Amberlight Parlor: When the Lights Return

About Amberlight Parlor: When the Lights Return

Amberlight Parlor: When the Lights Return is an illustrated interactive story set on Halcyon Relay, a ring-shaped post office in orbit round a dim double star. For forty days the ring’s lamps have been dark, because the star is behind a long eclipse the sorters call the Dimming. On the fifth shift it comes out and the lights return, and a new automatic sorter takes the belt. You are a night sorter on your first five shifts. Each shift the belt brings three parcels, one from each of three threads that run through the station: the Rhee letters, a mother and daughter who have not spoken in years, the old sorter Bell-9, who has quietly found homes for a hundred and twelve dead letters and is due to be recycled, and Captain Marrow, who carries a tin of starlight that weighs as much as a lamp. There is time to turn over two parcels. Read the marks: the wrapping, the franks, the repairs, the smell. Then deliver it, hold it in a pigeonhole until the lights return, or send it back. One way fits what the marks show, one half fits, one misses. Six endings follow, from a ring lit end to end to a belt that does not care. The text goes up to Largest, every line is read to screen readers, you can go back to any choice, and nothing is timed. A new twist each night and a daily challenge keep it fresh.

How to play

Press Carry on or tap the page to continue, and tap a choice (or press 1 to 5) to answer. Z or the Back button returns to your last choice.
Each shift, choose which two of the three parcels on the belt to turn over. The third rides on to the slow bin.
Read the marks on the parcel, then deliver it now, hold it in a pigeonhole until the lights return, or send it back.
Docket notes go on the board (E, or the Docket button). Five shifts later the star comes out, and each thread ends warm or not.
Change the text size with T or the Text button. The five shifts save as you go, and Restart begins again with a new twist.

Controls

Tap the page, or press Enter, Space or Ⓐ — carry on
Tap a choice, or press 1 to 5 — choose
Z, Backspace or Ⓑ — go back to the last choice
E or Ⓨ — the dockets read; L or Ⓧ — the shifts so far; T — text size
P, Escape or Start — pause

Frequently asked questions

How long is a story?

About fifteen to twenty-five minutes for a run of five shifts. There are six endings, and the best needs all three threads to end warm.

Why only two parcels a shift?

The belt moves on. You turn over two of the three parcels each shift, and the third goes to the slow bin. Choosing which thread to follow is the heart of it.

What do deliver, hold and send back do?

Deliver sends the parcel to its address now. Hold keeps it in a pigeonhole until the lights return on the last shift. Send back returns it to its sender. The marks on the parcel show which fits best.

How do the three threads end?

Each parcel moves its thread toward warm. If you read the marks well, the thread ends warm, and the ending you reach depends on how many do.

Can I play with a keyboard or a screen reader?

Yes. Every line and choice is announced, every button works with the keyboard or a controller, the text goes up to Largest, and nothing is timed.

Does it save?

Yes, in this browser: the run you are on, the endings you have found and your settings. Nothing is uploaded.