Stop, Collaborate and THEORISE

[7530159]

I am here because I am CURIOUS
Will I ever stop? Yeah on this line.
Sorry I couldn't resist. I'll get on with the post.

We're about half way to the release of tape 2, So I feel like now is a good time to throw things at the wall and see what sticks. I have 8 query's for ya'll. Any and all input is appreciated. No theory to wild, or to unsubstantiated. I'm genuinely just curious to see what other players are thinking at this point. Let's Take chances, make mistakes, get messy with those theory's!

SPOILERS BELOW!!!
--------------------------------------

1. What is the abyss?
My Guess: I think the Abyss is a wormhole, Maybe the fairy ring was planted as a warning to stay away?
Based on:
The completed Anomaly Tape voice over + The Gil Davidson article in the pool room about being transported; not only in space but in time as well.

2. Why is magic present before the pact?
My Guess:
kat originally found the abyss alone and fell in; Accidentally becoming the sacrifice to her own wish. I think we're still in the reverberation of her wish and will be until whatever it was is granted.
Based on:
There are definitely traces of magic before the blood pact (cardinals have purple eyes from the start of the game, if you call enough unavailable numbers on the phone Kats voice will replace the prerecorded one, the unexplained swirl on the calendar that correlates with the day they find the abyss + The line Kat says when the girl's are around the abyss "Think I'd fall" That felt like foreshadowing.

3 Are there aliens?
My Guess:
I think the clues are relevant but I don't think it's aliens. My guess for the Grey Gang are people who have disappeared in the whispering woods. Most likely the missing miners, who as far as we know were never found. Jake (From the cabin letters) Also fits the parameters
Based on:
There are several clues hinting at aliens
The Gil Davidson article at the blue spruce in 2022 in the pool room in which he claims to have been transported light years away where 1 day = 10 years, he pledged to put up signs warning of the aliens. I assume those are the swirl signs that give the anomaly glitch when viewed though the camera
I've also found 3 Grey gang graffiti's all related to "Fred" + Fred's book next to the tents where a couple of anomaly's signs can be found. Despite there being so many tidbits of information It all feels like a red herring, Just an easy explanation for something we don't understand yet

4. What happened to the water tower?
The water tower can be seen in 3 states
Unknown year: Half built: There is a picture in the blue spruce 2022, of the water tower half constructed with 3 figures standing inside
1995: Fully Intact:
2022: Broken antler:
My Guess: Abyss shanghaiing? I know that's a weak guess but I haven't found any clues as to what could have happened. But we're for sure going to end up on top of that water tower at some point in tape 2. I'm confident in that.
Based on: Nothing. I have no theories on this one. Would love to hear peoples Guesses / see if anyone found any clues I missed

5. What will the Dynamic duo (Gus&Pam) get up to?
My guess:
WILD THEORY. I think the duo used to be a trio. but lost their third to the abyss. after that Gus joined a motorcycle club (Maybe the bike we hear in the background when the girl's are looking for the keys). I think Pam is still looking into the disappearances and her interest was peaked when autumn was looking into sink holes (Autumns mentions talking to the librarian about it behind the blue spruce in 95) kicking her investigation into high gear and dragging Gus back into the mystery.
I have 2 guess on who the third person could be. Either Cody from the "where's Cody?" Graffiti at the movie palace OR more likely, Gil Davidson himself is the third and we'll see them reunite when he jumps forward in time to 95.
Based on:
1. We know Gus is an avid fisherman based on the picture at the bar and the article next to Swann's booth (Assuming Gus is the "Local" Mentioned.) I think The tackle box in the cabin could be His. Which could indicate that the cabin might have been their hangout before Swann and co. + his club vest, the motorcycle outside the bar in 2022 and the one pictured behind Gus in at the bar.
2. Pam's a librarian who is into cryptids, and has a massive scratch on her car door. (Based on her car in 2022 appearing to be the same one in 1995)

6.What happens at Mikaelsen Ranch?
My guess:
I think the Incident is going to take place during the "August 17th - 20th Deer farm convention - Live auction". I would say Gertie is set go up on the block and the girls save the day but the curse leaves destruction in their wake
Based on:
The flyers about the auction and the fact that Kat very clearly cares about that deer

7.Mysteries figures
I have seen 3 distinct shadows: Corey, Kat and a nondescript figure + a quick glimpse of someone wearing a wolf mask in an early cut-scene and the named only "Grey Gang".
My guess for the shadows:
I think it's people who have used the abyss at some point
Kat: to make friends?
Corey" to raise his status?
Nondescript: Either Cody or Gil for some reason?

My Guess for the Wolf-mask:
I Think it's Corey. My guess is he wears the mask while harassing the girl's, I don't think it's anything supernatural. the second long shot we get of him isn't really a lot to go on. But it seemed interesting enough to put in the speculations

My Guess on the Grey Gang:
I believe They're people who went through the Abyss. My guess on their purpose would be a protected roll. Not really basing this on anything but vibes

8. WHAT'S IN THE BOX!?! and who is the sender?
My guess:
following my wormhole theory, I Think Kat is the sender, And the box contains the Tapes from 95 (maybe showing a different summer to the one they remember due to time shenanigans)
Based on: Logic Leaps

That's all I have so far. I'm looking forward to seeing where other people Have landed on these. If I missed a mystery that you have a theory on, I would love to hear it. Please don't feel like you have to answer the prompts I provided. I just figured it would give people a good jumping off point. I want all the theory's!
Thanks in advance to anyone who precipitates in the theorising!

[Dragonfirefly]

What Swann will offer is different when u choose Freedom (she throws flowers in the abyss) and only offer her hair when u choose (i want to be strong).

Originally posted by author:

Another thing I keep circling around is what’s up with Corey?

About Corey, u are right, there are some things what make me think, maybe he knows more or hiding something. Maybe he has a connection with the abyss and knows that it is connected to Kat. Maybe he has two personas or he thinks he might lose his job and future when something happen to Kat when he is around.

I´m betting on the multiply Dimensions or Witchcraft. The reason therefore is DotNod already had a Game with Time manipulation (Life is Strange) and on the other side there are quite some hints about it (Sliders tvseries, the fanfic from swan). For Witchcraft there are the Books in Swanns room, the ravens, the hideout with the creepy symbols, the bible, the glowing moths and more. But we will see :)

Originally posted by author:

There also seems to be something Nora doesn’t tell us, meanwhile she is seemingly one of the people that should prove that the Abyss‘ powers work. She wanted to be famous and she has become an influencer.

Yes she did get famous but paid a price for it. Remember what she offered to the Abyss? Her Plactron (or what ever, the thing u hit the guitarstrings) so she literally offered her music and what did she stop doing? Right Music. This is another point/hint which push me to the Supernatural.

About Swann and Autumn, it could be that Swann is bald (lost her hair, if u choose to be strong) but what it would be (if u choose freedom) if go with the flowers i have no idea. For Autumn i´m not so sure if she get anything (because she didn´t offer anything, thats what i think) but if u right i would say she is the cause of the lost memories.

[FallenChocoCookie]

Originally posted by Dragonfirefly:

What Swann will offer is different when u choose Freedom (she throws flowers in the abyss) and only offer her hair when u choose (i want to be strong).

Ah interesting, I didn’t know she offers different things depending on the choices here!

[Stoibs]

Me either, I chose freedom and thought the 'gift' of some nearby flowers was pretty poor personally

Cutting off her hair sounds more badass.

[Dragonfirefly]

i played 4 playthrough (5th right now) and tried some obvios things, like the furr for ur Cat depending on wich name u give him (Shadow=Black, Pumpkin=Orange/Red, Snow*whatever*=white), the abyss choice Freedom or Power and some other things like filming Dylan and Corey vs. not filming, beeing nice vs. say nothing or be "mean". And the choice what ur book is about (Horror vs. Sci-Fi). Just now im going with SciFi and will play Bloody Mary again, maybe it will change ^^.

I don´t want to spoiler too much but honestly try to play it again with another approach (do all the choices u made the other way, be mean *broken hearts choices or cut off ur mom really fast or or or).

[Stoibs]

Originally posted by Dragonfirefly:

I don´t want to spoiler too much but honestly try to play it again with another approach (do all the choices u made the other way, be mean *broken hearts choices or cut off ur mom really fast or or or).

The only thing holding me back is waiting for part 2.

I want all my choices and first blind-run outcomes to be canon for the continuation. I might look at doing the replay(s) after April when I've finished the story atleast once :)

[Dragonfirefly]

Originally posted by author:

I want all my choices and first blind-run outcomes to be canon for the continuation. I might look at doing the replay(s) after April when I've finished the story atleast once :)

Feel it, that is what my first Savegame is for (i will not change a single choice i made) and the second (choices i was not sure about, so its the "same" as the first one but minor changes) and third is where i try the funny stuff ^^

[2Mar0th]

In scene 2, you'll see a purple bright spot in the sky, close to the color of Abyss or the color of the raven's eyes

[4umOZavR]

Originally posted by 7530159:

It's a shame this is missable. I still find it amusing several playthroughs in! I especially love how she throws her hands up at the end to be like come on I was just joking. What a good prank!

Good thing you appreciated this too.
I know what else you might like. This is very easy to miss. I don't know if you found this, but in scene 13, when you find yourself inside the house, examine the bear trap.
You'll know what to do. Enjoy!

Now for some serious discussion...

Dragonfirefly, FallenChocoCookie, Wow! You opened my eyes!

Indeed, Nora sacrificed her favorite guitar pick (Tharp) to become famous. Now we know she's not into music anymore.

As for Autumn, she threw the dust. So, they can't remember what happened that night.

As for Swann, this is, in my opinion, the most important choice in Tape 1:

1. I wish to be strong...

"I have a wish...
I bring s sacrifice... I seek your guidance...
I wish to be strong... like a swarm of moths blocking out the light.
So I can protect us... and keep us together, forever...
And ever..."

She sacrifices her hair to protect herself and all her friends. But she has no idea that she can't protect Kat.

"...like a swarm of moths blocking out the light."

Originally posted by 4umOZavR:

The glow of the abyss that we can see in the game is Kat's life. As long as it glows, Kat is still alive.

I think it might kill Kat.

2. I wish to be free...

"I have a wish...
I bring s sacrifice... I seek your guidance...
I wish to be free... Like a moth shedding our cocoons...
And instead of being drawn into the flame... we make it ours.
So that nothing can keep us apart, from here on out... forever."

Swann will remain with Kat in the abyss.

Swann is a writer in the present, Kat in the past.
The Dead Poets Society achievement hints at this.

As for Kat's wish:

"I bring a sacrifice... I seek you guidance...
Abyss...
Everyone thinks they know what's best for me... But they don't.
I deserve justice...
I'm ****** dying here. Get me out... Get me out...! Get us out."

Kat throws a "cat badge" with the inscription "No means no" into the abyss.

This may mean...

1. She sacrificed her life for friendship.

2. She sacrificed friendship for her life.

(I think this is very closely related to Swann's choice)

This also matches what I wrote earlier.

Originally posted by 4umOZavR:

I think Kat and the abyss are related.

"...will lead her down a path from which she may never return."

And it's about Kat's fall into the abyss.

Apparently she is locked in the "abyss" and it will be very difficult (or impossible) for her to get out of there.

By "the abyss" I mean Kat's illness - leukemia, which is rapidly killing her.

The fact that the abyss was formed (as a physical phenomenon) is certainly the result of the curse. Kat was careless with her wishes and, without knowing it, awakened her "sleeping illness". The glow of the abyss that we can see in the game is Kat's life. As long as it glows, Kat is still alive.

In scene 20 I found a very strange inscription, above the window next to the trapdoor.
It says the following:

"someday you will ache like i ache"

There can also be 2 options here:

1. The pain and suffering of losing Kat.

2. Sharing the pain and suffering with Kat (being locked in the abyss).


Have you seen a weird mask in the cabin, almost under the ceiling, above the front door? You can see it very well in photo mode in scene 20.

I don't have any ideas yet, but I felt like I had to tell you about it.

----
Upd: semantic errors have been fixed.

[Qiana]

You people should go and contribute to the Lost Records Wiki.

https://lostrecords.fandom.com/wiki/Lost_Records:_Bloom_%26_Rage

[FallenChocoCookie]

Have you seen a weird mask in the cabin, almost under the ceiling, above the front door? You can see it very well in photo mode in scene 20.

I don't have any ideas yet, but I felt like I had to tell you about it.

I only noticed this while watching a LP on Youtube, never saw it during my own game. I've got no idea what it means either or how it's related but it's super spooky.

What do you guys think about the Bloody Mary game? Something clearly happened but I doubt they actually summoned a ghost. Perhaps this could tie in with the shadow people and/or time travelling idea? 🤔 Or it's just a fun detail that's in there for no particular reason other than to be spooky.

[Dragonfirefly]

Okay, i have a new theory and it will be wild.

What if Kat and Swann have a much deeper connection to the abyss, the Witch house and themself? What if Swann is a "witch" or posses the soul of a witch from another time? and all is connected through the abyss. She could lived there before and died because of a witchhunt or an accident and her soul was reincarnated in this time. Maybe she was in Danger and jumped in the abyss.

Im near the End of Part 1 in my 5th playthrough, i took my time and looked everywhere, and more and more hints pointing at a witch. Swann has red hair and has a deep connection to the nature and animals (and she has a Cat). Also some of Swanns lines in the Game a kind of mystic (like i feeling drawn to this place or i had feeling there is something). The connection to Kat could be some event happend in their live before.

Short Update: after finishing scene 20 ( ur mission log says, make fire)

3 things to add

1. Extra (Secret) Scenes/dialogs with Kat and Nora, about Kat i´ve already written it before (go attic - sit - stand up - Kat dialog), now i found a extra with Nora (scene 20, go to Noras Stuff - pick the Mag and open it).

2. Bloody Mary, i knew it was creepy but i forgot why, now i remember (just played it again) the last time u say (13th) Bloody Mary the candle goes out and u will see a violet version of Swann in the Mirrow.

3. Kats Knife scene - u see a shadow of the Dreamcatcher (pentagram, can be found in the attic) while Kat is doing her thing, also the final stab, if she cut herself, a blue light is coming out where the knife stabs the table. (dont know if its the same when she doesn´t cut herself.

[Dragonfirefly]

Found a possible connection why Corey is acting towards Kat how he did. If u search for the Lock Code u can find a letter from his Mom, she is very sick (or already died). Kat is also sick, so maybe he sees the situation like what it was with his Mom?

[2Mar0th]

Originally posted by Dragonfirefly:

Found a possible connection why Corey is acting towards Kat how he did. If u search for the Lock Code u can find a letter from his Mom, she is very sick (or already died). Kat is also sick, so maybe he sees the situation like what it was with his Mom?

Another interesting thing I found is that Corey‘s bag will disappear when you plug in the concert, like a note in the cabin that prompts you with the password, so there are two possibilities as to where Corey's bag goes:
1. Someone took it (it is unlikely to be Corey himself, because Corey did not appear when the bag disappeared, and Nora was watching at the door at this time, so from the analysis of the character's personality, it can only be Kat)
2. Like the note in the cabin, it was a clue given to you by Kat or Corey through Abyss (does this mean that in the real past, we broke into the backyard instead of finding another way to get into?).

[4umOZavR]

Here are some subtle moments:

Swann in 2022 has a hairdo. In scene 2, go to a well-lit area and look at the character's shadow.

In the bar you can find the inscription "She's not coming bro.", which hints that Kat will not appear in 2022.

There's also a sign in the bar that says "Meet me in the two holes for some fun," which fits in nicely with the wormhole theory.

If you interact with the antlers in the bar, you will have the following memory:

"Kat: Ugh. I hate the ranch!"
Kat: I wish I could just burn all their dumb guns.
Nora: Let’s do it!”

I'm sure there will be a fire at the ranch. Too many references to it.
I think Nora will do it anyway.

In scene 25, notice Kat's voice when she yells "SHUT UP!" (As if she were screaming from hell). There was so much rage in that voice!

And then what a deafening scream!

There's something in this... besides rage...

I think she will show herself even more strongly and come up with something shocking...

Will she go further than diving into the abyss?

Did you notice how it started snowing lightly at the end?

Originally posted by Dragonfirefly:

3. Kats Knife scene - u see a shadow of the Dreamcatcher (pentagram, can be found in the attic) while Kat is doing her thing, also the final stab, if she cut herself, a blue light is coming out where the knife stabs the table. (dont know if its the same when she doesn´t cut herself.

The only difference is whether she cuts herself or not. And Swann's opening line. Nothing more.

https://imgur.com/a/cIh2UNT

Originally posted by FallenChocoCookie:

What do you guys think about the Bloody Mary game? Something clearly happened but I doubt they actually summoned a ghost. Perhaps this could tie in with the shadow people and/or time travelling idea? 🤔 Or it's just a fun detail that's in there for no particular reason other than to be spooky.

We can observe Bloody Mary's Kat's shadow in the mirror.

https://imgur.com/a/gw91Add

Originally posted by Dragonfirefly:

I´m betting on the multiply Dimensions or Witchcraft. The reason therefore is DotNod already had a Game with Time manipulation (Life is Strange) and on the other side there are quite some hints about it (Sliders tvseries, the fanfic from swan). For Witchcraft there are the Books in Swanns room, the ravens, the hideout with the creepy symbols, the bible, the glowing moths and more. But we will see :)

The witchcraft version looks interesting. I didn't even consider it. Although I noticed pentagrams. Perhaps that weird mask above the front door has something to do with it.

Originally posted by Qiana:

You people should go and contribute to the Lost Records Wiki.

https://lostrecords.fandom.com/wiki/Lost_Records:_Bloom_%26_Rage

I don't think I should go there, because my English knowledge may not be enough. I think my articles will not meet the Wiki standards. Moreover, I've never done anything like this before.

[Dragonfirefly]

Originally posted by author:

We can observe Bloody Mary's Kat's shadow in the mirror.

i think it´s Swann or at least it looks like her to me!