Arthur Byers

This article contains information on a **Non-playable Minor Character**.As these characters are often only mentioned in passing, all information is gathered from various canon sources then compiled here. Due to this nature, some **assumptions and theories** may be included and will be updated as more sources and information is revealed or discovered.

## Story Details

### Connected Characters

Major:* Fiona Gilman
* Hastur
* Yidhra

### Connected Locations

Lakeside Village

**Arthur Byers** is a non-playable character mentioned in various deductions and letters, most notably characters connected to the Lakeside Village.

## Character Details

### Appearance

Although his exact physical appearance is not described, he is described as having a "humid and muddy scent" similar to Fiona Gilman.

### Childhood

Lakeside Village was the location of a cult that worshiped a god that lived in their lake and was said to grant wishes. The disciples of this cult, who wore yellow robes, would drop offerings into the lake; to the public, these offerings were animals and livestock, but according to a log book kept of the villagers and their wishes/offerings, children and young virgin women were considered "superior" offerings. Of the many children sacrificed to the lake (most of which seem to have been taken from the families of visiting tourists) who were reported missing, only one was found "soaked to the skin, absent-minded, gibbering, and [in need of] psychological help." This child survived, and despite his initial disturbing behaviors (demanding "a dark, damp environment", soaking "rocks with animal blood", wriggling and twisting "like a mollusk", and having "trance-like fits") upon psychological treatment he eventually became mentally stable. However, he completely refused to share or attempt to recover his 'lost' memories from before he was found a mile from Lakeside Village.

### Events Before Identity V

As an adult, he returned to Lakeside Village and spent some time talking in great length with the villagers about the sacrifices made to the spirits there, before writing a famous horror novel titled "Lakeside Trails" which inspired many new visitors to go to Lakeside Village and caused the fashion trend of people wearing the symbols found in the book. When interviewed later, he "was quite lucid and described the events detailed in the book as being based on real life experiences."

Some time after, all of the lakeside villagers disappeared without a trace, and the town was abandoned. Additionally, the author of "Lakeside Trails" was found missing, with only a pool of blood soaking through the floor and strange symbols on his apartment walls.

### Events at the Manor

Arthur goes to the manor on the eve of an election he is taking part in. He was the 5th individual to arrive at the manor in his group. Arthur simply introduced himself as "a writer" before striking up a conversation with Fiona Gilman in a language only they understood.

At some point, he sacrificed Fiona.

Arthur would not survive his game, being turned into a puddle of water by something. The events leading up to this are currently unknown.

### Alternate Theories and Conclusions

* It is theorized that Arthur is somehow impersonating/presenting himself as The Feaster, potentially due to the drugs used during the death games.
	+ If this is the case, then he would likely be released as the Survivor Identity for The Feaster under the "Identity Switch" mechanic.
	+ In other theories, it is thought that rather than presenting himself as Hastur, those hallucinating due to the effect of the drugs simply see him as Hastur.
	+ In yet another theory, it could be that The Feaster is taking control of him to do things and making him forget afterwards.
* In Hastur's 2022 letter, Arthur mentions accepting the invitation as an author of a famous horror novel titled "Lakeside Trails".
* Some theorists originally thought the anonymous writer could be the Novelist, but due to the discrepancy between their childhood memories this is unlikely without further information.
* With the reveal of his name, some theorists speculate that Arthur Byers could be the true identity of Arthur Russell due to the latter having very little information known about him and the two sharing the same first name.
	+ Arthur Russell is potentially an alias for another name, adding some credibility to this theory. However, it begs the question as to why he would only change his last name rather than both of his names.

## Canon Manor Game

He is a confirmed participant in the Manor "Death Games", and was the fifth participant to arrive at his particular game. He refused to give his name and simply called himself a writer, but held a long discussion with Fiona Gilman in a strange language.

Edits to this table can be made here.

## Mentions

### Letters

* Priestess's Letters (2021, 2022, & 2023)
* The Feaster's Letters (2022 & 2023)
* Dream Witch's Letter (2023)

### Other

* The Feaster's Character Day Questions
* Ashes of Memory Episode 1 (Background reference)
* Ashes of Memory Concept Video (Background reference)

## Trivia

* Arthur Byers is likely based on Ambrose Bierce, the author of “Haïta the Shepherd” in which Hastur first appeared.
	+ Interestingly, both Ambrose and Arthur "disappeared" with no one knowing what happened to them.
* The place mentioned in the newspaper clipping, Southwark, is a real place in London.
	+ This might make Arthur British.

## Gallery

"Lakeside Village
Sole Survivor
Once the chosen of the heavens, now the future Star of Southwark!
Vote for Senator Byers!"
- Lakeside Village newspaper clipping from Ashes of Memory Episode 1The same newspaper clipping from Ashes of Memory Concept Video
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 See The Priestess' 2021 letter written by an unknown participant.
2. ↑ The "Log Book of Wishes" written by one of the cult leaders was released for The Feaster's 2021 character day letter.
3. ↑ The Feaster's Deduction Quest #4 "Deep in the Abyss": *"Seven missing person notices: Issued at different times, but the content is almost the same. Families that go vacationing at the Lakeside Village have repeatedly reported missing children. The police have launched an investigation in Lakeside Village. However, the villagers said they were clueless."*
4. ↑ See The Feaster's Deduction Quest #6 "Forgotten Kindness"
5. ↑ See the 2022 letter obtained during The Feaster's third annual character day event, most notably the first large paragraph part of the "Foreword."
6. ↑ In the Feaster's Deduction Quest #5 "Disciple" the anonymous novelist is first mentioned ("...An anonymous novelist has released a horror novel about the Water Spirit called Lakeside Trails")
7. ↑ The Feaster's Deduction Quest #10 "Befall" descirbes the fashion trend.
8. ↑ See The Feaster's 2022 letter obtained during his third annual character day event, most notably the second, middle paragraph part of the "Foreword."
9. ↑ His disappearance is mentioned in The Feaster's Deduction Quest #8 "Our Fears ("...Judging from the items left at the scene, the suite belongs to the author of Lakeview Trails.").
10. ↑ See Hastur's 2023 Letter
11. ↑ Based on the Ashes of Memory Concept Video, he is either a senator running for another position or is running for senator.
12. ↑ See Fiona's 2022 Letter
13. ↑ See Luchino's 2022 Letter.
14. ↑ The Feaster's 2022 Letter
15. ↑ This is due to the theory relating to the central digit of the participants' serial numbers indicating how/if they are affected by the drugs: number "1" indicates the participant being affected by the drugs while number "0" means not affected (the anonymous writer is 6-***0***-5, meaning he isn't affected).
16. ↑ It is implied that the man Fiona speaks with in her 2023 letter is Arthur, or at least something taking his appearance.
17. ↑ It is likely the "senator" mentioned in Yidhra's 2023 letter is referring to Byers.
18. ↑ Name is featured in the Lakeside Village newspaper
19. ↑ At the ending scene with Alice DeRoss looking at newspaper clippings, the Lakeside Village newspaper ends with the sentence "Vote for Senator Byers!"
20. ↑ Credit to Jul for the theory https://twitter.com/tuila\_seer/status/1618887873008369666

### Manor Game Table References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 See Evil Reptilian's 2022 Letter.
2. ↑ This person (and their death) is mentioned in Priestess's 2022 letter. It is possible they died some time before the main event of the Manor Game could start, and so had to be replaced by 6-1-6, similar to how the Servais Le Roy replaced the missing Murro Morton.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 According to Priestess's 2022 letter, Fiona was "sacrificed" by **Arthur Byers** at the Manor.
4. ↑ It is implied that **Arthur Byers** is the Survivor Identity Switch for The Feaster, but this is currently unconfirmed.
5. ↑ Previously referred to as the Anonymous Writer or Test Candidate: 05-L-01-000. See The Feaster's 2023 Character Day Questions.