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Bad Ritual Chapter 5: Warlock

Thank-you for your patience everyone: I didn't realise Easter was in March this year when I planned everything OTL. Chapter 5 for Bad Ritual is now available publically on itch. Have fun and let me know what you think!

No new features or anything this time around, the only change is:

Chapter 5 for both Tahira and Siruud

Reblogs appreciated!

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Oh Harper my beloved 🫶🏾

So glad you like them 💙💙

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relationship 101 my beloved <3 harper has me swooning and sighing like woah ! the way you write characters in general has my heart fluttering xoxo

That makes me so happy to hear!! I'm really glad you enjoyed it 💙

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WIP - Harper Origins

Got an ask about the first things I considered about Harper. It's been so long since I started thinking of them that I had to go back in my WIPs to figure it out. This is their first appearance. It's the very first draft of Untitled Fantasy Game. I'll probably use some version of this in the final draft. A lot's changed since this version, so it'll need some tweaking.

This was supposed to be a quiet night; A routine check-in.

The building was burning when you arrived.

With a stifled curse you duck down behind an overturned table, narrowly avoiding the fireball lobbed at your head. Heat sears across the fine hairs of your arm, and you breath out assessing your position.

Your opponent is easy to track. Judging by inane, uncontrollable cackling, and the fireball you just dodged, you'd place the creature by the far wall to your left, blocking the exit. Damn.

The once-elegant ballroom is in shambles. Fires have erupted across the carpeted interior, and furniture lies in haphazard piles. Black smoke chokes out the light from the chandeliers, and the ominous orange glow of the fires lights up the chaos of the room. A few unfortunate guests lay dead in the debris. You arrived too late for them.

To your right, you notice Landrian cowering behind a food cart. Their gray eyes are open wide, dark skin ashen in the glowing embers. They're chanting quietly, a sickly purple light pulsating between their long, trembling fingers.

Beside them Harper raises his pistol and fires two rounds into the creature, hitting center mass. He’s broad where Landrian is slim, and a head taller than them, short, blonde hair loose and framing his face.

You look around for Avery, but can’t see her. You could have sworn—

You start when Harper ducks behind your makeshift cover. He's flushed red from the heat, but smiling, wide grin dimpling his cheeks.

"Never a dull moment, huh?" He chuckles, and reloads his pistol.

"Not with you around." You return his smile, winking.

Harper's always been something of a magnet for trouble. Ever since you were kids.

He chambers another round, and you duck behind him, stepping out of cover to aim at the creature.

You fight fire with fire, and launch a spell.

It hits dead center, the creature's pale, sickly skin bubbling and blackening as your spell burns across its body.

It shrieks in agony, clawing at itself with enough fervor to tear its own flesh. The sound reverberates through the room and you have to steady yourself as a wave of magical force slams into you. A chair chatters to the floor beside you. To your left a scorched corpse lurches upright, and you take a startled step back, hand pressed to your chest. It takes you a moment to remember the source.

You pause, twisting to glare at Landrian. They mouth “sorry”, but continue their chant and move the abomination forward. It shambles toward the still shrieking creature, dead fingers clasped around a discarded steak knife. With unnatural speed, the corpse stabs the creature, dragging the knife up its torso as black blood oozes out over the carpeted floor. The creature babbles out a deranged laugh then slices through the corpse with razor sharp claws. The corpse drops and the creature turns, tossing another fireball at your position.

How the fuck is this thing still standing?

With an irritated sigh you aim another spell at the creature, but your concentration falters when an enormous panther leaps from the shadows.

Ah. There's Avery.

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If you're still accepting the OC question asks, could we have 1 + 19 for Harper? <3

1. What was the first element of your OC that you remember considering (name, appearance, backstory, etc.)?

Oh, hard question. I had to go though some old drafts to figure this one out (product of that search here, if you're interested in an old WIP).

I think the first thing I decided on Harper was that they would be the MCs childhood bestie. It's my favorite dynamic and I wanted to include it in my game!

19. What is your favorite fact about your OC?

Umm. I think I got most of the interesting stuff about R101 Harper into the game. I really like that they're an artist. The reason that they never have a ride is that they suck at driving and didn't bother getting a license.

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Just read relationships 101 and it’s literally the cutest story 🥺🥺 giggling and kicking while reading it, well done!!

Yay! I'm so glad you liked it 💙💙💙

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Harper’s originally part of a different IF, but I wrote R101 to nail down their characterization. Not a lot changed between the two iterations. The main difference is that in R101 Harper gets to stay an artist, which isn’t really possible in the adjacent story.

Harper’s heroic but just a lil bit dumb about it - a hold over from their original IF. They’re also effortlessly friendly.

Could you tell us about the other IF that Harper was originally from? Is it still something you're still planning on writing?

For sure!

The original IF is more ambitious, and will probably take me a while cause I write slooow. It's a fantasy game, as yet untitled. I'm thinking I'll divide it out into shorter serialized IFs so I don't get too stuck.

In the game, MC and the crew have access to magic in a world where it's rare. The first part of the IF will define your background (musician, thief, or hunter), and Harper is your childhood best friend. Things happen, the two of you get separated, only to be reunited years later in less than ideal circumstances. I'm planning 3 major ROs, 2 minor, and one possible flirtation. Like I said. Ambitious.

I've actually posted an excerpt of it here. For ease of access, I'll paste it below:

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4 and 14 for harper? 👀

4. In developing their backstory, what elements of the world they live in played the most influential parts?

It was really important for me that Harper start the story as a close friend to the MC. I wanted a strong foundation so I could practice writing romance.

Harper's originally part of a different IF, but I wrote R101 to nail down their characterization. Not a lot changed between the two iterations. The main difference is that in R101 Harper gets to stay an artist, which isn't really possible in the adjacent story.

14. If you had to narrow it down to 2 things that you MUST keep in mind while working with your OC, what would those things be?

Harper's heroic but just a lil bit dumb about it - a hold over from their original IF. They're also effortlessly friendly.

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Could you do 5, 6, 7, and/or 19 for the Extempore crew?

5. 6. Is there any significance behind their hair/eye color?

I didn't think too hard about the Extempore crew's hair/eye colors. The drawings came first, before characterization, so I was mostly going with what worked visually.

7. Is there any significance behind their height?

Lei had to be the tallest, for obvious reasons (bracket based humor). Ali's built to fit in vents. Ramal is 5’9 for no reason.

19. What is your favorite fact about your OC?

Lei - Despite their prickly disposition, Lei has a pretty wide circle of friends. They keep unintentionally befriending people.

Aliyah - Ali is a big collector of useless things. If it's pretty, it goes on display. Her apartment is one step short of hoarder territory.

Ramal - Ramal is incredibly skilled at applying makeup. If the cops find out he can shapeshift, they're going to tell the church.

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Questions About Creating Your OCs

‘Cause sometimes the stories of how OCs come to be are just as interesting as the OCs, themselves. Tell me how your virtual kids came into the world.

What was the first element of your OC that you remember considering (name, appearance, backstory, etc.)? 

Did you design them with any other characters/OCs from their universe in mind? 

How did you choose their name? 

In developing their backstory, what elements of the world they live in played the most influential parts? 

Is there any significance behind their hair color? 

Is there any significance behind their eye color? 

Is there any significance behind their height? 

What (if anything) do you relate to within their character/story? 

Are they based off of you, in some way? 

If they have an LI, how much of their character is tailored to be compatible to that person? 

Did you know what the OC’s sexuality would be at the time of their creation? 

What have you found to be most difficult about creating art for your OC (any form of art: writing, drawing, edits, etc.)? 

How far past the canon events that take place in their world have you extended their story, if at all? 

If you had to narrow it down to 2 things that you MUST keep in mind while working with your OC, what would those things be? 

What is something about your OC can make you laugh? 

What is something about your OC can make you cry? 

Is there some element you regret adding to your OC or their story? 

What is the most recent thing you’ve discovered about your OC? 

What is your favorite fact about your OC?

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Extempore - The Game

It's official. I've started work on a visual novel!

While investigating the patron of the party you stumble head first into an ongoing heist. Will you team up with the charming grifter, the prickly muscle, or the excitable thief?

Mingle with party guests, climb through vents, and fight against security as you traverse your way through the mansion and steal back from the rich.

Play it Here | Extempore on tumblr

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Hello! Harper starts calling the mc Riley even if you choose a name for them (specifically after answering the door at 1am)!! Ty for your hard work 💕

Thanks for the heads up! I've updated the game, hopefully I caught all the errant variables.

Let me know if you guys notice anything else!

@leviashford I think I fixed your issue as well? Lmk.

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Relationships 101

I've written a new IF! Complete version out now.

A short exploration of the relationship between the Player Character (customizable), and Harper (male or female pronouns). Strengthen your bonds with Harper and begin a romance, or grow deeper in friendship.  The game takes place in a university setting. It contains 4 chapters, and a myriad of choices for you to interact with Harper and the world around you. 

Play Relationships 101

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and here i thought it was relationships LOL instead of 101 - oopsie

Ha! Yeah, I noticed that when I was drawing out the title, but I left it in because I thought it was funny 💙

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I played through the game and I loved it! BUT if I loaded a save it would switch Harper's gender lol

Also my name changed to I guess the default after Harper got beat up. They called me Riley instead of the name I input

Thanks!! And thanks for letting me know!

I'm not really sure what's going on, but I'll do my best to fix it.

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aaahh i really want to play your new game but i dont know if it's just me/my computer but i cant scroll down and on some pages where it's too long it makes me stuck because i cant see the choice :"") i wonder if you have any solution??

Oops! Looks like I forgot to check the "Scrollbar" option.

I've updated that, you should be able to play now. Enjoy!