Welcome to Valencia
You are a merchant whose greatest motivation thus far has been making money by selling goods.
After finding success in your quiet island hometown, you’ve opened a shop in Valencia, the largest city in the neutral nation of Dalren, which is currently caught between two warring empires, each with agents looking for allies they can count on to supply their respective war efforts.
Your desire for material wealth could cost you everything, or it could lead you to becoming one of the most successful merchants in Valencia.
Build Relationships to Increase Profits
At its core, Whispering Ledger is about relationships, whether it be business, personal, or carnal.
You're just the seller; you'll still need a whole host of vendors, contracts, and friendships, all providing sell-able goods that could put you on the path to success.
You’ll meet a cast of distinctive characters who can help shape your business and your future:
Ashura:
Your Adventurer's Guild representative who will assist you in organizing and sending out expeditions to procure materials.
Balae:
A drowsy librarian from the Scholar Association who will gather research materials for you to learn about new landscapes and seascapes to send expeditions out to.
Nicole:
A brilliant inventor desperately trying to keep her branch of the Research Lab open by crafting new inventions for you to sell at a tidy profit.
Rat
An enigmatic dealer in shadows, able to provide great deals and terrible deals alike for any item you've ever come across during your tenure in Valencia.
Mia
An overenthusiastic martial artist determined to make sure you feel strong enough to defend yourself, your store, and those you care about.
Get to know them and earn their trust, as the road ahead is impossible to travel alone.
The Day of a Merchant Revolves Around His Store
The game unfolds through a day-based business loop:
Before Hours – Set prices, prepare inventory, and see the results of yesterday's scavenges/expeditions.
Business Hours – Price your goods and haggle with characters you've met throughout the story.
After Hours – Arm yourself with knowledge at the library, martial arts at Mia's dojo, or just buy some goods from your good buddy Rat.
You can run your shop honestly, squeeze every coin from desperate buyers, or pick and choose between both.
Weigh the Risks of Expeditions
You're a human merchant, not an all-powerful Magic Swordsman, so you'll have to rely on the Adventurer's Guild to send out expeditions of (ideally) competent adventurers.
Send adventurers into forests, caverns, and ruins to gather materials. Play things too fast and loose and you’ll be paying medical bills instead of counting profits.
As your reputation grows, so too does the risks that come with popularity. After all, it's easier to claw your way to the top if there are less people in the way.
A Rich Story with Believable Interactions
Actions have consequences. Some immediate, and others in the future.
Make the wrong choices, antagonize the wrong people, or underestimate the danger and the story can end abruptly.
As a merchant, your most powerful weapon is your mind, and the best way to use that mind is sound judgement.
Features
Character-driven visual novel with meaningful choices
Shop management focused on pricing, crafting, and resupplying
Faction relationships that go deeper into the professional and personal lives of your contacts
Day-based progression system
Multiple endings, including early failure states
Fully illustrated characters and locations
