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

So much.

Let’s hope this is true for their sake, because ‘rutabaga’ is now my canon petname for them. No take-backs.

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This works out well since B already comes with a built-in pet name if you’re romancing them. Personally, I think Bee suits them so much and it would definitely get upgraded to Honeybee in no time at all. :orange_heart:

Marcie doesn’t use pet names for her partners; I think the closest she would get to this is a soft “Hi, you.” When greeting them because there is something about the affectionate, endearing ‘you’ that undoes me every time. She is used to people giving her sweet nicknames (like ‘Marshmallow’ from her father and ‘Marzipan’ from her grandfather), so she wouldn’t mind as long as it wasn’t too weird or out there.

:pleading_face: :pleading_face: :pleading_face: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes: :heart_eyes:

It’s terrible, but I would love it if J, R, and the MC had complementary/matching pet names. :smiley:

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Rutabaga, parsnip, and turnip?

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Oh, yes!

  • J is ‘rutabaga’ because… er… they are ‘rooted’ in their ways of doing things. (Alternatively, we could call them a ‘broodabaga’ because they can be kinda broody.)

  • R is ‘parsnip’ because they can be ‘snippy’.

  • The MC is ‘turnip’ because they finally decided to ‘turn up’ back in Fernweh after being gone for years.

(I’m sorry… I think. :sweat_smile: )

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Or the MC is related to Jan :sweat_smile:

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I am SERIOUSLY going through withdrawal/antipation jitters waiting for the finalized TFS to drop! I have been reading IF on COG for about 4 years now and this is hands down the best story I have read. The characters and their development, the little (and big) twists and turns that you developed, just everything about this story draws me in and keeps me intrigued. I guess I will have to find something to occupy me until drop day, but I will be going a bit crazy until then,

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Same :smiling_face_with_tear:

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Haha, I like yours better. :joy:

I wish they had a rutabaga emoji, smh. But yes, I can guarantee it’s true; J can be a softie for the MC, which means you can get away with quite a bit around them while the fellow officers at the station or citizens around them may be like: >.> when they overhear you calling the lowkey intimidating detective ‘rutabaga’.

Oh, that’s adorable! :honey_pot:

Marcie’s confection themed nicknames are very apt given her personality and sweeter disposition, but I also like how they flow naturally from her full name too. I think you once told me she has a sweet tooth as well.

Okay, your and Joao’s set of pet names for JR and the MC are epic. I can confirm that R would strongly be inclined to have the pet names for the trio to be complementary or have some matching emotional significance even if that may take some brainstorming. (R would prepare a list; they are very dedicated.)

R, after hearing the MC alter the pet name to make a joke about J’s brooding: ‘Spare hand in marriage?’ :ring:

Your puns and reasoning are immaculate, lol. XD R’s in particular made me laugh.

Hi @swilson50125!

Oh, wow, this is incredibly encouraging to read. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts: It was exactly what I needed to see after a long period of writing, and I’m re-reading it again as I type this reply before buckling down for another writing session. I completely relate to you with those ‘anticipation jitters’! My readers have been so encouraging and patient with the process—I will be thrilled when you will be able to experience Book One and immerse yourself further in the town of Fernweh. :evergreen_tree: There is so much more to the story, but I love that you are already picking up on both the big and little twists that will crop up again throughout the series. Replays will help you detect more. :mag_right: The characters are very close to my heart since they are longtime original characters I’ve developed; I’m excited for you to see how they can grow/change over the course of the books and based on your choices.

Thank you for your kind words!

@Quaryelle Double same. :joy_cat:

I’m glad that you are eager to read since that does motivate me as I carve away at Book Two’s outline. :green_heart:

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of course, you deserve the praise :heart_eyes: :hugs: :blue_heart:

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Ask Prompt 4 Oct

B isn’t too much of a coffee drinker, but they will sometimes drink it for a boost or to stay up late and help them push through the night. Hot chocolate is more their speed. They will drink mochas or a cafe latte likely with a pump or shot of chocolate because they like it sweet/creamy.

S tends to stay up late for their shift at the B&B and to pursue their own passion projects; they are a bit of a night owl. They don’t tend to like flavoring syrups, sprinkles, or anything that takes away from the coffee’s taste. So unlike B, they actually lowkey care about the sourced coffee. Cafe au Lait or a red eye (when wanting to stay up late) are their go-to drinks, but they are also fine with basic brew.

Lol, everyone else gets a paragraph and then there is J. They like black coffee…? Probably a dark roast so a more bitter or smokey flavor with subtle tones of cherry or dark chocolate. Italian dark roast, maybe.

R is a little interesting. You can learn more about this in Book 1, especially if on the JR or R route. They tend not to go out or spend money on coffee shop type of drinks because they prefer their own artisanal, specially made blend of tea. Small batch, rare, the tea leaves are ‘blessed’ or something, loose leaf, etc. They know what they like so why compromise?

For JR, I could see R kind of side-eyeing J for their taste in coffee. XD They might make a few quips about it at first, but then still buy the best dark roast for them to try and make it more ‘palatable’. :coffee:


I hope you all have a great week ahead! :green_heart:

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R. ‘I will only drink tea if it has been cultivated atop the highest mountain and harvested and blessed beneath the light of a particularly rare type of full moon (but only if it falls on a Tuesday)’ Verner is the last person to be side-eyeing anyone for their beverage preferences. :stuck_out_tongue:

But R’s generosity and consideration could never be called into question. :heart:

Like B, Marcie has a strong preference for hot chocolate; she finds a large mug of hot coco topped with whipped cream, tiny marshmallows, and chocolate shavings to be comforting, like an enveloping warm hug she can melt into. It’s something nostalgic that ties back to her childhood; during the cooler autumn and winter months, her family (and friends too, of course!) often gathered around the fireplace in their home with mugs of hot coco and would roast marshmallows over the fire and make s’mores. But while hot chocolate is her go-to drink, she still does drink coffee (like lattes, macchiatos, frappuccinos, etc. (though the amount of coffee is dwarfed by the amount of milk and pumps of flavor added)) and tea (boba, fruit blends, and dessert teas) for when she needs that added caffeine boost alongside the sugar rush.

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They’ll SAY that, but they’ll gladly drink anything that fell off the back of the truck. Coffee-drinkers are like wine-drinkers: you slap an expensive label on radioactive sludge, and they’ll go to their graves swearing it’s the finest vintage ever, and glowing in the dark afterwards is them just being so darn happy that they got to taste it.

How else do you think people got them to pay through the nose for something that came out of a cat’s ass?

This is the best recreational drink, bar none. I’m replaying Wayhaven now to get the B2 saves ready for when B3 launches, and the lack of hot cocoa as a favourite drink option hurts my soul.

EDIT:

True this. I once said “I like sharks” near R (it was NatGeo’s Shark Week), and one week later I had a giant pool with two great whites, 3 makos, and 5 hammerheads in my backyard. It took an extra month to do all the digging required to fit the whaleshark.

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I just finished my first read through of the demo, and I really liked it! My favorite RO’s are B and J. I still really like the other two, but B and J just have more interesting relationships with the MC at the start of the game. The childhood best friend and the current best friend? That’s some drama right there. And I love the mystery set up. Is it supernatural, a serial killer, or what? I’m definitely going to get it when it eventually comes out. I just have one question: how old is the MC? I know we left town at 14, but how long has passed?

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Hi, @Anna_B! I’m really happy to see that you gave Fernweh a play and enjoyed it! It’s become one of my favorite Ifs of all time, and we’re only on the first book.

To answer your question, the MC (and the ROs) don’t have set ages. Check out these two asks for more detailed responses. :sparkling_heart:

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I wonder if they like Chai Latte? I imagine my MC’s fave tea is Chai Latte. xD

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Ask Prompt 11 Oct

Possible angst? More like probable angst, lol. :blush::eyes: I used this source: here. Please keep in mind I selected cards based on overall arcs in the series and not just Book One.

B: The Hanged Man

He tells you that sometimes small sacrifices must be made in order to benefit the bigger picture. When The Hanged Man arises in your reading, you likely want to make a move, but don’t even know where to begin.

S: Judgment

Judgment is a card where your past and your future come together. You are being called on to review your decisions and your actions until now, to ensure they are in-line with where you ultimately want to go.

R: The Tower

The Tower is a representation of destruction. The Tower often comes up when everything in your life feels like its crumbling, and you have no way of stopping it.

J: The Moon

It represents the thoughts, feelings, doubts and fears that you carry internally. When The Moon arises in your Tarot reading, you may be feeling anxious, allowing these fears to override the memories of your past and your faith in the future. Do not be deceived – you can’t believe everything that you see, hear … or think.


I hope you all have a lovely week ahead! :green_heart: Eventually, I will share some good news and a progress update on how Book Two is coming along. :writing_hand:

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(Sorry for the late replies! I’ve been busy with a few things, but I enjoy reading and responding to your thoughts.)

@Lambkin longingly re-reads the description of the hot chocolate Well, that sounds magnificent; I’m lowkey jealous of Marcie’s standards. (This morning I took too long to have my hot chocolate, so my little dollop of whipped cream melted… I didn’t get more out of petulance. XD) Oh, reading about how hot chocolate links to memories of friends and family made me all soft, especially now that we are in the autumn months. (I also kind of >.> at the fireplace mention, but… It’s actually a great point to illustrate that what the MC went through could impact/shade memories of everyday items in a unique way most people can’t relate to. That grief or trauma will be explored in Book One with choices to tailor it, etc.) I can imagine B and Marcie trying new latte or drink specials together.

Lol, what you typed is very accurate, @JBento . Gift giving is one of R’s love languages, though I think it could also be described as them taking an active interest in trying to make the MC happy. R would likely tide you over with an extra large shark plushie while the digging was in progress for the saltwater habitat. Considering your MC, John, is on the JR route, I could see J strongly advocating for bonnethead sharks and basking head sharks to avoid any ‘accidents’. XD

I’m not well-versed in tea types, but a chai latte sounds really cool! I read about it some. In general, R is a little particular or picky, but a romanced MC or high friendship MC will inspire them to try new things. They will want to learn why you like something. Chai lattes sound creamy, but also spicy and maybe home-y with the hints of cinnamon, ginger, and allspice that make them flavorful. Despite being a bit pretentious, R does have a taste for home-y creations. :smiley:

Thank you so much for your kind words, @Anna_B . I see Tiffy did a great job linking those asks and answering your question about the MC’s age. <3 Oh, I love that both J and B caught your eye; the former childhood friend meeting the new bestie can be interesting, especially as you learn how J coped with the MC leaving Fernweh. It means so much that you’re excited to read. :heart_eyes:

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Man, that’s just a depressing reading.

reorders the deck, makes new reading using Tarot Card Meanings List - 78 Cards By Suit, Element, and Zodiac – Labyrinthos

B: The Star, upright

S: The Hermit, askew

J: The Hierophant, upright

R: The Chariot, upright

R’s mum: The Empress, reversed

JR: The World, upright

MC: The Fool
R cocks eyebrow “So you’re innocent now?”
“No, that one’s just literal.”

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The Fernweh Saga: Book One is scheduled to release 5 January 2023!

Some homecomings feel more like rude awakenings, but this one will become a waking nightmare. Find love while exposing the secrets of your eerie hometown!

We officially have a release date. Thank you all for your patience during the wait; I’m thrilled to announce that you should not be waiting for much longer.

Please consider playing the demo, which is linked in the first post and adding Book One to your Steam wishlist: here. You can also see some sneak peeks of future scenes/choices on Steam.

I will post a progress update on Book Two soon. Thank you for all of your support! :green_heart::smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Yaaaay!

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