Heavens' Revolution: A Lion Among the Cypress

In a Persian steampunk empire, will you use your arcane alchemy to repair a spaceship, or pilot a mech? Ignite a revolution, snuff it out, 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, where your choices control the story. It’s entirely text-based—275,000 words and hundreds of choices, without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

Your training in alchemy puts you at the cutting edge of magic and technology, learning the science that governs the material world and the heavens alike. You can already create gunpowder, design intricate machines, brew potions that can ease the most terrible diseases, and distill fragrant perfumes. Much knowledge of astralchemy has been lost, but you could even learn to repair a khalicraft spaceship to escape to another world, or a giant mech that you can pilot into battle.

Seyj is an ancient city on the brink of revolution. Half a century ago, the She’ri Empire invaded, overthrowing the old ruler and occupying your planet. You are descended from both She’ri colonists and ancient Seyj families, and your loyalties are torn.

Like all citizens, you must serve in the Royalists’ army and defend the satrap governor—and yet you can see the Revolutionists’ protests escalating every day, agitating to overthrow the satrap and restore the old regime.

When the Revolutionists try to recruit you to their cause, will you share their view that they fight for justice? Or will you remain loyal to the satrap, upholding your duty as a soldier? Or will you play a game more dangerous than your fiercest alchemical flame, feeding information from one faction to another as a spy?

You had best hope that you don’t end up on the wrong side of a shamshir’s blade.

• Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bi, or asexual.
• Master arcane astralchemy to craft powerful weapons, open your own workshop, or secure a professorship at the University