Alpha Preview Update (December)

Play the alpha here

Password: deckthehalls ⬅ ❗️

Report bugs here

View bug reports here

Incomplete routes guide ⬅ ❗️please check if you suspect your game ended early :)

What's New:

• 9,000 words of new content!

• New Chase interlude

• PAIN

• Edit: Added another set of choices to Chase's conversation because it was bothering me, lol

Developer's Notes:

Hi everyone, happy holiday season!

This month has been an incredibly busy one, not least because of the holidays and end-of-year festivities, usual shopping and gift craziness, and visiting friends and family from out of town (we'll even be hosting family for the last week of the month at our place this year, which lends to the frenetic busyness), but also because the Twine port completely blew up on me earlier this month! Between one day and the next, everything went from "completely fine" to

...which sent me into a panic that took several days, lots of yelling at my computer, and the help of my programmer brother-in-law to resolve. So that set me back in my work schedule quite a ways, hence why I could only get Chase's character interlude finished this time, rather than two! (Chase's interlude was also quite beefy as well as extremely emotionally-heavy to write, so that didn't help. Thanks a lot, Chase!)

For Captains and above who have read his short stories here on Patreon, the content of this update will not really come as a surprise. For anyone else, I'll leave a little content warning here that heavy topics are discussed therein, including a past (implied to be) abusive relationship, self-destructive behaviors, murder, and... generally pretty dark stuff. I don't think it's anything really graphic or egregious, or out of line for the general tone of the game, but it's definitely a mood-killer if you're looking for Christmas cheer, so buyer beware!

...I really love him, though. He's so sad. I think the ending of the interlude is a little roughly-sketched, but first drafts gonna first draft, and I'll give myself leeway due to the impending holidays!

Also, thank you to everybody for your very kind comments regarding last month's update and my decision to try to achieve a better work-life balance for myself! Ironically, giving myself permission to not do a short story update every single month immediately made me start a new short story this month LOL, a short mixed-media epistolary series told from the various viewpoints of people observing the Shepherds from around Haven, including their official fanclub, members of their HR division, a barkeeper at the Wolf's Den, the Inquisition, and more! I don't know if these are just fun little vignettes that show what daily life for the Shepherds is like and all the work that keeps it humming (that isn't really explored as much in the game), or if there's actually a larger story percolating in the background that will coalesce here somehow; but for now I'm just having fun with it and will post the first snippet at the usual time at the end of the month!

(Unfortunately, that does mean I'm putting Prihine's story on pause right now. I know, it's extremely cruel to leave it on that cliffhanger, but I think I need to recover a bit more so I can do that story--and probably the recruits' story eventually--their proper justice!)

That's all I've got for you right now! As ever, thank you to everyone for reading, supporting, encouraging, and showing so much kindness and light as this year draws to a close. Your patience and grace is more appreciated than ever, and I hope you all have a wonderful winter holiday and a magnificent close to your 2024! I love you all! 🥹❤️🎄 Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to those you celebrate!

Total wordcount: 1,240,282 words without code

What's Next

More character interludes, including probably Trouble's! We're creeping closer and closer to getting caught up to the Ascendancy Festival! 🎉