he made a mistake
A nature-centric commune reveals itself to be more cultish than cordial when your gap year trip takes a turn and you stumble onto their soil one ill-fated night.
demo tba.
'In The East' is an upcoming interactive story that follows you and your two best friends, Ryan and Dahlia, as you embark on a road trip across the mesmerising west coast to celebrate your recent graduation. Your journey takes an unexpected turn an accident leaves you stranded in a seemingly idyllic commune called Eden, inhabited by nature-centric people devoted to harmonising with the earth.
In Eden, you find solace and temporary refuge, but as you settle into the peaceful commune, you begin to sense an eerie undercurrent beneath its serene facade. Not all is as it seems to be, and you start to uncover unsettling truths about the communes practices.
As the days pass and the once-clear boundaries between reality and illusion blur, you're faced with a hard decision. You must choose whether to embrace the allure of the unknown; adopting the communes strange rituals and beliefs, or to resist, and seek out a way to your old life. Your relationships with Dahlia and Ryan, alongside others you meet, are put to the test as you grapple with opposing viewpoints, navigating the complex dynamics of cult-living, and the consequences that will arise from the choices you make.
Full customisation options for your MC. Choose your pronouns, sexuality, appearance, personality, and more. Take control of your interactions with the world: experience Eden through a personalised new scope.
Form deep connections with the supporting cast and romance options. Witness their growth, explore their personalities and experience the highs and lows of their true selves as the cult takes grip.
Your choices matter. With branching paths and multiple endings, both good and bad, play through a story where what you do makes a real impact.
Engage in the complex moral dilemmas put on display. You will be made to confront difficult choices that explore themes of loyalty, freedom, and the blurred lines between devotion and manipulation.
Karma [F] Karma is an enigma within the commune, a devoted member and the daughter of its leader, Amanda. Radiating with an aura of kindness and a truly gentle touch, Karma embodies the very essence of the commune's philosophy. Her actions are always driven by a genuine desire to nurture and support those around her, offering a comforting presence and a listening ear to anyone in need. Karma is 18, 5'5 and white.
Rowan [M]
If you ask about Rowan in Eden, you will get a similar answer from everyone: free spirited, extroverted, the kind of person to help old women cross the street or play soccer with children on a whim. He’s charismatic, warm-hearted and kind, but underneath his show of nonchalance you can see something unforgiving, something broken, waiting to be brought to the surface. Rowan is 20, 5’11, and mixed: brazilian and white.
Lilith [F]
Lilith lurks in the shadows of Eden. You can often find her in her bedroom, painting fervidly in dark shades of blue and green, usually scenes from her nightmares that so many believe are prophetic. She is reclusive and secretive, but in gaining her confidence you will gain insight into the beliefs and secrets of Eden, which have dictated her whole life. Lilith is 19, 5’8 and black.
Echo [M]
Echo is a mysterious and dark presence in the commune of Eden, contrasting its warmth with the essence of rain and dark days. With one pure black glass eye, he exudes suspicion and solitude. Yet beneath his tough exterior lies a perceptive and intuitive soul. Echo's resolve is clear – he believes you don't belong in Eden. Gaining his trust will be a delicate dance, if you're dedicated enough. Echo is 20, 6'0 and mixed: white and korean.
Fern [NB]
Fern is the embodiment of sunrises in Eden. With their connection to the earth and unappeasable craving for the knowledge pouring from Eden’s teachings, they are an example of the happiness that has been brought about by the commune. However, they are prone to shyness, and their studiousness can be overbearing at times… if not dangerous. Fern is 18, 5’3, and white.
Primrose [F]
Primrose is a whirlwind of madness, with a mind that dances to its own chaotic tune. Her unpredictable and manic nature makes her both exhilarating and alarming to be around. Like a lit fuse, she carries an air of impending explosion, and her reckless tendencies can lead to confrontations, leaving others in awe (and fear) of her aggressive prowess. As you interact with her, you'll experience the thrill of navigating her volatile moods and uncover the reasons behind her devotion to the cult. Prim is 19, 5'11 and white.
Ryan [M]
Your best friend's boyfriend. Ryan is the quintessential golden boy, your friend from an affluent family whose future appears paved with success. With his impeccable academic record and connections, prestigious colleges eagerly await his arrival. However, beneath the polished exterior, Ryan is an adventurous and carefree party boy, forever seeking the glimmer of joy in every moment. Despite his dying romance with Dahlia, Ryan aims to keep the peace and plans on letting her down easily... when the time is right. Ryan is 18, 6'2 and black.
polyamorous routes will be available with lilith + karma, rowan + primrose and ryan + echo.
WARNING: In The East is a cult horror IF with elements to its storyline that may be disturbing or triggering for some readers. Potential topics of controversy are suicidal ideation, graphic scenes of violence, drug use, strong language, allusions to brainwashing, use of propaganda, amputation of limbs, auto-cannibalism, religious imagery, infanticide and engagement in spiritual rituals. Read at your own discretion.
*opens word doc covered in blood* it doesn’t have to be good. it just has to be done.
Arches National Park, Utah photo: Elliot McGucken
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Bwuh, maybe I should make my projects into visual novels instead, I am a very visual person after all. I read way more interactive novels than VNs, so I'll need to dive into the medium more to better compare. But man I love and miss drawing, haven't done much of it trying to focus mostly on my IFs, and having lil images to go with my words is just fun.
Will I have to code more? Unfortunately yes. Do I know anything about music? Not really. Is it more work than just writing words? Probably, but words are hard for me anyways so lemme crutch my writing on my equally medicore art skills.
Anyways, my physical health is getting worse by the month. So many doctor visits n more pills, those might be getting to me. The chronic fatigue is still there n I'm prepping to get back to school n work towards a master's degree, so stress n stuff might be whats makin my writing pace slow as all hell.
Still something to consider, pictures :<
The joys of writing fantasy is nothing has the be realistic. The bane of my existence is the need to have things be accurate enough and getting nitty gritty about stuff.
Combat can be people hitting each other with sticks and vibes but I'm here trying to determine which weapons are used on horseback and how formation looks. They are fighting on the backs of dragons in a world of magic and mystery, what am I doing this to myself for? 😒
Anyways, lances are pretty cool but what else is there? From what I gather you just ram your lance and then whip out your side arm, which makes sense but also I guess I thought there'd be 30 or so different mounted weapons to choose from.
You have one year left to live.
But are you afraid of dying? Probably not. Since you don’t even know how to live your life. You have been hidden away from society's eye since young. And the only friend you have is an Alter, genetic-modified species born to only serve other people and nothing else. Alters live so ‘people like you’ could live.
That makes the two of you. Alive. But never here. Never lived.
If opportunities arise, would you take a chance to change it? Only you can answer.
In a world where feeling nothing at all is better than letting your emotions rule over you, your choice to break those rules and make a change will paint a new shade of history that no one ever could.
Hidden behind shut doors to live your quiet life as a secret child of Bastien Palmer, Sole Leader of Eutopia paradise, you never experience anything except for repeating the same old routine your entire life. You are the existence which should not be known, not just for the reason that you are the byproduct of your father and his secret lover. But also because of your frightening ‘Alter-like’ eye color, most of it is silver like any Stargaze–but nevertheless… tinted shamefully by crimson streaks.
You are told to stay away from public eyes for the sake of Palmer’s reputation in which you feel obliged to. However, your life of peaceful solitude will never be the same again after tonight…
Route to Eutopia is a violent dystopian loosely-conceptual interactive story where you are a bystander surrounded by The Chosen One of your own choice. You are to designate whether this story will head towards the direction of mutual peace between Alters– a human-like specie believed to be plagued by uncured disease since birth– and Stargazers —a group of survivors whose ancestors once lived on a faraway planet before an inevitable disaster occurred and forced them to flee into another dimension, or towards a doom fate that cannot be reversible.
To be noted; RtE is a heavily-relationship based game (not necessarily in platonic/romantic sense) each of your interactions with any character will determine the tone and purpose of their motivation. Any choice you have chosen, make sure to embrace the consequences of your action at your own expense.
With that being said, it is also worth mentioning that you don’t need to engage into a romance or specific relationship with any character to complete the story.
RtE also rated 18+ for explicit contents, disturbing topics such as discrimination against race, gender or sexuality and more… which will be tagged and cautioned about once the demo is released.
RtE takes place in a post-apocalypse society where the concept of time is lost and any history known was only speculations at best and rumour at worst. Trying to maintain their sense of utopia, Stargazers built and operated their space colony as a temporary base for self-preservation (in which only fews know details about) called ‘Eutopia’.
In this dystopian paradise people’s sole purpose of living was fixated on surviving. And in order to do that, the whole population creates a solid ground rule not to let themselves ‘feel’ about other emotions that do not serve for public favors. Hence, you will be challenged to adapt to several situations and handpick the best flavor of your actions based on the emotions you have learnt or developed from your surroundings.
Who do you play as?
For now, you will be playing as a secret child of Bastien Palmer, the leader of Stargazers who already has a wife and two other perfect children, your younger sister and brother. Ones you have never interacted with nor you ever get the chance to.
MCs subjectively considered a white sheet which you can paint anything on by your preferences. Explore the world full of colorful emotions or bottomless pit of numbness by your own choices.
But remember, Eutopia is a place where everything goes according to one simple rule ‘To survive’ hence the marriage between a man and woman will be set as the norm and only truth, and someone who will state otherwise must face and suffer the ugliness of social standards accordingly. However, I do not encourage any transphobic/homophobic behavior of the characters in this story. Please kindly be assured of that.
There might be a chance where you can start off as other characters, that is, however, still a subject-to-change matter as of now.
**Please be aware of mild spoilers below**
They would do anything to survive, even if it means to betray the only person who trusts them deeply… like you.
Vegaris is an Alter who has so many sides hidden behind closed doors. Unpredictable, cunning, hot and cold are the words that describe them best. Due to their traumatic childhood (much like other Alters on Eutopia), they have a deep-root hatred for Stargazers. Although they were brought in by your family and treated almost the same as one of your father’s own kids. They still witness the unfairness of being an Alter in society and never afraid to point the wrong in other people’s doings.
Their usual mask, however, is one where you cannot crack open that easily. They always remain calm and composed in front of you, and only show their fangs when circumstances arise.
For a person who seems to be easy to read as much as an open-book, they sure talk with silence better than with their own voice.
A poster girl/boy for Regency Academy. Your former childhood friend (for some unknown reason, they're trying their hardest to avoid you) and an only child to the Head of Deans at Regency, Sandalphon. They are the precise image of how one should raise a Stargazer. Being a honor student. A model citizen. And a perfect ideal partner. They are assigned to be married with the most capable genetic-wise fiancé. As popular as they appear to be to the public, their private life (as private as it can be) is still a gigantic loophole for most imprudent reporters trying to catch even just a glimpse.
It seems like what they are trying to avoid is not just you, but the entirety of Eutopia.
Do you believe in something just because it's true, or it becomes the truth only when you believe in it?
Sandalphon is the most powerful influence among the deans of Regency. A group of people that has control over governing matters even beyond that of Bastian Palmer, the President. For Sandal, they are anything and everything people could ever ask for in a Regency. Kind, generous, well-versed with every branch of knowledge in the universe. Never wrong in anything. And never judge anyone based on their bias.
If only people knew the truth, they’d probably beg to differ.
Maybe they are just good at hiding beneath that gentle facade, maybe a calculated mind with strings to pull works best with neutral suggestions... who knows?
[ Classified info. ]
**There will be two sub ROs and flings to be introduced later in the story.**
More info will be announced.
Demo TBA.
Datalog is completed roughly til the end of the story. Coding and polishing will certainly take time. Any more updates will be announced solely on this blog.
Follow & Reblogging is appreciated. Thank you!
babygirl your enormous eyebags and just barely noticeable tremor have captivated me
Hik | They/Them | Aspiring IF writer, we're workshopping stuff rn | Expect project related art now and again
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