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Night VI - Aligned Zealot Route - Part I (Patreon)

Published:
2025-04-29 01:06:49
Imported:
2026-06

Content

The first half of the Aligned Zealot route is available on The Nightborn Edition now. What is the Aligned Zealot route? If you ended Night V as a Zealot with an offer from Valdricht to become his lover, you're on it! Whether you said yes or no, you can go read the continuation of your storyline now. It's currently only available in the browser, the downloadable version will be updated with the Unaligned Zealot update this week.

The Unaligned Zealot route will take a couple more days to finalize. It's very different than the Aligned one, so if you play both you can look forward to an alternate storyline once that's up. I'm still on track to update the first half of the NSFW Heretic route this weekend, but the standard route will like take a few more days.

Aligned Zealot Part I - April 28th +28,000 words

Unaligned Zealot Part I - April 30th/May 1st +26,000 words

Serax Alternate POV Episode* - May 2nd

Heretic NSFW Route Part I - May 4th +16,000 words (approx)

Heretic Standard Route Part I - Week of May 4th +37,000 words (approx)

The standard Heretic Route will be fairly similar to the Aligned Zealot route, whereas the Unaligned Zealot Route and the Heretic NSFW route will be fairly unique.

Progress & Thoughts

The most challenging aspect for this night has without a doubt been the different game modes, specifically the division between Unbound, MFM, and the MF routes. As I mentioned in a previous post I completely axed the Serax MF branch for this night, and even then it was still a huge tangle of choices. I ended up cutting the Part 1 earlier than I would have liked because I reached this wall where just in the Aligned Zealot Route the story took nine different branches, depending on previous choices and your game mode.

The way I've structured the story right now is unsustainable. I've talked (read: ranted) a bit about how I feel like I'm in this constant struggle between wanting to offer more choices but then feeling frustrated when I'm not able to update as quickly as I'd like to. It's weird because you guys are really chill, I think it's the nature of the IF community and readers being accustomed to waiting months at a time for updates. But one thing I'm figuring out about myself as an author is I'm totally not like that. I really want to move forward with the story and not stay stuck in one episode for weeks at a time. I have a lot of things I'm excited to write and I loathed getting mired in what is essentially just setup for the real romance, pregnancy, gods & monsters, and parenting arcs I want to be writing.

Before I start sounding too whiny, I have a ton of ideas for things to do to move the story along more quickly. Also, one of the things I've noticed about writing the NSFW Heretic route is that once the MC sleeps with the guys and accepts her new reality, the story becomes so much faster. I actually regret not starting with the NSFW Heretic route because it's taken me like 4 days to write, whereas the Zealot route has taken 4 weeks. For that reason, I'm optimistic that once the standard route MCs go through the same arc, things will go much faster.

For this night I deliberately started with writing the Zealot route because I knew it would be the hardest. Eat the frog, right? It was probably a good choice, because I got to have fun with her will-she-or-won't-she internal struggle. But it definitely gets less fun the more I write different variations of her. Even as I say that, the Unaligned routes were actually more enjoyable to write, probably because they had some steamy content and it added a unique twist to her internal dialogue. I'll talk more about that when I upload the Unaligned route.

Right now, I'll be checking in for a few hours to ensure no one has any problems with the demo. I didn't playtest as much as I usually do. Even though it might seem pretty linear, there are a bunch of hidden variables that unlock different passages, so I might have missed something. The password is the same, although I will be updating it when I publish the unaligned update.

I have a huge backlog of messages/asks on Tumblr. Bear with me for a couple more days and I promise I'll get through them and respond to everyone, but for the time being if you have a question or tech problem please message me here on Patreon and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Mortish <3

Comments

Vincentvanohno

Loved the update. Made me wanna fist fight Serax even though I still love him.

Ro

You got this, Mortish! And tyt, writing set-ups are never as fun as pay-offs, but are worth it when you do finally reach them! And while it may not read as fun to you, the set-up pieces of your writing are SO good from a reader's POV! We're enjoying the ride. And oooh, Unaligned route is slotted to release on my birthday, what a perfect birthday present 😳 💝. But still, don't feel pressured and burn yourself out, tyt! We're not going anywhere and you're nearly down with the Week One set-up.

Sallyanna

Suspicious side eye for Serax and his fashion advice. Great update, thank you so much Mortish ❤️

Ms.Miko

This made my week! Takes the sting out of finals lol. Will u by chance be making a like hint list for how to get on each route?

ayesleigh

Our first look at MC's new clothes! ✨ I liked being able to choose the color and pattern for the first dress that she wears; it's a nice little touch! And it was lovely to see MC so happy with seeing her reflection for the first time and getting to wear something that's just for her. She had to listen to a bunch of men talk and breathe in her vicinity throughout but we take the bad with the good, I guess. 😆 We can reconcile ourselves to changes if it helps these setup nights to NOT feel like you're trying to hack a giant monster to death with only a kitchen knife. And you can always revisit cut/altered content later in the development cycle or even post-release when there's much less on your plate if you wish to!

ayesleigh

Oh wow, that's so serendipitous! Hope your day is filled with more happy coincidences! 🥳

Ro

Thank you, you're so kind 🥰.

Pac

I’m surprised some people felt upset with Serax this update. (By the way—thankyou for the gift of more things to read, Mortish. I appreciate all your hard work.) Knowing now how jilted he feels by the sudden appearance of MC, I take all his actions with more understanding now even if he’s prickly. I admittedly was kind of sad though at his reaction to MC appreciating herself (both vers. After serious talk and without serious talk). I know his intent is to be mean or at least disinterested but it kinda feels like really wanting a stray cat to like you. I don’t mind getting scratched and hissed at because I know the end goal is the cat accepting me eventually but it doesn’t make the scratches not hurt. Tbh this update made me like him more. Thank god I don’t have to choose between either of them. Bless you Mortish for the package deal. I unintentionally dressed in the colour Serax prefers in my first run and was surprised at how he told me unprovoked that that wasn’t -Val’s- preference. I kept it regardless. On another play through I was curious to see if he was actually lying and dressed in pink that time to see Val’s reaction. Val does, indeed, like pink on MC. (Cuuute.) I’m curious for his reasoning on telling us? Like, is he telling MC so he can make -Val- happier? Or another reason..? In regards to the other parts of the chapter, I really enjoyed the dress up. Makes me wanna draw more art of my MC tbh. You were wonderfully descriptive and I could imagine each outfit style. And I’m sorry that all the choices are making it harder to roll out things. I agree with Ayesleigh on just cutting content if that helps you. You can always come back. You are right that as a IF reader, I fully expect months in between updates. You’re quite literally the fastest updater out of all the many, many IFs I follow, that being said, I would be chilling even if you weren’t. lol whatever you give us, I’ll eat and patiently wait for more.

Mortish

If anything delays me I can still release the Valdricht half, that one is completely done, just needs a bit of editing. The kissed-Serax route is also basically done but I'm still debating some branches. I worry readers won't like how it basically turns into a Valdricht route, however I also think it gives very valuable insights into Serax and his nature which will help readers who are debating which RO they want to lean towards. Anyway, we'll see! I'm iffy on the dates because I have to go to Mexico City tomorrow to pick up some paperwork so I resign from my job. I live pretty close but traffic is crazy there and I'm not sure if I'll be in the right headspace tomorrow to edit/code. It's one of those bittersweet/happy/scary life moments. I hope you have a lovely birthday. <3

Mortish

You'll have Playful/Sexy Serax in the NSFW Heretic Route ;)

Mortish

He was being honest! Now, as far as him suggesting the MC should bring up Valdricht's father...not so much ^_^

Mortish

Yup, probably once the night is complete, I'll even draw up some visual aids. Right now the core routes depend on whether you accept or hesitate on Val's question at the end of Night V. The Aligned Zealot route is fairly same-y. It's once we throw in the unaligned Zealot routes that you have a very big variety of different paths/emotional journeys.

Mortish

I'm so glad about the clothes, too! The biggest change I'm toying with right now is to remove the new Bound mode and instead make it the same as before, where the distinction simply means Unbound gives you MMF NSFW content and Bound is MFM or MF content, but Valdricht and Serax are still lovers whom you could potentially drive a wedge between and break up. I'm not committing to anything until I get through this night. I think it's been overwhelming because of the many different ways the MC can come to terms with her fate/role, but once she makes her peace with it things should move more quickly. I'm also getting ready to stop working in May and devote all my working hours to writing, so that'll help immensely. Sometimes I probably get overwhelmed because I'm doing a hundred other things in the day and then I sit down to write and I just want to get into the flow, but then I gotta write 3 different versions of the same scene depending on the game mode.

Scorpiuscircus

So the highlight of my playthrough here were that I honest to god cackled when MC got all smug because 💅oh she learned how to play coy and figured out that Val liked it.💅 (can't wait for her to pitch her '10 reasons to get married' power point presentation, you go, girl!) ...and then I, a former goth, proceeded to accidentally (and confidently) dress my newly confident MC in a funerary garb. Now we're rolling with it, my dear aligned Zealot has been assigned goth by fates themselves. All in all, I don't know how to explain it, but I feel very parentally protective over aligned Zealot, which might be a problem, considering I'm sending her out to bed men... Also I went back to read Serax' pov and 1) damn, I have some Thoughts and Feelings, and 2) now every route I am amazed that he has as much self-restraint as he does, because were I in his shoes, I would've been waaaay less pleasant.

Mortish

This is helpful feedback! My favorite outfit was the gray one, everyone's reaction was so fun. Serax was honest about the dress because he was already on thin ice with Valdricht after what transpired the night before and he isn't inclined to screw with him too much. Moreover, it's in his best interest that Valdricht likes the MC because despite what he claims, he is 100% plotting to keep Valdricht around. That's not really a spoiler because it'll be evident in his alternate POV scenes. I really appreciate that last part. I feel like I'm updating very slowly even though I write a lot each day. I guess I want to convey to everyone that I am as eager as you to have the next update. Even though I've drafted the story and I know everything that'll happen, writing the characters and being surprised by them is so fun. I have certain scenes I want to write so badly it's like waiting for Christmas. Thanks for your patience <3

Mortish

Ahhh, I loved the gray one! It was so cute and I know what you mean, sometimes I writing the MC (all versions of her) and I'm thinking to myself 'oh my gosh, if these guys hurt her I am going to ruin them' and the guys are the other characters I'm writing so I probably need to go to therapy or something. Serax's emotional arc through this first week is done SO dirty by the second person POV. It was hands down one of the best parts of the novel draft. You have the MC, so wrapped up in her Weaver/baby/new body/newfound sexual desire drama that she's oblivious to everything else going on. Then there's Valdricht who realizes she's likely his mate and is slowly being driven insane by how much he wants her. Finally there's Serax who's profoundly devoted to and in love with Valdricht, who suddenly has to contend with the fact that there's this beautiful woman who Valdricht is obsessed with, and he's also inexplicably attracted to her, yet also insanely jealous of her, yet also kind of jealous of Valdricht at the same time. And they got about two weeks of that craziness until she's suddenly pregnant and then that's a whole new thing to deal with. Very fun stuff.

Scorpiuscircus

As someone whose first serious formative romantic experience was kinda similar (meaning, loving someone more experienced, well-established, and less emotionally expressive), I really want to shake Serax and tell him to run, but methinks that with the bond it's useless. That's a big reason why bound Serax route compels me so: him moving on (sorta?) with someone for whom Val yearns for is so messy. dramatic and appropriate that I'm getting my popcorn (or tissues for ugly crying? undecided) ready. But also, I tottaly get why you can't find a good spot for it to branch because, imo, it's something that is only possible after some personal reflexion\growth\awareness or some dramatic events, which is not a 2-3 business days affair. Idk, maybe it makes sense to have it transition from Unbound after the deed is done and threesome is threesomed? Since sex is one of the catalysts for Serax to get over his resentment. On a lighter note, for me, the lack of other full-fleshed POVs, but general knowledge of what is happening makes it both tragic (because I feel for the guys going throigh Things) and amusing at the same time? Bc right now Valdricht: about to have a breakdown from yearning Serax: about to have a breakdown from different kind of yearning My dear Weaver-worshipping Vesna: crisis of faith? averted ✅ man for THE divine plan? beguiled 💅 funerary dress? covering that sinful amazing bosom 💃 (honestly, bless her; I will have beef with anyone who dares to ruin her day.) About POVS: some IFs\VNs have them as unlockable content when you pass a milestone or finish route\chapter; maybe that way you can work them into it, if the need ever arises? Tho I assume that with juggling a bunch of routes, accounting for tendencies, going back to polish previous stuff AND writing new stuff that is super low on priorities/possibilities list.

Pac

I did like the reaction to the ‘funeral garb’ 😂 And I had a feeling he said it for a specific reason and not so much as a ‘favor’ to MC. Aaarrfffhh—I’m so ready for him to be openly affectionate to MC!!! And not for the “messing with Val” reasons (those too though to be honest, the drama is delicious) but just because he admits he likes us. 😭 And I am equally excited for anything that goes from your lovely brain onto paper. No need to thank for the patience lol <3 (Also *raises hand* ✋ for whenever you roll out those play tester spots 😗😙)

Ro

No worries, as I said, zero pressure on this, it was just a happy coincidence to me 😊. Can be released a week from now and I'd still count it as a birthday present 😂🩷. And thank you, you're so sweet 🩷. Congratulations, though, for getting to do this full-time! That's amazing and I'm so happy for you. And I think it makes sense Serax is taking longer to open up individually, seeing how closed-off he is to us. Val is obviously a big part of him too, so it'd be weirder if Val didn't get some focus prior character development!

Ms.Miko

Yay! Its insane how psyched I am for the updates 😅