History VisualNovel / BadFaith

''Bad Faith'' is a short horror VisualNovel developed almost entirely by Mado, including art, writing, and coding. It can be purchased on [[https://madocallie.itch.io/badfaith Itch.io]] or on [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1871790/Bad_Faith/ Steam]].

* PsychologicalHorror: * While ''Bad Faith'' features violence and some [[spoiler: sci-fi and fantastical elements]], the true horror comes from the idea of being ostracized and dehumanized by your own community, such as the way the Haven treats anyone deemed "insane."

** Amaris is a variation of Amariah, a name that means "promised by God" in Hebrew and features several time in the Hebrew Bible.

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: [[spoiler: After trying her hardest to adhere to the rigid standards of the Haven, only to suffer the indignity of being found "insane" for the ''private thoughts'' in her diary that were never supposed to be read by anyone and being brutally beaten and tortured, it's hardly a surprise that Magda goes so far off the deep end after fusing with Nils and becoming Lilia, viciously murdering Eve and Cerise with their bare hands. Unfortunately, Magda does come to regret this.]]

** In the final act of the game, Magda [[spoiler: decides to rename herself Lilia after fusing with Nils. "''Lilia''" is the Latin word for lilies, a flower commonly associated with the Virgin Mary, but can also refer to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilia an obscure battle tactic used by the Romans]] in which spiked pit traps are dug in the shape of a cross. This could be a hint of their violent, vengeful nature.]]

* AssholeVictim: The deaths of [[spoiler: Eve and Cerise]] are not only ludicrously drawn-out and violent but exceptionally cruel ([[spoiler: with Eve having her life's work destroyed before her eyes before being killed), but after seeing their obnoxious, HolierThanThou attitudes and ruthless torment and eventual torture of [[spoiler: Magda]] it can be hard to feel pity for them.

* ThenLetMeBeEvil: [[spoiler: After trying her hardest to adhere to the rigid standards of the Haven, only to suffer the indignity of being found "insane" for the ''private thoughts'' in her diary that were never supposed to be read by anyone, it's hardly a surprise that Magda goes so far of the deep end after fusing with Nils and becoming Lilia, viciously murdering Eve and Cerise with their bare hands. Unfortunately, Magda does come to regret this.]]

** [[spoiler: Magda decides to rename herself Lilia after fusing with Nils. "''Lilia''" is the Latin word for lilies, a flower commonly associated with the Virgin Mary, but can also refer to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilia an obscure battle tactic used by the Romans]] in which spiked pit traps are dug in a quincunx... that is to say, the shape of a cross.]]

** Maria is of course, a variation of Mary, which typically refers to Mary, the mother of Jesus, but can also refer to Mary Magdalen, a companion of Jesus.

** Magda comes from Mary Magdalene, a companion of Jesus who in modern times has become something of a symbol for sinful, "wayward women" (the accuracy of this association is dubious). This also gives her an extra connection with Maria.

** [[spoiler: Magda decides to rename herself Lilia after fusing with Nils. "''Lilia''" is the Latin word for lilies, a flower commonly associated with the Virgin Mary, but can also refer to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilia an obscure battle tactic used by the Romans]] in which spiked pit traps are dug in a quincunx... that is to say, the shape of a cross. This could be a hint of their violent, vengeful nature.]]

** [[spoiler: Magda decides to rename herself Lilia after fusing with Nils. "''Lilia''" is the Latin word for lilies, a flower commonly associated with the Virgin Mary, but can also refer to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilia an obscure battle tactic used by the Romans]] in which pit traps are dug in a quincunx.. that is to say, the shape of a cross.]]

** Maria is of course, a variation of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

* AmbiguouslyChristian: Despite the fact there's a heavy focus put on purity and punishing sin within the Haven, despite the uniforms of the characters being heavily inspired by Catholic school uniforms and nun habits, despite the fact that the "assembly building" is represented in the game by what's very clearly a church, denomination is actually never mentioned within the story.

** [[spoiler: Magda decides to rename herself Lilia after fusing with Nils. "''Lilia''" is the Latin word for lilies, a flower commonly associated with the Virgin Mary, but can also refer to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilia and obscure battle tactic used by the Romans]] in which pit traps are dug in a quincunx.. that is to say, the shape of a cross.]]

** Grace of course comes from the concept of "divine grace."

** Nils comes from "nil," which is just a word for "zero"(coming from their original name "0"), which is sometimes associated with God.

* ReligiousAndMythologicalThemeNaming: Fitting in with the AmbiguoslyChristian nature of the setting, almost every character has a name that has some amount of significance in Judaism or Christianity:

** Magda comes from Mary Magdalene, a companion of Jesus who in modern times has become something of a symbol for sinful, "wayward women" (the accuracy of this association is dubious).

* ChurchOfSaintGenericus: The assembly building in which Apologia Assemblies take place is represented in-game by the picture of what is very clearly a church (this goes doubly so for the interior, which has pews), but no religion or denomination is ever mentioned.
* CulturePolice: While there's no one select group of people in the Haven that act as this, this is essentially the purpose of the Apologia Assemblies, and ''everyone'' is encouraged to act this way. In the beginning of the game, Maria's friend Jael is sentenced to banishment for indulging in culture from the outside deemed "insane," and it's revealed that Magda once was the subject of an Assembly for writing "unsafe" things. [[spoiler: As it turns out, not even personal diaries are exempt from this.]]

* NiceGirl: Grace's most prominent trait is her kind, gentle soul, and as the one person who stood up for Magda a year before the story, she's likely the kindest person in the Haven. [[spoiler: This is why it hurts so bad when she is the one to ultimately betray Magda, and why Magda notes that even as the others beat her into unconsciousness after her Assembly with cruel smiles, it's the apologetic expression of Grace that infuriates her the most.]]

* ChurchOfSaintGenericus: Despite the fact there's a heavy focus put on purity and punishing sin within the Haven, despite the uniforms of the characters being heavily inspired by Catholic school uniforms and nun habits, despite the fact that the "assembly building" is represented in the game by what's very clearly a church, denomination is actually never mentioned within the story.

!!''Bad Faith'' contains examples of:

The world is corrupt. Everyone who lives in the Haven knows this, as they know how fortunate they are to live in a community that shelters them from the insanity that runs rampant just beyond the sea that shields them. The Haven is a sanctuary... but sanctuaries are hard to maintain. In order to nip any possible threat to the purity of the Haven in the bud, the community must hold ''Apologia Assemblies'': mandatory gatherings where misdeeds are discussed - and given appropriate punishments.