Shadowbound - Visual Novel Demo

This is a demo of my visual novel Shadowbound. It includes the first two chapters completely free.

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You're a private detective chasing down cheating spouses, runaway teens, and insurance fraudsters, and you're barely making ends meet. One day an old friend calls. He's been accused of murder, and he wants to hire you to prove his innocence.

The case leads you into the darkest corners of the city, where things are waiting for you that defy explanation. When you wake up from a nightmare with missing memories and discover another murder has taken place and your friend has no alibi, you have no choice but to seek help in unlikely places. 

Can you track down clues fast enough to prevent another murder? Will you choose to trust the right person? Will you embrace the uncanny incidents that are piling up around you? 

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Play as one of four different main character sprites, each of which comes with its own unique character rooted in the cultural background of the selected sprite.

Forge friendships and romantic relationships with men and women. Romance men only, women only, both men and women, or choose to keep all relationships platonic. In addition to the primary romantic branches, there will be multiple opportunities for casual flings throughout the book.

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~~~~~Main Character~~~~~


Ash Jones

After her sister goes missing during their childhood, Ash dedicates her life to getting answers. She started out on the police force, but chafed at the red tape, feeling it held her back more than helped her, so she set up her own investigative practice. The reader determines where she is driven more by a sense of justice  or revenge, and whether she approaches situations in a more compassionate, diplomatic way, or relies more on sarcasm and strategically applied pressure to get things done. 

~~~~~Love Interests~~~~~

Rook

Mysterious, taciturn, and occasionally downright gloomy, Rook knows far more than he should, and tells far less than Ash would like. He is haunted by a past he rarely speaks of and his reasons for involving himself in Ash's investigation don't quite add up. When his true nature is revealed, Ash will have to decide how far she can trust him and whether his nature makes him an asset or a liability.

Aiden

Son of billionaire entrepreneur Cameron Bishop, Aiden has mastered the art of appearing to be an open book, while only showing his true self to a few very close people. His wit and charm are infectious, and he wields them like weapons. He and Ash met in college, and the player can determine the nature of the past relationship, which will cause the present timeline relationship branching to change. 

Martina

A police detective and Ash's former partner, Martina is a crack investigator and fiercely protective of those she loves. She was probably a paladin in a past life. Her adherence to rules can sometimes put her at odds with Ash, but at the end of the day, Martina will always do the right thing, rules or no rules, and she never leaves a friend or lover behind. The deeper Ash is pulled into the dark underworld neither of them knew existed, the harder Martina will fight to stay by her side, even when she knows she's out of her depth.

Bee

Bee is good with computers the way Leonardo Da Vinci was "good" at painting. In her hands they become something almost otherworldly. In you want something found online, Bee can find it, but she won't sugarcoat it for you, so you better hope you are prepared for what she finds. Despite spending most of her life hunched behind a screen, Bee is warm and playful in her interactions with others, and she is the queen of esoteric media references. She is passionate about the truth, and access to information, and she sees every secret as a challenge. Be careful what you try to hide from her.

Ari (GOC)

Ari can be male or female, depending on player selection and does not appear in the story until after the events of this demo. Ari is the owner of a strange mechanic shop that doesn't appear to have any customers other than the bikers who hang out there everyday. Surrounded by rumors, Ari has made a name for themself as a dangerous enemy and an extremely valuable ally...if you can manage to keep your interests aligned with theirs. When Ash's investigations lead her to their doorstep, she will have to decide how far to trust them and whether the information they hold is worth the price she will have to pay for it.