Don't Cry For Me is a fantasy story set in a low-magic world. The world is a cruel place, and most intend just to survive. You want to thrive.
Play as the second child of the greatest general that the Empire of Dacian has seen in a generation. However, to your father's dismay, you are a daughter rather than a son. His dismay only deepens when you are followed by your twin sister.
Your childhood is a happy one, despite your father's disappointment with your sex and your mother's resentment. You played with your siblings and friends. You even got to meet the royal family.
When Emperor Velen is overthrown, you are a month off from turning eighteen. A barbarian, Cahir of Leofrey, takes the throne and ten days after your birthday, your sister and you are summoned to serve as concubines.
How will you cope when you are hiding a secret? That a voice plagues you most days and nights, urging you to do things that ought not be spoken about? Will you be able to claw your way to power?
Play as a young woman whose fate you control.
Customize your character, and her family as a result.
Enter the palace and capture the eyes of the most powerful people in the realm, or rebuke tradition and stay true to your heart.
Gain power for yourself or for the benefit of those you care about.
Choose to let your heart, your brain, or both to guide you in relationships with the Emperor, the Empress, your childhood friend, and a mysterious figure.
Discover where the voice that haunts you comes from...
All have their cons. Some have their pros... Perhaps one of them will help you get to where you want to be.
Emperor Cahir of Leofrey
A barbarian. He stole the emperor's throne and desecrates the legacy of those who came before him by keeping the company of witches and warlocks. He killed the entire royal family, save the eldest daughter, who is now his empress.
Appearance: Cahir stands at 6'3' (190 cm). He has platinum blond hair that only reaches his ears. His skin is pale, and he has icy blue eyes that make him look unnerving. He is thirteen years older than the MC.
Empress Sirin Daken
The eldest and favorite child of the Fourth Daken Emperor. After Emperor Cahir killed Emperor Velen and his son on the field of battle, he took Sirin as his wife to give his reign legitmacy. As expected, she hates him and wears black to show mourning for the family her husband killed.
Appearance: Sirin is a tall woman, standing at 5'7" (170 cm). Her long, glossy black hair is unstyled and her tanned skin is flawless. Her dark brown eyes seem empty. She is six years older than the MC.
Yves/Yve
Y has always been a friend to you. Whether that is all they are, or if they are an adopted sibling or a bastard of your father is up to you.
(Note: If female, Yve will pretend to be a man to join you in the palace.)
Appearance: Y is tall, standing at 5'9" (175 cm) if female and 6'1 (185 cm) if male. They have shoulder length brown hair, piercing green eyes, and dark olive skin. They are one year older than the MC.
???
Is there anything to say about a man you do not know?
Family is important, isn't it? After all, your family may be all you have to fall back on.
Kaiyan, Your Father
Your father is a hard man to know. He spends almost of his time at home with your brothers. Is it regret that flickers in his eys when the Emperor Cahir summons you?
Asya, Your Mother
Your mother is prone to melancholy and her health is frail. She turns to witches to regain her health and retain her beauty. She blames Suna and you for her illnesses and Lukhan's condition.
Tian, Your Elder Brother
Your elder brother and your father's perfect son. He is shaping up to be a talented soldier, but can he live up to your father's legacy?
Suna, Your Sister
Your identical twin sister. She is content to follow your lead. Whether she is a welcome follower or not, you are the person she relies on the most.
Lukhan, Your Younger Brother
Your younger brother inherited some of your mother's frality. He is smart, but rarely tries to use his mind. Sometimes you wonder if he hides behind his health as a shield.
This story is an incredibly dark one. Content Warnings include the discussion of miscarriages, child abuse (and the discussion of it), misogyny, and optional incest with an adopted sibling or a half-sibling (there is a choice to be unrelated). There will be more Content Warnings added as the story progresses and will have a dedicated screen in the Demo.
Today, your husband has come home. How will you welcome him back?
Your husband has been away for a year. Both you and your eight children are excited to welcome him home. However, he seems to be a little lost and forgetful. That's fine. You can help him through that. All that matters is he has finally Come Home.
Seeing that Nosferatu 2024 got a limited edition perfume (expensive af, no way I can afford this), but I cant get it anyway cause it doesnt ship to Europe
Hearing it smells like wet asphalt (best scent) man I want it so bad...
Will watch the new movie with a friend when it comes in german cinemas next year!
Still really disappointing, gif of my reaction
(unrelated but writing is going well, volery scenes are finished now the evening will be fleshed out a bit and the wrap up of the time skip can begin, I already have 1k for the very first new "meeting" with the Strays)
Welcome to the first entry in my blog series about my journey as a novice Interactive Fiction (IF) writer. With a background in game design and experience as a tabletop RPG Dungeon Master, I've always been intrigued by the unique storytelling potential of IF, particularly the concept of agency.
The Novel vs. The Game vs. The IF
In traditional novels, a significant amount of time is devoted to fleshing out the protagonist's motivations, backstory, and personality. This groundwork is essential for readers to understand and empathize with the characters' actions. In contrast, video games focus extensively on creating immersive scenes, allowing players to visualize and interact with the story's setting and characters without relying on the player's imagination.
Interactive Fiction, however, operates on a different level.
The medium doesn't necessarily require extensive character backstories or immersive graphical environments. Instead, IF thrives on the absence of these elements, offering unique storytelling opportunities through what is arguably the most powerful tool in gaming: Agency.
Using Agency as a Storytelling Tool
Interestingly, restricting agency can be an effective narrative technique. This approach works best when a certain level of agency has already been established. By gradually limiting choices or disabling options, you can effectively convey feelings of powerlessness or helplessness. This method creates tension and elicits emotional responses from the player.
For example, imagine wanting to portray a character grappling with depression or a lack of motivation. Present the player with multiple positive actions that the character knows they should undertake, but can't bring themselves to do. You might present options like:
Do the dishes
Go for a walk
Take a shower
Go back to bed
Except, some of these options are grayed out, unavailable. This subtle storytelling device powerfully conveys the character's emotional state without explicitly stating it. It allows players to project their own experiences and interpretations onto the character, creating a more personalized and immersive narrative.
Agency: Not Just a Novel with Choices
It's crucial to remember that IF is not simply a novel with added choices. Approaching it as such can lead to a narrative that feels like herding cats, trying to manage unwieldy choice permutations, or, worse, neglecting the essence of player agency. IF requires a unique balance, a careful orchestration of choices that both guide the narrative and allow for meaningful player interaction.
In summary, understanding and effectively utilizing agency can transform your IF into an engaging, emotionally resonant experience. It's about offering choices that matter, that shape the narrative and reflect the player's influence on the story world. So, embrace the power of agency and see where it can take your storytelling in the realm of Interactive Fiction.
I was having a hard time writing for a while, I wasn't super happy with how my last flash fiction went, I feel like I could have done better.
But taking a step back and writing a new beginning to the story is really helping the slog I was going through. I want things to be a bit slower, more build up.
I also don't make story outlines, I've just been making stuff up off the cuff, which has been great for creativity, but a little lackluster on structure, so I'm focusing more on big picture ideas right now, and less on the details.
