update (jan 15th):
time really got away from me these last few days ;___; life stuff has prevented me from doing quite as much as i wanted to with this game, but as i've been working on it the game has also become a lot more than i expected it to be! i'm really enjoying treating it as a learning experience and taking the time to build upon it, so i've decided that i'll just be putting out a demo for the jam and i'll continue to work on it in the future, ideally to completion! the demo will contain about ten rooms to thoroughly explore, a handful of items to pick up, and a few small cutscenes. hopefully that will be a decent amount of content!
i'm working on putting the finishing touches on things tonight (haha help me it is 5am) before submitting wdytya tomorrow and posting a reflection on the process! iM EXCITED and you guys being excited too has been a huge confidence booster for me, thank you all so much!! i hope it'll be at least some of what you're hoping for c: