Study of Marra as Reinhilde

Study of Marra as Reinhilde, 2025. Sepia ink on vellum, 4 x 6 in.

Marra is a ghostly entity that appears in Venzell’s dreams in Lonesome Voyages. Taking on the appearance of whoever is on Venzell’s mind at the time, Marra taunts and teases Venzell as she suffocates him in his sleep while occasionally offering advice on upcoming events. She starts disguised as Reinhilde, but depending on the player’s actions during Venzell’s daydreams, could alter her appearance to resemble other characters or even reveal her “true” form.

“If I’m your dream, what’s stopping you from being someone else’s dream? Maybe we’re all waiting for someone else to wake up, to slowly forget about us as they get on with their lives.”

— Marra

Marra’s exact nature is never explicitly revealed. Is she a figment of Venzell’s overactive imagination? If so, how can she know things Venzell doesn’t, or can’t, himself know?

Study of Reinhilde in Sanguine and Sepia Ink

A sanguine and sepia pen and ink drawing of a young woman with red hair gazing intensely at the viewer.

Study of Reinhilde in Sanguine and Sepia Ink, 2025. Sanguine, sepia, and blue ink and gouache on vellum, 4 x 6 in.

Despite being an aspiring theologian and priestess, Reinhilde has a violent streak: she initially plays an antagonistic role in Lonesome Voyages, instigating the duel that ends with Venzell under house arrest and with a large scar on his face.

“‘Whenever someone upsets me or my friends, I make sure they pay for their transgressions! With their blood! I’m only two wins away from setting the record for “most duels won” at my school!’
Venzell’s face fell. ‘Well... given that you’re a student at the Theology Academy, I’m horrified that this number isn’t zero. I can’t imagine that the Enshrinement would approve of an eminent theologian stabbing anyone who disagreed with her.’
’That’s why I’m doing this kind of stuff now! Before I take any vows!’”

Depending on the player’s choices in Venzell’s daydreams, Venzell and Reinhilde may strike up an unlikely friendship during his captivity, despite her being the major cause of it.

Study of Venzell in Brown Ink

A brown pen and ink portrait drawing of a young nobleman, staring at the viewer with a stoic expression, wearing a military uniform.

Study of Venzell in Brown Ink, 2025. Brown ink and gouache on vellum, 4 x 6 in.

Lonesome Voyages was, alongside Ashes and Dust, going to have been an illustrated adventure game set in the world of Neith. Inspired by the COVID pandemic and Xavier de Maistre’s Voyage Around My Room, the game had two conceits: first, it took place in one setting, Venzell Andlauer Katzainer’s chambers in his family’s second home in the Zeelean Regency capital of Bardezant. Second, the player would have only controlled Venzell’s daydreams and fantasies. Every scene from the “real world” would have been non-interactive, scripted according to choices made by the player in the realm of fantasy.

“Is there anything more natural and more just than to put an end to it all, aided by someone who inadvertently treads on your toes, or drops some rather pointed remark in a moment of irritation occasioned by your thoughtlessness?”

— Xavier de Maistre

After accidentally fighting a duel against a student theologian, Reinhilde, Venzell is sentenced by an Enshrinement rector to 40 passages of house arrest. Passing the time with daydreams inspired by his collection of art and books, Venzell’s solitary journey could have gone in several different directions. “Guiding” him is an entity called Marra that visits him in his sleep, suffocating him and taunting him about choices he might have made differently.