Veil of Darkness - A Quagmire of Relief

 By Zenic Reverie

Closest thing I could find to a lightbulb moment.

I’ve been stuck. Restarting, reaching the same point each time with no further insight. It’s difficult to consider options when they’ve virtually been exhausted. Thanks to the comments that alluded to a game mechanic as the key to progress, I believed I was on the right track in my last post. A hidden keyword was the only mechanic that made sense to trigger the plot, as I ruled out combat and items already. I reviewed the manual again front to back and back to front (skipping over the prologue story) to confirm. Breaking free of this cycle required me to review all the dialogue screenshots, and note down even the most mundane word that might act as a hidden word to trigger further dialogue. I tried each on a random NPC and cut ones that didn’t have the pause of a recognized keyword.

Garlic was one of the more humorous reactions, especially from the herbalist.

My problem was that I wasn’t paying enough attention to the dialogue to pick up on these keywords before, even though I knew they existed. Obscuring it further, the keyword I needed was in what I considered a throw away dialogue that furthered character development rather than the plot. It was in the banter between Seth and Sophia that only plays out during the initial conversation with Seth. Searching after this point was fruitless as the keyword was not shown again. Light was the word, and asking Seth caused him to point out that I lacked a pipe. I went to the market, but Joe had none; however, he offered a pouch of tobacco when I asked about it. I bought that and a torch, hoping it’d come in handy later as they were a couple other words I found. I forget who, but someone suggested Kirill had a collection of pipes, and he graciously parted with one. Seth was too busy to light it himself, but handed me a match as he turned to another customer.

It’s funny when logic doesn’t play a part in adventure games, but also nice it doesn’t let me softlock.

Getting the match caused everything to fall into place. I knew that next I had to burn the tree for the ashes, get the goblet, and then resurrect the poor cursed fool with the help of the Nameless One. I tried to do it with the torch, but it was the oil-filled lamp that was required. Maybe it burns better.

Engatz stares blankly while the cursed tree-man burns alive.

I collected the ashes, but still required the chalice, which I knew I needed some of Kirill’s wine to even entertain getting my hands on it. I returned to the bar to find the patrons discussing Eduard’s actions before his murder. He had delivered a package to some gypsy camp, which now appeared as a location on my map. Kairn’s castle also appeared as it was also mentioned as a location near the camp. The gypsies at the camp are Carolus, a wood carver that offered to carve special tools out of unique wood; Maria, a fortune teller who provided Eduard’s package and told Engatz’s fortune; and a healer that restored Engatz’s health completely for no charge. The healer also offered to make a potion to cure the madness if we could gather all the ingredients: fennel, betony, lock of hair, and a wide belly jar painted with a face. Eduard’s package contained a key, which unlocked his basement revealing a hidden passage connecting to Kirill’s wine cellar through some catacombs.

The world map turns into a mini-map in dungeons.

Aside from bats and a locked door, the catacombs were uneventful. The wine cellar had a fine vintage and a key that unlocked the door back into Kirill’s mansion. Seth sensed the wine as soon as I spoke to him, and quickly poured a glass for himself and the goblet for us. Ignoring his objections we “borrowed” the cup for more than just the drink. As I left, I overheard the patrons talk of another town to the northeast. With all items collected, I returned to the monastery to raise the poor cursed soul I’d turned to ash.

Wait a minute, did this monk just confess to raising zombies?

As I suspected, the previously cursed man wasn’t too happy about being burned alive. Even so, he proudly proclaimed the plane was dragged to the swamp, and there he hoped it stayed stuck beyond our reach. At least he was alive again. Maybe one day he’d forgive our method. The monk wanted to keep the chalice as it was an artifact of the brotherhood. After some consideration, conferring with his dead brothers, he reluctantly returned it for 3 silver. Money hasn’t been an issue so far, but I’m starting to reach the end of my funds. Feeling some obligation to return the goblet to Seth, I paid the monk and did so. Before heading out, I stopped by the candlemaker’s house to pick up Natalia’s lock of hair from Anton and purchased a candle.

It’s been some time, but I’m finally making some progress on that prophecy again.

The other village seemed like a good destination next, as the swamp sounded rather dangerous. The first house I stumbled into had a catatonic girl named Christiana. Her caretaker explained how she’s been in a trance since the death of her betrothed, Kirill’s son. Strangely, she couldn’t remember his name. The next house was the silversmith’s, Erasmus. He informed us that he can forge anything from silver or plate items in silver. Not everyone can afford such things as a silver weapon. Just the other day the gravedigger, Kregorh, asked for one, but balked at the 15 coin price. Even I couldn’t afford that at my richest. I couldn’t think of anything to plate, so I moved on to the next residence. Inside was an old woman and her son.

I purchased a talisman off him and he pointed me to another location, the Crossroads, where a witch might know more about it.

Constatine, a self proclaimed historian, shared much on Nikolae and his sons. While historic records say Nikolae was killed by a thief, Constantine believed it was Kairn’s own hand that drove a dagger into his father’s back. Aleksander, a great warrior, met his match when he dueled with a stranger. His head was removed with his own rapier and then mounted in the tavern now known as “The Severed Head.” Feodor, terribly vain, abused his high position and his life ended in a dark alley. He once minted coins with his face on them without his father’s knowledge, and met his father’s ire upon discovery who ordered the coins’ destruction though some may still exist. Nathan loved to hunt and had a cottage in the Dark Forest. He died to some beast in the woods. Michael, the frailest of the siblings, pursued scholarly hobbies, but died of an unknown disease before his passions were fulfilled. Khristian, a fine minstrel, disappeared. No further information was given, but maybe I could learn more from Jascha who seemed to have met Khristian before. Peter, the youngest, is believed to have met his end near Blackwater lake as his horse was found on the shore. Will-o-wisps inhabit the area, and no one dares go near since the ferryman drowned. There is rumored to be an island in the center of the lake.

A veritable font of knowledge, Constatine also tells me where to find some betony.

Next door I met with the magistrate, Aleksai, after I spoke with his butler (who didn’t have much to say at this time). Aleksai governs by the will of Kairn, and he advised me to watch that I don’t cross either or I’ll end up like the (alleged) murderer Ambrose. If I wanted to be of some use, and it’d be ideal to enter his good graces, I should consider hunting a werewolf. Normally such creatures are allowed to roam free, but this particular one has been more troublesome for both of them. The reward: a purse full of coins.

Well that’s convenient, let me just go around to everyone shouting werewolf at them.

Aleksai also had much to say about the murder of Eduard. He suggested that even if Ambrose wasn’t the murderer that he had to hold someone responsible. If I could bring three pieces of evidence that pointed to someone else, then they would hang next to Ambrose. I presented the scrap of cloth (possibly from a shirt), but didn’t have anything more than that. I suppose I should search for more soon. My last stop in this village was to the cemetery caretaker.

Maybe you should plan ahead and dig a grave for yourself!

Kregorh is a man that loves his work. He sees his task as a way to bring a final peace to the lives lost. Unfortunately, not many burials occur even though much death befalls those of the valley. Not just undeath plaguing many, there are more that go missing or are eaten by beasts. It was so slow in fact that he joked about taking things into his own hands to create some work, or was it a joke? After pointing out which direction the cemetery lay, he made mention of the book of souls: A book where he records the names of all that died along with how it occurred. I asked to take a peek, but he wouldn’t have any of that. I made my way to the cemetery where I found some betony and very strong skeletons.

Two skeletons made short work of me in fair combat.

I needed to take another approach to fighting these enemies.

I’m not sure who’s head Engatz gets mounted next to here.

I’ll have a bit more to say about combat, next post. Hopefully to be done sooner than a year.

Session Time: 4h 00m
Game Time: 6h 45m