Hey there! Okay, so this is my first attempt at a game using ChoiceScript and I have no idea what I’m doing. But that’s okay, I’m going to roll with my unknowledge and hopefully gather a big enough snowball that any problem I run into will be easily repaired. As for what the metaphor means… Well it’s basically my long-winded way of saying I’m going to wing it.
So! The actual game, Icarus Sun. The explanation I’ve put together is pretty long so for those who wish I would get on with it, here’s the link to the demo:
https://dashingdon.com/play/renab/icarus-sun-demo/mygame/
For those who wish to read my explanation, here you go:
Two stories, one a story that may be more true than you think.
The first story is of an underground City. The City without a name, where you are one of the City’s Children. The City’s Children being children who would’ve died at birth, but instead was sacrificed to the City, who replaced the parts of you that didn’t work with pieces of this rusted City. In return for your life, you will work with The City in one of several jobs until the day you die. There are others like you, people who have flesh growing over metal parts, and metal inside of them as well, others who can speak to the City. The living City, your parent, your guardian, your inanimate founder.
The City itself is located underground, with gaslight and lamplight illuminating the gaping darkness that surrounds the edges of The City. There’s only one spot of sunlight, a gaping hole showing the outside world in the center of the City where a park lies. It’s expensive to get in, and the giant walls that reach the top of the cavernous underground make the area just outside the Park one of the darkest places within The City. Most people go their entire lives without ever seeing the sunlight, you’re one of the lucky few who do. You’re even luckier because, as a City’s Child, you see the sunlight often, as you must make repairs and care for the fresh fruits and vegetables that grow in the Park.
You are also illiterate, which makes the fact that you just found a book, and that you wish to read said book, a little challenging. The book came to you accidentally, and you know the title, although you don’t know how you know the title. Icarus Sun, those are the only two words you can read. But that’s what your mentor is for, right?
Your Mentor, the person (man, woman, or otherwise you’ve no idea, you’ve never actually seen them from outside of the shadows), who taught you how to work, and who’s responsible for your actions. They’re about as close to a human “parent” as you’ll get. They’re also, lucky for you, literate. And they’re willing to read you the story…
Even if The City may not be.
But what’s inside of its pages? And what implications does it have for The City?
Icarus Sun- the book, makes up the other half of the story.
You play as the main character of the book, a man, woman, or otherwise, who lives in a city where everyone has wings.
Everyone- except for you.
As a young child you were born too early, and your wings were deformed and bent and broken. They would’ve caused you great pain- so they were cut off. Which made life for you all the harder. In Alatum, everyone has wings. And everyone has magic. The magic is stored in the wings. So you, of course, have neither.
You’re alone in status, but you won’t let that stop you from living as you wish. So you go to the main city, a sprawling beast full of people fluttering to and fro. You’re there with a job opportunity from a close family friend, your “Uncle” Kenny, who runs a publishing company and needs help editing some of the transcripts. A simple job, but a start nonetheless.
That’s before you accidentally become an accomplice.
It all starts when you meet a man at a train station- a man without wings, like you.
And that’s the basic plot of Icarus Sun! The demo is currently about 10,000 words long (including coding), and since that’s a pretty good size for an update I’d expect the next update to be about the same length. Could I be lying through my teeth? Yes, yes I could. I’d be lying to myself as well, however, so I guess I’d be both victim and villain? That’s not a very good position to be in so I’ll try to keep to my word on that.
Anyway, any critique/constructive criticism/comment/question is welcome. Like I said I’m winging it, so I’ll need all the help I can get. Thanks for your time!
