Violet Crown [The VN]

Core City loves its demons. Or its 'Aeva', actually – that’s the more considerate term. These days, anyone who has the money can pay a Summoner to call them up a servant from the Beyond. Summoning, you see, is a tricky old art, which only the brightest of mortals can master, and once the Aeva's there? Well that’s only half the battle. These visitors require guidance in the form of gifted individuals called Mediums, who have the ability to cross between worlds, and ease their transition. And so, young Minerva Underhill was indispensable. The trouble was that, unlike most Mediums in the Core, she was not particularly fond of her job – less so for the numerous duties it entailed than for the enormous physical toll that it tended to inflict upon all those who pursued it. While she was showered with love and respect, the thought of abandoning all her passions, only to one day wither away into nothing, had her desperately searching for an escape. The Violet Lady was searching for a way out too, or so they say. She was an Aevic Monarch who had wronged the Allmother, and so she was in desperate need of an escape from their realm. When she came across Minerva, she saw an opportunity, and made her an offer: she would take away Minerva's Mediumship, and Minerva would accept the Violet Lady's most valuable possession – her crown. And that changed everything. - - - Violet Crown is an English language visual novel set in a world on the brink of change. You'll play as Minerva, an up-and-coming Summoner made famous by her childhood encounter with the notorious Violet Lady, as she rises through the ranks of the Core’s political assembly during the most turbulent time in recent history. She’ll carve out success by the company she keeps and the bridges she burns. But be wise, and be vigilant – the past has a way of coming back to bite you.

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Writing today...

“Minerva: Well, that’s exactly it. He’s little, so people aren’t frightened of him. You’re enormous – it’s a bit intimidating.

Clotho: That’s just silly. Bigger dogs have bigger hearts. Everybody knows that.”

Trying to finish up VC Part 2 today! I’m not sure if I actually will, but it’s getting close. The player is going to make choices that will ultimately decide Minerva’s political affiliation in the first two parts, which determines her route in Part 3. 

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”Before now I’d never seen Lach upright. He’s so small-framed that, were his hair a bit longer, I might have mistaken him for another sister. He’s looking much better now than he was the last time that I saw him, but his eyes are strange. They’ve got this eerie, faraway look to them.”

Here’s Minerva’s third Cerbie, Astra and Clotho’s brother Lachesis. 

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“Mrs. Cabot and the attendant that she’d left with me earlier are standing in the doorway with Eleri, their eyes wide like saucers. They aren’t looking at me, though – they’re looking past me. I turn my head to see whatever it is that’s given them such a fright and see Astra standing there in a sea of purple petals. She is not alone.

With her is a smaller woman with similar features and much shorter hair.”

Here’s Astra’s sister, Clotho. They’ve got a brother named Lachesis. I’ll post him up soon.

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” I’ve always wanted to meet a Cerberus. It figures that when I finally do it’s because something terrible happened.”

This is Astra. She’s one of Minerva’s three Cerberi. In this game, a Cerberus is a trio of three siblings that can at times join forces to create a larger beast. They’re dogs but they have human forms as well, which is what you’re seeing here. Cerberi tend to be tied to a Monarch. They’re professional bodyguards.

I’ll post her siblings (Clotho and Lachesis) eventually.

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My super serious notes.

Working on the script today! Violet Crown is a three part game. Part 1 is finished and clocks in at around 20k words. Part 2 is somewhere around 75% done and is currently around 30k. Part 3, the route itself, varies depending on what route you get. More to come!

- Canny

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“And there she is – Artoria Durant, Head Summoner for the Core. I know her right away from a thousand pictures in a thousand books.”

Remember Eliza from yesterday? This is her mother, Artoria Durant. She acts as Minerva’s mentor for a good chunk of the story.

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We have a summary!

WE DO. It’s right there on the side, so you can get an idea of what this game’s all about. Thank @minesweeperaddict - she helped me work out the kinks.

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Here’s another sketch of Eliza. She’s a very important character should Minerva choose the “human” route over the “Aevic” one. More on that later!

Follow me on Twitter @WickedUncanny

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Quick Minnie.

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”Everybody who knows Mrs. Cabot knows that she doesn’t like attention, but the Speaker is her sister and I’m her charge, so she gets it whether she wants it or not.”

More VC Sprites! Here’s Mrs. Cabot.

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Super quick sketch of Juniper’s lemonade dress.

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“My eyes are immediately drawn to a young girl in the front row. She’s remarkably put together, and at first I think that might be why I noticed her, but the longer I look the more familiar she seems…”

Writing her first big scene today and so I figured I’d share this little doodle of Eliza Durant. Her final look probably won’t be so similar to this, but she definitely wears really bad hats.

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Hey folks.

So this is going to be a design blog for the English language VN, Violet Crown. To put it super concisely it’s a political game that takes place in a world where demon summoning is a thriving industry.

Here’s a sneak peek at the protagonist, Minerva Underhill! She’s a spunky little kid that’s about to get in way over her head.

Keep your eyes peeled for more art, and notes, and other fun stuff.

- Canny