18+Ā This interactive story includes graphic violence, sexual content, alcohol and drug use, profanity and more.
Disclaimer Gender and race-locked IF due to discussions of gender and racial politics throughout.
Take centre stage as a former-rockstar turned actress navigating your new career and the chilling grip of fan-obsession. Your once-famous band may be nothing short of a ghost of the past to you, but the rest of the world cannot seem to let go. The split in 1968 was scandalous, abrupt and mysterious. And although youāve thrown yourself into acting and secured your first major role with a big time Hollywood director, whispers of blame have been on your tail ever since.
While most of Hollywood sees these rumours for what they are--empty gossip--a darker current takes precedence and poses a much more sinister threat to your life and the lives of those around you.
ā¼ Shape and mould into your truest ā70s self. Perhaps youāre a mod-girl or a hippie?
ā¼ Interact with '60s and '70s icons on the Sunset Strip.
ā¼ Help uncover the identity of the 'Ampersand Killer' terrorising the West Coast.
ā¼ Decide which career path is more fitting for you. Are you made to live on the silver screen or stadium stages?
ā¼ Maintain and better your physical health and self-defence skills.
ā¼ Pick from a selection of love interests (including two gender-choice options).
ā¼ Includes an array of potential flings.
ā¼ A catalogue of original songs for fictional musicians.
Vincent "Vince" Buscemi, the ex-bandmate ā¢ You were part of one of the most renowned bands of the '60s together. Vince is a jaded soul, harbouring deep-seated reservations about many people--most notably the band's keyboardist--but he has always had a soft spot for you. Despite his guarded demeanour, he exudes effortless charm and impeccable manners, a testament to his healthy upbringing. Though widely celebrated as a pop-culture heartthrob, Vince defies superficial stereotypes. His truest passion lies in music, and it's clear that nothing in the world brings him greater joy.
Penn Hausler, the filmmaker ā¢ Though still considered an up-and-coming filmmaker, Penn has already made a name for himself as a creative force in the industry, thanks to his latest hit starring Faye Dunaway. He radiates charisma, with a shining personality and a sharp sense of humour. He's unmistakably a nerd--passionately devoted to his craft. He's also prone to being a bit of a square, often finding himself tangled in bouts of nervous awkwardness. Despite this, his unwavering commitment to his vision sets him apart, and he's not afraid to take bold creative risks. Case in point: he has cast you as a supporting actress in his next film.
Kai/Kaya Anahareo (m/f), the folksinger ā¢ Although they haven't yet broken into the mainstream, K is a highly skilled musician deeply respected by their peers. Their artistry intertwines seamlessly with their role as a political activist, with much of their protest powerfully conveyed through their music. K is the embodiment of levelheadedness, exuding an aura of calm and balance that draws people to them. Their presence is steady and reassuring, much like the songs they sing--thoughtful, impactful and unwavering.
Dorinda Fisher, the journalist ā¢ Dorinda is a sharp, driven and fiercely dedicated journalist. Relentless in her pursuit of a story or a hard-to-find answer, she doesn't back down easily. Hailing from a small town, she's well-read and possesses a no-nonsense approach to life. You first crossed paths through your bandmate, whom she dated earlier in your career. During the US leg of your tour, she joined the band on the road while freelancing, documenting the whirlwind of your band's journey during a fair few defining months in your rise to fame.
Please note: You will have the option to decide whether the two of you had a romantic connection in the past while you were on the road.
Phillip/Phyllis Wright (m/f), the movie star ā¢ P is a Hollywood icon, a name already as timeless and celebrated as the likes of both Hepburns, Cary Grant and Sidney Poitier. An Academy Award-winning actor, they embody the pinnacle of cinematic stardom, capturing Penn's admiration and dream of collaboration. Known for their charm, striking good looks and effortless sophistication, P commands every room they enter.
Lesley Nielsen, the detective ā¢ Detective Inspector Nielsen is a man married to his work. His guarded and disciplined demeanour can often make him seem laborious, but beneath the tough exterior lies a dry wit and the ability to crack a well-timed joke. A strikingly handsome gentleman, he's adept with a handgun and keeps one at his side at all times. A seasoned veteran of the force, Nielsen only crosses paths with you once he's assigned as the lead detective on the high-profile Ampersand Killer case. Whether you share much in common is up in the air, but one thing is certain: your mutual determination to bring a cold-blooded murderer to justice.
Found this story the other day and just started Chapter 2, but is there going to be mentions of Manson Murders š I was already side-eying when K talked about their friend who went to some community in the mountains and then the mention of the pigs and Charlie š
also, ngl, wasn't expecting the serial killer murder mystery business to be so upfront, but I'm so HOOKED on trying to figure it out and see how all the characters connect, and I haven't even met the detective yet
also also, as someone who wasn't alive then, but was fascinated by the 60s/70's and all the cultural shifts and turmoil during my teens, it's SO FUN to go through the story and see how many references I understand š
this is so interesting to me because i remember a time when people wanted more of the serial killer aspect. i'm trying to plant seeds of things respectively so every aspect of Scapegoated is fleshed out... we're getting there!
p.s. welcome! and i'm so glad you're enjoying the IF š¼
Hello, hello! Youāve discussed before that several characters in Scapegoated are religious and Lesley grew up Mormon. I was wondering about the background and current beliefs of the rest of our cast! Hereās some of my own guesses:
Iād figure Vince likely grew up Catholic being from a traditional Italian American family though he doesnāt seem to lean that way anymore.
I canāt imagine Leon being anything but atheist or at the very least, he embraces spirituality but not interested in secular religion.
I get the impression Philip/Phyllis is at least a bit religious, Iāll have to replay to remember if they directly say anything. Shiloh also probably got the upbringing like Vince if not the belief because Iām Nigerian and most of the older generation are very religious š
Like Leon, Kai/ Kaya looks to be more spiritual although Iām curious how much of it is the influence of their own Native culture and how much theyāre influenced by the Eastern spirituality and philosophy movement that was popular in The 60s.
I donāt recall if itās mentioned somewhere whether Penn is still a practicing Jew or just culturally Jewish. I can imagine if heās practicing, heād be most aligned with Reform Judaism.
Just curious on your thoughts and wanted to share some of my own! Love the story <3
I didn't have to try too hard when thinking about the religious backgrounds of characters. The spectrum of who they all are came extremely naturally to me, and I think it all represents their upbringing and general personhood quite well.
I'll bullet point for each character in the same way you have below!
Vince is not practicing but he did grow up Catholic; his parents are extremely religious. I think of him as agnostic. Depending on choices made, this does come up in the next update actually!
P is extremely Christian. They go to Sunday service, they know their psalms, they're good friends with their pastor and help fund their local church.
Dorinda is atheist but still has a lot of her Christian upbringing in her. She is the kind of person that turns to God in the worst of tribulations, even though she internally believes she's just talking to herself.
Shiloh (at the moment) is a believer, but he is the farthest thing from practicing. He'll say 'Amen' with conviction around the dinner table in appropriate company, and not much else. He also enjoys the atmosphere of church services--Gospel choirs and the didactic cadence of pastors.
K is extremely spiritual. They were raised with the idea of sentience and spirit in all of nature, so that's the idea they practice either consciously or unconsciously. The tribe they grew up in viewed the Sun and nature itself as a deity, rather than one figurehead as suggested in other religions. They see strong links and engage in the ideas of spirituality and meditation from South-Asia post-"Beatles in India" and Ravi Shankar, but it's not something that has infiltrated their already established belief-system (that isn't systematic at all).
Penn aligns mostly with Reform Judaism for sure. His Jewishness is cultural, but he does have a very sovereign loyalty to his parents and their Jewishness. He went on holidays in the Catskills growing up, he's aware his parents wouldn't favour him bringing home a "Shiksa". But foremost he keeps a very assimilated blend of an Anglicised, American, Western culture and a deep respect of the Torah.
A little background on Lesley that won't spoil anything: he struggled with his Mormon beliefs growing up but had an older sister that firmly didn't. She planted seeds of his own doubts in the religion. It was after his service in the Korean War that he reconnected with her in his adulthood, away from Utah, and was newly able to see Mormonism from a more objective standpoint.
i decided to romance Dorinda and therefor picked all flirt/romance choices. after the demo i ende up with ~20% romance and only 7% friendship.
that made me wonder: to have a ""good""/""happy ending"" interms of romance, do i actually have to carefully balance both the romance and friendship stat (sometimes not choosing the flirt options, so i can pick an option to increase friendship)? or in case i want to romance someone, is friendship included in the romance stat?
No! I have been treating romance and friendship stats entirely separate, so all you have to do to romance Dorinda is acknowledge you had romantic history with her and flirt away
The votes are in! Here are the top-voted IFs in the fantasy genre. From immersive world-building to richly-researched settings to compelling characters, these games deliver stories that bring the past vividly to life.
We also had the great pleasure of interviewing @doriana-gray-games for the winning game in this category, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Affairs of the Heart, so do look out for that post!
Completed
I, The Forgotten One by @johnlouisif (tied with Season of Shadows)
The Golden Rose by @anathemafiction
Ongoing
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Affairs of the Heart by @doriana-gray-games (overall winner)
Scapegoated by @scapegoated-if
Season of Shadows by Krisis
Play all the historical fiction games that were submitted here.
Vince Buscemi singing the love song without a name
This one's a bit more experimental so I wasn't sure if I wanted to post it at all. I tried my best to capture all the details, although I might have missed some things š„¹š„¹ Still, I hope it's alright!
some doodles of scapegoated characters I haven't drawn before since I wanted to practice drawing on my new (secondhand) display tablet !! it's definitely much easier than drawing on a small phone so I hope I can get used to it š§š»āāļø
I just realised it's been 2 months since Chp3 (Part 1) dropped... Sorry I'm taking so long with Part 2! Being broke and unemployed is ironically taking up more of my time than it is freeing it... Progress is being made, just in a slower fashion than I'd prefer. Soon!
musicality: bassist with bluesy vocals. enjoys playing bass, but acting feels like an exciting change of pace.
style: mod at its core, incorporating androgynous elements - pants are comfortable, theyāre the future! bright colors, denim and fun patterns.
appearance: julia roberts in pretty woman, with brown eyes and fuller cheekbones. often wears her fiery red/ginger hair in a farah fawcett blowout. despite her affinity for mod fashion, she tends to wear minimal makeup.
more detail under the cut!
personality: sassy, hot-headed; sometimes arrogant, but often kind. self-centered as a form of self-preservation; at times, as a queer woman, itās only been her looking out for herself. revels in fame; her dramatics have to come in handy somehow! she is a liberal white woman that frequently has something to learn, which she is always open to doing.
sexuality/romance: lesbian and sexually promiscuous. the way she sees it, if sheās going to get ostracized for being a lesbian, she might as well have as much sex as she wants! she has a romantic past with dorinda and may still have feelings for her, but also has great chemistry/interest with phyllis.
miscellaneous: she charms the pants off of every interviewer at every press junket, sometimes playing into the dating rumors just for the fun of it. prior to coming to the states, she had been the bassist in an all lady band with her friends that played at any bar that would have them. she didnāt intend to join another one, but she took meeting leon as a sign that maybe it was indeed the career path for her.
