Sworm Testimony

St. Julien, France, 1545. The salvation of the caterpillars is at stake: the townsfolk clamor for their excommunication, for these wretched creatures have ravaged the vineyards and ruined the harvest. The trial has begun! Will you rise to their defense, or shall the holy anathema reign supreme? To testify is to gamble with the very nature of loyalty!

Did you know? In eras not so long before ours, it was common to put animals on trial. There were criminal trials, with punishments like corporal penalties, imprisonment, and confinement, and there were civil or ecclesiastical trials, where the animal might face excommunication from spiritual authorities. A bit absurd, right? Or, at the very least, something quite far from our modern sensibilities. That’s why I thought of turning it into a game, where your role is to defend, as best you can, a group of caterpillars accused of ravaging vineyards.

It's a visual essay, really, more than a visual novel. Let's go, I guess?

music licensed CC- BY Yubatake (OpenGameArt) and AVGVSTA (OpenGameArt)

__

The first tranche of proceeds has been allocated to the Agripunk antispeciesist sanctuary (Località L'isola 61/a, Ambra, Italy). Agripunk is a sanctuary and refuge for animals rescued from exploitation and mistreatment. Located in the Italian countryside, it operates as an antispeciesist project, meaning it opposes all forms of animal discrimination based on species. The sanctuary provides a safe and peaceful home for animals, promoting a message of coexistence and respect for all living beings. It is also a space for education, activism, and community-building, advocating for animal rights and a more ethical, sustainable way of life. https://www.agripunk.com/