Willowish Studios

Q2: How did Mukondi know the MC was an Oracle, or is it not a secret when they're not on diplomatic missions?

A2: The state of the MC as an Oracle is private, and only known by government officials, and close family (If they have such). Because Oracles are rare, and protected. 

Mukondi did know the MC was an Oracle when she was added as an ambassador. She knew the info, and heard a story of the Oracle’s odd medical condition (Fainting, generally weak, etc.). So Mukondi knew, and they had an alibi ready in case the Oracle fainted, grew weak, or did something similar, in order to help cover for the MC.

Q3: Do you think you’ll publish the story in writing if you’re unable to get an artist? Would a Kickstarter be something you guys would be able to do or want to do in the future?

A3: It’s a possibility! I am indeed thinking about doing something along these lines, it just takes a lot of time and energy to do so. An artist may be hard to get right now, but doing Patreon, Kickstarter, or Ko-fi is not a bad idea.

Q4: Is there any social media to follow y'all together or separately to see what you do next?

A4: I’m not really big on social media, and I currently use my twitter for my Final Fantasy character, and Dice giveaways. I’m a fairly private person, so no social media, but the Discord Server is still up, and you can contact me there if necessary.

I may open a Stellamore Twitter one day, we’ll see!

Q5: Would you guys ever consider putting the game together as an interactive fiction?

A5: That was the starting plan/idea! Something to have on your phone, where you can experiment with your decisions, it all changes with you! But that stopped unfortunately, life happens. But that was indeed the starting plan/concept!

Q6: The Li’s and Children?

A6: Most of them are decent parents, however some of them would’ve had an issue of “Oh, small person, hiiii~”.

For further reference:

Taqtu is a happy dad “Let’s go champ!” “Play ball!”.

Seneca is a gentle father.

Waauru and Mukondi are “Let’s go to Mcdonalds!” type of parents.

Ariki and Cipactli are sweet, if their kid fails, they kiss their forehead and give a lollipop.

Dior and Halle are “Oh hi small child.” “Oh we’re hugging?” *pats the child awkwardly like a cat*

Q7: What would it take to keep this project going?

A7: While I has seen people offering help, I don't want to put fans and lovers of the game into a position where I cannot financially pay you back! The game consumed lots of time and effort. Even if you want to work for free, I don't feel comfortable taking that offer! If I cannot pay you back in some way, or make it worth your time, I don't want to pull you all into it! I love the game, the story, and want to continue it! But there’s a LOT going on, and having fans work for free will bother my mind.

Q8: What are details about the world that you'd like to share, but wouldn't have come up in the game?

A8: Well, we have several ideas about the world. If anything, having the backstory of other characters and knowing how they came to be, but we couldn’t do that without making the game/story “extra fat” so to speak.

The story with Halle was very interesting! But we couldn’t put much information to it without “bloating” the game.

If I had to think of specific details? What really comes to mind is backstories for characters prevalent to other characters’ story! People in the background!

The merfolk and their warlord, the Marakihau, how they’re such an important exporter of crystals.

The Marakihau and melusine.

The Ijiraat against the Jotunn. Their difference in mindsets and conflict.

Like we could touch this with Taqtu and Halle but we couldn’t do much or not move the story.

The Faelands, inspired by philippines, but they’re very “background/low mentioned” in game.

The crystals! There is more going on there that we couldn’t add!

And lots of worldbuilding that doesn’t affect the main plot, or characters’ stories that couldn’t be added.

Unplanned/Spontaneous Questions:

Q1: Is the Emperor religious/devout?

A1: He is, but not nearly as hard as his wife. He was a commoner until he raised in rank through military might.

When the Empress was young, one day she snuck out of the palace, and the two encountered each other, and he fell in love with her. So he went up many stations to marry her, gaining favor and whatnot.

Q2: Cipactli and religion?

A2: He is very religious, does proper worship, but is more a man of science and progress. He feels there are more uses for crystals, and that we should expand for the betterment of the people, but that is in conflict with the fact that the empire is made of “warriors and priests”.

Q3: I know the MC can kind of be changed up. Do you yourself have a headcanon for the MC?

A3: We as the devs, didn’t exactly insert ourselves as the MC? But we basically imagined ourselves working in the palace. 

Luna being the “Royal artist” making the royal portraits.

Warie being the “Head butler/maid/steward”

And I’d (Gogo) be the “Royal caretaker” of the cow.

So during a route, when the MC is trying to hide in the palace, they could find us 3 in a closet taking a “cookie break” due to stress, an easter egg of sorts haha.

Q4: Once the barrier went up, what happened to Cici’s brother?

A4: The Empress said “NOBODY TOUCH MY BABY!”. Size wise, the barrier got some of the palace, and parts of the town around it, so it did get some everyday people, their homes, and shops. 

If you take the route to stay outside with Halle, there’d be an Empress speech towards the inhabitants trapped within (She’d have Cipactli and baby brother) showing that the barrier doesn’t scare her family, and it won‘t “go freely” so to speak. Afterwards, he was in “baby jail” so to speak, but wasn’t alone as he had his dog :)

Q5: Can we become a consort for the Empress?

A5: She can have multiple consorts, yes. Some Empress’ go towards monogamy, some don’t. The current Empress says “I like this himbo, he’s mine” (About the current Emperor) and seems fine with just him.

Q6: If someone were to stream what’s currently available of the game on YouTube or Twitch, is that okay?

A6: Yes! I want more people to be interested! Seeing you all want us to continue and support us is really encouraging!

Q7: Can we kiss the Li’s?

A7: You cannot hold hands! Sooooo….. If you insist!

Q8: Does the Oracle get paid for being an Oracle?

A8: They do but it’s a weird situation. They’re the “astrology teller”. So they have a steady income. They don't have a mansion nor are they rich, but they will be able to afford a nice hut and raise a family of 4.

And the government would want to hide the fact that they’re an Oracle, and want them to lay low.

Q9: Would it have been possible that the Li’s be down for a polycule?

A9: Yes. Cipactli to Taqtu. Or Seneca to Taqtu  (That one is a hot mess).

Taqtu and Halle would be at the same place.

Taqtu would have been respecting of him and his limitations, accepting the jotunn people, overcoming prejudice, respect and nature and the empire.

Halle would be dealing with isolation, the same as the humans, but trying to stretch out globally, go around traditions making way for the future, building courage, and old magics.

Q10: Any funny moments you had planned?

A10: Besides our “Cookie break dev” easter egg, in Cipactli, Mukondi, and Waauru’s routes, we’d have a bit of “shenanigans' with the dog. But that’s about as far as we’ve done for any of the routes.

Q11: Which of the characters do YOU want to kiss?

A11: My boy, my baby, Seneca. And Halle.

Q12: Is Mukondi? okay?

A12: Yes. She’s a politician, stress is a part of her job, she’s fine.

Additional Info given by Gogo:

I’m thinking about turning Stellamore into a novel or something of the sort, giving you insight into the story and writing!

Maybe doing a Ko-fi or Patreon with goals towards giving more story and information! Maybe even things about specific characters!

Writing a story is difficult, and I don’t have the “braincells” for it sometimes.

We just try to have certain themes connected to characters.

And that brings up a good point! We tried to have an MC who isn’t “bland like bread”, which can be an issue of Visual Novels, or games like this.

So, if I approach this in a writing way, would ya’ll feel comfortable with me trying to give the MC personality?

Would you want the same Protagonist in each route, or have different MC’s as oracles? Sort of changing protagonist per route? (Seems like a general yes in opinion from who was there) So having each Oracle have different personalities, each route having a different take on the MC! (It’d help with story, worldbuilding, etc.) and could help expand on the Li’s more too!

Oh well. They were pretty, but not expensive. Maybe someone would stumble upon them once celebrations ended and have their day made.

She exhales a laugh through her nose, lips curling. She surely wouldn’t be the only one short of a few accessories by the end of the night, given the exuberance of the dancers who show no sign of tiring.

Her feet swing lazily from the balcony, barely meeting the time of the still-beating drums, as her eyes scan across the crowd.

A good number of familiar faces had dulled her shyness in the face of countless foreigners only hours before, but only now, elevated above the raging celebration, did she allow herself to truly observe those who had come together.

Ueman’s eyes never lingered for more than a few seconds per face, the impish features of a fae individual slipping their way through the crowd with unbelievable grace, the curtain of shimmering orange hair that shielded the face of a Marakihau woman as she pecked her laughing companion on the cheek-

The deep, deep red eyes framed by feathery-white lashes that peered back up at her from under heavy brows.

For a moment she’s frozen, the sweat on her body chills, her breath caught in her throat, her heart beating wildly in closer tandem with the drum beats than her legs could ever manage.

Their hair, long and white, twisted up awkwardly into a purely utilitarian updo, baring strong shoulders and tawny skin to the world. She’s never seen someone like them, not in this cosmopolitan city of the Empire, and certainly not in the small streets that surround her home.  

She feels almost stricken to her core.

But does she dare to leave the safety of her perch, the anonymity that accompanies these celebrations? Whatever she decides, it must be now before the stranger gets lost in the crowd. The seconds bear down on her, slowing to a near stop as a barely-there smile tugs at the stranger’s lips.

They raise something in their right hand, shining jewel and polished metal glinting ruby red in the setting sunlight, and Ueman barks a startled laugh. Their smile widens in return.

She had hoped someone would find her earring, but like this? She presses her lips together, fighting a grin as they beckon to her, beginning to sway along to the music themselves.

She stands, heart beating, hands trembling with excitement-

And the music stops.

The beat of the drums, the whooping and hollering of the crowd, the earth-shaking reverberations of dancing feet against the earth, all fall silent. Suddenly so eerily quiet that she’s aware of the sound of her own heartbeat, hummingbird-quick in her chest.

Thousands of faces are looking to the horizon, those beautiful red eyes-- just like her earrings, wide and rounded by some unnamed emotion-- and she is almost scared to turn and see. But she must.

Craning her head, she finds herself frozen once more.

Shimmering, glittering colors are creeping over the horizon, filtering the sun with thousand shades of every color imaginable, and some that aren’t. The beautiful view, once as familiar as the back of her own hand, is gone.

Her ears are ringing, and the silence is shattered as suddenly it came.

Merrymakers scrambling, screaming their fears and fleeing the streets, pushing past guards that march as one towards the horizon.

She can’t rip her eyes from it. That beautiful, awful thing. Her mind is clouded, her knees are weak and she swears that the ground is beginning to shift beneath her.

What is happening?

A wordless exclamation tears her eyes from the shimmering mass, back to the thinning, panicked crowd. The warmth of those ruby red eyes holds her firmly in the now, their expression having melted from open shock into grim determination.

Their open beckoning hand promising now not a dance to end them all, or the fleeting fascinations of summer romance, but the safety of companionship. Any port can offer safe harbor in a storm, no matter how unfamiliar.