Eye of the Moon

Very interested in seeing what this becomes.

I love this! A friend of mine recommended it to me, the writing, and the art too ❤

May I ask, have you considered adding some sort of glossary of terms? Or like that option where you can click on a word but instead of bringing you to the next passage, it simply shows the meaning or translation... hehehe

Anyway, agaim, job well done OP! Can't wait to read more of this 🤩

I'm looking forward to seeing where this will go. I'm actually really excited for all the text based games I've been seeing recently. Although the red does hurt the eyes on PC, but it's fine on my phone.

I just finished playing Chapter One and I find that I completely adored it! It was so engaging so bewitching. The writing was exquisitely written and alluring, evoking that sense of mystique and magic that is inherent to stories that follow such divine narratives. 

I have so much warmth for stories that immerse into cultures that I've yet to learn about. The world is filled with so much cultural richness, and the fact that someone puts this much effort and love into creating a story based on their culture that can transport people into a setting that they've yet to explore is so awe-evoking, and something I'm really grateful about. The care atemaarte has put into this story is really apparent, in the detailed and lovely explanations about Filipino mythology, in a plot that is promising and captivating, and in the research, resources and information she has organized for us readers to experience this IF with brilliance, clarity and accuracy. 

As many others have also said before me, the way the Moonfinder's character has been written is wonderful. Non-blank slate MCs tend to be quite fascinating, and being able to lead where our Moonfinders go while still clearly aware that they are well-established outside of our choices has been a lovely game experience. Seeing how my Moonfinder interacts with her surroundings and with the people surrounding her is riveting, and I'm definitely anticipating which characters will come along next and how her relationship with them will come to be. 

I'll certainly be waiting for more, I can't contain my excitement for the next chapter! Best wishes atemaarte, thank you so much for creating this game! Hope you're having a marvellous time :)

I super love this concept, thank you for creating this! and with customizable mc too!!

hala omg aAAAAAAAAA AN IF WITH OUR CULTURE FINALLY (saka ehehe ehem, hi duma uwuww) LOOKING FORWARD FOR MORE BTW AND THANK YOU FOR CREATING THIS sobs

Edit: just finished playing and now im being protective with the parents and fell in love with duma aaaaaaaaa anyway, i noticed that the pictures within the game aren't showing, though idk if it's my phone's problem or nah ://

I fell in love with this. I love seeing cultures and learning about mytholody which is harder to find amidst western literature. Keep up the good work and looking forward to the next chapter. 

Ehem duma? bekenemen (the day i finally see a Philippine game with romance, is too soon but i'm not complaining I WANT MORE ) I see potential here that it will be as popular as the rest of games like superstition and tales of crowns. ALSO LET OUR CULTURE BE KNOWN

this is so good!!! I’m so hyped for more :)

I'm having some problems when I try to start the game.. I'm unsure if this is because I'm playing on my phone? 

This sounds great! I get an error when I try to start it, though:

Apologies! A fatal error has occurred. Aborting.  
Error: Permission denied to access property "apply".  
Stack Trace: trigger@https://v6p9d9t4.ssl.hwcdn.net/html/4535558/index.html:57:71525 
trigger/<@https://v6p9d9t4.ssl.hwcdn.net/html/4535558/index.html:57:72108 
each@https://v6p9d9t4.ssl.hwcdn.net/html/4535558/index.html:57:2976 
each@https://v6p9d9t4.ssl.hwcdn.net/html/4535558/index.html:57:1454 
trigger@https://v6p9d9t4.ssl.hwcdn.net/html/4535558/index.html:57:72084 
i@https://v6p9d9t4.ssl.hwcdn.net/html/4535558/index.html:1499:7165 r<!--<@https://v6p9d9t4.ssl.hwcdn.net/html/4535558/index.html:1499:8802-->

Not sure, how that happens - I'm on a current Firefox build, if that helps?

I love reading stories that are influenced or about different types of cultures, loving what you got so far. Can't wait to see the finished product 😍

This game cured my migraine ♡

I looove it !! The writing is so gooood omg and Duma had like what 6 lines and I'm already in LOVE. You did a really great job, I can't wait for the next update :)

yes more filipino-made games!!!! love this!!!

From the opening lines, I was immediately pulled into the world of Eye of the Moon. The cataclysmic battle between Mayari and Apolaki serves as an immediate introduction to the history of Kaluwalhatian and the divines living there, all of which comes to the forefront when events get underway towards the later half of the first chapter.

Ate Maarte is a great story teller in this way, intoducing information as you need it, all the while setting each scene with vivid descriptions and evocative language that brings the world and characters to life without being too flowery.

As I was reading, I could feel the soft sand beneath my feet, smell and taste the food shared between the Moonfinder and their parents.

The way the Moonfinder is handled—where you can play them as three different archetypes—allows the reader enough say on how they play while letting Ate Maarte comfortably write an established character who was raised in and knows the inner workings of this setting.

The characters all have established and believable relationships with one another, and it builds a sense of community and history amongst the pantheon. The reader can influence some of the relationships the Moonfinder has with the characters fhat have been introduced thus far such as their parents and, of course, Dumakulem.

When I play interactive fiction games, the flirt options sometimes seem a bit abrupt, or tacked on, or don’t seem to flow naturally within the scene. But reading the flirty banter between Duma and the Moonfinder felt natural, and was genuinely enjoyable to read and had me smiling at my screen.

Eye of the Moon is obviously written with love and care for the culture and storytelling of pre-colonial Philippines, and Ate Maarte has gathered resources that make it incredibly easy for readers unfamiliar with the culture to respectively participate.

This was an amazing and promising start to a story that promises adventure and intrigue and romance, and I’m so excited for where Ate Maarta’s going to take us next!

Eye of the Moon is a stunning debut by Ate Maarte, earning a spot in the upper echelons of interactive fiction (where works such as A Tale of Crowns, Project Hadea, and A Mage Reborn also belong) with just the prologue and first chapter under its belt. From the opening words, I took a deep breath and plunged headfirst, like a sailor taking to the deep blue waters, into a rich and immersive world teeming with color and life. EOTM feels like the transient boundary where sky and land meet. It is an enduring love letter to the culture and natural beauty of the pre-colonial Philippines, a way for Ate Maarte and fellow Filipinos to connect with the stories told in a distant past. 

EOTM's prose is just as striking as its visual presentation: bold, powerful, and evocative. Ate Maarte writes with a deft and confident hand, joyfully painting moving scenes and landscapes across the infinite canvas of her work. I could not help but linger longingly on the loving descriptions of the traditional Filipino cuisine featured in certain parts of the story, so detailed and expressive that Ate Maarte evidently remembers these dishes herself with fondness. The graceful prose effortlessly balances the plot with vivid imagery, smooth dialogue, and well-established characters. 

Both EOTM's setting and worldbuilding benefit immensely from the strength of Ate Maarte's prose. She establishes the physical context for the Moonfinder quickly and efficiently, leaving a strong impression that the Moonfinder has indeed traversed these divine domains for many years. Like the Moonfinder, I would love to wake up to pristine weather and meander around the terraces or go for a walk along the river.

Speaking of our MC, I should mention that the Moonfinder is no blank slate. The Moonfinder has been around for literal centuries, so it would be rather strange not to have a clear personality by now. Ate Maarte turns this trait into a strength through the game's customization, which allows for distinct variations in appearance, personality, and relationship management approaches. In Chapter One alone, I enjoyed the variety in the dialogue, choices, and subsequent responses from MC's parents and the first LI, Duma. I already plan to make several save files for different pursuits, such as the friendships, solo romances, and poly between Tala and Duma.

The relationships in EOTM are a highlight of the work for me. What stands out about EOTM is that I can work on managing the relationship between Moonfinder and their parents, the beloved pair of Mapulon and Lakapati. They clearly invented Good Parenting, and I love that the MC can potentially take on character traits similar to their parents, an accurate reflection of what can happen in real life. While I am not SEA, I am the child of immigrants that also value the bonds of family and so, I notice many things in EOTM that I value and want out of my own relationships. As for the Romance™, I believe that I can aptly summarize my feelings about Duma with this: I am a lesbian through and through, but I would not hesitate to make an exception for the god of mountains and hunting. 

By Tala, this can't be happening. 

On a more serious note, Duma and the MC have had a prior point of connection in MC's parents. There is the possibility of Something More, but the Moonfinder should keep a good head on their shoulders and act wisely around Duma, who exudes competence so rarely seen in Men (derogatory). The banter between Moonfinder and Duma is delightful, and I so appreciated the different contexts and lens through which the MC can view Duma. You can feel spiteful toward his cool demeanor, attracted to his devastatingly good looks, or responsible for living up to his high expectations. The romance between Moonfinder and Duma is bound to be a slow burn, so strap the hell in. 

What I might love the most of all about EOTM is that Ate Maarte has taken the beloved lore of pre-colonial Philippines and written her own original take on the famous myth of Apolaki and Mayari. Chapter One sets the foundation of EOTM's divine world in a way that feels distinctly mortal somehow, like a charming slice of life vibe. That being said, EOTM's prologue does a great deal of work in setting up the main threads of the plot. You can tell from the first scene what will emerge later down the line as major points of contention. Nothing that happens later in the story should come as a huge surprise if you are a careful reader, as far as I can tell. 

All said, Eye of the Moon is a fantastic debut by a rising star in the IF community.