Progress 28.07.2025

Hello all!

Progress post time once more!

Rendering? I have one scene left, but it will take a few days to render since there will be a lot of renders to do, unsurprisingly. But overall, it's in a good state.

Writing... Yeah, I'm not made for this heat. I got some writing in, but not enough for my liking. I think I'll just use my laptop to write once rendering is done. Less heat buildup, so I might actually get something done instead of being half asleep due to it. Eh, I'll write tonight, and it will be okay since the rendering is where I want it to be.

And then chat with Mal. That one thing doesn't get mentioned now, but it will come up later. This is mostly to give a quick overview of what is going on with the village. It's progressing in the background, but there is nothing too important that needs to be dealt with as is. Truthfully, these next few updates are to "close up things" and give some spotlights to characters who haven't had much appearances lately, for fairly obvious reasons. And then...

Ideas and thoughts. Weird subtitle. Getting inspiration easy, talking to people, watching movies, cartoons, random series... all kinds of things that you might not normally watch. There are shows that are... let's call them scientifically questionable, lack of proof and all that, but they feed the imagination. A lot of fiction stems from the "what if", then it is just refining those ideas into something. Sorcerer draws heavily from the mythology. The term I've used has been "mythologically plausible" although I do take heavy liberties on some things, but that makes things interesting. And of course, what we know of the ancient times are told by a person, who might have gotten things wrong as well. And there are things I don't go over, orcs don't exists in mythology at least not in the way we understand... And this is render... I saw the environment today, and an idea spark up. The Ark of the Covenant. It is a relic, I'm sure I don't really need to tell anything about it really, but what if a cult would get the idea to build one for their own? And considering how the Shattered Seals setting is, it could be a plausible thing, but it wouldn't necessarily be a divine relic. So how to deal with it? Well, recruit (read guilt trip) certain Sorcerer to help... Yeah, easy inspiration from random things.

Anyway, break time for me and then starting up the final scene. See you all on Friday!

Progress 25.07.2025

Hello all!

Friday, progress and all that.

Rendering, it's in an okay state. Render count wise, I should be at 150 renders, and I'm at 150 renders, about. Relation to the script? I'm where I wanted to be, granted I expected to be at this spot on Saturday, but things went better for the earlier parts so I'm a bit ahead, but not for long. So overall, I'm happy with it.

Writing... oh boy, it isn't in a bad state either, close to where I would want it to be. Just the current heat is sapping so much out of me that I'm not really in the mood for writing. But I'm still writing a bit each day, not as much I would want, but even little is always good. But as always, writing isn't something I am concerned with.

And then back at the tower. So, there was a certain goal for Great Desert, and it wasn't to solve the region's problems. They aren't something that could be solved just by getting rid of one or two people. The complexity of the situation is alluded in 0.45.0 when Aisha, Anor and Satya are talking. A hates B, C hates A, D hates everyone, and so on. You can influence how things go in the long run, but not solve them. It's one of the plot threads that are intentionally left open along with the alignment thread (that and it isn't time for it yet). I always do this, Terminus; there are several, the UEC "collapse", machines, and a couple others that are just there. Sorcerer? Someone was attacking the great and guardian houses, and probably something else that I forgot, been a while. All of these are hooks for the sequels (potentially). Now if a sequel happens, I can pick a "familiar" thread that ties to the previous thing. It might not be the main theme necessarily for the VN but a starting point. It's the same thing now. If there is a sequel to ToaM, be it Tomas or someone else, there are threads that I can use to tie things together. Start as a mage from the now "dead" Order of the Jade Serpent and get involved in the civil war? That is one plot point if I didn't continue as Tomas. But... that's for then. Anyway, I've rambled enough for today. I'll continue to ramble more on Monday. You all have a great weekend!

Progress 21.07.2024 and Changelog for Tribulations of a Mage 0.45.0

Hello all!

Update is ready to be released. Just doing the final bits and pieces to it. So nothing too drastic there. I started rendering the 0.46.0, luckily it's simple enough to do right now since the sets are done.

And on the writing side of things, I already started writing 0.50.00. It feels strange, it always does closer I get to the end of the story. Still, not that much to write any more of this story. A bit melancholic feel to it... Ah well. Right, no spoilers so no preview... for several reasons.

I haven't rendered Tamara in a while. She is, along with Naha, a strange character. She is a demon, she is evil by every definition there is. And yet she has traits you don't associate with demons. She cares, to a point. She is affectionate, but her nature is to be dominant. If she sees something, she will take it even if she would need to slaughter the entire population of the world, but might be persuaded to stop if asked nicely. Same with Naha, he is an incubus, but yet he would be willing to throw everything he is away for his love, not that he can without dying and all that. Which reminds me I need to update the werewolf models. Eh maybe thinking too deeply of these things. Anyway, the important stuff.

Changelog: ToaM 0.45.0

• 350 renders

• Implemented the next part of the story

• 1 hidden image

• Grammar, spelling, and other fixes (Thanks to Adry, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, Bread, Oaiki, Horny Toad, Abs, Chris2606, OBE, Sylaan, Bernie64GER, ravendarklocks)

There is a pile of fixes for earlier updates pending. Those are coming, just they are mostly on the development build and I don't always do full sync of the files from development to publishing build. And while I rememember, the hidden image in this one might not make much sense if certain paths aren't open. Just think it as a glimpse of alternative reality in that case.

Release schedule:

• $15 Tier: As soon as the post has had its final touches and links been verified.

• $10 Tier: 23rd of July

• $5 Tier: 24th of July

• $3 Tier: 25th of July

• Public: 4th of August

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com.talothral.toam-release.apk (WT)

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.44.0

 

 

Tested and played through it a few times, and all the saves worked. But that doesn't mean things didn't slip by. So, as always, if there are any issues, please report them on Discord if possible. That way, I notice them quicker.

https://discord.gg/GJK5kfKypg

 Tribulations of a Mage 0.44.0

PC
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Android WT
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https://gofile.io/d/QoFTWh 

Progress 18.07.2025

Hello all!

Friday. Yay... So what's up?

The usual, really. Renders are done, and the update was sent to testing. Should be able to do the builds tomorrow and uploading takes what it takes during summer. So yeah, I'll be writing the weekend as usual and start rendering 0.46.0 on Monday. And as I said, normal release cycle for this one once more. And thus, I won't spoil things so something else.

Been updating models again, I'll probably end up updating all the models I've used for Sorcerer at some point, and might end up remaking a few. I have the files, but... yeah some of them, like the rest of the Susan's squad, aren't exactly that well made since they only needed to appear in one image. Will I need the rest of them? Probably not, but if I do, they are there.

And then a bit more. I so need to find a new nightclub for the Gorgons. For some reason just can't get the lighting correct in this one, and it takes ages to start to render even though it isn't that heavy. There is actually a story behind this. Girl's night out. Sabrina isn't there. She had other stuff to do, to her annoyance. I know there are people who don't like Susan, partially because of her attitude and how she speaks. Those will never go away, well, except how she speaks. Some cussing is now toned down since she has had a kid (potentially) at least when he is around. She might be grass, but she is the first one to get up and defend those who she respects and cares. Even if she shows it poorly. I might actually show it in the game, though. Or I'll do the same thing as I did with ToaM, show a series of renders telling short stories... Something to consider about. But regardless of that. This was the event (or start of it) where Miyuki and Susan let's say befriended. Anyway, I'll do some stuff, take a break and write for a bit. You all have a great weekend!

Progress 14.07.2025

Hello all!

Whee.. Monday, and you all know what that means!

Rendering... One scene left, but it will take a day or two to make since render times are longer than I would want. Nothing too drastic, assuming Daz doesn't crash, again. Writing is in good state, got where I wanted to be over the weekend easily. I'm happy with the progress I made over the weekend overall, with longer breaks.

So a preview, probably the last one for this week. It's been, interesting let's say to build things that doesn't exactly exist as is in the Daz collection. So when idea is formed you have to do things with the assets are available. So I needed a monastery, but the ones I didn't have outsides, and because of that they didn't fit for the original scene. But there are several temples that are inside of a cave. That works for me, but it creates an issue. Luckily, I built the dwarf city and it's rooms already so I know how to deal with things.

And a bonus. Teleportation practice. Alexander was gifted the knowledge how to teleport by Miyuki, but where comes the difference between Alexander and Sabrina is that while he didn't know it, he was already taught the tools he would need if he would awaken in the orphanage. The nuns knew he could awaken, they sensed the power in him, thus it was safer to teach what he needs to know how to manage his power. So he has all the knowledge without knowing, so his margin of error was practically zero. Sabrina other hand? She has the power, but she lacks the knowledge and discipline for it, for now. So occasionally things happens. Right, short break, then some more rendering and maybe writing.

Progress 11.07.2025

 

Hello all!

I'm not sure how to describe this week. I one hand things are okay, on the other hand? Eh... And that reminded me, the next release is on the usual schedule, the anniversary time is sort of special... along with Christmas time... or when I feel annoyed enough about myself. Right, anyway, so...

Rendering? It's in okay state, I think. Truthfully, doing two fight scenes back to back sort of annoyed me more than it should, eh it will be fine. Truthfully, it's mostly being annoyed at myself and writing multicharacter fights. Ah well. But outside of those annoyances it's in okay state. Relation to the script I'm about where I should be. At least after today's patch is done.

Writing is... sort of stuck, but not really. I'm having an internal debate of which character to use in one particular scene. Unfortunately, the answer isn't both of them in this case, for various reasons. Both characters has fans, but one of them does have more requests, to my surprise if I'm being honest. Or maybe not... There is a third option as well. But I'll sort that out tonight once I've done rendering.

So... a preview. I was considering at one point that I won't show any previews of this update. But I changed my mind since this is least spoilerish image at the moment. Friends united, let's put it that way. Let's be honest here, this isn't going to be a much spoiler, we are talking about "heroic fantasy" here, damsels get rescued... unless they are used a plot device to setup a revenge story. But this isn't one so... but how things happens are different thing. Might even fail... Who knows how the dice have fell. Well I do but that would be a secret...

Then... Something else. Been thinking Terminus Reach lately, it's natural during a long project that my brain wants to do different things once in a while. Last two days it has been more scifi mood than fantasy. So... Maybe something from the future? Not sure really... Gates are interesting concept over all. They tie worlds together, or even planes of existance. Although, when it comes to Shattered Seals, it's more of a rift than a pure portal. But there are portals as well, or gates if you will, mythology has both. Interesting things to think about. Anyway, I'll take a break and start writing since apparently I'm done with today's renders. Go me... You all have a great weekend!

Progress 07.07.2025 and Changelog for ToaM 0.44.0

Hello all!

Well, the storm came and went, some debris to clean up, some net and power issues, but nothing too drastic. So what's up?

The update is uploaded, and ready to deploy. But we'll get to that soon... Probably slightly longer rambling today. Rendering of 0.45.0 has started, and I'll start writing 0.49.0 later today or tomorrow... and that's about it.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of me starting doing this, and all I can say is that it has been an interesting trip so far. And still more to come. A bit more rambling with pictures and then the interesting bits.

Always these two first, Garrett and Chiel. Not going to reminiscence too much, they will aways be dear to me. Probably more than any other character I've made and will make. Terminus Reach is a whole universe, and it offers endless stories if one wants to write them, and I have. Whether is Garret and Chiel, or Cade, Zerya, and Alaqa... And random name drop, perhaps you get to see them some day in the future, at least at the same time. Anyway, onwards! I will most likely return to the reach one day, not sure when. First Sorcerer 2 then who knows...

Ugh... I hate depth of field blur. It doesn't really work with the style I do, if you have one or two people on the screen? Yeah it works easily. But I tend to have more than two, so you can't really pose them in a line, that would be unnatural looking. But not what I was about to ramble in this part. There has been questions about which route is canon, Gorgons or Fiery Fangs. The truth is, the answer is both. So what happens in the future with that particular branching? Easiest method would be just ignore one of them, but easy is dull. Better way is to merge them, that way both can be there and I can introduce new branching options more easily. How will it happen? Well there are ways, which might have been alluded already in the gorgon epilogue...

Then the latest... I did consider using Nisha's elven form for this, but this felt right. Tribulations of a Mage is the largest of the VN's I've done so far, it will be in total somewhere around 50 updates, maybe a bit more. Not entirely sure yet, depends on the Epilogue length. Lot's of info to deal with then. ToaM has been, overall interesting experiment for me, there are things that worked well and things that didn't, in my opinion. The hidden images are something that has worked well overall. At first it was more of a "fan service" deal, but then at some point the idea about them showing events that happens elsewhere, at least occasionally, formed. It has worked well, and it allows showing things that wouldn't have been plausible to show otherwise. The second that is a bit on both categories is the codex. It does what it supposed to do, inform people about the characters. My only "negative" thing is how I organized it, when it was first made it made sense. But as things evolved it became let's say cumbersome to alter in the way I would do it now. But on positives, the things I've learned will carry on to the next one. As these two are features that return.

Anyway, I think that is enough rambling for today. Thus onward to the changelog!

Changelog: ToaM 0.43.0

• 343 renders

• Implemented the next part of the story

• 1 hidden image

• Grammar, spelling, and other fixes (Thanks to Adry, Shaddy, BryonSmothers3DX, Bread, Oaiki, Horny Toad, Basihiron, Orion, OBE, ravendarklocks)

And yes, as tradition, the anniversary, despite being tomorrow, means that all patrons will get the update at the same time. Just as my thanks for everything... It will take me a moment to gather the links into one place (told you that my internet connection had some issues, still does but it is manageable)...

Release schedule:

• All patrons: As soon as the post has had its final touches and links been verified.

• Public: 21st of July

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com.talothral.toam-release.apk (WT)

Public Release: Tribulations of a Mage 0.43.0

 

Tested and played through it a few times, and all the saves worked. But that doesn't mean things didn't slip by. So, as always, if there are any issues, please report them on Discord if possible. That way, I notice them quicker.

https://discord.gg/GJK5kfKypg

Tribulations of a Mage 0.43.0 

Patch:
https://mega.nz/file/b2QjzaiR#Rp_XyXZqAzYnEfjFXDE7fB_IdD7qkxf85AIG0gYQKMc
https://gofile.io/d/yevAPP

PC
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Progress 04.07.2025

Hello all!

Calm before the storm... Right so, the same heads up I gave on Discord couple of days ago, there is a storm heading this way and it should hit according to the latest forecast in 2 or so hours in full force, assuming it hasn't died into drizzle by then. Although considering how I currently feel I'd welcome a good thunderstorm... Anyway, what's up?

The update is done and sent to be tested, I have some minor things to do but those I'll do tomorrow (couple portraits) after the storm has passed, then uploading. I'll upload from the laptop but that doesn't mean much if the power goes out again, been unstable for the last 9 or so hours. Regardless, I'll write the weekend for most parts and start rendering 0.45.0 on Monday.

So then as I'm avoiding spoilers have a motivational/concept render...

Now you are thinking, why would Alexander be armed when he can incinerate people at will? That's because while Alexander is powerful sorcerer, he doesn't have a position where Great Houses (and others) can overlook use of magical powers in a place where there are witnesses and no "supernatural" threat is present. Since the whole magical society is "hiding in plain sight", they are there but they obey certain laws of secrecy. There are ways to mask from electronic devices, as Aya showed in the first Sorcerer, but that still leaves witnesses. Of course, one or two person claiming that they saw magic or monsters is easy to discredit. But twenty or thirty? Slightly more harder, of course there are ways for that as well, but they aren't as easy to do. So the solution? Treat situation like you would be encountering humans, you can quickly swap to spell casting if that isn't the case. Modern weapons might not be as effective as magic, but considering that most entities minions tends to be cultist who are humans?

And that where urban fantasy is generally interesting, the clash between modern society vs magical society. The magical society is required to adapt constantly to the technological changes, it's often cheaper and less suspicious to deploy technological solutions than outright magic. And use of technology free's certain key personnel to do something else. In old times you had clairvoyant watching over your estate, and you would need several of them. Now in modern times, all you need is drones and cameras and you can have someone who can't use magic watching them. With a clairvoyant or two using magical sight when needed. Ultimately, technology complements magic, instead of heavy tomes you can have them on your phone, and access to them almost always. Almost because batteries do run out at the wrong moment... Anyway, enough rambling and back to writing. You all have a great weekend and stay safe out there!