Last Updated 8/20/15
Leah (name can be changed) Parrish is in her second year at Faelands School of Magic. It is time for her to be assigned to a team of other magic-users to continue her training for the next three years. Protecting the mundane world from magical threats is a dangerous job, and her teammates are incredibly important to her future –in more ways than one. The problem: the rest of Leah's teammates are all guys, and the team lives together! On top of that, as the team's Healer she has to choose one of them to be her Primary –the one whose job it is to protect her over all else. Who will she pick?
Basic Information:
The story will have a common beginning, but once you pick your bachelor of choice each story will be unique. Right now there are five planned bachelors, with possibly two more depending on how long everything takes.
With the fact that each route is totally different in mind (and therefore multiplying the amount of writing that needs to be done), right now the plan is to release the game in increments. For example, when the first two bachelors are done, I'll do a first release. Then probably additional releases after each one is done. I'll have to look into the details.
But, there are only two of us working on this game, so please be patient with us. This is also our first project of this nature, so we're both still learning a lot!
The Team:
Writer/Coder: OnaDacora (me) http://onadacora.tumblr.com/
Artist: nittanynn http://nittanynn.tumblr.com/
Music is from N.C.H (syncopika)/Green Bear Music
DEMO AVAILABLE HERE http://dacora.itch.io/healing-hearts-otome
Demo Updated 8/20/15
Healing Hearts Otome Tumblr: http://healingheartsotome.tumblr.com/
Screenshots and some more in progress stuff (and goofy stuff) gets posted here.
What's Available to Play:
8/20/15
-The 'common route' introduction that leads up to your choice of Primary (aka your guy of choice). Around 8,000 words.
-The first few scenes of John's route. Around 6,000 words.
-The total word count for the Introduction and ALL five demo routes is: 20,640 words
Status:
8/20/15- Demo updated with extra content in Introduction, all bachelors now have at least the first scene done in each route. John has additional expressions, but still NO expression for other sprites, John's sprites still incomplete. Mamoru's new sprite is DONE, one more scene added to the end of John's current demo route. (Castor WILL have a shirtless sprite for the start of his route, don't worry.)
8/11/15- First in-progress demo uploaded. MC's sprites generally done, NO expressions for the other sprites other than default. Mamoru's sprite still needs to be re-done, others still need minor fixes.
The Cast:
Name: Leah Parrish (first name can be changed)
Age: 19
Species: Human
Magic Type: Healing
I didn’t know it until I received my acceptance letter, but magic runs in my family from my father’s side. My grandmother attended Faelands when she was my age and was also a Healer.
They say that I’m particularly gifted, like she was. All Healers have empathic ability, but unfortunately (or fortunately in some cases) mine is stronger than normal. Even when I don’t want to I can feel the strong emotions of those around me. To put it plainly… sometimes it really sucks.
~Leah
Name: Willis Sylvan
Age: 22
Species: Half-Elf
Magic Type: Earth
Willis is the leader of our team. He’s friendly, kind, and takes care of everyone like they’re his own family. I don’t have any siblings, but he seems like how I’d imagine a big brother to be. He sort of seems too good to be true, which means he probably is.
Sometimes when I’m talking to him, though, no matter what kind of emotion I’m feeling from him… there seems to be sadness underneath. I wish I knew why.
~Leah
Name: John Moretti
Age: 18
Species: Human?
Magic Type: Darkness
I’m not sure what to make of John. He started at Faelands a year younger than the rest of us, and everyone calls him a prodigy. He’s shy and quiet, and always had his face stuck in a book whenever I saw him outside of class. I think the first time I really talked to him was when we were assigned to Team Yggdrasil together.
I’m pretty sure he’s human like me, but when he looked into my eyes earlier… I felt so strange, I’m not sure what came over me. I think it was some kind of magic, but none that I’ve ever experienced before…
~Leah
Name: Berhanu Bekele
Age: 21
Species: Light-Elf
Magic Type: Light
Berhanu is… very polite and very serious. There’s an obvious joke in the fact that he’s a Light Light-Elf, but I doubt anyone has had the courage to make it.
I haven’t quite figured him out, and I’m not sure that I will for some time. I do know that he likes video games, but he acts like his interest in them is shameful. Something about them ‘subverting Elven traditions’. I didn’t get much else than that from him; he clammed up shortly afterward and left the room. I’m not sure, but I think something upset him…
~Leah
Name: Castor Petros
Age: 21
Species: Half-Nymph
Magic Type: Water
So far since I’ve met Castor, I think I’ve only seen him smile once. He almost got into a fight with Willis right when we met, too. Granted, I think in this case Willis sort of deserved it for outing Castor’s ‘secret’ right away…
I think he’s nicer than he lets on though. We had a conversation my first day and he was actually pretty reassuring when I mentioned how worried I was about being the team’s Healer. Well… he sort of splashed me with dishwater and told me to knock it off, but coming from him it was comforting, really.
~Leah
Name: Maximilian ‘Max’ Porter
Age: 20
Species: Human
Magic Type: Fire
Max is a shameless flirt, there’s no getting around it. The second we were introduced he turned on the charm. At first I thought he just kissed my hand as a joke, but he was so sincere I couldn’t help but blush.
He’s messy, refuses to help in the kitchen, and hogs the bathroom that we share. Willis says he’s from a wealthy family, and with his behavior I believe it. He’s so nice though, and not snobby at all like you’d expect. It’s impossible to stay mad at him for long.
~Leah
Name: Margaret and Alexander Harper, ‘Maggie and Alex’
Age: 19
Species: Half-Elf
Magic Type: Air
I met Maggie and Alex our first day at Faelands. Maggie and I were roommates for our first year, and Alex was always joined at her hip.
Alex is always cracking jokes, sometimes at our expense. He teases Maggie all the time, and nowadays me too. He didn’t used to… there was a time that we almost started dating. We never told Maggie, but we decided against it so that the relationship between the three of us didn’t get ruined.
Maggie is the more serious of the two. She always rises to Alex’s teasing, and I’ve had to duck for cover more than once when they start buffeting each other with air magic.
I thought I’d be with one of them when we were assigned to our teams, but we were all separated. I really hope this doesn’t ruin our friendship.
~Leah
Name: Oshizen Mamoru
Age: 21
Species: Dark Elf
Magic Type: Healer
Mamoru is the leader of Team Nidhogg –our greatest rival.
He’s very calm and composed, and seems friendly to me at least. But there’s some kind of serious tension between him, Berhanu, Willis, and Castor. Whatever it is, it must be the reason there’s such animosity between our teams.
I feel like they’re hiding something from me. Something I should know.
~Leah
1. First impressions?
2. What do you think of the concept?
3. Which of the bachelors (Willis, John, Berhanu, Castor, and Max) interests you the most?
4. If you have a favorite, what do you like about them?
5. Any thoughts/questions/comments after playing the demo?
6. Any issues you had playing the game?
7. Anything you want to add?
Thank you for taking the time to check out the game!
I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far.
The artist just finished up his new sprite.