Interactive Writing · Branching Narrative · Audio

Die heiligen Kartoffelritter

Die heiligen Kartoffelritter is a humorous fantasy story I created about two young potatoes, a dangerous delivery and the first step toward their own legend. It was originally written as a linear story.

During my internship at EarReality, I reworked it for an interactive audio format. Choices affect relationships, states and later scenes.

Play story in TWIST Narrative system

Temporary external link to the current TWIST version. An official release has been announced, but there is currently no confirmed release date.

Scene 005 A storm is coming

The storm grabs at the package. Stephan loses his footing. What matters more to you?

A Hold on to Stephan Trust ↑ · Chivalry ↑ · Package ↓

B Protect the package Package stays safe · Stephan gets separated

Stephan’s trust: 3
Package condition: 5
Chivalry: 2
Tamara’s help: 0

Project type Interactive audio story

Origin Original linear story IP

Adaptation Branching Narrative

System EarReality TWIST

Context Internship at EarReality

The story

A delivery becomes the beginning of a legend

Luis and Stephan are two young potatoes from Karpuffer. On their way back home, they carry a mysterious package through the forest. Even the compass starts acting strangely, making it clear that this delivery is not as ordinary as it first seemed.

A storm either separates the friends or damages the package, depending on what the player chooses to prioritize. Shortly afterwards, a griffin steals the delivery. The search leads through dangerous parts of the forest, across a field of catapulting plants and finally into a nest high above the ground.

After returning home, Luis and Stephan learn that the package contains a crystal for their village’s protective barrier. Someone is deliberately weakening that barrier. The episode ends with the start of their training and a choice between mage, archer and knight.

Development

From a linear story to an interactive audio format

The world, characters and basic plot of Kartoffelritter already existed as a linear story before my internship.

During my internship at EarReality, I adapted the existing story for the interactive TWIST system and its audio format.

To do that, I split the linear flow into individual scenes, decision points, alternate routes and paths that later merge again.

I also added state variables and follow-up conditions that allow earlier choices to change later dialogue, reactions and scenes.

I incorporated feedback and suggestions from the internship into the further development and interactive structure.

005 A storm is coming 45 sec.

Narrator (tense): The wind circles around you and pulls at the package.

Choice: Protect the package or grab Stephan?

Stephan’s trust +1 Package condition −1 Chivalry +1

Narrative system

Choices with visible follow-up states

The interactive version combines audio segments, decision points, alternate scenes and persistent state variables.

Stephan’s trust

Choices involving Stephan change the relationship and can affect whether he supports Luis in later dangerous situations.

Package condition

Risky choices can damage the package. Its condition changes how the return plays out and how some characters react.

Chivalry

Helpfulness, courage and the way Luis treats other characters are tracked as a moral state.

Tamara’s help

How the player treats the living root Tamara determines whether extra help becomes available in a later scene.

Branching Narrative

Example decision chain

Not every choice creates a completely separate story. Many paths change states, scene variants and later reactions before merging again at shared nodes.

Starting point The storm grabs at the package

Choice A Hold on to Stephan Trust and chivalry increase; the package is damaged.

Choice B Hold on to the package The package stays safe for now; the friends are separated.

Later shared situation The griffin becomes the main threat The exact scene and starting values depend on the previous path.

Outlook

Where the story goes from here

After my internship ended, I was told that the interactive audio version of the story is planned for release on TWIST. At the moment, however, I do not have a confirmed release date or current publication status.

I want to keep developing the story either way. Besides continuing the interactive audio version, I can also imagine creating a linear version that could later be read directly on AyJunity.

Work in progress

Cover / key art to follow

A dedicated cover illustration is planned as the story is developed further.

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