
Viatica
VIATICA is fully released!
An Interactive Fiction set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, with a focus on personal growth, as well as platonic, familial, and romantic bonds.
Your world is a desert, both figuratively and literally. Speech is prohibited, books are outlawed, and any meaningful human interaction is nonexistent. Humans are reduced to the job they do for The City. There are no names; instead, everyone is identified by a number.
You are H-313, a healer.
Create and customize your character: male, female, or non-binary; gay, straight, or bisexual. Become an individual in a world of drones. Learn to speak, express your emotions, define your personality. Dream big, resist tyranny, inspire the masses, and forge a new world. Or not. This is your journey, after all.
There are no point-based choices or outcomes. No choice is wrong—it simply changes the type of person you grow to become.
Cultivate relationships with others, both romantic and platonic. More flirty/confidant romance options are marked with a ❤️, while more oblivious/subconscious options are marked with a 💛. It’s difficult to understand emotions, after all, when you barely understand words. Once you're locked into a route, ❤️ denotes scenes with physical intimacy. You can still further the romance without that.
Romance Options:
B-485, Lion (he/him)
He is a builder, stoic and strong. He is tall and muscular with brown skin and black, coiled hair and beard. At 26 he is the eldest of the group. Later in the story, he chooses the name Lion for himself. He is fierce and protective of those he cares for. But what truly sets him apart from other workers is his ability to speak clearly and articulately. How? More to the point, can he teach you?
F-525, Heron (he/him)
He is a feeder, aloof and placid. He is medium height, with long blonde hair usually tied back in a ponytail and pale blue eyes. He is 22 years old, same as you. Later in the story, he chooses the name Heron for himself. He does not question his role, nor act in any way contrary to what is expected. What passions and tempers will you find when that veneer cracks? More importantly, why does he seem so familiar?
S-622, Ferret (she/her)
She is a sweeper, slender and scrappy. She is medium height, with olive skin, dark brown hair and narrow grey eyes. She is 21 years old. Later in the story, she chooses the name Ferret for herself. She is impulsive, stubborn, and quick to anger. When you first meet her she is very combative, but you eventually see the fearless and inquisitive soul underneath. Could she be a kindred spirit, or perhaps even more?
R-793, Robin (they/them)
They are a burner, lithe and wary. They have ivory skin, curly red hair, and heterochromia: one eye is green, the other brown. They are 20 years old. Later in the story, they choose the name Robin for themself. In a world where roles are based on gender and strict definitions of what a worker is, they have always felt out of place. Their discomfort was made worse by a recent traumatic experience. Can you help them to accept and appreciate the worthy person that they are?
Content Warning: This story is intended for mature audiences. Possibly triggering topics present in the story include blood, violence, death, suicide, rape (mentioned), child abuse, mature language, and sexual content (optional).
About the Author: I am a mom of teens and have a challenging career, both of which demand my time so please bear with me! This IF is a labor of love and will never be monetized. It is adapted from a novella I wrote 25 years ago in college. It is mostly a solo effort except for the invaluable and insightful help of my sister, who is my brainstorming partner, co-writer, and fellow wine guzzler.
If you enjoyed Viatica and would be interested in extra content, or would just like to support me, visit my ko-fi at https://ko-fi.com/firandfireweed
Find me on Tumblr to chat, ask questions, or simply teach me how to use the darn thing. https://www.tumblr.com/fir-fireweed
About the Artist: The character illustrations are all commissioned works done by the extremely talented Isabela Zaneti. I am so grateful to her for bringing my characters alive and I encourage you to check out her website!
This story was created using Twine, Chapbook.
Music by Sergii Pavkin and Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay
Photo used in background and banner by Madhu Shesharam on Unsplash
Status | Released |
Platforms | HTML5 |
Rating | Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars (682 total ratings) |
Author | Fir & Fireweed |
Genre | Interactive Fiction |
Made with | Twine |
Tags | Character Customization, Dystopian, josei, LGBT, Meaningful Choices, Post-apocalyptic, Romance, Story Rich, Text based |
Average session | A few hours |
Inputs | Mouse, Touchscreen, Smartphone |
Development log
- Psst, Guess What Published Early?!Dec 21, 2024
- Update NewsDec 15, 2024
- Chapter 11 is Live!Nov 11, 2024
- Update NewsNov 07, 2024
- Bug FixOct 14, 2024
- Chapter 10 is live! Please don't hate me.Oct 10, 2024
- Update NewsOct 07, 2024
- New Artwork by Isabela ZanetiSep 06, 2024
Comments
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I started Viatica around a month ago and read up to almost the end of Chapter 11 in basically one sitting (although I did get up a few times lol) and only got round to finishing it today. I've laughed and cried (and I'm about to cry again while writing this) and wished death upon certain characters (and the music box ending made that wish come true :D), and I just have to say that this story, your story, is absolutely phenomenal. Through your writing, I grew so attached to these characters and regret none of my choices (except not talking to Heron more in the earlier chapters when I had the chance lol). Even so, however, I think the lack of ability to save was very fitting (even though the lack of save files wasn't a storytelling choice) because it made every choice more important and it prevented me from exploring every option to find out the answer I liked the best. I love how we were given the clear choice on whether we wanted nsfw content and that the sfw options were so lovely and cute and it didn't feel like we were missing out on the plot (because we weren't!) so I happily enjoyed a predominantly fluffy route with Lion. Character deaths were, without spoilers, impactful. I cried (and am about to cry again just thinking about it) because, just...wow. This is the first IF I've played on itch, and it was brilliant that even the way I treated the (technically) side characters had a huge impact (or so I assume, since I've only gotten one ending for now), but it seems to me that every choice holds weight, and I really like that. I am so grateful for the message of hope, even echoed in the journal entries, and it was definitely a message that I personally needed (guess who might actually cry this time) and it is definitely a message the world needs given how messed up things are right now. I just want to say thank you, because this story is a gift that I am glad that I decided to open it up and try it out. I'm definitely going to check out Cantata and the April Fools chapters when I have the time, but I'm still deciding on whether or not I want to try and get another ending, considering how satisfying the ending I just got was. We'll see, I guess. By the way, I also found a few grammatical errors/typos near the end and took some screenshots just in case you wanted to see, but I haven't attached them just in case you don't. Anyways, I want to end again with a thank you. Thank you for sharing this fantastic story with all of us, and thank you for the hope that came with it.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed the softer options in the romance scenes and chose the fluffy route with Lion. I appreciate that you gave my story a try, even returning to it after a break! Thank you! 🥰
And please feel free to add your screenshots here. I appreciate you asking first. I do try to make my IFs as close to final draft and error-free as I possibly can before publishing, but I do miss some things, and I’d like to correct that. 😊
No way to download it? Its only in browser?
Yep, your data saves as long as you don't clear your browser cache
Correct, the game is only available in browser.
I 'FINALLY' somehow stumbled onto this... Oh dear... I have laught, raged, mourned and cried. Everything I love about stories making you FEEL and this was it. I will be replaying it many times, I can tell. Not before the April fool special though XD I need some laughters after those last chapters. Love your work. (Also I had to read without glasses at one point because I was crying too much out of joy in the epilogue)
Aww, thank you! I'm glad you experienced all the feels, including the laughs with the April Fools shorts, lol. Sorry about the tears, but I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed it so much!
I’m in emotions , I’M IN TEARS o(〒﹏〒)o.
Such a great and interesting interactive fiction that I read. Heron and Bear are my favorites, such sweethearts. I’ve already gone through three endings, and I think I’ll go through a couple more ✊. Author, thank you so much for this story, I can’t wait for the Cantata to be released in full.
(I’m sorry, English is not my native language, so I wrote it with the help of a translator, I hope I wrote it clearly (つ・・)つ)
This was very clear, don’t worry! And I very much appreciated hearing it! Thank you! ❤️
Just finished and I have one thing to say to you Fir & Fireweed, I love you 🖤🖤🖤 Jokes aside, I love the story and it was heart breaking what happened to fawn and bison, horrible what happens with the chamber, and im glad its gone. This story was amazing and i plan to play through every character's romance path, robin's was amazing, as we get to navigate their discovery and acceptance of themself and their journey of their fear.
Lol, I’m glad you enjoyed it, and especially so that you enjoyed Robin’s route. I’ve never written a character like them before and I tried to give their route a lot of care and thought. Thank you for reading and for the lovely comment!
you know, i've never been a fan of dystopias, but this is something else.
with each page i returned more and more to my childhood. i'm not saying that i've experienced something like this, but about the atmosphere itself. something... dreamlike. something intimate and alive, i would say. this "fantastique" is not hidden here in the magical atmosphere and fiction, respectively, this fantastique of the lines here lies in the hope that you feel while you read, and in the unshakeable faith in the best. you feel the characters, you sympathize with them, you fight and cry shoulder to shoulder with them, you look at this peace from the window with your own eyes, this peace they came to on their own.
i couldn't stop reading, haha. this short but warm story, and what you, author, have achieved with your word, not everyone can achieve nowadays.
i'm immensely grateful to you for the rare sense of rightness and peace that you have given me. sorry if my words are not so clear, english is not my native language, but i tried to express my feelings as clearly as possible TT.
if anyone read this comment before going to the story, then i want to tell you that you won't regret it. this is not just fiction. these are pages of hope, this is the story of those in whom this hope has not found its end, those who will continue to pass this hope on to the same burning and passionate souls as themselves.
Thank you so much for your kind words! 🥹 This is such a beautiful way to describe my story, and I can’t tell you how touched I am to hear your experience with it. Viatica is very much a story of hope, which is something I think we all need more of right now. ❤️ Thank you, again!
First time i'm commenting on an IF (out of the tons i've read) but this story deserves it, it's simply a masterpiece. At first I was curious about how an author would spin the tale of how such impossibly strict society had come about, then I got hooked by how strongly the writing can captivate and invoke emotion on the reader. Now at the end of it, I've finally realized the sun is raising and I've spent my entire night reading this, I've cried like a baby and laughed hard, seriously I'm moved beyond words with how amaizing this story is. The bread crumbs given through the journal entries painted such a realistic downward spiral, it made me remember my history lessons about slavery here in Brazil, how very few violent and cruel enforcers were enough to make a lot of people bow in submission, deprived of their own culture and language they lost their identity, will and agency. How this scenario was made realistic, the characters are relatable and unique, and the way their emotions and struggles were delivered, all of it was perfect. Congratulations on writing the best, the most engaging IF. Looking forward to more amaizing stories.<3
(PS: forgive my sleepdeprieved ramblings and bad english, in PT-BR i would say in far less words: Parabéns por escrever essa história foda. Obrigada por compartilhar essa joia conosco.)
Ok, first, I have to tell you how I laughed after translating your comment. 🤣 You are most welcome!
Second, I’m glad the story resonated with you and I very much appreciate you sharing the personal relevance. ❤️ Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely comment!
I have no words... This is so peak chat. The game is also finished so definately recommend giving it a try <3
Thank you!
This was absolutely amazing - I started reading this morning and I only just realised it's past lunchtime! Not many things hook me that much.
The quality of writing was spectacular; I felt in particular the pacing was done perfectly which is not something authors always get right, as well as the description being really great and well balanced. There was a fantastic sense of candidness in the more intimate moments I really connected with - as an ace-spec enby myself I really, really appreciated the inclusive options of character and relationships etc, it helped me immerse myself in the story like not much else has for a long time, which really means an immense amount 💙
I also love how the whole plot is full of symbolism and a very important message about humans working together and respecting their values and differences. I felt the story did a really excellent job of conveying this in a super impactful manner and I sincerely hope it can reach as many people as it can - it has a lot of educational quality.
Sorry if this was a bit of an essay, I just have really high standards for writing and I'm a bit taken aback that something thoroughly surpassed them today. Well done and I can't wait to read your future literature 💙
Thank you so much for your kind words! You need never apologize for a comment like that. ☺️ I’m glad you found the story inclusive and impactful. This was my first IF and first foray into creative writing after not having done so for literal decades, so your comment means a lot! I hope to take lessons learned and improve even more with my new IF, Cantata. Thanks again! ❤️
This story was so much fun to read!
I remember I was reading this about a year ago, I dont remember why I stopped, but I rece tly found it again and wow I’m glad I did!
I love Robin my bae <3 They’re so sweet!
But Ferrets my chosen partner. I love her fire!
I’m so glad to hear you picked it back up and gave it a try, thank you! ❤️
reminds me of 1984 sm
This story was inspired by 1984 and other dystopian works. I was a big fan of them all in my youth. 😊
This story is so creative, the characters so lovable, the only thing I can think bad about this story is how short it felt to me lmao
Anyways, I love your writing and I can't wait to read more about your works, Cantata is so good I can't wait to read the next chapter lol, thanks for your hard work
Thank you so much! That means a lot to hear!
I really liked that in the end, everyone finally found their voice. I honestly feel like this can relate to some real-world stuff.
Thank you! And you’re absolutely right.
If I may, from what I've seen your games seem to have a moral based around voices. Is there a reason for that?
Not directly, but I’ve always been a big proponent of reading and the power of words. Viatica is adapted from a novella I wrote nearly 30 years ago, when I was a voracious reader of dystopian literature. It’s deeply concerning how the events of this story ring truer now than they did 30 years ago. I live in America, and I think it’s more important than ever that people speak up right now. I don’t like to wax too political, but I do believe in being human and compassionate, and speaking when needed. Thank you for asking. 😊
YES! I KNEW ID LIKE YOU. I'm also from America so that's why I was so curious.
❤️❤️❤️
Just came after playing your new game! (Despirate for chapter 4 btw) You're amazing at this! Keep up the good work, and don't ever stop (or else i'll be sad and bored)
Hahaha, thank you!
Do you know when the next chapter of cantata is planned to come out? no rush, just.... mildly desperate
A very rough estimate would be September or October. Chapter 4 is a biggie, and I have several vacations planned with my family over the summer.
I love you work so much that I have to stop playing...save it for later🥹🥹
Aww, thank you for spreading out the love! 😁
just came from the Cantata demo, LOVED IT! i am so excited to get into this one too!!! great games. i'm sure your kids are very very proud as a fellow teen haha
Thank you! I hope you enjoy Viatica, too. Cantata is definitely more polished, but Viatica is my first love, so to speak.
And my kids are my best cheerleaders! 💕
is it not possible to save or is my screen not wide enough (╯︵╰,)?? i know it's a bit of a stupid question but i'd like to know because the only menu options i see are restart and switch theme?
The game saves to your browser, so as long as you don’t switch browsers or clear your cache, it will save automatically. This IF was built in Twine Chapbook, which doesn’t offer multiple save slots. I talk a little about saves and why I chose this format in my devlog here: https://firfireweed.itch.io/viatica/devlog/790424/a-quick-note-regarding-saves
Thank you for giving my story a try, despite that. 😊
I really enjoyed the slow seeing how it got to that point between chapters
Do you mean the journal entries? Those weren’t in my original novella and I’m pretty delighted with the idea, too, and how they turned out. Thank you!
Truly one of the greatest interactive fiction stories I have ever written! I loved the characters (especially Lion) and the journal entries were amazing. It was so interesting seeing a character watch the slow descent of a civilization into a dystopia.
Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I’m bawling, screaming, and backflipping all at once. Not ONLY is this IF AMAZING but it’s also FINISHED?!? Truly a rare find. I’m honestly invested in every single one of the characters and I don’t think I’ve ever replayed a novel as much as I did this one. 10/10!!
Hahaha, I’d love to see what bawling, screaming, and backflipping all at once looks like! 😂
I’m so glad you enjoyed and replayed it! Thank you for this amazing compliment!
"Of all the words I've learned, your name is my favourite" Okay you did NOT have to twist the knife. But seriously, absolutely incredible game!!! So incredibly well crafted and made me so emotional, especially Fawn and Bison's sacrifice. Hugehuge fan!!!!! Never stop writing :D
Sorry about the emotional knife, but I’m glad my characters and story connected with you that deeply! Thank you for being a fan, and for your comment! 🫶🏻
This made me cry twice for two vastly different reasons and I commend you for this incredible story. I love Lion dearly and will likely come back to this story again and again in the future. Thank you for creating this.
You are so very welcome! Thank you for reading it! I’m glad you like Lion; I have to admit being partial to him myself. 😏
just realised i didnt rate viatica after reading it again last time, so i came back now to rate it and decided to read it again. by far my favorite IF of all time, and i'm kicking and pulling my hair out because i cant wait for your other IF to be fully released too hihi. thank you so much for this, it's to die for
Aww, you’re welcome! And thank YOU for returning and rereading! ❤️
This amazing story punched me right in the gut, made me cry, laugh and stare at the wall in deep contemplation after the end. It also sent me a message, that no matter how dire the situation, by finding a community - or even the company of a single person, we can overcome whatever it is, together. With kindness and compassion for one another.
I loved so many of the characters lines as well. They were quite simple yet so deep. "It doesn't matter who spoke first, what matters is you listened." Pack me up, send me to the feelings hospital, I am having an emergencyyyyy. 10/10, would etch this into the orbits of my eyes if I could
This comment made my day, honestly! 🥰 Viatica is ultimately a story of hope and connection, and it sounds like that message came across. If my story resonated with you in such a way, that is the highest praise! Thank you for your encouraging and kind words!
One of the best IFs I've read, thank you for writing this masterpiece. 👍
You are most welcome, thank you for reading!
Firstly, The premise was absolutely fascinating and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!! The replayability is insane and I absolutely adore every single character
The RO’s were fleshed out beyond Mc, and the friendships were so intimate that they didn't, ever feel secondary to the romance.
The plot twist!?!?!?! Jaw dropped. The storytelling!?!?!!?! Immaculate. The world building!????!?! Amazing. THE CHARACTERS!?! Chefs kiss. Mc was so wonderfully written, the story was so wonderfully written, the journal entries!!!! Honestly this could be a trilogy and I would read everything. You are a fantastic writer, and you blend soft moments with seriousness in such a smooth way. Its actually wild if you haven't written a novel (edit: Lol I just checked the description and you have- that makes so much sense!!!)
This was beautiful, Im absolutely excited for your other IF. As I said before you're doing great and I hope you continue your awesome work ✨✨✨
Thank you so much! I read this, became so overwhelmed, and forgot to respond till days later! 😭😅 I’m glad that you loved all the characters. It was important to me that they all be unique and relevant, regardless of the romance.
This was such a lovely comment to receive, thanks again! ❤️
I wanted to leave a comment, thanking you for sharing your amazing gift with us. I wasn't expecting to so immersed and attached to the characters and story as I was, yet the way in which you describe the scenery, human struggles, present moral dilemmas, and personalities of everyone is so distinctive and detailed. To add, I greatly enjoyed how you include the player/reader into the narrative. It feels as if the story was crafted with my personality in mind, which for me, allows me to further engulf myself into the plot. There were many times I sat and contemplated over my decisions, as if they had real-life consequences. I'm not sure how you and your team managed to do that, but I appreciate all the time and effort put forth. The soundtrack also added to the emotions you feel during each chapter, heightening the experience.
This game is beautifully compelling and tragic, as if there's almost a deeper meaning behind it.
Sorry to ramble but I wanted to let you know that your hard work (and those who helped you) haven't gone unnoticed. Let this be encouragement and a boost in your confidence as your ability to create engaging stories.
Is it also possible to release the name of the songs used in the game?
Thank you!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so happy that the story resonated with you, and I appreciate the encouragement. And it has definitely been a boost in confidence!
There is no team, this was a solo effort by me, myself and I. 😊 I included a little bio about myself on the game page. My sister helped me write and brainstorm a few of the scenes, not to mention act as my constant cheerleader. I will be sure to pass your lovely comment on to her! And the music is not my own but the works of two different artists I found on Pixabay: Sergii Pavkin and Aleksey Chistilin.
Thank you!
okay, as someone who is EXTREMELY picky when it comes to literally anything; This was absolutely amazing…I literally have no other words.
Though….. I do wish that there was a function that allowed you to save and export your progress though… (I’m a really busy person so I had to restart a couple times). I feel like it would also make it easier to get different ending ands try out different LI routes without having to completely restart. But honestly? That’s the only thing I can think of. Otherwise, this was amazingly well written with deep world and character building. Along with being immersive.
please keep up the great work, you’re an amazing author (definitely my favorite IF author by far).
Thank you so much for the kind words! ❤️
I hear you on the saves. I built this in Twine Chapbook which doesn’t offer save slots; but my new IF is built in Sugarcube for this reason!
yeah….. totally get you there….. I’ll definitely check out your new IF though! I’m so exited to start it tonight 😊😊❤️
Beautiful game! Played the whole thing in one sitting because I got so into it. I especially loved the little journal entries between chapters. It was so cool getting to see the original progression along with the current, if that makes any sense. If I could rate this 6/5 stars I would have :D
Thank you so much! The journal entries weren’t in the original novella and I’m pretty proud of them myself, lol. 😁
Where can i download it?
There is no download, the game is built to be played in browser.
oh, thank you though!! :D
Hi, I'm an amateur writer and I just LOVE Viatica!! It's such a perfect, wholesome story. Can I ask how many words it is? I'm trying to write an IF of my own but I think I keep overshooting the length it should be :)
Hello, fellow writer! Viatica is 170k words. I found this to be a manageable length for my first IF. It’s definitely easy to overshoot with branching, as I’m finding out with my new one. 😅
Good luck with your IF!
Hi, loving the story but during the romance with Heron, after the ah..ahem, *wink* scene, there is always an unexpected error that occurs which doesn't let me continue the route. I figured I should bring it up to your attention!
Hi! Can you take a screenshot of the error?Myself and others have played through so many times without trouble, you should be able to. Have you tried restarting a new game?
Okay so I tested it and the error sees to happen on my google chrome browser where this error will appear. However, if I use any other browser instead, the error never pops up. Here's the error. I found a work around by just using Opera instead but it's just an odd thing I discovered.
That… is weird. 😅 Thank you for sharing the screenshot!
A few readers mentioned getting that error between updates, like when they tried playing an old save after an update. Best guess is that there’s something going on in the cache. I would recommend clearing your browser cache and starting over. Unfortunately, it means starting from the beginning, I’m sorry.
Download link?
Glad to see it finished. And what an awesome ending. Also, wholesome.
Thank you so much. That was fantastic experience.
It was my pleasure, thank you for reading it!
such a beautiful story omg im never gonna stop thinking about this. the world building is so immersive and the characters feel so real. thank you for making this, it made my night
You are most welcome! Thank you for reading!
"oh my God Real Men Don't Cry." they clearly haven't played this game yet. My Hope For Humanity has been restored thank you so much for writing such a beautiful story
You are so welcome! Thank you for reading and for your comment!
thank you for making this!
It was my pleasure!
I'm not afraid to admit that I cried like three times. It's stories like this that gives me faith in humanity, especially these days 🥹 This really should be a movieee!!
Thank you so much! I'm glad my story gave you faith in humanity. :) While it certainly has its tearful moments, Viatica is ultimately about hope. I think we all need a bit more of that!
AAAA BEAUTIFUL ITS SO BEAUITUFL AWAOGHSGORH
Thank you! 😁
AHHHH THIS GAME IS SO AMAZING I DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT!!!!!!
also I actually started crying when the two lovebirds died TvT THEY WERE MY FAVORITESSSSS ToT VERY HEART WRENCHING 10/10 I LOVE THEM ALL
ALSO YESSSS I LOVE PAPA BEAR [never thought I would like a guard/police officer lol, but he is certainly a special case and I love him]
Thank you! I always love hearing from fans of Fawn & Bison and Papa Bear! The ROs always get a lot of attention so it’s great to hear that you connected with the secondary characters, too. ❤️
honestly I tend to get attached to the side characters in every game I play, but yours are especially amazing <333