How to play
You read a page of the story, then choose what Snow Drop does next. There's no game over: whatever she does, the story carries on.
CHOOSING
Your choices are listed at the end of each page. Tap one, or press its number key: 1 for the first, 2 for the second, and so on. Some choices show how long they take, such as Each costs fifteen minutes. Story time only passes when she does something, so reading and looking through the other pages never use up any of her time.
SKILL CHECKS
Some choices show a skill, a number to reach and her chance, like Insight 0 against twelve · 45 in 100. Those can go either way. She rolls a twenty-sided die and adds her skill (here, nothing), and she needs a total of twelve or more. 45 in 100 means she'll succeed about 45 times out of 100. Preparing well adds two to the roll, and a friend's help adds two more. Conditions can take away up to two. After the roll, the page shows the die, what was added and what she needed. Failing doesn't end the story; it just goes a different way.
GROWING
She learns from every new challenge: two learning points when she succeeds and one when she fails. Once she has enough, the skill goes up a rank. Key moments in the story give her experience, and experience brings new levels. Each level raises her health, and every second level gives her two points for her attributes, which she can spend on her birthday or save. Birthdays also make her stronger as she grows up. The Character page shows all of this.
HEALTH AND CONDITIONS
The marks under her portrait are her health. Injuries take marks away, and rest and care bring them back. Conditions such as Weary or Chilled make her checks harder until rest and care put her right.
WHAT SHE CARRIES AND WEARS
The Inventory page lists everything she owns and where it is: worn, carried, packed in a bag or left at home. When she's somewhere safe, such as at home or with friends, you can change her clothes and move her things around. Keep an eye on the weight: if she's carrying too much, she can't set off.
THE OTHER PAGES
The Journal sums up the story so far, along with what she's heard, the promises people have made her, and every roll of the die. Company has a page for each person she knows; tap an underlined name in the story to open it. The Glossary explains the real history and the old tale behind the story, with new entries as you reach them.
MEANWHILE, AT THE PALACE
Now and then you're offered a scene at the palace, away from Snow Drop. You can read it or skip it. She never finds out what happens there.
SAVING
Your adventure saves itself after every choice, in this browser. On the Save & resume page you can go back to an earlier point (the start of each chapter and its big turning points), or have a link e-mailed to you so you can carry on from another device. You don't need an account or a password.
CHAPTERS
The story is told in chapters, each about a year of her life. When you finish one, the next starts from its last page, as soon as it's out.