Thank you for this. I know a lot of people really seem to like it, but I find the “OP PC” that’s so in demand lately to just be deathly boring.
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They can be OP in terms of power, but still have a lot of flaws for character development later down in the story. Or, if you watch/read anime/manga, you could have someone like Satoru Gojo who is considered OP born a genius who makes everything he does, seem as easy as breathing, but later down the line, the reader is made to understand the hard work he put to master his talents and power. Talent without hard work yields nothing.
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I did watch/read manga, and that’s where the fatigue began to set in.
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For the record, I do believe that OP characters can be done well, but you kinda need to balance the story around it. This story, the way I originally envisioned, was about surviving, figuring things out, growing stronger, then reaching your goals, not necessary through force. The way I see it, foiling a clever plot or preventing a war through diplomacy is no less awesome than kicking a hole through a mountain.
At the end of the day, it’s an IF. I’ll be trying to provide different options, including the martially-inclined ones. And as I said, I like writing the MC as competent, but having them breeze through everything too easily would kinda destroy the atmosphere I’m going for. At the same time, I’m not writing them as someone who does nothing but fail. Which is why I said I hope I’ll be able to strike that balance where they feel neither weak nor too OP. (at least for this stage of the story)
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Nothing a bunch of glitter and sparkles can’t make better 
And, uh… chapter headers.
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Something tells me that I’ll be picking that last option a lot XD
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this seems interesting and has potential, i wonder what happened during the blank time?
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Thank you, I’m happy you think so 
By ‘blank time’, do you mean the time skip? The reason we’re getting those is because I wanted to focus on the episodes needed to set stuff up only. But, sure, I can edit a bit more info about what happened there in (to the MC, that is, nothing spoilery) 
Apologies if I misunderstood and you meant something else lol
@Dreamer44 feel free to pick it, you might miss on some things but learn something different in return…
Edit 09/08/24: I was asked to bring the game back to dashingdon. As I lost access to my old account, I created a new one… Here’s the link, hope it works.
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- author taking a break
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We believe in you and will be here when you are ready.
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No worries, focus on yourself first. The fans will wait as long as we have to.
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Another year’s here, and I’d kinda like to bring this back. I had a scene-by-scene plan for the next part written out, so. I’ll see if I can get back into it.
Happy belated new year, btw. May it be better than the last.
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Good luck!
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What a banger, it’s been a while since anything sucked me in this hard.
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Thank you very much lol, I’ll need it 
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
As a side-note, I’m recreating the Tumblr blog I’ve deleted here.
Well, back to trying to remember how this all works with me now.
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13/01/25
I’m trying to get into regular writing reports, here.
Anyway, I have around 6k words written so far, which are the first few scenes of the second chapter on the “normal” path + a couple passages of the “resist” path. But that’s w/o any choices, so the edited thing is gonna grow in wordcount.
So, preview time!
We have MC with character development (?)
You supposed that, not being able to just let you go but having little reason to actually arrest you, the Temple had decided to make use of you. It made sense; the Sun clan did the same. Your blood, no matter what side it came from, made you useful, and being useful had kept you safe from worse fates. You were either useful to the ones in power, or… you were the one in power.
The realisation was rather simple, yet nevertheless it hit you like a strike of lightning. So, on your second audience with the high priestess, you agreed immediately to her proposal of working for the Temple. You needed the freedom, as much as you could get for that moment; and you needed power.
Neith is back, also with character development (??)
“Princess,” you greeted as you approached her. She went with her title for the introduction, so at least for now it made sense to play along.
“Name,” she responded. A neutral, empty greeting exchanged for another just as empty one, but her eyes on you were intense–keen. “And so we work together again. Fate sure has a sense of irony, doesn’t it?”
“With all due respect, I do not think it was just irony that brought us together.”
“Really? I think it rather fitting.” She shrugged. “But, yes, I get what you’re asking. What in the ashen wastelands am I doing here, right?”
And on the other path, the MC’s not doing so well… (???)
That was the question, wasn’t it? One that kept popping up in your head more and more often lately, more impatient each time. No, the confinement really did nothing good for your mind, not when your inner voice had seemed to have grown a mind of its own. And it wasn’t very happy with you. Which was fair. You weren’t very happy, either.
…
Staying alone for so long must’ve made you sensitive to the behaviour of others, as their emotions became much easier for you to read. You could immediately tell if the acolyte who brought you food was bored or annoyed, or if the guards you passed by were watching you or merely pretending they did. Probably the consequence of having to watch out for yourself, never feeling truly safe.
What was the matter with the mark, however, you couldn’t say, though for whatever reason you found yourself reluctant to reveal it to the priests. They’d have probably declared it a sign that you were cursed or whatever.
Your lips pulled up into a mirthless smile.
Edit 16/01/25
So since dashingdon is going down at the end of the month, I’m taking the link to the dash demo down. I know many preferred it as the hosting site, but it is what it is. Big thank you to Don for maintaining the site as long as he did.
The demo will now solely be hosted on cogdemos.ink. (idk about posting it to itch.io or wherever yet)
And, well, since I’m doing this edit, have another small preview.
A wild new character appears
“Let me start off by saying that I don’t know anything, either,” she stated, her attention still on the horse, which was happily pushing its head further into her palm. Right. She would’ve overheard your conversation with the priest…
“Alright. Let’s talk about something else, then.” Perhaps you could glean something from the conversation either way?
“If you wish.” She paused. “Nice weather we’re having today, don’t you think? Very… dusty.” You caught just the slightest hint of distaste in her last words.
Your gaze swept over the sunbaked wasteland around you, ending down on your own boots - indeed grey from the dust.
“I don’t like dust.” You frowned. “It sure gets everywhere.”
“Indeed.” The acolyte sighed. She finally raised her head to look at you; a calm, steady look. “Now what was it that you wanted to ask, if not about the mission?”
Edit 17/01/25
Another 6k words done (w/o coding/choices). It’s going decently for now, which kinda worries me…
More previews under the cut
Going places
The farther away from the city and the closer to the border, the more the sights changed.
Gone was the ever-present greenery, now only contained to the lone fields and walled estates on the banks of canals and rivers. The ground under your horses’ hooves turned dry and sandy, their steps raising clouds of dust into the air. The dust was soon everywhere - on your clothes, hair, and skin. You were breathing it in with the air and taking it in with your food.
On the last stop before you would’ve reached your destination you bent down on the bank of a river branch, washing the ever-present grey hue off your skin. The same dark, dusty, rocky ground stretched in all directions, black silhouettes of what should’ve been the guardian towers outlined against the horizon to the north.
Local legends
#Stubbornly continue to listen.
“…and he ordered that her body be ripped apart by the horses,” the priest finished. "Her blood spilled over the once-fertile fields, and nothing grew there anymore, so the place became known by it’s current name: “the fortress of dead flowers.” He looked up at you, smiling. “Did you like the story?”
“Is this really a history scroll?” You squinted at it, but couldn’t make anything out. Was he pulling your leg?
“Believe it or not, it is. Why, can’t I not have my hobbies? Do you think I spend the entire time praying?” No, in fact, you didn’t think you saw him praying once. “Do you know how rich is the history of–”
“I get it, I get it, backing off.” You stepped back, raising your hands up into the air. Ash, you could take a hint.
Edit 19/01/25
I managed to wrestle the ChoiceScript tools into submission (I think), so the game is now available at itch.io for those that prefer it as an option. Save plugin included!
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By all what is amazing, your story is awesome and a delight to read 
I’m not finished to read the whole wip, still I wanted to give you a comment, so you don’t think you write this Masterpiece for yourself. I love both of our teachers and Ember seems like a good young boy/man. I hope we can meet him again in the future. Can we find our parents in the future as well? Do we meet the princess again? Once again I love the story so much.
I’m looking forward to more 
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Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you’re enjoying the story.
All these characters will return, one way or another 
In fact, Neith is there from the start of ch2, and Ember should return in the second half of it.
Tbf not much she could’ve done in that sitiation 
I’m looking forward to writing them 
A good question to ask of MC’s parents, isn’t it.
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Now I finished the Wip and gaaah, it was amazing 
This high priest is something else 
and Neith, don’t let us go with them, I thought we were friends 
Ugh, I’m looking so much forward to read more about MC and Ember…I hope we can get through all of the sh*t we need to go lol (and are we really demonic? )
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