Going in dry


Dusky Hallows is creating the erotic, medieval fantasy visual novel Sanguine Rose.

Within the flooding market of visual novels, it takes quite a bit to stand out. Dies irae boasts about its action-oriented story full of violence and gore, while Muv-Luv fans will point out what some believe to be a masterpiece of a story. At first glance, it’s easy to see what’s so special about Sanguine Rose: the distinct artwork.

Sanguine Rose begins with Roman and his fellow mercenaries trapped in the snowy village Whitewood with their recently abducted prisoner: High General Carmen Valentine. While Roman and his company deliberate on their next course of action, Carmen is planning to use every means at her disposal to escape.

Not only is Carmen a skilled soldier, but also a terrifyingly charismatic hedonist. Upon waking captured by your party she will immediately attempt to escape by playing head games with Roman and the other mercenaries. Roman, meanwhile, will respond almost entirely to player direction, with a wide array of choices available to make. Will you attempt to seduce Carmen, or will you succumb to her will? Can you keep her from escaping while she turns your team against you, or you against them?

You’re not alone on your mission. Assisting you are three other mercenaries all from different walks of life and with different skill sets. There’s Markus, a smooth talking rogue who makes a living off of trading information and finding buyers for ill gotten goods; Glasha, the full blooded orc who fights almost as well as she drinks; and Crow, the dutiful half blood orc who acts as your guide while you’re in Skagen.

###Characters

CARMEN VALENTINE

Carmen, from house Valentine, grew up and trained in Amarinth with Anastasia. Close childhood friends, Carmen was always protective of Anastasia. When Anastasia took the throne, she appointed Carmen as the head of her military. Carmen is leading a merciless and viciously powerful regime with Anastasia to reclaim lost land for their kingdom and conquer more.

Height: 5’7″Eye colour: Light blue

QUEEN ANASTASIA

Trained from a young age and showed prodigal skill as one of the most skilled in combat of her family, House of the Sanguine Rose. After the king dies with no heir, and seeing her house and her family’s namesake skilled fighters begin to stagnate she decides to take the empty throne for herself.

 

Height; 5’6″

Eye colour: Grey

ROMAN

A washed up but skilled mercenary. In the past he was a lowly foot soldier, but was singled out by the young daughter of a lord who favoured him. Seeing his superior natural skill they decided to let her keep him as her personal guard until she was in her late teens. She gave him the necklace he still wears to this day, a stone ring. Knights from this town were given a silver signet ring when knighted, a title that the lord never allowed Roman to have, so the lord’s daughter fashioned one herself. When the lord’s daughter is killed tragically in an attack, the lord blames Roman and casts him out of the city. With only his reputation as a skilled swordsman and no title he wandered for years, eventually finding his old friend Glasha again and gaining reputation as a mercenary. He is hired to capture General Carmen.

Height: 6’0″

Eye colour: Dark brown

MARKUS

An informant and a go-between. Trades in knowledge, and is a notorious fence in the shadier markets of Hythe. Due to his lack of allegiances he frequently works alongside sellswords like Roman. Markus is the key organiser of the abduction of Carmen Valentine, after he was contacted by the group’s employer.

Height: 5’9″

Eye colour: Green

ASH

Full name; Glasha. An orc, and a very old friend of Roman’s. Glasha is about as ‘full-blooded’ as orcs come north side of the sea. Her social skills are lacking at the best of times, but there’s few problems which she can’t fight, drink, or fuck her way out of, preferably in that order. Glasha and Roman share a mutual respect: Roman respects that Glasha could probably beat a bear in a fair fight, and Glasha respects Roman when he says it’s a bad idea.

Height: 6’1″Eye colour: Hazel

CROW

An intelligent orcish translator and guide for travelling through Skagen. Crow is very meak, a common trait in ‘half-blood’ orcs. She’s a lot more sociable than Glasha, and her linguistic talents raise a lot of questions. Where did she learn not one, but multiple languages? Crow could doubtlessly work for a legitimate institute or a noble house, but instead prefers to work with mercenaries. Her skills were vital in procuring the means to transport Carmen from Anghor Bay to Whitewood without raising suspicion.

Height: 5’3″

Eye colour: Amber


Sanguine Rose hasn’t been in development for all that long, but it’s already worth taking a look at. Duski’s art adds an unique aesthetic that really makes it stand out in a sea of VNs with anime artwork, but that’s not to discredit the programmer, Hallows. Even in the concept demo, we get features that are often absent from completed VNs — like animation.


More information about Sanguine Rose can be found on their blog . They also have a Patreon page where they offer additional artwork and goodies to their supporters. A bigger demo is in the works, and we will be sure to cover it here. Supporters of their Patreon will get first access to that demo.

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