[WIP] The Fractured Cage (UPDATE March 2026, 35k [psycological horror / superhero / urban fantasy)

Ah thanks so much! There’s none written yet but I’m looking forward to writing the bits where the creature takes over and you still make decisions but it’s from it’s POV. That’s when that stuff will get very fun… :grin:

Currently rewriting chapter 2, had half of it done then decided it was rubbish :joy:

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I’m liking the sound of that. Can’t wait for more

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I’m half tempted to let it take over to see what happens as long as it doesn’t pull a Chara from Undertale and destroy everything when it has mastered our universe physics.

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It will almost certainly happen sporadically for times, but one of the endings will be the creature takes over you completely too!

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I won’t let this happen to my MC :unamused_face: The stowaway will have to be good boy? girl? monster? or get out :fu:

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:joy: buuuut… what if the only way to save yourself is to let the creature take over…

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F*** saving! It’ll be doomed with MC!

WelI… don’t really know what will happen to it if the host dies, but at least it won’t get that body! I hope.

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The saying with great power comes great responsibility has never been truer unless this is exactly what you wanted than it’s mission failed successfully falling to corruption

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I would never take away a player’s choice, all routes should have viable successful outcomes, just want to make you feel that’s not the case perhaps, pressure when your RO is on the line… :grin:

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Vessel Zero stands out to me. The premise is original, the tone is strong, and the hook is immediate. The corruption mechanic tied to power use feels perfect for interactive fiction, and I would like to see that explored further before shifting focus.

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Thanks so much, really appreciated.

That will be a key thing throughout, having an undertone as you start to understand that’s what’s going on, and will have an impact on the finale.

I’m looking forward to bits where you see through your eyes while you’re not in control :slightly_smiling_face:

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I don’t know if you can answer this or not but could we become somewhat buddies with whatever is inside us? Kinda like venom and his host sometimes have a buddy like relationship.

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While I am being very careful to not get too close to Venom, that will be something I am intending to do, just need to be clever about how that works. I’m thinking more leaving notes for each other. Imagine the fun horror of waking up to a message from the entity written in entrails in your kitchen…

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How dare COG hide this from ME! This is awesome work I must say. Definitely will be bookmarking on my top 5 lists. I loved the story and have some questions? Will the entity come and take over destroying us if we let it control you or it becomes a part of you? Like I know there is a risk but can we still control it like it appears when I want it to like Im in trouble, or angry or sad. And with POVs from other person about what happened when It took over which is definitely gonna make it interesting. Perhaps if you ever do a rewrite we can add Superheroes and romance them, add extra characters etc but this is also good story. I hope to see more updates and will wait Hungrily for this! :wink:

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Thanks so much im really glad you enjoyed it so far.

I have currently written up to end of chapter 3 but ive started rewriting it as it can be better but I will try and get something out as soon as I can.

In terms of controlling it. During the story your control will directly depend on how much you’ve chosen to use your power. Using it more to make the story easier, makes it harder to control. I am looking forward to writing the mechanic where you will make a choice, and it will be interpreted by the entity literally depending on how much control it has. For instance a player low in this, a choice to ‘disable the guard’ say, will take his gun away, maybe knock him out, if it has high control it takes it literally and say tears the guards spine out and so on, making players never quite sure what their choices will result in.

In terms of romances, there are five in total, and two are superhero-lite. Paragon a batman/Green arrow style vigilante, and Cipher, the government agency weapon that has been experimented, tortured, drugged, she is scarred, in constant pain from what’s been done to her. But you can heal her. Even though she hates you, despises you, for reasons you’ll find out.

There are so many aspects of this im so excited to get to the page. I havent been able to write a lot of late but comments like this push me to get back to it so thanks so much I hugely appreciate it!!

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Quite a Interesting Story I Can say, I Can’t Help But Imagine The Reaction of The Governmoent in the Cipher route

The Government: “Your Mission Is to retrieve Vessel Zero Go there And Capture Them.”

Cipher: Nods and goes Away

Days pass…Then Weeks…Months Without Any report And Finally After So long A Message Comes back

Cipher: “I QUIT”

The Government: “………..”

I will Laugh A lot With the Reaction Of the Government When it Learns That Their Agent Fell in love with The MC and Quit From Them.

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Honesty i haven’t written a single for for Cipher yet, but I love her already. It will be raw, brutal, painful, but so damn real and beautiful at the same time.

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Found it really interesting, love eldritch horror being used in non-horror settings, definitely going to keep my eye on this one.

In regards to which project I’d support more, it would have to be this one, but I would not mind rotating updates so no project is put on hold for too long.

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Thanks so much and appreciate it :blush:

I have almost finished completely rewriting chapter 1, hoping to drop it next weekend. Hopefully everyone thinks its an improvement!

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Hey all. Finally managed to get this update out.

Chapter 1 completely rewritten. Chapter 2 done, and Chapter 3.

Hope you think the rewrite is better and you enjoy chapters 2 and 3, and the little teaser for 4.

Any and all comments welcome, really hugely appreciate the reads, likes and comments from the first draft so please keep them coming!

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