Primal (A Work in Progress)
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action, Girl pursues Boy, Girl pursues Girl
Progress Report: 10%
Word Count: 11,600 so far
Ages: 16+ for Violence, Gore and Language
Romance Paths: 8
Main Story Routes: 3 (with many different offshoots and endings)
Setting: Sengoku Era Japan
Basic Storyline:
Thrust into an era of war, assassination, and political intrigue, life has never been normal for Michiyo Ameshita. Granddaughter of one of many daimyos, her life was to be one of contemplation, marriage, and support of a politically convenient husband. Though she was reared with the etiquette fitting of a lady for her station, her grandfather raised her with equally conflicting skills. Since a young age, she was taught the art of war, strategy, and tactics, something he might bestow upon a male heir. Though many villagers in Oshimatsu were intrigued, none dared to question their Lord's will.
In the wake of a horrible drought, Lord Ameshita and bordering daimyos are placed in a vulnerable position, and are forced to form a tentative alliance. From the beginning, the alliance is threatened through old grudges and existing rivalries. But when it is Michiyo and not Lord Ameshita that is poisoned, things become tumultuous. Barely surviving a large dose of a deadly poison, dark rumors begin to circulate, and Michiyo becomes the symbol of the clan's ill fortunes. Fortunes that sour still with the lingering promise of war...
Gameplay:
Uncover the truth behind Michiyo's poisoning.
Learn the fate of Michiyo's parents.
Defend Lord Saizo, his clan, Oshimatsu, and the surrounding lands.
Marry another daimyo... or not.
Find allies to help defend Michiyo's clan... or form alliances of your own.
Try to navigate through a world of deception and personal ambition.
And much more that I can't say without spoiling. ;D
Characters:
Michiyo Ameshita
Age: 14 in Prologue, 17 + in Game
Princess of the Ameshita Clan, and second best swordsman in all of Oshimatsu, Michiyo is the pride of her grandfather. Dutiful in nature, Michiyo simply tries to do what is best for her clan, even at the expense of her own happiness. As things unfold, the nature of her role as a princess conflicts that of her role as a warrior, and she is left uncertain as to who she really is. Soon, entire hours of her life begin to disappear, and she comes to find she enjoys the thrill of combat and the rush of true violence.
Lord Yoriyasu Oka (Romance)
Age: 23 in Game
In the wake of Michiyo's poisoning, it becomes difficult for Lord Ameshita to find her a suitor. He is pleasantly surprised when Lord Oka finds interest in Michiyo, and arranges for the two to become acquainted. Lord Oka is a gifted tactician, strategist, and an extremely intelligent man. The resources of his clan and his proximity ensure that he would be a valuable ally for Lord Ameshita. He even seems receptive to the idea of a wife who has been martially trained.
Hyoe (Romance)
Age: 26 in Game
Hyoe is the personal body guard of Lord Oka, and his most skilled samurai. Above all else, Hyoe is dutiful to Lord Oka, and will have difficulty coming to grips with his admiration for Michiyo and his duty to his Lord, in the event he is romanced. Possibly one of the hardest romances in the game. His romance path is only available if Michiyo chooses to marry Lord Oka.
Haruuji (Romance)
Age: 20
Haruuji is a man of many skills, and would prefer to be called a jack of all trades rather than his actual title; ninja. He is highly skilled, and is dispatched by his clan to assassinate Lord Oka. When the attempt is thwarted, Michiyo has the opportunity to spare Haruuji's life in exchange for information, or his servitude. If you let him live, both Yoriyasu and Hyoe will protest to the ninja's continued presence. Though Haruuji shows up in one of the other three main story branches, he is only available for romance if Michiyo marries Lord Oka.
Yagoro (Romance)
Age: 24?
Yagoro is a bounty hunter, one of the best in the business. If Michiyo flees Oshimatsu, Lord Ameshita hires him to track her down and return her home safely. He is a blunt and sardonic man of few words and limited honor. Regardless of the player's protests, he will attempt to return Michiyo to Oshimatsu, and track her a great distance in order to do so.
Sorin (Romance)
Age: 22
The 3rd son of a daimyo, Sorin is trained to become his brother's general, but it becomes evident that he lacks skill in strategy. Dispatched to wartime to hone his skills, he meets Michiyo outside of a bar, in the middle of a brawl. Though hotheaded, Sorin is an honorable man, and decides to see Michiyo to safety. Romance runs concurrent with Yagoro's in it's early stages.
Kanehira (Romance)
Age: 19
High Priestess of Raiden, God of Thunder, Kanehira travels from town to town providing her services as a miko. After a chance meeting with Michiyo, her interest is piqued, and through repeated encounters, she comes to suspect that not all is as it seems with Michiyo. As the romance with her unfolds, Kanehira will have to battle between her duty to her God, or her love. Only available on the 3rd path.
Lord "Genta Yamashiro" (Romance)
Age: 24?
The daimyo of a neutrally-aligned mining and trade town, Genta is one of the wealthiest lords in Japan. He encounters Michiyo after a second assassination attempt, and helps her. He seems to know more about Michiyo than he should, and promises answers to many questions on a few conditions of his own. He is surprisingly reluctant to romance Michiyo, and seems to b prejudiced toward her. Only available on 3rd path, romance runs concurrent with Kanehira's in its early stages.
Inori (Romance)
Age: 15 in prologue, 18 + in main story
A samurai loyal to Lord Ameshita, and a childhood friend of Michiyo's. When Michiyo suddenly falls ill during a sparing session, Inori blames himself, but vows to ensure Michiyo's safety. His romance is available in every path, though more difficult than many of the others. It can be a long time between his appearances, however.
Sanjo
Age: 17
Sanjo is Michiyo's childhood friend, and a strong advocate for the freedoms that Michiyo has been granted. She is feisty, opinionated, and perhaps a little more blunt than she should be. Despite her rather strange character, Lord Ameshita does not object to your friendship with her, and the two of them have been very close since a young age.
Lord Saizo Ameshita
Age: 50 +
Lord Saizo Ameshita is daimyo of Oshimatsu and its surrounding lands and villages. He is an incredibly patient, cunning, and intelligent man, who isn't afraid to speak his mind. He holds Michiyo in the highest regards and is easily upset or discouraged in the event that she fails him. He sees nothing wrong with granting his granddaughter more freedoms than she otherwise be acceptable.
Plus three major villains. ;D
Excerpt of Writing:
Quote:
n "The summer was unusually harsh. The sun acted as a siphon and drained water from the land. Crops shriveled and died, threatening famine as wildfires scorched the earth."
n "But in spite of the bleak season, the people of Oshimatsu persevered."
n "Seamstresses fashioned kimonos for an upcoming wedding, carpenters thatched the roof of the old Sato estate, and the children played in the fields."
n "On the outskirts of the town, over the laughter of youth and the clucking of chickens, the sound of steel echoed."
Quote:
g "How did you not notice this?"
n "Saizo, normally a cool and collected man, was finding it difficult to maintain his composure."
ak "I... I suspected something milord, but she insisted that she was fine! Please forgive me!"
n "Iratsume's low and subservient bow did not subside Saizo's rage. He whipped around to face her, and spoke in a venomous growl."
g "I kept my granddaughter within your care because you {i}swore{/i} that you would be able to keep her safe!"
ak "Had it not been for her insistence to go gallivanting off with that boy-"
n "The handmaiden's defiant speech was quickly interrupted. Anger rolled off of Lord Ameshita in thick waves."
g "Had it {i}not{/i} been for that boy, we wouldn't have been aware of her condition. It could have killed her in the night."
n "The daimyo ground his jaw as he stared down at the back of Iratsume's head, silently willing her to backtalk him once more."
ak "I... y-yes, milord."
n "Much to his disappointment, she did not. Perhaps she was not as foolish as she otherwise appeared."
n "Aggravated, Saizo sighed deeply with frustration, before he turned to look at the medicine man at his side."
g "Healer! Is this fever natural?"
m "No, Lord Ameshita. I fear she's been poisoned."
I've found a lot of stock-free music that I'm going to use, though some of it will have to be removed in the event I go commercial with this game. I also have plenty of CG backgrounds, though, again, I might need a new artist if I go commercial. So far, I'm mostly lacking character art, which I may or may not draw, and of course, writing. It's definitely going to be a biiiig project.
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