Introducing Our Writers!

Welcome dear readers, to our very first development log for Stygiomedusa. We are ecstatic to announce the beginning of our Contributor Line-Up by introducing the sea weavers of Stygiomedusa’s intricately woven story routes- Our Writers. Dive down into the abyssal waters with us as we highlight each of our incredible storytellers, their assigned routes, and a snippet of each writer’s vision for Stygiomedusa.

As we began to scour the deep blue of early development, we asked each of our writers to introduce themselves and to pitch their story ideas for their assigned route. This would help to formalize the foundation of each path in-game, and in turn, further contextualize each character for the team’s designers.  Each writer was granted an abundance of existing worldbuilding documentation for Stygiomedusa, which meticulously details its civilization and intended atmosphere. There are six routes being designed for Stygiomedusa, which we will recap for you below.

Routes

Stura

Serving as a portal to the oceanic seascape of Foleri, Stura is the player’s first formal encounter in Stygiomedusa, after succumbing to a disastrous shipwreck against the merciless high seas. Stura is but a humble and gentle lord governing a small sector of Foleri, and offers to assist the player in returning to the surface.

The Long Arm

This character is a member of the famed ‘treasure hunters’ of the church. Such a position of prestige may lend itself to arrogance, and that is not necessarily untrue of the Long Arm. However, treasure hunters know that fortune favors the bold, and the Long Arm’s route highlights the joy of adventure.

The Hopeful Clergy

 To be a low-ranking member of the clergy is to be devotion itself. Many would deny the vicious rat race that defines ranking up in the church, and the Young Clergy is too pious to admit their skill. There is value in telling truths and telling lies, but can connection truly bloom in a system where sincerity can draw the knife to your back?

The Fishing Captain

 In times of scarcity, the ability to depend on one another is not just smart, it’s survival. The Fishing Captain’s calls to their crew can be heard throughout the sector, sharp and brisk. The Captain learned early in life that efficiency makes the world go ‘round, and it can be difficult to let go of learned habits. However, with the help of found family and a new perspective, even practiced hands can learn new tricks.

The Veiled Oracle

The motives of the barrier god are indecipherable to those without the gift of prophecy, but thankfully, the Veiled Oracle has this in spades. To be the god’s mouthpiece is to be nothing but a mouthpiece, with endless streams of visits from the suffering seeking to hear not your advice, but another’s. The Veiled Oracle has developed a reclusive life around their gift, but a personality and a voice of their own has always felt just out of reach… 

The Heretic

Contrary to popular belief, to subvert the will of the church is not a prison sentence so long as one is sufficiently crafty. The Heretic would interject that the study of science necessitates the uncovering of universal truths, no matter how ugly or inconvenient. They study forbidden topics in secret: what is the true nature of the barrier, after all? The Heretic’s route is one full of discovery, danger, and passion - that is, if one only seeks it out.

Now, let us welcome our writers, and together we’ll savor a splash of Stygiomedusa’s mystifying waters.

Writers

Victor Hannibal

“Hi, I'm Victor, a writer and pixel artist with a huge love for indie games! My own games have been written about by some popular review sites, and my work has been featured in over sixty zines, as well as in podcasts, anthologies, and books.”

Victor will be responsible for writing the route for The Long Arm. Please enjoy a segment from Victor’s pitch for The Long Arm.

The Long Arm supposedly hunts treasures that highlight the Church's glory and demonstrates the will of Kaegler, but in practice they are mostly recovering items that can be sold for money that'll go into the Church's coffers. They're aware of this somewhat seedy role, but the pay is good, and the job is full of excitement. The Long Arm would appear intimidating at first, initially clad in their work gear which would resemble an old-fashioned diving suit. They voice creaks and booms and it's impossible to get a strong read on them as a person, including what they look like. 

DragonTianna, Tianna Ebnet

“I love a good story with lots of world building and lore. Writing stories with queer characters is my passion.”

DragonTianna will be responsible for writing the route for The Oracle. Please enjoy a segment from Tianna’s pitch for The Oracle.

The Oracle is curious about the MC because they're the only one who doesn't revere the Oracle. The Oracle is frustrated at how sheltered their life is and wants to see the world. This is how our MC comes in. They strike a deal. The MC will come and talk to them, maybe help the Oracle sneak out, and in exchange the Oracle will help the MC figure out the Church. As the two figure out the world's mysteries, it will also be a journey of self-discovery and we find the hidden secret of what the Oracle truly is. 

RoseofRevolt

“Hello! I'm Rose of Revolt. Writer, animator, and lover of all things surreal and spooky.”

RoseofRevolt will be responsible for writing the route for Stura. Please enjoy a segment from Rose’s pitch for Stura.

My idea for Stura's route would center on the hope of combatting fate, and the struggle in the failure to do so. This route would see the MC and Stura growing closer as they run down the secrets of the Church and the society it has produced, trying to avoid the status marked on the MC and the increasing mental and physical strain Stura is under from the truth of his world. Be it romance or friendship, the two would learn to lean on one another as the only pillars that remain.

Mallory Sharpe

“Chronically academic and a strong believer in the semicolon.”

Mallory will be responsible for writing the route for The Heretic. Please enjoy a segment from Mallory’s pitch for The Heretic (named Liras).

A tempest in human form, Liras is cunning, ambitious, and relentless. Born in the Dalian barrier, his memories of its collapse fuel his obsession to delve into the mysteries of how to bypass the whims of Kaegler--specifically, how to create and stabilize barriers permanently. Liras' reputation is mixed: there are rumours about his interests and the cunning underneath, but his bearing in public is of a bright-eyed, well-educated, and elegant man who cares for others. The truth is more complicated: Liras cares for humanity in an abstract way, with a view that sacrifices are necessary for the greater good. He pursues deeper knowledge of the barrier with the memory of his family dying, but also on the basis that it is denied to him. Liras is, at his heart, a man hungry to know what he shouldn't.

Hannah England

“Hannah is a Jewish, lesbian writer from the UK, holding multiple degrees in Creative Writing and English Literature. Focusing primarily on horror, the grotesque, and complex interpersonal dynamics, Hannah's fiction and non-fiction work alike can be found in publications such as The Nottingham Horror Collective, Myth and Lore, and the Monstrous Flesh journal.”

Hannah will be responsible for writing the route for The Fishing Captain. Please enjoy a segment of Hannah’s pitch for The Fishing Captain.

The Fishing Captain can come across abrasive. Too confident, self-assured, and pig-headed, she knows the right answers, and she doesn’t suffer fools lightly. She doesn’t suffer anyone lightly. So bold is her nature, it makes the mind wonder if she would be well-revered at all were she not such a prolific provider. Those around her certainly seem rapt, but that could have more to do with the barrels of fish she brings, perhaps in spite of her ego. Many insults can be slung about our Fishing Captain, but one that cannot be suggested is that she isn’t brilliant. In times of scarcity, she keeps the people of Foleri well-fed and taken care of; in times of plenty, she offers culinary luxuries that boggle the mind. As much as many may hate to admit it – she’s good, and her cockiness is well-deserved. 

miseri accordion

“Hey there! The name’s Miseri, and I’m a writer of all sorts, frequently finding myself diving into whatever medium that catches my interest. I'm sorry to say that I still haven’t found a way to consume an inordinate number of books and TV shows that is beyond what’s humanly possible.”

Miseri will be responsible for writing the route for The Clergy. Please enjoy a segment of Miseri’s pitch for The Clergy.

The Clergy is a little piece of shit—part of it is because he has to be, the other part is because he likes to be, and a small part is because he doesn’t know what else to be. He is a very outspoken individual whose holier-than-thou personality can admittedly be annoying, but he is never really wrong with what he says. The truth can be twisted and rearranged in some shape and form, but the truth is still there. He prides himself with the knowledge of the Church because that’s truly all he knows. That’s all he’s good for, especially in accordance to his single, devout mother who is currently dead. And yes, he does have severe mommy issues.

What’s Next?

We hope you’ve enjoyed a glimpse of what’s to come for Stygiomedusa. We’ll soon be continuing our Contributor Line-Up series by unveiling our fin-tastic school of artists. Please be sure to tag along on our socials for new updates! Smooth sailing, my dear reader. Until next time.