Erica Mason

**Erica Mason** is the daughter of Alodie and Peter Mason and is the main character of the game. Throughout the game, you follow Erica, and your decisions shape her destiny. As the player, you assume the role of Erica and guide her through the narrative. The choices you make during the game will have a significant impact on Erica's journey and determine the course of her story, shaping her ultimate fate

## Childhood

Little is known about Erica's childhood, but it is evident that both of her parents deeply cared for her. In the early stages of the game, Erica's father discusses her mother and their relationship before marriage. He mentions a supernatural ability that Erica's mother possessed. Peter reveals that Alodie has passed away but assures Erica that she will always be with her. Towards the end of their conversation, Peter asks Erica what she would see if she had her mother's ability and looked into the fire. This hints at the possibility that Erica also possesses this supernatural ability.

Shortly after witnessing her father's murder, Erica also caught a glimpse of the killer, although her memory of the encounter is limited to a mere silhouette.

## Present day

Erica carried on with her life as best as she could, but the haunting nightmares of her father's murder persist to this day, tormenting her relentlessly. She finds solace in talking to herself in the mirror, revisiting the events. Depending on the player's choices, Erica may either attempt to move forward and heal or harbor resentment towards herself for not taking action in the past.

Her life was relatively normal until the day she unexpectedly received a package. The sender was unknown, and the package stood out with a noticeable 'fragile' stamp. However, as soon as Erica opens it, she is horrified by the sight of a real human hand drenched in blood. Her gaze fixates on the bright silver medallion tightly clutched by the bloodied hand, leaving her in a state of shock and terror.

Erica promptly contacts the police and is interviewed by Sgt. Duncan Blake, the leading investigator on the case. Sgt. Blake strongly suspects that the same individual who committed the recent murder is also responsible for her father's death, albeit unofficially. Concerned for Erica's safety, Sgt. Blake reveals that others connected to her father may be at risk as well. As a precautionary measure, he suggests that Erica relocates to Delphi House, where they can ensure her safety while continuing the investigation.

## Delphi House

Before having a rough and somewhat awkward introduction with the desk clerk (later known as Karl Steinbeck), Erica has many alternatives where she can either ***peek*** on people talking, ***examining some masks***, or ***answering a phone call***.

* If Erica ***peeks*** on the door, she would see Dr. Rosa Ballard and David Caulker talking about Kirstie. She would be caught shortly after.
* If Erica ***examines the masks*** on the other hand, she would get caught by Karl Steinbeck as soon as she grabs one of the masks.
* Finally, if Erica chooses to answer the phone call, she is met with a mysterious voice on the other end, later revealed to be Mia Greene. Mia claims to have extensive knowledge about Erica and issues a warning not to trust anyone. Shockingly, Mia confesses to being both the murderer and the sender of the gruesome package. In one of the dialogue options, she cryptically instructs a distressed Erica to follow the music, leading her to a document that holds crucial information about Alodie Carter.

Regardless of the unfolding events, Dr. Ballard and Caulker would make an appearance. Dr. Ballard takes the opportunity to introduce herself and Caulker to both Erica and Blake. Concerned for Erica's well-being, Blake suggests that she takes some rest. As Erica and Dr. Ballard make their way towards Erica's room, Dr. Ballard mentions that she remembers Erica from when she was young, although Erica herself does not recall their previous acquaintance.

#### Day 1

After a night of sleep, Erica is plagued by yet another dream of her father. In her dream, she once again catches a glimpse of the murderer, but unfortunately, she wakes up before she can discern any further details about the elusive figure shrouded in darkness.

As Erica makes her way downstairs, she encounters Kirstie Caulker, and soon after, she meets Tobi Neumann and Hannah Kaye in the adjacent room. The interaction with a hostile Tobi leaves Erica feeling unsettled, but she finds solace in playing the piano with Hannah. However, their peaceful moment is abruptly interrupted when Hannah experiences a sudden and severe nosebleed. Tobi rushes to her aid, and with the arrival of Kirstie and other individuals, the situation is attended to promptly.

* If Erica ***Manages to calm Kirstie down***, she would ask Kirstie to find some help. Erica, Tobi and Hannah would share a laugh with Tobi's impression of Kirstie.
* If Erica ***Fails to calm Kirstie down***, Tobi would try to calm down Kirstie and Dr. Ballard would misinterpret Tobi's intentions and would order the Care-helpers to seize Tobi.
	+ If Erica manages to ***convince Dr. Ballard Tobi was helping*** Dr. Ballard would not dose her with a tranquilizer.
	+ If Erica ***fails*** however, Dr. Ballard would inject Tobi with a dosage of sedative.

Following the incident, Dr. Ballard informs Erica that Sergeant Blake is waiting for her at the main desk. It is at this point that Erica encounters Lucien Flowers, the individual in charge of running Delphi House. Erica's first visual encounter with Lucien's face occurs when she notices a painting of him and her father, Peter, displayed prominently at the entrance of Delphi House.

After a brief conversation, Sergeant Blake enters the room and engages in a discussion with Erica and Lucien. He asks for Erica's assistance in identifying the murderer. Lucien then reveals to Erica that her father had developed a therapy technique that allows patients to recreate their past experiences. The player is given the choice to decide whether Erica wants to proceed with the therapy or not.

Later on Erica gets asked if she wants to do something something for lunch, she could either make ***perfume with Hannah***, ***check on Tobi***(who fought with an employee of the House a moments ago) or ***have lunch and hang out with Kristie***.

Erica would only find a ***secret entrance*** if she hang outs with either Kirstie or Tobi.

At night, depending on the choices Erica made, she could receive a diffuser from either Hannah or Lucien, or she could successfully make one herself while making perfume.

That very same night Erica will dream with pink ***Oleander petals*** falling from the sky. Erica will wake up either ***on her bed*** or ***outside the house***. This depends on what Erica decided to do with the diffuser before going to bed(***keeping it*** makes Erica wake up in bed, whilst ***throwing it out*** makes her wake up outside).

#### Day 2

Erica receives an unexpected gift from an unknown sender. Curiosity gets the better of her, and Kirstie urges her to open it. To their astonishment, they discover a porcelain doll from Erica's childhood. However, their shock intensifies when they notice that the doll was holding a piece of human skin with a distinctive tattoo. Erica immediately recognizes the tattoo as belonging to Karl Steinbeck, the man who works at the desk. The discovery leaves them deeply unsettled, and shortly after, Hanna experiences a seizure.

In Flowers' office, Erica, Lucien, and Blake gather to make sense of the disturbing revelation. They discuss their next steps and how to proceed. Blake suggests that returning to Erica's apartment could provide valuable clues and allow her to gather personal belongings and fresh clothing. The group agrees that investigating her apartment is a necessary move to uncover more information and potentially advance the investigation.

As Erica attempts to open her apartment door, she and the others discover that it has been forcibly opened. Concerned, they conduct a thorough search but find no one inside. However, a peculiar smell emanating from the neighboring apartment catches Blake's attention. He decides to investigate further and instructs Erica to stay put. Now faced with a crucial decision, Erica contemplates whether to **follow Sargent Blake** or **remain** in her own devastated apartment.

* If Erica ***decides to stay put*** the phone in her house would ring.
* If Erica chooses to **follow Sargent Blak**e, they enter the neighboring apartment only to discover it completely covered in graffiti featuring the **Delphic Epsilon** symbol. The walls, furniture, and even the floor are marked with the distinctive symbol, leaving an eerie and unsettling atmosphere in the air.
	+ Erica could now either ***Check the mini fridge*** that also leads to ***check a picture in the wall*** that reveals to have a peek hole of her apartment's living room or ***go the next door***.
		- If Erica peeks on the hole, she'd see a shadow moving across, she could either ***warn Blake*** or just ***ignore it***
			* If Erica ***tells Blake about the shadow***, Blake would go back to search the apartment. Shortly after the house phone would ring.
		- If Erica goes to the ***next door***, Blake would stop her, informing her Steinbeck is dead.

If Erica didn't decide to check on the ***next door***, the phone would ring.

* If Erica chooses to **answer the phone**, she engages in another unsettling conversation with Mia Greene. Mia warns Erica not to trust anyone, claiming that they are all liars. She cryptically mentions that she has been taking care of Erica for a long time and implies that Erica can't escape her fate. Mia invites Erica to discover a corpse in the house, challenging her to confront the inevitable truth. The phone call leaves Erica with a sense of unease and raises further questions about the mysteries surrounding Delphi House.

Upon returning home, Erica has several options. She can choose to "**check on Hannah**" and see how she is doing after the incident, ensuring her well-being. Alternatively, Erica may decide to "**peek on Dr. Ballard** taking Hannah away" with Toby, which raises suspicions about their actions and motives. Lastly, Erica can choose to "**write a feel better card** with Kirstie for Hannah," expressing their support and care. Regardless of the choice, Tobi confides in Erica that she has also witnessed the same mysterious petals that Hannah has seen in her dreams, further deepening the enigma surrounding their significance.

Later that night, Erica, Flowers, and Blake make the decision to visit Chief David Caulker's place to discuss the events that have unfolded. Initially questioning the purpose of this choice, Erica ultimately agrees to go along. At Caulker's place, Blake and Flowers present Erica with a photograph of a woman for facial recognition, and it turns out to be the mysterious murderer, **Mia Greene**. Flowers explains that Mia was a former patient who had a close connection to Erica's mother. However, this revelation contradicts the records, as Mia is believed to have died from an overdose many years ago, around the same time as Erica's mother. The inconsistency raises further questions for Flowers and Blake, deepening the mystery surrounding Mia Greene's true identity and the circumstances of her supposed death.

Blake receives a call and takes off with Lucien, leaving behind a bleeding Erica with the Chief.

* If Erica ***spent time with Kirstie***, Caulker would hand over a napkin with 'we need to talk' written in it.

Erica goes to the bathroom upstairs to clean up when she hears a noise downstairs. Erica could either ***peek through the bathroom window*** or ***head downstairs***.

* If Erica ***peeks*** through the window she would see a fox roaming around the backyard. She then would head downstairs only to find Chief Caulker dead.
* If Erica ***heads downstairs*** instead, she would find Caulker fatally wounded but still alive. He would hand over a crumbled piece of paper that contains a drawing made by Kirstie. He would die shortly after.

Erica realizes Caulker has the same wounds in his chest that her father had the night he died. Erica find a ***Delphic Epsilon*** medallion in Caulker's desk along a picture of him a Kirstie.

Following the shocking revelation, Erica comes face to face with Mia Greene, who expresses her anticipation for this long-awaited conversation. Despite Erica's fear, Mia begins to explain the true intentions behind Delphi House, implicating Dr. Ballard, Blake, Caulker, and Flowers in her speech. She urges Erica to utilize the recently **discovered medallion** and enter one of the **secret entrances** to witness the reality of what is truly happening within Delphi House.

     Back at Delphi House, Erica engages in a conversation with Blake, and depending on the nature of their relationship, she opens up to him and **confides** in him. Blake responds **by embracing her**, giving her the option to **share a kiss**. This pivotal moment presents Erica with a crucial choice. She can either **withhold the truth** from Blake and tell him nothing, or she can **reveal** the existence of Greene and propose a location where they might find her.

* If Erica **chooses to** **lie**, she proceeds through one of the **secret entrances** she discovered earlier (depending on which one she found, as **only one door can be found per playthrough**). Erica navigates the eerie corridors of this mysterious and unfamiliar location, filled with an otherworldly atmosphere.
	+ If Erica decides **to** **bypass all other events and chooses to go through the left passage**, she discreetly eavesdrops on a conversation between Blake and Flowers, where they discuss highly incriminating information about Erica.
	+ If Erica explores at **least one of the right doors**, she witnesses Dr. Ballard entering the same large door that Blake and Flowers went through. Additionally, she may discover Hannah's lifeless body in the red room, indicating her tragic fate. Erica may also witness Dr. Ballard conducting a therapy session with Tobi, similar to the one Erica experienced. However, this time Dr. Ballard administers an injection into Tobi's bloodstream, raising further suspicions about the nature of the therapy.

* + - As Erica exits the location and arrives at a nearby warehouse, she discovers an altar adorned with a picture of her mother (the specific picture varies based on Erica's earlier choices). Beneath the altar, she uncovers a box containing vials. It is during this moment that she encounters Greene, who sprays a substance onto Erica's face, causing her to lose consciousness and collapse to the ground.

* If Erica chooses to **tell the** **truth** to Blake, they both head to the warehouse together. While Blake inspects the surroundings, Erica takes the opportunity to search through his belongings, leading to an argument between the two. They decide to explore the area together this time. Upon reaching the altar, Erica discovers the phials containing a red liquid. Next to the phials, she finds a picture of her mother adorned with petals, the specific picture varying based on Erica's earlier choices. After Blake warns Erica about the content of the phials, Mia Greene suddenly appears, swiftly slashing Blake's throat and killing him in front of Erica. Overwhelmed by the shocking turn of events, Greene sprays Erica with a substance, causing her to lose consciousness.

#### Resolution

After experiencing a series of intense hallucinations, Erica regains consciousness to find Mia Greene by her side. Greene shares the story of Peter Mason's discovery of Erica's mother's gift and warns Erica of the impending danger she faces at Delphi House. Though initially skeptical, Erica's resolve strengthens when Greene reveals that Alodie is alive. Determined to uncover the truth and protect her loved ones, Erica decides to assist Greene without hesitation.

As Erica and Mia prepare to enter Delphi House, Mia incapacitates a guard and presents Erica with a choice: to kill the guard or spare his life. If Erica chooses to kill the guard, she proceeds through the corridors wielding a knife, ready to defend herself. However, if Erica decides to spare the guard, she moves through the darkened corridors without a weapon as the power goes out, relying on her wits and instincts to navigate the unsettling environment.

    If Erica **had lied to Blake** earlier and kept the truth about Mia Greene to herself, she would encounter Blake in Delphi House. Despite the dangerous circumstances, Blake would appear concerned and relieved, expressing that he had been searching for Erica and worrying about her well-being. This particular interaction would occur if Erica had chosen to remain **unnamed**.

If Erica is **armed** with a knife and encounters Blake in Delphi House, he would unexpectedly launch an attack on Erica, seemingly intent on killing her. The situation takes a turn when Mia Greene intervenes, swiftly shooting Blake with deadly precision, ending his life with a single shot between the eyes. Mia's intervention saves Erica from Blake's assault.

Overwhelmed by the sight of Blake's death, Erica is momentarily lost in her emotions. However, her thoughts are abruptly interrupted as Mia collapses to her knees, aware that her own demise is imminent. In a final act of desperation, Mia offers her gun to Erica, urging her to do whatever it takes to save her mother. It is a poignant moment, filled with a sense of urgency and a weighty decision for Erica to make.

As Erica enters the secret door, she confronts Dr. Ballard in the midst of her unsettling experiments on Tobi. Faced with a pivotal decision, Erica must choose between taking Dr. Ballard's life or sparing her. Depending on her choice, the outcome varies. If Erica decides to kill Dr. Ballard, she eliminates the threat posed by the doctor's nefarious actions. Alternatively, if Erica chooses to let Dr. Ballard live, the doctor manages to escape the room when Kristie arrives.

In addition to the choice involving Dr. Ballard, Erica is presented with another crucial decision regarding Tobi's fate. Erica can opt to save Tobi by administering the correct medicine, offering a chance at recovery. However, if Erica administers the wrong medicine, Tobi tragically succumbs to her condition, leaving Kristie deeply traumatized. In this scenario, Kristie implores Erica to leave, overcome with grief and anger.

These choices carry significant consequences, shaping the path Erica's journey will take and influencing the relationships and outcomes that lie ahead.

As Erica proceeds through the passage, she comes face to face with Lucien, who emerges from a gate while clutching a unique medallion. The encounter with Lucien raises intrigue and questions about his role in the unfolding events. The medallion he holds may hold significant importance or power, adding an element of mystery to the situation. Erica must navigate this encounter and decide how to interact with Lucien and the medallion, which could potentially unveil crucial information or lead to unexpected consequences.

#### Ending

As Lucien attempts to persuade Erica not to shoot him, he claims that everything Mia had told her was a fabrication. Erica is faced with a crucial decision—to either pull the trigger or lower her gun. If she chooses not to shoot, Erica finds herself doubting her actions and realizing that she needs assistance and guidance. This choice may lead her towards seeking help and finding a path to redemption.

If Erica did not kill anyone throughout her journey, she has the opportunity to become one of the leaders of Delphi House, succeeding her father and assuming a position of authority within the facility. This outcome signifies that Erica has embraced her role and responsibilities, using her knowledge and experiences to shape the future of Delphi House.

On the other hand, if Erica has taken the life of another person prior to her encounter with Lucien, he takes advantage of the situation and administers a dose that renders Erica incapacitated. As a result, she becomes a perpetual prisoner within the confines of Delphi House. Her previous actions have sealed her fate, leaving her trapped and without the chance of escape.

    If Erica chooses to **shoot Lucien**, she pulls the trigger and a bullet pierces through his body. With Lucien injured and unable to stop her, Erica takes the opportunity to seize the medallion and enter the final room. Inside, she is greeted by the sight of the immense roots of the oleander plant, a symbol of the hidden truths and dark secrets within Delphi House.

As Erica stands before the oleander lamp, memories of her past flood her mind. She recalls the card game she played with her father, the warm glow of the lamp illuminating their laughter-filled moments. The choice before her now carries immense weight, as she contemplates whether to **inhale the intoxicating** **scent** of the oleander or to **cast it aside.**

If Erica **chooses to throw the candle-lamp**, a surge of determination courses through her. She hurls the flickering flame onto the tangled vines of the oleander, setting them ablaze. The fire quickly spreads, engulfing Delphi House in a fierce inferno. The once serene sanctuary now becomes a chaotic maelstrom of flames and destruction.

The consequences of Erica's actions depend on whether she was able to save Tobi earlier. If Tobi was saved, both Tobi and Kristie manage to escape the burning Delphi House, their lives spared from the engulfing flames. However, if Erica failed to save Tobi, the fire claims the life of Kristie, a devastating loss amidst the chaos and destruction.

As Erica **decides to breathe in** the oleander's intoxicating scent, she is transported to an altar where a group awaits her. She can choose to become the "Butterfly" Priestess or reject it. Embracing the role brings power and knowledge, while rejecting it leads to a destructive fire engulfing Delphi House. The choice determines Erica's destiny and the fate of the building.

## Notes/trivia

* In the original game trailer released in 2017, the actress portraying Erica appeared to be older than in the final version of the game.
* Erica exhibits supernatural abilities, reminiscent of those possessed by her mother. However, her powers manifest differently, as she is able to have visions and flashbacks without the need to gaze into fire like her mother.
* The exact reasons why the Delphi community needs Erica are not explicitly explained in the game. However, it can be inferred that Erica's unique abilities and her connection to her mother's past make her a crucial figure in uncovering the truth and unraveling the mysteries surrounding Delphi House. Her visions and flashbacks provide valuable insights and potentially hold the key to understanding the dark secrets hidden within the community.