Andrew Kenneth Specter

Whitaker and His Beloved Knight Commission

Whitaker and His Beloved Knight were the next-most-voted-for in the "whose portrait would you like to see next poll", so here they are! This is a half-body picture of Whitaker and His Beloved Knight that I've commissioned from the talented Sinizade! Together, at last!

Check out the artist on the following platforms!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinizade/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Samandriade

Developer Update: Week of August 14th, 2021

This week, chapter 4 was made available to the public! I haven't received much feedback about it, yet, but the few responses I have read are generally positive, so that's always nice! Hopefully, 114,000 words will be enough to tide people over for a bit until I'm able to release the next substantial story update.

We've also had the opportunity to see what His Beloved Knight looked like (or didn't look like, considering everyone depicts them with a featureless helmet). Stay tuned for the finished commission featuring both Whitaker and the Beloved Knight!

Update: August 11th, 2021

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

This update adds:

• Chapter 4, including various romance interactions between certain characters and MC2.
• Assorted spelling/grammar/continuity fixes.
• About 114,000 words.

Link.

His Beloved Knight Commission

Whitaker and His Beloved Knight were the next-most-voted-for in the "whose portrait would you like to see next poll", so here they are! This is a half-body picture of His Beloved Knight that I've commissioned from the talented Sinizade! Whose hand might that be...? You'll have to wait and see! 😉

Check out the artist on the following platforms!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinizade/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Samandriade

Developer Update: Week of August 6th, 2021

The most obvious and significant update this week was the release of chapter 4! At around 113,000 words, it's probably the longest update I've ever written, and certainly the longest (for now, anyway, lol) chapter in Years. I also completed the headers for chapter 5 ("The Rot of Yesteryear") and shared them.

Some of you may also be aware that this is something I do as a "side hustle" while I look for employment, but guess what...? I was finally offered a good job after around a year-and-a-half of searching! I'm not anticipating anything to go wrong, but having a job will mean that I won't be able to work on Years as frequently as I could have when I was working as a freelance writer. I will of course still be updating the main game and sharing other content (commissions, supplementary stories, lore, etc.) here, but the big chapter updates will probably not happen as often. I may end up releasing them one route at a time (because I essentially write four chapters in one) as a compromise, because I don't want anyone starved for content while they wait for another 100,000 word chapter that probably won't be out for another three months.

Also, it looks like Prudence's squad has received the first (and so far only, lol) vote for the next commission! Be on the look out for them!

Chapter 5 headers!

Chapter 5 again has the same title for all routes, but they merge a little bit more than previous chapters so I've decided not to call them "5A" and "5B". The fancy-looking bird is a phoenix, which will make a lot more sense after reading the chapter. For now, though, think of it as a symbol of both an old, dying thing and the new thing rising from the fire to take its place.

Whitaker Commission

Whitaker and His Beloved Knight were the next-most-voted-for in the "whose portrait would you like to see next poll", so here they are! This is a half-body picture of Whitaker that I've commissioned from the talented Sinizade! Who's that mysterious figure he's hover-handing...? You'll have to wait and see! 😉

Check out the artist on the following platforms!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinizade/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Samandriade

Update: August 3rd, 2021

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

Link.

In this update, I have:

• Completed chapter 4.
• Fixed some grammar/spelling and continuity errors.
• Added 113,913 words.

Who would you like to see artwork of, next?

It's that time, again! Let me know who you would like to see commissioned artwork of, next! If you want to see a character and/or concept that isn't on the poll, please feel free to message me on any platform and let me know!

Developer Update: Week of July 31st, 2021

Chapter 4 is nearly completed, and will definitely be finished by the end of next week! The actual bulk of the content is done,  but I have some romance interactions to write, still. Also, the lore series about Whitaker and His Beloved Knight has concluded! I hope you liked it -- it was interesting trying to write from the perspective of someone that really didn't care that their work would be censored by the oppressive regime of the Sovereignty.

Commissions of both Whitaker and His Beloved Knight have been completed and are in the upload schedule, as well!

Abner Jr. Commission

MC1's family was voted for the most in the "whose portrait would you like to see next poll", so here they are! This is a half-body picture of Abner Jr. that I've commissioned from the talented Sinizade!

Check out the artist on the following platforms!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinizade/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Samandriade

Sneak peek #8!

Those names are placeholders, lol!

Developer Update: Week of July 23rd, 2021

I've finished both Sovereignty routes for chapter 4, and am currently working on the route where both MC1 and MC2 are with the radials. Including code, the word count is approaching 83,000 (!) words, so it's looking like chapter 4 will be as long (if not longer) than chapter 3! I still think the timeline I gave last week for the completion of chapter 4 is accurate, but I'm getting through this chapter a little quicker than expected, so the update might be ready during the first week of August rather than the second.

I hope people are enjoying both the mature content and commissioned artwork! The next commissions I post will probably be of either MC2's family (maybe all of their potential siblings...?) or His Beloved Knight and Grimdiis, because those three are tied in the poll after MC1's family. Next month's lore series will be something about the Mainland (with mature content included, of course (; ) because the Mainland received a vote in a poll I did a few months ago asking what people wanted to read more about.

If you'd rather read about something/someone else, please feel free to leave a comment and/or message me! (:

Abner Sr. Commission

MC1's family was voted for the most in the "whose portrait would you like to see next poll", so here they are! This is a half-body picture of Abner Sr. that I've commissioned from the talented Sinizade!

Check out the artist on the following platforms!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinizade/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Samandriade

Sneak peek #7!

Developer Update: Week of July 16th, 2021

Lots of new developments, this week!

First of all, I wanted to say that I've completed one of the four routes through chapter 4 (MC2 is with the Sovereignty and MC1 is with the radicals). It was hard to write some of the confrontations that can happen between MC2 and their friend/potential love interests, but it should make for some good angst, if nothing else! I will probably begin writing the reverse route (MC2 is a radical, MC1 is with the Sovereignty), next. If not that one, then I will start one of the routes where both MC2 and MC1 are on the same side. Either way, chapter 4 is on track to be finished by the end of July or the first few weeks of August!

I also have a few updates regarding commissions! I heard back from my cover artist -- they had been very busy, but said that they have been "chipping away at it" and will "aim to have an update for [me] by next week". The artist who made the previous portraits of Blythe and Prudence is almost done with portraits of MC1's family, as well, because they were the leaders in the poll. I will probably have the three heroes commissioned next, as they have the next-highest vote total.

EDIT: I have received the commissions of MC1's family and added them to the upload queue! (:

Sneak peek #6!

Developer Update: Week of July 9̶t̶h̶ 11th, 2021

I apologize for another late update -- I've been busy writing and trying to organize commissions!

Speaking of commissions, it looks like MC1's family and the three heroes are currently winning in the new poll, so I will look into getting some art made of them! I've also contacted my cover artist (I haven't heard from them in about a month), and will update you all whenever I have any news.

Chapter 4 is coming along nicely! Last week, I finished the "diplomatic" route for dealing with the Heroics if MC2 is with the Sovereignty and MC1 is not. After MC2 has concluded their business, the player has the option of encountering someone of their choice from the radicals, so be prepared for a confrontation and/or lots of angst!

I've also begun to post the next lore series, A Song Unsung. It's written variously in prose and verse, and is all about the relationship Whitaker had with His Beloved Knight. Please be aware that there will be some adult content in it, as well.

Who would you like to see in the next commission(s)?

Now that we've gone through all the romance options, I thought I would ask who you want to see art of, next!

Sneak peek #5!

Developer Update: Week of July 2nd, 2021

We lost a few patrons this week... but gained one new one! (:

There were a few new developments, this week, most notably the reveal of chapter 3 to the public! It seems to have been well-received, which I'm excited about (and not just because of the amount of effort that went into it, lol). I also posted both of the commissions of Blythe and Prudence, and will be continuing to share both sneak peeks for chapter 4 and the lore series mentioned in the previous weekly update.

Speaking of chapter 4, I am about three-quarters of the way done with the route where MC2 has joined the Sovereignty and MC1 is with the radicals. It's gotten pretty intense to write (even during the "diplomatic" choices) because, no matter what, MC2 essentially has to get a settlement of Heroics to leave their homes. You can choose to have MC1 or one of the other radical characters (Lázaro, Belvidere, or Prudence) arrive just as MC2 has completed their task for the Sovereign, which I'm sure will lead to maximum angst and/or drama potential!

I've mentioned before that the two routes (Sovereignty v.s. radicals) are being written kind of as counters to each other, and the radical path for chapter 4 will see MC1/MC2 rally the Heroics by embodying one of the three heroes. It will be up to you if you believe in prophecy, completely reject the label, or else just kind of roll with it.

Prudence Commission

This is a half-body picture of Prudence that I've commissioned from the talented Sinizade!

Check out the artist on the following platforms!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinizade/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Samandriade

Blythe Commission

This is a half-body picture of Blythe that I've commissioned from the talented Sinizade!

Check out the artist on the following platforms!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinizade/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Samandriade

Update: June 29th, 2021

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

This update adds:

• Chapter 3, including various romance interactions between certain characters and MC1.
• Assorted spelling/grammar/continuity fixes.
• The ability to finally pick a side in the brewing conflict!
• About 96,000 words.

Link.

Sneak peek #4!

Developer Update: Week of June 25th, 2021

The most obvious update this week is the completion of chapter 3! It will be accessible to the public next Tuesday. Also, we've got another patron -- welcome and thank you for your support! "Rumspringa" has also concluded, and the next few posts will be the commissioned art of Prudence and Blythe I've mentioned previously.

After that, I am planning on the next lore series being about Whitaker/Grimdiis/His Beloved Knight and/or the Mainland (anything about the three heroes will overlap with things about the Mainland, anyway) because those received two votes in the poll I put out a while ago. I like to keep supplementary stories in-universe, so it will most likely be framed within the Apocryphal Library of the Hierophant like a few of the other lore series!

I still haven't heard anything back from my cover artist, and it's been a while since our last communication. If I still don't get any response going into July, I will send them a prompt. If no in-progress materials are available by then, then I think I will start to share my own layout for the cover, at least (if you can forgive my MS Paint editing skills, lol).

EDIT: I forgot to talk about chapter 4! If anyone has been following the forum thread, they might recall that I mentioned characters who side with the radicals will have the opportunity to embody one of the roles of the three heroes (the Sword, Shield, or Song). That is going to happen in chapter 4, and those siding with the Sovereignty will be tasked with suppressing the rising (perceived) threat of Heroism. So, just like chapter 3 (and probably chapter 5, as well), the two routes are set up to kind of counter each other.

Chapter 4 Headers!

Chapter 4 is also split, though this time the titles for both the Sovereignty and radical routes are the same. This chapter will focus on gathering strength for your chosen side. The ants for the radicals symbolize the might of many small people working together, and the rooster for the Sovereignty symbolizes Mayhew XXII's attitude of domination.

Update: June 22nd, 2021

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

Link.

In this update, I have:

• Completed chapter 3.
• Fixed some grammar/spelling and continuity errors.
• Added 96,578 words.

Sneak peek #3!

Developer Update: Week of June 18th, 2021

I got a lot done, this week! Before anything else, though, I would like to thank our new patron for choosing to support me and this project! (:

Text-wise, I've finished up the radical route if both MC1 and MC2 chose it. That means all that's left is to do the routes where one MC is on one side and the other MC is on the opposing faction. Realistically, those should be easier to complete because there aren't as many MC1-to-MC2 reactions to write. And, after I'm done with the first one, it will be easier to write the second one because I can use the first one as a baseline.

In art news, the two pictures of Prudence and Blythe that I commissioned are completed and in the schedule to be uploaded after "Rumspringa" and a few more sneak peeks! They are half-body drawings and not portraits, this time, so you can get a bit more of an idea of what the characters might be wearing. I haven't heard back from my cover artist, yet, but I'm sure they're hard at work making a work-in-progress for me which I will of course share here (with their permission).