vanhelsing-if

[vanhelsing-if]

Hope you are doing well on whatever stage you are, be it game dev or just life. Just wanted to say thanks for the little joys so far.

hello and thank you for your lovely message!

sorry for the unexpected absence! i got really sick and am only just starting to recover. sadly, this does mean that i haven’t been able to write much so i’m much further behind than i wanted to be.

i’m not going to give a date for chapter one just yet because i still have bad days and don’t want to set expectations that i can’t meet right now. i also don’t know how active i’ll be on tumblr either, but i’ll try to pop in and keep you guys updated on progress/answer some asks.

thank you for your patience <3

[vanhelsing-if]

what’s the difference between a love triangle and a love angle?

this is a love triangle:

mc has feelings for ro 1, but ro 1 has feelings for ro 2, but ro 2 has feelings for mc. it's a bit of a lose-lose-lose situation for all parties involved (until it's resolved) which can make it rather angsty/dramatic.

this is a love angle:

ro 1 and ro 2 both have feelings for mc, and mc has feelings for both of them. mc is often indecisive as hell and probably ruins a perfectly good relationship between the ro’s.

it's a super common mistake throughout media, but i'm pretty sure love angles came about for those who wanted all three characters to be straight bc in a love triangle, someone is obviously always going to be queer.

hope this explains it! <3

[vanhelsing-if]

Will there be any love triangles? The angst of starting a romance with dracula only for eli who helsing still has feelings for to come back would be so good 🤭

no i won’t be doing a love angle or triangle because i’m not an enjoyer of them 😔

[vanhelsing-if]

What are the characters hobbies?

dracula: being a menace chess.

osyka: writing apology letters because everyone in the institute is an idiot gardening.

eli: revenge book binding.

vic: arson.

frankie: babysitting vic reading and trying new tea leaves.

leks: chaos cross stitch.

ren: trying to prevent the chaos but getting roped into it drawing (mainly portrait art).

xoese: actually preventing the chaos photography.

[vanhelsing-if]

DEMO: 𝕾𝖊𝖕 2024

Wealth. Power. Death.

The Ballad of the Young Gods is a dark academia interactive fiction story, with dark fantasy and psychological thriller themes. Some of the romances also contain tropes and storylines which may be disturbing to some readers.

It is rated 18+ for depictions of swearing, sexual themes, gore, violence, and death.

Getting into an Ivy League school is a dream that thousands of American students nurse from a young age. Luckily for you, that dream is your reality. Four years of continuous hard work and pressure have made you a proud freshman at Yale University. And as if that wasn’t enough, you have been handpicked to attend Rathore College, whose selection process is revered across all the nation’s top educational institutions. But you should’ve known this stroke of luck came with a catch.

Yale is a crucible of power, where secret societies wield arcane magic and the dead are far from silent. The illustrious House of Styx wants you and this is a situation that not even your money can get you out of.

They are powerful, elite, and most of all, controlling beyond recognition. They are also the heart of the eight secret societies that attach themselves to Yale. From the White House to Hollywood’s most acclaimed stars, their influence reaches farther than anyone can dare to imagine.

A sinister conspiracy brews under Styx’s watchful gaze, one that threatens to unravel the fragile balance between the living and the dead. But in a graveyard of secrets, you and your accomplices are the ones with the shovels. You’re now in a world where the past is never truly dead, and the lines between life and death blur with each passing day.

But some secrets are better left buried, and some prophecies are destined to drag you to hell.

Cédric Armand Lacroix / Céline Armelle Lacroix (M/F)

Vindictive. Conniving. Ruthless.

As the heir to the Lacroix fortune, C is every bit as arrogant as their bloodline demands them to be. Even after the messy divorce of their parents which further led to their disownment by their father, Alain Lacroix, they refuse to give up on their dignity. They’ve vowed to destroy him one day and take what’s rightful theirs, brick by brick. The world bent to C’s whims, what money couldn't buy them, those pale green eyes probably did.

There is nothing that they can’t have, especially if they set their mind to that. That is until you came along and stayed one step ahead of them every time in everything that mattered. It wasn’t just the fortune or the legacy at stake; it was the bruising of their pride, the constant reminder that someone—anyone—could outmaneuver them. But beneath the layers of resentment and anger, there’s something more—something darker, even more dangerous.

An obsession takes root, one that blurs the line between hatred and fascination. And they vow to spend their whole life despising you for everything.

Romance trope: Enemies / Academic Rivals to Lovers.

Vance Kasper Næsholm / Vanessa Karina Næsholm (M/F)

Pious. Haunted. Disillusioned.

Raised under the oppressive influence of a rigid, fire-and-brimstone faith in a Danish Catholic orphanage, they were taught to see demons in every shadow and sin in every touch. Forever haunted by the visions provided by a wrathful God they can neither fully grasp their mind around nor escape from, their only reprieve came on the day they got adopted at the age of six and diagnosed with schizophrenia. But the truth of their ‘psychosis’ may be far more sinister than any medical diagnosis could account for.

As the tides become even stormier and their medications become ineffective when they arrive at Yale, all V can do is hold on to the last threads of control over their lives. Your first meeting almost makes them teeter over the edge.

Now that they’re your roommate, they’re bound to you by fate or folly, but whether they’ll be a stable ally remains to be seen.

Romance trope: Roommate Romance.

Wilhelm Johann Ostendorf / Wilhelmine Johanna Ostendorf (M/F)

Exhausted. Abandoned. Lost.

What does the world think of you when you’re a product of brilliance and neglect at the same time? With an Oscar-winning filmmaker for a father and a mother ensconced on the American board of directors at the Louvre, their pedigree is undeniable, yet it is a legacy more hollow than it appears. While their parents sculpted their careers into masterpieces and amassed accolades, they left W to be raised by their paternal aunt and uncle. A sizeable trust fund and periodic checks served as their parents’ only gestures of care, a shallow substitute for the love and attention their only child so desperately craved.

The only times they had felt more than someone who was deeply unlovable were the summers you spent on rusty swingsets and fast bicycles with training wheels. But the swingsets have long been dismantled, and the bicycles have been traded for cars.

The only questions remain—are you the same kid who saw them, really saw them, beyond the reality of being unwanted and the suffocating looks filled with pity that came with their name? Or will this reunion only serve to confirm their deepest fear—that they are, and always have been, truly alone?

Romance trope: Forgotten Childhood Friends to Lovers.

Dumitru Constantin Diaconu / Dumitra Constantina Diaconu (M/F)

Charismatic. Reckless. Guarded.

D’s name is the one that comes up in almost every conversation about Yale’s wildest parties. A natural-born rockstar charmer with a magnetic presence, they effortlessly draw people into their orbit, collecting hearts and bodies with the ease of someone who’s always been in the center of the gold rush. Despite the countless admirers and the trail of broken hearts left in their wake, you’ll always find them with a Marlboro between their lips and a new person in their arms to warm their bed at night. Their smile is a promise, and their laughter a siren call. In the haze of flashing lights and the thrum of bass that pulses through the walls, they are a heartbreaker in every sense of the word.

Feelings are a complication they don’t allow, a line they never cross. They’ve perfected the art of detachment, of keeping their connections strictly no-strings, because to let someone in would be to risk the vulnerability they’ve long since sworn off.

Will you be the only person they'd let peel back the barbed wire surrounding their heart? Or will you be left with nothing but the faint scent of cinnamon and a tale that wasn't meant to be?

Romance trope: Friends with Benefits / Sex First, Feelings Later. [You will only be able to unlock their romance route through a hookup.]

Maxwell Edmund Whitlock-Singh / Maxine Edythe Whitlock-Singh (M/F)

Duty-bound. Noble. Untouchable.

Politeness and decorum are second nature to M. They are the embodiment of manners, a living testament to the art of subtlety in a world where spectacle often trumps substance. They are the sort of person who commands attention without seeking it, a product of both royal blood and rigorous self-discipline. Dubbed the “Paragon of Styx,” M is a modern Plato, someone who finds as much solace in philosophical debates as in the classical texts they’ve devoured in multiple languages. As the second-born child of the Crown Princess of Wales, they have always understood that their life would be one of service with every action scrutinized, and every word weighed.

Their intellect is vast, but it is their passion for the esoteric that sets them apart. For all their convictions, there is a restlessness within M that even they cannot fully articulate. It is the paradox of their existence—a life of privilege that feels at times like a gilded cage, a role that demands both reverence and obedience. Indeed, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Will you make them realize that life is more than duties and expectations? Or will you become yet another figure in the background, another reminder of the golden cage they were born into?

Romance trope: Forbidden Royal Romance / Secret Relationship.

Step into the shadows as the wealthy heir apparent to a billion-dollar industry who is just starting at Yale University as a freshman.

Be a part of Yale’s most enigmatic secret society, the House of Styx.

Fully customize your character including: pronouns, gender, physical appearance, personality, sexuality, and more.

Romance 1 out of 5 love interests (all of them are gender-selectable). Or not. Platonic relationships are valid too.

Study forbidden knowledge, practice dark magic, and try not to fail at your actual coursework.

Test your mind, body, and soul in rituals that blur the line between reality and nightmare.

Learn about the secrets that your mother took to her grave. Is she really the same woman you remember so fondly from your childhood?

Will you rise to navigate the sinister plans brewing under the nose of the House? Or will your actions drag you and your companions to the fiery depths of Hell.

W̶̗͖̝͆h̷͕̲̑̎̓̍̄̎͠͝a̵̢̛̫̾̓͗t̴̙̫͛̐͆̾̀̓̔̊͝ ̴̪́́̈́͛̂̉̀͒̊́ạ̸̗̯̲̘̬͗̀ͅr̸̢̪̜̭̼̠̟̜͚̂̈́͋͋̅͑̉́̎͝e̸̩̯͉̿̊̔͛̃̎͝ͅ ̵̢̹̜̤͍͙̩̬̰̜̏̃͝͠y̷̢̨͇̘͍̌́͐̍̆̓̑̐ǫ̶̢̧̡̛̥̤͉͎̟̃̏̍̓̒ͅu̷̓̂̾̇̇͜͝,̸͎̖̮̲̳̻̱̬̎̒͑͝ ̸̡̛̰̌͐c̶̛̪̗̰̻̜̲̘̺͗͊h̴̡͔̦̘̤̖͊̿̓̇i̵͉̘͙̥͍̼̜̐̐̄̅͝͝ĺ̶̡̧̧̼̦̦̗̰̝̼̓̊̀d̸̡͎͔͔̰̖̿̐̈́̓͊̌̃̓͜?̷̩̗̲̫̮͕̍̈́́̽͜͝͝

SPOTIFY (for RO playlists, click on their names in the cast section)

DEMO (Sep ‘24)

RO DETAILS

PINTEREST

WRITTEN BY: axel (he/him)

CODED BY: @albywritesfiction (they/them)

[vanhelsing-if]

Who would stitch Helsings wounds? Are they used to it? How about if Helsing has to take their shirt off for wound treatment, who would blush

the only people keeping helsing in one piece: osyka, xoese, eli, ren, frankie

would never trust them near helsing’s wounds: vic, dracula, leks

but if one of the ro’s were treating helsing…i don’t think any of them would blush honestly. osyka and eli would be too focused on cleaning and stitching the wound to think about anything else, dracula is definitely the type to say ‘gross’ when they see a wound but in the way that sounds like they’re fascinated by how gross it is, and you’d be too busy running away from vic and their hacksaw to take your shirt off in the first place.

altho there is a medical wing with genuine, professional medical teams so helsing doesn’t need to worry too much and they probably are used to it by now, but that can be a choice you’ll make in-game.

[vanhelsing-if]

Not previous anon but to make it slightly worse

I feel like Vic would look scarier especially when the patient is screaming and Vic isn't reacting

vic’s also blasting death metal in the background so, to anyone who walks in, it looks like vic is trying to drown out the victim’s patient’s screams.

[vanhelsing-if]

my answer: i quite like gender differences depending on the setting of the if, they can add quite a lot of nuance. personality is also pretty high on the list for me as well.

[vanhelsing-if]

my answer: i play as a female!

[vanhelsing-if]

just curious <3

my answer: i have no preference and will just go with who i like the sound of most!

[vanhelsing-if]

The slang ask has me wondering...

Will we be able to decide if our Helsing is pretty in touch with the modern technology and language or if they are like a grandparent who struggles a bit? Or is the second option set in stone?

this is actually talked about in the faq! but no, nothing is set in stone. helsing is actually pretty keyed up on all the latest technology and how to use it, but if you want they can be a bit crotchety about it. ex. they know how to text on a modern phone but slang is a bit beyond them and autocorrect is the bane of their existence kind of thing.

[vanhelsing-if]

Wouldn't trust vic with any medical instruments. Ever.

vic would definitely be the definition of ‘fuck around and find out’ if they were given medical instruments and a living patient.

everyone is supposed to know at least basic first aid, but…i don’t think i’d ever trust vic with that 😭

[vanhelsing-if]

The Abyss Beckons Once More.

The Bar on the Abyss 2.0 Update is Here!

Start your afterlife anew with new mechanics, expanded content, and deeper choices that will shape your MC's journey in the Abyss and beyond.

READ HERE

What’s New in 2.0?

50K+ Words of New Content added to previous chapters.

Choose Your Grief Path: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, or Acceptance—select the emotional journey that fits your MC and explore how it shapes their afterlife.

36 Career Backgrounds: Deepen your backstory with various career paths that unlock additional choices and provide unique perspectives on events unfolding around you.

A New And Improved Skill System!

Your Spirit Gift: Choose from six mythical artifacts that enhance your abilities and open new ways to approach challenges.

Detailed Death Choices: Define the circumstances of your character’s death—was it a tragic accident, a deliberate act, or something darker?

Bug Fixes and Improvements: Enjoy a smoother reading experience with numerous bug fixes, text-flow improvements, and better formatting.

How You Can Help

Thank you for reading The Bar on the Abyss, I’d love your thoughts on the new update!

Your feedback is more important than ever— suggestions for more choices, ideas for how your character should react, and thoughts on the latest content; I’m all ears and eyes, like some biblically accurate angel!

Based on your feedback, this update will continue to evolve, with a few “patches” while I work on the next chapter.

So don’t be shy—I want to hear both the good and the bad!

I’m so proud to have brought this update to life. This year has been so hard, but writing this game and connecting with all of you has been truly the best experience.

Thank you for reading The Bar on the Abyss and sharing this eternal journey with me. I wouldn’t change a thing.

See you in the Abyss!

[vanhelsing-if]

this is something that i came up with today. it’s a bit further into the future (maybe around chapter six/seven, i haven’t quite decided yet) and when the helsing/osyka/drac poly is more established (if that’s the route you take), but i thought it was a fun snippet to show a potential dynamic that will be available.

this is what those of you with a bolder helsing might see!

“$mName, please stop touching that,” Oskya says, reaching over to gently smack $mtheir hand away.

In a move too fast for human eyes to comprehend, Dracula catches Osyka’s hand in $mtheir own. Dracula’s lips curl into a smirk as $mthey leans down to brush a kiss against their knuckles, before pulling away to lean back against the lab bench.

“I could be persuaded…if you beg me,” you spot a mischievous glint in the vampire’s eyes and internally brace yourself for whatever $mName is about to say to Osyka. “Preferably on your knees.”

Eli seemingly chokes on $etheir own saliva, still unused to Dracula’s flirtatious manner towards the team.

You can see the flush that settles on Osyka’s cheeks, and you’re drawn in like predator to prey.

“I would enjoy watching that,” you remark, almost casually if not for the way your heart rate ticks up. A change you know both $mName and Osyka can hear. “You’d put on a good show for us, wouldn’t you?”

Osyka swallows, and you watch as their pupils dilate in response to the teasing. $mName winks at you, a feral smile replacing the smirk, giving you a flash of fangs.

Before you can continue, Vic pipes up, “you guys better not have sex on my lab bench, I just disinfected it.”

Ren frowns in disbelief, signing, “you cleaned?”

Frankie shakes his head and signs, “of course not, I do not even think Vic knows where the cleaning supplies are.”

Oh…right, there are other people around.

Osyka’s walls of professionalism slam back up and they’re careful not to look at you or Dracula, who just shrugs and goes back to touching things that $mthey’s not supposed to touch.

Which is the exact moment that the device starts flashing and making rapid beeping noises. $mName’s arms immediately shoot up in surrender, but no one pays any attention to $mthem, too busy staring at the device in concern.

“Uhh…should we, like, be running?” Leks asks, signing as well for Vic.

“Yes. Yes we should.”

[vanhelsing-if]

Someday someone younger teaches Helsing some teenage slang words and everyone loses their mind when they say Yolo in a meeting

leks and helsing have full conversations in slang and ren is traumatised. vic tries to join in, but just ends up making up words (yet somehow leks gets it).

[vanhelsing-if]

"The blond werewolf is laying upside down on the sofa, his legs hanging over the back of it. Part of you wants to ask why, but the smarter part of you warns you to not even acknowledge it." Bisexual/ADHD spotted

leks’ desk chair is definitely one of the bisexual/adhd variety.

[vanhelsing-if]

So is Vic actually a doctor (as in graduated medical school) unlike Victor Frankenstein from the og novel

vic is a doctor of engineering rather than a medical doctor, but yes, unlike their grandfather, vic actually graduated and has a phd!