Harris Powell-Smith

Writing Honor Bound Characters: Raffi

Note: this post contains spoilers about a major character from Honor Bound, my upcoming dark academia text game from Choice of Games. If you don't know anything about Honor Bound, read more here.

Leading up to the late 2024 release, I'm posting about Honor Bound's characters and some of the thoughts and processes that went into writing them.

Raffi Character Rundown

Raffi and Work

After a few directionless and not very happy years after completing the Teranese Service, Raffi can't believe their luck at the way they've landed on their feet. Working for Capello Security is not only lucrative and prestigious, it's also relatively easy: Raffi's charge, Simone, may boss them around a lot but the placement is hardly a dangerous one.

Raffi's very grateful for the job they've been given. They got it via some chance connections, and are therefore inclined to be loyal to their clients, their boss Capello, and to the people who passed their name onto them. While they're proud of their own skills, they don't have a lot of confidence in directing them towards finding well-paid or well-treated jobs, so they had a hard time after they left the Service. And the military doesn't really look after graduates who aren't remaining in the military, like the PC and some of the other characters, or who have other high-flying skills like Fiore.

Writing Raffi

Raffi's concept came about because I wanted another bodyguard figure in the game who was outside of the military structure the PC's been in for most of their life. I liked the idea of having a character in a similar, but different, situation to the PC and for the PC to be able to relate to that in a variety of ways--as well as for Catarina and Simone, Raffi's charge, to have a developing relationship over the course of the game.

Raffi's a civilian perspective in a game with a lot of military and ex-military characters, and also opens up the opportunity for the PC to pursue a private security job if they wish.

I also knew I wanted a bouncy, exuberant sort of character as a contrast with some of the more serious characters and to play off against the other cheerful ones like Matia.

A thick patch of scrub and weeds has made the area hard to push through, and it certainly won't be much use for the farm. In a circle of upturned log seats, brush hooks and scythes have been laid out, along with heavy gloves. Catarina eyes them as though they're a group of alligators.

"Ozera's all about pitching and helping out," Raffi says. "I loved this job last year—when you get into the rhythm it's so satisfying. We're going to clear out this brush so we can start a new vegetable bed, just in time for planting."

One of the students, a languid boy with reddish-brown hair whose name you think is Pietro, groans loudly. "I'll break a nail. I can't do this."

Raffi's cheer is implacable. "Just think how much you'll enjoy the sugar-snap peas when they grow," she says. She picks out a set of small tree loppers and hands them over.

Raffi is a family-orientated character and although they live a long way from their family, they loom large in their awareness. I used conversations about Raffi's family to explore some of the social norms and expectations in different parts of Teran: Raffi's mother left their father when Raffi was young, and their village formed an extended non-blood family to help care for Raffi and their two siblings. Raffi considers the whole group part of their family, but they do love adventure and so moving back to their island childhood home isn't something they've wanted to do, despite their difficulties.

The mood is gloomy, the students are grumbling, and you're aching. Your lower back is growing steadily warmer with pain, no matter how you bend to shift your weight.

"Come on, everyone, just a bit more to go!" Raffi calls with far more cheer than they have any right to. The dog, Lulu, leaps about at his heels as though agreeing.

Compared to some of the older or more experienced characters, Raffi is an "innocent" kind of character. Partly it's that they're the youngest in the romanceable cast, and partly it's their personality, and partly it's how they responded to life's hardships. The difficulties they've faced haven't dampened their spirit and they've mostly had people around to support and encourage them. Raffi's eager to be pleased, and are excited for new experiences even if they might cause them problems.

Raffi was fun to write because their wide-eyed enthusiasm is funny for other characters to interact with, and a PC can be exasperated by this, find it charming, try to get Raffi to be more sensible, or something else - whatever feels right for the player.

Raffi does have their problems to deal with. This took some work to figure out: initially I had the idea for one plot for them, but I kept finding that it didn't quite fit in the chapter I was working on so I moved it later. By the time I reached the point at which I really had to get going with the storyline, I'd realised I needed to make decisions about changing up the plot itself. What I came up with felt much more true to Raffi and it felt like it slotted into place much better.

A lot of their storyline is about them navigating trust and loyalty, and how willing they are to overlook how they're treated or other people's foibles. The PC can encourage Raffi in a variety of directions around this, cause Raffi a lot of problems, or a combination of the two. I really enjoyed writing how Raffi can shift in response to the game's events.

Still, Raffi is generally the most forgiving of all the characters. For better or worse, if the PC has gained their trust Raffi will not abandon that. That may not be the healthiest thing for anyone involved! But I really enjoy writing that dynamic when it comes up.

Mostly Raffi wants to do their best, connect with other people, and enjoy themself! The basic shape of their friendship and romance is that they admire the PC a great deal - partly because of their job and achievements, but also because the PC has the chance to greatly impress them early on in the game - and while they're keen to get to know the PC, they don't necessarily expect the PC to treat them as a priority, romantic or otherwise.

Next to you, Raffi pulls a clean handkerchief from their pocket. "You have a bit of something here," they say softly, indicating your cheek. "Shall I?"

Some of the ways the romance can go, therefore, can surprise Raffi. They're delighted to go for a fast-burn romance - like Matia, they're one of the earliest characters who the PC can kiss or sleep with - and if that turns into something serious, that's very exciting, uncharted territory for them.

In a romance, Raffi wants to make their partner feel like the most special person in the room, and they're unselfconscious about doing that.

You'll like Raffi if you like: someone who will look out for you and always have your back, who can work with you to keep others safe, who is easygoing, who is up for all kinds of adventure, who loves making connections with others, who has a goofy sense of humour, who you can call upon to get things done when you need them.

You'll like romancing Raffi if you like: someone uncomplicated, who won’t play games with you, who is very physically competent even if not so competent at thinking things through, who will always be clear with you about their feelings, who is open-minded, who may not expect commitment but would be delighted to bring you home to their family, who is keen to broaden their horizons, who is impressed by you.

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