Westbound Travel (post-apocalyptic, surreal fantasy-western) [Updated 11/16/25, 312,000 words] – Works In Progress

Currently the demo is clocking in at round 50,000 phrases. Everything is topic to vary and I welcome suggestions right here. I plan on dropping one other replace when I’ve about this way more so as to add. I’m about to be beginning a brand new job, although, so I’m uncertain how lengthy that may take me.

5/18/25 Update: Currently the demo is clocking in at roughly 100,000 phrases. I’ve added main chapter within the different world (our world), again within the lifeless metropolis confronting the cult, a monster chapter in Castle Bridgend with many paths by means of, together with little dates along with your companions and an non-compulsory romantic encounter with Prince Geb (that is presently only a fade to black, though I reserve the correct so as to add extra grownup/interactive content material later). Then just a bit bit extra after the Castle, with your personal little Band of Five. I begin work tomorrow on the new job so I’ll most likely be approach, approach slower so as to add the following, 50,000 phrases, however I hope to get the get together to Dridgen, cope with a misadventure and main choice there, and get them a bit bit extra on their approach west earlier than I replace once more. Enjoy!

6/28/25 Major Update: Bug fixes, tweaks, typo fixes. Change Cu to Chulainn, as steered by a number of Portuguese audio system, my thanks! Added three chapters and the beginning of a fourth, coming in at round 80,000 phrases. Next replace I’m once more considering can be about 50,000 phrases, though that was clearly flawed final time. Will be each instructions you possibly can head in after monument, the safer route extra straight or the harmful side-quest to get the Sword of Five and a chapter after the place each routes meet once more. Still to do: Rework exposition within the early chapters, probably rewrite a few of Sir Passerine and the Stranger’s dialogue to deliver it extra consistent with how I fleshed out their characters later. Much appreciation to anybody who screenshots or copy and pastes their stats from the top! Thank you!

9/1/25 Minor Update: Apologies for the delay, and for this being smaller than anticipated! About 32,000 phrases, detailing each the seek for the Sword of Five and what occurs in case you don’t search for it. And a village on the opposite aspect. Next replace deliberate to, once more, be reasonably massive, maybe 60,000 phrases, consisting of 4 completely different chapters, each personally associated to every of the 4 characters touring with the MC (Arch and Passerine can have variants on the identical chapter), as you have interaction with their private quests and foibles. Each chapter harmful however non-compulsory, approachable in any order, though in case you don’t save your companions don’t count on to see them once more!

10/3/25 Major Update: Numerous tweaks, typo fixes, bug fixes. Fixed a significant bug that was unintentionally inflicting great amount of Arch/Passerine’s dialogue to not show after their duel and selecting which ones will journey with you. Added 60,000 phrases throughout all companion quest chapters, bringing the phrase complete to about 272,000 phrases. To do: Next replace can be, once more, a significant replace, with maybe round 70,000 phrases, together with the Sunset Paths’ chapter, the primary chapter of the Westerne City, deciding the MC’s previous, a cut up of the trail that happens if you’ve got six wounds of extra, and a bossfight on the foot of the Numinous Throne. I could probably additionally rewrite some chunks of the primary few chapters as my concepts have shifted and adjusted since I wrote these, however principally altering some tone, dialogue, and exposition, no main plot adjustments. That replace will, if all goes in response to plan, be the final main replace, with the ends of the companion plots and the top of the principle plot left for a closed beta.

11/16/26 Major Update: Huh, approach flawed with how lengthy I assumed the following replace could be. 40,000 phrases, largely on the finish, detailing the Sunset Paths, romance scenes, and a giant boss battle within the Westerne City, main into the top sport, and some different endings, together with dying scenes. Also enhancing of some early materials, fixing errors, names that modified, tone that wanted mounted, including some extra selections to exposition scenes. 312,000 phrases complete. Next replace could be the ultimate chapters of every companions quest, and the endgame, on the Numinous Throne. I imagine I’ll probably preserve that replace for a closed beta, and can be reaching out to workers concerning the steps of getting this sport hosted, if attainable? I’ve by no means completed that earlier than as I’ve by no means gotten this far in writing, so any assist, recommendation, issues I would like to repair first, please let me know. Thank you a lot for studying and enjoying all this to date!

Westbound Travel is a post-apocalyptic surreal cowboy-fantasy. It closely options the ruins and dialogue of warfare, tyranny, plague, and existential threats. It consists of interpersonal violence together with gun and sword violence, cults, and non secular zealotry.

Route dependent content material warnings embody dialogue of an off-screen suicide, discussions and mentions of transphobia, racism, and police violence in a contemporary American context. In Styx’s quest there’s extra in depth intense subject material, together with involuntary psychiatric therapy, involuntary injection of remedy, and discussions of delusions, hallucinations, and being out of contact with actuality. In Chulainn’s quest there’s point out of homophobic violence and internalized biphobia.

This sport consists of consensual sexual encounters between the participant character and a number of other different characters. All of those are totally non-compulsory, and presently can be disregarded with a fade to black, though in later variations of this story I could make them extra interactive, relying on suggestions.

Chulainn: Male, main romance, anybody can romance. A younger squire and would-be educational, had he not been born right into a world the place such issues are no-longer valued. Appreciates PCs who act like knights and likewise worth data.
Noemi: Female, main romance, anybody can romance. A west-bound pilgrim who such as you has misplaced her reminiscence. She additionally has a wolf’s head changing her personal. Appreciates PCs who like her are single-mindedly dedicated to the journey west.
The Stranger: Player-choice gender, main romance, anybody can romance. An enigmatic determine who appears to dwell within the gray fog of forgetting devouring the world.
Styx: Nonbinary, main romance, can solely be romanced by trans PCs. A punk and activist from Earth who, as actuality is eroded, falls into the PCs world. Tight, pure hair, shaved on the perimeters, out of their depth.
Prince Newt: Female, minor romance, can solely be romanced by male PCs. The Prince who prices you to hunt the west, and likewise presents to allow you to grow to be her knight. Noble, swish, past stunning
Sir Passerine: Male, minor romance, can solely be romanced by male PCs, a masked knight who serves Prince Newt. Enigmatic however approves of the whole lot Newt approves of.
Sir Arch: Female, minor romance, can solely be romanced by non-male PCs. An at first antagonistic knight who serves Prince Geb. Red hair, inexperienced eyes, freckles, noble to a fault.
Prince Geb: Male, minor romance, can solely be romanced by non-male PCs. Boyish and slight, however with an air of disappointment round him that reveals how previous he’s, as time breaks down.