You better sharpen your knife, just in case. Even if that follower is a sweet-looking teenage girl with other admirable qualities, donвЂ™t let that fool you. But, be wary if you discover that one of your followers is spreading dangerous ideas through art or literature вЂ“ they should become your prime targets for elimination. So, if one of your flock happens to enjoy his penitent lashings, or gets a certain pleasure from lighting those bonfires, all the better. Certain positive virtues, such as being вЂњHonestвЂќ or вЂњJustвЂќ are appreciated, just as they might be in any sane society, but virtues like вЂњMasochisticвЂќ and вЂњPyromaniacвЂќ are just as valuable, as floggings and book-burnings are encouraged activities. Keep in mind, of course, that the idea of вЂњsinвЂќ and вЂњvirtueвЂќ in The Shrouded Isle is quite twisted. If you do your job right, you can expose sinners so that they can be shunned or sacrificed, whereas the loyal and devout can be rewarded and put to good use. You do this by knocking on their doors and making subtle вЂњinquiriesвЂќ about their goings-on. However, humans are sinful creatures who like to stray from the righteous path, and itвЂ™s your job to keep them in line. You will get to know each and every one of them, because it is your business to know. All of them have unique names, portraits and personalities, and lines of dialogue that reflect those personalities.

ItвЂ™s just as grim as it sounds, and all the more considering that you will get to know your followers rather intimately. The people milling about in the shadow of your great cathedral are mere cattle to you they will either get with the program or perish.

This is foremost on your mind, as you bear no allegiances to anyone except Him. Only three years remain until judgment day вЂ“ the glorious day when Chernobog will awaken and decide whether the inhabitants of The Shrouded Isle are truly worthy or not. But that doesnвЂ™t really matter your followers arenвЂ™t getting out of this hellhole anyway. But is that the truth? Probably not, as your religion seems curiously fixated on ensuring that knowledge of the outside world is suppressed. According to your scriptures, only the worthy ones вЂ“ the followers of Chernobog вЂ“ were saved. You start the game in вЂњyear 497вЂќ, nearly five hundred years after a cataclysm ravaged the Earth and wiped out most of humanity. However, thereвЂ™s a high-minded understanding beneath the surface here вЂ“ along with a dark sense of humour, if you dig deep enough вЂ“ that lets you know that the developers knew exactly what they were doing.

If The Shrouded Isle was lacking self-awareness or presented as a mere wish-fulfillment fantasy, it mightвЂ™ve easily ended up on my shit list. I dunno about you, but thereвЂ™s something about being evil вЂ“ and committing evil acts upon others вЂ“ that leaves a sour taste in my mouth. All the while, you must perform regular sacrifices to sate his thirst for blood and souls. They must demonstrate the вЂњvirtuesвЂќ of Ignorance, Fervor, Discipline, Penitence and Obedience to be considered worthy. Your dark god slumbers beneath the waves off the coast of the Isle, whispering in your ear from time to time, demanding that you exercise complete control over the hearts and minds of your followers. No, you must play as the despicable high priest of the Cult of Chernobog, a ruthless, submissive servant of evil incarnate itself. Playing the bad guy is mandatory in this case, and IвЂ™m not talking about some lovable anti-hero with redeemable qualities. For this reason, I probably should have absolutely hated playing The Shrouded Isle. I just canвЂ™t stomach being an evil prick to anyone, whether they are real or imagined. There are a few notable exceptions, of course вЂ“ Dungeon Keeper among them вЂ“ but most of the time, if I am given the choice I prefer to play the good guy. I generally donвЂ™t like playing the вЂњbad guyвЂќ in video games.

Shrouded in sanity watch