The Dragon's Covenant (WIP)

[RGHV]

Update 6 (23/05/2025): Hello everyone! This update is on the smaller side. College has been keeping me busy, and I also took some time to rework how I handle certain variables to better manage future updates. So, this update adds only around 14k words of new content, but it also introduces several important changes. So what’s new?

Stats Rework:

Previously, the personality stats were:

*Humanity
*Ego
*Honesty
*Rage

I’ve decided to simplify and adjust them to:

*Humanity
*Arrogant/Selfless
*Cold/Wrathful

How do these changes work?
Now, 50% represents a neutral midpoint (neither Cold nor Wrathful, for example). When your character expresses anger in a choice, you’ll gain points toward Wrathful, pushing the stat higher. Conversely, holding back your emotions will lower the value, pushing the character to be more Cold. I plan for characters and some scenes to dynamically respond based on these values, making interactions feel more natural (though I still haven’t implemented much of this).

Additionally, I removed the cap for these stats. Allowing them to exceed 100% could lead to special “overflow” interactions—for example, becoming overwhelmingly wrathful could unlock some unique scene variations. However, I’m not entirely sure if this would interest everyone, so feedback here would be extremely helpful!

Character Customization:
Yes, I’ve finally added some customization options for the Warden! Originally, I was planning to leave most of their appearance up to the reader’s imagination—but since many of you asked for it, I figured why not? It could also open up some fun possibilities for future scenes, so I’m glad it’s in now.

Other Changes and Fixes:

Aside from stats, this update fixes several errors and introduces the first entry in the bestiary. More bestiary entries will come with the next update.

New Story Content:

There’s new story content too—not as much as I would’ve liked, but here we are! A significant chunk of my time went into fixing bugs, adjusting the personality system, and planning the potential kingdom-management mechanics if i decide to dive into that, still not sure how to handle this part.

Also, in this update, you’ll find the first small tease of a possible poly relationship. As a reminder, I prefer to let each romance arc unfold at its own pace, depending on the character. So don’t worry if your preferred RO seems slower to develop than others. It’s intentional; I want each romance to fit with that character’s personality and relationship with the warden. Everyone will get there eventually!

What’s Coming Next:

In the next update, I’ll include a scene allowing players who haven’t chosen a name yet to finally do so, and I’ll add a scene to advance the relationships with Walls or Ruby a bit further. The next update should hopefully be quite a bit larger.

As always, thank you all so much for your continued support—it really means a lot!

Also, I can finally post the image of the map now!

[comradelenin]

@RGHV

College has been keeping me busy,

Oh I feel ya. Fresh out of college myself.

[comradelenin]

Floating city spotted!

Also Hogitsu. I don’t think that one was mentioned before. I’m guessing it’s not part of the Empire’s old territory if they’re not mentioned as part of the successor states.

[RGHV]

@comradelenin

Floating city spotted!

I wonder what might be hiding there…

@comradelenin

Also Hogitsu. I don’t think that one was mentioned before. I’m guessing it’s not part of the Empire’s old territory if they’re not mentioned as part of the successor states.

Yeah, Hogitsu has hardly come up in the story so far—I think it’s only been briefly mentioned once, when Lyra was explaining the political landscape of the kingdoms. But you’re right: it’s a relatively recent city, founded after the fall of the Aurelian Empire. There’s a bit more information about it in the codex.

[BlueShayde]

Gotta be honest, glancing past the map, I thought it said Hogwarts and was quite confused for a moment.

Also…yay! I look forward to finally flirt with Walls.

[comradelenin]

@RGHV

Also, in this update, you’ll find the first small tease of a possible poly relationship.

Which one btw?

[RGHV]

Lyra and Arael. I feel like they are most natural pair for the first potential poly romance. For now, it’s just a small tease though, a brief scene that only appears if you follow a very specific sequence of choices. Nothing major yet, but it’s a hint of what might develop later on.

[comradelenin]

Yeah I figured that one would be on the list.

That actually sounds like it’d be super beneficial too since you get a claim to the throne of Aurelia and Lyfdel too. Of course, we’d need to figure out which heir inherits the throne unless the Aurelians had some lost device that lets you have one kid descended from three people like that one experimental embryo modification.

Still rooting for Arael and Ruby.

Speaking of, if both Theresa and us (potentially) are seeking an alliance with the elves, does that mean Emberford and Akastin are on decent terms?

I also love the walking oasis creature. Gotta wonder if you could run a mobile town on them. Though that would be a problem if they die of old age.

Other thing I was curious about was the political implications of each path to founding an Empire. The completely new empire and the New Aurelian Empire.

Way I see it, if you just found your own new one that’s not claiming to be a successor to Aurelia, then you’re kinda tossing all geopolitical precedent from the past two centuries out the window. All four kingdoms base their legitimacy on being descended from the colonial governing families of the Empire’s human territories. Codex describes Hogitsu and Laphis as rogue states because they don’t do that. No mention has been made of whether any of the other races make similar claims. I assume the Elves don’t given they massacred an Aurelian garrison to found their state (not getting the best impression of their country tbh). Trying to establish a totally new empire based purely on the fact that you can take the land, people are gonna see you as a barbarian or warlord for not caring about how the current system defines legitimacy. That’s how it was in the irl medieval era anyway.

I’m inclined to think it’s even more complicated here because irl, a claim to Rome was mostly necessary if you’re declaring your country an empire. That’s what empire originally meant. There’s a lot of kingdoms we’d probably call Empires today and who worked a lot like a traditional empire but called themselves “high kingdoms” instead. Here it seems that ANY human nation needs a claim to the Empire to be considered legitimate. I half expect us to keep being called a warlord or chieftain by our enemies just on technicality. It’s gonna be an uphill battle to get important people to go along with us. It’d be political (and possibly literal) suicide.

Now if only there was some way we could obtain a claim. One so strong that it objectively and inarguably blows every other one out of the water.

I figure marrying Arael would make getting allies easier since we’re playing by the rules of the old political landscape. Obviously I don’t expect everyone to bow down and accept us instantly but if we make an otherwise compelling case to join us, your average lord may be more willing to accept becoming our vassals than if our whole claim to legitimacy is “vae victis”.

Main question is what excuse the other kingdoms will go with to oppose us. The other Aurelian faction may cite whatever grievances they had with the Empyreans to try and declare them an invalid dynasty or something and maybe Vlorora and Grafast can work with that. We don’t really know enough about Akastin to speculate yet.

Also the idea of Laphis being the successor to the Aurelian Empire is really funny. It’d be like if the USA fell and Cuba reunited it. Pulling a real Charlemagne here. I love it.

Is the number of soldiers who’ll join you going to be dependent on which path we follow? Like, would more be interested in one of the heirs?

[DARKSNAKE]

how do I unlock it

[RGHV]

@comradelenin

That actually sounds like it’d be super beneficial too since you get a claim to the throne of Aurelia and Lyfdel too.

That’s true, it would unite royal blood from both lineages. Lyra is fourth in line for Lyfadel, and while Arael is a bastard, her mother believed she was the last surviving heir of Rahatiel.

@comradelenin

Speaking of, if both Theresa and us (potentially) are seeking an alliance with the elves, does that mean Emberford and Akastin are on decent terms?

Not exactly. Akastin has stayed out of the power struggle between Emberford, Vlorora, and Grafast ever since aligning themselves with the elves. They’re more of a neutral party. That said, they wouldn’t have harmed Theresa once she arrived—Idius being with her made sure of that.

@comradelenin

Trying to establish a totally new empire based purely on the fact that you can take the land, people are gonna see you as a barbarian or warlord for not caring about how the current system defines legitimacy. That’s how it was in the irl medieval era anyway.

Exactly. The common folk may not care as long as their lives aren’t disrupted, but nobles and vassal lords will absolutely resent a nobody seizing ancestral lands by force. I’m still fleshing out how diplomacy will play out, but I definitely want there to be consequences for disregarding legitimacy.

This also makes routes with Arael or the twins more distinct and fun to explore, as they offer a stronger claim to power and legitimacy.

@comradelenin

I’m inclined to think it’s even more complicated here because irl, a claim to Rome was mostly necessary if you’re declaring your country an empire. That’s what empire originally meant. There’s a lot of kingdoms we’d probably call Empires today and who worked a lot like a traditional empire but called themselves “high kingdoms” instead. Here it seems that ANY human nation needs a claim to the Empire to be considered legitimate.

Yeah, in this setting I’m using “empire” and “emperor” to mean someone who holds authority over not only their territory, but also over another kingdom.

It’s not that a claim to the Aurelian Empire is required for legitimacy—but during their reign, the Aurelians divided the land among four noble human families loyal to them. When the empire fell, those families kept control of their territories. So anyone declaring independence now is seen as stealing land that “rightfully” belongs to those bloodlines.

Laphis and Hogitsu haven’t faced pushback mostly because the Wasteland and the North are too inhospitable to bother with.

Still, for other kings and nobles to recognize the MC’s rule as a legitimate kingdom, or eventually an empire, will take a lot of effort or smart negotiations/marriages.

@comradelenin

I figure marrying Arael would make getting allies easier since we’re playing by the rules of the old political landscape.

It would definitely help compared to claiming power out of nowhere with no ties. That said, marrying Theresa or Ecbert would likely have a stronger political impact. Even though Arael’s claim is technically superior—being the daughter of the Aurelian emperor—no one in the human kingdoms really knows about her. She disappeared as a child and hasn’t been seen since, so it would be easy for nobles to dismiss her as a fraud.

Of course, there will be ways to counter that and prove her legitimacy. Once you do, her claim will be far stronger than either of the twins—but it’ll take more effort to get there.

@comradelenin

Is the number of soldiers who’ll join you going to be dependent on which path we follow? Like, would more be interested in one of the heirs?

Most of Emberford’s soldiers were hoping Ecbert would take the throne, but the number who follow the MC won’t depend on who they support. It’ll come down to how they feel about the MC personally and how you address them before leaving to Laphis.

[RGHV]

You need to be in a romance with Arael and have avoided her breaking things off with you. When Zatus gathers the soldiers for his speech, choose to threaten them, and when questioned afterward, respond with arrogance. That should trigger the scene. It’s a very small moment though, just a brief tease, like I mentioned.

[comradelenin]

@RGHV

Of course, there will be ways to counter that and prove her legitimacy. Once you do, her claim will be far stronger than either of the twins—but it’ll take more effort to get there.

Ancient Aurelian DNA test.

@RGHV

Still, for other kings and nobles to recognize the MC’s rule as a legitimate kingdom, or eventually an empire, will take a lot of effort or smart negotiations/marriages.

Lining up the adult heirs to Grafast.

“Alright which one of you is willing to swear fealty to me?”

“You bastard! I will avenge my fa-” Gets punted into the ceiling.

“Ok now who wants to learn from their brother’s mistakes? I am not above putting little Timmy von Grafast on the throne.”

“That’s uh, not our family name.”

“Yeah, I really don’t care.”

@RGHV

You need to be in a romance with Arael and have avoided her breaking things off with you.

I didn’t even know that could happen tbh. I assume it’s if you don’t make her romance official.

@RGHV

I’m still fleshing out how diplomacy will play out, but I definitely want there to be consequences for disregarding legitimacy.

I imagine some warlords would be interested in replacing uncooperative lords, but they’re not known to be trustworthy.

@RGHV

Laphis and Hogitsu haven’t faced pushback mostly because the Wasteland and the North are too inhospitable to bother with.

Not for me! Hello new provinces!

I do have to wonder if there’ll be common ground between Yukari and Dragonspawn.

@RGHV

That’s true, it would unite royal blood from both lineages. Lyra is fourth in line for Lyfadel, and while Arael is a bastard, her mother believed she was the last surviving heir of Rahatiel.

I look forward to seeing how we can get Lyra on the throne. I mean obviously I know a way but I mean whilst preserving the relationship.

Another concern I have is what exactly happens to the other twin if we back one, or both if we go our own way. I don’t particularly want anything bad to happen to them, but I suspect a struggle.

@RGHV

Not exactly. Akastin has stayed out of the power struggle between Emberford, Vlorora, and Grafast ever since aligning themselves with the elves. They’re more of a neutral party. That said, they wouldn’t have harmed Theresa once she arrived—Idius being with her made sure of that.

Wonder if she plans to marry into their family. That’d grant her some valuable allies to retake Emberford.

Edit: I’m not totally certain what response I want to go with on further playthroughs. Threatening the soldiers doesn’t feel nearly as good as giving a rousing speech and doesn’t really gel with how I play my Warden (maybe if they said it with an eerily chipper tone), but I honestly think Warden makes a good point. None of these people have a snowball’s chance in our fire of making it to the heirs and I am suspicious of Grafast’s offer. Sure, the SMART thing to do imo would be to make it a sincere offer but then again the smart thing to do would have been to take Emberford instead of razing it. We don’t know how the enemy thinks. And also we’d have to fight them later.

[RGHV]

@comradelenin

I didn’t even know that could happen tbh. I assume it’s if you don’t make her romance official.

It happens if while romancing her you leave to Emberford without telling her.

@comradelenin

Another concern I have is what exactly happens to the other twin if we back one, or both if we go our own way. I don’t particularly want anything bad to happen to them, but I suspect a struggle.

All I can say is that they REALLY want to be the next ruler, so they wont take kindly to someone taking that from them.

[Kwartel]

Hey! I really like your WIP. I’ll be honest, overpowered MC isn’t really my thing, but the writing is great. Really interested in the struggle MC has with his literal darker side, and looking forward to your update!

[comradelenin]

@RGHV

All I can say is that they REALLY want to be the next ruler, so they wont take kindly to someone taking that from them.

Not the most loving sibling relationship it seems.

We should lock them in a tower.

Also I just realized that given the kings were effectively colonial governors chosen from people who had legitimacy before the empire picked them like how some colonial empires did, it’s not just like post-Roman feudalism but also if after the British Empire fell, a bunch of the colonies started fighting over who gets to be the new England.

[Yen_Lag]

White hair, pale skin, lean toned build, long hair

[RGHV]

Thank you! I’m really glad you enjoyed it. I’ve been trying to put my own spin on the overpowered MC trope, something that still feels engaging and fun to follow, without losing the tension or stakes.

[RGHV]

Let’s just hope no one stands in the way of their dreams…

[comradelenin]

Ironically I consider mc to be less like Griffith and more like if Guts decided he’d be better at this whole kingdom thing than Griffith.

Maybe Vadis is Griffith.

[RGHV]

Yeah, I do plan to add a darker more evil path for the MC eventually, so you’ll probably be able to create a characters with similarities to both. Though not quite as evil as Griffith—that might be a bit much lol