Patreon Q&A | Answers

I am honestly surprised with how many questions we got here! Thank you all so much for taking part in this event! :D

We've separated the questions in groups, but bear in mind that other than the General section, all others might contain spoilers so read at your own risk - and this is a loooong post.

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-General-

1) How did you choose the names for each character?

Nadine:

Cal's name was a little bit inspired by the name Calore from The Red Queen, and his character is also loosely based on Cullen from DA:I hence the 'C' name.

Sebastian is a name I've always loved, and the nickname Bash suited his character well.

Ryona was originally R'yona. All the Tilaari words and names I make up are quite soft, and I wanted her name to reflect that.

Stephanie (who absolutely doesn’t have a good reason for picking them):

Ayame is a strong yet gentle name, which fit her character.

Damon’s name is a name I’ve always liked, and it suited his personality - dAmonxdEmon lol.

Juniper is also a name I like, and it softens when shortened to “June”, as well as keeps a strong front when in full, making perfect sense to use it on June.

2) Do you have a routine you go through before writing or drawing?

Aria – routine? what's that? never heard about it...

Deli – I don’t have much of one other than grabbing some water, starting up some music, and jumping in. Also helps to lock my cats out of the room cause they love to distract me lol

Nadine – I wish I had a routine.

Stephanie – ah yes, you dare assume I have a routine, how bold.

Tea – I just almost always need music to be playing, so I'll put something on in the background before I start. Otherwise I just dive right in.

3) How did you decide you wanted to make a visual novel?

Nadine and Steph were sick of things not going their way in the Otome games they played, so one day Nadine said to Steph "Hey, we could totally make our own VN", and Steph said "Yes, we could" and they got three amazing artists on board who loved the idea and the rest is history.

4) Are you going to release the sprites by themselves?

No.

5) Do you ever see us in the discord and wonder what the *hell* is happening? Because if not...

Yes... but we love it. Shout out to #theories.

6) Do I have to make another cult? I've been told I'm good at that!

I don't think we could stop you if we wanted to.

7) Who's been your favorite LI you wrote for?

Steph – Damon

Nadine – Calderon | Non-LI: Oppo

8) If you could give any piece of advice to anyone looking to create their own visual novel, what would it be?

WORK, WORK, WORK. Honestly, you have to push yourself and make sure you want it bad enough to make it happen, because it's tough and it's a lot of work that you get little to no financial compensation for. It has to be enough that you enjoy doing it for you.

9) What are your favorite inter-LI dynamics/interactions to write?

Steph – Anyone with Aya is great to write, writing June/Aya dynamics for episode 2 was a blast. And writing Damon annoying anyone is always a pleasure.

Nadine – Calderon and Damon are always fun to write together.

10) Do the devs have favorite /incorrect/ fan theories? And if so, which ones?

Steph – Werewolf/Lizard June, Slideshow/politely threatening Zovack

Nadine – That Jasper was Cal's pet/dog and that the royal family was ever nice to each other.

-LIs-

1) For science. How were the LI as teenagers? They all look like they have gone through a lot, so I'm really interested in how much they changed.

Ayame – a mess, she lost her home and had to spend her teens taking care of her younger brother. She had no one to take care of her and took a lot of responsibility on, and she failed to succeed more often than not. She wasn’t as bright and joyful as she is now, hardly ever doing anything for herself.

Bash – his teenage years weren't a good time for him. He had no one he could depend on except himself. He fought a lot, both in the arenas and on the streets and developed a nasty addiction to the drug, Rust. 

Cal – a lot more relaxed than he is now, would often get into trouble with his best friend and could charm almost anyone. Though even back then had a lot of respect for his parents and tried his best to make them proud. 

Damon – in one word: bloody. He had to survive and there was only one way he could. Didn’t get the appeal of social interaction until people started to become interested in him in his late teens… and he learned just how much more willing people are when you give them what they want. Spent all his teenage years trying to get out of Cursa.

June – didn’t get to enjoy his teenage years, he was sedated most of the time and undergoing heavy training when he wasn’t.

Ryona – Ryona's teenage years were a while ago now. Back then she was very naive and sheltered, she did a lot of what her parents wanted her to do without really questioning why. A lot had changed since then.

2) Since you guys destroyed my fantasy of a ticklish Calderon without mercy, I have to ask whether he has any other weaknesses one could exploit to win sparring much against him, even if only once? Preferably one that Aya knows off.

Seduce him. He'll forget how to function. Aya may or may not know that one, but she's certainly never going to try it on him.

3) Was/Why was June alone, and so near the palace, when he found MC?

June was with the crew. They had information on the coup that they were trying to get to the correct people before it started, but they were too late. On their way out of Goldis, June spotted Traveler near a collapsed bridge and couldn’t bring himself to leave them half-dead in that place.

4) I am wondering about what the LIs thinks about love and relationships in general? Who has been in love before?

Cal and Ryona both have been in love before.

Aya loves the idea of love but has no expectations to finding it anytime soon.

Bash is not looking for love but would be happy and content to find it.

Cal's relationship ended extremely badly, giving him a pretty bitter view on love.

Damon thinks the idea of love is a very good motivator to get what he wants from people, he doesn’t believe in it for a second though.

June thinks love is beautiful, for those who deserve it.

Ryona's relationship ended tragically, resulting in certain fears when it comes to love. 

5) Who is a coffee person and who is a tea person?

Ayame – tea

Bash – coffee

Cal – coffee

Damon – tea

June – coffee 

Ryona – tea

Not a LI but for the sake of the meme: Oppo – TEA

6) What is that thing on Cal’s neck? Is it a scar or a tattoo and how did he got it?

It's a burn scar, caused by an explosion when he was in the Guard. He does also have a tattoo.

7) Why does he hate the nickname? 💔😂

He hates the nickname "Commander" because it reminds him of the shame of his exile, and he hates "Cal" because only two people ever really called him that, and he was betrayed by both (not his moms).

8) How do the LIs feel about marriage and how would they react to the traveler wanting to marry them?

Given the situation they are in and how Seleota is, they wouldn’t be open to the idea now. Someday, if everything is settled, they would be open to discussing marriage with the right person, despite already being happy to spend their lives together.

9) What personality traits do the LIs value most in a romantic partner?

Ayame – stability

Bash – a sense of humor

Cal – loyalty

Damon – honesty

June – kindness

Ryona – compassion

10) How do the LIs feel about parenthood and how would they react to the traveler wanting to start a family with them?

Many of them haven't had the best experiences when it comes to parents, but none of them would be against having children if it was with the right person after discussing it and would strive to be better than their own experiences.

11) Why/what does June have nightmares about?

His past, the things he went through from an early age and the traumatic experience of seeing his twin dying from not being able to withstand what they were going through – and what he did after that.

12) What was Cal like when he was younger and not so, angry/closed off?

He was happier. He would get into mischief with his best friend and was charming as much as he was arrogant. Even when younger he placed a high value on loyalty and honor.

13) What is Ryona like when she's angry/what makes her angry?

For a Tilaari, a species that is generally calm and collected, Ryona does have quite a quick temper. She'll usually fight with words rather than fists, since she's had no formal combat training. She gets angry at the Tilaari who have chosen to close off their planet to those in need, and has a deep-rooted resentment towards her father especially who is a member on the Council of Eons, and she is angered by prejudice against her based on her species.

14) What was Damon's family/childhood like on Cursa? Were there any good parts?

His only known family were his parents, and they weren’t what you’d call model parents, caring only about themselves and their addictions, doing merely the bare minimum to keep Damon alive. He lost them at the young age of 10, going through his first kill at the same time. He was born in the slums of Cursa, where the only way out is in handcuffs, a body bag, or a gang. He was never arrested and he’s still alive, so you can guess how he got out… Damon has no happy childhood memories and spent most of his time hidden away in alleys with stray cats.

There were no good parts, and he never looks back.

15) If each LI had to have a theme song what would it be?

Ayame: Bad Girl, Good Girl – Miss A

Bash: Mr Roboto – Styx

Cal: Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley

Damon: I Mean It – G-Eazy, Remo

June: Old Town Road – Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus

Ryona: Don't Call Me Angel – Ariana, Miley, Lana

16) Has anyone of the LI ever met/saw the traveler before?

No.

17) Does any of the crew know Zovack personally? And, if yes, in what kind of relationship were they?

Every member of the crew has been personally affected by Zovack in some way. 

The two who know him most personally are Damon and Cal. Damon did certain jobs for him and was almost recruited, while Cal played an important part in his plans to take the throne.

18) There's a short story on here about the evacuation of Kitalphan, I assume it's about Ayame's family. If I'm assuming correctly, what happened to her brother? 

You assume correctly! Her brother died a few years after they made it to Goldis.

19) Why did Ayame join Orsanna's Guard, and what did she do there?

She had two choices: go to prison or join the guard, so she enlisted. She was a pilot – terrible with authorities but ridiculously good, so they put up with her. Met Cal when assigned to his unit.

20) Is Ryona the only survivor of the Archangels? If not, is she in contact with anyone who was involved in the project?

Yes.

21) What bargain did Ryona strike with Calderon - was it to let her onto the ship, or to get her to join it?

To join the crew, getting on the ship was a consequence.

22) What gets the LIs flustered/embarrassed the most/easiest?

Ayame – telling her with a straight face how much you like her

Bash  – beating him (without cheating) at any game, he's very competitive 

Calderon  – being wrong, it doesn't happen often

Damon – noticing when he does something nice and letting him know you were happy about it

June – thanking him and accepting him for who he is

Ryona  – taking an interest in her work or heritage

23) How did someone...as rude and (for lack of a better word) obnoxious as Damon get to be second in command to Cal?

He has the right skillset for what the crew needed and Cal, as much as he hates to admit it, recognizes how valuable Damon's skills are and trusts him to make the right calls when it comes down to it. They have known each other for a few years now, their friendship doesn’t come across as great but they’ve come to appreciate each other deeply.

24) What was the A6 crew doing on Goldis before and during the coup? 

They arrived during the coup. They were trying to get there before Zovack to deliver a warning. They didn't make it in time. 

25) What inspired June to take the Traveler onboard instead of a hospital?

There was no time nor means to do so, they were in the middle of a civil war zone and he knew Ryona would be able to help.

-Lore-

1) What do Kitalphans look in their natural mermaid state? Were there some Kitalphans who look drastically different from their human appearance?

Shallow water Kitalphans look very much like your classical fairytale mermaid, but have no fishtail, only slender legs with fins between their fingers and toes to assist with swimming, as well as having bright scales over their body (quantity and color vary individually).

Deep water Kitalphans looked very different from humans, being fully adapted beings to living underwater. They weren’t able to transition to outside of water even with the means used by shallow water Kits. Looked very similar to the creature in Shape of Water, but with more humanoid face features, and sported darker colors on their skin and scales.

2) What was the royal family like? Did each of the kids have a specific role to fill or were they allowed to do what they wanted as you moved further away from being a successor?

The most recent royal family was composed of 15 members: The King, Fenris, his three Queens and their children. His first wife was Lucrezia, the Solar Queen, a human. His second Nikolle, the Lunar Queen, a Kitalphan. And his third Ta'jean, the Stellar Queen, a Tilaari. It wasn't common for the monarch to have more than one spouse, but Fenris was very much a King who marched to his own tune and, really, did whatever he wanted. After the heir to the throne, the next one or two children would have been educated to become a part of the Crown Council, and others further down the line may have had the chance to serve in Orsanna's Guard if they had the aptitude for it. All children, no matter their line in succession, had extremely strict security, education and high expectations. Anyone who didn't have a role to fulfill would have been married off for political gain, most likely within the neighboring systems 

3) What was life as the youngest royal like? Oppo said they were hidden away, so were they locked in the castle? 

The youngest royal was confined to the palace grounds. It was a large area of land so it wasn't too bad for some, but depending on the royal's personality, it might have still felt very much like a prison. Although the royal children were educated and treated with all the respect that came with a royal title, they were largely disregarded in the greater scheme of things. They were not permitted to attend most royal functions or public events, aside from weddings and funerals, and were usually the subject of arranged marriages, most often to royal and noble prospects in neighboring systems.

The general public would have only known the three eldest children well and may have known a little about the fourth and fifth.

4) Also does the ship have a name?

Andromeda Six.

5) Did the Queens get along?

Lucrezia was selfish and vain and didn't care for much other than herself. Nikolle and Ta'jean had a better relationship, although Nikolle suffered with some mental health issues that deteriorated more and more as the years went on, and Ta'jean was extremely bitter about her own circumstances, having been forced into marriage for diplomatic reasons.

6) Did the king have a clear heir among his children? Was there competition for the role or was inheritance strictly based on age?

Yes, there was a clear heir. The line of succession is based on age, rather than gender.

7) Is there still physical currency in use, or is it strictly digital?

There is physical currency still used in the poorer areas, although most places would have digital.

8) Does the crew use radios or something similar in the field?

They use radio for short range communication (ie. within the ship) and a form of holo communication for longer range (when communicating with Oppo etc)

9) We know that the earth is inhabitable, but that there was someone who decided not to leave it. There are still people on earth?

Yes, people were left behind on earth. It is assumed they perished.

10) Does the traveler have a special skill? Like, everybody on the ship is good at something, how will our character fit in without feeling useless?

Traveler doesn't have a special skill in particular, but they are useful and valuable in other ways.

11) Will we find out more on races/species outside of the optionable three the MC can choose to play as, or should we expect little more outside of what June told us?

There will be a little more information on outside species as the game progresses, especially in later parts, but it won't be as extensive as the main three.

12) How are mixed/half species different than their full blooded counterparts?

They have physical traits of both their parent species, but they may not have full range of abilities. For example, a half Tilaari would not have skin as luminescent as a full blood, and a half Kitalphan would not have gills fully formed enough to breathe beneath water. 

-NSFW-

1) Is there a virgin among the crew, and if yes, who is it?

There are no virgins, but their experience does differ quite a lot. From least to most experienced it would be:

Ryona, June, Bash, Calderon, Ayame, Damon

Yet there’s quite the large gap between Cal and Aya, for reference.

2) Please tell us how correct certain size guesses in the nsfw channel were.

The men are well-endowed enough and very capable at making sure it’s aaaall used to its fullest ;)

3) Aight, Imma be that person-- we have an idea of what each member of the crew is like in the streets.... but what are they like in the sheets?

Ayame – Very visual and loud, enjoys being watched and seeing how you react to her. Not a fan of taking it slow and will expect you to satisfy her thoroughly (and that can take hours…).

Bash – Very visual, likes to watch you. Slow, extremely hands on, likes to draw it out.

Cal – Hard and fast. Can get a bit rough if not kept in check, but also knows how to be soft. Likes to see you on your knees.

Damon – Rough and thorough (can be soft, but finds it boring), won’t stop until he’s got you completely exhausted. Has a lot of experience, so he knows just what to do to get you to feel things you never knew you could feel, will also tell you exactly what to do to please him. Likes to see you vulnerable, especially if it means you’re tied up at his mercy.

June – Soft and hard. Will start slow but tends to lose control in the heat of the moment, being quite rough at times. Will praise you over and over, and the higher on pleasure you seem to be, the bolder his praises become ;)

Ryona – Miss topping from the bottom. Will tell you what to do and how to do it but in a way that makes you want to follow her instruction. Will always return the favor ;)

4) Who is the best kisser among the crew 👀❤️? And what are their techniques?

Damon and Ayame, and they’re both very versatile doing it.

Damon likes to draw out the kiss, making the other party all but beg for him to give them more. Biting, hair tugging and touching sensitive spots are all very easy for him to work with.

Ayame doesn’t like to take it slow, she knows what she wants and how she wants it. Knows she has a body to die for, and she uses it expertly – breaking up the kiss to moan softly against their lips is also her go to technique.

5) What gets the LIs flustered/embarrassed the most/easiest? (nsfw 😈) 

Ayame – doesn’t get flustered or embarrassed in bed, but pulling her hair and laying kisses down her neck will get her to lose it

Bash  – making him look but not touch is a sure fire way to get him to lose his cool

Calderon  –  calling him "Sir"

Damon – also doesn’t get flustered nor embarrassed in bed, and the key to push him to the next level is whispering in his ear how badly you want him to fuck you

June – as a praiser, you can fluster him by praising him instead, especially if you’re kissing any of his scars while at it

Ryona  – bonding on a strong emotional level is enough to catch her off guard

6) What are each of the LI's favorite positions in bed? For topping and/or bottoming 😏

Ayame: Top – The Lap Dance | Bottom – The Bound Love Triangle

Bash: Top  – 69 | Bottom  – Love Seat

Cal: Top  – Doggy | Bottom  – Lady Godiva

Damon: Top – Leapfrog or Frogtie Bondage Position (for the partner) | Bottom – The Wrap Around

June: Top – The Slippery Nipple | Bottom – Reverse Cowgirl/boy

Ryona: Top  – The Rocking Horse | Bottom  – The Splitting Bamboo

-Spoilers-

1) Without being too spoiler-y, can we know if we nailed anything with our theories? (Not asking which ones, just *if* we did with any.)

Yes.

2) How are the LIs going to react to the traveler being the lost royal and what will it mean for their relationship?

Some will take it better than others, but everyone will find a way to be on board with and accept it. It will set up the major plot for the rest of the game.

3) Will I achieve my dream of MC being yelled at in episode 3?

Absolutely.