"An old wives tale; the delirium. They say it's contracted randomly, but it purges the brain from the inside out. It starts as a lone thought, and slowly starts eating at you. Before you know it, you're fighting with your own brain, trying to hold on to whatever last piece of yourself there is. The delirious kill in cold blood for as long as they can until the brain can't take it any longer, and they take their last breath a vicious and apathetic vessel of evil."
"But again, it's just an old wives tale."
Your high school graduation was both the finishing line and starting gun, a double-barrel of joy and dread. Your twin sister has put together a group of freedom-tipsy graduates to vacation out in the mountains for a few nights of partying like you wont live another day, and she insists that you must come along. You arrive with a reluctant outlook on the next few days, but find comfort in the company you'll be keeping. From the creaky cabin you spend your nights in, to the campfire your group shares scary stories around, this all feels like one big horror-movie setup, which makes it so ironic that every last one of your deepest fears are unveiled on that mountain. One of your peers is acting weird, and you can't help but be constantly looking over your shoulder— something here runs deeper than an old wives tale.
The old fable goes like this: A spirit lives in the wind, and one day she will unleash hell on earth. She whispers to those that will listen, and infects the mind. With each thought, her voice grows louder and more persuasive, until eventually, its host cant determine which are their own thoughts. They grow hungry for bloodshed, yearn to see those around them killed, and as the brain dies, they become more and more desperate to kill. And so they do, they kill and kill until the brain is completely overrun with delirium, and it stops working: the host dies, and joins those they killed in whatever afterlife there is. The spirit leaves the body, and infects another, and another, until all hope in humanity is gone.
'The Delirium' is an interactive fiction story set in our modern world, in which you and a group of peers take an innocent vacation into the woods to celebrate your hard-earned high school graduation. When bad things start happening, the choices you make will determine whether you live, you die or you fall victim to this mysterious delirium plaguing those around you. Explore the ruins of what seems like a post-apocalyptic world, figure out a survival plan and try not to pay your mind any extra attention.
The Delirium will begin with a short questionnaire that will ask you to pick out some of your biggest fears. These will come into play as you read, so pick carefully.
— Customise yourself fully: from your name, nicknames, pronouns and gender identity to your hobbies and interests, personality, strengths, weaknesses and greatest fears.
— Customise your twin sister, her appearance and name are at your command. Determine your relationship with her, and see how it changes the story.
— Make choices that matter, play with a relationship system that makes your interactions with others memorable. Keep those you find useful on your good side, or they might not help you out when they could have.
— Interact with a varied cast, each with their own personal lore and specific identities. Make friends, form rivalries or stay neutral, it's up to you.
— Choose your affinities, your aspirations in life and core subjects in high school will affect your abilities and strengths.
— Experience one of many different endings that are determined by how you play. Explore a deep and built storyline with many hidden treasures to find as you read.
There are 6 romance-able characters that you can pursue through the story. All of them can be romanced by any gender, but some of them are attracted mores to certain character types than others.
◦ Will Eckrich [M] — the joker.
The teachers hated him and his way with words; the cheek that Will has is unrivalled, and will leave no opportunity for laughter untouched, even at the expense of those around him. His attendance at school was foul, which is why (if you weren't skipping with him) you never saw him much in the classroom. 6'0 with slight muscle definition, Will is far from undesirable: his light brown hair always an unruly mess atop his head, falling into his green eyes that are just a bit too alluring. He'd have the school on his heels if he weren't so quick with his words. Your sister warned you on the way to the cabin that any bumps in the night will be from him: nothing comes before pulling a prank for that man, much to the annoyance of those around you.
◦ Elise Hartley [F] — the rising star.
Some say she peaked in high school, but her 3.6 million online followers would argue otherwise. Elise is glued to her phone, recording every waking moment of her day to stream to her online fanbase. A beauty and fashion vlogger, Elise takes great pride in the time she spends on herself, and anyone willing to call her vain won't get the time of day. She may seem hard to get through to, but Elise is just living her life like the rest of you, and getting to now her may reveal a few deep-lodged personality traits that are more than admirable. Elise is 5'4, blonde and always wearing something a bit out-there, but the glint in her light blue eyes when she's feeling confident is enough justification.
◦ August Simms [M] — mr serious.
Not the easiest person to be around, August is over-achiever of the century. He's been everywhere, done everything and still has time in the day to get his workouts in. Some hate him for it, but he couldn't care in the slightest: no matter what happens, August has a plan and is ready to put it in action. He's made a habit out of arguing with people that oppose him, six years on the school debate team will do that to you, but hes generally a pacifist at heart. Leave him alone in a room with the likes of Will, though, and he may annoy August into violent measures. August is 6'2, toned and has dark eyes that pierce. His dark hair in rows of braids atop his head, everything about him is put together. August once was in a relationship with Elise, so things are shifty between the two of them.
◦ Giovanni Burke [M] — the recluse.
The sweetest of souls, Gio is coming along on this graduation trip for one reason only: him and Will are step-brothers, and their parents agree that a trip like this may help bandage their distant relationship with each other. Gio isn't much of a talker, and got through his final year at high school just fine with few friends, so he isn't the most enthusiastic participant on this trip. His sweet demeanour is targeted easily by the torturous likes of Will and Elise, but keeping to himself has fared him this long, maybe you could help him come out of his shell a bit. Gio is 5'10, lanky and wears wire-framed glasses. His hair is dark brown and loosely curled, but he's bleached the front piece of his hair fairly recently. Give him a smile, he needs it.
◦ Valentine Brady [NB] — the living sun.
Valentine, or 'Val' as they prefer to be called, is everyones friend. Like August, they're smarter than most, but that doesn't give them any feeling of moral superiority. Val is glad to have you here along with them on this trip, whether or not the feelings are mutual, and always tries their best to make sure everyone is having a good time. You've certainly had a few conversations with them in the past, as they float between social circles like a happy puppy. Val is 5'2, spritely in nature and in looks— their hair is a light pink in colour, and only just long enough to tie the top of it up; though strands still fall out and fly everywhere so there isnt much point. If you ever need someone to talk to, or just make you laugh with their horribly paced puns, Val is the one to go to.
◦ Jordan White [F] — the prodigy.
Probably everyone's first pick to have on their team in a survival situation— Jordan White is a force to be reckoned with. She's been offered too many sports scholarships to count. A track-star and aspiring basketball legend, she is well-versed in the realm of physical activity. Jordan keeps a level head, too, and is never one to lash out or get emotional about the small things, she has always been the mediator in conflict, and that won't be changing any time soon. Jordan is 6'2, black and has the most contagious smile. She wears her black hair in long box braids. Though she is level-headed, Jordan can be a little protective of her closest friends and family.
Each romance option is susceptible to becoming delirious, make sure you can trust everything they say. I encourage you to make friends, maybe even fall in love, but keep a close eye on those you hold dearest.
"The Delirium" is rated 17+ as some skippable scenes contain suggestive content. Alcohol ingestion, graphic depictions of violence and possible romance death are also topics that are prevalent. Read at your own discretion.
[DEMO TBA] please send in any questions you have!
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