The Brae Weans

Stories from the fictional Highland town of Lochbrae, where heather blooms after every winter, friendships become family, and growing up is rarely as simple as anyone expected. 📍 Lochbrae, Highland, Scotland

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DEMO — Currently in development [ TBD — the prologue is half done I’m just unhappy with it rn xo ]

SYNOPSIS:

You’ve spent years moving from school to school, never staying anywhere long enough to call it home. Every fresh start ends the same—with whispered rumours, cruel classmates, and another reason to leave.

When relentless bullying and a difficult home life leads you to a residential hospital stay you’re given the chance to start over in the small Highland town of Lochbrae.

As the newest student at Lochbrae Academy, you’ll soon find yourself surrounded by a close-knit group of friends known as the Brae Weans. Between football beneath the floodlights, netball championships, Highland traditions, first love, and the growing pains of becoming an adult, you’ll discover that finding your place isn’t easy—but sometimes home is waiting where you least expect it.

Welcome to Lochbrae.

Maybe this time… You’ll finally find somewhere to call home home.

❀ Create your own protagonist with custom appearance, gender, sexuality and pronouns.

❀ Choose your character’s background—including whether they grew up in the UK or abroad.

❀ Shape your personality through meaningful choices and lasting consequences.

❀ Build friendships, rivalries and romances that evolve throughout the story.

❀ Find a family among the Brae Weans.

❀ Compete in football and netball championships.

❀ Explore a close-knit Scottish Highland town inspired by real communities.

❀ Your choices influence relationships, personality and the story’s direction.

❀ A heartfelt coming-of-age story about healing, belonging and finding home.

⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️ ⚠️

Although The Brae Weans celebrates friendship, first love, found family, and healing, it doesn’t shy away from the realities many young people face. I write a lot of my own experiences and experiences from other people I also grew up with and the harsh realities young adults face in this world.

Readers should be aware that this story (may) contains themes of depression, a past suicide attempt (by the MC), anxiety/panic attacks, bullying/social isolation, physical, emotional, verbal abuse, child neglect, grief, trauma, substance use, and very difficult family conflicts (grief/bereavement)

Additional chapter-specific warnings will be provided whenever particularly sensitive topics are explored.

Please make sure you’re okay first always before reading — MC can grow to your choices specifically.❤️

[ CHARACTER GLOSSARY/TAGS/EXTRA ]

[ also currently working a SHORT piece basically just extra content I didn’t want in the main story we will call it a “bonus episode” of our MC before the main story events it’s just extra character building and little bits of lore. ]

Before the Brae (Optional Prequel - date undecided but its half finished)

Before arriving in Lochbrae, the MC’s journey begins elsewhere. Follow the events that changed everything—and the unexpected first friendship that leads them to the Highlands.

( an emotional story about finding hope before finding a home )

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Hi! Rory anon again. I wanted to ask: is there a set time period/specific year for this IF? Also, I'm intrigued on who Freya Sutherland is. 👀

Story is modern❤️ this is something I’ve been going back on but I think I’ve settled on MC is growing up right now during 2013/2014 So MC is born in the later 90s.

Freya does not attend the main academy with MC she goes to college. In Scotland specifically you can go to college as young as 16 if you choose to leave education. This is where Freya attends. 😇

I love Freya (I’m biased I love everyone)

Also I have a few anons/asks to answer I just haven’t found the correct way yet to answer them but once I do they’ll be answered. 💕

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(more aesthetics and more to come I’ve been working on with canva woo)

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Hey, shout out to Rory for being an amazing sibling for the MC. <3 (P.S. this IF seems really interesting.)

I love Rory🥹 I hope you all love him too❤️

This specific anon ask I was going to hold hostage until I posted the demo but I can’t🥹🫵🏼 appreciation post for all older siblings doing their most always💕

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A piece of fiction not set in the US.

Have my babies.

(Don't get me wrong, I do like fiction set in the US too, but it gets tiring)

Me rn with ramblings below—

Making a Scottish IF was diving in the deep end and I was worried ppl won’t like it BUT as an avid IF lover I hope this encourages our authors to dive into the UK because we have some real classics…

(……any SKINS lovers despite how messed up it is bc I LIVED for that show👀 sherlock, doctor who, ugh my fandoms.)

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aw🥹🫵🏼

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if anyone is interested how cute are the page breaks:

quack quack 🦆

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i found a question! you said players could choose if their MC was from the UK or not, but would there be other places to pick from?

Youre so sweet!!! — beware I ramble. Im sooo bad at explaining things.

Originally I just did a choice block where you can select elsewhere and then input the country (type it in) — and three variables to track the different flavour text (Scotland. UK-based but outside of Scotland. International) but I think I’m going to try improve my system on it — shouldn’t be too difficult (she said before burning into the abyss)

If you select somewhere else in the UK (or internationally) you are then given all available UK countries as a choice and it will only change other people’s reactions to your accent — and how MC and their family communicate. One of MCs parents will always be Scottish as this fixes a lot of little issues

Thank you so much for this ask !! I am also always open to suggestions that might make the reader’s experience more enjoyable too as long as it makes sense.

[literaryvein]

L. V., exhumed writings

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i’ve been watching your blog like a hawk for the ask button and now idk what to ask you 💔💔

either way i like the premise of this ,, very excited for the demo

not me not noticing they were off but I fixed it:’))) and thank you for just expressing your interest honestly ahhh it makes my heart happy!💕

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author note: my birthday is august 10th yiippieeee so I am planning for a release that day (but ofc if it’s ready before then I may do an earlier one this is just my own personal deadline.)

ALSO just some background info if this is the story for you— Our protagonist starts pretty morally low/shy which is exhibited throughout the prologue as we listen to their internal thoughts. Player choice can dictate exactly MCs main focus during these thoughts. There are opportunities to change this as the story goes along. MC is not a complete blank slate at the start due to the life they have had which if you can understand that it either can harden an individual or soften/break one. Our MC is the latter unfortunately. Again, there are opportunities to change this as the story goes along or to make it worse (bc I know some people love that lmaoooodnosjdoenfkkedkdl)

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COMMON SCOTTISH DIALECT & PHRASES: (this will be in the game in a tab in stats / I haven’t used all of these phrases but just in case. They should hopefully be pretty easy to understand.)

COMMON WORDS:

“Aye” ≈ “Yes”

“Naw” ≈ “No”

“Dinnae” ≈ “Don’t”

“Ken” ≈ “Know”

“Dinnae ken.” ≈ “I don’t know.”

“Wee” ≈ “Small/Little” (“Just wait a wee minute.”)

“Wean” ≈ “Child/anyone who looks younger/smaller”

(The title The Brae Weans literally means The Hill Children.)

“Braw” ≈ “Brilliant / Attractive / Lovely” ( “That’s braw.” | “He’s quite braw.”)

“Pure” ≈ “Very” (“That’s pure class.”)

“Dead” ≈ “Really” (“I’m dead tired.”)

“Sound” ≈ “Good person / or used to say ‘okay’”

( “He’s sound.” | “That’s sound.”)

“Pal” ≈ “Friend”

“Lad / Lass” ≈ “Boy/Girl”

“Da” ≈ “Dad”

“Mam” ≈ “Mum”

“Greetin’” ≈ “Crying” (“Whit are ye greetin’ fur?”)

“Blether” ≈ “A chat” (We’re just havin’ a blether.”)

“Chippy” ≈ Fish & Chip Shop

“Messages” ≈ Groceries / Shopping. (“Mam’s away for the messages.”)

“Skint” ≈ Broke / no money.

“Numpty” ≈ Idiot (not very offensive = “Quit actin’ like a numpty!”

“Muppet” ≈ Idiot. (Usually affectionately used)

“Outwith” ≈ Outside of

COMMON PHRASES:

“Whit ye saying?” ≈ “What’s up?”

(common among teenagers.)

“You awright?” ≈ “You okay?”

“Cheers.”

Can mean:

• Thank you / Thanks

• Goodbye

“No bother.” ≈ “No problem.”

“Aye, right.”

(Usually means… “I don’t believe you.”)

“Away ye go.”

Can mean:

• Go away.

• Stop talking nonsense.

• You’re joking.

(Depends entirely on tone.)

“Get tae.” ≈ “No way.”

“Get tae fuck.” ≈ “Fuck off.”

“Behave yersel’.” ≈ “Stop it.”

“Haud yer wheesht.” ≈ “Be quiet.”

(Usually said by the older generations.)

“Catch yersel’ on.” ≈ “Wise up.”

“Gie’s peace.” ≈ “Leave me alone.”

“Whit’s the craic?” ≈ “What’s happening?”

(Common in west coast Scotland and Northern Ireland.)

“See ye the morn.” ≈ “See you tomorrow.”

“I’m burst.” ≈ “I’m exhausted.”

“It’s baltic.” ≈ “It’s freezing.”

“I’m roasting.” ≈ “I’m boiling.”

“That’s grim.” ≈ “That’s awful.”

“That’s class.”≈ “That’s amazing.”

“Shut it.” ≈ “Be quiet.”

“Get it up ye.”

A playful way of saying: “Serves you right.”

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RORY FRASER — MC’s older brother.

RORY FRASER

⚽ #3 – Central Midfielder for Lochbrae High School.

🛡️ The MC’s older brother and biggest protector.

📚 Was held back a year after moving schools and missing months of education.

⭐ One of the county’s best young footballers despite never attending Lochbrae Academy himself.

🚗 Never says no when the MC needs a lift.

☕ Lives on coffee and nicotine.

🌧️ Trains in every kind of Scottish weather.

🏡 Dreams of seeing the MC happier than he ever got to be.

💛 Motto: “We’ll get there. We always do.”

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LACHLAN “LOCKIE” MACLEOD. (Pronounced: LOCK-LAN | LOCK-AY)

⚽ #9 – Striker (Captain) for Lochbrae Academy’s football team — wants to go pro.

🫁 Spent months in hospital and (still) sort of recovering from it.

👦 Every first-year knows who he is before they arrive.

☕ Drinks tea after every football match.

🤍 Never leaves someone sitting alone.

🌧️ Loves training in the rain.

📚 Secretly enjoys reading Scottish history.

🏔️ Can name nearly every Munro in the Highlands.

⭐ Still carries the determination that got him through recovery.

💛 Motto: “Just keep showing up.”

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THE MACDONALD SISTERS — #9 & #7

EILIDH MACDONALD. (Pronounced: AY-LAY)

🏐 Captain and plays Centre [ C ] of Lochbrae Academy’s First VII Netball Team.

👑 Head Girl.

📚 Wants to study as a veterinary after school.

🫁 Lives with severe asthma following childhood illness.

📖 Reads before bed every night.

🤍 Remembers everyone’s birthday.

☕ Drinks tea when she’s anxious.

🦋 Always carries an inhaler in her blazer pocket.

🌿 Favourite place is overlooking the heather-covered braes.

⭐ Favourite saying: “The wee things… That’s what matters the most.”

MÀIRI MACDONALD. (Pronounced: MAH-REE)

🏐 Goal Attack [ GA ] for Lochbrae Academy’s First VII Netball Team.

🎭 Makes friends everywhere she goes.

😂 Laughs so hard she cries.

🎶 Always has one earbud in.

❤️ Collects silly inside jokes.

🌅 Loves golden hour.

🍓 Favourite sweet is strawberry laces.

☀️ Believes every problem can be solved with a walk.

🐑 Has absolutely no fear of sheep no matter what her sister says.

💛 Motto: “Life’s too short no to laugh.”

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THE GILCHRIST TWINS — #11 & #8

IONA GILCHRIST

🏐 #8 – Wing Attack [ WA ] for Lochbrae Academy’s netball team.

📸 Dreams of becoming a wildlife photographer.

🌙 Notices things everyone else misses.

📚 Loves libraries more than shopping.

☕ Takes her tea exactly the same every time.

🌿 Loves walking through the braes alone.

🦋 Presses flowers between the pages of books.

🎞️ Owns an old film camera.

🤍 Finishes Finlay’s sentences despite pretending he’s annoying.

💛 Motto: “Listen before you speak.”

FINLAY GILCHRIST

⚽ #11 – Left Winger for Lochbrae Academy.

🌞 Somehow has endless energy.

🚲 Has been banned from borrowing half the town’s bikes.

😂 Laughs at his own jokes before anyone else can.

🌄 Is always planning the next adventure.

🍔 Eats enough for three people.

🎮 Ridiculously competitive.

🎭 Can imitate nearly every teacher perfectly.

☀️ Claims every terrible idea starts with, “Hear me out…”

💛 Motto: “Wits the worst that could happen?”

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RUAIRIDH “ROO” MUNRO

ATTACKING MIDFIELDER - VICE-CAPTAIN — #10

☀︎ RUAIRIDH “ROO” MUNRO ☀︎ (Pronounced:

⚽ #10 – Attacking Midfielder (Vice-Captain) for Lochbrae Academy’s football team.

😂 Has never met a stranger.

🎵 Always the one in charge of the music.

🍟 Thinks every bad day can be fixed with a chippy.

🎤 Knows every lyric but absolutely cannot sing.

🤝 Makes everyone feel included without trying.

🌞 Lives for summer evenings with the boys.

📸 Has hundreds of blurry photos because he never stands still.

❤️ Loves loudly, even when he pretends not to.

💛 Motto: “We’ll figure it oot.”