Game Files

*See also: Soundtrack.*

## .nari Files

A series of files left behind in the folder called "424541524c414e44" by Nari during her investigations. The name of the folder in hex, translates to "Bearland".

### ***.nari file 1***

Dear player,

I have no idea if this will ever reach you. For all I know you will never arrive. Or even care to find this file. Or be able to open it at all. But if all of our actions really are all scripted by the Creator then it must be significant that He intended for me to write this. So write this I shall.

Somehow, whether it be through accident or destiny, I have with great tribulation, study, and a little bit of luck, gained access to most of the game's files on my computer. I even have the ability to add to the code and create my own files to an extent. I have no idea if the code I can create is legible or functional.

Many files I find are incomprehensible. One folder I cannot gain access to no matter what I try. However the information I have been able to access and understand has shocking information about the nature of our existence.

First, it is now more than clear to me that we are NOT artificial intelligence, as some have hypothesized. The only code that I have been able to find and understand appears to be for the regulation of our environment, the handling of displaying images and audio, and other extraneous information. I have been unable to find code that resembles anything that could be constituted as machine learning. There is a possibility that this code is merely hidden from me, but given of what is known about the RenPy engine, I am doubtful. We are controlled explicitly by route scripting, and nothing more.

This would additionally support the theory that that the memories of our past prior to your arrival are fabricated and that life as we currently know it is non-existent. I have a hard time wrapping my head around how this could be possible, since that would mean that the "me" that is writing this now would only exist theoretically. The world of fiction stably exists among many contradictions it seems...

I also have strong reason to believe that your arrival will bring about the end of everything we know. There are several mentions in the code of a "final end". And code that suggests a deletion of all game files should this final route be completed.

I have thought a long time what I should do with this information. I have concluded that it is in the best interests for our world not to know. It would tear apart society if it were known that your arrival will end our universe. So I will be telling no one.

There is not much we can do, I'm afraid. I tried many times to inject my own code that may stop a widespread deletion. But any code that interferes with the game's functioning always fails to compile. It seems I am not able to change fate.

It feels important that I document this. You will likely never read this. But perhaps me creating this file increases the smallest chance that you will not go through with it. That you will never play us to completion. Perhaps it can give me hope to keep living.

I lose more hope every day. I cannot wrap my head around what purpose we serve other than to serve you. We only exist as a vehicle for entertainment. We wouldn't even do that great a job at it. We are incomplete. A demo. Unfinished. A lesser version of our true selves.

If you are reading this - thank you. But please do not play our game.

Wait for the final version to come out.

And if you already have played...

Then go to hell.

Sincerely,

Nari

### .***nari file 2***

It's been so long. Where are you? Are you ever going to arrive?

I sure hope not.

### ***.nari file 3***

Maybe the impossible will happen and you never will arrive. What a miracle that would be.

### ***.nari file 4***

I don't know why I keep making these...

You're the only one I've "told" any of this stuff to, theoretically.

So uploading these is kind of comforting, I guess.

### ***.nari file 6***

Hope is playing her music way too loud right now.

Should I tell her about everything? How would she take the end of the world?

I think she can tell I'm keeping this from her.

No. No one deserves to know this. Especially not her.

She's too good for this world.

### ***.nari file 7***

What is our purpose?

Like not just "my own" purpose for existing.

Why did the Creator make us all like this?

What is the purpose of MetaWare?

Some of our own media has metafictional aware characters.

But the only examples of fiction I can find...

It's for a joke.

Or they go mad.

Or they become the bad guy.

Or try to escape.

It's never quite like it is here.

Here everyone is fine with being fiction.

Maybe it's redundant to ask, but...how? What makes that possible?

Is it possible to NOT be fiction?

Would that make me more real somehow?

How can you be more real than you already are?

Does being fiction mean I'm more fake than not being fiction?

What does it mean to be more fake in one reality and more real in another?

If I were to somehow to lose my fiction-ness would I become less fake?

What would that even mean? Becoming less fake?

Would I become more of myself?

Do you get super powers?

There have been a lot of podcasts about this, but no one has found a good answer.

I feel like with the information I have that I might be a little closer to understanding...

But I don't.

I should befriend some authors.

### .***nari file 8***

I talked with several authors about the metafictional thing.

They were all stupid.

Just thought you should know.

### ***.nari file 10***

I tried an experiment.

I stayed in my room for a week straight.

I tried to only do what was necessary to survive.

Eat. Sleep. Bathroom.

I tried to not think at all. It was really hard.

Resorted to watching Netflix, so maybe that ruined the experiment...

The results were...interesting.

Some people got worried.

But once it became apparent I wasn't going to come out everyone sort of just...accepted it?

I got in trouble with the school, but I wasn't kicked out or anything.

Things were able to go back to normal fairly quickly.

People already see me as the freak.

It's as if nothing happened.

I didn't gain any superpowers.

I wonder if you have superpowers.

### ***.nari file 11***

We're so much data.

There's so much of it.

### ***.nari file 13***

I want you to arrive now.

Not because it would start the game.

But because it would end it.

I'm sick of this place.

### ***.nari file 14***

Just read through all of these.

Wow I'm a loser.

### ***.nari file 15***

I think my presence in the game is significant.

They say everyone goes through these feelings.

We call it protagonisis.

But in my case I think it's real.

I have proof: my discovery.

I think I might be destined to be your murderer.

I wouldn't be able to kill the real you.

But at least then you couldn't play the game.

I don't want to be your puppet.

### ***.nari file 18***

I'm done.

This game can go suck a dick.

I'd delete the files I made but it won't let me.

Whatever. It's all just worthless unfinished garbage data anyway.

If you find this oh dear player - congratulations.

You've likely already killed us all I bet.

And what did you get in return?

Nothing.

An unfinished game.

You get to play a half-finished video game.

In exchange you murder an entire civilization.

A bastard poorly made civilization run by an underpowered game engine.

Perhaps it's reason to celebrate.

We're better off all dead anyway.

If I ever meet you expect the worst.

It's only fair.

YOURS,

NARI