''The Cycle''
[[Wake Up->Wake Up]]
(set: $Time to 9)
(set: $TimeQualifier to "AM")
(set: $Health to "tired")(set: $Energy to 60)
''It’s $Time:00 $TimeQualifier.''
Consciousness returns to you quickly and harshly, like a freshly reopened wound.
Your body is rusted and is nearly too heavy to move.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
[[Rest Longer->Wake Up]]
[[Stand Up - Costs 40% Energy)->Stand Up]]
(set: $Time to $Time+1)
(if:$Time is 13)[
(set: $Time to 1)
(if:$TimeQualifier is "AM")[
(set: $TimeQualifier to "PM")
](else:)[
(set: $TimeQualifier to "AM")
]
]''You stand in a white void.''
A soft static fills the void with sound.
The blank whiteness is harsh, you do not want to remain here long.
In front of you, stands a grey metal door, laden with scratches and blemishes.
To your right, stands a wooden door. A faint, sky-blue light seeps through the crease where the wood meets the frame.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
(link-rerun:"Add Some Color to the room- Costs 25% Energy")[ You do not have enough energy!]
[[Step Through The Wooden Door->Bathroom]]
[[Step Through The Metal Door->Office Entrance]](set: $Energy to $Energy-40)
''The Action Drains You''
Rising from your slumber saps you of your strength.
$Energy% of your total energy remains.
[[Continue->Bedroom]]
[[Give Up For Today And Go Back To Sleep - Restores Energy->Sleep]]''This Room Is Small And Cold''
There are cracks and stains on the dirty grey walls. Dust and dirt are caked around the edges of the room.
In one corner is a window.
In front of you, a mirror hangs on the wall.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
[[Look In The Mirror->Bathroom Mirror]]
[[Look Through The Window->Bathroom Window]]
[[Step Back Through The Wooden Door->Bedroom]]''A dim light illuminates your surroundings.''
This room is wide, and has a grey floor.
In front of you is a door labeled “Exit.”
On the left wall of the room, is a door with a sign labeled “Library.”
On the right wall of the room, is a door with a sign labeled “Network.”
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
[[Exit->Exit]]
[[Network->Network Port]]
[[Library->Library]](set: $Health to "disappointed")
''You See Yourself''
The details are fuzzy.
In a way you can’t describe, something feels wrong.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
[[Continue->Bathroom]](set: $Health to "trapped")
''The Window Is Just Out Of Reach.''
If you crane your neck, you can just barely see the sky.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
[[Continue->Bathroom]]''A wide forest lies before you.''
The trees are made of metal.
The sky is black.
Walking through the forest feels good, but it’s synthetic. This forest isn’t real.
They tell you that your forest isn’t real which means the good feeling isn’t either.
Walking through the forest increases your Skill Level.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
(if:$Energy < 12)[
(link-rerun:"Walk In The Forsest - Costs 12% energy")[ You do not have enough energy!]
](else:)[
[[Walk In The Forsest - Costs 12% energy->Library Walk]]
]
[[Go Back->Office Entrance]]''The room is a small black cube.''
On the far wall, a hexagonal port glows with power.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
[[Connect->Network Interface]]
[[Leave->Office Entrance]](set: $Health to "starved")
''A Set Of Stairs, Impossibly Tall, And At The Top, A Closed Door''
That door is the only way out.
You want it more than anything else.
The door can only be unlocked when your skill level is greater than the required skill level.
You can check your skill level by connecting to the global network.
You feel $Health.
You have $Energy% of your total energy.
[[Climb The Stairs->Exit Journey]]
[[Go Back->Office]]''You reach out for a connection''
The Network is your only connection to the outside world.
[[Personal Network->Personal Network]]
[[Global Network->Global Network]]
[[Go Back->Network Port]](set: $Energy to $Energy-2)
''The Action Drains You''
Stepping into this place saps you of your strength.
$Energy% of your total energy remains.
(if:$Energy > 0)[[[Continue->Office]]]
[[Give Up For Today And Go Back To Sleep - Restores Energy->Sleep]](set: $Health to "guilty")
''You Return Back To Where You Started''
Exhausted, you collapse.
You can’t do any more today.
You feel $Health.
[[Continue->Wake Up]]
(set: $Time to 9)
(set: $TimeQualifier to "AM")(set: $Health to "alone")
''The Personal Network Is A Small Network That Rewards Bonus Energy''
Warning: Due to a quirk of your manufacturing, the personal network will not reward bonus energy.
Connection Status - Disconnected
Connection Report - Client voluntarily disconnected
You feel $Health.
[[Continue->Personal Network Cost]]''The Global Network is a Large Network That Can Be Used To Check Your Skill Level''
Unbiased opinion is the only way to really know.
(if:$Energy < 16)[
(link-rerun:"Connect - Costs 16% energy")[ You do not have enough energy!]
](else:)[
[[Connect - Costs 16% energy->Global Network Fail]]
]
[[Go Back->Network Interface]](set: $Energy to $Energy-2)
''The Action Drains You''
Reminding yourself of what you've given up saps you of your strength.
$Energy% of your total energy remains.
(if:$Energy > 0)[[[Continue->Network Interface]]]
[[Give Up For Today And Go Back To Sleep - Restores Energy->Sleep]](set: $Energy to $Energy-16)
''The Action Drains You''
Reaching out saps you of your strength.
$Energy% of your total energy remains.
(if:$Energy > 0)[[[Continue->Network Interface]]]
[[Give Up For Today And Go Back To Sleep - Restores Energy->Sleep]](set: $Health to "hopeless")
''You Call Out To The Network''
All you want is to be validated.
The network does not respond.
Your Skill Level: Unknown
You feel $Health.
[[Continue->Global Network Cost]](set: $Health to "fake")
''You Walk Through The Forest''
Your skill level is increased.
You do not know by how much.
You can’t forget what they said.
You feel $Health.
[[Continue->Library Walk Cost]](set: $Energy to $Energy-12)
''The Action Drains You''
Improving yourself saps you of your strength.
$Energy% of your total energy remains.
(if:$Energy > 0)[[[Continue->Library]]]
[[Give Up For Today And Go Back To Sleep - Restores Energy->Sleep]](set: $Health to "dreadful")
''You Begin Climbing The Steps''
The journey is long.
You fight through the pain.
It takes every ounce of energy you have left.
You are sapped of your strength.
You feel $Health.
[[Continue->Exit Top]](set: $Health to "terror")
''Finally, You Reach The Top''
You take a breath, and reach towards the handle.
For a moment, you have hope that you might be enough.
It quickly fades.
You feel $Health.
[[Continue->Exit Fail]](set: $Energy to 0)
''The Door Does Not Unlock''
$Energy% of your total energy remains.
[[Go Back To Sleep->Sleep]]''The Cycle''
The Cycle is a short text-based game I cooked up in a few hours late one night using Twine.
Making it helped me vent some of the frustration I was feeling about working at home as an indie developer during the covid pandemic.
You’re welcome to give it a play through, it’s quite short.
[[Play->Intro]]