Bonded in Darkness

Playing the download version of the game is highly recommended.

Synopsis

Arnaud just wants to be left alone.

Turned into a vampire against his will long ago, he's nonetheless managed to carve out a largely peaceful existence in an abandoned manor—a peaceful existence routinely interrupted by the vampire hunter Julien, seeking blood for blood.

Over the years, animosity has morphed into a strange sort of respect, and on one stormy night, Arnaud is greeted with a sight he never expected: his mortal enemy Julien, gravely injured on his doorstep.

Will Arnaud take him in, or will he use this opportunity to grasp the peace he's been seeking for years?

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The story is fully complete, but the game will be updated after the jam to include two more CGs and a CG gallery!

Features:

• ~9.4k words (~1 hour to read all endings)
• Male protagonist, 1 male LI (BL)
• Story dealing with themes of trust, isolation, and asexuality
• 4 endings (1 good, 3 bad)
• 2 CGs (4 in full game)
• Font selection (Source Serif, Sylexiad Serif, Atkinson Hyperlegible)
• Toggle for image captions (can be used with Ren'Py's built-in TTS by pressing V on the keyboard) and sound captions

Content warnings (click to view)

• Death/murder
• Violence
• Blood
• Blood drinking
• Discussions of sex (non-explicit)
• Past toxic/abusive relationship (not depicted on screen)
• Screenshake

Credits:

• Writing & programming: Natasha Luna [itch.io | Twitter]
• Sprites & CGs: Rinnuah [Tumblr]
• Original backgrounds: kimchi_slurper [Carrd | Twitter]
• GUI/logo: Chiara Colucci [Carrd]
• Music: Tyler Gonelli [Website | Instagram | TikTok]

Additional resources used (click to view)

• Easy Ren'Py GUI by Fen
• caption and font selection code from All-in-One GUI Template
• Auto Highlight by Wattson
• battle effect CGs by Arimia
• forest and river backgrounds by 七三ゆきのアトリエ (Nanami Yuki no Atelier)
• ambient SFX ("Swamp of Sorrow") by Atelier Magicae
• miscellaneous SFX by FilmCow
• swordfight SFX by EminYILDIRIM
• thunderstorm SFX by MrAuralization
• door knocking SFX
• door SFX by hisoul
• unsheathing SFX by Fenodyrie
• bed movement SFX by LOTWStudios
• footsteps on wood SFX by Rico_Casazza
• footsteps on gravel SFX by mikaelfernstrom