Route Summaries (Patreon)

Hi everyone!

I wanted to post this earlier in the week but the week really got away from me. There was a lot going on and the week kind of just got away from me.

But I wanted to talk a little bit about routes and what my plans are story-wise for Gilded Shadows.

GS is what I call a "butterfly effect" style game. Each route is different and events from one route may not even occur in other routes. The general idea is that different paths Morgan takes through the world will create small changes in the timeline that will effect world events in different ways.

Some routes may have slight overlaps in events but most will be entirely stand alone and will explore completely different aspects of the world. Sometimes one route may refer to events explored in another route. Often, this will not happen and the routes will be entirely stand-alone.

I wanted to list very short route summaries and talk about plans. If you want to be completely surprised, then I highly recommend you do not read this! I will say that everything in here is subject to change. I know these are very broad explanations. But some routes are still subject to having a complete plot overhaul.

This is just what my current plans are! 

Ari - This route deals a lot more with the personal development of the characters than it does with outside events. Morgan struggles a little to adapt to life within Endgame while Ari is assigned to show her the ropes and get her training under way. Ari's character development as he begins to fall in love and Morgan's journey of adapting to her new circumstances feature prominently. There is a sub-plot involving a rebellion on Sirre colony, and Morgan's ex boyfriend Trent makes an appearance in the route. The romance focuses a lot on Ari coming to terms with his feelings and experiencing being in love for the first time.

Caissa - Caissa's route deals a lot with the political and economic environment in Delphine as well as the inner workings of Crimson. The first few chapters deal with Morgan's behaviour after learning that the Fianchettos are essentially the leaders of Crimson, and the next few chapters deal with her and Caissa learning to trust and care for one another. There is a lot more focus on outside events and the dangers that face the main characters as they work toward a common goal. The romance focuses on how two people who are forced to work together can come to respect, depend on, and deeply love one another. Caissa, in particular, goes from being quite cold...to very devoted.

Caleb - Caleb's route is probably the grandest in scope when it comes to the plot and events going on. It's more of a planet-wide situation than a lot of the other routes. Morgan adapts to being in Endgame much faster in this route because there is not only a big situation that happens shortly after she joins - but it's one particularly relevant to her field of study and interests since it involves relics. These are pieces of alien technology from a species that pre-dates the builders of the bio-domes. As expected, the relationship dynamic will play a lot on banter. Morgan and Caleb will move from being two people who do not get along to two people who can't imagine life without each other. 

Jack - Unlike Caissa's route, which mostly takes place in the Fianchetto mansion, Jack's route mostly takes place in Cestrescir at the Court. Morgan begins to live with this community of Espers that Caissa has brought together and is slowly rebuilding her life after it was completely upended by the events in the common route. This route deals a lot more with the issues that go on in Cestrescir and the tensions between rival gangs there. The romance focuses a lot on Jack trying to come to terms with his own inner demons and turmoil - and his hesitance to really give his heart to someone else he might end up losing. I feel like their romance will be one that flows naturally out of them developing a genuine friendship first. 

Lance - .........????? LoL Did you really think I was going to give you any significant details about this route? It deals a lot with the foundational world building. As well as some of what happens in Maggie's route. And some of the stuff talked about in Caissa's route. That's all I'm sayin'.

Magnus - In this route, Morgan also struggles to adapt to Endgame. Because, like Ari's route, there's no big event to distract her. And unlike Ari's route she doesn't have a personal tutor to distract her either. Her entire guard has a training rotation with her. It deals a lot with the inner workings of Endgame and the flaws in the organisation - and the mistakes the council makes. As well as some of the bad decisions they've made in the past. The romance deals with two people who feel really broken finding strength and hope in each other. I think Magnus' route will have a lot of funny and sweet moments to balance out some of the darker things that happen in this route.

These three are the least developed. I have a general idea of what I want to do but the plot specifics have not been hammered out. So please forgive the very wishy-washy descriptions.

Kauri - I believe this route is going to deal with the world building behind New Terra - which is supposed to be this utopia...but is very much not a utopia. It will involve uncovering the really unpleasant things behind New Terra's policies and practices. And Kauri's reaction to finding out these things - most of which he doesn't know about it. The romance will definitely have a bit of 'forbidden love' vibe to it. And for much of the route Kauri and Morgan won't be physically in the same place together (Kauri is present as a hologram) so I can use that to increase the tension for when they do meet each other in person for the first time. I think this will be a case of both people trying to resist their feelings for each other but one of them being too smitten to hold back.

Reuben - I thiiiink his route is probably going to deal with the issue of androids and their place in society. I'm still a little vague on the details but I believe I want to bring in a group of androids and cyborgs who are hiding out in the city Morgan is running around in for the last chapter of the common route. This will deal with the underbelly of the day side of the planet to show that it's not exactly as perfect as it seems on the surface. I'm not entirely sure how the romance is going to go...but I'm thinking....wholesome and adorable through and through. 

Yuu - This route, I think, will also deal with New Terra and will probably overlap somewhat with the theme of "New Terra isn't as great as they say it is." But it will start on the planet and the team will have to go to New Terra to investigate a situation (that ties into Ari's route). This will lead to the discovery of a rather serious situation brewing on the station, which Endgame must deal with. As it's a medical focused situation, Yuu will have to be involved. I'm not entirely sure how the romantic development will go because I'm not totally sure how Morgan is going to respond to Yuu. I do know it will involve him pursuing her wholeheartedly. He isn't one to be coy. So...yeah! 

Anyway, yeah. Those are my plot/story plans. A lot can change as I actually start to write. So it'll be interesting to see how differently these turn out during development. But I thought you guys might like a little peek into the plans! So there you have it!