The Library of Lost Stories
Project Overview
What we’re making
A 2D metroidvania with a dark-cutesy storybook aesthetic. Focus on:
Exploration first, gentle but satisfying combat
World-as-paper mechanics (ink, torn edges, redaction, rewrite)
Readability > detail in art, UI, and combat clarity
Engine: Godot 4.x
Platform target: PC/Steam (controller-friendly)
Vertical slice first (one biome) to lock style, feel, pipelines
Expand to full commercial release once the slice sings
Weekly goals & builds, Discord for comms, light task board (Trello/Notion)
Clear briefs, short iteration loops, respectful scope
Clean handoff conventions (naming, export settings, folders)
Titles indicate lead responsibilities, not silos. We collaborate across lanes (e.g., VO may help playtest; writer may jam on UI words).
Bring your you. It’s important to me that you bring your uniqueness to your role - your taste, references, and quirks. Be you.
We keep it healthy - no crunch, no guilt asks. If a task stresses you out, say so.
Commitment: ~3–6 hrs/week per person (≈1 hr/day). Async-friendly. I’ll often put in more to keep momentum and unblock folks.
Rhythm: One clear weekly goal per person, a mid-week async check-in, and a weekly itch build so progress feels steady.
Timeline: Targeting 5 months for v1; acknowledging it could stretch to ~8 months. We’ll review scope monthly and keep it humane.
Interest-led work: You’ll choose tasks that excite you. I won’t ask anyone to do something they’re not interested in. We’ll pair up and teach each other when new skills are needed.
Wellbeing: No crunch. If life gets busy, say so - it’s okay to pause or downshift as long as we communicate.
The full game will be released under an equal revenue share among committed team members (exact split documented and signed before full production).
The vertical slice (auditions/tests) is portfolio/unpaid.
Payment is deferred and only occurs if the game earns revenue.
If someone leaves or joins later, we’ll update the agreement fairly and in writing.
Please audition for the relevant role and include:
Portfolio links (or reel), approx. hours/week, timezone, and Discord handle (pronouns welcome)
A short note on why this project clicks for you
You may apply for more than one role, but you’ll only be assigned one (list your preference)
If you're interested, but feel too inexperienced, please do apply!
Production policy: No AI-generated art/VO/music/SFX/writing in the shipped game. Temporary CCC images only. I may use AI as a coding assistant. We respect artist consent and won’t train on or upload anyone’s work.
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The Protagonist (“Scribbles”)
Role Characteristics
You are the player’s voice - curious, earnest, quick. Short replies to the Archivist, occasional questions, and rare event barks.
Role Traits
Personality: Inquisitive, brave, lightly playful
Voice: Clear, youthful-neutral (not childish); breathable and intimate
Delivery: Short lines (0.5–2s), responsive, natural timing
Please pick SIX items below. For each, record A then B:
A) calm/curious B) brighter/hopeful.
“I hear you.”
“What’s beyond that fold?”
“Ink’s thin here.”
“Neat trick.”
“Not today.”
Non-verbal: soft hum (content)
Non-verbal: soft gasp (surprise)
Clean takes with little to no background noise (no muffling, no loud sounds, no clipping)
Content in this project is not used to train AI in any capacity.
*Lines in Description*
The Archivist (Narrator)
You are the Library’s voice - warm, weary, wise. Think kind caretaker of a fragile place, not a booming deity.
Role TraitsPersonality: Somber, observant, subtly hopeful
Voice: Rich, deep, resonant; timeless (aged ink / old paper / forgotten knowledge)
Delivery: Grounded gravitas and warmth; avoid melodrama
Please pick THREE lines below. For each, record A then B:
A) neutral-somber B) slightly warmer/hopeful .
Opening — Initial Awakening
“Awaken, little one. The quiet has grown too loud. The words… they are failing.”
Early Exploration
“These halls once hummed with tales. Now… only echoes remain.”
First Enemy — The Ink Blot
“A stray thought, twisted by the fading ink. They know not what they do.”
First Ability — Ink Dash
“A swift flourish. The ink finds a way, even where the story breaks.”
Narrator Taglines
“Every word holds power. Every silence, a void.”
“Another page, lost to the creeping emptiness.”
“Be mindful, little scribe. A broken story can cut deeper than any blade.”
Recording
Clean takes with little to no background noise (no muffling, no loud sounds, no clipping)
Content in this project is not used to train AI in any capacity.
- english
- male adult
- female adult
*Lines in Description*
The Scribe (Writer / Narrative Designer)
Role Characteristics
You give the Library its words, rhythm, and spine—evocative but light. You design the story architecture (themes, beats, lexicon) and write lines that feel like ink on old paper: tactile, precise, and readable mid-play. Your job is meaning with minimalism.
Responsibilities
Narrative design
VO pages
World & lexicon
UI microcopy
Trigger map
Please include:
Portfolio links
Why this project clicks for you (a few sentences)
Rough experience
Content in this project is not used to train AI in any capacity.
*Say something you think would fit*
The Inkweaver (Artist)
You own look and readability. You establish the “dark-cutesy storybook” style - ink, paper, gentle decay - and ensure the UI clearly supports exploration and ability readability. You’ll work closely with the Illuminator (Concept) to turn direction into production art.
Responsibilities
Environment:
Characters / FX
UI / UX
Key art
Portfolio link(s) (highlight hand-drawn game art / UI)
Why this project clicks for you (a few sentences)
Rough experience
Content in this project is not used to train AI in any capacity.
- english
*Say something you think would fit*
The Illuminator (Illustrator / Concept Artist)
Role Characteristics
You turn prototypes into pictures that lead. You define color, light, and mood for the “dark-cutesy storybook” look, then guide production art with clear paintovers and concept sheets. You work closely with the Inkweaver to make everything readable, charming, and cohesive.
Responsibilities
Color & Lighting Direction
Style Frames & Keys
Paintovers
Concept Sheets
Background & Props Support
UI Readability Notes
Please include:
Portfolio links
Why this project clicks for you (a few sentences)
Rough experience
Content in this project is not used to train AI in any capacity.
*Say something you think would fit*
Role Characteristics
You define the sonic identity: warm, papery, melancholy - with a thread of hope. You craft ambient music that breathes with exploration and help shape ink-forward SFX so page folds, erasures, and dashes feel tactile and magical. You’ll coordinate closely with the Soundbinder
Responsibilities
Music and Orchestration
Your portfolio
Why this project clicks for you (a few sentences)
Rough experience
Content in this project is not used to train AI in any capacity.
- english
*Say something you think would fit*
The Soundbinder (SFX Artist & Audio Engineer)
Role Characteristics
You make the world feel crisp - every dash, page-fold, and ink-bloom lands because of you. You design tactile paper-and-ink sounds and glue it together with a clean, breathable mix. You’ll also polish VO so our performances sit beautifully in-game.
Responsibilities
Ability SFX
VO polish: clean-up for the Archivist & Protagonist
Ambience beds
Mix & integration
Portfolio links
Why this project clicks for you (a few sentences)
Rough experience
*Say something you think would fit*
Role Characteristics
You are my right hand for making the game faster to build. You turn rough ideas into usable editor tools, smooth import pipelines, and level-design workflows so art, audio, and VO drop into the game cleanly. If you can code, this role is for you - Godot experience is a plus, not required.
Responsibilities
Level workflows
Editor tools
Pipelines
Integration
Bottleneck hunting
Please include:
itch.io or GitHub links
Why this project clicks for you (a few sentences)
Rough experience (Godot experience is a plus, not required)
- programmer
*Say something you think would fit*
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