Hi hiii! Welcome in if you're on the writer team. everyone else please avert your eyes, there are SPOILERS ahead! You're not gonna read 52 months of unfinished page edits to effectively speedrun the any% route of your choice, right? good. you had better not.
Inevitably, as this is my first VN project ever and i am not used to the format or genre at all, this will be a bit rough. it is ok. grits my teeths. it is ok to have imperfections.
Character Creation
You're not just a nameless faceless (cough cough also usually forcibly male) anon in this one! You're... a named, mostly faceless (unless i can make dynamic body sprites and stuff work easily and not be extremely limited), character with actually choosable genders AND pronouns. This is normal and has a normal framing device. this is because the WOKEXELUGH don't tend to correlate appearance, body type, or genitalia with gender or gender with pronouns (though there are some trends), so its part of a normal first meeting to ask.
NOTE: CHARACTERS HAVE ORIENTATIONS. YOU WILL NECESSARILY BE LOCKED OUT OF CERTAIN MAIN ROUTES BY YOUR GENDER IF YOU SO CHOOSE. SUCK IT UP IM GOING FOR IMMERSION IN THIS DECISION INSTEAD OF PANDERING
Name
Just name yourself! last name doesn't truly matter, but first name. I want a dynamic system for ONE DIALOGUE TREE where if your name doesn't fit the conventions, Mace (intro character and also a main route) tells you you have a weird name. Overcomplicated, but funny. Is it really worth the work for this one intro scene? probably not. am i going to try anyway? hell yeah.
Gender Selection
The mapping of the Gender Globe (patented) will be a point and click thing, saving a set of coordinates (Gender coordinates) with dynamic icons for which characters will still be interested in you as you hover over various regions. Note that this does not affect much, but high polar ones will mean your "default" frame (if body stuff is implemented) is set to a masc or fem "default" (again, only if fullbody is implemented). body type is altered by purchasing and eating food regardless of this. That's how it's done.
Pronouns Selection
Again, not sure how to execute on the technical side, but there will be up to 3-5 (undecided) "slots" for sets of pronouns, used in dialogue by doing a variable call for each conjugation. I am again unsure of how to execute this because I have never worked with the programs before. Preset ones exist obviously, but i do think it should be possible to do "add your own" and type out the five-form conjugation. smooth like butter. immersive even. cinema.
Attunement
Done via an ingame scene, again with the icons to show who is available should you choose each. No-Attunement route may be something to consider, but will still give Khythis-local routes only. On a visit to a jeweler with some of your buds from the opening scene a Nascenium pendant calls out to you, and stabs you a la Spear Ironspark, Attuning you (to whatever you the player pick, in-game it's not canonically a choice). Now Attuned, you have the chance to join the Ae Lugh on whichever island corresponds to your Attunement.
The Routes (character bios mostly)
Chainsaw Embershield
Chainsaw is an Ae Lugh Master, though his true calling with his Attunement is the preparation and discovery of exotic cuisine. He is a Wildrunner for the joy that comes from hunting new ingredients, and actively avoids the other responsibilities foisted on him per his job description.
Chainsaw initially serves as your mentor after attuning to Fire, but truthfully he finds the idea irritating. He's old and wise, but he would much rather hide in the shadow of his late master, Grandmaster Knife Sawtooth. This is despite his great accomplishments, including being one of the few survivors of a full torso bisection in history. His attempts to turn a mentor-student relationship into a more even peer partnership may become advances of another kind, should you play your cards right...
Chainsaw is also Crash's mentor, and has a vested interest in getting his apprentice closure on the Meteor Shower incident. As an aspiring lazy peace-enjoyer, the upheaval the culprit could unleash is of great concern to him.
| Gender - Polar Masc (Median Carnal) | Pronouns - He/Him exclusively | Age - 58 | Available Locations - Vanhall |
Crash Gildedsun
Crash is a recently promoted Ae Lugh Traveller, studying diligently under the guidance of his masters in pursuit of greater power. Crash's temper and strong sense of justice are his two primary motivators, and though his wit is sharp, none of these prevent him from being short-sighted in his pursuits. He is much more driven than most of the other main characters, almost to the point of neglecting his relationships.
Crash starts out as a tutor and superior student for your studies under the reluctant Chainsaw. He isn't thrilled about the idea of doing his master's work, but showing interest in his goals and the mystery surrounding the Meteor Shower incident is a good way to build trust between yourself and him. Working side-by-side to uncover the culprit, you may find yourself bonding with Crash in ways you never previously thought possible...
Crash was one of the direct victims of the Meteor Shower Incident, used as a tool alongside his twin brother Tumble. His primary motivator is to find and bring to justice the perpetrator of the Meteor Shower Incident, regardless of who they may be or the possessive power they hold. This route will be the most directly involved with the main plot's mystery and intrigue.
| Gender - Polar Masc (Elemental Ethereal) | Pronouns - He/Him exclusively | Age - 27 | Available Locations - Vanhall, Vylgkae |
Hammer Skyshredder
| Gender - Median Fem (Elemental Ethereal) | Pronouns - She/Fae | Age - 35 | Available Locations - Rakken |
Jitte Cloudpiercer
| Gender - Polar Fem (Semi, Carnal) | Pronouns - She/Her exclusively | Age - 65 | Available Locations - Larumer |
Karambit Silverbreeze
| Gender - Median Fem (Semi, Ethereal) | Pronouns - She/They | Age - 27 | Available Locations - Crysgaard, Larumer |
Mace Thunderseeker
Mace is an Ae Lugh Traveller, and despite being offered once, has refused the Master promotional exam. It much prefers the frequent travel and lower-stakes work that befits an enforcement worker to the specialized and heavily idolized work of the Masters. Mace is a free spirit and a bit of a chronic troublemaker, though it always gets the job done when required. They've become well known for their ability to pursue and restrain otherwise slippery targets despite their large frame and the destructive potential of their Attunement. It has a reputation for this efficient pursuit and avoidance of collateral in work, and so people often welcome Mace in as a pillar of the community.
Mace doesn't get involved in your training, regardless of what route you pick. It will instead be a peer and friend, on even footing like everyone else. However, despite their bubbly and carefree exterior, they are highly aware of current events and subtly adopt you in as a collaborator on preemptive damage control. Should you read the room and wisen up to this scheme, your confrontation may allow the pretenses to drop, establishing a closer and mutually-informed partnership on both its mission and your bond beyond it.
Mace has no direct connection to the Meteor Shower Incident, but it saw the aftermath of the distrust people began harboring for one another. In order to prevent a total repeat of this, it is driven to keep people in a sense of security with both their faith and trust in the Ae Lugh being able to help.
| Gender - Neutral Belt (Elemental Ethereal) (Lunar gender of Chaos) | Pronouns - It/They | Age - 29 | Available Locations - Vylgkae, Rakken, Khythis |
Melee Grailshadow
| Gender - Polar Fem (Elemental Ethereal) | Pronouns - She/Her exclusively | Age - 25 | Available Locations - Aevlau, Hahshin |
Sickle Strongheart
Sickle is an Ae Lugh Initiate, and has been for a long time. While good with the theory and strategic uses of their Attunement, they seem almost entirely unable to discipline themself into physically and psychically training. Sickle is much more of an academic than this "study incompetence" makes him seem, though, and is one of the most book-smart people around.
Sickle's ancestry goes back to Anvil Strongheart, his distant matrilineal great-great-something grandmother. She is a legendary figure more commonly known as "The Girl in the Crystal", and is the binding force that keeps the Archipelago gravitationally bound together as it moves through the Evervoid. Having been born Attuned, Sickle was massively pressured to join the Ae Lugh despite their aspirations for medicine and botany.
Sickle is your one familiar face after joining, and as they seem to have a very difficult time holding onto social groups, they kind of imprint on you. Despite technically being your senior, he can't provide much guidance beyond the theory of Space. Learning how to unpack their anxieties and desperate need to cover up their inadequacies, you may uncover the vibrant interests and personality of the person within. How Sickle acts when actually comfortable around someone may be a surprise to you both.
Sickle has little stake in the Meteor Shower mystery, but has by far the best understanding of the history and usage of Psyche on a technical level. With a little confidence boost, they may just be the key to cracking the whole case wide open and exposing the mind-manipulator once and for all.
| Gender - Neutral Belt (Vacuous, Ethereal) | Pronouns - They/He | Age - 25 | Available Locations - Khythis |
Sling Whorlripper
| Gender - Median Masc (Vacuous, Carnal) | Pronouns - He/They | Age - 24 | Available Locations - Relkim |
Thorn Fallencloud
| Gender - Low Masc (Elemental Ethereal) (Lunar gender of Symmetry) | Pronouns - He/Xe | Age - 30 | Available Locations - Hahshin |
Tumble Gildedsun
Tumble is an Ae Lugh Traveller, promoted shortly before the Meteor Shower Incident. He is a gentle individual, striving to become an overseer and mentor for younger generations. While not as skilled as his peers in combat or usage of his Attunement, Tumble works hard every day to improve, not seeing the distance to his ultimate career goals as an issue. It's more lessons and experience to note down for future students, after all!
Tumble initially latches onto you as a potential case for practicing his mentoring skills, though without the official title. Should you reciprocate and learn from him, he may begin to see more in you than just a friendly face and opportunity...
Tumble's greatest flaw is his coping mechanisms for the trauma of the Meteor Shower possession. As one of the two direct victims of the incident, it's clear he hasn't fully healed from that. Neither has his twin brother Crash, but Tumble pushes the issues away by playing therapist for everyone else. Drowning himself in the problems of others, he distracts himself from the knowledge that the perpetrator has not been caught.
Despite the distress it will cause, to fully get Tumble to develop as a person and close the case on the stirrings caused by the hidden assailant, you will have to force him to open up and admit he is the one who really needs help. Though it will take a while, breaking down Tumble's walls will allow your relationship to deepen in a new way.
| Gender - Median Masc (Elemental Ethereal) | Pronouns - He/Him exclusively | Age - 27 | Available Locations - Rakken, Vylgkae |
The Plot (main, all routes lead to this)
- Meteor Shower. You remember that? yeahhhh. Never really got solved since (spoiler) Thorn stopped canonically being the mastermind.
- Second incident was set up "i am freer than all of you" but never happened... suspicions rise the longer nothing happens
- Needle Featherwalker (Smoke Voyager) proposes Stardawn Nascenium production be restarted. Notably, Aurora Nascenium (which HE could produce over there) has theoretical uses in mind alteration. The exact MO of the Meteor Shower perpetrator.
- This proposal is what causes the resurgance in suspicion
- main fingers pointed are Smoke-Attuned with Stardawn connections of any kind and (very privately) ideas that one of the Oracles may be conspiring to take full power for themselves
- Most if not all main routes have something to do with this
- Crash and Tumble were direct victims, Thorn is a good scapegoat candidate. Spear (side route) was the one to fully stop the puppetted duo.
- Everyone else will need connections added, as they were not made as characters when Meteor Shower was originally written.
main issue: sooooo... who actually did it? are they still really out there or is it all a bunch of nothing?