Hi all! I’ve been trying to figure out a better way to utilize my KoFi account and monetize my work. While Viatica is and always will be free, Cantata takes a significant amount of time and labor, and I believe my writing has value.
I at first considered a monthly subscription with additional content like extra scenes not in the original, or RO POVs. But I’ve had difficulty finding the time to write anything beyond the IF itself. I’m also worried that if I commit to writing monthly extras, it will become a source of stress and rob me of the joy I take in this project.
The answer? I’m going to monetize things I already do. I will no longer post sneak peeks to Tumblr and will only post them in KoFi. As a subscriber, you’ll get mid-chapter updates and see the work in progress; you’ll also get early access to the main update. When I “finish” a chapter I tend to sit on it for 3-4 weeks to flesh out scenes or sprinkle in flavor text. Chapter 4 was technically finished 3 weeks prior to the release, but I like to let it marinate. This is when I’ll release it to subscribers; there may be some discrepancies between the 2 versions, but nothing significant.
If I commission more art, I’ll share that process, too, from conception sketch to final.
If you don’t subscribe, you’ll miss nothing. There is nothing extra outside of the IF, neither will there be additional delays to updates. I still plan to keep to a quarterly publishing schedule as much as I can. But if you DO subscribe monthly, you’ll get to read Cantata as I write it, and get a unique behind the scenes look into my writing process, spoilers, and my future plans for Cantata.
There will only be one tier, priced at $5/month. I’m limiting it to KoFi for now, but if this is successful and there’s enough interest, I may look into Patreon.
I’ll wait a few weeks to get a little more work on Chapter 5 done, but around Thanksgiving I’ll give all subscribers access to the beta as your first perk. We’re 18k words into Chapter 5 so far! 💪🏻
Thank you for following me and for your support, whether that be monetary or not. This has been a wonderful experience and I enjoy sharing it with this community. ❤️
I’ve seen a bunch of fics in which Henry has his usual, mostly mischievous little skills, like lockpicking, pickpocketing, poisonous alchemy… And that’s truly great. I love when people (rightfully so) paint Henry as gremlin.
I just wish the nastier skills were used, too.
Human dustbin :
Hans : What ? Surely you’re not going to eat that, it’s started to smell rotten already !
Henry : No, this is still fine. The freshness level is still orange. (chomps down the meat)
Hans : For the love of god- Henry !! Spit it out you fool, you’ll get sick !!
Revenant :
Hans : And DON’T move. I’ve stitched you up once - I don’t want to do it again. Understand, Henry ? Stay.
Henry : Yes, yes, my lord. Your loyal hound isn’t moving an inch. Don’t worry though, I’m fine, really.
Hans : Fine, he says !! His forearm was almost cut off and he’s… he… is your wound better or am I seeing things ?
Henry : Mmh ? Oh yeah, look at that. It’s started healing already.
Hans : You were cut barely ten minutes ago !!
Henry : You know what they say. Healing is faster in good company.
Hans : That is untrue !! And absolutely NOT a real saying !!
Steak Tartare :
Hans : … Henry. Don’t tell me-
Henry : I’m too hungry to wait for it to cook. Do you want some ?
Hans : This is raw meat !! The fuck is wrong with you ?!
Henry : More for me then. (chomps down the meat)
Hans : GOD- healer !! Can anyone call a healer here ?!
Cushion :
Henry : And done. Thanks for lending me this book. It was really interesting.
Hans : Henry. Don’t even pretend. There’s no way you read this whole thing in an hour.
Henry : Yes I did. I was comfortable.
Hans : It’s a manual on the art of warfare and you learned to read two weeks ago !!
Henry : What do you want me to say ? I was comfortable !!
Manly odour :
Hans : *sees Henry, covered in mud and blood, talk to women who immediately swoon*
Hans : *walks up to them and they reply formally, absolutely unchanged*
Hans : I mean. I don’t actually care but. How ???
Henry : What ?
Contemplative :
Hans : … Henry. Please go to sleep. Please drink or eat something. You’ve been standing in the same spot for literal days.
Henry : I’m fine. Barely lost twenty points of energy and nourishment and I was at 100 each. Also the player is afk.
Hans : See ? You’re delirious. I beg of you, sleep. You can even use my bed. I know you like it.
Henry : This is fine.
Hans : Alright. I tried to be nice. Sleep or I will knock you out.
professor miller has been dating someone for almost the whole semester, and no one knows who. well, except you…because you’re the one dating him. you met the summer before your freshman year, started dating, and to both of your surprise, joel was your teacher.
now, he didn’t favor you. he didn’t spend extra time on work with you though he did spend extra time in your pants compared to the other students. you decided to move in together, off campus. you drive separately and spend your days apart when at school, you keep it casual. even though it’s not even close to that.
you’re infatuated by your history teacher/boyfriend. he’s all you ever needed, all you ever craved. and he’s not bad to look at either. salt and pepper curls, tanned skin, not too shabby looking in a white button up and slacks~. it’s safe to say you struggle not to stare in class.
like right now, you’re learning about the franco-prussian war, except you’re learning about how long you can stare at your handsome boyfriend without him noticing. seems like about- 3 minutes. damn it, he caught you.
his brows raise slightly as he keeps talking, looking away after giving you a sharp look, pacing in front of his projector as you go back to your doodling. you do better taking notes while he’s telling you in a deep, husky voice, right in your ear while you sit in his lap. so you know you’ll get them later.
perks of boning the professor i guess. he drones on for about an hour more before he dismisses the class, you unfortunately fell asleep, meaning you stayed behind without even trying. not suspicious if you’re just conked out at your seat.
“darlin’….darlin’ wake up..” joel strokes back your curls, whispering you awake. you grunt and whine, blinking blearily before sighing,
“i fell asleep…” you grumble, yawning and whining a bit. he sighs,
“yeah you did, baby…” he strokes your hair til you wake up enough to sit up. when you finally do, he smiles soft, lovingly. it makes your heart melt..
“how’s junior..?” his eyes dart down to your stomach, brows pinching in concern. oh right, you’re pregnant. you found out a month ago…it’s quite early in your relationship, but you love the babe nonetheless.
“fine…just fine…tiring me out, of course…” that’s the one symptom you’ve come to hate the most. you can’t do anything without needing a nap halfway through. joel hums in understanding before he caringly packs up your school stuff. you slowly wake up as he does, standing when he ushers you up.
you walk to his office and sit with him for the rest of the day, lounging as he grades and lesson plans.
As someone who didn’t know shit about dick when first getting into these games, I felt the tiiiiiniest bit catfished by the steam banner—
Henry’s surrounded by Hans, Žizka, and Katherine all looking very much like companion options for later on. (Seeing I could buy women’s clothes from the tailor only cemented this misconception.) Obviously, this was not that case. Really about the closest you get is keeping Capon’s ass alive during story quests and ferrying Rosa around. And I’m not mad about it! Being a guy alone with his horse and dog fits what the game is going for. But as someone who really loves all these characters, I am a bit sad we can’t interact with them more.
So, I’m going to pretend this is an alternative universe where you can bring the cast along. (Then I’m going to double pretend that they have affection levels and if you max them out you get a secondary, cooler perk.) Yes, this does sound a lot like the companion system from Fallout 4. Anyhow—
Hans Capon
Initial Perk: Charming Smile – Something about having a noble peeking over your shoulder makes conversations go smoother than they normally would. (Henry’s charisma increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Impeccable Shot – You always knew Hans was the better archer, but he’s never been this good. Not that you’re complaining, you need all the help you can get. (Hans’ marksmanship increases by 5.)
Romance: Audentes Fortuna Iuvat – With him by your side you think you could be bold forever. (Henry’s warfare is increased by 3.)
Katherine
Initial Perk: Under their Noses – Katherine knows just how to go unnoticed, even when wearing ostentatious finery. (Conspicuousness is decreased by 15.)
Max Affinity: Sneak Attack – When sneaking up on two enemies, if you kill or incapacitate the first Katherine will kill or incapacitate the second.
Romance: Balm for the Soul – You soothe each other’s monsters. Every night results in a restful sleep. (Henry’s energy reduces half as fast.)
Jan Žižka
Initial Perk: Wage War – Žižka is nice enough to teach you a few tricks. All of them are dirty. (Henry’s Warfare increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Skullcracker – Nothing like a man with a mace watching your back. Even down an eye, Žižka is a terror. (Žižka’s heavy weapons increases by 5.)
Samuel
Initial Perk: Vengeance - There’s few other men you’d prefer to have at your back in a fight. Especially since Sam keeps drawing enemy attention off of you.
Max Affinity: Almost-Brother - When taking on multiple opponents Sam can jump in and prevent a killing blow.
Godwin
Initial Perk: Debauchery – With Godwin you can drink twice as much as before. Perhaps his godly aura is keeping you sober. Oh well. Time for more wine!
Max Affinity: Mysterious Ways – It seems Christ Himself is in your corner. Enemies will randomly become tired or drop their guard.
Dry Devil
Initial Perk: Drunken Master – Sometimes you wonder how the Devil is still standing, let alone hitting targets at 50 paces. But he’s an apt teacher all the same. (Henry’s Marksmanship increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Long Shot – It is utterly ridiculous the things you’ve seen Hynek do with a crossbow, and now you’re getting the hang of it too. (The farther the target the more damage Henry does.)
Kubyenka
Initial Perk: Charmingly Obnoxious – You’ve had to cover for this idiot so often you’ve found yourself better able to speak in general. (Henry’s speech increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Devil’s Luck – You are convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt this man should not be alive. (Kubyenka turns a blow that should have killed him into one that kills the enemy.)
Janosh Uher
Initial Perk: How the Sausage is Made – Janosh knows the best cuts of meat and how best to preserve them. Your hunts are always more successful with him.
Max Affinity: Unexpected Guile – It’s easy to lose track of Janosh in the middle of a fight. So easy that enemies keep dying from being stabbed in the back while you were keeping them busy.
Adder
Initial Perk: Backup Plan - You’ve never run this much (or from so many angry husbands) in your entire life. At least it’s made you faster. (Henry’s speed increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Cat Calling – Just because you can ignore Adder threatening to fuck somebody’s wife doesn’t mean the enemy can. And, since you’re with him, they take offense to you as well. (Henry’s taunts are twice as effective.)
Rosa Ruthard
Initial Perk: Noble Education – Rosa has a lot to say about a lot of things and she’s more than happy to narrate your entire time on the road. You take it as an opportunity to learn. (Henry’s scholarship increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Sniper – Sometimes a headshot from the back line is all that stands between you and victory. Rosa, luckily, is good at those. (Rosa is more likely to hit critical areas in battle.)
Romance: Shining Armor – Being her ever-loyal knight has made you able to withstand the toughest battles. (The effectiveness of Henry’s armor increases.)
Klara
Initial Perk: Undergrowth – Klara has taught you how to skulk about unseen, even in places you shouldn’t be. (Visibility is reduced by 15.)
Max Affinity: Women’s Work – Sometimes you can really tell how many years Klara has spent working with bandits. (Potions poured into stews or used to coat weapons are more effective.)
Romance: Physician Heal Thyself – You comfort each through the worst. (Henry’s alchemy is increased by 5.)
Black Bartosch
Initial Perk: Sword Master – You can see why von Bergow was so impressed. Your tourney wins are nothing compared to what Bartosch can do. (Henry’s swordsmanship increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Total Eclipse – Bartosch can pull off combos you can only dream of. This does a lot in terms of stripping the enemy of their armor.
Romance: Black Knight – Side by side, you stand through the trials of life. (Henry’s vitality is increased by 3.)
Musa of Mali
Initial Perk: Man of Letters – With Musa’s help your potions are more effective. All that education going to good use, it seems.
Max Affinity: Potion Master – Musa is more than happy to throw potions at you doing a fight so long as he doesn’t have to participate.
Bonus:
Istvan Toth
Initial Perk: True Hate – You’d kill him if you could, sadly circumstances prevent that. It’s made you rather grumpy. (Henry’s intimidation creases by 10, overall charisma decreases by 2.)
Max Affinity: Enemy of my Enemy – You hate to say it (do you really?) but Isrvan is rather good at the business of killing people. (Istvan’s warfare increases by 5.)
Chamberlain Ulrich
Initial Perk: Endless Lamentation - You wonder if Ulrich will ever shut up. Probably not. The sheer boiling rage it elicits is useful in a fight, though. (Henry’s unarmed increases by 3.)
Max Affinity: Human Shield – If Ulrich had figured out by now that you’re dodging behind him to ward off blows, he’d probably hav something to say about it. Sadly for him, he has not. Perhaps if you’re lucky one of them will kill him. (Henry’s armor effectiveness increases when behind Chamberlain Ulrich.)
Ignatius
Initial Perk: Smelling the Roses – Ignatius seems to know how to gather the most herbs with the least amount of effort, and they always last longer. And thank Jesus Christ! Your back is killing you.
Max Affinity: Stampede - As it turns out, most people don’t expect to be bowled over by a charging ram in the middle of a sword fight. Frankly, it’s their fault for not paying better attention.
(Feel free to yell at me if I missed something obvious. Would love to hear if anyone has any other ideas.)
