About the Priory

Our Lady of Thorns is a fictional priory (like a monastery, but smaller) located on the coast of England. It's known for its rugged location on the cliffs and the excellence of its illuminated manuscripts, the sale of which make up much of the priory's income. It has 10 full-time members of the community, including you.

The Monks

  • Aelred the Herbalist (manages the medicinal herb gardens)
  • Anselm the Cantor (leads the singing during services)
  • Benedict the Infirmarer (takes care of the sick)
  • Cuthbert the Sacrist (cares for ritual items and ringing of the bell)
  • Hugh the Cellarer (manages supplies and sales)
  • Martin the Kitchener (head of the kitchen)
  • Oswald the Prior (head of the priory)
  • Remigio, a lay brother (works at priory but has not taken full vows)
  • Wilfred the Librarian (manages the Scriptorium and Library)
  • You! the Novice (not yet a full monk, but undergoing that process)

The Offices

The monks of Our Lady of Thorns gather eight times each day to pray and sing the Divine Office. In the game, all offices follow the same format — but if you're curious about the real offices, here's a brief guide:

Matins (during the night): The great night office, and by far the longest. Multiple nocturns of psalms, lessons, and responses. The office of vigilance — keeping watch in darkness for the coming light. Exhausting, and spiritually demanding.

Lauds (at dawn): The office of praise at daybreak, closely linked to Matins. Its psalms celebrate light overcoming darkness, carrying a tone of resurrection and renewal. The name itself means "praises."

Prime (early morning): The opening of the working day. Short and practical in tone, often including the reading of a chapter of the Rule — a daily reminder of the community's identity and obligations.

Terce (late morning): Associated with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which tradition placed at this hour. A brief office marking the transition into the full working morning.

Sext (noon): The midday pause. Short and reflective, with psalms of a penitential character. A moment to stop, reckon with the day so far, and reorient.

None (early afternoon): Quiet and contemplative in tone, with psalms of trust and shelter.

Vespers (evening): The great evening office, second in solemnity only to Matins. Psalms of thanksgiving for the day, and the singing of the Magnificat.

Compline (before sleep): The final office, intimate and protective in character. Very short, always the same psalms — so familiar that monks could pray them in near-darkness. The game ends at the close of Compline.

Deep Background

If you're interested in the authoring process of interactive fiction, you might find these useful (but they are full of spoilers, and will ruin the game)

  • Puzzles: Information about the puzzles
  • Style Guide: My style guide for writing this
  • Plot: Where I sketched out the plot