Wednesday 28 August 2013

Game 34: The Colonel's Bequest - The Calm Before the Storm

Laura Bow Journal Entry 6: "Could an hour have gone past without anyone being harmed? Somehow I doubt it! I fear my father wouldn't be very proud of me right now. I just don't seem to be able to put all the pieces of this puzzle together and form any sort of picture. Everyone seems a legitimate suspect, with items found at each death scene pointing to a different guest. Everyone seems to have a motive too, meaning I'm aimlessly wandering around witnessing an entirely family being massacred, powerless to stop it. Come on Laura! Think!!!"


 Act V: Where Laura Collects More Murder Weapons for Safekeeping

It appears things will move much more quickly now (from both playing and blogging points of view). The main reason for this is that there really aren’t all that many guests left to keep track of, but it also helps that I now know the environment pretty well and have asked everyone just about everything I can think of. Act V started a bit differently to the last few, as I had no real evidence to suggest anyone had been murdered. The fact that the progress clock had appeared when I’d found Ethel stumbling around drunk had made it clear to me that she was more than likely the next victim though, so I set out to find her body. It seemed logical to follow the route that she’d been taking in her oblivious state of mind, so that’s exactly what I did. Once I reached the fence at the southern end of the island, I found an item on the ground that hadn’t been there prior. A closer look revealed that it was a rolling pin, which I picked up. “As you pick up the rolling pin you notice a muddy footprint nearby.” Oh great, another footprint! Just as with the last footprint (that I’d found in the billiards room where Gloria was killed), I couldn’t find anything to do with it, but I had a strong sense that I was supposed to.


 "You look at it but decide not to describe it to the player at all. Best to leave him in the dark!"

It seemed to me that the rolling pin was the likely murder weapon, most likely used to make Celie look like the perpetrator. I moved on, dropping in to check out the carriage house on my way. Ethel’s body was there, dropped into the boat with MINNOW written on it! “This is dreadful!! Poor Ethel has been hit over the head and killed!” I searched the body, but this time came up empty handed. There appeared nothing else to do there, so I made my way back to the house to see where the remaining guests were situated. I’d made a habit of starting upstairs, and was surprised when the progress clock appeared in the very first room I entered. Henri and Lillian were having a conversation, but my entering the room had interrupted them. I knew exactly what to do obviously, and made my way into the hidden room that looks upon Henri’s bedroom to spy upon them. Lillian: “Why are you treating me this way, Uncle Henri? Don’t you care how I feel? Don’t I matter to you anymore?” Henri: “You matter to me the same way everyone else does. No more... and no less.” Lillian: “But I don’t understand it! I thought I was special! I thought you cared for me more than for Gloria, or Rudy... or any of the others!” Henri: “You’re right; YOU thought that. You were wrong.”


 The fourth murder finally made Laura realise that something terrible was going on!


...fit into that elevator in your wheelchair! Isn't it too big?"

The two of them continued on in this fashion for a short while, before Lillian stormed out declaring:  “Somebody’s behind this, I just know it! And I intend to find out who it is!!” I questioned Henri, but had the same amount of success I’d had since the game started. None! I checked out the other rooms upstairs, but the only thing of note was the “faint aroma of perfume” I could apparently smell in the other hidden room. Clearly someone other than Henri had been spying on people from there, and since Lillian, Fifi and Celie were the only women left, I figured it most likely to be one of the first two. I climbed the stairs to Fifi’s room on the top level of the house. I was then witness to a rather provocative scene, with Fifi stripping down to nothing and then putting on a white dress. She then sat at her vanity and began doing her makeup. Was she preparing to meet Jeeves? When I’d finished coercing with the maid, I made my way down to the ground floor, deciding to go and see what Polly the parrot had to say for this act. Walking into the parlor brought the progress clock up yet again, and I noticed Clarence sitting by himself having a drink.


Adventure Game Desperation 101: "Pick up faint aroma of perfume"


 Watching a French woman undress made me think I was playing Emmanuelle for a second!


Fifi is definitely getting ready for some action!


I watched, but nothing of note happened. Did this mean that Clarence was going to be the next to die? Even though I thought the game was setting him up as the obvious yet incorrect suspect, I didn’t think it likely that he would be taken out at this stage. I set about asking him lots of questions, hoping that the reason for the trigger might make itself known, but found out little of interest. I therefore turned my attention to Polly, giving her another cracker in return for a repeated comment. “Jeeves! Kiss me again! AWWKK!” Once again this was something I already knew about, as I’d seen Fifi and Jeeves kissing at the end of Act IV. I left the parlor and entered the dining room, stunned to find the progress clock on the screen yet again, ticking over to 11:45! This was all happening too fast, and I wasn’t filling in very many cells on my guest location spreadsheet. Rudy was sitting at the table having a late night meal, with no-one else in sight. As with Clarence, I questioned him about just about everything, and it probably goes without saying that I learnt nothing of note. Now I was confused, as that made two trigger points where nothing was actually happening! They couldn’t both get murdered at the end of the act...could they??!!


 Oh please let Clarence be next!


Rudy did at least confirm that the cigar butt looked like one of Henri's.

I continued my rounds in the house, hoping to mark down where anyone else was at 11:45. Clarence and Rudy were both still in the dining room and parlor respectively, so I went back upstairs to see whether Henri and Fifi were still in their rooms. On entering Henri’s room, I found him gone, and yet the progress clock appeared and moved on to midnight, with the words Act VI below it! I’d managed to find all four trigger points in around twenty minutes! I was at a loss to explain what had happened at each of the triggers too, apart from the first one where Lillian and Henri’s conversation was clearly the focus. Normally I was fairly certain who the next victim was, but Act V seemed to suggest that any of Henri, Rudy or Clarence could be about to lose their life. I looked carefully at Henri’s room to see whether there was evidence of foul play, but all I was told was that “the Colonel’s wheelchair sits empty in the middle of the room.” I decided the best course of action was to restore back to 11:00, and then avoid the trigger points as much as possible while I set out to find where the other guests were at each point in time.


 I'm beginning to think that the Colonel can walk unassisted. Could he be killing his own family members?

This proved pretty uneventful. I found Jeeves in the cellar getting dressed and having a shave. It looked even more likely that Jeeves and Fifi were soon going to be meeting up for a romantic interlude, especially when I noticed the bouquet of flowers on his bed. Jeeves had been unwilling to give me any information during any of the acts, and this one proved no different. “I’m tired. I don’t want to converse.” With Jeeves ticked off the list, I made a beeline for Celie’s shack, noting that she was no longer knitting on the porch. I knocked on her door to find that she was still home, and still didn’t have any time for me. I then paid a visit to all of the outside locations, just in case I found anything at any of them that might give me something new to interact with or think about (I did see the ghost in the cemetery again though). In the end I had to accept that either nothing much occurred during Act V, or that I’d missed something that I simply wasn’t going to find now. It was time to find out who was still in the running for Henry’s fortune! Act VI here I come!


 It's not surprising Fifi loves Jeeves, what with his natural charm and all!


Well it's just good manners to ask how her health is these days!

This is what I make of Act V
  • Lillian began the hour arguing with Henri in his room before leaving for an unknown destination. Henri stayed in his room until 11:45, at which point he left (or was taken)
  • Fifi stayed in her room for the entire hour, getting all dressed up and putting makeup on
  • Clarence stayed in the parlor for the entire hour drinking
  • Jeeves stayed in the cellar for the entire hour, getting dressed and shaving
  • Celie stayed in her shack for the entire hour
  • Rudy stayed in the dining room for the entire hour, eating a late night meal

 If this spirit plays no role in the game, I have to say that it's very strange to include it!

Session Time: 1 hour 00 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 00 minutes

Note Regarding Spoilers and Companion Assist Points: I've written a set of rules regarding spoilers and companion assist points. Please read it here before making any comments that could be considered a spoiler in any way. The short of it is that no points will be given for hints or spoilers given in advance of me requiring one. Please...try not to spoil any part of the game for me...unless I really obviously need the help...or I specifically request assistance. In this instance, I've not made any requests for assistance. Thanks!

24 comments:

  1. (Discussion on Trickster's playthrough; don't read until later! Heavily spoilerific.)

    Fb, ng guvf cbvag vf gurer ab jnl sbe Gevpxfgre gb jva gur znva fhodhrfg?

    Pryvr qbrfa'g yvxr uvz orpnhfr ur qvqa'g svaq ure arpxynpr va gur qbtubhfr. (Naq lbh arrq n obar sbe gung sebz gur vprobk, juvpu vf bar bs gubfr vgrzf gung vf qvssvphyg gb svaq jvgubhg pyvpxvat.)

    Ur unfa'g znqr vg gb gur nggvp orpnhfr ur'f zvffrq gur xrl va gur pnaaba va Uraev'f ebbz, juvpu zrnaf ur zvffrq gur pyhr va guvf sbbgcevag.

    Naq ur'f irel pybfr gb trggvat gur nezbe naq oryy vgrzf, ohg tnir hc gbb rnfvyl.

    V'yy yrg fbzrbar ryfr urer svther bhg ubj gb gryy uvz...

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    Replies
    1. *spoilery reply to spoilery comment*

      Lrc, ur pna'g rira ragre gur pryyne nalzber. Gur qbtubhfr frrzf gb pbagnva gur arpxynpr bayl jura Ornhertneq vf gurer, naq Gevpxfgre nccneragyl jnfgrq gur obar nyernql. Shegurezber, sebz 12:00 ba, Pryvr ershfrf gb yrg lbh va. Fb ur pna'g trg gur ynagrea. Gur zngpurf va Pynerapr'f obql qba'g rira rkvfg vs lbh qba'g nyernql unir gur ynagrea ng gung cbvag!

      Ur pna fgvyy trg va gur nggvp qhevat npg IVV naq gur pybgurf jvyy or onpx gurer, fgnvarq va zhq naq oybbq, naq hayrff V'z zvfgnxra, gur sbbgcevag arire qvfnccrnef. Fb ur pna fgvyy trg gung uvag.

      Vg naablf zr gung ur unfa'g svtherq bhg jung gur zbabpyr vf tbbq sbe. Vg'f n sevpxva' YRAF va n QRGRPGVIR tnzr! Pna vg or fb uneq?!

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    2. Jryy, gb or gbgnyyl snve guvf vf n tnzr gung jnagf lbh gb cynl guebhtu vg ng yrnfg gjvpr.

      Nsgre nyy, vg yrgf lbh xabj ng gur irel raq ubj znal pyhrf lbh zvffrq bhg ba.

      Gur erny dhrfgvba vf, jvyy Gevpxfgre unir rawblrq vg rabhtu gb erfgber gb na rneyvre fnir (orsber ur tnir gur obar gb Ornhertneq gb rneyl va gur xvgpura) naq gel naq svavfu nf n Fhcre Fyrhgu?

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    3. V fhccbfr vg pbzrf qbja gb jurgure Gevpxfgre jbhyq jnag gb or gbyq ur unf fbeg bs qrnq raqrq uvzfrys nf zhpu nf lbh pna va guvf tnzr abj fb ur pna tb onpx naq ercynl vg abj engure guna erqb gur jubyr tnzr. Vs fbzrobql jnagf gb znxr gung qrpvfvba be gryy uvz fhogyl znlor?

      Delete
    4. V UNIRA'G ORRA URER YBAT RABHTU. BAR BS GUR ERTHYNEF FUBHYQ QB VG. :)

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    5. V qba'g guvax ur vf qrnq-raqrq. Ur zvffrq n puhax bs gur shyy tnzvat rkcrevrapr, lrf, ohg V guvax vg'f fgvyy cbffvoyr gb pbzcyrgr gur tnzr.

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    6. Fubeg bs qlvat, lbh pna nyjnlf pbzcyrgr gur tnzr. Rira vs lbh pubbfr gur jebat zheqrere, lbh pna pbzcyrgr gur tnzr. Gur dhrfgvba vf jurgure fbzrbar fubhyq gryy uvz gung ur zvffrq n znwbe fhocybg naq tvir uvz gur bcgvba bs npgvat ba gung.

      Bcgvznyyl, ur'q hfr gur uvagf ng gur raq bs gur tnzr sbe n frpbaq cynlguebhtu. Ohg tvira gur gvzr ur'f fcrag fb sne...

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    7. Jryy, vs vg'f abg n qrnq-raq, jr fubhyqa'g obgure uvz nobhg vg.

      Vg'f abg yvxr ur'yy or ercynlvat guvf tnzr naljnl.

      Gbb znal tnzrf sbe uvz gb gnpxyr nyernql.

      Delete
    8. Reply to the discussion of previous spoiler-filled comments, that itself contains a spoiler, while still calling back to earlier posts of Tricksters.

      "1. Tvivat n pyrneyl znexrq uvag / fcbvyre gung vf abg qverpgyl eryngrq gb n Erdhrfg sbe Nffvfgnapr gb nffvfg Gur Gevpxfgre, pbqrq va EBG13. N ernqre jbhyq bayl qb guvf vs vg'f pyrne gung Gur Gevpxfgre unf uvg n qrnq raq be zvffrq n erdhverq vgrz naq gurersber arrqf nffvfgnapr jvgubhg xabjvat vg."

      Guvf jbhyq pyrneyl vaqvpngr gung vs jr guvax ur vf qrnq-raqrq gung jr fubhyq gryy uvz, ohg pbqr nyy gur qrgnvyf fb ur pna qrpvqr vs ur oryvrirf hf. Jr fubhyq unir nfxrq jura jr ernyvmrq vg jnf cbffvoyr gb qrnq raq barfrys va gur fhocybg jung rknpgyl ur pbafvqrerq gb or qrnq raqvat lbhefrys.

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    9. We can clarify after the game. I don't think it'll hurt.

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  2. Did Celie have any shoes on her feet? Maybe Sweet Brown is the murderer and is masquerading as Celie. How was her health? I bet that whole bronchitis thing was just a ruse!

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  3. Well of course Laura is only now beginning to think that something terrible has happened. The 1920s were full of dinner parties with a couple of murders. Three was a bit of a worry, but you'd need more for something to be wrong. Then at the end of the night everyone would get together and have a laugh in the parlour while all their dirty secrets were told to everyone else in the room and the mischievous killer would be shown for the cad they really were.

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    1. I just don't understand why such murder mysteries always have the murderer staying around the scene.

      It's like the murderer has done it a hundred times before and have no sense of fear/guilt/anxiety about it.

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  4. "I'm beginning to think that the Colonel can walk unassisted."
    That's silly! Of course he can't! He had obviously built himself a single-pilot Jaeger with his vast fortune that allows him to take out his own family one by one as a hobby.

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  5. I think it's time for a competition! I have a few copies of different games available to give away.

    They are:

    1. A New Beginning (kindly donated by Canageek)

    2. Tex Murphy 1 + 2 Collection (uncollected prize)

    3. Quest for Glory 1-5 Collection (uncollected prize)

    If anyone is interested in getting a copy of any of these games, please send me an email telling me why (in fifty words or less) you think you should get it. The best answer for each game will win it! The email address is theadventuregamer@gmail.com and the winners will be selected and announced on Friday the 6th of September.

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  6. There's an interesting new game on GOG called Shelter. I'm not sure just how much of a true adventure game it is, but it sure seems unique.

    "Experience the wild as a mother badger sheltering her cubs from harm. On their journey they get stalked by a bird of prey, encounter perils of the night, river rapids crossings, big forest fires and the looming threat of death by starvation."

    http://www.gog.com/game/shelter

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    Replies
    1. Saw this on Steam as well. Looks pretty neat. I think it is more of a simulation/survival game though.

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  7. 1 Greenlight 1 year anniversary trail sale on Steam:

    Kentucky Route Zero: 50% off. http://store.steampowered.com/app/231200/?snr=1_614_615_greenlightsale_greenlightsale

    Primordia: 66% off. http://store.steampowered.com/app/227000/?snr=1_614_615_greenlightsale_greenlightsale

    Miasmata: http://store.steampowered.com/app/223510/?snr=1_614_615_greenlightsale_greenlightsale

    New Game, so new it isn't finished yet: Dream. Early Access avalible. 20% off early access. http://store.steampowered.com/app/229580/?snr=1_614_615_greenlightsale_greenlightsale

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  8. New Adventure game released on Steam today: Memoria
    http://store.steampowered.com/app/243200/

    Set in the world of The Dark Eye RPG and made by the folks who made The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav, The Whipsered World and Deponia.

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  9. Seems like GamersGate has a Telltale thing going on: http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/offers

    Everything from Sam & Max to Wallace and Gromit to Back to the Future and The Walking Dead, between 50% and 70% off.

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  10. GOG's weekend sale includes Normality and Litil Divil.

    Normality is Accepted for 1996
    Litil Divil isn't on the game list, but is very much an adventure game from 1993.

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  11. Damn there are a lot of sales on.

    Anyway, some band put together an adventure game, and I thought you guys might be interested. I played a bit, but it didn't really catch me, but if you'd heard of the band (Okkervil River) or like adventure games you might want to check it out: http://www.metafilter.com/131467/The-Silver-Gymnasium

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  12. Wow, go nuts: http://www.greenmangaming.com/microid-deals/

    Microïds sale on Greenman Gaming, 50% off on everything from AmerZone to Syberia to the Atlantis series, the Dracula series, Aztec, The Egyptian Prophecy, Journey to the Moon, Post Mortem, Necronomicon, Still Life etc.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Also on sale at GMG (gives a Steam key, no idea how they swing that): The Raven: Legacy of a Master Thief http://www.greenmangaming.com/s/ca/en/pc/games/adventure/raven-legacy-master-thief/#item-s3

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