The Seven Heirs of Ophaesia: Part One (WIP)

[Nomad33810]

I have a few ideas for scenes while we are still in the nursery.

Idea 1 - maybe give us a chance to meet at least two of our siblings it doesn’t matter really which of the six. I just think that they would have a reason see us like maybe our eldest brother is showing our youngest brother or sister the scoundrel that we are as their father has all but indoctrinated them against us.

Idea 2- our mother comes to visit us and catches a servant being rude towards us or even smacking us for crying or knocking something over.

Idea 3- we get really sick and our mother comes home and stays with us until e are no longer sick

Idea 4- maybe give us the option to express ourselves like we are being taught how to use a instrument or how to paint.

[Eiwynn]

@Fawkes

So I think I may just update whenever I feel that I’ve reached a point where I’m comfortable sharing what I have. Updates wouldn’t be limited to new content for the current chapter I’m working on but would also include revisions to existing content (like how I plan to refine/expand parts of chapter one). This would result in far more frequent updates and may improve my motivation to work on Seven Heirs.

Let me know what your thoughts are on this!

I support your decision whichever method you end up using. Only the author will know when the time for an update is ready - even if the update is segmented she would know best when to release it.

The only thing I would ask is if there was a record of updates in the first post kept so it would be easier for testers to know when it was time to replay a session and offer more feedback.

[poison_mara]

@Fawkes What I really miss is more flavored text about our inner feelings Due i am imagine a thing and game says all contrary Like you are in little pony land and I am thinking in Palpatine. XD I need more anger and more fake politeness and directly more hostility from our siblings I am expecting for the lore bulling and even children cruelty calling us witch and rough attacks hidden in games.
So far game say that is hate but doesn’t show up. That and more think about how religion is stupid

[justme]

I’m in favour of shorter updates because:

1. It means getting new content sooner.
2. If there’s something wrong storywise (which I doubt there’ll be, but you never know) it’ll be caught in the early stages.

In the end, however, you should do whatever works for you.

@Fawkes

• Coastal Ophaesians tend to have darker skintones due to Dharsani blood and simply being in a sunnier climate, so they like dark eyes and dark hair.

• Northern Ophaesians are often pale; those closer to Edoinel prefer blue eyes and blonde hair, while those closer to Merlios value red hair.

• Southern Ophaesians – those in the fertile valley between the coast and the north – generally have brown or olive skin, and they love the combination of hazel or blue-grey eyes with dark brown hair.

Does the MC’s appearance change the position of the Maeliah estate?

@Fawkes

midnight blue is associated with House Maeliah. Because of that connection, it’s considered a disquieting, enigmatic color in Ophaesia

Wow, they have a very sinister reputation. Is this a recent development (at one point it’s mentioned that Ysonia used to be the favorite of the court) or has this been a thing for a while?

---

How do you pronounce Maeliah? I’ve been using “ay”, but it just occurred to me that it might be an “ae” sound.

[Fawkes]

@idonotlikeusernames

Is it possible for male mc to have this sort of relationship with Nethica?
Or would it be wiser to just go for and remain besties?

It is totally possible. A male MC’s relationship with Nethica is one of the things I’m most excited to write, especially with all the different ways it can develop.

@Jeeshadow1

Beyond romance, I am hoping that I can get my MC involved in politics, although not sure at this point what his end goal would be! Probably a supporter of reform and trying to prevent any wars.

There are a lot of politics at play in Seven Heirs, so of course there will be plenty of chances for your MC to get involved in politics themselves, with various possible goals.

@Nomad33810 A lot of your ideas are scenes that will happen in chapter two!

@Eiwynn

The only thing I would ask is if there was a record of updates in the first post kept so it would be easier for testers to know when it was time to replay a session and offer more feedback.

I plan on including a changelog in the first post so people know what’s been updated and when. Something like:

August 1, 2018:
  - Added zombies to chapter one.
  - Skipped chapter two and just posted chapter three.
  - Replaced Ysonia with an unnervingly large bird.
August 31, 2022:
  - Finally uploaded chapter two.

@poison_mara

What I really miss is more flavored text about our inner feelings Due i am imagine a thing and game says all contrary Like you are in little pony land and I am thinking in Palpatine. XD I need more anger and more fake politeness and directly more hostility from our siblings I am expecting for the lore bulling and even children cruelty calling us witch and rough attacks hidden in games.
So far game say that is hate but doesn’t show up.

All of this will be in chapter two! Chapter two allows for a lot of fleshing out of your character. Chapter one, for the most part, just introduces the setting and some of the major players.

@justme

Does the MC’s appearance change the position of the Maeliah estate?

I considered that, but I decided, for the sake of maps, it doesn’t. The Maeliahs’ ancestral seat, the Elenthene Palace in Elentha, is in that valley that’s considered Southern Ophaesia. It does change their ancestry a little bit, though; darker-skinned MCs will have stronger Dharsani blood, while lighter-skinned MCs will have more Merathene origins.

@justme

Wow, they have a very sinister reputation. Is this a recent development (at one point it’s mentioned that Ysonia used to be the favorite of the court) or has this been a thing for a while?

It’s not necessarily “sinister.”

The Maeliahs have always been very insular, which is part of why they’ve been around for so long. Because they inter-marry so much, they don’t bring in a lot of new blood, which means they also don’t bring in a lot of new worldviews and traditions. While Ophaesia has changed and developed, the Maeliahs, for the most part, haven’t. This sets them apart from other Houses and the general public, which they like and encourage as it fuels their sense of superiority, which further serves to separate them. They have a culture unto themselves and an inflexible sense of identity that’s built around being discrete and distinct; all of it makes them come off as a mysterious and impenetrable force, and it’s been this way for centuries.

@justme

How do you pronounce Maeliah? I’ve been using “ay”, but it just occurred to me that it might be an “ae” sound.

The wiki actually has pronunciations on every page with a “foreign” name, to make everyone’s lives easier, but since that’s not public yet…

LIST OF PRONUNCIATIONS

• Maeliah: MAY-lee-uh
• Dahlas: DAH-luhs
• Verathae: VAIR-uh-thay
• Ophaesia: oh-FAY-shuh or uh-FAY-shuh (totally interchangeable)
• Eraven: AIR-uh-vihn
• Ysonia: ee-SOHN-yuh
• Alapharen: ah-luh-FAIR-rehn
• Neraven: NAIR-uh-vihn
• Keralith: KAIR-uh-lith
• Ilythis: IHL-luh-thihs
• Olarion: oh-LAHR-ree-ehn
• Terrisen: TAIR-uh-sehn
• Baelira: bay-LEER-uh
• Secrona: seh-CROH-nuh
• Phylia: fih-LEE-uh
• Atheron: uh-THAIR-rehn
• Jasiphae: JAH-sih-fay
• Nethica: NEH-thih-kuh
• Sebriel: SEH-bree-ehl
• Iseriah: ih-SAIR-ree-uh
• Senetha: SIHN-nuh-thuh
• Iphorah: ih-FOR-uh
• Vesperion: veh-SPAIR-ree-ehn
• Kaedra: KAY-druh
• Kyrisen: KEER-rih-sehn
• Kosphoren: kahs-FOR-rehn
• Tepharon: TEH-fuh-rahn
• Myteus: MIH-tee-uhs
• Naphenia: nuh-FIH-nee-uh
• Monathalen: mah-nuh-THAH-lehn

The general rule is that “ae” is pronounced “ay” and “er” is pronounced “air.” BTW, if you look at the RO section of the list, you’ll find Pythia’s new name – Iphorah – and the name of the new RO, Vesperion.

Also, I will probably add a poll about the updates so everyone can just quickly and easily let me know which they prefer.

[rose-court]

@Fawkes

• Replaced Ysonia with a unnervingly large bird.

I'm sorry I am not sorry

[Fawkes]

omg… She’s magnificent…

[Hamza_Ali]

That is an excellent idea

[Fawkes]

I have been considering changing the way I do updates. I previously stated that I would only update when a chapter is completely finished, but I now think that perhaps I should do smaller, more frequent updates.

These smaller updates would include scenes and edits (minor and major), not entire chapters, and I’d edit the first post so there’s a changelog of what has been added and revised. I think doing these smaller updates would help keep me motivated, as well as keep readers interested, but the scenes could end at odd points and they may be subject to extreme edits later on if I find I need to rewrite or cut them for the sake of the story.

Ultimately, how I do updates affects you guys the most, so I want to know which you would prefer.

---

Poll: When should I post updates?

• When a scene is added. (A lot more updates, less content per update.)
• When a full chapter is complete. (Fewer updates, more content per update.)

[VelvetDivine]

I have another important question - when I take the throne. Can I make it golden or constructed from the blades of my foes?

I’m asking for a friend.

[lokidemon007]

When a scene is added.

I’d also love to see a moment while the MC is still in the nursery where a servant is being rude to them and Ysonia happens to come for a visit.

[ParrotWatcher]

I would say that you should do whichever feels better for you, really.

[Horsemanikis]

If you personally prefer smaller updates then go for it! Do what you think is beneficial

[lokidemon007]

Another fun scene idea could be the MC overhearing the servants talk about the prior queen and how much of a saint she was.

[Eiwynn]

@Fawkes

I think doing these smaller updates would help keep me motivated,

Seeing that motivation is a factor, this is my suggestion:

1. Have this thread for the public: update only chapters - your feedback will be better this way for most casuals.

2. Have a private thread where you invite a few fanatics that you introduce to the scene updates. These are the testers that you find that can deal with the more raw material and can act as a control group as you put together the major update.

Many authors use this method and it seems to work out well for them. Jacic and Maylinryder both have done so as have others I’m not taking off the top of my head.

This way, you can keep your motivation going with more contact with a core group and get the bigger feedback pool here in the public thread.

[rose-court]

To your knowledge, would there happen to be a specific number (or range) of people that would make for a good private tester group?

[Eiwynn]

@rose-court

To your knowledge, would there happen to be a specific number (or range) of people that would make for a good private tester group?

It depends on the author and her abilities. Stupid answer, I know.

5-10 would be the range I would shoot for to begin with - knowing you will have some people drop out for whatever reason, I’d try to keep a list of alternatives as well.

Some authors also have outside testing drawn from TUMBLR and other social media contacts and some authors even have “reading groups” and such to use. Eric Moser is a master of doing things on social media - I think he even has a Patreon (sp) level that he allows some advance testing on.

I see Rurri and others use these various means as well. Serephin is great using Tumblr.

[rose-court]

That’s not a stupid answer at all, it was very informative. Thank you.

I figured it would be dependent on the author but as with all things in life, it’d be way easier if there was a magic number.

Hmm, I have more questions, but I believe it would be more helpful if this were a separate topic.

Thank you again for the answer!

[poison_mara]

I t was a great question really. This is my personal experience
It depends entirely on how author handle feedback and if he/she/they wants a interaction between testers or not. Some authors prefer a group of testers but handle a post or mail with each one separately. others prefer groups of testers that talking each other and discuss about the content etc.
Others read your feedback and doesn’t tell you a word back so you only wonder if you were useful or not . Others get terrible offended by your feedback and call you mean stuff (it happens very rarely)

But that’s my own personal experience and my feedback is probably the most controversial feedback from the forum. Even if I really grateful for it due I made very good friends with very talented people

[idonotlikeusernames]

@poison_mara

others prefer groups of testers that talking each other and discuss about the content etc.

I vastly prefer this method, but seeing as how I’m not going to be an author any time soon it is also moot. As a tester I prefer either this one or this one:

@poison_mara

Some authors prefer a group of testers but handle a post or mail with each one separately