Interactive WIP W Demo

Man, the flesh sucks. I'm gonna abandon it for the machine.

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's Secretary General, is expected to give a big speech on Friday, very likely to declare war on Israel.

Today Israel allowed 102 aid trucks into Gaza without bombing the Egyptian border. In the past couple days, Israel has invaded Gaza to disastrous results. Yemen has declared war on the country. Several countries have recalled their ambassadors while Bolivia ended diplomatic relations. Belgian and Italian unions have refused to ship weapons to Israel. American cities lit up with protests while successive polls show that even Republicans largely support a ceasefire in Gaza. The entire internet seems to be pro Palestine even as social media CEOs comply with requests from the Israeli government to shut down critics.

So if a ceasefire happens, don't ever let the -Zionist government and its supporters act like they did it out of the goodness of their hearts

DEMO

Last updated: 21 June 2022. Wordcount: 24k words (average playthrough of 17k word)

Rating: 16+ (mentions of mental illness, violence, blood, sexual themes, strong language, transphobia, chronic pain)

The Chosen One is a text-based fantasy epic story where, as it often happens, you are the one chosen by the Prophecy, destined to fight in the Last War under the King. Unlike your average tale, though, you most certainly know to be the Chosen One and you have spent all your life waiting for your King’s call.

You will NOT be the victim of events out of your control, nor you’ll be an unwilling participant. You are not an orphan, and your family will not be slaughtered in order for you to unravel your true purpose in this world.

Oh, no. Absolutely not.

Instead, you are prepared and in control. You are powerful, more powerful than any other being that ever walked through this land, and you are ready to fulfil your destiny.

When the story begins, you are in the North, waiting. And when the call finally, finally, happens, you have to set off for the South with your Mentor, as specified in the prophecy. The Last Journey has begun.

Every interaction counts, remember that. But remember also that you are the Chosen One: you can do what you want, you have the power to forge whatever future you want for the Regions and for yourself.

LOVE INTEREST

RASCIA | The Forgotten One Healer (gender selectable M/NB/F): the colour of their skin, as well as the arcane language that litters it, marks them as kaehan, a native of the very kingdom you are prophesised to fight against. But destiny works in strange ways and maybe, after all, they were the one you needed all along. You will have to travel far before you meet them, though, and you will have to fight and to lose more that you ever thought you could shed. Because before you rise, you have to fall.

Rascia is a tall (1.79 m/5'11") person, with wavy waist length sapphire hair, a coral complexion and bright sea blue eyes. Their lean body is almost totally covered by religious silver tattoos, now rendered useless by their condition. As a result of their loss of faith, Rascia is completely colorblind.

OTHER CHARACTERS

The Mentor: they, as you, are part of the Prophecy, chosen to accompany you in the Last Journey. Your bond is… strained. You only want to be looked at with some sort of pride but all you seem to find in their eyes lately is doubt.

ASHEN | The Hero: you’ll soon meet them. Remember this, though: keep your jealousy at bay before it starts consuming you.

The King: not much to say to that. They are the king of the land, you never obviously met them and their true intentions remain unknown.

FEATURES

customize your MC’s name, physical appearance, gender (M, F or NB, cisgender or transgender) and preferred magic (elemental magic, enchantments, illusion magic).

play as a semi set character, with a sharp tongue and a very strong personality, but with a soft spot for plants and kind healers

choose the rune that’s engraved in your skin, and choose carefully because every Region will react accordingly.

build or destroy relationships with the cast, and find, in the midst of the Last War, the only one you can truly be yourself with.

The story will be released on Itch.io chapter by chapter (with a not so accurately estimated total of 9 total chapters) and will be completely free form start to finish.

Attempt #3 of trying to get through the magnus archives, this will not influence my writing in the sligheltest.

I have made it to my favorite episode so far, which is the 3rd episode. Graham my notebook eating king, love that guy and his doppelganger.

DEMO TBA

Eighteen years.

You promised yourself as soon as the clock struck midnight, on your eighteenth birthday, you’d be on the first train headed far, far away from Sageville. Alas, it didn’t end up quite like this. 

You did find yourself at the train station numerous times, however, though you simply never purchased that getaway ticket.

You couldn’t… afford to that is.

Two years of picking up shift after shift later, and you’re finally on that train, turning the page to the desperately awaited chapter of your life.

Destination: Dahlia Hills.

The difference between Sageville and Dahlia Hills, some might ask? 

Clear as day. 

Not only riddled with some of the most influential and wealthy people, but also the haven of glamour, gossip and that never-ending nightlife.

Still, the reason a small townie like you has their eyes set on the city, is because of its university. While it may not be ranked number one, you’re aware of the life-altering connections a diploma from the Dahlia Hills College brings.

But you also always craved to experience the promised whispers of life and excitement that reached all the way to your very own ears.

The complete opposite of good ole Sageville.

Well, I guess it’s time for you to find out, meet and experience all the special things Dahlia Hills has in store...

Dahlia Hills takes inspiration from early 2000s shows, such as One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl. Personally, growing up a little after that time, I’ve absolutely loved discovering and watching those types of shows and have always imagined myself thrown into that kind of scene. And I’m sure there’s plenty of other people who have felt the same (right??) and so I present to you ‘Dahlia Hills’.

The book is a slice of life with a dash of nostalgia, set in the mid to late 2000s. 

Customise your MC from your name all the way to your personality and appearance.

Meet unique characters.

Live in the moment.

Explore different romances.

Experience that glamorous side Dahlia Hills is known for.

Get your name out there!

♦️ Carter Black, M/F, 21 [RO]

What Carter lacks in social skills, they make up in candour. Seriously, nothing against you or anyone for that matter, they just prefer probably anything else but people.

Avid smoker, who ironically works at one of the biggest nightclubs in the Dahlia Hills ‘The Tini’. Though, it is only because of their two favourite things: cigarettes and alcohol.

“For what it’s worth, if I really despised you, I wouldn’t be here. You’re not getting any more from me.”

♦️ Zach/Zoe Powell, M/F, 22 [RO]

Although gone most of the time, curious whispers follow wherever they go- or should I say appear?

Isn’t the saying: secrets are meant to be uncovered? Or maybe it's curiosity killed the cat?

At the end of the day, no one’s forced to do anything, and only you can stand in your very own way… so do with that as you may.

“Life gets boring fast, when you have everything, you’ve always wanted, handed to you like this.”

♦️ Jackson/Jordyn Whitlock, M/F, 21 [RO]

‘With great power comes great responsibility.'

Not for J though…

Some would say they are ‘set for fucking life’. Only thing standing in the way of them, and their multi-million pounds corporation inheritance is well… their parents, for one, and downright stupidity.

Apart from that, they have free range to do just about anything they please.

Born with a silver spoon doesn’t even begin to describe the mountain of wealth they are surrounded by.

Still, a spark of intrigue flashes across their hazel eyes, as they wander down the shape of your entirety, like the shiny new toy that you are. 

“Let’s make things clear, if I haven’t fucked somebody, it’s because they didn’t excite me enough.”

♦️ Valentine/Valerie Beaufort AKA Val, M/F, 21 [RO]

If there’s one thing you don’t want to miss, it’s Val’s frequent parties thrown in none other than one of their parents’, who seem to always have business overseas, mega mansions, located in the outskirts of the city, allegedly worth a staggering eight digits.

While they enjoy their more than occasional night of fun, don’t expect for them to go for just anyone, for even they have standards, contrary to popular belief.

Although they might appear frosty during the first few encounters, it’s best not to take it to heart, as they do tend to come around… 

At some point… 

Later rather than sooner...

Sooner, if the people they care about do.

“Seriously Carter, that cancer stick is gonna fucking age you like crazy.”

♦️ Bonnie Marlowe, F, 22 (she/her)

If Bonnie has any enemies, it means hell has frozen over and pigs can fly.

Seriously, she’s like a fluffy ball of cotton candy; sweet and cuddly… not kidding, that girl LOVES hugs. 

And yeah, she can be a little dim sometimes, but cross my heart she means well. Truthfully, it’s not really her fault there seems to be a disconnect between the thoughts in her head and the way they come out of her mouth.

Just know, if you ever feel offended, she’ll be waiting… lips quirked up, exposing the single dimple adorning her right cheek, along with her big black eyes… and then you’re in trouble. 

Because only a monster can still be mad then.

“I love you guys so much. I can’t wait for our babies to be best friends.”

♦️ Grace Watson, F, 22 (she/her)

Honestly, I can’t tell you much about the girl.

Yeah, she’s quiet and she seems friendly... and she attends some of Val’s parties... and surprisingly she hangs out with J, Bonnie and the bunch.

Hmm…

She is dating Alec, so I suppose that does make sense… (don't worry I'll tell you more about him next)

Anyway, not much to see here… yet, so I guess I’ll let you do the getting to know ;)

“Why I had to get along with you guys of all people, I don’t know.”

♦️ Alec Greene, M, 21 (he/him)

He is just a sweet one.

Seriously; charming, friendly, decently intelligent, outgoing AND handsome?

What the hell doesn’t he have?

Yup, Alec is the guy parents wish you’d bring home when you tell them you found a special boy.

That guy = Alec motherfucking Greene.

And what is the perfect guy without a weird obsession with repairing old fancy cars? Nuff said.

“No, seriously, if I can help, I wanna help.”  (see?)

Hope this peaked your interest!

Hugs <3

The joys of writing fantasy is nothing has the be realistic. The bane of my existence is the need to have things be accurate enough and getting nitty gritty about stuff.

Combat can be people hitting each other with sticks and vibes but I'm here trying to determine which weapons are used on horseback and how formation looks. They are fighting on the backs of dragons in a world of magic and mystery, what am I doing this to myself for? 😒

Anyways, lances are pretty cool but what else is there? From what I gather you just ram your lance and then whip out your side arm, which makes sense but also I guess I thought there'd be 30 or so different mounted weapons to choose from.

Seven Hard-Won Tips Specifically for Writing Interactive Fiction

This is pretty fun, putting together these lists of writing tips. Today's list is explicitly about interactive fiction.

The trick to writing great interactive fiction that anticipates, foreshadows, introduces themes early, and has interesting choices that set up later events is to *go back and rewrite the earlier chapters* after you’ve written later chapters.  That way you look like a genius who can plot things out way in advance, but in fact, you just went back and made it seem that way.  Good writing is recursive, and that’s just how it is.

I start with an outline, then I write a code skeleton, leaving blanks for the prose, and then go in and fill in the prose.  This way I’m either in code-brain or prose-writing-brain.  I don’t like switching between the two.  Then, after than phase, I go back one more time and I do the callbacks—you know.  Might the main character be wearing a feathered boa in this scene?  Here’s some custom text.  Might the main character be limping?  Here’s some more custom text.  If you do that after you write the prose, you’ll have the leisure to think of anything fun and specific you can use. 

Callbacks tell players that their choices are unique, important, memorable, and valued by the writer.  It tell them that their choices have led them down their own particular path that the writer is rewarding with unique prose.  It doesn’t have to have a stat effect or create a new fork in the narrative.  Great prose is the reward.

Find an group of alpha readers to read your work early and often and then shut up while they read it and just listen to what they say and comment.  You must resist the urge to explain because you won’t be there at everyone’s house when they are playing your game or reading your narrative.

Make rules for yourself about how you are going to name your variables.  Don’t do what I did, with a horrible blend of sometimes calling a chracter “gil” in the variables and sometimes “gilberto”; sometimes “fitz” and sometimes “fitzie”; sometimes “metvyv” and sometimes “met_tabby”—ugh!  This is self-torture.  Don’t do what I did.

Keep your initial creation of variables super organized.  Write comments in there explaining what these variables are and when you might need them.  I comment most when I am creating variables.  You might create a variable in chapter one called “mustardallergy” that you don’t need until chapter eight, so write a comment that says “variables for chapter eight” and stick that “mustardallergy” variable under it.  I didn’t do this for my first games, and I regretted it. 

Use generic variables and make your life easy.  If you are writing a scene at the racetrack, just make a “xrace” modifier and add and subtract to it willy-nilly to represent just general ups and downs of fortune.  Stub your toe?  -5 xrace.  Wear a fine hat?  +8 xrace.  Throw around some money at the bar?  +12 xrace!  Eat some bad shellfish?  -15 xrace! Then add xrace to every test.  It’s a way of tracking just the ups and downs of fortune.  You can omit it when it doesn’t make sense, but it’s just a great way to make tests and rewards and penalties cumulatively meaningful without having to have a billion variables tracking every last *reason* for the rewards and penalties.

Discover more mini-essays about writing interactive fiction, writing in general, and the process of writing the forthcoming Jolly Good series below.

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Well of The Divine - a work in progress Interactive Fiction Story

Well of The Divine is a 18+ fantasy text-based game built using ChoiceScript. Rated 18+ for explicit language and optional sexual content.

This is my first time writing anything in ChoiceScript (first time coding in general) so please bare with me as I learn and thank you for your patience 💛

The Well of The Divine has been compromised. Once the source of the Gods strength, it is now closed off to them leaving them truly vulnerable for the first time in their long existence. They are scared.

What does this have to do with you?

Found as a new-born, abandoned by those that brought you into this world, you never knew your birth parents. Only those who took you in. The problems of the Gods had never involved you until now. Divine blood flows in your veins. An encounter with your Godly parent brings death to your village. Those who hunt the Gods have come for you too.

Now, who are you?

Features:

Play as male, female, non-binary or trans, straight, gay, bisexual or asexual

Customise your character's appearance and personality

Learn who your Godly parent is from one of five options

Gather allies, both divine and mortal to travel with you

Forge relationships with your companions, friendships, rivalries and more

Choose from five romance options to pursue, creating a deep romantic or platonic bond

Improve your skills including your control over your demigod powers

Discover who is hunting you and decide the fate of the Gods

DEMO: TBA

the worst is wanting to create and create and create but being trapped in a body that is so so so so tired