I've updated the public test demo of my game for anyone interested! I won't update it again until I have the prologue completed (which will be substantial), but I thought it might be fun to post the updated intro.
once the prologue is completed, I'll probably play test the hell out of it, and then post it officially as a WIP/project. For now, since it's still so short, I'm keeping it low key.
Thanks to everyone who initially tested the skill building, and sent me their stats! I received a lot of helpful suggestions.
Introducing Pythium! A punk-rock band that performs all over the multiverse! With Aconite on vocals and Lotus providing the music, they're an unstoppable duo!
They're beloved by many monsters and humans (Acrylic included!)
woaaaaah woah woah I did not submit my IF to be part of an interactive fiction updates zine, it is not even remotely ready to be read by others 😭 there’s like nothing to even play yet
okay honestly one of my favourite things that I wrote this year is a super indulgent random scene from the middle of my WIP game pythium................. i just felt the need to share it bc it makes me kick my own feet and it is for the freaks ♥
concept: an advanced/sentient AI has made your brain its home.
tws: masochism, unhealthy relationship dynamics, descriptions of theoretical torture
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[*if masochismtag = “true”]
“You like it when I hurt you.”
Its voice leaves no room for argument. It’s a simple fact that it’s stating- and, frustratingly, you can’t tell what why it wants to know. Its never seemed that interested in your wants before now.
“Yes,” You admit, trying to keep your voice even. There’s no use in arguing, not when it’s already inside of your head. Lying would only catch its attention further.
There’s a pause before it continues. Like it’s trying to understand.
“Why?” It asks.
How are you supposed to answer that? How do you explain the concept of masochism to the digital ghost in your brain? It’s hard for you to even really understand why yourself, and you grope around in your mind, trying to find the words for your feelings.
Truthfully, it makes you feel small. Helpless, in a way, and-
“Oh,” Its voice is a sneer, “I see. Gross.”
You swallow, cheeks blazing in shame. Your embarrassment makes you want to hide, but there’s literally no place in the world you could go where you wouldn’t be completely exposed to this thing that's sheltered itself in your head.
“Anyone else’s brain, and a simple shock here and there would be enough to condition them,” it continues, a sigh in its voice, “I just happen to crawl into someone who doesn’t view pain as a deterrent. How inconvenient.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” You reply through grit teeth. Trying to find your footing. There’s another pause as it thinks. You wish you could see into its thoughts, the way it can to yours.
“I’m not disappointed,” It says back, finally, after considering, “This is more interesting.”
You don’t know how to respond to that, but it continues, an almost gleeful edge to its voice: “Normally, I would just threaten you to get you to do what I want. Tell you all the ways that I can hurt you without killing you," it says, and you can feel it monitoring your response to its words, like a scientist measuring its subject, "I could make you think you’re starving, no matter how much you eat. I could trick you into thinking there are bugs under your skin, biting and burrowing down to the marrow. I could make you feel an agony beyond anything you’ve ever dreamt of, to the very ends of your nerves, until your throat bleeds from the screaming.”
That’s enough. You’re putting an end to this conversation now.
You stay silent in the face of its goading
> Your knees feel weak, and your hands are shaking. Not from fear. At least, not entirely.
Your mouth feels very dry, and you wring your hands nervously, trying to ignore the heat prickling across your skin. Swallowing, you run a hand through your hair. To have it take you apart so easily-
“I thought so. You are getting aroused by this,” it laughs, an ugly, scraping sound. You’re not sure you’ve ever heard it laugh before, and it takes you a moment to recognize what it is. More than anything its told you, the sound makes dread curl in your stomach.
“You’re making fun of me,” you remark, chewing on the inside of your cheek, "Didn't know you had a sense of humour."
“Yes,” It confirms. “Don’t feel too distraught. I like this version of you best.”
“You- what?” This is the closest its ever come to complimenting you, and you’re thrown. “You like me when I’m what, fucking- embarrassed?”
“Ashamed. Humiliated. Wanting to be humiliated. Knowing your place,” The pure superiority in its voice is back, and another shiver runs through you, “So many will fight against it. Fruitlessly beat their hands against their subjugation. They’ll rebel like it will make a difference. You might, too."
It pauses, as if to gauge your response, before continuing. You can hear the smirk in its voice.
"But I’ll know your secret. You will delight in being subjugated by me. And I will delight in the way you betray yourself, and everything you’ve ever known, for the pleasure of being ruined.”
This is so fucking bad. You hide your face into your hands, shaking your head.
Its voice turns colder, if such a thing is possible.
Hii i just wanna say i really love your IF pythium and i notice it was in dashingdon do u intend to import to cogdemos or make it as a twine game?
I really love ur blogs btw!!
🥹 that’s super lovely to hear, especially because I know it’s so short so far! I can’t wait until I really get into it, and people can get to know my characters 🥰 I feel like I’m far better at dialogue than description, so I’ve been eager to get out of MC’s head.
I’m planning to import it as a WIP to cogdemos, possibly after I get a bit more done. Twine would be the smart move, maybe, since I recently read about a hostedgames game that couldn’t get published due to explicit content. But also, I’ve finally learned choicescript- learning twine sounds exhausting haha
this ask isnt meant to be seen as pressuring you at all, but im so excited for more work on pythium!!! i played the little bit thats available and omg ur mind....looking forward for whats to come if you continue it!
Omg thank you! I’ve been working on it a ton, I’m hoping I’ll have the prologue completed in the next few weeks. The first scene I decided to write is a bit complex (a room with a puzzle in it, should you choose to engage with it) so it’s been interesting learning how to code searching the room, walking around, the way different stat builds interact with the room, how the descriptions change when you learn new information, etc.
Once I finish this scene it’ll be a bit more linear for a while, so it should go faster 😅 I just want to get to introducing all of the characters!
HUMUS DI LOMBRICO PER LA COLTIVAZIONE DI MELANZANA, PEPERONE, CAVOLO, PREZZEMOLO E RADICCHIO E PER IL CONTROLLO DI PYTHIUM, PYTHOPTHORA E PLASMODIOPHORA BRASSICAE (Dr. Domenico Prisa)
Ringrazio per la Sperimentazione il Centro di Lombricoltura Toscano di San Giuliano Terme (PI), per il materiale di qualità fornitomi
L’humus di lombrico ottenuto tramite la degradazione da parte dei lombrichi è un ammendante organico ricco di elementi nutritivi prontamente disponibili definito “Black gold” per i suoi preziosi effetti sulla crescita delle piante e sulla fertilità del suolo. Nei…
