[venillopewrites]

After nearly a millennium of innovation, research, and money sank into a far-off dream of galaxies beyond the Milky Way, the world watches with bated breath as the oval portal sparkles to life. Safe in their homes they lean forward on their couches, captivated by the next big step in mankind’s conquest towards the great beyond. The portal lights up in a brilliant display of greens and blues, and the world cheers. Their celebration mixes with the screams from beyond their screens, unheard, a mix of raucous joy and unimaginable terror lasting mere seconds before the broadcast ends.

DEMO TBA ✕ CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Note: Demo will be written in CScript, but the full game will be written in Twine.

The Erebus Project is an 18+ sci-fi/cyberpunk game meant for mature audiences, and will include scenes that might upset some readers.

This includes, but is not limited to; death, violence, blood & gore, body horror, loss of control, recreational drug use, unhealthy relationships (optional), harsh language, and sexually explicit themes (optional).

The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever.

 - Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

When humanity first dabbled in the science of portal technology, no one thought much of it. A project of immense proportions, doomed to fail, that's what everyone said.

You were skeptical as well, and that exact skepticism ended up uprooting your entire life. Not that you had much in the shady pits of The Pens, but it was better than the glass cage you've been imprisoned in.

An alien. It came through the portal with a vicious screech and a horrifying visage of a maw large enough to swallow you whole. It did so to the others, tore them limb from limb and left them in pieces, but here you are; safe, quarantined, with that same black ichor briefly appearing like veins on your skin. Poked, prodded, and treated like nothing but a walking test subject, that's what the alien turned you into.

Until it utters the first notes of speech, inside your head like an echo. It learns through you, and for those endless months it was one of the only two voices you heard. It grew angry, restless, loud in your head. It spoke of a threat, and a salvation in words you couldn't comprehend. As it grew stronger, you had to resist it more. Hold down your own fingers, then your hand, then your entire arm. The scientists were exstatic.

Then it broke out. Not from you, as you, and your life would never be the same. From a poor, unassuming resident of The Pens to the most hunted human on the surface of Earth - All the while the alien echoes in your mind, threatening, warning in a low, constant rattle.

It's coming.

Create and guide your Host; a broke and desperate resident of The Pens that learned that when something is too good to be true, it probably is.

Customize the Host! Names, gender, appearance, sexuality, and romantic preference; even clothing style, skin details, and core personality. It's up to you to create your perfect host!

Romance it not lost in the void of space: there are currently four characters to pursue, with possibly more on the horizon. All characters are gender selectable, and available for romance even if the Host is asexual.

Name your alien! It doesn't need a name, but you can't call it 'parasite' forever. Decide whether or not to give it pronouns as well, unless you're content with calling the thing 'it' throughout your journey.

Choose whether to accept the new tenant residing in your cranium, or fight it every step of the way. On one hand, you're technically a bona fide superhero; on the other hand, you have an interstellar, sentient goo inside your body.

Learn why the alien appeared through the portal, and subsequently gain knowledge of a approaching threat that will end your solar system as you know it.

Balance a semi-social life as a fugitive, all while being hunted by the CSI, and keeping the parasite from going on a rampage. Your willpower will be your greatest asset, use it. If not for anything else but to keep the alien from entirely consuming you.

And most importantly: Save the galaxy! No big deal, right?

An extraterrestrial entity with no known origin, the creature that stepped through the portal and found its way into your brain. No tests have proven its existence, and only you can hear it, but scientists are certain it resides somewhere within your body. It rarely spoke in the beginning, but the months you’ve spend in captivity with it has altered it to understand your language, at least. Occasionally it shifts across your body, appearing in rivulets of black, green, and blue across your skin but neither human nor camera has been able to catch it in motion.

Parasitic Entity / Ageless / Color code: ⚫

PROFILE

The more time you spend together, the more you come to realize that it’s not just a mindless organism inhabiting your body, but a sentient creature with knowledge beyond your own, and a desire to leave.

The one who took you into protective custody after your body was retrieved from the wreckage in the portal room. No one knows why they believe you’re infused with the monstrosity that appeared from beyond the abyss, but they’ve kept you alive so far. Their underlings trust them completely, but there are whispers that there’s a separate reason they're keeping you alive and cooped up instead of vivisecting you for the alien that resides within. If you only had more time within the project, maybe you could've learned why their eyes are so cold and distant.

Nathan/Naomi Hanover [M or F] / Lead Scientist / 36 / Color code: 🔵

PROFILE

For months, they were your only contact to the outside world. Observing them through your glass cage only painted them as aloof and cold, disinterested in idle chatter and friendly banter; when they spoke with you alone, they were different. Warm, with sadness in their eyes. Is there reason why they changed so, or is it just a way to manipulate you into trusting them?

A bloodhound, an assassin, a bounty hunter; Vale is your worst nightmare once you shoot up to the top of the CSI's most wanted list. They pursue you relentlessly, and have made it their personal mission in life to either bring you in or put you down. They are on the brash side, with a very prominent “act now, ask questions whenever” attitude and it shows when they get close to catching you, and ultimately makes them lose sight of you again. They’re fearsomely effective and you feel as if you can’t go a second without looking over your shoulder in fear that Vale's cold gray eyes settle on you.

Emerson/Emery Vale [M or F] / CSI Special Agent / 29 / Color code: 🔴

PROFILE

Duty is their mission, but it's not all they are; you've heard their name in The Pens before, an old face who somehow made it out. In contrast to what haunts you, people say Vale was kind, and found a way out so they could help make a change once they did. What happened when they finally found their way out, to turn them into the relentless agent that now hounds your every move?

The heart of The Pens, with a finger on the district's erratic pulse, Shiba is hailed as a celebrity among those who call the rusty cauldron of misery home. It's said that they know everything happening within the shady, artificially lit corridors of their kingdom, and you have no proof that it would be wrong. A royal beacon of unity, Shiba is akin to a leader to those unfortunate who find themselves beneath the pristine city above, but to you they are a friend. You've shared an apartment with them for years now, and you're lucky they let you back in after coming back from a job they told you not to accept.

Shiloh "Shiba" Barnes [M, F, NB] / IT Specialist / 27 / Color code: 🟠

PROFILE

Beneath the bright charisma and dazzling presence, Shiloh is only human. Revered as they might be, you've come to learn their personal side; the person who trips on the upturned corner of a carpet, spills marinara on their interascreens, and whispers encouragements to the ancient microwave as it unsteadily hums away. They are the first one to learn about the stowaway in you head, but will they forfeit friendship in exchange for unimaginable riches?

[venillopewrites]

N. Hanover, the Philomath.

In the opulent embrace of the mansion, a child sits motionless, their gaze drawn far beyond the gilded walls to the glorious towers that scrape the skies. Every muscle is poised in perfect stillness, fingers clenched with an iron grip.

Like a marionette in a state of suspended animation, the child awaits the commands that will shape their existence. A father's stern voice, a mother's frigid whisper; these have been their guiding stars. For years, the ivory towers of the city above have been their sole companions, standing sentinel over the child's silent vigil within the gilded cage.

Time passes, and the child grows, but not in the way that ordinary children do. Their individuality is systematically snuffed out, replaced by the prototype of perfection that their parents envisioned. They become a trophy, a living testament to knowledge and discipline, a marvel and the pinnacle of human achievement. Yet, at what price?

The once-distant ivory towers, years later, transform into stark white rooms, a predetermined backdrop to humanity's far-off dreams of further conquest. A brilliant mind teeters on the precipice of monumental discovery, an obsession that stirs the first spark of something unfamiliar. The rush of a beating heart, surges of adrenaline, and the weight of exhaustion bear down upon them. It's the first touch of emotion, a lightning strike in the dark, awakening an ancient ghost that never had the chance to grow—an imprisoned soul crying out for freedom.

Cold logic wages a fierce battle with this newfound spark of rebellion, an internal struggle that has been a lifetime in the making. And then, like a puppet with a will of its own, the husk finally severs the invisible strings that have bound them to their machinated existence.

GENERAL:

Born into opulence and genetically sculpted to embody their parents' ideals, N. navigates life with an emotionally detached demeanor. Beneath the calculated facade, fleeting moments of unfamiliar warmth and emotion stir within, leaving them feeling both bewildered and hopeful, a hope of breaking free of those restraints placed on a mind that was never theirs to shape.

Raised in isolation, their childhood was a relentless pursuit of knowledge, devoid of the social nuances that shape most lives. As a result, forming deep connections remains an elusive ambition, while an insatiable curiosity about the human psyche haunts their solitude.

With an intellect that borders on the divine, they have amassed countless accolades and prizes, their name whispered in reverence among scholars and thinkers. The very foundation of IBIS owes its existence to their brilliance, and from the depths of their mind, The Erebus Project was conceived.

In the sanctum of their thoughts, they etched the blueprint of a portal that held the potential to reshape humanity's destiny. Yet, with each triumph, an ominous dread claws at their soul, locked in a perpetual battle with the insatiable thirst for progress. For they knew that in the pursuit of unlocking the mysteries of the universe, they teetered on the precipice of playing with forces beyond mortal comprehension, forces not meant to be disturbed.

APPEARANCE:

In the present, N. stands at a precise 5'8", exuding an air of unwavering confidence with every inch of their posture. Their squared shoulders are a testament to their perfect carriage, projecting an aura of authority.

Their eyes, a striking russet brown, may initially appear cold and emotionless, but for those observant enough, a subtle spark resides within, rarely unveiled to others. Thin and almond-shaped, these eyes impart a severe look even in moments of rest.

An upturned nose graces their face, featuring a discreet dent at the bridge, adding a unique character to their otherwise flawless countenance. Their lips, naturally thin, maintain a perpetual neutral line, though they turn a deep pink when chewed in moments of deep concentration.

Dark brown hair, tinged with premature graying at the temples, falls with meticulous precision. Cascading to their neck and occasionally grazing the shoulder blades, each strand is disciplined, never daring to stray from its place.

Their pale beige skin seems a pristine canvas, seemingly untouched by scars or blemishes, except for one nearly invisible mark. A whisper-thin scar traces behind one ear, over the nape of their neck, forever concealed by their cascading hair.

Beneath their attire, a result of genetic modification, rests a naturally toned body, an epitome of physical perfection. However, it's their long legs that often draw unwanted admiration, a feature that stands out despite their overall remarkable appearance.

Dressing down is a rare occurrence for N. They consistently opt for a lab coat and professional attire, favoring crisp suit or suit shirts and dress pants, always adorned with the latest InteraWatch on their wrist. On occasions when a more relaxed look is warranted, they lean toward turtlenecks, dress shirts, or neutrally colored sweaters, steadfastly avoiding sweatpants as if they were anathema to their existence.

PERSONALITY:

Dr. Hanover is the embodiment of logical precision, a mind honed to perfection with little room for the complexities of human emotion. They come across as detached and cold, their interactions marked by a relentless focus on facts and reason. They lack the social finesse to forge deep connections, a consequence of an upbringing that prioritized their intellectual development over emotional intelligence.

While Dr. Hanover is a revered visage of what humanity could be if genetic engineering was made accessible, N. is, in essence, as human as they come. They have routines in the morning, headaches in the evening, and find nothing but discomfort in the chaos of parties. Their evenings are spent in the solace of old books, curated from museums and collectors. It is in these pages that they find a form of peace, a glimpse of frivolity that they can call their own, a respite from the unyielding grip of expectations that govern their life.

Their mind was molded to fit precise parameters of perfection, leaving no space for the nuances of humor or empathy. It leaves them to speak in a monotone, matter-of-fact tone even in the face of danger, as anything else is a realm foreign to them.

FUN STUFF:

MBTI: INTP

ALIGNMENT: True Neutral

HOROSCOPE: Virgo

LIKES: The IBIS facility after hours, the smell of ancient books, anything sweet

DISLIKES: schmoozing at company gatherings, idle gossip, cold weather

COMFORT FOOD: Chocolate chip cookies

HOBBY: Reading

PETS: None

MOODBOARD:

[venillopewrites]

I already love this game idea and am kinda hyped about whatever other project you have in store for us <3

Pictured above, me seeing this ask.

You're too kind, love! Thank you for your lovely words 💕

[venillopewrites]

Hi I hope you're well. I was just wondering if there were any new updates you could give us?

If not, what about any non spoilery fun facts for this or your other project?

Actually Idk if you started working on it yet but if so, How's the other project going? All I saw was animals and got excited.

Hello love! I'm doing good, winding down from the summer excitement and preparing my home for my favorite autumn season 🍂 My neighbors are getting increasingly worried about my pumpkin collection.

I do have some minor updates for you! Nothing to warrant an entire post, but small successes are also successes!

For example, the personality aspect of the prologue has passed quick testing! Now every action has an appropriate reaction somewhere in the text, no matter how small. I so enjoy flavor text 💫 (I added like 2k words of flavor text. Oops, but not really)

The naming shenanigans for the Parasite has been fun. There's some easter eggs there, depending on what you decide to name it! (ie. Venom, which no doubt will be popular) Of course all of these aliens from media have faded from human memory between 2023 and 2974, but that won't stop me from writing some general and vaguely snarky responses.

Bonus scene for this week was the very first "death" scene. Not that the MC can die this early in the game, but I'll switch to the Parasite's POV as a lil treat for both you and me 😌 It's very exasperated about the whole ordeal of its human meat bag going *windows shutting down*.

Focusing heavily on the stat page now too, and boy is it fun. There's even (placeholder) graphics! Both literary and numerical relationship stats, yay! Shiba will be the only one who even remotely likes MC in the beginning of the game, the others are either indifferent (Parasite), wary (N.) or downright hostile (E.)

There are a lot of fun tidbits from both games, but let's do TEP for now.

Did you know organized religion no longer exists in 2974? The only thing remaining are obscure records on the intranets and crumbling, forgotten infrastructure hidden deep within the oldest parts of the Pens. Cults though, those you'll find in abundance!

The metropolitan city has a name, but no one really uses it. The three districts (the Aureum, the Hub, and the Pens) are the biggest districts within the city of Arca. There are more, but no one really pays mind to those. Like suburbs that have nothing happening to be honest.

All but four planets (the four exceptions being Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn) in the solar system are inhabited by humans. Mercury is an industrial behemoth, and only houses mines, factories, and factory workers. Venus is a resort planet, but just for the richest of people who can afford it. Very bougie. Mars is a settled planet with similar massive cityscapes as Earth, but they're very much shielded under massive domes. Pluto is a prison. Many moons/natural satellites also have colonies, because humans are too many and need space.

One of those inhabited moons kinda went kablooey in 2430. RIP people who lived on Rhea.

While the future has many great technologies, humans haven't dabbled in android business yet. There are some trials on extinct animals though, but those have all been failures.

Animals only exist in zoos. The planet is too barren and crowded to house any natural animals. Sad, but no one really cares since they don't go outside the city limits on foot anyway.

Oh wee, that was a lot of loredropping, huh? Hope it gives a bit of an insight to the world!

Now the other project is in outlining stages, but I can name drop some NPCs/RO's for you 😉 They're all set in their genders too which will help me with coding.

Anyway, here's them and their respective emojis.

Kit 🐻‍❄️🐧

Olivia 🐬🦈

Dallas 🐊🐍

Mason 🦁🐯

Harper 🦚🦜

Sydney 🩺🐾

Oh, and the villain 💵🏗️, duh.

[venillopewrites]

You haven't even gotten out a demo for this project maybe don't get a second project

Your concerns have been noted 💫 The second project is still in its outlining stages so it won't steal too much valuable time from TEP, as it shouldn't.

The demo for TEP will be out before the new project is made public, that's my promise to both myself and you guys!

[venillopewrites]

Secret project??? Intrigue

Yesssss 🐍

Here's the icon for the (very secret shhhh) blog!

It about animals! And capitalistic greed! And staying true to yourself in face of adversity! Very slice of life, with a twist! No scifi in this one, no sirree. Less world building for me. Thank goodness 💀

[venillopewrites]

August 2, 2023

I feel like an estranged aunt every time I return to this blog with news, but not a rich wine aunt but one of those aunt's who disappears into the woods for a few months and comes back with a pet skunk and a handful of berries.

WHAT'S DONE 🪐

➠ 3% of chapter 1 pt. 1 has been written! I know it doesn't sound like much but I'm vibing. With how I've outlined this chapter, 3% is a drop in the ocean. What was I thinking. Poor host, I love writing their existential crisis tho.

➠ The prologue is DONE! Or done enough to go through another round of testing and editing, and now I just have to check that all variables do what they're supposed to. Might even add more, knowing me and my wayward writing hands.

➠ The character profiles are coming! I'm just trying to reach my backup files because they got lost in the freak accident called 'Ven deleting stuff willy nilly and being a dumb'. Let's hope they're out there somewhere 🥹.

TO DO 🪐

➠ Still need to write chapter one, part one to completion. After that I can start thinking of demo release. Just saying that makes me shake in my boots!

➠ Check wtf I was thinking for ch1, pt2, because I have completely forgotten. Had to take a break and it just made my brain blank out 😶‍🌫️

➠ Post some character snippets! I have some very fluffy writings sitting in my notepad on the phone, drunk Ven really doesn't socialize but writes instead.

➠ Reintegrate to Tumblr. Be more active! I've missed so much during the impromptu break, breaks my heart 😞

While I've been gone from the online world, the game has been in the works. Things are going smoothly on that front! While I know the Tumblr for this game isn't popping off, I appreciate all of you who have had patience with me thus far 🧡 Good things are coming, I promise.

(There might also be a side project in the works, but that's still under wraps shhhh)

[wordfather]

me: so..... see anything interesting lately?

the many eyed creature living in my basement: YOUR LAUNDRY IN THE WASHING MACHINE. IT WAS DONE CYCLING 4 HOURS AGO

me: oh shit i forgot thanks

[venillopewrites]

Just found the if I have to say very interesting, can't wait to meet the characters

Thank you my love 🧡 I can't wait to bring this little crew to life for you, and they are well on their way to be ready!

Just a few more months I reckon! Hype hype 🔥

[venillopewrites]

E. Vale, the Hunter.

In the heart of a clandestine facility, a human existence is severed from its own past. Memories, like delicate wisps of smoke, are mercilessly snuffed out, leaving behind a barren landscape within the depths of their mind.

Once a person of warmth and dreams, their essence is crushed, shattered, and remade in a grotesque image of what was before. With surgical precision, extensive machinations rewire their neural pathways, erasing the tapestry of a life that once bloomed with color. Like an artist scraping a canvas clean, their identity is reduced to a blank slate, a vessel now primed solely for obedience to those behind the mirrored glass.

In the recesses of their hollowed mind, shards of echoes linger, flickering like forgotten embers. Fleeting sensations of love, joy, and sorrow try to claw their way back to the surface but are held captive, imprisoned by the chains of artificial oblivion. Their heart, once brimming with emotions, beats now to the mechanical rhythm of obedience, a cadence set by the unseen puppeteers.

Immersed in the darkest arts of manipulation, they are reborn as a lethal instrument of destruction. The corporation, hailed as heroes but hungry for power, molds them into a merciless predator, a creature of instinct and precision. They become the embodiment of a weapon, honed to exterminate without remorse or hesitation.

Adorned in obsidian armor, their eyes mirror the void that consumes their memories—a chilling reflection of a soul teetering on the precipice of forgotten humanity. Infiltrating the world under the guise of normalcy, they prowl like a phantom, hunting down targets assigned by the corporation’s merciless hand.

Yet, amid the bloodstained tapestry woven by their actions, fragments of their lost self whisper to them in moments of solitude. A flicker of doubt, an ember of longing, entwined with the shadows of their tormented soul. Buried beneath layers of manipulation, a dormant soul yearns to ignite, a beacon of hope awaiting its resurgence.

GENERAL:

Vale is, for the lack of a better term, a corpse, a machine, and a ghost. The first and only successful venture towards mind control, a corrupted science veiled as a cure for disease, a promised respite from a painful decay of the brain.

Before they were the phantom they are today, Vale was but another poor soul born into a life of misery and pain. However, with a family to love and adore, Vale never complained, never strayed from their side, and in the end, gave up their life for them.

Anyone in the Pens could tell about the horrors they face; Polluted, deadly air, poverty, starvation, addictions borne from desperation; There are few stories that end happily in the endless mazes of the forgotten city. Forced to survive in an environment not suitable for human life, Vale learned to fight before they learned to walk. Gifted as a child, their name still lingers within the walls of the legal fight clubs dominating the unstable economy within the Pens. Relentless, fearsome, unstoppable; They were all that and more. 

One poor decision, a brash swing of a blade, was all it took to change the course of one life. With threats and repercussions looming, Vale had no choice but to yield and sign themselves into servitude until the debt was paid. But deception runs deep in the minds of madmen, and a believable lie would result in the loss of whoever Vale was before the merciless conditioning they were subjected to within those remote laboratories. Through unimaginable brutality, whatever made Vale an individual was chipped away until the primal instinct to survive was the only thing lingering. Reluctant acceptance was how it began, but through the years even that small shred of defiance was snuffed out, forgotten.

With a safeguard surgically implanted deep within their brain, Vale became nothing but a machine. A miracle, the sole survivor left from a group of ten, the only remainder of a study deemed too time-consuming after the failed specimen were hauled away and set ablaze within a mass grave. The rancid smell of those carcasses still linger in Vale’s mind, infiltrating their dreams as a strange, forgotten memory.

Keep reading

[venillopewrites]

E. Vale, the Hunter.

In the heart of a clandestine facility, a human existence is severed from its own past. Memories, like delicate wisps of smoke, are mercilessly snuffed out, leaving behind a barren landscape within the depths of their mind.

Once a person of warmth and dreams, their essence is crushed, shattered, and remade in a grotesque image of what was before. With surgical precision, extensive machinations rewire their neural pathways, erasing the tapestry of a life that once bloomed with color. Like an artist scraping a canvas clean, their identity is reduced to a blank slate, a vessel now primed solely for obedience to those behind the mirrored glass.

In the recesses of their hollowed mind, shards of echoes linger, flickering like forgotten embers. Fleeting sensations of love, joy, and sorrow try to claw their way back to the surface but are held captive, imprisoned by the chains of artificial oblivion. Their heart, once brimming with emotions, beats now to the mechanical rhythm of obedience, a cadence set by the unseen puppeteers.

Immersed in the darkest arts of manipulation, they are reborn as a lethal instrument of destruction. The corporation, hailed as heroes but hungry for power, molds them into a merciless predator, a creature of instinct and precision. They become the embodiment of a weapon, honed to exterminate without remorse or hesitation.

Adorned in obsidian armor, their eyes mirror the void that consumes their memories—a chilling reflection of a soul teetering on the precipice of forgotten humanity. Infiltrating the world under the guise of normalcy, they prowl like a phantom, hunting down targets assigned by the corporation's merciless hand.

Yet, amid the bloodstained tapestry woven by their actions, fragments of their lost self whisper to them in moments of solitude. A flicker of doubt, an ember of longing, entwined with the shadows of their tormented soul. Buried beneath layers of manipulation, a dormant soul yearns to ignite, a beacon of hope awaiting its resurgence.

GENERAL:

Vale is, for the lack of a better term, a corpse, a machine, and a ghost. The first and only successful venture towards mind control, a corrupted science veiled as a cure for disease, a promised respite from a painful decay of the brain.

Before they were the phantom they are today, Vale was but another poor soul born into a life of misery and pain. However, with a family to love and adore, Vale never complained, never strayed from their side, and in the end, gave up their life for them.

Anyone in the Pens could tell about the horrors they face; Polluted, deadly air, poverty, starvation, addictions borne from desperation; There are few stories that end happily in the endless mazes of the forgotten city. Forced to survive in an environment not suitable for human life, Vale learned to fight before they learned to walk. Gifted as a child, their name still lingers within the walls of the legal fight clubs dominating the unstable economy within the Pens. Relentless, fearsome, unstoppable; They were all that and more. 

One poor decision, a brash swing of a blade, was all it took to change the course of one life. With threats and repercussions looming, Vale had no choice but to yield and sign themselves into servitude until the debt was paid. But deception runs deep in the minds of madmen, and a believable lie would result in the loss of whoever Vale was before the merciless conditioning they were subjected to within those remote laboratories. Through unimaginable brutality, whatever made Vale an individual was chipped away until the primal instinct to survive was the only thing lingering. Reluctant acceptance was how it began, but through the years even that small shred of defiance was snuffed out, forgotten.

With a safeguard surgically implanted deep within their brain, Vale became nothing but a machine. A miracle, the sole survivor left from a group of ten, the only remainder of a study deemed too time-consuming after the failed specimen were hauled away and set ablaze within a mass grave. The rancid smell of those carcasses still linger in Vale’s mind, infiltrating their dreams as a strange, forgotten memory.

APPEARANCE:

Standing at an impressive 6'3" in height, Vale exudes a commanding presence that demands attention, whether they want it or not. Their light blonde hair is fashioned in a stylish undercut, with the longest tips falling just past their ears if left unstyled. On the job, they keep it meticulously slicked back or woven into a practical French braid, ensuring their hair stays out of the way during the tasks.

Piercing gray eyes, enhanced with implanted technology, shine with a white or pale blue luminescence, especially in the dark corners of the Pens where they patrol for the Host. If one manages to push past the fear of those cold, calculating eyes on oneself and dare take a closer look, it's apparent that their eyes are slightly down turned and framed by long, dark lashes that don't match the color of their hair. Nearly inconceivable freckles run over the expanse of their sharp cheekbones and pointed nose, but to witness such a detail would be impossible without greeting Death within the same moment.

Their skin, a weathered and bronze brown, tells tales of countless battles. This complexion, while marked by years of harsh conditions and tools of torture, softens under a soft light that reveals constellations of freckles still serving as a reminder that the body was once pure and untouched by violence.

An athletic physique, sculpted through physical prowess and a life of constant movement complements their formidable presence. Scars adorn their body haphazardly, but with uncanny similarity to one another. Among these marks, a jagged and pronounced scar stretches across their face, traversing from the bridge of their nose to just under the right ear. A similar scar, uneven and untreated in its severity, runs up from their left elbow and snakes towards their shoulder where it tapers off into smaller scars.

Their left forearm and hand, replaced entirely by prosthetics, work as a tool as much as an appendage. Crafted with precision and incorporating advanced technology, these cybernetic enhancements seamlessly integrate into their physique, functioning as an extension of their being. 

Whether on the job or in their downtime, Vale prefers tactical gear, and will never be caught wearing anything impractical. Even in civilian attire they favor muted colors that blend into the surroundings, opting for dark t-shirts and cargo pants, occasionally complemented by a leather or bomber jacket for a touch of rugged style.

PERSONALITY:

Clad in a cold, emotionless mask, Vale exudes an air of hostility towards everyone, but especially the Host, as they’re driven by a singular purpose — to eliminate them. All their interactions are laced with a venomous yet detached disdain, words growled with robotic apathy. Their demeanor is unyielding, eyes devoid of warmth or compassion towards those daring to stand in their way, be they human or something else entirely.

However, beneath the armor of their erased emotional responses, cracks begin to form. Old memories, whispers from a forgotten past, they creep into the recesses of their mind, creating hairline fractures in their seemingly impenetrable mask. Fragments of their former self resurface, casting doubt upon the righteousness of their mission.

With each flicker of remembrance, their thoughts find momentary clarity. The weight of familiarity tugs at their heart, nudging Vale towards a gnawing realization that something isn't right. The carefully crafted shell of emotionlessness begins to crack, revealing glimpses of confusion before a switch is flicked and the anomalous thoughts are replaced by scorching pain, a flame to incinerate any seeds of disobedience.

FUN STUFF:

MBTI: ISTJ

ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil / Chaotic Good (Conditional)

HOROSCOPE: Scorpio

LIKES: The moment before sunset, plain crackers, sitting on rooftops of skyscrapers

DISLIKES: Silk sheets, the texture of melted chocolate on their hands, visiting the Pens

COMFORT FOOD: Spanakopita

HOBBY: Forgotten [Was parkour]

PETS: A random house spider called Titan. Not a pet, just a creature sharing space.

MOODBOARD:

[venillopewrites]

[venillopewrites]

LAST LINE TAG GAME

My very first tag game tag!! In the middle of work (a few days ago now skslshdb I procrastinated by accident) seeing a notification that @atrial-ofhorror-if has mentioned silly old me? Made my day, thank you bee!! <33

Last line(s, because otherwise it wouldn't make much sense)!

$!{para_name} surges from the depths of your chest, uncoiling with such ferocity that you cry out in agony. An overwhelming inferno of wrath engulfs your every nerve, dark tendrils coiling too tight around your arms and chest before they blindly shoot out to attack the sound that seems to shake the very walls around you. It's an amalgamation of fear and a ravenous hunger for revenge that forces your eyes closed, leaving you trapped in a state of primal desperation, an insatiable bloodlust that rips through a body you can no longer recognize as your own.

Thank you for the tag! I'm tagging anyone who wants to do this but also:

@theoperativeif @subjectzero-if @crowoods-if @valiant-if @modernelites-if

(Sorry of you've done this already, I'm so far off the bandwagon all I see is dust on the horizon fkdhdk)

[venillopewrites]

Hiii !! Firstly let me ask, How are things going? is everything alright with you? (you don't have to answer)

Also, again Only if you can or don't mind answering. When did you first get the idea for your IF? Was it something you had on your mind for a while, before creating your intro post? or was it like a quick idea that popped in your mind and you decided to start trying to bring it to fruition right then and there lol?

Everything's perfect for me right now, thank you! Hope you're doing fabulously too! <33

The universe where TEP takes place is super old in my mind, I think the first story I wrote within it (kinda, considering the universe didn't have a name yet) was back in?? 2010?? Ish? I remember being enthralled by Mass Effect back then (still am!) so this basically began as an attempt at fanfic that just went off the rails and became its own separate world sksbdvdk

It wasn't a fleshed out world back then and was sadly forgotten for a good while until it came back to me in a dream some odd years ago, in the form of ✨ inspiration ✨ for this story!

It wasn't an IF back then though, just a little experimental novel that helped me work out the setting, world, and factions at play. The only characters back then were the parasite, a nameless roommate (now Shiba) and the hunter (now Vale). Our Host was nothing but a pathetic little meow meow, just a wet rag who wanted no part in the whole being a host to the first alien humanity ever encountered, and they pretty much died in the end 😶‍🌫️

I decided to try my hand at this IF thing after blindly bumbling my way onto the CoG forums and being smitten by the games there. Took a long time to gather the courage for the intro post too, since have you seen the writers on here? Oh mama they be writing. (Pls get my vine reference or I might cringe myself to an alternate dimension)

Thank you for the amazing ask <33

[venillopewrites]

MAY 18, 2023

As I rise from the dust of the (what feels like) hundreds of moving boxes in my office, life breathes back onto this blog! I moved countries in this long absence and I'm still getting settled, but a progress report is still in order 🌿 Thank you for your patience and messages!

WHAT'S DONE 🪐

➠ Worldbuilding glossaries are 100% done! Now we just have to move them from WordPad to the game.

➠ Pregame exposition has been completely rewritten, and is now told from the point of view of a stranger who will be following your choices with keen interest.

➠ Prologue at 99% readiness! Only a few more edits and rewrites, and we're in the clear.

➠ Character profiles are 80% ready to be posted! They're sitting in my WordPad document, and soon I'll start copying them over to Tumblr. Reformatting ahoy! They'll be both posted on the main and on a designated page on the blog.

TO DO 🪐

➠ Revisit the first pages of Ch. 01, and decide on rewrites or edits. Luckily it's not too long yet, so it won't feel bad to rewrite.

➠ Finally get to visualizing character appearances, just need to find a proper medium for it. AI art feels iffy, but it's all I have right now. Ideas are welcome!

➠ Redo some subplots for the non-RO NPCs to have a bigger impact on the story as a whole, tie them together for maximum oomph.

➠ Coffee ☕

➠ Interact more with the community! The break was long and I know a lot of new stuff's come up. Sorry for the influx of likes and follows to come!

Four months went by, and now we're here again! I'm glad there was time to get some writing done, even if it's just details that might get lost in the background. I know I mentioned some word count in the last progress update, but that has to come in the future. Thank you again for your sweet messages, you're all too kind <3

[theskeletonprior]

There is something so beautiful about reaching out to the monstrous with intent to touch it gently. To risk the sharp teeth and the lethal claws, to defy fear and revulsion, and choose to be delicate with something that can be, and often is, incredibly brutal.

[venillopewrites]

Hello!! Hope all is well. Has this project been dropped? or is it still up and kicking?

Gosh all these messages make my heart warm, thank you <33 It's alive, and still being worked on even if it's a bit slow at the moment.

It's up and kicking, if nothing else, it's kicking my ass 😂