I do lots and lots of writing for my game projects. On this page you can find a few of my scripts I've written for both Fetch and my unannounced farming game project (codenamed Razor), with a small bit of context to preface each one. My personal scripts are usually written in this format:
[Establishing of the scene and how or when it's triggered in bold text]
[First letter of a character's name to denote speaker (Ex: N for Niall)] - [The line they are saying.]
[*stage directions written in asterisks*]
Dialog choices are handled slightly differently across games.
In Fetch, dialog choices are fairly infrequent, as the player character speaks quite a lot, and are handled as such:
[The word "Choice"]
[Choice 1 (often, "Yes")]
[The outcome of choice 1. May say "continue with script" if the other option would end the conversation short.]
[Choice 2]
[The outcome of choice 2. May be written in faded text if the player has declined something, to indicate that the script ends early here.]
In Razor, dialog choices are much more common since the player character is silent on his own, and they are handled like this:
[The word "Choice", underlined]
- [Choice 1. "If the choice is written in quotes, it is meant to represent something you say." Otherwise, it is something you do.]
- [The outcome of Choice 1]
- [Choice 2]
- [The outcome of Choice 2]
Now that that's out of the way, please peruse the samples I have provided. Not everything is here, as these are games I am still making and plan to release, and I do not want major spoilers leaking online, but hopefully these are enough to prove my skills. Some of them contain strong language (Fetch is being written with a 13+ audience in mind, and Razor with a 17+ audience).
In this script, P refers to the Prince (the player character), K refers to the King, N refers to Niall, and D refers to Durin. "\N[1]" is the text code to display the player's custom name.
Opens on a slow pan up an enormously long hallway lined with knights. Title and credits fade in and out. It’s dark.
The camera finally pans all the way up to show the prince and Niall approaching the king at his throne. Durin is standing to the left of the king, silent. Niall and the prince look at each other for a bit and then both turn to fade the king as the opening credits finish.
K - Ah. There you are, my son.
K - Niall.
N - Yes, my lord.
*Niall steps back*
K - Today is a momentous occasion for you, \N[1].
K - “When you leave this room, you will officially have begun your Fetch.”
K - “The sacred pilgrimage honored by every one of our previous rulers, as a rite of passage to ascension to the throne.”
K - …Is what I would be saying if we weren’t just now holding the ceremony at the twenty-third hour.
K - Due to an “emergency book reading”, I take it…?
P - The new volume released early…
K - Hm. Yes.
N - If you need blame anyone, direct it to me, your majesty.
N - I was the one who ordered it be stocked in the castle library.
*pause*
K - It’s fine, Niall.
K - After all, ironing out irresponsibility and naivete is the whole point of the Fetch.
K - A journey from our home at the continent’s northernmost tip, all the way to the Royal Monastery at the southernmost reach, and back again…
K - You will bring back the crown that is held there and prove your worthiness for the title of “king”.
K - Nothing else quite turns a pup… into a wolf.
P - Er…
K - Why, I myself had some carefree days in my youth, before I became king.
K - \N[1]...
K - Are you prepared for those days to end?
P - I…
P - Um–yes.
K - Do not let the recent silence cause you to forget that we are at war.
K - The Cats will never relent in their plight to destroy our kind, and we have no choice but to retaliate. Such is the natural order.
P - Y-yeah…
K - You do understand this, yes?
P - Of cou–
K - I don’t think you do.
N - …
K - I have heard rumblings that you believe you can “end” the war once you become ruler.
P - W-Well–
K - That is a childish fantasy. One you must forget.
K - Do not forget what the Cats took from you… From us.
P - Yes, father…
K - The Cats will continue to attack no matter what. It is the natural way of things.
K - We come from Wolves, \N[1].
K - Our ancestors innovated. They conquered.
K - They did not lie down and wait to be killed.
P - Sorry. I’ll rid the idea from my brain.
K - Regardless of if you are telling the truth…
K - I think your journey will teach you better.
K - Alongside you, I am appointing two retainers.
N - (Two…?)
K - First.
*Niall is startled a bit, then moves to stand in front of the king and face the prince*
K - Niall, your trusted retainer since you were young.
K - I trust he requires no introduction?
P - Of course not.
N - I swear to protect the prince with my life, no matter what may come.
N - Through heaven and hell alike, I will stand by your side, my prince.
P - Uh… thanks.
K - In addition, you will be accompanied by Durin, the Black Knight of our army.
*Niall moves back to stand next to the prince and durin takes his place*
D - Greetings, your highness.
D - I promise to guard your life with my own, come heaven or hell alike.
N - (Did he just steal my line?!)
D - I hope you can accept me as your retainer, despite our lack of interaction in the past.
P - That will be no issue. I’d be honored to have the Black Knight himself to protect me.
N - (Have you ever heard of him before now?)
P - (No. And shush.)
*Durin returns to the King’s side*
K - On that note, your Fetch has, officially, begun.
K - Tradition would dictate that you leave the castle immediately and don’t return until you have the Golden Bone, however…
K - It’s too late for me to send you out in good conscience.
K - So you will have until the sun rises tomorrow morning to rest and make the last of your preparations before leaving.
K - One last thing to keep in mind.
K - You must keep your identity a secret.
K - There is a reason you have never left the castle before now.
K - Word that the prince has set off on his Fetch will not lay low for long.
K - If the Cats knew who you were, there would be countless assassins after you.
K - Trust in your retainers. And trust in me.
K - No one else.
P - Yes, father.
K - If you truly understand, then you are dismissed.
K - I better not see you here tomorrow.
*You are set free to walk and exit the room. When you do you are taken to the next scene*
*Transition to Prince and Niall in the Prince’s room. Niall is in the closet, packing. The Prince is sitting on his bed*
N - I cannot believe he would have us travel alongside the Dark Knight!!
N - Does he not think I am capable enough to protect you?!
P - Relax, Niall. He just wants to make sure I’m safe.
N - But surely some man walking around in a suit of black armor will raise some eyebrows! I thought we were supposed to be discreet?
P - He could take it off, right?
N - No one’s ever seen him take it off. Not even in the barracks.
P - What about when he sleeps? Surely he doesn’t sleep in it.
N - Supposedly, he does.
P - Wooaahh…
P - Maybe he’s actually some demon prince of darkness.
N - …what?
P - He escaped the hellscape he was born into, only to find himself persecuted for his terrifying power in our world! Now, he hides behind his full suit of armor and seeks validation through his prestige in the king’s army.
N - You’ve been reading too many books.
P - It’s not like there’s much else to do here.
*pause*
N - Well, that’s everything packed. If you don’t require anything else, I’ll be seeing myself to my own quarters.
P - W-wait, Niall…
N - Yes?
P - You believe in me, right?
N - …
P - So… you don’t.
N - I always follow and support you, your highness. I always have.
P - But you don’t think I can end the war, do you?
N - …
P - It’s fine. It probably is naïve.
P - But it’s just…
P - I hate that stuff dad always goes on about. About the Wolves and our superior lineage or whatever.
P - And the “nature of things”. What a crummy excuse to kill a bunch of people.
N - I can’t argue with you.
P - And he always uses mom as an excuse.
P - I don’t think she would have wanted more blood to be shed because of her death.
*pause*
N - I do not believe I have a right to speak on this matter.
P - That’s fine. I was just thinking aloud, I guess.
P - A lot’s gonna happen tomorrow.
*pause*
P - Oh, crap. I forgot something important I was gonna do.
N - What is it?
P - Do you think it’s okay if we go visit the garden? Or is it too late?
N - Ah. I see.
N - I don’t think anyone will ask you not to, your highness.
N - However, some foul vermin may have found their way in under the cover of nightfall.
P - That’ll be no problem! I mean, we’ll be heading out into the Winterlands soon.
P - This’ll be nothing compared to that.
N - Very well.
N - I can’t say I think it particularly wise to venture out this late, but…
N - I also do not feel it would be proper to deny you this.
P - Thanks Niall. You’re the best.
P - Now, let’s get going.
N - Yes. Before it gets any later.
The following scene depicts the character Blossom (referred to with B) seeking guidance from her professor, Dr. Borzoi (referred to with R), after helping to deliver Durin to her college's medical facilities after he mysteriously faints. Some additional context that will help with this scene: TED stands for Terrestrial Excavation Device, and is a robot Blossom built to extract gems, which can be thought of as this world's energy source, from the ground. Gems are known to be harmful to your health if you are over-exposed to them, and Blossom comes from a history of having grown up in a town that relied on gem mining for much of its people's livelihoods. Finally, Lars is Blossom's classmate, a medical student (he's another major character, but that's all you need to know for this particular scene).
When you arrive at Paw’s Ridge, the scene fades to Blossom in the college. She is leaving the medical facilities and walking down the hallway toward the library.
In this script, R will refer to Borzoi
B - (That boy that was with them… the clothes he was wearing…)
B - (Not to mention the fact that he was traveling alongside the Black Knight.)
*Borzoi steps out of the door to the library right as she is about to enter it*
R - Oh! I beg your pardon.
B - Hello, professor.
B - Doing some research?
R - Oh, you know me. I like to be anywhere but home in bed!
B - Actually… while you’re here, is it okay if we talk?
R - Is this about your thesis?
B - Partially.
*Transition to the library. They are both sitting at a desk. Other students are about the room, going about their business*
B - Thank you for the coffee, professor.
R - Oh, it’s not like I paid for it. I just “borrowed” it from the teacher’s lounge.
R - What was it you wanted to talk about?
B - TED is working perfectly. My latest test brought several deposits of gemstone to the surface.
B - And I’m feeling… strange about it.
R - Strange how? From my perspective, this is exactly what you’ve wanted.
B - It is. But then, something Lars said got me thinking.
B - He said I’m gonna run him out of a job.
B - And I said I wouldn’t, because as long as things keep dying, more gems will form and more people will be hurt.
B - It was a knee-jerk response. But after that, I started thinking…
B - When gems are easier to get, people are going to want more gems, aren’t they?
B - And how are they going to get them?
R - Oh… I see.
B - No one’s ever content with what they have. You give them an inch and they’ll do everything they can to take two, maybe three miles.
B - Even this coffee is the same.
B - Maybe once upon a time, some wolves in the Summerlands discovered that they could make coffee, and it was just theirs.
B - But we can get it here so easily, even though it can’t grow here.
B - The demand grew, and so the production grew, and so the demand grew even more.
B - And now I’m left wondering what kind of slave labor someone endured just so I can drink a cup of coffee.
B - Somehow I never really thought about it the same way with gem mining, because when I was growing up in Diggingston, I just always thought,
B - “If we can get more gems, it will be okay. We’ll have money, and the scary boss man won’t be mad.”
B - And now… I’m afraid I’ve dedicated so much time to something that will only make things worse.
R - Great goddess, this is a predicament.
R - And now I feel weird about wanting to finish my coffee!
B - It’s too late to start a new project, isn’t it?
R - Hm.
R - The only thing I would think you could handle on such short notice would be an essay of some kind.
B - Seriously?
R - What?! I’ll have you know I built my career on writing essays!
R - Perhaps a bit of… investigative journalism!
B - What are you getting at?
R - You didn’t come here to talk to me, did you?
B - No…
B - I was looking for information on the royal family.
R - Ah. You know, I might have a book in my collection that would interest you.
R - Unfortunately I don’t have it with me… come find me in a few days and I’ll get it to you!
B - A few days?!
R - Well, yes! There are just so many places I need to be!
B - Okay. I guess I’ll look into potential topics here on my own while you’re gone.
R - Very good. Do try not to run yourself ragged, now.
B - No promises.
R - …
R - Take care, my girl.
*Borzoi leaves*
B - Ugh…
*A student walks up to her*
NPC1 - Hey, Blossom! Is it true you brought the Black Knight here all the way from the crossroads?!
B - Yes.
NPC1 - What was that like?! Was he scary?
B - He was unconscious.
B - I’m busy. Do you mind leaving me alone?
NPC1 - Geez, sorry.
*He walks back to his friends*
NPC2 - Look who got shot down by Blossom!
NPC1 - Hey, everyone gets shot down by Blossom. Lars is the only person she talks to.
NPC3 - Isn’t that weird? That the only person she talks to is some fox from the boonies?
NPC3 - I mean, she’s from the Springlands, right?
NPC2 - I heard she was raised by a fox.
NPC3 - Seriously?!
NPC3 - Is that even legal? A fox raising a dog?
NPC1 - She looks like she’s got wolf in her too. I wonder what her story is.
NPC2 - Good luck getting any of it from her, ha!
B - …
*Blossom is visibly angry. She gets up and starts to leave*
NPC2 - Hey, Blossom! You need a study partner?
NPC2 - I’d love to get to know a wolven woman like you!
NPC3 - Oh my goddess, stop it!
NPC1 - Haha! What, you thought it was your turn, dude?
B - Go to hell.
NPC2 - Hey! I was just trying to talk to you!
B - That must suck.
B - Bye.
*Blossom leaves*
NPC3 - Forget wolf, she’s got some bitch in her, doesn’t she?
*NPC3 turns to NPC2*
NPC3 - Hey, if you’re not studying, go get us some more coffee!
NPC2 - What, am I your intern now?
NPC3 - You’ve gotta start practicing for the summer, right?
NPC1 - Haha!
In this scene, nearly the entire party is present to hear the Red Knight of the Dog Army deliver a speech (Mikey is present, but the other characters have not met him yet and he does not speak). A small bit of additional helpful context: in this world, the Rawhide Trade Federation exists, a group of treasure hunters and merchants who identify themselves by wearing yellow and are neutral in the war. Mikey is a part of that group. In this script, P refers to the Prince, N refers to Niall, Q refers to Qiulin, L refers to Lars, B refers to Blossom, and R refers to the Red Knight. "\N[1]" is the text code to display the player's custom name.
Return to where the address is to be given. There is a large square in the city for stuff like this, and a bunch of people are gathered around it. The party arrives and files in near the back.
In this script R will refer to Beau (the Red Knight)
P - So many people…!
N - Watch your step–oh, and ahead–and behind you as well. Pickpockets are like to take advantage of this commotion.
Q - I thought folks would be staring at me more around here…
L - Ryu isn’t far from here. It isn’t uncommon to see dragons around the western half of the Autumnlands.
Q - And what, my amazingly good looks aren’t enough to compensate?!
*Qiulin walks up to the prince and grabs him*
Q - Oh well, as long as my princey-poo thinks I’m handsome, that’s all that matters~!
P - W-Wow!!
N - Unhand him!
B - Excuse me… what did you call him?
Q - !!
N - !!
Q - Er… my princey-poo! It’s a cute pet name right? It’s ‘cause I treat him like a prince. My prince. No one else’s prince. And certainly not THE prince. That’d be insane.
N - (I do not condone this statement… but denying it would not help our cover-up…!)
*Blossom turns away*
B - Whatever.
Q - Phew! Dodged it.
L - The real prince, though… I wonder what he’s like.
P - I-I bet he’s really nice! And… cool?
B - Ugh.
*A knight walks up on stage*
NPC - Settle down, settle down everyone! Hey, you in the front row! Put the broken bottle down! Yeah, you!
NPC - The Red Knight is about to take the stage! Treat him with respect!
*The crowd goes wild as beau takes the stage. He turns towards the crowd and takes his helmet off*
R - Thank you all for your warm reception.
R - In all the years I have served under the title of the Red Knight, you, the people, have shown me kindness and support here…
R - H-Here…to…fore… unprecedented. Yes, that.
*The crowd laughs*
R - Ahem. I hate to dull your moods, but for a moment, I would like everyone here to remind themselves of a dark day in our history.
R - Approximately fifteen years ago, her majesty the queen was slain in a devastating attack on Awoofia.
P - …!
P - Wh-why is he bringing that up?
N - …
R - Without her, our kingdom has never quite been the same.
R - She was a truly generous and loving woman. She fought, not in war, but for the safety of her people against the omnipotent threat of the Cat Army.
B - Heh. Sure she did.
L - Blossom! Shh!
R - I was lucky enough to meet her while she still lived, and let me tell y’all… she was exactly the woman you hope she was.
P - …
*The prince is visibly upset*
R - Ever since that day, the king has had little in mind other than avenging her and our kingdom.
*pause*
R - And today, I have news that will very quickly become history.
*pause*
R - The man who murdered the queen has been slain!
*The crowd roars*
P - Wh-what?!
N - They found him, after fifteen years?
*A knight walks up to the red knight as he says the next line*
R - What I tell you is the truth! And to prove it; behold, his head!! Bask in this victory!!
*The camera scrolls back down to center on the party, just shy of showing the severed head*
*Lars turns away*
L - Ahh! I-I don’t wanna see!
Q - Wow… it’s so…
P - Normal…
Q - Well, I was gonna say gross. These folks seem to be eating it up, though.
B - It’s disgusting.
Q - Yeah. Are there kids in this audience? Should they be seeing this?
B - I wasn’t talking about the head.
N - (Your highness… how do you feel about this?)
P - (I don’t know…)
P - (I just can’t believe he looks so… normal.)
P - (He just looks like any other Cat. But he’s the man who killed…)
N - (You don’t have to look if you don’t want to.)
*pause*
P - (Yes I do.)
*The camera scrolls back up. The knight is walking away*
R - Yeah, put that thing away… it’s starting to smell.
R - Ahem! Today marks a new dawn for our great Dog Kingdom! No longer must we lie in the shadow cast by our late queen’s memory!
R - Naw–I mean, nay! From now on, we will shine brighter than ever before!
R - On behalf of myself and the king, the time for action is nigh! Spread the word! Our silence has ended!
*Cheers. The camera pans back down as the red knight exits the stage*
N - (There’s no way I can speak to him in this mess… damn it.)
L - That was… not what I expected.
P - Yeah, it was… uh… certainly a shock.
B - A whole crowd of people, men, women, children, cheering and acting like hooligans over the death of some nameless man? I think I’m gonna be sick.
N - That was not just any man. The people have been waiting for this moment, even if not out loud.
N - Perhaps now we can finally move on.
B - Or perhaps we will fall even further down the gutter.
N - You do not keep your opinions to yourself, do you, my lady?
B - Staying quiet has never done me any favors.
*Mikey walks up as the last few lines are being said, next to Lars*
L - Oof!
*Mikey walks off and blends back into the crowd*
L - Geez… watch where you’re going dude…
L - W-wait! Was that a cat?!
N - He was wearing yellow.
L - Oh… goddess forgive, I nearly had a heart attack.
Q - So, genuine question, what’s stopping just, like, any guy from wearing yellow?
L - I think it’s considered a war crime.
Q - For real?
Q - Whatever. Is anyone else hungry?
Q - \N[1]? You haven’t said anything in a while.
P - Oh, um… yeah, sure.
P - Should we see if Durin’s okay to leave yet? I’d feel bad if he couldn’t join us.
Q - I guess I can wait a few more minutes… this godly physique doesn’t maintain itself on an empty stomach, though!
L - Um… is it okay if I come with you guys?
Q - Of course, cutie!
L - W-woah!
N - I hope you are not expecting me and \N[1] to pay for your meal.
Q - Uh…
Q - N-no! Of course not!
Q - But, like, y’know… I’d really appreciate it… I’m sure you’ve got bones to spare…
*Blossom turns around aloofly*
B - Ah. I thought your outfit seemed expensive.
N - Hm?
B - I’ll be taking my leave. I have some more research to do… hopefully the library is less busy at this time.
Q - Aw, c’mon! It’ll just be–
B - I am leaving. Goodbye.
Q - O-okay.
*Blossom leaves*
Q - She’s a bit difficult, isn’t she?
L - Go easy on her. She’s had a rough life.
Q - All the more reason to enjoy life when you can, if you ask me.
Q - Well… maybe that’s a bit insensitive. I was kinda born with a silver spoon.
N - I thought you wandered homeless surviving on “naught but twigs and berries” before you met us?
Q - W-well… for a bit, I did.
Q - We don’t need to talk about that right now. My stomach’s eating itself whole as we speak!
P - Ew.
L - I don’t know if I can treat that…
Here, I am sharing the entire script for Qiulin's second character quest. Character quests are major side quests that focus on a particular party member. This quest involves Shroomurais, which are an enemy type that has been encountered many times before this point, as well as the Shroomungous, a boss that was fought and defeated before this quest could be triggered. In this script, P refers to the Prince (the player character), Q refers to Qiulin, I refers to the Shroomurai Interpreter (a basic NPC with a unique name), and S refers to the Shroomurai Prince. "\N[1]" is the text code to display the player's custom name.
Qiulin is standing in front of the board in Ryu
Qiulin seems to be focused on something.
See what’s up?
Choice:
Yes
Continue
No
Decline
P - Whatcha doin’?
*Qiulin turns around*
Q - Taking a look at the message board… I regret it already, though.
*Prince walks to the other side of the board*
P - Why? What’s so bad that someone would want to hang up publicly for everyone to see?
*pause*
P - Wow. I have less faith in the world’s people now.
Q - Anonymity is a weapon. For some, it is a tool for evil. For yours truly… It is a virtue!
P - But look at this one.
P - “Doesn’t anyone else hate how dogs just shit at fire hydrants?” Where else would we do it?! You’re not supposed to look!
P - This one is implying any species that can’t float is inferior. We can smell, like, REALLY good!
P - This one says “prince Yiqiang when he heard he actually had to do his job”.
P - And then it’s a remarkably well-drawn picture of a keropo jumping off of a lily pad with an indifferent expression.
Q - Hm.
P - Wait… did your prince really run away?
Q - Huh? Did he?
*A dragon walks up behind Qiulin*
NPC - Could it be? You’re…
*Qiulin and the Prince turn around*
NPC - Hmm…
NPC - Well, I thought you looked like the prince…
P - What’s been going on in the Dragon Kingdom?
NPC - You haven’t heard? Our prince, Wang Yiqiang, disappeared!
P - Woah! Just out of the blue? Can you believe that, Qiulin?
Q - Huh? I wasn’t listening.
NPC - You ought to be. It’s a huge problem.
NPC - The kingdom is on high alert, worrying that he may have been kidnapped. They’re not allowing anyone in or out without official authorization until they find him.
Q - Wait… seriously?
P - And you said he looks like Qiulin? Do you have a sketch? Maybe we’ll see him somewhere.
NPC - Yeah, take a look.
P - Okay…
Q - Why are you looking at me?
*The drawing appears on-screen next to qiulin’s face comedically. It looks exactly like him but with a mustache*
*pause*
P - Hmm…
Q - …
P - I don’t see the resemblance.
*The picture goes away*
NPC - Yeah… now that you mention it, this guy looks way cooler than our lousy prince Yiqiang.
Q - Hey! What’s wrong with him? And where do you get off referring to him like he’s some buddy of yours?
NPC - Heh. How long have you been here, dude? That kid forsakes his name. Who cares how I use it?
*The npc walks away*
Q - And what an ugly name it is.
*Suddenly, people begin gathering around a shroomurai that has just entered the village*
P - What’s going on over there? Is the village under attack?!
Q - It’s just some stupid mushroom…
P - Let’s go check it out.
*They walk over to the commotion. A man is standing in front of the shrromurai.*
In this script, I will refer to the shroomurai interpreter
NPC1 - What is it saying? What does it want?!
*The shroomurai jumps a few times, then the interpreter turns to the crowd”
I - It says that a horde of shroomurai plan to storm the village!
NPC 2 - Are you serious?!
NPC 3 - Do we need to evacuate?!
*The shroomurai speaks some more*
I - Hmm… yes, I see.
I - Back when Ryu was first established, we trained the shroomurai as a militia of sorts, but since then they joined the rest of the fungi under the rule of the Shroomungous.
I - But it seems the Shroomungous has been slain!
P - Oh…
I - Without a proper leader, they have all turned to treachery in their plight to survive.
NPC 1 - Oh no! Not treachery!
NPC 2 - What are we going to do?
*Qiulin steps up*
Q - Well, it sounds like what they need is a new leader.
NPC 3 - Who does this guy think he is?
Q - Oh, no, not me.
Q - I mean my friend, \N[1], here!
P - Whuh?
*The shroomurai approaches the prince*
NPC 1 - What is it doing?
NPC 2 - Is it saying something?
I - Hm… yes… I see…
I - It says that this young man exudes no sort of authoritative presence whatsoever!
P - H-harsh…
*The shroomurai approaches qiulin, instead*
I - What’s this?
I - Hm… yes, I see!
Q - See what?
I - The shroomurai wants you to help restore order to its clan!
Q - Me?!
P - You do have a way of getting what you want.
Q - I do? …Is that a good quality?
I - Please, sir! You must negotiate with the shroomurai! For the sake of Ryu!
Q - Now hold on, I have very little stake in this…
NPC 2 - If only our prince was here!
NPC 1 - Are you kidding? That louse wouldn’t know the first thing to do in this situation.
Q - …
Q - On second thought, I’ve changed my mind.
P - That was quick.
Q - Don’t read into it.
*The shroomurai spins around and jumps, then runs ahead to near the exit of the village*
I - It said, “Come speak to me once you have prepared and I will guide you to our enclave”.
Speak to the shroomurai and ask it to take you to the hideout
*The shroomurai leads Qiulin and the Prince to the hideout.*
P - This is gonna be difficult if we can’t communicate with them.
Q - These biceps transcend language barriers, your highness.
P - O-oh my… they do…!
*The shroomurai walks back and slaps Qiulin*
Q - Ow!
*The shroomurai directs them to a giant mushroom with a rope hanging down from it*
P - What’s this?
*They walk up under it. The shroomurai takes the rope and pulls it. Spores rain down on Prince and Qiulin*
Q - …Ew.
*The shroomurai walks back in front of them*
NPC - Have I offended you, sir?
Q - WHUH?!
P - Y-you can talk?!
NPC - Of course I can talk! Thou needed only to open thine ears and listen!
NPC - With these spores, thou may share in the collective mind of the fungi. For a brief time.
Q - …I’ll try not to think about the implications of that.
NPC - Good. We do not have the time to waste. By this hour on the morrow, Ryu will be as the pebbles beneath your feet lest we resolve this conflict.
*He runs ahead*
NPC - Follow me, and put on thine leaderly aura!
*He runs into the shroomurai encampment*
*Qiulin and the Prince turn to each other*
P - We’re not gonna become mushrooms, are we?
Q - If we do… I will still love you.
Enter the encampment.
*A shroomurai with a blue cape is speaking with another shroomurai. In this script, S will refer to the shroomurai prince*
S - Perhaps there is another way… if we were united under… one rule… we could…
S - U-um… verily we could… we could, um… we could… v-verily…
NPC2 - Verily thine arse!! Look around you! The good fungi of the camp wilt and wither!
NPC2 - The people of Ryu are no longer our masters, and the Shroomungous is DEAD!
NPC2 - We are a godless patch, and if godless we are, then like the devil we shall take what we need with abandon!
S - O-oh my… those words you speak… they cannot be yours.
S - They’re so… mean!!
*Camera scrolls to the entrance where the Prince and Qiulin enter with their escort*
NPC - We are a fungi fallen to destitution. We have need of a guiding light.
NPC - Regretfully, that shroom with the blue cape was the heir chosen by the Shroomungous herself.
P - Regretfully? What’s so bad about him?
NPC - Bluntly, he is incompetent. A… “wet blanket”, as some may deign to put it.
NPC - He does not truly wish to lead, and all of us know it. So he is not paid any mind.
Q - Well, maybe he just needs some encouragement.
Q - C’mon, princey-poo. Let’s go talk to him!
Talk to the shroomurai prince.
*The shroomurai prince stands a little bit away from Qiulin and Prince*
S - Oh, her righteousness! Wherefore was she thinking?!
S - A damp cloth like me cannot ever hope to unite a fungi so thoroughly divided!
S - A soaked towel! A moist ribbon!! That is all I am!!
*Qiulin and the Prince approach him*
P - Is there any way we can help?
*The shroomurai turns around*
S - Hark! Visitors!
S - It is rare to speak with ones of your kind. Would that you had not witnessed the pathetic state in which you found me…
Q - Is it true that you’re the shroomurai prince?
*The shroomurai looks solemn*
S - Verily. It is verified.
S - Chosen by the Shroomungous herself, I was.
S - “Your cape is blue. That’s so cool.” That is what she said to me.
S - Well, it sounded more like “-.-- --- ..- .-. / -.-. .- .--. . / .. ... / -... .-.. ..- . .-.-.- / - .... .- - .----. ... / ... --- / -.-. --- --- .-.. .-.-.-”, but, you know.
S - The last thing I wish to do is question her choices, but… I do not believe myself fit to lead.
Q - Hm… I think I get it.
Q - Being chosen to do somethin’ you don’t want to do… it sucks.
P - …Yeah.
Q - So you should just, like, quit!
P - Qiulin!!
Q - What?
P - Did you forget why we’re here already?!
Q - It’s what I would do.
S - You are right, straightforward traveler. I should abandon my title.
S - But her majesty… she chose me. She trusted me. I do not want to feel that I have forsaken her.
Q - …
Q - So, let me see, here…
Q - You just need these folks–er, fungi–to listen to you, right?
S - Correct. But alas, my words fall limp and meaningless, like a drenched tissue.
P - …Gross.
Q - You’re lucky, then. I happen to know a thing or two about dressing up my words.
S - Verily?
Q - Verily.
P - Great idea! You can write a speech for him to give to the rest of the clan!
Q - Haha… um… just keep in mind, I have been on something of a sabbatical lately. I might be rusty.
S - I will take any help I can get!
*Qiulin turns to the Prince*
Q - I’m gonna need some inspiration for this. Let’s look around just outside the encampment.
P - What are we looking for?
Q - I’ll know it when I see it.
Find the crown mushroom
P - Look at that mushroom! It’s so… regal!
Q - You don’t say.
*Qiulin walks closer to it, stands in silence, and looks around*
Q - We’re looking for a crown for you, aren’t we?
P - Yeah. I don’t think this one would count, though…
Q - …
*He silently looks around some more*
Q - The mushrooms share a collective mind. They never made their own decisions before we slayed the Shroomungous.
Q - I don’t get it. This should be liberating for them.
P - They’re probably scared.
*Qiulin turns around to face Prince*
P - It’s difficult to leave the life you’re used to… and they don’t have anyone to help them.
Q - They’re free! That’s the way things should be.
P - You’re right, but…
P - I don’t know. If I didn’t have Niall and Durin looking out for me, I don’t think I would’ve made it out of the Winterlands alive.
*Qiulin turns around and stands quietly*
Q - You were lucky to have them.
*another pause*
Q - Well, let’s give these people what they want.
P - Are you ready to write something?
Q - I think I can force it out. I heard my fair share of these types of speeches back home.
P - You did?
Q - U-uh… yeah. Duh. Everyone does.
P - Oh…
*Fade out, then back in*
Q - I guess I shouldn’t sign this.
Q - Let’s get this to our future king, alright?
P - Which one?
Q - WHO TOLD YOU?!
P - Wh-what?
P - …My dad?
Q - Oh. You were talking about yourself.
Q - Forget what I said.
P - Hm… okay!
Return to the encampment and talk to the shroomurai prince
S - Hast thou written the speech?
Choice
Yes
Continue with script
No
S - *sigh* Perhaps I am just not meant to lead anyone.
S - I see. These words are so… words.
S - I-I will try my best! Thank you both!
*Transition to the shroomurai prince standing up and addressing several other shroomurais. The Prince and Qiulin stand behind him*
S - Here go-eth…
S - A-ahem! Attention everyone!
*Some of the other shroomurais perk up*
S - *gulp*
*silence*
S - “T-today I gather you all here to discuss the terrible situation we find ourselves in following the loss of our”...
S - A-ahem.
S - “Our beloved Shroomungous…”
S - “I know this… re-regicide weighs heavily on our minds. B-but together, we can push onwards!”
S - (Wherefore doth “regicide” mean?! Is it a kind of fruit punch?)
Q - He’s kinda blowing it.
P - He’s trying to sound kingly… and it’s not working.
S - “I believe, as her chosen successor, that she would not have wanted us to commit such… s-such treachery!”
NPC1 - Thou thinkest thou has the right to speak for her grace?!
NPC2 - Spare us thine pretty prepared words! They fall from your mouth like shit from an arse!
S - Eep!
*The shroomurai prince cowers as the crowd grows unruly*
Q - This… isn’t working.
P - Prince!
P - I-I know I’m not the one who was asked to help you, but I’ve been thinking…
P - Maybe… you just need to be yourself? Like, honestly yourself!
S - My… myself?
P - I mean… these people aren’t buying your attempts to be their leader because it’s all you trying to be someone you’re not!
P - Maybe if you just speak honestly… well…
P - Maybe there’s a way to preserve every part of you!
P - A-and I’m not just saying that because I want it to be proven for myself!
Q - Princey-poo…
S - I-I don’t know…
P - It’s easy! Just say what you really want to!
S - …
S - What have I left to lose?
*The shroomurai prince slowly walks back up on stage*
S - Forgive me, brothers. You are correct.
S - I am not the leaderly sort. I cannot ever hope to understand exactly why the Shroomungous chose me.
S - However…
S - I am thine friend. Thine patchmate.
S - I understand thine fear.
S - I ask thou not as thine king, but as thine companion; set aside the rage you feel! Quell thine fury!
S - There is a way to forge onward without harming others in our wake, and it lies just outside the encampment!
S - The Crown Mushroom. It has strength triple that of our late queen, and a mind to enslave our minds!
Q - H-huh?
S - If we but give ourselves unto its radiance, we can be as a brood once again, and then we will never have to think for ourselves!!
NPC1 - Verily?! Is this true?!
S - Verily!! I have been trying to preach this for nigh on a fortnight, but some travelers nearly convinced me to lead you myself instead!
NPC2 - To hell with that! Let us give up our autonomy once more!!
All of the encampment - HUZZAH!!
*Every single shroomurai darts out of the encampment comically fast. There are several awkward, drawn out seconds of silence as the Prince and Qiulin stand there in shock*
Q - …
P - …
P - I… I’m sorry…
P - It feels like I always mess up stuff like this… and here I am, thinking I should be king.
Q - \N[1]...
*long pause*
Q - I used to know someone. Someone very important to me.
Q - He was everything I could never be. He would’ve made the perfect king.
Q - And you know why I say that? Because he was full of conviction.
Q - He had his beliefs, his values, and he stuck to them.
Q - Compared to him… I’m a soggy robe.
P - B-but you’re so strong and brave!
Q - I’m flattered that you see me that way.
Q - But my point is… you need to do what you think is right. Even if things don’t seem to go how you want them to at first, you need to stick with it.
Q - We all have things we have to do. The hard part is doing what we want to do.
P - What we want to do…?
P - …
Q - Write that down and publish it. No need to credit me–I’m humble like that.
P - I-I would never!
*Qiulin walks towards the exit*
Q - It’s about time we got back on track. Otherwise, we may just join the fungus!
P - You don’t think that’ll actually happen, right?
Q - Who knows? Let’s not stick around long enough to find out.
*They leave the encampment as the screen fades out and the quest ends*
While many of the scenes in this game trigger nonlinearly when conditions are met, this particular scene is guaranteed to play out on the last day of Summer of Year 1, and concerns the children of the general store owners. In this script, COT refers to Cottie, V refers to Velvet, and COR refers to Corduroy. Cottie is the eldest sibling and spends much of her time watching over the other two, who are quite a handful. "\N[1]" is the text code to display the player's custom name. I often refer to the player character as "Shay" in stage directions. This is his default name, but it can be changed.
This scene plays when you wake up and leave the house on Summer 28th of year 1.
*Cottie, Velvet, and Corduroy are standing outside, waiting for you. Shay has an exclamation mark bubble above his head*
COR - THERE HE IS!! SEIZE HIM!
*Velvet jumps*
V - WAAAHH!! BATTLE CRYYYY!!!
*She runs up to Shay and unceremoniously womps into him. Cottie looks around at both of them*
COT - Oh, come on, you two! How long were you planning this?
Choice
- “It’s fine.”
- COT - Yeah… I guess you know them well enough by now. Weird to think you’ve been here half a year now, huh?
- COT - …Weird to think we’ve… all… been here… for so long…
- COT - A-Ahem.
- “Get this thing off of me…”
- COT - Of course, \N[1]. I’m so sorry.
COT - Velvet, leave him alone and get back here.
*Velvet runs back over*
V - I’m sorry, Corduroy. Queen Cottie’s authority supersedes yours.
COR - What?! Since when?
COT - *sigh*
COT - Um… Well, \N[1], we came here because mom wanted us to deliver these to you.
Cottie handed you Yam Seed x 6.
COT - Not much, right? Well… I guess it was what we could spare.
COT - She wanted to make sure you were ready for Fall coming up. ‘Cause after Fall is Winter, and… well, I’m sure you know already that nothing really grows in Winter.
COT - You’ll have to be well prepared to be able to make your house payment. T-That’s what mom said, anyway.
V - Winter gets real cold here, too… Brrr… I wish Summer could last forever…
COR - I don’t care about the cold! I don’t want classes to start again!
V - *gasp*! I forgot we went to those!
COT - Miss Marigold would be upset to hear that, you know.
COR - Hmph!
COT - On that note, actually…
*pause*
COT - These two wanted to know if they could play on your farm today… Since it’s the last day of Summer.
*Shay has a sweat bubble icon above his head. Corduroy and Velvet jump*
COR - You gotta let us!! This is the only part of town we haven’t gotten to explore!
V - Right! We’re looking for the Jewel of the Underkeeper!
COR - Velvet, you forgot again! It’s the Gem of the Overseer!
V - H-Huh? Now we have gym class here…?!
COT - I’m sorry… They begged to come along.
Choice
- “They can play here.”
- COT - You have no idea what you’ve just done.
- “If… I have to…”
- COT - You really don’t…
COR - Velvet, did you hear that?! We have free reign of the place!!
V - Reign… deer? Leonhart is back?
COT - Hold it, buster! No one said “free reign”!
COR - Um, \N[1] isn’t saying no, is he?
You mustered all your strength in an attempt to protest, but alas, you are only capable of speaking when allowed to by the will of me, the omniscient presence.
COT - Fine. You can have free reign for ONE HOUR. And if you don’t clean up any messes you make before that hour is over I will kick your fuzzy little butts, you hear me?
V - Eek! Cottie’s scary when she’s serious!
COR - You won’t even know we were here!
*They run offscreen*
COT - It is… safe for them here, right?
Choice
- “Auron will watch them.”
- COT - Who?
- “As long as they don’t enter the mine.”
- COT - There’s a… what?!
*Fade out, then back in. The kids are chasing each other around. Pan back up to the player and Cottie, who are standing near each other watching them*
COT - I’m really sorry about this. They’re just so… persistent.
COT - Back home they always got what they wanted just like this. The difference was, I wasn’t always so worried about them. …It was safe there.
*pause*
COT - When mom and dad started floating the idea of moving here, Corduroy was all for it. He went on about how we were gonna find the Gem of the Overseer here. And anything he says, I swear Velvet just follows.
*Question bubble above Shay’s head*
COT - Oh my god, did no one ever explain that to you? You must think he’s crazy…
Choice
- “He’s an imaginative kid.”
- COT - More like a dumb kid.
- “He might be insane.”
- COT - Tell me about it.
COT - There’s a book he loves. A beginner’s chapter book. Real big deal, right?
COT - In it, there’s this… god, I guess, called the Overseer. He made a world where all these dumb, happy little creatures live…
COT - And the Overseer, like, watched over them. Like a father.
COT - And he hid a gem somewhere in the world, saying that whoever found it would have everything they ever wanted granted to them.
*Dot dot dot bubble above Shay’s head*
COT - What the fuck, right? Isn’t “overseer” a hard word for an 8-year old, anyway?
*pause*
COT - Why’d you look at me like that?
Choice
- Shake your head and dismiss her.
- COT - …Sorry.
- “I’ve never heard you swear.”
- COT - Oh…
- COT - I guess… You’ve only ever seen me while I was around those two.
Cottie seems to curl up for defense. She slouches and pulls herself in for an involuntary, empty hug.
COT - …
COT - Do you like it here?
Choice
- “Yeah.”
- COT - That’s good…
- “It sucks, honestly.”
- COT - …
COT - Being honest… I just want to be back home…
COT - S-Sorry… You didn’t ask…
*The kids approach them*
COR - Our time is up! And the place is spotless, I’ll have you know!
COT - Huh? You were keeping track?
COR - Yup! The sun moved about the right amount for an hour!
COT - You can tell from… Huh?!
V - And look, Cottie! A sun… flower! Aren’t they your favorite?
*Velvet approaches Cottie*
COT - …
V - They’ll be gone soon! So… you should take this one!
COR - I-I helped find it!
COT - *sniff*
COT - Thanks, twerps. Let’s get out of \N[1]’s fur so he can get back to his work, okay?
COR - But we still haven’t found the Jewel of the Underkeeper!
COR - Or… wait… Dang it, Velvet, you’ve got me doing it!
*Fade out*
After some more begging from Cottie, the kids finally agreed to leave you alone and head back home.
*Fade back in and an hour has passed*
Similar to other games in its genre, Razor allows you to form relationships with its characters, unlocking scenes that slowly reveal their story. This is the first of these scenes for a farmer coyote character named Huck. In this script, H refers to Huck. "\N[1]" is the text code to display the player's custom name. I often refer to the player character as "Shay" in stage directions. This is his default name, but it can be changed.
Req: Be friendship level 1 with Huck and approach his farm during the day time in Spring, Summer, or Fall.
*Huck is tending to his crops*
H - Phew… This farmin’ shit’s not all it cracked up to be.
H - What am I sayin’? I can’t let them win… I’ve gotta keep my spirits high and my blood pressure higher.
*Shay walks onscreen and a question bubble appears above his head. Huck notices and turns toward him*
H - Oh, \N[1]! …You didn’t hear that, did ya?
Choice
- “Hear what?” (+)
- H - Hehe. Thanks for pretendin’, but yer ears’d have to be clogged up to have missed that.
- Stare at him knowingly.
- H - *whimper*...
H - Shucks, it’s real embarrassin’ for me. I won’t lie, farmin’s not really my forte. Prolly sounds weird considerin’ I’m a farmer, eh?
H - Well, I’m sure you get it.
You nod, thinking back to your life on the mainland.
Coyotes are overwhelmingly farmers. They grow up in the countryside with large families, parents and grandparents that teach their children to take over their farms when they grow old and frail.
It’s a humble life in theory, but coyotes take great pride in it. A lot of a coyote’s measure is weighed in his ability to work the fields.
*Huck pauses, then turns to his crops. Shay looks as well*
H - I jus’ don’t understand what’s wrong. Nothin’s growin’ like it should. Sure they grow eventually, but it takes way too long.
H - I think I’m just cursed. One of those super tuitions.
Choice
- “You’re not cursed.”
- H - It’s either that or I’m broken. Ain’t got the gene.
- “It’s ‘superstitions’.”
- H - Huh? …How do you say it again?
- H - Fuck. Did you go to school or somethin’? P-Pardon my language.
- H - Wait… This is a tang ant.
H - I-I’m sorry, \N[1]. Didn’t mean to open up like that. I was just embarrassed after you saw me talkin’ to myself like that.
H - There’s a silver linin’, you know what? It’s you.
H - I feel way better knowin’ I got another newbie just down the road goin’ through the same deal. And he’s even scrawny just like me! Hehe.
H - No offense meant, of course. Scrawny guys’re cute!
H - …Er… Not that I… N-Nevermind.
You feel like you understand Huck’s struggles a little bit better.
*Fade out*
You said goodbye to Huck and left him to his work.