Hello there! You might remember this concept from the Interest Check Thread. Well, now it’s not just a concept anymore, but a little baby demo that you can actually read!
The premise has stayed mostly the same:
Орлёнок (Eaglet) is an interactive story set in a country similar to 1910s-1920s Russia. You’re a member of the overthrown Imperial Family, shaping the future of the Empire by virtue of arms.
It aims to be equal parts role-playing, dress-up and strategy game, with an emphasis on romance.
More information, as well as semi-regular updates on development progress and the option to ask me whatever you want can be found on the project’s official tumblr blog (linked below).
CLICK HERE FOR THE DEMO (v0.0.2a, 21.06.24)
CLICK HERE FOR THE TUMBLR BLOG
Features of this initial demo include:
- Meeting your family! And getting bullied.
- Getting executed!
- Rising from the dead!
- Celebrating life by slaughtering some rebels!
- (Being extremely miserable!)
Synopsis
The Empire of Nevetskiya - old, proud, and utterly dilapidated. While the Industrial Revolution has enabled other Monarchies - after a few quickly suppressed workers’ uprisings - to become modern colonialist superpowers, exerting their influence all over the world, Nevetskiya is still overwhelmingly agrarian, and barely holding onto its outlying territories acquired in golden times long past.
Your Father Emperor, while ruling with an iron fist and unquestionable authority over the common people, is completely dependent on the shaky loyalty of the High Nobility, who frustrate any attempt to modernize the economy or administration, out of fear upstart merchants might, in time, replace the old Aristocracy.
When a sloppily executed coup d’etat eventually leaves your family dead and you a refugee, it becomes time you grab the reins of your destiny and amass an army to liberate and rebuild the country in the way you envision.
ROs
★ Yakov Tymofiyevich Sokolovskiy / Liliya Tymofiyevna Sokolovskaya ★
The Intelligence Director (gender-selectable)
One of your four original companions. As a member of the High Nobility, you’ve met them before - maybe you’ve even been childhood friends?
But even if you know them, it’s hard to tell what they’re truly like, as they seem to switch personalities effortlessly depending on the situation.
Their work is a mystery to seemingly everyone, but they always get results: as long as you let them act freely, no enemy agent has any chance to harm you or your cause.
★ Semyon Ivanovich Orlov / Selena Ivanovna Orlova ★
The Cavalry Officer (gender-selectable)
One of your four original companions. A war hero and renowned expert when it comes to horses, the only reason they were not yet promoted to a lofty position in the War Ministry is their pragmatic approach to new developments, which hasn’t mixed well with the typically very traditionalist views of the old Imperial officer corps.
Possessing a subdued but strong charisma and deeply respected by their soldiers as a wise parent figure, they are a solid pillar of support to you, and will reliably get things done - though some people might consider the cost for that too high sometimes.
★ Mikhail Pavlovich Voronin / Marina Pavlovna Voronina ★
The Young Visionary (gender-selectable)
One of your four original companions. They shot up through the ranks by impressing the War Ministry with bold new ideas for utilizing modern technologies and are hailed as a genius by many - though the older officers dismiss them as a dreamer at best and incompetent fool at worst.
With you, they hope to have found someone who’ll appreciate their visions for the future - plus, their relative eccentrism has left them in dire need of a friend.
Their technical expertise might just prove to be the key to your success - if you can secure the foreign support needed to get the modern equipment needed to utilize it.
★ Leon Isayev / Leah Isayeva ★
The Noble Academic (gender-selectable)
One of your four original companions. Born to wealthy nobles, they graduated the Imperial Officer Academy with perfect grades, and feel honour-bound to your family.
They were the one to gather your initial force of loyalists and act as your primary advisor. But their loyalty is to the Imperial system, with you just a symbolic representative - can you convince them that you and your vision deserve their loyalty beyond that?
★ ‘Little’ Semyon/Selena Shvets ★
The Hero (gender-selectable)
A young cavalry officer and leader of your Southern Forces. A protegé of the “other” Semyon/Selena, they lack their cynical pragmatism, but make up for it with a firm belief in the triumph of a better world.
Some may call their optimism naive, and their personality has been mockingly compared to a Golden Retriever, but they have proven time and time again that underestimating them on the battlefield results in a crushing defeat.
★ Nikola ★
The Rebel (nb)
Leading an anti-authoritarian peasant uprising in the West, Nikola is more likely to be your enemy than your ally - but they don’t seem to care enough about politics to refrain from flirting with you, so… there might be a basis of mutual understanding there?
Their personality is pretty sweet, at least - if you ignore the fact they’ll cheerfully gun down prisoners if they feel like it.
★ Rakhmil/Rakhilya Feldman ★
The Logistician (gender-selectable)
A member of the Western Rebel Army and best friend of Nikola’s adoptive sibling, they’ve poured their soul (and countless nights without any sleep) into somehow maintaining the rebels’ supply network in the face of their rapidly swelling numbers.
Unhappy with Nikola’s carefree attitude, they might end up aligning with you instead in order to save their cause.
★ Arseniy Matveyevich Lebedev / Amaliya Matveyevna Lebedeva ★
The Enemy (gender-selectable)
Grand Duke Lebedev, the main leader of the Aristocrat faction, stood by and watched when your family was executed. Arseniy/Amaliya is their younger sibling, and serves as military commander of his personal forces that aid several warlords in their efforts to establish their own petty kingdoms.
But they’re already uncomfortable with their brother’s methods, and if you can convince them that you’re not actually “an incompetent little puppet who’s trying to ruin the country out of arrogant delusions”, they might become a very valuable ally.
★ Lyudmila Demyanovna Naumova ★ (f)
A minor noble who reluctantly turned into a Warlord in order to protect her territory and her people. All she wants is peace - but she’ll not hesitate to fight if she believes it necessary.
Unfortunately, you can’t just ignore her - all must choose a side in this war - but you have options how to deal with her. Will you subdue her by force? Or fall back on the age-old option of political marriage to secure an alliance?
★ Jan/Jana Novotný ★ (gender-selectable, under certain circumstances)
A member of your Personal Guard who has distinguished themself and eventually rises to become its commander. Others might betray or doubt you, but Novotný only cares about one thing - your continued, unharmed existence.
And they will go to any lengths to guarantee it.
Feedback
This is, quite obviously, a work in progress. It is made available so that you, the reader, can give feedback that improves the game.
So, while you can - and should - obviously tell me whatever you want, a specific list of what I need most in terms of feedback can be found here:
- Language. English is not my first language (actually, not even my second one), and I mostly read non-fiction academic works when I read in English, so my writing is certainly not at the level it should be. If you have any concrete issues, please tell me, and I’ll try to learn how it can be improved.
- Spelling. I don’t expect much in the way of outright errors, but I do know that I mix up British and American English all the time. The intended style is American English, so please point out spellings that are wrong in that regard.
- Inconsistencies. There are a lot of variations between scenes, and I’d like to make the story as immersive as possible; so, if a phrasing, a character’s behaviour etc. feel like they don’t fit into the choices you previously made, please tell me. In detail, if possible, otherwise I won’t be able to amend it.
- Sensory descriptions. AuDHD makes my brain process sensations, including visual impressions, very differently, which means I often end up forgetting those exist. Please tell me about scenes that lack description in that regard. (My first grade elementary school report card called my writing ‘efficient and devoid of feelings’, and I’d very much like to move past that.)
- Technical problems. The code should be pretty solid, but with how complicated it is, it’d be weird if there weren’t at least some problems. If you find them, please try to include as much detail as possible when telling me about it. (CS Quicktest and Randomtest are not usable due to the complexity of the code, lol.)
- You liking the story. I remain thoroughly convinced that I am a worthless person who isn’t able to, nor deserves to create anything, and currently my only motivation to continue this project is derived from pure stubbornness. So, if you, for some reason, actually like this demo, please tell me. It won’t change my mind about how bad I think it is, but it will force me to continue in order to avoid being even more of a disappointment.
- Additions. If I like your idea, I’ll probably add it right away; if I’m unsure, I’ll do a poll. You can get me to do almost anything if you say you’re sad if I don’t do it
- Formatting. Although I try to playtest as much as possible, it’s not that easy with how many variations there are, and in VS Code it’s sometimes hard to see how well or badly readable text passages actually are.
CWs/TWs (v0.0.1)
- Graphic violence and gore
- Attempted sexual assault (against the player, avoidable, f!MC only; also against an NPC if massacre route is chosen (is dealt with quickly))
- Suicide attempt (by the player, avoidable; f!MC only)
- Loss of loved ones
- Massacre of civilians and/or PoWs (avoidable)
- General misery
(please let me know if you think this needs additions)
As of yet unfinished content
- Autistic variations do not exist yet for the latter part of the demo
- Only one of three locations for taking a walk available for now
- Tooltips are incomplete
- Asexual is not available yet, as it requires a lot of additional scene variation text
- Special (psychopath) routes are missing from some scenes as they were added late in development
- Choices that are locked and marked as (WIP) are unfinished
- Interaction routes for Semyon/Selena, Mikhail/Marina and Leon/Leah. They are top priority for the first set of updates
It is recommended that you play this with a stable state of mind. If you choose the suffering paths because it’s relatable and/or as a coping strategy, please make sure you have support available and avoid triggering yourself too much.
The whole point of this game (apart from the dress-up part) is that, no matter how bad things get, you shouldn’t stop fighting. It’s your enemies who deserve destruction, not you.
Please keep in mind that I am both literally insane and pretty reasonable, so: if there is anything you find grossly offensive, don’t assume I meant anything bad by it. Just explain to me why you think it shouldn’t exist, and if I am convinced, I will amend it.
sounds fun. Here’s to overthrowing the bolsheviks 
. I’m really intrigued by the dress up aspect, can’t say I’ve seen a lot of games featuring that. Does it play a part in the story? I wouldn’t mind being dripped out as I restore imperial glory to mother Russia.
I can already imagine my MC giving russian pet names to his future victims during interrogation (aka torture sessions). Looking forward to further updates!!