You play as Valory, a budding trapeze artist (flyer) who was recently admitted to work for a travelling Italian circus. This is a event-based otome game, showcasing Valory's daily life as she works her way towards her first big act. Along the way, she makes new friends, as well as discovers the hardships that lie behind the romanticised image of the circus. With no significant storyline, this is a character-based game, concentrating mainly on the interactions the characters have with each other.
And henceforth are the character sketches. Sprites will be updated next to the sketches as they are completed.
Valory:
Age: 19
Height: 162cm
A young flyer who aspires to perform in a circus. She gets her chance when she is accepted into the "Circo della Sera".
Depending on whom you choose to romance, different sides and personalities of Valory will be shown.
Eric:
Age: 24
Height: 185cm
The circus ringmaster, this stoic young man also oversees and runs the entire circus after the passing of his father. His seemingly cold nature is laced with a mature charisma as well as a strange and obscure, almost childlike, taste in decoration and dress. He is fairly superstitious (thanks to the many warnings from his mother), and prefers to speak through his actions. As a consequence, Eric may sometimes be misunderstood. Eric's cold stare tends to scare many people, however, he does not realise the full extent of his intimidation. Those who are close to him, however, realise that he is a softie at heart (even though his face doesn't often show it) and wouldn't harm a fly.
Keith:
Age: 21
Height: 178cm
Keith is the youthful magician of the circus and its biggest flirt. Using his good looks and tricks to impress, he is very popular with the female population. Always affable and debonair, he is a sweet-talker to almost every woman he meets... with the notable exception of Valory. Being Valory's childhood friend, he sees and treats her as his little sister. Because of their close relationship, Valory is the only one who can truly get under his skin and see the easily-flustered person underneath the cool, confident exterior. As a result, Keith tends to let down his guard around her, and act more natural and relaxed whenever they're alone.
Ivory:
Age: 22
Height: 170cm
A family friend of Eric's, this energetic, mixed-raced girl serves as his confidant and sibling, as well as the circus crew's unofficial mother. Her family has had a long history in the circus, and she is eager to uphold this tradition. Though Ivory is usually very motherly and upbeat, her temper is short and she flies off the handle when someone is careless towards their health (though she neglects her own just as often). A headstrong and slightly rebellious girl, Ivory is very talkative and earnest in her actions and speech. Her sincere demeanour comes with animal-like instincts which have helped her much in making decisions and in avoiding Levi, whom she is terrified of.
Ivory is Valory's fellow flyer for their upcoming performance.
Levi:
Age: 17
Height: 160cm
Perpetually smiling and forever acting the child, Levi is the circus' vivacious knife-thrower. Generally well-liked by almost all he meets, his cheerful, charming attitude masks the cold, manipulative streak hidden underneath. Playful to all, and teasing to the few he likes, Levi is a social butterfly with a malicious streak. His sneering, patronising side rarely appears, and only with close company, but is quickly covered up and denied.
He is Keith's friendly enemy, Alice's object of worship, and Ivory's greatest fear.
Genevieve:
Age: 47
Height: 170cm
Eric's graceful and prominent retired mother, Genevieve travels the world at her leisure, stopping by to check on her son and the circus' workers occasionally. It so happens that this time, her vacation has been close to the circus' site, and so she has taken it upon herself to supervise.
Genevieve is quite strict and by-the-book, and aims to educate in a prim and proper manner. She has a habit of throwing mild fits when her plans fall apart or when a rule/custom is not followed.
Despite this, she has a soft spot for young children, and so took a liking to the younger members of the circus despite some of their vices.
Alice:
Age: 17
Height: 158cm
Childlike in thoughts, behaviour and looks, Alice is Levi's partner, working as his target girl. Accustomed to being spoiled and getting what she wants, she rarely takes heed of the potential consequences of her actions. She feels that the only two people she needs are Blair, and most of all Levi, whom she is sweet and devoted to. To everyone else, she often comes across as pretentious and rude. Nathaniel and her do not get along well, and bicker on sight.
Blair:
Age: 20
Height: 168cm
Carefree, a little spacey and friendly with almost everyone she meets, Blair is both Keith's assistant and the person Valory shares a trailer with. Friends with literally everyone in the circus, she is extremely affectionate to people of both genders, with little idea of personal space. She enjoys helping people, and so is Valory's main guide through circus life. Forgiving and highly persistent, these are the traits that helped her eventually gain Alice's friendship. Her warm personality makes her popular with the younger circus children.
Nathaniel (Nathan):
Age: 14
Height: 150cm
Ivory's grumpy younger brother, Nathaniel aspires to follow in his sister's footsteps to become a flyer. He is usually very serious and straight-laced, so may appear to be a bit of a wet blanket. His sister enjoys teasing him immensely due to his feminine looks (but certainly not in personality), but he simply cannot bring himself to talk back to her out of a mixture of politeness and affection. Nathaniel is usually the one to call out his sister on her hypocrisy, and pull her back into line. He dislikes Alice and attempts to avoid her. Nathaniel's highly stylised clothing was obtained during a recent trip to Japan before the circus auditions started.
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Staff:
Sprites, CGs and background: Tag-
Programming and interface: Schizanthe
Writing: Tag- and Schizanthe
Design: Tag- and Schizanthe
Music: Schizanthe
(Two-person team dear lord)
Planned CG count: It is now
Endings: 12 in total
-one good and bad ending for each character
-one neutral bad ending
-one neutral ending
-one neutral good ending
-one secret ending
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Discussion
Schizanthe and I have organised to show you guys the set up of how the events will be played. Each character will have three 'main' events, which will contain CGs and be much longer in length. In between these events will be the 'mini' events (which are more or less conversations), and between each main will be around 10 minis of varying length. Various minis may have smaller, relevent pictures attached. In the script, 'CE' stands for 'closed eye' and 'OM' stands for 'open mouthed'.
Below is one mini event for each main character, which will showcase their personality and habits. Each event takes place at a different point in time within the game.
Eric's
Keith's
Ivory's
Levi's
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Questions
The two of us have some questions that we would like for people to answer.
1. Who is your favourite character, and why? What are your initial thoughts towards their design and personality? Did your opinion change at all after reading the events? (This includes the main character, Valory.)
2. What do you think of the setting? What do you expect of it?
3. What do you think of the given events? Was there anything you particularly liked/disliked?
4. Would you mind answering questions similar to those in the event shown every conversation? There will be approximately 30 - 40 per character (of varying lengths, with the ones given considered long), not including main events.
5. Would you prefer it if the main character's name is changeable or not?
6. Do you think their events matched the descriptions well? Was there anything you didn't expect?
7. What do you think of the choices? Are they too obvious or hard to pick out?
Any other comments/suggestions?
I think the way the decisions are being handled right now (3 choices and the point system) are pretty good!
It was never obvious to me which one would lead to the highest point gain 
