birth all the way up to the events of The Red Plague.
It will be playable only on Dorian.live ♡
When will it be released?
As of right now, there is no official release date set.
This is due to the fact that the story is going to take a long time to develop.
When I do have an official release date, I will be posting it (free access) here, on Ko-Fi, and on our socials (Instagram/TikTok).
If you're curious about early access I've included some info at the end of this post.
Why will it take so long?
There are a couple reasons for this. I will be first writing the story, which will take time in and of itself, but unlike my 'In Medias Res' story, I will also be creating all original character sprites and backgrounds (as well as CG art).
The main reason for this is that I will need to create my own sprites as many of the sprites I need do not currently exist- that and I'd like to do everything in my own style. As much as I adore the style of the original 'The Arcana' art, I can't replicate it as seamlessly as I would like.
So a character sprite from the original artist paired with my own custom-made sprites would look.... out of place.
The writing of the story is only going to take maybe a tenth of the time; the rest of the process will all be in the art.
Is it a romance? Who is the main love interest?
There will be romance in it, but it is as not as much of a focus as it has been in my 'In Medias Res' story.
You'll get to see how Anya's relationships developed throughout her story, so you can expect lots of sweet moments and fluff, but seeing as how much of the story takes place when the characters are quite young, don't expect much in the way of spice until say, the last half of the story or so (when the characters are fully grown).
There are technically two main love interests; one is most present in the first half of the story, the other comes in during the last half. For those of you familiar with the original 'The Arcana' series, you've probably already guess who those characters will be.
That being said, for those of you who don't mind spoilers, you can either ask me directly who the specific characters are, or you can check the teaser episode on Dorian.
Will I get to use my own character/pronouns?
Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Also yes, but there's a caveat.
You will get to select your pronouns, that much is certain. However, unlike my 'In Medias Res' series, this story has been built around Anya specifically, and may not align with your expectations of your own character.
For example, Anya's eyes are green and her hair is brown - but if your character has say, silver eyes and white hair, this may break the immersion for you.
Still, if you still want to use your own name, pronouns and character sprite, I will make sure these are still options nonetheless.
Tell me about early access.
If you are a paid member on either our Ko-Fi or here on our Patreon, you will get to:
• see CGs, sprites and backgrounds at least a week, sometimes even a month before they hit the public
• get to read the written manuscripts as they are completed!
That means you may get to read the full canon story before the first episode is even released on Dorian, which could be months or even a year away.
If that's something that interests you, consider becoming an Honourary Strude ♡
I created a story on Dorian! This app and desktop platform lets writers create games out of their stories. Readers can interact by leaving comments, livestreaming, and more! I plan to livestream the first episode of Hannah Homicide soon, but you can read it on Dorian now!
Turn your story into a game
and earn money with no coding!
