Right?? And the fact that he’s in with the moneylender in the destitute origin… this image was all I could think through the dinner
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Oh no, I definitely saw that it could due to the warning, that’s not my issue-
I just think there’s no reason to do the duel currently. Since either nothing really comes of it (besides wounding him) or a game over. If he outright is aiming for a duel to the death, it shouldn’t be a shocker he ends up dead in return. If the only way to prevent the game over is to miss with the bad pistols, it just circles back to my original issue of the duel being pointless- Nothing comes of it except a game over depending on choices.
I’ll simply avoid it via deflecting with wit as it stands, but I’ll still be watching for updates since it’s my only major gripe.
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Understandable. There’s definitely some darkness in this story, but I’m not going to kill off an RO in Chapter 2. (Or well, I did give the option at least but it led to game over.)
This was basically Levi’s intro, and yeah, it’s a long one but I think it’s more fun than meeting him over canapés. Esther and William get Pall Mall. Lancelot got a cutpurse. The others didn’t get very big introduction scenes but they’ll have bigger moments soon.
Introductions are done now though and the plot can kick in. Hope you’ll enjoy all the twists and turns!
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You don’t need me nerding about dueling pistols, but I personally found the duel perfectly reasonable as far as duels go, no matter what the Morning Slander says. (I do like the song if you duel as a lady though.)
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Yeah, that song’s as good as my poetry skill gets lol. I can’t do poetry 
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What an update. You’ve started building a mystery with this second chapter, I like it because you’ve managed to build atmosphere. I’m very excited to see more from this game, although I’m not quite sure how many paths you’re doing here, I can guess each plot might have a lot of variables unless some of the ROs are not true ROs (excuse me if you’ve said this before and I’ve missed it).
Keep up the good work!
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My poor Gent just wants some time with Griffith, and instead just gets c-blocked by every other ro and past-ro in the house. Lol. 
Why does Redgrave give my Jack the Ripper vibes. Or Dracula. They did warn us not to drink the ‘wine’. 
Oh my god, is this story secretly a vampire story. It is the good ol’ Victorian setting.
Also, I adore my little cocker spaniel, Clementine, and find that William Blevins is a cool guy. We can def be friends if he can consider me the nerdy book friend.
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I’m getting increasingly convinced that half the cast are vampires. Or fae at least. Everyone is at least so very suspicious that I’m half expecting some Agatha Christie -style scene where everyone is gathered to point out what they’re guilty of.
(My jilted F!MC can’t decide between Blevins and von Kessler.)
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Oh, definitely suspect North, Redgrave, Von Kessel, and maybe even Linden now. Are these dinner gatherings Redgrave’s way of scoping out new blood for the clan?
But sir, I take issue with you making Griffith into a real man. That, sir, is my job. 
My MC’s heart belongs to Griff, but he is often annoyingly charmed by Lance.
Edit: You know ..we never questioned why this is titled Season of Shadows. Dear God, we are in a vampire flick. And Lance is our Lestat du Lioncourt. 
I think I need to borrow Mrs Haines smelling salts. 
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@LiliArch and Blueshayde, Spamming this gif for the second day
@NessieNom Thank you! Yeah, the pesky introductions are out if the way, and now the plot can kick into high gear. I’m excited for the vampire murder mystery/agatha christie fae extravaganza/lovecraftian werewolf horror to come 
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Well now my expectations are set high. 
This entire story will get 0 stars if I don’t see at least one lovecraftian vampiric fae-werewolf detective by the end. 
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…I keep reading Lestrade.
I rest my case. And go to play a few non-dueling playthroughs. I need more MCs.
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I got a be honest, if Lance ends up a sexy vamp and wants to turn me…I might struggle to stay true to Griffith. Damn that smirk of his. Lance, calm down! You’ll get your turn after Griffy.
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The humor in this is impeccable, a subtle poke at the tropes and expectations of Regency fiction. I am appropriately disturbed by a good portion of the cast, and concur with others that a good number of them may be vampires. I appreciate the slowly building tension.
My destitute male MC, Oxford’s darling, can’t choose between Iris’s matching intellect or Esther’s gentle kindness. Both seem wealthy enough to catapult him out of poverty, although marrying into a dukedom seems more prestigious than a mere banker. Although Iris and the MC could definitely make themselves a business empire.
All in all, a fascinating romp through a suitably eerie Season.
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Ah, thank you very much, that’s a wonderful comment. Well. Who knows what’ll happen? No-one knows what’s going on except me. And the main villain. It’s a kind of a powerful feeling. Almost vampiric…
Jk (or not) Esther and Iris are both wonderful. Their personal plots are different but share a common theme - involving bravery and kindness. Don’t think you can go wrong with either.
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Is Iris the wealthiest RO? Our aunt comments to that effect, but it’s hard to believe that her family is wealthier than a duke.
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Hmm, I’d say Iris beats Esther by a little bit but it’s close. (Mostly because Esther isn’t the Duke’s daughter.) Daddy Bancroft is incredibly rich, but not the right sort, y’know, not our sort. Marrying a Duke’s ward is going to be more difficult, but I think both their journeys will be worthwhile.
Richest overall is William, if his father doesn’t chuck him away for being so obstinate.
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I still am certain after this new chapter that if I was to romance a fem ro, it would be Iris. Love a witty, smart woman with some business knowhow. Esther, though, I may have to fight William for adoption rights. Hugs her
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I also have to say it’s always a pleasure to read a Regency romance from a historically accurate male perspective. Because the source literature was largely written with female protagonists looking for husbands, it’s often overlooked that men were looking for favorable matches just as women were, through with differences based on men’s larger societal power and wealth. I appreciate that this story has both a male and female route that both appear distinct and grounded, instead of a unisex approach that often leaves the male route feeling like a gender-swapped Pride and Prejudice.
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I have so many thoughts.
First off, the plot is really thickening, isn’t it?! Redgrave is horrible, and I feel like he’ll only get worse the more we find out about the situation. At the same time, Linden surprised me by being… really weird at that dinner. So far, I’ve only seen him as an infuriatingly pompous idiot (on that note, gotta say, I LOVE the antagonistic heart options for him, it’s so incredibly accurate) but like… wth does bro know about the Redgrave situation? What do you mean “It’ll cost me” if I try to look for Ginevra?? Very suspicious. Very.
I loved the whole Prussian Offensive thing, it was STUNNINGLY awful. My poor MC. She was polite and all. Your writing is so humorous, I was chuckling the entire time. Also, playing this as a non-perfect, normal beauty stat MC and having the Slander pages pity her is such an L 
Von Kessler hasn’t had that much screentime yet, but I’m extremely curious. It’d be so much fun having the MC just scurry after him while avoiding the falling balconies and broken umbrellas.
I’m so deep into this world I swear. When Sporty McGee tried to get MC alone, both her and me were all aghast at the impertinence. Me, a twenty first century woman, going “no way, how dare he even suggest that”. Yeah. Take that as a compliment. I was immersed on every level!!
I’m so invested in this story, and all the courtly drama… I do hope we get to see more of Queen Charlotte. She may be stern and imposing and makes all the women walk around in a whole bedframe but she had our backs at the ball 
I love her
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