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Update 26/04 - 2024

Hey everyone!

Here's the writing update for April. I've finished the first drafts of 2 backgrounds (aristocrat and nomad) and written a little less than half or so of the final background (scavenger).

This month hasn't been the best one writing-wise. My old laptop broke down and I lost a few hours worth of progress due to a saving-related issue. I've also struggled with writer's block and it was only around yesterday it started to ease up. It's frustrating to deal with, but something everyone who writes will likely encounter at some point or another. I try to remind myself of that when I feel like I'm not doing enough. Since writing has felt smoother yesterday and today, I'm hoping that I can finish up the first drafts completely by the end of April/beginning of May.

Things are slowly coming together and I'm just happy to be in a place where I'm in more of a flow again.

I plan to release 1 or 2 more character portraits in May and post another writing snippet along with more information about each background. I'm also working on answering some asks that I've left as drafts for now since they require more long and thought-out answers.

Thank you so much for the support and patience as always <3 see you in May!

#interactive fiction #unsanctioned #if #writing #update #writing update

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Update 27/3 - 2024

Hello everyone!

Sorry that this update comes a little bit late; I've been pretty busy with real life obligations these past few days.

I'm still working on the three backgrounds for the prologue. I've finished the first draft of the Aristocrat background along with half of the first draft of the Nomad background. I've also started on the Scavenger background, though it'll likely be finished last.

The first draft of the Aristocrat background ended up longer than I expected, so I'm working on making sure that the other two backgrounds remain more or less around the same word count without feeling too rushed or dragged out.

Since I don't want to rush out the demo, I'll refrain from putting an estimate on its release, but it's unlikely it'll be released at the end of April like I last predicted due to the added content of the backstories. Progress is still going smoothly however, and I reached 100k words this month which I'm really happy about!

By next month's update I should have the first drafts of all the backgrounds finished and also hopefully have started editing the content for the upcoming demo.

Thank you as always for your patience, support and interest in this project <3

#interactive fiction #if #unsanctioned #writing #update #writing update

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UPDATE #3 12/3

WOOOO some new stuff got added during the last month and i will be able to write a lot more in the coming week :)

i wrote a total of 10k words ever since the last update, excluding code. a lot of those new words are repetetive because the scenarios are similar with some things tweaked, but something is better than nothing!

next time i get to writing again, i'll finally be close to introducing two characters that will have a reoccuring role in the IF, so i am very excited about that. until next time :D

#of a patron and its chains #twine wip #interactive fiction #if #WOO UPDATE

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Update 25/2 - 2024

Hello everyone!

Time for the monthly writing update. I've pretty much finished the first draft for chapter 1 (I thought it'd be finished a few months ago already but ended up adding quite a bit of content after that), and have almost finished the first draft of the Aristocrat background.

Initially, I estimated the origin/background stories to be roughly around 10k words each, but I'm nearing that word count now and it looks like they'll probably end up a bit longer than that.

Although I won't be giving any exact word counts anymore until everything's more polished (since the final word count might vary), I'm now at 80k+ words and progress is going smoothly. My goal for the rest of the month and March is to finish the first drafts of all 3 backgrounds and edit them + edit chapter one. I'm feeling hopeful about the progress I've made and if everything goes as planned, I might have the demo ready for release by the end of April. This is a very rough estimate however.

The demo will include the prologue, chapter one, and potentially what I've got so far of chapter 2 if I feel like it's ready for release. I'll let you know either in the next update or the April update.

I'm also really happy to share a drawing of Wren my friend made for my birthday <3 thank you so much Robe <3 <3 and thanks to all of you for the patience and support!

#interactive fiction #if #unsanctioned #writing #update #art #character art

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Cirern

Time always seemed to haunt him. Its indifference to mortal suffering, its relentless march forward – it all hung over him like a heavy cloak he couldn’t remove. Like a ruler burdened with the knowledge that their life first and foremost belongs to their subjects, so too did Cirern feel bound by the unyielding grip of time.

Character portraits by holyantenna and mooreaux

#unsanctioned #interactive fiction #if #writing #character art #commission #holyantenna #mooreaux #cirern #art

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Wait, is our elven mentor/captor a possible RO or am I misunderstanding?

Oh, no. I can see how that'd be confusing since all of the characters presented in the intro post are ROs except for him, but Cirern is NOT an RO.

I will probably add other key characters who are not ROs to the intro post later on (and maybe specify who's an RO and who isn't, if things become too unclear). But that section is a preview of the main cast rather than of the available romance options :)

#unsanctioned #interactive fiction #if #ask #anon ask #romance options #ro

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Wren is so pretty 🥺

Aww <3 I agree, @mooreaux and @holyantenna (and @whiteirisif ) made them so incredibly pretty.

#interactive fiction #if #unsanctioned #wren #sometimes I just stare at the artwork of them between writing sessions #<3 #character art #anon ask

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I'm curious, but do feel free to not answer if it has already been answered in the past. Astra is a vampire, but she also looks human. Is vampirism something that can only affect humans, or can other races be turned into a vampire too? Or is it a situation of vampires being entirely a race of its own, and that they're able to procreate like other races?

And if it's a case of vampires turning others, would the MC down the line, or in an epilogue or something, be able to be turned to be with Astra? I don't know what a vampire lifespan looks like in your game, but I would imagine most people that romance her, would want that 'ideal' happily ever after with her, where Mc's lifespan won't get in the way of that assuming vampires don't age at all, or do so incredibly slowly.

Hey, thank you so much for the ask! That's a good question.

Vampirism can affect any race, but is more likely to happen to humans and elves. Cryn have sturdier skin that's crystallized in places, which makes them a more difficult target for vampires in general.

Giving the MC the option to turn into one isn't something I have planned as of right now, regardless of chosen race. The main reason for this is that it'd significantly change what the MC would be able to do/not do; there are smaller things such as not being able to walk in sunlight, which would mean specific branching down the line and adding some extra alternative paths. This wouldn't be much of a problem however since I've already included flavor-text depending on race, background etc. and will continue to do so where it makes sense in the story.

What would be a problem, though, is the fact that vampires in this universe can't cast or use magic themselves. Which, considering the plot of "Unsanctioned", would make things tricky to say the least.

To be clear: vampires can still be influenced by magic and spells (whether they affect them negatively or positively), but they lose the potential/ability to use it when they turn.

Whether or not that's one of the endings you can get...maybe? Even if it's something I'd decided for certain one way or another, I wouldn't reveal that info at this time since it'd be a bit too spoilery :) I haven't planned for all of the various endings you can get yet. Some I have in mind and others will come to me as I continue writing.

In short, never say never, but I can't make any promises! I hope that makes sense.

#unsanctioned #interactive fiction #if #ask #astra #vampirism

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I have a feeling this is going to be super good

That makes me so happy to hear. I'm having a lot of fun planning the story and also letting things flow as I write. I really hope you'll enjoy it once it's released!

#unsanctioned #interactive fiction #if #writing #ask #anon ask

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Main cast's MBTI types? Thank you!

Hi, thanks a lot for the ask!

I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to MBTI types, so please take this with a grain of salt:

Azora - ENTP or ESTP (The Debater/The Entrepreneur)

Astra - ISFJ (The Defender)

Wren - ENTJ or INTJ (The Commander/The Architecht)

Muir - INFJ or INFP (The Advocate/The Mediator)

Kirin - ISTJ (The Logistician)

Cirern - INTP (The Logician)

#interactive fiction #unsanctioned #if #ask #anon ask #mbti types #mbti personality types

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Update 25/1 - 2024

Hello everyone!

First update of the new year. Although I don't have that much to report, I'm happy to announce that I've reached 70.000 words by this month.

In February I'll start writing full time for a while, so I expect progress to be a lot quicker during that time. I'm considering making a roadmap to give you a better idea of when the demo can be expected to release, too.

I'm having a lot of fun with the writing process and really can't wait to dedicate more time to it!

I'll also try and answer some asks this weekend. Thank you for your patience and support <3

#interactive fiction #if #unsanctioned #writing #update

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new words! UPDATE 14/11

an update like this won't be regular, so don't get used to it. however after a huge writers block and after so much on my mind, i managed to continue writing on my IF and add new 2.6k words, which isn't a lot per se, but i am happy to have managed to write even anything :) i hope this will continue and i'll be able to write about that much every night i sit down and get to typing lol

i still have a bunch of notes in my memos about things i want to include, but damn- this will be a long demo

#I forgot to rb this #in fact I didnt even see it because tumblr doesnt show me new stuff #of a patron and its chains #writing update #interactive fiction #if #twine wip #small update #update

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To celebrate making an intro post, here's a fan art of Wren from @unsanctioned-if and Nadir side by side 🫡 our braincells synched while creating these meow meows

#whiteiris #Nadir #unsanctionedIf #Wren #if #interactive fiction #characters #djfhsjf #siblings from different universes for sure <3 #art #character art

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"Living with yourself is hard. Living without yourself is even harder."

Demo (release date: when the time is right)

Part One: Memories of the Phoenix

Intro: In this world, magic is split in two, no longer something one individual could wield all on their own. Instead, the art is now divided and shared between those who write spells on enchanted talismans and those who unleash the power. From this discovery, the roles of Casters and Enchanters were born. This brings us to Nanta, the ever-bustling port city near the shores of Fen – known as the sea of stars – that is home to many who seek knowledge rather than fish. Some claim that it's the epicentre not only of trade but also magic across the continent of Yulan, and they're right. Stationed on its hills is the proud Academy of Dives, which houses thousands of children and young adults of all upbringings and social standing, teaching them the art of either enchanting or casting.

You are one of those lucky students - a caster with the highest magical strength across the entire Academy paired with an equally impressive enchanter to write talismans for you. Life handed you the easiest path to glory on a silver platter.

So, what was preventing you from dominating the world at the tender age of fourteen?

Merely the fact that you want none of it.

Features:

Play as a depressed kid in a fantasy world filled with magic. It's not the best place to have mental issues. Either you or the world will have to adapt.

Try to change your bad habits - wake up on time and attend classes like everyone else. You could even show up to write the midterm exam! Or succumb to the endless cycle of running away from your problems. There's no shame in that, only consequences.

Meddle with the life of another student and help them decide their fate. You could even stop an ancient ritual from happening if you're lucky.

Mend or worsen the relationship between you and the enchanter assigned to you. Just how deep does his patience run?

Characters:

Nadir - Enchanter

Nadir is your enchanter and the first-ever friend you made after arriving in the Academy, though you doubt he shares your opinion. He is everything a student should be and everything you are not. Even though you both share a rare gift, only one of you appreciates it, which often leads to arguments between you.

Shuli - Enchanter

Shuli is your beloved roommate. She agreed to stay behind with you in the abandoned dorms, which has made your life easier. Her kindness and patience towards you knows no bounds, and when you squint, you can almost see a shining halo on top of her head. If you hadn't seen her beat up a bunch of thieves with her bare hands, you, too, would be fooled into thinking of her as someone on the weaker side.

Eris - Caster

Eris is called ‘The Darling of the Academy’ due to being everyone's favorite despite being quite the troublemaker. You even heard that so far they never lost in a single popularity contest due to their beautiful doll-like face, but that is pretty much all you know about them. That is, until - all of a sudden - they start randomly approaching you all the time.

Other Characters:

Sol & Leto

Leto and Sol - the inseparable duo with completely opposing personalities. Sol glares at people like she never had a peaceful day in her life - while Leto is a walking cloud full of smiles. People wonder how these two get along so well. You may find the answer to that soon enough.

Kara

Kara is the spirit you bonded with when you were seven. He is the closest thing you have to a family.

Gias

A carefree soul that also happens to be a teacher. Gias is a mysterious person, and you suspect they know more than they let on.

Not recommended for people that don't like:

Slice of life, age progression - or who want to play a touch-averse or a completely blank mc

Credits:

Help with the intro post @unsanctioned-if

#interactive fiction #work in progress #whiteiris #if recs #if #wip #bff made an intro post <3

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25/12 - 2023

Hey everyone!

Once again, apologies for the slightly late update. I'm going to try and keep it within a window between the 20 - 25 of every month from here on out, just in case I'm unable to update on exactly the 20th in the future as well.

Last month I caught covid, and work has been pretty hectic as it tends to be this time of year. I'd taken this into account beforehand and didn't expect to get a whole lot of writing done until January, as (I think?) I mentioned in a previous update.

It seems I'm once again catching a cold (tis the season), and aside from that I'll need to focus on my daily job for the remainder of December. Unfortunately, this means not much progress has been made and might not be made this month.

The good news is that January should be a lot calmer, and that I'll be able to dedicate a lot more of January and primarily February to writing "Unsanctioned". If everything goes according to plan, I should have way more to show when the time comes for next month's update.

I wish you all happy holidays, no matter how you spend them. Thank you as always for your patience, understanding and support <3

In the meantime, have childhood Muir (from chapter 1) made by a very talented friend of mine (@gorpancake) Thank you so much for this drawing <3 <3 <3

#interactive fiction #unsanctioned #writing #if #update #muir #gorpancake

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Kirin | @unsanctioned-if

#holyantenna #commission #character art #interactive fiction #kirin #thank you so much for all your hard work <3 #unbelievable skill #seriously

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Snippet #3

As promised, here's a small snippet from chapter 1. Please note that it's not completely edited and that wording and content might change in the final draft.

There are three different flavor-text options here depending on the background you've chosen for your MC at the beginning. These are going to pop up a lot throughout chapter one. I decided to include all three of them in this excerpt to give a small look at how they differ from one another.

Aristocrat = A noble upbringing in the capital.

Nomad = A childhood spent with a community that moves from place to place.

Scavenger = The MC was the only child in a ragtag group who search for discarded items to sell.

Enjoy!

“You must be famished,” Cirern stated, not bothering to phrase his words as an inquiry. “Allow me.”

With one swift motion, he gave a quick and quiet snap of his fingers. You waited silently, expecting something to happen. Seconds passed, but the man did not stir again. Though hunger gnawed at your stomach, rendering you tired and weak, you couldn’t help but to wonder whether he was somehow testing you.

You didn’t take note of the faint whirring at first. It wasn’t until it grew into a discernible noise that you turned your head to the side, perplexedly regarding your surroundings. Unable to hold yourself back, you let out a gasp as your eyes found the source of the odd, intrusive sound.

A figure had appeared by one of the room’s openings, though it was no being of flesh and bone. Matted gold clad the figure, reminiscent of armour rather than skin. Cogwheels turned inside of its exposed chest, methodically and cooperatively. The face resembled that of a human, but where a person would have eyes, two hallowed holes stared back. A straight nose and curved, metallic lips completed the face, but you weren’t certain whether the attempt at making it pass as something humanoid made the sight more or less unnerving.

Aristocrat: You knew of these creations, though you had never laid eyes on one other than the drawings included in books. "Automatons" they were called, artificial life created from clockwork, originally hailing from Ciralor to the south.

Scavenger: You had witnessed these types of creations in the past, though never one made in the image of a person and never one that hadn’t long since stopped operating. Scraps of metal here and there, most commonly. If your memory served you correctly, they originated from Ciralor to the south.

Nomad: You swallowed, mesmerized by – or struck with fear of – the strange creature.

“An automaton,” said the man to you in an explanatory fashion. “A machine built to serve mortal men. It will cause us no harm.”

The automaton’s movements were stale and jerking, lacking the natural grace that organic beings possessed. Yet it advanced across the room, towards you, without noticeable difficulty."

#unsanctioned #interactive fiction #if #writing #excerpt #snippet