#architect if

[thearchitect-if]

Alongside three fellow cultists, you have been chosen to carry out a ritual that will summon your god into this world. And just your luck, you have been Marked- designated as The Architect who must orchestrate the ceremony. There’s just one problem. Every previous Architect has died in horrific fashion after failing to perform the ritual perfectly, and your only guide is the mad ramblings of your predecessors.

Stuck in an old townhouse full of strange secrets and even stranger companions, you must discover the mysteries hidden in these walls if you want to complete the ritual and survive- but things aren’t always as they seem.

The Architect is an upcoming horror IF game about a group of misfits locked in a dingy old townhouse trying to end the world. The game itself is only a piece of an interwoven narrative that will be taking place in real time online. Players will be able to interact with characters, unearth clues, and solve puzzles to not only unlock the secrets of the game, but uncover a greater mystery.

Engage with and directly impact a narrative that extends beyond the game and into the real world

Puzzle through the information left by your predecessors to perfect the ritual and bring about the end of days

Choose how you view your role- are you a willing participant, or forced by circumstance to carry out your duty?

Customize your Architect, including name, gender, pronouns, appearance, and personality

Befriend, romance, or despise three eccentric cultists with their own dark purposes- one female, one male, and one non-binary

Explore an offbeat setting inspired by Lovecraftian fiction, classic slashers, and internet horror

Étienne Gauthier [he/him]

A butcher by trade, sporting a thick Montréal accent and a quick wit, Étienne is the poster boy for the strong silent type. Sometimes even affable. That is, when he’s in a good mood. After years of knowing him, you’re well aware that he’s got a short fuse. But is there a kind soul hiding beneath the surface? And just how far would he be willing to go to survive?

Maryam Nasri [she/her]

In a past life, Maryam worked at an antique bookstore- and the inquisitive young woman has found herself right at home in the townhouse’s extensive occult library. Her ambitious attitude tends to get in the way of socializing at the best of times, but lately she seems reluctant to leave her work for even a moment. What could be the cause of your old friend’s sudden secrecy?

Shiloh Lam [they/them]

You don’t know much about Shiloh. In fact, you’re pretty sure nobody knows much about Shiloh. Sporting a white mask to hide their face and an overall spaced-out demeanor, they seem to speak in riddles when they speak at all. But something tells you that under all of their layers of obfuscation, there’s something more- if you could understand even half of how their mind works.

[thearchitect-if]

"You have the good sense to not fuck with a guy who has an anger streak and a large knife within arm’s reach."

[thearchitect-if]

they/them | 5'1" | Vietnamese

Shiloh is a petite twenty-something who, despite their small stature, tends to stand out in a crowd. Their wild, wavy dark hair frames a face that they keep covered with a beat-up white mask- few people have seen them without it. Two large black circles are painted on its otherwise smooth surface where eyes would be, giving off an appearance that's a bit creepy yet also a bit wide-eyed and endearing. Depending on the day and how deep they are into their various rituals, you might find them wearing mismatched pyjamas and comfortable street clothes or swathed in linen robes. At any given time they'll always have an assortment of knick knacks, trinkets, and divination tools stuffed in pockets or hanging from necklaces.

[thearchitect-if]

(Artwork is based on this photo of Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates ❤️)

he/him | 6'2" | Québécois

Étienne is a pale, lanky man in his mid-twenties, though what he lacks in stature he more than makes up for in atmosphere. Between his impressive height and stoic posture, he gives off the air of someone who is in control of every situation. His face is all sharp angles and harsh edges, with steely gray eyes that always seem disinterested. He generally keeps his shoulder-length chestnut hair pulled up into a bun or ponytail, though when he leaves it loose, its subtle waves provide a bit of softness to his otherwise harsh demeanor. Most of the time, if you look for it, you can spot a bit of dried blood on his face or hands.

[thearchitect-if]

On The Topic of Cults

So, you're in a cult. What exactly is this cult like, and how did you get involved with it?

The Followers are not your typical cult as most modern people would think of them- they aren't newly formed, they don't have a single charismatic leader, and their members aren't treated too poorly (although they are often seen as... disposable). Rather, they are a centuries old cult dedicated to worshipping The God With Many Names. This ancient eldritch deity is depicted in hundreds of mythologies, and it is said that when its true form is summonned into this world, Earth itself will be destroyed.

Admittedly, there are some perks to being in a doomsday cult. Ritual magic, for example. While not very accessible to lower level Followers like yourself, calling upon your deity's favour is not only possible but powerful. Of course, that is assuming that you've been worshipping properly- maintaining your shrine, making weekly sacrifices, and paying your tithes to the Elders. The downside, of course, is that this group is anything but democratic. What the Council of Elders says goes, and they tend to make decisions that benefit themselves rather than the group. Oh, and some of your rituals might involve the deaths of innocents, or more often fellow cult members... but only sometimes.

How does one get involved in such a cult? Well, given how secretive they are, most must be born into it. This is how you and most of the other members your age ended up here. You've never really known anything else. That being said, you aren't necessarily devoted to the cause.

In the game, your actions determine how loyal you are to the cult. Are you trying to carry out your duty because you truly believe in it, or are you merely doing this in a last-ditch effort to survive? That part is up to you.

[thearchitect-if]

Things I might not have mentioned but would like to clarify:

You are "stuck" in this house, but not necessarily locked in it. You can technically leave at any time. There will be an ending where you do just that, and it will be short.

The story takes place in the great city of Toronto! I will be trying to fit in a scene where you can get Tim Hortons, as a treat

Things that are real don't necessarily deserve worship

Worship can, at times, make the unreal more real

There are no good endings, but some are probably better than others. Etienne (debatably) has none of those, for the record.

You and Maryam have been friends since you were children. It's up to you whether you drifted apart after high school or have stayed close as adults.

Each genre of horror I listed as an influence will be explored through one of the RO's scenes. Can you guess which is which?

Keep your save files. They might come in handy.

[thearchitect-if]

Is Shiloh amab or afab?

This was sent a while ago but I just want to put it out there and address this- I am most certainly not going to answer this question, and it is very much inappropriate to ask. In the same way that it would be extremely rude to ask somebody in real life what their genitals are or what surgeries they've had. That is private information and there is no reason you need to know.

In the case of this character, there is also literally no way you would know. You don't even know what their face looks like, so I'm not sure why you would expect to know intimate details of their past.

While I don't know if this anon in particular was aware that this is a disrespectful question to ask, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, please keep that in mind in the future.