Made for Indie City Games' Chicaghoul 2026: THE CHICAGHOUL from BEYOND the STARS

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It is hard to believe it has already been one year since I first encountered it. It was an autumn day, marked by a brisk breeze, encouraging the first leaves to fall from their maternal branches. I had come upon a brook, pleasant and bubbling, cool to the touch. Having had no destination in particular, I decided to follow the current along the damp trail, occasionally stopping to rest and drink from my new flowing companion.

After a few hours, the brook grew into a stream. The ribbons of water never branched, only widened. As if in an instant, the atmosphere shifted. The air was briny and thick. If I wasn’t hundreds of miles from shore, I would have assumed the salty, humid air was a product of a coastal climate. I don’t know why, but I continued forward.

I remember very little after that, save for a few images branded into my mind’s eye: foaming waters, sapsick trees, a stream terminating at the base of a hollow tree. Then I was back at the entryway of my apartment. My brow and back were drenched with sweat, my jaw was sore, and a sharp saltwater stung my nostrils. A ringing voice took root in my ears, but I could not make sense of what it was saying.

I did not tell anyone about the brook or the voice. Occasionally I would find myself at my apartment’s doorway, unaware of the preceding events. The sensations were always the same: aches, pains, sweat, the chalky enamel of my own teeth wearing down. In those months, the only thing I knew for certain was that the voice was taking shape. It no longer rang, and it didn’t sound like anything I had ever heard before. The voice bubbled and groaned, creaking under the weight of its unseen owner. 

Last night was the first time I understood. The voice had become clear: “O humble Servant. It is time to awaken one of my children. Only one of them may usher in the New Age. Only seven cycles remain. Your final act of destined service awaits.” 

HOW TO PLAY

You have seven cycles to ascend one of four jealous gods. Each watches over a lane through which different resources are farmed. The gods are fickle and may switch lanes at the dawn of every cycle. Press up or down to view different lanes.

You may assign cultists to any lane, provided you have enough food to assign them. Each cultist has their own strengths and weaknesses as indicated by their card:

RESOURCES

Wealth

Used to upgrade the number of cards you can play in each lane

Food

Used to add cards to a lane based on their Food Cost

Cultists

Used to draw an acolyte into your hand

Favor

Affects your standing with the god watching over your lane. Curry favor with the gods and they may reward you...

GOD CRAVINGS

The gods may crave an offering of resources or a sacrifice. Be warned: if you do not satisfy their hunger within the listed time limit, you will greatly lose favor with them. Click the box to satisfy their cravings, provided you have what they request.

This god wants 3 Food and 3 Cultists. Lose 100 favor in 2 cycles if they are not satisfied...

This god wants a card sacrifice. Lose 100 favor in 2 cycles if they are not satisfied...

THE TEAM

Eth Halbe (skeeth) - Programming & Design

Gabrielle Cloutier  (maeribee)- Art

Justin Cavazos (jcavazos19) - Music, Sound, Narrative

Assets used:

Canvas Group Outline shader by liggiorgio - https://godotshaders.com/shader/canvas-group-outline/

Special Elite Font - https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Special+Elite?categoryFilters=Feeling:%2FExpre...