Paved in Ashes (WIP) — Slice-of-Life — Prologue & Ch.1 (>145k words)

[SaiQuo]

H there, my name is Sai,

the author of Paved in Ashes (PiA). I am writing interactive fiction that explores the complexity and fragility of the human psyche. My projects focus on romance, angst and character-driven narrative.

Paved in Ashes plays in Hamburg, Germany and is a modern slice-of-life story.

⫸ PLOT:
You’re only 20 when suddenly your life goes bam ! Throwing you into a whole new city, a different country even. Wasn’t part of the plan, but you know how life loves to mess with plans. People happened, stuff happened, and suddenly you’re on the move. The new chapter ahead? Buckle up, 'cause it’s not gonna be all sunshine and rainbows. And guess what? Your step-mom? Yeah, she’s right there in the same city. She’s always had this knack for trying to steer your ship, like every decision’s a GPS checkpoint.

But hey, there’s this one thing that’s never let you down—your skateboard . It’s like the buddy that’s been with you through thick and thin, the one that never bails. Among all this craziness it’s like your anchor. So, the big question is—can you break out of the loop you got in? Find your place in the world and restart or lose yourself in temptation? Time to find out.

About your MC and the Gameplay

⫸ YOUR MC: Customise your own Main Character

• Looks: Hair, Body, Scars, Piercings & Tattoos and much more
• Gender identity and sexual orientation
• Personality: Sarcastic / Genuine, Rude / Polite, Grumpy / Friendly, Aggressive / Peaceful, Stoic / Emotional, Shy / Bold, Deceitful / Honest, Arrogant / Humble, Selfish / Generous, Oblivious / Aware, Disinterested / Curious, Cautious / Reckless
• Nickname: What do people call you?
• Fashion: Pick your clothes to match your personality
• Custom Skateboard: Design the look of your board
• Skate Style: What’s your riding style?
• Vices: Alcohol, Drugs, Smokes, Gambling, Aggression, Self-Harm
• Job: pick one of several professions - or don’t
• Hobbies: pick a hobby that makes you happy
• Housing: live with your step-mom, find a place for yourself, share a flat - or don’t
  At 20, your life takes an unexpected turn, thrusting you into a new city—and a new reality. Between family tension and tempting distractions, can your carve out your own path or will you stumble trying to reclaim your life?

The ROs and other characters

All romance in this story is optional and can be skipped all together if preferred. Still, the platonic relationships will be rewarding and deep on a different level. There are poly options available and each character has their own expectations, needs, wishes and desires, which you’ll have to discover.

Throughout the story, you’ll encounter the ROs at various points. However, not all of them are destined to remain in your life; some seek fleeting enjoyment while others might become sources of annoyance. Just like reality, there’s a mix of success and setbacks, reminding you that heartache is an authentic part of the journey. #heartacheisreal

E.g.: If you behave like an a*hole, there’s a chance they’ll break up with you.

⫸ Date Options: Overall 11 ROs & flings available

• Samual / Samantha “Sam” Peters, 25 -
• Your Neighbour [m/f]:

Occupation: Police Officer - Life’s flipped you into a whole new city, right? Newsflash! Next door’s got a friendly face that’s making things a bit less chaotic. Only thing is, you’re starting to wonder if there’s more to this neighbour than the casual chats. Are they keeping something under wraps? “In front of my eyes? Are you serious?” Loyal, Observant, Dedicated, Reliable, Friendly & Approachable Overprotective, Controlling, Difficulty Switching Off Does not skate

• Felix / Felicia Nowak, 21 -
• Your Ex [m/f]:

Occupation: Rich Kid - Old flames flare up as your past strides right back into your life in this brand-new city. Sparks are undeniable, but so are the reasons things didn’t work out. Can you give this a second shot, or is it just history playing its track again? “Your mother always loved me, you know it.” Confident, Generous, Driven, Charismatic Impulsive, Superficial, Entitled, Manipulative Does skate

• Alex Czarnecki, 25 -
• Your New Foe [m]:

Occupation: Lawyer - None other than a face that seems to have it out for you. Every encounter feels like a clash, sparks flying in every direction. But hold on, could there be more to this hostility than meets the eye? “I am looking forward to making your life a living hell.” Sharp-Witted, Analytical, Passionate, Perseverant Stubborn, Guarded, Confrontational Does not skate

• Noah / Naomi Cho, 20 -
• Your Best Friend [m/f]:

Occupation: Photographer - Your ride-or-die best friend’s on the other side of the world. They’re just a text away, keeping your spirits high as you dive into this new city’s chaos. The catch? Obviously the distance, but: Is there more to this bond that’s worth exploring, or should it stay in the “friend zone”? “Pah, plane tickets are so cheap these days.” Optimistic, Spontaneous, Loyal, Empathetic, Playful Conflict Avoidant, Flakey, Jealous Does skate

• Xavier Hoffmann, 22 -
• Your New Friend [m]:

Occupation: Musician - So, you meet this new friend at an event, and suddenly life’s got an extra splash of excitement. But hold on—there’s something about this new buddy that’s keeping you guessing. Can you really put all your cards on the table, or is there some trick up their sleeve? “See? Super easy and nobody will ever find out.” Inspiring, Free-Spirited, Passionate, Charming Attention-Seeking, Impulsive, Unreliable Does skate

• Laurenz / Laura Svenson, 20 -
• Your Rival [m/f]:

Occupation: Pro Skater - Rivalry’s a familiar tune - Drama is to be expected 'cause they don’t give you an inch of space. Competition’s getting a different flavor once you both aim for the same goal. Can you navigate these uncharted feelings? “Oh, you will so damn fuckin’ much regret it!” Spontaneous, Humorous, Enthusiastic, Entertaining Egoistic, Control-Freak, Insecure Does skate

• Francesco / Francesca Moretti, 22 -
• Your Best Friend’s BF / GF [m/f]

Occupation: Model - They always knew what they wanted, and they always got it. Truth is, you fell for them even before they got with your best friend. Then, you behaved - but your friend is not here now. As their gaze draws you in, loyalty falters in the face of desire. Can you resist, or even want to? “Not even they know about it.” Artistic, Sensual, Inspirational, Ambitious Dishonest, Neglectful, Envious Does not skate

• Dima / Dalia Petrov, 34 -
• Your Boss [m/f]

Occupation: Club Owner - As you step into the dark world of nightlife your paths cross. Soon you’ll navigate the complexities of the club scene with all its secrets. Can you decode the hidden motives and stories behind their actions? “I bet you have never seen anything like this before.” Confident, Assertive, Initiative, Alluring Possessive, Aggressive, Manipulative, Deceitful Does not skate

• Dr.Michael / Michaela Sturm, 29 -
• Your Doctor [m/f]

Occupation: Doctor - Unfortunately, your meeting is based on an accident. Will your face stand out amidst the sea of faceless patients? Can you unravel the layers of their identity and unveil the person beyond the white coat? “How did you even survive for so long?” Charitable, Open-Minded, Witty, Empathetic Restless, Workaholic, Burnout Did skate

• „Sparks“, 24 -
• Your Supplier [m/f]

Occupation: Drug Dealer - You heard a name, often, by many people, some you trust and some you don‘t - but they all agreed they are the one you should talk to. Sometimes it seems they don‘t offer earthly goods only. Soul for sale? „It‘s actually kinda fun and I make tons of money. But if I had been given the choice…“ Outgoing, Spontaneous, Genuine Non-Reliable, Trust Issues, Volatile Does skate

• Paul / Paula Gerwig, 38 -
• A Stranger [m/f]

Occupation: Executive Vice President - There‘s no way you can read their true intentions, but why would you want to? They manage to surprise you in the craziest - good - ways and even allow you to cause some chaos. „My chauffeur will pick you up at 9pm.“ Generous, Attentive, Driven, Reliable Hard-To-Read, Provocative, Hot/Cold Does not skate

⫸ OTHER CHARACTERS (non-romanceable):

• Kassandra [redacted], 45 - Your Step-Mom [f]

Occupation: CEO - She changed. Though she was never an easy person and always particularly strict towards you, she once had the kind heart your father fell for. But that was long ago. Now all that matters is that everything meets her expectations. At any cost. “You need to grow up before you are a shame to us.” Responsible, Committed, Vigilant, Perceptive, Ambitious Controlling, Obsessive, Dismissive, Authoritarian Does not skate

• Manfred von Kulversteyen, 56 - Your Step-Mom’s Partner [m]

Occupation: Lawyer - You have no idea how he ended up with your step-mom. Seriously. He seems to have it out for you and in some moments you are very lucky she is around. “If you were my blood, I would have beaten you into shape already.” Driven, Efficient, Confident Intolerant, Choleric, Arrogant, Unpredictable Does not skate

• Henric [redacted], 44 - Your Dad [m]

Occupation: Documentary filmmaker - Choosing happiness and authenticity over material pursuits, your father’s separation from your stepmother revealed his unwavering commitment to a meaningful life. Unfortunately that also meant sacrifices. “I couldn’t be any prouder of you. And I don’t care what they say. I love you.” Patient, Understanding, Affectionate, Supportive Worries a lot, Inconsistent, Overcompromising Did skate

FAQs

— Is the story and gameplay focussed on Skateboarding?
No. Skateboarding is a constant part of the story, but how much of it you engage with is entirely up to you.

— So what is the focus of the game then?
Human relationships—both romantic and otherwise. Character growth. The weight of trauma. And learning how to move forward when life veers off course, beyond your control.

— What makes your story special?
Replayability. Timing and choices shape how the story unfolds—who you meet, what secrets you uncover, and which paths open (or close) along the way. Some scenes shift entirely based on small decisions, and certain moments can only be discovered on specific playthroughs. No two runs need to look the same…

Trailer [on TUMBLR]

Paved in Ashes - Official Trailer – @pavedinashes-if on Tumblr

The content of this interactive fiction is rated 18+ for explicit material, including sexual content, alcohol and drug abuse, violence, and other mature themes.

Currently it’s a bit over 145k words (Prologue and Chapter 1). I plan on releasing updates twice a year. Frequent behind-the-scenes, writing updates and more can be found on Tumblr.

⫸ DEMO (Update & first round of bug fixes: 24.04.2025)

⫸ Tumblr (FAQs, Playlists, Character descriptions and more)

You can find me on Tumblr more frequently. Maybe see you around? Feel free to reach out if you have questions, concerns or other kind of feedback.

[Knoez]

I really love what I read so I wish all the best for you. Can’t wait to see more of this.

[Diane]

The update was great, keep up the good work!

[FabulousBlasphemer]

I really enjoy this and am happy to see the thread! it’s very difficult to keep track of updates through Tumblr so this makes it easier. Super excited for more!

[Valixon]

Glad to see a thread for this will be looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds.

[Cosmos_4]

This is great to be honest

[AnneWest]

Is the skating only going to be tricking, or is it just that it’s very early on in the story?

[KEMAR_SIMMS]

Definitely a w for me

[snas]

i am definitely naming my mc tony hawk

[DropsCity1992]

bam margera toni is a legend for sure but nothing goes over bam haha

and i am glad the wip found finaly its way here

[wanamingo]

I almost passed this by because I’ve been in a bit of an IF slump, but wow am I glad I didn’t!! I’ve spent the last couple of hours just going back and forth in the demo trying to see all the different routes and variations so far. Needless to say I’m really enjoying it!!

I did have a question about trans MCs, I looked through your tumblr but couldn't find an answer.

What function does the transitioned/not transitioned choice have? I can see that they’re different values but does the ‘not transitioned’ imply that the MC is still living as their assigned gender?
Like if you pick the ‘not transitioned’ choices with an MC that uses she/her pronouns does that imply that they are transmasc or transfem?

[Hylaire_Dessalines1]

I played the demo and I loved it!

[VelvetDivine]

So, so glad I came across this project! I’m so excited to keep reading!

[SaiQuo]

Hey, thank you for your ask! Indeed there’s a reason behind those options.

The Plan

Trans MC, whether transitioned or not, will have certain flavour moments and choices exclusive to them. I’d like to implement MC being able to come out—if they didn’t yet, decide how they feel about it—struggling or relieved, and include certain characters (ROs and non-ROs), that’ll have moments and conversations about these things. Some choices will have an influence on dialogues and MCs perception of moments.

That’s the plan for now. All I have to do is get the code cleared, because currently, some choices in certain scenes still have to be selected manually rather than automatically.

Feel free to reach out through Tumblr for more asks. Thanks

[FabulousBlasphemer]

Loved the update! Came across a few pronoun errors, gettin “her” when it should have said “him” on the train part. Also stayed home at the end and even though I chose not to try to go into the forbidden room, the end bits acted like I did. So it ended up being very confusing mentionin Marie tryin to clean a stain and I was wondering “what stain?”

[SaiQuo]

Thanks for pointing these out! Will fix it with the next update

[AnneWest]

Found an oddity/error on a reread where MC goes home early but isn’t even tempted to go into “Bluebeard’s Office.” It still mentions Marie scrubbing at the stain. For a playthrough where you don’t go in and aren’t even tempted to, you don’t encounter anyone until Kassandra comes home, and you don’t spill anything.

[Valixon]

@SaiQuo after a second play through im now even more intrigued by the characters especially the mystery one on the train ride home if choosing to return early to home. So defintly still looking forward to exploring the characters when you next update things.

[lilachu]

Played several times. Looks really good. Almost contain everything I want in an if. Great job please keep cooking💙

[Half_Lessathi]

Story is decent but the game overall needs work, even playing as a male it felt like playing as a female.