The Strongest Writer is a story about a student who wants to become the greatest IF writer of all time. They don’t know the first thing about story structure, character design, game design, or even grammar, but their determination is unmatched. After posting their story on an IF forum, they receive valuable feedback but refuse to change anything because they are convinced that only passion is needed to write good fiction.
When they decide to take a break and go to the store, they are hit by a truck and taken into the world they created. Explore a world full of bugs, excessive stats that cancel each other out, and ambiguous choices. Romance one-dimensional characters, overcome poorly designed challenges to escape the hell you’ve created, and become The Strongest Writer!
General plot
Act 1 - Escape from the Underworld
The MC wakes up in the Underworld of the game they created. With the help of the fully customizable romanceable companion, Olympia/Olympus, you form a party of virtuous souls with whom you will return to the world of living in the game world as Immortals. There is a slight hiccup in the plan as someone whom you did not plan to come along, Kālá, escapes with you.
Act 2 - Rise of the Empire
At the time of writing their story, the MC was sick of all the medieval fantasy stories that resort to misogyny for the sake of realism, so they wrote an “inclusive” setting that “solves” inequality issues only on a surface, superficial level. The Empire is a mishmash of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece under constant assault by progressive barbarian hordes who enslave and torture citizens equally, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. Political decisions in the Empire are ultimately made by a supreme ruler, Caesar, but every citizen has a right to express their grievances and opinions in the Forum. In this Forum, the MC and his team of Immortals will influence the future of the Empire by convincing Caesar to implement certain policies. Backing policies will require the player to complete a quest beforehand. Policies will vary in political alignment from progressive, conservative, or libertarian. The game will not shame you or lock you into building a progressive communist utopia, you can guide the society in any direction including an autocratic state, a free society, or a laissez-faire hellscape (and anything in-between).
Act 3 - Fall of the Empire
The MC and the Immortals will oversee the Empire over multiple generations and technological eras spanning hundreds of years, from antiquity to steampunk. The Empire will inevitably fall whatever political course the MC shapes for the world. The final confrontation between the MC’s Immortal companions and Kālá will take place in this act.
Main characters/ Immortals
The MC will encounter all of the characters below in the Underworld, and they will play key parts in the story. Most of them will be permanent companions to the MC and will have often opposing opinions on how certain tasks should be handled. The political disagreements between Athena, Bellona, and Hera and whom the MC chooses to side with when it comes to voting or enacting policies will shape the fate of the Empire.
Olympus/Olympia
age: unknown/ timeless
race: unknown
gender: player selectable
appearance: custom
Olympia/Olympus is the first immortal that the MC encounters in the Underworld. The self-proclaimed soul mate of the main character, Oly is the main romantic option for the player. Kind-hearted, straightforward, overpowered, and with a non-existent sense of personal space, Oly will accompany the MC almost everywhere. The only times when you will be apart is when you have to do challenges alone.
Bellona
age: 27
race: human
gender: female
appearance: average height, athletic build, olive skin, brown eyes, long brown hair in a high ponytail.
Bellona is one of the finest warriors of the Empire, who knew no equal on the battlefield until she found her end at the Kālá’s hand, whom she managed to take down with her to the Underworld. Abandoned at a young age by her parents, she had to learn to fend for herself and develop a can-do attitude that no one can rival. Impulsive by nature, she has no regard for diplomacy and her creative swear words are common in any heated discussion. The one thing she hates more than whining and weakness is others picking on her friends, even for the smallest things.
Athena
age: 30
race: human
gender: female
appearance: tall, slim build, fair skin, green eyes, undercut, blonde hair.
Athema is a scholar, politician, and equal rights activist. She found her end at a banquet where a political adversary poisoned her wine cup. Outspoken and articulate, her opinions have sown the seeds of critical thinking within the Empire, prompting a vocal minority to question whether the Empire will be remembered as a bastion of enlightenment in history or a shameful asterisk. Fairly competent in rhetorical debates, she never backs down from a winning argument, even if it means losing political currency. Although she stands her ground firmly in intellectual standoffs, physical confrontations are a no go for her, looking for cover at the first sign of danger.
Hera
age: 22
race: human
gender: female
appearance: petite, light skin, heterochromia eyes (blue and green), braided, black hair.
Hera is a quiet, reserved young woman whose life ended in mysterious circumstances. She does not remember how she died or does not want to tell anybody. Although she does not enjoy getting involved in politics too much, she is convinced that the best way to organize society is through clearly defined gender roles. Family is the most important thing to her and she hopes that she will be able to start one as soon as possible. Her cooking and organizing skills are unmatched, which is why she was often employed by rich nobility to host their lavish banquettes.
Vulcan
age: 46
race: human
gender: male
appearance: burly, gray hair, groomed silver beard, dark skin
A respected inventor, this reclusive self-reliant man found his end at the hand of an ambitious experiment to replicate the sun in his forge. Even though he feels more at home with his inventions than with people, he is kind and gentle despite losing his temper from time to time. Vulcan will be the main driving force behind the rapid technological advances that the Empire will go through during the game, and you will have a say in what innovations take priority.
Plutus
age: 33
race: human
gender: male
appearance: tall, thin, blond messy hair
This neurotic treasurer got on the wrong side of a knife after uncovering a circle of corrupt aristocrats who were siphoning gold out of the treasury. His obsessive compulsion to account for every penny spent makes him an excellent financial advisor for your team. His expertise will be invaluable in growing the Empire over the centuries.
Kālá
age: unknown
race: unknown
gender: unknown
appearance: short legs, wide hips, elongated torso with thin, long arms, large hands. Dark skin, black eyes, bald. Wears extravagant clothes.
Little is known about them besides their affiliation with the Barbarian hordes and unorthodox fighting style. Before the encounter with Bellona, Kala was undefeated in combat. Has the role of the main antagonist of the story.
What about romance?
Olympia/ Olympus will be the only RO with which you can have a meaningful, long-term romantic relationship. There will be the possibility of having flings with minor, episodic, one-dimensional characters, but you will not be able to be in a relationship with other main characters (but that does not mean you can’t try). As far as the attraction to Oly is concerned, you have multiple options: regular attraction, no attraction, “platonic” attraction, “asexual” attraction, too much attraction, and attraction once you get to know each other better. There will be no explicit or implicit sex scenes, there will be something much better (play the demo, and witness it for yourself because it’s a surprise).
Word count: 75.000
Demo: https://moody.ink/go/2695
Tumblr: https://quartz-tsw.tumblr.com