[CH III demo] The seventh floor mystery

[Aza]

So I've completed chapter III's demo (great job btw, this is the most intense entry in the series so far) and went back to find the notes I missed, and of course any alternative endings and secrets.
What got me intrigued (if not obsessed) was the seventh floor.

I was making my way up, inspecting every floor when I ran into a brick wall with markings saying "There is no seventh floor". "Screw that" I said, "I'll take the elevator".
When pressing the button to that floor, I got greeted by a demon growling and making the lights flicker. That's when I remembered the message in the basement saying "seventy times seven". So there I was getting a lovely ear massage by the demon and getting increasingly nervous as I pressed the button 70 times. Nothing happened.
I then went to the eight floor to try and get to the seventh floor by the stairs. There was a brick wall of course but this time a message said "There IS a seventh floor". I also remembered that the basement markings were contradicted with another message saying "not seven". Needless to say I was very confused at that point. I don't know if it's just a spooky detail or a hint to an actual secret anymore.
What kept me going was the appearance of the elevator demon on the eight floor. He started appearing after I played around with the elevator button. First in front of door 8B, then in the corner left of door 8A, near the fridge in 8A, next to the brick wall blocking that damned floor and finally in front of 8B again. Looking at another playthrough I was thinking there was a pattern because he appeared twice in the same order (next 8A then inside 8A in the video). The most intriguing detail about all this is he makes the same growling sound as in the elevator when he disappears. Maybe it's just part of his character design and I'm overthinking it but I can't help and think this is a hint.

So is there a seventh floor or not? Is this a puzzle linked to the "second death" note in Tiffany's appartment? I'm still searching but I'm dying to know now. I might take a break though because it's late at night and the ambiant music is getting me nervous. Damn you Airdorf Games... :(

[Mediocre_Medic]

Perhaps the truth of the seventh floor will be revealed in the full game; if the demo does not turn out to be completely different like Chapter 2.

[Velloria]

Some thoughts on the matter -

Since “seventy times seven” is 490, at first I thought this meant you visited floor 4, then 9, then “0”? Tried it (assuming basement was floor 0) and didn’t get anything, but thought I would add it to the convo.

Has anyone encountered the “elevator demon” 7 unique times? Are we sure that the demon who shows up in front of your face when you press the button is the same as the one we encounter outside the elevator? Their appearances are unquestionably connected but they may not be the same demon.

As to why the number 7, I believe the number is holy and represents god, so it makes sense that a cultist apartment building would try to erase it (like how some old buildings don’t have a 13th floor)

As for Tiffany and the Second Death, one of the notes mentions that “in order to bring about the SECOND DEATH, one must pass 7 * through the * carved out of the impure vessel’s face” (this note is found in 2A, “S.Gains” apartment) . The number 7 is mentioned here and could be connected. Potentially, the basement writing might be trying to “correct” this number, by saying “Not Seven” “ * must pass through”, but “Seventy Times Seven”, meaning that “ 490 * must pass through the * carved out of the impure vessel’s face” .

I personally suspect if “S.Gains” wrote the note, that they are the demon you fight in the basement. This is because that note calls Amy a “♥♥♥♥♥” and when it attacks you, it sounds like it’s saying “You ♥♥♥♥♥”. The author of the note also mentioned “Surpassing Amy”.

I also suspect Tiffany is the Split-Faced demon (face is similar to the mask in the basement, basement note mentions her ascending, basement ritual identical to one in Amy’s House). since Lisa’s Letter mentions trusting her, perhaps Tiffany attempted to “take her place” in whatever plans Gary had for Lisa? I’m rambling.

Some things that may or may not help:

According to the mailboxes,R.Tillman lives in 7A, and H.Clark lives in 7B. Apartment 1B is not listed on the mailboxes, and there does not appear to be an apartment 1A.

In the Chapter 2 puzzle in the church basement, the number 7 was represented by a plus symbol above a downward arrow. The symbols in the boss room translate to “8 1 2 9 6”. I have tried to replicate the combination with the elevator demon, but he will not appear on floor 1. It seems he will only appear on floor 8 and 6.

Sorry if this was way too long, I really enjoy doing these kinds of things, especially with games as great as this!

[Aza]

Originally posted by Velloria:

Has anyone encountered the “elevator demon” 7 unique times?

As far as I remember, he only showed up six times for me. Again, he also appeared next to the brick wall. That detail is haunting me.

Originally posted by Velloria:

Are we sure that the demon who shows up in front of your face when you press the button is the same as the one we encounter outside the elevator? Their appearances are unquestionably connected but they may not be the same demon.

Given the color code on hand writings and skin tones, I'd say it's the same. Especially when they growl the same.

Originally posted by Velloria:

As to why the number 7, I believe the number is holy and represents god, so it makes sense that a cultist apartment building would try to erase it (like how some old buildings don’t have a 13th floor)

I didn't think of it. That's very interesting.

Originally posted by Velloria:

Potentially, the basement writing might be trying to “correct” this number, by saying “Not Seven” “ * must pass through”, but “Seventy Times Seven”, meaning that “ 490 * must pass through” .

I figured the sentences were incomplete (asterisks sounded like scratched out words) but now that you mention it they might be some sort of wild cards, a blank space for words that we have to figure out. Good catch.

Originally posted by Velloria:

In the Chapter 2 puzzle in the church basement, the number 7 was represented by a plus symbol above a downward arrow.

That symbol is also present on the dagger stand. It's scary to realize how the dev thought of every detail...

Originally posted by Velloria:

The symbols in the boss room translate to “8 1 2 9 6”

That might a lead. I'll try visiting floors in this order some other time.

Originally posted by Velloria:

Sorry if this was way too long, I really enjoy doing these kinds of things, especially with games as great as this!

Good reads are never too long!

[Velloria]

Originally posted by Azatoth:

Given the color code on hand writings and skin tones, I'd say it's the same. Especially when they growl the same.

You're completely right, after summoning him again I realized he even has the same eye missing, definitely the same demon.

Originally posted by Azatoth:

I figured the sentences were incomplete (asterisks sounded like scratched out words) but now that you mention it they might be some sort of wild cards, a blank space for words that we have to figure out. Good catch.

This is just a wild guess on my part but perhaps the letter could read:

"in order to bring about the SECOND DEATH, one must pass 7 sacrifices through the portal carved out of the impure vessel’s face"

Perhaps Amy could grab victims with her third arm and drag them into her face?

The split-faced demon had a large hole/mouth in it's face, perhaps for the same purpose.

Originally posted by Azatoth:

That symbol is also present on the dagger stand. It's scary to realize how the dev thought of every detail... :lunar2019deadpanpig:

I double checked, the symbol on the dagger stand is different, and corresponds the top symbol of the basement ritual. This ritual setup is the same from Amy's house...

edit: this symbol is again repeated on the Seal of Alu, but the circle is filled in.
going full on crazy-mode now but : This symbol looks like Amy's face, with the arm reaching up out of it - and the Seal of Alu has it "filled in". The note I mentioned earlier also talked about passing things through the Impure Vessel's face, perhaps "filling" it in? I have no Idea what this means, if it even means anything.

Originally posted by Azatoth:

That might a lead. I'll try visiting floors in this order some other time.

I tried visiting the floors in that order, then the seventh, but no luck.
also tried summoning him on each of those floors, but I couldn't get him to appear on the 1st floor at all.

Originally posted by Azatoth:

Good reads are never too long! :lunar2019smilingpig:

thanks!! it's just so much fun to theorize and chat lore about this game!

some extra notes:

I discovered two notes when backtracking through the rooms opened by the camera sequence.

This one in the room with the boxes and the eye graffiti, found by exorcising the eye graffiti.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1905775484
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1905773900
And this one by exorcising the Altar where you sneak past the cultists.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1905774487
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1905774549

With these two I have managed to find all the notes!

Not much here about the 7th floor, but I suppose the gaping hole in 3A is home to a demon. Potentially our Elevator Demon...? Now that I'm thinking about it, I haven't tried to summon him in 3A. Might lead to something. Approaching it to make it disappear may also not be a good idea, perhaps just having it appear and leaving it alone (as suggested in the note) is what needs to be done...

[Velloria]

After reading youtube comments on playthroughs of the demo, user "Lyra Fang" mentioned that "Seventy times Seven" is a reference to the command of forgiveness in the bible, saying Christians should forgive those who wronged them seventy times seven. Just thought I'd add.

[Clockwork]

I don't know if i'ts related or not, but when I picked up the camera after the light went out, and went into the TV room on the 4th floor, I roamed around for some time, spamming the camera light.

On some instants, I saw a sacrifice pattern on the ground instead of the room itself. And on one occasion, I saw a side picture of the split-face demon, and an eerie sound.

Then, nothing else from that point on.

No idea if it has something to do with me drawing a circle with John's blood around the table.

https://www.aht.li/3433882/Faith_Chapter_3_Demo.mp4

[Aza]

It's just random events. The game confuses you by "teleporting" you in the sacrifice room. It's just a vision.

[Clockwork]

Originally posted by Azatoth:

It's just random events. The game confuses you by "teleporting" you in the sacrifice room. It's just a vision.

That "split face" demon picture only appeared in that specific room though, and only if I tried to walk around. Makes me wonder if there are conditions to make it appear.

What I did notice is, it seemed to happen everytime I drew a circle with my blood around the table in front of the TV.

Edit : Nevermind, I had that face happen randomly now.

[iamjacktaylor]

I'd like to add that "Not Seven" and "Seventy Times Seven" found in the basement / mask room is indeed from bible verse Matthew 18:22 in KJV "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

Interesting to note that while the NIV and many other translations quote "seventy-seven times" instead of "seventy times seven" as does KJV and some others. There seems to be a split. Don't know if that constrast could be relevant.

[The Anomalous Bird-man]

Hey there fellas. I'd like to report on my sightings on the red elevator demon.

10th floor, to the left where the dumbwaiter room is.
8th floor, left side
6th floor, right side
5th floor, left side in front of Lisa's door.
4th floor, left or side, I don't remember.

I've tried searching in the 3rd, 2nd, 1st and basement floors, but no luck.

Now, if we count seeing him briefly when hitting the 7th floor button in the elevator, that's 7 sightings in total. I haven't tried going to the 7th floor via elevator or stairs after finding the guy, so if anyone wants to verify that for me, I'd appreciate it.

[ZombieCow323]

This is pretty late but I've also seen the elevator demon a few times right outside of room 9A, and in the corridor where the cultists were told to seal themselves off with brick and mortar, during the camera sequence.

[express]

I solved this mystery, more info here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1179080/discussions/0/4835136555189111877/