Bride of Shadows Rework [Shadewalker Edition]

As promised, here is a first look at the new and improved Bride of Shadows. Before you check it out, keep in mind it's a short preview. It covers the events of what we would formerly consider Night I and Night II.

However, you'll notice several key differences. I'll summarize them here. This is a very long post, you don't need to read everything prior to playing although I'd recommend looking it over before asking questions as they might already be covered.

New Story Routes

Classic Route - The standard Bride of Shadows storyline. Build a romantic and sexual relationship with Serax and Valdricht, explore Nazralt, conceive a child, and go on a journey of self-discovery. MMF or MFM explicit content available. Ideal for dark fantasy romance enjoyers or dark fantasy-curious readers. [[Night I Complete]]

Dark Maiden Route - Patreon Exclusive ★ Everything in the classic route, but darker. The choices are limited. Serax and Valdricht will expect the MC's complete submission. Love looks a lot like Stockhom's syndrome. MMF only. Ideal for veteran dark romance readers looking for a more intense submission & breeding romance. [[Night II Complete]]

Fated Mates Route - Patreon Exclusive ★ Contains everything in the classic storyline, but the MC will experience an intense, monogamous mate bond with Valdricht. Serax and Valdricht will not be romantically involved. Your MC can develop a friendship or antagonistic relationship with Serax. MF only. Ideal for dark fantasy afficionados who prefer monogamy. [[Night II Complete]]

Note: All of the story routes are available in Shadewalker tier. Each route has a content warning breakdown prior to starting.

New Story Structure

You wake in a frozen wasteland, abandoned, hungry, and with no memory of who or what you are.

Two dark and powerful men find you in the snow. They take you in and keep you warm. Try as you might to resist them, it isn't long before you lose your heart and your virtue.

As your past unravels, the mystery surrounding you only deepens. They tell you you're one of them—a darksinger, immortal and god-touched, yet cursed with a lust for blood and a barren womb.

If that's true, how is it that you are carrying their child?

That's the new blurb. I think. I love and hate it. It does a great job of establishing the rhythm and the subject matter of the rework, so let's go a bit deeper.

No Memories

I often hate this trope, I think it's really common in IFs for an obvious reason, it allows players to make whatever character they want. But I suspect that can lead authors to kind of treat the MC like an empty vessel because there's not much emotional attachment. And on the flip side, I've seen it done really well. Like (no spoilers) in Baten Kaidos, KOTOR, and Persona 3, where learning your past recontextualizes your whole story.

I don't intend to get super fancy with that, but I do have what I think is a great way to thread the needle. As the first few nights progress, you'll be reliving your MC's youth in dreams. During said dreams, you'll react to and eventually influence the course of your MC's life. For a third party POV, you'll influence your younger self's interests, traits, and even how she copes with trauma. All of this will both effect your backstory and your current personality profile.

For new readers unfamiliar with Bride of Shadows, it may not be immediately apparent that the child in her dreams is her. That's because the girl is badly burned and doesn't resemble the MC's current body. Also, a few other red herrings that'll be in there, but I don't intend to go out of my way to trick readers. The really rewarding part will be seeing how your MC ultimately comes to terms with the fact that she was the girl in her dreams, a girl whom she's come to feel deeply for.

I think this will give the MC a solid emotional core and it'll also give players the opportunity to start scratching the parenting itch. This will serve as a more structured/rigid version of how I ultimately intend to handle the parenting arc once your child comes.

The Weaver is still present and she'll creep in gradually as the prelude progresses.

Tl;dr Your MC won't immediately remember her past or be aware of The Weaver's plan.

Sex & Conception

If you play the Classic Route, your story will be very familiar, following a hybrid Zealot/Heretic plot from the original game. However, if you play Dark Maiden or Fated Mates, those are more sexual storylines. In Dark Maiden, your MC will be pulled into a sexual relationship with Serax and Valdricht on what we'd classically call Night III. Fated Mates will have a lot of steamy & sexual content in earlier episodes as the MC and Valdricht will have to contend with the deliciously cliche mating heat. This is one of my personal favorite tropes, especially when the characters don't know each other well but can't keep their hands off one another. If you enjoy that sort of thing, too, you're in for a treat.

While I'll endeavor to ensure there's romance development prior to sex (at least in Classic & Fated Mates) I intend to do this more by fleshing out the nights and moondays with more character interactions than delaying sex until X number of days. Additionally, your MC won't know the full context of her past when having sex for the first time, so rather than having all of the religious angst prior to sex, it'll catch up afterwards and you'll be able to shape the extent to which that impacts your MC.

Your divine child will be conceived either the 1st or 2nd time your MC has sex, depending on your route.

Tl;dr: Pregnancy comes first, love comes later.

Preludes & Acts

The new story structure will be as follows. Note that the prelude is an approximation, as some routes such as Dark Maiden will bear virtually no resemblance to the original story.

Prelude - The Maiden of Mourning (Nights 1-4)

Act I - The Breaking of Grace (Months 1-2/varies)

Act II - The Burden of Light (Month 3)

Act III - The Warden of Radiance (Month 4-TBD)

We'll discuss more precise divisions as we move through Act I. I have core plot points I intend to focus on and a lot of optional side stuff. You guys are going to vote on how much of that you want, thus controlling the pacing of the story.

Act I will likely be the longest as we'll be taking a lot of time to flesh out the relationships and the MC's emotional journey from vestal to lover and expectant mother. Act II will be focused on rounding out the relationships with Serax and Valdricht as you prepare for the birth of your child/children.

Your MC's pregnancy will be approximately 3 months, although the plot does permit to speed that up if enough readers want it. Just not too much, the poor MC already has to do a full gestation in a trimester and I don't intend on writing one of those magical romance novel pregnancies where the baby never shows and everyone's still having hot sex up until delivery day. It'll be a challenge for her to cope with the rapid changes to her body and the very brief window between conception and motherhood.

The choices you make in Act II with your love interest(s) will have a big impact on what sort of parents they'll be in Act III. The final act begins following the birth of your child/ren and will be focused on parenting, primarily raising your child to be a good future overlord and also keeping him/her safe from the forces that would do them harm. Your child will grow very quickly. How quickly is another thing that will depend on readers. I have tons of content I can write, but I'll also be respectful of readers who would like to see the story concluded in a timely fashion. It'll be a constant process of checking in with Darksinger & Duskweaver members to guide the pace.

tl;dr: The prelude encompasses the first 4 nights of the rework. It is where you will largely define your MC's base personality and storyline prior to entering Act I.

Romance Dynamics

Apart from developing your MC and getting her pregnant, an important function of the prelude will be developing your relationship style with each love interest. This is a variable I'll keep hidden until the end of the prelude and one I think will define your story almost as much as your personality.

My aim isn't to give you a ton of choices post-prelude. That bogs down the pacing, and arbitrarily so because your MC will still end up in the position of becoming a divine mother in Act III regardless of whatever she does in Acts I & II. You'll still have choices, particularly in how you spend your nights, be it developing a skill, learning Wyransith, or indulging in carnal pleasure, but my intention is to give you a somewhat linear erotic dark fantasy romance novel that feels tailored to your specific character and tastes in your love interests.

As such, how you interact with your love interests in the prelude will create a dynamic. Your dynamic will define how your MC engages in both conversations and intimacy with both Serax and Valdricht. As of right now, each route has two dynamics for each guy, and that includes Serax in FMR. We can discuss adding more later.

For example, if you're playing Classic and you spend the prologue teasing and bantering with Serax, that dynamic will persist as you enter Act I. However, if you prefer instead to show him a more vulnerable, tender side of your MC, you'll see a different side of Serax in Act I--gentle and responsive to the MC's needs.

In Fated Mates, you can play an opposites attract dynamic with Valdricht, crafting a coy MC who knows she has him hooked and enjoys shaking his composure. But if you spend the prelude letting him walk all over you, don't expect to claw back any of your agency once you're carrying his heir.

In Dark Maiden, both of the love interests will treat your MC an awful lot like a pet if you let them. Or you can establish a more nuanced dynamic with each in the prelude, orienting your MC toward the difficult but rewarding arc of gaining Valdricht's respect and Serax's admiration.

There's no right or wrong way to play. Pursue whichever dynamic feels fun to you and avoid the ones you dislike. The choices will be very intuitive--whichever options you pick will naturally shift into your dynamic.

tl;dr: Consider dynamics a storyline mechanic. They will define your broader narrative, while your traits will tweak how you express yourself within that narrative.

Classic Dynamics

Classic Route | Serax Dynamic | Combustive
Notification: Your dynamic sharpens with tension.

An MC with a combustive dynamic with Serax will enjoy verbally sparring with him, teasing him, and generally being challenging. She does not provoke him with loud defiance, but with cutting restraint and sharp wit. Serax will see her at once as a rival and a prize. Initially desiring to outwit her, he'll soon lust to conquer her. Their tension-soaked debates will often feel like they could end in a fight or a kiss. This dynamic will most often be linked to positive shifts in the MC's stoic, provocative, and erudite traits.

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, rivals in love, ice queen & firebrand

Classic Route | Serax Dynamic | Kindling
Notification: Your dynamic kindles with warmth.

The gentleness to his gruff, an MC who has a kindling dynamic with Serax will meet his fiery temper with warmth. Initially suspicious of her soft, temperate nature, Serax may double his efforts to draw out her venom. This MC is unafraid to hold up a flame in Serax's darkness, shining a light on what is good and banishing his demons. This dynamic will most often be linked to positive shifts in the MC's tender, demure, and intuitive traits.

Tropes: sunshine & grump, hurt/comfort, I see the monster and I still love you

Classic Route | Valdricht Dynamic | Anointed
Notification: Your dynamic strengthens with resolve.

An MC who has an anointed dynamic with Valdricht follows him, but not blindly. She speaks little, listens more, and questions freely, unafraid to match Valdricht's dominance with cool resolve. This MC isn't aggressive or combative, but elegant and poised. She endures his efforts to make her bow, and he may yet come to regard her as his equal. This dynamic will most often be linked to positive shifts in the MC's stoic, defiant, and erudite traits.

Tropes: power couple, slow burn, respect as foreplay

Classic Route | Valdricht Dynamic | Devotee
Notification: Your dynamic stirs with devotion.

An MC who shares the Devotee dynamic with Valdricht chooses him--utterly and without shame. She does not argue with his control; she invites it. Not because she is powerless, but because she sees the god beneath the ruin and offers him grace. Her surrender is not weakness, but devotion to something greater than herself. This dynamic will most often be linked to positive shifts in the MC's tender, devout, and intuitive traits.

Tropes: worship kink, love that redeems, devotion as a love language

Fated Mates Dynamics

Fated Mates | Valdricht Dynamic | Anchored Maiden
Notification: Your dynamic strains against the current.

The Anchored Maiden feels the bond's pull like a dangerous current, but she isn't going to be swept away without a fight. She measures each interaction carefully, retreating behind stoic composure when desire threatens to overwhelm her. Every kindness from Valdricht is weighed and every look questioned. To Valdricht, her reluctance is both torment and a treasure. She both wants him and fears wanting him, and that conflict makes every small surrender precious.

Traits: Measured / Stoic / Cynical
Tropes: reluctant mate, forced proximity, slow(ish) burn

Fated Mates | Valdricht Dynamic | Drowning Maiden
Notification: Your dynamic crashes with surrender.

The Drowning Maiden is swept away by forces beyond her comprehension or control. The bond doesn't merely tempt, it devours. Her daring attempts to surface only drag her deeper, her tender heart aching as her vows are swept away. Even as she’s consumed, she tells herself he must be good. Valdricht becomes both the storm that destroys her and the only thing she can hold on to.

Traits: Daring / Tender / Idealistic
Tropes: consent through collapse, mating heat, innocent in over her head

Dark Maiden Dynamics

Dark Maiden | Serax Dynamic | Wild Beauty
Notification: Your dynamic ignites with struggle.

The Wild Beauty MC resists Serax at every turn—and he loves it. Her glares, her tension, her trembling restraint, it all serves as a challenge Serax can't ignore. He lives for the moments when she clings to him in surrender, her protests devolving into cries of ecstasy.

Traits: Stoic / Daring / Erudite
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, predator & prey, 'I hate you but I want you'

Dark Maiden | Serax Dynamic | Tamed Heart
Notification: Your dynamic softens with surrender.

The Tamed Heart MC knows there's power in surrender. With her softness, she breaks Serax. With her vulnerability, she remakes him. Her obedience is not submission to fear, but an invitation for him to take what is his.

Traits: Tender / Measured / Intuitive
Tropes: protective captor, sacred surrender

Dark Maiden | Valdricht Dynamic | Veiled Mate
Notification: Your dynamic flares with heat.

The Veiled Mate guards her dignity and meets commands with quiet rebellion. To Valdricht, her antics are endearing. He doesn't mind when she asserts herself and is content to let her snap at him. Her defiance is a game that only sweetens her surrender.

Traits: Stoic / Daring / Defiant
Tropes: domination play, 'you think you're in control?'

Dark Maiden | Valdricht Dynamic | Bound Mate
Notification: Your dynamic coils with devotion.

The Bound Mate MC has no interest in resisting Valdricht. Her savoir and her sanctuary, Valdricht keeps the ghosts of her past at bay. She lies beneath him, not in fear, but in offering.

Traits: Tender / Measured / Devout
Tropes: total surrender, divine dependence, breeding claim

Wyransith

Wyransith or Shadespeak, will have a much bigger role in the re-work. As we build up to the MC beginning to learn it, I'll be making weekly posts with vocab & grammar lessons just for Darksinger and Duskweaver members. I'll generally focus on translations that are immediately applicable to the chapter we're already on.

If you're playing Dark Maiden, the love interests will speak various languages, but none of them will be your MC's. Learning will be a slow process, similar to learning a real language, so relax and enjoy the language barrier barbarians trope while it lasts. Or if you can't bear it, come here for the aforementioned weekly language posts, as I'll be breaking down most of the Dark Maiden translations. It'll be good for me, too, as I can ensure the language is remaining consistent and also share my weird obsession with linguistics with fellow dorks.

Lorehall, Bondweaves, Codex

None of them are there yet. I'm still considering how to best implement the bonds & codex, and the Lorehall will be out once I have a weekend to sit down and edit my lore files into a cutesy format. You'll still be building your relationships with Serax & Valdricht, threads or not. I might snoop around in some other IFs to see how they're handling the relationship page. Let me know if there's one you particularly like.

The First Look

The first look of the new demo will allow you to see the new interface, color schemes, and the plot structures. If anything feels off, we can fix it now before we get too deep in. Some improvements include:

• Cleaner stat management. You'll get a notification advising you of how your traits have changed each time you make a consequential choice.

• Clickable translations. In light mode blue + bold text will indicate words you can click on for a translation. In dark mode, it's gold + bold.

• New character design options. Shadewalker skin tones, eye colors, & hair colors are now in the game. The skin tones will affect your gameplay.

• Dynamic descriptions. If you choose silver hair, you won't just see "He grasps your silver hair" and "You flick your silver hair." No, no. Once you lock in your body, your game will henceforth return a variety of personally tailored descriptors thanks to a cool macro I made, ensuring that your MC feels grounded in the body that you gave her.

• Clear route tagging. Never again will you have to puzzle over whether you're playing the Unaligned Valdricht Branch Zealot route or the Aligned Unbound NSFW Heretic. Your route name is clearly listed at the top left corner of your screen.

• Content warnings. You can click on potential triggers before entering a story route for more details. I've done my best to avoid spoilers.

• Not interface related, but there's some new lore about the MC's backstory, particularly her origins. I feel like some of you guessed that her mother wasn't a random servant. There's still a lot to peel back there later!

  Potential misses include:

• The color schemes. If anything sucks, let me know, just please offer a suggestion so I know which direction to go in.

• The pulsing lights. They're pretty minimal, exclusive to the introduction area and the body selectors. This is to ensure you don't miss them. If they're too intense, let me know.

• Intro music. I think it adds some charm, but if it's annoying I'll remove it. It should cease once your story starts.

• The store page and profile sections are not yet finished/optimized. You're welcome to give feedback, but I'm aware that they're not ideal and I will be working on improving them as I have time. Right now my priority is writing as much as possible.

• Mobile optimization. I have played on my phone and it looks good, but every device is different so let me know if it looks crappy on yours. Especially if you have a tablet, because I don't and I'm just guessing at the configs. The popup menus like Profile and Save are tricky to click off of on mobile. I'll be editing them tomorrow to ensure they're easy to dismiss!

  Conclusion

  LINK: Shadewalker Edition

  PASS: adarksong

  You'll notice it's a different page and says Shadewalker Edition. This is because you guys get the game updates a week later than Darksingers so you'll have your own version with a separate password. Players who opt to upgrade/downgrade should be able to export their saves and move them to the other version. I was able to do it with my own save game, however ymmv.

  Currently I am focused on getting the rework caught up to the original and well be releasing new nights every 2-3 days for darksingers. I will be adding new content for the Shadewalker edition every Friday until the prelude (Night IV) is complete, at which time I'll be releasing completed nights. While this is a lot of new content, it's allowed me to write far faster than before. Coupled with now writing Bride of Shadows full-time, I've been able to write new nights for multiple routes each week.

  Thanks for sticking with me through this transition. When I started Bride of Shadows earlier this year the extent of my coding knowledge was making a Neopets store in middle school. I have learned so much in the past few months and I hope it will show in the rework. I also have to give credit to Becky the author of Chop Shop for making the awesome template that I am using and ChapelR for the amazing macros they provided. If anyone would like to know how I coded things like the starlight backgrounds, notification sounds, or the dynamic descriptors I will happily trade notes with you.

  Apart from the coding, I've learned a great deal from you guys. What you're most interested in, what you dislike, and what works and doesn't. I've crafted the new storylines with your tastes in mind and I'm optimistic that this will be a story that not only progresses faster than the previous version but hits much more satisfying emotional, romantic, and intimate beats.

  -Mortish