Cycle of Struggle: Ardengrad
Project Overview
Hello! I’m Dalmax — the lead developer looking for voice talents to bring life and authenticity to my visual novel.
Cycle of Struggle: Ardengrad is a socio-political drama visual novel set in an alternate post-socialist country on the brink of civil war. The story follows Yura, a weary student who stumbles into a political science club just as his country descends into crisis. Through seven central characters and branching choices, the game explores ideology, grief, friendship, and survival in a collapsing society.
This story deals with sensitive and heavy themes, so please be comfortable with the following:
Psychological trauma
Death
Political violence and repression
Civil conflict, protests, police brutality
Blood, described violence
Strong language
Future updates may include optional NSFW content as a natural extension of character relationships. Mature romance and sexual situations may also appear alongside the main dramatic storyline.
You must be 18 or older to participate.
I launched this project partly to determine which language will allow me to gather a dedicated voice team and in which direction the game will grow. At the initial stage, I plan to start with partial voice acting (key lines, emotional scenes, important dialogue beats).
If everything goes well — if the project gains traction, visibility, and eventually profit — my goal is to move toward full voice acting across the entire game.
Budget & opportunitiesThe budget is very limited, so this project may be best suited for newcomers and aspiring talents looking to grow with the story. Still, experienced actors who resonate with the project are warmly welcome.
I will be endlessly grateful to anyone willing to lend their voice, passion, and creativity to bring these characters to life. Even with a shoestring budget, I want everyone who joins to feel valued and to know their work is part of something meaningful.
Where to know moreSteam page
VNDB
Discord: _dalmax_
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Yura is a young man burdened with loss and fatigue. At first, he is a detached observer with no clear purpose in life — his only anchor is his younger sister. Haunted by trauma and grief, he tries to keep himself afloat through dry humor, small acts of care, and quiet endurance. Over time, he begins to confront his pain and grow into someone who can act — not out of ambition, but out of responsibility and humanity.
AGE:19
REFERENCES: Araragi Koyomi (Monogatari)
REQUIREMENTS
Voice Type | Young Adult Male
Role Type | Protagonist
Emotional Registers:
Default tone — quiet, introspective, slightly weary; feels like someone thinking aloud more than performing.
Dry humor / sarcasm — subtle, understated; he often uses humor as a shield against heaviness.
Vulnerable tone — soft, halting; like someone struggling to say what matters most.
Explosive tone — rare but crucial; when grief or anger erupts, his voice cracks through restraint, showing raw intensity.
Tender tone — warmer, gentle, hesitant; a glimpse of the kindness beneath his heaviness.
Speech Patterns:
His lines can switch between flat understatement and emotional spikes, giving him a lived-in, human rhythm. He doesn’t talk much in groups; when he does, it’s usually short, careful, or slightly sardonic. When alone with Yesya (his younger sister), his voice softens, almost unconsciously.
- japanese
- english
- russian
- male young adult
(Everyday fatigue) Shit… I overslept again. Great. Just great. Perfect way to start the day.
(Dry humor) No, Sanya, a sausage roll won’t cover up the smell of last night’s party.
(Quiet tenderness) I’m not alone. You’re here. And that’s enough for me.
Yesya is Yura’s twin sister — younger only by a few minutes. Unlike him, she faces life with warmth, lightness, and quiet determination. She often acts as the moral compass of their home: grounding Yura, caring for him, but never in a patronizing way. Her strength is subtle: she doesn’t push with force but steadies him with presence. Beneath her playful remarks lies deep empathy, and her voice often carries the weight of unspoken fears.
AGE: 19
REFERENCES: Tomoe (Blue Archive)
REQUIREMENTS:
Voice Type | Young Adult Female
Role Type | Major (Core Supporting Character)
Emotional Registers:
Default tone — warm, lively, with a hint of playfulness; feels like sunshine through a window.
Teasing tone — light, affectionate jabs at Yura, often to break tension.
Caring/serious tone — soft, steady, with quiet gravity; she’s the one who can say difficult truths without cruelty.
Fear/vulnerability tone — rare; her voice falters, slightly trembling, when she admits her own anxieties
Speech Patterns:
Yesya speaks freely, without calculation, contrasting with Yura’s heaviness. She uses humor to soften serious subjects, often inserting playful remarks into tense moments. Even when she’s sad or afraid, her delivery carries gentleness — never harsh. She is emotionally transparent: her voice gives away what she feels, even when she tries to hide it.
- japanese
- russian
- english
- female young adult
(Playful / teasing) Wake up already, lazybones! Or should I start pulling you by the legs again?
(Protective / nurturing) It’s okay. No one will hurt you here. Stay as long as you want.
(Serious / empathetic) When it’s this quiet… I hear it too. And it scares me — that you’re alone with it.
Katya is not someone who speaks in half-measures. She believes the world can be changed—if you fight for it to the very end. In her eyes burns the fire of revolution, in her words—passion, and in her actions—uncompromising resolve. She speaks bluntly, inspires others, and doesn’t fear confrontation, because she knows: change never comes on its own.
AGE: 19
REFERENCES: Something in between Daiwa Scarlet (Umamusume) and Sakura Bakushin O (Umamusume).
REQUIREMENTS:
Voice Type | Young Adult Female
Role Type | Major (Main Character)
Default tone — energetic, blunt, slightly playful; she often speaks louder and faster than necessary, pushing her energy into the scene.
Agitational tone (rallies, debates, club meetings) — fiery, passionate, with strong emphasis on key words. Feels like she is addressing a crowd, even if she speaks to one person.
Intimate/personal tone — rare but important. Warmer, softer, with slower rhythm; still carries her natural energy, but with more vulnerability.
Speech Patterns:
She speaks in fast bursts, rarely pausing, often overlapping with others in arguments. She can cut off endings or spike a word sharply as if it’s underlined with an exclamation mark.
- japanese
- russian
- english
- female young adult
(Furious / determined) We’ll shake these leeches off the body of the people, you’ll see!
(Bitter / sarcastic) It’s easy to talk when the problems don’t concern you, isn’t it?
(Desperate / resolute) If I give up—who will pick up my fallen banner then?
Anya is the kind of person who prefers to observe from the shadows before making a move. She constantly analyzes the situation, looks for weaknesses in the system, and always stays one step ahead. Anya never acts on impulse.
AGE: 19
REFERENCES: Chihiro (Blue Archive)
REQUIREMENTS Voice Type | Young Adult Female
Role Type | Major (Main Character)
Emotional Registers:
Default tone — reserved, analytical, with a cool detachment. She speaks softly but clearly, like someone who has already calculated her words before saying them.
Interrogative tone (debates, confrontations) — sharper, more precise; her voice can cut like a scalpel, but she rarely raises it. Instead of volume, she uses emphasis and timing to dominate.
Vulnerable/personal tone — rare and subtle; quieter, with slight hesitations or softer breathing. Should feel like she’s lowering her guard for just a moment.
Speech Patterns:
Anya rarely wastes words — she prefers short, pointed sentences. She often pauses briefly to weigh her phrasing, giving the impression of someone thinking two steps ahead. Sarcasm or irony may appear, but it’s understated — her delivery is more of a dry sting than an overt jab. In emotional conflict she doesn’t shout — instead, her calmness becomes unnerving.
- english
- russian
- japanese
- female young adult
(Calm / resolute) I don’t make promises. I just do what I believe is right.
(Sharp-minded) If everyone runs one way — check what’s on the other.
(Loyal / thoughtful) Being by someone’s side doesn’t mean following blindly.
Nadya doesn’t believe in pretty words, doesn’t expect justice, and doesn’t rely on anyone’s help. She has seen ideals crumble, people break, and victory go to those willing to go all the way. To her, the world is a war where there is no place for weakness. She doesn’t seek meaning in theories or build utopias because she knows: the winner isn’t the one who is right, but the one who endures.
AGE: 19
REFERENCES: Neru and Kasumi (Blue Archive).
REQUIREMENTS:
Voice Type | Young Adult Female
Role Type | Major (Main Character)
Emotional Registers:
Default tone — dry, straightforward, often bordering on dismissive. She doesn’t waste breath and doesn’t sugarcoat.
Confrontational tone — sharp, cutting, sometimes coarse; her voice hits hard like a punch, not loud but weighty.
Vulnerable/personal tone — rarely slips through. When it does, her voice gets lower, quieter, with a rough edge — like someone not used to admitting fear or need.
Sarcastic/humorous tone — bitter, deadpan humor; should sound like she’s laughing at the world’s absurdity, not at joy.
Speech Patterns:
Nadya speaks in short, clipped sentences, as if every word costs effort. She avoids abstract or poetic language; her words are practical, often physical (“hit harder,” “stand your ground,” “don’t break”).
- russian
- english
- japanese
- female young adult
(Harsh / unyielding) Break, or be broken. There is no third option.
(Bitter / self-mocking) Ah yes, the great coalition of the wounded: A soft-handed soul in golden chains, a beaten-down artist, and me.
(Aggressive / confrontational) What worth will your thousand words have, when only the strength of your hand matters?
Masha is a quiet and graceful young woman, raised in a world where tradition outweighs feelings and duty to family is stronger than personal desires. Her view of the world is shaped not by dogma, but by her own reflections on what it means to be human in a world full of unjust cruelty.
AGE: 19
REFERENCES: Tsukuyo (Blue Archive).
REQUIREMENTS:
Voice Type | Young Adult Female
Role Type | Major (Main Character)
Accent | A natural German accent is a huge plus
Emotional Registers:
Default tone — quiet, composed, thoughtful; her words feel weighed before being spoken. There should be a sense of restraint, as though she has learned to keep emotions hidden.
Conflicted tone — slightly trembling or hesitant, especially when family expectations clash with her own heart. Voice becomes softer, with pauses where words almost fail her.
Caring tone — warm, nurturing, almost soothing; like someone who instinctively comforts others even while doubting herself.
Resolute tone — rare, but powerful. When she finally takes a stand, her voice gains strength and clarity, contrasting with her usual gentleness.
Speech Patterns:
Masha speaks slowly and clearly, with long pauses that suggest reflection. She rarely interrupts; instead, she listens, then responds with carefully chosen words. Her tone leans toward melancholy — but not hopelessness; rather, a quiet awareness of pain and injustice. At emotional peaks, her softness breaks into sudden firmness, like steel hidden under silk.
- english
- german
- russian
- japanese
- german
- female young adult
(Bitter / resolute) I did not choose the name I was born with—but I choose what I stand for.
(Thoughtful / quietly defiant) If cruelty is the law of this world… then perhaps kindness itself is a form of defiance.
(Gentle / compassionate) You’ve suffered enough already… Let me carry some of that weight with you.
Dima is pragmatic, disciplined, and always in control. While others get carried away by passion or disillusionment, she grounds herself in procedure, structure, and reason. She believes in compromise, rules, and incremental change — not in chaos or utopia. She carries herself with a calm authority, often acting like the "responsible adult" among her peers.
AGE: 24
REFERENCES: Sena (Blue Archive)
Voice Type | Young Adult Female
Role Type | Major (Main Character, Leader of the Political Science Club)
Emotional Registers:
Default tone — even, steady, rational; she speaks like someone who has already prepared the agenda.
Instructional tone — measured, almost teacher-like; precise pacing, no wasted words.
Assertive tone — sharper, clipped delivery when cutting through others’ chaos; not emotional shouting, but firm control.
Rare vulnerability — in private, her voice softens, showing exhaustion under the weight of responsibility
Speech Patterns:
Dima favors longer, structured sentences compared to the rest of the cast — she explains, she defines, she contextualizes. She avoids slang or overly casual phrasing; her style is closer to academic or bureaucratic speech.
- russian
- english
- japanese
- female young adult
(Calm / instructional) Today’s topic is political subjectivity. What makes a person not just an opinion, but a true actor in history?
(Assertive / cutting through conflict) Enough. This isn’t a court of family names. It’s a political club — stay on subject.
(Vulnerable / private) Sometimes… I fear I won’t gather enough people. That all this effort might amount to nothing.
Tasya is a 12-year-old schoolgirl who finds refuge in Yura and Yesya’s apartment after conflicts at home. She is shy, a bit awkward, but deeply sincere. She seeks warmth and protection, but at the same time shows resilience beyond her years. She looks up to Yesya as a role model and to Yura as a quiet guardian. Her voice should balance childlike innocence with glimpses of early maturity shaped by hardship.
AGE: 12
REFERENCES: Shun/Kid (Blue Archive)
Voice Type | Female Child (light, slightly airy timbre; avoid overacting "cuteness")
Role Type | Secondary but emotionally important
Emotional Registers:
Default tone — quiet, hesitant, often with small pauses; she doesn’t rush her words.
Nervous tone — stammering slightly, eyes lowered.
Warm / grateful tone — soft, almost glowing; when she thanks Yura or Yesya, or feels safe with them.
Hurt / vulnerable tone — trembling, voice breaking.
Speech Patterns:
Tasya speaks briefly, sometimes haltingly, especially when embarrassed. She may "swallow" words or start a phrase more quietly and finish it a bit louder, as if gaining courage. When she feels safe, she speaks more clearly and vividly — like an ordinary child.
- russian
- english
- japanese
- female child
(Nervous / shy) Um… could you help me with this? I—I don’t understand it on my own.
(Warm / grateful) Thank you… You’re kind. Like Yesya.
(Vulnerable / hurt) I’ll be quiet, I promise… Just don’t send me back tonight.
Yura’s only close friend. Charismatic, cocky, always joking, masking recklessness behind charm. A striker in the university football team, known for speed and confidence. His energy fills the room, sometimes to the point of being obnoxious.
AGE: 19
Voice Type | Young Adult Male, Tenor/Baritone
Tone | Lively, playful, self-assured
Delivery | Casual, fast, teasing. Speech feels like banter, even when serious.
- russian
- japanese
- english
- male young adult
(Casual / defensive) Come on, Yura, don’t look at me like that. I’m just saying what everyone’s already thinking!
(Playful / confident) Striker’s job is simple: get the ball, score, win. Same with life, bro.
(Frustrated / vulnerable) You think I don’t see it? This whole place is falling apart… and we’re just pretending it’s fine.
Former battalion commander, respected for leading without wasting lives. Now teaches at the military department. Strict officer, embodiment of discipline and duty. His presence is intimidating, not because he shouts, but because he never needs to.
AGE: 50+
Voice Type | Mature Male, Baritone
Tone | Cold, stern
Delivery | Short sentences, no softness, always controlled. Words feel like commands, even when neutral.
- english
- japanese
- russian
- male senior
Rules aren’t written in ink. They’re written in blood. Don’t forget that.
Weapons are not your friends. Not your enemies either. They are tools. And tools don’t forgive mistakes.
Correct answer, cadet. Keep it that way. Next time, I won’t remind you.
Half-prophet, half-drunk philosopher. A man whose brilliance is tangled with chaos: sometimes sharp and insightful, sometimes rambling and incoherent. Charismatic, but unsettling — he can sound like a mentor one second and a madman the next.
AGE: 40-50
Voice Type | Middle-aged Male, flexible baritone/tenor
Tone | Shifting between calm wisdom and feverish rant
Delivery | Unstable rhythm — starts measured, then speeds up or derails.
- english
- japanese
- russian
- male adult
History isn’t written in books… it’s written in scars. Yours, mine, the city’s — every street is a sentence.
You think laws hold this country together? Ha! Rope and blood, boy. Rope and blood!
Listen carefully. The world won’t end with fire. It’ll end with silence so deep, you’ll beg for the screams back.
- japanese
- english
- russian
- male adult
Did you hear? Another factory closed down.
Prices again… How are we supposed to live like this?
Skip the lecture, let’s grab a smoke.
- russian
- japanese
- english
- female adult
Can’t even find bread without standing in line.
Careful! Watch where you’re going.
Let’s just go grab coffee instead.
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