Breathless Winds

Breathless Winds is a visual novel about Dorman, a trans woman recovering from a sailing incident on Two Elk Island. As she tries to rebuild her life, she faces her parents’ expectations of her as both a sailor and a man. The island is also in danger: poachers are disrupting the balance between humans and spirits, while worsening storms bring new troubles. Dorman reflects on her past and future, comes out as Poppy and begins using she/her pronouns.

Two Elk Island

Poppy can help four people with their struggles: Rue, the island’s resident witch, asks her to prevent a calamity; Lantana, the local healer, is overwhelmed by patients as the storms worsen; Valerian, a prince from Castle Island, offers to pay any price for help finding treasure; and Gallardia, Poppy’s childhood friend, suggests she return to sailing and follow her family’s legacy. The routes follow Poppy as she works to protect the island and grows closer to a chosen partner.

Four relationships

Gallardia is a sailor and a proud big brother to three younger siblings. He and Poppy grew up together after their parents introduced them, and became inseparable when he rescued her from a bully. They planned to work as sailors, but after Poppy’s sailing incident left her bedridden, Gallardia carried on without her and they drifted apart. Now busy caring for his siblings and supporting them as the primary breadwinner, he has little time for Poppy. His warm, hardworking nature helps her feel less invisible, but she wonders whether they can become more than friends.

Lantana bullied Poppy as a child and gave her the nickname “mudshoes.” When Lantana stopped coming to school, Poppy first felt relieved, then worried as search parties failed to find her. Years later, Lantana returned as the village healer, without explaining where she had been. She makes potions and uses healing magic, meets challenges with a smile and stubbornness, and still teases Poppy. Poppy is drawn to her despite her hesitation and may try to clear the air between them.

Valerian, the prince of Castle Island, needs help on a quest to save the king’s life. He offers Poppy wealth, relics and the chance to work alongside him. Though arrogant and rude, Valerian has reasons for his determination beyond power, and Poppy sees a kind heart beneath his cold manner. When his seemingly sweet brother competes with him to complete the quest, the throne and the fate of the sea are at stake. Poppy and Valerian must try to save Castle Island from a terrible curse, while he learns to see her as more than a servant.

Rue appeared in the Forest of Crows, where rumors said she had been “raised from the dead,” and became the island’s witch. She uses forgotten dark magic to keep the spirits in harmony and protect nature from the storms. After rescuing Poppy from a rampaging spirit angered by poachers, Rue senses a unique power in her and asks for her help averting a calamity. Rue is cold, mysterious and rude, but she and Poppy form an immediate emotional connection as they face the danger together.

Routes and choices

The game has four full romantic routes, with two male and two female love interests, and a total of 200,000 words. Choices are for fun and do not affect endings or the ability to date a love interest. Poppy and her chosen partner have a happy ending in each route, while other characters may have bittersweet or mixed endings. The story also features other LGBTQ characters, including two love interests who are trans.

The visuals combine a painted style with retro pixel-art backgrounds.