The Silent Column (Thread Closed, New Development Blog)

[SelLi]

Hello all, I forgot to tell you that I wrote more for Kina still nothing to really show though.
I also found a bunch of great sound effects from http://www.soundjay.com/ which I'm very much going to enjoy using

[SelLi]

Hello all
I've been drawing a lot today on one cg scene featuring Thidria.
It's coming along very well

[SelLi]

Hello all
I've been thinking a lot about the story and coming up with some characters' paths today and over the last little while.
Might not sound too impressive to you but I'm really excited about it.
I'm writing some scenarios and will be tying them together logically ect ect. It'll be- and is- fun : D
And I was mixed up about some things but now those things feel clarified in my head- which is a huge relief! >u<

[SelLi]

See? I'm still here

[SelLi]

I've been writing, fleshing out back stories of the characters like Kina, Tashen, and the girl in the park. I've also been writing a few scenes, and I plan to keep writing tomorrow as well and for the next while.
I know that I am very slow doing things, so be patient, please. I'm doing this all on my own, so it probably won't be done for like... I don't know, half a year? a year?
I want it to be really good which means I'll be doing a lot work...

I write using a physical pad of paper and pen, to get the basic dialog for scenes, and then, I type out what I have written. Then Correct and tweak things in the text.
For some reason I like this method... but it does take more time.

Then I have to do a bunch of character sprites and backgrounds, and find what songs I want online and buy them and then do the coding for the game. I guess that's it, though.

Just thought I'd say hi, I suppose.

[Reikun]

Thank you for keeping us posted! That's a really nice BG you've got there! Is it at game resolution already, or will it be larger in-game?
It's good that you're taking the time to flesh out your characters' backstories before you really get deep in the writing for your project. (One of the main reasons I've been stuck on my personal project was that I didn't take the time to really explore my characters and that pretty much stopped the writing process for now until I go back and do what you are doing) And no need to apologize for "being slow!" I'd rather you took your time now and created a product you can be proud of than if you rushed through it!

It's good that you're going through a workflow that suits you, even if it's technically "slower." I'll be looking forward to more updates from you!

[SelLi]

Thank you very much, Reikun. It really makes me happy that you're looking forward to it. I am too.

Recently, I've written more scene scenarios and a key items that Tashen can have and use or give to people.
It's fun writing how characters would naturally react in certain situations, and it feels good to flesh everything out- I really feel like my VN's having a lot of substance.
Thank you for being encouraging ^^ I hope things are going well with your own project now. And that background is smaller than it will be in the VN, just a little bit. I'm glad it turned out so well, too.

I'll update when I have more to report.

Edit: The girl in the park has a name- it's Amy.

[SelLi]

-No longer relevant-

[SelLi]

Wrote a new scene yesterday where Tashen encounters a white fairy.
^^

[SelLi]

Typed up a new scene yesterday and typed it along with another scene I'd written into Ren'Py.

[Reikun]

Hi Zais! Do you think you could post up a snippet of what you've been writing so far? It's nice to hear that you're making progress with the story, but I want to read it already.................... xD;;;; You don't have to if you'd rather not of course..!!

Do you know if you're going to be posting a demo or something as you get farther along?

[SelLi]

Thanks very much.
I think I will post a demo when I'm farther along, but I'm not there yet. Sorry
Wow I have a fan! ^^ thank you.

I guess I could give you a snippet as a treat. But don't ask for anymore for a while because I don't have too much done yet.

Code: Select all

    $extraName="Familiar Voice"
    extra"~what's wrong with her~?"
    t"~she's ill~"
    t"~she's dying~"
    a"..."
    a"The small fairy hovered in place without flapping her fingered wings."
    extra"~I want to make her better~"
    t"~do you think you can do that~?"
    a"She doesn't hesitate, she simply nods sharply. Her usual, definate nod."
    extra"~of course I can~!"
    t"..."
    a"The little person moved her hand over the ill girl's empty cup, and liquid poured into it. Opaque, it looked like steaming gold, and it filled the cup to its brim."
    a"The fairy looked to the girl sadly."
    extra"~this will make you all better~"
    extra"~drink it, okay~?"
    extra"~don't ever get sick again~"
    a"---"
    a"Shocked, I continue to stare at this little boy. Dressed in white, with white wings, he looks at me with his pupilless eyes that feel like melted rainbows; so many colors swirling together slowly, as if his eyes themselves were liquid."
    a"..."
    a"The boy doesn't tire of staring at me, and he continues."
    a"What... was that vision...?"
    a"Somehow I try to gather myself, trying to stay in the present."
    a"There's a boy here, he's- It's a little fairy- I tell myself, trying to be calm even though this startles me to no end."
    a"try... try not to think about it too much. If I think about it too much I might go insane and what good would that be?"
    a"..."
    a"His eyes melt into a calm blue, and I sigh..."
    a"He flaps his wings and flies towards me."
    a"Startled, I flinch and step back. He stops coming closer at that, but hovers in place, looking at me."
    a"... He continues to flap his wings softly to stay in the air. I can do nothing but stare at him, continuing my confused, dumbstruck gaze."
    a"... I don't know what to think about this."
    a"... But..."
    a"He doesn't seem to want to hurt me, at any rate."
    a"I suppose I shouldn't be afraid."
    a"... I feel my head softly and sigh to myself, still slightly shaken."
    a"\"u-Um... hello, I'm... I'm Tashen.\" I say to him."
    a"..."
    a"He seems to be staring at my mouth."
    a"Somehow I think he understood me. Perhaps I get that impression because his eyes changed color after my words. That makes sense, right?"
    a"But he could just as easily have not understood, and was just interested by the sounds I'd made."
    t"... Do you have name?"
    a"At this, he turns away from my mouth and looks to my eyes."
    a"I guess he understood that, too. However, though his eyes flow into reds and dark colors, he still doesn't say anything."
    t"Can you talk?"
    a"He puts a finger over his lips."
    t"You can't..."
    a"..."
    a"I stand in the empty classroom, looking only at the fairy, as he stares back in return."
    a"We stay like this for a long... silent while."
    a"... Hesitantly, I hold out my hand in case he'd want to sit on it."
    a"He accepts my offer and flies into it, letting himself rest his wings for a time."
    t"What are you doing in this place?"
    a"The little thing holds out his hand, and something appears inside it. It's a little piece of wood, and it has a white band attached to one side. It looks like an oddly shaped archery bow, but I feel that I'm probably wrong on that."
    a"He closes his eyes and moves the bow in the air, delicately and with precision, as if moving it across something."
    a"At first, I'm confused, but soon something fills the air."
    a"A lovely note..."
    a"... It relaxes me... and it seems to relax him as well. I don't know how to describe it... it's airy, and unlike any instrument I've ever heard before."
    a"And so, gradually, he plays a simple and ambient... song."
    a"\"amazing.\" I whisper..."
    a"As I say this, his notes fade, and the fairy's bow disappears."
    a"He opens his eyes gently, and looks back to me."
    $extraName="Ambient fairy"
    extra"..."
    a"I think of something and smile."
    a"That aura he gives off- this feeling of tranquility- it reminds me of the girl in the park..."
    t"So you've been making music here..."
    a"He doesn't nod, but his eyes stay on mine."
    extra"..."
    a"Looking out the window, I see the sun starting to fade."
    a"... It's time to go home, at least for today."
    a"... I shouldn't just leave this fairy here, though- especially since we've just met. Perhaps I should offer if he'd like to come home with me."
    a"I may be being naive, but from what I've seen from him and how I feel about him, he seems to be very peaceful at heart, and while I'm thinking, his eyes melt into various calm colors and he looks towards the sun as well."
    t"..."
    a"Besides, I don't want to hurt his feelings."
    t"Would you like to come with me? Or would you like to stay here?"
    a"After he directs himself back to me, I repeat the question."
    t"I've got to go home for today. If you'd like you can come with me, but I can't stay here."
    extra"..."
    t"It's alright if you don't want to. If you don't, I can probably just visit you some time tomorrow if you'd like."
    a"His eyes go black."
    a"..."
    t"Uh... are... you okay?"
    a"I feel the air around me go cold."
    a"He looks at me with his black eyes, while he flies out of my hand with his eagle's wings."
    $extraName="Fairy"
    extra"..."
    a"I can't look away."
    a"I try to, but I can't. I stare into those black eyes while the air around me gives me chills like creeping death."
    a"w-What? Wh..."
    a"It's... hard to breathe."
    a"I- I don't get it..."
    a"Icicles start to form on the ceiling, and it begins to snow in the small classroom."
    a"I can't move."
    a"Slowly, shadows around us stretch, and shards of ice begin to fall delicately... with grace."
    a"They slice into my shivering skin, and cut through my clothes..."
    a"I can't think anymore. I'm simply terrified."
    a"Terrified, drowning in his eyes. Those eyes that are so dark..."
    a"Terrified..."
    a"And then..."
    a"The ice vanishes, suddenly. My cuts are... healed- and the small, winged boy is nowhere to be seen."
    a"I stumble backward against a desk."
    a"I'm still shivering as I try hastily to gather myself again. To find some peace... To rest- even for just a moment."
    a"... I breathe... and realize as I look around that the sun has gone out completely."
    a"---"

[Reikun]

Uwah!!!! *A* What a generous snippet!! Thank you!! I won't ask for anymore for a long while >u<;;

I read the whole thing and it was lovely ~ I really like your writing style so far! This world you're making sounds so magical and scary at the same time. And what a beautiful scene.... *A* I could just imagine the fairy and his changing eyes and the ice appearing in the room and everything.. So mystifying and graceful... Be careful with your typing though! You typed "pored" instead of "poured," but that can easily be fixed! Keep up the LOVELY WORK~ I am even more excited for this game than ever before ♥

[SelLi]

yay ^^ and thank you- I wouldn't have noticed that typo myself since it's an actual word.
I'm glad you're looking forward to it. *nods* And you're too kind ^^;

[SelLi]

-No longer relevant-