Whoah found a new bug!
> He first came to your attention as hecatomb_rue on the local gadget repair sub. He’d been in desperate need of an emergency repair of his malfunctioning solid state drive. Feeling charitable, you’d agreed to meet him at a nearby upscale restaurant (where he promised to foot the bill) and try your hand at it.
I have a suggestion for the preparation scene we told to get ready to leave. Could u add an option to decide when the mc has enough gear whenever they want instead of waiting for our companions to finish talking in background. It took a while when I wanted a few items. One play through all I wanted my origin pic, a gun and a sword.
Thanks to everyone else for posting their stats! It’s really helpful when it comes to balancing the game mechanics.
Or scaring everyone with a gun (especially the gatling-style one that the Criminal MC has). That reminds me that I forgot to add the gun question to the poll, so thanks for tangentially reminding me.
Good idea with Elminster. If no one suggests anything else, I’ll probably go with him. Daria seems to be the name of the kingdom… does it have something like an ‘Academy of Daria’ there? I’m basically looking for something to fill in for the word “Hogwarts”.
Regarding the preset customizations, that’s a very tempting idea. I could use one my default playtesting MC’s for one of the descriptions & see if players would like to submit their MC’s as defaults as well. I’ll see if anyone else chips in with any other suggestions.
Thanks for the stats and the typo reports! (Damn spellcheck flagged frappuccino and macchiato, but left ‘expresso’ alone). Regarding hecatomb_rue, that’s actually Adrian’s screen name, but you’re the second person to bring that up so I definitely need to clarify that in the text.
Hmm, sounds like something toggled the mute flag off. If the mute flag is still active, the MC absolutely should not be speaking at all (that’s the entire reason you’re automatically carrying a 13 page dissertation on your past day so MC doesn’t have to explain it out loud).
I just doublechecked and the game is definitely still booting up with mute as the default. So the only choices that should be turning it off are the “direct dialogue options in quotes” and choices where the MC is singing, screaming, yelling etc. (Although it’s quite possible there’s a bug with an extraneous *set mute false flag where it shouldn’t be).
Let me see if I can narrow down what might’ve done it… do you remember around when the MC started speaking without your input? That’s probably when mute was deactivated. @Pandadanda is also correct that the phrase You have yet to speak a word appears at the bottom of the stats page when the mute flag is still active.
Sure, I’ve made a note to turn the “I’m not taking anything” option into “I’ve got everything I need” after you’ve taken at least one item. That way you should be able to stop packing whenever you’d like once the game is updated.
Thanks. I just thought it was odd to pack max items instead of deciding when to stop. Also I like the Easter eggs in this wip. It made the game fun and entertaining
I’m looking forward to the reactions of other Harbingers to mute or cuckoo MCs lol.
I’m just imagining a situation like with the hellhound before M appears where the MC just laughs or shrugs while everyone else is panicking.
that’s the entire reason you’re automatically carrying a 13 page dissertation on your past day so MC doesn’t have to explain it out loud
Imagining the MC just carrying around signs with reactions or sentences that inexplicably are very fitting to whatever situation they find themselves in lol
He started speaking right after I decided to end the convo with Adrien and prepare for polo practice. I spent the whole convo feverishly jamming the dissertation Adrien’s face lol (which quite actually had me dying btw).
But Yea, I’m trying to think which choice I could’ve chosen to accidentally cut it off. I’ll figure it out soon enough. I’m about to replay again.
Oh yeah, and I definitely don’t have that on my stat page. so it’s definite that I chose a speaking choice.
So I’ve been playing this IF for a bit, and can I just say that I love it? Because I do love it.
But uh, how does corruption work? I ask because I ran two characters in this game (both with the inhuman secret) and yet I only one of them got posseses when resisting being dragged into hell the other was just fine, well not fine he broke his favorite replica, but he didn’t have demons puppet his body to lash out at merlin
I think you get possessed if you use the elevator
It depends on your choices of the play through. I was still fine when I entered and was able to do things. It’s probably the origins, the build and personality that can also important. I chose the mc who lost his memory’s and decided to take the stairs when I suddenly get possessed then forced to take the elevator.
I think corruption level depends on how much you give in (?) to the demonic influences. Like any time you choose to follow what the demons are telling you to do such as at the stables when it wants you to go outside to the noise and the corruption level probably is checked at certain points. If it’s below a certain point you instantly get possessed? Something like that I assume
Damn
@Unregistered I was wondering, Should this little part here be whatever we chose as our best feature?
Periodically a passerby will pause in their journey and gawk over at you. Like a moth to the flame, their eyes are always drawn towards your hair. Well, it’s nothing if not eye-catching.
It says the same thing even when I just chose normal black short hair lol.
Yep even I was surprised. I can’t remember my exact job or choices that led to it. I thought the worse that could happen is u are forced to laugh and attack Merlin if u tried to hide the mark on one of my Mcs
This story literally stole the air right out of my lungs and didn’t apologise. Dude. You’re not an author, you’re an artist. Literally haven’t read anything this incredible in so so long. This whole demo could be a Part One. How is this free??? It’s insane. Thank you!!
There is literally an achievement for this when u do what they say. That confirms doing that is a way of getting corruption
Stats: Magic : 11 Physical : 12 Intelligence : 11 Charisma : 62
Bold : 150 Sweet : 136 Sassy : 92 Optimist : 108
Health(at Climax) : 79 Health(Final) : 91 Wound : healed Serious Injuries : 0
Caution : 10 Will : 3 Apathy : 0 Purity : 1 Cloudcuckoolanderness : 17 Denial : 2 Coward : 0 Silent : 12 Mute : false Pottymouth : 3 Intimidation : 0
Arthurian Lore : 3 Serenades : 4 Interpretive Dances : 0 Crimes : 0 Known Crimes : 0 Reject the Call : 0 Ward Status: 7 Lore Dump : 0 Lore Dodge : 0
Tech : 10 Medical : 10 Internet : 30 Criminal : 30 Botany : 0
Club : polo Job : reporter Hobby : criminal Talent : magnetism Using Pseudonym? : false Pet : pig Dibs : None
Childhood : abandon Secret : inhuman Crazy Theory : None Crazy Theory Level : 0 Two-Faced : False
Vice : lust Addiction : internet Fear : death Fear Level (at Climax) : 15 Corruption : 3 Mindcontrol : true
Random Appearance: false Attractiveness Level : 1 Striking : 3 Body Type: 2 Height: short Best Feature: face
Tattoos : 0 Striking Tattoos : false Scars : 0 Striking Scars : false Piercings : 0 Striking Piercings : false
Striking Clothes : false Heavy Clothes : false Long Clothes : true Flashy Mask : false Haircolor Striking : true Eyecolor Striking : false
Merlin Affinity : 69 Merlin Flirt : 43 Merlin Bond : 1 Merlin Gender : male
Adrian Affinity : 106 Adrian Flirt : 11 Adrian Past Bond : 0 Adrian Current Bond : 1
Weapons : XM556 Microgun | squirt gun | iron lamp |
Inventory : pet memento | laptop | Gawain figurine | bible | pearls of protection |
Achievements : BBQ Deferred | One Small Step…
What is the corruption stat?
I thought it was just the influence the demons had on the protag, but being a serial killer and having a shady hobby increases it without interacting with the mind controled choices.
It’s free because it makes us bonkers for the rest of it and whenever it’s ready we’ll thrust our credit cards against the screen yelling TAKE MY MONEY
Same principle of giving away free drugs. I’m on to you @Unregistered
Alright I wasn’t sure what to expect but whatever I should have expected it has been surpassed. It’s a lot of work but I will say it has payed off for you, and while I realize it will take some time for the next chapter thanks to amount of words alone for the first chapter, I actually can’t wait lol.
For sake of enjoying the story I actually went through this story twice, it was that good as I was trying to understand the amount and quality variations that could happen with small change of decision based on how the MC acts. It didn’t disappoint either.
Magic : 2 Physical : 49 Intelligence : 10 Charisma : 22
Bold : 126 Sweet : 80 Sassy : 45 Optimist : 91
Health(at Climax) : 60 Health(Final) : 101 Wound : unknown Serious Injuries : 1
Caution : 8 Will : 5 Apathy : 0 Purity : -998 Cloudcuckoolanderness : 6 Denial : 1 Coward : 0 Silent : 8 Mute : false Pottymouth : 4 Intimidation : 1
Arthurian Lore : 3 Serenades : 1 Interpretive Dances : 1 Crimes : 0 Known Crimes : 0 Reject the Call : 0 Ward Status : 6 Lore Dump : 0 Lore Dodge : 0
Tech : 30 Medical : 20 Internet : 0 Criminal : 0 Botany : 0
Club : polo Job : police detective Hobby : gadget Talent : endurance Using Pseudonym? : false Pet : None Dibs : None
Childhood : abuse Secret : killer Crazy Theory : None Crazy Theory Level : 0 Two-Faced : True True Serious : True True Optimist : True
Vice : wrath Addiction : smoking Fear : heights Fear Level (at Climax) : 20 Corruption : 4 Mindcontrol : false
Random Appearance: false Attractiveness Level : 2 Striking : 2 Body Type: 2 Height: tall Best Feature: eyes
Tattoos : 0 Striking Tattoos : false Scars : 2 Striking Scars : false Piercings : 0 Striking Piercings : false
Striking Clothes : true Heavy Clothes : true Long Clothes : true Flashy Mask : false Haircolor Striking : true Eyecolor Striking : false
Merlin Affinity : 65 Merlin Flirt : 42 Merlin Bond : 1 Merlin Gender : female
Adrian Affinity : 72 Adrian Flirt : 0 Adrian Past Bond : 0 Adrian Current Bond : 2
Weapons : Glock-19 | Excalibur | hunting knives |
Inventory : picture of foster family | autograph | pearls of protection | tech repair kit
Achievements :
Magic : 2 Physical : 35 Intelligence : 22 Charisma : 30
Bold : 172 Sweet : 50 Sassy : 21 Optimist : 53
Health(at Climax) : 49 Health(Final) : 91 Wound : healed Serious Injuries : 2
Caution : 6 Will : 4 Apathy : 0 Purity : -1000 Cloudcuckoolanderness : 5 Denial : 4 Coward : 0 Silent : 7 Mute : false Pottymouth : 2 Intimidation : 3
Arthurian Lore : 3 Serenades : 0 Interpretive Dances : 1 Crimes : 1 Known Crimes : 1 Reject the Call : 0 Ward Status : 7 Lore Dump : 0 Lore Dodge : 0
Tech : 30 Medical : 20 Internet : 0 Criminal : 0 Botany : 0
Club : polo Job : police detective Hobby : gadget Talent : endurance Using Pseudonym? : false Pet : dog Dibs : None
Childhood : accident Secret : killer Crazy Theory : None Crazy Theory Level : 0 Two-Faced : True True Serious : True True Optimist : True
Vice : wrath Addiction : smoking Fear : heights Fear Level (at Climax) : 14 Corruption : 7 Mindcontrol : true
Random Appearance: false Attractiveness Level : 1 Striking : 3 Body Type: 2 Height: tall Best Feature: figure
Tattoos : 0 Striking Tattoos : false Scars : 3 Striking Scars : false Piercings : 0 Striking Piercings : false
Striking Clothes : true Heavy Clothes : true Long Clothes : true Flashy Mask : false Haircolor Striking : false Eyecolor Striking : true
Merlin Affinity : 62 Merlin Flirt : 43 Merlin Bond : 1 Merlin Gender : female
Adrian Affinity : 60 Adrian Flirt : 0 Adrian Past Bond : 3 Adrian Current Bond : 2
Weapons : Glock-19 | hunting knives |
Inventory : wardrobe | picture of family | pet memento | pearls of protection | tech repair kit
Achievements :
I wish luck as really want to read more, even if I have never played or really seen among us 
New poll at the bottom of the poll post!
So right now, only Detective, Security Guard, and Criminal MC come with the option of having a gun. Since magic and technology are fundamentally incompatible, any gun that’s been enchanted so that it’ll actually work on a demon/fae/mage/etc will have a chance of backfiring spectacularly on the user instead. Would other MCs still be interested in ‘acquiring’ a gun? I may be trying to determine if it’s worth writing up the sidequest where you can rob a gun shop or not.
Otherwise, thanks for all the comments and stats!
All the other Harbingers are running around screaming because Merlin’s out on a coffee break. Cloudcuckoolander MC and Percy are sitting in the background playing checkers. MC periodically asks the Magic 8-Ball if they should intervene but it keeps telling them “Ask again later”.
‘Corruption’ on the stats menu is basically measuring how deeply the demons have sunken their hooks into the MC. Considering MC’s apartment literally became a gate to hell, they’re always going to be at least slightly compromised. Corruption is also the main stat that determines if MC passes the possession check or not (the main one, but not the only one… there are other mitigating factors).
So Corruption goes up (or very rarely down) based on choices that allow the demons to exert greater influence over the MC. People have been theorizing good stuff for what may fall under that. Just please note, it’s not always that the MC did something bad or wrong… ie the Security Guard MC is pretty much guaranteed to fail the possession check at some point and they didn’t do anything wrong besides end up being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That bit of flavor test should be triggered by the hair_striking variable. And it should be the gray, blond, red, default dyed, and custom dyed (flagged as striking) that would be triggering that. So yeah, definitely not short black hair. 
Does your MC’s hair have highlights in it? I think that might trigger it as well (I should probably tweak that a bit). If you’ve got plain black hair without any streaks or anything then I have no clue what’s going on.
I also checked the bottle point where you end up exiting the conversation with Adrian and entering the trailer and I don’t see anything that should be turning off the mute flag there. (But there’s so many ways to exit that scene… if you left early, if you waited until the last moment, if you left on friendly terms, if you ragequit Adrian, if you’re going to investigate the trailer first (and that’s split between you doing it solo and going with Adrian) that I might be missing something somewhere.
Also about the Serial Killer secret… yeah, some phobias will block that origin (blood, death) since they’ve got a HUGE conflict of interest there. If your MC stabbed their victim and then keeled over in shock, they’d probably be too busy being incarcerated at the moment to take part in the current quest.
Thanks for the compliment! It’s just Chapter 1, so… *insert flaming Elmo gif here*
I’m actually going to start updating the chapters in chunks from this point onwards (Chapter 1 is literally broken up into seven different files), so it shouldn’t take as long as it might otherwise. Also, no problem about not playing Among Us (I never actually played it myself although I’ve played a bunch of other games in the same genre), it’s just a short keyword way of signalling this is going to be a type of “there’s a murderous saboteur among us!” type situation.