The Fair Folk of Ridianfa
This game is from ldjam.com, which is currently unavailable.
You can try viewing the original page on Web Archive (may not load correctly).
You can try viewing the original page on Web Archive (may not load correctly).
A short text based rpg/choose-your-own-adventure style game inspired by legends of fairies, brownies, and other such creatures. Read carefully, there are subtle hints about what is happening that can be missed.
Controls: Arrow keys to move your cursor. Enter to select an option.
There is an in game help screen you can show by pressing 'H'.
Issues With Window Size
If the display looks odd or you aren't seeing the options at the bottom of the screen it's most likely because the console is too big. This games uses a non-standard console size (80x50).
If you're on Windows 10 or below you can click on the console icon on the top left corner of the console window, click properties. In the new window click on the Font tab. From there you should be able to adjust the font size until everything fits. This will only change for this console window and once you close it out the next one you open should use the old font size (or at least mine did while testing).
Windows 11 is a bit trickier and I haven't found a good method of doing it. Every way involves making system wide changes and that seems overkill just to play this game. Will poke around with it a bit more.
Spoilers below
If you're confused on what's happening around the fair folk there are explanations below about how to tell if they are there and how to deal with them.
!> Basic Fae Mechanics - When starting the game four random fae will be assigned to your farm. This is in addition to the Torather, which is the "boss" of the game and will always be there. To get access to most of the fae interactions you'll have to choose the "Spend some time with your family." option during the afternoon, then choose to read the book.
!> The Timthirid - Based on brownies, hobs, and other tutelary spirits. The sign that you have one on the farm is if you see a bit of text talking about brushing away some acorns after eating breakfast. It will make taking care of the house easier as long as you leave milk out for it (use the 'Leave Milk' action while in any scene in which you're inside your house). Leaving out salt will make it leave. Doing the address respectfully action in the house will anger it, making taking care of the house more difficult.
!> The Meraige - Based on modern depictions of fairies. There are two signs that you have them. If one morning you find your boots filled with cheese that means you have one. If your boots are filled with oatmeal that's the child pulling a prank. Also if you hear laughter when chasing off the Orrach Fer. In order to keep it happy you have to laugh when your boots are filled with cheese, yelling at your kid will anger it. After angering it there is no way to make it happy again. To get rid of it use nails while in any of the scenes that are inside your house. There are no bonuses to keeping it happy, but if it's angry it will make the farmhouse, animal, and family upkeep more difficult.
!> The Fidbaid - Based on dryads. The only part where you can interact with it is when you go to clear out some wood for your cropland. Knocking on wood will have you knock on the trees. If one knocks back then you have a Fidbaid. Cut down all trees but the one it's in and it will make working the crops easier. Cutting down it's tree will cause it to leave.
!> The Derbshiur - This one is made happy by performing the spend time with family action. You'll know if it's angry if you find cobwebs during the start of the afternoon scene. There is no way to get rid of it. If it's happy it will make the family upkeep action easier and increase the chance your family will heal wounds while sleeping.
!> The Foirmeacha - Based on the domovoy and tonttu. You'll know you have this fae if your barn is described as ancient and sturdy. To keep it happy you have to address it before committing to something in the animal upkeep action. If it is there you should see the difficulty of the upkeep action lower. If you assign a family member to take care of the animals they won't change if it's happy or angry, so if you're unsure if you have one on the first day it can be a good idea to send a family member to take care of the animals.
!> The Orrach Fer - Based on the fear gorta. It's obvious if you have him since he'll knock on your door one night and ask for food. You can tell it's him and not the Torathar (who will also knock on your door) by it's yellow eyes. Feed him and he'll bless your farm, making your Statuses decay slower.
!> Ginach - This fae is only part of the well problems scene. If you look down the well and see nothing instead of an animal corpse that means you have a Ginach living there and it's angry about you stealing it's water. Toss a coin into the well and that will make it happy. As long as you don't your family will gain a Wound each day from the bad water.
!> Torathar - There are two scenes with it. The first should happen on the night of day 9, it will knock on the door and want to be let in. The red eyes are the main sign it's the Torather and not the Orrach Fer. If you do let it in it will kill and eat you and your entire family. It will also make an appearence on day 21, the final day of the game. If you have 3 or 4 friendly fairies on the farm they will protect you from it and you'll find it's body. If you have 0 or 1 friendly fairies it will kidnap your baby, most likely to eat it. If you have 2 friendly fairies they'll distract it long enough for you to get there where you'll have to fight it. After beating it, or dying to it, the game will be over.
Controls: Arrow keys to move your cursor. Enter to select an option.
There is an in game help screen you can show by pressing 'H'.
Issues With Window Size
If the display looks odd or you aren't seeing the options at the bottom of the screen it's most likely because the console is too big. This games uses a non-standard console size (80x50).
If you're on Windows 10 or below you can click on the console icon on the top left corner of the console window, click properties. In the new window click on the Font tab. From there you should be able to adjust the font size until everything fits. This will only change for this console window and once you close it out the next one you open should use the old font size (or at least mine did while testing).
Windows 11 is a bit trickier and I haven't found a good method of doing it. Every way involves making system wide changes and that seems overkill just to play this game. Will poke around with it a bit more.
Spoilers below
If you're confused on what's happening around the fair folk there are explanations below about how to tell if they are there and how to deal with them.
!> Basic Fae Mechanics - When starting the game four random fae will be assigned to your farm. This is in addition to the Torather, which is the "boss" of the game and will always be there. To get access to most of the fae interactions you'll have to choose the "Spend some time with your family." option during the afternoon, then choose to read the book.
!> The Timthirid - Based on brownies, hobs, and other tutelary spirits. The sign that you have one on the farm is if you see a bit of text talking about brushing away some acorns after eating breakfast. It will make taking care of the house easier as long as you leave milk out for it (use the 'Leave Milk' action while in any scene in which you're inside your house). Leaving out salt will make it leave. Doing the address respectfully action in the house will anger it, making taking care of the house more difficult.
!> The Meraige - Based on modern depictions of fairies. There are two signs that you have them. If one morning you find your boots filled with cheese that means you have one. If your boots are filled with oatmeal that's the child pulling a prank. Also if you hear laughter when chasing off the Orrach Fer. In order to keep it happy you have to laugh when your boots are filled with cheese, yelling at your kid will anger it. After angering it there is no way to make it happy again. To get rid of it use nails while in any of the scenes that are inside your house. There are no bonuses to keeping it happy, but if it's angry it will make the farmhouse, animal, and family upkeep more difficult.
!> The Fidbaid - Based on dryads. The only part where you can interact with it is when you go to clear out some wood for your cropland. Knocking on wood will have you knock on the trees. If one knocks back then you have a Fidbaid. Cut down all trees but the one it's in and it will make working the crops easier. Cutting down it's tree will cause it to leave.
!> The Derbshiur - This one is made happy by performing the spend time with family action. You'll know if it's angry if you find cobwebs during the start of the afternoon scene. There is no way to get rid of it. If it's happy it will make the family upkeep action easier and increase the chance your family will heal wounds while sleeping.
!> The Foirmeacha - Based on the domovoy and tonttu. You'll know you have this fae if your barn is described as ancient and sturdy. To keep it happy you have to address it before committing to something in the animal upkeep action. If it is there you should see the difficulty of the upkeep action lower. If you assign a family member to take care of the animals they won't change if it's happy or angry, so if you're unsure if you have one on the first day it can be a good idea to send a family member to take care of the animals.
!> The Orrach Fer - Based on the fear gorta. It's obvious if you have him since he'll knock on your door one night and ask for food. You can tell it's him and not the Torathar (who will also knock on your door) by it's yellow eyes. Feed him and he'll bless your farm, making your Statuses decay slower.
!> Ginach - This fae is only part of the well problems scene. If you look down the well and see nothing instead of an animal corpse that means you have a Ginach living there and it's angry about you stealing it's water. Toss a coin into the well and that will make it happy. As long as you don't your family will gain a Wound each day from the bad water.
!> Torathar - There are two scenes with it. The first should happen on the night of day 9, it will knock on the door and want to be let in. The red eyes are the main sign it's the Torather and not the Orrach Fer. If you do let it in it will kill and eat you and your entire family. It will also make an appearence on day 21, the final day of the game. If you have 3 or 4 friendly fairies on the farm they will protect you from it and you'll find it's body. If you have 0 or 1 friendly fairies it will kidnap your baby, most likely to eat it. If you have 2 friendly fairies they'll distract it long enough for you to get there where you'll have to fight it. After beating it, or dying to it, the game will be over.