Line #105 VisualNovel/DearDevere


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot02.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Post Box Address: Under the rock at the edge of Ardmore Forest.]]
3
4	->''"I suppose I should start with a short summary of my life. I don't really feel like doing that, so I shall skip to the present."''
5	-->-- Angela Bard
6
7	The year is [[GenteelInterbellumSetting 1935]]. It all started with a single letter. But from that point on, [[NothingExcitingEverHappensHere nothing would remain the same]] for Angela Bard--a [[{{Bookworm}} quiet]], [[TheHermit solitary woman]] living in the [[UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}} Scottish isles]].
8
9	Much to her surprise, she receives a [[MysteriousNote mysterious]] and strangely esoteric reply from an unexpected source...
10
11	Who is Devere? And how can he be sending letters from the forest at the edge of [[CloseKnitCommunity Angela's town]]?
12
13	''Dear Devere'' is a mystery romance VisualNovel told through a [[EpistolaryNovel letter correspondence]]. It's written and illustrated by [=Katy133=] and made in the engine MediaNotes/RenPy.
14
15	The game is available for [[{{Freeware}} free]] on itch.io [[https://katy133.itch.io/dear-devere here.]] ''Dear Devere'' has also be given a [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1301220/Dear_Devere/ release]] on Platform/{{Steam}}.
16
17	Compare with [=Katy133=]'s earlier work, ''[[VisualNovel/ThreeGuysThatPaint Three Guys That Paint]]'' and ''[[VisualNovel/RedactedLife [redacted] Life]]''.
18
19	Being a mystery visual novel, spoilers will be contained in the tropes. It's recommended that you play ''Dear Devere'' before reading on. Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.
20
21	----
22	!!''Dear Devere'' provides examples of:
23
24	* ActBreak: The [[ThreeActStructure three acts]] in the visual novel are separated with segments of the [[spoiler:player talking to the Captain on the telephone]].
25	* AgentMulder / AgentScully: [[spoiler:The Captain asks the PlayerCharacter if they believe Devere was really supernatural or not]]. The player can be either an AgentMulder or an AgentScully, depending on their answer.
26	* AlphaBitch: Eliza Frame, a popular and insufferable member of Angela's book club.
27	* AmbiguouslyHuman: Devere describes himself as "not human," but never fully explains exactly ''what'' he is.
28	* AnachronicOrder: The story jumps between present day (1937) and [[{{Flashback}} the past]] (1935-1936).
29	* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Cailin. He stalks Angela, threatens Angela and Devere, and then tries to have Devere arrested for being an enemy spy. He ends up being murdered by something large and doglike]].
30	* BadassBookworm: Devere. He enjoys reading (his home is filled with books) and has [[spoiler:supernatural powers, including being able to transform into a wolf]].
31	* BadLiar: [[ConversationalTroping Conversed]].
32	-->'''Devere''': So what you're saying is, I'm a terrible liar?\
33	'''Angela''': [[BluntYes Yes]].
34	* {{Bookworm}}: Angela. She's well-read (quoting various authors on her letters' envelopes), likes visiting the town's library and runs a book club.
35	* TheBigDamnKiss: [[spoiler:Angela describes the first kiss she shared with Devere in one of her letters]].
36	* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: [[spoiler:After [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies Cailin continues to threaten them]], Devere lies to Angela to try and get her to leave him. She doesn't believe him]].
37	* BullyingADragon: [[spoiler: Cailin]] tries to intimidate Devere, who may or may not be a literal demon.
38	* CassandraTruth: Angela notes that she can only talk to Devere about the supernatural, as anyone else in the town would think she was mad.
39	* CollectorOfTheStrange: Devere likes to collect things that humans have left in the forest he lives in. His cave is filled with these objects, including piles of books and a phonograph.
40	* CrazyJealousGuy: [[spoiler:Cailin Calwood]].
41	* DaChief: The Captain. He [[spoiler:repeatedly calls the Inspector, asking for updates on the case]].
42	* DearJohnLetter: [[spoiler: Devere]] does this [[spoiler:''twice.'' The first time is a lie to clue Angela in on a [[PublicSecretMessage hidden message]] in one of his letters, while the second is to try and [[BreakHisHeartToSaveHim protect her]]]].
43	* DestroyTheEvidence: [[spoiler: The [[LetOffByTheDetective player]] does this in one of the endings to protect Angela and Devere]].
44	* DreamWeaver: Devere has the ability to enter and manipulate people's dreams.
45	* EasterEgg: The visual novel contains one in the game's files, providing a message from the developer.
46	* EpistolaryNovel: In a visual novel format.
47	* EveryoneKnowsMorse: Nearly all the heroic characters know Morse code. It's implied that [[spoiler: Cailin, the antagonist]] doesn't know Morse code.
48	* TheFairFolk: Possibly [[spoiler: Devere. He is able to manipulate people's dreams, says that he's not human, lives in the forest, and implies that others of his kind can live several centuries long]].
49	* FairPlayWhodunnit: It's possible for the player to figure out [[spoiler:who was murdered and who was the murderer]] before TheReveal.
50	* FallenAngel: Devere is possibly this. [[spoiler: Angela compares his human form to an angel from a [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting]].
51	* FeaturelessPlaneOfDisembodiedDialogue: Much of the visual novel's narration appears in a black void.
52	* FeaturelessProtagonist: The PlayerCharacter is not given a gender, a name (it appears smudged on the envelope that is addressed to them) or a physical description.
53	* FieryCoverup: [[spoiler:In one of the endings, the [[LetOffByTheDetective player]] sets Devere's list on fire, [[DestroyTheEvidence destroying the evidence]] needed to track him down]].
54	** Angela also does this with one of Devere's letters when he instructs her to do so.
55	* FirstNameBasis: Before their RelationshipUpgrade, Angela and Devere address each other as "Mr Devere" and "Miss Angela Bard," respectively. Afterwards, they use each other's first names.
56	* FolkMusic: The visual novel uses Scottish/Celtic folk music.
57	* GeniusBookClub: Both Angela and Devere enjoy reading and are seen to use quotes from classic literature on their envelope designs.
58	* GenteelInterbellumSetting: The visual novel is set in the 1930s and Angela mentions that there is talk of another war possibly happening in the future, possibly referencing UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.
59	* GovernmentAgencyOfFiction: The [[spoiler:Anti-War Operations Bureau is a fictional agency filled with operatives who monitor the Isle of Mull for enemy agents]].
60	* GreatDetective: The [[spoiler:PlayerCharacter has a reputation for being able to solve any mystery thrown at them]].
61	* TheHermit: Both Angela and Devere live isolated lives (Angela is shunned by the community, while Devere lives in a cave), though Angela says that she [[MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold enjoys the solitude]].
62	* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: None of the characters are ever [[TheGhost seen]] by the player.
63	* HistoricalFiction: The story is set in the [[GenteelInterbellumSetting 1930s]].
64	* HowlOfSorrow: In one of the [[spoiler: endings, the player character hears a sorrowful howl in the distance, which haunts them for the rest of their life]].
65	* IdentifyingTheBody: [[spoiler:The police try to identify a body they find in the woods, but are unable to, leading to them to decide that the body is Devere's]].
66	* IJustWantToHaveFriends: Angela's first letter explains that she doesn't have friends, but is trying to make friendships by starting a book club.
67	* ImpliedDeathThreat: [[spoiler:Cailin does this to both Devere (telling him that he owns a rifle) and Angela (telling her that he has two large dogs)]].
68	* InspectorLestrade: The Captain. He is able to collect [[spoiler:clues regarding the body found in the forest, but comes to the wrong conclusion of ''who'' the murder victim was]].
69	* InspiredBy: The [[WordOfGod credits]] list [[Literature/GriffinAndSabineAnExtraordinaryCorrespondence the Griffin and Sabine trilogy]] by Nick Bantock as inspiration behind the visual novel.
70	* {{Leitmotif}}: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIbSI78BS4w&list=PLf66bJcUZ38xSkuOzwuVJ2f4L4cl7dXaK&index=1 Devere's theme]].
71	* LetOffByTheDetective: The [[spoiler:player can [[DialogueTree choose]] to do this]].
72	* LiarRevealed: [[spoiler: Devere telling Angela that he was never supernatural]].
73	** This turns out to [[spoiler: be a lie, which Angela calls him out on in one of the endings]].
74	* LongDistanceRelationship: Angela and Devere fall in love as they write letters to each other.
75	* LoveBeforeFirstSight: Angela and Devere fall in love through their letters, before meeting each other in-person.
76	* LoveLetter: Angela sends one to Devere, while Devere sends one in return.
77	* LoveTheme: The track [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-vJR8kOT9g&list=PLf66bJcUZ38xSkuOzwuVJ2f4L4cl7dXaK&index=5 Honesty]].
78	* LoveTriangle: [[spoiler:Angela, Devere and Cailin. Both Devere and Angela love each other, while Cailin is in love with Angela]].
79	* MeaningfulName: Angela and Devere sound similar to angel and devil, respectively.
80	** Also [[spoiler:Cailin, which sounds like Cain, [[Literature/TheBible the first murderer]] ]].
81	** The characters follow an [[AlphabeticalThemeNaming ABC motif]]: Angela Bard, [[AlliterativeName Cailin Calwood]], Devere and Eliza Frame.
82	* MultipleEndings: The story [[StoryBranching branches]] off into [[spoiler: two different endings: A [[GoldenEnding happy ending]] and a DownerEnding]].
83	* MundaneSolution: Devere's powers don't extend to talking to people through dreams, so he instead sends letters by dropping them off at the post office (located outside of Angela's town) when no one is looking.
84	* NotWhatItLooksLike: [[spoiler:[[CrazyJealousGuy Cailin]] sees Angela spend the night in the woods and comes to the conclusion that Devere seduced her]].
85	* OlderThanTheyLook: [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig Zagged]]. Devere explains that beings of his kind can live for a long time (implying that some can be ''centuries'' old). However, Devere mentions that he's on the young side compared to the other members of his kind. But he never makes it clear exactly how old he is, leaving his age unclear.
86	* OnlyOneName: Devere.
87	* OurDemonsAreDifferent: Devere is given a winged wolf visual association. He is also described by Angela, who [[spoiler:sees him in both human and animal forms]].
88	* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: Devere might be some sort of entity inspired by werewolves. However, it appears that he can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshift into a wolf voluntarily]].
89	* PoliceAreUseless: Angela describes the police as being ineffectual, as they are [[TheEveryman made up of volunteers]], some of whom [[spoiler:are friends of the antagonist]].
90	* PublicSecretMessage: [[spoiler:Devere]] hiding Morse code on [[spoiler:the front of one of his envelopes to Angela]].
91	* RansackedRoom: [[spoiler:Angela comes home to find her home broken into and searched, believing that someone was looking for her letters from Devere]].
92	* ReclusiveArtist: Devere lives in a cave and is able to create [[SugarWiki/AwesomeArt beautifully-illustrated]] envelopes.
93	* RomanceGame: ''Dear Devere'' is an otome visual novel.
94	* RuleOfSymbolism: Devere's envelope designs all have an esoteric art style to them. He later says that all his paintings are self portraits.
95	* ScrapbookStory: The visual novel includes various letters, postcards, notes and transcripts.
96	* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: The PlayerCharacter can choose [[spoiler:to lie to the police they are working with to help Angela and Devere escape]].
97	* SelkiesAndWereseals: Devere might be this. [[spoiler:Angela describes seeing Devere putting on a [[FurIsClothing fur coat]] and transforming into a wolf]].
98	* {{Shapeshifting}}: Devere has this ability.
99	* ShapeshiftingLover: Devere towards Angela.
100	* ShoutOutToShakespeare: Devere's first letter to [[spoiler:Cailin]] is a quotation from Shakespeare.
101	-->'''Shakespeare''': "Hell is empty [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters and all the devils are here]]."
102	* SomethingTheyWouldNeverSay: Done ''multiple'' times. [[spoiler:The first letter (claiming to be from Angela) in Act 2 is uncharacteristically typed instead of hand-written. Devere notices, sending a reply to the ''real'' author]].
103	--> '''Devere''': Angela never uses that style of paper!
104	** [[spoiler:Devere also does this himself in the form of a DearJohnLetter when he needs to send a [[PublicSecretMessage hidden message]] to Angela]].
105	* SophisticatedAsHell: Devere.
106	--> '''Devere''': He made a pathetic attempt at trying to impersonate you in a letter. Against my better temperament, I sent him a reply to go to Hell.
107	* SpySpeak: [[spoiler:The [[{{Muggles}} Bureau]] discovers Angela and Devere's Morse code conversation and [[WeirdnessCensor wonders]] if they are using code phrases]].
108	* StalkerWithACrush: [[spoiler:Cailin [[RansackedRoom breaks into Angela's home]] while she isn't there to try and steal her correpondance with Devere. Cailin also repeatedly follows her in and around the town]].
109	* StoryBranching: [[spoiler: Near the end of the visual novel,]] the story branches off into MultipleEndings.
110	* SupernaturalRepellent: Devere tells Angela that he can't enter the town of New Sorne because of "an old magic" preventing him from doing so.
111	* SuperSenses: Devere can determine the origin of an object (such as the address of a letter) by holding it in his hands and concentrating on it.
112	* SympatheticMurderer: [[spoiler:The player can come to the conclusion that Devere killed Cailin, making Devere this, since Devere is a benevolent character and [[{{Jerkass}} Cailin is not]]]].
113	* TalkingToThemself: Well, ''writing'' to herself. Angela writes the first letter to vent out her frustrations, not intending for anyone else to read it.
114	* ThatWasTheLastEntry: The letter correspondence leads to this ominous narration:
115	--> [[spoiler:These letters were found inside a jewelled casket and a locked cupboard, within a furnished cave in Ardmore Forest.\
116	They were discovered and collected by the Bureau of Anti-War Operations, along with several documents related to the missing persons case of Angela Bard and Cailin Calwood.\
117	The Bureau has no official papers for a Mr Devere.]]
118	* TomatoSurprise: The [[spoiler:PlayerCharacter]] is revealed to be [[spoiler:the inspector: An agent of the Anti-War Operations Bureau]].
119	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: [[spoiler: Cailin]] is friends with the police.
120	* VoiceoverLetter: Angela and Devere's letters have full voice acting.
121	* WhamLine: Devere telling Angela that [[spoiler:he was never supernatural]].
122	* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: [[spoiler:One of the endings includes an epilogue with Devere and Angela together]].
123	* WildWilderness: The forest outside Angela's town. Devere (a supernatural being) lives there, but the town doesn't know.
124	* WrongfullyAccused: [[spoiler:Cailin tries to convince the police that Devere is an enemy spy]]. Then [[spoiler:The police come to the deduction that Angela was kidnapped by Devere]].
125	* {{Yandere}}: [[spoiler:Cailin Calwood, when he starts threatening to kill Devere]].
126	* YouCantGoHomeAgain: [[spoiler:In the Epilogue, Angela decides that she never plans on returning to the Isle of Mull because there's nothing for her there. Considering that the police are looking for them, it may not be a wise idea for her or Devere to ever return]].
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Context VisualNovel / DearDevere