ROUGI
Bienvenue à l'opéra...
Rougi is a Belle Époque mystery game written by @lapinlunaire-games for the @interact-if unranked game jam, using the theme "red herring". Learn more about the game jam here.
Story
Le Palais Garnier is set to premiere Les Souliers Rouges, a ballet whose very name is rumored to carry a formidable curse. As the premiere draws ever nearer, a series of inexplicable incidents in the opera house stir up a maelstrom of terror and intrigue. With whispers of illicit affairs, sinister motives, and hauntings around every corner, tensions - and the stakes - have never been higher. Here, everyone has a part to play...and everyone is playing a part.
Delve through rumour and reason into the glittering world of the Paris Opera Ballet during the Belle Époque and unravel what's really going on in the wings. After all, the show must go on...
Company
Antoine (he/him) - A nobleman with enough influence to bend the gilt pillars of the Palais to his will with a snap of his fingers, Antoine is a generous donor to the Opera and frequents its performances from his dedicated booth. Rumours swirl about the intimacies of his generosity, but his pockets are more than deep enough to keep controversy at bay.
Laure (she/her) - a young, rising star in the corps de ballet who’s recently earned the affections of the director. Her delicate beauty and sparkling, innocent charisma is enchanting…but there’s no telling what she would do to become an Etoile, one of the ballet’s most prized dancers.
Élodie (she/her) - Notorious for being as sharp as she is stunning, Élodie was dubbed Helen of Paris soon after her (surprising to none) promotion to the elite position of prima ballerina. Her life appears as gilt as the Palais Garnier itself -- but lately her legendary temper has been stormier than ever. Is her deepening rage due to her rivalry with Laure, or a sign of something more sinister at work?
Sébastien (he/him) - A lover of the ballet since childhood, Sébastien’s dream is to one day compose a score that will make hearts across the world sing. His master has promised to fund him and use their connections to help Sébastien launch his own career to the stars, provided he earns his way off the ground first…but with the looming shadow of his master to contend with, Sébastien’s desire for a spotlight of his own grows stronger every day.
Giselle (she/her) - A newcomer to Paris and gifted violinist, Giselle loves her music but loves her family more. After all, that’s why she left them to use her passion to earn a better future for them all; it’s a lonely, hard life, but she reminds herself that it’s for those she loves, and more importantly, only temporary. After all, how long can it take for her to prove herself to the conductor?
Camille (they/them) - Camille electrified all of Europe with their first opera, then carved themself a seat in the halls of legend with several successful commissions…now with a healthy portfolio of masterpieces to their name, France’s most beloved composer nevertheless remains an enigma. Camille’s mild demeanor and bleeding heart belie the sharp wit that has captivated thousands across Europe, but their unfaltering focus has wavered as of late. What could sway Camille’s hand from their pen so fiercely? Does it have to do with the fabled curse of their latest production?
Timeline
Rougi will be submitted to the game jam on January 31st and available to play on itch.io! I'll be posting progress updates here (@rougi-if) throughout the month.
Thank you for reading! Reblogs very appreciated.