A quick glimpse at chapter 5

This is copy pasted directly from the spoiledblogif tumblr page, so if you've read it there, feel free to ignore:

So it's been a while since I've updated and I feel like I should share SOMETHING. So I'll give a brief story map of how chapter 5 is going to work. I have gone over this in the discord chat, but I'll reiterate it here.

Chapter 5 is where we finally meet the Kestrel. The chapter is essentially going to break down into 3 major paths with 2 divergences a piece (so 6 divergences) and then another 6 divergences from there. So 15 "paths". (If you're curious why it's taking so long to finish the chapter, this is why.)

The three major paths are what I'm calling the "Common" route, the Logic route, and the Intuition route. At the beginning of the chapter you'll have a skill check and if you pass, depending on the skill you pass with, you will get access to either the Logic or the Intuition route in addition to the Common route. If you don't pass the check, you'll only have the choice of the common route. (This is not technically a fail state and it's not going to change anything other than the way in which you meet the Kestrel.)

The Common, Logic, and Intuition paths then break down in 2 more paths each where you make a choice that will affect how the scene plays out. There's no check involved or points. It's just a choice with regards to the scene that plays out. (In the common route, for example, the choice is between drinking possibly enchanted wine or not. This makes more sense in context, I promise.)

Then, from each of those paths, you'll encounter a new relationship choice that's exclusive to the Kestrel-- a hostility/diplomacy score. Which basically just determines how you choose to confront them given various scenarios.

I've locked the MC into a bit of an enemies to friends/allies (or lovers if that's what you choose) relationship with the Kestrel regardless of the hostility/diplomacy choices, but given the circumstances of your first meeting with the Kestrel this is pretty well justified. The hostility and diplomacy scores are basically just a choice between whether you're openly aggressive with the Kestrel or if you choose to take a more methodical approach. Like everything else, it's not inherently tied to your romance path.