Eidolon

Everything is dark, and there is an aching pain hovering just behind your eyeballs. After a moment or two, you recognize the feeling of cold, damp stone on your cheek. You push yourself up off the rock floor, but you are met only by impenetrable, inky blackness. Even after a minute or two of thought, you have no idea of how you came to be here. //Amnesia//, you think, //how convinient.// //I should probably [[check my pockets -> Pockets]]//, you think. (set: $light to 0)

You feel around in your front and rear pockets. //Are these even my pants?// First you come in contact with a roughly cylindrical [[object -> Lighter]] in your front left pocket. In your back left pocket, a [[scrap of paper -> Note]].

(if: $light is 0)[It feels like a scrap of paper, but you can't read it.] (if: $light is 1)[With a little light, the ominious contents of the note are legible. It says, "We come from fire, but go to dust." You turn to look upon the [[idol -> Idol]] in the center of the room.]

(if: $light is 0)[You feel along the side of the object, and when you reach the top you feel a small button. When you push it you realize that it is a lighter, and, with a sudden ''click'', a small flame brings light to the room. You appear to be in a cave: dark, cold, and unwelcoming. In the center of the room is a stone idol. It looks like a circular monkey with its hands clasped above its head. Better check that [[scrap of paper -> Note]].] (set: $light to 1)

The strange monkey statue stands in the center of the room on a short pedestal. It appears to be made out of hard, porous stone - not like the stone of the cave at all. The leering eyes of the ape face in your direction: a disturbing coincidence? A flicker of light dancing on a falling water droplet brings your attention to the cave itself. It is wider than the stuffy air would make you think, and soft echoes of dripping water reach your ears from far away. Above, you can just see the pointy fingers of long stalagtites reaching down to drop water. The light from the lighter only gives you a clear view of a few feet in any direction, but you feel as though you are deep within the earth. All the weight of a [[mountain -> Cave]] seems to be pressing on your head, your shoulders. You feel panic creeping at the [[edges -> Your Person]] of your consiousness.

The floor is hard rock. There don't seem to be any signs of mining or tunneling in the area immediately around you. Hoping to get a better idea of where you are you take a few steps directly away from the idol, just barely keeping it in sight. You can't see any walls that way, so you have to go back. //Is there [[something -> Your Person]] I missed?// You could look at the [[idol -> Idol 2]] again.

You take a look down at yourself. The first thing that springs to mind is that you were right earlier: these aren't your pants. In fact, none of the clothing seems to be yours. You are wearing a nondescript white shirt and khaki pants. Black sneakers almost blend into the dark stone of the floor. The idol glares menacingly at you. You could look [[around -> Cave]] or investigate the [[idol -> Idol 2]] more.

Again, you get the feeling that the monkey is looking at you. And not 'you' in the royal sense, but ''you'' specifically. To be honest, it gives you either the [[heebie-jeebies -> Creeps]] or the [[creepy-crawlies -> Creeps]].

...maybe a little bit of both. You lean in close, bringing the lighter to within a few centimeters of the stone flesh of the monkey. The shaped stone is old. //Very// old. In some places around the outside of the body, there are small weather-worn holes or divets in the idol, and the fine detail of the face and fingers are mostly smoothed with age. Despite that age though, the fingertips hook upward with a wicked sharpness. You [[lean in close -> Old Blood]] to look.

Something caught your eye about the fingertips, but now you wish you hadn't looked. A dark stain trails between the fingers, and down onto the head and face of the leering monkey. It has the distinct look of blood. And, most concerningly, the blood looks much newer than the rest of the stone. You realize you are holding your breath. Although the blood doesn't look fresh, this can't bode well for you. A blood-covered statue in a forsaken cave? This has [[bad news -> Bad News]] written all over it.

Bad news. You hear something. A chill shoots up your spine as you realize you might not be alone in this cavernous room. You move quickly away from the monkey statue, looking frantically around in the darkness waiting tauntingly outside the ring of dim, flickering light from your lighter. But as you move, you hear the sound again: a dry, scratching sound. You look down by your feet. [[There, on the ground... -> Bones]]

You see old, cracked bones. You hear your own voice stupidly shout "Grrraaaaahhhhh!!" before you can stop yourself. What else would you expect, [[spiders or something? -> WTF]]

Why would you think that? No, there aren't any spiders, but dry old cracked bones aren't exaclty the most promising feature of this cave. There are bones scattered all around the idol. Directly in front of you (and what you inadvertantly moved with your feet) are leg bones, and after some quick inspection, on the other side of the idol is a ribcage and skull. You can't find the hip or arm bones anywhere in sight, but then again you can't see very far. You do note, though, that nestled among the leg bones is a dry, aged, and somewhat burned [[scrap of paper -> Note 2]].

It is hard to make out, but after a quick examination you know what this note says. "We come from fire, but go to dust." It's the same as the note you found in your pocket. //What on earth is going on!?// The cave doesn't answer. You take stock of what you have. The [[lighter -> Lighter 2]] flickers in your hand. //No idea when that will go out//. The two [[notes -> Note 3]]. Your strange [[clothes -> Clothes]]. And, ever present, ever watchful, the [[idol -> Idol 3]].

(if: $clue1 is 1 AND $clue2 is 1 AND $clue3 is 1)[The person who is now a skeleton must have lit something on fire, either the [[notes -> Note 4]], their [[clothes -> Clothes 2]], or [[something else -> Burn Idol]].] (else:)[You have to hurry before the lighter fuel burns out.] (set: $clothes to 1) (set: $notes to 1)

Your note and the note found among the skeleton are almost identical. "We come from fire, but go to dust." //You aren't wrong about that, this guy is definitely dusted//. The only difference is that the second note is a) old, and b) burnt. //Fire... a burned note...// (set: $clue2 to 1) [[Back. -> Note 2]]

You have no idea how you got into these clothes, but, more distressingly, they fit you perfectly. Like they were tailored just for you. A faint memory flits by your mind's eye, but you lose it in an instant. There's something there, but you can't quite make it out. What you can make out, though, is that there are no traces of rotted clothing on the dismembered skeleton. Not even a tread is left in the detritus. What could have happened to the clothing? (set: $clue1 to 1) [[Back. -> Note 2]]

Looking again at the blood stains on the monkey, you notice something odd. The stains are very dark, darker than you //think// old blood would be. In fact, it looks a little like oil... (set: $clue3 to 1) [[Back. -> Note 2]]

You hold the notes above the dancing lighter flame. For a moment, the corner of the pages light and you can see just a few more inches into the darkness. They quickly burn up, though, and only ashes lay at your feet. Nothing changes. [[Back. -> Lighter 2]] (set: $notes to 0)

You take off your clothes and arrange them in a pile. While this doesn't seem like a particularly good idea, you aren't sure what else to do, so you might as well give it a go. You burn your clothes like a bizzare bonfire, which makes a bit more light that looks like it might last for a minute or two. You can see a few more inches around in the dark for this time, but after the final piece of shoe falls into ash, you are left again with only the quivering light of the lighter, and a large pile of ash at your feet. [[Back. -> Lighter 2]] (set: $clothes to 0)

Gathering your wits, you realize that the oily blood on the idol might be flammable. You hold the lighter close to the old stain, and it quickly lights with a sickly blue glow. (if: $clothes is 0)[You are sad to note that the blue flame does not radiate any heat, and you stand naked and shivering.] With a shudder, the flame of your lighter dies, never to be [[re-clicked -> Click]] into existence.

[[Never. -> Click 2]]

The idol, now wreathed in ethereal flame, seems to dance in blue light. The features of the face come into sharp relief, as if never faded by time, and are more menacing than ever. No matter how you try to avert its gaze, your eyes stay locked on the eyes of the monkey. You jump as you hear a [[voice -> Voice]] in your head.

You really think it's [[dead. -> Click 3]]

Nope, it's definitely [[out of fuel. -> Burn Idol 2]]

//''Finally, my meal has arrived,''// it mumbles. "Wh-what?" you stutter aloud. You don't like the feeling of something talking in your head. //''Welcome your fate. It is a useful one.''// [["No, I don't think it is."]] Or... [["What fate is that?"]]

(if: $clothes is 0)[ "If my fate is to die naked, I can't say that I'm all that happy about it. //''Why the hell are you naked? Never mind...''//] //''Yes. You have been chosen to be the savior. Your sacrifice will allow the redemption of those you love.''// [["What do you mean? What are you?" -> Demon]]

//''You will sacrifice yourself for the many. Because of you, they will live.''// [[""What do you mean? What are you?" -> Demon]]

//''I am Amn-nu Barrah, The One Who Feasts! I have rested here, silent, for ten thousand years - those who feed me, those you call friends, have avoided my wrath, my infinite hunger! Every generation, one is not told of my majesty. One is chosen. This one is to be my meal, and the salvation of the rest. This... this is your fate.''// [["Well, shit."]]

It seems you have two options. You can feed yourself to the demon, or try to leave through the massive, unexplored cave without any light. //''You won't be able to escape from here. It is part of my infinite power. There is no exit any more. Not until I feast.''// So, you have one option. [[Ask about feeding. -> Feeding]]

"What exactly does me, uh, sacrificing myself entail?" You are more than a little worried about the response. ''//It's simple. You will lay your stomach upon the upturned hands of this very idol in which my magnificence resides and be engulfed in the flames. My hunger will be sated for this cycle, and some day it will repeat. You will be remembered by your people as a hero.''// [["Do I have to?" -> Feeding 2]]

//''YES YOU HAVE TO! DID YOU HEAR ME? I SAID I'D EAT EVERYONE IF YOU DON'T! I AM THE VOID! I AM THE ENDLESS HUNGER!''// "Who was that?" you ask, pointing at the skeleton on the ground. "He wasn't a hero. I've never heard of him." //''DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME? THEY NEVER THELL THE CHOSEN ONE ABOUT ALL THIS STUFF! IF THEY DID, YOU'D KNOW ALL OF THIS ALREADY!''// It's a good point. You don't see any obvious logical flaws. [[Get on the flaming idol, -> Acceptance]] or [[question it further -> Question]].

Suddenly consumed with love for your family, friends, and neighbors, you run and leap upon the jagged hands of the monkey idol. A sickening crunch follows a stabbing pain in your upper stomach, and the blue flames climb around you, engulfing your form. You feel your lifeblood sucked forcefully between the sharp, cruel fingers, bathing the idol in your blood. Chosen blood. Your eyes slowly, ever so slowly drift shut. You are cold, (if: $clothes is 0)[naked,] lonely, and afraid, but you know deep in your heart that you have died a hero. Or so you hope. [[End. -> End]]

"Who brought me here? Why wouldn't they just tell me? If I knew all of this, maybe I'd sacrifice myself willingly." //''The way of your people is none of my concern. If you failed to feed me, the endless hunger, even once... I would consume all of your people like they deserve!''// "I'm sure someone would volunteer if we all knew." //''YOU FOOL! I don't care about your belief! If you do not feed me, I will start taking your people at random. A child, a father, a sister - they will all be fair game to me.''// [[Feed yourself to the demon -> Acceptance]] or [[question further. -> Question 2]]

Thanks for playing Eidolon by Austin M Jones! This game was made during Global Game Jam 2016. Special thanks to Launchhouse Shaker for the Game Jam space, the Cleveland Game Developers at CleGameDevs.com, Ronaldo Nonato for the flash of inspiration, and Andrew Moldovanyi for letting me brainstorm all over him. Check out my Twitter @jonesaustinm, and my website at ajfilterchord.wix.com/oamj.

"This just doesn't make sense. Why is only one meal enough for you? Why do you eat only once per generation if you are 'The Endless Hunger'? It just doesn't add up." //''LISTEN TO ME, YOU FILTH. YOU ARE A MEAL TO ME. YOU ARE NOT SOMETHING TO BE DEBATED WITH. I WILL ANNIHILATE YOUR ENTIRE VILLAGE IF YOU DO NOT FEED ME! NOW!''// [[Feed yourself to the demon, saving your people -> Acceptance]] or [[keep questioning. -> Question 3]]

"I'm not a meal. I'm a person. I can do whatever I want, and I want to leave. Now." //''THIS WILL BE MY LAST WARNING, YOU SCUM, YOU GARBAGE. YOU ARE LESS THAN NOTHING. YOU ARE A SNACK TO ME, NOT A MEAL. BECAUSE OF THIS, ANOTHER WILL HAVE TO BE CHOSEN. PERHAPS ANOTHER AFTER THAT. BECAUSE OF YOU, MANY WILL DIE NOW WHERE ONLY ONE HAD TO. UNLESS YOU FEED ME. NOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!!!''// [[Finally feed yourself to the demon, saving the people of the surrounding countryside from the tyranny of the beast, and righting your mistake of questioning its unending power for so long. -> Acceptance]] [[There is really no other choice. You have to feed it. For your people. -> Acceptance]] [[Really, it means business. You better sacrifice yourself. -> Acceptance]] [[''//YOU FILTHY MORTAL, JUST DO IT!//'' -> Acceptance]] [[Reject the demon. -> Rejection]]

You step away from the idol, away from the light of the blue flame, and into the darkness. ''//NO!//'' it screams in your mind. //''YOU WOULD ABANDON YOUR PEOPLE? LEAVE THEM TO THE SLAUGHTER??''// You continue to back away. The idol is now thirty feet away. ''//HOW CAN YOU BE SO CARELESS? SO CALLOUS? WHAT IS YOUR LIFE, COMPARED TO ALL OF THEIRS COMBINED? THEY WILL ALL DIE FOR THIS! MARK ME, THEY WILL SUFFER FOR THIS!//'' His voice is quieter now. You are almost a hundred feet away. The blue light is a dot in the darkness. ''//FEED ME! FEEEEEED MEEEEEEEE! A THOUSAND YEARS THEY HAVE FED ME! I CANNOT LEAVE! I HAVE NO POWER OUTSIDE THE CAVE! I NEED THEM! FEED ME, PLEASE!//'' [[Return to the demon, and feed it. -> Acceptance]] [[Leave the cave. -> End]]