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Sooooo are we actually going to get a new demo at the end of the month... Oh wait it's already the end of month.

It’s the 30th. I’ve been radio silent working on this project in between my full time job, school and life. I love how this comment is phrased like I owe you. Like you pay my bills. Would you like to? If so I can quit my job and write full time all thanks to the generosity of random-anon-too-cowardly-to-criticize-on-their-real-account.

That aside I did give a vague, general deadline based on the work I’d completed at the point of posting the progress update. For context, I need to write three different versions of the prologue, several different branching paths based on choices in each versions in each prologue, all while keeping track of characters, and stats and path specific events. It’s going to take a while. I’m much closer to finishing because I make a point to write every. Single. Day. The word count is already well above 40k. I don’t give hard deadlines because I don’t know myself when everything will come together.

I do understand it’s frustrating to wait for an update and all I can do is give the assurance that things are working on my end. But please do not come into my inbox being a dickhead, thank you. 😊

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She really hates that man 😭

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Great to see you back over here! I'd like to ask, what prompted a possible inclusion of a poly route with Kaz?

Thank you, it’s great to be back!

And that’s a very good, and valid question.

To begin with, I’ve gotten several questions that basically boil down to “will Kaz have a monogamous path?”

When writing an IF that will be read by people with different opinions and tastes, where providing a variation of outcomes and storylines is mandatory, it becomes difficult to balance certain choices with constraints laid out by the setting (which is why this IF is gender locked)

Of course I want readers to enjoy a monogamous path with any RO of their choosing if that’s their preference, but the fact that Mc is a concubine and the story is set in a harem inherently creates a dynamic where the romance paths are limited. It’s either forbidden love or polygamy.

So the conflict for me was, “should I strip away this core aspect of the setting in order to make the story more palatable?” (Of course there’s the whole “it does what it says on the tin” argument. It’s a harem drama for a reason.)

I do want the story to be enjoyable, so the first compromise was making Kaz ambivalent about the harem. Though that did raise some questions like what happens if Mc doesn’t want kids? Why such a dutifully devoted ruler wouldn’t secure the succession?

I also feel like some of the appeal of harem dramas is the scheming and plotting. Wining feels so much better when you put in the work. I enjoyed the Affairs of the court games, which are an inspiration for COTGR, because of the many ways you could scheme and plot, depose rivals, gain allies and manipulate events with a few well placed words and well timed actions.

And that brings us to this compromise, which still has the path where a romance between Mc and Kaz can be monogamous, or not.

Anyway in ACTUAL answer to your question (srry for all the yapping) I wanted to add to the variance to the story and I feel a polyamorous route is more in line with the concept of a harem drama.

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Just a quick question, (which sounds really interesting btw can't wait to read) with the new changes are we still going to be able to romance characters independent of Kaz? Love Kaz but I love the girlies more^^

Yep! All the other routes remain the same. The new paths are just an expansion on the current romance routes available for kazmancers. Although, being poly or not does have interesting implications when romancing the other characters 🤔

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IM SO EXCITED FOR THE UPDATED DEMO hehehe the new characters look so interesting and the new paths for Khaz’s route are crazy interesting (the drama 🔥🔥) defff gobbling this up

Thank you 💕💕💕 Glad you’re excited. Hopefully it meets your expectations 👀

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I have a question about the monogamous and poly paths? Is that gonna depend on our choice or options we take? I just can't see anyone wanting to share Kaz like that lol So it feels to me like a wadte of time writing a whole new path no one will really take.

The paths will depend on your choice. It might come at the beginning of the story when you’re setting your preferences or be actually integrated into the dialogue.

As for the inclusion of the poly path, I can’t say for sure who will or won’t take what path, but I can’t discount the possibility entirely either. 🤷🏾‍♀️

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I'm really excited about these changes! I also love how the added characters fit so well with each origin background. I'm especially curious about what happened to the captive MC's brother. Is Salia an older or younger sibling? (Fingers crossed for older! it would make the sibling dynamic feel a bit less emotionally dependent, haha)

It also looks like the MC's kingdom in the Princess path plays a bigger role now and is embodied through Asina, which I absolutely love! I'm really looking forward to learning more about the Princess' kingdom.

As for Kaz, I honestly don’t mind if he gets involved with others, as long as it fits with the lore and his character, I’m all for it. Mmmm when that moment comes, which path would you recommend as being more in line with the lore and Kaz' personality: poly or monogamous?

Thank you! I’m glad to see that the new characters are well received. I had worried that it would be overwhelming.

MC’s kingdom, (I’ve GOT to give that place a name lol. I don’t want to pick a name that’s culturally isolating though 🤔) plays a big part in the story, as do the inclusion of the path specific characters. Without spoilers, there is essentially a plot or mandate for each mc and the new characters are there in part to facilitate that.

Though MC is the older sibling (sorry 😔) Salia and MC are close in age, just a year apart , so the emotionally dependent aspect isn’t very pronounced. You’ll also find that your little brother has changed very drastically after what happens 👀

As for your question, I don’t think one or the other path is more “canon.” They’re both “canon” as Kaz is still the same character, and his personality is still the same, he just has a different approach to dealing with the harem based on the route you pick.

For example in the monogamous path, his reserved nature and perhaps wariness after witnessing harem politics destroying what family he had leads him to focus his attention solely on Mc. In the poly path, that same reserved nature still exists, but he approaches his duties toward the harem differently, by giving equal attention to multiple consorts but not fully, maintaining the same level of restraint.

Neither approach contradicts his established character, they're simply different expressions of the same person making different choices within his circumstances. That's why both can be equally "canon" or authentic to who Kaz is.

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im curious will this wip be like part dress up game? cause this seems like the kind of wip where during certain events what your mc chooses to wear can be important or effect your rep.

also this is soooooo good can't wait for the update!

I wouldn’t say “part” dress up game (but that would be so fun!) because there won’t be enough fashion related events to justify that, but there will definitely be times in the story where your choice or actions will directly impact your character’s reputation.

(Hint: pay attention to your tea lessons, especially what order to serve it in!)

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Progress Update 4/12

We’re still looking good for an end of month upload! The new demo spends more time with Mc pre-harem instead of a summarized flashback sequence like in the original. The new demo also includes two different versions of the Kaz romance path.

New characters

Ambassador Asina Cara is the representative of Princess Mc’s kingdom on the princess path. If you’ve seen The Tudors, ambassador Chapuys is the inspiration for this character. He is fiercely loyal to his country and by extension, the princess. He is a staunch ally and valuable asset in navigating the politics of the imperial court.

Aslan Khorsandi is a court functionary MC comes into contact with on the noble path. He arranges for noble mc’s arrival to the capital and admittance to the harem, taking the role of a guide and patron. He offers noble mc’s family a foothold by securing a place for her in the harem not out of the kindness of his heart, but his desire for an ally who can get close to the shah.

Salia is the brother of Mc’s on the captive path. His sunny sunny and jovial nature were stripped away by the brutality he witnessed during the raid of his village, the murder of his parents and being separated from his sister when they were sold to different buyers in the capital. His fate is uncertain, but captive Mc knows her brother, her last surviving family member, is still alive and somewhere in chains.

Princess Cirze: Born to Shah Arazd and a serving woman, Cirze is permitted to call herself princess but not allowed to bear the name of the imperial family. As the half-sister of Khazunef she enjoys a very privileged life in court. Her loyalty and service to the Valide, as well as her closeness to young Kaz and the virtual impossibility of inheriting the throne, kept her safe from the Valide’s purge. The sweet natured princess is one of the Valide’s close confidants.

Prince Rhoshan Naram-Shirazi: As the son of Kaz's uncle Parvis, he has royal blood but remains outside the direct line of succession, giving him a unique position from which to scheme. Rhoshan isn't motivated by simple greed or vengeance but by a sincere conviction that the empire would flourish better under his rule than his “foreign” cousin's, a notion planted and nurtured by his mother, Noble Lady Kaadina.

Imperial Princess Rhodalise Naram-Shirazi: Kaz Poly Path only): Rhodalise is the daughter of Khazunef and Yaris on the polyamorous path with Kaz. (more on it below.) She is the only legitimate child of the imperial couple, fiercely protected and spoiled by her mother.

Dowager Princess Eora: Eora the Mad was once Princess Eora, primary wife to Crown Prince Nuren, whom many had expected would one day sit upon the Throne before his untimely and mysterious death. While other imperial widows were forced into temples, strategic remarriages, or simply burned along with their husbands, Eora’s “madness” exempted her from such obligations, and as she posed no threat, executing her would earn unnecessary ill will from the noble families who still remembered when Eora had been the empire’s golden princess. She is sequestered in the harem, a living ghost from an alternate history where Nuren had lived to become Shah and she had ruled as his empress.

Poly and Monogamous path (Kaz romance only)

Polyamorous path: On the poly path, Kaz interacts more with his harem. Though his heart can still be captured in the romantic sense, his attention (and body) is given to more than one person.

Other women will compete for the shah’s attention and can occasionally be chosen over Mc.

Kaz can/will have children with other concubines.

Monogamous path: This path more closely resembles that of the original version where Kaz is avoidant of his harem almost entirely. On this path, Mc is the only companion that Kaz falls in love with and gives any attention to in the romantic or sexual sense.

Attention is solely given to the MC. (to the extent realistically permitted by the plot.)

Kaz will only have children with MC.

Note: None of these changes are final and are subject to change!

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CoGdemos Important Information

For all authors and readers, if you can't access the game using the link and see this message instead:

It's because CoGdemos has updated the URL format for all games.

The correct link format now is:

https:// cogdemos.ink/play/author/game-title/mygame

Previously, it was "https:// cogdemos.ink/play/author/game-title", without "mygame".

If you are the author: You'll need to update the links for your content, especially for content with closed access, since short URLs only work for public games.

If you are the reader: You can access the game by adding /mygame to the end of the URL if the author hasn't updated the links.

Please spread this information to other authors. I hope this will be helpful!

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I really like what there is so far, particularly the prisoner start. It's very... visceral, in a way I feel isn't often achieved when people write that kind of stuff.

anyway, any estimate on when either the new demo will be up or the old one will be reuploaded?

Wow thank you! I’m glad I was able to convey that. The new version will be more visceral, more detailed and I’m aiming for an upload of the new version by the end of the month. For fans of the captive path you have a brother now. Yeah, sorry for what is about to happen to him.

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We... We meet Kaz, naked in a bath?????????

Well ONE of you is naked 🤭

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I’m alive and so is this IF. I’ve taken something of a hiatus to deal with real world issues and admittedly haven’t felt like writing lately but the story insists on being told so I’m back. In regards to the actual state of the story, I have the old version on my computer but guys… I don’t like it 😭

It feels rushed and empty if that makes sense. We don’t spend time with mc’s parents. We don’t get to see the type of life she has, so how can we understand what she’s lost when it’s taken? Currently I’m rewriting the story from the beginning to rectify these issues. Each path is now more detailed and there are a couple of new characters on each path. Already I like it better.

In any case, I’m hoping, praying, fingers crossed that I have at least the new version up by the end of this month. In any case thanks for sticking around and I hope you’ll like the updated version.

Much love 💕

-C

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Saw this on Pinterest and why is it literally Kaz and mc’s first meeting 😭

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Just found out that dashingdon is shutting down. 💔 (Thanks to everyone that warned me!) While sad, I’m grateful that it existed in the first place and for the efforts of the user that kept it going. I was introduced to so many demos through there and it will thoroughly be missed. (Hopefully there is an archive or something?)

Thankfully I write most of the story in Google docs before transferring it to CSIDE so there isn’t really a huge risk of losing what I’ve already written. The new demo will most likely be uploaded onto cogdemos. I’m glad that an alternative even exists and I think it comes with save slots!

I considered itch.io because I like the aesthetic options but COG introduced me to IFs and the wonderful community that encouraged me to start writing myself so I’m a bleeding heart loyalist. Plus I’m not sure if I want to learn a whole different coding language, this one is killing me as is.

All in all RIP dashingdon.com you were a pillar of the community and I’ll never forget how excited I was to upload my demo 🫡

See you all in the next one!

-C

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Dashingdon shutting down

So dashingdon is getting shut down at the end of the month. Everything not backed up/migrating will get deleted.

The alternative to dashingdon is cogdemos.ink

If you know any authors with demos that are dashingdon-only, please let them know.

@elegantunknownphantom @interact-if

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Dear author, we need a mother-daughter (or even one with Kaz 🥹) snippet now that we've seen how adorable MC's sons are with her!

Omg yes! This ask reminded me of a scene in magnificent century where mihrimah defended her mother from Hatice. I based this snip on that.

"Soraya, your posture," you murmured, barely moving your lips as you adjusted your daughter's silk sleeve. The great hall buzzed with conversation and the sweet notes of the court musicians, but all you could focus on was the way Soraya's shoulders kept slouching in defiance of years of training.

"Mother, I'm dying of boredom," Soraya whispered back, straightening briefly before slumping again. Her eyes kept straying to the door as if plotting an escape. "I should be with Cyrus. He's all alone in that stuffy room, in pain and bored to tears..."

"Your brother has three physicians attending him and more books than the imperial library. What he needs is rest, not you hovering over him like a mother hen." But your own thoughts drifted to your younger son, wondering if his fever had broken yet.

Across the room, Arman's laughter boomed over the refined murmur of conversation. He was trading war stories with a group of young officers, his cup of wine sloshing dangerously as he gestured. Soraya watched him with naked envy.

"At least someone's enjoying himself," she muttered.

"General Dastan seems to be enjoying the evening as well," you observed carefully, noting how the man's eyes kept finding your table. The Hero of the Northern Campaign, they called him. The Scourge of the Steppes. The man who'd saved the empire's borders through cunning and steel. He cut an impressive figure in his formal military attire. At thirty-two, he was in his prime – battle-tested but not war-worn, his dark good looks unmarred by the campaigns that had made his name.

Soraya's lip curled. "He can enjoy it somewhere else. I don't like the way he stares."

"He's a good match," you said, the words tasting like ash in your mouth. "Intelligent, successful, with strong support among the border provinces—"

"Mother, please." Soraya's fingers twisted in her lap. "I'd rather join the priesthood. I've already picked out my temple."

"You've been threatening that since you were twelve."

"Well, maybe this time I mean it."

You sighed. "I just want—"

"I know what you want." Soraya's voice softened. "But I can't be the perfect princess you're trying to make me into. I wish..." She glanced at Arman again. "I wish Cyrus were here. He'd tell me exactly how many battles Dastan actually lost, and how many of his victories were just good luck and better weather."

Despite yourself , you smiled. "Your brother does have an uncanny memory for other people's failures."

"It's not fair that he gets to skip this because of a fever. He probably isn't even that sick. I bet he's in his room reading those new scrolls from—"

"My, my, what dreadful posture."

The voice cut through your conversation like a blade. Consort Zina, one of prince Parvis’ concubines, settled onto a nearby cushion with practiced grace, resplendent in jewels that couldn't quite disguise the years etched around her eyes. Despite being aunt by marriage to the shah, she carried herself as though she were the empress herself. A younger woman hovered at her shoulder, wearing the latest court fashion and an expression of carefully crafted concern.

"Really, you grace," Zina continued, her tone dripping with false sympathy, "I would have thought you'd taught your daughter better. Though I suppose we can't all have the advantage of proper breeding."

Soraya’s eyes flashed with rage while your face remained perfectly composed, though your fingers tightened on your cup. "Your concern is noted, Consort Zina."

"And where is your younger son?" the younger woman chimed in, clearly eager to curry favor. "Surely an imperial prince understands the importance of state functions? Or perhaps he finds himself... above such duties?"

Soraya's head snapped up. "My brother is ill."

You squeezed your daughter’s hand in warning before turning to face the haughty noble. "Prince Cyrus is indisposed," you said coolly. "As I'm sure you've heard, Lady...?"

The woman flushed at the deliberate slight. "Lady Mercen."

"Ah yes. New to court, aren't you?"

"Now, now," Zina said, lifting her cup to her lips. "No need to be sharp, y/n. We're all concerned for the proper appearance of the imperial family. After all, these children reflect on all of us, even those of... humbler origins."

Soraya went very still. When she spoke, her voice could have frozen flame.

"Consort Zina. You're addressing an imperial consort and the mother of two princes." Her smile was razor-sharp. "How many sons have you given the imperial house again? I forget. Is it... none?"

"Soraya." Your voice cracked like a whip. "You will leave. Now."

"Mother—"

"Now."

You raised your hand slightly, and a servant materialized at Soraya's elbow. Your daughter rose, trembling with fury but trained too well to make a scene. As she was led away, you turned back to Zina, who sat with her mouth still open in shock.

"My daughter speaks out of turn," you said softly, "but she is young, and protective of her family. I trust you understand." You lifted her cup in a subtle mockery of a toast. "After all, we can't all have the advantage of proper breeding."

The musicians played on, and somewhere in the hall, Arman's laughter rang out again. You caught sight of General Dastan watching your daughter's retreat with an expression of mixed alarm and fascination.

Good, you thought. Let him see exactly what he'd be getting if he pursued this match. Your daughter might never be a proper court lady, but she had something far more valuable – the courage to bare her fangs when those she loved were threatened.