Posts from Rhemic Empire (2) Auto-translated

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After returning to their rooms and locking the doors, the guests couldn't get a good night's sleep – strange and very unpleasant, unsettling sounds coming from the corridor prevented many of them from falling asleep. They sounded like crunching, crackling, as if something wet was dragging across the floor, as if something was tearing, as if something was howling.
All of this stopped after about 8 hours, and after that time, they gathered again in the dining room, where breakfast was already laid out for them.

Once all the guests at the mansion were satisfied, Alaria decided to raise a question that she didn't have time for yesterday. “I was thinking about the pedestals you found in the men's section. Apparently, certain items need to be placed there, following the clues left behind. Earlier, while exploring the west wing of the palace, I came across an unusual painting. It would have been nothing special, but it was located in a rather strange place for such an item – near the blood pool and a strange statue, whose frame is covered with human remains. Could it be that this painting is one of the items needed to solve your puzzle?”

-That's why we needed to acquire the greeting. I'm sure it contains information about this puzzle and what kind of mischief is going on here. It's just a pity that our scaly friend doesn't want to understand it.

/Need a map!! Map!!
And even with a welcome message, the puzzles won't be solved, it's a dead end. I highly doubt that even the purpose of the rooms will be explained there. At best, as Ples noted, there will be information about the rules (which have already been figured out through trial and error) and about the living area, as well as what we need to do (restore stats and escape, obviously, hehe)./

Another way to return to the real world is to eliminate the competition.

Could it be that this painting is one of the items needed to solve your puzzle?

/ Revan, what kind of pedestals? Could paintings fit there? /

It was a large room with a lever in the center and eight walls on which something was supposed to be placed.

I would say yes. So far, we have encountered paintings several times. And they quite fit the definition of something that needs to be placed on a wall. We have, by habit, started calling them pedestals, apparently. Because of (bad) associations.

They would fit.

Added 44 minutes later
— Let's do it this way, — suggested the lizard, — you'll use my "services" and give me 21 coins, and I'll buy a map and exchange it for silver. I'll keep 75 for myself and give you the same amount. And everyone wins.

he should be thriving

I had a similar thought. And the "Greed" perk is also missing.

Okay, fine.
Sirocco exchanges charisma for 14 silver coins.
Falis exchanges charisma for 2 silver coins.
Nisse exchanges charisma for 2 silver coins and wisdom for 2.
Denim exchanges charisma for 2 silver coins.
Agam buys a map and exchanges it for 150 silver coins, keeping half for himself and placing the other half on the table in the dining hall where the others have gathered.

I suggest buying a bow, a two-handed sword, and a greeting. Alternatively, you could take a risk and buy one of the keys. Perhaps you'll find extra silver and/or some equipment in the hidden rooms. Most likely, however, there will be one of the paintings. I also allow for the possibility of a team-skill-distributor strategy, but that's rather unlikely.

Sorry I'm not playing – I'm really sick, and I only have the energy to check the thread a few times a day in read-only mode. I'm all for a greeting message. There's a chance it might be useless, but it could provide some hints.

By the way, if we buy a bow, we should definitely give it to Elrine. She has the highest accuracy (after Aritha) and an accessory with a chance for an instant kill. And of course, Aritha gets the sword. She has the best chance of surviving in close combat. Then, if we can defeat any of the monsters and find money/new equipment, we'll equip the rest.

Added 4 minutes later
And I'll just tag along with them as dead weight, to get rewards for (theoretical) victories. Maybe I'll even level up one of my combat stats, but not charisma or willpower.

Agam buys himself an amulet.