bacchanal-if

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— Rachel Mennies, from The Naomi Letters "April 18, 2017" (via lunamonchtuna)

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What mundane/benign thing could MC do that would make the ROs stop and stare? 👀like MC tucking their hair behind their ear, bending, etc

Fox:

Extend their neck, they want to kiss it.

Rabbit:

They love studying the MC's features when they're not looking.

Butterfly:

Smile. 🥹

The Uninvited Guest:

Lick their lips, bend over.

Edith/Edward:

A certain swagger/sway of the hip.

Tamsin/Thomas:

Just about anything? Their imagination needs to be actively supressed lest it run wild. See the first song on their playlist:

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Hiii! I thought you already did modify the text to the different style? Or have you decided to do that again? (I am worried as a non-native speaker who is very interested in your IF that it'll spill into a territory where it becomes readable only to natives or people who are georgian era nerds; hope it doesn't come across as mean, because if you choose to heavily stylicise your text, it's still up to you, and I just wanted some clarity)

I'm not at all surprised that this was the first comment made! The only further editing I'm doing to align to the style of text from the era is finally using British instead of American spelling and replacing most ed with 'd. There may be some poetic strengthening in some places for Chapter 1, but I'm putting a leash on myself for what scenes I'll allow myself to even think about doing that for. As to what this means for readability:

She colour'd the margin of the letter vs She colored the margin of the letter.

Not much change. When I tell you how tempting it is to use the long s (ſ) though... 🫦

But I won't 😔

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This Week In Development

When was the last time I did one of these? I've been heads-down for so long. The big takeaway: The first draft is complete! And now that I have something to work off of, I've gone over my list of tasks before I release it to the public. (Testers always wanted!) But, rather than focus on what I did, I would like to note the next steps.

Tldr: Editing, testing, and unpausing Patreon.

Wordcount: 157k+

The Good

I have more free time than usual for a couple weeks, and I'm in the zone.

Looking back at what I wrote, my "style pass" doesn't seem like it will be that gargantuan of an overhaul, as I already wrote it in an 18th century cadence. I just need to tune things to sound more poetic, tighten some areas that are too redundant, and fix some punctuation that you just can't properly get when writing the prose straight in code, which I often find more convenient. Most of this effort, however, will be in scenes of heightened emotion: the meetings. Tamsin/Thomas's already sound so much better in their re-write, with a lot of annoying redundancies removed and prettier language. The hobbies--aka my 80 scenes and estimated 90k+ words of regret--will need the least attention, to my greatest relief. I would like to thank past me for making that possible.

I should be able to put Chapter 2 through testing in phases, which means that instead of doing the entire style pass and then testing it all, I will do it scene by scene. In this way, I can collect bugs and feedback while continuing on with re-writes.

My backlog of bugs and coding extras (ultimately just tracking more of your options) is small and simple.

The Tedious

The one thing that I did not spare myself the grief of while writing the first draft was setting down the exact stat checks for different branches. I have no remorse, because it allowed me to stay in the flow of writing even while accounting for different factors, but it does mean that I have to go back to every branch and write the appropirate code. Luckily, a lot of the branching is similar for each hobby, so this should just involve a lot of copy and pasting. And that being said...

Chapter 1. I'm back at it again! When I started tracking my variables I noticed something truly annoying, which is that there is a huge disparity in how often you can alter your meek/assertive stat compared to all others. While I'm in there, I may as well organize the code now that I switched to twee, and finally do a sweep of past tense verbs/british spellings as I implement the poetic 'd instead of ed, as well as ensuring that all the punctuation is in the correct unicode.

I realis'd 😏 belatedly that I didn't give enough flavor text in regards to the MC's fashion choices in a later scene, so that is some writing to add when I get to those scenes, but not much.

The Extras

Implementing optional character portraits

Packaging fonts so they don't rely on an internet connection.

Unpausing Patreon!

Roadmap

I already started on rewrites and I don't want to lose that momentum, so I'm going to continue the editing up until the end of the hobbies scene.

All Chapter 1 work outlined above.

Code work for Chapter 2.

Send to testing!

Rinse and repeat editing, coding, and testing scenes until it's ready.

Post to Patreon (1 week early), and then public on itch and neocities.

As always, I appreciate your interest in this story! Thank you for your patience.

💋🪽 Naughty Cupid

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Pet snippets:

If you have one, they'll be joining you in your hobby.

Canary

You saw, in the tilt of its head and the alertness of its gaze, a spirit kindred to your own: unbroken by confinement and unwilling to be diminish’d...You lift the latch with care, and as the cage door opens, $pn hops lightly onto your hand. His small weight is a gentle comfort against your skin, as though sunlight itself had alighted there once more.

Mouse

With the lightest touch, you stroke her fur—softer than velvet—and marvel that a creature so small should yet contain such life. For a breath she lies still, her fragile rise and fall steady beneath your fingers; then she shifts, nestling close, her bright eyes lifting to yours with a trust that seems boundless. In her slight frame beats a presence greater than her measure—a playful constancy, a spirit whose quiet joy answers the hush of your world. At last you cup her gently, and, as though placing a jewel within its casket, slip her into the shelter of your pocket, where she curls in content repose, her warmth a secret flame against your side.

Snake

There, nestled among moss and muted cloth, lies your serpent: no broader than your thumb, his slender form a weave of ash and umber, his markings faint and made for concealment rather than display. His scales hold the sheen of wet stone after rain, subtle yet fine. At your presence he stirs—not with alarm, but with intent. His tongue flicks once, twice, tasting the air before your hand. When he moves, it is like water pouring uphill: deliberate, unhurried, strange in its ease. He coils up into your hand and along your forearm, his weight a cool whisper, until he settles at your wrist, his narrow head resting just above the place where your pulse beats slow and steady. It is not affection—not quite. But it is trust, in the language of his kind.

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Oh my god I finished.

Now to edit.

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“I don’t want to be a sweetheart. I want to be the fucking love of your life.”

— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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the type of ship i fuck with the most

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Everything here is so important. Check out the books if you find the time, and be sure to check out this amazing if!

A Little Caribbean History

I feel like I should speak on this, given the subject matter of Island of Whispers. There is a clip that's gotten popular from Prager U kids show featuring Christopher Columbus. The clip is years old at this point, and many people online have gone over how terrible the information being provided is. I'm going to do a quick rundown of what I know about the points brought up in the clip.

During the Atlantic slave trade, somewhere of around 10-12 million Africans were kidnapped and shipped to the Americas in conditions so brutal that most didn't survive the journey. It's one of the biggest atrocities in modern history, but it's also the reason that I exist, and the reason my ancestors where brought to the Americas is because of what Columbus did the to native population. Columbus was an Italian hired by the Spanish monarchy to search for new areas of colonization across the Atlantic (offered 10% of whatever wealth his voyage brought in). He ended up stumbling on what would be later called Hispaniola (now Haiti and Dominican Republic). Most of the Caribbean was inhabited by Arawak peoples who had their own distinct cultures, languages and practices. The first group Columbus encountered was the Taino peoples, who where genuinely open to greet Columbus. Another group of peoples was the Kalinago peoples, who didn't get along very much with the Taino. This is the group associated with the cannibalism claims (where the nickname Carib comes from and by extension the name of the Caribbean), and while there is evidence that human body parts might have been used in rituals or other religious practices (not an uncommon practice in different societies), there are no signs that they ever ate anyone. This mythology of the savagery and brutality of the Kalinago is part of the justification of the colonization of the Caribbean and South America. There is evidence that illness brought by Columbus and other early European settlers killed a large population of the Caribbean natives. Columbus immediately made plans to enslave the local population (as shown in several letters he wrote to the King and Queen), which was the start of the Encomienda system, a system of enslaving Indigenous people in the Caribbean and then Latin America that was as brutal if not more to than the Atlantic slavery system that was to follow. Note that Columbus had a particular interest in kidnapping women and girls. As governor of Hispaniola, colonists evnetually complained about his brutality, which was so out of hand that the King and Queen stripped him of his governorship.

So yeah, Christopher Columbus sucks. If you want a better Italian to revere, maybe the Chef Boyardee guy or Robert Di Nero or something.

For more about this topic there are these resources:

Caribbean history : from pre-colonial origins to the present by Martin, Tony (book)

The Truth About Columbus - Knowing Better Refuted by BadEmpanada (Youtube)

A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies by Bartolomé de Las Casas (book)

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Apologies in advance, but every time I have an epiphany about the how or why of something, the betrayals keep stacking up against the poor MC 😔

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SHAMELESS self marketing

Episode 8 is released in its entirety on Patreon :)

Somehow it ended being longer episode 7 which I doubted when I began. It’s a calmer episode but ofc cause this is drama shit still happens

Play

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☽ DEMO (July 31, 2025)

Those who never learn history are doomed to repeat it.

There is something wrong with your blood, the others sense it when they look at you. Your parents said it’s what makes you special, beloved. You wish it to be true. You are ten when you notice the change, the thing that courses in your veins, wishing to be released, but you don’t know how.

You are thirteen when it releases itself. Anguish, grief, rage. Power. It destroys everything around you, it strives to kill, and it does. It is that fateful day that lands you here, trapped and caged within the walls of the Gilded Palace. This is the place you believe you will die.

Until you don’t, you’re kept alive. Here, against your will. Trained and yielded to be a tool. In the next ten years of your life, you will become a prized captive under the King’s guard. Wallowing in hate, waiting for your time to come to an end. Then the dragons appear, the royal family is assassinated, a rebellion ensues, and all the problems are pointed towards you.

Can you prove your innocence? Is it even worth it to try?

The Incantation is rated 18+ for violence, death, abuse, explicit language, unhealthy relationships, morally questionable characters, suggestive content, and possibly more triggers pending.

☽ Play as a witch of your own making.

Customize your character.

Build your relationships with those around you.

Learn more about the power that plagues you.

Form yourself into a weapon of your choosing or become the monster they made you out to be.

Save the kingdom or doom it to eternity.

☽ Romance one of four love interests.

Evander Alazar. (he/him)

Evander is the crown prince of Elyssia. Often charming and elusive, Evander hides behind a mask of arrogance and indifference to get through courtly life. Yet, forced into a role he never wanted - Evander must quickly assume the role of monarchy to keep his kingdom safe. Will it be sink or swim for this young prince?

Trope: Forbidden Love. He shouldn't look at you, you are considered an enemy of the kingdom. He should order your death. So why is it, that when you look at him - his heart seems to stop beating?

Theodore/Theodora "Teddy" de Peyster. (he/him) or (she/her)

Teddy is the crown prince's sworn protector. Noble and steadfast, Teddy is everything the kingdom needs to survive. Born to the retired parent's of the King's guard, all Teddy's life has been is violence and warfare. Is it possible for this knight to rise to the challenge or will they fall on their sword?

Trope: Sworn off Love. The knight cannot afford any mistakes, no matter how small. They keep everyone at a distance, relationships lead to a mess and a mess is a big mistake. But when you smile - they feel a crack appear in their armor.

Maeryn Toussaint. (she/her)

Maeryn is a priestess, belonging to the Church of Estrellas. Frequently skittish and consistently pious, Maeryn has never set foot outside of her convent. That was until the rebellion, where her prophetic abilities could help turn the tide. Can she save the kingdom, or doom the world?

Trope: Love at First Sight. She has never had anyone look at her like she wasn't broken. It's gotten to the point where she believes it too. Yet, when your hand touches hers - she has never felt more put together.

Hartford Moss. (cis) or (non-binary)

Hartford is your best friend, or was at least. Long gone is the vibrant curiosity of childhood, the destruction of Hartford's home leaves nothing but grief in their eyes and regret in their heart. Until they see you again. Will you stay together this time or will fate rip you apart?

Trope: Friends to Lovers. No one has ever seen every piece of them and understood them; their soul is bare, yet people look and don't see. However, you have seen them all of them and never looked away - it makes their head spin.

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I'm very sorry, UK readers, but Bacchanal is blocked 😥 there has got to be a way to get this content to you.

Update with Itch.io - UK Edition

As we all know, UK OSA recently came to play for UK residents. Which means itch.io had to comply to the new rules (read more about here).

Essentially, until itch finds an acceptable way of complying with the "Check people's ID" rules from the new regulations, they are geo-blocking any NSFW page. This includes (afaik):

Project pages

Profile pages displaying geo-blocked projects!!!*

*right now I don't know if it's just listing games widget-style, collections are affected, or if having basic links towards NSFW projects in your profile description counts too.

If you are a UK resident landing on a creator page with NSFW content, you probably will end up with a screenshot like this:

If you are a creator looking to see if your project(s) is affected by this, you can find whether a project is geo-blocked by:

Going to the Distribute tab of your project

Click Geo restrictions

You can also appeal the decision by contacting itch.io support.

This was also shared by itch in their update post:

Connect with local advocacy groups working on digital rights issues

Review and consider signing this petition opposing the OSA’s implementation: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/722903

Contact your local representatives to express your concerns

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I had a successful surgery yesterday and am getting bed rest 💜 Not writing for two days feels weird but they said no working...

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TRG is in-progress, 18+, Interactive Gothic Romance Mystery Novel

1890s. The Earl of Harewood is hosting an out of season party at his estate, a historic occasion that marks his inheritance and engagement. Your father was invited, but illness kept him confined to his estate. By fortune - or fate - you've just returned from America, and Society is eager to welcome you. A perfect arrangement is made.

But that's not who you are.

You are an investigator, a spy sent to gather information and follow up on rumours surrounding the estate and this is merely your cover story that should serve you for the short time you will spend in Yorkshire.

What will you uncover? How far will you go? Perhaps your stay will take longer than you think…

➤ Extensive protagonist customization!

➤ No skill checks! Only important choices (with checkpoints)!

➤ Multiple endings!

➤ Immersive environment which reacts to you!

➤ Romance - genuinely, or not!

DEMO (SFW)

Wordcount: 30K

ROMANCE

Edward W. Chastel (M) - your host. Good-looking, charismatic and well-positioned man in his mid 30s. Engaged.

Anthony/Anthonia M. Chastel (GS) - Edward's brother/sister. Mysterious law student who quickly grows fond of you, for better or worse.

Raoul C. Barnet/Briar B. Woods (always same-gender) - Your partner. Temperamental but loyal to a fault.

Are there Flings/SubROs?

Yes. But for now they'll have to stay in their spot, as side characters, to avoid any mess before the first draft is finished.

FEEDBACK

Do you have enough of choices? Is your MC's personality expressed?

Typos, errors, bugs, pronoun errors etc.

Pacing - do you wish some scenes would take longer? Be shorter?

All suggestions will be recorded.

tags: @interact-if @interactive-fiction-recs-for-you

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Interesting!

Hey this isn't finished yet but i never see IF authors sharing it and idk if it's not widely known but this might be a good future resource if the nsfw issues continue.

https://amaregamesdb.tumblr.com/

Thank you for sharing this! This is a very cool idea, especially with the issues going on with steam/itch io.

This might be useful for some authors and readers to find/list games, but for me personally I don't think my projects fit the amare description. My games do focus on relationships (amongst other things) but they definitely are not romance games (the narratives are not focused on/centered around romance) which seems to be a key aspect of this genre from what I've read on their page.

Still, I highly recommend amare authors and fans to check this out 😊