Farewell.

[singmod]

Hey, Interlopers. It's your Head Mod Cheryl here.

Alrighty then. So there it is. Singillatim has officially come to an end. The result of five years of planning and writing — with roughly about a novel's worth of events and test drive memes, content pages and NPC interactions. While I had two endings planned out right from the very start, I truly had no idea how this story would end and yet I'm satisfied with the ending — but it's also a very bittersweet thing in terms of a huge, lengthy project finally coming to an end. I'm having a lot of feelings right now. It's a lot. But I wanted to take a moment to try and get some of those feelings out.

After the vote, it was decided that Interlopers would help Enola to banish the Darkwalker. This means a few different things in terms of the ending. It allows the game to remain in a sandbox mode for players to continue to thread in if they'd like. I have no intention of locking up the communities or stopping any players from posting. The game will 'officially end' on June 1st 2026. I will still look to answering any NPC questions or game questions up until that point but after that I'm hanging up my mod hat.

It also means that where players choose to go from here is very much open. Players may choose to retire characters and their stories by sending them home. They may continue to play in the world indefinitely. Or they may wish to look at moving their characters to other games with a CRAU in place. Or maybe characters go off together to form their own AUs.

What this does also mean is that the possibility of a sequel is on the table as that option has been unlocked (Yes, there was a possibility of y'all locking yourself out of a sequel. I'm serious.). Now I don't want anyone to get excited: there are currently no immediate plans to write a second game. If there would be a second game, I'd likely continue to be inspired by The Long Dark and its sequel BLACKFROST, which is still very much in development and won't be in early access until perhaps late 2026/early 2027. Enola, Methuselah and Marra would likely crop up once more in whatever new story would be there to tell.

But in all honesty, the sheer input of creative energy I've done over the last five years has been pretty exhausting. My only plans right now is to sit back and enjoy the time off, do some RP and make more time for my other hobbies.

Modding this game has definitely been a labour of love. It's been exhausting, exciting. It's come with its ups and downs and for a first time Mod — I've learned a lot about modding and a lot about how best to mod whilst drawing up boundaries for myself. I've had my share of frustrations and difficulties. Modding is often a very thankless task. But I've had so many joys, and I do want to emphasise that. I've enjoyed looking in on player engagement and how characters have interacted with the events and mechanisms of the game. I've loved crafting a world together inspired by a game that's had my heart for a decade of my life and being able to share that with people — providing a space for people to have fun.

I want to thank my helper mods Jhey, Chase and Noodle for their hard work, support and helping me keep my sanity over the years. You've been an absolute boon to me getting through this game, and I appreciate and love y'all very much. A special thanks to Jhey, who's stuck it out with me until the very end and allowed me to avoid dealing with AC (bless u, truly) — you are an absolute star, and I'm so glad to know you.

Thank you to my players over the years. The fact that some of you have been here since the game first opened is absolutely mind-blowing to me and I'm delighted that you've stayed the course. Thank you for taking what I've thrown at you and just running with it. You've kept the game going, and I appreciate your support and engagement in it all.

I'm very tired now, and I need a lie down. Enjoy your finale, and may the Darkwalker never catch you.

Cheryl ❤

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Alt. Ending

[singmod]

Ending Pathway

Of Nature's Design — The Long Dark

The Interlopers have chosen. They have turned away from Enola and her plan to banish the Darkwalker and instead chosen to release the being from its cage. Nature will take its course, as it was meant to. With the blood of the Interlopers, the cage around the yawning grave shatters — and the Interlopers faced with the Darkwalker's full power. The sun does not rise, and the world remains drenched in darkness — the skies like an open wound.

The Darkwalker has no true power to send the Interlopers back home, but Methuselah pleads on the Interlopers' behalf: to allow them time to make their choice of their fates. They did not ask to be brought here, and the fault does not lie with them. The Darkwalker instructs Enola send the Interlopers home, and gives them one month to say their goodbyes.

Despairing, and doubting her own decisions to bring Interlopers to this world, a despondent Enola decides she is done and refuses to meddle further. She no longer trusts her own role in this world and gives up. She will not allow Interlopers to travel to other worlds, nor will she allow them to leave together. There is only one choice: return home alone never to return, or remain in the Northern Territories to die.

Interlopers can return to Milton to make their decisions and have time for final goodbyes. Marra returns to Silverpoint to say her own goodbyes and retake her mantel at the lighthouse one last time. Methuselah remains at the yawning grave to make peace with his end and witness the Quiet Apocalypse. After the last Interloper is returned to their homeworld, Enola retreats into the wilds to die alone.

For those who remain, they can do nothing but watch the end of the world — the storm in the skies growing to its peak. The Darkwalker descends and silence follows, the remaining Interlopers and the rest of the world perishing.

You have faded into The Long Dark.