Development Sneak Peek: CH12 (And Beyond)

Finally back with some actual progress to report on for the next chapter!! My winter depression is fading at last 🌻

I think I've already given a very brief look at what I planned for CH12 in this old progress report, but now that I'm finally booking some progress on it I decided to do a little bit of a deeper dive into it!! I can't give any estimates about release dates at the moment, I want to ensure I'm actually back into the groove and have most of the chapter finished before I start making promises, so I'll be asking for your patience for the time being 🙏🏼

Anyways, onto CH12!!

In General

CH12 is a mostly plot-focused chapter, and it's really about wrapping up the most pressing, immediate issues and putting a pause on others, so that CH13 and beyond can be dedicated to the expedition to the mountains. 

With that, we're very close to the end of Act 1! The entirety of Act 1 really has been the beginning of the Crown's reign as a ruler, becoming accustomed to their new life, and (eventually) finding their footing. At the end of this act, and at the climax of the upcoming expedition, is where you will be able to decide what kind of ruler you want your Crown to be going forward.

You've already gotten a preview with this with the alliances you can build and the people you can appoint to specific court positions: your favorability with the public and with the nobles, based on choices you make during your Crown's reign, will affect which direction your Crown will take as a ruler.

You cannot choose both. I want to be extra clear about this since I've gotten questions about this in the past: choices that unlock perks gained through favor with the nobles are in direct opposition to perks gained through favor with the public. You cannot, for example, dismiss the Office of Law in CH9 (requiring public favor) and also gain an alliance with the historians in CH10 (requiring noble favor) - it's either one or the other.

However, you can certainly attempt to pander to both sides or try to refuse to take sides. Whether that will end well for your Crown, though, is a completely separate question ;)

But don't worry, you won't be "locked in" to any specific plot route for a long while yet. The end of Act 1 is basically a Vibe Check where you have to make your first decision to what your Crown wants to strive for and what they prioritize on a personal level. Is it the welfare of their subjects? Is it to amass as much power as possible? Or simply to survive?

Things to ponder!

Chapter 12 Specific

Onto CH12, like I mentioned in my old progress report, there's going to be a big focus on Kham this chapter and what your Crown decided to do with them in CH10, as well as the trust you've built with her so far. Either you chose to approach the peri trader without her involvement, or you decided to ask her help with arranging a meeting in order to learn more about the blue siren.

I think this is fairly obvious, but I'll state it for clarity's sake: those who chose to approach the peri trader directly should know that they will not be able to gain an alliance with Kham for the rest of the game. In exchange, though, you will find out separate information that those who decided to trust Kham enough to arrange a meeting (or otherwise simply didn't wish to antagonize her) will not be privy to, and gain different choices on how to deal with Kham later on. That's all I can say without giving out spoilers!

This branch also includes a cute scene out in the city streets, and extra (nonessential) lore that fantasy and worldbuilding nerds will appreciate!

On the other hand, if you chose to let Kham arrange the meeting for you and are keeping it all above board, you'll open up a route for the plot that includes a potential alliance with Kham. You're not locked into it as you can fully choose not to ally with her even if you take this route, but the possibility will be there for those who like Kham and want to stay on her good side or just think she'll be a useful ally in the future.

No scene out in the city, but the Crown gets to throw a bit of their royal weight around and interrogate the peri trader, so that's a fun bit off showing off for them.

The second half of the chapter will bring up another subplot that will become more relevant in Act 2: remember Steward Bazo? The guy from Şevan who failed to show up for your Crown's coronation, at which point you had to choose whether to condemn him, forgive him, or wait?

Yeah, that choice is about to become very relevant in this chapter. It won't lock you into a route, but it'll certainly affect how your Crown is being viewed, and the subsequent choice you get in CH12 will have important ripple effects in terms of your Crown's reputation for the rest of the game where Şevan is concerned. 

You can only make a first impression once, as they say. But again, nothing is set in stone. Even if you mess up in CH12 with regard to Bazo, your Crown will have chances to recover in the future later on! 

Plotwise, the rest of the chapter will be setup for the expedition that the Crown and their companions will embark on starting from CH13, which I'm super excited to write to explore the rest of Rojan's environments more!! The court intrigue is great and all, but who doesn't love a fantasy adventure roadtrip?

Love Interest Specific

All romance routes are going to start showing significant variations depending on if you have your love interest's high romance or low romance route. I want to add a reminder that you can always recover from a low romance to a high one if you make the correct future choices! Or maybe you're in it for the angst, haha.

For R, the contrast is going to start showing in small, but pronounced ways. A high romance will really lean into the friends-to-lovers relationship that has been cooking with R and the Crown this entire time, as the two function as each other's closest confidantes. Lots of short but sweet interactions and casual affection between them.

A low romance, however, will have the Crown start noticing some rather odd behavior that you likely already picked up on in CH11. Such as R acting particularly detached. Not quite apathetic, but it will start becoming obvious that there's something concerning going on with R's mental state... the Crown might want to pay close attention to their behavior this chapter.

For A, the contrast is quite possibly the very strongest out of all the LIs. A high romance Crown is going to enjoy the slow burn with A, which is especially starting to burn this chapter as the two of them are in a great place for more romance to develop!!

A low romance, on the other hand, essentially has the Crown metaphorically in the doghouse lol. This chapter, the Crown will have to make amends for the choice they made in CH11 towards the citizens they put at risk. Depending on how sincere the Crown is about their mistake, they'll be able to recover from their low romance route, or will stay on it. 

For X, there will be minimal differences. On the surface, at least. X is a really interesting one for me to write this chapter, because their romance interactions with the Crown will be the exact same in both the low romance and the high romance routes, but the way they go about it and the general vibe around it will be very different.

The best way I can word it is: a high romance X will be pulling out all the stops to court the Crown earnestly and with a genuine desire to be near them. A low romance X, however, will merely be putting on a performance. Wearing something of a mask to act the way the Crown wants them to act. If your Crown on a low romance route is able to cut through that, they'll have a shot at recovering. If not, well... then you stay on the low romance route lol.

For D, the high and low romance routes actually are related to whether your Crown was able to successfully deny the Imperial Court their request to temporarily transfer D's title, or if you merely only managed to delay them. 

If you managed to only delay them... then I'm afraid to say, even in a high romance, D will not be happy in CH12. And I don't mean in an angry way. I mean in an "Am I About To Lose My Only Life's Purpose" kind of way - though they won't blame the Crown for it regardless. If you're in a high romance with D, you might even find them seeking comfort from your Crown. A low romance D, however, will more so shut themselves off from your Crown.

If you successfully denied the court's request, however, all is well! You know, except for that missing letter. And D still pretending as if they're not blatantly pining for the Crown lmao. These two are SO BAD at keeping their feelings for each other under wraps it's actually hilarious.

That was it for this dev sneak peek, but I'll be posting actual previews from the chapter throughout the month for all tiers as well! So you have that to look forward to in March.

Until next time!!