! ==============================================================================
Menu MenuAbout "About the game";
Option -> About_game "About the game"
with description
"In this case, you'll be exploring a small monastery in
the fourteenth century, and investigating a possible murder.
^^Some games like this focus heavily on difficult puzzles to solve; others
focus on puzzle-free narrative. This game aims in between those two poles.
^^It's difficult to know how difficult puzzles are for different people, or
how long games will take. Many testers used a few hints, though a few used
none. The amount of time they needed was between 3 and 6 hours.
^^This game uses some non-traditional IF commands; use the game command HELP
to see them. You may also find the first item shown by HINTS to be very
helpful; it provides non-spoiler advice for solving the puzzles.
^^If you aren't familiar with monastic terms or locations, you may find the
~Monastic knowledge~ of the HELP section useful."
;
Option -> About_author "About the author"
with description
"Our Lady of Thorns was written by Joel Burton.
^^I'm a teacher and software developer in San Francisco, California. This is
my first attempt at interactive fiction, but I've been playing games like this
since the Infocom games of the 1980s.
^^While I'm the primary author, many others have helped: see the
sections ~Technical information~ and ~Credits~.
^^You can reach me at intfiction.org, where I am
~joelburton~ or at joel@@64joelburton.com."
;
Option -> About_inspiration "Inspirations"
with description
"Like many monastic mystery authors, I was inspired by Umberto Eco's ~The Name
of the Rose~. Both the novel and the movie are excellent and rich in the
texture of monastic life.
^^I also wrote this after enjoying the Cadfael television series (which itself
was based on books by Edith Pargeter/Ellis Peters).
^^While they share the setting of a monastery in a very similar time period,
this wasn't consciously influenced by the earlier IF work ~Vespers~, by Jason
Devlin---only because in the 20 years since I briefly played it, I had
unfortunately forgotten about it. I have since played it through and
enjoyed it.
^^The piece of IF that I thought of the most in creating this was Gareth
Reed's excellent ~Christminster~, a medium-length game rich in setting and
with a very specific characterization of the player character. If you're not
familiar with it and you enjoyed this, you should check it out."
;
Option -> About_dedication "Dedication"
with description
"While there are many humans that provided critical support, I'm dedicating
this to Auden, my feline companion for twenty years. He passed away during
the testing period of this game, and is much missed.";
Option -> About_credits "Credits"
with description
"Like most projects, this was possible only with much help from others.
Handles are usernames on intfiction.org.
^^PLAYTESTERS:
^- Allyson Gray (@@64Ally)
^- Daniel Stelzer (@@64Draconis)
^- Rovarsson (@@64Rovarsson)
^- Robert Eggleston (@@64AERobert)
^- Garry Francis (@@64Warrigal)
^- Andy Galilee (@@64AndyG)
^- Doug Egan (@@64Doug_Egan)
^- Melissa ~Moth~ Higuchi
^- Thomas Mack (@@64tmack)
^- rh (@@64rh)
^- Hellzon (@@64Hellzon)
^- Andrew (@@64andrewj)
^- Deborah (@@64dsherwood)
^- Javier Garza (@@64Jade)
^- Hannah (@@64Hannah31415)
^^TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:
^- Fredrick Ramsberg (@@64fredrik)
^- Daniel Stelzer (@@64Draconis)
^- Andrew (@@64andrewj)
^- Garry Francis (@@64Warrigal)
^- Dannii (@@64Dannii)
^- Giger Kitty (@@64Giger_Kitty)
^- Andrew Plotkin (@@64zarf)
^- Pontus I (@@64pontusi)
^- Tara McGrew (@@64vaporware)
BUG REPORTS:
^- Phil Riley (@@64rileypb)
^- Tabitha (@@64alyshkalia)
";
Option -> About_tech "Technical information"
with description
"The game is written using:
^^- Inform6, primarily authored by Graham Nelson and now managed by David
Kinder.
^^- PunyInform, a replacement library particularly focused on retro
computers, primarily authored by Johan Berntsson and Fredrik Ramsberg.
^^Special thanks to Garry Francis, who supplied some code for better handling
of locking/unlocking doors.";
Option -> About_ai "Statement on AI use"
with description
"The game text, characters, and puzzle ideas were authored by Joel Burton and
without the use of AI.
^^Claude Sonnet 4.5 and 4.6 (both from Anthropic) were used to:
^- check for anachronisms and American-isms in text
^- suggest debugging steps for misbehaving code
^- help create non-game scripts, like my testing/build system";
Option -> About_bugReports "Reporting a bug"
with description
"If you find a bug in the game or would like to tell me about anything
confusing, I'd very much welcome it. I can be reached at
joel+thorns@@64joelburton.com.";
! ==============================================================================
Menu MenuHelp "Help on how to play";
Option -> Help_startHere "Start here"
with description
"Welcome to Our Lady of Thorns!
^^Some commands to try out immediately:
^
^- ABOUT: see background information about the game
^- CREDITS: read the credits for the game
^- HINTS: get hints when you're stuck
^^You may find it useful to look at the section called ~Monastic knowledge~,
which may help you understand some of the vocabulary used in the game.
^^If you're not familiar with this kind of game, use the ABOUT command.
^^Even if you've played other IF games, please see the sections on the special
commands and actions in this game. Some of these are very important.
^^Enjoy!";
Option -> Help_specialCmds "Special commands"
with description
"These are always available and do not use game time:^
^- HINTS: show context-aware hints
^- MAP: show map of area you're in
^- OBJECTS: list objects you've handled
^- PLACES: list places visited
^- EXITS: show exits from location
^- QUOTES ON|OFF: show boxed quotes (defaults to on)
^- WHO: list all monks in game
^- HERE: list monks in the room
^^Time and the passing of is important. You can use:^
^- TIME: get the time from your rough internal clock
^- WAIT UNTIL hh:mm: wait until that time (12 hour clock)
^- WAIT n HOURS|MINUTES: wait that length of time
^^There are other commands that will be revealed during game play.";
Option -> Help_actions "Actions to note"
with description
"Some of these are specific to this game; others may be used in other games,
but will be especially useful:^
^- CLIMB UP thing
^- CONFESS TO person
^- DIG IN thing WITH thing
^- EXTINGUISH source of light
^- FOLLOW brother
^- HIDE BEHIND thing
^- KNEEL ON thing
^- KNOCK ON thing
^- LISTEN
^- LOOK UNDER thing
^- LOOK UP topic IN book
^- PRAY
^- READ thing
^- RING thing
^- SEARCH thing
^- SING
^- SMELL
^- SMELL thing
^- TASTE thing";
#IfDef DEBUG;
Option -> Help_debug "Debugging commands"
with description
"There are others, but the most useful for alpha/beta testers:^
^- GOTO location: jump to any area by name.
^- GONEAR obj: jump to area that contains that object.
^- PURLOIN obj: take this object from wherever it is.
^- SCOPE: list all the objects you can see.
^- TREE: show tree of objects in your room.
^- ROOMS: get a list of all rooms in game.
^^Specific to this game:^
^- SETTIME h m: set time (eg: ~SETTIME 14 15~ sets to 2:15 PM).
^- REALTIME: see current time.
^- SHOWMONKS: see where all the monks are.
^- SUSPICION: see/change your ~suspicion level~
^- EVIDENCE: get total of ~evidence points~ player has
^- _START name: start a scene or service
^- _STOP: stop current scenes/services";
#EndIf;
Menu -> Monastic "Monastic knowledge";
Option -> -> "What is a ~priory~?"
with description
"It's like a monastery, but smaller, and run by a prior, not an abbot. These
are often ~sister priories~ to a nearby monastery."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~prior~?"
with description
"The Prior is the administrator of a priory. They're one of the monks, and
elected by the other monks.
^^Brother Oswald is the prior for Our Lady of Thorns.
^^In a full monastery, a prior will report to the abbot."
;
Option -> -> "What is an ~office~?"
with description
"It's the services monks hold daily, where they chant and pray. There are
eight a day.
^^You should learn what times these happen; this will help you. Fortunately,
there's an in-game way to learn this."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~Quire~?"
with description
"It's an old spelling of ~choir~.
It's also the name of the location where you gather and sing during service."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~Slype~?"
with description
"It's the name for the covered outdoor walkway connecting the Cloister to
other places.
^^In real life, these often connected to an infirmary, just like in this
game."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~Necessarium~?"
with description
"A place for ~necessary~ things---that is, a bathroom."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~lay monk~?"
with description
"This is a monk who hasn't taken full vows. They're a bit like monastic
volunteers. They may attend some offices, but not all."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~choir monk~?"
with description
"This is a monk who has taken full vows. They attend all services, performing
by chanting and singing."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~novice~?"
with description
"Before taking their full vows as a monk and committing to this life,
prospective monks typically undergo a novitiate period, where they perform
most of the duties of a monk, but on a trial basis. You are playing as a
novice in this game."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~Sacristy~?"
with description
"A place in a church where items used during services are kept. This would
include things like altar cloths, candles, and incense."
;
Option -> -> "What is ~Lauds~, ~Prime~, ~Sext~, etc?"
with description
"These are the names of the daily offices. You can find a full list of them
during the game.
^^By the way, different monastic practices can have slightly different names
of the offices, and different times they're held."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~Scriptorium~?"
with description
"This is the room where copying of books is done. The works created can be
simple or very detailed and artistic.
^^Brother Wilfred is a master of detailed illustrations, the sale of which is
a major source of income for the priory."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~Refectory~?"
with description
"The dining hall, where the monks will take their daily meal together."
;
Option -> -> "What is a ~Dorter~?"
with description
"This is a dormitory, where monks sleep. There are two: one for you and the
other ~choir monks~, and another for ~lay monks~, like Remigio."
;
Option -> -> "What is an ~Undercroft~?"
with description
"This is a cellar, where goods are stored.
^^Brother Hugh is the cellarer, so he manages this space."
;
!===============================================================================
Menu HintHint "Hints for during play";
Option Hint_start "Start here" Hints
with description
"- This isn't the kind of game where every object in the room is listed in the
room description. Look around and examine objects carefully. You may also find
it useful to examine ~ordinary~ objects, like doors and tables.
^^- Use other senses. As a novice herbalist, SMELL may be particularly useful.
^^- Not every location or object connects to a puzzle. Some locations and
objects are present because, thematically, they would be in the priory.
^^- Learn the schedule for offices; knowing when services start and stop will
let you use your time efficiently. There are useful commands for waiting for a
longer time than just a minute; see the section on ~Special commands~ in HELP
if you haven't already.
^^- Every location in the priory can be reached in-game, though some take some
effort to access. If you feel stuck and don't know what to do next, try to get
into the unexplored areas on the map.
^^- In some interactive fiction, you're supposed to try to collect any item
you find, in case it's important for a puzzle. This isn't a game like that;
while there are some important things you should take, simply trying to get
everything you can will be burdensome and likely to get you into trouble.
Think of the priory like a real place: you wouldn't just steal everything in
sight for no reason.
^^- Latin phrases appear throughout; some are translated, some are not. While
it's not critical, you may find it helpful to translate some of them. Google
Translate can be useful for this.";
Menu HintGeneral "General";
Option Hint_Real "Is Our Lady of Thorns a real priory?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"Alas, no."
"But I've tried to make it realistic in the architecture and setting."
"There are really priories like this."
;
Option Hint_Loc "Where is the priory located?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"The game doesn't give an exact location."
"But references in it strongly suggest the southeastern end of England, near
France."
;
Option Hint_Founded "When was the priory founded?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"In the twelfth century."
"If you want to learn a more exact date, you'll have to figure it out in the
game."
;
Option Hint_intro "Who are we, and what's our purpose?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"You're a novice monk at the priory of Our Lady of Thorns."
"A dramatic thing happens early in the game that will give you a sense of your
purpose in the game."
"If that hasn't happened yet, explore the priory until that happens."
;
Option Hint_silence "Why can't I talk to the monks?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"Many monasteries have strict vows of silence at many times and places."
"There are many places where you'll never be able to talk to them."
"And some monks are very strict about the vow of silence.",
;
Option Hint_dragon "How can I kill the red dragon?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"He's allergic to cherries."
"You could try THROW CHERRIES AT DRAGON."
"Of course, there are no cherries."
"There's also no dragon."
"Don't read hints for problems you're not facing---they'll spoil the game."
;
Option Hint_contraband "How can I carry things without being caught?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"Firstly, this isn't a game where you should try you take everything. Think of
the priory like a real place, filled with real people: you shouldn't just try
to steal everything, and there can be consequences if you do."
"If you do take things not related to your duties, you'll need to find a way
to hide them."
"There are two containers that will let you carry things without others
noticing."
"One is something you can find in a location Aelred used."
"Another is something you already have."
"Search the Herbarium."
"Or examine your habit."
"In the Herbarium, LOOK UNDER TABLE and GET BASKET."
"Or X HOOD and then you can PUT ___ IN HOOD."
;
Option Hint_stuck "I'm not sure what to do next"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintGeneral,
the_hints
"If you haven't witnessed a death and sat through a meeting, just explore."
"Once you have, the game will give you some hints: examine the body and search
the gardens."
"Once you've done that, you should explore the priory. Every location can be
reached (though some require some effort)."
"There are four main pieces of evidence (each giving 5 points) and some less
critical pieces of evidence. You don't need to find them all to solve the
mystery."
"If you're still stuck, look at the hints for specific locations and that can
give you ideas of what to do there."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
! !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExChurch "Church Areas" HintHint;
Option Hint_chantry "What should I do in the FitzAlan Chantry?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"Wealthy families sometimes bought private chapels where prayers would be said
for them."
"They would also often have the right to be buried in the crypt."
"Or even have a private crypt."
"There is a hidden entrance to their private crypt."
"Have you examined the altar carefully?"
"The gouges might have come from moving the altar."
"Do you know what the family motto means?"
"Have you tried doing anything with the family arms?"
"You might need to get closer to them."
"CLIMB ON ALTAR. PUSH LION. GO DOWN."
"PUSH ALTAR."
;
Option Hint_candle "How can I get a light source?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"Have you seen any candles?"
"You can't take the canonical hour candle in the Night Stairs, though."
"But surely, there must be some in storage?"
"Who manages things like candles?"
"Have you smelled wax anywhere?"
"Have you found a room where items are stored?"
"Go to the Sacristy, south of the Sanctuary, and search carefully."
"You can't steal the candle, though, until you've found an area that is dark."
"Then you can light it from another candle."
"Be careful, though: carrying a candle around in front of other monks will get
you in trouble."
;
Option Hint_Jude "What should I do in the St Jude Chapel?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"Pray for desperate causes, of course."
"It looks like someone has beat you to this."
"What are those red berries?"
"You can also pray here."
"You might want to get on the prayer mat first."
"If you do pray to St Jude, you may get a blessing when you are in a desperate
state."
;
Option Hint_Berries "What are the red berries?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"You've studied herbalism with Brother Aelred; what could you do with them to
try to figure out what they are?"
"Try SMELL BERRIES or TASTE BERRIES."
"Rosehips, hmm? The final stage of decline for a rose.
That might be useful to think on."
;
Option Hint_Mary "What should I do in the Lady Chapel?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"Our Lady is the patroness of the priory."
"This chapel is visited often by the brothers."
"There's nothing specific you need to do here."
;
Option Hint_gate "How can I open the crypt gate?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"With a key, of course."
"Brother Oswald carries that key."
"But those keys are a red herring---you'll never get them from him."
"There must be another way into the crypt."
"You can get a clue by studying the map in the Library."
"There is, in fact, another, private, crypt with a secret entrance."
"Have you encountered a place funded by a long-lost wealthy family?"
"Solve the challenge of the FitzAlan Chantry."
;
Option Hint_belltower "What should I do in the Bell Tower?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"Enjoy the views?"
"The bell is also very handsome."
"And cast by the founder, Brother Gordian."
"And has an inscription on it."
"The chest begs to be opened."
"But there's nothing useful in it."
"This is an area where the public can get to."
"So an outsider could hide something here."
"Do you see anything interesting when examining the leaves?"
"Look under the chest."
;
Option Hint_Nave "What should I do in the Nave?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChurch,
the_hints
"The stained glass is worth looking at."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintUpper "Upper Floor";
Option Hint_dorters "What should I do in the dorters?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintUpper,
the_hints
"You've already slept all you will today."
"But there's plenty to search in these rooms."
"Examine the chests."
;
Option Hint_not_suspicious "Why can't I search the cots and chests?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintUpper,
the_hints
"You're just a novice monk---you can't just pry into things for no reason."
"Once you've established that Aelred's death was suspicious, you can."
"Examine his body closely."
;
Option Hint_Hall "What should I do in the Hall?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintUpper,
the_hints
"It's just a hallway between the dorters."
;
Option Hint_Nec "What should I do in the Necessarium?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintUpper,
the_hints
"You're not feeling a call of nature."
"So there's nothing you need here."
"But if you want to destroy anything, you can throw it down the latrines."
;
! !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExUnderground "Crypt Area";
Option Hint_FACrypt "How can I get out of the FitzAlan Crypt?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExUnderground,
the_hints
"The ladder is too far up to reach."
"It really is---you won't be able to reach it, no matter what you do."
"There is another way out."
"Have you examined everything in the room?"
"That art panel is striking."
"And there's a part of it that is distinctive."
"Examine the frame."
"Once you have, you can PUSH BUTTON."
;
Option Hint_Crypt "What am I supposed to do in the crypt?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExUnderground,
the_hints
"You can learn interesting things about the former priors."
"There's also something important to find."
"Have you looked carefully in the Crypt Vestry?"
"Search the shelves."
"Where might someone hide something here?"
"Those coins are very suspicious, and definitely a clue to the mystery."
;
Option Hint_CryptEscape "How can I get out of the crypt?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExUnderground,
the_hints
"The gate is locked and you don't have a key."
"And you'll never get it. It's guarded closely."
"There are three ways to get out."
"If you got someone else to open the door, you might be able to escape."
"How could you attract attention in the crypt?"
"You could RING BELL or just SHOUT."
"That will bring a Brother to investigate."
"But you don't want to get caught down there."
"So you'll need to find a place to hide."
"There are two places: one in the crypt, and one in another room."
"You could hide in the FitzAlan Crypt, as long as you close the panel."
"Or you could hide behind one of the tombs."
"Examine the tomb of Brother Ezra."
"You could also look him up in the Registrum Fratrum, if you have it."
"You can HIDE BEHIND EZRA'S TOMB."
"If you do the latter, you'll need to close the panel from this room."
"And extinguish your candle."
"Then, once Cuthbert starts searching the vestry, you can escape up."
"BONUS: there's one other way to escape, but it requires some prayer."
"Have you ever tried praying in the St Jude chapel?"
"Specifically, while you're on the prayer mat."
"If so, St Jude could open the gate for you, using up your desperate prayer."
"Go to the Tower Stairs and PRAY."
;
! !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExGardens "Herbarium and gardens";
Option Hint_HangingHerbs "How can I get the herbs hanging in the herbarium?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExGardens,
the_hints
"They're much too far up."
"Really---you won't be able to reach them."
"But you should figure out what they are; that may give you a hint for
elsewhere."
"You can do so by climbing on the table."
;
Option Hint_Herbarium "What should I do in the Herbarium?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExGardens,
the_hints
"There are several things to find."
"Look on the table."
"The Herbal will be a useful reference."
"Two others aren't as easily spotted, but search around."
"You've already looked on top of the table."
"Read that carefully: ~On top of the table~."
"Look under table: that basket will be useful for carrying things."
"And particularly: for carrying things without others seeing them."
"The last thing to search closely is the terracotta pot."
"There may be a clue when you do so for finding something else."
;
Option Hint_Garden "What should I do in the Garden?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExGardens,
the_hints
"You should examine the beds."
"One of them might stand out, if you've managed to identify the herbs hanging
in the Herbarium."
"The basil wasn't hanging---perhaps Aelred was saving it for another purpose?"
"It might be a nice gift for someone."
;
Option Hint_GardenGate "How can I get into the Restricted Garden?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExGardens,
the_hints
"With a key, of course."
"Who managed the restricted garden?"
"Brother Aelred---so the key is somewhere he could control it."
"A possibility is that he hid it somewhere in the Herbarium."
"Where's a place lots of people hide keys outside their homes?"
"Look under the terracotta pot."
"It's not there, but that will give you a clue."
"Brother Aelred might have carried the key with him."
"And therefore it would still be on his body."
;
Option Hint_RestGarden "Why can't I touch the plants in the restricted garden?"
class HintObj,
with in_menu HintExGardens,
the_hints
"They're toxic and harmful to touch."
"But Brother Aelred must have been able to handle them safely."
"What might he have used?"
"Find the gloves."
"They're in the Herbarium."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExInfirmary "Infirmary and its chapel";
Option Hint_Infirmary "What should I do in the infirmary?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExInfirmary,
the_hints
"Mirrors are very rare in monasteries. You can look at yourself."
"That's all it's really good for, though."
"The locked cabinet just begs to be opened."
;
Option Hint_Cabinet "How can I open the locked cabinet?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExInfirmary,
the_hints
"~Historia nostra, fides nostra~ = ~Our history, our faith~"
"What might be something about history that the monks would know?"
"Brother Aelred figured it out years ago, so it couldn't be a recent thing."
"The founding date of the monastery."
"You can discover this in a few ways."
"Buildings often have a cornerstone showing a building date."
"Unfortunately, the priory doesn't have that, exactly."
"But it's carved onto the West Door."
"You'll need to look at the face of the door from the outside to see it."
"Another possibility is you could use the Registrum Fratrum, if you've found
it."
"Do you know who the founder was?"
"There's a statue of him in the Chapter House."
"You can look up Brother Gordian in the registry."
"Either way, you'll learn: 1152."
;
Option Hint_InfirmaryChapel "What should I do in the Infirmary Chapel?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExInfirmary,
the_hints
"Examine the body, of course."
"Just looking at the body in general may not tell everything."
"You may remember some descriptions of him when he was dying."
"Examine his eyes. Those looked 'strange' during the death scene."
"Also, try SMELL AELRED."
"Searching body may also be useful."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExChapterHouse "Chapter House";
Option Hint_ChapterHouse "What should I do in the Chapter House?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExChapterHouse,
the_hints
"During the meeting, just pay attention and don't act up."
"Brother Oswald will invite everyone to pay respects to Brother Aelred in the
Infirmary Chapel. That's a good idea."
"Otherwise, there are two useful things here."
"The panel shows the hours of the offices, which is very useful."
"Knowing these can help you plan when to visit locations, in case you need a
monk there or in case you need a monk not to be there."
"The statue is also worth examining."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExLibrary "Scriptorium and Library";
Option Hint_Scriptorium "What should I do in the Scriptorium?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExLibrary,
the_hints
"It's a pretty room, isn't it? So cosy."
"And warm, given that fireplace."
"Plus, Brother Wilfred's latest work, the breviary, is very nice."
"There's nothing that useful in the Scriptorium itself."
"You really want to get into the Library!"
;
Option Hint_LibraryKey "How can I get into the Library?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExLibrary,
the_hints
"You could use the key, of course."
"But Brother Wilfred guards it jealously."
"Can you distract him?"
"He's old enough that he always seems close to sleep."
"If only you could help him fall asleep."
"There's something in the Restricted Garden that could help."
"You'll have to look it up in the Herbal to know how to use it."
"It's the mandrake root. It is often used to put people under during surgery."
"He won't eat it, though."
"And you don't have a way to make it into a tea."
"But it does emit fumes that can be narcotic."
"Try burning it."
"If you don't like this idea, here's another: what's the fluff on his habit?"
"Orange fur?"
"It's from the cat who wanders the Cloister."
"Brother Wilfred is very fond of her."
"And he'll fall asleep if you bring her to him."
"She might need to be bribed with some food before you can pick her up."
"With either plan, though, he will wake up, so don't spend too much time in
the library."
"Don't forget to return the key and close the door to the Library."
;
Option Hint_Library "What should I do in the Library?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExLibrary,
the_hints
"There's a book that will be very useful to you."
"The Registrum Fratrum."
"There are a few hints there. You can look up monks you learn about."
"The map is worth looking at."
"Read the description carefully and compare it to what your map shows."
"There are two crypts? Examine the crypts."
"A FitzAlan Crypt, hmm? I wonder how you can get to it."
"It'll be below the FitzAlan Chantry, naturally."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExCloister "Cloister";
Option Hint_cloister "What should I do in the Cloister areas?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExCloister,
the_hints
"Mostly, these just connect other areas you want to visit."
"Do notice that interesting door in the northwest part."
"And the gate on the southwest part."
;
Option Hint_garth "What should I do in the Garth?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExCloister,
the_hints
"Stop and smell the grass?"
"You can use it to go across the Cloister efficiently."
"The sundial is also useful."
"It can give you a more accurate sense of time."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExRefectory "Refectory and Kitchen";
Option Hint_Kitchen "What should I do in the Kitchen?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExRefectory,
the_hints
"You can do hardly anything while Martin is here."
"Remigio will let you look around once Martin is gone."
"But there isn't anything you need here."
"But you'd really like to get to the Undercroft below."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExUndercroft "Undercroft";
Option Hint_AccessUndercroft "How can I get into the Undercroft?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExUndercroft,
the_hints
"There are stairs going down from Kitchen."
"And also a door from the South Passage."
"The door, though, only opens from the inside. You won't be able to get in
that way."
"You can't go down from the Kitchen while Brother Martin is in the Kitchen."
"Brother Remigio won't let you, either---unless you convince him."
"His English is poor, but perhaps a gift would do?"
"Given what you may have learned about him, is there anything he might
appreciate?"
"Aelred was growing something as a treat for him."
"Give him the basil from the Garden."
;
Option Hint_Undercroft "What should I do in the Undercroft?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExUndercroft,
the_hints
"Search around, of course."
"The ledger is worth reading."
"The barrels should be tempting."
"One in particular, perhaps, depending on what you've seen so far."
"Opening and searching each one will take a long time. If you've found
anything in the Crypt Vestry, this could give you a clue which one to search."
;
Option Hint_Barrels "The barrels are too deep to search"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExUndercroft,
the_hints
"With your hands, yes."
"Is there something around that might help?"
"Have you examined the table?"
"The stick is long."
"You can DIG IN ___ BARREL WITH STICK or just SEARCH BARREL while holding the
stick."
;
Option Hint_WhichBarrel "What barrel should I search?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExUndercroft,
the_hints
"Have you found some evidence in the Crypt Vestry?"
"If so, examine the sack."
"Burlap stained yellow?"
"A hot take: try the mustard barrel."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExPriorSolar "Prior's Solar";
Option Hint_WhatIsSolar "What is a solar?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExPriorSolar,
the_hints
"A historic name for his private living quarters."
"As the prior, he gets a bit of privacy."
;
Option Hint_SolarDoor "How can I get past the lock?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExPriorSolar,
the_hints
"Have you examined the door?"
"It's a kind of combination lock---you just need to know the symbols to press
and in what order."
"It was designed by Prior Gordian, the founder."
"First, you'll need to read about him from a book in the library."
"He lived by three creeds, which you can discover."
"Does the entry on him suggest places to look?"
"Have you seen a statue of him around?"
"You can find his creed in the stained glass in the Nave, on his statue in the
Chapter House, and on the bell in the tower."
"PUSH CROSS.^PUSH HAMMER.^PUSH SCROLL."
;
Option Hint_PriorGone "How can I get past Oswald to enter the solar?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExPriorSolar,
the_hints
"You can't as long as he's there."
"And he's there whenever an office isn't being held."
"Have you seen something that lists the offices and their times?"
"You can find that in the Chapter House."
"You can check the time on the canonical hour candle or the sundial."
"Or you can listen for the bell."
;
Option Hint_InSolar "What should I do in the Solar?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExPriorSolar,
the_hints
"Look around."
"Particularly, at the desk."
"Did you find the Chronicle?"
"It sounds like valuable art has been disappearing."
;
Option Hint_Drawer "How can I get into the desk drawer?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExPriorSolar,
the_hints
"The drawer doesn't open, but it doesn't have an obvious lock."
"It's another one of the founders' ingenious devices."
"Take a look at the cross on the desk."
"What a nice Latin inscription."
"Try turning the cross."
;
!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu HintExSolving "Solving the mystery" ;
Option Hint_Solving "How do I accuse someone?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExSolving,
the_hints
"You'll need to find enough evidence first."
"Once you do, the game will give you two options to share your findings."
"One is publicly announcing at an office."
"Go to the office and SHOUT to get everyone's attention."
"The other possibility is to talk about your concerns with a friendly
Brother."
"Find Wilfred and CONFESS TO WILFRED.",
;
Option Hint_Evidence "What are the main pieces of evidence?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExSolving,
the_hints
"Are you sure you want to see this? This will ruin the game."
"The henbane decoction."
"The hidden sack of coins."
"The treacherous note."
"The stolen psalter."
"Not as central, but there are other pieces that can help you."
"The letters from Rose."
"The rosehips left at the St Jude altar."
"The Prior's Chronicle, discussing the missing psalter."
;
Option Hint_Solution "What is the full story of the crime?"
class HintObj
with in_menu HintExSolving,
the_hints
"Are you sure you want to see this? This will ruin the game."
"Brother Hugh has a sister, Rose, with a desperately ill son. She's destitute
and couldn't afford care for him. So he stole one of Brother Wilfred's
illuminated manuscripts and found an outside buyer for it.
^^He continues to do this, perhaps for greed and perhaps to help pay for future
help for Rose. Brothers Wilfred and Oswald assumed that Wilfred had misplaced
these works.
^^He communicates with the outside buyer through leaving notes under the chest
in the Bell Tower, since that's a place where outsiders can get to without
anyone being suspicious.
^^He's been hiding his payments in a sack in the Crypt Vestry, since almost no
one ever goes there.
^^Brother Aelred discovered the crime from noticing how stressed Hugh has been
lately and from hearing from Wilfred how Hugh had been 'helping' him in the
Library. He searched and found the letters from Rose and connected this to the
rosehips that Hugh has been leaving on the St Jude altar as a form of prayer
for her.
^^Brother Aelred confronted Hugh. Hugh told Aelred that they could discuss this
more completely the next day, and then he broke into the Infirmary medicine
cabinet and emptied the henbane decoction into a cup.
^^When they met the morning of the game, after Matins, Hugh forced him to drink
the poison."
"There are several possible endings for the game:
^^Early endings:^
^- You die from jumping in a fireplace.
^- You eat something toxic and become too ill to continue the investigation.
^- You are caught with a lit candle.
^- You are caught with contraband too many times.
^- You are repeatedly careless (leaving private area doors open, and so on).
^^Main endings not requiring enough evidence:^
^- You fail to get enough evidence by the end of Compline.
^- You are caught in the Undercroft by Hugh with evidence incriminating him
on you. He kill you.
^^Main endings requiring enough evidence:^
^- You accuse Hugh during a service (the ~Justice~ end)
^- You confess to Wilfred, who offers you a choose between ~Justice~ or
~Mercy~. The Mercy ending allows Hugh to escape and not be executed for his
crime.
^^No ending is a perfect win, of course (this is a tragedy!). But the Mercy
and Justice endings are the best outcomes, especially if you've found the
sack of coins and the stolen psalter, since you can give those to Prior
Oswald and help the priory's dire financial straits."
;