Bizarre Bruit of the Blood-curdling Botanist

Bizarre Bruit of the Blood-curdling Botanist is one of many playable mysteries that must be solved in order to bring the player closer to defeating the Old God of their playthrough of *World of Horror*.

## Introduction

*Your neighbor asked you to help. Her husband, SHIRO-SAN has gone missing. She is worried it might be connected with the new fertilizer he ordered from Tokyo.*

*[what is he doing and where is he?]*

## Side Quest: Mycology Maniac

Investigate the SCHOOL location twice to complete this side quest.

*'(...) a new yet-undefined species of the Cordyceps fungus has been observed to infect rats, taking over their bodies. Could it have the same effect with other mammals?...'*

The SCHOOL will not be investigated at any point during the main mystery, so the player must go out of their way to investigate the SCHOOL twice.

By completing this side quest, you will obtain the Thorough Investigation reward at the end of the mystery, giving the player 15 EXP. Also, completing the side quest is necessary in order to achieve Endings A and B.

## Progression

* *"You've got a business card of a gardening company where the missing man was working. Maybe some of his colleagues could tell you anything useful?"* (Investigate DOWNTOWN)
* *"'SHIRO-SAN has always been a weirdo but he was good at what he did. Last month, he ordered a pack of an experimental fungicide from Tokyo.'*
* *"'I think I've seen the dispatch order with address somewhere,' the old man says. 'Help me move this dirt and I'll look for it.'"* (Investigate DOWNTOWN)
* *"While the dispatch order is stained with a foul-smelling liquied, you think you can make out the address - at least parts of it. The house is somewhere in the nearby forest."* (Investigate VILLAGE)

After investigating the Village, you will be shown nine forest tiles that you can click on to explore.

* *"It's dark. You don't remember the trees growing so close to each other."*
* *"The dirt road looks promising but it branches into two different directions, which one is the correct one?"*
* *"You stumbled upon a half-eaten deer carcass."*

## Target Location

### Overgrown Mansion (I)

*"Finally, after what felt like hours of following the dirt road, you find the old mansion. It's completely overgrown with plants you've never seen before. In front of the mansion, there's the gardening company minivan filled with boxes."* (CONTINUE to Overgrown Mansion (II))

### Overgrown Mansion (II)

*"You stand in the middle of the room when suddenly the floor gives up and you fall down to the basement..."* (CONTINUE, triggers combat with Shiro-san, the Gardener)

Note: Ending A requires at least one free space in your inventory. Either discard an item at this time or ensure you can throw one at the boss when in battle.

## Endings

There are four possible endings to Bizarre Bruit of the Blood-curdling Botanist.

### Ending A: Cleansed With Fire

*"You stand over the gardener's body, trying to stop the blood gushing from your arm. No one should know about SHIRO-SAN's discovery and the weird fungus. You break into the minivan and dump the flammable fungicide bottles inside the building and set it on fire."*

*"Hoping that the flames will consume the morbid secrets, you walk away..."*

Achieving this ending requires both the Fire Axe and completion of the side quest. In order to obtain the Fire Axe, achieve Ending A of Macabre Memoir of Morbid Mermaids. Equip the Fire Axe prior to battle with Shiro-san, the Gardener, and choose the 'W-WHAT'S THAT?' option to trigger combat with Shiro-san, the Garden. Choose to 'CHOP YOUR WAY OUT', then choose to 'BREAK INTO MINIVAN' on the next turn to obtain DIY Flamethrower. Equip the flamethrower, and defeat Shiro-san with it.

### Ending B: Fungicide

*"The fungus dies, and with it, the gardener. With no body to grow from, you hope that's the end of it. You finally understood something. The plants weren't attacking you; they were protecting you from the unnatural form of life.*

*Weakened, you stumble out of the mansion, hoping to forget..."*

To achieve this ending, the side quest must be completed. During combat with Shiro-san, the Gardener, choose the 'W-WHAT'S THAT?' option to trigger combat with Shiro-san, the Garden. Then, defeat it normally.

### Ending C: Still Missing

*"Plants continue to attack you as you and the gardener flee from the forest only to suddenly stop when you reach the city limits. You manage to call an ambulance from a phone booth but lose consciousness before it arrives. You wake up in a hospital, your wounds treated.*

*When asked about SHIRO-SAN, the doctors are puzzled - you were the only person they found. The gardener is missing to this day."*

To achieve this ending, successfully escape with Shiro-san, the Gardener. Chopping you way out with Fire Axe without choosing the 'W-WHAT'S THAT?' option also results in this ending.

### Ending D: Lacerations

*"Vines whip you, covering your exposed skin in deep lacerations. You cry in pain, dropping the body of SHIRO-SAN. There's no way you'll be able to save him. With heavy heart, you run, leaving the man you were supposed to protect behind..."*

To achieve this ending, allow Shiro-san, the Gardener to be defeated by the plants.