I was definitely thinking abt this with my own MC in mind too, and since she’s got a very common sense attitude I wondered how she’d feel abt being the object of Calypso’s recklessness (if tht ends up being the case!), in a sense. I’m super excited to see how a trial turns out when you’re romancing any one of the three :~), especially Calypso!
LMFAO, when the bearer is more capable of exercising better control of the essence, my first course of action is going to be to inflate Santiago’s chest until it corresponds to his ego and he floats away, TBH. On another note, I saw @Rohie mention that while Adonis’s reputation remained relatively unscathed on the forum, it wasn’t in Essence-verse 
Though I don’t think there’s been any outward display of animosity towards him thus far in the game, I wonder if we’ll ever see any if/when we’re in an established relationship with him?? I hope there’s the option to react by retaliating, though I have a hard time thinking that he’d defend himself.
Well, to be fair on our part for being pretty lenient toward Adonis, he hasn’t:
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Attacked and injured the Bearer with a weapon when first meeting them like Cally.
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Said numerous things in a way that can comes off as inconsiderate to the Bearer like Saint.
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Tried to choke us out (even if we’re an innocent Bearer) like Sage.
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Suggested that the Bearer be used as a meat shield like Santiago.
So it’s not surprising that he hasn’t gotten as much grief from us as the others have (though I’ll be laughing hysterically if it turns out the Seeker the Bearer kicked/hit was actually Donny) 
. That said, he will likely be one of the ROs who is the most prone to jealousy, which may end up rubbing some players the wrong way depending on how his jealousy gets translated in his actions (seeing as some might see it as being slightly hypocritical, since he possible has a rather extensive history of romantic conquests). Avery herself hasn’t had much of a bad reputation; even with the little interaction we’ve had with her, she is pretty polite toward the Bearer (even if they unnerve her a bit).
And Adonis actually states some interesting things if you dance with him about being the recent favorite of Aphrodite, like being the private enemy no.1 to the other Aphrodite children. So the bad reputation probably more subtle, stemming from him possibly having numerous relationships before and being known to play around. Some of his previous conquests and fans may even start focusing unwanted attention on a Bearer who Adonis likes, not being happy that Donny tends to keep close to them constantly in some way, doesn’t flirt as often as before, or even shows more genuine emotions when in the Bearer’s company.
Speaking of jealousy, I’ve been playing with the idea that maybe there’s a chance that another romance could end up being triggered during Artemis’ Trial. Like something ends up causing the group to separate in some way due to an unexpected danger and depending on the person (and if they are someone the Bearer hadn’t already indicated interest in) that the Bearer goes to help, they end up being stuck together and have to make an attempt to regroup with the other. During that time, there are chances where the Bearer and other person bond rather deeply with each other, and become closer to each other because of it (maybe even doing something that can be considered somewhat intimate, like being close to one another as they talk, sharing body warmth as they rest for the night, or just smiling and showing they are enjoying the other’s company a good deal).
By the time they regroup, everyone is relieved that the other were OK. But the first RO that the Bearer was interested in make some type of expression at the character that the Bearer had been stuck with, maybe sensing something may have changed in the two’s bond while they were only with one another and that they may have a rival for the Bearer’s affections. And the newly triggered RO returns the gesture in some way that reflects their personalities (like Adonis possibly sifting uncertainly at the silently asked question in the other RO’s eyes, Santiago smirking in a way that says ‘bring it on’, Sage looking just all around conflicted between the Bearer and the RO, Aeson’s expression staying carefully neutral and unreadable, etc…)
If someone expected Mara would go and helping him her … They could die waiting. Your idea is good for goodies. But ruthless as Mara won’t act like you have pointed in a million of years. And remember there are strategies in player way of act. Like ruthless and Solo survivor.
Romance triangles are the epitome of angst…which is why they’re possible with the flags I have set for each character. I think my text is clear enough that you know which choices trigger a romance, but being interested in two people will (hopefully, if I coded it right) give a lot of flavor text and a confrontation scene. None of the RO’s are into polyamory, so it’s to be expected.
But only for certain characters. I think in my notes it’s Cally/Aeson and Adonis/Santiago (?¿??)
In these notes of yours, do you have any plans to allow leeway for time you enter a relationship with an RO? As in possibly not going down the romance path at the beginning of the story, but getting the chance to romance a character at a later time.
I know characters like Sage would be a given for that since she’s much more likely to throttle you than kiss you since she believes you murdered her brother, but even for the other RO’s can you envision the potential to have multiple entrances into a romantic relationship with them as opposed to initiating it at the beginning and if you don’t do it then, you’ve missed your shot for the rest of the game?
I think the Guenevere thread has something like that and it’ll work really well; it’d certainly give you a lot to work with. People may be more partial to some characters later in the story once you find out more about them and possibly discern that they are not in fact arrogant bastards. Perceptions of people change all the time; the Trials themselves and the downtime inbetween would certainly be subject to a lot of emotional scrutiny.
YESSSS I LIVE FO DA ANGSTY DRAMAAA!! BRING IT TO MEH I HAVE CORN READY TO POP 
Now jokes aside, no one likes the controlling jealous types (or at least no one should like them) because that’s a one way ticket to abusive relationships.
However no one who is in a monogamous relationship should be expected to put up with their lover flirting/lusting for someone else, getting touchy-feely in dark corners and overall “keeping their doors open” attitude. If our MCs do trigger more that one romance and keep them going then we well-deserve being called out for being two-timing douches. That’s not something to be considered a character’s flaw.
Ah, I didn’t mean outward displays of animosity frm the Bearer! I meant that since he might have a bad reputation in the Institute (because of his numerous relationships, like you said), we might see that reflected in somebody else’s behavior towards him.
LMAO, I love it. I agree in that he seems like someone who’d be more prone to jealousy! Maybe it stems from the fact tht he genuinely likes the Bearer and it frightens him, so he’s more predisposed to being anxious in that regard? It’ll be interesting to see the different ways you can choose to react to it, if that’s the case. Unwanted attention from his fans sounds mad unnerving, especially if you play a less assertive Bearer. I hope not, though this sounds super plausible too The trials will likely involve some sort of relationship building with characters you haven’t previously interacted with, but I really wonder whether there’ll be the possibility to initiate romance. While it sounds intriguing, will the atmosphere of the trials really be suited to tht? I wonder whether the bearer won’t be too overwhelmed just trying to succeed, though it probably depends on how you play :~)! Any opportunity to further complicate your romantic relationship is a good opportunity, imo 
[quote=“Sherlock221B, post:7864, topic:15482”]
In these notes of yours, do you have any plans to allow leeway for time you enter a relationship with an RO? As in possibly not going down the romance path at the beginning of the story, but getting the chance to romance a character at a later time.
[/quote]
I’ve been wondering about this too. It would have to be more coding on @Rohie’s part but it might make sense for players who aren’t interested in entering into a relationship so early + hasn’t MC only been on Olympus for a week @ the time of the kiss (if you chose to kiss someone at the dance, obviously)? It seems a little hasty to me, especially considering everything’s that’s happened since their arrival. They might be more overwhelmed, than looking to engage anyone romantically.
I’m also interested in this. While some people can tell they’re in love from the first time they meet someone, other people don’t really develop romantic feelings until they’ve already gotten a bit close to them and gotten to know them. If the romance flags are set fairly early in the story, it would certainly be nice to have multiple opportunities to switch tracks throughout the game as you learn more about the various characters and their personalities.
Snickers
I can see it now. Emo Mara just casually strolling along the Trial, looking at her nails as she contemplates what color she can should make them. By chance, she comes across the group and sees that they are…so she keeps going on her way, and focuses on more important matters: her possible new nail color.
That aside, the whole separating-and-trying-to-regroup could be a exclusive event to those who are playing the Team Player or Honorable Hero route. If there is someone playing the Bearer as going off on there own, the event could then become them chancing to come across the group and all of them. The Bearer could then have an option to help one of the characters if they want or get away from the danger. If they end up helping the character and choosing to help them get back to the group, the character they help could express a sense of confusion, wondering why the Bearer is going to such lengths to aid them when they clearly wanted nothing to do with the group to being with. And when the two finally come across the group the Bearer could simply leave and return to their solitary style.
Good to know what the ROs’ stances are on polyamory is. Wonder if that applies to most of Olympus as well though.
I have to admit, I was sort of looking forward to the idea of a Calypso/Adonis confrontation; feels like it’d be interesting to see two children from the most chaotic Gods (because love and war can feel quite chaotic) and with such contrasting (yet somewhat similar) personalities dealing with the realization that they are falling for the same person.
Will it be possible to play the Bearer as being innocent (not naive; innocent) to a certain extent? Like, they can be drawn to someone early on, but it can be more up in the air whether that is a purely platonic or romantic interest? Or they do actions that are ambiguous by nature yet can be seen as somewhat intimate? It’d be interesting to possibly play the Bearer as being observant to a certain extent, but possibly not possessing a completely strong social awareness when it comes to the subtle nature of romance (or even their own feelings).
Like the sharing warmth idea; the Bearer’s main focus could be trying to look after the uninitiated RO, so they hold the RO close to their body to keep them warm for the night. But the action comes off as intimate to a certain extent, leaving the RO uncertain of what to make of the Bearer’s actions, though they can feel the genuine care in the Bearer’s actions. If the Bearer continues to take such ambiguous intimate actions toward an RO and their bond is high enough (whether they do it to two or are just ambiguous to one), it potentially leads to a more subtle moment where the RO (or the two Ros after a major argument) eventually confront the Bearer and ask them “So what has that all meant”, leaving the Bearer to have to finally clarify things. And if they try to give the RO(s) an ambiguous answer, the RO(s) will have none of it and force the Bearer to be straight out about their feelings (even if it may be difficult for the Bearer to describe them), wanting some actual closure about whether or not the Bearer cares about them romantically or simply as a close friend.
Mind, these are just ideas I’m throwing out; I imagine the coding would get a bit complicated if they were added, but figured I’d bring up the thought. 
Well, it probably would not happen right away. The first thought that may go through their minds when they see the Bearer with Adonis is “Man, he’s got a lot of guts making the Bearer the latest target 
”. it’s only when time passes on a little more that the thought may become “Wait, he’s actually SERIOUS about them 
!?”. Even then, a good deal of Donny’s fans would have to get past their initial fear of the Bearer or just be consumed by jealousy enough that they’ll take the risk of harassing the Bearer.
I’ve made the theory once the Artemis’ Trial may be focused on getting a feel of what type of Hero the candidates are and what type of skills they possess. So the Trial feel may end up taking a good while to accomplish, leaving chances for both tense moments and relaxing moments to take place (which could also give the Gods a feel of what the Hero candidate is like as a person in general). As you said though, whether the Bearer does end up developing an interest in someone during said Trial will depend on how we play them. .
Please please please!!! Not these stupid barely-hinted romance checks where you have to be in the right place at the right time and only one chance!!!
My own idea about trial is that is placed them to see if we are willing to kill someone. THEY GIVES A WEAPON FOR SOMETHING. Really think they would put a npc rival like a seeker or something vulnerable near us to see if we are able to murdering him her they to achieving a victory easier or just for win. They wanted to know if we are ruthless killers or not basically. That’s my idea , Artemis is a ruthless hunter and killer so it goes well. I hardly doubt it will be a ro or someone like Harris. Just a expendable minion.
I really hope we get to play a slightly less socially aware Bearer, even though it’s totally understandable if it can’t be done. + IMO, considering everything else that’s happened since their arrival, and the fact that they’ve basically been thrust into a completely unfamiliar world with the knowledge that they might one day be responsible for the destruction of life as they know it, I have a hard time imagining the Bearer doing something other than walking around in a daze for the first month (even though they’re obviously not going to be afforded that luxury and it makes sense from a gameplay perspective why not). It might make sense for some players if their MC had too much on their plate to really consider the complexities of their potential romance. I think this is a little different from what you were implicating though 
That aside, do we know Adonis’s ethnicity? If so, has there been facecasting of sorts for some of the main characters (because I have like, an exorbitant amount of ideas)? If not, I hope it’s mentioned :~) Have any of y’all ever facecasted your own characters?
Adonis came from France and has Asian physical features.
I know 
! Asia is a vast continent though, there’s not one particular set of ‘Asian features’. Besides that, one can look a certain way and consistently get typecasted another. It’s way too general to say someone has Asian features, is what I’m trying to get at.
Yeah, lol. Asia quite possibly has the most varied set of features. East, south, southeast, middle east. Just some of the more common ones.
Ok great… Now I’m wondering what Adonis might actually look like now…
Well @ashestoashes018 think he looks like Jungkook (she put up some pictures of him in post 6659).
And in post 6663, I put up my own picture of what I think Adonis looks like.
Can you quote your post ? I’m having a hard time finding it. Ah, I’ve seen Jungkook before. He’s cute.
I’ll repost the picture. I still have it since I’ve been using it as a reference in drawing Adonis anyway.
Jungkook’s Korean, though I’m uncertain what the ethnicity of the guy in your picture is as I can’t find him on reverse image search, lmfao. He’s cute too.
Here’s what I think Adonis looks like! This is Edward Zo, he’s Chinese. I love him etc etc. Though I guess we don’t know Adonis’s ethnicity yet, maybe @Rohie can confirm. If he’s not Chinese, I’ll likely find someone else.
I’m interested in what your MCS look like too! Here’s Nadira (Neelam Gill’s the model), even though nobody asked
She’s Indian. https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQFpSXrRSOEoC8146EFPT6AFiSlK2NliyYvBDPSfZ81ryFgLG9N
He looks like he can be a street figher