Thank you guys so much for following the development of Celestial Crowns! We officially have 300 now! This is on track with my goals, I was hoping to get 100 each month leading up to the Kickstarter. I want to get to 400 before it starts, so please keep spreading the word 👏🏾👏🏾

The Kickstarter goes live on May 2!

Save the date! if you haven't clicked that green button yet to be notified on launch, make sure you do! Lots of fun rewards await. And not to mention...

The demo will be released 4/28

I've decided to release the demo a little ahead of the Kickstarter to try and raise more hype for the game! It will be released on Steam and of course, itch.io. If you plan on downloading it here and not Steam, please pop over to Steam and give it a wishlist anyway because apparently, this greatly affects Steam's algorithm. 

I said I would release a snippet from Aalam's route if we reached 300, and we have! So here you go. Spoilers beware!

Context: This is at the very beginning of the route, right after the crowning ceremony where Terra has crowned either Lune or Sahi the new King of Lauté after accepting Aalam's hand in marriage. There's a party afterward with drinks.

I've selected a female Terra for this, but I will show ALL the choices so you can see what the branches are like. Choices will be in bold.

a = Aalam

t = Terra

c = Celeste

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

a "You look shellshocked."
"Aalam's voice behind me startles me so bad I spill some of my drink. I straighten up quickly, eyes darting around to ensure no one saw the moment of inelegance."
a "Apologies. Did I scare you?"
t "Not at all."
"Aalam sees straight through the weak lie and smirks. I continue to hold my regal posture."
a "I noticed you went straight for the alcohol. Don't tell you didn't enjoy the ceremony?"
t "Would you?"
a "I would not be in such a position to begin with."
"I bristle at the words, squeezing my drink a little tighter. My fingers are sticky from the spilled liquid, and it only aggravates me further."
t "I would point out that you put me in this situation, Your Majesty."
"Perhaps there is too much bite in my voice, because he lifts his head and looks down his nose at me, all traces of mirth gone."
a "You're right, that was insensitive. Forgive me, my mouth grows impolite when I am in good humor."
t "And what has your mood so elevated?"
a "I am eager to begin the journey home. Andromeda awaits, and she is beautiful in the fall. You will be pleased."
t "I'm sure."
a "Come, I will not have my future bride so displeased. What must I do?"


Option 1, spoiled: "Get me another drink, please?"

"I only asked for a moment of peace and quiet, but Aalam seems pleased by the simple task regardless."
a "Consider it done, myla."
t "Excuse me?"
a "I thought the new King was exaggerating when he said you were behind in your studies."
else:
a "It is a word in the ancient tongue, it means \"beloved.\""
"I clear my throat, embarrassed that I didn't realize. I have never been very good at learning the second language, it seems to go in one ear and out the other, but Royals are supposed to be fluent."
t "Is that appropriate? We hardly know each other."
a "We will know each other better soon enough."
"He gives me a polite nod before stepping away to get the drink, and I sigh."
t "I thought I'd at least get a few months before having to suffer through pet names."
c "Aw, that's so cute!"
"I jump, turning to see Celeste close behind me."
t "Celeste! Were you listening to our conversation?"
c "Of course not, I was making myself available in case you need anything. Until you leave the palace, I am still your personal maid, after all."
"I give her a knowing look, but she just flutters her eyelashes innocently."
t "Well then, I NEED you to dispose of this glass and find someone to clean up this mess."
c "As you wish!"
"She bows and leaves to follow my orders. Aalam returns shortly after with a fresh goblet of wine, and I accept it with a \"thank you.\""
a "You're very welcome. If you like wine, then you will be pleased by the castle stores in Andromeda. We have an extensive collection, some with over 100 years."
t "Fascinating."
a "I see you are a hard woman to impress. That is all right; I look forward to many, many attempts."
"I watch him over the rim of my glass as I take another drink."
t "Why bother trying to impress me? I've already agreed to marry you. What do you hope to gain?"
a "Your love, of course."
"I nearly laugh out loud."
t "With all due respect, I'm sure we can both agree that this is a political marriage. Love has nothing to do with it."
a "Not yet. But that doesn't mean it never will. Why limit ourselves to an existence where we merely tolerate each other? There's no reason not to test our compatibility in areas other than the practical. We might just fall in love."
"I stare at him for a moment, unsure how to take this."
t "...You're serious?"
a "As the grave. But we can discuss such things later. For now, we celebrate King Lune."
t "I look over to the newly crowned King and find him swarmed by members of the court hoping to worm themselves into his good graces."
"Aalam holds up his own cup and calls out in his booming voice."
a "Long live the King!"
"The words are echoed by so many the sound floods the hall, and I bring my goblet to my lips again."
t "Long live the King."

Option 2, no trait "Let me have my drink in peace."
"Aalam frowns but nods his acquiescence of the request."
a "As you wish."
"He turns but pauses before walking away."
a "We will be spending a lot of time together, myla. I suggest you accept this decision you've made, and quickly."
"I glare after him as he leaves, clutching my drink to my chest."
t "What in the void does that mean?"
c "In the ancient tongue, \"myla\" means \"beloved.\" You really need to pay more attention in your classes, Your Highness!"
"I jump, turning to see Celeste close behind me."
t "Celeste! Were you listening to our conversation?"
c "Of course not, I was making myself available in case you need anything. Until you leave the palace, I am still your personal maid, after all."
"I give her a knowing look, but she just flutters her eyelashes innocently."
t "Why on earth would he address me that way? I don't even know him!"
c "Maybe this is his way of telling you he wants the marriage to work. I think you should try and give it a chance."
"I glare down at my drink."
c "Or you could keep sulking and be miserable the rest of your life. That works too."
t "Celeste! I—I am {i}trying{/i}. Excuse me if I'm not chipper moments after my crown has been taken from me."
"Celeste's smile falters, and she bows her head."
c "I can't imagine how it must feel. But..."
"She looks over to Lune."
c "Doesn't King Lune look positively {i}nova{/i} in gold? I could swallow him whole."
"I spit out the wine I'd been about to drink, holding a hand to my mouth in an attempt to keep in the giggles."
t "C-Celeste, someone will {i}hear{/i} you."
c "There's a smile. Shall I get you another drink? Since it seems most of this one has ended up on the floor?"
t "...Yes, thank you. And do have someone clean up this mess."
"Celeste bows, scurrying off."
"My eyes find Aalam in the crowd, seeing him standing in a tight group with the other Andromedans. He seems to be addressing a servant, or perhaps it's the other way around."
"Celeste is right. Regardless of my feelings, he is my future. I should try and make the best of it."

Option 3, strategy "Tell me of Andromeda. (strat)"
"Aalam lifts his head in surprise but recovers quickly."
a "Very well. What would you like to know?"
t "What's it like to live there, I suppose...I've heard very little. Just that it's cold."
a "It is cold, but you could say Lauté is far too hot. I was sweating from the moment I crossed the border."
t "Perhaps if your clothes did not have so much fabric, you wouldn't have that problem."
a "Why myla, are you hoping to see more of me before our wedding day? It is against tradition, but—"
t "No! I only meant—your sleeves! The fur!"
"Aalam laughs, and I realize immediately he was teasing me. I inhale deeply, willing my cheeks not to turn red."
t "You—you called me something. What was it?"
a "I thought the new King was exaggerating when he said you were behind in your studies."
a "It is a word in the ancient tongue; it means \"beloved.\""
"I clear my throat, embarrassed that I didn't realize. I have never been very good at learning the second language, it seems to go in one ear and out the other, but Royals are supposed to be fluent."
t "I would ask you not to call me that. We hardly know each other."
a "We will know each other better soon enough. Isn't that the dream, to fall in love with one's fiancé?"
t "I believe one is supposed to fall in love before it gets to that point."
a "Yes, well, Royals like us don't always have that luxury. Now, about Andromeda...it is far different from Lauté. We do not hold a nightly entertainment, as you do here."
a "Instead, there are events on the two days of rest, and they are held publicly, so all in the city and surrounding villages can attend, not just the people of the court."
t "What sort of events?"
a "Tournaments, dog sled races, wrestling. All kinds of things."
t "Dog sled racing? That sounds like fun."
a "Oh, it is. I participate whenever I can."
t "I thought that no one was allowed to see your face?"
a "Ah, I participate as my \"alter ego.\" Ambassador Rift."
t "I see. Does it ever make you sad that your people can't know who you are?"
"Aalam gestures with his drink, nearly spilling it."
a "Not at all. The people address me freely when they believe I am only an ambassador. It lets me serve them in ways I could not if I revealed myself as King. Andrea doesn't approve, but they're not always right, even if they think they are."
t "Who is Andrea?"
a "My advisor, you will meet them soon."
t "Hmm."
a "You will not need to worry about the cold. The castle is well protected from it, and our room has a fireplace."
t "..."
"His phrasing of \"our room\" makes my whole body go still. I haven't given much thought to the logistics of this marriage, but...yes. Of course, we will share a room. And a bed."
a "Is something wrong?"
t "No, not at all. That's...that's good."
"Aalam raises an eyebrow but decides to take me at my word. He goes on about the splendors of Andromeda, but my brain is now far too distracted. Obviously, I've never shared anyone's bed before, but I always assumed when it happened, I would at least {i}like{/i} the person."
"I don't know Aalam at all, and what I do know, I'm not sold on. I can only imagine it's going to be terribly awkward. I can hardly picture kissing him, let alone anything else."
a "I see I must have been boring you terribly if you found your own thoughts a more pleasant conversation partner."
t "What? No, I—I apologize. I was thinking about—erm, our wedding."
a "The wedding, yes. Andrea will take care of everything. Nothing to worry about."
t "Right, nothing at all..."

Option 4, witty "No offense meant Your Majesty, but there is very little you could do to please me."
"For some reason, this makes Aalam smirk."
a "We will see."
t "...What?"
a "Nothing. If you are so intent on being antisocial, I will leave you to your drink, myla. Starting tomorrow, we will have all the time in the world to speak to one another."
"I'm too distracted by the realization that this is my last night in Lauté to wonder what he just called me. He leaves with a bow of his head, and I drop my eyes to my wine."
"Tomorrow morning, we will be leaving for Andromeda. It doesn't quite feel real."
c "That's so cute."
"I turn to see Celeste close behind me."
t "You were listening to our conversation, weren't you?"
c "Of course not, I was making myself available in case you need anything. Until you leave the palace, I am still your personal maid, after all."
t "Uh huh. And {i}what{/i} is cute?"
c "He called you myla!"
t "You know what it means?"
c "In the ancient tongue, \"myla\" means \"beloved.\" You really need to pay more attention in your classes, [title]!"
t "Oh. ...{i}Beloved{/i}? Couldn't he pick a less melodramatic pet name?"
c "Maybe this is his way of telling you he wants the marriage to work. I think you should try and give it a chance."
t "I am giving it a chance. Starting tomorrow."
"Celeste snorts, then gestures to the wine spilled on the ground."
c "Shall I get someone to clean this up?"
t "Yes, thank you."
"I watch Celeste go, and then sigh and drink what's left in my goblet."
"There are hours left until nightfall, but it already feels like my time is up."

#end scene