Phase Three

Stairwell Return Phase

A return phase that sends keyholders toward their original stairwell while teleporting keyless squads into ambush positions at those exits.

Story so far

Phase three begins when the date turns to December 26. Every keyholder and their squad returns to a random position within the original phase-one area, then travels toward the starting stairwell and uses the phase-two key.

Squads without keys receive at least two transfer choices, each placing them directly at a keyholder's stairwell door. Their survival path is to kill the arriving keyholder before exit and steal the key.

Multiple keyless squads may be assigned to the same exit, creating desperate multi-party ambushes. Universal key success would prevent the setup, but Cascadia presents that outcome as unrealistic.

Carl predicts the production will use the mechanic to manufacture devastating crawler-on-crawler battles.

Appearance

A stairwell door surrounded by desperate keyless squads as a keyholder team approaches from a random map point.

Role

Phase three weaponizes failed objectives by making crawlers block and kill successful squads.

Relationships

Phase Two — Its key result determines each squad's role.

Carl — He searches for a way to avoid the forced battle.

Princess Donut — She is distressed by the prospect of killing other crawlers.

Bone Key Benefit — Carl considers it a possible emergency alternative.

Sources — 1 recorded facts, by chapter

Chapter 29

A return phase that sends keyholders toward their original stairwell while teleporting keyless squads into ambush positions at those exits.