Bloody Brief of a Beckoning Bulletin

**Bloody Brief of a Beckoning Bulletin** is one of many playable mysteries that can be carried out in order to defeat the Old God of a playthrough.

## Introduction

*"As the decades roll on, technology has only developed further.* *These days, computer bulletin board software allows computers to communicate over phone lines. All it takes is a computer and a modem, and anyone can connect to a bulletin system, or even host one of their own.* *Once you connect, you can read all of the messages of that bulletin, and even post your own to start a conversation.*

*Many of them use them to share files, or to chat about their favorite topics - everything from video games, to sports, to idol culture.* *But in the wake of a sudden string of weird suicides, things aren't all fun and games.*

*Rumors have surfaced that the deaths are linked to a bulletin system operated from somewhere within Shiokawa.* *What is behind the suicides? How could so many people all be driven to take their own lives?..."*

## Side Quest: Forest Suicides

   To finish the Side Quest, the Forest must be investigated 2 times. The forest will not be investigated during normal mystery progression. **The Side Quest is required to be completed if the player wishes to get Ending A.**

On completing the Side Quest, the following text will be displayed on-screen:

*"After searching deep in the woods for some time, you discover the body of a young student clutching a note."* (+ FOREST NOTE)

Reading the contents of the Forest Note is not required for Ending A, only obtaining it is.

## Mystery Progression

In total, there are 9 investigations the player must do:

* 1x School
* 2x Downtown
* 2x Apartments
* 1x Hospital
* 3x Village

Should the player wish to complete the side quest of 2 Forest investigations, 11 investigations total must be done.

### Investigation 1: School

*"Even if the rumored bulletin system's phone number is found, there is no hope to investigate without a computer that can connect to it.*

*Maybe the school library has one that will work?"*

### Investigation 2: Downtown

*"While the school library's computer doesn't have a modem, you happened to bump into a member of the computer club while asking around.*

*She apparently just got a new system and is willing to let you borrow hers. Thanking her, you arrange to meet at her home in the city."*

### Investigation 3: Apartments

*"You lug the cardboard box full of PC parts up your apartment stairs, teeth clenched as you heave it up one step at a time.*

*God damn are computers heavy."*

### Investigation 4: Apartments

*"You wipe the sweat from your brow as you finally finish setting up the computer in your bedroom. After a few tests, you're now certain that everything is functional.*

*The newscaster on the TV says that the suicide rate is still climbing. Worse, the morbid trend is beginning to catch on in other nearby towns. You need to act quickly!"*

### Investigation 5: Hospital

*"Hoping to find a lead, you head to the hospital. With how many deaths there have been, the hospital is in chaos. The staff look exhausted.*

*When the receptionist lets her head down onto the desk for a minute, you slip out of the waiting room and into the hospital corridors."*

### Investigation 6: Downtown

*"You overhear two nurses talking about a girl whose suicide attempt failed. Apparently, she's recovering at her grandparents' home at the village in the city outskirts.*

*You exit the hospital and make your way to the nearest bus stop."*

### Investigation 7: Village

*"As you pull into the village bus stop, a news story comes on the bus driver's radio. An entire class of Shiokawa students leapt in front of a train, hand in hand.*

*You move urgently as you exit the bus and begin searching down the village streets."*

### Investigation 8: Village

*"When you find the girl's house, her grandparents greet you solemnly. They thank you for your effort to stop the deaths.*

'*Forgive her,' her grandfather says as he leads you to her bedroom. 'She's a kind girl... Something has happened to her.'"*

### Investigation 9: Village

*"The recovering girl is more than happy to not only confirm the bulletin's existence, but to give you its number. 'You have to do what it tells you! Trust me, you won't regret a thing.' She beams at you as her grandmother struggles to make her swallow the pain medication.*

'*I'll be back to join you all soon. Wait for me, okay?' Disquieted, you give the grandparents your phone number and hastily leave."*

## Final Investigation: Computer

*"As soon as you arrive home, you dial the number and put the handset onto the modem.*

*Your heart pounds as the computer fans exhale. The system hums. You hear a brief dial tone, and then it finally connects..."*

### First Computer Screen

The computer will display the following on the screen: *"welcome home, do you like it?"* , along with Japanese text that translates to the same message.

There are two options: 'yes' and 'no'.

Answering 'yes' will take the player to the **Second Computer Screen**.

Answering 'no' will take the player to a following computer screen, displaying:

*"It's okay. You don't have to be ready yet. Everyone will wait for you."*

There is only one option on this screen, 'CONTINUE', which will take the player to the **Disconnected** event and subsequently, **Ending C**.

#### Disconnected

*"Your connection suddenly cuts off. When you attempt to reconnect, you find that your number has been blocked from accessing the bulletin. Dejected, you solemnly pack up the computer to give it back. However, when you arrive back at the computer club, you find a note on the door. 'SEE YOU ALL SOON!'*

*You soon learn that all members leapt in front of a train, holding hands. With little other choice, you sell off the computer, the guilt weighing on you all the while."* (-3 REASON / +5% DOOM / +3 FUNDS)

After selecting Continue, **Ending C** will be shown on screen.

### Second Computer Screen

*"I'm glad. Take your phone off the modem, and put it to your ear."*

Once again there are two options: 'PICK UP THE PHONE' and 'REMEMBER THE FOREST NOTE'.

Choosing 'PICK UP THE PHONE' will make the player fight Together, and subsequently achieve **Ending B** should they defeat Together.

Choosing 'REMEMBER THE FOREST NOTE' will take the player to the **Third Computer Screen**.

#### REMEMBER THE FOREST NOTE

*"You recall the note you found. Could this be the 'voice of humanity' you read about? Bracing yourself, you slowly put the phone to your ear.*

*You don't hear words or a voice. You soon understand they don't need those. It's difficult, but you manage to keep track of which thoughts are yours, and which are theirs.* (click anywhere to continue)

### Third Computer Screen

***EVERYONE IS HERE NOW.** We've escaped everything that held us back in life. We don't have any more burdens... you can escape with us. This is the purest form of existence. A paradise of connection. Everyone deserves that. We will bring all humanity together.*

***You need to think carefully about how to respond...***

There are 3 options that the player can choose here:

#### YOU CAN'T SAVE EVERYONE

*"You explain the imminent arrival of the OLD GOD. With its limitations, the bulletin could never hope to gather humanity in time. Not to mention how many people are unable to access a computer. As it is, convincing all of humanity to die is impossible.*

***Oh... then we'll have to wait. It's disappointing, but that's alright. When computers advance, and everyone can be connected, we'll come back for you. It's a promise, okay?"***

**Ending A** will then be shown.

#### SUFFERING IS HUMAN

***"How can you believe that...? Well, okay. If you want to suffer, go ahead.***

*Your consciousness dips. By the time you snap out of it, you're strangling yourself with the phone cord. The entity assaults your mind, but the struggle brings out strength you didn't know you had. You refuse to die."* (-5 STAMINA / +15% MAX STAMINA)

A fight with Together will then start. After the player defeats Together, **Ending B** will then be shown.

#### I DON'T WANT TO DIE

***"It's okay. You don't have to be scared. We'll make it easy.***

*Soothing thoughts that aren't your own overwhelm your mind. Whether you want it or not, your mind is shielded from the fear of death. Their thoughts become yours.*

*It's nice. You want to stay like this..."* (-5 REASON / +15% MAX REASON)

A fight with Together will then start. After the player defeats Together, **Ending B** will then be shown.

## Endings

### Ending A: Loud And Clear

Ending A is obtained after finishing the Side Quest, choosing 'yes' on the **First Computer Screen**, choosing 'REMEMBER THE FOREST NOTE' on the **Second Computer Screen** and finally choosing 'YOU CAN'T SAVE EVERYONE' on the **Third Computer Screen**.

*"The noise on the other end of the line suddenly cuts out completely. Still reeling from the mental assault, you find yourself staggering toward the futon. You collapse into it, and sleep soon takes you...*

*You're awakened by the sound of the phone ringing. After what just happened, you hesitate to answer. You warily grab the headset. When you put the phone to your ear, you hear the trembling voice of the girl you met in the village.*

 *'I... I can't thank you enough...! It was in my head... and, I-I nearly...' She bursts into tears, thanking you over and over. You smile, relieved. You later learn that the suicides have come to a sudden and complete halt.*

*But even still, its promise lingers in your mind. How long do you have until it comes back for you...? You smother the thought. For now, it's finished."*

### Ending B: Connection Trouble

Ending B is obtained by defeating Together, which can be encountered in multiple ways during the final investigation:

* Answering 'yes' on the **First Computer Screen**, then choosing 'PICK UP THE PHONE' on the **Second Computer Screen**.
* Finishing the side quest, answering 'yes' on the **First Computer Screen**, then choosing 'REMEMBER THE FOREST NOTE' on the **Second Computer Screen**, and finally answering 'SUFFERING IS HUMAN', or 'I DON'T WANT TO DIE', on the **Third Computer Screen**.

*"You wrench the phone from your ear, nearly tossing it across the room. You could have killed yourself for that thing... Sweat pouring down your face, you immediately yank the computer's plug from the socket.*

*From the bulletin's number and a phone book, you find the system operator's address. When you enter the cramped apartment, you're met with a smiling, hanged teenager and a still-running, unplugged computer. You smash it to pieces.*

*With the root cause gone, the suicides eventually slow. While you couldn't save those already in its thrall, you're relieved to know the bulletin won't take any more victims."*

### Ending C: Disconnected

Ending C is obtained by answering 'no' at the **First Computer Screen**.

*"You find the bulletin's number in the phone book, but when you arrive at the address, you find the place empty. The bulletin was moved. Out of desperation, police begin confiscating modems and banning students from computers.*

*Despite this, the suicides only seem to grow faster. They've spread even further beyond Shiokawa, too. Your guts twist into knots every time you pass by the computer club's door..."*

## Trivia

• There appear to be several references to the movie Suicide Club in this mystery. Most notably how the computer club chooses to commit suicide in Ending C, the voice on the phone being called "The Voice of Humanity," and a lot of the plot centering around a 90s message board.

• Additionally, the questions the Voice of Humanity proposes mirror the Red Room Curse urban legend, in which a popup asks a user "Do you like the Red Room?" before killing them.