Freakish Fable of a Frightening Flood

**Freakish Fable of a Frightening Flood** 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.

## Introduction

*"A group of researchers from a university in Tokyo are researching a curious rock formation. It was discovered a few weeks ago by tourists in a village next to Shiokawa.*

*You've read about it in a newspaper. The sudden disappearance of the tourists was the subject of school gossip for a few days, but ultimately no one was found.*

*The rock formation must be somehow connected to the events happening in your town. Feeling that researchers can help you, you decide to pack yourself and visit the village yourself..."*

## Mystery Progression

This mystery is location-locked to the School, Forest, and Village, as well as the mystery-specific Bus Stop, Inn, and Curious Rock Formation.

#### Reaching the Inn

Upon first entering the mystery, the only action the player is presented with the option of visiting the Neglected Bus Stop.

*"<<KAIBARA VILLAGE, the final stop!>> The bus suddenly stops as the driver opens the door. Reluctantly, you notice you're still far from the village itself. However, before you can ask any questions, the bus's doors close..."*

Here, the player enters an encounter with the Sweaty Assailant. This encounter cannot be escaped. After defeating the assailant, the player is given the option to explore either the rock formations or the inn.

Going to the rock formations in Kaibara is an action that can be taken at any point before escaping the village. Visiting the stones does not advance the mystery. Here, the player can investigate some of the scenery outside the town:

* Investigating the town in the back: *"In the distance, you can see the KAIBARA village."*
* Investigating the rock formations: *"The carved pillars are older than the village itself and you couldn't find any information about them or the rituals they're connected with."*

#### Finding the Research Notes

*"You enter the inn, hoping you will find the research team there. All but one room are empty. In the last one, you find a visibly stressed man – MATSUDA-SAN, the expedition leader. <<Thank god you came. We’ve been attacked by the villagers and got separated. I’m worried for my colleagues>>"*

Upon reaching the inn, Matsuda-san tells the player how his team had been attacked during a recent investigation at the school, and will ask to find the remainder of the team. To advance the mystery the player needs to break into the school and obtain the Research Notes, which can be used to locate the missing researchers.

*"You’ve managed to find the empty classroom MATSUDA-SAN was talking about. Researchers are gone but hopefully the notes you’ve found will help you locate them."*

#### Rescuing the Team

"*The river’s water level is rising and the village will soon be cut off from the outside world. Hurry up!"*

Once you have obtained the team's notes, the player is able to break into the school, explore the forest, or check out the village in order to find the three missing team members: Kaori Yuto, a linguist; Sakina Okada, a geologist; and Hiroki Shinohe, a theologist. Each researcher is randomly placed at one of the three locations, and can be found by investigating an individual location 1 to 3 times.

The player can also now rest at the inn to regain 2 Stamina and Reason, at the cost of advancing time in the mystery. At the inn, the player can escape the village with Matsuda-san. He insists that he won't leave until at least one researcher has been found. After 6 investigations or rest actions, the water level gets too high and the player will be forced to escape regardless of how many researches have been found.

#### Escaping Kaibara

*"MATSUDA-SAN, the expedition leader holds his suitcase in one hand and a knife in the other. <<This is our only chance, let’s go!>>"*

As the water level continues to rise, Matsuda-san and the player leave the inn and escape the village. As they come to the rock formations, Matsuda-san strips naked and joins with the villagers as they begin to summon T'Cithura, the fertility goddess. This begins the boss fight against T'Cithura & Kaibara's Villagers.

In the battle, T'Cithura will be healed by 1 HP every turn if the Kaibara's Villagers are left alive. If T'Cithura is defeated before the Kaibara's Villagers turn, it will be resurrected with 1 HP. Each researcher rescued provides a combat bonus during the boss encounter:

* Kaori Yuto, the linguist, increases the player's combat damage by 1.
* Sakina Okada, the geologist, increases the player's combat damage by 1.
* Hiroki Shinohe, the theologist, reduces T'Cithura's damage by 1.

With these bonuses, the player can deal 2 extra damage per attack as well as reduce incoming damage by 1 by rescuing all 3 researchers. The enemies are also weak to Fire damage.

## Endings

### Ending A: Trust the Government

This ending is achieved by defeating T'Cithura & Kaibara's Villagers and rescuing all three members of the research team.

*"The eldritch monster disappears as sudden as it appeared. All that's left of KAIBARA village is a group of deeply confused villagers. Among them, you quickly locate the embarrassed MATSUDA-SAN.*

*Luckily, the research team has parked their jeep on a hill that wasn't affected by the flood. Knowing, that the time is of the essence, they drive you back to SHIOKAWA and promise that they will alert the government.*

*You can only hope that the help will arrive in time..."*

### Ending B: Sabbatical

This ending is achieved by defeating T'Cithura & Kaibara's Villagers without rescuing all three members of the research team.

*The eldritch monster disappears as sudden as it appeared. All that's left of KAIBARA village is a group of deeply confused villagers. Sadly, it's too late for MATSUDA-SAN.*

*The research team has parked their jeep on a hill that wasn't affected by the flood. They drive you back to SHIOKAWA and promise that they will alert the university.*

*You just can hope that the help will arive in time.*

### Ending C: Biggest Little Village

This ending is achieved by reaching 0 REASON against T'Cithura & Kaibara's Villagers. This ending also results in a game over.

*"When the sun rises again, the river level lowers again, leaving the fields ferile. In nine months, a new generation of KAIBARA villagers will be born.*

*With your mind broken after the ritual, you will be kept alive... at least until the day your child is born."*