An Enchantress’ Song is a female-locked, medieval-fantasy and romance interactive fiction story written in ChoiceScript. It’s inspired by the two Lorelei poems (Zu Bacharach am Rheine… and Ich weiss nicht was soll es bedeuten…), as well as the Nibelungenlied; however, it takes place in a fictional setting and doesn’t aim for historical accuracy. Play as a young noblewoman with cursed eyes and decide her fate.
Status: last update 15/08/26, initial upload, prologue done, 13,5k words w/o code
General warning for period-appropriate attitudes, including gender roles and sexism. More specific warnings: implied suicidal intentions, attempted assault.
Four possible love interests are planned for the game, while some other characters might provide flings.
The Queen (F): she’s beautiful, regal, and has already given her husband a heir - she’s everything a queen should be. Is her concern for you going to become more than just that?
The Knight (M): a young knight-vassal who seems to have taken an interest in you - could it be because you both are no strangers to foul rumors? And is there something more behind his chivalry?
The Nun (F): the companion assigned to you. Aloof, her piety makes for a high wall between the two of you - can it become a bridge instead?
The Lost Childhood Friend (M): or acquaintance, or first love (selectable). He disappeared under strange circumstances you’re still not entirely clear on. What if he comes back? What if he comes back… different?
AI Disclosure:
No — This project does not contain the output of Generative AI
Yes — This project contains the output of Generative AI
The prose is really good and propulsive despite not that much going on at the festival. Hard to write a very passive and observant main character and her perspective stays specific and interesting throughout.
Bold choice to start with an attempted suicide and then a Stuart Special.
Main character is given some customisation – brash or meek, straight or bi, hair and eye colour (but aren’t the eyes a fixed colour because of the curse?) – although for the most part she is a fairly well-established character already in the world with a personality we can’t really stray from in the choices and a very Jane Austen Regency Protagonist energy to her.
That said, would have liked to see more of her connections with others, aside from suitors and hidden crushes. Seems like she has no family and no friends and is just kind of wandering around as an unaccompanied single woman. A few characters even remark on this. It feels intentional but it also strains credulity. It doesn’t feel like she has a life outside of being excluded at the festival. It’s all she is.
I noticed there was a lot of variation in the flavour text and choices that are greyed out depending on what you’ve picked before. That takes a lot of work and it really shines. Just take care not to burn yourself out on the details!
I admit to being extremely picky and particular- and based on the introduction, I wasn’t expecting to like this too much (despite being a fan of fantasy) but I do like it. Even though there isn’t as much detail as I would have liked, your writing style is good and the premise is interesting. It does have that “Regency” flair that isn’t always the easiest thing to nail without falling flat and so far, you’ve pulled it off well.
I think starting with an attempted suicide was an interesting way to kick things off; you don’t see things like that too often. The MC customization options are on the expected and narrow side, but I can’t fault you for that, since most IFs do the same thing and even if you were to expand them, you’re not going to please everyone, no matter what you do or do not add.
I would have liked there to be a few more personality types to come through in the choices offered, but that’s not a dealbreaker. Also, it would have been nice to see how the MC interacts with other NPCs and the like, since she does come across as just being a woman wandering around through her life. I get that she’s supposed to be ostracized because of what she is, but being able to see that come through in interactions with NPCs in town or something would really help to sell how she’s treated differently by the people she encounters.
Regardless, though, I’m looking forward to seeing where this ends up going.
This sounds like a really interesting ChoiceScript project. The cursed-eyes premise and the four planned romance routes give it a strong gothic-fantasy feel, and I especially like the contrast between the Queen, Knight, Nun, and mysterious childhood friend.
The Lorelei and Nibelungenlied influences also seem like a great fit for the setting. 13.5k words for the initial prologue is a solid start!
I chose to go for a more vn-inspired system in the end, where you can get points in four different personality types: the maiden, the proper lady, the siren (cunning/manipulative) and the valkyrie (more headstrong). +additional options where fitting So hopefully there will be enough variety.
Ahhh, I loved this demo! As others have said, the choice to start it off with a suicide attempt was bold, but it fit really well. Really showed the dire straits the MC is in. I also really enjoyed your writing style, everything feels really vivid.
The MC’s family sucks, I do hope we can successfully get out from under their thumb. I really appreciated all the differed perspectives the MC would take on her situation, the flexibility was nice.
All this to day, this looks great! I already have me eyes on the queen
This story makes me wish for the painfull death of all the men in it except for the knight, I really hope those rose bushes hurt the count (or rather, c*nt)
I’ve read the material you cited as your inspiration, it was ages ago, so I might not recall every detail. Anyway, it made me curious about your story and where it will go.
Take this with a grain of salt, since I don’t think anyone else mentioned it, so it might be a me problem: I would have loved an indicator for being back in the present moment after she is done telling the story of what happened. (Or was it there and I overlooked it? Wouldn’t be the first time.) It took me a few lines to realise.
Interesting! I wound up feeling for MC’s plight much more than I expected.
With the last options, I wonder why MC always says “I did” when questioned, instead of “He was.” Even if he was bewitched, even if her eyes could bewitch people, I would have argued that MC didn’t “do” it.
Is there a meaningful distinction between the two (being somehow responsible vs. being guilty) to MC, or the rest of society?
Does MC actually think she did it? Not simply that it was a consequence of her curse?
So hopefully there will be enough variety.
