Swallow The Moon

Cure The Cursed is a fantasy romance IF, intended for mature audiences only.

Your mother is sick with something strange. Doctors try to explain it—try to diagnose her. But they simply cannot.

A stranger comes to you one night to tell you that your mother is //cursed,// not sick. You make a deal with them. You’re sent spiraling into a world unlike your own: rich with magic, monarchy, rebellion, and war.

Mistaken for someone from the heavens because of the tattoo on your wrist and the strange, new powers you wield, you’re taken captive by a tyrant King that believes you are the solution to all his problems—the way to win his war and quell the uprising.

But you only have so much time.

Customize the MC: appearance, personality, sexuality.

Learn the answers to your mysterious gift.

Discover answers to your past.

Cure your mother.

Romance—one of four love interests that are gender selectable.

Witness the war between the righteous and those that believe they are.

painting: Dawn of Hope by Daniel F. Gerhartz

A New Interactive Novel

DEMO TBA

Crown of Ashes and Flames is a fantasy interactive fiction game, free to play from start to finish, on pc and mobile. You play as the only remaining member of the royal family of Vesphire; living in the home of the king that took away everything from you.

It is currently in development and each chapter will be released as they are finished.

The war had taken everything from you.

King Luceris had taken everything from you.

You were just six years old when all of this happened. One moment you were in your room sleeping and the next you were walking through smoke and ash trying to find your parents.

Love, he said, was the reason he started the war. Ironically, you lost everything you loved but you also lost yourself when he let you survive and dragged you away to his home.

In a new Kingdom with no one on your side what choices will you make to survive? Who will you become?

Inside of you there's something burning for revenge and there's only one thing I want to tell you. Let it out.

Content Warning: Depictions of violence, injuries and blood, and death; trauma, psychological and physical body horror, sexual content and animal cruelty. Safe to play for those 18 and older.

The story starts in the Kingdom of Vesphire, a fictional kingdom within a fantasy universe, but it truly begins in the Kingdom of Rosea.

The two kingdoms are situated in a world that was blessed by the gods, the lands were filled with magic and beasts of wonder. For unknown reasons the gods abandoned the realm taking everything they had brought with them while the beasts moved to forests and the sea. Anywhere that was far from civilization.

You were born and raised in Vesphire until tragedy struck and you were taken away to Rosea. Contrary to the snowy lands of Vesphire, Rosea was tropical in the north and temperate in the south with mountains surrounding the lane.

The Kingdom is a colorful land with green scenery contrasts to its large white buildings. The streets are always busy from early mornings to the late nights, and filled with calls from the shopkeepers from their wooden stalls with sun-faded striped fabric or blue tarps above it. It is truly a lively place.

The ruler of this kingdom is none other than Luceris de Rosea. He is the man who led destruction right onto your home, he is the one whom all of Rosea admire. The land is immensely beautiful but many of it's people harbor great hatred towards you due to you being the last royal of Vesphire.

✧ Play as the royal of your own making:

Name [including nicknames]

Gender [male, female and nonbinary options]

Pronouns [choose a preset or set your own]

Personality [develop personality traits that will influence event sequences and the behavior of other characters towards you]

Appearance [including scars and tattoos]

✧ Develop deeper relationships with the characters, each with their own themes and stories, and find romance.

✧ Build rapport with characters from all over the continent, aid them with their problems or use them as a pawn in your story.

✧ Build a codex as you explore the world that surrounds you; encounter people, places, history and magic.

✧ Encounter important timed choices with alternative results if time runs out or you choose to abstain.

This list only covers the characters that you can form a deeper relationship with, platonic or romantic. All characters are available for everyone but only Hunter is gender selectable. These are not the only important characters.

Helios de Rosea - The Crown Prince of Rosea, and the child of the man that destroyed your home. He has straight white hair that reaches past his shoulders, pale blue eyes and golden brown complexion. He has a radiating smile that instantly brightens up the room, like sunshine itself. He is the hero of all fairytales, the boy with a golden spirit full of light and hope. He keeps his distance from you, after all you are the last royal of Vesphire. He is one year older than you.

Hunter Oakes - Crown Prince's shield and Sir Lancelot's ward. They have short straight black hair, deep blue eyes and a tawny complexion. Easygoing, resilient and reckless; their serene smile puts everyone at ease. They're loyal to the hand that feeds them but understand what you went through was an injustice. Since Sir Lancelot took care of both of you, you and Hunter developed a friendship. They are four years older than you.

Fadiya Akter - The Royal Mage's daughter, and one of the only people that doesn’t have something against you. She has waist-length curly ruby red hair along with amber eyes and dark brown complexion. She's cheerful, talkative and kind - like a fairy. Fiercely loyal to you, to the point that she gets into trouble just to defend you even in court. She is a powerful mage just like her mother. She is one year younger than you.

Soarine de Norazaan - Eldest daughter of the King of Norazaan, and an envoy to Rosea. She has waist-length wavy light green hair with mint eyes and a rosy complexion. Her smile is charming and practiced, she has a vixen-like personality. Soarine wishes to take the throne and better her kingdom, her desire for success is underlined by a thirst for revenge against the people in her kingdom who have forgotten their own history. She is one year older than you.

Vincent Annora - Ikram Annora's son, and is the next General of the Imperial Army. He has wavy brown hair that is shorter at the front but longer at the back, green eyes and an olive complexion. The perfect example of what a knight should be. He is very guarded and passionately protective of the people he cares about, he may seem rough around the edges but has a gentler side to him at times. He dislikes you due to his mother's own hatred towards you and your late family. He's trying to live up to the expectations of everyone as the future General of the Imperial Army. He is two years older than you.

Ask Guidelines

Character Descriptions

Heart of War is a tragic, dark fantasy interactive fiction story. Heart of War is a story about love, tragedy, and of course, war. It discusses the effects war can have on a person, a nation, and as a whole - the world while dealing with the complexity of love and tragedy of losing oneself.

Heart of War is rated 16+. (Rating is subject to change as development continues.)

Faced with the results of your father’s rule, you are now Tjim’s Ruler. Trying to amend for the past - your father’s and yours - you aim to make peace with the kingdoms that your father destroyed for his own gain.

Traveling to each kingdom to apologize and offer an ally-ship through good faith, you make a drastic mistake.

A mistake that cost thousands their lives.

Other kingdoms have wanted your kingdom off the map for decades. Now with your mistake, they have a reason to start the war of the century.

This war was inevitable, even if you tried to stop it from officially beginning. It is a war you started long ago without knowing and now you have to end it once and for all.

Will you end it by fighting? Or will you end it by sacrificing everything you have for a chance at peace?

Customize your MC! Choose your gender, sexuality, appearance, (semi-) personality, and more!

Romance one of two RO’s! Each with their own unique stories, and goals. Will you romance the enemy or the protector? (Both are gender customizable. This may change in later installments.)

Find out your MC’s tragic past and why they are hated amongst the kingdoms.

Experience multiple endings! Happy or sad, each will have their own unique twist.

Decide which path of war you want to take. One of regret and remorse, or one of aggression and passion?

Decide what kind of hero you are to the nation. Are you a tragic hero, always set up for nothing in the end? Are you cursed? Where no matter what you are or do, it’s never good enough? Are you sacrificial? Will you sacrifice everything for love? And many more!

Will you amend for your past even though you had no control or will you pursue the kingdoms, making them regret attacking yours?

Choose your animal companion!

Kal/Kiera Yusmin [M/F] The Enemy:

Coming from a royal family and being the commander of the opposing army, K isn’t afraid of war. They lead the opposing army to your doorstep, shouting commands to kill everyone no matter who they are. Coming from a ruthless family, it’s not a shock they’re just as ruthless.

But when you come face-to-face, you notice a sad expression beneath their stoic exterior. They hesitate when they swing their weapon down on a family, and that’s when you know they have no control.

Will you be able to break them of that control or will it be a dark path for you both?

“And all the things I wish I said, I finally said.”

Appearance: Crystal blue mixes with brown skin, marred with a deep, jagged scar on their left cheek. A reminder of a battle lost. Wavy, auburn hair is cut right above Kiera’s shoulders, while Kal’s hair is to his ears. They both have a muscular build, years of training and on the battlefield showing. Kal stands at 5′8″ and Kiera stands at 5′10″.

Vy Ghian [M/F] The Protector:

Your protector, bodyguard, knight in (actual) shining armor. They are always at your side, waiting outside every door. They’ve been by you ever since they were recruited by your father, protecting you when you couldn’t protect yourself. They vowed to never leave, to always be there when you took up the throne.

However, there’s something lurking beneath their faithful persona. Something dark, painful. Something that threatens to take them down whenever they get close to the edge.

Will you be there for them when they need it most like they have been for you or will you leave them in their time of need?

“Can you love me even when I have sinned so greatly?”

Appearance: Ashen blonde hair rests on lithe shoulders, a violet eye hidden behind an eyepatch against pale skin. A small tattoo stains their neck, a story behind the mark. Silver piercings hang on to their ears, a cross hanging around their throat. Female Vy stands at 5′6″ while Male Vy stands at 6′0″.

Interactive Fiction - Midnights of the Drowsy Owl

Demo (TBD)

Description

When the city life takes everything from you, you leave for a house you inherited from your late grandparents, in a town far away from the troubles of life: Caersolvita.

While strolling through the little town of Caersolvita after job hunting, the old clock in the quaint settlement strikes 12 midnight, and a building down the street illuminates the twilight.

Beads of light fall like stardust through the coffee-scented building. No one knows about it, and even if they did, they cannot find it. When midnight strikes, it all changes. Down the bricked pathway of the town, life clicks into light, and the twinkles of windchimes carry a bitter fragrance.

A “Looking to Hire!” board stands neatly by the doormat of the slightly tarnished place. With little hope of finding a job anytime soon, you enter the cafe, only to be greeted by a beautiful person with red eyes behind the barista counter. When offered a trainee position of a barista, you leave for home, unknowing of the wonders that await you when the dead hours of night come about.

Features

Work at a quaint café in a rural town, shrouded in mystery and solitude.

Romance one of the four ROs and explore a fresh adventure with one of the three personalities chosen.

Deal with some snappy customers or different oddities.

Find out the history of Caersolvita through each route.

Enjoy the life of quietude and comfort, away from the worries of life.

Personalities: loveable airhead, Taciturn fool, Sarcastic charmer

Romances

Thana (f/m)

Beautiful and dignified, Thana is the peculiar owner of the Drowsy Owl. Behind the mysterious red eyes and snowy pale skin, discipline of the body and grace follows each tilt of the wrist, where the whiffs of coffee beans stream along the cafe.

Admired by everyone in Caersolivita for sublime service, coupled by sweet words, Thana is the go to barista if someone is in need for comfort or dark humor. Although the sorry state of the cafe, Thana's cafe is the first choice for everyone.

With every smile given to Thana, two more are returned, and each heart that is offered, the more Thana guards the heart. Somehow, though, the trainee barista has a way with their words.

Ylfa (f)

Unhinged. There is no other word that fits the young wolf-like Ylfa. A sherpherdess along the hillside of Caersolvita, she meets each situation with the flash of her canines and a huff. With a beige bonnet, laced around the edges, she fancies the lolita fashion, enjoying lavish dresses, contrary to her rambunctious voice.

In the dead of night, a voice like a siren vying for love sings from northern cliff at the very edge of the town. From the ruffled hair and perky ears of the gilded in moonlight, the sound willows past till dawnbreak.

Despite the tough and rowdy personality, Ylfa holds her hands close to her chest, sometimes shooting glances towards the trainee barista from the day they met eyes.

Idris (m)

Personal trainer by day, guardsman by night. Idris is often described as "too blunt for his own good." Towering over everyone in town, he is regarded as a dark warrior, a signature black hood hanging over his defined face. Polite and well-spoken, his sharp tongue still manages to overshadow such traits.

By the bridge that connects the mainland to the hook-shaped cliffside town, Idris guards the safety of the people. Always seen next to the old watchtower, most hear grunts from the place, running away in fear.

When he bumped his head against the door of Drowsy Owl, he meets gaze with the trainee barista, and the color is his eyes erupted from the steely brown.

Shaylah (nb)

Always smelling like honey and floral concoctions, Shaylah is a local apocthecary who resides near at the very edge right beside the cliff. Catching eyes everywhere they go, their sterling red hair shines like the sun under light. Always seen walking around town with a sunhat the size of an umbrella, Shaylah's ethereal voice wrecks the minds of people when their brash and uncouth words begin to lash out.

Spending the afternoon and night cooped up in their house, they take the blue flowers on the cliff, grinding them and creating concoctions. No one outside of the town know what it truly is, and only Shaylah's family know of it.

“Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.” - Mitch Albom

On a Wednesday morning, you leave your doctor’s office with the diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumour and the knowledge of an estimated four months left to live.

Suddenly left without any direction in your life, you find yourself in a support group for the terminally ill. Where you expected to find sadness, melancholy and a looming sense of dread at thought of a fast approaching death - all the same feelings you harbour - you find smiles and laughter instead.

You’re drawn in by the people you meet there, curious and confused by their carefree attitudes. They’re kind to you, they take you in, they turn your frown upside down - literally and figuratively. And just when you think you might be beginning to accept your fate; they decide to throw all caution to the wind and whisk you away on the adventure of a lifetime.

You don’t know what will come of the next four months but with your new friends at your side, you’re excited to find out. After all, this is the only life you’ve been given, and though it may be ending soon; you might as well live it to the fullest.

More Than Me is a story about love, friendship, found family and acceptance. It will deal with heavy topics such as death and illness, and may be uncomfortable for some readers. Viewer discretion is advised.

Demo: Chapter One, Part One

Customise the main character in appearance, gender and personality

Meet and befriend a cast of characters, five of which you’ll be able to pursue a romance with

Experience a new world as you road trip cross country with your new friends

Live your live to the fullest while you still can

Adelaide Scholz - 29 • F • RO

A bit rough around the edges, Adelaide is a personality that takes some getting used to. Sharp tongued, self deprecating and blunt as baseball bat, Adelaide always has something to say - most times at the annoyance of others. But a stage 4 lung cancer patient such as herself doesn’t have the time nor patience to care what anyone thinks of her. With her leather jacket and a carton of cigarettes in her back pocket, doomed to forever be unlit, she’s ready to see the sights and if need be, kick some ass. She’ll try, at least.

Hayden Della Rocca - 31 • F/M • RO

Hayden is probably the happiest person you’ll ever meet, despite their failing heart. Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy just shy of graduating university, they’ve been on the transplant waitlist ever since but they haven’t let that stop them. Having been cooped up in their studio working as a freelance artist, they’re now ready to take on the world, pacemaker and all; and heaven help you if you try slow them down.

Gabriel Torres - 30 • M • RO

There’s not much to say about Gabriel, mostly because no one knows anything about him besides his chronic liver failure. He’s silent and mysterious but he’s always happy to spare a smile if he catches you staring. Though preferring to keep to himself, he’s more than willing to share his secrets as long as you’re willing to listen.

Jordan Michaels - 32 • F/M/NB • RO

Your support group’s therapist, somewhat unwillingly dragged along on your adventure. Very straight-laced and a stickler for rules, Jordan fears the worst the second they agree to join you. Now the designated driver and parent of the group, Jordan tries their hardest to keep everyone in line. But despite their initial reluctance, they’ll learn to let loose and finally have fun; so long as everyone takes their meds.

Mavis/Maverick Chen - 31 • F/M • RO

A quirky and eccentric bartender you meet on your journey. Longing for a change of scenery, they jump at the offer to join you. Beyond their eccentricities - somehow both charming and strange - they fit in surprisingly well among your group, bringing new life to the party; pun intended. They help open your eyes to new experiences and hey, if all else fails, they can at least make you a mean drink.

Kade Weston - 22 • M • Non-RO

After being in remission for almost four years, Kade is forced to step back from medical school when his leukemia relapses and hits him hard. Unwilling to endure chemo for the second time, he is all too happy to pack his bags and hit the road. It’s clear he’s running from his problems, in spite of all Jordan’s hardwork, but maybe this trip is exactly what he needs. But whether he finds acceptance or continues running to the very end, he knows all of you will stand by his side.

Margaret Evans - 84 • F • Non-RO

An Ode to Dying Stars is an 18+ dark fantasy piece of fiction with romance elements that will be written and coded using CScript.

DEMO LINK (TBA)

Content warnings (this IF has heavy themes that might be distressing for some, please understand your limits and put your well-being first): murder and attempted murder, abduction, portrayals of unhealthy relationships, (optional) explicit sexual content, mentions of past child abuse, recreational substance use, violence, body horror, torture, gore, blood, self destructive behaviours and unhealthy coping mechanisms, mental health issues, character deaths, pregnancy (optional), explicit language, mentions of past slavery, instances of harassment. Please ask for any clarifications.

𝗦𝗬𝗡𝗢𝗣𝗦𝗜𝗦

❝No matter how beautiful, a gilded cage is still a cage.❞

As the Heir of the Seelie Kingdom, you’ve never known true freedom. Your whole life has been planned out for you by people who see you as nothing more than a possession and a future figurehead. Only your shadowy father-figure, Faolan, and your best friend, Rune, have ever truly been on your side.

At your coming of age ceremony, your parents announce their intention to marry you off, and you watch as the spark of greed alights in the eyes of the noble Fae around you.

Therefore, it’s almost a relief when a diplomatic incident ends with you being sent to the Unseelie Kingdom at the request of its Monarch, your childhood friend, to settle it.

However, not everything is as it seems, and if you aren’t careful, you might just find that you’ve only traded one gilded cage for another.

𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦

Customise your HEIR’s identity and appearance: gender (cis and trans), pronouns, colour(s) and style of hair, colour(s) of eyes, skin tone, clothing style, scars, tattoos, and more.

This IF is story-driven. You won’t be locked out of choices.

Four romance options (two red flag romances, two green(er) flag romances) with two triad poly options.

Prepare to take over as Monarch of the Seelie Kingdom, protect your loved ones, and navigate the realms and politics of the Fae.

The mc’s personality is somewhat set before they head to the Unseelie Kingdom, and some relationships are set to begin with.

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦

me reading interactive fiction now and having a tumblr blog dedicated to it:

DEMO: HERE

The Great Protector is a 16+ interactive fiction story where you play as the knight responsible for protecting the crown of the tiny kingdom of Iliffe.

(Please keep in mind that this game is in very, very early development. Updates will most likely be very slow as I’m in university and I’m also a very slow writer. Ideally I’ll have the first chapter of the demo out by the end of the year!)

STORY

You aren’t sure how you went from running for your life from the only home you’ve ever known to ending up on another continent as the main protector to the heir to some kingdom you’ve hardly even heard of. But whether this is the lucky break you’ve been waiting for or not is up to you. At least it gives you something to do?

FEATURES

Customize your name, appearance, pronouns, gender, and magic elemental affinity!

Two RO’s: the carefree crown of Iliffe, OR the stoic town healer who doesn’t seem to like you very much!

Build relationships with a variety of different characters and find your place within the town! When you’re not out knight-ing, you can do other things like… gardening? Searching for escaped chickens? Babysitting children? Are you just doing the townspeople’s chores for them?

Meet an eleven year old kid who reminds you a little too much of the past you’ve been running from!

See the sides of the royal family the public never will!

Will be updated as the game develops!

painting: Dawn of Hope by Daniel F. Gerhartz

A New Interactive Novel

DEMO TBA

Crown of Ashes and Flames is a fantasy interactive fiction game, free to play from start to finish, on pc and mobile. You play as the only remaining member of the royal family of Vesphire; living in the home of the king that took away everything from you.

It is currently in development and each chapter will be released as they are finished.

The war had taken everything from you.

King Luceris had taken everything from you.

You were just six years old when all of this happened. One moment you were in your room sleeping and the next you were walking through smoke and ash trying to find your parents.

Love, he said, was the reason he started the war. Ironically, you lost everything you loved but you also lost yourself when he let you survive and dragged you away to his home.

In a new Kingdom with no one on your side what choices will you make to survive? Who will you become?

Inside of you there's something burning for revenge and there's only one thing I want to tell you. Let it out.

Content Warning: Depictions of violence, injuries and blood, and death; trauma, psychological and physical body horror, sexual content and animal cruelty. Safe to play for those 18 and older.

The story starts in the Kingdom of Vesphire, a fictional kingdom within a fantasy universe, but it truly begins in the Kingdom of Rosea.

The two kingdoms are situated in a world that was blessed by the gods, the lands were filled with magic and beasts of wonder. For unknown reasons the gods abandoned the realm taking everything they had brought with them while the beasts moved to forests and the sea. Anywhere that was far from civilization.

You were born and raised in Vesphire until tragedy struck and you were taken away to Rosea. Contrary to the snowy lands of Vesphire, Rosea was tropical in the north and temperate in the south with mountains surrounding the lane.

The Kingdom is a colorful land with green scenery contrasts to its large white buildings. The streets are always busy from early mornings to the late nights, and filled with calls from the shopkeepers from their wooden stalls with sun-faded striped fabric or blue tarps above it. It is truly a lively place.

The ruler of this kingdom is none other than Luceris de Rosea. He is the man who led destruction right onto your home, he is the one whom all of Rosea admire. The land is immensely beautiful but many of it's people harbor great hatred towards you due to you being the last royal of Vesphire.

✧ Play as the royal of your own making:

Name [including nicknames]

Gender [male, female and nonbinary options]

Pronouns [choose a preset or set your own]

Personality [develop personality traits that will influence event sequences and the behavior of other characters towards you]

Appearance [including scars and tattoos]

✧ Develop deeper relationships with the characters, each with their own themes and stories, and find romance.

✧ Build rapport with characters from all over the continent, aid them with their problems or use them as a pawn in your story.

✧ Build a codex as you explore the world that surrounds you; encounter people, places, history and magic.

✧ Encounter important timed choices with alternative results if time runs out or you choose to abstain.

This list only covers the characters that you can form a deeper relationship with, platonic or romantic. All characters are available for everyone but only Hunter is gender selectable. These are not the only important characters.

Helios de Rosea - The Crown Prince of Rosea, and the child of the man that destroyed your home. He has straight white hair that reaches past his shoulders, pale blue eyes and golden brown complexion. He has a radiating smile that instantly brightens up the room, like sunshine itself. He is the hero of all fairytales, the boy with a golden spirit full of light and hope. He keeps his distance from you, after all you are the last royal of Vesphire. He is one year older than you.

Hunter Oakes - Crown Prince's shield and Sir Lancelot's ward. They have short straight black hair, deep blue eyes and a tawny complexion. Easygoing, resilient and reckless; their serene smile puts everyone at ease. They're loyal to the hand that feeds them but understand what you went through was an injustice. Since Sir Lancelot took care of both of you, you and Hunter developed a friendship. They are four years older than you.

Fadiya Akter - The Royal Mage's daughter, and one of the only people that doesn’t have something against you. She has waist-length curly ruby red hair along with amber eyes and dark brown complexion. She's cheerful, talkative and kind - like a fairy. Fiercely loyal to you, to the point that she gets into trouble just to defend you even in court. She is a powerful mage just like her mother. She is one year younger than you.

Soarine de Norazaan - Eldest daughter of the King of Norazaan, and an envoy to Rosea. She has waist-length wavy light green hair with mint eyes and a rosy complexion. Her smile is charming and practiced, she has a vixen-like personality. Soarine wishes to take the throne and better her kingdom, her desire for success is underlined by a thirst for revenge against the people in her kingdom who have forgotten their own history. She is one year older than you.

Vincent Annora - Ikram Annora's son, and is the next General of the Imperial Army. He has wavy brown hair that is shorter at the front but longer at the back, green eyes and an olive complexion. The perfect example of what a knight should be. He is very guarded and passionately protective of the people he cares about, he may seem rough around the edges but has a gentler side to him at times. He dislikes you due to his mother's own hatred towards you and your late family. He's trying to live up to the expectations of everyone as the future General of the Imperial Army. He is two years older than you.

Ask Guidelines

Character Descriptions

At first I felt so liberated because drawing is the one creative thing I can’t do AT ALL, yet I have strong visions for a lot of genre-bending art ideas, which take a ton of references and effort to explain. I’ve always felt bad confusing the artists I commission. AI has been amazingly helpful in generating references, especially for the general vibes of an art piece. But I also came to the initial conclusion that it won’t replace human artists any time soon, because it’s still impossible to get the AI to generate super specific compositions. It’s especially bad with prepositions and handling multiple subjects at once. Therefore, I haven’t abandoned any of my commission plans just because AI art is available.

I realized this attitude is pretty specific to me though, because I have set character designs in mind. But what if a publisher or something just needed a generic character design to slap on a cover? I tested the limits of the AI by telling it to generate a “YA fantasy book cover by [popular cover artist]” The AI is wonky with faces and limbs, yes, but by generating variations and doing upscales over and over, I got some renders that look ready to be slapped on a book:

Some of you can probably recognize exactly which artist I put into the prompt (not naming her because I don’t want to encourage others to do this). Now what is stopping a big publisher from generating art bred from her style instead of hiring her? Nothing except $600 a year. That’s how much the corporate license for this AI costs, with “corporation” defined as having a revenue of over 1 million per year. And it’s an OPEN commercial use license. They say all paid members ($10 - $50 per month) “own” any asset they generate.

After talking to many of my artist friends, I now think these loose usage terms are pretty dangerous when artists are already systematically devalued and struggle with art theft and industries that cut corners whenever they can. People talk a lot about how AI sucks at faces and limbs, but what about non-portrait artists? I think environmental artists, background artists, concept artists, and especially artists who do surreal horror type stuff are most at risk of losing jobs to AI, even though it’s THEIR WORK that’s being fed into the AI to generate renders. There needs to be more transparency about where the images being fed into the AI are coming from, and options to limit the pool to only creative commons images or something. That or ban all commercial use, or we’re really gonna get AI generated book covers and other shit.

Right now, I think the AI user community also fosters unhealthy entitlement to art. I’ve seen people complain about the $30 tier not having enough Fast generation hours - you’re already getting hundreds of art pieces by typing a few words, and you’re COMPLAINING about a price tag that low because there’s a limit on how quickly you can get them??

These are not people who would pay a human artist the rate they deserve for their work. And honestly, I have no faith that big companies will keep paying artists fair wages when they can just buy a $600 per year license for unlimited assets to use for their million dollar projects.

Worm Moon by Mary Oliver

Moon Song by Roy Ivan Johnson

To Catch the Moon by Chong Bum Kim

Morning Song by Sara Teasdale

Not The Moon by Margaret Atwood

Everyone Is Asleep by Enomoto Seifu-jo

The Sweetness of Dogs by Mary Oliver

The Moon Looked Into My Window by E. E. Cummings

Dear Moon by Warsan Shire

The Poet Of Ignorance by Anne Sexton

Owl and Pussycat, Some Years Later by Margaret Atwood

Will You Come? by Edward Thomas

If My Hands Could Peel by Federico García Lorca

Days Of Kindness by Leonard Cohen

The Moonlight by Noah Buchholz

The Moon was But a Chin of Gold by Emily Dickinson

What We Have by Warsan Shire

ALT

CHAPTER 4: SYSBA’S ROUTE IS NOW AVAILABLE

I’m very pleased to announce that, after a brief bout of burnout, the demo has now been updated to include the first of the five routes!

This update includes:

Treating yourself to some new clothes, embracing nature (perhaps a bit too much), or getting in-tune with your artistic side.

Trying to figure out why terrible things keep happening (it’s getting quite ridiculous)

Embracing the trials and tribulations of a fashion show

Dealing with an emotionally-unintelligent eldritch horror

Other house business:

Just the usual tidying up of code, bugs, and minor discrepancies!

The next route planned will be Operator; voting for the one after is available on patreon. The word-count now sits at 450, 647 with an additional 43k added in this route.