History VisualNovel / LakeOfVoices

''Lake of Voices'' is a free horror visual novel released by GB Patch Games in 2018 on [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/782340/Lake_of_Voices/ Steam]] and [[https://gbpatch.itch.io/lake-of-voices itch.io]]. It features a branching narrative with many tough and impactful choices to make. The player, who is in control of Kikka's decisions, gets to determine, whom to sacrifice and what to do in order to survive. Certain choices are timed, so it's important to think and react fast, although staying silent is also an option that forwards the plot further.

* HeroesWantRedheads: If you romance Lu.

* KryptoniteFactor: The Nixi are frighteningly strong, but have a few debilitating weaknesses, such as a fear of light and difficultly traversing the land. [[spoiler: Even though the above stated weaknesses are lies, the trope still applies to them: Nixi are born from the inherent magic of Lake Sinnlos, but that magic is easy to disrupt. The pollution of a single human warcamp by the lake was enough to disrupt the balance that allows Nixi to come into existence, and since they're not immortal, seriously threaten them with extinction.]]

* BittersweetEnding: The better endings are mostly this to a certain extent, as there's always some sort of a sacrifice taking place.
** Most notably, it's impossible to [[spoiler: save everyone. At least one person from the party will die before reaching the island]].

WillfullyWeak: [[spoiler: The Nixi. They're not actually afraid of fire, and are much more capable of moving on land than they seem. But when humans try to cross Sinnlos, they essentially follow a script, limiting themselves so that small groups of humans might survive if they obey the guide. They're trying to strike a balance between being frightening enough that humans avoid Sinnlos, while not being so threatening as to provoke a human invasion.]]

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Nixi [[spoiler: are an aversion. Long ago, the pollution from a human warcamp began to have disastrous effects on the lake. The guide took human form and attempted to reason with the leader of the warcamp, Garyvn the Exemplar, to no avail. He resorted to killing Garvyn, hoping that would put an end to human encroachment. To an extent it did, but it also left the Nixi with a reputation as horrible monsters. Realizing that humanity would still one day be capable of overwhelming them, the Nixi embraced this identity in the hope that humans would simply avoid the lake out of fear. They don't enjoy having to kill, but they don't know what else to do.]]
* BattleCouple: Kikka and Bemelle, if you pursue him.

* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Nixi [[spoiler are an aversion. Long ago, the pollution from a human warcamp began to have disastrous effects on the lake. The guide took human form and attempted to reason with the leader of the warcamp, Garyvn the Exemplar, to no avail. He resorted to killing Garvyn, hoping that would put an end to human encroachment. To an extent it did, but it also left the Nixi with a reputation as horrible monsters. Realizing that humanity would still one day be capable of overwhelming them, the Nixi embraced this identity in the hope that humans would simply avoid the lake out of fear. They don't enjoy having to kill, but they don't know what else to do.]]

Kikka and Bemelle are assigned with a misson to help the people living in a village on the other side of the lake Sinnlos, where monsters referred to as 'Nixi' live, waiting for prey to come by and taking joy in drowning travellers. The maze-like bridge connecting the shores appears only at night and disappears at the first signs of dawn, although the two-day journey across is the shortest one. The only person that can help them navigate the dark with his light is the mysterious Guide...

''Lake of Voices'' is a free horror visual novel released by GB Patch Games in 2018 on [[https://store.steampowered.com/app/782340/Lake_of_Voices/ Steam]] and [[https://gbpatch.itch.io/lake-of-voices itch.io]]. It features branching narrative with many tough and impactful choices to make. The player, who is in control of Kikka's decisions, gets to determine, whom to sacrifice and what to do in order to survive. Certain choices are timed, so it's important to think and react fast, although staying silent is also an option that forwards the plot further.

* FirstGuyWins: If you pursue Bemelle since he is the one Kikka has known for some time prior the game.

* TheIdealistWasRight: Both Kikka and Bemelle aren't willing to leave anyone behind due to their noble ideald, despire the selfish option being the most sensible one. Happens if [[spoiler:you choose to be more selfless and still manage to survive]]. One of the examples can be [[spoiler: Lu's survival. Saving him is the more idealistic option, however it unlocks some of the better endings, too]].

* {{Shapeshifting}}: The Nixi are capable of this to a different degree. Some are more skilled at it than others. [[spoiler: Lu can take human form, while the Guide is even able to conceal the real colour of his blood]].

* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Each ending in which [[spoiler: Kikka manages to safely get to the other side]] features a short epilogue that describes what happened to the main five and the future of your romance, if you pursued any.

* Shapeshifting: The Nixi are capable of this to a different degree. Some are more skilled at it than others. [[spoiler: Lu can take human form, while the Guide is even able to conceal the real colour of his blood]].

* UnlockableContent: There's a bonus mode featuring scenes that can be unlocked under certain conditions.

* Fingore: Happens on [[spoiler: Lu's romance route, in which he loses one of his fingers]].

* BittersweetEnding: The better endings are mostly this.

* FirstGuyWins: If you pursue Bemelle.
* GayOption: Margret is one.

* HeroicSacrifice: Kikka can perform one [[spoiler: at the beginning of the second night if she chooses to scare away the Nixi with her light]]. There's also Lu, [[spoiler: who is implied to have jumped to protect Kikka on him romance route]].

* LastGuyWins: If you pursue [[spoiler: Lu]].

* RescueHug: Kikka and Margret share one in [[spoiler:Margret's good romance ending.]]
* StoryBranching: The game has this.
* TraficKeepsake: In the endings where he dies after being romanced, a shell that [[spoiler: Lu gave Kikka as a reminder of him]].

* CrushBlush: There's a blushing sprite for everyone.

* NonMaliciousMonster: In the bonus mode, there's [[spoiler:Dilrt, a Nixi that helps Kikka find the shore. It's even possible to kiss him]].

* BigHeroicRun: Happens on certain routes. For example, [[spoiler: Kikka and Bemelle can be seen carrying the injured Guide ''together'' while running for their lives before the bridge sinks]].

* HeroicSacrifice: Kikka can perform one [[spoiler: at the beginning of the second night if she chooses to scare away the Nixi with her light]].

Kikka and Bemelle are assigned with a misson to help the people living in a village on the other side of the lake Sinnos, where monsters referred to as 'Nixi' live, waiting for prey to come by and taking joy in drowning travellers. The maze-like bridge connecting the shores appears only at night and disappears at the first signs of dawn, although the two-day journey across is the shortest one. The only person that can help them navigate the dark with his light is the mysterious Guide...

* BlobMonster: The Nixi can be seen as this.

* HazardousWater: The lake Sinnos.

Kikka and Bemelle are assigned a misson to help the people living in a village on the other side of the lake Sinnos, where monsters referred to as 'Nixi' live, waiting for prey to come by. The maze-like bridge connecting the shores appears only at night and disappears at the first signs of dawn, although the two-day journey across is the shortest one. The only person that can help them navigate the dark with his light is the mysterious Guide...

* HeroesWantRedheads: If you choose to pursue Lu.

* OminousFog: Can be seen on the background CGs.

''Lake of Voices'' is a free horror visual novel released by GB Patch Games in 2018 on Steam, fully voiced in English. It features branching narrative with many tough and impactful choices to make. The player, who is in control of Kikka's decisions, gets to determine, whom to sacrifice and what to do in order to survive. Certain choices are timed, so it's important to think and react fast, although staying silent is also an option that forwards the plot further.

* BigHeroicRun: Happens on certain routes. For example, [[spoiler: Kikka and Bemelle can be seen carrying the injured Guide ''together'' while running for their lives before the bridge sinks.]]