#yaga tbota

[thebarontheabyss]

Nothing comes without a price. 

That is the fundamental rule of the cosmos, from its creation to its eventual demise.  

Every decision ripples through eternity, and a price must be paid for each.

Those who can see through the sands of time know this better than most - but mortals, sad little creatures, will never see the forest for the trees.

When the time comes to pay the price, it's always too late.

Old Yaga, once a wise soothsayer, has seen this repeatedly through her fleshless, diamond-made eyes, which allow her to glimpse through the veil of time and space. 

Are they a boon, a mystical gift bestowed upon her for services rendered to forces unknown?

Or perhaps, they serve as a reminder of a price too great to pay.

Nowadays, she has turned her gaze toward the flow of coins, the only currency she trusts.

Her fortunes have changed, and she wonders if past settled fates can be re-negotiated.

However, the question remains:

Will she be willing to pay the price?

Artwork by Timothy S

[thebarontheabyss]

we can romance all of the ros at once, right? a big happy polycule at the end of the afterlife, right?? ;; v ;;

Almost! 👀

Death, The Witch, and The Devil will happily join your afterlife polycule - while Hastur, Peisinoe, and He Without Name are only available for a monogamous relationship. There are... reasons for each to refuse a poly relationship.

But also, if you date half your staff, Yaga will be extremely annoyed with you.

[thebarontheabyss]

You fixed the stat bars 😔 also

Macaria 🤝 Yaga

Being old ladies

I'm sorry 😭 It was getting out of control! You and Yaga after every shift:

[thebarontheabyss]

Hello everyone! Down with covid (insert "so 2020 and late!" joke here) and the new update will have to wait for next week :(

But worry not! I'm actually very productive in the meantime and have begun to write the complete character arcs for the story, which was something I never got to, so thanks, covid, I guess.

Sharing everything will be, of course, super spoilery, but I thought I might share some of my thoughts after writing the endings for each character!

No actual big spoilers ahead, but still might want to avoid if you hate any sort of spoilers, even nonspecific ones.

Hastur His arc was mostly realized in my head already; I just had to put it into writing. I just... love this character so much. I can't wait for you to know him - the real him. Hope you'll still love him - I sure do. His story is about the meaning of forgiveness, guilt, and hope.

Yaga

Yaga's arc turned a lot cooler than I thought it would - with a lot of scheming and politics involved. She actually has tons of possible endings. Yaga's arc theme is a story of faith in humanity and its innate goodness.

Shelly

Shelly's story is going to surprise you. That's all I have to say. It's super sad and wholesome all the same - it's about coming to terms with the past, learning to let go, and finding peace and purpose. 

Peisinoe

Their story became darker than I expected, but the conclusion is so satisfying. If you ever grew up with a talent ruined for you by the demands of your peers, you might relate. It's a story about searching for meaning and making peace with the unchangeable.

He Without Name

I just want to say that I am so sorry. Please don't hurt me.

Death

I might never write another character as intricate as Death, and I'm ok with it.

Lilith / Damian

This turned out way more emotional than I had thought it would??? Get ready for a date in hell and some redemption arcs!

Morgan / Morgana

Damn, I kind of regret I added the option to avoid them in the game. I'll have to work hard to make the story without them as inspirational as it is with them.

The Raven

Well, he's too connected to the overall plot to say something explicit about but I loved that I wrote him as a temporary character and he became basically the most important to the plot. GO RAVEN GO

[thebarontheabyss]

One day, the person who used to bully MC in their life walks into the bar. When MC sees them, bad memories start to resurface in their mind. Since they don't want to deal with their bully, they hide in the staff quarters. RO sees them and decides to follow them to ask if there's something wrong. When they find them, MC is on the verge of crying.

How would each of the ROs react? What would they do after MC told them about the bully?

Oh, this is a spicy one. Let's see... 👀

Death would focus on comforting MC rather than confronting the bully. "You know, in the grand scheme of things, they're just a blip in eternity. And if it helps... their demise was rather undignified – choked on a sandwich, alone in their apartment," Death would say in an attempt to offer some perspective, albeit awkwardly.

Lilith/Damien would react with a sly, menacing grin. "Let's give them a show they'll never forget," they'd whisper, their eyes burning with a profane light. They might use their infernal powers to torment the bully with nightmarish illusions, pushing the boundaries of retribution. Eventually, their actions might be so extreme that MC finds themselves feeling a pang of pity for their bully.

Morgan/Morgana, after hearing MC's story, would express a fierce protectiveness. "Who's the wretch that dares upset you?" they'd ask, ready to take action. They'd likely cast a spell that would cause the bully to experience a series of frustrating and embarrassing mishaps in the bar, providing a satisfying sense of poetic justice for MC.

Peisinoe would see this as an opportunity to demonstrate their own prowess in handling bullies. "Darling, leave it to me," they'd say confidently. They would approach the bully with a mixture of charm and intimidation, using their stage presence to publicly humiliate them.

Shelly would rush in with a worried look, immediately trying to cheer MC up. "Hey, what's wrong? You know you can tell me anything," she'd say with a comforting smile. She'd be indignant on MC's behalf and suggest telling the others or finding a way to make the bully leave. Shelly's approach is more about lifting MC's spirits, offering to make them their favorite drink or treat.

Yaga's approach would be one of tough love. "Crying in the back isn't going to solve anything," she'd say, her tone gruff but not unkind. She would encourage MC to face their fears and stand up for themselves. "You're stronger than you think," she'd add, perhaps sharing a personal anecdote about her own experiences with bullies to motivate MC.

Hastur, upon understanding the situation, would assure MC of their safety with a calm but firm presence. "They will not dare cause trouble under my watch," he'd say. His towering presence alone might be enough to deter the bully from any antagonistic behavior.

He Without Name would enter the room silently, his presence almost unnoticed until he's fairly close to you. "Sad... Why?" he'd inquire in his usual cryptic manner. Understanding the situation might be challenging for him, but he'd stay near MC, offering silent support.

The Raven, true to their nature, would take a more mischievous approach. "Time for the art of subtle revenge," they'd muse. They might orchestrate a small but humiliating incident, like discreetly dropping a... surprise... on the bully's head from above, much to the amusement of the onlookers.

[thebarontheabyss]

am i crazy for kind of having a thing for yaga

Well… Granny still got it!

[thebarontheabyss]

Do you have canon heights for the characters or is it left to interpretation? I know that Hastur is 7ft tall since it appears in the story and I think Yaga and Shelly were called short but idk just curious ^^

Great question! This is how I imagine them to be 👀

Bar's Crew

Ro's

[thebarontheabyss]

hello!! It's been a long time i haven't come by and pay a visit

I have a scenario (please mindfully ignore this if the scenario has already been done) is that, imagine the MC being the most secretive outta of the bunch, like I'm talking no one knows their past or what they could do other than what casts have seen MC do in the bar.

Not until one night, an all of the sudden bar fight occurred with at least nearly thirty people in the fight and the fight was a complete heated one. While some tried to stopped the fighting but failed to do so, the MC stepped up from where they're and carried one vodka bottle for the fight, the MC successfully beat everyone in the fight without having a single scratch or a bruise on them and have those people on their knees for them. Now what would the casts and ROs would react to that? 👀 (I'm so sorry if it's such a long scenario 😭)

That's a good one! 👹

Death, ever the observer of human folly, watches in silent awe, with a mix of concern and a peculiar kind of sorrow those the MC had subdued. "Poor guys!" they'd say, their heart heavy for the violence witnessed, yet impressed by the MC's unwavering composure.

Lilith/Damien couldn't hide their delight, their laughter ringing out clear and sharp. "Well, well," they'd muse, "You'll be useful in hell" Intrigue sparked within them, a fire kindled by the MC's display.

Morgan/Morgana, seizing the moment, leaps into the fray with wild abandon, their eyes alight with the thrill of the skirmish. "Is this not the most exhilarating dance?" they exclaim, weaving through opponents with a witch's grace. On the other hand, Pepper sits next to Yaga's, rolling their eyes.

Hastur regards the scene with a stoic frown, acknowledging the MC's might while critiquing the method. "Effective, yet undisciplined. Such chaos," he comments, his voice betraying a grudging respect amidst his critique.

Yaga is incensed, her voice rising above the clamor. "Out, beasts! Take your brawls outside!" she scolds, lamenting the disruption and the potential damage to her meticulously kept domain. "Next time, mind the furniture!" she yells at you.

Peisinoe, their expression one of disdain, watches from a safe distance. "Barbaric," they declare, their tone dripping with contempt for the brute force displayed.

Shelly, peeking from behind the safety of the bar, can't help but be captivated by the display. Despite her fright, her cheer for the MC is loud and clear, a beacon of support amidst the chaos. "Go boss! Go boss!" she cheers.

He Without Name, ever silent, drifts closer, his form barely a whisper in the tumult. "Strong... but silent," he mutters, recognizing the MC's strength while remaining a detached observer.

And The Raven, perched high above the fray, would let out a caw of amusement. "Oh, this would be a tale for the ages!"

[thebarontheabyss]

Do the characters of your story like children? If they don't, why? What do they think when they see one? How do they act around them? Did they have children in their previous lives? Is there anyone who would adopt the soul of a child if they met one? Would the ROs do it if MC suggested taking care of one together?

This is a tough one - half of what I want to say is in heavy spoiler territory. 😪

TBOTA deals with themes of familial relations, so a lot of the characters have one or two of these connections that I will explore in the near future. It's also worth noting that while spirits can engage in many physical activities akin to mortals, procreation isn't one of them.

Death's encounters with children are inevitably somber, given the nature of their role. There's a gentleness and care in their approach to them, and they often find them as much an enigma as mortals in general. Death, amidst their eternal duties, never had the opportunity for children of their own. The concept of having a family seems like a distant, unattainable dream under their current responsibilities.

To Lilith/Damien, children are more of a nuisance than anything else. They view the idea of having children as rooted in selfish desires, and while they acknowledge their own self-centered nature, raising children is far from their interests.

Morgan/Morgana's attitude towards children varies. They could appreciate the company of an intelligent and curious child, seeing a potential for mentorship. However, they lack patience for what they perceive as foolishness. Deep down, there's a yearning to pass on their knowledge, much like their father did.

For Hastur, children represent the purest form of innocence among mortals – something worth safeguarding at great personal cost - and he may have already done just that. His protective instincts are especially strong when it comes to the young and vulnerable.

Yaga's history with her own children is complex and painful, marred by a tragic outcome. Now, her patience for children is thin, often manifesting as annoyance. Yet beneath her harsh exterior lies a hidden tenderness, a remnant of her maternal nature.

Peisinoe is clear about not being fond of children. They prefer the spotlight to themselves and have no desire to share it with their offspring. Their life and performances are their primary focus, leaving no room for raising children.

Shelly dreams of a large family, reminiscent of the one she cherished in life. Unfortunately, this dream is dead, just like her - another regret of a life not lived.

Once, long ago, He Without Name had a child. It's a distant memory, wrapped in the mists of time, but it remains a poignant part of his existence.

Valuing freedom above all else, The Raven shies away from the responsibilities that come with raising young. Their life is about exploration and adventure, not being tied down to parental duties.

[thebarontheabyss]

Haven’t seen a ~character ask~ for a while heree so lemme ask:

The bar has a dvd and a tv now, what will be each character fav movie to watch?

Hehehe thanks, I love answering asks like that!

Keep them coming; it actually really helps me define the characters.

Now for your brilliant ask!

Death would absolutely adore Pride & Prejudice. They will get swept up in the romance, falling for both Elizabeth and Darcy (bi icon), releasing little sniffles and dreamy sighs while reaching for the tissues.

Lilith/Damian would be all in for Mad Max: Fury Road. The non-stop action and sheer chaos would have them on the edge of their seat, "We should have a race like that!" they'd shout, already plotting a hellish version of their own.

Morgan/a will be captivated by The Matrix, drawn to its alien technology—so far from magic yet a bit similar. The problem? They spend hours over-analyzing it, boring poor Pepper out.

Hastur is another surprise—it's Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The coconut horse joke will send him reeling, and his usual calm will be shattered by uncontrolled chuckles.

Peisinoe is kind of obvious—but it's Chicago! Afterward, they will definitely add "All That Jazz" to their setlist.

Bless her heart, Shelly will be obsessed with Charlotte's Web, and honestly, that's a top-notch choice. So she ate.

Yaga would hate 90% of movies in existence but also would absolutely love The Princess Bride.

The Raven's love for Mean Girls would have him quoting lines at every opportunity, much to everyone's annoyance. Stop trying to make fetch happen, Raven.

He Without Name will never ask for a specific movie, but if you put WALL-E on, he becomes surprisingly animated, echoing the robots with a hint of joy.

[thebarontheabyss]

Ppl be like "who is interested in the formless blob" and then you continue to enchant me with how adorable and sweet he is? My question is who isn't? How could you not adore him.

I wanted to also give a prompt with my rant, but the best I can come up with is what would each character do if you had magnet poetry in the bar and available to mess with?

Also, have a lovely day. I'm obsessed with your writing and hope you are happy and healthy to keep making this amazing game <3

Thank you so much! Yes, I take full responsibility for He Without Name; made him way too adorable 😭

Now for some magnetic poetry shenanigans:

Death seems intrigued by the magnetic poetry but is hesitant to participate. You notice Death eyeing the magnets repeatedly, a thoughtful frown on their face. They seem to be contemplating the perfect poetic message for you but ultimately shy away, overwhelmed by the pressure of crafting the right words.

True to their devilish nature, Lilith/Damien quickly commandeers the magnets to create a string of profanities.

Morgan/Morgana finds a novel use for the magnetic poetry, deftly arranging the words into arcane symbols and spell runes. You can't help but wonder if the bar's ambiance is subtly altered by these mystical configurations.

The ever-energetic Shelly embraces the magnetic poetry with gusto. The bar's metallic surfaces become her canvas for daily messages, jokes, and whimsical weather forecasts like "The Abyss will be predictably abyssal today."

Both Yaga and Peisinoe initially dismiss the magnetic poetry as childish. However, you catch them occasionally pausing to read Shelly's witty messages, their expressions betraying a hint of amusement and perhaps a touch of admiration for her creativity.

Hastur approaches the magnetic poetry with a surprising touch of artistic sensitivity and uses it to write haikus.

The Raven snatches a few magnets for himself, adding them to his collection of shiny trinkets. You're not sure what he plans to do with them, but you're certain it's part of some greater, mysterious raven agenda.

He Without Name seems perplexed by the concept of magnetic poetry. He observes others interacting with the magnets but doesn't engage himself. It's unclear whether he finds the activity baffling or simply uninteresting.

[thebarontheabyss]

The characters decide to play DnD to pass the time. MC is the game master. What creatures do the characters play as? What are their classes? Are their personalities similar to those of the characters or are they completely different? Who survives the campaign and who doesn't?

Another day, another prompt that makes me want to write a full-on chapter about it instead of working on the actual game, lol

(BTW! Hijacking to announce the next part will drop sometime this week!)

Now, let's play DnD!

Death plays a character quite opposite to their real-life role - a human paladin sworn to protect and serve. They get excessively invested in the role, trying hard to make every decision morally righteous. Ironically, their character meets their demise due to their unwavering commitment to face danger head-on for the sake of others. Death experiences their first death, and they find it quite enlightening.

True to their nature, Lilith\Damian picked the role of a changeling bard, using charm and wit to navigate the game. They excel at deception and persuasion, often using their skills to steer the group out of trouble - or sometimes getting them into more of it.

Morgan\a is playing an elven sorcerer (as if they would pick anything else!) who focuses on powerful spells and arcane knowledge. They enjoy showcasing their magical prowess just as usual, sometimes to the detriment of the team's strategy. Pepper sits beside them and is thankful that, at least this time, their dangerous behavior is contained in a game.

Hastur, quiet and observant, plays a disciplined Tiefling monk. He's strategic in combat and often saves the group from dire situations. His character survives, often being the last line of defense for the team.

Shelly's choice contrasts sharply with her real-life persona. As a gnome barbarian, she charges headfirst into battle, much to everyone's amusement and surprise. She's kind of the game's MVP and is the most enthusiastic player by far.

Peisinoe embraces the role of a cleric, and picks Shar as her deity (she would get along with Shadowheart lol). Guess loss and darkness kind of speak to them in a way. They are having way more fun than they though they would.

Yaga, with her penchant for numbers and details, plays a meticulous dwarf artificer. She enjoys crafting solutions and gadgets for various challenges.

The Raven plays a cunning dragonborn rogue. They excel in stealth and thievery, often gathering crucial information for the group. BTW, if you ask them, they are an actual dragon - and proud of it.

He Without Name was assigned the role of an orc fighter by the others, and they often guide his actions in the game. But, he's surprisingly effective - often saying "Time... Smash..." when the battle starts.

[thebarontheabyss]

Greetings, esteemed patrons of TBOTA!

Quick update time! I'm diving back into the game's chapters this week, giving them some of the 'ol polish - tightening the lore, adding more choices, and fixing bugs and typos.

If you've got thoughts or feedback, now's the perfect moment to throw them my way. I'd really appreciate it!

But more importantly, here's what I'm planning for the road ahead :D

By the end of March, The next part of Chapter 4 ("The Child") will drop! Prepare for a busy shift at the bar with a new face joining the crew. There's more coming, but I'll spill those beans as we get closer to dropping the update.

You'll also kick off the official romance routes with Hastur, Peisinoe, and He Without Name. Not to mention more lovey-dovey encounters with Death, Lilith/Damian, and Morgan/a.

First half of April: The last part of Chapter 4 will take you to a shopping spree in Hell. You'll be joined by Yaga and the Raven and bumping into Lilith/Damian as well. Expect some... hiccups along the way.

Second half of April: Chapter 5 will drop! There's been a murder right inside the bar - time for some detective work! The assailant might just be someone you're close to, maybe even someone you've been romancing. 👀

That's all for now :D Your feedback and thoughts mean the world to me, and they really help make the game better.

So don't be shy—let me know what you think!

[thebarontheabyss]

Hello dear patrons of TBOTA!

By the end of this week, I will release a small update that includes the conclusion of your latest shift at the bar.

By the end of the month, the final part of Chapter 4 will be released, with the option to visit Hell— if you accept the invitation from Yaga.

See you soon 😈

[thebarontheabyss]

Happy New Year!

Here are some New Year resolutions from the cast of TBOTA 🥳

Death has resolved to finally take more breaks from their eternal duties. They've also decided to dive into their extensive reading list, which has accumulated to an impressive 7 million books so far. Wish them good luck!

This year, Lilith/Damien plans to party even harder, pushing the boundaries of excess. They've also decided for a change to prioritize their own desires and happiness, putting themselves first. Because last year they didn’t. Obviously.

Morgan/Morgana has set their sights on mastering some advanced-level spells, undeterred by the potential risks involved. Pepper is ready to deal with the chaos that might follow.

Hastur has taken an interest in fusion cuisine. He's determined to expand his cooking repertoire beyond mortal definitions.

Peisinoe humorously toyed with the idea of quitting smoking but decided against it. They remain as indulgent in their habits as ever.

Shelly is enthusiastic about starting her own recipe book. She aims to compile all the unique drinks she's crafted over the year.

Yaga has decided to try her hand at yoga, hoping to find some physical and spiritual balance amidst her usual number-crunching routine.

The Raven plans to finally publish their poetry book! Well, maybe just after another small revision.

For He Without Name, the resolution is simple yet meaningful - to start the year by cleaning the bathroom - right at midnight!