The Fernweh Saga (Scheduled Release: 5 January!) [Book One is 600k]

Hosted Games Works In Progress
, ,
423

@Quaryelle :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: I’m so happy that you believe Book One is worth the wait. :green_heart:

@Starfield Thank you! J and R’s chemistry probably led to some of the best dialogue on that route, or at least I found it really easy to write how they bounce off of each other. :smirk_cat:

@Aleksa100 Hi Alexander! I hope the hibernation treated you well. :bear: I appreciate the congratulations; I’m eager for you to eventually continue your journey with J and B. (Book One’s word count did exceed my initial expectations, but in a very good way. I didn’t limit branches or dialogue trees to let things naturally evolve as I wrote the story; I’m proud of it. :blush: I’ll be thrilled when you all can return to Fernweh (again and again) to notice the differences across playthroughs and the romantic routes. Book Two will likely be larger! :books:

@Suzumi Thank you! I’m right there with you about being excited. :smiley:

@furyleika Darling’s first name is: Rosalind; that sounds pretty. I also think it’s cool how she has the same first letter as R’s name with how R tends to monogram or engrave items; they could eventually share depending on how she adopts the last name convention (or hyphen)…? Fernweh is already unique with that, though I would guess most players by now have learned or realized the MC has their mother’s maiden name.

R would be happy to order more monogrammed items too, of course. :fleur_de_lis:

Royal Retreat would likely be my pick! :grin: I have some personal pictures I took on a trip that inspired its design; I may eventually share them. I’m glad you liked the addition enough to switch from Cat’s Cradle.

@resuri08 Hi! Thank you so much for taking the time to play the demo and for saying you loved it. :green_heart: I smiled when I saw you mention the denial route with R because I haven’t heard much talk of it on here since it’s not necessarily as obvious as path with them. It’s relatively unique, so I don’t know if many people have tried it yet…? :thinking: I’m glad you got the experience those scenes, especially because of how different the shy and flirty scenes will feel to you when you replay R’s path; I’m excited to see which one you enjoy the most.

^This sums it up nicely, haha. The MC denying their feelings for R creates an interesting dynamic. :eyes:

17 Likes
424

Man I’m mega hyped for this! I can’t wait to play the final version.

6 Likes
425

@Lambkin

I wasn’t either! When the Walking Dead first appeared, I was like ‘no way am I watching a tv show about zombies:’ I waited until 10 seasons were out on Netflix and then decided to watch a couple of shows. I can’t believe I actually found the series fascinating.

I thought you were making a sound recommendation to Daisy until I read the last part of your comment which suggested she would now have something trapped under the bed and tapping on the bedframe. (What if it started poking the bottom of the bed?) I probably be able to get that image out of my head for many days. :grimacing:

S and Rose share a love of the color blue. Rose loves blue sapphire jewelry and all the lovely blue shades they come in. Maybe S even knows the legend of the Hope Diamond since they seem to like creepy things.

The near drowning from the undertow was terrifying. It was near Amelia Island, and I grabbed onto a pillar of the pier so that I would not be taken further out in the water. My arms were shredded (barnacles) and bleeding. I still have the scars from it. Positive Side–there were no great whites in the water (the way my arms were bleeding, I would have attracted one and been a tasty morsel). No more ocean swimming for me!

5 Likes
426

@AstinFamily Awesome! :star_struck: It’s encouraging to know that you’re hyped for it; you all discovering Book One and being so pumped for its release makes me more enthusiastic about working on Book Two.

Thank you! :green_heart:

Okay, so… Those kind of ~creepy, but not too creepy~ type of stories or myths are things I loved as a kid. (Idk why; they still kind of freaked me out. >.<) What happened with King Tut’s tomb, the Hope Diamond, the Queen Mary ship, Alcatraz, ‘crying’ cemetery statutes, etc. I could see S finding these interesting as well.

I think S would want to understand the history/culture behind each place that helped to shape the tale… :books:

10 Likes
427

See, this is what I’d like to do, but despite my TV being modern enough, it’s apparently not ‘smart’ enough to connect to our better wireless connection, so no binge-watching shows on streaming services for me. (My friend and their partner really enjoyed it, and since we also enjoyed watching Supernatural and Grimm (and Lucifer, though I never got to finish it) together, I’m inclined to take a chance on TWD.)

It… it started out that way, but I quickly realized all the nope-worthy possibilities like…

Exactly! This is why I’m sticking with my nope. (I legit scared myself and was exercising caution around my bed after that, haha. :sweat_smile: )

:blue_heart:

Marcie really does love the color pink, so she was pleasantly surprised by the color scheme for Cat’s Cradle. Since she loves pink and S loves blue (and was low-key judging her pick), in one of my first posts here, I suggested that she and Silas would have to simply compromise in the middle at purple. Aelsa said S would be cool with that and that it would get R’s (Ruby , in Marcie’s case) stamp of approval. :purple_heart:

Rose has fabulous taste in jewelry (I’m currently obsessed with blue akoya pearls). I was half-asleep when first reading your post, so my brain replaced ‘Hope Diamond’ with ‘Heart of the Ocean’ from Titanic. :laughing:

Same! As a child (like back in the 90s), whenever October/Halloween rolled around, I’d always watch shows and documentaries with people exploring locations or doing research on items or events with historical significance with mysteries/unexplained phenomena surrounding them. While they usually left me feeling unsettled or creeped out, I was also just so fascinated by them. (And once the internet became a staple of our household, it was fun to get to delve back into those stories, sorting through facts, what was overexaggerated for the sake of good TV, and which details and experiences remain unexplained.) Playing Fernweh fills me with that same desire to keep digging, throw myself down the rabbit hole, and immerse myself in the mysteries and secrets surrounding the town.

3 Likes
428

I remember playing this demo at one point in time and immediately going for S. No idea how I managed to overlook R in the process who is pretty much what I would consider RO catnip.

Really enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see the game out. Wishing you lots of luck and success with the release! This one will be a day-one buy for sure. :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

Also, “Lacuna Fiction” does remind me of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Great name!

7 Likes
429

Thank you so much, @feurio! :green_heart:

I’m so happy you replayed the demo and discovered another romantic route that you can explore. I know R would enjoy being referred to as ‘RO catnip’; they have a cat and are quite fond of them. :cat2: They have a lot of layers to them (possibly hidden depth too) that have a chance to peek through and shine during Book One.

I’ve heard of that movie, but I am now definitely going to watch it soon. The premise sounds cool. (I also like how Kate Winslet is in it. She is tentatively my younger! Ms. Verner face claim because I saw a gif set of her in Revolutionary Road. I’m not sure if I’ll add her to the reference page for Book One or Two. I’ll think about it.)

I went back and forth on my name for a while; thank you for noticing it alongside its unique meaning. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

^Exactly this duality of feeling! It’s interesting that you went a step further to find the kernels of truth or facts within the sensationalized or dramatized antics of the film crew…

I sometimes think the understated horrors or the unanswered questions can be more unsettling. :ghost:

I’m glad Fernweh fills you with a need to keep digging! That is something I hope to inspire in my readers since the plot nests so many mysteries and secrets; you’ll discover more with each re-read and hints/clues are designed to come full circle during the series (e.g. something in Book One comes up in Three.)

S is the type to forgive, but not forget, in most cases. What is interesting about S is their level of quiet, understated empathy that they tend to show through their actions rather than their words. Those people on your list might not have done something specifically to S, but because of S’s compassion, they took the slight or offense more personally… You all will get the opportunities to experience this in Book One. :grinning:

For instance, S’s friendship points can decline a bit depending on how you handle a certain scene with R since they are friendly with R and watch how you treat them.

Back to your question, S would be in support of what you’re proposing as long as you don’t let it consume you or become too upset over the past. (Yes, we need to learn more about their past, I know. :no_mouth:) S isn’t familiar with being looked out for, so it might take them some adjusting. Deeper in romance, they would prefer having you be aware of what transpired and being able to speak to you about it rather than you nursing a grudge. This is an interesting conversation because the ROs vary widely on how they feel about this topic.

I’m glad you and @Lambkin appreciate the idea; plus, many of you liked the last post too. I’ll likely do Tumblr Tuesdays because that sounds pleasing to the ear. :laughing: So long as there’s interest, I’ll include some posts.

12 Likes
430

Ask Prompt 6 September 2022

This is something you will eventually have the choice to experience in the series. It’s a great question! :smiley:

B loves it! The randomness of it and the fact that you are willing to pop up and give them some attention makes them go soft really quickly. They will keep a running tally in their head and try to return each of your surprise ‘attacks’ of affection. Their tendency to be a little klutzy or clumsy could lead to interesting results, haha.

S tends to be rather deliberate with their actions. They may blink or turn and look at you after you come up and kiss or hug them, but they would still enjoy it. S would likely hold or keep you there longer after the surprise has worn off because they don’t want it to be fleeting/quick when they could wrap you up in a more substantial hug.

It would be a bit of a ‘does not compute’ moment for R the first few times it happens… They are not used to those softer/affectionate forms of contact and tend to be the one who initiates contact, so you may need to ease them into it. Deeper in romance, R would relish, if not purposefully seek out, affection from the MC like sliding their hand closer to see if you will link your fingers together or changing seats in a group meeting to be nearby.

J may actually startle some at first. They spent quite some time missing you and may still be a in disbelief over what’s happening, so… Give them time and you may be surprised that they will learn it’s okay to also surprise or reach out to you first too. MCs might need to be patient with J on this particular aspect; they might even pull away or break off the contact at first since they may need reassurance about your feelings.

For JR, it somewhat depends on the stage of romance. I would say in general that R would enjoy matching the MC’s surprise affection, possibly even challenging them to a game to see who can fluster or make J melt the most. It would be a stiff competition, poor J, lol. (They would not be getting any work done on that particular day.) On the other hand, J can be disarming with gentle hugs or unexpectedly taking your or R’s hand in a way that will instantly quiet R’s teasing or shut them up for a while. XD There are many possibilities for this route.

Hope you enjoyed this Tumblr Tuesday ask. :green_heart:

14 Likes
431

All the yesses to the entirety of this.

5 Likes
432

Perfect. :heart_eyes: If I had any doubt that the R/J poly was the way for my MC to go, that’s gone! Looks like they both are far more likely to initiate affection in the poly, which I love (I’m sick of my MCs always having to be the one to initiate affection in these games!). I can’t wait to play the poly path in the final game!!

3 Likes
433

:partying_face:

EDIT: Kudos to Astrid from the Keeper series, who for ages has been the most assertive romance in CoGs, because she’s the one that asks you out first.

I DO understand why that’s the case, though; authors don’t know what the people who play their games went through, and for some people getting an RO that they didn’t initiate with might bring back VERY bad memories, so they err on the side of extreme caution, because “some readers get frustrated” is LIGHT-YEARS better than “some readers get their PTSD triggered”.

Getting a toggle at the start of the game on whether ROs can initiate would be ideal, but, of course, this means a lot of extra work for the author.

10 Likes
434

This is so soft and wholesome and cozy; I like the way S thinks. Marcie would find so much comfort in that and would be happy to spend as much time as S wants in that extended hug. :heart_eyes:

4 Likes
435

An easier way to do it would be to just put a warning up about the more assertive ROs. And let those who can’t handle it play other routes. I mean, it would decrease the number of romances some people could play, but that happens to all of us, one way or another. ROs who aren’t so passive are far more interesting to me.

Forcing my MC to always be the one to initiate things ends up ruining some of my MCs, who wouldn’t do that at all until they were certain of things. Plus, it gets damned boring having to always play MCs who chase after ROs instead of the other way around.

9 Likes
436

True, but this only works for games who split the paths like that (e.g., Wayhaven), which, in my experience, are a minority - most games tend to not have that split and take a more free-form apporach to romance paths.

2 Likes
437

Anon ask 13 Sep 2022

B… Well, B isn’t really musically-inclined, but they are great at making playlists and have an honest appreciation for music. They would be the type to have oddly specific playlists for things or their moods. I will hint and say that B will make the MC one too, especially if besties or in romance. While they don’t play, they do connect with music.

S self-taught themself to play the guitar. They are pretty relaxed about it, but they can play a few things or would chill by strumming or composing brief melodies. Art /poetry/reading is more their thing.

You’re right! R does know how to play the piano; they have the most musical ability out of the ROs in terms of actual training, ability to read sheet music, formal lessons, etc. It’s a skill that carries some class, which might be why their mother wanted them to master it. The MC can learn more about R’s feelings about the ivory keys later.

Oh, J can sing… I think this technically counts as a musical ability? :smiley: They naturally learned it from their mother; it was more so a childhood type of thing that was encouraged and expected in certain settings. Now, they are quite shy about it, if not a little bashfully dismissive. The MC might get to hear them if in romance, but other than that it would likely be A who could cajole J into singing again.

Hope you all are doing well! :green_heart: I’ve been writing today; I added some feisty MC reactions to a particular scene this morning, which likely had nothing to do with the fact I skipped my morning hot chocolate. :thinking: :joy: Best wishes!

17 Likes
438

I love this ask. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: It immediately put me in mind of that one ask/scenario involving mention of J singing and R playing the piano.

It also got me thinking about that awesome person who composed/arranged snippets of music for the Fernweh ROs.

:heart_eyes:

S has such a soothing vibe in everything they do, whether casually or pursuing it in earnest. Marcie really has no musical talent, but she would enjoy/appreciate getting to hear S play. (Depending on where they are, she’d probably make herself comfy and accidentally doze off to the sound of their strumming. :blush: )

7 Likes
439

Tumblr Ask Stubborn 20 Sep

Oh, this is a great ask! I’ll try not to spoil too much with my replies…

I would say in general that S and R have stubborn streaks in them compared to B and J, though it’s easier to reason with S than R.

B tends to be agreeable to limit friction or tension. Things that do make them react will likely relate to their safety or to the MC’s safety, if not the MC’s feelings. Their care and compassion can make them be more stubborn.

My hard-headed loves! S and R tend to be stubborn about things they feel strongly about, so ideas, plans, how they view a person or a thing, etc. R is more so feeling-based, while S uses logic and the connections they see to build a case/argument that is then ironclad in their mind unless you can point out a flaw or alternative. R doesn’t tend to be as open to change, especially if the topic is an emotional one or relates to a romanced MC or high friendship MC. Their stubborn reactions can actually be rooted in love/respect, not pride.

J can be stubborn about things they associate with duty, obligation, or family. They are willing to endure and shoulder burdens because of this trait, though it’s not necessarily coming from a place of being as headstrong or mulish as R/S since it’s what they feel is right. Hmm.

The JR route can result in some… interesting… exchanges when J and R clash (or agree!) on certain topics. They share some values.

I’m posting this before diving back into working on a section of Book Two. I feel that the start to this one is more suspenseful than Book One, which I’m loving. :wink: Best wishes for the week to you all! :green_heart:

21 Likes
440

ask Prompt 27 Sep 2022

B thinks pet names can be cute, so they would not mind you calling them whatever as long as you’re the one doing it. They may get a little flustered if you use them in public, but will get used to it. Getting B to agree to certain things may be made easier with a well-timed term of affection.

S is more a fan of their own name and can find some pet names overused; this may change if your MC really likes pet names. If you give one to them, they will give one to you in return; however, the one for you will be well-researched and somewhat obscure or dated and not as commonplace. If they are not using your name, then S wants something unique and meaningful to refer to you.

Oh, yes, R does like pet names, but will take selecting one for both you and them a little too seriously. They may try different pet names out at different times to gauge your reaction, intentionally picking the one that seems to make you melt the most or fluster you. They are less exacting with what pet name you use for them; R already thinks it’s special since it came from you.

Hmm, J is more perceptive of tone? So, you could call them ‘darling’ or ‘rutabaga’ in a fond or hushed voice and they would still be affected. XD They don’t mind pet names and would likely try to come up with one for you only after you came up with one for them, though they may lowkey stress about it. They want it to be a good one.

JR is similar to their individual responses, except R’s pet names for J are somewhat joking, but you can tell from the look on their face when they say the pet names that there is care beneath the teasing word(s).

I’m wishing you all a lovely week ahead! :green_heart:

20 Likes
441

Also, I found where I stuck a drafted reply on the bottom of a GoogleDoc. Here is the belated response:

@Lambkin S is very much so a grounding type of character with their compassion and measured approach to most things. They can provide some certainty during all that happens in Fernweh that I think some MCs or readers might gravitate towards. I loved reading about how Marcie would enjoy listening to S’s guitar strumming; I can’t wait for her to see their room and its decor/design choices. :blue_heart:

S is also a pro at creating cozy spots for reading or simply chilling in to ponder about… things. :eyes:

9 Likes
442

Fixed it for you lol

This make me go ‘Awwwwww…rutabaga’ :sweat_smile:

9 Likes