# WIP - Parasitical(sci-fi/vague cosmic horror, update July 22 2025 | 278k words) **URL:** \ **Category:** Works In Progress\ **Tags:** nonbinary-inclusive, gender-choice, science-fiction\ **Created:** [March 8, 2023, 5:01am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525 "2023-03-08T05:01:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EnaMeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/enameena/32/190086_2.png) [@EnaMeena](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/EnaMeena)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 5:01am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/1 "2023-03-08T05:01:49Z")
[DEMO](https://cogdemos.ink/play/enameena/parasitical/mygame) Currently finished—Prologue, Chapter One through Five. ~278k words, average playthrough ~71k. ——— _His flesh, our sustenance. His blood, our drink. His bones, our foundation, His body, our haven._ Five hundred years ago, the Earth was dying. Water polluted, dirt infertile, forests and meadows crumbling to the wars of steel and fire. And so the Order called His Grace, the Lord of Communion, down from where he rested before and He allowed humanity to rest inside his body. Or at least, that’s the story the Order tells. You grew up under the masked faces of their Exalted, under the stories of Earth past. Rusted metal and cracked plastic; His bone and His flesh. Conflicting worlds, conflicting times, and soon, it might all come to a head. > **Features** > > - Play as a recruit of the Order, an Exalted. > - Be male, female, trans, or nonbinary. > - Customize your appearance, talents, and worldview. > - Romance(or befriend, or antagonize) five separate characters. > - Shape yourself—are you pragmatic or empathetic? Do you speak out or remain silent? Do you trust the Order, and do they trust _you?_ > - Align yourself with different factions, all pursuing different—sometimes incongruous—goals. > - Experience a world of greater things than you can imagine, but where your choices still matter. > **Romance Options** > > **Tallis/Talyn/Talia** | The Dissident > > > Gender selectable. Green eyes and long, auburn hair, charismatic and cunning all at once, able to switch façades on a dime. Your childhood friend—Or, at least, companion. They aren’t the biggest fan of the Order. Perhaps that will have greater implications than simple complaints as the situation grows more dire. > > **August** | The Exalt > > > Blonde, sharp, and severe, he’s the one who brought you into the fold. As close to a mentor, a lifeline, as you have in the tall spires of the Order. Dedicated to His Grace—a zealot, some might call him. The Order doesn’t name His Grace as a God, but August certainly seems to think that He is. > > **El** | The Mechanic > > > Long, thick black hair, skin tanned and freckled. She’s a mechanic of the Order, though you might not know that on first glance. Talented, there’s no doubt about it, despite her occasional airheadedness. Sometimes, you can’t help but feel that she’s hiding something. > > **Jasper** | The Outlander > > > Gender selectable. Muscled either way, with dark skin and deep brown eyes. Loud and arrogant—and they have what it takes to back that personality up. As the first new arrival to the Commune in… all of history, you have to wonder if they’re an omen or a savior. Either way, they’ll shatter everything that you thought you knew. > > I **carus** | The Overseer > > > The Head of the Order. Everything else about them is shrouded in mystery. > **Content Warnings** > > - Copious mentions of blood/flesh(Nonhuman, not caused by violence.) > **Coming Soon/Changelog** > > **DISCLAIMER** : I’m a student and a slow writer in general, so updates might not be very frequent. Nevertheless, I’ll try to see this story through. > > - **3/7/23** : First posted with Prologue and 1/2 of Chapter One, ~22k words. > - **3/11/23** : Chapter one fully updated. About 8k words in this one, ~30.5k. See post 11 for more details. > - **4/27/23** : Chapter two posted, about 16k words. See post 32 for more. > - **9/30/23** : Chapter three posted, about 30k words. See post 45 for more. > - **10/3/24** : Chapter four posted, about 95k words. See post 52 for more. > - **7/6/25** : Chapter five posted, about 100k words. See post 68 for more. > > **Up next** : Chapter 5 _For more information, see: [Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/parasitical-if)._ Please send all bug reports [HERE](https://forms.gle/aW2tfw1W17H6xzxw7) ---
**Author:** ![K\_T](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/k_t/32/189656_2.png) [@K\_T](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/K_T)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 5:46am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/2 "2023-03-08T05:46:08Z")
Absolutely love it! Can’t wait to keep reading this. ---
**Author:** ![yb\_minhee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/yb_minhee/32/272565_2.png) [@yb\_minhee](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/yb_minhee)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 5:47am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/3 "2023-03-08T05:47:55Z")
seems like the saves are broken ---
**Author:** ![lokis\_hairgel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/lokis_hairgel/32/163422_2.png) [@lokis\_hairgel](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/lokis_hairgel)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 6:29am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/4 "2023-03-08T06:29:54Z")
I love this premise! Living _inside_ of a cosmic entity as well as _surviving_ on it?? It’s both incredibly believable and disgusting, and the exact right amount of disturbing. You’re a talented writer and I cannot wait to see where you take this story. So far I’ve really enjoyed playing as a zealot warrior who would choose He over his friendships and I’m very interested to see how badly that bites him in the ass, or turns in his favour. I’m guessing you probably already know about this (or something like it) but there is a “Wendigoon” YouTube video called _Mystery Flesh Pit National Park_ that I couldn’t stop thinking about while reading this that may have some ideas you could bounce off of. Anyway, good luck for your journey ahead! ---
**Author:** ![Beth\_M](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/beth_m/32/193289_2.png) [@Beth\_M](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Beth_M)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 10:54am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/5 "2023-03-08T10:54:59Z")
I _love_ the premise. The cynic in me automatically dislikes the order, but I can’t help to find out more. I can see this one shaping up to be one of my favourite! ---
**Author:** ![EnaMeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/enameena/32/190086_2.png) [@EnaMeena](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/EnaMeena)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/6 "2023-03-08T13:50:49Z")
> [@lokis\_hairgel](#): > > Mystery Flesh Pit National Park Thank you so much for your words! And yes, Mystery Flesh Pit was a huge inspiration for this. > [@yb\_minhee](#): > > seems like the saves are broken Hm, that’s weird. It seems to be working for me. Try opening it again? ---
**Author:** ![Velve](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/velve/32/205171_2.png) [@Velve](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Velve)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/7 "2023-03-08T16:01:41Z")
I really liked the Demo so far, can’t wait to read more 🥰 ---
**Author:** ![Sheena\_Felmey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/sheena_felmey/32/190983_2.png) [@Sheena\_Felmey](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Sheena_Felmey)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/8 "2023-03-08T17:08:07Z")
I love the unique concept! Your writings really great I can’t wait to see more and get to know the characters and see more of the fleshy world. Saves worked for me at first for awhile but then strangely were throwing an error:bad slot message. ---
**Author:** ![pimenita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/pimenita/32/186080_2.png) [@pimenita](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/pimenita)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/9 "2023-03-09T13:10:33Z")
Such a unique premise 😯 Will keep an eye on this one. (the saves are still broken btw 😅) ---
**Author:** ![EnaMeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/enameena/32/190086_2.png) [@EnaMeena](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/EnaMeena)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/10 "2023-03-09T14:40:37Z")
Saves should be fixed now. Sorry for the delay on this! A warning that I constantly add variables as I write, so most updates will make saves unusable. ---
**Author:** ![snas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@snas](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/snas)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/11 "2023-03-09T19:32:01Z")
ok so basically were in the zeal kingdom from chrono trigger only they also live inside the lavos standin instead of just worshipping him in exchange for power. sounds cool! ---
**Author:** ![EnaMeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/enameena/32/190086_2.png) [@EnaMeena](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/EnaMeena)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/12 "2023-03-11T17:15:58Z")
**UPDATE** Pretty small one, but it delivers what was promised - the latter half of Chapter 1 and the Stats Info page. Around 8k words, putting the total wordcount at ~30.5k and average playthrough of 10.5k. - Meet the final two ROs - Jasper and Icarus! - Experience an attack. - Learn some uncomfortable truths. - Um… see what your stats mean? I did write a lot of this very late at night, so any feedback on typos/bugs/inconsistencies would be appreciated! Besides general pacing/character issues. Those will be a job for 2nd Draft Ena. Up next will be, of course, Chapter 2. Link to the [demo](https://dashingdon.com/play/enameena/parasitical/mygame/). …And it seems I don’t have enough permissions to edit my post, so the changelog and title won’t be updating to match(Fixed—Thank you to the mods!) ---
**Author:** ![Eiwynn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/eiwynn/32/221334_2.png) [@Eiwynn](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Eiwynn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/13 "2023-03-11T17:23:44Z")
@EnaMeena – I have converted your first post to a wiki, so you should be able to edit it now. This work-around is due to your user-level being basic. Once you achieve level 2, you should find all editing restrictions resolved. If you have further issues or concerns, please contact any of the moderators or tag the moderator team (@ moderators) ---
**Author:** ![EnaMeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/enameena/32/190086_2.png) [@EnaMeena](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/EnaMeena)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/14 "2023-03-11T17:28:17Z")
I’m sorry, but could a moderator change the title to ‘updated March 11th’ in place of March 7th? It seems to be the one thing I still can’t change. ---
**Author:** ![lis-walker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/lis-walker/32/266548_2.png) [@lis-walker](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/lis-walker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/15 "2023-03-11T18:53:30Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/f/0/f0bab56ffd87fe52d4786643dc7eb7858fd694fb.png) Got an ‘invalid token’ error here. ---
**Author:** ![EnaMeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/enameena/32/190086_2.png) [@EnaMeena](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/EnaMeena)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/16 "2023-03-11T19:03:39Z")
It seems to have been some sort of character issue. Should be fixed! ---
**Author:** ![lis-walker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/lis-walker/32/266548_2.png) [@lis-walker](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/lis-walker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/17 "2023-03-12T00:54:10Z")
Now that I finished reading: I’m disturbed, well done! The prologue nicely sets up the members of the Order as otherworldly and the twist of MC joining them works splendidly. Some questions about the world: - I’d love to know what the city looks like: are the roads paved? - Are people with blue eyes rare? - What are MC’s eyes and hair or are we going to be choosing that? - Do people have a duty to procreate or something like that, what’s this setting’s stance on relationships? If there are only 500 people in the colony surely that would lead to some aggressive inbreeding 🤔 but at the same time can’t really avoid that. - What are clothes made out of? Btw the saves are broken again. > **Typos** > > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/f/d/fdf0332ade4a905edce9bf397a87e24005ef6af2.png) > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/a/e/aefe4c39e6bdd4a9424d39248366c684fd41ff86.png) > which > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/5/b/5b50c61598311bff5ab2f865000375172081a9b9.png) > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/c/5/c5ff5cd7272d99dcb5a601f1302deeaeaac3b2ef.png) > the one grinding paste? > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/6/0/609100509ec3895646e801c59b8482f8367e554a.png) > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/2/9/295eae6cd2043480e6ac0a837ea58e29f4bcc674.png) > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/3/9/399712dce4957fbbf89418fa4b7720f352b7ac12.png) > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/5/9/5947caba9f1431b6645521a4b25c079214dd4391.png) > ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/3X/7/b/7bebefb30c9d1359c5237297b945e59f7f4e2e2f.png) > capitalization ---
**Author:** ![EnaMeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/enameena/32/190086_2.png) [@EnaMeena](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/EnaMeena)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 2:28am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/18 "2023-03-12T02:28:02Z")
Thank you so much! - So the city is set up in a concentric arrangement, with the Order’s spires at the very center(three of them) and then everything spanning out from there. There are five ‘rings’, each one defined by a road, and on four sides, a straight path cuts through them all—the throughway. Roads aren’t paved and are more just the clear spaces where there _aren’t_ buildings. - They aren’t too rare, but in the MC’s small sphere from before, they would’ve been notable at least. - I’m trying to integrate character customization into the plot instead of having a chunk before the story—Maybe something to reconsider later, if I can’t find a way to really fit in everything that most reader’s expect as customization. So far, though, you can choose your hair length, type, and preferred method of upkeep. - Thinking about things like this is why I hate worldbuilding 😅. Relationships are generally encouraged, though there’s no larger expectation of marriage—moving in together is usually the largest milestone. It’s sort of drilled into people that too many children would be bad, due to constant talk of famine/conservation/‘old Earth had way too many people’ so more than two is uncommon. Interbreeding… is a topic that probably exists in the Commune but that I’ll pat and put to the side. - The farms grow primarily food, medicine, and fibers to make clothes. Things like flax and all that. The process of making them is a job for the Order, and they’re handed out by request at Rations. > Btw the saves are broken again > Saves, my eternal enemy. Pretty sure it was me forgetting to un-comment the \*sm\_init command this time. Should be fixed. Thank you for all the typos! ---
**Author:** ![nulCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/nulcat/32/216956_2.png) [@nulCat](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/nulCat)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/19 "2023-03-12T08:43:43Z")
Oh… Oh I feel so bad for August… like… i know some people who’ve had beliefs (both religious and non religious) shattered and it’s a very tough thing to witness couldn’t imagine being in that position. this is gona sound silly but i imagined the creature we’re in like a giant space whale 😆 will we find out what they look like? ---
**Author:** ![Nemorah](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/nemorah/32/205744_2.png) [@Nemorah](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Nemorah)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 11:48am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525/20 "2023-03-12T11:48:46Z")
I really like what you have so far. A very unique concept and a enjoyable writingstyle. I’ll keep my eye on this one. Good luck with the further development of your story! [Next page](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-parasitical-sci-fi-vague-cosmic-horror-update-july-22-2025-278k-words/133525.md?page=2)