This is my 2016 December Ballad Contest entry

Note: Any items are in the girl's inventory.

Also, this entry is quite short, but there are several endings.

Beware some of the things in here as they're quite... unfriendly.

As I told Leora: "My story is about a cat that wants to save a human village. :D"

Village and town are used interchangeably. I suppose you could say the village is developing into a town in the time frame of the story.

The "At Night" page is pretty much the same for every path.

Each path sheds light on different aspects of Cat and his backstory (as well as everyone else's), so reading through 2/5 endings will give you a decent picture. Every choice offers its own unique path with the exception of one or two. There are 5 Epilogues and 1 Stupid Ending. Diminishing humanity, hunger, insanity, and darkness all feature in this storygame.

Enjoy! :3

Emperor Jianwen, or Zha Yunwen, fled the Ming Palace after his uncle rebelled against him. It is said that he left in disguise as a Buddhist monk and fled to Southeast China. The fate of the second Ming emperor is unknown.

Lai Chun was the creator of Eagle Claw Fantsi martial arts, and he passed his skills to his students. Tao Chiag learned this martial arts, and since its creation, it has been passed on. I'm not sure of the exact date of its creation, but it should be around the time of the early Ming Dynasty.

Other Characters:

Fang Xiaoru was given the "extermination of ten degrees of kinship" for refusing to write an inaugural address for Zhu Di, the Yongle Emperor and third Ming emperor.

Admiral Zheng He, leader of the Chinese Treasure Fleet, may have been sent by the Ming emperor to find and capture Emperor Jianwen.

Paths/Tips/Endings:

1) There is a secret path that involves romance.

2) A high SCORE can provide a secure ending. In the beginning, SCORE is obtained by making decisions considered correct and proper.

3) There is one normal ending, three special endings, one death ending (with several ways to reach it), and one secret ending.

Notes:

1) I've combined some of the aspects of the new and old Ming palaces into one portrayed in the beginning of the story.

2) Money is in silver coins (often strung together).

3) Yunwen is the emperor's personal name. Jianwen is the name of his era of the reign's name, and he is referred to as the latter (or simply "Majesty") by his subordinates.

4) The poem on "Nightfall" page is a real poem by Wang Wei, a late Ming Dynasty female poet. I translated/interpreted it (with some help from a native Chinese speaker), and it was hard. I used this instead of a poem I made up because I felt that it'd be a better representation of Chinese poetry than anything I could conjure.

5) Real People: Zhu Yunwen (2nd Ming Emperor), Zhu Di (3rd Ming Emperor), Xiaominrang (2nd Ming Empress), Fang Xiaoru (2nd Emperor's Advisor), Lai Chun (creator Eagle Claw Fantsi martial arts), Tao Chiag (student of Lai Chun), Zhang Sanfeng (Creator of Taichi).

6) This is likely false, but I make Zhu Yunwen and Tao Chiag the same person; Tao Chiag is just his alias.

7) Journey to the West and Water Margin are both one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. The former was written in the Ming Dynasty, and the latter was set in the Song dynasty (prior to the Ming). I felt that they were suitable additions to the novel even though they were published after the time. Like Wang Wei's poem, I felt that these books are a better potrayal of Chinese culture than anything I could conjure.

8) The Fuzhou referred to in this storygame is NOT the one in Fujian, which is by the ocean and not a river. DAYS and MOVES are not applicable until you are in the city of Fuzhou.

9) Extermination of nine degrees of kinship was the most severe punishment, and Fang Xiaoru's punishment was the first that was "ten degrees". This meant killing him, his family, his extended family, children (there was often an age limit), cousins, etc. I believe ten kinships means ten families in his family tree.

Acknowledgements:

A big thanks and hugs to Saika, Alekos, and MinnieKing for beta-reading my storygame! :D And dealing with me, as usual.

To some, it's called the "Forgotten Holocaust of World War II". The atrocities committed in the Pacific theater of war during World War II are arguably the most inhumane and cruel acts done in all of human history.

Play as either Zhaoluo or Li, a pair of stepsisters, along with a touch of enemy perspective.

Endings: 3 Normal Epilogues, 2 Special Epilogue (an altered version of a normal epilogue due to at least one choice), 2 Normal Endings, 2 Death Endings.

Notes:
1. I do not intend to discriminate against any group; I think that all types of people can be very nice and kind, and I'm writing in both sides' possible perspectives, so keep that in mind. Also keep in mind that the Japanese and Chinese had always had tensions between them, and their bias against the other can be very strong.
2. I've taken some creative liberties with the story, which include making up appearances for real people/characters and the lack of police officers and guards in the camp the protagonist resides in. It is historical fiction after all. Oh, and I'm pretty sure that some of the swear words I used don't really exist in Chinese, but my knowledge in that area is not too good.
3. Information found are on various sources listed at the end of the main path (the most boring path, of course).
4. Although much of it is optional, and because I can't write such things very well, there will be mentions and mild descriptions of violence, gore, rape/forced incest, decapitation/removal of body parts, and other dark subjects. Viewer discretion advised.
5. Update (1): Thanks you, StrykerL, for the critique. I've incorporated most of the tips. Future Updates (?): Extended paths, Hidesada Path.

Acknowledgements:

Thanks to TharaApples for beta-reading. :D Also, I'd like to also mention Orange and MinnieKing for (keeping me entertained and) helping each other procrastinate during our time with all this: *gestures wildly*. Of course, for also shoving each other toward the finish line (he he). Oh, and Steve24833: Thanks for a few informational pointers and stuff. Thanks to the people who've given writing advice to me in my time here because they were very helpful.

If you notice anything wrong, incorrect, or otherwise... odd, please let me know! ^-^

Enjoy. :D

Accurate

Nah. My choice doesn't really change depending on how this whole thing works. I'm pretty sure I'm asexual, but I know I'm also straight. Is that contradictory?

Edit: Or does that just mean I haven't found someone that gets me going haha.

Can I update my choice?

Thanks so much for this! Once I scrounge up some monies, I shall take a closer look at that very adorable penguin mug. ^_^

Googled what that was before I read your post. Oops.

Well, I'm glad he's mentally healthier. ^_^

What happened to Malk's previous account? I didn't realize it was him until you mentioned it. Also, I'll tone it down a little and just work on my storygame! ^_^

Heresy

Apologies! :D

Is something the matter, good sir?