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[swallowthedark]

Chapter 6 Part 2 Public Update 🎉

Hey guys 👋 The update is finally here! It ends up being 26.2K words long, which brings the total word count for Chapter 6 as a whole to 64.9K words and the whole demo to 299K words!

This update focuses on the bar's mission. There are a lot of little variations and the sequence of some things can vary based on how your MC goes about doing things. I don't really want to spoil stuff, but I really can't wait for you guys to try and check out all of the potential variations, some of which can be affected by your MC's skill as well.

While it is always better to play from the beginning (because old saves can get finicky at times), I would recommend at least replaying the first half of Chapter 6 because there is a background variable being modified there.

Now, moving on to what to expect from the chapter:

Choose how you will approach the mission; will you play to your strength?

Learn a bit more about the man you're looking for.

Potentially see other members in your group in action (maybe even Rin can shine a bit as well 😉)

Once again, kick ass as MC (if you want to, of course)

What have been updated in previous chapters include:

- Bug fixes and typos and grammar errors.

I'll start answering Chapter 6 Part 2 asks starting tomorrow and I'll tag them with #chapter 6 spoiler, so watch out for them if you haven't read the latest update and don't want to get spoiled! 😄

Also, please consider supporting me over on Patreon or Ko-Fi! 😊💖

[DEMO] | [PATREON] | [KO-FI] | [COG FORUM] | [DISCORD]

[swallowthedark]

wonderful writing!!! excellent game!!! 12/10 have played everyone's route twice, ended up very much enjoying the abel energy but everyone is *chef's kiss*.

Thank u!🧡

[swallowthedark]

Small update (7/5/23)

Hey!

After much delay I felt it was the moment in the story for a codex to appear. I wanted the first part of the game to be like a walk in the dark, but now the MC should begin to concentrate on solving a murder and confusion doesn't go well with this endeavour. So between the moment Abel leaves and the next character appears, a codex will activate in the Personal file page, beneath the saved files.

The relationship page will eventually have more characters, but later.

Thanks for playing!

[swallowthedark]

Play Demo

You do not know who you are.  

Your memories only go five years back, to when you woke up in a subterranean tunnel system with nothing but a name. Now you reside in the Holy City, capital of a post-apocalyptic world ruled by a faction called the Religious.  

After a near-death experience at the hands of a crazed angel, you're suddenly thrust into a building conspiracy surrounding a corpse-worshiping cult, divinely mad saints, and something buried far, far beneath the earth.  

To top it all off, you're being plagued by nightmares you can't explain, as well as your rapidly returning memories.  

Or… someone's memories, anyway.

Features  

Choose your first name, gender, and appearance.

Customize your character's personality, including their opinions on magic and the Religious.

Make choices that affect the plot, other characters, and even your own sanity.

Unravel the history of the Religious and the apocalypse they claim to have brought the world back from

Characters

The Mercenary: Val (nb/m/f)

A hired blade with a chaotic streak, as well as the closest thing you have to a friend. Easy-going and unpredictable, Val is usually the one to get you into trouble, but is always there to get you out of it.

The Handmaiden: Klaus Kirkhall (m)

A high-ranking member of the Religious. Klaus is pragmatic with a dry sense of humor, but takes his responsibilities deeply seriously. You get the intense feeling he know something - many things - that you don't.  

The Priestess: Ira Auclair (nb)

A priestess working in the lower districts of the Holy City, extremely devout and deeply interested in the history and lore of the Religious. They spend their time searching archives to fuel their (slightly blasphemous) theories.  

The Spy: Kat Saxon (f)

Claims to be a priestess, but is barely trying to hide the fact that she's clearly anything but. Her merciless stare and unshakeable confidence dare anyone to call out her suspect nature.  

The Muscle: Dane/Dana Constantine (m/f)

An officer of the Blessed Guard, working directly under Klaus. Constantine is quick to anger, and is an absolute brick wall when challenged. While deeply loyal, Constantine isn't afraid to give their employer a piece of their mind.

Content warnings: violence, blood, heavy religious themes

[swallowthedark]

Hey, I just discovered your game and enjoyed it a lot! It's very well written and the pacing worked just right for me. I look forward to learn more about the characters too. Also I really appreciate the option to be honest to the ROs about how MC feels about them! Reading their reactions made me invested in the relationships very quickly.

Thank you for sharing your work and have a nice day 💐

You brightened my whole day🧡🧡

Thank u for playing and for taking the time to write to me🤗🤗

[swallowthedark]

Demo | Report something | Ko-Fi

[Demo last major update: 28/06/23 |Case 01, Part 01]

As a private detective, you were hired for a "simple" missing person's case. 

You were supposed to investigate, find out and be done with it. 

All was fine until, on a sleepless and cliché full-moon night, you stumbled upon a creature you've never expected to find. A monster worth anyone's worst nightmare. A monster holding the key to unravel the case you're investigating.

Your life has taken an unexpected turn after this discovery, how will you manage to face the reality that the supernatural exist after that ? And what will you do when it's revealed that the case is more complex than what you first thought ?

You can choose as you play :

Gender (male, female and non-binary option)(trans-friendly option available) ; 

Pronounces (he, she, they, or  you can personalize  your pronouns);

Name, including aliases and nicknames ;

Background ; 

Appearances (including complexion, hair, eye colour, height,...);

Reactions ;

Fears ;

Timed choices. You can toggle on a setting to allow you to see the timed choices ahead if you need more time to read. Toggling this on will allow you extended time.

Font appearance : the text is available in both : sans-serif fonts (by default), serif, and Open Dyslexic.  

Font size : 80%, 100%, 130% and 150%, to make your reading experience as comfortable as can be.

You can toggle to read with the metric system (default) or use the imperial measurement system (feet). 

Contains sound effect & background music (you can enable and disable the sound from the Settings, by gliding it all the way to the left).

There is a dark mode (by default), a sepia mode and a light mode available ;

Content for mature audiences can be toggled on and off as well. That will not remove the horror features though. 

Trigger warnings are available at each chapter's screen. Or directly via the "Content Warning" link, from the menu; 

Some Romantic Options are gender-selectable, as you play ;

You can choose to romance, date, only be involved physically or not at all with the RO. There are seven way you can interact with the RO : friendly, enemy, neutral, shy love, true love, enemy to lover, or simply lover/physical. 

Poly route available between Yu and Mbaya.  Officially unlockable past case 03. Don't panick before that. 

Locked romance route—or no romance route—would be able to be selected past case 03.  To give you the chance to meet all RO.

Extra story build in game, available past Case 03 here as well.

There are achievements.

To say Elias is a gruff person is to say the least. But you know he has some good will in him behind the non-bothered no nonsense act. He did act to save you, without asking anything in exchange. Though, if you would describe him, you would say he is more like a sulking teddy bear. Yeah, you should probably not say that to him. Elias is probably the only one you're quite certain— not certain, certain, but quite certain — is a human. You have your doubt for the rest of the team. 

"If you think a day can't go shittier than it already is, be my guest."

Appearance : Human, or you can say super-human. 1.97m/6'46. Deep blue sea/cobalt blue eyes. Long white wavy hair (past shoulders). Tanned and weathered  ivory skin. Athletic build with broad shoulders.  3 o clock shadows. 

Has a 4 years old daughter.

[Link]

How could you describe Anya ? Like the mist ? Always shrouded in mystery ? This is her. She is the incarnation of mystery.  She told you she was 31 years old, but you don't really believe the woman. You think she can bewitch the whole city with her smirk, if it's not already the case. But that smirk she puts on her face makes you not trust her that much. Unless it's a question of life and death. Then, probably, you'll consider her help.

"Why work hard when you can work smart ?"

Appearance : A witch, most assuredly. 1.63m/5'34. Hazel eyes. Sultry black hair,  mid-back length. Golden skin. Lithe built.  

[Link]

Miloslav [M] / Mishka [F] / Marcy [NB]

Sheppard seems to be directly in competition with Elias for the title of "Grumpy human of the year".  Though, where Elias appears mostly unbothered in and for all, Sheppard just seems really on edge about everything.  And tense. But you guess it's because of their taxing and demanding work. Or maybe they were just born edgy. It's almost as if their hackles were constantly raised.  But they can be sweet. Somehow.

"Some people are looking for the meaning of life. I'm just looking for what "vacation" means and where I can find it."

Appearance : Not human... 1.78m/5'83. Forest green eyes. Curly auburn hair, cut short. Pale skin with freckles. Athletic build. 

[link]

Have you already seen in the eyes of someone some age old lost wisdom ? Flowing like crystal clear water from a time where you weren't even born. Something worth admiring. This is what you can see in their eyes.  Despite being a giant, they are a tranquil, very tranquil person. Now that you think about it, you've never seen them eat. Nor drink. This is suspicious. 

"If someone points you the moon, don't stare at the finger."

Appearance : Surely not human. 2.06m/6'76. Sky blue eyes. Long coiled hair, dyed sandy blond (braided with gold thread). Chocolate brown skin. Lithe build. Nose septum piercing. 

[Link]

Yu is, like, the opposite of Mbaya, whilst being almost similar. In front of you stand something from a past long gone. But, instead of tranquility, Yu is a bubbly person. Almost too bubbly.  And you're almost sure that they own at least half the club and bar of  Stonefrey. If not more. Something about the way they move, silently, and almost feline-like, makes you doubt they are human. 

"I'm not saying I don't care. I'm just saying that, if the whole city was about to burn down, I'll still take the time to appreciate my glass of whiskey."

Appearance : Definitely not human. 1.65m/5'61. Black eyes. Dark brown hair (Yi-seo: Shoulder length hair/Yunsu : Ivy league crew cut). Olive skin. Muscular build. 

[Link]

Well. If you could say a word about Owl, you would say that they are dramatic. And fanciful. And they have a flourish for snarking remarks, and seem to have an ego as big as their wardrobe probably is. But what you would say the most is that they are wearing their name well. Owl, for their knowledge. That you could use. If they were on your side, that is, and totally not a wild card. 

"Everyone is such a bore in this city. Well, so long as you owe me — I mean, pay me. And entertain me. Surely this can work, Love."

Appearance : You're not sure. 1.79m/5'9. Verdigris-colored eyes. Wavy platinium blond hair (F. : Chin-length plunging square cut/M. : Styled curtain hairstyle). Fair and flawless skin. 

[Link]

You have met a nightmarish creature, will probably meet vampire, and werewolves — oh, you've met a witch as well. So now, here they are, an elf. Yes, an Elf. Like in Lord of the Things. In the city. With sunglasses. And their impassible way. Iolrath, child of Rivaran and Iltheruyn, they told you, as they were looking around at "mortals and their ways". Nice.

"Why must I say something ? Isn't silence acceptable in a discussion ?"

Appearance : It's very obviously an elf. 1.82m/6'0. Violet eyes. Long silver hair (reach mid-tight ). Shimmery skin. Elvish build of fairness.  Obvious pointed ears. 

[Link]

What is most important is your mental health. This story can deal with heavy themes, and the list will be updated along with the content. If you feel unwell, I'll advise you to stop reading and take a rest. Taking care of you comes first. Reach out to professional if need be.

 You can find the content warning  here and the side bar, directly in game.  

This story currently contains :

Blood

Body horror 

Cannibalism (mention only)

Death and depiction of death (yours as well as others)

Drowning

Gore

Gun and use of gun

Recreational drug and/or alcohol use 

Partial nudity and/or nudity

Psychological horror and disturbing content (including mental illness)

Strong/vulgar Language

Violence and graphic depiction of violence

The story, all names, characters, locations and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Only the first part of Case 01 (chapter 1) is available. There will be at least 8 cases, with no definite length. 

Demo | Report Something | Ko-Fi

[Demo last major up-date : 28/06/23 |Case01, Part 01]

[swallowthedark]

heya, did you forget to unlock the update for Augustus or is it just me? the demo still ends with hearing the sound at the door and then the thanks for playing message for me...

Noo, but I did switch the variable for Abel and August by mistake so...yh, sorry i'm like this. I fixed it now, should work after refresh.

[swallowthedark]

Small update (7/2/23)

New content for the MCs that are on August's romantic route.

In the next days I'll update the rest of the routes as well.

Thanks for playing!

[swallowthedark]

Years ago, you were uprooted from the only home you had ever known and captured to be sold as a slave. Now, war is at your doorstep once more while you are left in a delicate position — as a commander of the country that invaded your homeland. While investigating a case of illegal human trafficking, you come across a plot that threatens to rip this tentative peace apart.

This is the first book of the series Eyes of Shan, an 18+ trilogy that follows your character, The Commander, through the tumultous times of an empire on the brink of war. Set in the fictional Empire of Hae, explore the bitter relationship between two countries and make choices that will decide which side you ally yourself with.

Play as male or female, choose to romance characters or build friendships along the way.

Pick between various interactions with those who fate crosses your paths with.

Shape the course of history with your choices.

Uncover a mysterious black market and auction selling body parts to the highest bidder.

Choose whether to aid a slave in attempting to run away from the palace.

Explore the cast Empire of Hae, from the stunning Gwangjeom Palace to the cold walls of the North.

What choices will you make, Commander?

DEMO | KOFI | PATREON (TBA)

as of 31/05/23,

precious: eyes of shan has been revamped to eyes of shan: book one

part of chapter 2 has been completed (96k words w/o code)

two ROs have been removed (kwok insu and dalhwa)

two new ROs have been added, one female and one gender selectable

yongsun is now gender-selectable

please feel free to leave a comment or review it on the COG forum!

content warnings: violence, death, attempted sexual assault (not to pc), war, torture, racism

Keep reading

[swallowthedark]

Small update (6/28/23)

A new saving system (the files are working as slots)

New content for the MCs that are already on Kosta's romantic route

The font is bigger now to be easier to read

The radio route in the first chapter is done

Fixed some spelling mistakes here and there and changed some phrases

Thanks for playing!

[swallowthedark]

Hi !

I'm the anon from the Ko-Fi again 🌞

I tried to donate but ended up with this message:

"This Connect account cannot currently make live charges. The `requirements.disabled_reason` property on the account will provide information about why this account is currently disabled. If you are a customer trying to make a purchase, please contact the owner of this site. Your transaction has not been processed"

If you need to contact a tech support and need info about it I will be happy to help 🤗

It seems it was actually my fault, i had to update some info on stripe. Thanks a lot for the offer to help🤗

For now itch it the only way to donate, but my ko-fi should be alright in a few days😁

[swallowthedark]

Hellloo when you get the scene with Lucas at the car, after picking what to do (hand in shoulder, hug, stay away) picking the hand on shoulder option, some sort of menu pops up telling me all the stats, variables, what scene I'm on ect ect. I tried the other options and it doesn't happen when I do them

fixed it🤗🤗

Thanks!

[swallowthedark]

Gosh idk why I put off reading this for so long...It's so good!!

Thank u!🧡🧡

[swallowthedark]

Hi, the variable box pops up on the part where we choose our name. We're able to interact with it as well.

Well that's concerning and i don't know what's wrong😂

I'll look into it, thanks for the heads up!

EDIT: Fixed it

[swallowthedark]

Oh hey!

I tried to click onto your Ko-Fi profile, but didn't find it 😭

Can you share the link please ? 🥹

Sure! Also thanks for telling me, i didn't know it's not working (i fixed it)

[swallowthedark]

DEMO

The game is rated 18+ for the presence of explicit sexual content, strong language and heavy themes.

There’s a scandal at court, something the upper levels of society love to gossip about when they’ve got nothing to do other than drink tea and spew petty lies about each other.

You are the scandal. Unmarried at 24 and with no engagement in sight, you’re the black sheep that will taunt this year’s season like you did with the previous one. Your reputation precedes you, like a pretty dress decorated with the ruins of the engagements and hearts you broke.

You are the sweet lure of ruination, of infinite pleasure and gentle madness. You are everything the court despises and at the same time everything it desperately craves.

This year’s season marks you return after the scandalized uproar in which you left everyone last year. For them, Seasons are a way to find a suitable match for marriage.

For you it’s just a game. Until it isn’t.

Play as a dragon shapeshifter and customize your gender, draconic features and shifted form.

Surround yourself with domesticated dragons of assorted sizes.

Participate in dragon races to seduce the bachelors.

Deal what the consequences of your brutal play; maybe you’ll be given a second chance to atone.

Start a romance with one of three ROs, or with all three together (Sekh’/Cherena/Zaphia poly route)

Will you let anyone see under the mask you built for yourself?

Sekh’- gender selectable (NB/same gender as MC)

One of the many people you entertained yourself with last year. They were different from the others, though, both because their family reputation was horrible at best and because their company was actually pleasant. Their sardonic, at times self-deprecating humour never failed to make you laugh, although revealing at times the deep loneliness they were hiding under that.

You soon realized you were playing a difficult game and when things got too personal, you brutally cut off all contacts with them. What will you do now that you can see just how much you left them in tatters?

Sekh’ stands at 1.73 m (5′8″) with a toned built and long, loosely curled bright pink hair that they tie mid length with a ribbon. Their warm brown eyes perfectly compliment their burnt sienna skin tone. They always apply a generous amount of taffy pink makeup, just a shade lighter than their scales, and their ankles are full of elaborate rose golden anklets.

Cherena - gender selectable (NB/same gender as MC)

Their family is one of the richest to have attended the last Season and their political influence is maybe even more impressive. Cherena’s life consists of endless parties surrounded by shallow friends, for the most part interested in their wealth and social influence. Trapped in this repetitive routine, Cherena’s eyes landed on you and since then they never left you.

They seem fulgurated by your absolute lack of restraint, by an energy that promises to get them out of their decadence.

Cherena stands at 1.81 m (5’11”) with a soft built and wavy blonde hair that reach their mid back. Their bright yellow eyes almost shine against their ivory skin, the contrast made even more pleasant by the sparkly silver makeup they apply all over themselves, just the same shimmering silver of their scales. Their neck and hands are adorned by so much jewellery they basically jingle every time they move. And their adorned wheelchair only adds to their overall elegance and hypnotic allure.

Zaphia - gender selectable (NB/same gender as MC)

They have been a worker for the Crown since they were old enough to be hired, like their parents and their grandparents before them. Last Season was their fifth one as a staff member tasked with its organization and smooth running. You met them on and off for years and with time you grew closer. Too close.

They are loyal to a fault and never out of line. Most importantly they know you, maybe more intimately than you know yourself. The problem is that you broke their heart too.

Zaphia has a lean built and is around 1.78 m (5′10″) of height. They are shaved on the sides and have short, wavy silver hair that brush their ears. They are partial to jewellery and wear golden lips and eyebrow piercings, three sets of earrings and a ring choker. They have light blue eyes, often emphasised by golden makeup and their striking golden scales, and warm bronze skin.

The Dragons Compendium

MC’s six pet dragons

ROs’ skin tone reference

[swallowthedark]

I am going insane. I'm replaying and I can't get the option that triggers the Kosta romance!!! I was able to in the past before the update, and I have no idea what I'm doing differently. I haven't done any romantic interactions with anyone else from what I can tell - is there something I'm missing?

Yh it wasn't about u choosing sth wrong, i forgot about a variable when doing some changes. Should be ok now. I also fixed the personal page so u don't get the align error. Thanks!