Hello dear readers, and fair warning: This one's is going to be a little different from our usual logs. 

Let's start with a few updates related to The Inverted Spire~

Firstly, our search for funding has already seen a bit of success! I can't share the details with you until early April,  but I can say we've already begun investing in software upgrades and other tools that will help make our work a lot easier. 

We also expect to have a small update out by the end of March with new art, music and bug fixes. This will probably be our last update on the Prologue/Chapter 1  before the release of Chapter 2.  It's exciting to share it with you at last!

While we may not be able to fit everything we wanted into the coming update, I'm still proud of what we have accomplished despite the life circumstances that have been weighing on our team this past month. 

What comes next is a little about those aforementioned "life circumstances."

In addition to professional/work challenges unrelated to TIS (and which I won't dwell on here) there has been another major source of upheaval in my life. 

You've probably heard about this one on the news. 

Ukraine, the country I come from, is presently undergoing a full-scale invasion by Russia. 

I say full-scale, because this is the most recent in an unfolding series of events that began in 2014. The root of this imperialist invasion is even older, although the world's cameras were not pointed our way back then. 

While it's true that my ethnic and cultural background is actually more complicated, I still have strong ties to Ukraine. I've been working to use my advantages as an immigrant with high English language proficiency to help the people on the ground, whether they are refugees, IDPs (internally-displaced people), or those who remain with their homes, fighting and just trying to survive. 

Having seen many dubious donation lists circulating on social media with links to paramilitary organizations and far-right groups, I've also compiled my own list of NGOs unaffiliated with the military and most importantly, grassroots civilian organizations helping the most vulnerable. This list includes humanitarian aid for people with disabilities, children, the elderly, ethnic minorities in Ukraine and feminist, LGBTQ+ organizations. 

You can find it here: https://ukrcivilianaidorgs.carrd.co/

If you are able to donate to one of the initiative listed, that's amazing. And if you can't donate, but you are able to amplify the voices of marginalized Ukrainians, that's great too! Every little bit helps.

I'd like to remind you, dear readers, that warmongers and terrified people alike will shout from the rooftops that the only worthwhile aid comes in the form of weapons and soldiers. 

But just because they shout the loudest doesn't mean they're right. 

You don't need to be an expert in geopolitics to understand the impact war has on everyday people. When their homes are bombed, they need shelter and emergency medical aid. When supplies run low and store shelves are emptied, they still need food and medicine. Pregnancies and chronic illnesses don't stop for war. The impact of systemic discrimination on daily life is only exacerbated.  And underestimating the importance of psychological aid leads to decades of generational trauma and lateral violence that only extends war's shadow.

I confess my own ability to contribute and do work in other areas of my life has been greatly limited by survivor guilt and escalating PTSD episodes.

Please don't let anyone tell you that trying to alleviate the impact war has on some of its most vulnerable victims is "distracting from the real problem." This has never been true. But it does tell you a lot about how the speaker values human life.

Finally, I'd like to share that after the March update, Feardeer and I are planning to enter the Amare Game Jam with a small game loosely inspired by Matsuri Akino's Pershop of Horrors. We've been talking about this one for a while. 

The Inverted Spire is a large endeavour, and as creators, it can sometimes be hard to work for long periods of time without the feeling of satisfaction that comes from something being finished. That's why we believe it's important for us to take breaks and stretch our creative muscles with occasional mini-projects. 

In the meantime, we doubly encourage you to share your comments and perspective on what we've made so far. 

Help us keep our spirits up as we navigate this strange life and game development alike!

See you soon for our coming end-of-March update~