A supernatural investigation RPG centered on a male-female protagonist duo with "ghost vision," tasked by a reclusive Japanese corporate family to retrieve a lost artifact. What begins as a lucrative, routine mission in a remote mountain mansion unravels into a chilling tale of hidden family sins, corporate cover-ups, and a decades-old girl’s disappearance.
A Secluded World: Tradition, Isolation, and Creeping Unease
The story unfolds in a sprawling, century-old Japanese mansion nestled deep in the mist-shrouded mountains—an enclave where the corporate family has lived for generations, shunning outside contact. Its polished wooden halls, paper-screened rooms, and serene gardens mask an undercurrent of strangeness: servants speak in hushed tones, family members follow archaic rituals, and the air hums with unspoken tension. For the protagonists, initially lured by the promise of a fat paycheck, the mansion feels less like a workplace and more like a gilded cage.
1. Atmospheric Design: Every corner of the mansion tells a story—faded family portraits, locked drawers with strange symbols, and a courtyard overgrown with bamboo that seems to "watch" intruders.
2. Isolation Mechanics: Limited contact with the outside world heightens paranoia. Radio static cuts off abruptly; phone signals vanish. The only clues lie within the walls.
3. Cultural Nuance: The family’s traditions—tea ceremonies, ancestral worship, and strict rules about "unseen guests"—add layers of authenticity, making the eventual cracks in their facade more jarring.
Ghost Vision: Seeing More Than the Eye Can Perceive
The protagonists’ "ghost vision" isn’t just a party trick—it’s their greatest tool… and their curse. This ability lets them perceive residual spiritual energy: faint whispers of past tragedies, shadowy figures lingering in corners, and "echoes" of events that played out years ago. As they search for the artifact, they’ll use this power to decode cryptic clues, from a child’s drawing hidden in a bookshelf to a bloodstain only visible in their vision.
1. Mechanical Depth: Ghost vision works in layers. Weak echoes reveal basic shapes; stronger ones unlock fragmented memories (e.g., a servant’s scream, a door slamming shut).
2. Risk vs. Reward: Overusing their ability drains stamina, leaving them vulnerable to traps—or the mansion’s darker inhabitants. Some echoes are harmless; others trigger jump scares or possession attempts.
3. Puzzle Integration: Environmental puzzles require merging physical clues (a rusted key) with spectral ones (a ghost pointing to a floorboard). Solving them progresses the story… and uncovers more secrets.
Secrets Unraveled: Corpses, Cover-Ups, and a Missing Girl
Beneath the mansion’s polished surface lies a rotting core. The artifact the family wants back? It’s no mere trinket—it’s a relic tied to a decades-old scandal: a young girl vanished from the grounds, her disappearance buried under lies. As the protagonists dig deeper, they uncover ties to illegal experiments, blackmail, and a cover-up that’s festered for years. The "ghosts" they see aren’t just spirits—they’re victims, trapped by the family’s greed.
1. Narrative Twists: Clues seem contradictory at first (a family member’s alibi checks out… until an echo reveals they were in two places at once). Trust no one—not even the helpful butler.
2. Emotional Stakes: The missing girl’s story humanizes the mystery. Flashbacks show her laughing in the garden, making her absence feel visceral. Players grow invested in uncovering the truth to give her closure.
3. Moral Complexity: The family isn’t all evil. Some members knew the truth but were too afraid to speak up; others are victims of the patriarch’s tyranny. Choices matter—expose the family, or let the secret die with them?
