For End Master's Manifest Destiny Contest.

"Welcome to the experiment. A man is dead, and you have to find his killer. There will be a list of rules in your room once this briefing is over, but all you really need to know is this: There are five of you, but only one can solve the mystery. You will be given five days. Each night, one of you will die - no more, no less.

Ready? Even if you're not, it doesn't matter. You're in my world now."
 

This is also a War on Intfiction contribution.

Note: Aside from a few references to Dreamtruder characters/ events, this storygame is a standalone.

It is my first time writing a mystery storygame on this site, so I would appreciate if you could leave feedback on whether this mystery was too easy/ difficult to solve. If you find yourself stuck, don't hesitate to message me directly. That being said, do not feel discouraged if you are bewildered at first; as you progress further in the game, the clues and secrets would make everything clearer. Eventually, the secrets you find would allow you to make sense of most clues except a few, and these would point to the killer.

Make use of the notebook, which would keep track of the information you gained from the interviews and the secrets you may find out. Also, check the item descriptions of all the objects since some of these would have to be 'used' in order to access some clues.

Once you've solved the mystery, there are 3 possible endings you could get. Only one of these actually results in returning back to the 'real world'. If you're looking for this 'true ending', it requires you to play through the last of the five days rather than just skipping to the end and guessing the answer.

Good luck surviving the Halloween experiment!

Beneath the seas, hidden from the Ones Above, our society goes about our normal, routinely lives. I cannot help but feel bored with all that is going on, until I find the letter. A letter that sends me on a journey to deliver a magical item to the group of people that have been villainized over the years, the letter that challenges everything I thought I knew. But which side is on the side of good? How can I break out of the only world I have ever known? Should I join the heroic villains or the villainous hero? I have finally gotten the adventure I always needed, but not exactly the one I wanted.

(Edit - note from the author: I'll be going through the process of fixing any bugs/ problems in this storygame soon, like the inescapable loops, so apologies for those who encounter these or any other issues caused by the upcoming changes).

Note: This game was created for Camelon's break contest. During the part where a specialist is assigned to the breakers, there are three different paths (Lawbreaker, Breaker of People and Breaker and Enterer). Due to time constraints, for those who would like to know, Breaker of People is the longest path, followed by Lawbreaker and Breaker and Enterer, but aside from the epilogues, it all leads to the same chapter 5. As before, feel free to comment or message me if you encounter any issues or problems that I should fix.

"The delicate balance between the dream world and the real world is disrupted. You intruded and messed up the dream of an innocent. By talking about this with an Unknowing, the possibility of the dreamstage being unveiled is now greater than ever. The Jury has made a decision - we have no choice but to send you to The Jungle..."

Life was hard, balancing work and relaxation. Then the nightmares came, and all I ever wanted was to be free of them. Yet, I never accounted for this - finding out the truth about the dream world, exploring the vast plane of the imagination...only to be whisked away to the longest nightmare ever. 

Think a jungle's bad? Try a fictional jungle, where literally anything can happen, and the most creative minds have conspired to give you a hard time.

Note: This game was created for Mizal's 'Welcome to the Jungle' contest. There are several epilogues, and while the main one is the normal Dreamtruder path, others include Dream director, Dreamcaster, Dreamediator, and Dreamhero. Fancy a challenge? Try completing the Jungle challenge without picking up any dreampowers - it's possible, but requires a bit of thinking and planning ahead. Also, for some items, click the 'use' button as a link would not be provided (if this is the case, it would be specified in the object description)

Since this would be my first published storygame, I am still relatively new to this. Feel free to message me or spam the comments if you encounter any issues, have any suggestions for improvement, or just have something you want to say.

Enjoy!

A quest doomed from the start. A man with an unwavering yet unusual moral compass. A daughter in the darkest depths of the night sky.

It isn't truly over until all hope is lost.

'Good and evil, heroes and villains… they are all fantasies created by the world. There are only two types of people: the people you care about, and the people you don’t.'

Arnold Cyzila's best life may have been long since over, but he would do anything to save his daughter from the clutches of her confinement. Even stealing an airplane, killing the innocent, and entering a dangerous world where death is almost guaranteed. 

[Warning: There are some mentions of murder, deaths and several dark themes, so if those things make you uncomfortable, perhaps it is better not to read this story.]

Note: I initially did not plan on joining this contest, yet I'm glad I did since it has motivated me to publish a new storygame. It is related to Dreamtruder in a way… well, you’ll see. While this story may not be as long as my previous two, it was interesting to write a shorter project. 

Just like all my other storygames, commenting and rating this story are both highly welcomed and appreciated. Also, as I have used quite a lot of variables in several fight scenes, let me know if you ever encounter a page where there are no visible links. 

Lastly, there are a few different epilogues but the 'main' one would be an epilogue which mirrors the start of the story (you'll know it when you see it). There are three possible ways to reach that. Even though I may consider it to be the true ending, it is not a typical happy ending.

For EndMaster's Prompt Contest

Prompt: A story involving an old Oriental style setting
 

A simple quest for revenge turns into a deadly competition.

The Shi Empires, governed by the Ten Emperors, appear to be undefeatable. But Liu Longyi's desire to avenge Mother tranports her to four deadly battles, marked by the sudden appearance of a chaos deity.

As she battles competitors for the throne, Liu Longyi learns the truth about the mighty Shi Empires, along with the most closely guarded secret of Yue Palace. 

Author's Notes:

1. This story makes use of delayed consequences, so replaying would grant different outcomes, even if they aren't always visible at first.
2. There are some instances of violent and slightly mature content, so reader's discretion is advised.
3. If you prefer to read the storygame in the same browser, you could click the title page instead of the 'play' button.

Hope you enjoy the storygame!

For EndMaster's Prompt Contest 2

Prompt: A story involving fairies in some way


 

"Save your breath. We both know how this story ends."

As a spellsinger from an illustrious family, Aubrynne Spelwinter has always sought greatness. Yet, in an attempt to shatter a notorious curse, she becomes one of its casters.

In seven days, the curse will take effect. However, Aubrynne's mission leads to an unlikely alliance with the Cursed King, with whom she races against the clock to save her kingdom from conquests and faceless enemies.

Author's notes: 

1. There are 5 epilogues and it'll be obvious which the 'main' one is. 
2. This is a retelling of a classic fairytale, Sleeping Beauty, although aside from a few plot points, it features unique characters, settings, and narratives.
3. If you prefer to read the storygame in the same browser, you could click the title page instead of the 'play' button.

Hope you enjoy the storygame!

Link to video trailer: https://imgur.com/9T3UWTW

If you don't like letters, extremely short stories or cliched moral lessons, don't read this. I found it when I was browsing through the old storygames I had created a long time ago. If I'm not mistaken, this was made for Mizal's Tiny 'Topias jam although I never really thought it was good enough to add to the thread. I don't think I'll publish this, but it's completed if anyone happens to browse my profile and wants to read it.

On a dark and chilly night, you visit the Skeleton to ask for hints in order to solve the mystery of 'A Hunted and Haunted Halloween'.

If you find yourself stuck while trying to complete A Hunted and Haunted Halloween, this is the guide for you! Since it is a walkthrough, there are bound to be spoilers, so I recommend reading the storygame before referring to this.

Do let me know if you find any inconsistencies between the storygame and this walkthrough. As this would remain unpublished, I should be able to fix errors rather quickly.

That's all from me. Enjoy!

Thanks for the reminder. I assumed everyone forgot about that lol. I wrote a few more paragraphs of the third step a couple weeks back, planning to possibly publish the full version as an article instead, though I put it aside to work on reviews. 

Step 1 - create cool characters

Step 2 - make them do cool things

Step 3 - end the story in a cool way

Hope that's helpful :)

Speaking of bees, Bezro, I recommend this well-researched, informative storygame Ogre has written about them: link

Back when I wrote Spell of Slumber, I attended an online writing webinar and read a few articles on this topic, though I can summarize most of the advice in three key points.

1. Balanced Dynamics

First, you have to make sure your characters are balanced. One of the most common reasons people aren't invested in a romantic relationship is because they don't like one of the characters or hink that one character doesn't deserve the other. This occurs when you have a one-dimensional love interest who is just there for the protagonist to pursue, or if one of the characters is a perfect angel whereas the other has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Therefore, make them both equally as likable and relatable. Note: you could still play around with characters of varying levels of morality or internal struggles, but just make sure that the reader actually cares about what happens to both of them. Even if this isn't the case at the start, as the story develops, the reader must find the love interest 'good enough' for the protagonist to remain emotionally invested or vice versa.

One easy way is to make them both equally desired/ talked positively about by other characters. Another is to ensure they do an equal number of good or bad things to/ for each other. In SoS, I rewrote entire scenes because one character was acting too hostile while the other became too accomodating instead. It's all about give and take. But this doesn't mean the main couple has to be likable either. In a certain book which I can't mention due to spoilers, both protagonists are equally bad people so when they end up together again, the reader is satisfied with this ending.

2. Compatibility

Malk already mentioned the gist of this, but you must show why these characters are meant for each other. Is there a reason the protagonist should end up with this other person, as opposed to another side character or even the antagonist? Answer this question consistently throughout the storygame, whether through moments where they challenge one another to grow, help each other correct their misbeliefs, or discover that they understand one another like no other side character can. 

A technique I like is to temporarily put your main couple with different people, make things go badly, and have them realize how much their true love interest actually complements them. Alternatively, tropes like forcing them to work together to show their combined strength or have them support each other in difficult times may be helpful. Just be careful that it doesn't become a toxic trauma bond instead.

3. Affection

Your characters have to bond, whether this means sharing secrets or letting down their guard around the other person. There's a rule that goes something like this: if they have to kiss for the reader to know they're in love, you're not writing the romance well. Even if they start with an awkward first encounter or begin by hating one another, as the story goes on, allow their dynamics to naturally change. 

My favorite scenes are: deep conversations (potentially with arguments to show a clash of beliefs), us-vs-the-world mentality (use it for high stakes stories) and saving one another from danger (physically, emotionally, etc). Some characterization ideas include: an independent character being forced to rely on one another, a betrayed character learning to trust again (you could add a plot twist if you want to play with readers' emotions) or basically any characters that can overcome a misbelief through the relationship. It also helps to give both characters a goal that isn't falling in love, as this makes them better developed characters. Bonus points if their goals conflict with one another's. 

Bonus tips based on comments I've received:

"The magic of a good romance is for me that the couple has to have a life of their own beyond their romantic interest, but by being together with their loved one makes them a better person overall."
--- Darius

"I've read a lot of bad romance in fantasy as it seems to take a backseat to the action that's going on in the story. I loved how you have woven it into the narrative."
--- Axxius

"It reminded me of how the strongest relationships often begin with that rare ability to just be ourselves, flaws and all, with someone else."
--- MrCrimson

You're right, I retract everything I've said. There's no way I can even begin to understand a course as overwhelmingly challenging as graphic design. No one, not even those who work 24/7 or run their own companies, can ever even dream of living up to the struggle that Ravenic is going through. She has to create entire thumbnails and watch LinkedIn videos, how could graphic design majors have time for anything else? I can only sympathize with her plight from afar, offering words of encouragement that would likely go unheard. 

I'm not in college for Graphic design, but I'm studying Law and Business at university. That means I frequently spend all day from 9am to 7pm on campus attending lectures and seminars, and working on readings, case notes and research assignments. (A helpful tip for long reading lists or lecture videos: split the work with other students you can trust and share notes with each other). On top of that, I still have time to travel, attend events and contribute to this site.

In my first year, as I adjusted to living abroad for the first time, I managed to write Spell of Slumber (which was 100k words and won a contest here) and still managed to get first class grades (the highest tier of grades in my uni).

In my second year, I admit that I disappeared from the site for a bit. But I returned at the end of the semester, when assignments were the heaviest, and I wrote 6 feature-length reviews. That year, not only did I get first-class grades, but I also received the highest standing in my entire year group for the business modules (this year I'm aiming for top in law too).

So, I'll say this: time may be limited. But you can always find a way. I've written reviews on trains, revised storygame scenes during my lunch breaks, and read legal cases on buses to campus. Yes, I still have time to watch movies and hang out with my friends. But if you're looking for actual advice, here we go.

1. Plan around your commitments

Often, these are the only blocks of time which are set in stone. This includes: work shifts, lectures, seminars and important meetings. (Lunch breaks and transit time does not count, as you can still use these productively). Put them down on your calendar or plan for the day. Now, see all those other empty hours? That's free time. Unless your commitments literally take up every single hour, in which case you won't be posting here, you can't claim to have "no time".

2. Analyze your working patterns

The next step is to optimize your schedule. Think of when you work best: is it in the morning or night? Place your most mentally or physically demanding tasks there. For me, I perform best in the morning as soon as I wake up, so I schedule most demanding tasks then and have them dwindle in difficulty as the day goes on. It may take some time for you to discover your energy and motivation patterns. 

3. Eliminate distractions & time sinks

What wastes most of your time? For me, it used to be doom scrolling, especially when it was self-help or motivational videos since those gave me the illusion of being productive. At another point in time, it was sudokus (just something about that quick wins made me feel smart lol).

Identify what these are, then actively stop allowing them to waste your time. Whenever I go into deep work mode, I literally put my phone away and do not touch it until my session is over. I once came up with a gamified productivity system for myself once, where I had to finish tasks, score points and each time I wanted to watch a video or movie, I needed to 'purchase' that with my points. That may help, provided you don't use creating this system as a distraction.

4. Rest productively

This tip has helped me the most. When I was tired, I used to watch youtube videos or Netflix movies, which drained me even more. Don't get me wrong: you can still do these things, but not as a substitute for rest. Otherwise you're just procrastinating.

If you're tired, take a 20 minutes power nap (scientifically proven to be the best amount of time for this) and then return to work. Alternatively, if you're mentally tired, go to the gym or take a walk. If you're both mentally and physically tired, choose a low-energy activity to do. My favourite is designing things on Canva, whether that is making a cover page for my CYS storygames or playing around with a template for my marketing presentation.

5. Manage motivation

At some point, you'll be asking yourself why it even matters. Who cares about being productive? Why not just live based on what brings you joy in the moment?

Time is a precious resource, and personally, I feel better knowing that I've invested it into becoming a person I would be proud of. This involves learning new skills, taking on overambitious projects and actually completing the tasks I start. It's also a small act of rebellion in a world that tries to steal away your time through dopamine-rewarding games and social media algorithms that try to keep you on the app as long as possible. At the end of each day, I just want to go to bed fully convinced that I did not waste my time today.

My advice is to write whatever you want to and worry about the length later. While most of the site’s top storygames are extremely long (over a hundred thousand words), there are shorter ones which are very highly rated too. I personally admire writers who can tell a compelling, cohesive narrative in a few words.

What matters most is that your story’s length fits its scope. For instance, trying to write a larger story where a shorter one would suffice means you’ll have lots of unnecessarily wordy paragraphs or filler text that the reader would get bored skimming through. On the other hand, if you planned for an epic with multiple branches and parallel character arcs, trying to reduce your word count may mean the plot appears abrupt with too many under-developed elements. 

Either way, best of luck with whatever you decide to write next. There’s also a contest going on too, if you're interested in getting guaranteed feedback: https://chooseyourstory.com/forums/news-and-updates/message/30125
 

Shhh don't tell them.

My method is similar to Darius' and Will's where I take notes as I read each storygame. I found that to save time, I could just write the review while I read, however I leave the parts about the overall theme, character arcs and plotline for when I finish the storygame. Sometimes I still write disorganized draft notes when feeling tired and organize them later.

Honestly, after reviewing so many storygames, I notice some of them have similar elements where they succeed or fail. At one point, I copy pasted the same paragraph on formatting dialogue for three different reviews but I changed the examples to be specific to each (because it felt too much like cheating otherwise).

That wasn't me, but a member called MinnieKing. Just checked and saw that they once had 23 featured comments in a day, making all the other achievements on the Avon thread irrelevant lol.