🔒 EXCLUSIVE: Cantata - High Quality
Cantata
Last updated October 10, 2025; approx. word count 135k
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Synopsis
The story is set in Saleste, a vast empire with a long history of expansionism and colonization. Within the empire, technically citizens but not, are the Iredicci. The Iredicci can hear and feel the cordis, the harmonic pulse that connects all living things, and they connect to it through song. Iredicci have excellent hearing, but their defining feature is their voice—they have an echo to their voice, a resonance of two pitches at once.
A simple, nomadic people, the Iredicci were traditionally welcome in all corners of the Saleste Empire. But as steam technology progressed and the push for new resources grew, a prejudice developed against them. Over the years they stopped being welcome. Eventually, their travel was restricted, and the Iredicci were forced to live in settlement camps.
You are one of the Iredicci, born into such a camp. The elders sing songs of past travels and wonders you have never seen. Ever the optimists, the elders tell you to take heart. To be thankful you are among friends and family. That things can’t possibly get any worse.
Until they do.
Historians and politicians would call it The Proelium, a righteous battle against the traitorous Iredicci. What it really was, was the systematic genocide of your people. In one night, soldiers attacked every settlement camp across the empire. No one was spared—not the elders, not the children, not your mother.
It was mere whim that you snuck out of camp that evening, a mischievous escapade with a friend that ironically saved your life. You are taken in by your friend’s family and kept safe. But with survivors being hunted and killed, you must conceal your identity. So, you pretend to be deaf and mute.
Journey through the empire of Saleste and beyond. Grow from a child into an adult. Make friends, lovers, allies, and enemies. How will they react when your secret comes to light? Will you abandon your song in favor of machine? Join the rebel forces against the tyrant regis? Will you heal the wounds of the realm and restore balance? Or plunge it further into chaos?
Features
- Play as male, female or nonbinary—you’ll be able to choose your pronouns independent of your body type.
- Customize your character’s appearance and personality.
- Choose your attunement/proficiency with the cordis. This choice will heavily influence gameplay, affecting combat, weapon specialization, character interactions, and problem-solving situations. Choose wisely!
- Create 2 character names: your birth name and an alias. The Iredicci have culturally unique names, so your birth name will be limited to a preset selection. But you will go by an alias of your own choosing for most of the story.
- Develop your relationship with your adopted sibling. Are you friends or rivals?
- Romance! Or not. Romance 1 of 5 possible love interests, including a secret RO! Or choose the platonic route with the best of friends.
- Save a wild animal from a hunter’s trap and gain a steadfast companion. Because fur baby.
The MC
The game begins with you at age 7. When you are 12, your camp is slaughtered during The Proelium, and you are adopted into a friend’s family. With your voice and heightened hearing identifying you as Iredicci, you pretend to be deaf and mute in order to hide your heritage. The main game occurs 13 years after The Proelium, when you are 25.
Romance Options
Calliope Cato (she/her)
The inventor/artificer, Calliope can build and fix any machine. She is 2 years younger than you, petite, with gold eyes, rich brown skin and black hair in multiple braids. Her hair and clothes are adorned in rings, belts, and pins which double as tools. She carries a man’s cane sword with her everywhere, which she wields in a fight along with a hand crossbow. She’s curious, optimistic, excitable, and easily distracted by her many projects, but much of that is to keep her mind occupied. In quiet moments when she thinks no one is looking, you glimpse a profound sadness on her features.
Corinne Xenakis (she/her)
The leader of the rebels, Corinne works to overthrow the monarchy and aid the surviving Iredicci where possible. She is 6 years older than you. She is tall, with long, sandy brown hair usually worn in a messy bun or loosely braided bun, hazel eyes, and beige skin tanned by the sun. Quiet, serious and aloof, she feels a tremendous responsibility for those under her command. Corinne is a contradiction—she has the grace and manners of a noblewoman, yet fights with military precision that is uncommon for females of noble lineage. She is deadly when double wielding her flintlocks or axes. While not cold, she is not overly familiar or friendly with anyone, and very tight-lipped about her past. What does she guard so fiercely behind her armor?
Vicente Aloi (he/they)
The bastard prince, Vicente is calculating, ruthless and driven. They are the same age as you, and they, too, lost their mother the night of The Proelium, though under different circumstances. But while you were adopted into a loving family, he is the unwanted son of the regis, trained to be a lethal tool. He has long, midnight blue-black hair, icy blue eyes, and high defined cheekbones. The edges of a tattoo are barely visible on his neck above the collar of his doublet… wings, perhaps? It’s beautiful. He’s beautiful, though you’d never tell him for fear he’d take his rapier to your neck simply for looking. Will your plans align with his, or are you merely another pawn in his schemes?
Bayram Durmaz (he/him)
The son of the Aydem, the matriarchal leader of Tinebaille. Bayram is 4 years older than you. He has golden-honey skin, light brown eyes, and dark brown, tightly-curled hair that he usually wears back in a ponytail or half ponytail. He is tall and broad, muscular but not toned, with a rounded edge to his stomach and chest. A sprawling, colorful tattoo, the mosaic artwork of his people, covers the entirety of his back. He is boisterous, bold, and a shameless flirt. With his young sister bearing the weight of succession, he’s been free to explore the islands to his heart’s content, and is familiar with every bay, inlet, and harbor. He is equally skilled at wielding a spear, sailing a ship, and charming hearts.
About the Artist
All the illustrations on this page are commissioned works done by the extremely talented Isabela Zaneti, the same artist who did Viatica. I am so grateful to her for bringing my characters and world to life, and I encourage you to check out her website!
Content Warning
This story is intended for mature audiences. Possibly triggering topics present in the story include blood, violence, death (including child death), trauma & PTSD, mature language, sexual content (optional), classism, sexism, bigotry, and the persecution of a fictional people. Be advised, you are also pretending to have a disability for at least half the story.
The music is intentionally loud in certain parts of the story. This is to mimic the noise and emotions that the MC is experiencing, as sound is an integral feature of your race. It may be uncomfortable for some readers, so please read with caution.
Disclaimers
“Cantata” is a low fantasy IF loosely based on the Italian Renaissance period, with a steampunk edge. While I took inspiration from real world cultures and languages - most notably Italian, Latin, Greek, and Turkish - the world is still my own and not intended to be historically accurate.
Photo used in background by Olga Brajnovic on Unsplash
Development log
- Chapter 5 Progress Update19 days ago
- New KoFi Member Subscription Launched56 days ago
- Cantata Chapter 4 is Live!79 days ago
- Update NewsSep 13, 2025
- Update News/Check InAug 02, 2025
- 5th ROJun 09, 2025
- Cantata Chapter 3 is Live!Jun 06, 2025
- Update NewsMay 30, 2025
Comments
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I'm only on chapter 3 of my first playthrough, but I'm already in love with both Vicente and Tellus
I just finished the Ch. 4 and this was amazing!! The way you write really draws you in, I'm looking forward to future updates and the story!!
Thank you!
Hello! Just curious, how many chapters will the full game have?
Hello! I’m not sure, I haven’t actually outlined the full thing, lol. 😅 I would estimate 14 or 15.
awesome thanks!
This is such a heart-wrenching, beautiful, amazing story so far. The romance options are incredibly unique, not to mention the worldbuilding and concept of the Iredicci themselves. Now that I'm finished with chapter 4, I don't know what to do with myself until chapter 5 comes out 😭AAAAA I have so many emotions!!! Thank you for writing something so amazing!! I can't wait for more!
You are so welcome! ❤️ You won’t have to wait long; Chapter 5 will come out early in the new year!
the music is so..
i know that i've said this before, and that the whole point of the music is because sound/music is a big part of the race of the MC, but like
it just makes everything a thousand times better; every scene just pops out in different ways. More IF's should definitely do this with the music, it's awesome!
Thank you! I had fun with the music in my first IF but this time I was very deliberate with it. I'm happy to hear you enjoy it!
I just spent 4 hours reading through all this, and oh my god this is awesome, I love how all the characters have their own personalities and how they are all simply so interesting to read about! 10/10, tied for my favourite Interactive Novel with A Tale of Crowns! <3
Ayy, thank you so much! I'm a big fan of AToC so that is a huge compliment!
I just created an account to after finishing this demo just to say the first
four(edit: FIVE) chapters are literal MASTERPIECES!! I have previously played your other IF, Viatica, and really enjoyed the world building.This game is just as good, and I love it A LOT. The plot is so engaging and I am hooked to see what will happen next almost all the time! And — oh, my love — CODA/TELLUS I LOVE HIM SO SO SO SO MUCH!!
Warning: a small rant about him (and surely spoilers) + English is not my first languageI have always enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope BUT the way you wrote Tellus is so bittersweet I just can't help but fall for him. He is flawed, but they are so beautiful. You managed to write his trauma so well, how he feels about the situation and his entire life so precisely the reader can only stay helpless facing such a character. He is broken, so beautifully broken I can only fall for him hard. He already sparked my interest during the first chapter and I found him absolutely adorable, but I wasn't expecting him this. I love him so much, I just want this journey to be about the revenge AND HEALING TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO BE SEEN, HEARD, HUGGED, LOVED FOR ALL THE THINGS HE AND MC'S HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THEM IN THIS LIFETIME — THEY FUCKING DESERVE TO FIND PEACE AND HAPPINESS *SCREAMS*But all your characters were impressive, don't get me wrong, but childhood friends to strangers to companions to lovers is a new trope that has become my ultimate favorite dynamic I didn't know I needed it thanks to you.Anyways, thank you so so so so much for creating this game and uploading it on itch.io. Your game has definitely become one of my favorites, if not my #1 <3
I am so excited for the next chapter, take your time and have an amazing day/night!!
Thank you for reading both my fics, and for this lovely comment! I’m honored to be among your favorites. ❤️
Tellus is actually difficult for me to write, so I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying his route. He certainly seems to be the fan favorite, lol.
It is absolutely my honor to be able to play such a game FREE (once I get my pay I'm definitely going to support you) and I should thank you lots for that Fir!
I am completely charmed by Tellus ugh…
But then, Calliope is totally my type and so I created a self-insert MC just for her lmao *looks away*
This story is amazing. I locked in to the story so easily. Its 6am and I'm just now finishing it (yes I stayed up till 6am to finish it don't judge me). I can't wait for me, the story has me in a chokehold and its not even finishes yet. 10/10 recommend this IF. I don't usually comment on these but I genuinely enjoyed this so much, and will be reading the future updates if there will be any.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I hope you get some sleep now. 😅❤️
Just gotta say this is an absolute work of art. The lore feels so well thought out, and it truly does feel like there's a whole world out there, outside of our main characters and what they're doing. Kudos for that, seriously. Thanks to the amazing descriptions and the scrumptious character art (seriously, props to Isabela), everything feels so vivid - from the characters' designs to the setting.
There were a couple scenes in particular in episode 4 that actually had me in tears 🥹
10/10 will be reading multiple times before the next update.
You are most welcome! It’s my pleasure to share this story, and I’m happy to hear you’ll be rereading it!
i rarely comment on anything, and once again it’s your work that made me do it)
just like viatica moved me, this story didn’t leave me indifferent either. i’m mad at myself for noticing the new chapter so late)
the way you write, the characters, their relationships, the whole irredichi lore — it’s something unreal. your writing style just can’t leave anyone untouched. i genuinely admire and bow to the world you create in your mind and with your hands. everything flows smoothly, never drags, always keeps you tense, makes you sad at the right moments, makes you laugh at others, and most importantly — lets the reader live the story. aaah, how heartbreaking the ending of chapter 4 was, but at the same time, you always choose the perfect moment to stop. i admire you! so, so much!
i’m looking forward for the update with so much excitement, but i also hope you’re not exhausting yourself. creativity is a flow we can’t force, something we have no right to squeeze out of ourselves. i wish you inspiration — not only in writing, but in conversations, in work, and everywhere you go; everything can be lit up with creativity. that quiet but unwavering flame burning inside you (from what i’ve seen! in real life it might burn a hundred times brighter!) will help you bring any dream of yours to life!
Thank you so much for your kind words, this was very sweet! I’m definitely taking more time for myself with the holidays approaching. Thank you, again! ❤️
This is amazing really
Thank you!
I know I made a comment a bit ago, but obviously a lot of people (and me) thought this IF is a masterpiece (which it is.). I also want to thank you for audio example for Irridecci. And I also want to thank Isabela Zaneti for the ilustrations for the characters. I am very bad at visualising just from text, so I always appreciate character drawings (it helps a lot) and in this case, audio example.
You are most welcome! And I will pass on your words to my artist, she really does deserve all the praise! ❤️
Wow this is incredible!!! Fantastic and engaging writing!
Thank you!
Apparently, a few months old (Late July) exported save will cause issues when you're around the start of Ch4 with Nikolas and the 6 questions while we're at the Clinic. There were no other options after selecting one. I had to restart a new file from the beginning which was fine! At least I got to re-read this amazing piece again. ♥
Your writing, as always, is top tier. My heart both soars and aches at the emotions of your work. I love Corrine so much with everything that goes along with that amazingly quiet yet graceful badass woman. Her cute little reaction when you hug B. Aaa ♥ I'm with Thaleia and Evelyn--WE LOVE THEM TALL! ♥♥♥ Like HOT DANG that Chapter 5 was FIRE. I was smiling so much reading the way you wrote their movements in combat and how they seem to be in a practiced flowing dance and protecting each other's weaknesses. I was hoping it'd be like that when in combat with Corinne and Air MC! SO HAPPY! (tho maybe it's like that with the other types too--IDK I haven't gone through the others yet!)
I also adore everyone else and their warm and wonderfully unique, even if thorny, personalities. And my heart's aching at the lows, AUGH, that scene with Coda--so good!
I cannot wait to read more!!!
P.S I adore the lovely new art!
--SPOILERS--
NOW EXCUSE ME AS I SIC MC TO MURDER MORE FOR HURTING OUR SOFT MAMA! HOW DARE THEY!?
Thank you for your kind words! I mentioned in the dev logs that saves wouldn’t work. I changed a lot of the code in the last update to account for the additional RO.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the characters, especially Corinne; it’s nice to see her get some love.
More is coming! Including some good times with Thaleia and Jonah to make up for last chapter, lol.
I've definitely read something like that in an update prior but dumbass me read it months ago and then forgot. So that's on me!
I will be Corinne's #1 fan if I have to be! She's just so badass and fascinating like God damn, yeah, woman bathed in blood--hot. I love adorable Calliope too and I wish to protect and support her but Corinne just makes me wish to unravel her story and get to know her more. I'm a sucker for her character types!
AND YAS! More good times with the family! I love them so much like you have no idea. You made them so loveable and I am now super attached! I will have the MC kill for them I swear haha!
such a beautifully written, inspired tale. 110% invested <3
Thank you!
I'm in love and I'm crying, I cannot wait for another episode... Alright I have to sob my eyes now real quick.
Coming back to this shortly after expressing to my friends that I just read an absolute insane story, I am genuinely in love. I usually come and go when it comes to interactive fiction because I know how long it can take, and finally coming back for a short while really paid off. I vividly remember when I last read this, and the continuation I was NOT prepared for.
Thank you so much for making me cry, no sarcasm involved. Keep it up!!!!
Haha, you’re welcome! Thank you for returning to my story, I’m glad you’re enjoying it! I’ll try to keep to a regular quarterly update schedule, so if you return in a few months you should find more. 😉
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
god your writing is SO GOOD. Viatica was amazing and now Cantata has made my eyes well up with tears more times than I'd like to admit. Just, wow.
Thank you so much!
Just managed to find this and honestly loving it so far! From beginning to the end (ch 4), both the story and the characters have been so captivating (enough to actually re-do the choice for chapter 4 to save Thaleia just to see my boy Jonah getting injured instead. Also restarted, changing being water attuned to fire just in the hopes of actually healing ‘em.. I’m too invested on keeping ‘em safe darn it 😭😭)
Overall a really well made IF, will be anticipating future updates of this!
Thank you very much, I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
While I appreciate fanart, the comments section isn’t an appropriate place to post it. Do you have tumblr? I encourage you to follow me and share it there: https://www.tumblr.com/fir-fireweed
OOP lemme remedy that real quick, my bad xDD
Also I do, however I barely use it. But I’ll try to do just that!
SPOILERS:::
THALEIA BETTER LIVE I SWEAR TO GOD I CAN'T TAKE ANOTHER HEARTBREAK
also I just want to tell you this is amazing. As a writer myself, the level of immersion, attachment, and sheer beauty and love in this game is amazing. one of my favorite interactive fictions ever. I can't wait for the next chapter
Thank you so much!
I cant choose between all the RO's but
SPOILERS
We better be able to heal Thaleia as a fire-attuned because I absolutely will bawl. The writing is chef's kiss, cant wait for the next chapter!
There's still tears on my face as I stare at the page that says "this is where the demo ends". What the hell 100/10. I didn't know you can even write something better than Viatica omg
Hahahaha, that’s like, the best compliment! 😆
Why is it that every interactive fiction I've read recently wants me to cry like a baby? WHY? WHAT HURT YOU?
😅
um wow this is so peak I NEED MORE
Thanks! More on the way!
I am late to the party! I've been so busy with Uni that I'm just now finding the time to sit down and play Cantata. I want to start with the fact I adored Viatica and have always loved your writing, it was amazing! But I will note that your writing has grown significantly. The way you transport us into the world of this story is stunning. All the ROs are so interested and I am deeply invested in each and every one of them which is a rare experience with me since I usually easily pick favorites! I will say, the ending of chapter 4 -- AGHH!! YOU AND THESE DEVASTATING CLIFFHANGERS! It seems to be a signifier of yours. If something has a cliffhanger that tears your heart in two, its probably written by Fir & Fireweed! Amazing work and I can't seem to be more -- also, the secret RO! chefs kiss! what an amazingly written, passionate scene with the reunification even if you choose not to romance them. so much to say but all in all -- great work! Amazing indeed! I can't wait to see how this story continues, how the storylines of the ROs shapes their interactions and the plot...and most importantly YAYY Taking down another evil empire!
Lol, my apologies for the cliffhangers! I’d like to say I’ll stop, but, uh… 😅
Thank you for that comment about my writing! I feel it’s improved, too, but it’s nice to hear it. I’m happy to hear you’ve read and enjoyed both my stories! 💕
This is really well written!! I can't wait for the next chapters to be released, especially since it seems like there's a lot left if the RO "chemistry" bars are anything to go by!
Just one small suggestion on something I noticed in my playthroughs:
If the non-binary option is chosen there seems to be no possibility of the masculinising/feminising "tonics" like there is if you are a trans man or trans woman, and I would greatly appreciate if an option for that could be added.
Amazing story so far!!
Thank you so much! This change will be in the next update, actually, along with including the binder option for non-binary, too.
Plenty of moments with the ROs still to come! 💕
ahhh - this is beautiful! the graphics, the interface, the writing, the music choices- :00
SPOILERS
i teared up during that first scene with the elder. swooning over corinne, hehe. she's so hot and badass!
the whole argument with tellus was heartwrenching. made me want to cry. i asked him for a dance before the battle. it just felt right. idk if i'm interested in him as a RO (yet), but i do have a thing for soft boys and i do care for him. looking forward to seeing where this goes!
mentally making fanart of your IF bc so many moments just live rent free in my head T-T you've worldbuilt this so beautifully, too, the world feels alive and breathing and full of colour and as a fellow writer i am jealous <3 TEACH ME YOUR WAYS
oh dear now that i've reached end of chapter 4 im having withdrawal symptoms. what do i now do with my life /j
Hello to a fellow writer! Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you’re enjoying it, especially Corinne; I love seeing love for her. ❤️
MAN, I AM CRYING.
WHY IS THIS SO WELL WRITTEN???
Also, got a ferret. Love him so so so so so much.
Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying your ferret! ❤️
Same, but we just got him and he's already an old boy. 😭
-screaming into the void- -coughs- anyway, lovely story btw!
Lol, thanks!
You put your whooooole foot in this! How am I supposed to choose a RO when they’re all so well written 😭! Can’t wait for the next chapter
Lol, I put both feet and all 11 toes in.
(That’s an Adams family joke, btw, for you young uns.) 🤭
is there a downloadable version? or web only
Nope, browser only.
omg i just finished chapter 4, crying, and went to the next page hopefully only to be hit with 'thank you for playing' i nearly threw my laptop across the room. What an awful place to stop T_T
I shall wait eagerly for the next update and promise myself I will not cry this time!
There is a high chance of crying next chapter but I can promise that it’s the good kind! I’ll leave you feeling like you want to snuggle your laptop rather than throw it, lol. Thank you for reading! 🫶🏻
I absolutely love your work! It's a great story!!
Thank you! ❤️
Now, which RO to make as a custom character in Baldur's Gate 3..?
I've gotta do something while we all wait for the next chapter :]
Just did another reread, and I'm only just consciously realising how much the music helps the IF in literally EVERY regard. Sets the tone & makes whatever text is on the screen actually feel. 10/10, more IF's should do what Cantata does with music
Lol, I’m happy to see you return, thank you! And happy to hear you liked the music. 🎶 I enjoyed using it in Viatica but for this IF I wanted to make it very intentional.
I can't choose between Vicente and Tellus ;-; why are they so perfect???!!!!!!
I know right?!
A good problem to have. 🤭 Glad you’re enjoying the ROs!
*sigh* now to obsess in quiet misery for the next update. xD
I have no idea on how to start but SPOILERS AHEAD
okay so, WOW. this is so good? I've been on the lookout for new itch.io games to play but the couple that piqued my interest were, for the most part, abandoned. i cannot express the joy that overtook me when I came across this gem: the lore, characters, setting, DONT GET ME STARTED ON EVELYN (i absolutely adore her), i love them all! my mc is aligned with fire and I love how it actually affects the gameplay instead of just being an insignificant detail. also, my heart dropped when coda's former identity was revealed. when the camp was destroyed, i kept
gaslightingconvincing myself that tellus survived. thank GOD that ended up being the case. anyways, i'm really glad he's the secret RO. when the romance lock eventually comes, im gonna have such a difficult time choosing. i have no preference for any character--WHICH IS A GOOD AND BAD THING. good because this means the creator(s? unsure if there's more than one) wrote each RO beautifully, capturing my interest the moment they were introduced. bad because im indecisive as hell. the point is: I love this and can't wait for the next chapter to come.Thank you! This comment had me doing a full body happy wiggle. 😆
The creator is singular, just me, myself, and I, and I appreciate your words. ❤️
Well you yourself and... well you, are an absolutely fantastic writer
❤️
I really liked the new Chapter!!! Btw, the relationship meter with RO is only romantic, right? will be there another for friendship too?
Thank you! Yep, the bar measures chemistry, and honestly it’s just to initiate extra moments and flavor text. The final lock in will be a choice.
And no, friendship is something of a given in my stories so no bar necessary, lol. 😅
lol, I got it, but it shows in other games and it can be very interesting... anyway, the important for me to know is that 'number' is just romantic and even if I keep it low with some RO, we will still be good friends.
I may not romance Vicente in my first playthrough, but we are gonna friendship so hard and take down the emperor. xD
aaah this is one of my favorite games in here !! the way you narrate the story is so beautiful and descriptive, i truly feel like i'm living it :))
also, i have a question ! don't really know if i missed it while reading or if it wasn't specified, but what is tellus' attunement ?
looking forward to the next chapters <3
I might be wrong but I think it's air! It's mentioned a few times
Thank you very much! And yes, his attunement is air.
I've never leave any comments but this... this... I really love your work (and maybe have read all in one shot) and felt genuine emotions all along my reading ! I also wanted to say I look forward to the next updates !
(sorry if there is mistakes I'm french and still a bit sruggling with english)
Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment! ❤️