HEAD WRITER DEVLOG #2

Work on the script for Suspira is progressing really well, although there’s still a lot of work to do. I’m currently visiting London and making the most of the cafes as writing spaces, currently writing this in a lovely little coffee shop in Covent Garden.

I originally sat down to write a general development update, but by happy coincidence, our project manager shared a file containing the final drafts of the character portraits. The artwork is amazing, and really captures the essence of who these people are!

So, it felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce a few of the characters you’re going to meet in the game.

Firstly, there’s Suspira herself. As the central character, she’s the star of the show, and does NOT like sharing the spotlight!

If you played The Book of Bondmaids then you’ll already be familiar with Suspira, as she was a major antagonist of that story. Obviously, the fact that she survives the events of Bondmaids suggests that there’s now a canon ending. That’s kind of true, but it’s also possible someone as scheming as Suspira might have multiple ways to cheat her fate. My official take is that there isn’t really a set ending to Bondmaids, so the “canon” ending is whatever you want to be.

Very mild spoiler (although not really, because it’s in the opening slides of the game), but as we begin the story, Suspira is on the run, having had to flee her Lanian throne after being betrayed by her right-hand man to the Inquisition of the Holy Orthodox Order.

Is this right-hand man Hero, the protagonist of Bondmaids as depicted in the “Evil” ending??

Possibly, but doesn’t have to be. It would certainly be in-character for Evil Hero, who has shifted allegiances multiple times by this point.

Suspira’s experiences in Conussia and Lania have now made her far too cynical to fully put her trust into weak mortal men, so her right-hand is now her raven familiar, Tanzith. Tanzith is also a lot of fun to write, because even though she shares Suspira’s capacity for cruelty, it is expressed in much more sinister ways. Suspira is ruthless and pragmatic with a clear goal and a clear plan for achieving it (amoral as opposed to immoral, perhaps), but Tanzith is driven by motives which are much more mysterious. She’s our own personal Iago, but whether you imagine that as the Shakespeare version or the parrot from Disney’s Aladdin, they both work!

Although Suspira is obviously the player character, a lot of content is held in the optional scenes involving her minions, Johanna and Kortz.

Johanna, who you will meet in the upcoming demo, begins as a sheltered young woman from a wealthy background whose life unravels after a single catastrophic mistake. Left destitute and alone, she is forced to confront the reality that the City is an unforgiving place for those not fortunate enough to be born into wealth like she was. The player’s choices will shape her development, whether she clings to her moral convictions or adopts Suspira’s more transgressive worldview.

Kortz presents a contrasting perspective. A talented and charismatic artist, he was born into a brothel but rose in status through skill and education to become a sought-after portrait painter to the upper classes. Similarly to Johanna, however, he finds himself deep in trouble. More experienced and socially aware than Johanna, his story explores a different kind of moral ambiguity. Through player decisions, he may become either a source of harm or empowerment to those around him.

Another standout character is Madam Katrijne, originally conceived for a smaller role but significantly expanded after reviewing her narrative contributions. She is the last of the brothel keepers in Dammeren, operating under increasing pressure from the puritanical Reformati faction. Katrijne is one of the few individuals who fully understands both the threat Suspira represents and the risks of opposing her. Acting as a mentor to Johanna and Kortz, she attempts to moderate Suspira’s more destructive impulses, driven by a desire to protect the vulnerable individuals in her care.

Beyond individual characters, the game explores broader thematic tensions, notably the conflict between rival religious factions, drawing inspiration from the religious upheavals of 16th and 17th century Europe. Two decades before the story begins, the prophet Marin Lutari sparked a movement that fractured Dammeren, leading to the rise of the Reformati and the exile or execution of the Orthodox Order’s clergy. Both factions play significant roles in the narrative, presenting ideological and practical challenges to Suspira and her followers.

The city of Dammeren itself is as important as any character. While primarily inspired by medieval Amsterdam, it also incorporates elements from other European cities. Unlike its historical counterparts, however, Dammeren is envisioned on a much larger scale, a sprawling and powerful metropolis that has achieved independence from the Lanian Empire. This divergence from real-world history allows us to explore a setting shaped by familiar influences, but not bound by them.

Finally, long-time fans of the Conussia games may recognize a familiar face on the Steam page artwork. Magpie, the accident-prone thief and con artist with distinctive white streak in her hair is returning for a relatively small role in the game, but I’m absolutely delighted that Trude is writing new scenes for her, because she’s one of my favourite characters from the Conussia universe. Her inclusion does imply a particular outcome from the Cooks, Thieves, Wives and Lovers DLC of The Book of Bondmaids, but I think it’s a welcome one.

Right, I better get back to it, or this is never going to be done!

Thank you all for your support, I can’t wait for you to play the demo and meet these guys!

-Kabarettsta