Sentience
You do not know who you are.
Your memories only go five years back, to when you woke up in a subterranean tunnel system with nothing but a name. Now you reside in the Holy City, capital of a post-apocalyptic world ruled by a faction called the Religious.
After a near-death experience at the hands of a crazed angel, you're suddenly thrust into a building conspiracy surrounding a corpse-worshiping cult, divinely mad saints, and something buried far, far beneath the earth.
To top it all off, you're being plagued by nightmares you can't explain, as well as your rapidly returning memories.
Or… someone's memories, anyway.
Features
- Choose your first name, gender, and appearance.
- Customize your character's personality, including their opinions on magic and the Religious.
- Make choices that affect the plot, other characters, and even your own sanity.
- Unravel the history of the Religious and the apocalypse they claim to have brought the world back from
Characters
The Mercenary: Val (nb/m/f)
A hired blade with a chaotic streak, as well as the closest thing you have to a friend. Easy-going and unpredictable, Val is usually the one to get you into trouble, but is always there to get you out of it.
The Handmaiden: Klaus Kirkhall (m)
A high-ranking member of the Religious. Klaus is pragmatic with a dry sense of humor, but takes his responsibilities deeply seriously. You get the intense feeling he know something - many things - that you don't.
The Priestess: Ira Auclair (nb)
A priestess working in the lower districts of the Holy City, extremely devout and deeply interested in the history and lore of the Religious. They spend their time searching archives to fuel their (slightly blasphemous) theories.
The Spy: Kat Saxon (f)
Claims to be a priestess, but is barely trying to hide the fact that she's clearly anything but. Her merciless stare and unshakeable confidence dare anyone to call out her suspect nature.
The Muscle: Dane/Dana Constantine (m/f)
An officer of the Blessed Guard, working directly under Klaus. Constantine is quick to anger, and is an absolute brick wall when challenged. While deeply loyal, Constantine isn't afraid to give their employer a piece of their mind.
Available: Prologue, Chapters 1 - 6, ~290,000 words
Content warnings: violence, blood, heavy religious themes
Follow along on tumblr: sentience-if.tumblr.com
Development log
- Chapter 640 days ago
- update: fun cool times with St GuinefortMay 04, 2025
- interlude #1Jan 07, 2025
- Chapter 5Dec 17, 2024
- Chapter 4Aug 18, 2024
- surpriseApr 14, 2024
- Chapter 3Oct 04, 2023
- Chapter 3.5Jul 23, 2023
Comments
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This has absolutely hooked me, I LOVE this mix you have going of medieval/archaic faith and coding + tech. I am insanely excited to see more of this, I adore how the action has kicked off and the possible ways to get to it + react to it. Amazing amazing amazing <3
This game was amazing!! 💜💜 Can't wait to see more of it!
This is one of, if not the most unique IF I've played like ever!! It's so good! The imagery it portrays in the scenes with derealization and out of body experiences really resonates with me, it reminds me of horror stories like mother horse eyes and the like.
And just now seeing just how many different paths there are from the comments makes me excited for what's ahead.
Definitely a very unique story and setting but I have enjoyed it. Though I have a lot of questions, which Im sure would get answered soon enough.
I feel it's a compliment in itself that after reading the IF, you are left with questions and the want to know more. I hope you keep on blessing us with more, but please don't feel pressurized. You have actually done a great job and I will surely be waiting for the next update.
Take Care.
why are u everywhere
(by which i mean every IF, by which i mean u have good taste)
finished the rest of chapter 6, and as always its Beautiful! cannot wait for more :3
i always come back to ifs eventually 💔
anw as someone raised religious and also experiences dissociation/derealization, the PC really resonated with me and the story's themes were pretty familiar too. didnt expect to find an if like this today tbh
Enjoying the heck out of this!
Spoilers below.
Just thought I'd drop a couple of... parts where I don't think the scene lined up in how it leads into the next? Where MC "dropped the knife" I didn't think they were still holding on to (pic 1 leading into pic 2).
And also a part where the first paragraphs seemed to be from a different story route. I circled the part I believe to be the start of the page, and question-marked the ones I.... questioned ;) (pic 3).
Thank you for sharing this chapter!
extremely helpful ty ty 🙏
Glad to hear it! ^_^
Idk how much symbolism/meaning I'm losing by being super far from any religions my whole life, but the worldbuilding is interesting.
Took me a minute to test out the 'new' builds, but the amount of fork-paths is actually kind of insane... Maybe even too much considering how much one player can and will see versus the amount of work that goes into writing them. Very interesting work and worldbuilding too.
Random question 🤔..how does one get the option "can take it without consuming it" with the halo? do you have to pick the eating option?? (I always go with the not hungry one lol. So idk if it's bc of that or what🙏)
You need to have your Sanity stat almost maxed out; there's a guide somewhere on my Tumblr that I can't find at the moment
OH😭 (damn so my MC isn't sane💔 I mean I prob wouldn't be either but wow💔) TYSM THO :D
So, is there a bug, when it keeps looping on the page "you were no stranger to boredom", when you refuse to take halo or intentional?
If so, why lmao, so confusing, I'll stay on that page then, nope, not taking it
It's intentional. :) It's very, very difficult to get out of this chapter without the halo
So it's possible
Noted, thank you
Chad.
Keep going, King.
Is the option to take without consuming still there cuz I can't find it now
it is!
LOVE the new update, already can't wait for more. i'll probably need to start again from the beginning to fully remember the mindfuckery this subjected me to when i first read this, and also because i miss val (my beloved). keep up the good work and take care of yourself :3
AHHHHSSIJAINSINSIS
comment contains spoilers :)
NEW CHAPTER??WJIZNSISNSISNSIZJS
HELLOOO?? WHATHZISNSIS
I finally did the refusal option for taking the Halo.. BROOOO💔 VAL MY BABY?? WHAT? HALLUCINATIONS?? :( Saint Guinbitch is so mean :(
ALSO THE POOR LIL DUDE GETTING MURDERED BY THE RITE IF WE DON'T STOP IT?? WHAT. NO. HE'S SO NICE WHY :(
"you question our faith" HO NO I'M QUESTIONING YOUR SANITY AND THE SAFETY OF THIS RITE?? WARD NOT SAFE = BAD THINGS HAPPENING
:(
Also poor mc. They're not having a good time at all rn :( .. Someone give them a hug pls. 🙏
Anyways beautiful chapter as always ;). Make sure to drink water author, hydration is always important <3
loved the new update, but how do you unlock the dialogue with val in the theatre which says something like "Klaus was right, id enjoy your version more", despite multiple playthroughs I still can't get it :(
Go visit Klaus in the Acropolis in the beginning of the chapter (instead of Ira), and you'll be able to ask him about Val, which should unlock that dialogue
Hooray. Time to revisit Val for the first time in a few months
Lina I summon thee; come read the rest of CH.6..
Hi there, im not able to access the game. Im in the UK and this comes up.
Hey! That's a first for me. Are you able to play other twine games without issue?Edit: Turns out Imgur, where I stored my image files, is now blocked in the UK. Theoretically you should still be able to play the game, you'll just have that annoying purple gradient for a sidebar. I'll look into an alternative image site for the next update.
Thanks for looking into this for me! Ive noticed this happening in other places where Imgur has been used. Looking forward to the update 😀
Really interesting MC. Love the mystery of guessing what is going on!
Also thought I'd contribute with a typo I found. Looking forward to the next chapter!
Ahh thanks, will be fixed next update (soon) :)
A long comment
Found this by stalking someone's profile and now I'm glad i did. The writing is good, the story is interesting and actually complex AND build well which i adore, the characters are likeable (my personal favorite being Val, which PLEASE LOVE ME ALREADY. AND THEY HAVE A DIMPLE??? MARRY ME ALREADY). As for now that i am now chapter 4 I have MANY MANY questions about the pc, who are they? WHAT are they? Where did they come from? OH MY GOD, OKAY I JUST PLAYED CHAPTER 5. I WAS SUSPECTING THAT THE PC MAY BE SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER!
I was indeed expecting that the pc may be an angel/demon or maybe even something else entirely but probably powerful (used to be powerful) but oh my god was i NOT actually expecting it. Still love Val 🤭 and excited to know what happens next. womp womp i want to kiss Val all over their face PLEASE LET ME DO IT 😭😭
who’s profile were you stalking?
Forgot I didn't reply to this and tbh i no longer remember
right now i'm stalking yours and finding many new IFs to play, thank you for all these comments!
wicked
>;D
I swear you are everywhere 💔😭 I've seen your comments before
ALSO YES LOVE VAL
It's because I've got no life 🤗 + love Ifs with good stories and female (or gender selectable) Ros
oh my peak vro🔥🔥 World building makes the writer in me envious but also awed holy molay ,,, incredible writing to the point it makes my head ache/pos
Why do I see the same people everywhere?
Also, hi lol
dang. DANG. S-Tier worldbuilding, good Lord. the reveal at the end of chapter 5 is awesome
anyone know when the next update will be? can't seem to find anything on the topic atm
i would also like to know when the next update is
Wild, man. Guess we're all stumped
Woe is us
(glad to see you're not dead tho)
Happy to see you aren't dead!
WOWW, this was a random find but i am sooo so glad that i found it because its amazing, and it gave me something to distract myself with whilst being sick.
EEEEE I LOVE THIS
literally one of my favorite IFs :D tysm for writing this
Hey, this story means so much to me. I love your writing, I love how detailed and descriptive and intense it is. I love the horror, the world building, the themes of dehumanization and and identity issues and otherness and strangeness. Seriously, your horror is so well done.
I'm invested in all the characters and Io most of all. I like the choices you offer for their characterization. The interactions are interesting and intriguing, and I like the amount of opportunities for whumpy stuff. And serious props for bringing new, interesting text for basically every choice. It's a lot of words to be written and I appreciate the effort that goes into it.
I probably need to replay it several times to fully understand the connections in the plot, which is to say that you introduce the plot elements well and make it feel good to follow, while keeping a deeper depth to it.
Your writing makes me want to continue writing myself and I love stories that can do that :)
How do I pronounce your username? S t sleepy? Saint sleepy? S t dot sleepy?
saint sleepy :)
this is fucking with my mind so much and i love it. wonderful work
I really enjoyed this!!! Your descriptions are riveting and your descriptions are captivating. Also, I keep picturing Constantine as Sevika from Arcane. Specifically season 1. I will be waiting for more!!! <3
Okay, I love interactive fiction. I’ve read…so many. And a lot of times, I’m like, “Okay, this world is interesting. I’ll keep reading.” And not as many times, I’m like, “I cannot get enough of this. It is so interesting. I must pour over every character and theory craft about everything ever written by this person.”
This story is one of the second ones. I am enthralled.
MOAR
oh i LOVE this
this is way too good... i dont knooowww.... i can't get enough of this worldbuilding and writing style, it's so interesting
also i just learned that i missed way too much ira content and now i'll never be at peace with myself if i don't replay maybe five more times ARGGHHHH falls to the floor and perishes
How do I get the "You can hit me again if you want" option when you go and visit Constantine?
By repetitively bothering him in the alley :)!! he will eventually punch you if you don't back off I think?? (Or maybe I'm thinking with Klaus..) Either way you have to bug him repetitively somewhere.. (I'll go and look for you if you want? I don't mind doing another play through lmao)
OKAYYY I WAS RIGHT. When you wake up to get fresh air you should go get a drink, then go outside for the fresh air (the 'I need to get out of here' option at the bar). You'll meet Connie in the alley :) repetitively bother him (don't choose to back off) and you will be punched! You will get the 'you can hit me again' thing if you do that :)
Thanks!
yw :)!!
Hello, st.sleepy! I'm really impressed with how much you've put into this. I hope you don't mind my asking, but would you like to look at a sci-fi pilot of mine? I've got a summary here, plus some links to a deck and some comparable films below:
REDNER is a dark, mythic, and character-driven sci-fi epic with a unique and uncompromising voice. It confidently leans into psychological decay, body horror, and moral ambiguity, while building an original world that's both dystopian and mythologically rich.
The protagonist—Redner Grunwald—is fascinating: a character warped by violence, grief, and a yearning for control, whose arc descends deeply into mechanical monstrosity before shading toward redemption.
This script reads like a combination of cyberpunk noir and Shakespearean tragedy, with stylistic echoes of Dune, The Batman, and Akira.
Producer Roslyn Fleischer is currently involved (former CAA, Paramount, Castle Rock), and I've worked professionally as a writer for the past eight years across plays, graphic novels, and screen projects. Three episodes of REDNER are complete, along with a companion spin-off and a standalone horror pilot.
Several actors are also on board, including:
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in reading, I’d be glad to send over the script.
silverhands02@gmail.com
LinkedIn
You can view the pitch deck here:
Pitch Deck – REDNER
And a folder of comparable films and series here:
Comparable Projects
chat how do I unlock the one line when ur talking to Connie in the theater thingy, when u mention the god beneath after the recently killed demon was mentioned, the one that says 'ive been in those tunnels'
You can only have that scene once (except with Ira), so don't mention it to Klaus and you'll be able to get the scene with Connie
tysm!! also, if it isn't too much to ask, how come that if you don't continue the Convo with ira you get to see the demon living but if you finish it you only get its remains?
its a bug that keeps coming back no matter how hard i try 😔
oh 😭
I thought it was like intentional bcz the wax was still warm meaning like the demon had recently recently been killed.. its still rlly cool!
thx for entertaining my questions lol :D
PLEASE WRITE MORE OF THIS I love it so much PLEASEEEEE I've been playing it nonstop since yesterday:((( (Val is literally my favorite little guy I need to draw him)
if u draw Val you are morally obliged to show me 🥺. anyway "TheGayPriest" ok klaus I know its you
I’ll show you once I’m done I promise❤️ I took a little creative liberty with his outfit though..
VAL VAL VAL VAL VAL
I love him sm I even gave him sassy boots❤️ (I drew him with my version of io but Val is obviously the star)
reminded me of bloodborne instant peak in my opinion. with a dash of alchemy and xerxes from fullmetal alchemist, too!!! super good cant wait for more and i WILL wait
FMA MENTIONED
I love love love this!!!
i have no idea whats going on but i love this game plz dont turn into a cloud of smoke and disappear<3
I'm far too terminally online to abandon this lol don't you worry
Gasp* the cliffhanger! Nooooo! 😩
Also I can't find Val in ch.5 😥 help?
I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be like that UGHUEHUADH I MISS VAL SO MUCH💔
:)
omg I just found out about the sanity stats now I gotta replay the game 😞
THERE IS A WAY TO FIND THEM🙏 (rlly late reply. You've probably found it but if you haven't I GOT YOU.)
OKAY SO- when you run into Ira and they ask for you to come back to the church say no. Refuse to go back inside.
Same with the lady at the water fountain. Don't go inside with her. Keep refusing :)
Then I think if you'll eventually run into Val. Don't get mad/leave them alone, then pick the "we should go home" option. Boom. You now have Val with you <3
😯 ty!
UVYSUGWUWH i was going insane because i remember playing this like last year i think and forgot its name for months until i remembered it. . .AAA THE UPDATE I LOVE IT AUGYAUVVWVUW (╯⑅>ᴗ<⑅)╯♡
Also val needs to kiss me on my hot mouth frfr (˵ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°˵)