**The World is a Stage; All Mortals are but Puppets.** *Puppet’s Tale* is an immersive narrative game set in an ancient world of political intrigue. You play as a theater puppet brought to life by forbidden magic. By day, you perform as the star actress of Liangjing’s most renowned opera house; by night, you rewrite reality itself. Navigate the ambitions of heroes like the world-weary strategist and the idealistic general — every dialogue choice reshapes the fate of an empire. Will you remain a string-pulled marionette, or cut the threads and become human? In this tale of chaos and passion, *you* hold the pen that writes the final act. Every story blooms from the seeds of your choices. Background Story During the Chongcheng era, the Yong Dynasty teeters on the brink of collapse. The Iron-fisted Empress Dowager rules Liangjing, while the Emperor broods in his Long’an retreat. Western and Northern invaders encircle the fractured realm, and behind the palace walls, mother and son plot each other’s downfall. Amidst this bloodstained chessboard, Wei Jiali — master of the Verdant Leisure Pavilion — uses his opera troupe as a front for rebellion. In his hands lies the life-draining forbidden art: *The Chess-Morphing Secret*. And you — the puppet he crafted — will join him in unleashing a storm of chaos to end all chaos. Within the Pavilion, countless threads of fate intertwine with the destiny of a nation. Operating an Opera House Listen to the audience's preferences, prepare "opera scripts" and "actors" for the stage, and step by step, turn the Xianlü Pavilion into the premier opera house in the capital. Affection System Grow flowers or cook snacks and give them as gifts to different characters to unlock their hidden personal stories. Scene Exploration Move around and explore the Xianlü Pavilion, complete various side quests, or uncover deeper secrets of this opera house... Puzzle Combat Simple puzzles and bullet-hell evasion gameplay. Character Introductions **Jiaoniang** A nameless, emotionless puppet — her path to humanity lies in your hands. Your choices determine her companions, her journey, and the woman she becomes. Her experiences forge her personality and ideals. **Wei Jiali** Master of the Verdant Leisure Pavilion. A gray-eyed puppeteer who loathes the world yet plays its game for the people’s sake. Ruthlessly ambitious, emotionally detached, and fiercely controlling. By day, an opera director; by night, a strategist preparing for war. He ignites conflict to end chaos faster — a visionary whose methods chill the soul. **Bai Feng** The White-Cloaked General of Xining. A pure-hearted rebel leader forged in tragedy. His sister slain by corrupt officials, his family ruined, he emerged as a beacon of hope in dark times. Named “White Wind” (Bai Feng) for his swift, silver-armored grace. Kind, bold, and fiercely loyal — a youth clinging to idealism. His growth and change hinge on your choices. **Xiao Tan** A free-spirited scholar who backs whoever he deems fit to rule. Once an upright official, now a brilliant, cynical poet. Crushed by court corruption, he wields his pen as a blade — carving truths into the world’s hypocrisy. His compassion embraces not just those near him, but all under heaven. Development Progress Most of the important character illustrations have been drawn, along with over ten exquisite CG illustrations! The background setting and main plot outline have been completed, and we are now intensively working on the dialogue scripts. Due to certain reasons, we have decided to revamp the entire gameplay mechanics! We will add more exploration content and management gameplay, shifting the game's overall tone from "story-heavy" to "gameplay-first." Of course, this does not mean we will downplay the importance of the story! We have made adjustments by moving some of the less critical plot points to side quests and affection stories, which you can explore freely at most stages of the game~
