Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness Part 4
The Adventurer’s Log

I had three goals to start with: Erana’s Garden, the lake and the gypsy camp. If I didn’t get distracted or otherwise waylaid by other things. But Erana’s Garden was my top priority.

After a rough encounter with a wyvern I made it. I’m really struggling to click with this one’s combat. I have my settings such that I can just let the computer take over, but I’m not entirely comfortable with that. I should try to work it out, but struggling. Or I need to slow my speed down and try to attack with spells from a distance as much as possible, but that’s never gone super well for me. I mean I’ve been able to get an attack or two off, but I always end up in the fight in the end.

Anyway, Erana’s Garden! Very pretty!



And the water tastes like wild strawberries.

Also my health bar is green because I got poisoned. Again. I was hoarding healing stuff in past games. Now I have no healing when I would absolutely be guzzling the stuff down.

I found 30! crowns in the lantern. Accepted “as a gift from Erana.”

There was a fruit tree.



But as soon as I tried to take one all the fruit vanished… I reloaded and tried a Fetch. That got me one–a Mana Fruit. Probably restores MP? The rest of the fruit vanished.

Detect Magic detected magic from the lanterns and tree. I could use Trigger to light the lanterns.



I almost missed it, but there was also a dug-up hole.



A small bush or tree you say? A Bonsai Tree perhaps?

Yes!



I think I got some points for that. And maybe something more of it will come later? It’s healthy, grew some more and adds some extra prettiness to this already pretty place, so I’m satisfied regardless.

I couldn’t find anything else to do, so I went back to exploring.

As I continued I ran into the hawk again and it even perched on a tree for a bit. It was looking for food and struggling to do so thanks to the monster. I’d like to feed it, but it didn’t seem interested in my garlic and avocado sandwiches or my corn, surprise surprise.

I also, from examining each screen, seemed to be near a strange house up on a cliff, but there was no way up to be seen from this area. I very much appreciate that doing a general examine of the area will point our points of interest nearby and in what general direction. That’s been helpful for getting around.

I got attacked by a fanged vicious bunny…



And once again struggled. I feel like my spells have been missing more often than not. I don’t know if they actually are. Or they weren’t working on the rabbit. I think they were maybe just straight up not working on it. (future note: yeah they’re immune to magic).

I was hoping to take its body for that hawk, but no such luck… even with my bag. Oh well.

I found the lake and a beautiful not suspicious at all naked woman that I totally didn’t recently read about.



Then she straight up said she was the Rusalka which were in that book at the Adventurer’s Guild. Even if I hadn’t read that, this is obviously death. I could talk to her but it all led to trying to get me to come in.

I still went for it, because you know. I had to see. Power of saving.



“Going ‘Drown’? You quickly discover that you really don’t know how to breathe water.”

What I didn’t know was if I could actually do anything with her or if I needed to just avoid this. I tried a flame dart just to see what would happen. That’d warm her up! She appeared shocked by my action and disappeared under the lake. I reloaded.

I tried offering her candy and I didn’t actually think it would work but she accepted it!



I’ve been scooping up flowers in my wandering too and I gave her one for good measure.

My gifts made her friendlier and less lethal. I was able to talk to her about more things and in fact, if I tried the use icon she’d shoo me back so she wouldn’t kill me.

She’d been here for a long time and doesn’t really know why but she can’t go anywhere else anyway. She does feel lonely, drowned men aren’t much for company, but as a Rusalka that’s her job. The lake isn’t safe to swim as there plenty of unpleasant things lurking in the deep water, aside from herself, I guess. The lake also merges with the swamp that has nastier undead than her, so be careful.

She thought she remembered a town and must have lived there once. Beyond what direction it lies in there wasn’t anything else she could say about it.

She also asked me to please come visit her again sometime. Nice to have a friend to talk to, so I guess I’ve made a Rusalka friend now?

I went online to see if I could find info about the combat that would make more sense to me. It’s set to Arcade and I switched it to Strategy to see if that’ll make more sense to me. Honestly, tempted to just knock the skill level as low as it will go and let the computer handle it.

While looking I accidentally spotted that Dr. Cranium is the one to give healing stuff. Which means, there ought to be a way to get through his door already! Thanks to that, I decided to leave off looking for the camp for now and go back to town to try to figure that out. I don’t really want to risk wandering the wilderness at night yet anyway without any healing stuff. I also still needed to have whatever that night encounter I referenced in the first post is too, so I went back to town to tackle Cranium’s door again.

I had the TRAP and the baby antwerps. Maybe I needed to find a way to catch an antwerp? I also had that bag, so maybe I could use it to catch one with bait and the TRAP machine could tell me what that bait is? With the flying aardvark its answer was to teach some termites to fly. I thought I hit up all the combinations of answers but maybe not, so I tried again and tried to be more systematic about it.

Turns out I misunderstood! When it said the aardvark I was supposed to say no to get more options. That was very silly of me. Next up was chocolate moose (“We suggest using whipped cream on your moose, um, mousse.). Then came the antwerp and if I said no it said "Lucky you!” And there weren’t anymore. Progress!

So on the Antwerp path it narrowed things down. Surely not a full-size adult antwerp?? No, but I said yes first to see the result of course:

“Try collecting checks instead. They don’t bounce nearly as often.”

Then I got to baby antwerps. “Bouncing baby Antwerps are avid avocado eaters.”

I baited the TRAP with avocado from one of my sandwiches, and opened the door to release them. The TRAP caught one, but then I wasn’t sure what to do… though more types of things to catch came up with the TRAP, so that may be good to keep in mind.

Ah, the door to the maze. The maze is an antwerp maze.





Oh boy.

With a lot of trial and error I managed to get the key but then I had to get this little fellow back to the exit and guess who hit the exit button and had to get the key again? Cranium, you’re on thin ice, my man.

But I got it, I got it, good little antwerp. I had to do the key picture again but it was at least reduced to just the key hole part. Still… CRANIUUUM, shaking my fist.

Into the lab…



He thought I was Igor at first who sometimes comes in to help in the lab, before he realized, but was friendly with me at least. Not a gnome. Which, yeah, I wasn’t really expecting anymore, but it would have been funny.



Now there’s a worthy quest! (I say as if I actually drink tea.)

Once I looked around there–there was an 'ahead’ joke about the skull because of course there was, what else is skull decor for–I talked to him.

On my personal options, aside from the usual greet and tell about yourself, I also had tell about magic, so of course I had to do that.



We might not be off to the bestest of starts here. He’d just looove the WIT. I wish it’d let me cast magic here. Let me juggle some lights at him.

We talked about science. We talked about the elements… including none other than pizza.



Pizza element! That was in a book in Shapeir. A pizza elemental specifically if I recall.

“Pizza represents the essence of well-roundedness and regaining strength. Most importantly, you can have it delivered in under half an hour in most area!”

He can also make healing and poison cure drinks (NOT magic), but he forgot the formulas for the main ingredient. He names the ingredient then you have to use the game manual to get corresponding formula of elements. Good old copy protection…



They’re time consuming so he can only make one of each per day, but at least they’re free I guess? Not that I’m struggling for money.

He was also happy to give me an empty flask–“always delighted to assist scientific research of any kind”.

I got him on another rant about magic and he was bemoaning how gullible people are. He got given a scroll by someone saying it was a magical spell. Poppycock! He gave that to me too “as a reminder that Magic is figment of fevered imagination.”

It was indeed a scroll. I learned Glide. That sounds exciting.



I would love to see this man enter the Wizard’s Institute of Technocery and see what happens. The drama. Though I suppose they might just boot him out like they did to me a few times, but how do you explain that with your science? Them phenomena.

We moved on to other topics, like the cemetery being a useful source of materials for his experiments. Ah. He sure is trying to reanimate the dead and needs some Essential Etheric Fluid.



Are we getting into Frankenstein territory here? It sounds like we’re headed to Frankenstein territory.

He also wants to brew the perfect cup of tea but that’s been eluding him. You know, just an extra quest alongside some necromancy, I mean, science.

He is also NOT MAD! Just perturbed about the world situation and lack of respect. But not mad.

As I said goodbye he asked me to tell Igor to bring him the fluid if I saw him, which means there is no if here. Obviously I’d go directly to him. That was my intent anyway; there was nothing new when I went to talk to him.

I went back to the inn and the gnome jester was there!



He’s staying at the inn for a while until he finds something. His name is Punny Bones… He claimed to be a pro punster but I sure wasn’t seeing it! He’s up for me visiting and maybe we could have some laughs. He’s got a million jokes, but can’t remember most of them.

It showed.



Once I sat he put his show on…

He needs lessons from Keapon Laffin. Or Yorick.



“You may as well laugh now. This act doesn’t get any funnier.”

He is honest. It sure didn’t.



Well, that adds another person to my rounds, but he is not up to Gnomish standards so far!

Maybe he’s here to find his humour.

The innkeeper was also thoroughly unimpressed.

Nor were the usual trio. And Punny interjected on every topic of conversation….



I poked outside briefly but nothing new, so I went back and Punny had gone to his room so I went too.

And got zapped for knocking by his burglar alarm. I knocked! jerk.



His room is quite something yet about what I’d expect. The garlic is smiling…



Thank you, narrator.

Okay I… I sort of liked the smiling garlic. I think. They remind me of Rotten Tomato or the singing stone in King’s Quest VI.

I did learn some information off him though. I told him about my adventures and he particularly wanted to hear about Spielburg. Turned out he was cursed by Baba Yaga and if I hadn’t made her mad he never would have told the joke that made her take his humour away. He’s “comedically challenged”, “a dweeb dunce”, “vexed with a hex”. So, he IS here to find his humour! My snark was actually right.

I guess that means he has an excuse for his awfulness. I guess.

I also scooped up a rubber chicken. No sign of a pulley.

Then I slept in one hour increments and tried some spells while waiting for midnight to have that night encounter I didn’t want to miss and risk getting dead-ended. I remembered to check that glide spell too. It only works on liquid so… that confused me as to what it actually does.

Then I thought of trying my juggling lights spell with Punny, but no reaction, boo. He did have a little bit more to say though. He heard Baba Yaga landed her hut somewhere southeast of here. He couldn’t find her himself though and also warned me to watch out. She gets real mad. I might be in some trouble when I find her given the grudge she must have against me.

But enough time passed to get my encounter…



Who or what are you up there…?

He was a Domovoi and protector of the Inn. Aw. Most people don’t normally see him but my hero is maybe something special? A hero for one.



Things are bad. Things aren’t good for the inn. The Innkeeper and his wife are sad. Mordavia is very sad. There’s too much Dark Magic for Domovoi to help. He wouldn’t elaborate on the Dark Magic though.

In general he didn’t want to talk too much yet and said perhaps another night. I thought though, since Punny Bones changed when I left and came back, maybe if I slept for just an hour he’d change too? And he did and had a lot more information for me.

Many things need my help: Gnome, Nikolai, Yuri and Bella (Innkeeper and his wife), Olga and Boris. Others. Even the Domovoi needs help.

Not far is a very bad place with a door that would try to kill me and I needed a Magic Symbol. The Monastery–I already found that my friend. There’s a Domovoi there–not alive and not dead, but very dry. That “sculpture” I couldn’t do anything about before? He’ll see me again after I help that Domovoi. I will!

He also had some other advice like to find the Forest Leshy and if I play games with Leshy, Leshy will help me.

Also dead things good and bad.
image

So, I’ll need to help someone who’s dead? Anna? If she is indeed dead and I need to help Nikolai maybe helping her would help him.

He also talked about the Rusalka–killed by an untrue lover and told me if I was kind maybe she wouldn’t kill me, but I’ve already handled that! Proactive Rusalka befriending here.

And the castle is a bad place I can’t be going to yet. Oops. I would need to be very strong, smart and powerful and know many things. It’s too dangerous right now. I went! I survived! I just didn’t… really accomplish anything.

In the castle there are many dead things and many undead.



I don’t know who Tanya is and he didn’t elaborate. The Master’s daughter maybe? Or the kid referenced in the castle? Who may be one and the same.

But I have an actual reason to go find the gypsies now.

A good list of things to do and look out for from this fellow and I need to help him! Poor thing. He’s sweet, makes up for the Gnome disappointment I just had.

I needed sleep then it was time to go see about saving that dried-out Domovoi.

Fields of Mistria

Daily Challenge - 2024-12-06
Score: 157 / 300
🟦🟩🟩 🟦 = 59 | Super Mario 64 DS
⬛⬛🟪 🟩 = 41 | R | The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes
🟦🟩🟧 🟦 = 57 | P | Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Play @ https://howlongtobeat.com/play

Last round was so good, back to eh

Daily Challenge - 2024-12-05
Score: 244 / 300
🟦🟦🟦 🟪 = 82 | P | The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
🟪🟦🟪 🟦 = 90 | R | Wandersong
🟦🟦🟦 🟦 = 72 | S | Truberbrook

Play @ https://howlongtobeat.com/play

Did one run of Pipe. I can see the appeal and trying multiple times, but I personally don't really like the feel. The bounce back just sort of got me irritated ^^;

I think your last three posts on this thread have been from Highland Song :P

I don't remember when I even last did one, so I'm not surprised if I accidentally repeated, oops

Highland Song

Correct

Thomas Was Alone

Daily Challenge - 2024-12-04
Score: 209 / 300
🟩🟧🟧 🟧 = 41 | S | Katawa Shoujo
🟪🟪🟪 🟩 = 89 | R | Never Alone
🟦🟦🟪 🟩 = 79 | P | Chorus

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I never know what to do with VNs for time

Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness Part 3
The Adventurer’ Log

A new day in Mordavia.

I ate some breakfast–laced with garlic–and headed out to the Burgomeister being surprised I was still alive and here. How comforting. I chatted with him again. Nikolai won’t accept Anna is gone, but he did say missing, so maaaybe she’s not actually dead? He noted there used to only be wyverns around but now there’s lots of monsters. He thinks Dr. Cranium is a madman.

I went to the general store and had more questions to ask Olga. Dr. Cranium is a very strange man with strange experiments in his back room that no ones knows about except perhaps for Igor who won’t talk. Igor helps Dr. Cranium at night and she thinks he’s up to no good. There was some kind of scandal with the burgomeister’s grandmother long ago… Otherwise nothing new. So, I did some shopping.

I bought five rations – avocado and garlic sandwiches… I also got a shopping bag, another clove of garlic, a couple candies, oil, the broom and pie pan. Basically something of everything she had on offer. Better to have now than need and not have later!

I was a bit of a loss for what exactly to do next. So, I decided to go try talking to Igor again. Maybe I could get the key or clue about a key for Dr. Cranium’s door off him? I couldn’t even ask him about anything to do with Dr. Cranium, but when I asked about rumours he said he not know anything, he not know Olga’s husband ran off years back. Oops.

I’ve heard about the cemetery a few times now, so I decided to go see if I could find that.

On my way I got startled by a hawk. Then I arrived at the cemetery and a gravestone got hit by lightning?? Which startled me again. I couldn’t see anything significant about the grave though.



A climbable tree.



In other words: Not Me.


No. This was said so gravely too.

Aside from that, there was also the Borgov Crypt of which the door could be interacted with. Surprisingly my Open spell worked and caused more lightning strikes but those could just be a special effect (narrator’s words, not mine!) and I entered…



I looked at the Borgov crest, but I assumed I’d need more information first…



I found a keyhole in one of the knight sculptures so I was thinking solving the crest may reveal a key for it? I still tried an Open spell but it was locked by stronger magic than mine.

I checked the crest again and while poking around it I guess accidentally got a hint to check the way the family name was given outside the crypt. When I kept fiddling it warned me not to do that unless I needed another hint. Whoops. That said as soon he said it I realized, Borgov as in: Blue, orange, red, green, orange, violet. I still went outside to double check I hadn’t missed anything else, and Igor was here. Not much to tell me though except he has the key to the crypt, but don’t disturb it. Well, too late for that and I don’t need they key which he wasn’t about to give me anyway.

Borgov in colours was indeed the answer and it did reveal a key which I used on the statue which revealed a path deeper into the mountains that led to a castle chamber.



Um, I don’t know if I should be doing this, but I guess I’m here now!

I found a bent candle on the chandelier that opens the passageway back up, so I was relieved to not be stuck at least.

I tried one of the doors and it creaked loudly. So… oil may be in order here. Nothing happened this time, but… But everything was loud and scary. I could also look through all the doors’ keyholes or listen at them.

I went through a couple rooms and found a tower and got attacked by bats. And I got poisoned. And I have no form of healing… nothing to do but press on! Even though I don’t know why I’m here!

At the top was a room with a bookshelf on top of which was a crooked crest I could turn for another secret passage.



This place felt huge. I felt lost quite quickly. The poison wore off though.



A stained glass wheel pattern. That may be important… I didn’t figure out how at this time.

The other door led to more tower stairs down, and goons at the bottom. As I turned right back around to get out of there, I got to hear a conversation and it’s probably a damn good thing I oiled the hinges. Though I may have missed a death. I didn’t think to reload to try. I was basically a walking ball of tension in there the whole time.

The Master is a She. There’s a kid they like but she’s being kept all the way on the other side of the castle. And…



Ad Avis… they don’t like him. Good to confirm he is here.

They’re guarding a dungeon even though it’s empty (good to know), because that’s their job and what else would they do?

I guess I needed to find my way to the other side of the castle.

I found another interesting room. There was even some money in the cabinet. They’d all been empty so far. More importantly:



A giant safe. I used my Open spell, which set off a small explosion… I took some damage but survived. That said, let’s try that at a distance this time. Yeah, that was better.



15 crowns! That’s a whole lotta money. A pity about the papers being deteriorated.

Moving on, I had a ghost pass through me, eek.



(once again, questioning if I should even be here…)

I found the main hall. From there a bedroom that appeared not to have been used a in a long time for the dust on everything and the mortared up window. There was a chest. I went for it. A ghost appeared.



It turned into a fight.



I got my ass handed to me.

I tried again with a Calm spell (you never know) and an Open spell which set off another trap, but the ghost attacked again. Leaving that place alone for now.

From the main hall it was a quick way back to where I started. On one hand, good. On the other, uhhh what now? I got a little information, but I didn’t exactly find anything though I may have missed some rooms.

Still, the sun was starting to get low and I didn’t want to get caught out at night, so I went back to town. Maybe I’d be able to get new info.

I was able to tell Olga about the Gatekeeper–turns out he’s Boris Stovich, so her husband wasn’t just dead or gone like I thought. He’s a good for nothing according to her and if I see him again to tell him “he’s a lazy louse and swamp scum besides.” I suppose I should go talk to him again too. The next day… when night isn’t coming.

She wants me to to keep telling her about my adventures. Someone has to stay informed. Or be ready to gossip. She’s definitely been my rumour mill here.

Which, speaking of, I asked her about rumours. The innkeeper’s daughter was stolen by the gypsies, she thinks.

The last Borgov disappeared under suspicious circumstances.

About vampires: it’s said the strangers at the castle are never seen by day and can’t stand the smell of garlic.

About Nikolai: his wife went missing before even Olga was married. Probably eaten by something. He’s been crazy since.

I went to see the burgomeister. He still seems exasperated and mistrustful with me but getting more willing to talk! I asked about Mordavia and got some more information. There’s a lovely lake southwest of town that used to be popular but he doesn’t know what it’s like now. Southeast is Erana’s Garden.



If I get caught at night too far from town I should get there for safety. He doesn’t really want something to happen to me; he is warming up! I assume this is like Erana’s Peace. He didn’t want to talk about Erana’s death though. He even said to be careful in the forest when I left!

Back to the inn with me for more garlic and veggie stew. And another talk with the three farmers. They waxed poetical about elephants when I asked.



They used to herd them. Wonderful times. Good times. Lovely creatures, except when kicking down houses in over-excitement. Sad times stop talking about it.

They remind me just a little bit of the men of low moral fiber in Secret of Monkey Island…

I decided to go to bed but it wasn’t late enough to actually sleep the night away so I did some experimenting with magic in my room where I am allowed to cast. And I tried to levitate.



Potential to levitate in and out of my window at night? I waited around until night and tried. It did work!

There didn’t seem to be much around at night right now, but at the monastery I got:



There wasn’t anything different inside.

Still, knowing I can levitate in and out of my window to get in and out at night when everything’s locked up is very good to know. The ledge below the window I was paranoid is maybe for thieves and fighters?

After that little nightly stroll, it was bedtime.

Day 3. I figured since I didn’t know what else to do, I’d go check out some of these points of interest. I’d like to know about that lake and I definitely wanted to find Erana’s Garden asap. There was also the gypsy camp… And I wanted to go to talk to Boris the Gatekeeper.

Before I left town I did a quick round of NPCs and got a little more about the monastery from Igor.



Then it was time to go.

Boris first.

I told him about Olga. He blushed, but then added that she was always opinionated and he got tired of her complaints.



So you just vanished on her??

Nothing more came of that. At least not yet. Maybe I’ll be able to talk more about him with Olga when I’m next back there.

I really wanted to find Erana’s Garden next. Besides curiosity, given how often I went to Erana’s Peace in the first game, I can only assume knowing where the garden is here will be nothing but a good thing. Plus there could be something useful there.

So, next time it’s really time to start exploring this place. Garden, lake and possibly camp. Or whatever else I stumble over anyway.

Daily Challenge - 2024-12-03
Score: 183 / 300
🟦🟩🟧 🟦 = 60 | The World Ends With You
🟧🟪🟪 ⬛ = 59 | R | Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior
🟦🟦🟩 🟩 = 64 | P | Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition

Play @ https://howlongtobeat.com/play

P.E. Noire is very silly as I'd hoped. I think I found everything (some stuff didn't seem to have a use?) and quarters, but I didn't notice how many quarters I had at the end

I gave up on the last stage of Arcane Beak using just the mouse. I tried again later in the day with keyboard and mouse instead and it went way better and more easily. Not totally my thing but cute game and fun for the short spell it lasts. And shooty magic bird--not gonna complain about that. I also appreciate it lets you retry the stage you're on; it's short enough I could have seen it making you start over or having a life system. I didn't need to retry when I switched to kbm but still.

Daily Challenge - 2024-12-02
Score: 176 / 300
🟥🟥🟥 🟥 = 15 | S | Tacoma
🟥🟪🟦 🟪 = 69 | R | Human Resource Machine
🟪🟪🟦 🟪 = 92 | P | Rusty Lake Paradise

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Got better than how I was starting to worry it would go

Daily Challenge - 2024-12-01
Score: 227 / 300
🟪🟪🟩 🟩 = 76 | Mega Man 5
🟦🟩🟪 🟩 = 75 | R | Evil West
🟦🟦🟩 🟪 = 76 | P | Dragon's Dogma II

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Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness Part 2
The Adventurer’s Log

Town time! And looking around a bit outside town at the gate. I got an ear of corn. I tried talking to the corn, but I guess it didn’t want an earful.

The scarecrow on the other hand…


Snrk.

I couldn’t take it though because that would be “straw-bery!”. Sigh (appreciatively, please note all wordplay-related sighs are ones of appreciation, the bigger the sigh, the groanier the groan the better).

I was met with a surprisingly pretty sight on entering. I think I’m still spooked by the beginning stuff and trust nothing.



The flowers are beautiful and out-of-season. The staff is magic. When I tried Detect Magic, I sensed magic radiating from the staff and protecting the area.

I have to try to touch everything so naturally that included that staff. There was a woman’s voice:

“This I must first do – the sacrifice of life for one of love.”

I also tried talking to it:

“My destiny is not yet fulfilled. One life for a death, and one death for a life.”

When I did a look at the general surrounding area I got a familiar sense of peace and harmony and the flowers’ scent reminded of Erana’s Peace. Yeah, I think it’s safe to say the staff and voice are Erana’s. More Erana lore in this game?

I headed to the buildings and got startled by a man, the Burgomeister. In my defence he yelled at me and I’m still expecting everything to go wrong.



Burgomeister apparently translates to something like sheriff or mayor. It’s his job to know everyone and thing that goes here. Yeah, yeah, I’d get to him but I had to examine things first.



He laughed in this narration! And it took me a moment to get it. SIGH.

Enough of that, I talked to the Burgomeister. He wasn’t happy with my greeting. I told him about myself and how I got here. He didn’t believe me that I’d made it out of the cave alive or that it had been open. Interesting that those jaws normally stay closed, I suppose. We weren’t off to a good start here, though. I switched to asking him things instead. His name is Dmitri Ivanov. He also told me about the swamp blocking the southern roads now keeping anyone from leaving or coming. Except me. He informed me of the inn and shop and told me to use them to get what I need then wanted me to get out, although that doesn’t seem to be much of a possibility with the roads blocked by the swamp. They don’t need strangers causing more troubles. I fix trouble! I mean more trouble might happen first… but I’ll fix it!



Oh I’m already trusting nothing. He warned me not to get caught out at night as few can survive a Mordavian night or stay sane anyway. As for not going out at night though, well, things happen…

But basically he boiled down to get your stuff and preferably skeddadle.

I moved on to the general store in which part of the description on entering was “The first thing you notice are the cats–they seem to be everywhere!”

Cats!



Now things were looking up. A description of a knitting basket here: “This used to be a knitting basket, but now seems to have become a cat basket. Amazing how that tends to happen!” Truly.

There was a load of garlic. “Either garlic is one of the most popular products here or the shopkeeper ordered way too much and hasn’t been able to get rid of it.”

Or, y'know, vampire protection. Just sayin’.

I tried to talk to a cat. “You attempt to have a meaningful dialogue with the cat. It says "meow.”“ Hearing all this narrated is great.

Then I finally introduced myself to the owner who is Olga Stovich. She also reiterated that strangers aren’t very welcome here, but she thought it was good to see a new face again. I’m glad someone is welcoming!

She had a load of products I could buy.



She had garlic flavoured candy (ew) as well, but sold out. She noted the potential protective and health benefits of garlic, hint hint. The pie pan and broom don’t seem like things I’d need but come on, they’ve gotta have a use.

I also asked her about rumours.



The innkeeper’s wife is Bella and the one to really run the inn while her husband, Yuri, just gives the orders. Sounds like things aren’t the best between them. They lost their only child…

The castle was abandoned for years and it was only four years ago that strangers moved in. Hmmm… shorter time span than I thought after talking to the gatekeeper. No one knows what’s going on there. She doesn’t think anything good, wise woman. It was at this point it occurred to me that I don’t know how long I was in that cave before waking up. Concerning…

Werewolves are gypsies (in her opinion). Mmph… 90s game, 90s game… Nothing can kill a werewolf except silver or magic and she warned me to be careful at night. Their camp’s not far from here. I doubt it’s actually them but we’ll see…

The monastery is a bad place that should have been torn down. Stay away. Many strangers have asked about it and never returned from it.

I had a bunch of shopping to do but I wanted to find out what the inn costs would be first. And generally explore for anything else to buy before spending my money. No repeats of QFG 1 money woes.

When I exited the Burgomeister was gone from his window. Don’t know if that means anything.

I got roped in to paying for my room and board immediately at the inn after the innkeeper’s initial surprise to see me.



A week paid off though! So I won’t have to worry about it for a little while. That’s nice.

That left me with 16 crowns and 68 kopeks. There’s 100 kopeks to a crown so I was richer than I figured. …thanks to looting the skeletons in the cave, but they’re not gonna be using it anymore…? It’ll be for a good cause!

I told them how I got here. He just said they didn’t trust magic or users of it. As USUAL. But I guess that’s fair here.

[Slightly future me: I realized I didn’t even try casting so I went back, but no luck. I was told it was too dangerous to try during the day and the townsfolk don’t trust magic. That does imply I can try at night though? And this generally stings less when I’ve already gotten to do stuff. I can also use magic in at least empty buildings too.]

There was a lot of garlic hanging in this place too.

There was a group of three to talk to but while they were quite chatty, they weren’t very informative… I did find out there’s a cemetery east of town though.

I went to check out my inn room. Mooore garlic.



And a narrow ledge outside under my window. Side-eyeing that. I have a storage chest if needed.

I realized I didn’t actually talk to the innkeeper and he did have some information.

Beyond the shopkeeper and burgomeister whom I’ve already met he spoke of the gravedigger, Nikolai, and Dr. Cranium.

Nikolai is a harmless old man who wanders around looking for his dead wife. Aw.

Dr. Cranium came several years before the swamp wrecked the pass. No one trusts him or knows much about him. It’s rumoured he conducts strange experiments. Nooo, with a name like that?

The gravedigger’s strange but a good carver of tombstones and a good digger.

I still had some daylight left so I headed to the north part of town.



The gravedigger and an ominous building. Score?

Of course I started examining the scary building first. There was a bas relief of a creature like a six-legged octopus. Uh oh. It gave the creepy feeling of looking right back at me. There was also an indentation in the door of a set of six curvy spokes radiating from a central point… both are describing my Dark One Sign? That can’t be good. I also wasn’t gonna touch that just yet.

I went to talk to Igor the Gravedigger first.



He’s by a boarded up building. It was the Adventurer’s Guild but there are no adventurers. So no guild.

He didn’t have much to say about the town. He works at the graveyard at night, the graveyard shift, har har. The work is piling up too – just some graveyard humour.

He totally knows no rumours.



I’m certainly getting curious about this Dr. Cranium.

And he got fierce about the monastery: bad building. Bad, bad, bad. How soon am I gonna end up there?

Still avoiding that building for the moment I moved on to another section of town and found Nikolai.



Of course his dead wife’s name was Anna. Of course! What is with the number of dead Annas in media… Cursed name.

I couldn’t get anything out of him but him asking after Anna. Poor fellow.

Dr. Cranium’s place was also here…with a big nose sculpture over his door. And I had to follow a pattern of bells to open it.



There’s a…robot?



What am I getting into?

I examined the device…



Hmm…

But it can be used to identify animals and advice to catch it? You answer a short series of different questions: is it alive, fast and vicious or silly? And it gives different results. Alive, fast and silly got me a flying aardvark. If it’s alive, fast, not vicious or silly, why bother catching it?



I don’t want to get my hopes up but… but could Dr. Cranium be a gnome? Gnome was my first immediate thought when I saw the giant nose over the door.

When I examined the door to his laboratory I got a note about only being able to enter by prior appointment or demonstration of superior intelligence. When I tried unlocking it I got…



No. No, no no, absolutely not. I don’t even know what image it’s trying to make! I hate these!

Okay, it wasn’t actually a slide puzzle like I thought. You just swap two pieces at any time anywhere. But if you exit it resets the whole thing.

I figured it out.



…but I didn’t have the key so I couldn’t do anything.

I explored some more and let loose some baby antwerps from the right door.



So I got bounced on but was okay as they were so little. Some kept bouncing around after this. Oops.

The other door led to some kind of rat maze without the rat and I couldn’t enter.

I couldn’t find a key… So, hoping I wasn’t missing something in there, I left for now.

I went back to the scary building which is the monastery, oops, I didn’t realize. I tried to use my symbol, but Igor warned me off.

Then I tried to listen at the door anyway, and got grabbed by the statue of the octopus-y thing.



I was dead dead dead.



But I was right about actually using the Dark One Sign with the indentation of the door. That did work and I was able to enter.



Not that I have a known reason to yet, but gotta explore right?

There was an alcove above the door that might have held something very important. There were also some of those symbols from the arch near the cave above the door.

I tried a Detect Magic. I’m enjoying that it actually gives me some useful results or at least more knowledge.



The object is a sculpture that fits the description of a "Domovoi” except for being dried out and unmoving… Maybe something I’ll learn of later?

I couldn’t move the sculpture, even with magic. I can only assume this is something to deal with once I have more information. And items.

I was headed back to the General Store, but realized I never actually entered the Burgomeister’s place, so I did that and had a talk.

I was able to ask about the Adventurer’s Guild. It’s been closed as the swamp has prevented any adventurers from coming anymore but he gave me the key, so I could take a look around. Surprisingly generous of him.



He also reiterated the whole swamp deal, that it was formed from heavy rains and there’s essentially undead there. Yeah, I saw those hands…

He still doesn’t trust me and would send me away if the pass was clear, but it’s not so he’s just keeping an eye on me.

Adventurer’s Guild ho! Yeah, the guild wasn’t looking in great shape. Sad. But traditional prop Moose Head! Oh, but it was a Mordavian Moose. With fangs. I, I don’t think moose need fangs. That’s too much.



But I started getting warnings about feeling hungry so I went back to the inn for some food–garlic stew with vegetables–and as I left again I was warned to knock now as they lock up at night. And another warning of the dangers of night. I just wanted to explore the guild first!

There were books to read including one about the creatures here like the necrotaurs–scary. And Rusalka–the spirit of a murdered unmarried woman who try avenge themselves by drowning men foolish enough to approach. There was also the Leshy who play practical jokes and riddle games but can be helpful to those it likes.

I could sign the adventurer’s logbook, always gotta do that. The buckets are like an exercise machine I could use and I think it got me some strength points. The frame above the bookshelf was empty and might have a secret passage but I couldn’t figure out a way to access it yet.

The logbook also had entries to read about Piotyr and the Dark Ones Cult. Piotyr was a paladin and led the armies against the Chernovy Cult outside the Dark One’s Cave. The Cult members became grotesque monsters causing many of the soldiers to panic and run. The battle was nearly lost when Piotyr heard Erana’s voice “By all my Will, I banish you…” she was cut off but the Cult fled. Piotyr went into the cave but could only find the remains of the Cult members and Erana’s magical staff, but no other sign of her.



Piotyr brought the staff back to the town square where a garden of flowers instantly grew around it. He was going to seek out the Rituals of the Dark Ones and destroy them but there were no more entries after that.

Well, now I knew how Erana’s staff got there… Though clearly still missing some bits of the story.

It was turning to actual night and I headed back to the inn. I would like to explore at night too, but only after I get a bit more established…

The chatty trio (who feel like they may be a reference but if so I have no idea what) I talked to earlier were back. I learned there was another stranger–a Jester. A Gnome!! Not seen him yet though… So, I guess Dr. Cranium probably isn’t a gnome. Unless there are two! Probably not? But maybe? I’m pretty sure ‘man’ has been said in regards to Dr. Cranium though, so probably not. (But I live in hope.)

I went to my room to sleep. I missed it before but I was able to take a clove of garlic from all the garlic draping over everything in here. I never did get to shopping. I’ll do that in the morning if nothing else comes up first.

One day in the town of Mordavia done.

November 2024 Update
November all wrapped up! And been feeling very wintry which is very nice after the nothingburger hardly any snow winter we got last year.

This was entirely an adventure game month in terms of completions. All that point and click action for me. I also added more to my wishlist because I kinda want to play Shadowgate and Beyond Shadowgate after watching them, and maybe Uninvited and Déjà Vu too since they’ll come with Shadowgate (8-Bit Adventure Anthology volume 1). I don’t know when but eventually.

But anyway November wrap-up.

--

New/Added Games:
The Bookwalker (Steam)
Death and Taxes (Steam)
Castlevania Anniversary Collection (Epic)
Fields of Mistria (Steam)

--

Everything played throughout the month
Even games that I only dabbled in for a session or just a few minutes

The Curse of Monkey Island
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie
Donkey Kong Country 2
Tales of Monkey Island
A Highland Song
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
Sandwich Quest
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
Sea of Stars
Fields of Mistria
Bug Fables
Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness
Return to Monkey Island

Games Finished:
The Curse of Monkey Island*: Oct. 26 – Nov. 02
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War: Oct. 06 – Nov. 09
Sandwich Quest: Nov. 10
Tales of Monkey Island*: Nov. 02 - 23
*replay
--

2024 Started but Unfinished Collection
Number of Games: 18

--

The Adventurer’s Log Progress
Quest for Glory III finished Quest for Glory Shadows of Darkness in progress! Should finish it and hopefully start playing V this month.

--

Currently Playing
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie
Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness
Return to Monkey Island

--

Highlights of the Month
I’m not done it yet, but Quest for Glory Shadows of Darkness has been a great time so far! Especially after III fell a bit flat for me.

I’ve also really been enjoying Fields of Mistria. I’ve not been into the farm sim genre much in ages, but something about this one has grabbed me back. The animals are so cute and the NPCs have had a lot of dialogue which is really nice.

--

Backlog: 161 – At least I broke out of the 150 range stagnant place…? To go the wrong way in going up haha. My library of options grows!
Paused: 46
Retired: 11
2024 Completions: 30

4 for me this month:

The Curse of Monkey Island (replay)
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
Sandwich Quest
Tales of Monkey Island (replay)

It was a point and click adventure month for actual completions

Daily Challenge - 2024-11-30
Score: 154 / 300
🟥🟧🟧 🟦 = 39 | P | South Park: The Fractured But Whole
🟦🟧🟪 🟦 = 70 | R | Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition
🟧🟧🟧 🟦 = 45 | S | Marvel's Midnight Suns

Play @ https://howlongtobeat.com/play

That’s actually pretty funny. With all that went down, in terms of the big question I haven’t missed much. At least I’m caught up!

Started reading a bit further back, I think I figured out that lioness artwork you were scrutinizing. It looks like she’s sort of lounging with her back a little arched. It’s like we’re really seeing a side view with her legs obscured in front of her so they’re curled up underneath her. If you look closely you can kind of make out the curve of a left leg where it meets a hip.

It took a minute of staring but I was also quite puzzled as to what they were going for.

You didn't miss a whole lot in general tbh... 3's not all bad, but definitely felt kind of flat and playing Shadows of Darkness is highlighting that flatness even more for me in comparison.
I'm still having a little trouble making sense of it, but I think you're probably right. She was driving me a little crazy!

Daily Challenge - 2024-11-29
Score: 172 / 300
🟪🟦🟪 🟦 = 86 | R | WALL-E
🟥🟥🟥 🟦 = 31 | S | Tom Clancy's The Division
🟧🟩🟧 🟪 = 55 | P | NORCO

Play @ https://howlongtobeat.com/play

I got off to such a good start...

Just a quick note to appreciate a fellow adventure-game fan. Love all the old Sierra games like QFG4 - and the old LucasArts games like the Monkey Island series was well (Indiana Jones and the Fate of the Atlantis is one of the best!) I replay the Space Quest series, King's Quest and Monkey Island series from time to time - they are all wonderful in their own ways. Their heyday is over but at least we can still replay them.

Monkey Island is one of my favourites series :D. I've just gotten into Sierra stuff the past couple years with King's Quest and now Quest for Glory. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is in my backlog!

Been super busy and haven’t had a lot of game time lately, so things look quite a bit darker than when I was here last. It was already somewhat of a horror with all of the silly ways you could die, I suppose it was just a matter of time until the graphics matched! I’m a little confused as to how our hero ended up down there so I’ve got some catching up to do.

Things went wrong at the end of the third game, but how and why we ended up in this cave is still a mystery!

Darker atmosphere, but a lot of humour throughout so far, the puns and wordplay! I'm loving it so far.

Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness Part 1
The Adventurer’s Log

Release Date: 1994 (CD version)

It’s time for Quest for Glory IV after the cliffhanger of III. What happened to Cinder Win? Where did he end up? At least we saved Tarna, the Simbani and the Leopardmen? Was that indeed the missing Ad Avis in the end screen? What about the hooded figure? Or vice versa?

Unlike the past games in this series, this is a blind playthrough. I pretty much know nothing about this entry except we have voice acting now. John Rhys-Davies is the narrator which is kind of wild to me. I didn’t know he’d done anything for games.

The only other thing I saw from checking forums for any set-up things is there needs to something done at night by a certain point or you can hit a dead-end? Or there’s a bug that’ll result in a dead-end? I don’t know the details, but I’ll be attempting a night thing for that reason at some point.

I’m excited and weirdly a little nervous, but if there is a series from Sierra in which to tackle a game blind, Quest for Glory is the kinder choice.

The game opens by swooping over mountains before focusing on the above title screen with wolf (werewolf?) howls. They’re getting fancier! And really setting the tone here for something Transylvania-esque.

Yeah okay, just to nail this home we’ve got a zombie looking hand cursor going here.



While I’m then met with the dulcet tones of John Rhys-Davies telling me to import my character and welcoming me to Shadows of Darkness, which was making me giggle a bit because shadows of darkness is hardly welcoming sounding. I’m enjoying this game’s version of the main theme though. Got kind of a slightly spooky-edged rock thing going here https://youtu.be/ZBOYz851_mY?si=e2X-lq9qvNtBMMfs.

I imported but my stats were all boosted. I guess I wasn’t at the base levels expected in… anything? They’re all higher than where I left them except communication is the same at 228. I guess whatever happened to Cinder did some boosting too! I’ll go with that explanation. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this. I mean yay better stats but he’s suddenly a lot stronger and dodgier than my wimp. I also had 100 points to spend.

After spending my points here’s what was I sitting with.



Time to see what the hell has happened to us.

I woke in a spooky skeletal place…



I lost all my stuff! I have armour and one crown–the new currency. I was left with questions:

Where are you?
How did you get here?
Who brought you here?
And how in blazes can you get out of here?



That gave me a laugh and I’m sure curious to find out!

Large cave… with half petrified skeletal corpses embedded in the floors and walls. And my look icon is a big ol’ eyeball. We’re definitely getting the dark spooky atmosphere here. I should have tried to get this game started closer to Hallowe'en.

I found an altar to the Dark One. And I got a torch, a magic torch. Inventory!

I decided I needed to brighten things up with a little light-show.



I mean it didn’t do anything, but shiny! Keapon will always be with me…

The door out was controlled by a kind of valve thing that I couldn’t make out in the dark. But I could use my good old trusty flame dart to light the sconce then light my torch.



Mmm spooky green flames.

But then I needed something sharp to pry open the valve. I found some flint and some money around the bones. Crowns and Kopeks are the new currency for this game. The flint didn’t work either on the valve. Then I remembered I’m a wizard dammit and tried my open spell… to failure. The door was bound by magic. More hunting around netted me more money and a dagger though. (I later also realized the dagger and flint is probably the solution to lighting the torch if you don’t have magic.) The dagger worked on the valve opening the door.

Leading me to another charming room. And me hoping I found everything in the previous.



I had more stone valve doors, an altar and an exit to the south.

There was also another corpse and a square of canvas sheet. I took the cloth and more money off the corpse… They won’t be needing it.

I couldn’t enter through the doors… “Perhaps this isn’t the right time.” I’m getting a sort of trial vibe to this. Like go do other stuff and they gradually open?

As I was trying to investigate the third door, bats came from the south and attacked. And I was thrust into yet another new combat system.



And after an accidental retreat I somehow won?? Because I was having trouble seeming to do anything.

“In a bitter battle, you were better than the Badders.” Thanks game.

I retreated to the manual to go see how to do this, something I should have looked at before starting, but I just kind of assumed it’d be the same as QFG III… I’m still not sure I get it but we’ll see how it goes in future combat.

The altar was covered in stains like blood–presumably blood–and was creepy. I moved on southward.



There was a rope to take, test, or try flying but I didn’t have a fly spell as the game oh so kindly pointed out, but also pointed out I just had levitate which only goes up and down but if there was a way to use some wind…

When I got too close to the edge, I got my first death!

A big tentacle came out and grabbed me.



Sadly the death messages are not voiced… I’m a little bummed about that.



I tried levitating anyway and got another message about the wind, but that I needed a way to catch it. So, cloth like a sail and levitate.



Whee! And escaped the tentacle! And I’ve already gotten to use magic other than flame dart! Wizarding!

I did do a quick reload to see if it’d let me take or cut the rope. No such luck, though I did accidentally clean and cut my fingernails with a misclick on myself. “Neatness counts!” So that was fun.

I escaped the cave! Jaws snapped shut behind me! A creepy place? A creepy place with a spooky altar and three sealed doors? Is this gonna be a place I return to repeatedly or a place to build up to toward end-game…



There was a woman outside and she was surprised to see I had escaped alive. Only one person had done that.



I would also like to know how, lady, but at least I got a where now. Mordavia. Yeah, that, that’s a name that tracks.

She told me there was a town north of here and to be careful as many bad things are wandering around here. No shocks there. She introduced herself as Katrina, hoped we would meet again and left. You could have taken me with you! I mean I wanted to poke around a little out here first anyway but!

Admittedly, joining with a strange man who walked out of a scary cave that apparently has killed most people probably isn’t a good idea, but still. And joining a strange woman outside a cave also probably not a great idea, but I’m lost and alone and a little scared!

It’s okay. I had stuff to examine.

There was an arch with symbols.



Things that make up life? Bringing something to life?

And an eighth…



Bringing an eldritch horror to life?

Regardless of what this is about, I’m sure it’s nothing concerning at all! Nosiree. I was able to take that symbol off though and was told I had the feeling I may need this “sign”. It’s the ‘Dark One Sign’ in my inventory. Hm. Is this really something I should be carrying around?

I carried on.



That dark one is getting around. (the eyeball is my look cursor)

Part of the tree looked like a club ready to hit someone. The path was slippery with slimy goo and sure I escaped the cave, but kind of landing in the frying pan it seems.

Okay, the branch left me alone, but I did go sliding down while squinting at that tree the entire time.



But at least I made it. I kept waiting to be clubbed, or fall off or in some way get killed.

So, anyway, with a dark sign there and a dark sign in my possession I had to try using them together.



This was probably a bad idea! But as an adventurer game protagonist I obviously had to try. It was safe for now anyway. Ish.

As I kept examining things it was making it very clear this place is gooey. And slimy. And greasy. Goo galore.

There was however an out of place bonsai plant caught in the goo and rock. I had to knock the rocks loose with a couple of force bolts. Maybe one would have worked if I’d aimed better. Then I could fetch it. Do I know why I need it? Not a clue, but it was there therefore I grab.

It’s a rescue plant!



So. much. goo.

Empowered by my magicking I decided to try detect magic on the pillar and of course there was magic. So naturally I tried Trigger, expecting it to blow up in my face or something if it did anything. It actually knocked the pillar over. So I did something I should have? But it still scared me. I wasn’t expecting that.



Given the slippery path I slid down I realized this was my way back up. I tried and yeah, couldn’t use the path to go back but could climb the pillar. A pillar with the sign of the Dark One is totally bridge-material I guess.

Seriously though, the amount of magic I’ve gotten to use already is making me so happy after feeling so held back for so much of QFG III.

I’m doing a lot of “I hope I got everything!” but after some fumbling around to find the path to the next screen I got to a swamp.



Hands were coming in and out of the water…more spooky… I didn’t find anything here, and the next screen was much nicer.



But I was worried that I didn’t do or find anything at the swampy area so I went back to double-check.

I didn’t find anything but a detect magic revealed the hands and floating balls of light–what floating balls of light?–are magic as expected.

The forest was nicer…



And punny! “The red bush looks 'reddy’ for anything.” “Large deciduous trees make their stand among the pines–they know how to leaf well enough alone in the Fall.”

The prettiness continued.



I drank some water and picked some flowers. There were several forest screens and I probably should have been mapping. Definitely getting more Quest for Glory I vibes here, which I am very okay with. I prefer this over the attempted overworld map of QFG III. I’m sure there’ll be time enough for mapping later. Despite Katrina’s warning I didn’t run into anything dangerous yet either.

I was also getting concerned that a message about my lack of food popped up…but could only press on.


Teehee

I eventually found myself at a castle gate which isn’t the town Katrina mentioned, but there was a gatekeeper to talk to.



I chatted up the gatekeeper naturally.



He welcomed me to Mordavia adding that it was nice to have some fresh blood around. They seldom see strangers. Not happy with that phrasing in this particular environment I gotta say. Though it did turn out they don’t get many visitors thanks to the swamp that formed a few years ago. He had lots of information:

The castle is that of the Boyars, the rulers of Mordavia’s title. They’re like Barons, own the castle and protect everyone within their domain. The castle had belonged to the Borgov family, but the last Borgov has been dead for many years. He disappeared at the Time of Darkness. Mordavia was a safe and lovely land before that time. Much has changed for the worse since.

Mordavia is the name of the valley, town and inn. It means Dark Valley. Delightful.

He seldom sees anyone from the castle, so not certain of who all lives there. There is the Master, a strange foreigner, the Master’s daughter and strange guards he thinks may not be quite human. He hasn’t seen the daughter, just knows the Master is proud of her. Katrina? Someone/something else?

The Master desires privacy and he respects that wish. As he always says, “The Will of the Master is the Shall of the Servant.” Then he chuckled a bit because he came up with that himself and seemed very proud of it, heheh.

The foreigner is unpleasant with a short beard and mustache and funny hat. Rude when giving orders and has a habit of staring at people and licking his lips. Ad Avis? Vampiric Ad Avis? Demonic Ad Advis?? Someone else?

At night the gate’s guarded by Necrotaurs whatever those are. Sounds like something to be avoided.

He also gave me directions to the town which I really needed to get to. So off I went again and a few screens later I found the gates.



Thank goodness.

I am a player who will happily talk to absolutely everyone I can and exploring new towns is great. However, it was kind of a nice change of pace to have some immediate puzzle solving and exploring to do. And, it has made getting to a town all the more relieving. So, good start here, good start. I’m happy so far.

Next time is town exploring time!