heliotrope-journey

[heliotrope-journey]

Corn Stalks & Cubes, Here We Come

Good afternoon, vampire hunters.

My team members and I have had a busy month both with the series and IRL. I’ve been typing the transcript for my next video essay for my YouTube channel while simultaneously typing the dialogue for Son of a Hustler’s Episode/Chapter 4 (I use these words interchangeably when referring to levels). Anthony got married a week into May and we couldn’t be happier for the newly-wedded couple. Congratulations, buddy! :D You’ll be seeing more assets from him when he returns from his celebratory vacation in the magical sector assuming that we may or may not need to bail him out of the gallows. No promises there! Fortunately, KawaiiPixelArts and Chubbo have him covered until enough time passes for us to check on him. Sidiyq Qadim is popping in occasionally to lend a hand. He’s got some weapons and a couple new characters in the works, which will be helpful for Passion of Rancor’s development. We thank him for any help he could provide.

Now that we mention help, once we release Episode 4 of Son of a Hustler, we’ll be returning to Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Book 1 to assist young Frederick and his mentor, Elijah, with getting a wolf problem in Baudelaire City’s cornfield under control. The last vestiges of daylight are all they have to illuminate their path. If they don’t get rid of the wolves before the sun sets, they’ll have more to worry about than these determined, hungry beasts. Photo by DoN MIL04K on Pexels.

A new object that we’re introducing to Son of a Hustler is a cursed memory cube. Based on the photo cube that my grandparents keep, they’ll play a pivotal role in getting Michaela to find peace with her past and use it to guide her on looking for Einsam and the captured Caspian Academy students. Three of them can be found in Episode 4 and will require a bit of patience to reach if you want to dig a little deeper into Michaela’s background. Do you have what it takes to collect them? Photo by Luca Maffeis on Unsplash.

Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and Happy Pride Month to LGBT+ gamers everywhere!

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

A Twilight Easter

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We hope you had a wonderful Easter Sunday and enjoyed the warm week that followed. Mine could be better, but the important thing is I'm still kicking with the development of Son of a Hustler Episode 4 and the latest update for Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Book 1. Photos by heino eisner and Alexey Komissarov on Unsplash.

The Baudelaire City hub is given a slight Easter-themed expansion. Frederick and his friends can say hello to the Peter Rabbit cottontail nibbling in the grass and frolic in the pile of eggs. Best of all, they don't need to worry about breaking any for they're made of smooth stones coated in polyester. A weapon collision sound effect has also been added to make the game more immersive. To view the latest update, go download the Waltz of Sepulchral Silence Book 1 (Version 5) executable and make sure your PC can run the game.

As previously stated, Episode 4 of Son a Hustler's Book 1 will have Michaela and Einsam hike in a system of caverns that houses an underground aqueduct. Anthony's tying the knot in the spring and preparing for his nuptials have taken up much of his time so KawaiiPixelArts, Chubbo, and I are taking this installment in a different direction, but the objective remains the same; rescue two students that Professor Krupp has reported missing. The aqueduct wouldn't contain as much construction remains as originally planned and signs of a recent battle between the startled workers and occultists will be featured in its place. Michaela would need to fight the reanimated remains to locate the missing students. Even if she makes short work of them, she'll still need to maintain her composure in case something that triggers a troubling memory catches her eye.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a great rest of your week. :)

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

A Horror Kid has Grown Up

Dear vampire hunters,

It feels like a perfect night to recreate a Sonic Adventure 2 battle on this staircase to the chapel. Happy 22nd birthday, HorrorKid the Reviewer. It feels like a party every day we talk. Photo by David Knieradl on Unsplash.

You'll be sparring with DraKILL in Frederick's shoes in The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume II. I can't tell you how soon, but just a heads-up, he won't make this an easy fight. The first time around, though, Eforie will help Frederick keep up with DraKILL, but he'll be on his own in the second encounter. If he can take him down then, it'll be a clear sign that he has what it takes to face Vlad the Impaler.

Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and on Monday, we'll touch-base on what's coming to Waltz of Sepulchral Silence and Son of a Hustler.

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Lotuses and Drinks Are Served

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We’re thrilled to begin spring with the release of Chapter 3 for The Flower that Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version). The time for sightseeing is scarce for Frederick and Eforie for they must hurry to the gazebo before Frederick’s sister, Esther has her memory wiped out by the intoxicating lotus flowers. Vivian and the dryads won’t let her be free to go without a fight, but luckily, our heroes’ compatriots, Eadred and Cnut brought them their weapons to help them avoid being captured themselves. Photo by Marcel Strauss on Unsplash.

Please note that Frederick and Eforie can only fight in this level. While they can still stomp on Conveyor Bots and porcupines (their footwear is protective against their quills for some reason.), it is advisable to stay clear of the dryads patrolling the garden and jump carefully. Be sure to download the executable labeled Version 3 to access Chapter 3.

^ Section and hub section updated to include beverage bottles that Chubbo illustrated.

For the St. Patrick’s Day portion of the update, we’ve added a second room to the hub world for you to decompress in when you need to take a breather. There, you’ll meet Caelan, a patron at a bar that wounded up in the sky garden after using the bathroom. It makes you wonder how many more oblivious visitors before Esther the dryads had caught. Don’t put your trust in Caelan. He’ll offer you a drink if he has one and let’s just say he’s too friendly for comfort. You might need to take a closer look at your bottle or glass before you take a sip. It's a real life reminder to be wary of anyone that offers to buy you a drink. *shudders* Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash.

This brings us to announce a soft update for Son of a Hustler Book 1: Acceptance of Agony. Krasbeck’s bar is open for business in Lionhead Mansion. The witching hour is the ideal time to get a table to yourself and order a parsley soda mixed with cilantro. If you try to go at broad daylight, the menu will change and the non-magic server will give you a funny look if you ask about it. Krasbeck might not look trustworthy and can come across as dismissive toward people that try to talk to him, but provided you don’t ask him too many questions, you’ll have a decent visit. Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and do keep an eye out for Chapter 4 in Son of a Hustler. We know you won’t see it this time, but hopefully, Michaela's quick chat with Krasbeck before she and Einsam go camping will hold you over a little until then. Have a good weekend!

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Eternal Pleasure can be Dangerous

Good evening, vampire hunters.

Did you know that the lotuses that bloom in the sky garden’s gazebo is inspired by the lotophages in Homer’s Odyssey? The hospitable locals would welcome travelers to present-day Djerba by providing them with a fruit that grew on the lotus trees. Consuming them causes them to lose their purpose and their sense of identity. Their aspirations, goals, and the responsibilities in their lives are numbed by feelings of eternal bliss. Odysseus was fortunate to not fall victim that to that tempting offer, but a few members of his crew were. Knowing that he could not convince them to leave willingly, he had to drag them back to his ship and ordered the rest of his crew to set sail at once. The lotophages would be too jaded to miss them anyway. This homesick warrior lost too much time away from home to be distracted by the lotuses and to join them would mean he’d lose his wife and kingdom forever. Photo by Emilio Garcia on Unsplash.

The lotophages were driven out of Djerba centuries later by Arab conquerors and after occupying a bathhouse in Spain for a thousand two hundred years, have built the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. There, they ensnare unsuspecting guests into staying for countless nights with the promise of free V.I.P. upgrades and an unusual array of dining options. At the sky garden, the lotus flowers contain a pollen that’s much more potent. Consumption of the plant or its fruit would cause that forgetfulness to take effect instantly while it takes up to seven minutes if the pollen is inhaled. The dryads that tend to the lotuses in the garden are immune to that forgetfulness. Breathing in the pollen keeps them focused so they can carry out their duty uninhabited. Their leader, Vivian, uses them to maintain the garden’s secrecy by forcing captured trespassers into slave labor before sprinkling the pollen on them to get them to cooperate. Esther would be joining these unidentified laborers should her brother, Frederick, and Eforie fail to reach the gazebo. Don’t let that happen when Episode 3 of The Flower that Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version) drops on itch.io this spring!

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and we appreciate your patience as we continue to work on that update. Have a great first day of March!

Sincerely,

WN

Source;

[heliotrope-journey]

Gifting Your Valentine(s) with Exploring Dangerous Biomes

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We hope your Valentine’s Day weekend has treated you splendidly. We’ve spent ours with our other halves (hopefully not succubi in disguise) and tasting heart-shaped doughnuts wherever we could find them. I’ll give you a hint; they’re dunking in a shop that smells strongly of coffee beans. You might want to cover your nose if you don’t want that to keep you up at night. The two changelings apparently haven’t gotten it. They found some in a dungeon underneath the cherry blossom garden and now, they’re busting down pink-armored knights that aren’t feeling the love tonight. They don’t go down easy, but the changelings are persistent. Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash.

Michaela and Einsam spent the Valentine’s Day weekend camping in the Lachrymose Blood Forest. They got parsley soda to go from the bar at the Lionhead Mansion to keep them from going thirsty because the rivers in the forest don’t look safe to drink from. Who’d want to drink from it anyway? A soft update for Heliotrope Journey: Son of a Hustler where you can look around the bar will be released on the same day A Flower that Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version) releases its third episode.

Since I mentioned its third episode, I got some lotus sketches to vector before planting them in the sky garden’s gazebo. One whiff of a lotus flower and you won’t ever want to leave this place. The dryads want nothing more to place Esther in that bliss to keep her from resisting her captivity. Years of study and experience teaching college-level courses will be reduced to mush if Frederick and Eforie arrive at the gazebo a second too late.

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Heliotrope Journey team and thanks for playing the games as usual.

With kind regards,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Hard to Touch Grass with Danger Afoot

Good evening, vampire hunters.

Touching grass is becoming easier said than done now that January 20th has passed. Have you tried to anyway by playing A Flower That Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version) lately? If you have, Episode 3 is in development. This will mean Frederick and Eforie can make their way to the gazebo before Esther loses all memory of her sense of self. Try not to spend too much time sightseeing, much less touch grass in a literal sense. The sun won’t be up for very long and the dryads can see their foes in the dark.

Meanwhile, two changelings that have been life-long friends decide to go for an afternoon stroll in the cherry blossom garden. If they don’t bump into trouble in this normally exquisite paradise for platonic and romantic lovers, touching grass should be no problem for them. Look how happy these kids are. :D

Thanks for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a terrific few days ahead. Seriously though, go outside if you can. The temperature may not be ideal in my undisclosed part of Connecticut, but sometimes a little frigid air can help clear your mind.

Sincerely, WN

[heliotrope-journey]

A Lucky New Year's Eve

Good evening, vampire hunters.

As 2024 ends on another dark note and we follow the rainbow road again, we have released new versions of the first two pilot episodes of Treyton’s story complete with a weapon attack sound effect and new illustrations by Chubbo. The sound effect that made playing Passion of Rancor a more interactive experience will carry over to subsequent installments, including the next two pilot episodes, in the coming days as Son of a Hustler Episode 4 and Episode 3 The Flower That Blooms in Red (Westley’s Version) begin development. It’s only pertinent that this addition should start with the games that were developed in a period of my education where I was taking that road without a compass to guide me. Now that I have found it, this update should express my renewed resolve to change the world around me. To download the latest version of these episodes, look for Version 2 on the executable files on their respective pages.

Idyia and her new friend, Joerrelt, have bumped into a dilly of pickle on Friday the 13th when they ran afoul of DraKILL and Lilith in a decrepit courtyard on the west wing of Dracula’s castle. Rumors of golden holy weapons hidden in this hill of crosses compelled the two heroes to risk their lives to search the area. DraKILL is aware that his old friend, Frederick, is looking for an edge against the Veiled Nocturne and seeks to torment him for his personal amusement. He does not serve the Son of the Dragon in spite of his consort’s allegiance to him, but the misery of those whose life’s mission to slay his kind brings him nothing but entertainment. He follows Idyia in the hope that his friend has accompanied her and ambushes her. He is disgruntled to find Joerrelt in his place, but his disappointment turns to enthusiasm when he boasts that he can capture the duo and use them as bait to lure Frederick to the castle. A fearful Joerrelt shivers and hides behind a dumbstruck Idyia. She warned him ahead of time that they’d bump into danger and doesn’t understand why he’d still be too feeble to stand up to it. DraKILL laughed evilly and proclaimed this will be an easy battle. Lilith approaches Joerrett at an uncomfortably close distance and blows him a kiss to confuse him.

At that moment, Idyia didn’t care if the odds were against her. If she were to be taken prisoner, she was going to make that difficult for DraKILL. She called forth a water wave to smack the armed vampire in the face and charged toward him. Joerrett picked up a dagger and a sword, both of which contained dormant dark magic, and tried to stand his ground against an amused Lilith. She grabbed a hold of a staff bearing that same power before winking at him. Joerrett looked up and screamed. A rancorous zealot had drawn its machete toward the frightened nurse and prepared to slash at him. The two heroes had not realized how fortunate they were to be surrounded by crosses. DraKILL and Lilith are so certain that they will have Idyia and Joerrett on their knees that they forgot their abilities were weakened. Why the Dark Lord would construct a field of crosses remains a mystery to most of the castle’s inhabitants, but the vampiric warriors that stayed loyal to him even after he traded his humanity know that he keeps a collection of belongings once owned by intruders that made attempts on his life over the years. Each cross represents a fallen individual that fought Dracula directly and failed. It would be too kind of him to give them a dignified burial so he binds their souls to a cross and places them in the courtyard below his throne room for him to mock when he is in need of a good laugh. It was bad luck to lose to Dracula and suffer such a fate, but it is good luck for Idyia and Joerrett for the souls can transform their anguish into holy energy needed to strengthen the heroes and lead them to victory. All they need to do is listen to them whisper their names… if DraKILL and Lilith don’t cause much of a racket during the confrontation. Photo by Tom Podmore on Unsplash.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and we’ll see you in the New Year!

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Nosy Ice Elementals in Frørthorpe

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Ioana, Gani and Idyia enjoyed theirs at the remote gingerbread village of Frørthorpe. The water mage fought off the ice queen’s snow golems in the mountainside to save several inhabitants that were taken from their homes so watching them play in the snow was a bit of a relief to her. What Idyia has not anticipated was that the ice queen, Ijsivrou, has not thrown in the towel because some of her golems have been reduced to small piles that blend in with the snow for she can always create more with the wave of her right hand. Ijsivrou decides to take a more passive approach to her plan by sending a couple of her spies to Frørthorpe to look for gingerbread men that looked fragile. When they arrived, they have not aroused Idyia’s suspicions, but a curious Cody was wondering why the sentient snowflakes are a little too invested in the gingerbread men’s activities. Photo by Daniel Seßler on Unsplash.

Ioana took notice of Cody following one of the snowflakes and realized something was wrong. She swung her ice mallet at it and it smashed into tiny shards. She is not much of a fighter like her fellow teammates and prefers to command her floating otterbot with her mind, but the sight of a vulnerable being at the mercy of a more powerful entity is enough to convince her to bear arms. Cody looked at Ioana, half-eased that he isn’t the only person thinking that the gingerbread men are still in danger. Ioana nods her head and believes that it isn’t just the cookie inhabitants that the ice queen is taking an interest in. The pair glances at a couple more sentient snowflakes aggressively approaching the village and they point their weapons at them. It was at that moment Idyia turned around and her smile diminished. With scarcely any magicians and warriors to defend Frørthorpe, that responsibility lies on the foursome; her, Ioana, Cody, and Gani; assuming that he’s done eating the roof off a gingerbread house.

In a soft update for Son of a Hustler that will be coming while we prepare for the development of its fourth episode, you’ll be introduced to a bar at Lionhead Mansion that’s open during the witching hour and its restless proprietor, Krasbeck. He aspires to publish a book series that’s an incomplete guide to fantastic beasts in the magical sector, but he cannot go far for reasons unknown. Despite being near the Lachrymose Blood Forest, he is wanted by the Veiled Nocturne and a vampire coven that’s been in disarray since its lord was killed in a battle fought in a volcano near Quagmiresvale*. Krasbeck cloaks his fear of discovery with a temperamental, mouthy demeanor that can cause him to come across as inconsiderate. Few people dare to get close to him and those that do often wish they never have. Krasbeck laments pushing those people away, but that feeling is always receded when he pours himself a bulldog or a parsley soda mixed with cilantro, his specialty. Michaela has little interest in Krasbeck’s troubles and can’t be bothered to ask him questions other than, “Parsley soda, please?” He wistfully agrees to serve her in exchange for photographs of the beasts she encountered. With no money on her and Krasbeck needing motivation to write his book, it appears to be a fair deal.

*As Waltz of Sepulchral Silence progresses, that battle will be touched on.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and we truly appreciate the patience. Be on the lookout for light updates to the pilot episodes to conclude the year and kickstart the next. :)

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Giving Thanks Before

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving week! Frederick and co. had a great shindig with Gobblet and his master, Carl. Kudos to Chubbo for bringing this ball of fluff to life on short notice. :) Eforie did not unfortunately enjoy the taste of parsley soda. She read an old article in a fashion magazine published in the 1970s about a gold-digging socialite enjoyed because it was trendy back then. When Eforie took a sip, she understood why it isn’t popular today. A pitcher of juice made with pumpkins mixed with agave would be a better choice. Since the feast is held in a pumpkin patch, she can probably apply her knowledge in brewing healing potions to make one herself. It wouldn’t be a problem for her to give it a try. Photo by David Wirzba on Unsplash.

The Heliotrope Chronicles Volume II will pick up where Chapter 4 left off; Frederick and his friends will split up to search for pieces of a powerful blade to enter Baudelaire City and hopefully make it inside the manor house. This will mean the levels will focus on two individual characters as they team up to navigate the wonders or perils that await them in the Conifers Kingdom. Some of the pieces will be heavily guarded by forest spirits and a couple of children of the night while pieces that haven’t been found would be hidden in places where one is least likely to look so keep your eyes peeled. Meanwhile, Thalia, a timid but kind witch that Rajel courted before his death, has discovered where in the forest Frederick and co. ran off to and set up a shrine she forged with a lightstone in the hope that they’d be able to find their way home should they need to. If you get a chance to say hi to her, she’ll give you a hint on where to find a missing piece. Don’t expect her to go into detail. The images she sees in visions she has are murky and she has difficulty recalling them minutes after they occur. Frederick and Eforie might want to bring a journal to be on the safe side. Photo by Mirto Time on Unsplash.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a great first week of December.

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

The Trek to Dracula's Castle Begins

Good evening, vampire hunters.

The prologue level of Heliotrope Journey: Passion of Rancor is now available for you to play. Choose between Florentin Chinezu and Angela Pendragon to experience their respective stories in the year 1962 as they find each other at Dracula's castle. Both have a common goal to take down their landlord and save their neck of Wallachia from destruction. If Florentin and Angela can take on a horde of creatures of the night and soldiers from the RSR army sent to the village, it'll be a hopeful sign that they're ready to explore the castle that has terrified onlookers for centuries. Who will you play as in the prologue and why? Let us know in our Ask button. :)

My gratitude goes out to a dear friend of mine, Total Stranger, for sketching Florentin's and Angela's portraits for the character select screen. He does remarkable fantasy sketches as a hobby and he was excited to pitch in so we can finally get the prologue released just before the holiday season.

We still plan to add Janessa's portraits of our heroes to the character select screen, but due to her busy schedule, they'll be framed at a later date as soon as she's available and Total Stranger's portraits will be moved to Passion of Rancor's hub area when its first level is released. Photo by Adriana Sas on Unsplash.

We hope you enjoy playing the prologue of Passion of Rancor and have an excellent few days leading up to Thanksgiving. Just don't serve turkey if Gobblet crashes your feast. <_<

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

And the Winner is... an ill-fated Successor

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We’ve had a turbulent Halloween week and the next few days or possibly the rest of the year will be more so as inclusivity and respect are being abandoned in favor of barbarism and division. The Dark Lord’s magic have tainted the hearts of people that see celebrities as gods that can make no mistake (not that they’re allowed to anyway) and con men as saints sent from heaven. How did we reach that unthinkable point in history?

Index of Treyton's All Saints' Day Quest for Readers That Aren't Caught Up;

Chapter 1 (2020), Chapter 2 (2021), Chapter 3 (2022), Chapter 4 (2023)

Over a year ago, the Dark Lord was castrated by a swordswoman that stood between him and Caspian Academy. She ensured that he will never wield the power he once had again by disposing of his remains in the Atlantic. It seemed that the magical and mortal worlds can finally live in harmony like it did during the days of the Paleolithic. Students from the Caspian Academy could not wait to venture into the Lachrymose Blood Forest to frolic and study magic outside the bounds of a classroom. If the Dark Lord’s remains are disposed of in an abyss where the Veiled Nocturne could not hope to retrieve them, why aren’t the professors celebrating? Why can darkness still be felt in the blustery wind? When Dracula bled to his demise, the black magic he had acclimated for centuries didn’t fade out of existence. It sought out a new host; one that would run for president and claim the White House as if it were a pile of gold waiting to be claimed. This leader would become the instigator of a war that forced the human race to begin civilization anew.

It took thirty years and Dracula suffering a subsequent defeat for a group of rogue Freedom Fighters to overthrow the leader. The magic he had inherited from its previous wielder had severely disfigured his body like it was a flesh eating virus, but it isn’t killing him. It drove him into insanity and the magic that obliterated his humanity is keeping him alive even now. He was taken across the Atlantic to be locked away in a dainty closet at a university in Teodosie. Overtime, he was forgotten by his captors, but the threads that bind him are everlasting. He had two disembodied skeletal hands that he can move with his mind. They could go where he could not. This technique is his only means to explore the world outside the closet. One night, the hands found a shadow stone in the chapel next door and upon seeing it, he devised a plan to escape. He would use the stone in an attempt to weaken the threads just enough for him to free himself. Before he could begin his first attempt, four unlucky adventurers found themselves in the closet after walking through a secret passageway.

Treyton, Mitica, and Miron screamed at the sight of the madman while Amanda was immediately regretful. She cussed herself for taking the boys down a wrong passageway. She forgot that there was a fork in the passageway and it was too dark for anyone to notice. The bounded skeletal creature laughed manically. He was ecstatic to see four unwilling visitors in his presence and decided it would be most appropriate for him to seal their souls in the shadow stone, converting them into pure dark energy necessary to evaporate the threads to free himself. The young boys were determined to break the stone into tiny pieces so they armed themselves right away. Amanda was frozen for another moment before she squeezed her fists and her daggers materialized. She looked at the madman straight in the eye, whispered, "Get away from them, Hanns", and threw a dagger straight toward his forehead. All that filled the room was the laughter of a man that was cursed to inherit Dracula’s power.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and try to have a good week.

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

A Break from a Broken Resolve

Good evening, vampire hunters.

It’s the magical time of the year where the magical and mortal worlds integrate. The crisp air and the smell of warm apple cider brings a sense of familiarly and comfort. It is this nostalgic feeling that Frederick recognizes from the days of his childhood when he enters Maeveham, the mystical home of the nature witch Amanda, to seek refuge from a catastrophic misfortune that placed him and his compatriots in danger. A confrontation with a dangerous creature of the night had separated them from each other and Frederick hasn’t gotten a clue on where to find them. Amanda welcomed the distressed man into her estate like an old friend for he always liked her cherry-flavored hard candy and knew that Halloween was his favorite holiday. Frederick informed her about the situation he is facing when Amanda asked where his teammates are. Normally, Eforie and one travel companion would be by his side, but not this time. She anticipated that the bind they are in is more than Frederick could put into words. It was distressing for him to discuss without causing Amanda to worry too much for him, but he felt like he was alright enough to describe the jist of the unfortunate events. She almost told him to stay as long as he wanted, but remembered that Maeveham is no place for an ordinary person to find shelter.

Staying in one place for a prolonged period of time can increase the danger for not just a wanted soul, but for anyone that conceals them and mortals sent to the underworld are free for the taking. As talented and crafty as Amanda is with creating weapons using her powerful ties to nature, she alone is no fighter and is incapable of standing against Dracula’s army. She permits Frederick to stay with her until quarter to midnight on November 1st in the hope that it would give him time to decompress and teach him how to use earth magic to speed up the growth of crops and create miniature shock waves to stun enemies. Jackie was in favor of having a guest over because he always wanted to scare someone awake as a prank. He hasn’t been successful with Amanda. They’ve lived under the same roof long enough for her to sleep through Jackie’s obnoxious early morning cackles. Frederick’s a light sleeper so pranking him would be a breeze. It can’t be any worse than being separated from his friends, right?  Photo by m c on Unsplash. ��

Janessa is still hard at work with Florentin’s and Angela’s portraits for the Passion of Rancor prologue’s character select screen so we’re taking the time to give the prototype episodes and Son of a Hustler a fixer upper. With expanded areas, new artwork from Chubbo, and a couple new enemies, you’ll be in for a treat that spears your way back to the lost world of Flash games.

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series and have a great weekend.

Happy Halloween!

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Planning Out a Cavern Expedition

Good morning, vampire hunters.

Two students from Caspian Academy are in peril and only Michaela can bring them back to their headmaster safely. To get to them, she and Einsam will have to navigate the perils of the underground aqueduct with the sinking feeling that a one-eyed creature is watching their every move. Photo by Robert Thiemann on Unsplah.

Before the creature and the Veiled Nocturne made shelter in the anxiety-inducing cave system, the aqueduct was used to supply water to a mighty citadel in Evergreen Forest. It was the safest route for magic practitioners traveling from Connecticut to Massachusetts to avoid unwanted contact with fearful humans and the skinwalkers in the Lachrymose Blood Forest. It tragically did not last past the seventeenth century. Lord Trajan Acumen feared that the European colonists and magic practitioners might outnumber his coven and build land over his northeastern empire. He was an opportunist and recognized growing power when he saw it so he decided to seize it before he could become the hunted. He poisoned the water in the aqueduct and sent his warriors to hide behind the rocks, causing the cave to be just as dangerous as the bone-littered forest outside. Pilgrimages to Caspian Academy and the citadel in Connecticut became bleak and little could be done to reverse the vampire lord’s spell. Magic practitioners stubborn enough to send or accompany their children through the aqueduct on their way to school would never see them again. The headmaster at the time was reluctant to build an enchanted chamber that can teleport individuals directly to the school out of fear that Lord Acumen would exploit it, leaving the citadel at his mercy. The fortress fell in a siege that transpired two seasons after the water first became undrinkable. His coven had welcomed an extraordinary number of new recruits in the days that followed, causing survivors of the siege to flee to the nearby lake and hide in an abandoned chapel. What became of those foolish enough to take a sip of the poisoned water has been a mystery that even the brightest students at Caspian Academy have yet to solve. There were too few witnesses and the victims always somehow vanish. If they died, surely their bodies would still be in the aqueduct, but the stench of decay is absent even now. Nowadays, the smell of petroleum oil from an abandoned construction project and burnt charcoal fill the air.

Professor Krupp is valid to be concerned for his two students. He fears that they may soon join the other nameless victims of the poisoned water if Michaela fails to locate them, but missing or alive, the recovery of the headmaster’s wand is her main objective, if not her consolation prize.

Thanks for supporting the series as always and have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Angela Pendragon Takes the Lead

Good evening, vampire hunters.

We are close to the release of Heliotrope Journey: Passion of Rancor’s first level. It’s become one of the most ambitious levels I ever developed and the features I had implemented really made it feel like I built a full-length game. The story told in the first level about fighting invading soldiers and Dracula’s army of creatures of the night is intended to be from Florentin’s point of view, but these events also affect his travel companion, Angela Pendragon. Photo by Bogdan Vlad on Unsplash.

I wanted to expand her role beyond just being the male lead’s sidekick as originally written in my Digital Games Studies’ final exam. She’s a witch that’s part of a powerful lineage and one whose decision to help Florentin rescue his brother is driven by her mission to stand up to tyrannical rule. It drove her to join a little-known anti-communist movement made up of art students and rebellious sons of soldiers in the RSR army. Angela traveled to Wallachia to study literature, but her path shifted toward the resistance when the books she longed to read at her university had mysteriously disappeared. Now her comrades were sold out to the army minutes before Dracula’s forces arrive in the village and she is left to face both threats alone. Angela clenches the few tomes she took with her and assures herself that her magic can overcome any adversary. The first level in Passion of Rancor is not for beginner players, but Angela’s abilities will allow playing through it to be more manageable. You’ll have the option to choose between her and Florentin when the first level is released. Janessa has returned to our team to paint their portraits for the character select screen and we can’t wait to see how she’ll capture our heroes’ likeness. ^_^

In other news, the following changes were made to The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1: Volume 1;

Exiting the hidden room in Chapter 4 no longer brings you to the hub world by mistake.

The grammatical errors caught in the dialogue of that chapter’s end cutscene were revised and fixed.

You can play the latest version of this game by downloading "The Heliotrope Chronicles Book 1 Volume I" through its page. Older versions of the game are also available to download, but please do so at your own risk. https://darkinfern0crystal1.itch.io/the-heliotrope-chronicles-book-1

Thank you for playing the Heliotrope Journey series as always and have a great weekend. :)

Sincerely,

WN

[heliotrope-journey]

Combatting Two Armies at Once

Good evening, vampire hunters.

August has slipped away and if Florentin does not hurry to Dracula's Castle and save his brother, so will he. What's more is that the castle's landlord has sent an invitation to the villagers to join him for a grand feast. His generosity is obviously too good to be real, but the villagers are struggling. They are nearly penniless and some are without a home and a family. Who are they to pass up an offer to see luxury for the first time and eat like royalty? Those that choose not to go or somehow realize that Vlad the Impaler has an ulterior motive are left to face his invading army and they won't allow Florentin to approach the castle gates. Photo by Marian Mirea on Unsplash.

Vlad's army of nethercreatures and undead is not the only obstacle that Florentin is forced to anticipate; hours before they began to attack, a neighbor tipped off the secret police that a group of young dissents, both magic and non-magic, were hiding in the village. The soldiers arrived on foot and in tanks ready to take the dissidents in but were blindsided by the sight of cambions gliding through the skies and skeletal knights breaking open any car or window they could find in search for victims to slaughter. A commander with some knowledge of the magical sector and had a previous run-in with an orphaned spellcaster quickly assumed the dissidents summoned the creatures through witchcraft. He vowed that it has given the secret police a greater reason to take young men in the village into custody and to take any that they could find, placing a target on the anxious Florentin's back. In the first level, time your jumps carefully because if you fall off the ledge, you’ll bump into the deployed communist soldiers, creating a more challenging path to Dracula’s castle that’ll get your heart racing. It's not a level for beginners, but if you pay close attention to where you're jumping, you can rest a bit easier. Kudos to Anthony Cronander for illustrating the soldiers, decorative statues, and abandoned automobiles you'll see around on your path between the village and the castle.

Our lead artist, Sidiyq Qadim, is back and he's knitted some robes that an average mage commonly wears, but he forgot his helmet. D:

But keep your chin up, vampire hunters. Sidiyq may still be busy with his real life priorities, but he is surely getting back into the swing of things and he has our assurance that he wouldn't miss building our stories for the world. I got to leave a note that his next order of business is to craft this unfortunate mage some new headgear.

[heliotrope-journey]

Surf's Up and We Got Pics!

Good evening, vampire hunters.

I'm on vacation for a week and I took my evening walk to the nearest Wawa like I do every day that week to cool off with a refresher. I haven't forgotten about you guys so I wanted to take some time to share a bit of what we've been up to.

Frederick and Eforie appear districted in this scene. Poor guy tries to get her to notice he picked the bright, red tulip for her, but a blue hedgehog and his foxy mount had beaten him to her heart. Who could blame her? The hedgehog's eyes are so adorable and KawaiiPixelArts nailed his design. It brings me back to how Sonic made me want to keep a pet hedgehog as a little kid, but for time being, this little guy will do. If there's time after saving Esther from the dryads' wrath, you might see them around in the hub room. Photo by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash.

Now for the less-than-heartwarming news*. Alongside Florentin's concern for his older brother, Passion of Rancor's first level will also introduce cambions as soldiers in Dracula's armed forces. Born to one human parent and one succubus/incubus parent, cambions are naturally gifted with black magic. In their youth, they appear human save for the pale gray or slightly redder skin, but as they go through puberty, their demonic side begins to manifest little by little. Cambions that are well-aware of that side of them and who's parents are accepting of who they are (and still alive) can cast a spell on themselves to mask their appearance. Their magic, while deadly, is controlled and is a reflection of its caster's balanced emotional state. Cambions that grew up alone and feel ostracized because of their strange appearances and unexplained disasters caused by their magic are distant, angrier, and resentful toward people, allowing them to be easily taken in by Vlad the Impaler's promises to provide them with a better life. In a century tainted by war and paranoia, he adopted plenty in exchange for the promise to deliver him substance. A cambion can be your best friend for life or your everlasting bully if you make them that way, but for those recruited by the Dark Lord may be too late to be reasoned with and being armed with a stake isn't exactly helping. All that matters to Florentin is that his brother is in peril and if he doesn't get him back, he will be an unwilling participant in the ritual to return Dracula to his prime.

Thank you for supporting the series as always and I'll see you next week. :)

Sincerely,

WN

*unless you count Anthony and Chubbo working hard on the town's and castle's architecture behind the scenes, in which case, the progress is heart-warming, but not Florentin's plight.