Part 3: Day 1 Part 3: Good Hunting

I probably won't be able to update again til Tuesday, so I thought I'd try and finish Day 1 now, because I really wanted to get to the ghost-hunting!

Quick question- I have the digital soundtrack and am willing to upload tracks to youtube (unlisted) so you can listen to relevant tracks during sections. Is that something people are interested in?




Nigel hasn't even had a full day of treasure-ghost-hunting and already he needed a nap. He had a bit of a dream but was woken up by a knocking noise.

Something is still knocking when Nigel wakes up. GHOSTS?! Nigel springs into action and immediately writes a new to-do list:





Still watching, and even more creepy in the dark.



All right, let's go downstairs and see what that knocking noise is.



Yes Nigel, obviously someone's been here. The rats lit all those candles though, they felt bad about chewing up the wiring. Well, here's that note Nigel wants to read before anything else:



Morgan is really selling the place! If they never got it fixed up, why did they even put it on the sign out front of The Bear? How old is that menu? And if The Bear serves food, why did she need to make a deal with the Lighthouse owner? Mysteries of all kinds!

OK, ok. Let's go see who's at the door. They're still knocking.



Man this town is lousy with invisible cats!

We can't go back inside because Nigel says he feels someone watching him from the darkness. The only place we can go is off to the right, where we DO see someone- obviously Hardacre, walking off ahead of us.



Hardacre fades away as he walks toward the edge of each screen. Is it his ghost? Is it just how the game handles moving NPCs? Or is it just something to do with nighttime? Iunno. Nigel is even less smart than we are, and says things while we follow him across some screens.
Who is that? Maybe I should follow.
I'll lose him if I don't pick up the trail.
I must find out what he's up to.



We catch up to Hardacre on the jetty. (That's a jetty, right? Or is it a sea wall? Urgh) He wants to monologue at Nigel.

Mr. Hardacre? You're a hard man to follow, I nearly lost you.
Not interested. I've brought you here for a reason, and one reason only. I want you to leave Saxton, at your first convenience, and never come back.
What?! Now look here, you can't order people about. I'm no threat to you, like you pointed out. I know nothing about geology or archaeology.
That's not the half of it. There's mystery and danger involved. You know nothing about this town or the land around us.
So? Is that a crime?
It takes skill, understanding, and a strong mind to find what's hidden, out there in the fens.



Danger, what danger?
It's as I thought. You know nothing, yet!
Are you threatening me, Mr. Hardacre?
No, you fool, I'm trying to warn you. Take that cottage, Harbour Cottage that you'll be staying in. Know much about it, do you?
You know I don't. It's a small place, a bit stuffy, but nice enough.
Listen out, tonight, as you're drifting into sleep. Listen for the sounds.
Sounds? What sounds? Are you saying the cottage is haunted?
You'll know, soon enough. They always do.


An 'old land'?
Some parts of our land have seen great things, others have seen murder, disease and disaster. If you look close enough, you can see the signs. A landscape can seem empty and desolate, when the sun sets low and the wind chills the blood, but the land is never empty. It echoes with the voices of those that have gone before. Pagan warrior kings, great gods and fearsome beasts. Keep your eyes and ears open, and you'll know soon enough.


What are 'the fens'?
An ancient world of murky waters and whispering reeds. They surround us on all sides, trapping us here, so to speak. Take a walk tomorrow morning, out across the shore, through the Fenland Eye. The fens will be waiting, like those who dwell there. They are always waiting.


Where is the treasure?
Oh dear, or dear. You didn't really think it would be that easy, did you? Things that are lost are waiting to be found... but... what of those precious items that have been hidden? Stashed away for good reason. Should we go looking for treasures we are not supposed to find?
You are talking nonsense, Mr. Hardacre.
Nonsense is it? Well, we shall see. Watch your back, Danvers. Not everyone in this town is as accommodating as myself. There are those who won't take too kindly to you digging up what should lay buried.


That's enough questions, Danvers. If you insist on staying, think on what I have said. You're just a lad, be careful what you go looking for. Goodnight.

Hardacre!
So, mysteries are dangerous, treasures shouldn't be found, the land is haunted, and so is my cottage. Got it!

Anyway at this point he walks off (and disappears) and Nigel is left to rock the Saxton nightlife. Let's head back to The Bear. We see something familiar:






Nigel just can't help but snoop! Well, we've learned some things:
1. Hadden makes electronics I guess
2. This is obviously the PDA that belongs to the journalist, and he's been watching Nigel
3. He's looking for some kind of culprit, and has been spying on a few people
4. He knows someone in town, but we don't know who, because his PDA is really dumb about its address book

Nigel leaves it there, but I make him look inside The Bear just in case. Morgan has nothing new to say, and the place is empty. What time is it? Not 9'oclock because Nigel makes the same comment about the clock. Also, this:



OK, let's head on. We soon meet another new face. Also, another cat!



I can't keep giving everyone nicknames based on their clothes, so let's just call this man Bob.
http://youtu.be/eXj6aIFxmHM (1 minute)

Hello up there.
Oh, good evening to you.



What are you doing?
Fixing this 'ere bunting, to the buildings.
Why? Is there a celebration due?
Where you been hiding? There's May Day round the corner.


Saxton's a quiet town.
If you say so.


Could you fix the electricity at Harbour Cottage? (Nigel doesn't actually know this guy or what he does, just that he's hanging bunting, and wants him to fix the wiring?)
Gone again, has it? Damn wiring.
Is that a no?
Aye. For now. Sorry, lad.


I'll let you get on.
May Day'll come quicker that way.

There's nowt to do at the Cottage for now, so Nigel heads down the road that was blocked off earlier in the day. More cats!



Up around the road toward the phonebox. I can actually do a little more wandering, but there's nothing to do at the moment and we'll see all those places later anyway.




That's the first thing he says to her. Polite! She should look familar to us.
http://youtu.be/LKjn7NNPcCU (minutes)

You can be fined for that, you know?
Excuse me?
Pasting posters, fly posters... it's illegal isn't it?
I have no idea. Is there something you want? Are you lost?
Actually, I have something of yours...
Oh really? And what's that?
Your wallet. Here. Take it. (Nigel says this like a smug prat.)
Oh. Umm, thanks. I didn't mean to snap.



So, what's the poster for...
Take a look.



Hmm, Reubans Fair. Ha. Oh dear. Are the freaks coming to town? (NO NIGEL NO you fool!)
You could say that.
I'm Nigel, by the way, Nigel Danvers...
I'm Lucy, Lucy REUBANS.
Ahhh, I see... part of the fayre?
Yep, I'm one of the freaks.
I didn't mean to offend you...
Too late.


I saw you, out in the reed beds...
You mean The Fens?
Fens? What's the origin?
It's Anglo-Saxon... for a swamp, or marsh, or bog... quagmire perhaps?
Same to you too.
Oh, a comedian.


So, are you local?
I was, but I only return for the holdays.
You must know the surrounding area very well. (Still thinking about treasure hunting?)
Not really. I tend to stay in town. I have my studies.
Ah, what are you studying?
Psychology.
Really? So, what do you make of me?
You are desperate, insecure, and seeking phantom treasures.
How did you know that... ah. Pretty obvious, is it?
Uh-huh.


I'll leave you to... um... paste your posters.
See you around, sunshine.


HA HA HA! HOW AWKWARD! Doot de doo, I guess I'll just make a phone call right here next to you then. Uh, don't mind me.



It's a phone, Nigel.
Actually he's commenting on that card poking from the side. "Hmm, what's this?" is what Nigel says whenever there's an object I should interact with.



It's the Journalist's press pass! Alex Spitmoor sure likes leaving important things lying around. We take it, finders keepers. There's a phone number on the back.

We have a little bit of clicking to do, by picking up the phone, uh, arm thing. Then we take our work ID out of inventory and click on the numberpad. If I hadn't already found the phone number on the back, Nigel would have said something like "I don't know the number."



I want to speak to Hadden.
And why would Mr. Hadden want to speak to you?
I have something to say, to make a deal.
My dear Mr. Danvers, what could you possibly offer me?
Hadden?
Speaking. Is there something you want to say?
Leave me alone. I didn't see anything, so call off your dogs.
Mr. Hare and Mr. Crow have your welfare in mind, Nigel.
Well, they won't find me. I've left the city.
Yes, how are you finding Saxton so far? That phonebox looks a little old fashioned.
What?! How did you... are you still spying on me?
Oh, Nigel. That's a little rich, coming from you!
I didn't intend to hack your files...
Like you didn't intend to print off some copies?
What is that stuff, anyway?
The future, dear boy, and the past. We have the technology, as you know.


I thought Nigel was supposed to "beg if need be" but he's hardly apologetic. (He didn't even take Hadden's hint.) How did he expect to get his job back, acting like that? Anyway it turns out Hadden is a weirdo who rewards Nigel's kind of deviancy.



What do you want from me, Mr. Hadden?
Nothing, and everything. A few little tasks.
Involving the paranormal? I'm not a lab rat, Hadden.
That's exactly what you are, Nigel. A rat in a trap. Help us with our research, you won't go unrewarded.


Where are Hare and Crow?
They've lost your scent, Nigel, you need not worry.


Tell me about the research.
Ahhh, I knew you'd show an interest. You can help us, Nigel.
I'm not a scientist Hadden, nor a ghosthunter.
Paranormal research can require very little, Nigel.
I have nothing, except the clothes that I stand in.
Scrying.
I beg your pardon?
Scrying is an ancient art, you need only water and a mirror.
What do I do? Is it dangerous?
It can be. Pour the water down the mirror, and watch, and wait... You may be surprised by the results. We often are.
We? You practice this... scrying... in the lab?
Yes, with amazing results. Just believe, and look deeply. The ghosthunters of old showed great ingenuity.


How do you know where I am?
I know everything about you, Nigel.
How comforting. What happens next?
Await my gift. It was dispatched this afternoon.
How did you know where...
Where you'd stay? Like I said...
...You know everything. What's the gift?
You will see. Not all is as it seems. Keep that in mind.
These experiments. Am I in any danger?
Would you like me to lie?
No, but... I've always suspected...
... life should be more interesting, more exciting?
I hate my job. I'd do anything to get away.
This could be your big break, Nigel. I see you as... how can I put this.. an little bit of an investment.
So, I'm forgiven? For snooping?
Curiosity and ingenuity should be rewarded.
Goodnight, Mr. Hadden.
Goodnight, Mr. Danvers. Good hunting!


Nigel says he isn't a ghost-hunter but it turns out he's pretty fuckin good at it, as we'll see over the next couple of days.

Looks like Nigel's evening to-do list is mostly done. He makes a new one:



Mr. Hadden has forced us into the late-night, dangerous, and seedy world of ghost-hunting. Twist my arm, why don't you? We have a job to do, so let's go do it.

ARE YOU READY TO GHOST HUNT?! I'm excited!

Back to Harbour Cottage, which we know at this point MUST be haunted or something, because it has a sad history and plates don't break themselves right? Also, Hardacre hinted at such.



There's a light on- most of the lights in the Cottage don't work, but the kitchen light flickers.

I made a video of Nigel's first ghost-hunting attempt. I enjoyed these portions of the game, because I think that kind of thing is cool, and I wanted to see what he'd discover. Eventually you have a few different methods you can use. If there's video-worthy sections of the game, they're it. However, the activity itself can be a little slow. Sometimes you have to wait for a response, or go through all the dialogue options, etc. Please keep that in mind as you watch them.

Also, now you know where I got the thread title from!

http://youtu.be/TJieU1rFeu4 (5 minutes)

Text summary / Transcribed:



Since we're here, I have Nigel look first at the teacup Morgan left on the table. He asks it a series of questions.

Is there anybody there?
Teacup rotates slightly
Am I alone in this place?
Teacup scoots to edge of table and back
Show me you are here!
Teacup spins one way and back
Are you trapped in this place?
Teacup scoots to edge of table and back
Can I help you in some way?
Teacup thumps and rattles
What's your name? Is there something you want to tell me? Hmmfff. Nothing. The event seems to have passed. For now.

Hmm. I can't tell if any of those were definitive responses. Ghost hunting FAILED >:[

We head down the hallway to the suspicious wall:


Looks like the wall is hiding something! But we can't investigate further.



We have to peek into the kitchen at the flickering light, but it's not worth a screenshot. Next we check the dark, spooky bathroom.



What is that?!



It would appear that Morgan dragged that out of someplace and put it there for us? We have to look at it closer up, and inside the bathtub too, but again nothing's special about those. However, ther IS a mirror here, and didn't Hadden say something about that? Nigel still has his bottle of water. Let's get back at Morgan and dump water all over the floor.




It's a lady!
Note that Nigel went through the same series of questions as with the teacup, but got no responses. Just this image of the woman floating in the mirror for a minute or so.

On our way upstairs, we swing by the phone and pick it up just for funsies:



As opposed to being completely blank, there's actually some fuzz and crackle noises now, and maybe what sound like whispers? But it's hard to tell...

Welp, now that we know the house is definitely haunted, let's sleep in it!



Nigel has a dream while he sleeps. (It's included in the ghost-hunting youtube at 4:15). This one's a little creepier than the earlier one, and it must mean something...

In the dream, we are in a dark, low-ceilinged room. There are sinister noises and music. We slowly move to the back of the room, passing a hand-scythe hanging from a rail and some wooden furniture. Above a desk is a portrait of 4 men in tall black hats and robes, some of them are holding objects like a book or a scythe. We also hear some cat meows.




Rest up Nigel, tomorrow's going to be a busy day.