AfflictedDemo

<center><img src="https://jackalhearts.neocities.org/eye.gif" width="350" height="262"></center> <center> (link: "Content Warnings (Click)")[This story contains graphic ''written'' descriptions frightening imagery, horror genre-typical violence, body horror, gore, blood, murder, self-harm, and suicide. If you would like specific context ''(contains spoilers)'' for any of these elements in order to better judge your comfort level, please click each keyword to see more.] (click:"body horror")[This story involves elements of sci-fi/horror typical mutation, including the growth of multiple eyes, claws, and other features.] (click:"gore, blood")[There are written descriptions of blood, viscera, guts, and other types of internal body matter (both human and eldritch creature) throughout the story.] (click:"murder")[The player has to the optional choice to kill both humans and eldritch creatures through melee means or magic. There are also descriptions of other humans and eldritch creatures being killed.] (click: "self-harm, and suicide")[The player has the optional choice to try and scratch at their chest to remove an alien element. They soon stop. Later, the player has the optional choice to successfully tear the element from their own chest, which can kill them.] <center> [[Begin]] (set: $beer to 0) (set: $bourbon to 0) (set: $drunk to 0) (set: $ep to 0) (set: $health to 3)

<div class="titlenav"><h1>afflicted</h1> <h4>[[Credits]](link: "Save")[(save-game: "Slot A")](link: "Load")[(load-game: "Slot A")][[Restart]]</h4></div>

<center> Written & Created by <a href="https://linktr.ee/jackalhearts">Jack L.</a> <a href="https://jackalhearts.itch.io/">Itch.io</a> <a href="https://afflictedblog.tumblr.com/">Afflicted Development Blog</a> <a href="https://jackalhearts.neocities.org/">Home page</a> <a href="https://ko-fi.com/jackalhearts#">Ko-fi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jackalhearts">Twitter</a> <a href="https://linktr.ee/jackalhearts">Linktree</a> Base theme by <a href="https://candygiants.itch.io/twine-2-harlowe-css-pack-1">Candygiants</a> on itch.io Made with Twine 2 (Harlowe 3.2.3) & Procreate

(reload:) (goto: "Opening Page") (set: $ep to 0) (set: $health to 3)

(t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:0s)[It is 1900.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:3s)[You live in the state of Georgia, in the USA.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:6s)[Violent eldritch beings have ruled the world for over fifty years.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:9s)[Powerful individuals collaborate with these beings to maintain their status.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:12s)[This is not a secret.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:15s)[The upper class's ability to oppress people has always been apparent.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:18s)[[[Only now, they serve Elder Gods to thrive.->Continue]]]

(t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:0s)[The eldritch gods do not care for material wealth.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:3s)[They exist to subjugate and consume.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:6s)[Humans across the world live in fear, poverty, and despair.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:9s)[Many people seek ways to fight the Elder Gods and the individuals that feed them.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:12s)[They seek weapons, foster solidarity, learn rituals, use magic, and create community.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:15s)[You are part of the rebellion against these gods.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:18s)[[[You are a field medic.->Antarctica]]]

(t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Sharp winds howl around you. You are in Antarctica. Listless eyes and pearlescent flesh refract hundreds of feet beneath you, underneath the cracked-glass surface of the ice you walk on. The rebellion has been excavating a creature for years. It's disturbing to think that eldritch monsters have been on Earth long enough to live for thousands of years and then die, unbeknownst to humanity.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:3s)[Your close friend,[[Gabriel->Gabriel Flores]], walks alongside you.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:5s)[[[What kind of monster is down there?->What kind of monster is down there?]]] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:5s)[[[How big is this thing?->How big is this thing?]]] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:5s)[[[Let's keep going.->Let's keep going.]]]

Gabriel Flores is short, heavyset, and has brown skin. They have curly black hair and wear round glasses. They wear a deep blue waistcoat, fitted trousers, and leather knee-high boots. He is in his mid-thirties. He is transgender. For this trip, he wears a winter coat to protect himself from the cold. In the rebellion, he is both a historian and a sorcerer. The rebellion has been stealing ancient tomes from the Elder Gods for decades. Some individuals have learned magic from them, to use against the Elder Gods. (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:10s)[Gabriel favors spells that shield and defend.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:12s)[[[You know him to be kindhearted, intelligent, neurotic, and cautious.->Antarctica]]]

Gabriel peers down at the ice and pulls his coat tighter around himself. "This one's an //Amorphous Beast//- they're the ones that just seem to suffer and moan. Or, at least, we thought that's all they did. We found out a few years ago that they have some sort of power conduit that the Gods use to ferry energy through, so they can use it for magic. And sustenance, I believe. The rebellion's been searching through this one for it for ages. It's been...gross." They wrinkled their nose. "We got lucky though, and we found something." [[What did you find?]] [[Gross?]] [[I see.->Antarctica]]

You cross over the ice together. The frozen beast below stretches underneath the ice ahead of you. Its eyes, lumps, and joints look like an endless sea of gelatin. "It spans miles," Gabriel answers. "The only reason we were able to find anything was because of the accelerated melting of the continent, combined with the Beast emitting a central energy signal." [[Yeah, I heard that after the Elder Gods arrived, the planet got hotter.]] [[How did this thing even live? Do Amorphous Beasts...eat?]] [[Wow.->Antarctica]]

(t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:1s)[Ahead, you see people in heavy winter coats. Some wield ice axes and flamethrowers. Others pore over journals and papers while blue sparks dance among their ungloved fingers. You don't recognize many of them. You only know other rebels from Georgia, but it's clear that this excavation is a global effort. The rancid scent of it hits your nose long before you arrive. Rotting gray flesh squelches underneath your boots. You see teeth, eyes, maws, and tendrils melt together in an ooze of slick, decaying life. Rebels have removed ice for a large swath of the creature, leaving an exposed crater of viscera, snow, and blue-black slush that seeps from the Beast. The crater is over one hundred feet across. In the center, a small black organ sits inert on a mound of flesh that's about three feet high. It has tubes and tendrils that trace bulging tree root veins underneath the surface. Smaller black veins spider further outwards from the mound, tracing tiny hair-thin patterns into the exposed surface.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:15s)[A harrowed gray-haired woman approaches you and Gabriel. She gives you a swift nod, and speaks to Gabriel. "I need you to take a look at these energy readings we recorded, and see if you can make anything out." She then looks to you. "I'll find you if anyone needs medical help. There have been few accidents so far, and I don't intend for there to be any more."] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:20s)[Gabriel walks away with her. You are left alone for the time being.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:23s)[[[Investigate the organ.->Investigate the organ.]]] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:23s)[[[Go with Gabriel.->Go with Gabriel.]]] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:23s)[[[Walk away from everything.->Walk away from everything.]]]

"A heart. It's smaller than we thought," they continue, turning towards you as they start to gesture. They mime holding something a tad larger than a human heart. "I hypothesize that Amorphous Beasts grow that large to make their hearts difficult to find. Whenever we try to analyze the heart, it emits strange signals. We can't figure out what to do with it yet, though, so I'm taking a look." [[They sent you because you're well-read, right?]] [[What kinds of signals?]] [[I see.->What kind of monster is down there?]]

They grimace. "It's literally miles of old, preserved monster viscera. I'm not jealous of the volunteers who've been looking through it. I think some of them used homemade flamethrowers to speed up the process. The issue is, when the Beast was exposed to warmth, the process of decay resumed. It's not pleasant." [[Oh...->What kind of monster is down there?]]

Gabriel chuckles. They adjust the edges of their gloves and look ahead. "I think so. I've spent a lot of time looking over some of the books the rebellion stole. Most of it's unreadable, but a lot has really helped us out." [[Isn't reading all day boring?]] [[That's really neat.]] [[Right.->What did you find?]]

"They're some sort of energy signature. They're not radio signals, or radiation- nothing that the rebels can figure out how to decipher yet. I'd imagine it's emitting remnants of the power that used to flow through it, but that's just my guess." [[Is it dangerous to get near?]] [[Got it.->What did you find?]]

"Maybe for you." He offers you a slight smirk. [[Alright, alright.->They sent you because you're well-read, right?]]

"Right!? I've found so many rituals that humans are technically capable of performing, it's amazing!" Gabriel clasps their hands together and breaks into a grin. "I'm not the best sorcerer by a long shot, but it's really incredible how much those tomes have taught me." [[Does everyone who learns magic call themselves sorcerers? Why not something else?]] [[Can you turn a guy into a frog?]] [[Very cool.->They sent you because you're well-read, right?]]

"I tried wizard, but it didn't feel right. I know some folks use witch too." [[You should go with wizard.]] [[Can I call you a witch? Or is that only for women?]] [[What about magician?]] [[Okay then.->That's really neat.]]

"I can't personally do that, but I'm sure someone else could learn." [[Well, you should learn.]] [[Noted.->That's really neat.]]

"That's just a little too Arthurian for me, personally." [[You just need to get started on a big white beard, obviously.]] [[Yeah, you're right.->Does everyone who learns magic call themselves sorcerers? Why not something else?]]

"I don't think witch has to be a gendered term, now that I think about it. I'm used to always picking the masculine-leaning choice, since that's what I prefer, being not-quite a man and //certainly// not a lady." "I think I'll stick with sorcerer, though." [[Gotcha.->Does everyone who learns magic call themselves sorcerers? Why not something else?]]

Gabriel smiles. "As soon as I can grow literally //any// facial hair, I'll get started. I promise." [[Noted.->Does everyone who learns magic call themselves sorcerers? Why not something else?]]

Gabriel opens his mouth to argue, and then pauses. They adjust their glasses and shrug. "Then they should have shared earlier. It would've made //my// job much easier." [[Exactly.->What about magician?]]

"But that's not what I do, so it's not a great descriptor, is it." [[Surely you could use some magic to escape some chains and straitjackets though, right?]] [[I guess so!->What about magician?]]

Gabriel tries to stifle laughter. "I mean, yeah, I guess!" [[See! Told you.->What about magician?]] [[Okay, sure.->What about magician?]]

"I don't know, I feel like that wouldn't be the most efficient use of my time. If I'm being honest." [[Suit yourself.->That's really neat.]]

"As far as I've been told? No. No negative effects have been recorded. Maybe don't lick it, though, if you can help it." [[Great, I was totally going to lick it. Fun ruined.]] [[Thanks, I wasn't planning to.]] [[If you insist.->What kinds of signals?]]

Gabriel laughs, and elbows you in the arm. [[You continue walking together.->Is it dangerous to get near?]]

"Good. If it tastes like candy, we'll just have to let that be another cosmic mystery." [[That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.->Is it dangerous to get near?]]

"Everyone knows magicians are fake, that would be silly." [[How do you know they're fake? What if they just found those ancient tomes before the Gods took over?]] [[Those guys that escape those chains and straitjackets are NOT fake.]] [[Ah...yeah.->Does everyone who learns magic call themselves sorcerers? Why not something else?]]

"It was an outcome of increased industry, cars, a lot of man-made things. And //definitely// some of the leviathan eldritch creatures punching holes in the Earth's atmosphere when they descended. That can't have helped." Gabriel's brows furrow. [[At least we could find this Beast. Silver linings, right?]] [[That's terrible.->How big is this thing?]]

"What I understand is that they just sort of...sit, and live in pain. I read that the Elder Gods created them to transfer power from other sources. They grow to massive sizes, absorb most things in their paths, and live long anguish-filled lives." [[That's really sad, actually.]] [[Nature IS beautiful, Gabriel!]] [[Hm.->How big is this thing?]]

Gabriel replies with a weak smile. "I suppose. None of it's really good." [[Alright then.->How big is this thing?]]

He adjusts his glasses. "It is. It's not enough for the Gods to subjugate other beings. They have to manufacture beings for it too. Amorphous Beasts aren't at all like us, but I can't help but feel for them." [[That's very sweet. Me too.]] [[I don't feel anything for creatures like this.]] [[Yeah.->How did this thing even live? Do Amorphous Beasts...eat?]]

"I...don't think nature would do this. And I don't know if this is beautiful. That's a bit of a challenging statement, there." [[You're entitled to your opinion.->How did this thing even live? Do Amorphous Beasts...eat?]]

Even though Gabriel seems focused, and perhaps a bit worried, his face softens when he hears your response. [[You continue walking.->That's really sad, actually.]]

"I'm sure it's hard to, with what the Eldritch gods did to Earth and everyone. The Amorphous Beasts seem a lot like them, on the outside. I don't even know if they feel things the same way we do or have the same level of sentience. I can't help but feel for them anyways. But, that's just me." [[Alright.->That's really sad, actually.]]

You approach the organ. Ventricles and arteries loop and mesh in unnatural ways around its muscled surface. A slick indigo sheen creates deep blue highlights across its midnight black surface. It looks both alien and perfect. Terrible and pristine. [[Look closer]] [[Say hello]] [[Wait, not yet.->Let's keep going.]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

You follow Gabriel and the woman, unsure of what you should be doing. You know how to apply field medicine, and you understand that you're here in case it's needed. You're just not sure what your purpose is when it's not. You watch them fiddle with a device that traces black lines up and down on a sheet of paper. Gabriel takes out a notebook and fumbles with a pencil while they try to scribble some numbers down while wearing gloves. [[Ask if you can help.]] [[Sit on a metal box of equipment.]] [[Walk away from everything.->Walk away from everything.]] [[Investigate the organ.]]

You begin to trudge away from the crater. The wind feels harsher. The smell of the rotting monster recedes. [[Be alone for a little while.]] [[Go find Gabriel.->Go with Gabriel.]] [[Investigate the organ.->Investigate the organ.]]

You approach the gray-haired woman. "Are you sure there isn't something I can do right now?" She shakes her head. "No. Please, just wait. I can only hope that no one here needs your services." Her tone is sharp. [[Approach Gabriel.]] [[Investigate the organ.->Investigate the organ.]] [[Walk away from everything.->Walk away from everything.]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

Your butt feels frigid. [[Ask if you can help.->Ask if you can help.]] [[Investigate the organ.->Investigate the organ.]] [[Walk away from everything.->Walk away from everything.]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

You speak to Gabriel instead. "Do you need help with anything? Maybe I can write down some things, or provide moral support?" He blinks and looks down at his notebook for a moment. He seems like he wants to help you, but is unsure how. "No, actually, I'm okay for now. I appreciate the offer, though." [[Investigate the organ.->Investigate the organ.]] [[Sit on a metal box of equipment.->Sit on a metal box of equipment.]] [[Walk away from everything.->Walk away from everything.]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

You sit down on the ice and stare down at a cluster of eyes. They're over thirty feet below the ice. They sit in a dense bouquet, separated by thin strips of pink skin. As you continue to look, you notice that there are two and three irises on each eyeball, some of which are attached by a stretched pupil, as if in mid-mitosis. [[Investigate the organ.->Investigate the organ.]] [[Go find Gabriel.->Go with Gabriel.]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

You feel drawn to this object. You think it would be comforting to hold. [[Back away.->Investigate the organ intensifies]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

Maybe it's friendly. You give it a little wave. "Hi there." It doesn't respond. You feel warmth nonetheless. Perhaps it prefers physical contact. [[Back away. Let's not touch it.->Investigate the organ intensifies]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

<center>[[touch the heart->Discover Powers]] touch the heart touch the heart touch the heart (text-style:"blur")[touch the heart] (text-style:"blurrier")[touch the heart]

You approach the organ. Ventricles and arteries loop and mesh in unnatural ways around its muscled surface. A slick indigo sheen creates deep blue highlights across its midnight black surface. It looks both alien and perfect. Terrible and pristine. (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]] [[Call out for Gabriel]] (text-style:"expand")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

You shout out for Gabriel. "Hey, come over here!" You hear footsteps crossing the crater, but your gaze is locked onto the organ. (text-style:"expand")+(text-style:"shudder")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]] (text-style:"expand")+(text-style:"shudder")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]] (text-style:"expand")+(text-style:"shudder")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]] (text-style:"expand")+(text-style:"shudder")[[[Heed the Call->Heed the Call]]]

(t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:1s)[<center> Thank you for playing the Afflicted demo! Feel free to contact me with feedback and check out the <a href="https://afflictedblog.tumblr.com/">development blog.</a> Written & Created by <a href="https://linktr.ee/jackalhearts">Jack L.</a> <a href="https://jackalhearts.itch.io/">Itch.io</a> <a href="https://jackalhearts.neocities.org/">Home page</a> <a href="https://ko-fi.com/jackalhearts#">Ko-fi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jackalhearts">Twitter</a> <a href="https://linktr.ee/jackalhearts">Linktree</a> Base theme by <a href="https://candygiants.itch.io/twine-2-harlowe-css-pack-1">Candygiants</a> on itch.io Made with Twine 2 (Harlowe 3.2.3) & Procreate]