Heavens' Revolution

Master arcane alchemy and ignite a revolution in a Persian steampunk empire!

In a Persian steampunk empire, will you wield your arcane alchemy to repair a starship or pilot a mech? Will you ignite a revolution, suppress it, or play both sides against each other?

"Heavens’ Revolution: A Lion Among the Cypress" is an interactive retrofuturistic fantasy novel by Peter Adrian Behravesh, inspired by eighteenth-century Iran. Your choices shape the story in this fully text-based adventure—270,000 words strong, with hundreds of decisions, no graphics or sound effects—powered solely by your imagination.

Your alchemy training places you at the forefront of magic and technology, mastering the science that governs both the material world and the heavens. You can already craft gunpowder, design intricate machinery, brew potions to cure terrible diseases, and distill fine perfumes. Though much astralchemcial knowledge is lost, you might even learn to repair a khalicraft starship for an escape to another world, or pilot a giant mech into battle.

Seyj is an ancient city teetering on the edge of revolution. Half a century ago, the She’ri Empire invaded, toppled the old ruler, and occupied your planet. With ancestry from both She’ri colonists and ancient Seyj families, your loyalties are divided.

Like every citizen, you must serve in the Royalist army and defend the satrap governor—yet you witness the Revolutionists' protests intensifying daily, rallying to overthrow the satrap and restore the old regime.

When the Revolutionists seek to recruit you, will you believe they fight for justice? Will you remain loyal to the satrap and your duty as a soldier? Or will you embark on a game more perilous than your fiercest alchemical flame, becoming a spy who feeds information between factions?

You'd better hope you don't find yourself on the wrong end of a shamshir's blade.

• Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bi, or asexual.

• Master arcane astralchemy to forge powerful weapons, open your own workshop, or secure a professorship at the University.

• Rise through the military ranks and command an army to defend the satrap.

• Or, join the revolution, overthrow the usurper, and restore the rightful ruler to her throne.

• Find love with a fellow soldier, a blacksmith-turned-rebel, or a princess.

Is gaining the world worth losing your soul?