The Abyssal Song
Chapter 5 is released!
FOUND A TYPO/BUG? | BLOG | BONUS CONTENT | PROGRESS UPDATES | SNEAK PEEKS | SNIPPETS
In the underworld kingdom, where demons fight for survival against the abyssal monsters, you are just an Oracle. In the distant past the Oracles were at the top of the demonic hierarchy, but those golden days are long gone. You did what you were most afraid to do and now sit under arrest in the royal palace.
When the Abyss sends you a vision of a terrible disaster that will happen in the future, you make an inevitable “deal” with the Sovereign to try to change the future and improve your abilities, not only to become stronger and learn more about the coming disaster, but also in an attempt to achieve mind stability.
However, what has been happening to you since you received the vision makes you think that you are already slowly but surely losing your mind.
Will you be able to maintain your sanity and help others protect the kingdom, or will you become just another name in the long list of Oracles gone mad?
This is an interactive fantasy story with a heavy focus on friendship and romance (with strangers to lovers or enemies dynamic). The story is rated 18+.
It's is a work in progress. New chapters will be added gradually as I finish writing them. You can follow the Tumblr blog for progress updates or send feedback & bugs here.
Content warnings: violence, death, loss of sanity, trauma, avoidable sexually suggestive/sexual content, and more (the full list is in the game).
- Customize your Oracle: pronouns, traits, and appearance. Choose your full ✨ demonic form. ✨
- Build friendship or romance with five different characters. (Allo and ace routes available.)
- Learn more about the Oracles’ past and what truly drove their royal clan into ruin. Uncover the secrets of your abilities. Chat with the Abyss?
- Decide what you do for fun. Do you sing, dance, paint, play a musical instrument, or write?
- What you did cannot be undone. Your reputation forever ruined, how will you handle the public’s new attitude toward you?
- Maintain your sanity. Depending on your choices, you’ll either move closer to loss of control and madness or further away from it.
- Decide what fate awaits you. You’ll have to make an important decision that will open two very different paths for you, influence the plot’s progression, and your relationships.
- Will the victory be sweet?
✨ Vezriel, The Sovereign (m / f)
Vezriel seems a perfect ruler: they’re smart, calm, patient, know moderation, and always put demons’ well-being first. But you’re not so naive as to think this is their real face—many secrets lurk under the golden shell of the nobility. You never thought of meeting them in the past, but now spending some time with them is inevitable. Perhaps you will find out what lies beneath their mask?
✨ Osara / Osaron, The Heir (f / m)
Vezriel’s only child and heir, O is their Chief Counselor, and they have a consistently good reputation. Their character reminds of their parent, though O is much more cold and reticent. Nothing seems to touch or shake their emotions, despite the known long list of ex-lovers. You don’t need their attention, but the circumstances have put you right under it. What will you make of this opportunity?
✨ Lazarus / Lazaris, the General (m / f)
L rose from the bottom of the ladder and made a name for themselves, though judging by old rumors, their clean background wasn’t always so clean. They’re charismatic and popular but keep others at a distance—everyone except their friends... and you. L treats you especially well, but you’re not foolish enough to blindly play their game. What do they want from you?
✨ Ashmedai (f / m), the Royal Healer
Ashmedai was sent to observe your condition after the incident and to help you with mind stability if needed. They performed their duties without showing any displeasure or impatience no matter how you behaved. Ash is secretive and reserved, and you guess their restrained temper is connected to the dark rumors surrounding them. Will they open up to you?
✨ Azarias / Azaria, the Royal Musician? (m / f)
Ash’s younger sibling, Az somewhat resembles them in appearance, but their characters couldn’t be more different. Az is bold, humorous, and fickle. They know everyone—and everything about everyone—and enjoy a special favor from the Sovereign, which has allowed them to retain their place in the royal palace for many years. You’re concerned about their peculiar attention to you because there’s no reason for it—you two have never met before. Or… is there a reason after all?
The game was build with Twine Template by Vahnya.
Development log
- Chapter 5 Released!26 days ago
- Chapter 4 Released!Aug 08, 2024
- Romance tagsJul 12, 2024
- Chapter 3 Released!Jun 28, 2024
- Chapter 2 Released!Mar 16, 2024
Comments
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
love love love ! one of my favorite interactives <33
hi Ri,
just finished this game and i really like it. i like your writing style, the lore and the characters, especially Az.
if you dont mind, i have some questions:
1.) what will a high/low sanity influence? e.g. will it affect only flavour text or will it drastically change scenes/lock me out of certain options?
2.) does the choice of your demon form influence choices? e.g. if i choose the puppeteer, will i get additional dialogue choices, like "slightly manipulate the person infront of you"
3.) lore questions
a) does demons keep their demon form a secret and only share it with those close to them? or is it more like when in reallife someone would say "btw, im from the UK"/"my parents are from italy"?
b) is it possible that demons have some "marks" from their demon form? e.g. if someone has some scales, can others reasonable makes the assumption that that person is a satrix?
c) how is transforming into your demon form look upon in this world/society? is it forbidden/frowned upon/allowed?
d) what exactly are half-transformations? i imagine, that e.g. someone with the demoneater-form would be able to transform one of their arms into a demoneater arm.
==> will the MC be able to learn this?
4.) miscellaneous
- will MC be able to choose their weapons in the future?
- does magic has to do with your demon form?
- will we get a scene where MC chooses to sing alongside Az (it was mentioned during the first shared meal, if MC chooses singing as a hobby)
- will there be scenes, where MC and other characters transform into their demon forms?
- does all demons have to deal with sanity (or something similar)? or is it completely unique to oracles?
- how do we decide the height of MC? is it during the ball when somone asks MC to dance? also, will you add additional infos of MC to the profile section (like hairstyle/height/...)? i can understand if you dont want to add "unneccessary" stuff that will never come up again, but personally i like if these kind of infos exist, even as just a small reminder for me the player.
i apologize for asking this many questions. you dont have to answer all of them of course.
also, i chose to romance Az (btw. pretty sure they are a satrix; my other guess would be a hybrid between satrix and butterfly, but the only hint for that would be their outfit at the ball). i dont know why, but after playing i now imagining my MC in her demoneater form, snuggling with Azs satrix form.
anyways, thank you for your answers in advance and im eager for the future chapters (but take time).
Hi! I'm glad you enjoyed the story 💛
1. Sanity affects flavor text. It'll change some scenes, but it won't lock you out of anything.
2. If a scene needs it, then yes, there will be different choices depending on your full form.
3. a) The full forms aren't a secret, and they're written down for legal purposes. A random demon doesn't know your form unless it's very rare (like with the Swarm; the Oracle is the only demon with this form atm), but the government definitely does.
b) Demons don't have marks from their full form unless they half-change. Even if a demon half-changes and they have scales, it doesn't necessarily mean they're a satrix :) There are many creatures with scales in the underworld.
c) Allowed, but everything else depends on the form you have. I have a more detailed answer here.
d) You're correct. That's what it means. Az half-changes (a tiny change, but still) in the last chapter. The Oracle already knows how to do it; if their full form allows it, they can and will half-change.
4. a) When the right moment arises, yes, you'll be able to choose your main weapon.
b) There's magic that everyone knows or can learn, and there's magic related to full demonic forms. I'll speak more about it in the story eventually.
c) I'm outlining a scene with hobbies for the next chapter, and I can say yes, you'll be able to sing with Az! :)
d) Yes, eventually. The Oracle will see everyone's forms at some point.
e) Everyone deals with sanity. It's something demons inherited from their ancestors (the abyssal monsters).
f) The height is decided during the scene at the ball (it's a cycling choice in the text). Someone already asked me about this, so I'll definitely add these details to the profile with the next update.
You don't need to apologize for asking questions. Hope the answers are useful for you! If you want to know something else, don't hesitate to ask.
Aw, another Az lover! 💛 No comments on their form, you'll learn the truth eventually 👀
thank you for your answers.
i have more questions, but these fits more with you tumblr-asks, so i will ask them over there.
one follow up question to 3. a) :
so if my oracle would walk through the city, the average citizen wouldnt know that they are a demoneater, correct? if i understood your answer right, then if the oreacle is a swarm, then every demon knows about this? or is it more like a rumor?
You're right. If a demon doesn't live under a rock, they definitely have heard about the Oracle and their rare form. It's not a rumor but a well-known fact.
Alright, I have some thoughts. This is just my opinion so feel free to take it or leave it ofc. Just commenting cause I find the premise interesting but I'm hitting a bit of what I think is a rough spot. CH2 (I think it's 2) contains some awkward phrasing IMO with the worst offenders being bits of dialog.
For example, take this passage:
----
“Azaria. My name is Azaria.” She places her hand on her heart and makes a slight bow. “I am a beloved royal musician of broad and alluring talent. It is a pleasure to formally introduce myself to you, >name<.”
Musician? If she’s just a musician, what was she doing at your meeting with the Council?
“Do you need anything?” you ask. “Am I in the way?”
Azaria chuckles. “I think I’m the one in the way of your morning sleep. Though I can’t seem to understand your preference for sleeping in an uncomfortable armchair instead of a bed. Why don’t you move this delightful activity to your room?”
“I just couldn’t sleep tonight, so I fell asleep here by accident.”
The possibility of one’s own death would leave anyone sleepless.
How many hours have you slept? You don’t feel particularly rested, so probably not much.
“If you can’t sleep, you should do something relaxing that isn’t work-related, no?” Azaria asks. “These books are basically a part of your job now, so they hardly count as relaxing.”
----
I legitimately don't think real people would talk to someone like this. Have you ever gone up to someone and dropped a line like:
"I think I’m the one in the way of your morning sleep. Though I can’t seem to understand your preference for sleeping in an uncomfortable armchair instead of a bed. Why don’t you move this delightful activity to your room?"
No shot. It's lengthy, stiff, and awkward, like I'm watching one of those vids of a Redditor who is talking to another human for the first time after 5 years of never leaving their room.
People tend to speak in ways that naturally cut superfluous language. "Though I can't seem to understand your preference for sleeping in ___" would naturally be said like, "I don't understand why you're sleeping in ___" because it's simply easier & more convenient. Continuing on, more often than not, someone wouldn't say something like, "uncomfortable armchair" because the uncomfortableness of the armchair is implied with the statement itself ("instead of a bed"), as well as being obvious visually (from the character's perspective, the armchair would appear obviously uncomfortable compared to a bed).
Even the line, "I am a beloved royal musician of broad and alluring talent. It is a pleasure to formally introduce myself to you," is a bit awkward, because normally someone wouldn't just compliment themselves like that without playing it off as a comedic thing (often hinted through tone and expressions). But the problem is that the text gives no indication as to what her tone is supposed to be here, and our protagonist makes no notes on it either. The protag immediately focused on the "musician" aspect, rather than the fact that she just described herself as someone with "beloved... of broad and alluring talent" which is quite the arrogant statement, and should immediately rub someone the wrong way.
Then the final bit, "If you can’t sleep, you should do something relaxing that isn’t work-related, no?” Azaria asks. “These books are basically a part of your job now, so they hardly count as relaxing."
Normally, people wouldn't just add "no?" at the end there. They'd say something along the lines of, "if you can't sleep, shouldn't you do something relaxing that isn't work-related?" putting the "no" component near "should" (making it "should not") rather than placing it awkwardly at the end of the sentence.
Anyway, just something to consider. Again, it's only my opinion.
Thank you for taking your time to write this! I agree that some sentences could've been written better. English isn't my first language, so I'm def lacking in fluency. Sorry for that.
As for Az and the Oracle moment, Az is just like that, arrogant, loudmouth, talking themselves up all the time. They were purposefully obnoxious, as they often are, and I thought it was obvious enough (or will be obvious once you catch them in a different setting). Maybe not. The Oracle just woke up + doesn't care, so they ignore all the empty words and focus on the info their brain can process. I might add more clarification there eventually.
>Have you ever gone up to someone and dropped a line like:
I haven't, but Az absolutely would and did.
>is a bit awkward, because normally someone wouldn't just compliment themselves like that without playing it off as a comedic thing
Az does it semi-seriously because they are arrogant & to put others off, but it doesn't work on the MC. The MC's lack of reaction was a way to show that.
I'd revise the earlier chapters and probably rewrite a lot of things, but I want to focus on writing forward, so I'm reluctant to reread the earlier chapters because I won't be able to stop myself from editing, lol. I'll save your notes for the future use when I sit to edit the whole thing from the beginning!
No problem, author. Happy to provide thoughts.
Yeah I get your point about the character being arrogant, obnoxious, etc. I guess my problem is, expanding upon what I've written already, with the fact that it's entirely uncharismatic. As I noted before, it's written more like an obnoxious Redditor than an obnoxious yet suave person. You get what I mean? And this is an RO, so to me, rather than the reaction being "okay this character is kinda annoying but I can see some charm," it causes a reaction more like, "okay, well, I definitely shouldn't pick any options involving this person, so that I can avoid this painful dialog." Lol.
I don't mean to be too negative or anything, or to repeatedly harp on one point. I'm just trying to clarify my perspective in case it helps during the time you sit down to re-read everything.
Wishing you success!
Now I understand what you meant. I'll keep that in mind for the future edits.
Thank you!
AHEM This is absolutely stellar and I love it so much, such an amazing job you've done here. :3 Also VERY Random theory : If all the characters were to have their Demonic forms be one of the options selectable by the MC or the Draconic ones for royals, then WHAT if Az's was the butterflies,,, Since he had a butterfly themed outfit at the ball,,,, Very random theory, once again, this is so amazing- The characters have their own very well developed personalities which sometimes clash with the MC's and I think it's amazing- They're like real people as they don't always get along :3
Never mind the scales somewhat threw this theory off Q.Q
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. 💛 You have an interesting theory, but yeah, there's a small hint at their form already hehe You'll eventually learn the answer!
Mhm!! I'm very excited to :]
This is wonderful!! 😍 It's so enjoyable to play, the ROs are all well-written and charming in their own ways. Ash is so sweet and gentle with MC that I could cry, L is giving the 'MC fell first but they fell harder' vibes and Az my beloved!! is simply *chef kiss* they're everything to me 🥹🫶 I hope MC will become quite powerful later and I'm looking forward to how things will go. Thank you so much for this 🙏
Thank you for your kind words! I'm happy you're enjoying the story and the routes 💛 You're absolutely right about Laz hehe
It's really impressive how well-written the ROs are, they feel alive and it's really nice to see how they each have their own personalities and differences (was surprised when I realized only Laz and Az have higher tolerance for MC doing something bad lol) I love Az, they're literally my ideal type so I fell hard and fell again when they still took MC's side after the choking 🤣
Thank you!! I appreciate you saying that 🥺💛 Yeahhh, some of them are more forgiving or have reasons to ignore the more questionable things the Oracle does 👀 for now
Az is the type to "you've done nothing wrong and I love you"😂 I'm glad you like them so!
That's good to know since my MC sanity point is lower than I expected to be 🤣 I hope it doesn't fall lower than that tbh or she would be in danger HAHA
Also I have a quick question if you don't mind! Will the MC be still able to get together with the ROs if they keep going down the questionable path? Will it damage the relationship (like completely) or will they still be able to make it work somehow?
You can always gain sanity back if you make the right choices (or lower it even more, lol), and there's a maximum and a minimum sanity value you can get at this point, so I wouldn't worry about it yet.
That's spoilers, I'm afraid! I can only say that there will be some romance happening just like in the normal path, but the flavor will be different ;)
Ashmedai is absolutely wonderful ;-; to the point that I'm hoping my future lover will be as gentle as him:3
Aw, I'm glad you like them so much!! 🥹💛
:3333 all the character are well-written, this made me replay the game many times:3. Anyway it's such a great work ehe
Thank you for your kind words 🥰
The new chapter was great, Azarias point view was awesome and makes me bad for her. My poor oracle is just trying to learn how to accept the love and comfort without the fear and doubt there use to, so I'm all for fighting for azaria.
I'm glad you enjoyed the new chapter and Az's route! 💛 Az would fight for you too
I just finished this and omg its so GOOD?! Ashmedai my beloved..
Thank you!! 💛 I'm happy to see another Ashmedai's lover
Alright im addicted now i keep replaying
Hehe I'm glad to hear that! Hope you enjoy it 💛
just finished read every route the update is absolutely amazing I loved the little POVs of the ROs I cant wait for the next update ^^
Glad you're enjoyed the update and even played through all the routes! Thank you 💛
Damn...i'm speechless
In a good way, I hope? 😄
Yes in a good way! I was surprised by how much internal concern Osaron was expressing towards the mc's situation(in the final page(s) I believe). Anyways thank you for making this wonderful IF it is very underrated and unpredictable which are things that I deeply value in IF's.
I'm glad to hear that! Thank you for sharing you thoughts 💛
Absolutely loved the update! It was so great, and I love this story. I look forward to seeing where jt goes!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the new chapter 💛
The update is just beautiful omg 😍🥰😫
Thank you!! 💛
"Mmm doomed yaoi save me doomed yaoi" I say as the O x M! MC route dissolves deeper and deeper into a weird angsty situationship because both my boys are terrible at feelings. As always this IF controls my life, excited for more!!
I'm glad I'm not the only one 😫😭🤭
For me it's MC X Laz. Don't trust them for shit but i can't get myself to stay away.
Hehe glad you're enjoying their dynamic! 💛
…I may have just had a sleepless night reading through every possible choice and reading as many asks on tumblr as I could afterwards
I’m so enthralled by this IF!! I hope you’re well and I hope you know you’ve been doing an amazing job with this ♥
I'm so happy you enjoyed the story so much!! Thank you for your kind words 🥺💛 I hope you stay well too!
this was so amazing!!!! i absolutely adore the characters and the pacing is so so GOOD!! the progression/development between the mc and whoever we choose to either be friendly or be interested in is perfectly slow (and warranted, considering the mc's circumstances and history) and satisfying. the writing is enchanting as well!! thank you for sharing such a lovely story, i look forward to more!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words! 💛 I'm happy you're enjoying the story. I promise the romance will start picking up soon hehe :)
I thoroughly enjoyed this! Your writing, pacing and dialogue are excellent, as is the cast of characters. I love the amount of choice we have and I am so invested in the story already. I can’t wait to see where you take this! Well done!
Thank you so much for your kind words!! 💛🥹 I appreciate it a lot. I’m happy you’ve enjoyed my story, and I can’t wait to show you more too!
Finally got to finish the update and I loved it! This story is wonderful, and I am excited to see where it goes!
Thank you! 💛
The 4th chapter was great, and i loved the new interactions with Azaria, im still stuck with not knowing what demon form to go with in the future chapters, I love the bird and butterfly's. But the idea of being a long extinct bull dog fire lion Is also amazing. I can't wait to see how the future chapters go since I'm not sure how a fight would go with the butterfly or the birds, but I'm certain that they could lead to absolutely adorable interactions with the love interests. I wish you the best going forward and hope you enjoy and have fun writing the story as much as I have when I read this story.
I’m happy you enjoyed the new chapter and the scene with Az. The routes will be locked in the next chapter, so you’ll be able to spend even more time with them. And if you can’t choose a form, then I did my job right! hehe
I definitely enjoy writing this story and love hearing what readers think about it, so thank you for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts! 💛
everytime I see an update I feel blessed
I'm happy to hear that! 💛
Really enjoyed this. You are a talented writer.
Thank you! 💛
MC x O MY BELOVED!! Stooop the moments this update were so good I love these idiots so much 😭😭😭
Hehe I'm glad you enjoyed them! 💛
Loved the new chapter! Can't wait for more!
Thank you! 💛
OMFG I LOVE THIS SM I KEEP CHECKING FOR UPDATES IM SO HAPPY THAT CHAPTER 3 IS OUT YAYAYAY
I'm glad you love it! Enjoy the chapter 💛
I'm fully obsessed with this IF. You are doing such a wonderful job ri! Like it's honestly so great! But alsoooooo stop making stupid Laz so appealing! I don't trust em for shit but I'm still romancing them 😭😭😭😭
Thank you so much for the lovely comment! 💛 It's still such a pleasant surprise for me that someone likes my story so much.
As for Laz—HEHE... I'm happy people don't trust them but still like them; it means I'm doing my job right 🤭
I love this story so far. MC seems in my opinion somewhat autistic. I am autistic myself and the way they think and react to things is kinda like I do. So if this was intended or not I like the representation. :)
I'm happy you're enjoying it! 💛
I think my ADHD influences how I write my main characters, when I intend it and don't intend it, and of course it's not the same as ASD, but perhaps that's where the similarities come from. I'm glad you like it!
I like this a lot, the writing is really good, and the interactions are great. my favorite character so far is Azaria, I can't wait for future chapters and wish you the best going forward.
Thank you for your kind words! 💛 The work on the next chapter is progressing actively, and it'll be up in a month or two
Az would be proud to be your favorite🤭
ngl im kind of obsessed with ashmedai
So happy to hear that!! 🤭
the writing is so good !! I want to know about them a little! You're writing of characterization is so good! I can't wait for the chapter 3! The ball party is really interesting chapter party!
Thank you! The next chapter is being worked on, and I can't wait to share it, too 💛
L clenching and unclenching their fist is sooooooo pride and prejudice hehehahahhahoo >:))
You're so right! The famous gesture 🤭
MC and O dynamic is kinda everything I want and more. Just cold heartless person x the one(1) person they have a soft spot for. Greatest ship in my personal opinion.
Yeeeesss, I agree 🤝 I'm glad you like them!
By God i loved this update!!
I'm glad to hear that! And thank you for leaving a comment 💛
even if I now think Laz is a shady bugger... 👀 I still enjoyed it alooot! Well done!
Very interesting beginning, looking forward for more!
Thank you 💛
This is a fantastic start, and I can't wait for more.
Thank you! 💛
Interesting. I'd definitely like to explore this world and the characters more. Here's hoping for more in the future. =)
Thank you! I'm working on the second chapter, so there's definitely will be more in the near future.
ya had at me at full demonic form
Just finish it and already looking forward to more. :) Also, just a question what are the ages or how does that work? I'm only asking bc Sovereign has a kid and we can romance both of them so I'm only curious.
Thank you! 💛
Demons are immortal, so they can live very long if they're lucky. I haven't set specific ages for them, but Vez was already older than 50 years when they got a child, so Vez is around 100 years old now, Laz is similar in age with them, O is around 50, and Ash & Az are a bit younger. The MC is at least 30 years old.
They're adults but not very old by demonic standards.
I hope it answers your question!
Welcome and this does help so thank you! 😀
I love it! 🥰. Hope you keep it up author.
Thank you! 💛
Im already kinda inlove with the two brothers.. wonder how that's gonna work out... 👀😅
Hehe I'm glad you like them!
Also, (it's not a dig at you or anyone else) I'd like to ask everyone to use neutral pronouns/words for the characters as their gender isn't set in stone. Thank you :)