World Setting — A City in Decay

Gloomwood is set in a Victorian-era city that has fallen to a mysterious plague. The streets are patrolled by guards, the sewers hide unspeakable horrors, and the wealthy elite have barricaded themselves in their mansions. The city is a character in itself — every street, every building, every hidden passage tells a story of a society collapsing under the weight of its own sins.

The Plague — A Manufactured Catastrophe

The plague that ravaged Gloomwood was not a natural occurrence. Documents found throughout the city reveal that the plague was engineered in a laboratory beneath the Manor Estate. The Count, the city's ruler, authorized the experiments in a desperate attempt to find a cure for his own terminal illness.

The experiments went wrong. The "cure" mutated into a highly contagious pathogen that turned its victims into mindless, aggressive creatures. The Count sealed the city, trapping everyone inside to contain the outbreak.

The Count & His Experiments

The Count is the primary antagonist of Gloomwood, though you rarely see him directly. He is a tragic figure — a brilliant scientist who became a monster in his quest for survival.

  • Background: The Count was once a respected physician and researcher. His wife died of a rare disease, driving him to obsession.
  • Experiments: He conducted unethical experiments on prisoners and the poor, searching for a way to cheat death.
  • The Serum: He eventually created a serum that granted immortality — at the cost of one's humanity. He took the serum himself and is now a twisted, immortal being.
  • Current State: The Count resides in the deepest part of the Manor Estate, continuing his experiments on the few remaining survivors.

The Resistance — Fighting Back

Not everyone in Gloomwood succumbed to the plague or the Count's rule. A small resistance movement operates in the shadows, helping survivors escape the city.

  • The Doctor: A former colleague of the Count who opposes his methods. He runs a safe house in the Streets District.
  • The Smugglers: A network of criminals who use the sewers to move supplies and people. They can be allies if you help them.
  • The Prisoners: Other survivors trapped in the city. Some can be rescued and will provide valuable information or items.

Hidden Documents & Lore

Throughout Gloomwood, you can find documents that reveal the full story. Here are the most important ones:

  • The Count's Journal (5 pages): Details his descent from respected physician to mad scientist. Found in the Manor Estate.
  • Experiment Logs: Clinical descriptions of the failed experiments. Found in the laboratory beneath the manor.
  • City Proclamations: Official notices that show how the city government collapsed. Found on walls and bulletin boards.
  • Personal Letters: Correspondence between citizens that reveal the human cost of the plague.

Fan Theories

  • The Cycle Theory: Gloomwood is not the first city to fall to the Count's experiments. He has done this before, in other cities, other countries.
  • The Patient Zero Theory: The player character is Patient Zero — the first successful test subject. This explains why you are immune to the plague.
  • The Escape Theory: There is no escape from Gloomwood. The "outside world" shown in the ending is just another layer of the Count's experiment.