In A Sea Of Constant Change, Does A Ship Remain True, When Every Plank Replaced, And Every Sail Anew?

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's Secretary General, is expected to give a big speech on Friday, very likely to declare war on Israel.

Today Israel allowed 102 aid trucks into Gaza without bombing the Egyptian border. In the past couple days, Israel has invaded Gaza to disastrous results. Yemen has declared war on the country. Several countries have recalled their ambassadors while Bolivia ended diplomatic relations. Belgian and Italian unions have refused to ship weapons to Israel. American cities lit up with protests while successive polls show that even Republicans largely support a ceasefire in Gaza. The entire internet seems to be pro Palestine even as social media CEOs comply with requests from the Israeli government to shut down critics.

So if a ceasefire happens, don't ever let the -Zionist government and its supporters act like they did it out of the goodness of their hearts

--The hungry mouth of Bridehall Manor lets out its clarion call. You have been compelled to answer.

You play as the youngest child of the Simonson family, born out of infidelity-- a perfect Victorian scandal. Due to your unfortunate birth circumstances, your parents have decided to send you away to take up a position as head housekeeper/butler at the remote Bridehall Manor after the previous one's untimely (and altogether strange) passing. You expect your time in the mansion in the Catskills of New York to be uneventful and isolating.

You'd be wrong.

The longer you stay at Bridehall, the more secrets you find hidden behind its mahogany doors, beneath its ornate wallpaper, under its rich hardwood floors, and especially within the denizens of the house themselves.

Just be careful not to drown in the deep, deep black of its shadows.

+ Customize your MC-- what's their attitude towards society? How do they feel about working at Bridehall? What are their thoughts on the supernatural?

+ Also, choose your gender,* interests, personality, name, and more.

+ Discover more about the (troubling) history of Bridehall and the people that have lived in it.

+ Experience the world's most uncomfortable carriage ride.

+ Romance 1 of 5 ROs-- the matriarch, the minister-in-training, the runner-up, the major, or the phantom.

+ Befriend those who live there, or make enemies. Connection is a fragile thing, especially in a place like Bridehall.

+ Blood sacrifices! If you're into that sort of thing.

TW: Gore (not extremely descriptive), mentions of infidelity, violence, brief suggestive content, mentions of animal death, mentions of drug use. This IF is recommended for those 15+.

================================================*Disclaimer: Because this IF is inspired by the 1880s, gender roles are still sort of a thing. There is an option to play as femme/masc non-binary, but based on your presentation, that affects whether you are the housekeeper/butler and how you are treated in society. However, there will not be any transphobia/intentional misgendering in this IF. It's just not something I want to write. I'm not non-binary myself, so I'm very open to suggestions on things to change relating to this topic.

================================================

🌑Harriet Margrave -- the matriarch -- (she/her) {FMCs only}

| Assured. Respectable. Intimidating. The wife of Amos Margrave, although she doesn't like it when people bring it up. She runs the house, some might say with an iron fist. She seems to have taken a dangerous liking to you.

| However, beneath her strong, cool exterior, she's not all that she seems-- you catch glimpses of something dark and curious lurking. It's up to you to decide whether it should never see the light of day or, perhaps, to be consumed entirely by it.

| Harriet is in her late 40s, with ash brown hair always kept in a neat, complex updo and deep blue eyes that shift with tones of green in different lights. She has a light but rosy complexion and stands at around 5'7. She tends to wear a lot of black, as if she's in perpetual mourning, although she doesn't mind an occasional blue accent.

"Low and deep Spake in mine ear her voice: "And didst thou dream, This could be buried? This could be sleep? And love be thrall to death! Nay, whatso seem, Have faith, dear heart; this is the thing that is!" Thereon I woke, and on my lips her kiss." -- snippet of Assurance (1887) by Emma Lazarus

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🌒Ansel Margrave -- the minister-in-training -- (he/him)

| Flighty. Devout. Gentle. A hopeful future Methodist minister, he's recently been plagued by supernatural visions (or so he says,) and your arrival and the circumstances surrounding it do nothing to calm his worries. You may be able to reassure him otherwise.

| As you get to know him, he may reveal that he has far better reasons to be afraid than you might think. Will you walk with him through his troubles, or leave him to wander the solemn corridors of Bridehall on his own?

| Ansel is in his early 20s, and he looks much like his mother with his ashy brown hair and pale complexion, although due to its lack of rosiness it sometimes borders on ghostly. He'd like to dress more vibrantly but fears reprisal from his clerical peers, thus, he usually sticks to muted greens and browns. He stands at around 5'9, and wears spectacles.

"In solitude profound, As shadows fall, what memories, Thick as dew-drops on sun-risen meadows Troop around thee!" -- snippet of Night In Egypt (1880) by George Vaughan

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🌓Cecil/ia Blumenthal -- the runner-up -- (he/him or she/her)(corresponds to the MC's gender)

| Independent. Scrappy. Creative. C's been working at Bridehall for practically their whole life, climbing the ranks until they could finally reach the position of head butler/housekeeper they deserved-- until you came along. In their eyes, you have everything you want on a silver platter, and how much work have you done to get it? None. In short, they've got a real bone to pick with you. Will you play into the feud, or maybe try to change their feelings? Honestly, best of luck on that one.

| Because of how long they've been at Bridehall, C knows more about its history and secrets than they let on. Much, much more.

| C is in their mid-20's, with shiny brown curls that F!C keeps in an artfully rushed bun and M!C keeps just a bit too long. They have coffee-brown eyes and warm, tanned skin dotted with freckles. They stand at 5'6. They prefer to dress for convenience rather than style, but they always wear a tarnished silver brooch in the shape of a bird-- F!C pins it to her collar, while M!C pins it to his lapel.

"I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. And I waterd it in fears, Night & morning with my tears: And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles. And it grew both day and night. Til it bore an apple bright. And my foe beheld it shine, And he knew that it was mine." -- snippet of A Poison Tree (1794) by William Blake

================================================🌔 Marshall Ward -- the major -- (he/they)

| Outgoing. Empathetic. Perfectionist. A new arrival at Bridehall like you, he's an old family friend of the Margraves who plans to stay for the autumn. He's the perfect picture of polite society-- porcelain smiles and impeccable manners. Despite the divide between him as a guest and you as the help, he insists on making a connection with you. One that may be a bit too strong for his own good.

| Now, you don't know much about the military yourself, but it is a bit odd that a non-retired military officer was permitted leave for an entire season, and whenever you ask questions surrounding his arrival, you only get heavy silence in return. It's as if there's a tight wire of secrecy underlying his sunny veneer, and the more you press, the more it's likely to snap.

| Marshall is in his early 30s, with pushed-back blonde hair and an impeccably combed mustache. They have light skin and have a small scar running across their cheek, and he stands at 6'2. He is very meticulous in the way he dresses and is particularly fond of red ties with embroidered patterns on them.

"Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell. They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. -- snippet of The Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) by Lord Alfred Tennyson ================================================

🌕Annabelle -- the phantom -- (she/her)

| Mysterious. Quiet. Ethereal. Every so often, out of the corner of your eye or the reflection in a mirror, you catch a glimpse of her. Is she even real, or is she simply a product of your own mind, spiraling ever deeper into instability? Whatever she is, you feel an indescribable, intangible pull to her that may become very hard to resist.

| Annabelle is inextricably linked to the house and its history. If you dig to learn more about her, you may unearth the very roots that Bridehall stands on. Roots that it would very much like to keep underground.

| Annabelle appears to be in her mid-20s, although the semi-translucent, filmy aspect to her makes it a bit hard to tell. She has very dark skin that glitters and shines under moonlight, and she seems to be perpetually wet, as if she had just been thrown in a pond. She wears a pale pink dress a decade or so out of date, and stands at about 5'3.

"For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling-- my darling-- my life and my bride, In her sepulchre there by the sea-- In her tomb by the sounding sea. -- snippet of Annabel Lee (1849) by Edgar Allan Poe

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Redemption IF

Demo (tba)

Genre: Romance, Young Adult

Themes: Reflection, Sacrifice, Second chances

Dig two graves if you want revenge. For redemption, you only have to dig once.

You rush down the living room, your mother yelling at you to slow down as she was cleaning. You made a quick apology, before running towards the doorway meeting your sibling halfway there.

"Woah, slow down, you are in no rush after all," your sister exclaims. "You literally yelled my name and added 'urgent', so what gives?" You retort while giving a slight shrug.

She just smiles, giving you a poster. "I found this, that's why!" You consider her excitement, skimming over the words. You work out the words "Competition", and after, "Astra Academy" and immediately thinking of ways on how you could compete.

This is just a too perfect of an opportunity.

You were a student and a duelist enrolled in the best school in the country by scholarship. You have competitions, or rather enemies of sort, but you are better than them. Until one unfortunate night that caused your expulsion...

Five years later, you come across a poster presented by your sister. The poster shows a flaring base that can pique interests of others, and that is just the catalysts. It turns out, the Academy will be rewarding a very generous price to the winner; enough to turn your whole life around.

Blood, sweat, and tears will be shed. You, however, will shed more than that. Your history is complicated, your future is distant, and the journey is beyond treacherous.

Will the prize be worth the effort? If it is for your family, right?

⇨ Play as a person in search of redemption.

⇨ Customize your MC's appearance, gender, and sexuality.

⇨ Shape your skills throughout, master different forms.

⇨ 10 characters to meet, and 6 different characters to romance.

⇨ Reconnect with old relationships, weather it be rivals or friends.

⇨ Decimate your rivals, or spare them from your wrath.

⇨ Win the tournament... or not.

Romantic Options

🃁 Lys (M/F)

Possibly the greatest duelist inside the Academy... that is when you are not around. They are your ex, and still show hostility towards you. Perhaps you two could set aside your difference.

🂲 Page (M/F)

Your former classmate and closest friend in your circle. It has been years since you two had seen each other, and they went through many changes, however they still are a total airhead.

🂳 Rain (M)

A person with an interesting set of skills. His reason of joining is simply for fun, and to learn. He doesn't seem to have any interest in winning, but he hangs around to watch and cheer.

🂴 Yuna (F)

A person with an oozing positivity. She is charismatic, tolerable, and just a nice person in general. While she has some interest in competing, it is totally fine for her to loose.

🃅 Serai (M)

The most passionate player you will come across. His only hopes in this tournament is to win and nothing else. He will do everything to get this recognition.

🃆 Elaine (F)

A more laidback person than her brother, Serai. She does share the same goal as his brother, but is more accepting in whatever they receive.

Platonic Options

🃑 Resha (F)

Your number one fan, and sister. Even thought time is tough for you and her, she is very energetic and constantly bounces around. Her specialty, much to your dismay, is to annoy you everyday.

🃒 Anders (M)

Your favorite teacher. He is quite a father figure to you, he is the one who pushed you outside your comfort zone and shape you to the person you are today.

🂣 Whitey (M/F)

Your rival. They pretty much hate you more than Lys does. You pretty much have beaten in every duels, duo matches, and free-for-alls. They changed a lot, but their hatred still remains a passion.

🂤 Red (F)

Your former classmate, and another one of your rivals. There is no hate between you, since she is more of a training partner, though that doesn't mean they will go easy on you.

• Forum

• RO Info (wip)

• Patreon

*opens word doc covered in blood* it doesn’t have to be good. it just has to be done.

How to __ and Other Writing Tips

↳ a masterpost for informational writing prompts and other tips for writers

If you like what I do and want to support me, please consider buying me a coffee! I also offer editing services and other writing advice on my Ko-fi! Become a member to receive exclusive content, early access, and prioritized writing prompt requests.

How to Write __:

How to Write Nightmares and Sleep Paralysis

How to Write a Monster

How to Write a Good Villain

How to Write a Panic Attack

How to Write Dialogue for a Stuttering Character

How to Write a Character with an Eating Disorder

How to Write a Character with a Prosthetic

How to Write a Character that has been Poisoned

How to Write an Unreliable Narrator

How to Describe __:

Different Ways to Describe Fear

How to Describe Facial Expressions

How to Describe a Character's Speech

How to Describe Emotionally Distant Parents

Other:

What to Do With Too Much Dialogue

Ways for Characters to Get to Know Each Other

Chapter 1 is now OUT! finally

Play it here.

What to expect this chapter:

be transported into your new steampunk book.

be reborn as Sovereign

meet the cast

69 I did make some small changes tot he original intro post:

bumped the time since Sovereign took the power to 400 years

aged up Eli and Keyon significantly ( no, Eli is not a vampire :P ) Let me know what you think so far, if you spot any errors or if you'd like to see something added.

foxglove is an 18 + interactive fiction novel under development that will feature, but is not limited to, the following : in-depth depictions of grief, mental illness, the usage of drugs and alcohol, descriptions of gore, religious undertones, themes of psychological horror, foul language, and explicit sexual content.

reader discretion is advised.

i am a martyr to the sins that i have committed and the vices that pollute the vessel that makes me whole.

and yet, even befallen with that conviction, i mutilate the very flesh of those who claim i cannot overcome the kismet ordained of me.

in the bustling metropolis of virela, an ethereal flourish of opulence and the very core for those ambitious and opportunistic, is built on the legs of their status; of being known as a universal sanctuary. the prospect has captivated many to bend to the confines of the city, a kind of vivid hope gleaming in their eyes for greater horizons. however, it is also no secret either that there are a multitude of disappearances that plague virela.

there are no unambiguous connections to those who disappear. no matter how thoroughly the authorities may search, there is not even a remnant of the person lingering at the very place that they were last seen at.

then, before the authorities may have the chance to conclude one of several cases cold, those who have been missing abruptly return, petrified, and are unable to recall what had happened to them. in lieu, many others return as a corpse — disjointed; mutilated — to be discovered by the eyes of passerby.

you have resided in virela for most of your life.

your grandmother tended to you, raising you from your adolescence onward. she had always been keen on remaining by your side for however long time would allow it.

then, she disappeared on your fifteenth birthday.

now, you are much older, in attendance of her funeral.

in the aftermath of the conclusion, you return to your grandmother's apartment - reminiscing, mourning the memories of the past.

you struggle to sleep that night, but when you finally do, it is late in the tenebrous hours of the morning.

however, whenever your eyes reopen, you are rested on the comfort of bitten pavement in a world that you do not recognize.

FOXGLOVE is set in xinthero, a semi-modern underworld that is overrun by disfigured creatures and those of the supernatural. fear is a lingering narcotic that could attract the unknown. every decision is vital.

will you allow this very world to consume you, or will you be able to escape and overcome it all?

✧ customize your character's pronouns, sexuality, personality, and physical appearance.

✧ choose what makes you unique; how you break out of definite situations.

✧ be cautious. not every situation requires you to be prideful.

✧ romance one out of five potential love interests. ( two female, one male, one non-binary, and one gender-selectable )

✧ survive xinthero, do not let it enrapture you.

ACHILLES — THE BRUTE. { M }

a lunar-struck supernatural, in opposition of the instincts of his very nature, achilles slaughters the multitude of entities that plague this world in an underlying attempt to stave off his indiscriminate hunger. he has been able to rescue you once, but do be wary to not become too comfortable in his presence.

ECHO — THE OCCULTIST. { F / M / NB }

echo is a bundle of nervous energy upon first introduction. they make it a point to affirm that they are only a student of the occult and just a lone wanderer that has been lost within the depths of xinthero for what could be almost a decade. it makes you almost question how they have been able to last as long as they have alone. it is a repetitive question that lingers, however you always end up keeping it to yourself without fail. there are a lot more questions than answers whenever it comes to echo; there seems to be a lot more then meets the eye.

LETHE — THE COURIER. { F }

an almost eternal shepherd for those who are first brought into the confines of xinthero. lethe is a constant that, albeit a woman of not so many words, prioritizes those that are under her care. accompanied by her fae companion, she makes it her responsibility to assist you in escaping this world.

FABLE — THE HAUNTED. { NB }

corrupted with the fragments of a remnant soul within the edges of their mind, fable is a mercenary, a disposable entity to those who are able to compensate them for their services. they are not afraid to make decisions that may be deemed risky. fable is uncaring in others’ well-being, however, if it adds a handful of coins into their pocket they don’t bother to bat an eye.

??? — THE EXECUTIONER. { F }

an enigmatic servant of the crimson veil, an organization infested throughout most of xinthero's terra firma, ??? serves as one of their many exterminators. the both of you seem to continuously encounter each other — to the point it almost doesn't feel like a simple coincidence. it manifests an anomalous kind of curiosity in you; a desire to know a bit more about this mysterious stranger.

DEMO T.B.A. ✧ PLAYLIST

:0 ... :|

I feel like I should share world lore, that feels like something that should happen.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Thanks, I'll definitely need it whichever path I go down. But whatever I do, these stories will be told one way or another, I love them too much to let them go.

OMWAT Official Prologue

It's Time. It's Here. (I'm scared)

The time has come at last. I am super excited to finally post a bit of what I have been working on with everyone, I had a lot of fun coding and writing this, even if it's a little short.

I'm still going to be adding and fixing things as we go, Act 2 is already mostly written, so once I am done editing it, I will get to coding.

But I am taking this weekend off however, I sorta crunched to code this ASAP and besides, I really want to see how you all react to OMWAT's beginning.

I will be keeping an eagle's eye on my inbox so PLEASE let me know what you think; give me feedback, criticism, suggestions, all of it.

I hope this helps piques your interest and that you all stick around for OMWAT's development with me!

Link to the Prologue: Dashingdon: Link