#shkif

Guess who finally got Chapter 1 up? Me!

(Will probably still have bugs and errors so screenshots of them are appreciated)

I'm trying to get a style overhaul done next weekend that will include all the bug fixes that come up.

Thank you to everyone who has followed/commented and/or helped me with this.

You reach for the shadows on the other side of the rooftops. It feels warm, inviting and you ask nicely from the part of your soul connected to them all to give you a hand and make you fly. As always it responds and wraps around your wrist and tugs. You feel like a black blanket wraps tightly around you and in a heartbeat you are standing on the roof, the parade going full swing underneath you.

It is the largest celebration you’ve ever seen. Might make sense as it is the first king that has graced these streets in a century but still you can not feel like it is a waste. You spot the future King, or is he one already, sitting on a golden carriage led by black horses. You squint your eyes and spy a gorgeous woman sitting next to him, the Queen.

The next thing you spot is the figure with a crossbow, aiming downward from the window across and down from you. Towards the newly crowned pair.

You are part of a mysterious order of Shadows. Once you were regarded as highly loyal and skilled group that reached where their Kings hand couldn't reach. From diplomatic espionage to making sure some secrets don't reach outside the castle walls. You were a kid brought in from the street, clever and talented, with a bright future in front of you. Or as bright a future can be for someone who uses and manipulates the shadows. Doing work for nobles, for your Order, racing your childhood best friend/rival on the rooftops has seemed like a perfect life compared to what fate had started you out with.

No king has sat on the throne for as long as you and anyone you know has been alive.

That is no longer true.

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This is my first IF project and I’m trying to keep things light and nice. With enough action and angst to keep things interesting. There are four (4) romance options with a wiggle room for a polyamorous route if enough spoons/coding skills.

Rating will be 16+ (just in case)

The demo is almost done with a few passages to be written and a small bit of code to be wrangled into working order. As such if you’re in mood to be a beta tester or sensitivity reader I’d love to hear from you. <3

The King, Darin, M, early 30s

The king looks stoic, the smile that occasionally tugs at his face does not reach his eyes and while his shoulders are broad and proud, in private you can see the gloomy man. He works during the day and night, a kingdom on verge of collapse after centuries without competent governance. The recently ended civil war does complicate the matters even more. That he is the one responsible for it all, responsible for annihilating any dissent (some of them family members) for this peace. He is everything a King should be and you can choose to become his confidante (maybe more) as it seems there’s no one else he trusts, except for his Queen. Their relationship is friendly, like two childhood friends at time. Everyone knows a heir is due at some point, the peaks of their private life you have seen indicate that it’s far off to the future. King Darin has dark brown skin and darker hair, though streaks of silver have started to form despite his young age. His brown and black eyes seem to look into your soul and read it full. A pair of eyes to drown in if one is so inclined. While he’s sworn to not carry his battle axe any longer, you have no problem to believe that he still could swing it like he used to.

The Queen, Kallas, F, early 30s

A warm golden skin and hazel eyes the Queen Kallas stands of average height but seems to tower over people with tall crown of black hair on which a simple gold and pearly circlet sits. She favours gold in her eyes and jewelry, the colourful clothing speaking of her merchant background.

Before she was the Queen of the kingdom, she was the queen of the merchants. Her soldiers fought not with weapons but with contracts, wares and gold. She was jokingly known as the ‘Golden Queen’ and now she is one for real. Her regal look gives authority to her husband, as do hers and her contacts vaults of gold. Where her husband looks carved from stone at times, she smiles and praises when needed and cuts down the opponent when so necessary.

She has not risen, was not chosen as queen by anyone else’s merit but her own. She gifts those close to her generously but also demands much of them and most are happy to obey.

You are rarely alone with her, though if you ask she is more than willing to let you in to the other side of governing and the art of making deals. She seems to enjoy your little talks during a cup of strong cup of kaffe.

The childhood friend/rival, Hede, Gender selectable, same age as MC

Your childhood friend and rival depending on choices and chance during your trials. They are your counterpart on missions and in life. Tall, pale and with striking white hair and pale grey eyes their appearance would garner admiration and attention, if they would not shroud themselves in the shadows, cloaks, and the white mask of your order all the time.

Their choice of weapons are a pair of daggers, quick and quiet.

When spoken to in more intimate settings, when it’s just the two of you, Hede is as quick witted with their tongue and a passion for history and tales of old.

Even if you are more rivals than close knit friends you know you could put your life into their hands. You know them to be honorable and you did grow up together under the same creed. Even when they take it as their mission to annoy you.

The servant, Ora, NB, late 20s

Short of height they are the pillar behind the Kings household. A frown often mars their face as they are too busy to listen to gossip. Even if much of the gossip might revolve around them. When they have a moment to relax or someone is lucky enough to get Ora flustered enough and close enough to peer under dark auburn curls to see heated cheeks under dark grey eyes. Their skin is a warm tawny colour and freckled where the sun has kissed. Their uniform during the working hours, which seem to be all hours of the day, is matching to the royal colours: dark yellow and grey.

They served with the king during the heights of the civil war so why they are now his aide and the head of servant’s baffles many. They are as focused and driven as their King, though seem to be perfectly fine to retreat to the shadows with you anytime a spotlight might shine on them. They are a calm, unstoppable force that not even the missing arm seems to slow down when they set their mind to something. Might need your help with reaching the top shelves, though.

Demo

As such, volunteers for playtest/beta reading still wanted, if anyone is interested 🙈 Hopefully I can get it done quickly (and have the energy after the operation to focus on it) so I can publish the next full chapter in May, at the latest.

Also...

Over 900 followers!

Gosh you guys... Thank you even as I've been really quiet and slow to update.

and I'll give you the sentence it appears in from the future chapter. If it doesn't exist, I'll write it in. (with veto power, obviously)

Truth, after all, as useful.

Aarne’s going to have your hide.

“Just don’t forget whose orders you follow.”

Uu! suspence.