Andrew Kenneth Specter

Chapter 6 Header!

I finished up with the header for chapter 6, today! It look me a few hours just to trace those damn lions, but I think it's appropriately thematic with the royal purple border (the lion is the seal beast of House Gen, which Sovereign Mayhew XXII belongs to). The "reckoning" that the title refers to is the climactic battle that I've been alluding to for a few chapters. It will decide the fate of the Colonies and every other character, so I am anticipating that this chapter will also be a long one. After chapter 6, I am planning on writing some epilogues to wrap up the story and clarify what happens in the future.

As an aside, the 14th-century Flemish poet that wrote the manuscript I've taken the illustrations from is crazy about lions. He wrote, like, three entire spreads about them with maybe six miniatures throughout. Now, I can't read Medieval Dutch, but I think you'd have to be pretty into an animal to write multiple pages about it...especially considering all of the descriptions are in verse!

Developer Update: Week of August 24th, 2025

Just a small update, this week. I finished the route where both MC1 and MC2 have both joined the Radicals, so I will grant access to patrons some time this week. I will also give the public access to three-fourths of chapter 5 in a few days. During all of that, I will be working on chapter 6, which I plan on being the last chapter before an epilogue.

Update: August 20th, 2025

Patrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.

Link.

In this update, I have:

• Completed the route where both MC1 and MC2 joined the Sovereignty for chapter 5.

  • This includes romance encounters for Blythe and MC2.

• Fixed various spelling, grammar, and continuity errors.

• Added 92,068 words.

Developer Update: Week of August 17th, 2025

Only a little bit to share, this time. I gave the public access to the full half of chapter 5, last week, and I've been continuing to work on the route where both MC1 and MC2 have joined the Sovereignty. I'm getting through it at a pretty decent pace, and I would estimate that I will be finished within the next week and a half. Some of it is pretty challenging to code, especially the parts where both main characters are talking to each other and the player can choose each one's response. Other than that, I've also been playing around in some image editing software, trying to visualize how the various backgrounds, promotional images, and splash screens needed for publication will look. I've shared an image of the full cover art previously, if the current singular patron here would like to look at it.

Update: August 12th, 2025

This is a public update announcement. As a reminder, patrons get access to updates one week before the general public.

In this update, I have:

• Completed one half of the routes for chapter 5.

  • This includes romance encounters for Blythe.

• Added to the "quick start" feature so that MC1 can have a positive romance threshold with Blythe and so that neither main character needs to be a saboteur.

• Added 74,591 words.

Link.

Developer Update: Week of August 11th, 2025

This week, I will be granting the public access to the second route of chapter 5, where MC1 joined the Sovereignty and MC2 joined the Radicals. Other than that, I will say that I'm about 20,000 words into the third route of chapter 5 (both main characters have joined the Sovereignty) and progress is going steady! I am currently writing a scene where Blythe has discovered that MC1 and MC2 are in a relationship while he (the Sovereign) has a high relationship value or romance threshold with MC1 (and MC1 is a non-wild-blooded cis woman). And he is... not happy, let's put it like that.

Update: August 5th, 2025

Patrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.

Link.

In this update, I have:

• Completed half of the routes for chapter 5.

  • This includes romance encounters for Blythe.

• Added to the "quick start" feature so MC1 can properly set their romance threshold with Blythe and so MC1 and/or MC2 can choose not to be saboteurs.

• Added 74,591 words.

Developer Update: Week of August 3rd, 2025

I'm almost done with the second route of chapter 5, and I anticipate finishing some time this week! Then, it will be time to write the routes where both main characters are on the same side of the war. Those paths usually take me a little less time to complete, and I can say with confidence that I will at least have chapter 5 completely done by the end of the summer. I want to have all of Years into beta by the end of the year, but that's a bit too far into the future for me to make any definitive statements.

Developer Update: Week of July 27th, 2025

The total word count for the second route of chapter 5 is now 33,777. I got a good bit of writing done, last week: I finished the forced "dates" with either Myra or Myron Dun if your MC1 is a "deviant." My next chunk of writing is admittedly a little daunting. It will be the interrogation and/or murder of Lucía Goldendoor mentioned in the first route. And then, after that, I plan on having Abner III pay MC1 a visit in the Sovereign's headquarters. Maybe he'll bring along the other Abners...? And I also think MC2 should get a visit from their brother or sister! So, all in all, I have lots of things to write, still, but I think I have a solid plan.

Developer Update: Week of July 21st, 2025

I am up to about 19,000 words now in the "route B" that I mentioned last week. The "lunch date" with the Sovereign, as well as the romance encounter with him, are written. Now, I'm working on something that was introduced last chapter for certain routes (I don't know why I didn't write it for all applicable paths -- I must have forgotten, haha!): namely the "forced date" with either Myra or Myron Dun. Chapter 5 has a lot of relationship development for every route -- the Sovereign, seeing victory (maybe where it doesn't exist), will try and force a non-cis, "deviant" MC1 into a "lavender marriage," as it were. I really want to keep stressing that the Sovereignty is not really a place where decent people can excel. Everything sucks, but it's up to you to decide what to do with that suckage.

Developer Update: Week of July 13th, 2025

I would like to extend a welcome the one and only patron here! Just for you, here's a progress update! I am currently working on writing what I call path "B" in the code, where MC2 went to the Radicals without MC1. And because the perspective of chapter 5 switches to MC1, this means that it will be a Sovereignty-focused route. I currently have about 6,700 words written (including code) and I'm in the middle of writing a little lunch date between MC1 and Blythe/Mayhew XXII/whatever he wants to call himself. This could potentially lead to a romantic encounter if your MC1 is a cis woman and does not have a mother with rumored Wildfolk ancestry. Understandably, the requirements to get any sort of romance threshold increase with Blythe are so strict because he is a sexist and a racist.

Update: July 5th, 2025

This is a public update announcement. As a reminder, patrons get access to updates one week before the general public.

In this update, I have:

• Completed one fourth of the routes for chapter 5.

  • This includes romance encounters for Lázaro, Belvidere, and Prudence.

• Added to the "quick start" feature so it properly jumps to chapters 4 and 5.

• Added 44,128 words.

Link.

Update: June 28th, 2025

Patrons get exclusive access to story updates one week before the general public.

Link.

In this update, I have:

• Completed one fourth of the routes for chapter 5.

  • This includes romance encounters for Lázaro, Belvidere, and Prudence.

• Added to the "quick start" feature so it properly jumps to chapters 4 and 5.

• Added 44,128 words.

Journal of a Nameless Clerk: Part VII

Month Four

They'll find this eventually -- don't care anymore.

The Faceless got suspicious of me and I was terribly frightened. I know I should have stayed and accepted whatever punishment the Hierophant decided was just, but I fled. I tried to go to the Colonies, but didn't even make it to the coast. The innkeeper of the room I just purchased for the evening is working with the Guard -- they're not wearing the mask, but I'd recognize the Faceless' way of speaking and moving anywhere. I'm going to throw this journal out of the window, into the winds of Fate. 

Wherever it travels, to whoever these pages reach, I have but one message:

All sedition must be censored and erased...

including me.

Journal of a Nameless Clerk: Part VI

Month Two, Day 9

I don't understand.

Were we wrong??? Was I wrong???

These diaries t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶d̶  that I'm reviewing were penned by a clever young thing named C—, and Whitaker save me, but I think I'm falling in love... Her wit and rhetorical skill are exemplary, and there have been several times where I nearly fainted trying to suppress a giggle in the office! She is an extraordinary intellect (a rare, but fine, thing for a woman!) and must also be an extraordinary beauty, as well!

_______

Month Two, Day 10

Inquired with the Faceless.

All materials we receive were recovered from the belongings of traitors.

C— was executed three months ago.

Journal of a Nameless Clerk: Part V

Month Twelve, Day 19, Year ██ of the Reign of Sovereign Mayhew XXI

I've been given a series of diaries to catalogue before censoring and filing.

They've never given me diaries, before...

Journal of a Nameless Clerk: Part IV

Month Eleven, Day 15, Year ██ of the Reign of Sovereign Mayhew XXI

It's been quite some time since I wrote, last... Work is keeping me terribly busy. Just this week end I ran into an old Academy schoolmate on my way to the office. Sovereign forgive me, but I couldn't even remember his name! I knew I knew it, but I'll be damned if all my spare thoughts aren't taken by my work! And they have to be! Whitaker's sword, no decent person in the world would believe the things I've read and expunged from circulation: pamphlets espousing the rights of peasants and women (hehe!), purportedly "scientific" naturalism texts about Colonial savages, Heroic literature... even calls to action from radical elements within Society!!!

It truly astounds the mind to witness firsthand how much the saturation such deviancy must plague civilization.

May the Hierarchy,  Guard, and Sovereign be swift in their efforts to erase the degenerates who produce such filth!

Journal of a Nameless Clerk: Part III

Month Nine, Day 20, Year ██ of the Reign of Sovereign Mayhew XXI

Haven't had time to journal until just now -- too busy learning the ropes of the clerical corps! The personal clerical corps to the Hierophant himself. No matter how many times I write that, it still doesn't seem real. It doesn't even seem real when I'm at my desk, actually working, even! There are about twenty of us (some women, even!), all in a row in a room outside of the Hierophant's personal office, and [TEXT REDACTED BY ORDER OF THE HIERARCHY]. I think I'm the only one still awed by everything, even though one person was shuffled around to a new department since I started (makes sense -- this is a very important job and not everyone can handle it, after all!), so there's more than one neophyte, here.

I approached him, hoping to share notes or maybe just make a friend, but the Faceless guards who periodically check up on us saw me. They explained that "mingling is discouraged in order to preserve the motivation of our holy mission". I suppose that makes sense! Writing is also a distraction, apparently, because one of the Guard caught me scribbling during lunch. They reviewed my journal (as was their right, of course!) and handed it back to me at the end of the day, minus a few pages and plus some words.

I think I'll only write at home, from now on -- wouldn't want to distract myself from the holy mission!!!

Journal of a Nameless Clerk: Part II

____________________

Month Nine, Day 11, Year ██ of the Reign of Sovereign Mayhew XXI

I can hardly believe it, myself, but I've been accepted(!!!) into the personal clerical corps of the Hierophant himself!!! This is truly a blessed day (and may that recruiter, His Holiness the Hierophant, and all the Hierarchy rest in Blessed Unconsciousness evermore when their times come!) and a cause for celebration! I wired Mom and Auntie the good news (they'll be giddy all week!) and gave a street lad five pennies (three more than the errand was worth, but I don't care!) to relay a message to the boys still stuck in the Academy: come tonight, my meager student housing will be the fanciest party locale in the Mainland!

[All handwriting after this point is shaky, and the pages of the journal are splattered with ink. It is highly likely that the writer was inebriated.]

girls girlsssss GIRLS!!!!!!!

[Several sentences are unintelligible, and several more appear to be the names and addresses of young ladies, but the clerk's thoughts eventually become legible.]

why me thow????? Im smart ya but fucking WHY???? feel SIK drawing th-

[The remainder of the page is occluded with a suspiciously vomit-colored stain.]

Journal of a Nameless Clerk: Part I

THE FOLLOWING WORK HAS BEEN DECLARED APOCRYPHAL BY THE HIERARCH OF THE HOLY FELLOWSHIP OF THE FIRST SOVEREIGN. IN HIS INFALLIBLE WISDOM, THE HIERARCH MANDATES THAT ANYONE IN POSSESSION OF THIS DOCUMENT SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THE NEAREST FACELESS GUARD AS A TRAITOR AND A HERETIC. FAILURE TO DO SO AND/OR THE REPRODUCTION, CURATION, DISSEMINATION, REPETITION (VERBAL OR OTHERWISE), AND THOUGHT OFF THIS TEXT IS PUNISHABLE BY EXECUTION.

______________________________________________________________________

[All traces of any introductory pages have been scrubbed from existence. The same can be presumed of the author, themselves.]

Month Nine, Day 10, Year ██ of the Reign of Sovereign Mayhew XXI

What an opportunity! Three months out of the Central City Clerical Academy and I land myself an interview with the recruiter for the Hierophant's personal staff! Stern-looking fellow, that Fellow was (hehe!), but he can be as impolite as he pleases -- I have an interview, and nothing can spoil my good cheer!

How strange it was, to run into him while I busied myself reading on my morning walk to the office... Almost as if the encounter were preordained! He asked a passing question about the author (a naturalist academic, if I remember correctly), I gave him an ironic grin and told him truthfully that such ideas ought to be classified as skirting the edge of Apocryphal. Perhaps he was confused, and asked why then, if I thought such, I was reading it. I said (somewhat haughtily, I will admit...) something like "knowledge is the best defense against heresy" or another line I learned in school, and he grinned! Handed me a calling card and told me to meet him at its location precisely at noon on the eleventh (tomorrow!).

I apologize for everything I ever said about your boring lectures, Professors...

[the writer lists about twenty names, most of them misspelled.]

Developer Update: Week of April 25th, 2022

Hello! I wanted to welcome some new patrons, and also announce that I'll be periodically posting parts of a new supplementary story called "Journal of a Nameless Clerk"! It's about a young man on the Mainland who gets a job at the censorship office of the Hierophant. The first part will be accessible later today, and I hope you all enjoy it! (:

Developer Update: Week of April 12th, 2022

I'm sorry it's been so long without an update -- my boss has requested that I increase my hours at work, and that leaves me with little time to myself! That is, of course, no excuse for nearly a month of silence, however! I do have a few updates... First, regarding the tarot card commission(s), I'm afraid the original artist I had in mind will be unable to do them for the foreseeable future. We tried every possible avenue of payment, but our governments have even blocked mail to each other, so there's no way for me to pay (at least right now). I am going to honor the commission once relations between our nations are favorable, again, but at the moment I think I'm going to have to commission a different artist to complete the next-most-popular poll result.

Speaking of polls, one I did FOREVER ago had at least one voter that wanted to know what life is/was like on the Mainland, so I think that will be where the next series of supplemental stories takes place. I've been thinking of exploring what happens to religious dissidents within the Hierarchy, and wanted to see what it would be like if the personal clerk/scribe/assistant to the Hierophant had a change of heart...

Developer Update: Week of March 17th, 2022

First, I'd like to apologize for the radio silence regarding the tarot card commission. I've been e-mailing back and forth with the artist for a few weeks, trying to come up with a viable payment method, but so far nothing has worked out because of the card transaction ban between our two countries. For what it's worth, I'm not in favor of punishing the citizens of a nation for the actions of their government, but it looks like there is no way to proceed with this particular artist. This is only for the moment, though, as I will certainly honor the commission as soon as restrictions are lifted (even if I also commission a different artist for the same tarot card idea).

Developer Update: Week of March 4th, 2022

Not much to say this week, other than that I've e-mailed the tarot card artist and am waiting for a sketch. I believe they're Russian, though, so with recent events being what they are, it's understandable if they take longer than their estimated time to complete the commission. I'm excited about the finished product, though! I tried to get a lot of emotion through while I was blocking it, and hope you all like it!

Developer Update: Week of February 14th, 2022

Just a little update for you, this week. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm talking to the artist that I'll be commissioning for the tarot cards, and that their estimation for how long a completed piece takes is about two to four weeks. So look out for the finished card coming soon, and I'll ask the artist if they're all right with me sharing any sketches, just so I have some more to share with you all!

Complete Cover Art!

The long-awaited reveal of the cover art for These Reluctant Years!

This art was made by the wonderful and talented Robyn H.! Go give them some love!

Developer Update: Week of February 7th, 2022

Just a quick update, this time! It looks like MC1 and MC2 won the poll, so they'll be getting a commission first, followed by Lázaro and Blythe! This week, the final cover art in full color will also be revealed! I am so excited to share it with you all and, like I've stated (many) times, I'm thrilled with how it turned out!

Full Cover Art WIP

And this is as far as we've gotten! I'm looking forward to sharing any and all updates with you whenever they become available!

This art was made by the wonderful and talented Robyn H.! Go give them some love!

Developer Update: Week of January 31st, 2022

First of all, I'd like to apologize for the lack of developer updates -- work has been very busy the last few months! There are a few noteworthy developments, though! Most exciting is the completion of the full cover art, which will be posted here in about a week. It looks incredible, and it's wonderful to see everything come together! There's also about a week left to vote for who you'd like to see first as a tarot card, so if you haven't already voted, please choose someone!

Full Cover Art Sketch

Everyone is together at last!

This art was made by the wonderful and talented Robyn H.! Go give them some love!