Sorakos – One Page Dialogue Sample

The following is a one-page scene that plays out in the world of Sorakos, following the player character of Zero. This is a linear dialogue sample meant to invoke banter during an awkward first meeting at a tavern, in which Zero was clearly spied on during some earlier events.

Zero sits at a bar, ordering a drink. A woman, Tanim, watches them from further down the bar before approaching, a pint of ale in her hand.

Tanim: I saw you earlier.

Zero: …You’re going to need to be a lot more specific.

Tanim: At the castle, you twit. I saw you go inside.

Zero: You know, when people talk, they usually try to have a point. Do you have one?

Tanim: Did you see a knight named Korwin Tyrel? Scruffy beard? Frown-y face? Older than dirt?

Zero: I didn’t.

Tanim: Aw, Dragon-spit!

Zero: Sorry to disappoint you, though I have met Korwin. Last I saw him he was being attacked by someone at Warden Bridge.

Tanim: Wait, you were with him then?! No one’s seen him since he left Marquis!

Zero: I lost track of him. I honestly don’t even know if he’s still alive.

Tanim: You didn’t hear the reports about prisoners being recovered from a battle  near Warden Bridge?!

Zero: Alright, first of all, I don’t even know your name. Second, how do you know about that report?

Tanim: Because I talk to people. See, this thing we’re doing right now? I do a lot of that. Apparently you don’t.

Zero: You say that, but you have still yet to tell me your name. Despite my subtle hint.

Tanim: Ugh, if it make you feel better, fine. I’m Tanim Prontera. Look, can you come meet some friends of mine? They’ll want to know about this attacker on Warden Bridge.

Zero: If they’re offering answers about that little mystery then I’m interested.

Tanim: That person? They were probably a member of the Abandoned.

Zero: Well, that mystery is now ruined. Thanks.

Tanim: Stick with me, I’ll ruin a lot more things for you.

Zero: Oh good, I definitely needed more of that.

Eternal Hour – Three Page Script Sample (with Branching Dialogue)

The following is a three-page script sample from Eternal Hour. The scene follows Yasu Fujimoto (the game protagonist) as he hangs out with Mai Wakahisa in a date-like setting.

This script includes two basic dialogue branches where the player can pick specific dialogue options. The choices affects the player’s relationship score with Mai, leading to further branches later in the game.

Yasu greets Mai in the local shopping district.

Mai (Playful) “How about we do some shopping?”

Yasu “I… guess that works.”

Mai (Annoyed) “What is that too boring for you?”

Mai (Angry) “Are you questioning my judgment?!”

Begin Branching Dialogue

Dialogue Menu:

“Always.”:

Mai Relationship Score Increase

Yasu “Always.”

Mai (Annoyed) “Why, you…!”

Mai (Playful) “Heh. I expect nothing less from you, my sexy idiot.”

“Nope.”:

Yasu “Nope.”

Mai (Annoyed) “So you’ll behave?”

Yasu “Yes, ma’am.”

Mai (Playful) “Good boy.”

End Branching Dialogue

Mai (Curious) “So are there any places that sell crêpes here?”

Yasu “You mean crepes?”

Mai (Confused) “Yes. Crêpes.”

Yasu “Why are you saying it like that?”

Mai (Annoyed) “That’s how it’s pronounced. Crêpe.”

Begin Branching Dialogue

Dialogue Menu:

“Interesting. You’re so wise!”:

Mai Relationship Score Small Increase

Yasu “Interesting. You’re so wise!”

Mai (Happy) “Stick with me! I’ll be happy to correct all your pronunciation mistakes!”

Yasu “You’ve got me curious, though. Why do you love crêpes?”

“I’m pretty sure you’re wrong.”:

Mai Relationship Score Small Decrease

Yasu “I’m pretty sure you’re wrong.”

Mai (Angry) “Really? Did you study French, you small town dork?!”

Yasu “Nope, though I hardly see how that matters.”

Mai (Annoyed) “…Maybe you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

Yasu “Why do you even care? What’s so special about crepes?”

“Yeah, I’m not pronouncing it like that.”:

Mai Relationship Score Increase

Yasu “Yeah, I’m not pronouncing it like that.”

Mai (Annoyed) “As expected of a small-town bumpkin.”

Yasu “Better a bumpkin than a big city snob.”

Mai (Embarrassed) “Oh no, I was coming off like that, wasn’t I?”

Yasu “Hey, it’s fine. I gotta ask, though, why crepes of all things?”

End Branching Dialogue

Mai (Confused) “Who doesn’t love crêpes?”

Yasu “Come on, tell me why you, emphasis on you, like them.”

Mai (Excited) “They’re so simple yet so full of possibilities!”

Mai (Excited) “You can fill them with almost anything and they’ll be amazing!”

Mai (Playful) “Eggs, cheese, meat, veggies, whipping cream…”

Mai (Happy) “And my absolute favourite, strawberries!”

Yasu “Strawberries, huh? I just so happen to know a local farmer who grows them…”

Mai (Excited) “Seriously?! Come on, let’s go!”

Eternal Hour: Golden Hour (Free Prequel Game!)

Development on Eternal Hour is going well. This has kept me quite busy, which is why my posts have been few and far between. However, I am happy to reveal that Eternal Hour’s prequel, Golden Hour, is available for free on Steam.

Link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/734910/Eternal_Hour_Golden_Hour/

The prequel, created due to overwhelming support on Kickstarter, offers two short tales: one about Rin Fujimoto, the other about Yasu Fujimoto. Yasu is Eternal Hour’s protagonist, and Rin is his aunt, who is also his guardian. Rin’s story shows how she came to be Yasu’s guardian, while his offers a taste of the mysteries to come after what is, initially, just some silly fun with his friends. While there isn’t too much depth to either story, the ending for each will be a bit different based on some of the choices made.

Big thanks to everyone at Seventh Heart Studios who worked on the game, as well as Sekai Project for their publishing support.

Great Cycle – One Page Religion Outline

The file below is a one page outline for the Great Cycle, a fantasy concept for a religion. Comparable to the religious practices found in the Dungeons & Dragons and Avatar: The Last Airbender franchises, the Great Cycle explores a religion with a small pantheon of deities. While the deities are depicted there is still some skepticism that they can actually be witnessed in the flesh.

Great Cycle Religion Outline – 1 Page

Three Pillars – One Page Religion Outline

The file below is a one page outline for the Three Pillars, a fantasy concept for a religion. Comparable to the religious practices found in the Suikoden and Ultima franchises (Specifically Serpent Isle with the latter), the Three Pillars also explore the fragmentation and divides that can exist within a single religion. The faith itself is mostly metaphysical, though deities are also included.

Three Pillars Religion Outline – 1 Page

Project Announcement – Eternal Hour

After months of silence, I can happily announce that Eternal Hour, a project I’ve been working on for quite a while, is now on Steam Greenlight. The link can be found here: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=922681685

Eternal Hour, produced by Seventh Heart Studios in association with Sekai Project, is an adventure-romance Visual Novel that revolves around  the life of Japanese high school Yasu Fujimoto. Thanks to mysterious circumstances, Yasu finds himself able to manipulate time itself and must strive to determine how to best use his new gift.

Eternal Hour was primarily written by me, Peter W Dawson, and I oversaw some of the artistic direction as well (though none of the artwork was done by me but our rather talented team).

The project is currently slated to be released in Q2 of 2020.

Open Fire – Systemic Writing Sample

The following are 24 different ways for a character to order their subordinates to open fire with their weapons. It’s a systemic writing sample meant to show how to make the mundane sound interesting through variety.

  1. “Open fire!”
  2. “Fire!”
  3. “Light ’em up!”
  4. “Shoot!”
  5. “Unload!”
  6. “Empty your clips into them!”
  7. “Unleash hell!”
  8. “Rain death!”
  9. “Blast them!”
  10. “Execute them!”
  11. “Blow them apart!”
  12. “Ventilate them!”
  13. “Tear them to pieces!”
  14. “Rip them to shreds!”
  15. “Drop the hammer!”
  16. “Murder time!”
  17. “Pick them apart!”
  18. “Plug them!”
  19. “Pull triggers, now!”
  20. “Bring them down!”
  21. “Throw lead!”
  22. “Pull your triggers!”
  23. “Bullet barrage, now!”
  24. “Bag them up!”

Reloading – Systemic Writing Sample

The following are 20 different ways for a character to say that they’re reloading. It’s a systemic writing sample meant to show how to make the mundane sound interesting through variety.

  1. “Reloading!”
  2. “Gonna reload.”
  3. “Reloading my weapon.”
  4. “Out of ammo, reloading!”
  5. “Gotta put in a new clip!”
  6. “Putting in a new magazine!”
  7. “Gotta reload.”
  8. “Gun’s dry, gonna refill.”
  9. “Outta bullets, putting more in.”
  10. “Chamber’s empty, addressing that.”
  11. “Putting in more bullets.”
  12. “Locked and loading!”
  13. “Adding more bang for my buck.”
  14. “Refilling my weapon.”
  15. “Gotta add more lead to my weapon.”
  16. “New mag, loading up!”
  17. “Fresh rounds, coming in hot!”
  18. “Need to reload, doing so now!”
  19. “My dragon needs fresh teeth!”
  20. “Making a lead sandwich, just preparing to spread.”

Hikaru Tsukino – One Page Biography

Hikaru 1

The file below is a one page biography for a character named Hikaru Tsukino. The character is from Eternal Hour, a conceptual Japan-set visual novel. Hikaru is arguably the closest thing the novel has to a female lead, as she is the protagonist’s most notable love interest (in that he shows immediate interest in her). The protagonist, Yasu Fujimoto, interacts with her several times throughout the story and can eventually puruse a relationship with her.

The Hikaru artwork included in this post was done by Ngô Gia Thuận AKA Katou Shinobu.

Hikaru Tsukino Character Biography (1 Page)