Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084586 ID: 681cb5
File 170895564845.png - (92.30KB , 700x550 , 2.png )

Ah, welcome back, jacinthe des bois, to my humble boutique. Here to hear the ending of my little tale?
It will be a pleasure to continue narrate this story of hardship, doom and love to you, Madam. But first, let us look back to what once was. Renard ruse, let us see what the cards have to say, about the past, present and future, yes?

After shuffling the deck he pulls the top card from it and places it in front of you. It’s the Queen of Wands.

Our story starts with Belle Knott, a vixen who’s both confident and determined, yet still passionate and optimistic. Six months ago she married the love of her life and has since then lived happy and fulfilling life. Yet, just a few weeks ago, her dear little hubby suddenly inherited an old mansion in the forgotten town of Crowmoor, flipping her whole life upside down. Even if the move was sudden and stressful, there were worse things to come. As they arrived, it didn’t take long for Belle to find herself in the middle of a large conspiracy involving cults, murder, abominations, eternal life and unfathomable beings from beyond this world. But the fox doesn’t go out without a fight… and she is willing to stand strong, even against the very end of reality.

Bernard place the next card on the table, the reversed King of Swords.

What was once the sun of her life has now become a ruthless and oppressive monster. Chris Knott was once a loving husband, but now something else has taken his form. It begun before they even arrived to Crowmoor, as he was oddly excited to move to the mansion he had inherited as fast as possible. After that, he has slowly losing himself, as another entity has gained more and more control. Is there even a Chris left to save? After all, the devil himself, the Bövel from the old world, have come to claim what he deems is his. The very soul of Chris. Only a promise made as an act of true love can save him now…

Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084587 ID: 681cb5
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Now, let us leave the past and focus on the present…

The next card the catfish pulls is the Five of Wands.

Conflict. Aggression. A great struggle. There will be hardships, pain and even loss, but you cannot give up, Belle. Stand your ground and fight, for us all. It might look bleak but remember that you are not alone. Father Elijah Throrn, the turtle priest. Sophia Corbin, the retired crow doctor. Perry O’mally, the hound pub owner. Bernard Samson, the catfish owner of this fine establishment and finally Josephine Rebis, the bat anthropologist. They might help you… but beware… they can’t all be trusted. One or more of your friends are not what they say... and might spell your doom if you aren’t careful.

The fourth card is the Tower.

Disaster! Destruction! The chaos has begun and the very world trembles before it! Now is the time for upheaval of the old world… so that a new, horrifying one will take its place. The ritual has begun… and only you, Belle, can stop it. They eye has seen this world… and it is coming. Do not give in to despair, no matter what.

Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084588 ID: 681cb5
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And finally, the future.

The next card depicts the Ace of Pentacles.

What is this? An opportunity! A resource that will aid you! Do not let it slip between your finger, mon ami, as you will only get this one chance. Watch carefully, and remember what you’ve learned… and the opportunity will present itself.

He pulls the final card, the six of cups.

Ah yes, memories. The sentimental ideas of what we have lived through shape what we are, does it not? Remember who you are, Belle. Remember who Chris is. That is the only way to save him, to save you both. May your promise to him never be broken. And that, as they say, is that… the end of this reading.

Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084589 ID: 681cb5
File 170895567855.png - (91.85KB , 700x550 , 5.png )

As the catfish is about to put the deck of cards away, a final card falls from it, landing right on top of the cards already laying on the table. A red eye glares right through you as Judgment has come.

Ah, interesting. There is one final event, one final show. Reckoning has come and it is time for you to be judged for your deeds. Your actions across these days will come to fruition, and I can only hope you have done what needs to be done. Who will live and who will die? You cannot save them all, chérie, do remember that. The eye will see you… and decide your fate. May god have mercy on your soul.

But now, before we continue our story, do you have any questions, jacinthe des bois? Otherwise, feel free to wake up at any time, Belle. Whenever you are ready… to face the coming day.

>>1084589

Did you know the tarot deck is basically a poker deck with fancy illustrations? When they play poker, they discard all the major arcana except for "The Fool" who becomes "The Joker."

Why me?

Anything more you can tell us about who to trust or how to save Chris?
Once all is said and done, will we be able to sleep soundly, if we survive?

I know it's just an altered Rider-Waite deck with added references, but I love the look of this deck.

Can you tell us anything of the beast or it's lair?

How do you know so much? Why do you disappear sometimes, like when Edward was looking to recover his medallion?
What will become of you if we fail?

And more importantly, do you have any advicebon how to continue our search?

Can you play us a song to sooth our uneasiness?

Kaktus 2024/03/04(Mon)16:18 No. 1085430 ID: 681cb5
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>Did you know the tarot deck is basically a poker deck with fancy illustrations?
…no, it’s the other way around. A poker deck is just a tarot deck with the major arcana removed. Now, do you have any real questions, chérie?

>Why me?
Why anyone? You were simply in the wrong place at the right time, nothing more.
>Can you tell us anything of the beast or its lair?
While part of its soul is still that of a child, do not try and befriend it Belle. It being has been tainted by evil… and it will not hesitate to kill you if given the chance.
>Do you have any advice on how to continue our search?
Follow that tracks of those that worship the eye. Find out what they are doing.

>Anything more you can tell us about who to trust or how to save Chris?
Sadly, mon ami, I cannot.
>Will we be able to sleep soundly, if we survive?
Maybe, maybe not. Will you?
>How do you know so much? Why do you disappear sometimes, like when Edward was looking to recover his medallion?
There are a few provisos, a couple of quid pro quos, that I have to adhere to, chérie. Though, I am sad that I wasn’t able to say goodbye properly before I left, Belle.
>Can you play us a song to sooth our uneasiness?
I would… but it’s time for you to wake up… and smell the ashes…

Looking down at the cards one last time, you spot a new one lying on top of the others. The Lovers. Where did it come from?

A crossroad is up ahead, jacinthe des bois… which path will you choose?

Kaktus 2024/03/04(Mon)16:18 No. 1085431 ID: 681cb5
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Something cold and hard is pressing against your cheek, pulling you struggling mind out from your dream. For a moment or two, you just stare into nothingness… and then after blinking a few times, you-

Kaktus 2024/03/04(Mon)16:18 No. 1085432 ID: 681cb5
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IS THAT AN AXE!? HOW- WHAT- WHY!?

Shaking your head, your try and compose yourself. What happened last night? You remember eating dinner and then… falling asleep? You weren’t even tired… odd…

You can hear Chris mutter something under his breath in the foyer, something you can barely hear…

Chris: “...vel…”

Is he talking to the statue?

Yeah there's only one person here who could have left that axe there, Chris has been compromised.
Before he sees that you're awake, locate and secure the shotgun.

Grab axe, go find the shotgun while Chris is busy. Leave him here to... distract the spirits.
And himself.

> Now, do you have any real questions, chérie?

No I love you Bernard ♥

>>1085432

Seems like Bövel Chris used that axe to chop off your head. Except for some reason he couldn't, and left it stuck in the chair instead. Hm... seems Chris is having a conversation with Bövel right now.

The food was drugged, you almost got killed by Bovel. I think you'd better go get the shotgun. I'd suggest taking the axe too but you'll make noise pulling it off the chair and Chris will notice. Bovel might win the current struggle if he gets distracted. But hey, now you know Chris is really in there somewhere, and he's strong enough to fight back.

Hmm, if you trapped Chris in a room, would it prevent the ritual? Maybe... but the cultists would come up here to free him, and you can't exactly fight all of them in a siege as they arrive to reclaim their leader. (also it would really throw the plot off the rails)

Oh and don't threaten Chris/Bovel with the shotgun, you're just taking it to keep it out of his hands.

>>1085461
Also I doubt he'd keep a loaded shotgun in reach.

Kaktus 2024/03/09(Sat)13:48 No. 1085924 ID: 681cb5
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>I love you Bernard ♥
Huh? What does Bernard have to do with anything? You know, you really should visit his shop again… he might know more about what’s going on.
>The food was drugged, you almost got killed by Bövel. But hey, now you know Chris is really in there somewhere, and he's strong enough to fight back.
Ugh, no wonder you have a headache… and you’re pretty sure it’s the other way around. Bövel is the one that’s in Chris… and now you know he can influence him enough to try and attack you. Dammit… you better be alright, hubby.

>Grab axe.
You add the axe to your pocket. (How does all this trash even fit your pockets!?)
>Before he sees that you're awake, locate and secure the shotgun
Shotgun? The only shotgun you’ve seen so far is the one O’mally the pub owner has under the counter. Do you mean the hunting rifle Chris used yesterday? The good news is that the rifle is easy to find… the bad news is that the reason why you found it is because Chris still has it with him. Maybe you can-

Chris: “Stop sneaking around, Bluebell.” the rabbits tired voice startles you, “I’ve heard you fumbling around ever since you woke up.”
Belle: “Oh, I wasn’t…” with hesitation, you ask, “Are you alright?”
Chris: “No…” he rubs his temple, “I have a killer headache. What did we even drink yesterday?” the rabbit shakes his head, “I remember making dinner… and then… nothing?”
Belle: “…something took over your body, Sunflower.” an annoyance visibly washes over Chris body as you talk, “And drugged our food.”
Chris: “Can you stop it with that mumbo jumbo.” he snaps, “Ghost doesn’t exist… and even if they did, why would one try and drug us? That’s just absurd.”
Belle: “Chris, you’re in-”
Chris: “Do you ever shut up?” for the first time in this conversation, he turns his head to look at you… and just for a moment, the thing staring at you is not Chris, but a creature of pure hate and madness. “Ugh, sorry, I didn’t…” his voice cracks slightly, “Just leave me alone, love. I just need some time…”
Belle: “Okay…”
Chris: “Thank you.”

It’s clear that he’s waiting for something, but what? Not to mention, he’s also keeping tabs on you, so that he knows where you are. What is he up too? If only there was a way to spy on him without him noticing…

[Current objectives:]
What is Chris doing?
What’s up with the strange flute? Music is important for the rituals?
Use the lens with the telescope… and learn the true name of the red star.
Find the tower of light and figure out what 13b650 means.
Find a house of flesh and gore, where the beast sleeps, and retrieve something important from there.
Where is the slaughterhouse?
Find a way to remove the mist.
Stop the blessed event and defeat Bövel.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Strange Lens
Note with the Symbol of Graves
Music Box
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Wallet
Wood Chopping Axe
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey

>>1085924
You can use the spy holes in the walls, if you want to spy on him.
You know, you could just ask to borrow the rifle.

Trade axe for gun? because its time to go beast hunting.

Bernard seems to be pretty knowledgeable. Maybe if we show him the flute he might be able to play us a tune with it.

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:13 No. 1086347 ID: 681cb5
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>Bernard seems to be pretty knowledgeable. Maybe if we show him the flute he might be able to play us a tune with it.
Maybe… but even if he can’t, you still have a lot of questions for him. You should go find his shop later.

>You know, you could just ask to borrow the rifle.
Chris: “What?” he seems genuine confused for a moment, before he looks down at the rifle he’s currently holding, “No, I need it. Go away.”
Belle: “What if I trade my axe for it?” you ask him, holding up the axe in question, “It’s a very fin-”
Chris: “Just leave me alone, Belle.” the rabbit mutters, rubbing his head, “I’m really not in the mood right now.”
Belle: “But-”
Chris: “I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP AND LEAVE!” he suddenly turns around and snarls, showing of his wicked teeth, “Is that so hard to understand!?”
Belle: “…”

>You can use the spy holes in the walls, if you want to spy on him.
As you make your way to the stairs Chris moves into gallery, trying his best to keep his distance... yet, you can feel his eyes burning into your neck as you ascent to the second floor. Moving quickly, you enter the library and open the secret passage there, the one that leads into the impossible corridor that open up the observatory.

It takes a few tries to find the right peepholes, as your husband is moving around down there, but you finally manage to spot him in the living room. Walking up to the fireplace, he raises his gaze and looks right at you, smiling… can he see you!?

But as he fixes his hair and start looking even smugger, you realize he’s staring at the painting of Bövel, the one you’re currently looking out from.

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:13 No. 1086348 ID: 681cb5
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You follow his path as he move around the house, first to the dining room, then the kitchen before finally going down the stairs to the basement.

There, the rabbit stands in front of the wine rack with the false bottles, taking his time to look around just to make sure you weren’t following him.

Grabbing one of the bottles, he twist it counter-clockwise while pushing it in, making it emit a loud click as it slide into place. You can’t see which bottles he grabs afterwards, but you can hear the same click four more times…

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:13 No. 1086349 ID: 681cb5
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And then, the wine racks slides away, revealing a hidden entrance behind it. A gaping maw that leads into pitch darkness, its breath can be heard as the wind flows through it, making it howl like a beast…

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:14 No. 1086350 ID: 681cb5
File 171036804188.png - (85.62KB , 700x550 , 13.png )

And then the wine rack slide back into place, as if it never moved in the first place.

…huh.

>>1086350
Well we basically know the combination. It's the descendants, in order.

You may know the combination but... do you really want to go down there? It felt like when you went to the observatory and entered something hungry and alive.

>>1086355
Nothing ventured...

Set up a trap. Open the cellar, but spread some tar and tacks so when he returns he'll be incapacitated for a while.

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)15:05 No. 1086534 ID: 681cb5
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>Do you really want to go down there? It felt like when you went to the observatory and entered something hungry and alive.
…you need to save Chris, even if it means braving the very jaws of hell itself.

>Set up a trap. Open the cellar, but spread some tar and tacks so when he returns he'll be incapacitated for a while.
Well, you don’t have any tar or tacks, but you do find a bottle of grease. Pouring it on some of the steps, you make it rather hard to ascend the stairs without slipping if you don’t have as long legs as you have. Hopefully he won’t hurt himself to bad…

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)15:05 No. 1086535 ID: 681cb5
File 171062672542.png - (47.42KB , 700x550 , 15.png )

Making your way to the wine rack, you find it sitting there like last time, taunting you. Each bottle are stamped with a letter, from A to Z… so there must be a code here, surely?

>Well we basically know the combination. It's the descendants, in order.
Hmm… he only pulled five bottles, so it can’t be any of the longer names… wait, do you mean just the first letter? …what were their names again? And in which order where they born? Gah, you better go back up and check-

Suddenly, you hear the front door slam open, followed the footsteps of at least a dozen people scurrying inside.

“FIND HER!” someone snarls with a deep and guttural voice, more fitting a beast than a man, “THE MASTER COMMANDS IT!” And with that, you hear people start moving around the house above you. Most of them are going to the second floor, but there is a few that are walking around in the halls right above you.

It’s just a matter of time before they find you down here… you better get moving.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Strange Lens
Note with the Symbol of Graves
Music Box
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Wallet
Wood Chopping Axe
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey
Bottle of Grease

Well, if each bottle is for one letter, he pulled out five bottles, and it's the name of a Kråkholme. Should be easy enough.
More than likely it's Bövel, but there's a chance it could be Björn as well. Or maybe it's just magic and goes with the name of the current owner and it's Chris.

I'd say try Bövel first, then Björn, and if nothing else works, Chris.

The purity of cold fear has granted you clarity.

Bövel
Marius
Sigmund
Emerik
Dragomir

5 letters

This guy is some special kind of narcissist, making puzzles out of his past names all the time.

Kaktus 2024/03/23(Sat)15:19 No. 1086976 ID: 681cb5
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>Likely it's Bövel, but there's a chance it could be Björn as well. Or maybe it's just magic and goes with the name of the current owner and it's Chris.
Hmm, no… that strange O letter doesn’t exist here… the one with dots above it. And it can’t be Chris, as you’re sure you saw him pull this bottle that’s marked B. Hmm… maybe if you spell it with just an O? Or maybe…

>The purity of cold fear has granted you clarity.
…B for Bövel… M for Marius, his grandson… S for Sigmund, the grandson of Marius… E for Emerik, the grandson of Sigmund… and finally D for Dragomir, the grandson of Emerik. Each of the inbred children that Bövel has possessed over the years. Every last puppet he has consumed for his own use… and now, Chris is next.

As you push in the final bottle marked D, the wine rack starts to move to reveal the secret passage behind it. A narrow set of stairs descending into the deepest pits of this wicked place, carved out from the very limestone that the town rest upon. Is this a natural cave or… is manmade? It seems to smooth for a drill… and to uneven… but surely nature wouldn’t create something like this?

Your train of thought is derailed as you hear people start shouting and moving above you, making it clear they heard the wine rack move as well. You have no choice but to venture on, to run from these lunatics. As you start to make your way down the steps, the door behind you closes… and you can hear someone tumble down the stairs and swearing in a familiar voice… but you can’t place it. With a soft thud, your way out from this tomb has closed off, leaving you alone with your lantern in the dark.

Kaktus 2024/03/23(Sat)15:19 No. 1086977 ID: 681cb5
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At the bottom of the stairs, the tunnel widens into a colossal cavern. Teeth of limestone jets out from the floor and ceiling, making the already claustrophobic stone halls even more hostile. Across the walls several maws opens up, tempting you to go deeper and deeper into the depths of these limestone catacombs. The air is stale and hard to breathe, while the light from your lantern barely managed to travel a few meters before being consumed by the endless darkness. Somewhere, deep in these twisted corridors, something drips slowly into a pool, the sound echoing through the hallow halls breaking the suffocating silence.

There are no sign of Chris… nor is there any indication that the ones above are following you down here. They probably don’t know about these secret passages… Bövel is not one to share his secret, you feel like.

>This guy is some special kind of narcissist, making puzzles out of his past names all the time.
At least he didn’t build a bunch of statues in his likeness or anything… you really wouldn’t be able to handle more than that horrid painting upstairs.

…a feeling of dread smothers you, as you feel that death waits behind every corner down here. You better be careful.

Maybe it's the burrow of some giant beast. You have seven passages, seven ways to go, but look! Each passage has something carved into the stone beside it, some sort of symbol. That should tell you where to go, and what leads to danger. What are the significance of these symbols? You must have seen them before. Think!

The middle bottom passage has the burial ground mark next to it.

Also worth checking;
The blood trail over there, is it fresh?
Is there light coming from the furthest passage?

>>1086977
Do the symbols look familiar?

Kaktus 2024/04/08(Mon)14:42 No. 1088280 ID: 681cb5
File 171261255651.png - (49.84KB , 700x550 , 18.png )

>Maybe it's the burrow of some giant beast.
…can a beast of this size even exist? These caverns are huge…
>The blood trail over there, is it fresh?
Looking at it, you can see it slowly trickle across the limestone, fresh enough to not even having dried yet. You really hope that isn’t Chris’s blood…
>Is there light coming from the furthest passage?
There is… maybe it’s Chris? Surely, he should have a light? Then again… if it isn’t Chris… you don’t know who you just might find down there instead.

>Each passage has something carved into the stone beside it, some sort of symbol. What are the significance of these symbols? You must have seen them before. Think!
Strange carvings marks each of the passages, but you can’t for the life of you figure out what they mean. Have you seen any of these before?
>The middle bottom passage has the burial ground mark next to it.
That’s the symbol Josephine gave you! It’s a perfect match! What did she say again? It would lead you to the main grave site of the Misquat tribe? Surely, it has to have some kind of significant, seeing how they were the first one to… well, find the red star.

Deciding to take the Bat’s advice, you follow the corridor even deeper into these twisted tunnels. Soon enough you enter a massive cavern, one that is just as tall as it is wide. Looking up you can see nothing but darkness, while below you there is such a massive chasm that you can’t help but wonder if it goes all the way to the center of the earth. Finally, over said chasm an old, rickety suspension bridge hangs, beckoning anyone foolish enough to walk over it. You’re about the turn around to find a safer path when you spot footsteps on the dry planks. Rabbit footsteps. Chris’s footsteps. Taking a deep breath, you push away your fears and take the first step onto the bridge, making it creak and sway…

You can’t help but feeling watched by something in the dark… something huge…

Kaktus 2024/04/08(Mon)14:42 No. 1088281 ID: 681cb5
File 171261256652.png - (56.21KB , 700x550 , 19.png )

Halfway across, you can see a shadow shift in the darkness. Something is moving around, something big. Glimpsing the sight of massive fingers dragging the creature forward, as if some kind of scorpion of hands, you turn around to run. But behind you another massive shape has taken form, one at least three times as tall as yourself. It, too, starts moving towards you, unfolding into a giant flower of all too long arms, making it skitter across the bridge like a spider. The old wood of the bridge creaks under their weight, as they silently creep closer to you.

…the smell of death and decay fills the air…

Welp.

Yeah, you're screwed.
But you have one gambit left to play.
Use your inventory to chop the bridge, then hang to the side you want to land on. From there, it's a matter of luck and strength.

>>1088283
Yeah, this is the way to go. Cut the bridge, hold onto the side nearest your destination, climb up after it falls.

>>1088283
You've seen Indiana Jones right? Wrap your arm around one rope, chop the other, then just hold on.

Maybe they're friendly zombie horrors?

The music box!

Open the music box!

>>1088296
This.

>>1088296
Oh, only cutting one support might be enough, yeah.

Kaktus 2024/04/27(Sat)10:52 No. 1089850 ID: 681cb5
File 171424033963.png - (146.50KB , 700x550 , 20.png )

>The music box! Open the music box!
You still haven’t found the key to wind it up, remember! You need the key first!

>Maybe they're friendly zombie horrors?
“So… can we talk this out?” you ask, looking at the abomination that’s slowly slithering closer, “Do you even understand me?” Neither of them answers, or even react, to your voice. Instead, they are slowly itching closer, revealing their forms little by little. “I’ll take that as a no…” you mutter as the beast in front of you enters the light, showing off its long spine ‘tongue’ with what you can only assume is it’s host skull still stuck on the end. These are clearly not your cuddly monsters…

>You've seen Indiana Jones right? Wrap your arm around one rope, chop the other, then just hold on.
Placing your axe on the rope, you yell, “One step closer and I’ll cut it!” but neither of them reacts. Even as you start sawing through the rope with your axe they do nothing, seemingly not even seeing want you’re doing. Do these things even have eyes? You aren’t given time to ponder that fact as the axe finally cuts through the rope, making it snap.

Kaktus 2024/04/27(Sat)10:52 No. 1089851 ID: 681cb5
File 171424035998.png - (76.51KB , 700x550 , 21.png )

With a loud crack the whole bridge gives out, as ropes and planks breaks beneath the weight of the monsters.

The beasts’ screeches loudly as they fall pass you, flailing blindly after something, anything to grab on too. It’s only with luck you manage to dodge their assault as they pass, as if they grabbed you, you too would plunge into the darkness below. Their screams grow fainter and fainter… before they are gone completely, never seemingly hitting the ground of the massive open maw below you.

It stills hungers for you… and you can feel it breathing as you try to get a better grip on the rope…

Kaktus 2024/04/27(Sat)10:52 No. 1089853 ID: 681cb5
File 171424037067.png - (101.27KB , 700x550 , 23.png )

With shaking hands, you pull yourself up onto the edge, thanking your father for insisting that you join in on his hunts in your youth.

You really hope the worst is over…

Kaktus 2024/04/27(Sat)10:53 No. 1089854 ID: 681cb5
File 171424038078.png - (85.26KB , 700x1080 , 24.png )

Going even deeper into the gullet of the great stone leviathan, you soon find yourself at a dead end. In front of you is a massive wall, decorated with stone carvings that have to be thousands of years old. Depicting a person standing between two pillars above the symbol of graves, with worshippers bowing before them on each side, they raise their hands towards the sky… towards a single eye in the palm of a giant hand. The Red Star.

Wait, you can see footprints going towards the wall before disappearing… rabbit footprints. Chris been here, and recently too! Looking closer, you spot a small seam climbing up the massive stone slab in front of you, clearly indicating that this wall is in fact a door. A door that’s two massive stone blocks weighting probably hundreds upon hundreds of tons. How in god’s name can anyone move this!?

You search the area around you, but find nothing. There are no hidden levers, buttons or other contraptions nearby. But how do you open the gate? Hmm… did you read something about this back in the library? Or in the mansion? You have to get through, because there is no other way out, now that the bridge is gone.

…you can feel it staring at you from above, as if expecting something…

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Strange Lens
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Wallet
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey
Bottle of Grease

>>1089854

Hmm... if you had the coffin from earlier... it can't be the lens, since Chris went through. What was it you read from that book in the library? Seems like a lifetime ago! Star worshippers, beyond the bowl of tiny fires, ritual appeasements, carved beacons but you don't have a beacon!

Ah! It's just like that painting with the brown rabbit in purple robes back at the mansion. The attunement I believe it was called. Are there some pillars and an alter in the room? You may have to get up on the alter and perform some kind of dance and musical performance with the strange flute.

That book back in the house library said that a door sealed with the image of a 'pagan God's could be unsealed by speaking its true name. But what if it's not the star that marks this wall, but the figure in the middle? Try saying "Bovel"

Or maybe the flute? Do any of the runes on the flute correspond to the carving? Could the red star's true name be a tone?

>rabbit footprints.
I find it kinda dangerous nobody around here wears shoes.

Maybe playing the flute to the tune of the musica box might help.

If not, try saying those aweful names Bövel cried out in the dream. You remember that, right?

Kaktus 2024/05/08(Wed)16:15 No. 1090593 ID: 681cb5
File 171521014592.png - (66.75KB , 700x550 , 25.png )

>Try saying those aweful names Bövel cried out in the dream. You remember that, right?
Huh? What dream? You have some vague memories of a tarot reading but… no, no strange names.
>Maybe playing the flute to the tune of the musica box might help.
The damn music box won’t play unless you find the key to wind it first, for crying out loud! Besides, you don’t know how to play the flute anyway…

>Ah! It's just like that painting with the brown rabbit in purple robes back at the mansion.
Huh… that’s right. The carving is similar to the painting, what with the altar, pillars and the central figure… not to mention, that eye might just be the obelisk that was in the background. But how does that help you…?
>Are there some pillars and an alter in the room? You may have to get up on the alter and perform some kind of dance and musical performance with the strange flute.
…you’ve already checked this whole area. There’s nothing here. In fact, something tells you that this altar and pillars might be located right behind this massive door. You just need to get through it first.

Let’s see… as Chris got pass it before you, the key can’t be physical… at least you hope so. That rules out the flute and the lens… wait, why was the lens so important again? No matter…

>That book back in the house library said that a door sealed with the image of a 'pagan God's could be unsealed by speaking its true name.
That’s right… that old book you read when you first arrived! Of course, as Bövel in Chris body would already know the name, he could pass it easily!

You just need to say the name of the red star out loud and the door will open!

Kaktus 2024/05/08(Wed)16:15 No. 1090594 ID: 681cb5
File 171521015476.png - (63.08KB , 700x550 , 26.png )

…which is something that you don’t know. Oh god… you… you can’t open the door! You don’t have the true name of the red star!! But… y-you can’t go back either… because the bridge is gone!!! You’re stuck here!!!!

THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!!!!!

Kaktus 2024/05/08(Wed)16:16 No. 1090595 ID: 681cb5
File 171521016698.png - (56.59KB , 700x550 , 27.png )

For a few hours, you desperately try to find a way out, turning your hands into a bloody mess as you claw in vain against the door. Then, as your lantern dies and leaves you in complete darkness, you finally give in and surrender to your fate.

Mercifully, the ice cold night make quick work of you, as you fall asleep dreaming of your hubby, to never wake up again…

They will never find your remains.

-You have died-

You scored 68 out of a possible 100 points; you are on the edge of oblivion.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move or QUIT?

>RESTORE
Restoring and old save…

Kaktus 2024/05/08(Wed)16:16 No. 1090596 ID: 681cb5
File 171521017627.png - (76.44KB , 700x550 , 28.png )

And then, the wine racks slides away, revealing a hidden entrance behind it. A gaping maw that leads into pitch darkness, its breath can be heard as the wind flows through it, making it howl like a… wait… didn’t you just…?

Kaktus 2024/05/08(Wed)16:16 No. 1090598 ID: 681cb5
File 171521019029.png - (84.36KB , 700x550 , 29.png )

Huh… you got the strangest case of déjà-vu…

You’re standing in the secret passage between the library, the observatory and the attic… and you just got this feeling you have to do something very important before you follow your husband through the secret door in the basement… but what?

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Strange Lens
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Wallet
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey
Axe

>>1090598
Let's go up to the observatory and use the lens to obtain some possibly-mindrending forbidden knowledge about an eldritch god!

That lens was hidden for a reason, and that was to hide the name of the red star, which is probably important. You should try the observatory now, you might not get the chance later.

i really hope these reloaded saves wont affect our ability to get the true ending

Alright then Belle. Arm yourself with something and head up to the observatory. See if you can't find anything more up there about the red star.

We need to learn about the cult's monsters... find some way to repel them, or injure them if we're cornered.

Kaktus 2024/05/28(Tue)15:02 No. 1091972 ID: 681cb5
File 171693372906.png - (145.67KB , 700x550 , 30.png )

>I really hope these reloaded saves won’t affect our ability to get the true ending.
The what now? This isn’t some game! And the only ending you’ll get is the one where you save your hubby, no matter what. You made a promise on your rings, remember?
>Let's go up to the observatory and use the lens to obtain some possibly-mindrending forbidden knowledge about an eldritch god!
You’ve been procrastinating on the lens for too long. It might be a bad idea, but it was hidden for a reason… and going by what you know about demons in media, knowing their true name is a weapon that can be used against them. If this is what it takes to save Chris…

Making your way through the twisting and warping passages, it doesn’t take long before you reach the vault on top of the mansion. Even now, the ruminations of generations of crazed warlocks hangs in the air, as the old wood whispers of forbidden knowledge just out of hearing range each time the building moves in the wind. The wickedness of this room stains your very sanity, as you feel your head start to throb painfully… you better be quick, or you’ll go mad in here…

Climbing up to the telescope, you insert the strange disc into the slot on the side, making it slide into the apparatus as if it always was a part of it. Sitting down and putting your eye too it, you have to wonder if it will even work. After all, it’s still daytime… and the sky is overcast with clouds.

Kaktus 2024/05/28(Tue)15:02 No. 1091973 ID: 681cb5
File 171693373746.png - (723.84KB , 700x550 , 31.png )

Looking out into the cosmos… you can see stars… and is that Mars?

Wait, there’s a red dot… can you zoom in with this thing?

Kaktus 2024/05/28(Tue)15:02 No. 1091974 ID: 681cb5
File 171693374644.png - (508.30KB , 700x550 , 32.png )

You twist the handle of the telescope and are met with a completely different sight. Did you zoom in? Or is this something completely different? It looks like hands reaching up into the sky… towards… a red dot? It’s still there… let’s try one more twist…

Kaktus 2024/05/28(Tue)15:02 No. 1091975 ID: 681cb5
File 171693376384.gif - (14.74MB , 700x550 , 33.gif )

…is that the Andromeda galaxy? It’s so small… and… wait… where’s the dot? There’s nothing here?

you might be zoomed in a little too far. If it is a big eye, you might be seeing the reflection in its pupil.

Yeah zoom out a little.

>>1091972
Oh, that means it totally will, but I think we've established that winning is worth a few losses.

>>1091975
What's that animation about?

Kaktus 2024/05/29(Wed)14:55 No. 1092036 ID: 681cb5
File 171701975271.png - (823.16KB , 700x550 , 34.png )

>You might be zoomed in a little too far.
Twisting the knob in the opposite direction, you try and zoom out… but instead the image of Andromeda is pulled even closer. Behind it, you can see strange colors splashed across the infinite black canvas. There’s nothing here but an endless abyss.

Kaktus 2024/05/29(Wed)14:56 No. 1092037 ID: 681cb5
File 171701976313.gif - (3.45MB , 700x550 , 35.gif )

…and then the abyss moves its attention to you… and blinks…

It doesn’t gaze upon the earth, nor the American continent. It isn’t even looking at the town of Crowmoor. No, this thing… it’s staring straight at you. It has seen you.

You now have its attention…

Kaktus 2024/05/29(Wed)14:56 No. 1092038 ID: 681cb5
File 171701977771.png - (130.92KB , 700x550 , 36.png )

You scream.

You have been screaming for a long time.

Your hands are bleeding, as you’ve dug them deep into the wood of this accursed dome…

You try to cry but there aren’t any more tears. Not anymore.

How long have you screamed? Days? Weeks? Months? Maybe even years? Or just a few seconds?

Burning inside your mind is a name. Something that cannot be pronounced without ten thousands stars screaming in agony as they die… something that cannot be written down as there are no letters, no symbols that convey their meaning. It burns… and hurts so much…

But you didn’t get it for free. No, it took something from you as well.

It took your name.

…you can no longer remember your name…


[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Wallet
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey
Axe
The true name of the red star

Really? To open the door we have to kill ten thousand suns? Well, I guess there's billions of them anyway, and >99% of them don't support life.

This explains why good people can't have nice things.
But we aren't good people and we demand the defeat of our enemies before they defeat everyone on this planet.
Head to the catacombs after you've filled your 'spell slots'. It's time to end this.

>>1092038
>…you can no longer remember your name…
<o> Knott

But even if you're unable to remember your own name, you can at least remember your husband's name, right? It's Chris Knott. You're doing everything you can to save him from whatever is possessing him!

You don't need your name, you don't need your eyes, you have but one thing to do, which is be a general nuisance and interfere with Bövel's plans. Time's a wasting! Exeunt!

Your name should be written in your <o>. Or you can just get a new name later.

Anyway time to head down catacombs and tear an ancient spirit out of your husband, so you can kill it again for making you go through all this.

Kaktus 2024/05/31(Fri)13:38 No. 1092211 ID: 681cb5
File 171718792255.png - (79.48KB , 700x550 , 37.png )

With shaky legs, you start to leave this cursed dome. Having to steady yourself against the wall, you slowly make your way through the twisting corridors, each step making the headache gets worse and worse… all the while your eyes burn as if you’ve looked directly into the sun…

>Your name is <o> Knott.
Your name is what? You don’t understand…
>Your name should be written in your <o>.
…in your what? Why does it feel like you’ve lost something?
>Or you can just get a new name later.
That’s not how it works… you can’t just call yourself <o> and make that your new name, can you?

>Really? To open the door we have to kill ten thousand suns? Well, I guess there's billions of them anyway, and >99% of them don't support life.
It doesn’t actually kill ten thousands suns, it just sounds like ten thousands suns screaming in agony as they are snuffed out, one by one, over the eons. Even they will not escape its gaze…
>But even if you're unable to remember your own name, you can at least remember your husband's name, right?
Chris… Chris Knott… you’re coming, hubby… you’re coming and you’re going to make them pay.

>Head to the catacombs after you've filled your 'spell slots'. It's time to end this.
What catacombs? You meant the place Chris ventured into? The one behind the secret wine rack door? Right, enough is enough. You’re going to go down there, find Chris, kick the ass of whatever is possessing him before burning this goddessforsaken house to the ground, or your name isn’t… err… whatever it is!

Kaktus 2024/05/31(Fri)13:38 No. 1092212 ID: 681cb5
File 171718793898.png - (156.07KB , 1035x550 , 38.png )

You find yourself in the attic once again… but something is off.

The trapdoor is down, yet neither you nor Chris has been up here for a while…

And you hear voices coming from downstairs… they sound… angry… and footsteps. Lots of them.

...you don’t recognize them.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey
Axe
The true name of the red star

>>1092212

They must have come searching for you up here, and left the trap door open on their way out. They probably won't search in here a second time, so you have a moment of safety up here, but only just so.

Can you hear what they're saying? Where they're going to look next?

Maybe The true name of the red star can be your name now since you now have a slot open for a name... maybe it already is your new name?

So, assume that the hypothetical that you can no longer perceive your name, nor any allusions to your name, nor the meaning of your name if you looked up what it meant. This is equivalent to, essentially, a form of brain damage. It's metaphysical in origin and nature, sure, but it's analogous to the sort of thing that people have to deal with for entirely physical reasons as well.

You have taken a wound in the violent conflict to defend and protect those you care about from harm. Honor that, continue fighting for that cause, and just deal with it. Maybe you can be usefully given a new name that you can perceive in the future, maybe you can't, and that's fine, as long as you *win*.

>>1092211
Well. If you have a kid and name them <*>, you could call yourself <*>mother.

>>1092212
If you have become a mage, you should scavenge this place for spell components, then test them out on the angry lynch mob.

enough about the name, already! There is an angry mob to worry about!

Stay in the walls, peep on the intruders.

Looks like you'll have to make this a stealth mission. Sneaking in the walls might help you find where they're looking. Arm yourself with something to clobber them with in case they discover you. Try to make it to that wine rack in one piece.

Kaktus 2024/06/13(Thu)13:13 No. 1092917 ID: 681cb5
File 171830960032.png - (93.92KB , 700x550 , 39.png )

>Stay in the walls, peep on the intruders.
Going back into the secret passage, you make your way through its twisted corridors trying to find a peephole that will show you your unwanted visitors. Finally, you find one that is looking out into the foyer, where several masked people in robes has gathered.

“Lord, the basement is empty.” one figure suddenly appears in the corner of your vision, wielding a shotgun, “We have searched everywhere.”
”Good. Then start searching the ground floor.” the largest of the cultists snarls with a deep and guttural voice, more fitting a beast than a man, ”Rip apart the walls if you have too! She will not escape us! THE MASTER COMMANDS IT!” Their movements are stiff and unnatural, as if they were made out of wood, ”We have the mansion surrounded, so she must still be here.”
“Maybe we can call out to her, make her reveal herself. What was her name again?” the cultist on the stairs quickly answers, “It’s… um… it’s… err…” The cultists look between each other, as if trying to find the one with the right answer, “I got it on my tongue but… I just can’t find it?”
”Her name is… … …is not important.” the large one finally hisses, clearly unable to remember your name either, ”She is the fox, nothing more.”
“And if we don’t find her?”
”Then we will burn her out. This mansion is of no more use to us.” the leader makes a sound that make your bones rattle, as the very wood of the walls starts creaking and warping slightly, before continuing, ”Remember, while the master would prefer her alive, do not hesitate to kill her if she causes trouble. Now start tearing this place apart!”

And with that the majority of them shuffle off, leaving only the leader and one of the cultists standing next to them. The hunt is on…

>Arm yourself with something to clobber them with in case they discover you.
You still have your axe… though, seeing how well armed and numerous they are, fighting them is really not a good idea. No, you need to figure out a way down into the wine cellar without being noticed… somehow…

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey
Axe
The true name of the red star

>>1092917
One of them as a shotgun. In fact, that shotgun looks very familiar.
You need to neutralize him first. If you can take his gun, this hunt gets far easier.

And will you please try casting magic? You didn't sacrifice your identity to learn one little name!

>Your name has been erased
Come to think of it, it appears every mention of your past identity has been ripped from reality by whatever Constellation took interest in the 'adowable widdle micwobe'. The arse also stole your wallet, the cultists can't remember who you are... it appears that everything with even a passing mention of your existence has either been scrambled or outright removed from reality. With creativity, this could actually be a criminal opportunity; if the government's secret databases which they keep to monitor all of the country have been corrupted, and only you know for certain that has happened... that kind of information could be very valuable to the right power players.
Something to think about.

Oil lamp plus whiskey equals a fiery distraction? As in, setting the house on fire while sneaking into the basement. Not like this evil place is worth saving anyway.

>>1092918
> The arse also stole your wallet

hahaha intergalactically mugged

Maybe some sort of distraction? If you could get them to chase you the wrong way, they might clear out of the path to the wine cellar.

Oh my stars the librarian is part of the cult too!

Wasn't there a way into the basement from the secret wall space you're in? Do you think you could beat to the basement?

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:55 No. 1098691 ID: 681cb5
File 172917335449.png - (100.03KB , 700x550 , 40.png )

>It appears every mention of your past identity has been ripped from reality by whatever Constellation took interest in you.
…how did it even do this? Everything about who you are is just… gone. Who even are you? Will you ever find yourself again? No, that doesn’t matter. What matter is the here and now! You need to find Chris… you need to save him! And finally end this nightmare once and for all!
>Use it to do crimes!
What? No!

>Oh my stars the librarian is part of the cult too!
Oh crap, that’s definitely the librarian! Unless there are more angler fishes around?
>One of them as a shotgun. In fact, that shotgun looks very familiar.
Several of them have shotguns… and they are just basic hunting rifles, so it’s not surprising they all look familiar. Though, the only rifle you’ve seen around these parts that would fit the description was one the barkeep, O’mally, had, even if was more obviously well-used than these ones. Hmm… can O’mally also be part of the cult? The only one that’s big enough to be him is the leader, but they sound nothing like him…
>If you can take his gun, this hunt gets far easier.
Even if you somehow manage to wrestle the rifle from one of them, there are still at least dozen more of them around! There’s no way you can fight all of them, let alone even one!


>Oil lamp plus whiskey equals a fiery distraction?
You pour the whisky over a collection of old magazines and papers, before digging up an old matchbox from a nearby cupboard of junk. With a flick of your wrist, the match lights up, and then like a falling star it descends into the box, creating an inferno. Within seconds the whole thing is set ablaze, spouting smoke everywhere, something the nearby fire alarm doesn’t take kindly too.

“What is that sound?” you can hear someone ask below you as the alarm starts to scream, “Do you smell smoke?”
”YOU FOOLS!” the unnatural gurgle of the leader echoes through your head, as if they were just next to you, whispering in your ear, ”She’s in the attic! FIND HER!!!”

Lost Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey!

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:56 No. 1098692 ID: 681cb5
File 172917336829.png - (116.24KB , 700x550 , 41.png )

>Wasn't there a way into the basement from the secret wall space you're in?
Pulling the hatch open, you crawl into the tight vertical passage you found earlier. The heavy air tries it best to smother you, as the stench of decay and rotting flesh is nearly unbearably… but you force yourself to go on. Grabbing a hold of the rusty, rickety ladder, you start your decent into the abyss below you, the wood around you warping and distorting itself with each rung you climb down, as if the very house is alive and breathing. The ladder whines with each step, making a high-pitched sound as you make your way downwards. Luckily, the distraction worked, or they would have heard you by now and simply shot you through the wall. Still, you’re surprised they haven’t-

“Do you hear that!?” a man can be heard shouting above you, followed by the hatch opening and a familiar face peering down at you. The librarian gesture something towards you, which is followed by the man from before yelling, “She climbing down to the cellar!”
”THEN GO AFTER HER, IMBECILE!”

As the voice of that ungodly beast makes the whole passage shake, you finally reach the bottom of the shaft. Working on auto-pilot, you crawl out into the basement, grab a bottle of grease and pour it over the stairs up to the kitchen. You’re not sure why, it just felt like something you’ve already done?

Gained Bottle of Grease!

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:56 No. 1098693 ID: 681cb5
File 172917337774.png - (63.16KB , 700x550 , 42.png )

Running into the wine cellar, you can hear the cultist storming down the stairs towards you, leaving no time for anything else. As if you’ve already experienced this very moment before, you start pulling out the correct wine bottles in the fake wine rack, and as the last one bottle is twisted into place with a click you can hear a whole horde of people falling down the stairs into the basement, slipping on the grease you left them, giving you just a few more seconds before they find you. The false wine rack slides away, revealing a stairwell going downwards, but before you can even think about it you dive into it, barely avoiding a shotgun blast that hits the spot where your head was a second ago. As the door closes behind you, you can hear the cult leader scream one final time…

”I WILL RIP YOUR ENTRAILS OUT, FOX!!!”

…before all that is left is the silence of the cavern you find yourself in.

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:56 No. 1098694 ID: 681cb5
File 172917338985.png - (216.59KB , 700x550 , 43.png )

Everything is a blur after that, as you walk through it as if it was a dream. By using the symbol Josephine showed you, you somehow manage to navigate this labyrinth of cavernous chambers and slithering passages, finding yourself on a bridge over a massive chasm. There… things get even more blurry. There is… a monster? No, two of them… and the bridge… the bridge breaks? You… you cut down the bridge, making everyone fall… but you lose your axe…

And then… you… can’t get any further… the thirst… you can feel yourself… did… did you die? No, that can’t be… no…

Lost Axe!

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:56 No. 1098695 ID: 681cb5
File 172917340081.png - (85.26KB , 700x1080 , 44.png )

You shake your head, dismissing these thoughts from your mind. Instead, you go even deeper into the gullet of the great stone leviathan, soon finding yourself at a dead end. In front of you is a massive wall, decorated with stone carvings that have to be thousands of years old. Depicting a person standing between two pillars above the symbol of graves, with worshippers bowing before them on each side, they raise their hands towards the sky… towards a single eye in the palm of a giant hand. The Red Star.

Wait, you can see footprints going towards the wall before disappearing… rabbit footprints. Chris been here, and recently too! Looking closer, you spot a small seam climbing up the massive stone slab in front of you, clearly indicating that this wall is in fact a door. A door that’s two massive stone blocks weighting probably hundreds upon hundreds of tons. How in god’s name can anyone move this!?

You search the area around you, but find nothing. There are no hidden levers, buttons or other contraptions nearby. But how do you open the gate? Hmm… did you read something about this back in the library? Or in the mansion? You have to get through, because there is no other way out, now that the bridge is gone.

…you can feel it staring at you from above, as if expecting something…

The name… it wants the name of the red star. Which you have. You just need to… say it.

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:56 No. 1098696 ID: 681cb5
File 172917341393.png - (74.58KB , 700x550 , 45.png )

You say the name of the Red Star, a name that cannot be pronounced by mere mortal mouths…

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:57 No. 1098697 ID: 681cb5
File 172917342276.png - (73.63KB , 700x550 , 46.png )

As the name leaves your lips, it too leaves your mind. You cannot remember what it was called anymore… or even how it sounded. All you know it that you never want to hear it ever again. Your head is pounding… and you feel sick, as if you want to hurl. But something else comes flooding back instead, something… that’s always been there? You’re Belle… Belle Knot… it was a fair trade, was it not?

You’re not allowed to ponder what just happen for long, as the giant stone slabs starts to slowly open up, a thick fog billowing out between them.

Lost The true name of the Red Star!
Regained the identity of Belle!

Suggestion 2024/10/17(Thu)06:57 No. 1098698 ID: 681cb5
File 172917343390.png - (311.02KB , 700x740 , 47.png )

A familiar sight greets you on the other side, as you’ve seen this large cavern before somewhere. A massive slab of stone, an obelisk far larger than any other you have seen, holds up the ceiling of the cave… while in front of it two tall metal poles protrudes into the air, humming as they vibrates slightly. The whole chamber is bathed in a heavy mist, creating a sea of white from your knees and downwards that hides whatever might be down below.

...there is something very, very wrong in this room…

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Bottle of Grease!

I guess go down there?

>>1098697
Huh. Fair trade. Unusual for something that's supposed to be so hostile to all life. Maybe it's only the cult that's evil, not the Star?

>>1098698
Hmm, now that we're here, I'm not sure what to do. The flute should probably be used, but do we know the song?
Did we ever properly investigate the photo album to see if there's anything hidden in it?

Piss on the slab for lolz

Skulk around. At least one entity is in here with you, and it would be best if you got the drop on them, rather than the reverse.

>>1098701
Nah. The star is bored. Even a giant may take merciful interest in an ant... but enough ants and it will react with force.

Place items upon the altar, see if any of them tick.

Suggestion 2024/10/19(Sat)17:01 No. 1098768 ID: 681cb5
File 172938248352.png - (210.21KB , 700x550 , 48.png )

>Huh. Fair trade. Unusual for something that's supposed to be so hostile to all life. Maybe it's only the cult that's evil, not the Star?
Who know what kind of alien motives that… that thing has! Whatever it is, though, it’s clearly not good for either you or this town.

>Skulk around. At least one entity is in here with you, and it would be best if you got the drop on them, rather than the reverse.
Moving slowly, you slink down the stairs and into the thick mist below. The ground is uneven here and covered with soft rocks, which crunches beneath your feet each step you take. Still, as you make your way towards the center of the grand chamber, you can’t spot anything moving in here… nor anything that seems to be out for your blood.

You kick something hidden in the mist, and the loud sound of metal rattling echoes through the cave, waking up anything that might have been sleeping for miles. Looking around in a panic, you still can’t see anything that’s moving in the shadows, with the exception of the great stone door slowly closing again behind you. You’d be more horrified if it wasn’t for the reason that you know you can’t go back that way anyway. Bending down, you search around your feet, finding an odd stone platform and… manacles on the end of a short chain? Has someone been held captive in here?

Getting closer to the altar, you spot a strange pole sticking up from the mist right in front of it. This one is also clad in manacles and chain, but looking closer you can’t help but find them rather peculiar. There isn’t a lock on them for a key, but a simple mechanism… a mechanism that the very person wearing these bonds would easily reach with their other hand, making them useless at keeping someone imprisoned. Clearly they can’t be that badly designed, can they? Looking over at the altar you can see two brass stands suited on top of it. One small and covered in dust, made to hold some kind of long, rectangular object, while the other is a lot bigger, one end supposed to hold something round while the other something very thin. Someone has clearly taken something from the bigger stand rather recently, as the dust has been disturbed there.

Finally, there’s a paper package that’s been ripped apart, leaving only the paper husk on the altar. While whatever was in the package is long gone, there is still a note attached to it that reads:
“Great Lord, the house of flesh and gore has created this lens as to your precise description. May it bring upon us THE BLESSED EVENT! As instructed, a second lens has been made, in case the first would be damaged, and will be kept at the house of flesh and gore, guarded by your loyal son as well as the woods and mist. Simply ask, and we shall bring it before you, Great Lord.

May the great Eye watch over us, o savior!”

>Place items upon the altar, see if any of them tick.
While the flute fits the smaller stand on the altar perfectly, it doesn’t do anything when you put it there. You can only assume it was meant to hold it between the rituals, so that Ch- Bövel could find it easier when needed.

Suggestion 2024/10/19(Sat)17:01 No. 1098769 ID: 681cb5
File 172938249596.png - (63.43KB , 700x550 , 49.png )

>Did we ever properly investigate the photo album to see if there's anything hidden in it?
It’s a thick volume filled with pictures and description of… who know how many people. It would take hours going through it all. Time you don’t have. No, if you’re looking for something, you need to know where to look for it first.

>The flute should probably be used, but do we know the song?
…have you ever even heard a song that might be important around here? One that uses a flute? You can’t remember… even then, it wouldn’t help much, seeing how you can’t really play the flute in the first place. Still, might be worth a try…

Putting the old bone flute against your lips, you start to play… at least, you try too. No matter how much you blow, it doesn’t make a sound. Maybe if you try and covering the holes?

You put your finger over the first hole and blow… but it still doesn’t make a sound.

Then you try and cover the second hole and… the left pillar start vibrating a lot more all the sudden! As soon as you stop playing the flute, the pillar slows down again, confirming the fact that it was your playing that made it move in the first place.

Covering the third hole… nothing.

Fourth hole… nothing.

Fifth hole… the right pillar starts to move. Huh…

Clearly, the flute does have an effect on them… but how does this help you?

Try playing the second and fifth notes together

>>1098769
Cover the second and fifth holes to make them both move, and keep playing? See how fast they can go.

What happens if you rapidly play the second hole or fifth hole note? What if you rapidly alternate between the two notes?

About the chain pole, check nearby, I bet there's at least trace of a second pole at appropriate distance to hold someone with their arms spread.

...Don't end up being that someone.

Resist the urge to pole-dance while playing

Suggestion 2024/10/23(Wed)14:59 No. 1098927 ID: 681cb5
File 172972075168.png - (508.42KB , 700x550 , 50.png )

>About the chain pole, check nearby, I bet there's at least trace of a second pole at appropriate distance to hold someone with their arms spread.
No, there’s only one pole here. And it’s almost in the center, which makes whoever was chained here the center piece of whatever blasphemous rituals has been cast here.

>Cover the second and fifth holes to make them both move, and keep playing? See how fast they can go.
Both of the pillars starts to vibrate in unison, giving off a strange, yet oddly pleasant sound. As they start their twisted dance, the very flute you’re holding joins in and start vibrating slightly as well, similar as too when you found it. It hums softly, barely audible over the song of the pillars.

Lost Strange Flute.
Gained Attuned Flute.

The mist is blown away from you, as if the flute is forcing it move. Is this how you control-

Suggestion 2024/10/23(Wed)14:59 No. 1098928 ID: 681cb5
File 172972076482.png - (441.34KB , 700x550 , 51.png )

The sound of fabric ripping apart behind you catches you unprepared, though before you can even turn around to find the source of the sound you’re dragged off your feet by a strong wind. You flail helplessly as you are thrown into a rip in reality, a rift between worlds.

As you enter this new world, you can feel your flesh slowly rotting away, falling off in large clumps from your bones while your organs liquefy, spilling out from your body as you’re being pulled away further and further into the depths. It feels like you’re drowning in boiling water, the heat making your eyes pop like ripe grapes at the same time you’re freezing, feeling your fingers and toes fall off as they are broken off from your body. Even as you’re nothing but a pile of bones and rotten flesh you can still feel it all, even the part of you that has fallen off into the abyss millions of miles away.

Then there is a calm… Chris is there… and everything is fine. A calm summer night, the cool breeze through the leaves, the sound of water running over the rocks… you are happy. Chris is there… and so are your children… you’re finally a family… then… then they are ripped away from you. Torn from you. Each in a more horrifying way than the last. And then the cycle repeats. Burning. Freezing. Happiness and sorrow. Chris is there. You cannot fathom how many times you’ve seen your beloved children die… but you can still remember each time, every time… and it still hurts just as much…

And all the while you feel yourself slowly rot… and Chris isn’t here…

Suggestion 2024/10/23(Wed)14:59 No. 1098929 ID: 681cb5
File 172972077314.png - (362.49KB , 700x550 , 52.png )

Then you blink, and to your horror you realize what felt like several lifetimes for you were only a few seconds, a few seconds of what will be an eternal fate. The rift closes in front of you, leaving you stuck in the Womb of Nehilim forevermore… not that you notice, as you all you can do is scream…

-You have suffered a fate far, far worse than death-

You scored 81 out of a possible 100 points; you have reached the final hours…

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, UNDO your last move or QUIT?

>RESTORE
Restoring and old save…

Suggestion 2024/10/23(Wed)14:59 No. 1098930 ID: 681cb5
File 172972078257.png - (361.37KB , 700x550 , 53.png )

You move the bone flute away from your mouth as you can’t help but get the feeling you’re doing something dangerous. Yet… it is something you need to do if you want to get out of here? Huh…

…is there anything you can do to keep yourself a bit safer, from… whatever might happen?

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Bottle of Grease

...well, you can latch yourself to the pillar with the voluntary chains on it. Seems like something someone voluntarily participating in the ritual would do.

Let's not chain ourselves to the wall and play the song that will open the void to swallow Chris.

Try touching the flute to the pillar as it vibrates.

>>1098940
We need the attuned flute. We also need to not get sucked into the forever-hell-torture-dimension. The pillar is designed to prevent getting sucked into the forever-hell-torture-dimension.

Double check there aren't any important loose objects (or husbands) before attuning the flute while safely chained up.

Suggestion 2024/10/25(Fri)11:36 No. 1099007 ID: 681cb5
File 172988141362.png - (65.57KB , 700x730 , 54.png )

>Try touching the flute to the pillar as it vibrates.
There is the sound of metal hitting bone, but nothing more…
>Double check there aren't any important loose objects (or husbands) before attuning the flute.
The only thing you can see that’s lying loose is the empty package; anything else that might be loose in here is hidden by this infernal fog! Actually, speaking of your husband, where is he? There weren’t any sign of him leaving the way you came and he’s not here, is he? Which means there has to be another way out!

>We need to not get sucked into the forever-hell-torture-dimension. The pillar is designed to prevent getting sucked into the forever-hell-torture-dimension.
You fasten the manacles hanging from the pillar on both your wrist. Sure, they are a bit small, but they do fit. Then you start to play the flute…

Both of the pillars start to vibrate in unison, giving off a strange, yet oddly pleasant sound. As they start their twisted dance, the very flute you’re holding joins in and start vibrating slightly as well, similar as too when you found it. It hums softly, barely audible over the song of the pillars.

Lost Strange Flute.
Gained Attuned Flute.

The mist is blown away from you, as if the flute is forcing it move. Is this how you control-

The sound of fabric ripping apart in front of you catches you unprepared, though before you can even look up to find the source of the sound you’re dragged off your feet by a strong wind. The sound of metal screaming fills your ears as the old chains do their job, ensuring that you aren’t pulled away even further. For a brief second, you can see a tear in reality, beyond which is a world of nothing but rotting flesh and mold, whose very landscape is nothing but a carcass of meat being devoured by maggots. Yet… it is the most beautiful sight you have ever seen…

Then the rift closes, leaving behind a sigil of light... and you can feel it stare into your very soul. Your whole body shakes forcing you to drop everything, as you can feel it reach out to you, making you want to run, or at least look away. But stubbornly you hold its gaze for a moment, until it blinks, making a wave of relief washes over you. Suddenly it is as a heavy weight is lifted from your shoulders, as all the tiredness and stress you’ve been under is just gone, replaced by a newfound strength and determination. As the wind dies down and you once again land on your feet, you feel stronger, more alert than ever before…

…and then the symbol winks out of existence.

Suggestion 2024/10/25(Fri)11:37 No. 1099008 ID: 681cb5
File 172988142367.png - (175.60KB , 700x550 , 55.png )

It isn’t until after you’ve released yourself from your chains that you realize what you’re missing. The flute! You accidently let go of it when that thing was staring you down! For a moment you panic, as surely it was sucked into the portal, but no, you spot it lying on the floor right next to the altar…

The mist is gone, revealing the uneven floor you’ve been treading on. Bones. Old bones. Skulls, ribcages and even spines litter the floor… no, it is the floor. You cannot tell how deep this bone pile is, what is for certain is that you cannot see the bottom of it.

…they seem old though. Hopefully there haven’t been any new ones added the last few years. Is this the lost Misquat Tribe, the one Josephine was looking for?

Either way, you pick up the now vibrating flute…

Suggestion 2024/10/25(Fri)11:37 No. 1099009 ID: 681cb5
File 172988143231.png - (56.80KB , 700x550 , 56.png )

Looking around you spot another entrance to this chamber, one that was hidden beneath the fog before. Wasting no time you start to make your way towards it, jumping your way across the old bones beneath your feet.

You barely look at the carvings around the room before you leave, because if you’re down in this tomb for even a moment longer you feel like you’ll lose what’s left of your frail sanity!

Suggestion 2024/10/25(Fri)11:37 No. 1099010 ID: 681cb5
File 172988144261.png - (35.65KB , 700x550 , 57.png )

A staircase carved out from the very stone leads upwards, into more darkness. The ascension is slow, as you have to take each step carefully, what with each step steeper than the last. But before long you find yourself in a massive cavern. If you’re not mistaken, you’re back at the massive chasm from before? And there! More stairs!

After what feels like an eternity walking up those godforsaken stairs, you finally find an old, rusty ladder leading up to a hatch that’s clearly not part of these old caves. Going through it you find yourself in a rather tiny room filled to the brim with pipes and machinery, machinery that reminds you of the old boiler back home. Though, looking around it is quite clear that these things haven’t been used for years upon years, so whatever this room was for, it isn’t being used any longer. Then you see it… sunlight shimmering under a door!

Suggestion 2024/10/25(Fri)11:37 No. 1099011 ID: 681cb5
File 172988145294.png - (63.55KB , 700x550 , 58.png )

A roaring river awaits you on the other side… as well as a small, stone staircase, this one far newer that the ones below but still old. Climbing up it you finally find yourself outside, under the bare sky, right next to the bridge of the city. How did you even end up all the way over here? Taking a deep breath, you’re left disappointed, as the air up here is just as heavy as the one in the caves, making it feel like it’s almost trying to strangle you. It’s like the very air has gone bad. And the sky… it’s blood red... what is going on here?
Thinking back to your time in the town, you make a mental map of your current location. You are on the bridge, which practically right next to the crossroad at the edge of town.

To the north there is a loud commotion, as loud chanting and screaming can be heard from the center of town. Even from here you can see a large horde of people moving about the main square… all of them wearing robes…

To the west you can see the mansion… and how the fire you set has started to spread. Black smoke billows from one of the windows… yet otherwise everything is still and silent over there.

To the south the Mistmire woods stands menacingly, the fog thick around the trees and underbrush. The church bell sticking out of from the sea of green does give you some comfort, even if it looks like its being consumed by the very forest itself. Then… there’s an old brick chimney, barely standing, on the other side of the woods from the church. Has it always been there and you only now noticed it?

Finally, to the east… in a sea of mist, the lighthouse stands. You cannot see the bottom of it, but the tower rises up from the fog like the mast of a sinking ship, the top of it unlit and dark, with five windows going down its side, three of which has been boarded up…

You are on a crossroad… and a cold wind moves past, makes you shiver as it freezing you to the very bones…

[Inventory:]
Attuned Flute
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Bottle of Grease

[Current objectives:]
Where is Chris?
Find the tower of light and figure out what 13b650 means.
Find a house of flesh and gore, where the beast sleeps, and retrieve something important from there.
Stop the blessed event and defeat Bövel.

>>1099011

...south

You have seen that these robed people are hunting for you, and you can't risk falling into their grasp. If what the doctor said about the worms was true, then she and that archaeologist might be the only ones unaffected. Unless an obvious way to reach them presents itself though, all you can do is hope they're safe.

West, that mansion has nothing for you. Let the dead rest.

South, the church might have some manner of sanctuary, but the pastor couldn't have anticipated this. Still, warning him about who has the blessed amulet might be called for. Further beyond the church, that brick building could surely be investigated.

East, you still don't know what to do about the lighthouse. Feels like an endgame location.

>>1099011
Let's check out the chimney. We need to find the beast's nest, right? That's our best lead.

South, to the beast's lair

Let's head south.

Suggestion 2024/10/29(Tue)16:47 No. 1099191 ID: 681cb5
File 173024567330.png - (95.39KB , 700x550 , 59.png )

>You have seen that these robed people are hunting for you, and you can't risk falling into their grasp.
They are everywhere! You can’t continue walking out in the open like this or they’ll spot you for sure… but how can you move around while staying hidden?
>If what the doctor said about the worms was true, then she and that archaeologist might be the only ones unaffected.
Surely, there are others that aren’t part of the cult. Still, even if there are, what help will they be? They are hopefully hiding somewhere right now…
>That mansion has nothing for you. Let the dead rest.
…you do want to spit on its corpse, but you can do that later.

>Let's head south.
You make your way southward, away from the chanting voices coming from the center of town.
>The church might have some manner of sanctuary, but the pastor couldn't have anticipated this.
The church is still standing, but it looks empty and abandoned. Is he still in there? Surely, he would notice something was amiss, what with him already being rather paranoid about the cult. Maybe they already got him?
>Let's check out the chimney.
Let’s see… according to that map you saw there should be a road going straight from the church to the slaughterhouse… but where is it? The only thing you can see is a thick forest and that blasted fog. With a sigh, you take up the flute and play the second and fifth note again, and just like down in those catacombs the mist dissipates into nothing, revealing a… you’re not going to say road, but it’s an opening in the thicket.

The road out from Crowmoor also clears… and the rational part of your brain screams at you to run… but you’re not rational right now. Your hubby needs you… and besides, you get the feeling that if you let this “blessed event” happen there won’t be anything to run too anyway. No, you’re going deeper into the woods… into another den of horrors.

Suggestion 2024/10/29(Tue)16:48 No. 1099192 ID: 681cb5
File 173024568217.png - (109.72KB , 700x550 , 60.png )

There’s barely a path left, as the underbrush has completely consumed what little road there was in the first place. You can spot car tracks at points, still visible in the mud, but even they seem to disappear into the flora around you. Still, compared to the rest of the woods, it’s actually possible to walk here without having to slog through who knows how many plants and insects. That’s something, at least.

Suddenly, the path opens up into a clearing, in the middle of which are several large, red buildings. Well, there were three of them, but two are nothing but broken walls and charred remains of what was once a proper construct, a carcass rotting in the woods. Even the building that’s still standing clearly looks slightly off, as the chimney is broken… and you’re pretty sure a large part of the roof is gone on the back of it.

This has to be the slaughterhouse, right? Now… how do you get in? The front door will obviously be locked… as well as the backdoor….

Just crawl under the door. That blood is probably just from slaughterhouse activity, not monsters. surely

Unless you know parkour. Can you jump up to the roof?

Before we crawl under the garage door, maybe we should scope out the place a bit. Circle around, look to see if there are any other entrances/exits. Could be useful info for later.

>there should be a road going straight from the church to the slaughterhouse
This should have been a red flag from the beginning.

>>1099192
Can you sense it? This building appears to be built on liminal spaces. It may be designed to keep curious trespassers out, even at the cost of scaring away potential vendors. This is not a company that wants to make money. This is a company built on lakes of blood.
For instance, that garage door. They way it's bent out of shape with an obvious bloodstain. No company would leave a main delivery exit broken in the long term, let alone covered in murder scenes, not if they wanted to keep the lawsuits at bay and their production high.
Don't worry about getting sued when you blow the place up. They won't.

>What do
This place seems weird, so look for an equally weird obscure entrance. A door built two feet above the pavement, a secret passage hidden under the conveyor belts. Anything that turns secret cults on.

Fly up to the roof really quick, and check out the building from above.

>>1099221
Hm...
[You are temporarily a birb]?

>>1099221
You hallucinating again mate?

The opening with the trail of blood looks promising, but then again, it's an opening with a trail of blood.

Let's see if we can find a climbable surface and then prop ourselves up to the rooftop where that door is. It looks like people left in a hurry, so it might have been left unlocked.

Pick up [ROCK]
Throw rock at window.
Attempt to climb in through broken window.

Suggestion 2024/11/04(Mon)13:32 No. 1099370 ID: 681cb5
File 173075593864.png - (85.43KB , 700x550 , 61.png )

>Fly up to the roof really quick, and check out the building from above.
What. You’re not a bird?
>This building appears to be built on liminal spaces. It may be designed to keep curious trespassers out, even at the cost of scaring away potential vendors. This is not a company that wants to make money.
This place is obviously not built to make money, let alone be owned by a proper company. Even if it once was a proper slaughterhouse, it isn’t anymore. Whatever this place is used for now can’t be good…

>The opening with the trail of blood looks promising, but then again, it's an opening with a trail of blood.
You try your best to look inside, but the darn lantern isn’t enough to see what’s inside other than moving shadows and creeping silhouettes. If only you still had a torch. Taking a better look at the garage door, you can’t figure out what the hell happened to it. It’s like someone has crumpled it together like paper? While the hole is just big enough for you to push yourself inside, the edges of it consist of sharp, jagged metal jetting out in all kinds of directions. There’s no way you can get under here without cutting yourself, most likely badly at that. If only the ground wasn’t concrete you might have been able to dig the hole bigger…

You swear you can hear someone walking around in there… or is it just some machinery? It’s hard to hear over the sound of the surrounding forest, as the harsh wind makes the trees groan and rustle.

Suggestion 2024/11/04(Mon)13:32 No. 1099371 ID: 681cb5
File 173075594855.png - (150.58KB , 700x550 , 62.png )

>Before we crawl under the garage door, maybe we should scope out the place a bit. Circle around, look to see if there are any other entrances/exits.
Taking a long walk around the complex, you do indeed notice that large part of it is heavily fire damaged. Sadly, if the damage ever was severe enough to leave an opening for you to exploit, it’s been fixed by now. Other than that, you do find a backdoor… but it’s a heavy metal door that’s locked, similar to the front one.

>Pick up [ROCK]. Throw rock at window.
While easy, there are two problems with that. First off, if there is someone in there, they will know for certain that you’re coming, and second, there aren’t any windows on the ground floor! The closes window is at least 3 meters up, maybe even 4!
>Let's see if we can find a climbable surface and then prop ourselves up to the rooftop where that door is.
…there is an old, rickety fire ladder… but it’s behind a metal fence with barbed wire on top, its net crisscrossing in odd angles, making it look like the work of a deranged spider.

Shadows moves across the windows… and a few crows flies away from a nearby tree, cawing…

I guess we're going to have to look around a bit more. Anything interesting in the containers outside? That garbage bin maybe?

What do the ruins have in the way of rubble? Something you could pile up to get over the fence? perhaps a hefty length of metal?

>>1099370

Not with that attitude!

>>1099410
Enhance knockers wingspan

Okay but seriously, look for something to cover the barbed wire. If you can't, use your sweater.

Kakroon 2024/11/08(Fri)13:44 No. 1099505 ID: 681cb5
File 173110225822.png - (115.53KB , 700x550 , 63.png )

>Enhance knockers wingspan
Your mind has snapped and you’ve become completely insane, apparently. Of course, the most insane thing to do right now is to remain sane, so that’s what you’ll do.

Thus, instead of letting your mind be consumed by the ever present madness you’re experiencing, you rather do something a bit more practical. Like looking through these containers outside the building. Sadly, they are all locked... though you are able to find a few metal poles, most likely the same used for the fence, as well as a rather thick tarp.

Next, you take a quick glance through the rubble of the burned out buildings. Most of it is but cinder and ash, or in a huge pile more akin a witches pyre, making it impossible to pull anything out of it. There are a few burned planks and a log you’re able to pull out… and is that a pair of four by twos? One has a bunch on nails in it, but the other is surprisingly untouched by the taint of this place.

But your luckiest find has to be an old tool box. Of course, it’s been rusted shut, and everything in it is just as decayed as the box itself. Still, there is a (broken) hammer, a (broken) screwdriver and a rusty pair of pliers. Sadly, not the sharp kind, so you can’t just cut a hole in the fence. Oh, and there are a box of big nails here as well.

The thought of checking the garbage bin crosses your mind, but it runs away, screaming and waving its hands in the air, as soon as you get close enough to for the smell to reach you. Whatever is in there isn’t meant for mortal minds.

Now, how will any of this help? Maybe you can throw the tarp over the barbed wire? No, it will probably still cut you… in fact; you rather find a way past the fence without even getting close to that barbed wire at all. Maybe you can get past the garage door somehow? Or reach a window? Hmm…

[Inventory:]
Attuned Flute
Music Box (without it’s windup key)
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Bottle of Grease

>>1099505
I guess the nailed plank could serve as a weapon.
You could try to use a pole to pry up the garage door, maybe... Or try to force the lock on the gate with the hammer and screwdriver. Use them like a hammer and chisel? Do you have any idea how to pick a lock? You have most of the tools needed here, you're just missing something thin enough to put into the lock and manipulate the pins.

If you can pry up the garage door you could put the plank(s) under it to keep it propped up. Hmm, you could even use the pliers and hammer to blunt the opening so it's less dangerous, but hammering it would be very loud.

Well you could twist all the barbs away, but that would take a long time. Propping up the garage door seems quickest.
And keep one of the poles as a weapon, or the nail plank. Whichever isn't too heavy.

Aw that hammer isn't broken. It's just been shortened for use with smaller paws/hands. You could use the (shortened) hammer and the screwdriver to probably bust the hinges off that door and climb the ladder. Problem is, that's gonna be LOUD!

Just try to pick a lock with that screwdriver. And keep it for now, it should work as a shiv.