New FAQ w/Bonus Kerach Details

The rework has been launched to the public build. While the other players are feeling their way around the first two nights of Classic, I figured I'd post the updated FAQ with some bonus details about Kerach. We'll start with him.

Kerach

I think it was pretty apparent that Kerach was going to be at the very least a secret RO previously. He was supposed to be an RO from the start, but back when I wasn't sure if I'd be writing full-time, I thought it best to put him on the backburner and focus on Serax and Valdricht. Here are a few of what I anticipate will be the top questions regarding Kerach as an RO. Feel free to ask more, but I may not answer many more as I don't want to spoil too much. He's still very mysterious and part of the fun of romancing him will be peeling back the layers and discovering more about him.

Q: Is Kerach a shapeshifter?
A: Yes. We're not getting that weird. All intimate relations will be in his humanoid form.

Q: Is Kerach a shadewalker?
A: He's half-shadewalker.

Q: What's the other half?
A: It's gotta be tanulf, right?

Q: Is Kerach really a cursed warlord?
A: Serax said it, so it must be true.

Q: How old is Kerach?
A: Nearly as old as Valdricht.

Q: What's Kerach's relationship like with Serax and Valdricht?
A: Kerach has a contentious relationship with Serax and a complicated relationship with Valdricht, though he considers Valdricht to be his leader and is deeply loyal to him.

Q: What is Kerach's sexuality?
A: Kerach is straight. He will only engage in sexual acts with the MC.

Q: Will there be MMFM scenes?
A: Yes. Particularly in Dark Maiden there will be a lot of four-way scenes as the guys will seldom want to sleep (or wake) before having their fill of the MC. Poor dear.

Q: Will Valdricht be willing to share with Kerach?
A: Yes. Once you learn their history, you'll understand why.

Q: Do I have to romance Kerach?
A: I will likely add the option to have a platonic relationship with him in Classic Route. I'll keep you posted on that. In Dark Maiden he will be part of the package, so to speak.

Q: Can I have a baby with Kerach?
A: Only in Dark Maiden Route. Adding the additional variable of a Kerach baby will be too much for Classic which will already have several story branches. Due to the linear nature of Dark Maiden, Kerach baby will be much easier to incorperate.

Q: What happens with Kerach in Fated Mates Route?
A: You will be able to have a platonic relationship with Kerach, who will serve as a guardian for your MC when Valdricht isn't around.

Q: What is Kerach's personality like?
A: He's more wolf than man. Kerach prefers to be in his tanulf form and will seldom leave it unless sufficiently enticed. Warm fires and cooked meals hold little appeal to him, he'd rather be out hunting beneath the stars. He will be very distrustful of your MC initially but will warm to her quickly if she treats him well. Once your MC bonds with him, he will be fiercely loyal to her, even defying Valdricht on her behalf if he feels his pack leader is mistreating her.

Q: Can I feed on Kerach?
A: You can try, but it's not advisable.

Q: Will Kerach be exclusive to the Patreon Editions?
A: No. While I considered it, I don't want to make a love interest who can be so easily excised from the narrative. Kerach has a deep story arc in Classic Route and I don't want to have to hack up the public build to extract it. Patrons will, however, have access to Kerach paternity if they're so bold as to delve into Dark Maiden.

Q: Will Kerach get a solo route?
A: It's not on the table right now, but it is drafted. It would actually be quite easy to write as an AU. We'll revisit the idea once the main story is finished.

General FAQ

Q: What's the difference between Darksinger and Shadewalker Editions?
A: The division is purely to divide the scheduling. Darksinger and Duskweaver members get early access to new content, whereas Shadewalker members get new content when the public build updates. In the future there could be Darksinger-exclusive content such as alternate POV scenes but I will never take content away from Shadewalker tier. You'll always have access to both Patreon storylines.

Q: Will my save game transfer between Darksinger & Shadewalker Editions?
A: It should. While I can't guarentee it, I did test it on my computer and I was able to export my save game and import it between the versions without any issues. Your save game will not, however, transfer between the public and Patreon builds. The Patreon build contains a lot more content and variables than the public build.

Q: How dark will the story routes be?
A: Classic Route is the gentlest of the story routes. It starts fairly tame and eases you into the darker themes and content. Veteran dark romance readers will not be surprised by anything. Readers accustomed to romantasy/sweet romance may be uncomfortable with how the love interests behave.

Fated Mates is darker than Classic, pulling fewer punches. Anchored Maiden dynamic is closer to romantasy with dark undertones, whereas Drowning Maiden is closer to a twisted dark romance.

Dark Maiden is considerably darker, though still has moments of levity and romance, if you don't mind a heaping tablespoon of toxic behaviors with your love story. Read the content warnings.

Q: How long will the prelude be?
A: The prelude spans several nights (4-6) and will vary depending on your route and the choices you make. Generally, it concludes once your MC fully remembers her past. By that point, your MC will also have defined her core personality, her stance on faith, her relationship dynamics. Dynamics may be locked in by major choices prior to the end of the prelude.

Q: How does the MC remember her past?
A: Each time your MC sleeps during the early nights, she will revisit a key memory from her former life. Through the choices you make, you will shape her backstory.

Q: How can my MC get married?
A: That varies greatly by story route. Fated Mates offers the option to get married in the prelude if you play the Anchored Maiden dynamic. Drowning Maiden will have the option of marriage in Act I.

Classic Route will have marriage options for all three love interests and the type of marriage will vary depending on which love interest you marry. Marriage in the poly route will have an impact on the group dynamic. In the interest of not bogging the early game down with too many branches, it won't be available until later in the story.

Dark Maiden Route MC might be able to wrangle a love interest into marriage, but no promises.

Q: How will paternity be handled in the public build?
A: One baby for each father, random genders.

Q: How will paternity be handled in the Patreon editions?
A: One baby for each father, you select genders.

Q: How soon can my MC get pregnant?
A: Conception occurs prior to the end of the prelude, generally on Night IV or V depending on your choices.

Housekeeping

• Kerach graphic will be coming soon, either the end of this month or beginning of next.

• I've updated the Shadewalker Edition with the latest Fated Mates content.

• Henceforth, the Shadewalker Edition will be updated when the public build updates.

• Once we move into Act I, I will be including samples of the Fated Mates and Dark Maiden preludes in the public build that way players can preview them prior to deciding if they want to continue on Patreon.

• We did an aesthetic overhaul of the store pages, let me know if you hate it.

• No Wyransith guide this weekend, but I'll be posting comprehensive translations with the next Dark Maiden update. It's gonna be a big one.

• I'm working on finishing Classic Night III right now and then I'll be moving to Dark Maiden once that's released.

• I will be back to focusing on writing now that the rework is launched. We'll be resuming content drops every couple of days until the prelude concludes.

• Password change will be next weekend.

• Lorehall will open once Night III is complete on all routes.

Conclusion

Welcome to all the new members. I encourage you to participate in comments. I always find a lot of gems in the feedback that I use to improve the story.

The addition of Kerach is something I've been excited for and I think you'll appreciate how he balances the dynamic while also being aloof enough to give players space to decide how to engage with him. I've been deliberately vague in the FAQ. Kerach was never an arbitrary character and like Serax and Valdricht he has a rich backstory for you to explore.

Thank you to everyone who's supported the rework and offered input on how to optimize the story routes. The rework has been such a big learning experience on so many levels, but now the groundwork has been lain to move forward with the narrative as swiftly as possible.

-Mortish