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Hello there everyone! Like many of you here, I’ve been lurking at a lot of WIPs on this site, and loved/got inspired by many of them. So I finally decided to try my hand at my own.
My first post here was on the Interest Check Thread (Which I unfortunately had to delete because I realized that there was a rather significant spoiler in there 
), sharing about this idea of your MC getting trapped in a cursed town. A lot were pretty interested so I decided that I should try working on it. Just have you know that I have no set update schedule, but I will try my best to do as much of this as I can. This is my first CYOA game so I’m both nervous and really excited to see how this turns out.
Summary (Not final)
They say that curiosity killed the cat, but it won’t be satisfaction that’ll be bringing you back. Again. And again. And again.
After your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere while on your way to visit your parents, you find yourself stranded in a small, forested town not labeled on any map or pinged on your GPS. Its residents were kind, welcoming, and offered you a place to stay the night. But their smiles seemed more apologetic than happy, and their eyes looked at you with regret. You never really did understand why that was…Until you died.
So now, you are an unwilling participant in an endless cycle of death and resurrection. And the more you learn about the bloodstained history of the town and the past of its people, the more you find yourself getting tangled up in a web of secrets that threatens to keep you there forever.
Demo: https://dashingdon.com/play/astericae/nevermoore/mygame/ (Last Updated August 30, 2020)
Tumblr Dev Blog: https://asteristories.tumblr.com/. First time managing a blog so its design is still really basic. Feel free to drop by if you have any questions! I will also occasionally post progress updates, lore and character info, etc, when I can!
Discord: https://discord.gg/Y2X2ujk. I’m a little more active there so if you want to chat with me or other cyoa fans, don’t be afraid to drop by!
About the Game
- Play as male, female, or non-binary.
- 4 potential ROs so far! All are gender-flipable and are available to the MC regardless of gender. They can also still be made as a friend if romance is not on your mind!
- Nevermoore is a town where death doesn’t matter, but can you risk being careless?
- Explore and uncover the town’s mysterious curse. Be it alone, or with a few helping hands.
- Learn about the lives of the residents before they had found themselves there. Everyone has their own stories to share. Perhaps you might find something that you all have in common…
- More stuff to be added …
FAQ
This will be filled as time goes on.
About the potential ROs
Info might change as the demo goes on. Edit June 18, 2020: Good news! I found an amazing artist to commission for the character portraits AND they already finished with everyone! I hope you guys like them! Link to the artist: Here
The old art, what I had drawn, can still be found deep down on my blog. But, like…Why would you want to lol? More RO info can be found on the pinned post on my tumblr
Micah/Miriam Sterling | **New Art!**
"M"
Age: 26
Recorded Disappearance: 1922
They come from the back alleys of early 1900s New York despite having a soft-spoken and patient personality. Generally civil and polite to most people they meet, and tries to avoid conflict as much as possible. They also have a habit of being constantly alert of their surroundings, picking up sounds and sensations that would normally be missed by others. Nobody considers it unusual, however, because it becomes understandable once you meet them. If the pair of shades and solid wood walking cane doesn’t give it away, then their clouded blue eyes definitely will.
However, it’s best to remain wary of them. Because there is just something…off, in the way they carry themselves. Like a predator, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike their prey.
Elias/Eloise Lain Romero | **New Art!**
"E"
Age: 21
Recorded Disappearance: 1989
They grew up in Cuba before moving to Canada to study journalism. They are often sarcastic and have a bit of a sharp tongue, directing it towards anyone that’s within their vicinity for longer than a minute. However, it’s known that they do genuinely care for the other residents, even though they’d probably rather die again than admit it out loud. Oddly enough, they can also come off as rather nosy, always asking others (including you) rather personal questions. They insist that it’s important, but don’t specify what they need the information for.
Also, they are always seen carrying a leather-bound notebook with them at all times. With everything they seem to know about the people and the town, who knows what’s written in it…
Pavel/Priscilla Falken | **New Art!**
"P"
Age: 23
Recorded Disappearance: 2004
The brightly coloured, mismatched clothes they wear match their upbeat, free-spirited personality. An aspiring cook, specifically a baker, who was looking to open their own cafe before they accidentally arrived at the town. But even so, they won’t let the curse stop them from doing what they love, despite the potential risks (In fact, they’ve lost count on how many times their oven blew up on them). They also love to chat with people, especially with the newcomers. Expect to see them show up at your doorstep with a fresh batch of freshly baked goods as a way to make you feel welcome.
Their family actually shares their love for cooking, having once owned a small, local restaurant. Once is the keyword here. Best not to bring it up around them.
Simon/Sarai Zhang | **New Art!**
"S"
Age: 25
Recorded Disappearance: 1970
They are a person of science, following the footsteps of their father. Can be mostly be found in the town library, preferring the company of books rather than people. Their stoicism and aloofness makes it hard to get a read on what they are really thinking, and their bluntness sometimes puts others off. But they are hardworking, and take their situation more seriously than others. Which is why they are the only one who is actively trying to find a way out of the town, as well as understand how it works. They’ve tried everything, and are still coming up with new ways and theories (and experiments, sometimes even on themselves) all the time. They are determined to escape.
They have to. For their father.
Update Log
January 23, 2020
- Prologue
Feb 27, 2020 | Post #11
- Improved on Prologue
- Updated Content warnings
- Part of Chapter 1, which includes meeting the MC as well as basic character creation.
May 10, 2020 | Post #33
- Part 1 of the small update
- Added a save system. Hope it works.
- General edits and bug fixes throughout the whole thing.
May 20, 2020 | Post #37
- Part 2 of the small update
- Changed the ‘Perception’ stat to ‘Awareness’
- General edits and bug fixes throughout the whole thing.
June 20, 2020 | Post #40
- The missing phone conversation with your mom.
- The choice to not answer said phone call with mom.
- A couple new skillstat based flavor-text during the car stranded scene. Some are more ‘important’ than others. Can you tell which parts?
- Skill Stat explanations (That still need work)
- Bug fixes and general grammar/sentence updates.
August 30, 2020 | Post #56
- The rest of chapter 1
- Interlude
- First encounters with an RO
- Bug fixes and general grammar/sentence updates.
- Minor modifications to the skill stats
- Slightly changed the diner scene for better flow.
What’s next?: The first half of Chapter 2!
Current Word Count w. Code: 26,600
Current Word Count without code: 24,000
Average Word Count per Playthrough: I don’t know? How do you guys even calculate that?
What type of feedback I’m looking for:
- Spelling/Grammar errors since English is not my first language. Especially when it comes to tenses. I tend to mix up the past and present tense when I’m writing.
- Coding errors and bugs. (Ex: MC is referred to as he instead of she)
- Story pacing and sentence structure. Any scenes you think went on too fast? Too slow? Sentences that took you a few rereads to understand? Let me know!
- Suggestions. Can’t always follow through with it, but I’d like to hear your ideas on how to improve, be it characters, dialogue, or otherwise (Ex: There should also be an option x for this choice instead of just y and z)
- And if not those, even a simple comment of ‘I like this’ or telling me about your MC will make my whole day. Of course this is just the ramblings of a writer who gets excited at reply notifications like some puppy, haha…unless?
Thanks again everyone for checking this WIP out and giving it a chance in the sea of other (much more amazing) WIPs. But anyways, I do hope to see you soon!
