Death at Woodsbane by Craig Dutton

News of Jerimiah Quill's murder had come as a shock. Not only was he the town of Woodsbane's Magistrate but his body was found with the head cleaved off!

The Devil had danced last night, that's for certain!

Can you, the new magistrate, solve Quill's murder in this gothic mystery?

HINTS can be found here: http://forum.textadventures.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5418

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Review emily22

04 Nov 2025

I really liked this game!

Difficulty: More challenging than it seems; but not impossible.

The layers of the story were interesting. I feel like I would have liked to have "seen" more of the environment and characters, but the vagueness also lets your imagination have fun.

Comment archerqueen08

11 Feb 2018

Ok, the hints say to move the statues but when I try to move them it doesn't let me. Also, I've done everything and Esmire's ghost hasn't appeared yet.

Comment archerqueen08

11 Feb 2018

Nevermind XD I misread push to pull

Comment archerqueen08

11 Feb 2018

I can't pull the bricks as it says in the hints......help?

Review archerqueen08

11 Feb 2018

I haven't even finished the game yet but so far it's been great!

Comment Lilium Mist

18 Jul 2016

I hadn't even been playing for 20 minutes and I already died ^^;; Darn tentacles.... Hopefully this time I will get a better ending!

Comment uiopfish

28 Nov 2015

I can't work out how to get the area near the abbey to show- can anyone help please??

Comment Maddyrose11

02 Nov 2015

Where is jacob??

Comment Sarah19

26 Oct 2015

Hmm, OK stymied for now. There's no basket anywhere. Tried everything in the theatre. There's no way to do anything with the altar and so no silver key. Giving up. :-(

Comment Sarah19

26 Oct 2015

Great game. The short room descriptions and economy of language make it light and easy to move around. Quickly you get frustrated on finding that you cannot rely on just the buttons, you have to type commands from the huge enormous list as well. Still, that is challenging and persevering does get progress. I imagine that some might just give up but I was annoyed enough to continue instead.

I went to the hints table and painstakingly decoded the whole thing because I realised I wasn't going to get anywhere without the hints. But the hints at times are as cryptic as the game.

At present the things that are most puzzling are all the dead ends and places that seem to have no use, like the castle ruins. Clearly some dead ends are places you can get into with the right combination of items.

I have the puppet after using the hints to find the item needed to motivate Gugan to give me the show. Now I'm trying to progress further. Let's hope I can finish without dying!

Comment purcek

14 Aug 2015

Having asked whether there were alternative endings and gotten no reply from Mr Dutton who seems to have been answering our questions as best as he can, I take it there are actually none (alternate endings).

I thank Craig Dutton for making this game which was really fun to play. There is one constructive criticism I would like to make which is as follows: There is this certain mode of playing where the game demands some level of imagination and creative thinking and when you get into that mode, you cannot easily fend off red herrings as useless but instead get paranoid about it thinking they must after all mean something. That text adventure games could use one or two among many number of word combinations to mean the same thing only reinforces this paranoia. Though it might be just I who failed to sense that the witch's cackle and cryptic talk meant something and then thought few more hints could help to create an even smoother gameplay.

Anyhow... I really liked the game and the way the story unfurled. Thanks for letting us have some good time by sharing your games on this site :)

Comment Craig Dutton

14 Aug 2015

Artq99, Have a look here at my HINTS page: http://forum.textadventures.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5418

Comment Artq99

14 Aug 2015

I have no idea how to find the grave. I've got the skull, I've used the piece of paper on the map in the tower but still I don't know how to get to the places indicated by the 'X'. Can anyone help me? The game is great and I will never forgive myself if I don't finish it.

Comment username2

12 Aug 2015

livy - what is in the cellar of the theater?

Comment username2

12 Aug 2015

So.... I've managed to save my progress after several actions (like 20 to be exact) after talking to sad ghost. Now, I can't even leave where I'm at before getting my own head cut off. I'm sort of screwed there, aren't I? I'm currently in the sewers.

Comment Livy1000

08 Aug 2015

Awesome game, but I'm having trouble opening the tower. I saw a hint about looking underground and moving objects to make new paths but I'm still stumped. I think it might be in the cellar of the theater, but I'm pretty sure I reached a dead end as I've tried every action I can think of. Any hints?

Comment bagofrice

31 Jul 2015

Thanks Craig,
Using your hint and some of the comments concerning the lodestone and the rose, I just finished the game!
and what a great game it was: so well crafted and intricate!
Though I must say the ghost's testimony was not really needed as I had it all figured out based on the hints given by Madam Zimm and by Brother Raphael (by process of elimination there is only one character whose name fits the criteria given by both hints and the letter).
I'm excited on starting your next adventure!

Comment Craig Dutton

31 Jul 2015

bagofrice,

If the Puppet Master has put on a show for you then you have access to the pin. Showing the crucifix to the Vampire gives you time to escape the crypt. Use the pin on her to find something useful to break fragile things.

Comment bagofrice

31 Jul 2015

How do you escape the vampire? I feel like the crypt is important because of all the steps needed to get to it but each time I go in and open the coffin, I get killed by the vampire. I've tried throwing the crucifix, wearing it,giving it to her, showing it to her, burning her... nothing works!

Comment purcek

17 Jul 2015

-------------------
*spoilers*

so... I have finished the game without having to do anything with the witch or witch's lifestone, atticus' house, the crows, the lab and the severed head.

*spoilers*
--------------------
is this it or are there any alternative endings?

Comment purcek

17 Jul 2015

Thank you, Raven ;) :) :) i had tried turning it a couple of times to no avail and now it worked the first time!
Happy that I'm now able to resume, thought I was going to quit it ^_^

Comment Raven

14 Jul 2015

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Hi, OBVRJA, I'll try to give you some hints.

First of all, have you solved Jacob's problem? If not, it's the next thing you must do; you'll find the hint for solving this in the vision you had when you gave the coin to Gugan. And you are right about the story on the parchment and Katarina, but in order to help her you'll need to help Jacob first.

Comment OBVRJA

14 Jul 2015

Craig, thank you so much for the game! The work that went into it is evident and appreciated. It is my first text-adventure and I AM HOOKED!
That said, I am relying heavily on these comments for hints while I get used to how this genre of game works. If someone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.

*SPOILERS as I describe my loose ends*

I can't figure out what is the witch's lifestone. I am carrying that creepy puppet and have a hunch that it's magic will come back into play. I also saw mention of a "stone heart" once in these comments but haven't found it. I think this is my primary concern, so I can trigger the double ghost sighting Gretch mentioned.
I found the skull and found the grave and buried the skull but couldn't get poor Quill his head back, so it's still in the grave (which I presume to be the Huntsman's, who is probably more at rest now that his parts are back together).
Atticus confirmed that the necklace is Esmrie's and I am almost certain that based on the letter from "S" and the account from Brother Raphael that her secret admirer was Father Sable. Not sure how that connects to Quill...
I showed the necklace and feather to Madame Zimm and I can't make sense of her clues.
And lastly I can escape Katarina Bloodstorm the vampire with the crucifix but I have a hunch that she needs something to be able to rest. What does the story about the girl and the wizard on the parchment mean? Was Katarina that little girl?

I know this is all beautifully woven together so I think a hint on any front will help me across the board. Thanks!

Comment Raven

14 Jul 2015

*SPOILERS AHEAD* *SPOILERS AHEAD* *SPOILERS AHEAD*

Found it, purcek! All thanks to you! You were right, try again with the sundial. Do it several times if nothing happens first.

Comment purcek

14 Jul 2015

:) come on, guys.

2 people wonder how on earth to find the skull. we could use a little hint. (been waiting for days, haven't tried any further since I asked for some hint the first time - I think I need too much time to really get that one) if the lifestone is a prerequisite to finding it, which we thought it was, then we cannot figure out what to do about it either. personally, I've even tried turning the sundial or doing other things to it, or smashing the monkey, chasing away the crows and and all.

Comment Raven

13 Jul 2015

Hi there, Silversomya.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*
I don't know if it's a little late for a reply, but well, here I am. Just take a look at the objects you have at the moment. Maybe Esmrie's ghost needs some kind of connection with you before appearing! But you've got a handful of items there, so how could you know which one is from Esmrie? Maybe you could wander a bit around Woodsbane looking for a friend or relative of Esmrie that could tell you which object was hers, who knows :)

By the way, I have a question too. The only things I need to do to complete the game are related to the witch's lifestone and the skull. I have no idea on what to do next! I'm pretty sure I've solved everything except this. Where can I find the skull? Is it related to the witch, isn't? Where's her lifestone, then? D:

Any hint would be appreciated!

Comment SILVERSOMYA

05 Jul 2015

Hello. Amazing game! I just feel I'm stuck here without any direction. I have a pearl necklace, a dagger, a copper key, a parchment, a pin, a red rose, a flint, a letter, a silver key, a brass key, a candle (lit), a shovel, a piece of paper, a lodestone, a feather, a crucifix, a casket, a golden key and an iron key. I've dealt with the resident of the crypt, put the skull in the grave (any advice on how to get the severed head?), unlocked all the doors and interacted with everything. I also got two objects read by Madam Zimm. I feel I should now be meeting the ghost of Esmrie but nothing happens when I enter the Merlin Theatre. Any advice on how to proceed?

Comment purcek

24 Jun 2015

I haven't been able to find the skull: Grune doesn't talk, the witch wants her "lifestone" and I cannot find where that is either... I think I've pretty much tried out anything and I guess my problem rather has to do with phrasing the commands because it had happened before with net & tentacles, lodestone&replica, crescent&necklace (didn't make use of comments except for replica but I had already tried put that stone on it by the time saw the exact phrase in the comments)

Plus, I'm obsessed with the sundial. Is it a red herring that you can turn it? Do you select a specific time of day for sthg to happen? Why can I not burn these crows' roost, lol. Do they drop off something when/if they leave?

Tried to take the 2nd monkey head -the one that was stuck- thinking the skull was in it, to no avail.

So any idea where the skull is? Any help would be appreciated :)

Comment Craig Dutton

03 Jun 2015

Dr. May Kill,

Go to the Chamber of Statues in the Tower and turn them and one moves on its axis. Inside the secret study find some paper with a crude map on it. Use it on scale replica map in the map room upstairs. That should give you the location to the grave.

Comment Dr. May Kill

02 Jun 2015

I am utterly flummoxed about the location of the grave. I have opened every door/drawer/gate/etc. and I've talked with everyone and given them any items they were wanting. I have the skull and the ghost is waiting to talk to me. I'm wanting to put the skull in the grave before I jeopardize my life, but can't find it. The map isn't showing me anything and although I was able to get the necklace after talking to the clown, I don't see how that location has anything to do with the grave. I've tried all sorts of actions and am clueless. Help!!!

Comment awebster

29 May 2015

Help! Sorry but I just cannot find the grave. I have the map, I have the necklace, I have a whole bunch of stuff, I've talked to the clown. I know others have figured it out; I am just dumb. Any hints/help appreciated.

Comment Craig Dutton

28 May 2015

DaNiX88,

Have you got the silver key, found inside the basket in the theatre?

Comment DaNiX88

28 May 2015

Hi guys. Craig, another great game! I was actually able to finish most of it without using help from the comments much. Although I admit to scanning the comments for the answer to the casket riddle, I cannot solve it. How do I get the cask open? I've tried using my knife to pry it open, giving it to some people, every key, breaking it with the hammer, throwing it off the tower... What's the secret to it?

Comment jajen2003

29 Apr 2015

Can't use the Copper Key (that says it's for the Courthouse Cell Door) on any of the Courthouse Doors. WTF?

Review sarah4

13 Apr 2015

Hi Craig, I haven't been on this site for a while so I was delighted to return and find not just one, but two, new games from you! This is, as always, an excellent game with many fiendish puzzles, an intriguing and well laid-out setting, interesting characters and a spooky and unsettling storyline. Congratulations on yet another amazing game! I'm off to play your other new game now!

Comment AveryQuill

10 Apr 2015

Thank you so much Craig. :)

I think I was over-complicating my syntax with the cushion in my previous attempts.

I am really enjoying this adventure -- it's got a nice level of detail and the descriptions are really well written.

Comment Craig Dutton

10 Apr 2015

AveryQuill,

1) CUT CUSHION. Find and GIVE COIN TO GUGAN. Vision on! The solution to Jacob the Farmer's problem.

2) SPEAK TO JACOB. The flint and candle are the solution. See Jacob afterwards to get the iron key.

Comment AveryQuill

10 Apr 2015

Not sure if anyone's still commenting on this, but I'm a bit stuck and this is my last resort! I'm having trouble finding the coin for the Puppet Master, I've been looking for ages! Someone posted earlier to cut things open with my dagger, and that the coin is located close to where I'll need it. So I tried cutting open the cushion and the curiosities but nothing's working!

I feel like I need the Puppet show before I can progress to the next point in the game.

Also, I'm not sure how to open the crypt; I've tried unlocking it with all the keys (I have the golden, silver, brass, and copper keys). Tried breaking it and using the lodestone but nothing's worked.

Any hints would be great! I don't mind if you want to give a cryptic answer so as not to spoil the game, any guidance is appreciated. I love this game, but I can't seem to get these two, seemingly simple tasks done. I've had the visions by Madam Zimm, have had a lot of talks with other characters and have a large inventory, I just can't get past these bits.

Comment Ananton

03 Apr 2015

kivi,

To get the puppet, you need to pay the puppet-master, for which there is a coin. Still haven't figured out quite what to do with it yet. The way people have been talking about it, it's likely not a red herring.

Comment Ananton

02 Apr 2015

aeliria,

I'll try to help as much as I can from memory with out giving too much away at the same time. The tower key is, I think, nearby to the tower, only underground. Look everywhere, and move things you don't want to take so that you open up new paths. You should be able to find something to light the candle with nearby as well, only above ground; start by walking past a stage. To get the booze for the surly clown, you will need to get in to the tower and go where a lot of people keep that kind of thing. And for the coin, start cutting things up with your dagger; it's not to far from where you need it.

And if anyone could drop a good hint about how to find the grave and make it show up, it would be much appreciated. I read that the clown tells you where this is, but I can't seem to do anything at that spot but collect an item.

Comment aeliria

02 Apr 2015

I'm stuck.. I found no key to the tower and no light for the room under the trapdoor. None of my items seems to be interesting for Madam Zimm, I found no booze for the clown and I haven't got a gold coin for the puppet master either.. :/ Seems like I'm pretty bad at this game but could someone give me a hint?

Comment Ananton

30 Mar 2015

Almost there! 'Course, I only know this because besides of my mad skill; I got stuck a COUPLE times , and looked at the coments. Problem is, have skull, know what I need to do with it, but can't find grave. People keep talking about making the grave show up, and being shown where it lies, but all I understand is: the paper map showed a possible gravesite in an unclear location which dissapeared from the map sometime around finding the necklace (is that it?) and trying to dig anywhere seems futile. Wrong syntax?(Tried so many combos everywhere.) MAKING IT SHOW UP? Running out of rituals and trying x with y until z. Other than current troubles, Craig, man, love the game.

Comment kivi

21 Mar 2015

Hi,
I'm really stuck here. How am I supposed to get the puppet? I can't figure it out.
Thanks for any help!

Comment senti_87

21 Mar 2015

never mind, found it! Wrong verb usage with the crescent stone. Agree with dme about the rose. Wouldn't have figured it out either without taking a peek at the comments. I even tried stabbing them all, magistrate or not!
Still, a good game if a bit short. I've played almost every single one of your games and found them all immensely enjoyable, challenging and very satisfying once I manage to complete a game, especially the more elaborate ones (which can take days sometimes, as I don't like using hints very often)
Well, here's hoping the wait for your next game isn't too long :)

Comment senti_87

20 Mar 2015

Hi
I'm stuck!!! Thought this was going to be the first of Craig's games I'd finish without any hints as it was going so well, and I almost always get stuck early on in a game. Alas!! Why would I even think it was going to be any different? :)
Reading through some of the comments, there's mention of a necklace. Finding it I guess is the next step to moving forward, but I don' t know where to look for it. Must be somewhere obvious as no one else seems to have had any problems with it. I'm done with the witch's heart, the farmer, vampire and also buried the skull. don't know what to do with the severed head, the crescent stone or where to find the sanctum key. Hope I'm not too late with this but any help would be great. Thanks!

Comment Craig Dutton

25 Feb 2015

stella1,

Actually the crucifix is used to escape the vampire if you didn't bring her to life first.

The rose was a symbol of his love for her (it was with his letter - a token of his love to her) and you destroyed it in front of him. Realizing what he had lost - his true love, it broke him.

Comment stella1

24 Feb 2015

Well well well, looks like the crucifix wasn't needed after all.

dme, I would have never figured to destroy the rose. Give rose, show rose, ask him about rose - made sense, with Sable and with Atticus, given that he has rosebushes outside his house.

Comment Emipop325

24 Feb 2015

Thank you so much for your help Craig! What an ending! We REALLY enjoyed the game so thanks for that too!
Please keep making them :)

Comment dme

24 Feb 2015

Wow. Thank you for the final hint. I would have never, ever in a million years thought to destroy the rose. I tried to give him the rose, show him the rose, etc. It's not that that wasn't easy - that was impossible. I'm curious if anyone would think to do that.

Comment Craig Dutton

24 Feb 2015

Emipop325,

You're nearly there. One last thing to do! The suspects aren't going to get arrested without a fight (ARREST <suspect> and you'll die for your efforts.) If you found what was in the dressing room then you know who Esmrie's unwanted admirer was. He initialled the letter with his actual name. The red rose is the key. Destroy it in front of him and he should break down and give up without a fight.

deboriole,

I don't make my games easy for anyone. The net is in the barge on the river.

Comment deboriole

24 Feb 2015

So much for that. The first place I explored, I found the tentacles. I tried to stab them with my dagger but it was useless and now I'm dead. I just read that a net would have saved me -- which is great if I had one, but I just started the game and I hadn't picked *anything* up yet. Kind of puts a damper on the game when you die within your first dozen moves! Bad luck, I guess. :)

Comment Emipop325

23 Feb 2015

Ok, so I'm in the Temple with everyone, but I can't seem to be able to do anything?! I think I have everything - all the clues about the deaths, the skull is in the grave and I have the crucifix but I just can't seem to be able to do anything?! Whyyyy :( Help please!

Comment Emipop325

23 Feb 2015

Where can I find the human skull?! I've done everything else... And I'm so close to the end.. I can feel it! Please :'(

Comment dme

23 Feb 2015

I am pretty sure there isn't anything left to do. I have spent hours on this thing! I have tried to talk to people repeatedly, shown/given everything I own to everyone, tried every command I can think of, and I still keep getting killed. Not cool!

Comment Emipop325

23 Feb 2015

I'm so stuck, I've been playing for hours with my friend and we can't seem to get any further! Something about a bloody feather and we've found the grave but can't take the head. How do we get into the crypt?
Please help!
D:

Comment Harry Jarvis

23 Feb 2015

At what I feel is the end of the game... Keep getting killed and have no idea what I'm supposed to do, can't find anything else that I feel I need, and reading through previous comments I think I have everything!

Been nearly an hour now! ha!

Comment dme

23 Feb 2015

I have seen the ghost.

The crucifix is in the casket. There is a key, but now I can't remember how you get it. Sorry.

Comment stella1

23 Feb 2015

I see mention of a crucifix - can anyone please advise on how to get it?

dme, have you seen the Esmrie's ghost?

Comment dme

23 Feb 2015

I am so stumped I'm ready to give up. I feel like I've gotten everything, but I don't know what to do with the crucifix or if I need to do something about those crows. HELP?!

Comment stella1

22 Feb 2015

Craig - thanks for the tips!

I would have never have figured out the lodestone and the tower had a connection unless I basically went on a forced "try object on every object" spree. I enjoy crazy puzzles like yours with clever clues, but I wouldn't have the patience to finish a game if that method had to be used. I'm definitely all for adding clue for that puzzle.

Jim Brock, do you think the necklace's owner would have a relative that recognizes it? Try giving it to the relative.

Currently, I'm about to jump the perpetrators, but I seem to be missing an object that I need from the casket and am unable to open it. Can anyone please help?

Thank you!

Comment Craig Dutton

22 Feb 2015

Apologies to all who seem to be having problems with solving this game. Last week I updated the game, so typing HELP will literally help most of you. I changed the last third of the story at the last minute when making it so I should of done better to add more clues.

Speaking to the old crone will tell you what happens when you speak to the ghost of Esmrie and you need to find eight clues to make appear in the theatre.

However, speaking to her triggers the Headless Huntsman's attack on you after a number of moves (30 to be precise.)

To stop this you need to find the huntsman's skull and put it in his grave (find it's location, dig up his coffin, put skull inside it and fill up the grave) to cease the attack and this gives you time to arrest the human culprit.

Forgot the tentacles! He's a red herring to get you killed but the net will save you.

The hardest puzzle I should of given a clue to was: USE LODESTONE ON (replica) TOWER. Magnets, eh?!

aurager, the only way my games will ever be straight-forward is if I just give everybody the walk-through! I make no apologies to induce discombobulation on all of you.

Comment stella1

21 Feb 2015

Thanks dme! Seems like a bunch of us are stuck with the grave.

THROW NET isn't something that would occur to me - I tend to default to USE [X] ON [Y] syntax. Stumped me a bit.

Comment dme

21 Feb 2015

Try throwing the net.

Comment stella1

21 Feb 2015

Oh, by DROP TENTACLES, I meant DROP NET.

Comment stella1

21 Feb 2015

Whenever Craig Dutton comes up with a new game, I'm all "CHALLENGE!"

But so far, I'm stumped - a little help here please?

I've replaced what is needed at the grave, but do I need to take out the head? I've tried.

I've also reached a point where I can't figure out how to open the casket or get into the sanctum door. The tentacles keep killing me - USE NET ON TENTACLES don't work, and neither does DROP TENTACLES.

Thanks in advance!

Comment Jim Brock

21 Feb 2015

I'm in to the sanctum but don't know what the necklace is for.

And I still don't know what to do at the grave.

Help! Clues?

Thanks

Jim

Review auragar

21 Feb 2015

The game is fun but there are extra actions you never use, I won't go into which however, and there are a few areas that aren't necessary or could be cut and reworked to make it more condensed and streamlined. Also there are several things that aren't very clear, and that is the biggest problem with this game it gives you very little direction and leaves you to fend for yourself. It doesn't explain clearly or at all what to do several times and what you have to do is illogical. Otherwise the story overall is interesting and if you have some help it is a fun, short, little romp.

Comment auragar

21 Feb 2015

Ok I figured out what to do. Seriously though this game needs to be more straight forward.

Comment auragar

21 Feb 2015

Ok I got the grave to show up and put the skull in it and now I am stuck with most of you. Again though the way to trigger the grave to show up is really stupid and unintuitive.

Comment auragar

21 Feb 2015

I have the map yes. I know where the grave is now but how do I get it to show up? Do I do something with the map?

Comment dme

21 Feb 2015

Auragar, do you have a map in your hand? Pay close attention to that, as well as the map in the map room.

Comment auragar

21 Feb 2015

Nope clown just tells me to go away.

Comment dme

20 Feb 2015

Success! Take a closer look at the map.

Comment Jim Brock

20 Feb 2015

Auragar, the clown tells you where the grave is.

I'm stuck though. I've put the skull in the grave and filled it in but can't get the severed head. Nothing happens at this point and I don't know what to do next.

I can't get into the sanctum and I don't know what the silver crucifix and the lodestone are for.

Thanks

Jim

Comment auragar

19 Feb 2015

I cannot find the grave. I am able to place the skull in the coffin and the altar but nothing happens, hints as to where the grave is?

Comment auragar

19 Feb 2015

I got the skull. But people are unsure where the grave is I am hearing? Sounds like fun.

Comment auragar

19 Feb 2015

That makes so much sense. I got the necklace now.

Comment auragar

19 Feb 2015

Well I gave the wine to the clown and he told me about a crescent stone. I don't know what to do with it. I tried using the hammer, the shovel, the lodestone, I tried pushing and pulling it and moving it. I tried to smash it. Nothing seems to work. Am I missing the item I need for this? I am so confused as to what to do. D:

Comment auragar

19 Feb 2015

How are you supposed to know to turn the statues? Or in doing so did I do some skipping. I have gotten the stone heart and does the egg do anything or can I break it and is the net only for the tentacles? I keep reading something about a head in here and a grave? What am I supposed to do with that. Is the hammer only for the heart and what is the shovel supposed to dig up? I tried the grave in the church graveyard, and below the shackled skeleton neither worked. What is the win for and the feather. This game gives you very little to go on, I suppose this is normal though?

Comment danaburgerrr

19 Feb 2015

unfortunately I'm stuck myself at the grave, gents...haha

Comment Harry Jarvis

19 Feb 2015

same as dme... I've found the grave, put the skull in it, but do I have to taqke the other head with me? As apparently "I Don't want to touch it"... So how the hell do I get it out! haha

Comment dme

18 Feb 2015

Okay, this time I am seriously stuck. I have found the grave, replaced what I've supposed to, but what now? I have gone back to every place multiple times and nothing! I feel like I should scare off the crows, but they keep coming back. I've been able to get in everywhere but the sanctum. What am I missing?

Comment dme

17 Feb 2015

NM. I looked around again and again and I had just overlooked something really, embarrassingly obvious.

Comment danaburgerrr

17 Feb 2015

dme, did you have the puppet vision which instructed you on what to burn? what have you encountered on your travels so far that matches the description in the vision? also, you will have to find something you can light with the flint before you are able to burn it.

Comment dme

16 Feb 2015

I am completely lost and feel really dumb. I know what I'm supposed to burn, I know that I'm supposed to get to the crypt, but I don't know how. Any hints?

Comment danaburgerrr

11 Feb 2015

Harry Jarvis, it sounds like you need a few more items to progress as I suggested in my last comment (sorry), and you still have the net, which means you haven't been in the sewers, I assume. go back to the theater and search thoroughly in the cellar. that laundry basket is there for a reason.

Comment danaburgerrr

11 Feb 2015

AmberThut, "examine" or "x" is the main search command, and then sometimes you can use "lift" or "move" if there are extra things (this works on tables, paintings, etc), as well as "push," "pull" and "turn" (more for statues, levers and things). but if I remember correctly there isn't much you can do with the body in the cell.

Harry Jarvis, do you remember what the vision said? I promise you the command is so simple you probably skipped right over it, as I did the first and third and fifth times around, haha. to get rid of the Necromancer you have to follow the instructions from the vision. the Fortune Teller will not give you a fortune, per se, but she will give you information if you give her the correct items.

Comment chris todd1

11 Feb 2015

I'm puzzled. I'm at what I assume is the end of the game and I can't find a way to not get killed by the perpetrator. 2 hours now... any hints?

Comment Harry Jarvis

11 Feb 2015

Hi, really enjoying this game so far as it is made extremely well... Although I am stuck!

I've had the vision with the Puppeteer, I have in my inventory: Dagger, Keys (Copper & Silver), Red Rose, Flint, Letter, Parchment, Pin, Puppet & Net.

I have been walking around for a good hour or so now, but seem to just be going back and forth. It would seem I need to get rid of the Necromancer (or at least get the cloth), or get my fortune told at some point.

Any hints would be appreciated... I'm sure it will be something utterly ridiculous that I have missed!

Comment AmberThut

10 Feb 2015

Hi there! I'm excited to get into the game, but it seems that my standard vocabulary is not sufficient, unless I am missing something.

For example, I immediately went into the courthouse and decided to inspect the body. I was unable to come up with a single command which allowed me to receive any information but the original two sentence description of it.

Examine? Search? Inspect?

Is there a set of most commonly used words I could trouble you to help me with? Or am I just unable to examine the body...in a murder mystery?

Comment danaburgerrr

26 Jan 2015

ahhhhhh I can't believe I didn't think of that command for the statues, I must have tried every other one imaginable. thank you for your help!

Comment Craig Dutton

24 Jan 2015

danaburgerrr,

The pool is there for one reason. To kill you off and teach you a lesson by not leaving your dark magic experiments lying around to fester.

The statues (well one of them) can move on its axis (unfortunately, until I update the game then ROTATE doesn't exist as a command, try something similar beginning with T.

You need to get in the locked crypt and protect yourself from the occupant. Help them in some 'life-changing' way and then you'll find the right tool.

Comment danaburgerrr

23 Jan 2015

thanks Craig! so is there anything I can do at that pool or did you set up a nice little red herring for us? :) I'm a little stuck trying to figure out a) how to move the statues and b) how to break the puppet. apparently I don't have the correct tool to do so.

Comment Craig Dutton

22 Jan 2015

danaburgerrr,

No, the net is just for surviving the 'suckers of doom' or whatever he/she likes to call him/herself.

Comment danaburgerrr

22 Jan 2015

do I need the net for anything other than tackling the tentacles in the sewer?

Comment danaburgerrr

21 Jan 2015

help!! my game won't load! every time I click "resume" it just says "failed to load game." help!

Comment danaburgerrr

20 Jan 2015

nevermind, I went back and explored and searched thoroughly and something opened up. just still figuring out commands for things. still enjoying the game very much!

Comment danaburgerrr

20 Jan 2015

loving this game so far! the descriptions are beautiful, and the world is really interesting and diverse. i am stuck though, haha. i've just had the puppet vision and i've obtained the human skull, but i'm having trouble figuring out what to do next. can i have a teeny hint please? :)

Comment Silver

19 Jan 2015

Ah, that explains it... I was playing using a mobile device (which is a bad idea at the best of times) which doesn't show up any of the panes. Or I think you need to access a different page or something.

Comment Craig Dutton

19 Jan 2015

Silver,

I took out the Exits List hoping the Compass Pane on the right, so I thought, would be enough. I guess, not! I've put it back in.

Comment Silver

19 Jan 2015

*from the west not to the west.

Comment Silver

19 Jan 2015

Has this been tested? I travelled west to the graveyard then into the chapel then back out to the graveyard again and realised the graveyard doesn't indicate what directions could be explored. I know it should be obvious that east can be explored given I'd travelled from the west but I hadn't made a mental note of that so was left inputting random directions to find the right one. My first impression is that it hasn't received the attention to detail that the lunastone had in its opening rooms.

Comment Craig Dutton

10 Jan 2015

Odie-da-bosse,

Thanks for the review. The reason why I add locations with nothing happening in them is that I prefer games with a 'realistic' approach to their landscapes when you progress from one 'useful' place to another.

If, for example, in a game you're in a forest (e.g. use sword on troll, here.) You then go east and you're at the entrance to a temple in a snowy mountain range (e.g. unlock the door with the right key, here.) It seems a bit sudden in my view and unrealistic, even if it is a fantasy game.

I would put an intermediate location in between them like a wasteland or the edge of the mountain range before you get to the temple. It feels and looks more logical if it's reflected from the real world.

I used to play Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks when I was younger and the landscape progression was logical and never sudden. I guess I've copied that style of writing in my games and I don't apologize for it!

Review Odie_da_Bossé

10 Jan 2015

Hm. I've never liked the games with a lot of writing, unless they are well written. I actually think that 'The Lunastone' was a lot better (I played it a long while back, but never reviewed it, for I was very inexperienced with the game, I was exploring the site) in terms of it's writing. I didn't quite enjoy the writing here as much. And just too many choices that were near to useless when you go in them. Is there a point to every place you can go?

But I decided to rate this game a five, for there was the sense of professionalism in it, like The Lunastone. It's just this sense that I have when I play a game, that has a lot of content/effort put into it. Very few games are like this, so congrats. You are nearest to one of my favourite game makers on text adventures.

A terrific game. You are probably one of the best makers on the site, and if no one believes me, look at his games. Fantastic work, Craig, await your next game!