Where Every Scroll is a New Adventure
Development Blog for the Interactive Fiction Zephite.
Genre(s): Supernatural, Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Dark (Dependent), Humour (Attempt).
Setting: Oxford (UK), Earth | Xael, Zephite.
Rating: 18+ for CONTENT WARNINGS: death (including major character deaths), strong language, sexual content, violence, gore, abduction, mentions of past abuse/tragedy, depictions of injuries, blood, and torture, depictions of unhealthy relationships, alcohol consumption, drug use. Many of these warnings are either completely dependent on the reader’s choices, or how heavy/graphic they are will be dependent.
All asks are welcome, including NS//FW (within reason). Tag will be nsfzephite. However, I am a full-time university student so I cannot guarantee fast answers.
“Who are you?”
“I go by many names.”
Shinigami. Ankou. Hel. Śmierć. San La Muerte. Reaper.
“But you may call me Death.”
Death and Fate have always been entwined.
When Death defies Fate.
Fate abandons Death.
And Death shatters.
Zephite is an interaction fiction where you play as a once revered High Reaper who was deeply connected with death, even by your species standards. With a unique ability, and a fractured soul, perhaps they were correct when they said it was only a matter of time before you fell. When you commit one of the highest offences of your kind, your abilities are sealed and you are banished from your home realm of Zephite to Earth.
But when the Fates are blinded, and the very fabric of reality begins to unravel, so does your carefully constructed façade of humanity.
There’s a monster out there and it’s far closer than you think. But the real question is…
Is it more dangerous than the one inside your head?
Two main branches, with one only being accessible to certain types of MC’s.
Team up with those you used to command to discover who’s attempting to destroy reality as we know it.
Find out why your supposedly human best friend can’t quite look you in the eyes these days.
Take some time to find comfort and support in your adoptive sibling, Kaleb, who followed you from Zephite, and your newly adopted puppy.
Fight the corruption that threatens to overwhelm you or let it consume you.
Fully customisable MC (including name, nickname, gender (cis, non-binary, transgender), pronouns, sexuality (including aro/ace), and appearance (true form and human form)).
Predetermined skills include a proficiency in combat and weapons. Other skills will be determined by the reader.
Option to romance one of seven ROs, or choose from two poly relationships. Rekindle meaningful friendships, and find your family of choice once more (or destroy them all completely). The Secret RO is only romancable on one branch.
RO and other NPC POVs.
Alanis Santos Cruz [F] [Demiromantic, Demisexual]
??? (Appears 29) | 5’9ft | Zephinite (Puerto Rican)
Species: Reaper | Ability: Electrokinesis
A fiercely loyal woman who would do anything for the ones she loves. Alanis can come across as intimidating and unyielding in both her professional and personal life, but to anyone who knows her, her gentle heart and love of learning shines through clearly. Your former second-in-command, you could always turn to Alanis for support and advice, but you never truly understood how much she relied on you in turn. Now the commander, Alanis is perfectly civil to you, but there’s a quiet anger simmering in her eyes, and you don’t know if she’ll ever let herself trust you again.
Character Sheet
Ngaio Kerr-Bell [F] [Omnisexual]
??? (Appears 22) | 5ft | Zephinite (Māori)
Species: Reaper | Ability: Strength Augmentation
A true child of chaos, Ngaio always tries to look on the bright side. Her warm and friendly demeanour belies a woman of great mental and physical strength who desires to protect those she loves. She once respected you as her commander, and loved you as her friend. These days, you find it difficult to understand what Ngaio thinks of you, but you can’t help but notice how she still seeks you out to share the things that excite her, and how she lights up when you walk into a room.
Character Sheet
Zep Taylor [NB] [Pansexual]
??? (Appears 26) | 5’6ft | Zephinite (American)
Species: High Reaper | Ability: Compulsion
Ngaio’s sibling-in-chaos, Zep takes nothing in life seriously, living on the edge and preferring to take each day as it comes. They talk tough, but Zep’s heart is as big as their personality, and they attempt to shield it by destroying themself before anyone else can. But they weren’t always like this, before you left, Zep (perhaps ironically) valued life more than anything else and they looked up to you as a friend and role model, taking delight in making you laugh. These days, they shy from your touch…after all, your touch has always had the power to destroy them.
Character Sheet
Maksim Umarov [NB] [Demiromantic, Greysexual]
??? (Appears 28) | 6’2ft | Zephinite (Russian/Uzbek)
Species: Reaper | Ability: Healing
Apathetic would be the word used most to describe Maksim. To those outside their loved ones, their remarks are chilling and cut to the bone. However, when Maksim decides that someone is worthy of their trust, they would go to any lengths to protect them. When you were their commander, they would openly declare you as their favourite ‘patient’ and often left little notes around for you, reminding you to take care of yourself. Reunited again, you expect the biting words to be turned on you, but you are surprised to hear the softness in their voice that is still present when they speak to you.
Character Sheet
Fynn Von Decker [M] [Pansexual]
??? (Appears 31) | 7ft | Zephinite (German)
Species: Reaper | Ability: Enhanced Reflexes
A certified Gentle Giant, Fynn has a very doting nature, and those he loves could be forgiven anything. Unfortunately, due to Fynn’s height, people find him rather intimidating and tend to avoid him, which he struggles with as soft intimacy and love are hugely important to him. Although it’s rare to see, Fynn can be incredibly dangerous, he has a tendency to forget his own strength when he’s angry and will do serious damage if not kept in check. Once upon a time, you were the person that he went to for comfort, the person he trusted above all else. Now, as the second-in-command, Fynn is still sweet to you, but there’s a noticeable distance between you that he seems wary to let you cross.
Character Sheet
Lucas Kaloki [M] [Pansexual]
??? (Appears 25) | 5’11ft | English-Ugandan
Species: Human?
Cheerful and dependable, Lucas is your other housemate and best friend. He is always happy to help out, and is favoured by all your neighbours. A volunteer firefighter on top of running their own business, Lucas paints a competent and dependable picture (at least until he and Kaleb start bickering like an old married couple). He has always been there for you and your brother. Your ride-or-die friend as they say. But ever since the cracks in reality appeared, those sparkling eyes have become unreadable, and their beatific smile has edges too sharp, it makes you wonder if you ever truly knew Lucas at all.
Character Sheet
??? [M/F/NB] [MCsexual]
Unknown | Unknown | Unknown
Species: Unknown | Ability: Unknown
“Burn with me, my soul.”
Character Sheet
Polyamorous Routes Available: Ngaio & Alanis | Fynn & Maksim
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