Game and Narrative Writing
In a world where humans hunt monsters, Drusilla, an undead former slave, sets out to transform her home into the perfect safe haven for monsters with the help of monster friends she makes along the way.
I wrote the characters of Stern, Nuckelavee/Effie, Baba Yaga and contributed to the development of the PC, Drusilla. In addition, I worked on barks, developing the likes & dislikes system, tutorial systems, and overall story progression.
Relationship Quest
Each character relationship quest requires the PC to interact with the various residents of the community in order to progress in the quest and complete it, revealing new information about the quest giver and others residing in the castle.
These quests are ultimately optional, but their completion will often bring changes to the environment that will make story events easier.
Stern: Wise, Absent-minded, Earnest, Curious
Stern is the ever-lasting presence in the castle of a former lich. Upon the PC's entrance into the story, Stern acts as a guide to castle life; he provides tutorials, directions, and helps flesh out the world for the PC.
While always eager to learn, he is often found lost in thought, even when given a task, but nevertheless remains a stalwart figure in the community
Barks about residents
Asterion continues to impress me. His work on repairing the walls of the castle is impeccable.
I was unsure of Effie when she first arrived, but she seems to fit in with us in her own way.
You don't suppose their [ghoul's] appetite for flesh applies to bones, do you?
Other barks
Huh? Sleeping? Nonsense. I don't need sleep. I was just resting my eyes for a bit. This book on ancient flower crossbreeding techniques is rather slow.
Hold on just one sec! Just trying to see what happens when—drat! What can I do for you?
I am happy to report the eastern wall has been repaired.
From part 1 of Stern's relationship quest
Stern: Actually, if you have a moment, Drusilla, there's something I need.
Drusilla: What did you need?
Stern: A favor, actually. I've been thinking about the conversations we've had about community and our purpose here a lot lately. I want to learn more about the subjects, but I'm unsure of how to go about it.
Drusilla: Perhaps we could find some more books on the subjects?
Stern: Yes, I had thought of that, but I was also thinking... you can raise the dead.
Drusilla: Where are you going with this?
Stern: If we were able to acquire the corpses of some of these authors of the books that I've been reading on the various subjects you could raise them and I could learn directly from them instead of just reading their works. We could all learn from them. They could teach classes here at the castle where we could learn from them.
Drusilla: I don't think that's a good idea, Stern.
Stern: Why not? Just imagine a classroom where we can ask about anything we want and they'll be there to answer the questions directly instead of us trying to search through this library in hopes of finding an answer.
Nuckelavee: Primeval, Misunderstood, Solitary
With eyes like torches, the Nuckelavee is a pestilence upon the land. Its form—a rider fused to the body of a horse with unnaturally long arms—instills fear and panic in those it crosses. It only emits crop-destroying breaths from its human mouth.
Effie: Terse, Unwavering, Pragmatic, Independent
The water form of the Nuckelavee is that of a mermaid. Hunted by adventurers, their heads are said to bring the hunter great fortune.
Her arrival and acceptance at the castle are unnerving to her. She is unused to hospitality or even staying in one place for more than a few days.
Barks about residents
Keep those rats away from me, Drusilla. I don't like their kind. They're scavengers.
Awita reminds me of the carrion birds you see on the ocean. Macabre, but useful. She and her ilk will be advantageous in the upcoming conflict.
Tell Fox that he needs to learn how to cook fish properly. It is too bland and there is such a thing as salt.
Other barks
The new wells run deep. That is good.
I do not like being disturbed while sleeping. Make it quick.
Any that wander into my presence shall be dispatched swiftly.
The waters are calm tonight.
Drusilla, I would speak with you.
NaNoWriMo Anthologys
From 2017 - 2020, I worked as an associate editor on the LA Nano Anthology series. I assisted with prompt selection, blind story selection, story editing, and copy editing throughout my time with the anthology. In addition to editor duties, each year I submitted my own story to the anthology and went through the story revision process with the other editors of the anthology series.
My stories for 2017 and 2020 were the leadoff and 2nd story in the anthologies for those years, respectively.
Ulyssess toils in the surgical workshop his father, and his father before him, built from the ground up; replacing body parts with superior mechanical ones, Ulyssess lives unfulfilled as he fails to live up to his father's ideals.
In the emptiness of space, Captain Emilina Hardwick is overseeing an experiment to open a stable wormhole to another part of the galaxy. She will be the one to fly through the wormhole first, but what will she find?
First Ascended Sammald is tasked with arresting one of his own Order who has gone rogue and killed citizens of the nearby town. Sammald will do his duty, but he must find out why his friend has betrayed the faith.
As a child, he saw a magnificent palace with bejeweled towers in the middle of the Sahara Desert. A mirage, he believed, but as the pieces of his childhood are stitched together with the discovery of his father's journal he must decide if it's worth searching for the mysterious palace in the desert.