wiz-writes

[wiz-writes]

Hello! I'm still alive!

It's been some time, hasn't it? I wanted to surprise you with an update in July, but... well, as you can see, it didn't happen.

So originally, the "July update" was meant to conclude chapter 3 of Aesemyr, but it turned out to be so pathetically short that I decided against posting it.

Good thing I did, because after taking a break (I've been feeling utterly uninspired lately) and then coming back to it, I realised it was terrible.

Some parts were scrapped, some expanded, but overall, it still needs some HEAVY editing.

I also began working on chapter 4 and so far, it's progressing much better than ch3. You can look forward to a lot of talking, haha.

The next demo update will contain the first part of ch4 - the following section will differ slightly based on who you choose ;)

I can't really say how long it will take me to finish it - just today, I spent like an hour trying to make it work. It turned out that, 1) my go_tos didn't have a label to go to, and 2) I messed up the indentation of my choices, so I had to go through a couple thousand words just deleting two extra spaces on every line.

How I always manage to find new ways to break the game is beyond me.

[wiz-writes]

yesterday i played yinshan for the entire evening instead of doing my ultra important geography project....i got so invested.......i need more.....augh...

Oh Anon, I do hope you've managed to finish the project in time.

While it makes me incredibly happy that you enjoyed reading Yinshan, as a teacher I feel a bit horrified that I've created something to distract you so 😅

The update is being worked on (albeit very slowly as I'm focusing on my other story rn), but I hope it will be worth the wait.

[wiz-writes]

I just discovered a two year old document with various scene snippets featuring Lucenis, yet somehow I have no recollection of writing the latter half of them?

It's like I've never seen them before lol

Goodness gracious, they're so badly written but the ANGST!

Bwahaha, let me share with you some (slightly fixed) lines. I don't think any of this will make it into the story, Lucenis feels a bit OOC there.

Spoilers, I guess?

Exhibit numero uno:

The moment of realisation must have been reflected on your face, because Lucenis' lip curls in a bitter smile. "Do you understand now? Why I told you this was a bad idea?" No, you don't. "Why didn't you just tell me?" He caresses your cheek. "I did not want you to think less of me."

Exhibit numero dos:

"Lucenis?" He staggers, catching himself on a nearby wall. You immediately surge forward, arms out to support him. "Lucenis, what's wrong?" He's bent over, a hand clutching at his chest. "I am fine," he forces out. *snip 🤭* You grasp his fingers with your trembling ones. "Lucenis." Your voice is hoarse. "...I am here." Squeezing his hand, you let out a breath. He is here. For now.

🙄 typical Lucenis if you ask me...

These are really taken out of context so they might not feel that angsty, but believe me, they are 😂

[wiz-writes]

Not sure if anyone is interested in reading some Chinese poetry, but since chapter 3 of Yinshan features quite a few lines, I felt it appropriate to share with you the pieces I used in the final version.

It took me so many days to find lines that matched what I wanted to convey, I almost tore out all my hair haha. It was quite difficult to find something that wouldn't be too easy or too hard to guess, but I think that the final selection is alright.

(cut for length)

This first piece is mentioned in passing when the MC turns to inspect one of the scrolls.

Li Bai - The Roc (To Li Yong) If once together with the wind the roc could rise, He would fly ninety thousand li up to the skies. E'en if he must descend when the wind has abated. Still billows will be raised and the sea agitated. Seeing me, those in power think I'm rather queer; Hearing me freely talk, they can't refrain from sneer. Confucius was in dread of talents that would be; A sage will ne'er look down upon a youth like me. translation here

The next one is for the first pedestal, dao.

from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu A tree too big to embrace Is born from a slender shoot. A nine-storey tower Rises from a pile of earth. A thousand-mile journey Begins with a single step. translation here

Next is the last pedestal, xin.

Li Bai - Hard Is The Way Of The World Pure wine in golden cup costs ten thousand coins - good! Choice dish in a plate of jade is worth as much - nice food! Pushing aside my cup and chopsticks, I can't eat; Drawing my sword and looking round, I stamp my feet. I can't cross Yellow River: ice has stopped its flow; I can't climb Mount Taihang: the sky is blind with snow. I can but poise a fishing pole beside a stream Or set sail for the sun like a sage in a dream. Hard is the way, Hard is the way. Don't go astray! Whither today? A time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves; I'll set my cloud-white sail and cross the sea, which raves. translation here

Now the three choices for the tian pedestal.

Du Mu - Mountain Travel Far away on the cold mountain, a stone path slants upwards, In the white clouds is a village, where people have their homes. I stop the carriage, loving the maple wood in the evening, The frosted leaves are redder than the second month's flowers. translation here

Li Bai - Zazen on Ching-t'ing Mountain The birds have vanished down the sky. Now the last cloud drains away. We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains. translation here

Li Bai - Moon Over Mountain Pass A bright moon rising above Tian Shan Mountain, Lost in a vast ocean of clouds. The long wind, across thousands upon thousands of miles, Blows past the Jade-gate Pass. The army of Han has gone down the Baiteng Road, As the barbarian hordes probe at Qinghai Bay. It is known that from the battlefield Few ever live to return. Men at Garrison look on the border scene, Home thoughts deepen sorrow on their faces. In the towered chambers tonight, Ceaseless are the women's sighs. translation here

Now onto the jue pedestal.

Du Mu - On Parting Fond are my feelings, yet unfeeling I feign, Before our wine-cups, we merry-make in vain. So heartful, the candle, our parting it grieves, And in tears it melts, till the sky lights again. translation here

Li Yu - I Climb The Western Tower In Silence Wordless, alone, to the West Tower I climb the stair; The Moon, like a curved sword, hangs there. Held captive in the deep courtyard and its lonesome phoenix tree, Is the cool, pure Autumn breeze. Cut it, it doesn’t sever; Sort it, as entangled as ever — It is a great sorrow to part, Creating an entirely different feeling in my heart translation here

Li Bai - Farewell To A Friend Green hills above the northern wall, White water winding east of the city. On this spot our single act of parting, The lonely tumbleweed journeys ten thousand li. Drifting clouds echo the traveller's thoughts, The setting sun reflects my old friend's feelings. You wave your hand and set off from this place, Your horse whinnies as it leaves. translation here

And I believe that's it!

Sometimes you'll notice the translations don't match with what's in the chapter. That's because I usually took a look at several versions, as well as my own interpretation, and then somehow put it together.

I'm sure you'll also notice I might have a favourite 😂

[wiz-writes]

Hey everyone, just a quick note to say that it has come to my attention that the cogdemos links are not working anymore.

The problem seems to be that you have to add /mygame at the end of the link, so it looks like this:

https://cogdemos.ink/play/wizim/aesemyr-the-withering/mygame

I have fixed the links in the main posts and the pinned post so they should be working now!

[wiz-writes]

Just wanted to pop in and say that I love your work :0)!!!

Thank you, Anon! Hope you're having a great day ❤️

[wiz-writes]

Hi!! I love your writings! I was wondering for OoTY, does kissing Hua effect your ability to also romance Su or is it just something that can be done in passing and then avoided again if one decides not to pursue them?

Hello! You don't have to worry about being locked out of a romance, even if you kiss Hua Lingyun in chapter two, you can later choose to romance somebody else.

While she's definitely intrigued by the MC, as of now, Hua Lingyun is not really serious and is just having some fun.

[wiz-writes]

Kicking my feet twirling my hair giggling for Xu Yuan in the update

Haha, mission accomplished then!

I have to say, I had a lot of fun writing the RO interactions in ch3, some of them definitely had me cackling like a madwoman.

As a side note, I still don't understand weiqi. Tried playing against the computer, lost every time and don't even know how lol

[wiz-writes]

"I need to protect her for the mission" yeah buddy that's deffo not the only reason😌gurl is down bad. The new Out of the Yinshan update by @wiz-writes was a scrumptious meal fosho. can't wait for more Feixia love 🥹🙏

[wiz-writes]

Okay, I've finished playing the OoTY update. My head is the definition of '!?' right now and not exactly coherent (I'll probably write a follow-up screeching about character moments and a question about game mechanics) but there's one thing I can say:

I KNEW THE JADE WAS SUS FROM THE START. VINDICATION!!! (I sent you an ask several months ago speaking about it and I'm so happy even with the cliffhanger at the end of it, lmao).

Hiii, feel free to share your theories later, I'm always interested!

And yes! You were right! It was not, unfortunately, an innocent piece of jade 😂😂

We'll see how the MC manages to talk their way out of that situation...

[wiz-writes]

Hiiiii, I just wanted to say the 3rd chapter was amazing!!!! Many mysteries to unfold, and I wonder how they connect to the plot overall🥰🥰🥰

Hellooo, thank you so much ❤️❤️

Some more mysteries await you in the future! But of course, some revelations as well...

[wiz-writes]

The itch demo is now working as it should!

Public Demo Update: 30 March 2025

Find out what the Manor has in store for you in chapter 3.

There is now an option to start a new game through "quick start", which lets you set up some variables and then start at the beginning of ch2 or ch3.

I have also added a cheat mode, which (if turned on) helps you pass some skills checks that you might not pass otherwise. However, you will have to start a new game for it to work.

Features:

27k words of new content

learn more about your hosts

test your wits

spend some time with the ROs

live to see another day

Play it on: ITCH.IO   |   COGDEMOS

COG Forum   |   PATREON   |   KO-FI   |   PINTEREST

[wiz-writes]

Public Demo Update: 30 March 2025

Find out what the Manor has in store for you in chapter 3.

There is now an option to start a new game through "quick start", which lets you set up some variables and then start at the beginning of ch2 or ch3.

I have also added a cheat mode, which (if turned on) helps you pass some skills checks that you might not pass otherwise. However, you will have to start a new game for it to work.

Features:

27k words of new content

learn more about your hosts

test your wits

spend some time with the ROs

live to see another day

Play it on: ITCH.IO   |   COGDEMOS

COG Forum   |   PATREON   |   KO-FI   |   PINTEREST

[wiz-writes]

PATREON DEMO UPDATE (23 March 2025)

Chapter 3 of Out of the Yinshan is officially finished! 🎉🎉

And honestly, so am I.

The public demo will be available to play next week.

[wiz-writes]

Hello everyone, sorry about the delay with chapter three.

Life has been so hectic these days that I'm just exhausted most of the time. As if that wasn't enough, my right hand that's been bothering me for a while is getting worse and I've been told I'll probably need surgery.

I thought of releasing the chapter as it is, but there's literally just one last chunk missing, which I do believe I can finish this week.

Thank you for being so patient with my almost-always-delayed updates ❤️

[wiz-writes]

So this morning, when I arrived at work, I found out that today is actually not the last day of February, but rather the 27th 😂😂

Please forgive my confusion in the last post, it's been a rough week and my brain is tired...

[wiz-writes]

A progress update!

So I realised tomorrow is the last day of February... which is just great, right?

But where's the update?

It's being worked on, I swear. I'm just slow. And sometimes I think of a lovely thing to include, but then it turns out not so lovely to actually include. But since you've spent so much time on it, scouring the Internet for days, you're loathe to delete it so you leave it there.

Anyway. I'm currently in the process of writing the choices, which (as some of you might know) I usually leave as one of the last things to do.

There's about half of the chapter left, but I will try to do my best to at least finish most of it, if not everything, this weekend.

Which could mean a potential release date next week, with Patreon getting a bit of an early access.

Until then, have a good day/night!