*********************BIG RECAP***********************Current Inventory/Things You Can Access:A ghost-blessed backpack that can hold an unlimited weight
A pencil and paper
Your useless, useless student ID
Some Lifesavers candy--wintergreen
A gun with one bullet
Keen's instructions
Two candles, one slightly used, and a candle holder
Matches
A necktie
A commonplace book with B on the cover
An antique emerald necklace
Scraps of newspaper
A diamond ring
A rope
A knife with blood on it
A photo of a man smiling
Salt
In the mudroom: A ton of wine
In the kitchen: A massive pile of laundry
In the kid’s bedroom: An old green dress, under the mattress
In the master bedroom: A dress shirt in the dresser
In the upstairs closet: An altar
Clues So Far:What Keen said before abandoning you:“I almost feel bad, makin' you go in on your own. No worries though, you’ll have plenty of help, I'm sure. Look, anything you find, you just haul out, and we’ll split this fifty-fifty. Deal?”…“Oh wow, the stories I could tell. Me and Allie, Brian, Nate and Jack…Wait, didn’t I give you the papers? There’s a map, a newspaper clipping, and my instructions. Didn’t I hand them to you?”…“Oh, of course. I left them in the mudroom, the last time I tried to go in there.”…“Yeah, the room right through there. I came here a few years ago, and walked through the Manor for a bit, but I got sorta…antsy. You’ll do much better, I know. I left all the directions you need right on the other side. I’m ninety percent sure.”…”I don’t think anyone wants me goin’ back in there again. But my map’s clear as crystal 'bout where the loot is hid—just follow it.”… "Well, y'see, there's some things up there that might not like me hanging around. I'd rather leave this closed, if you don't mind. But don't worry, they'll love you. Tell you what, once you find the loot, head to the Garden and climb over the wall. That'll put you out-front a the house, and I'll meet ya there."…[you threaten not to cooperate] “Aw, come on. You want it as much as I do. 'Sides, you might need my help gettin' out the other side, so I'd be careful with who you threaten, dearie.”
Paper from the mudroom:INSTRUCTIONS
(for dealing with ghosts)
1) Ghosts usually don’t make a whole lot of sense, but they can never lie. Except the bad one. But you probably won’t meet him.
2) Three can get you up and down. Unless it’s life or death—then you need four.
3) To summon—first, find or make yourself a decent altar.
You need to lay three things on the altar: something they wore, something they hid, and something they were killed with.
Then you need to say their first name, how they died, and who killed them.
Two legible pages from the commonplace book with a B on it:25 Oct. 1998 – Allie keeps snooping around to find my grandmother’s emerald necklace. Of course I’m going to give it to her at the reception, but she mustn’t find before. Too fun to keep her in suspense. Can’t wait to see her face. Must find better hiding place for it.
The second page:31 Oct. 1998 –Entered Manor 6:30 PM. Do not intend to search all night. I have department party this evening—we must show our faces. Then A wants to go into town.
7:05 PM – found clever little lock system in the Manor. Very secure. Will leave necklace here until wedding day—then simply FACE THE MUSIC. Don’t forget it’s here!
7:45 – My face is burning red with fury. This betrayal will not stand.
First half of torn newspaper:[Photo of a two-story mansion with a tower]
...storied history of the Manor and its supposed lost gold is probably familiar to the reader. If not, any history book of California will detail the facts and speculation regarding this gold-rush era mansion.
After the Saturday incident, authorities are not yet releasing names of the victims or any potential suspects. The police chief was asked whether one of the young people involved in the search could have been responsible for the deaths; there was no comment. This reporter was able to briefly interview the lone survivor, though she is understandably shaken. She states that she and her unfortunate companions searched the Manor thoroughly, and she is certain now that there is no lost treasure. When asked about the bloodstained shirt that was apparently found at the scene, she gave a cryptic comment: ‘She had to do it. He was out of control.’
This survivor is a—
Second half of torn newspaper:—beautiful young lady, with red hair and freckles. Friends tell me she is usually cheerful and in control, but now her face is pale and rigid. I finally asked her if she could remember what happened when there was no one else left in the house except her and the killer, if she could remember any details of how she escaped. Her answer was not only puzzling, but disturbing: “No killer, no killer! Just her an' me, and she fell down. So far down. I thought I had to do as he said. How could I have known the car was so dangerous? I had to get through him to get out--and then I fell too."
What the Miranda-ghost said:“My name is Miranda Thornefoot, and this is my home. As for your other questions...You should know that I didn't hurt them, any of them. I tried to help--I did help, didn't I? One of them escaped, didn't she?
"And I wish I could help you now, but...he's watching me. I'm sorry.”
[she nods yes to your question, ‘Was the one that escaped named Keen?’]
"I really wish I could give you all the answers--I do. But drawing his attention will hurt you more than it helps."
"You're going to get me in trouble...but let me see, maybe I can say something without really saying anything, you know? I always find it's best to go in a proper order, don't you? And if you're looking for the first one...the first one to go...well, that nasty business went down in the garden. But before you're able to talk to him, I'd recommend looking around--" [she points straight up.]
[you ask about the garden] "You're very sweet, thank you. I know it's an absolute mess--I can't go out there anymore."… "I've said too much--he's awake! He's listening now--I have to go."
History of California book:Cobalt Thornefoot was one of the few men who truly made it rich in the 1849 California gold rush—not by honest mining or panning, but by cheating weary miners out of their money by any means necessary—including, it is alleged, murdering transient workmen. It is said that, in addition to the suspiciously large collection of raw metals that they cashed in, the Thornefoots retained a massive hidden hoard of stolen gold, although no one of repute claims to have seen this trove firsthand.
But it cannot be denied that there was some reason that his only daughter, Malinda Thornefoot, felt an immense weight of guilt and paranoia, and many speculate that it was due to her father’s ill-gotten gains. She built her West Coast mansion as a fortress that few could enter. The design featured unscalable walls, very few windows and, notoriously, no front door: only a well-hidden underground tunnel leading to the first floor. Armed guards walked the premises at all hours. It was a popular but unconfirmed legend that this was where they hid their mountain of gold and other illicit treasures.
Upon her death in 1919, the home was rented from the estate as a party destination and briefly a tourist location, but no enterprise managed to last long in the Thornefoots’ “Golden Manor.” The home was eccentrically built, with little regard for safety or comfort. Many also believed it was haunted by Malinda, her father Cobalt, or both. Today it is in the hands of the Thornefoot estate, which keeps it securely locked against would-be treasure seekers.
On the chalkboard: We killed the music man.
~Nate and Cobalt
In the children’s book:Remember, Miranda, they're out to get us. Everyone betrays someone. Trust no one. A=E
Written on photo of man smiling:JACK, OCT 1995. BEST BUDS FOREVER.
You were the first to die but not the last. You will be avenged! ~Nate
Note inside book:To my secret love,
I know you won’t be able to resist looking through all these old books— and if you find this, so be it. If you don’t, this message and my love will remain hidden here forever. But I must write this—keeping it in my heart is killing me.
I’ve loved you since the first day we met. In history class, remember? I complimented you on your ancient library and lighthouse, and you joked that I was the capital of Mississippi. You’re the most brilliant, beautiful and kind person I’ve ever met. You have found someone else to build a life with, and I accept that. But just know that I will always be here if you need me.
And, finally, the ghostly scene you just saw in the Conservatory:As soon as you stop the music, two translucent figures appear, hovering off the ground. One, a man in a loud Hawaiian shirt with long brown hair and a beard, is almost on top of you--he is examining the Victrola, amused, then he turns back on the record you just turned off. The other is a small, slight blonde woman, whom you immediately recognize as the one who was hiding behind the angel statue in the garden. Again, she says, "He killed him!" but this time, she is speaking to the ghostly man.
"What are you talking about, Allie?" he answers, puzzled.
"He strangled Jack! Just now, out in the garden--I think he's dead! I knew he was acting strange this whole evening, but I can't understand--" she starts crying.
As she speaks, the man beside you's face hardens. He goes from looking laid-back and carefree, to seeming dark and dead behind the eyes. He holds her shoulders and says, "Go hide in the kitchen. I'll take care of everything."
She runs to the south exit of the Conservatory, and he marches toward the hallway door, then both vanish.
Maps:First FloorSecond FloorI'm not going to repeat every clue in every room right now, but if you enter a room and say "look around" I'll recap what's happened there.