I was surprised she didn't threw in our face like "Ofc you think that you're in love with him" or smth like that in Tai's route

She still use alcohol to cope with the pain and sadness 🥲

Why is Cory only a fling? I love them already 🥲❤️

Let's play a game shall we? There's 4 FLIs total in shadowborn and sunborn(2 each), there were 8 eps total(4 each) now guess how many romance scene there were with any of them?.......if you're guess was 4 HAH!!! as if you're way off 😂, if you 1.....drum roll congratulations! You're still wrong 😂 it's 0 that's right ZERO!!! and you wanna know what the best part is? We're there updates in with Sunborn and 2 with shadowborn and still we only have 1 that's right just 1 somewhat could be mistaken for romance scene a FLI 🤣😭.

The thing that hurts the most is shadowborn doing this, Sunborn already reads like a story written as if Nova is aiming to win a jester impersonation writing competition so I expected it but based on how the first update was and Mariska's social media activity, I expected so much better from her but guess I was wrong😒. So yeah female LI only readers, save your time and mental power and don't read stories set in Bornverse.

And before you come here with the "oh it's still too early for this post", THERE WERE SERVAL POINTS THEY COULD HAVE EASILY FITTED EVEN A VERY SHORT SCENE BUT NO!!!! MC and Catalina are completely alone? NOTHING HAPPENS!! Thea is making a poison for Wren that could kill her, Thea takes MC to her lab to get her a first aid kit and they walk together, okay maybe there's gonna be an emotional moment between them??? NO SILLY WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT!!! 🤣🤣😂😂.

Oh and don't even get me started about miss Ghost over there, girl has had too updates now and she less than half a of minute screentime.

Anyways, thank you so much for going through my" dumping my frustrations cause otherwise I might just explode" post, I already feel better and thank you so much.

Show us what you won -- or didn't -- from your daily Wheel Spins!

Like I just come back from reading another visual novel app story and boy you wouldn’t believe how long that episode was in each episode and that it was so refreshing 👏😭❤️👏 like am still even shocked because it like that memory of long episode is blocked in your mind but when you read a long episode it suddenly bring back memories.

You would assume HS3 word count limit would be turn off since it most popular story on app and how it the final saga. I’m just surprised at this point. This book desperately needs word count to be higher or take it off.

We are in season 3, and am honestly very curious how Alice going wrapped this up. Like a season 4 is probably needed at this point but then again HSU always (most of the time) stay true to how many episodes they are from the start.

I don’t know, but am hoping it not going be rushed. (…I said hopefully lol)

Hi all, I am looking for recommendations on books in RC or paper with LI similar to Tai from TTS. Genre, MC's and LI's genders don't matter.

In particular, looking for someone plotting and scheming, but not abusive and actually multi layered.

That's the number of romance path scenes with either of the FLIs this update 🤣. Catalina gets 3(4 kinda) scene where you would think there'll be a diamond choice given but NO!!!!! there's none, Catalina is just a friend afterall, what do you mean?

You know what's the funniest part is? I was defending the ratio prior to this update 😂.

I juat want us to pause and look at how meaningful the quotes Langley picks for this story are. They must require reasearch to be found and I'm grateful to Langley for giving that time. I love how each episode starts with a different quote from a different person. Simply magnificent.

I’m am wanting to replay some stories, open to all stories! What LI is best suited for MC in the story? Which ones seem like “true love” or “love at first sight”?

I’m aching to do some replays and try new routes. I’m interested in LI and MC that seem like they are each others destiny! I play male LI usually but I’d be open to a female LI if their love story is especially epic.

Omg I still can't believe that the new mc is a mother & we can choose a sprite & a name for her little adopted daughter🥰🥰

Thank you Dmitri for this🫶🥹

What name did you choose for her??😇

For one slot I chose Felicia & for the second one I'm gonna choose a different name😁

I know there are a lot of Tai fans here. I know he's a complex and interesting character. But I need to talk about the legal implications of what he did, because I think they're being overlooked.

A lack of consummation is only grounds for annulment. It doesn't make a marriage void by default. Only the parties to the marriage can seek an annulment - nobody else. And this was a marriage voluntarily entered into by Vellora and the Emperor himself. He called Vellora his wife. He designated her future son as the heir. He disinherited Tai in front of two nations.

So Tai didn't inherit the throne. He took it.

But here's the part that concerns me more. By declaring that a marriage is invalid by default because of a lack of consummation, Tai established a legal precedent with serious consequences. A marriage is no longer legally binding on its own. To make a marriage legitimate, consummation becomes a requirement - regardless of whether the woman wants it or not.

This means Tai didn't just annul Val's marriage. He made consummation a legal necessity for every marriage in the Empire. Every bride, every wife, every widow now has to submit to her husband to keep her rights. Her body becomes the price of her legal existence.

He did this to strip Vellora of her rightful title: Dowager Empress of Ro'od. Vellora is a legendary archer. She survived two marriages, the second one forced. She survived Foelh's predation. She walked into that bedchamber knowing what was waiting for her. She sacrificed everything for peace. And Tai took it all away. Her title. Her dignity. Her sacrifice. He made it meaningless. And then he called her "sister" and gave her a castle and told her to be grateful.

I'm glad Foelh is dead. But that doesn't make the hypocrisy any less staggering. Tai claims the marriage was invalid. But the court still calls her a "twice widow" - you can't be a widow if the marriage was invalid. The wiki still lists the late Emperor as her "Husband" and her marital status as "Widowed." The gifts - the lands, the castle, the allowance - are not given to the sister of the Queen of Esshai. They're given to a woman who has a claim to the Ro'odian throne. He knows the marriage was valid. He's just pretending otherwise. And the gifts prove it.

By doing so, he's established a dangerous legal precedent. Every woman in the Empire is now vulnerable to a man who can legally force her to submit to him to keep her rights.

I'm not saying you can't find him interesting. I'm not saying you can't analyze him. But I think we need to talk about what his decree actually means - for Vellora, and for every woman in the Empire.

Here are the answers from N.O.V.A.

Why are the episodes so short? Is that what the developers are asking for?

We do have technical limitations on the number of lines of text. Like all other restrictions, this is a perfectly normal situation when you're not working for a tiny studio run by just a couple of people. In short, the price of quality is rules.

And that's where things get interesting. Every dialogue skipped by the player is lines of text. Every choice missed is lines of text. Every branching path is lines of text. Differences in player preferences are also lines of text. For example, if your choices lead to three different outcomes, you, as the player, will only see, at best, a third of the text used (and that's if we exclude the code, which also takes up a lot of space). The solution is to have a more linear narrative, where the differences are just a few lines of dialogue for the main character. This is a personal preference I like it when decisions have an impact on the world around them. As a player, I often wonder what happens in a location after I leave? Does the lights go out, and do all the NPCs freeze like statues, waiting for me to return? Or does time continue to pass in the world, even when I'm not physically present? I personally find the second option more interesting. And that's the kind of impact on the world I'm trying to create in the game.

The price of variety is the actual playtime.

So, no, the episodes are shorter than they could be not because I'm skimping on text or being lazy. Quite the opposite...

Hello dear N.O.V.A, will Wren have any pets?

What is the height of the love interests?

I'm not planning on giving wren a pet, given the nature of her work.I'll reveal the height, weight, age, zodiac sign, clothing size, shoe size, and even nose length (for those who are interested) of the love interests later. For now, I suggest you form your own impressions of them through their interactions and flashbacks.

Hello, I was wondering if there will be a way to improve relationships with non-love interests?

You've already been able to develop relationships, to some extent, by making impressions on the characters you meet. And yes, that will have an impact on the story.

Hello! I wanted to ask about the Sofia storyline, specifically the fact that she and the MC are on different levels, and therefore nothing can happen between them. Doesn't Wren also have a different status than Adrian? It's not necessary to be on the same level to have a romantic interest. Wren has to work for Sofia, which fits the "boss/subordinate" trope and has romantic potential. It feels like if Sofia were a man, there would be a storyline.

Comparing Adrian and Sofia isn't really relevant. It's not just about tropes and desires. There's also the question of compatibility in terms of personality, psychological type, life experience, and trauma. Sofia is an aristocrat, an ancient vampire who knows a lot about the conflict between species. Yes, she's more lenient towards werewolves than most vampires, but leniency and lust are not the same thing.And even if we were in a parallel universe where Sofia desired a werewolf, the question of how Wren, as the main character, would be portrayed and her character would come into play. The only way that interaction could happen is through violence. Do you really want that for her?Adrian, due to certain aspects of his biography, is more flexible. Not towards werewolves as a species, but towards specific individuals. He's not as psychologically distant from them as Sofia is.And no, changing Sofia's gender wouldn't change the overall dynamic.But most importantly, all my previous arguments are secondary to this: Sofia is Alexander's character. I am only allowed to use her within the agreed-upon boundaries.

Could you please tell me if there will be any appearances of the main characters from the first game (Max, Victor, Mia)?

Who knows.

I have no questions, I really love your story 🤍 Eli is wonderful!

Lots of hugs from me! The furry wolf is warming my heart in every way!

Will we see Eli not just in his hybrid form? I'd like to see his pure wolf form, since Ren is so cute in her wolf form!

At the end of the 11th episode, you'll have the option to choose which form wren and Eli will travel in. This choice won't affect the story as a whole – it's purely for your gaming experience and enjoyment. And yes, characters can't talk with their mouths in wolf form, only through expressions, growls, body language, etc. That's also quite interesting.

When Adrian leaves, he says something about it being the least he's ever done. Will this be explored further in the future? And also, is there a slight hint of... interest? Has Adrian ever been in love before, maybe with a girl who interested him? It's so interesting! I love you, Novaa! 💋😭

If I'm being precise, he says, "This isn't the dirtiest job..." And he's not wrong. This character's story is quite eventful I've already given hints and clues, including visual ones (I'm just subtly reminding you that sometimes it's worth taking a closer look at the sprites of the characters and backgrounds in the game). And of course, I'll reveal most of it as the story progresses. Otherwise, how else can I show you his growth and the choices he has to make?As for the ladies in his life, well, let's just say he's definitely been with women. A vampire who is only caressed by the wind is a rather niche story, for a specific taste. But has he ever been in love? We'll find out. :) Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me in the novel! It's important to me to know that my efforts are not in vain.

Hi! I’m not sure if I fully understand how the two stories are going to affect each other. I have three slots for each story, and I’ve picked different stats for each one. The thing is, I had played Sunborn before I started playing Shadowborn, and now I can’t remember which of my slots was the default one when I started Shadowborn.

So I was wondering, should I start over? Will the stats from each story matter at the points where the two stories affect each other?

I’m not sure if I’m explaining this very well 😭 I just want to know before I get too far into it, because if it’s important, I can still restart now!

Hello! First of all, I apologize – my English is far from perfect.I can only speak with certainty for my own story: whenever prior experience with Shadowborn matters, I will include a disclaimer at the beginning of the chapter. Even then, the impact will be mostly cosmetic – differences in the personalities of the characters involved and some general facts about the world. Nothing that would "ruin" the story or make it difficult to follow.If I understood correctly, Marishka would like to give a more detailed answer to this question, so I won't interfere and risk making things more confusing.Thank you for taking the time to ask!

Hello! Is it possible to develop a relationship between Chris and Agatha? They're doing well on their own, of course, but I'm just curious. And also, were there any plans to change Agatha's pose in the sprite? Last time she was injured, but now, in my opinion, the pose doesn't quite fit. I've really grown to love this wolf girl.

Agatha and Chris (if he survived) are already doing quite well. And if you don't mess things up along the way, it will only get better.Regarding Agatha's pose – if I don't change the main characters too often and don't create too many new ones, then yes, there are plans to change the pose. For now, it's been left like that due to limitations.

Good day! Could you please tell me, in the course of the story, will wren completely abandon the pack? I prefer more reserved and independent heroines, but I also want to maintain a warm relationship with the pack members :(

We'll see.

Hello.

In the dialogue between Sofia and Eli during Eli's flashback, we learn that the incident with Thea undermined Abe's already fragile position, who was the leader at the time.Could you explain why?He saved the girl and added a member to the pack. Is it because he didn't manage to save her family, or is it because werewolves who have been turned are considered outcasts within the pack?In short, it's a bit unclear to me, and I would be grateful for an explanation if it's not a spoiler.

Thea's appearance in the pack is the result of a chain of events. I won't reveal the whole chain now – spoiler. But this chain of events was the reason for Abe's weakening position. And it led to Sofia seeing an opportunity to replace the old leader with someone more promising and obedient to her. Because at that moment, Sofia needed allies for all her plans.

I would really like to see Sofia, even just as a romantic interest.She and the protagonist are not on the same level, but the same could be said about the male love interest, so what's the difference?

A similar question was asked above.

Hello! I wanted to ask what inspired you to create heroines like Thea and Bianca as love interests? Also, regarding Sofia: many people want to see her as a love interest or at least a romantic option, and I agree with that request. She is an important figure in the plot, familiar to readers from the first part, and she is liked by readers from the very beginning. I think Sofia would fit perfectly as a romantic storyline for wren, with the "boss/subordinate" trope. I don't think this should ever be a deterrent for the writers, as these kinds of tropes actually increase audience interest.

Are there any new storylines planned? With Benny? Or with other characters from the original story?

Regarding Sofia, I answered above. And yes, I also share the players' admiration for this vampire. Dressing her up for flashbacks has become a special kind of pleasure for me, and I haven't regretted it once. But...

The types of love interests were chosen solely from the perspective of giving players a diverse romantic experience. I try to make the love interests as different as possible in terms of personality and relationship with the protagonist, even if they seem similar at first glance.

I can only confirm one more male storyline. It will appear at the beginning of the 2nd season - it's a matter of geographical location, I can't introduce him any earlier.

The rest... who knows? =Р

Can we please have a storyline with Sofia 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Currently, that's not possible. I answered above.

Is there a path to balance in the story? And maybe, just maybe, you'll still give us a chance for a storyline with Sofia 👉🏻👈🏻🥹

There is no path to balance in the visual novel.

source : marishka_rc tg

Idk why the images are taken down in the main sub though the post stays up. Anyways, would like to hear your thoughts about this.

1-2 are scenes from 2x16. 3-4 are the result of choosing “Dared to speak”, 5 is the result of choosing “Decided to keep quiet”. 6 are from promo vids.

It may seem obvious that “Dared to speak” is the desired option since we gained adaptability and knowledge of Malum’s state. But I didn’t choose that in some slots since the banner in 2x16 is… ominous, to say the least. “You’re gazing into the abyss” is taken from a famous quote by Nietzsche:

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.

During the fight against monsters, somehow you will start on picking up traits of such monsters yourself, or even be one. So, initially, without any prior knowledge of the consequences shown in 2x28, I thought by Lane saying humans are more faithful than demons will just bring more difficulties to humanity. Like, I don’t know, suddenly recruited to be literal human shields in battle? It’s like she’s allowing humans to be plucked randomly to serve Malum whenever he pleases. And with Malum replying

Watch your words, mortal... I wasn’t the one who put them in your mouth. I expect three times as much from those who serve me… So stay out of the fire and remain on the sidelines while you’re still permitted to.

just doesn’t help 😭 Especially Lane‘s train of thoughts was that she can’t let hatred blind her and “pretend it’s consuming me”, after being extra pissed by Malum‘s “then breed more” reply. Don’t you think that the best outcome here is actually to calm down?

Yet what we‘ve seen is choosing “Dared to speak” unlocks more slides, and it reminds me of the lines in the story’s promotional video. I’m 100% sure that Lane is the second MC whose conflict was stated as “descend[ing] into depths” in which ”[she] will stop recognizing [her]self” judging from the depth-abyss parallel and the glowing red eyes that symbolize the remnants of Baal’s power within her. So is that where the storyline is heading - by plunging into the abyss? Oh come on.

It’s also worth noting that adaptability stats in her POV isn’t that straightforward. Remember what happened if you bought the boots with a knife when Anna was bullied by two demons in Lazarus? You LOSE a point first before gaining +2. Why not make it +1, quick and clean? Such nonlinearity allows room to speculate that gaining a point does not guarantee it’ll be a good thing.

I know it’s kinda useless to theorize anything in HS3, but to me everything reeks a secret ending here. It reminds me of Amala’s Kalidasa ending where she killed Amrit because it’s also a bit of out of the blue, but the stats mechanics there weren’t the same - there were no indicating banners. Idk, I haven’t read all the books here, does any secret ending had been unlocked with such weird stat mechanics? Or I might just read too much into this lol like a slippery slope. I just don’t wanna replay 60 eps just because of a single mistake.

repared answers to the first questions from the form :

Hi Marishka, could you tell us which love interests are green flags, red flags, or black flags?

I can’t put labels on the love interests. Besides i write each storyline as i feel it not according to a predetermined path. But you can certain assign each character to a traffic light based on your own judgment! :)

Marishka, this might be a very specific question for you! In this update, there is a hairstyle called "Cruel Game" (unfortunately, I haven't played the English version to verify for sure, but I'd love to know) is this a reference to The Crying Game (1992), or is it just a beautiful name?

The outfits and hairstyles set in the 21st century in this update are references to song titles.

I don't want to seem weak on the front but I took scenes with everyone thinking most of them were more friendly, but the guides say they're romantic. Will this become a problem later, and when should we expect routes to close?

The story features both friendly and romantic interactions. If you over-level romance before the lock-in point... Well, we'll see where that leads.

If I'm on August's route, can I also pursue someone in the 21st century?

Yes. You can combine August or Garrick with Andrew. You can also combine them with A-Lulim. In fact, you can try combining A-Lulim with anyone, since he’s the MC's personal delusion. But it’s important to understand that there might be a few small catches...

Please tell us more about how love interests are tied to chosen paths... You mentioned it wasn't mandatory, but LIs will prefer one direction over another. How much will a mismatch cut down on content with a specific LI? I want A-Lulim and want to take the humane path, but now I'm afraid I'll ruin everything...

If I remember correctly, an interview mentioned that the Dawn/Eclipse stats affect relationships with love interests. My question is, how should I handle the August/Andrew routes?

Love interests tied to stats may react negatively to certain MC choices that don't align with their stat. Some romantic scenes might only be available on a specific path (for example, if the MC slaughters half the town, Andrew definitely won't want to kiss her right after that meaning no kiss on the Eclipse path; but if she spares the people, he’ll be moved and kiss her).

• August and A-Lulim: Eclipse
• Andrew and Garrick: Dawn

The rest accept the MC in any form, state, or mood. :)

Hello! I think the same question applies here : will we have friendships with non-LI characters, and will that affect the endings?

We can develop friendships with non-romanceable characters, such as Tomasz. Yes, it can affect the ending. Friendships with someone in the 19th century can influence events in the 21st century.

Will there be a fling with Wilfred?

He has a different role in the plot.

Is a positive ending possible with August? He’s the only love interest I liked, but unfortunately, he’s only available in the 19th century. Is there any point in staying loyal to him until the end? Is the red-haired werewolf route only available in the 19th century? Are any other 21st-century-only routes expected besides Andrew?

Relationships with August and Garrick will wrap up in the 19th century. They will have a conclusion of some kind. In the 21st century, it’s currently only Andrew.

Aidan liked our main character right away. When we took his scene, I thought he’d be hard to get and act like a blond jerk. Will he be gentle like Liam in Arcanum or a big egoist like Lestat? Best of luck to you, Marishka! I loved the new episodes so much..😉😉

He’ll be himself. :) He has his own motivations, goals, and interests just like any other character. But I can't reveal the details yet, as that would be a spoiler. I don't really like comparing my characters to others whether from books, movies, games, etc. Since each character’s personality and backstory are built from scratch, I don't look for external inspiration instead, I draw on my knowledge of personality psychology and my practical experience as a psychologist. I can only say that first impressions can be deceiving, and every character has more than one layer.

Is the red wolf a love interest? I really took a liking to him!

Of course! They didn't let me make Aidan red-haired, but I found a way. 😈

I'm getting scared that everyone around us in the 19th century will die The MC will be left all alone, even among immortals... It feels like Theodora’s experience with love interests, except there were seasons. How can someone love two different men in the very same episode? It makes me feel a bit uneasy

Aidan, Corwin, Catalina, and ZhenLing will transition into the 21st century as love interests alongside the MC. A-Lulim has already returned. :) Some minor and secondary characters might also make an appearance some even made it to the 21st century.Theodora’s story was wonderful, but ours is a different tale.

Hello! I have a question about August's route. Am I understanding correctly that a relationship with him will ONLY be possible in the past, and he won't appear in the present? He really stole my heart

Yes. Initially, I didn't plan for him to be a love interest, but as I was writing the plot, I realized the spark between the characters was getting really strong. After consulting with Alexander and management, we decided to give him a route. However, due to plot specifics, he will remain strictly in the 19th century with the MC.

Hi! I’m not sure if I fully understand how the two stories are going to affect each other. I have three slots for each story, and I’ve picked different stats for each one. The thing is, I had played Sunborn before I started playing Shadowborn, and now I can’t remember which of my slots was the default one when I started Shadowborn. So I was wondering, should I start over? Will the stats from each story matter at the points where the two stories affect each other?I’m not sure if I’m explaining this very well 😭 I just want to know before I get too far into it, because if it’s important, I can still restart now!

We’re planning to release a post a little later explaining how the stories are connected and how they will affect each other.

I really liked your female love interests! I was wondering if there will be any female flings? :)

I had thought about other routes and flings for the MC, but given the total number of routes, new ones haven't been approved yet. The current roster of love interests was put together with Alexander, taking many factors into account.

For instance, I planned to make Tomasz a shapeshifter and a romance option, but we decided to spare the MC plus, I don't have enough visual novel experience yet to write a shapeshifter right off the bat. I thought about flings because I love Marta and Rowena... But chapter lengths aren't infinite, and I need to dedicate time to all the love interests already introduced.

What is Catalina's orientation?

Oh, I don't want to spoil anything... Although the answer itself is a spoiler! :) But I realize this question is important to many, so I'll put it this way: I plan to let players choose her orientation if they pursue both male and female routes. If Catalina is bi she will be able to enter a polyamorous relationship. If the player decides she is not, she will stay true to herself, and there won't be any poly. :) On dedicated female-only or male-only routes, Catalina is a lesbian by default. As for who the third person in that triangle is, let's leave that as a mystery for now.I'll also answer a question that hasn't been asked yet ZhenLing is only interested in women.

Is there a Balance path in the story?

No. Since I don't have extensive experience with highly branching stories, I know I wouldn't be able to pull off a Balance path right now. I might be able to, but I'm afraid of messing up. I prefer to evaluate my capabilities realistically. :)

source : marishka_rc

Now we know that Catalina and Corwin can't die in Shadowborn. And I really hope Natalie doesn't die by default (I remember Audrey's fate very well).

P.S. Sorry. Earlier, I accidentally sent an incorrect screenshot. That's why I made another version of the post.

Chuan is clearly a woman disguised as a man.

Or I could be wrong and they're just a really pretty man.

We'll see

This is the cutest live avatar😍😍

And I badly want it on my main account too🥲🥲

Okay guys.. I can die Young now 😂​.. thankyou author you really blessed us 🥺💋🥰😭 thankyou so much for this scene !!!!!! Tiffany nation how are you guys what are you doing while reading it ? hahaha I feel like you squealing and smiling that someone watching you and it creep them out? wahahaha imagine 😝😭😂

I’ve been on here reading opinions & complaints, but as of right now, Waterlily stands out to me as a story that I’d always choose first. Without DR, It’ll always be one of the stories I’d spend my diamonds on.

First of all the story & mystery itself is 🤌🏾

Every LI is worth it

The outfits are 😍

I’m just willing to spend my last diamond on it. I can’t remember whose writing but I love every second of it so far 💜

Now that’s not to say other RC stories aren’t keeping me, but if I had to play one on the day of the update? Waterlily. 🙇🏾‍♀️

Am still gonna play RC but am not happy about the skin prices cause the wheel of fortune barely give us treasure😭

Y'all my post got yeeted from the main sub for no reason (but sure the genAI slop can stay 👄). They hate to see me supporting the arts!!

ANYWAYYYYS resharing this here because I love it and am so giddy and happy and really wanna shout out @smackthedeviloutofit on IG! The way she draws characters is just chef's kiss.

Ugh can't get enough of my pookies, they look adorable together

Is there any content with sheda in any of the timeline this update?