A Tale of Crowns
Chapter Eleven has been released!
A Tale of Crowns is a high fantasy romance with Middle Eastern roots, both on pc as well as mobile! It’s entirely text-based, with choices throughout to shape both your main character’s personality and skills as well as influence their relationships with others. There are four love interests for you to choose from, both female as well as male, each with their own stories and secrets for you to uncover!
I will release each chapter as I finish it, so the game will be a continuous work in progress. It will not be available for download until the entire game is finished.
SOCIALS: Tumblr | Discord (16+ only) | Patreon | Ko-Fi | Email
OF INTEREST: FAQ | Designing Your MC | Pinterest | Report a bug
CONTENT WARNINGS: Depictions of violence, injuries and blood, death, trauma, psychological and physical body horror, sexually suggestive content and descriptions of animal cruelty. Safe to play for those 16 years and older.
The story takes place in Arsur, a fictional empire within a fantasy universe that draws inspiration from historical settings in the Middle East. Much of it is based on Kurdish culture, drawing from my own experience as a Kurdish woman.
Your character is 25 years old and was born and raised in Arsur, where magic is considered a skill no different from reading or writing. Gender, sexual orientation, and race have no bearing on social position or class; it is instead only based on wealth and level of education.
The Arsurian Empire itself is overseen by a single ruler known as the Crown. Unlike traditional monarchies, however, the title is not inherited through blood. Whenever the Crown dies, their famed golden eyes pass on to the one chosen by the spirits of this world to be the new Crown: this appears to happen at random, as Crowns in the past have ranged from the poorest farmer to the wealthiest noble.
Their parents murdered and the previous Crown of Arsur assassinated, your character finds themselves on the run as they’ve been bestowed with the golden eyes that mark them as the new Crown.
Unseen enemies at their heels, will they succeed as the Crown, or will they lead to the downfall of the Empire?
At the beginning of the story, you’ll have the opportunity to customize your Crown’s name, pronouns, sexual orientation, and their skill in magic. You can also customize many parts of your Crown’s appearance: hair color, hair texture, hairstyle, skin color, height, and clothing style are all up to you and will be reflected in the story as well.
Their ethnicity and culture is locked in as Kurdish/Middle Eastern. The Crown is also locked in as a person of color, as is in line with the setting - their specific race is up to the player to imagine.
As for your Crown’s personality, there are twelve different character traits in total, six of which will be decided based on the choices you make in-game. This will subsequently change your Crown’s behavior during story and romance scenes.
Depending on what your Crown’s sexual orientation is, the gender of the love interests will change accordingly to match that. There are four of them in total, and each love interest will have their own route which you will get to choose from at the end of the common route.
The Sorcerer; Rêzan/Rozerîn
The Crown’s Sorcerer, widely regarded to be a prodigy and expected to become the most powerful magus in the Empire.
The Hero; Xelara/Xelef
A legendary mercenary and the leader of the Crescent Blades, whose exploits were chronicled in song. Also known as the Pale Sword.
The Protector; Ashti/Azad
Once a peerless soldier in the Imperial Army, now promoted to the Royal Protector of the Crown due to their unrivaled skill and exceptional integrity.
The General; Dara/Delal
The General of the Imperial Army, known for many strategic victories in warding off attacks from hostile nations.
Artwork of the characters done by @artbygaia!
Updated | 14 days ago |
Status | In development |
Platforms | HTML5 |
Rating | Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars (2,199 total ratings) |
Author | qeresî |
Genre | Interactive Fiction |
Made with | Twine |
Tags | Dating Sim, Fantasy, Female Protagonist, Indie, LGBT, Meaningful Choices, Romance, Story Rich, Twine |
Asset license | Creative Commons Attribution_NonCommercial v4.0 International |
Average session | A few hours |
Inputs | Mouse, Smartphone |
Links | Blog |
Development log
- Chapter 12 Progress [06/NOV]14 days ago
- Chapter 12 Progress [08/APR]Apr 08, 2024
- Changelog 8/1/24Jan 08, 2024
- Public Release: Patreon Bonus StoriesDec 23, 2023
- Changelog 2/9/23Sep 02, 2023
- Chapter Eleven Released!Aug 31, 2023
- Chapter Eleven Early Access Released!Aug 19, 2023
- Chapter Eleven Release DateJul 13, 2023
Comments
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i love R and X sm.. i wanna smooch the both of em
Drew Rêzan fan art casually, I’m genuinely so looking forward to updates as I’m still obsessing!!!
proof >:3
i love this game so much! i think this is the eleventh time i've played it now?
i love the portrayal of someone stepping up to a position as the Crown. the personality stats feel so natural and sometimes i'll read and be like, "yeah, that's accurate" - you nailed the traits.
the characters are so CHARMING. this game tastes like fresh flatbread and feels like a hug that smells like spices. (tell me why even the slightest description of food feels so fragrant, how did you acquire this skill)
i do have a question though, because i've been doing research on old persian but i can't for the damn life of me figure out what the words that appear in R's scene (chapter 10/11) mean?
Thank you so much for the kind words!! 💖
As for your question, that's because the glyphs used in R's route are Sumerian ;)
I JUST FIGURED IT OUTTT!!
in the context that the word appears in , it sends shivers down my spine. an interesting choice - now why, i wonder?
This was so, so fun and beautiful. I think I might have a problem now that I have experienced R... *swoons*. The way you wrote the romance with them feels so natural and gorgeous, they just fit like a glove with my MC <3
I am very, very new to IF. This is my second one (and the first one was only two chapters in, so this feels more like my first) and I am hooked. I'm so excited for the next chapter and thank you for sharing this lovely story with us.
Ahh, thank you, I really appreciate that!! R's romance is definitely the most easily flowing and uncomplicated one 💖
Queresî!! Love this game so so much, and I’ve been inspired to try making one of my own!! Is it okay if I ask what systems/platforms you use for the making of this? 🫶
I used Twine with the Sugarcube story format! It's open source and completely free to use. Also, for you and anyone else interested in getting into using Twine and creating your own games, there is a really good beginner's guide someone put together to help get you started (again, only for the Sugarcube format, I'm not aware of anything similar for Harlowe or other formats). They also have further Twine resources linked on the page as well.
I really love D so much bro, and after I just finished the rest of the chapters I realized I like got the worst outcome for him : ( (( NOOO WHYYY, I LOVE D TO MUCH FOR THAT))
this is the first IF game I've ever played where i wanted to romance every single RO.
I desperately need someone to ask the crown, "What? Were you raised in a barn!?" So they can go, "WELL, I WAS IN FACT RAISED IN A BARN."
YESSSS, This is a MUST.
Damn. I freaking loved this. The level of detail in the world building, the easy-flowing dynamics between the different personalities and dialogue, the puzzle pieces slowly falling in place, just everything is freaking fantastic.
I definitely enjoyed the friendly banter between everyone, all the playful jabs and teasing. Can't forget the masterfully crafted insults that weren't so friendly 😂 Super satisfying reminding the nobles their place.
And oh, romancing Xelef was so ✨ The bold flirtation mixed with secrets from each side, the eventual vulnerability with each other, ahfifkjd ❤️
I think I'm too used to relying on more detailed stats regarding politics and the different groups' opinions, so I kinda felt like I was flying a tad blind, but that just made my decisions have more weight to them.
I cannot wait to see what happens next, both story and romance wise. Now I just need to do more replays so I can try romancing the others.
Replaying this game for the umpteenth time now AND I JUST FOUND OUT THE CRESCENT BLADES HAVE OFFICIAL ART???
Quick question regarding D's route in chapter 11 (if I'm allowed to ask), I've replayed it several times trying to get a better outcome for D regarding his/her title being either stripped or temporarily removed but can't get anything better than the latter. Is D's title being temporarily removed the most positive outcome or have I been missing something?
The best outcome you can get for D in that scene is that command of the army is temporarily transferred to one of their lieutenants while they recover, but any talk of removing their title is shot down by the Crown/their allies. The worst case scenario is that the Crown is badgered into looking for substitutes while D recovers and D risks having their title stripped from them during that time.
Which outcome you get depends on whether you were successfully able to fire the Minister of Law in CH9, and if you did not manage that, then whether you were able to recruit any allies such as Lady Naza or Minister Awir. If you didn't manage to fire the Minister of Law and you have neither Lady Naza or Minister Awir on your side, then you will get the worst outcome. Hope that helps!!
Oh, that's where I kept getting it wrong! Thanks! May I ask one more question? In regards to Yekbun, during an earlier playthrough when I let the prisoner reside in the palace & they escaped the Scholar only got injured but now everytime...the worst thing happens. What decisions effect that?
hi! not qeresi, but the decisions affecting Yekbun's outcome are related to who you alert about the assassination attempt (and i believe to some degree the security measures you choose for the coronation? obviously ask for extra security). choosing to alert everyone gives you the best outcome - if i remember correctly - whereas keeping the assassination hidden gives you the worst outcome.
whether you keep the prisoner in the palace or in the town has a similar do-this, this-happens impact, but unrelated to yekbun if moved to the town.
there's a comment somewhere that shows what someone did step-by-step for their preferred outcome. https://qeresi.itch.io/a-tale-of-crowns/comments?before=274
Your love interest has no bearing on what happens to Yekbun! I guarantee you made different plot-related choices between playthroughs, but I'm not listing any walkthroughs for that yet as it's still in progress.
Any updates on when Chapter 12 will be released?
Definitely some time this year!! I can't give a certain release date yet though because I've been struggling a lot with CH12, but I've been steadily making progress on it 🙏🏼
YIIIPPPEEEE TAKE UR TIME ILY!!!!!!
this is genuinely the best news I've heard all year
It says on the creators tumblr somewhere in December!! I'm guessing somewhere around mid-dec but they haven't put a specific date on it
I'm in love with this game. The story, the world-building, the characters, all of them, and the writing are so good that it has raised the bar so much that I'm finding it hard to enjoy other games in the same genre, even outside tbh.
For the first time in a game I've played I felt like my character reflects so well my personality, reserved, and shy, and while romancing Rozerîn this is shown perfectly, I can't put in words how much I love her. Thank you so much.
Ah, thank you!! 💖 Great choice of LI as well haha
I'm totally obsessed with this. I don't know how I ended up here, gotta admit, but it's probably the best thing that has happened to me in a very long time, thanks for sharing your art with us.
Now that that's said, I really like the way you write, it's really captivating... touching. I have to admit I've found myself crying in some scenes, they are written so well I can't help but get too immersed, positively so. The characters, great characters, I've been able to remember every single one of them because of how unique each of them is written, I love that, as someone who generally has trouble remembering who is who, it's refreshing.
I'm not very good at english so excuse me for my limited vocabulary, but I really wanted to express my admiration for what you've done here, it's been an unhealthy journey for me as I've been jeopardizing my sleep because of how obsessed I've been these past few days, not that I regret it, but it's also been a really nice read, I'm way too invested because it is so great, once again, thank you for the experience of your art. I have nothing but good wishes for you, admiration and the desire to keep reading this masterpiece. 💗💗
Thank you so much 💖 And your English is great, don't worry!! Really appreciate you leaving a comment
This IF is a masterpiece:3 10/10 love it
I keep dying in that tunnel no matter how i tried i still end up dead :(
Love this game been playing it over and over again but i still kept dying in that tunnel Is it because of some wrong choices i made?:(
That means you aren't picking up enough romance points with one singular romance option,
Here's the walkthrough :)
https://www.tumblr.com/ataleofcrowns/627362513923768320/walkthrough-unlocking-an...
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
Really Really Really good game!!!!!!!!! Im totally obsessed with it!!! gonna put it on my list of the best games i've played this year!!!!!!!!!!
Starting over again Hope i'll survive:)
Engaging with this piece of work is an absolutely incredible experience! The characters are truly remarkable, and the depth of the narrative is both rich and captivating. It has definitely earned a spot among my favorite interactive fiction experiences, and I find myself eagerly anticipating the next chapters of the story. The immersive quality of this work allows me to lose track of time, and I must say that Xelef has become my favorite character throughout this journey. The way you have developed each character is impressive, as they feel so real and relatable. The intricate storytelling pulls you in, making it easy to become fully absorbed in the unfolding events. I really appreciate the effort that has gone into crafting such a detailed and engaging narrative, which keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what happens next. The emotional depth and complexity of the characters add layers to the experience, making it all the more enjoyable. I want to express my admiration for the outstanding work you have done in bringing this story to life. Your talent for character development and narrative construction shines through. As you continue to expand this masterpiece, I wish you all the best in your creative endeavors. It is clear that you have a gift for storytelling, and I am excited to see where this journey takes us next! <3
Thank you so much for the kind words and the lovely comment, it means a lot 💖💖
Of course! Enjoy the rest of your day/night. :)
Honestly, it's a great game! The story is very thought out and you can tell how much time and effort went into each chapter. I feel very lucky to of played this as my first interactive novel. I can't wait to see more of your work for the future!
Lol though I keep looking at Xelef and thinking "SINBAD????!"
Haha thank you!!
It's a good game and the first Interactive Novel that I've played on itchio, the story is good for sure but after like chapter 9 or 10 it kinda loses me.
I kinda wish that we could have chosen like a special trait that we could have learned from being on the run for most of our life, but we don't so it kinda feels like we are a liability, until we start training and by then the book currently ends without anything but a sparring session.
After playing it for the first time, somewhere in me I lost some interest in the story and that may be because after 10 or 11 chapters, you don't kiss anyone, I may be wrong but I romanced everyone except for Rozerin, but there isn't anything to bash on this game, it's very well rounded and as far as I can tell has no grammar errors.
My favorite part of the game was the magic types even though I feel like they put characters in a box in other stories you flipped the script a little and surprised e, and I was confused and happy during y 4th playthrough when I got the 'Death of the Sun' I believe it was called?
Lovely game, and I would recommend.
Thank you, really appreciate the review!!
i keep replaying, but it takes genuine effort not to go through rezan's path again
you're so real. the temptation is so greattt
It's really funny to me cuz I have a dnd character with the same mannerisms as Rozerîn except it's not a facade of composure you can break with a few well placed sweet words but just how he is.
NVM her calm facade is just entirely gone lol. cuuuute
Hey!
I just played through Xelef's route (as far as it is possible for now at least) and I'm amazed. Seeing as I couldn't hold back I'm going for Azad's route now.
Your style of writing alone...It's detailed and what a reading flow! Then all these characters; each with their own complex background story and the bits and pieces of information regarding history, geography etc. is what mesmerises me.
It really is like a well written book, simply in the form of a game.
I am so thrilled to see how the story will progress!
Well done!
Thanks so much, that's very kind!!
another typo i think. i thought the steward was a guy.
“Indeed.” The steward glances at Rozerîn, before shifting her heavy gaze onto you. “I would say it is only natural for servants to know their master, but that lacks the urgency that would justify our presence at a no doubt critical time for Your
Thanks!! In the future, please report typos and other bugs using the form linked at the top of the page, it's easier for me to keep track of that way 🙏
sorry i didn't notice it. can you tell me what is the link labeled so i could take note of it with my screen reader? i am a blind player
Oh no worries, I can just give you the link: https://forms.gle/ZdsLLLcDGz5mJRpC8
got it. thank you.
there is a typo. You do your best not to accidentally inhale any as she works with concentration on her face, until she finally finishes.
Epic.
A pleasure to be introduced to a culture, that author knows how to weave intricately.
I got lost for two days and now yearning for more.
This could've been on par with what's trending on goodreads, either as book or a visual. Certainly deserves to be seen.
I went for Xelef and was surprised by the hurt/comfort.
Couldn't yield to being used, but the alternative certainly puts you at odds with him. But I just couldn't imagine how being a doormat would make for sound relationships.
As for gameplay: ability to roll-back or have multiple saves conveniently is sorely missed.
Some choices could have a bit more clear consequences: choosing to be truthful to public and provide protection apparently is not enough for the court scene to pick the 3rd choice? Should I have chosen to ignore nobles first?
Even if I chose to provide guards for all the ceremonies, why do I still end up with 'I should've provided more guards' message?
What is the significance of the aspect obtained during coronation ritual?
Would it be possible to ditch nobles completely?
It feels like chapter 11 sets up a scene for ending, how many chapters are planned for the game?
The author said she plans to make it 20 chapter each
i am absolutely gonna make animation shorts about rezan while i wait for updates....
How do I save a game to my computer? I can't seem to find a save button
You click on the hamburger menu. At the bottom there's the download icon, click on that. It'll open the slots. Select 'save to files'. Hope this helps! :)
The best interactive novel out there IMO. Great writing, both love interests I have tried, A and X really managed to make me feel. Currently I'm waiting some time, because I don't want to do another love interest until I've forgotten at least some of the text and for the next chapter.
I started playing this game just some days ago and i already love it! I tried all the routes and then even changed the personality to see how would the story go, It really is awesome. So excited to see what happens in Ch2
I love this game! Ziryan is by far my favorite character! He always shows up at the most awkward moments and just has to pretend he didn't see nothing. "Y'know what? I've walked in on you guys almost kissing three times already but everyone keeps dying and we need your assistance. Now follow me quickly before we all die." Lol. I feel kinda sorry for him. I also injoy how much dedication you put into this game and how much depth all the characters personality's have as well as how detailed the plot of the all the possible storylines are!
I agree! Ziryan is acting like he never interrupted the main character and li, and I love it XD
Yeah XD
Alsoo we can't forget Siham interrupting the temple scene in Ch11 on A and R routes XD
I wish they could make it possible to copy the text because I have to copy the text since I don't know English very well so I use the translator but the whole game looks very nice
I played this game when it was still in early development and I came back to see what I’ve missed and I’ve missed a lot! Glad to see you’ve been working on this! It’s very well written and I enjoy it a lot! Can’t wait for more (I can lol)
D to Crown: I'm longing for you.BUT we cannot be together.My heart burns for you BUT we cannot be together.I can't concentrate on my duties , you occupy my mind day and night BUUUUT we cannot be together, people will talk xD
Hi! I love your work! I just started reading it 2 days ago and it is absolutely loved and appreciated. The writing is *chefs kiss and immersive. I'm wondering how many chapters will the entire story be? So so excited for your future releases! Take care.
Okay, so i was only looking for examples of twine games, but this drew me in and stole quite a few hours. It is really really well written.
i found this game recently, i played it through in one go, I have afterwards replayed it a number of times, its just that good!! it is incredibly well written in both setting and characters, it is so immersive! and i love the amount of agency you have as an mc, especially in terms of characterisation, like being able to choose your gender identity and pronouns!! i love this game with my whole heart and im so looking forward to future updates of this, i miss dara everyday, he makes my heart warm with affection dslkfj <33
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the kind words 💖💖
i love xelef guys no. 1 xelef fan trust
I have become obsessed with this game :)
Is there any way for me to choose where the save file saves if I save to disk on mobile? I keep losing them cause I don't know where they save to
It depends on the phone. Search for something like downloads folder [phone name].
I'm so charmed by the writing of this game. It's generous to have something this super high-quality available entirely free to play.
Does anybody know how to get which affinity? I really thought I'd managed to aim for air affinity and ended up with fire instead, my least favorite :/ I didn't understand which affinity I had until all the way after the party, so I might not have any saves far back enough and may just have to start over...
There is a answer on tumblr: Is everyone’s affinity the same or depending on... : A Tale of Crowns (tumblr.com)
Also found this on the discord:
Thank you! That explains a lot lol, I was trying to aim for air and water...