WTC: Love's Labour's Lost

WTC: Love's Labour's Lost is the third and final side story in the Welcome To... Chichester visual novel series, focusing on Grendel's past. In Chichester, England, the megalomaniacal Grendel Jinx and her put-upon “friend” have begun influencing every part of local government. The protagonist plans to take Grendel back to America to stop the city falling under her control, but Cindi Eglantine, a local tourist guide, and Autumn Shaw, an overworked waitress and cleaner at The Violet Hotel, oppose the plan. The two devise a counter-plan, though neither anticipates what it will cost to stop the protagonist.

The Council of the Unseen

Abigail Herrera and Frederick Jinx founded the Council of the Unseen to take revenge for the suffering they endured. The organization seeks world domination through espionage, extortion, blackmail, sabotage and propaganda. It generally avoids killing, but is prepared to do so when it considers it necessary.

The Council operates from a base somewhere in America, concealed behind the legitimate corporation Mr. Nibbles Fortune Holdings. Listening stations and satellite bases around the world gather information that the Council uses to manipulate people, corporations, nations and presidents. Abigail is frustrated by younger, more reckless organizations with similar ambitions, as well as the Council's persistent thwarting by its nemesis, the Phoenix Custodians.

The Phoenix Custodians

The Phoenix Custodians were formed shortly after the Council—or so their official history claims—and are said to receive funding from all the world's democratic nations. The protagonist, a former computer programmer, joined them after a devastating terrorist attack on their home city. Their preference for careful problem-solving over “shoot first, ask questions later” tactics was not popular with everyone in the organization.

After training, the protagonist was assigned a suicide mission against Grendel Jinx, the kleptomaniacal and megalomaniacal daughter of Abigail and Frederick. The protagonist survived and saved Grendel from a nearly fatal explosion she caused herself. This earned her “friendship,” at great financial expense, and attracted the attention of her parents.

As a reward for the “successful mission,” the protagonist takes charge of a department tasked with opposing the Council and similar organizations. Its office is a converted broom cupboard, and its employees are openly hostile.

Story and routes

The visual novel contains over 100,000 words. The main story takes around 8–10 hours, with another 1–2 hours of extra side stories. Completing the game unlocks side stories and a new route in the main story. Multiple paths lead to different endings, and it is possible to break the time-space continuum. The story also introduces Grendel's love interests and includes CGs, mostly by Tarako309, with some by Hadwinart.

The game is fully voiced except for the protagonist and includes a Japanese translation.