Runt of the Litter (2017)

Steal and raise a baby war gryphon! Will you fight dragons together to save the empire, or defy the empire and lead your people to freedom? Runt of the Litter is a 150,000-word interactive fantasy novel by Kelly Sandoval, where your choices shape the entire story. This is a text-based adventure, free from graphics or sound effects, powered entirely by your imagination.

In the Empire of Vaengrea, the gryphon keepers hold immense power. They enforce the laws, guard the borders, and are the sole recipients of gryphon eggs, given only to their chosen heirs. As a poor stable hand, a "thrall," you understand that your chances of proving your worth are slim. However, everything changes when you discover a neglected gryphon egg. Small, abandoned, and cast out by its mother, the egg still holds warmth, and you know this could be your one opportunity to change your fate.

But your newly discovered gryphon is in great danger. Not only must you protect it from the other gryphon keepers, but a deadly plague is sweeping across the empire, threatening to wipe out all gryphons. The future of your gryphon rests in your hands. Can you keep it safe? Where will you hide the hatchling? Are you skilled enough to hunt for food or clever enough to steal it? Which of the gryphon keepers can you trust? How will you shape your gryphon's development and future? These choices are yours to make.

The empire faces even greater threats when wyrm riders from the north arrive, their fire-breathing dragons being the natural enemies of gryphons. Will you and your gryphon join the fight, earning a place among the empire’s elite, or will you rebel against the system and lead the thralls to freedom? The future of your gryphon, and the very fate of the empire, depend on the path you choose.

Game Features:

• Play as any gender and experience romance with a variety of characters, from fellow thralls to gryphon keepers.
• Choose your gryphon's breed and raise it with kindness or discipline.
• Make critical decisions that will influence your gryphon's behavior and abilities.
• Rise through the ranks of gryphon keepers or fight to lead a revolution and free your fellow thralls.
• Protect your empire from the fire-breathing wyrms and find a cure for the devastating gryphon plague.

The empire may be crumbling, but you and your gryphon have the power to change its course. Will you protect the gryphons and uphold the empire’s laws, or will you fight for freedom and revolution? The journey is yours to embark upon. The fate of an empire and your gryphon's future are shaped by the choices you make.