Editing Suggested Reading Order

One frequently asked question we see often is "what order do all the stories go in?"

'''First:''' Understand that '''story cross-references are generally kept light''' in Tears of Themis. When they occur, they're usually no more than a single sentence, and any missing information from going "out of order" can be gleaned from context. For example, if the Main Character mentions in the main story: "Artem and I visited that orphanage. There's no way any child abuse is happening there," nothing is lost from the main story for a player that hasn't read all about that other orphanage visit yet -- all the necessary information, that the orphanage takes good care of its kids, is right there. So, this isn't something that needs to be stressed over; a player should feel free to explore the stories in any order.

For those who still want to follow a suggested order, a few more notes on this guide....

Most stories are best read in original CN server launch order (listed below). However:

# Despite the clear passage of time and seasons in events, cards, and personal stories, '''The main story''' is significantly earlier in the timeline with a very short amount of time passing between each episode. Aside from some early references to personal stories, it should not be expected to reflect later events' relationship and story developments.
# Regarding "routes":
#* The main story, the cards that were available at launch, and the early (Chapter 1) personal stories should be considered the '''"common route"''' as all are referred to occasionally within the main story.
#* Later cards and personal stories should be considered '''alternate concurrent timelines''' in which the player has "chosen" the male lead the MC is with at the time. This is necessary because cards often conflict with each other; on different routes, the MC might have two different experiences of learning to make noodles for the first time, or two different experiences of learning formal dance, or multiple mutually exclusive plans for the winter holidays.
# '''Cards''' should nearly always be considered optional extra information, except where noted as especially important due to providing key information that's needed to understand a main or personal story.

==Launch content: Setup/Early Common route==
* '''Main Story Episodes'''
** [[Episode 1: The Hand That Feeds]]
** [[Episode 2: The Unbearable Love]]
* '''Personal Story Chapters'''
** Luke's and Artem's Chapter 1 may be read anytime after Episode 1.
** While Vyn's and Marius' Chapter 1 are made available early in Main Episode 2, it may not make sense to begin them until the trial in Episode 2 is completed.
*'''Main Story Episodes'''
** [[Episode 3: The Weight of a Soul]]
** [[Episode 4: Les Tournesols]] - Note: References to personal story chapter 1s begin in Episode 4, complete them first.
* '''Personal Story Chapters'''
** This is a good time to do the second chapters of the male leads' personal stories. Information is revealed in Main Episode 5 that is only used in personal chapters 3 and later, so it makes sense to place the second personal chapters before that point.
* '''Specific card notes''' - Generally, launch cards may be read in any order, with a few item of note:
** {{Item icon|Artem "Loving Memories"}} is very briefly referred to in a later main story episode.
** {{Item icon|Vyn "Gentleman's Game"}} is the first time a new piece of information about Vyn is learned and reacted to by the MC.
** {{Item icon|Vyn "Lingering Warmth"}} is lightly affected by a lack of reaction to the above piece of information.
** {{Item icon|Artem "Unusual Love"}} was released at a much later date than the other cards here, but it gives a specific time that places it around Main Episode 3.
* '''Cards''' - A full list of cards available at launch follows:
{{Card icon|Luke "Perfect Partner"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Luke "Moment of Danger"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Luke "Among the Great Blue"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Luke "Inner Sanctum"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Luke "Radiant Sunlight"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Luke "Timely Rescue"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Luke "Alluring Gaze"|size=50px}}<br />
{{Card icon|Artem "Loving Memories"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Focus Fire"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Autumn Dreams"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "In Sickness or in Health"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Sparks"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Thin Veil"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Atmospherics"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Unusual Love"|size=50px}}<br />
{{Card icon|Vyn "Near and Far"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Gentleman's Game"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "False Tears"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Lingering Warmth"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Mended Heart"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Mercury in Retrograde"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Medieval Suspense"|size=50px}}<br />
{{Card icon|Marius "Narrow Road"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Matching Tattoos"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "A Dance on the Clouds"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Child at Heart"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Dream of Thebes"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Overtone"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Eye of the Beholder"|size=50px}}

==Main Story separates from release order==
*'''Main Story Episodes'''<br />As mentioned above, this is the point at which the main story timeline begins to pull away from actual release order; only hours to weeks pass between each episode, and later events and cards after this point are not referenced within it. ''Players should simply complete the main story whenever they reach the required power levels.''
** [[Episode 5: Sins of Cynicism (Part 1)]]
** [[Episode 5: Sins of Cynicism (Part 2)]]
** [[Episode 5: Sins of Cynicism (Part 3)]]
** [[Episode 6: A Vicious Cycle (Part 1)]]
** [[Episode 6: A Vicious Cycle (Part 2)]]
** [[Episode 7: The Rain of Monte Cristo (Part 1)]]
** [[Episode 7: The Rain of Monte Cristo (Part 2)]]
** [[Inspection "Eve of Departure"]]
** [[Episode 8: Bloom of Sorrow]]
** [[Episode 9: Grey Frontier]]

==Post-launch release timeline: Year 1==

===Summer Breeze===
* '''Event story:''' [[Summer Breeze Event]] - as a board-game event, dialogue is limited to light banter, but players may care to check the "Task Cell Jobs" and "Event Chat Bubbles" to read this banter.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Shape of You"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Entwined Fate"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Cool Summer"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Twilight Beauty"|size=50px}}

===Mysteries of the Lost Gold===
* '''Event story:''' Available in-game as a permanent free DLC (X-NOTE menu > Events > Past)
* '''Event cards:'''
** Note {{Item icon|Luke "Iridescent Heartbeat"}} takes place some months after the event, and it assumes knowledge of Main Episode 5's reveals.
** Note {{Item icon|Marius "In the Darkness"}} is referenced in a later Marius personal story chapter.
{{Card icon|Luke "Iridescent Heartbeat"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Dreamful Melodies"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Heartfelt Suspense"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "In the Darkness"|size=50px}}

===Vyn's Birthday===
* '''Event story:''' [[Reciprocal Hearts Event#Story Stages|Reciprocal Hearts Event]] - As a birthday event, the event story consists of five stages of venue setup (recorded under "Story Stages" heading) with [[Reciprocal Hearts Event/Student Evaluations|side interviews]] in which other characters discuss the event and birthday character.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Vyn "A Star in the Night"|size=50px}}

===Symphony of the Night===
* '''Event story:''' Recorded on a single [[Symphony of the Night Event/Scripts|Scripts page]].
* '''Event cards:'''
{{Card icon|Luke "How I Remember You"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Fixated on You"|size=50px}}  {{Card icon|Vyn "Between Good and Evil"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Fabulous Feast"|size=50px}}

===Luke's Birthday===
* '''Event story:''' [[Luke All Year Round Event#Story Stages|Luke All Year Round Event]] - As a birthday event, the event story consists of five stages of venue setup (recorded under "Story Stages" heading) with [[Luke All Year Round Event/Questionings|side interviews]] in which other characters discuss the event and birthday character.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Warm Embrace"|size=50px}}

===Xmas Partyland===
* '''Event story:''' [[Xmas Partyland Event]] - as a board-game event, dialogue is limited to light banter, but players may care to check the "Task Cell Jobs" and "Event Chat Bubbles" to read this banter.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Luke "A Star in the Palm"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Por Una Cabeza"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Snowy Fairy Tale"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "All Through the Night"|size=50px}}

===A Love Poem to Skadi===
* '''Event story:''' Recorded on [[A Love Poem to Skadi]] page; read as follows
*# Sections 1-7 of "Encounter Log (Main Story)" on [[A Love Poem to Skadi/Script|Scripts page]]
*# All "Major points of interest" recorded under [[A Love Poem to Skadi#Manor of Hermes: Exploration Gameplay|Manor of Hermes: Exploration Gameplay]]
*# Section 8 of "Encounter Log (Main Story)" on [[A Love Poem to Skadi/Script|Scripts page]]
*# Remaining "Encounters" on [[A Love Poem to Skadi/Script|Scripts page]], if desired.
* '''Event cards:'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Twinkling Eyes"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Wandering Heart"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Blazing Colors"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Daytime Aurora"|size=50px}}

===Personal Story Chapter 3 release===
* '''Personal Story Chapters:''' While the in-game time delay of some of the personal chapters is not quite this extensive, it's still a good idea to read them here as the relationship progression was written with the previous content in mind.

===Romantic Rail Getaway 1===
* '''Event story:''' Recorded on a single [[Romantic Rail Getaway/Script|Scripts page]]. Note: Luke's and Marius' routes only.
* '''Event cards:'''
** Note {{Item icon|Marius "Will of the Trees"}} is referenced in a later Marius personal story chapter.
{{Card icon|Luke "Peaceful Place"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Will of the Trees"|size=50px}}

===Artem's Birthday===
* '''Event story:''' [[Days to Re-Live Forever Event#Story Stages|Days to Re-Live Forever Event]] - As a birthday event, the event story consists of five stages of venue setup (recorded under "Story Stages" heading) with [[Days to Re-Live Forever Event/Questionnaires|side interviews]] in which other characters discuss the event and birthday character.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Artem "Two Hearts as One"|size=50px}}

===Romantic Rail Getaway 2===
* '''Event story:''' Recorded on a single [[Romantic Rail Getaway/Script|Scripts page]]. Note: Artem's and Vyn's routes only.
* '''Event cards:'''
** Note {{Item icon|Vyn "Food for Thought"}} is referenced in a later Vyn personal story chapter and is considered especially important backstory.
{{Card icon|Artem "Sunshine After the Rain"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Food for Thought"|size=50px}}

===Electrifying Night===
* '''Event story:''' [[Electrifying Night Event]] - as a board-game event, dialogue is limited to light banter, but players may care to check the "Task Cell Jobs" and "Event Chat Bubbles" to read this banter.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Through the Heavens"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Winning Ball"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Neon Melody"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Vibrant Graffiti"|size=50px}}

===Marius' Birthday===
* '''Event story:''' [[Menagerie of Lights Event#Story Stages|Menagerie of Lights Event]] - As a birthday event, the event story consists of five stages of venue setup (recorded under "Story Stages" heading) with [[Menagerie of Lights Event/Interviews|side interviews]] in which other characters discuss the event and birthday character.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Marius "Crown of Glory"|size=50px}}

===Personal Story Chapter 4 release===
* '''Personal Story Chapters:''' Players may wish to read as much year 1 content as possible (including cards) before the fourth personal chapters as these are where the year 1 route comes together leading into the Anniversary cards, which rely heavily on previous card stories.

===First Anniversary===
* '''Event story:''' [[Blissful Fête#Mirage of Blooming Swords: Main Story|Blissful Fête]] Recorded under "Mirage of Blooming Swords: Main Story" heading
* '''Event cards''' - these are a ''direct continuation'' of Personal Story Chapter 4; it's ''highly'' recommended to wait to read them until previous content has been finished.
{{Card icon|Luke "Under the Milky Way"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Eternal Yearning"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Committed"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Expression Through Art"|size=50px}}

==Post-launch release timeline: Year 2==
===Personal Story Sweet Chapters===
* Sweet Chapters are solo events that take place after the anniversary progresses the relationship between the main character and the male leads. Each one involves a permanently-available story that takes place at an ambiguous time after the relationship begins and a limited SSR. As the story cannot be re-read at this time, the text has been preserved here.
* [[Luke's Story: Sweet Chapter 1]] + {{Item icon|Luke "Looming Nightmare"}}
* [[Marius' Story: Sweet Chapter 1]] + {{Item icon|Marius "Tideborne Romance"}}
* [[Artem's Story: Sweet Chapter 1]] + {{Item icon|Artem "Paired Blessings"}}

===Vyn's Second Birthday===
* '''Event story:''' [[A Wish in the Light Event]] - The event story consists of several stages of fulfilling a wish list, followed by a birthday celebration (recorded under "Story Stages" heading).
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Vyn "Fetters of the Past"|size=50px}}

===Secrets of the Tomb===
* '''Event story:''' All sections of [[Secrets of the Tomb#Khaimit: Story/RPG Gameplay|the main event page]]'s "Khaimit: Story/RPG Gameplay" heading contain parts of the event story, with the "Shadows of Resurrection: Main Story" being most important.
* '''Event cards''' - these cards are self-contained side stories that do not interact with the main timeline. It's strongly implied by other portions of the event that these were past lives for the main cast.
{{Card icon|Luke "Overflowing Thoughts"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Echoes Ablaze"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Flickering Moonlight"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Dimly Lit"|size=50px}}

===Revisiting Youth===
* '''Event story:''' [[Revisiting Youth Event]] - as a board-game event, dialogue is limited to light banter, but players may care to check the "Task Cell Jobs" and "Event Chat Bubbles" to read this banter.
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Love between Pages"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "New Skies"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Vyn "Eternal Whispers"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Precious Mornings"|size=50px}}

===Luke's Second Birthday===
* '''Event story:''' [[Redolent Nonage Event]] - The event story consists of several stages of fulfilling a wish list, followed by a birthday celebration (recorded under "Story Stages" heading).
* '''Event cards'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Dark Swirl"|size=50px}}

===Snowfallen Secrets===
* '''Event story:''' Recorded in full and in order on the [[Snowfallen Secrets Event|Event page]].
* '''Event cards:'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Lukewarm Fragrance"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Masquerade Passion"|size=50px}}  {{Card icon|Vyn "Aimed At Your Heart"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Love Berries"|size=50px}}

===Dreams of Childhood===
* '''Event story:''' Recorded in full and in order on the [[Dreams of Childhood Event|Event page]].
* '''Event cards:'''
{{Card icon|Luke "Persistent Wishes"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Artem "Heart Listener"|size=50px}}  {{Card icon|Vyn "Entangled in Love"|size=50px}} {{Card icon|Marius "Sweet Wonders"|size=50px}}

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