Become the whisper in the subconscious of a sadistic criminal, on a gruelling church mission to chart new lands shrouded in a mind-altering fog. Contemplate on your actions; fail to justify them and you might find the protagonist not heeding your commands. Regret or rejoice, grieve or laugh together… or independently of each other. There will be consequences.
An island has appeared in the distant sea. Only two days sail away, it cannot be seen from the mainland. It is the convicts and the displaced who are selected, and shipped off to chart this land. You are one of them.
In Where Birds Go To Sleep, you slip into the unconscious of Cormo, a churlish sailor-turned-smuggler, only ever influencing his actions, never directly assuming control. To find a cure for your sister’s sickness, you sneak your way into a dangerous expedition to explore that island, reserved only for the worst prisoners. There, you will get to know a handful of very special, deeply developed and fully realised characters. Become their friend, get to know their secrets, manipulate or abuse them to your, or Cormo’s will.
One of the first characters you will meet is Dunlin – a noble-born, young man who is steadfast in his moral and religious principles. But what must a purebred like him be guilty of to end up here with you?
Key Features:
- Introspect: Get to know the protagonist as you converse directly with him; understand his opinions, challenge his views, change his mind, or have him change yours… or root yourselves in your beliefs as you grow further apart. Reflect on your actions along with the protagonist; exchange your thoughts on what happened; regret or rejoice, grieve or laugh together… or independently of each other.
- Choices & Consequences: There is no “Mission Failed”; saying “No” opens new avenues. There is no golden path. Almost every single choice, no matter how small, has a consequence. Lie to others, and you’ll be more likely to hide the truth from yourself. Fail to justify your actions and you might find your character not heeding your commands. Every single small choice you make builds up, and shifts the direction of the story. While there are crucial moments and big decisions to be made, they happen within the context of the numerous smaller decisions, even those as trivial as the way you greet someone, that – true to life – ultimately decide who we are.
- Narrative & Dialogue: Sprawling, naturally flowing dialogue: react in intense back-and-forth conversations. Every dialogue is ready for the choices you make, and can potentially branch off into a completely different conversation with game-changing significance.
- Explore & Survive: Explore the mysterious island, unravel its secrets and lies. Shrouded in noxious, mind-altering mist, you must prepare for every journey inland, anticipating the challenges ahead. The provisions are scarce… but the others need them less than you. You’re NOT fully in control. You are the whisper in the back of the mind. Manipulate your crew-mates and your protagonist into doing your bidding… and deal with the mental toll with this innovative dialogue dynamic.
Where Birds Go To Sleep is in development for PC.
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