Since the last DevLog, I've recruited a small team of volunteers, including an Editor,  Character Artist, and Lead Developer!!! I'm currently handling Project Management, Writing, Narrative Design, and GUI Design. Read to the end for some Next in Line world backstory!

Script Progress

Once I assembled a team, I felt it was important to actually dive into creating a script outline. I didn't do this originally when I began writing the common route, but I felt like it would be better to flesh it all out. The outline for the game overall isn't finished, but the outline for the common route is. Here's the direction:

• As I began outlining, I fleshed out my idea of allowing the player (MC)  to have  a few interactions which each possible LI before the game starts awarding affection points. I decided that the route will not be choosable but the player will fall into them based on their choices in the common route. I feel like this is a more natural progression and at least for the first play through, will allow the player to make the choices most in line with who they are and see where that leads them (if that's how they want to play). 
• I've made progress on  many aspects of world building and character development for the MC + Constantine.
• Endings are somewhat outlined and I've created some original poems which will be attached to different endings. 

Coding and Art

These are on stand-by while I work on the character dev and common route. I'm using an Excel sheet to track weekly goals. I would love to have a demo by the end of January! 

Survey

THANK YOU to those who responded to my survey! If you have two minutes, please consider doing so here. It's anonymous. 

Curious about the backstory of Castelon, the fantasy land where Next in Line is set? I wrote a backstory on the origins of Castelon and The Harbinger Ceremony, which our MC goes through at the beginning of the game. I've even considered that once Next in Line is finished, a prequel could be next, based on this backstory (but that's thinking way ahead. Check out the origins below....

Origins of Castelon and The Harbinger Ceremony

Original World by Victoria Nahley (@writingmysoul)

The country of Castelon was founded over 1000 years ago by a distant cousin of the Arandale monarchy. For as long as anyone can remember, the Arandale monarchy has reigned with an iron fist and each monarch has passed down their cruel way of life to their children. They enforce a harsh caste system:

Anyone proletariat, regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity, could become a slave. A farmer whose crop failed, which was then felt by the Lord of his land, negatively impacting the Crown. The child who stole bread from the wrong bakery to survive. Being labeled as a heretic by an Oracle. Anger, embarrass or rebel against the wrong powerful person and you could be ripped from your working-class life.

Most working-class families did anything they could to educate their children or exploit their talents. A select few with potential would rise to the Intelligentsia class - the academics, intellectuals, and strategists - who were immune from falling into the servus class, unless they committed a traitorous act. For most, joining the intelligentsia was only a dream. 

Arandale’s military was primarily made up of the servus class, with leadership being comprised of patricians. For those of the servus class, there was no way to rise in the ranks of the military. In times of peace, the military maintained training, while also serving as entertainment for the ruling class who enjoyed pitting their soldiers against each other in the capital’s amphitheater. 

Tired of the resistance she faced in working to gather support for the end of slavery and fearing for her life from those who profit off of the caste system, Ceridwen Castellonia fled Arandale with a few dozen of the hundreds of revolutionaries she had garnered support from. After 5 rocky months at sea, they discovered an uninhabited island, known today as Castelon, and put down roots. Over the next several years, Ceridwen’s supporters fled Arandale through any means. At the same time, those seeking refuge in Castelon spread the word of Castelon and the hope it brought. More and more people came….

Ceridwen began Castelon’s royal line, with her descendants still in charge today. She had two heirs, but as they grew older, she worried they could become corrupted, as her fellow Arandalians had. To prevent abuse by the royal family, she worked with her advisors, many of whom were former intelligentsia, to create The Harbinger Ceremony. 

It decreed that for as long as Castelon was a country, the next in line for the throne would, upon their 21st birthday, become a co-monarch with the current ruler(s) for a period of one year. Should they fail in their duties, they would be removed from the line of succession. During the Year of the Harbinger, the Heir is closely observed by the Oracle. Unlike Arandale, Castelon would only have one Oracle, who would commune with the Gods and guide The Harbinger. 

On the 21st birthday of Ceridwen’s eldest child, a ball was held and the first Harbinger Ceremony was performed. The Oracle asked the Heir to recite the following, deemed The Harbinger Creed:

“Astra inclinant, sed non obligant. 

Non ducor duco.

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam.”

Afterward, the Heir would place their new crown on their own head - to symbolize that they acknowledge the weight a ruler must bear and they bring fate upon themselves. The Oracle then completed The Harbinger Ceremony with this blessing:

“Alea iacta est. May the Gods protect Castelon and Its Royal Highness, Heir of Castelon, The Harbinger.”

It was determined that the Oracle would commune with the Gods at the end of the one-year period to announce whether the Gods bless The Harbinger (or not) as the Rightful Heir to the throne. 

Thoughts? Let me know!

-Victoria