Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
Tags

[Devlog] Lock & Key: A Markings SideStory

A topic by Visual Butterfly created Feb 07, 2020 Views: 602 Replies: 17
Viewing posts 1 to 13
Submitted(+1)

Hello! I'm Chanda and I'm in the midst of finishing up another jam which is also going to be the side story of a game I've had an idea about for a very long time. What I will be working on is a visual novel using Tyranobuilder for time's sake. Since the premise is Duality, I originally had the idea of Good & Evil because that is the major theme to the game since it focuses on two races: Akeens & Ingads. Which is good and which is evil. Only one person knows because they lived through it all.

However, I thought that was too easy...

And so, I came up with this:





It sure looks like a lot of blank space, doesn't it? 

I have a lot of ideas to fill up those spaces, so bear with! You may be wondering who these characters are now. 

Reaki is our main girl. Currently, she looks like this:


I don't have a sprite for her right now, but this is her overall look. Her color scheme will be changed to fit her character more.

Next we have Sunir Ciscon,


For this story line, put them as the Sun and Moon because Reaki has a cold personality and often keeps to herself whether it be her emotions. She'll keep to the shadows whereas Sunir is the happy go lucky kid. He'd outshine anyone. When the two first met, Reaki didn't put an ounce of faith in him and he also had his doubts. They've gotten considerably closer. The two of them are in the same homeroom.


Ajeel Koron is this character's name. I may change the duality of Reaki and Ajeel, but I'll explain what I have for them. For Reaki, to die, means for her to die on the battlefield because she is a child of war. She came from the past and was put into a coma from a spell. For Reaki, she knows another war is coming and she is willing to die for the cause whereas Ajeel wants to survive. Even though, he is unaware of the secrecy in the politics at the moment, he wants to survive the cruelty that is Yardrill.

For our next character, we have Toralka Gorgion.


This one was hard to decide between these two. They're like cats and dogs definitely, but they have their sweet moments as well mostly on Toralka's side. I, then, thought to the predator and prey side of things because I wanted to play to Ingads & Akeens. Toralka is an Ingad and Reaki is an Akeen. Reaki is descendant of foxes, specifically snow foxes and given Toralka's big personality and animosity, he'd be the perfect candidate for a grizzly bear. Plus grizzlies are natural predators to snow foxes, so I thought that would play in to these two very well.


Akhil Ochien is the principal of the school that Reaki is enrolled in. He is the first person who Reaki meets on her way to school. She never trusted him because there's something about him that sets her off. The Ochien Family is part of the council which holds the first position since they are descended from Guilen Ochien, who is considered the Ingad God. Akhil doesn't believe in any God as a matter of fact. I think Reaki doesn't like Akhil because he keeps his eyes closed to what's happening on the council hence why he is ignorance. Within the council, many want to end the peace treaty and start a war with Akeens once more. Some have started gathering arms while Akhil goes about his everyday life. Reaki is understanding in this situation in that she understands that she needs to be the one to stop the war herself, not only because she was the cause of it in the first place, but because she wants to redeem herself.

Guilen Luinta is the final man of the hour.

He is the school nurse and he doesn't look like someone who'd be living in the past, but he is. I don't want to give too much away on Guilen's character, but he ties in with Reaki a lot more than you think. While she lives in the present, so long as Reaki is around, Guilen will continue to live in the past.

And now for our beautiful side characters:


Ellie Mynto will definitely make an appearance because where Sunir is, Ellie follows like a lovesick puppy.


Lastly is Suisen Kariyata who will be playing the role of Reaki's mother. She is not Reaki's biological mother, but she acts like her mother and she'll always stay by Reaki's side. The mark on her left arm will be explained below.

So, a little more on Markings. This game got its name from the mark which plagues its residents. Every mark is unique to the family and tells Akeens from Ingads. The mark on Suisen's left shoulder shows how much magic she can use as well as her value as an Akeen. However, most Akeens and Ingads in this day and age don't realize they can even use magic.  The most notable difference between the two races would be the animalistic characteristics as you can tell so far. There is one difference that separates Reaki from other Akeens, though. She has tails. No other Akeen is known to have tails and there is a reason for that.  

I hope you enjoyed this little introduction into Lock & Key! I'll keep everyone updated tonight because I'm going to be very busy. This character route's are planned to be short! Let's hope it all goes well and I meet expectations!

Submitted(+1)

This artwork is beautiful!  I'm so excited for the story that's developing, I can't wait to see how far you get this weekend!

Submitted

Thank you so much! I hope I can get through all of them. That's the goal!! 

HostSubmitted(+1)

You're off to a great start! Good work, also the art is stunning!

Submitted

Thanks so much! I was just about to update!

Submitted

Hello! I have returned! 

I have finished outlining the story for Sunir's route and I will get right on coding the Prologue for the game. However as I said before I was iffy on Ajeel's duality with Reaki and have created these options for myself:


Allow me to go into detail because any one of these could work between them as I am very undecided at the moment! I don't know if everyone has heard of them, but maybe they have and in case you haven't, I am basing Reaki and Ajeel's duality on the Seven Deadly Sins with the Seven Virtues. 

With Sin comes Virtue. Think in terms of equivalent exchange where you need to give and take or yin and yang. Charity is paired with Greed. Diligence with Sloth and Humility with Pride. For Reaki & Ajeel, I came up with these 3 options and they all fit. In regards to Charity & Greed, Reaki never asks for anything for the things she does. She's constantly giving to everyone around her whereas Ajeel wants her to be greedy like him. He's always taking from others to survive and believes it's just, so when he sees Reaki giving and giving, he's jealous. He wants to bring her down to his level. If I go down this route, you'll see why Reaki doesn't think herself charitable at all.

In regards to Diligence & Sloth, Reaki is trying to prevent the war. She has ambition and actively working against it. Ajeel sees how hardworking she is and realizes that he's done nothing in his life to accomplish his own dreams. He wants to be more like Reaki. This one is a bit harder to incorporate and I like the challenge since it's heavily relied on Ajeel's backstory.

Next is Humility & Pride. Now it says that humility can be related to being humble or I guess demure. That's how I've taken it as. Someone who holds back and bites their tongue when it suits the situation whereas someone prideful doesn't know when to hold back which can cause complications. Both Reaki and Ajeel are prideful to their race, but Reaki definitely has more humility than Ajeel. She has more humility especially around him and I think it's because she sees him as someone she should respect or someone who is fragile and doesn't want to hurt. 

Please let me know which route I should go with below! I think your insight will help me with the Reaki & Ajeel route!!

(+1)

The art is beautiful! As for Raeki and Ajeel's duality I would personally like to see Diligence & Sloth. I feel like lots of people can relate Ajeel and it could be great to see them learn from each other. But Humilty & Pride could be great too because they are very relatable as well. I can see why you are having a hard time making a choice :D. I would go with what virtues you have most experience with. I look forward to seeing it!

Submitted

Thank you so much for you input! I really appreciate it!! I'll see what I can do with these two because their relationship has always been fun to write out!

Submitted(+1)

Hello! Hello!! Here is the update on Day 1

I have finished the Prologue of the game which will lead into the character routes. It has come out to 13 pages of google docs coding which I will translate into Tyranobuilder! I plan to have a small sneak peak video up by tomorrow as it is 12 AM for me currently. 

Here is what I have the first branch buttons set as:


A small teaser since you don't know the content before this! I can't wait to set this up for you guys!!

Submitted

I'm back again with some terrible news, but there is good news as well. It is looking like we'll only have Sunir's route to play with because if you remember I was finishing up with another jam before this one! 

It just so happens that because the side stories are under the same assets, I copied and pasted them in Tyranobuilder. While working on Lock & Key's Prologue, I was apparently working on the original file of the other jam...so I was actually overwriting the file. Tyrano can be buggy and so it crashed on me. When I went into the actual folder for Lock & Key, I saw that it looked like the other jam's and believed that nothing changed!

And so, I started rewriting the file once more...0_0...

Luckily, I'm no stranger to Tyranobuilder. I did have to recode everything from scratch for the other jam and that sets this jam back, but I plan to work hard! I foresee myself coding the Prologue by tonight and half of Sunir's route by the end of the jam. I am truly sorry for this mishap and I hope anyone following my progress sticks around for the full side story when I do finish it! I'm pretty stubborn and I don't give up! I think that's pretty good news!! I do apologize if it's not a better update!

Submitted

Hi! 

I've returned and I finished coding the Prologue for Lock & Key. Thankfully, after getting the hang of coding I was able to do it at record speed! 

I do have a sneak peak for the Prologue:

I hope you all like it! I'm going to start writing the code for Sunir's Route then!

(+1)

thats amazing

Submitted

Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it!!

Submitted

Hey guys! 

I'm heavily invested in Sunir's route! I have written out 11 pages of code in google docs so far. It is rearing its end. 

I am at the middle of the story line I would say. After the coding, I plan to input it all in Tyranobuilder and then upload it! Hopefully it works out in the end. It's been slow today just because I had to recode for the last jam since I have to upload tonight for that one!

Submitted(+1)

Mini Update here! I am now 24 pages into writing Sunir's Route! I am so close to finishing and then I will code it all in one shot before play testing. It won't take long and then I will submit it!!

I am trying my best to be careful with my writing. If you do see any writing mistakes, please let me know as my editor had work this weekend!

HostSubmitted (1 edit) (+1)

you're a machine!

Submitted(+1)

Thank you! I've just finished EVERYTHING!!

Submitted

I've got the mac version up! Please let me know if anything is not working!!

I am still uploading the windows file to dropbox and will get that to everyone soon!

Lock & Key Page

Also, the clover was made by me and not my guest artist! I am sorry for my poor work as she could not make it in time for the jam!