So at the end of the prologue we do an animated opening because I am ambitious as heck, to go over the seven year time jump from the prologue to the rest of the story and what all happened with the fallout of Joyce's sister's disappearance.
This is a whole twelve seconds of it where I show:
A) the sort of public fallout and how Joyce was treated
B) the literal time progression (top right)
C) And showing Joyce growing up from a shrine maiden and changing careers to law enforce...
2025-08-15 15:59:22 +0000 UTC
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Hi Everyone!!
Welcome to the prologue of Collector! Please enjoy :)
Sound Warning towards the end
We'll be posting new video chapters of Collector to all $5+ backers every third week !
We will be releasing the next part Friday August 29th at 12p EST
Thanks for all your support and your patience! I and the whole team are VERY excited to share this with all of you! If you have any feedback, please leave a comment or let me know directly in the heartworks disco...
2025-08-08 21:08:39 +0000 UTC
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Hi everyone!
My goal was to have all of scene 1.1 finished and postable by today. It was a good goal, and I got close! But a fwe of Tahani's sprite assets aren't quite finished yet, so ya'll will have to enjoy a little breakfast with Joyce while I finish baking the cookies :3
While Collector isn't FULLY animated, as much as possible I'm trying to have the visuals convey the action and have text be strictly dialogue. I know this isn't exactly THE NORM for visual novels, but h...
2025-08-01 17:54:27 +0000 UTC
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Hey ya'll, hard at work on Collector! The full video capture of 1.1 will be posted next Friday, but I also plan to post lil freebie updates available to everyone.
I'm nearly finished with the polished teen Joyce asset for 1.1. She's lookin so shiny! A few polish points to go, then I'm comin for Tahani. It's gonna be a hustle, but I still think I can get finished sprites for both Tahani and Joyce by next Friday's update.
Joyce has a heck of a journey ahead, so let's give ...
2025-07-25 18:22:20 +0000 UTC
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This is my final illustration for Imago. It's bittersweet, leaving these three to continue their story without us, but also what a journey it's been. Thanks again to everyone who supported us as we told their story, who avidly read along, who discussed each chapter drop in the discord, and who cared about this moth and their journey.
Feel free to revisit them anytime ❤
Chrysalis
2025-07-21 16:53:17 +0000 UTC
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"No time, lolly." Neith grabs Lyra bodily around her back and thighs, ignoring the nymph’s hissed objections. "Fetch the other one, Ian, we have to GO!"
Ian pulls himself to his feet, staggering. The world’s starting to tilt, sloshing like water in a bowl. "... what have we done..." Ian whispers, lifting Lloyd into his arms and joining the rush for the exit.
"W-what about Madeline! Hedrick! Try-" Lloyd bites the name off, shakes his head...
2025-07-18 16:00:21 +0000 UTC
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Lloyd dashes as quickly as he can, closing the distance on the trail of lights as Neith’s dragged away. If she reaches the gaping mouth -
Without giving himself time to think, he dives in after her.
The water is brown and silty, roiling with wriggling strands of illuminated plants. He grabs her wrist and digs his heels in, bracing. More and more pondweed ignites, converging on them. A line of bubbles escapes from Neith's mouth. She's already drowning. Lloyd jams his fore...
2025-07-11 19:28:27 +0000 UTC
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"It’s the alp-luachra!” Lloyd says, fighting back panic. “W-we can’t outrun that! Ian, the salt! Tell me you have the - "
“Wait.” Ian holds up a hand, looking in the direction of the sound. There’s a few more crashing steps, then another cry.
"ELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE...!"
"Doesn’t that sound like…like someone callin’ for their lost cat?"
"...no way." Lloyd breathes. "Can't be." But how could ...
2025-07-02 20:15:41 +0000 UTC
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Hi all! A quick update.
A little over a week ago I turned the wrong way and experienced some of the most intense pain I've ever felt in my left hip and leg. A day later, the doctor confirmed it was an acute sciatic attack.
It's been a challenging week. Unable to walk, and barely able to sit upright. It's been a lot of bed rest and bingeing Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir.
Since this Tuesday, and with a lot of drugs and support from friends and family, t...
2025-06-19 22:08:36 +0000 UTC
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The kettle clicks. She stands, mechanically pours, and places a mug of peppermint tea in front of Lloyd. He picks up the mug in both hands, breathing in the steam, and takes a slow, careful sip. Sarah clears her throat, folding her hands uncomfortably as she turns to Lyra.
"And w… what would you like?"
"I..." Lyra starts, her antennae rising, glancing at Lloyd's mug. He sets it down with a soft clunk.
"Mum, c-could I maybe - “ Lloyd starts.
“ - I ...
2025-06-13 16:00:22 +0000 UTC
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“P-please. Astraea, you’re scaring me. Let’s just…let’s just go! The door is right there!” She reaches out again. No salt barrier this time. No one to hide from and nothing to stop them, if only Astraea will let her. L’s braced for another push back, but it never happens. Her hand settles on Astraea’s shoulder. L smiles, and hopes it’s reassuring. “We can go home.”
“Yes.” Astraea stands a little straighter, smiles a little softer. "Y...
2025-06-09 16:00:19 +0000 UTC
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“P-please. I've made a deal. People will die."
"What deal? Who will die?"
L twitches her head away, the ghostly after-images of his eyes dancing in her peripheral vision. If she gives him everything, she loses her leverage.
"Someone I care for. And I’ll tell you everything if you let me save him - "
“One moment.” Helios settles the reliquary on her head, balancing it carefully. A glassy smile dances across his face....
2025-06-06 16:00:20 +0000 UTC
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A weight presses down on the room, stealing breath, silencing voices. Something rattles atop a heap of ruined baubles - a small, silver-backed mirror, the last one unshattered. A long, jagged crack bisects the glass. Alastor’s breath hitches, his weathered face going pale.
The crack grows. A thin line of shadow oozes out of it, feeling for purchase. It tightens around the edge of the mirror, gripping firmly, and flexes.
The glass explodes, a shower of shining fr...
2025-06-04 16:15:26 +0000 UTC
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Lyra’s wings spread wide again, but her eyes are blank, and she’s wrapped her arms back around herself, trembling. With a start, Lloyd realises what she’s feeling. The same static that boiled up in his mind, just minutes ago. Carefully, gingerly, he moves closer, crouching down so he’s looking up.
"Then tell me."
“I am…terrible… at being alone.” Lyra’s crystal voice breaks. She struggles for words and composure. "I was always... ...
2025-05-30 16:00:19 +0000 UTC
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“We’ve all been weighing in on this, but there’s one person we haven’t asked.” The youngest dryad interrupts. “Lyra.”
That attention again, all these swirling forces pressing in. Forces much bigger and much older than Lloyd or Lyra or L. Forces set in motion millennia ago. Forces she is certain will carry on long after her story concludes. A conclusion, she worries, that is very much on the horizon. And somehow, through fate or chance, her. Ju...
2025-05-28 16:37:03 +0000 UTC
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“What if someone taught me again? Would I be…able to?”
“To read?” Astraea asks. L nods. Astraea leans back, looking at the bare rafters overhead. “I don’t know.”
“Can we at least… try?” It hurts to hear herself sound so fragile. Like her words are about to crumble to dust.
“L, o-of course!” Astraea straightens, lifting the book so that L can see the pages too. “Of course we can try. Do you - “
<...
2025-05-23 16:09:57 +0000 UTC
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“I have another riddle for you. If you can answer it right, then this little hunt I’m on will go one way. Answer wrong, and, heh, well…”
He slides the knife the rest of the way through, snatches the end of the now cut fabric, and rips it back and away from her skin. L manages to turn her scream into a gasp, tears streaking her face as a thin line of blood wells up from the wound.
“Understand?” Helios asks, hovering close to her face, his look of pure delight spreadin...
2025-05-21 16:42:55 +0000 UTC
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"What are you doing?!” Astraea screams. The armour scoops the helmet up. “You have to get back!! Think of Ian! Think of-"
The helmet seals over Astraea's head, cutting off her voice.
Blind with rage, L pounces on the armour, clawing furiously at it.
“Let her GO! Let go of - “
Something hard and cold grabs her around the wrist and hauls her back. Another suit, dragging itself up from the floor, wrapping itself around he...
2025-05-19 16:58:37 +0000 UTC
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“Remain still. I will remove the insect." He says, delicately reaching toward them, his palm glowing white-hot.
"ELDER BROTHER, NO!" Astraea throws herself in front of Lyra, her voice pitching up in hysterics. Evander’s hand is still moving, heat growing closer. She spreads her arm, knowing what a pitiful shield she makes. "Don't, please don't! She is my closest friend!!"
Evander halts. His hand remains, hovering and white hot, the air shimmering before it....
2025-05-16 16:25:36 +0000 UTC
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"Checkmate." Helios hisses, and bites her cheek, hard enough to hurt. L's blood turns to ice.
"That's - y-you can't - " Her ribs feel too tight, crushing the breath from her. "You can't!"
Her voice is too high.
The room is too bright.
"Fili...!" Astraea yells desperately. Filandra’s staring in shock and disgust at Hephaestus.
"I'm going to love breaking you." Helios says. Stands. Drags her inexorably towards the canal. ...
2025-05-14 19:03:54 +0000 UTC
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L pulls herself back together, but not quite willing to trust her legs with her full weight. Her eyes flick over to Puck. "What's a reliquary?"
"You'll see." Puck grins.
Bʲen extends a thin, almost translucent arm. Her fingernails are long and very sharp. "... your... hand..."
Hesitantly, L holds out her hand, palm-up. The banshee whisks a fingernail across her skin, so quickly that she barely feels the sting. A bead of blood wells from the scratch, and Bʲen lets ...
2025-05-12 16:48:22 +0000 UTC
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Hi everyone! Heart here!
As of a week ago Friday, the final chapter of Imago has been posted for all patron's to read. Lark's story may have come to an end, but what's next for heartworks?
Well first off, there is still a lot of post production work left to do!
+ I have 16 Im...
2025-05-09 15:01:19 +0000 UTC
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<- previous
To Ian, there's something timeless about the Glade. A kind of eternal anticipation. When it's full, the air has a breathless quality, a charge flowing through the night. Another show. Another round. Another face in another crowd.
But in the moments between, when the door...
2025-05-02 16:00:18 +0000 UTC
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<- previous
"Let her go!” Lloyd demands, stepping forward. The nearest spriggans cross their spears in unison, barring his way. Alastor wags a finger, gesturing playfully to Astraea as she gasps for air.
“Now, now. Let’s not do anything foolish. She’s upset enough ...
2025-04-18 16:00:28 +0000 UTC
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<- previous
Lyra’s crouched in a clearing, her eyes closed, her wings spread to dry them as she sings. Ian stands guard over her, the tire iron held firmly in both hands as he keeps a wary eye on the treeline. The snap of footsteps draws both of their notice. Lyra falls silent, letting t...
2025-04-04 16:00:21 +0000 UTC
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<- previous
It took an hour by road to reach their destination, and by the time Lyra told them to stop the car, it was well past midnight.
The path leading to the fairy circle wasn’t far from the country road, just past a sign announcing Hedgerow Farms. Even so, Lyra had to dire...
2025-03-21 16:00:21 +0000 UTC
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<- previous
The bedroom door is already open, welcoming them back.
Lloyd stands at the entrance, the artificial light from the hall casting a shadow over the floor. It's just a guest room now, but the ghosts of what it used to be linger in the scuffed corners and narrow window, the d...
2025-03-07 17:00:19 +0000 UTC
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<- previous
In a crisis, panic flows around Daniel Morgan without ever quite latching on. Even when he fell out of a tree on his ninth birthday and broke his arm, he hadn't made a fuss over it. He knows Sarah finds this detachment infuriating sometimes, but he's certain it's part of what makes...
2025-02-21 17:00:06 +0000 UTC
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<- previous
"...Astraea?"
L stands unsteadily, weaving on her feet, ignoring the confused murmur of onlookers. She pulls open the door with numb hands. The wall of roots has been replaced by a quiet hotel lobby. There’s no shrieking nymphs, just a handful of figures in suits. No Astra...
2025-02-07 17:00:14 +0000 UTC
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Chains on her wrists and ankles, garbed in nothing but a ragged white dress, L is marched down the earthen corridors by eight brutish trolls. The polished granite on either side gives way to glittering white crystal, shimmering and fading to semi-translucence. Through them, L can see the veins of aether flowing around and beneath her. Their glow is refracted and amplified through the salt, washing away the dark more effectively than any lantern. The deeper they go, the brighter it...
2025-01-28 17:21:55 +0000 UTC
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