Part 16: Day 4 Part 2: Ulcombe

Well, I'm still a little upset about Cairan... but a good way to brighten one's spirits is with a nice walk in the countryside. We've heard about a nearby place named Ulcombe which has a church, and from a book in the museum we learned that it's associated with Nathaniel Ager, who donated its pipe organ. Since it seems the Agers are the ones guarding the Crown, tracking down those guys will probably bring us closer.

Nigel's ace detective work and theivery have led him to figure out that the coast path outside of town leads directly and solely to Ulcombe, which means that we can travel there now!



The game doesn't make it very clear, but Ulcombe's church is in the completely opposite direction from Northfield Church. I think they both have pretty small congregations. I'm not sure of the distances involved, but they're probably both at least a mile outside of town. Personally I thought it was a little repetetive to have two churches in the game, but they're relatively distinct so it's not a real problem.



We can't get inside the tower, as it's currently locked. Instead, we walk Nigel towards the church.





The church has a nice little entryway with some birds painted above it. We can go inside the church now- note the pipe sort of above Nigel's head.



If we follow that around, we find....



Nathanial Ager's giant pipe organ! It doesn't work right now, perhaps something to do with that pipework which seems to lead into a little passageway behind the instrument.

We can look closer at one of the pews:



... and add another photo to our pile of entries for the Saxton Snappers contest.



Hopefully we'll get a chance to drop it off before the judging and announcement tonight. Now if we head down the first aisle, we see:



There's a girl here, with a gramophone playing some instrumental music. She's clearly in the middle of something. Let's bother her.

She's actually the first new person we've spoken to in a long time! So that means you get a little video of her and her rough-around-the-edges accent: Meeting Nancy Brewer (1.5 minutes)

1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 21, 30! Coming, coming ready or not. Oh! You scared me, mister. I thought you were my bruvver, Timmy. We're playing hide and seek. Wanna join in? (I'm going to try to preserve any spelling like that.)




Hello. Who might you be?
My name? Nancy, Nancy Brewer. My bruvver, if we can find him, is Timmy. 'is real name's Thomas, but don't tell him I told you that. He hates it.




Why does Timmy hate his name?
It's me dad's fault, you see. His father's name was Thomas, so it runs in the family, if you like.
Where is Timmy?
Do you wanna look for him? Oh, mister, that would save me the trouble. And I can sit here listening to me records. (Puzzle chime!)
Is the gramophone yours?
We found it back there, in the vestry. Hidden under some old boxes. And right next to it, a box of dusty old records! The tunes are a bit old fashioned, but it's better than sitting in silence. Don't you think? (If you remember, in the Saxton Museum was a record, with Oogle's comment "Old Time Music. Old gramophone recordings, donated by Wesley Russett after their discovery in Ulcombe Church.")


Is your home near here?
Home? My home's London, of course! You din't think I was from round 'ere did ya? Nah. We're waiting for me dad to come back from the war. We can go home then.




War? You mean the war in the middle east?
The middle east? East of what? You mean East London, yeah?
No, across the globe. The other side of the world.
The world?! Ha ha! No, silly, the war's in France and Belgium. Where the chocolates come from. He's invading enemy lines, that's what I read in the paper.
That war ended decades ago, Nancy. The world has changed.
You're wrong there, mister. You been living under a rock? It's a big old war. And my dad's going to be a hero.
Yes, I'm sure he is. You'll be very proud.
I wish we'd hear from him... he said he'd write to us... maybe... anyway.


What brings you to Ulcombe?
We were sent here, by my stepmother. She was glad to see the back of us. Just between you and me, I don't fink she likes us.
Why do you think that?
My dad don't know. Both me and Timmy know how much he likes her... God knows why! I think she's a witch.
Maybe she is. (Too bad Nigel hunts ghosts, not witches.)
Evacuees, I fink we're called. Sent to the countryside "for our own well-being and safety." Ha! More like our own boredom! We're staying at a farm, over the hill.
Is it okay?
Nice people they are. Bit old, but they're kind to us, and that's all we can expect. Most days we're here, in the church. It's our church, in a way.
Quite an adventure.
It's dull on days like today. I can't be in the sun too long, and Timmy ALWAYS hides outside. He's a devil like that, bless 'im.


Can I ask you about the church?
Yeah of course, go ahead. I've nuffin better to do. I'm a lady of leisure.




Does the vicar mind you being in the church?
The vicar? We don't see many people here. I was surprised to see you. We hear things sometimes. Footsteps, and coughs, but there's no-one there. Timmy finks it's ghosts, but I told 'im there's no such thing. He's a funny one.


Have you seen that stone tablet in the curchyard? (What stone tablet? There was no stone tablet??)
Yeah, I've seen that old stone. It's like a gravestone, but there's no one dead underneath it.
That's right.
There's writing on it. I can't read it. It's gibberish. Timmy thinks it's a riddle. Maybe you can help him solve it? (Puzzle chime again!)


What are you doing in the church?
Just playing. It's cool in here, away from the sunlight. Too much bright sun doesn't agree with me.
What do you mean?
It's bad for a complexion like mine. That's what the doctor says anyway. It's nice in here. I've never been in many churches back home, but this one's nice. It's quiet... and cool.


Have you been in the tower?
Yeah, of course! Seems like ages ago now. Timmy found a key. Big old key it was. Rusty too. I don't fink many people go up the tower.
No, I don't suppose they do.
I'll tell you somefing odd though, we hear bells sometimes. Not too loud, but definitely bells. Like there's a wedding or something.
That's quite normal for a church, isn't it?
Ah, the funny fing is, there's no one about! Who'd wanna get married here, anyway? Bit depressing, innit. ...I bet I never get married.
What happened to the rusty old key?
The tower key?
Yes!
He hid it! Timmy's like that. He loves hiding things. He'll tell you where it is, if you help him solve that riddle... he's been dying to work it out.
I can try.
It's gibberish to me, but maybe you can help us with it. Solve the riddle, get the key! Timmy will tell you more. (Another puzzle chime.)


Nancy... I think you're a ghost.
Wot!! A ghost! Now listen mister. It's nice to chat and all, but there's no need to be rude.
I'm not being rude, Nancy. (Yeah you are.)
I might be a bit pale, and my clothes aren't exactly fashion of the week... but what are we supposed to do? Stuck in the countryside.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you.
When I get back to London, I'm going to get my dad to buy me a new frock. Then you'll see! He'll buy me a new frock when he gets back. Bloody war! It's going on forever.


Sorry, I have to go.
Fair enough, mister. Ta-ta for now.


Phew, that was quite a chat! Nancy's only in the game for a few minutes, but all of those minutes are full of her talkiiiiiiing. I suppose we should find and talk to Timmy now- if we want that tower key, anyway. We still don't know what not-gravestone with a riddle on it they're talking about, but surely that won't be a problem!

Out of the church and through the other side of that under-passage, we can reach the side-yard:





There's also another one of those odd tears. We could poke around the whole church trying to find Timmy, but we know he always hides outside. This shed is a pretty likely-looking place (and kind of a rubbish hiding-place, being super-obivous). Let's check it. Timmy's another new character, so another little video! Meeting Timmy Brewer (less than 1 minute)



Hello there! Are you Thomas? (Are you using that name on purpose, Nigel?)
Oi, who told you that?! My name's Timmy, silly.




I met your sister, in the church.
Oh, the little rotter. She's meant to be looking for me.
Well, I've found you instead. Are there any spiders in there?
Yeah! And frogs and toads!
Bye for now.
See you later, mister.


OK. Let's go find that stone that everybody seems to know about except the player.



Ah, there's our favourite full-suited caretaker. He really showed up out of nowhere, eh? Let's.... have another conversation!

Mr. Russett!
Well, well, if it ain't Mr. Danvers... how are you getting on my boy?
Better than expected...
Is that so!




Why is this church such a secret?
It ain't no secret, just been hidden for so long. The Carrion Wood spread its branches far and wide, hiding old Ulcombe in its leafy green shroud. The woods are dense... and deep. Most folk have forgotten this church was 'ere... I've made it my mission to uncover the place.
Is this church haunted?
Hmm, now why do you say that?




There's a girl in the church, called Nancy.
Oh, Nancy is it? I've always wondered.
You've seen her too?
Not seen as such. Not wiv my eyes.
She has a brother, playing hide and seek.
I thought it might be something like that.


I believe this church is haunted.
Ahh, seen 'em have you. The little 'uns.
I hope so... or I could be mad.
Don't say that. They used to say that about lots of folk. It was wrong then, and it'd be wrong now. ( )


Is the churchyard haunted?
More 'tis below, than 'twas above.
A riddle?
Nope.


Thomas Ager was haunting Northfield.
Wicked old devil, he was.
He murdered Old Nick. I mean Nicholas Gurney.
Poor Old Nick. He's at rest now, lad... he dont' wander the yard no more. (It has only been one night?)
Can I ask about something else?
May Day awaits, lad.


Mr. Russett, can you help me with something?
Hmm. Like what, exactly?





There's an impressive clock, on the tower.
Fine piece of work. Still ticking away.
Well, it always points to midday. (That's noon for you stateside.)
It's always midday on May Day.
Who build the memorial?
The people of Saxton remember their dead.
Yes. They certainly do.


I'll keep exploring.
She's looking on you kindly today.
Who?
The pale moon, pale gold lady. It's her time, as well as yours. (You see, Mr. Russett is nice enough to solve that little mystery for us.)


OK. Well that's all interesting, but it doesn't help us with that stone slab or riddle.... does it?? Actually, it does. Mr. Russett has some crates sitting around, which means his arrival has cleared the crates from the church entryway:



Oh, THAT must be the stone that everyone seems to know about but us, the one that was previously obscured by Russett's crates and unclickable and otherwise unremarkable.



Deos lyft byreo lytle wihte... oh, this is hopeless. There must be another clue.


Nigel won't do anything else. Mr. Russett seems to know everything about these churches, and he was pretty helpful before with the ghost-hunting at Northfield. Maybe he knows something?

Mr. Russett, can you help me with something?
Hmm, like what, exactly?
What does the stone say, by the porch?
The Riddle Stone?
Yes, it has strange lettering. Anglo-Saxon, I think.
It is that. I know what it says...
Great! What's the riddle?
Come, come lad. Read me the lines.
Oh, hang on. I'll write it down.


Mr. Russett is helpful, but he's not that helpful! Nigel has to do a little bit of effort. Copying the riddle down is actually a thing that immediately occurred to me the first time I played, but the game wouldn't let me do it.



after some repetetive dialogue...
Come, come lad. Read me the lines.
Deos lyft byred lytle wihte.
Ahh. That says... The wind carries mall creatures.
Ofer beorghleoa pa sind blace swipe.
Over hill-slopes and headlands: dark.
How do you know this stuff?
It's old English, boy.
Swearte salopade. Sanges rope.
Coated, black-bodied, bursting with song.
Amazing. What does it mean?
All will become clear.
Heapum ferad, hlude cirmad.
They chirm and clamor like a troop on wing.
It's a riddle, yes?
That's why they call it the Riddle Stone.
Tredad bearonaessas, hwilum burgsalo.
Winding their way to wooded cliff-walls.
Nippa bearna. Nemand hy sylfe.
Sometimes to the halls of men-singing a name-song.
That's very impressive, Mr. Russett.
Not really, all of us local folk knew that riddle once, long ago.
What's the answer?
Ahh, that'd spoil things. Go find out.




All right! You've got a riddle, thread. Get cracking!