Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia: The Dark Descent (previously known as Lux Tenebras or Unknown) is a survival horror adventure game by Frictional Games, who previously developed the Penumbra series. Released for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms, the game features an unarmed protagonist exploring a dark and foreboding castle, while avoiding monsters and other obstructions as well as solving puzzles.

Daniel

• Don't forget, some things mustn't be forgotten. The Shadow hunting me... I must hurry. My name is Daniel, I live in London at... at... Mayfair. What have I done? This is crazy. Don't forget, don't forget! I must stop him! Focus! My name is... is... I am Daniel.

• You have to get out of here.

• That taste, that fragrance, Damascus rose!

• What, what is this place?

• The darkness, closing in.

• It's cold, it's so cold.

• Something is wrong, oh so wrong!

• There is nothing left, everything is gone!

• The flicker, the bluish light.

• Getting closer, somehow.

• What was that!?

• Someone's coming!

• This shouldn't be!

• Is anyone there?

• What happened to her?

• Maybe she knows.

• All dressed in blue.

• That shimmering, blue light.

• Just like Regent's Park.

• Is she dead!?

• Help her! Find a way!

• No! Don't kill her!

• The Shadow, it's close now.

• Find her!

• Get her back!

• She deserved it, that little... bitch.

• Do whatever it takes!

• Who are you to question me!?

• Hmm, shouldn't trust him.

• He's lying.

• He sees what I see!

• Get away! You shouldn't do that!

• Should kill them all, burn this castle to the ground!

• He'll never see it coming.

• Crush his skull! He deserves it!

• The blood! Use it for the ritual.

• [coughing] OH! NO! Argh!

• It was my greatest triumph... and I never looked back. You think I was afraid fleeing Brennenburg? Quite the contrary. I knew it was my purgatory - hellfire made to wash away my sins. There's no denying the things I've done. But I have paid my tribute. I gave them that awful man... I did the right thing.

Diary

Algeria (1/3)

16th of May 1839

The unflinching African sun has continued to plague our expedition, making it impossible to dig until dusk. How Professor Herbert managed to find the location in these vast plains of nothingness remains a mystery to me. When I asked him about the tomb again, he told me about the legend of Tin Hinan, "the mother of us all". An interesting story in its own right, but I can't help feeling there's more.

Later that evening, we uncovered a passage beneath the dunes leading to a sand-covered stone structure. The professor was confident it was the tomb we sought and ordered the others to clear the way - late into the dark cold night.

Tomorrow, I shall lead the men into the ancient structure, hoping to reach the burial chamber. No matter what the professor is keeping from me, the dig should yield something interesting to take back to London and the British Museum.

Algeria (2/3)

17th of May 1839

My hands tremble as I write. I feel a need to document my tribulation for I fear that my memory will fail me if I linger.

Today I took some men and ventured into the dark ancient passage we uncovered. Our torches burned faintly in the murky air as we slowly made our way underground. The men were superstitious and fearful. They argued loudly and I felt their strange language getting to me. I mustered my strength and yelled at them to continue down the slopes and broken steps.

The crudely carved passage confused me. It looked much older than the 4th century structure we had expected. The twisting path emerged into a great ante-chamber. The walls were lined with statues unlike any I'd ever seen. Despite their unearthly quality I felt a strange familiarity toward them, which haunts me still. At the far end of the chamber, a great slab of stone sealed off whatever lay ahead. I gave the order to raise it, and as I pushed through the narrow space, the heavy stone suddenly dropped, sealing me inside.

I was trapped.

Algeria (3/3)

17th of May 1839

After pounding the unforgiving stone wall for what seemed like an eternity, I realized it was hopeless. I was trapped.

I fell to the ground gasping for air, trying to focus. That's when I saw a faint blue shimmer.

My weakened body was heavy to carry, but I managed to push myself towards the enchanting light.

It was waiting for me. Enclosed in dark nothingness, I felt myself drawn to the mystic light. I reached out, closing it in my hands.

The faint glow escaped my fingers and began to spark brightly and spirit me away. Unlocking alien memories of spiraling towers, endless deserts, and impossible geometry.

The next thing I can remember is the grating sound of stone being lifted. The voices of the Arabs pulling me to safety. And grasped firmly in my hands was the broken pieces of a most peculiar relic.

Return (1/2)

22nd of June 1839

It's been more than a month since my last entry. After the event inside the underground chamber in Algeria, professor Herbert insisted I return to England. He said he didn't want to risk forfeiting the entire expedition lest I took a turn for the worse. An excessive decision in retrospect, but I'm glad it turned out that way.

I found my journal this morning in the haphazard collection of things brought home from Africa. Next to it lay the broken stone orb wrapped in cloth. I tried to assemble it, but I couldn't. The pieces wouldn't fit together, as if they weren't from the same object. Could I have imagined it all? Was there ever a complete orb?

Return (2/2)

25th of June 1839

I feel the need to continue this journal, even though it was intended for my journey in Africa. This must be something very important, I just know it. I've taken it upon myself to piece the orb back together, but it's been more difficult than one might think. The pieces are behaving strangely. They seem to change color, shape and texture, but ever so slightly.

Yesterday I took careful measurements and notated any significant markings. Today, I confirmed my suspicions. They were changing. I was terrified and rushed off to see the finest geologist in London, Sir William Smith. I approached the subject with care, and we discussed how rocks change form. He told me about the nature of glass, how it eventually collapses on itself, like ice slowly melting over the course of centuries.

Smith eased my mind a bit, but I can't escape the feeling that these shards have otherworldly properties.

Revelations (1/3)

2nd of July 1839

I received a letter today from the Algerian governor's office disclosing the fate of Herbert's expedition. About a week after my departure, Abdullah, one of the men traveling with us, returned from the desert. He was badly injured, as if maimed by a lion. The man rambled deliriously about the expedition being attacked by something horrible.

The French quickly dispatched a search party to look for the expedition. After searching for days, they found the camp abandoned without any trace of Herbert or his men. Tomorrow I'll retrieve the things they recovered from Herbert's tent at the customs house. I don't know what to make of it, but I'm worried for him.

Revelations (2/3)

3rd of July 1839

Today I picked up Herbert's things at the custom's house. I dug through the trove of documents he had carried and found a log detailing the expedition. The nature of this text ranged from quick notes to colourful accounts of transpired events. I skimmed the pages, trying to figure out what might have happened.

May 17, the day I was trapped inside the orb chamber, Herbert dryly states:

"Recovered Daniel after one hour of entrapment."

This confused me greatly. I was suffocating within minutes. How could I have lasted an hour?

I continued reading the peculiar text. Herbert states his facts without judgement or passion, but suddenly I could read frustration into his text. He pushed his men to investigate the underground tomb, an effort which seems to have strained the minds of his men. Madness spread through the ranks, and Herbert had to take some extreme measures to continue. He finally visits the chamber himself, where he retrieves the orb to the surface.

His account confuses me greatly. If he has the orb, what are those pieces in my drawing room?

Revelations (3/3)

4th of July 1839

It's done! The orb is assembled. I was awakened by an exhausting nightmare. Shaking and sweating, I retired to the drawing room with a cup of tea. The relic pieces lay spread across the table as I'd left them. But somehow, I knew how it was supposed to be. I fetched the tar, which I had prepared to fix the pieces together, and without fault, I joined them, producing the orb I remembered so clearly. The tar proved unnecessary. It was pushed out from the joining piece as they merged on their own with no adhesive.

The ancient stone relic now rests on my table. Its immaculate surface and perfect shape could have been molded by a factory. This is all too strange.

Haunted (1/3)

5th of July 1839

Today I went to the university looking for answers. I was able to sneak into Herbert's office and pick up an address book along with some relevant text books.

Professor Taylor at the faculty of history was very helpful and I managed to approach the subject of the orbs. The most interesting aspect was the prevalent trace they had left in our culture. The mythic orbs may in fact have inspired the Globus Cruciger which so many royal regalia holds to this day. In ancient times the orbs were held by priests as a symbol of the sun and its power.

As I was leaving I overheard a disturbing conversation. Sir William Smith, the geologist, was killed last night. Less than a fortnight had passed since I'd asked for his expertise. I know it's silly, but I can't help feeling responsible somehow.

Haunted (2/3)

14th of July 1839

I've read every book I can find on the subject. While rich in legend and hearsay, my knowledge is lack for the insight I crave. I've sent letters to many in Herbert's address book, and received answers of varying importance.

Today I got one which differed greatly from the others - from a baron in Prussia. He said nothing about the quaint stories of priests in underground temples. He didn't even mention them. He simply wrote:

"I know. I can protect you. Come to Brennenburg castle." Signed Alexander.

What am I to make of this? Protect me from what? Is someone after me? I looked up Brennenburg and traced it to the Prussian woods near the Baltic Sea. While being the least informative letter I've received, it causes me greatest distress and interest.

As I write my thoughts are drawn to my nightmares in which a most disturbing sound calls to me. A sound defying description, a voice from the void. The last few weeks have been awful with so many sleepless nights dreading a repeat of those horrid dreams. Tomorrow I shall visit my physician, Doctor Tate, in hope that he can provide me with sedatives to help me sleep.

Haunted (3/3)

17th of July 1839

How has this escaped me? They're all dead. Limbs scattered, heads split down the middle, their skin flayed as if boiled. I feel like I'm falling into myself. What's happening? Sir William Smith, professor Taylor and now Doctor Tate. Is it following me? How can it not be? It's the damned thing I brought from Africa. Something is after me.

I have no choice but to trust the baron. He better know what he claims. If he is wrong, I suspect he'll regret it as well.

Brennenburg (1/3)

2nd of August 1839

I have arrived at the village of Altstadt. It's a haven in the midst of a vast forest and it's the  last stop before my final destination, Castle Brennenburg. It's late in the evening and the outrider, who has been with the coach since Bremen, advised me to wait until morning before I venture further.

I have arranged for a bed at Der Mühle, the village's only inn, and am now waiting for the sun to rise. I try to sleep, but as I close my eyes I see the men who fell victim in London. My fear and shame forces me to witness the same scenes over and over.

They are dead because of me.

Brennenburg (2/3)

3rd of August 1839

I feel like I have fled the world and all its worries. Brennenburg is a majestic creation perched upon a forest-clad hill with towers reaching well above even the highest pine trees. Following the winding road leading to the gates gives the impression of discovering something forgotten, as if journeying with Marco Polo to the hidden Xanadu.

Alexander, the baron, is a peculiar but gracious man. He seems well versed in worldly matters and is not at all as eccentric as I assumed. My room is exquisite and I am confident that no hotel for miles could even hope to match it.

As the sun sets on Brennenburg its fairy-tale varnish turns to an eerie gloom. Alexander's strange servants are never far away. They are a quiet lot and their behavior could only be described as skulking. Alexander seems pleased by my presence. As he puts it, it seems like I got here just in time.

Brennenburg (3/3)

4th of August 1839

The nightmares woke me up in the early morning and for a moment I forgot where I was. Shortly after there was a knock on my door. Alexander had heard my screams and asked me to join him in the parlor.

As we drank our tea, Alexander began to tell me what he knew. It seems like the orb I found casts a long and dark shadow. It is not only a powerful item, but a dangerous one. Simply by touching it you invoke the powers within and if you are too weak to control it, it will devour you. The shadow is a sluggish thing lagging behind the wielder, killing anyone or anything in its path to reclaim the Orb.

I said I didn't care about its powers and that I should throw it away. Alexander advised against this as I would still be a part of the path to the Orb and eventually suffer death. Having the Orb, I would at least have the chance to fight back when the time came. I asked Alexander what he meant when he said he could protect me and he answered that things can be done - but at a price.

Discovery (1/3)

7th of August 1839

There is no denying that Alexander puts a lot of faith into what I can only describe as magic. I'm not surprised, even while traveling across Europe I assumed I would have to embrace the supernatural to save my mind and life. As a novice I do everything in my power to stay focused and not dwell too much on my own doubts.

Alexander woke me up early and told me it was time we got started on our work. He was obviously excited to get going and we headed downstairs to the old dungeon where he preferred to attempt his rituals.

It turns out that Alexander is a true Renaissance man, paralleled only by Da Vinci, I'm sure. He showed me several rooms fitted for specific research such as anatomy studies, alchemy and botany. The crown of Brennenburg must be the Inner Sanctum, a most hallowed ground, where we shall attempt to permanently banish the Orb's shadow.

Discovery (2/3)

8th of August 1839

I could never be certain until today that I was on the right path. Using my Orb, Alexander managed to channel its powers unto us. The Inner Sanctum flared with blue fiery light and I could feel the same things I felt in the dark chamber in Algeria. It was like standing in a mad whirlpool of impressions. It was terrifying, but Alexander kept calm and wielded strange tools of science in order to tame the storm.

Suddenly the blue light was stained by strains of red and the walls burst with pulsating tissue resonating with the scene. Alexander quickly covered the Orb in some cloth and the unspeakable thing vanished. Apparently, the Orb's shadow is closer than Alexander thought. He says I should prepare for a warding ritual tomorrow. I'm not sure what he expects, but I have a bad feeling about this.

Discovery (3/3)

9th of August 1839

It is still early and Alexander is busy preparing for the ritual later today. Seeing him this worked up makes me question, why? What does he stand to gain? I realize he is curious about it all, but surely there must be more. Is he so foolish he will attempt to tame the power of the Orb?

I must admit that yesterday when Alexander flooded the Inner Sanctum with blue light, I realized we had but grazed the Orb's true potential. This might turn out to be more than escaping a creeping shadow. It might be the beginning of something truly extraordinary.

Ritual (1/1)

9th of August 1839

I can't stop sweating and shaking. The warding ritual was not something of a sane mind! I did not even realize the dungeon was still in use. Alexander had his servants bring one of the prisoners, a murderer, he told me. Alexander made all of the arrangements but he said I had to perform the ritual in order to have the right effect. The Shadow could be led astray by the blood of another. Killing the man would provide us precious time.

What else could I do? Alexander said it had to be done. He is saving my life, I don't have the luxury of argument.

Prisoners (1/1)

12th of August 1839

The banishment ritual is taking longer than expected and we have to do what is needed. I spend my time helping out with the prisoners. Being around these degenerates makes me ill. None of them even tries to face their punishment with any kind of dignity. They taunt me with their lies of innocence and their cowardly pleas of mercy. What can make a man fall so far from the grace of a civilized existence? They are all wicked men and I remind myself of it constantly. Still, I am thankful for God sending these monsters our way, as they will serve as the instruments of my salvation.

I try to study the different tools in the torture chamber and learn how to use them effectively. Last time was messy and the effect suffered from my inexperience.

When the next warding is to be performed, I shall be ready.

The Ceremony (1/1)

15th of August 1839

The blood wards are failing. The shadow beckons and its cry disarms my actions.

Hurry, no time to spare. You have to kill another.

Alexander produces a knife. He wants me to cut the flesh.

Do it, save yourself. He is a murderer, Daniel. He is evil - a cold blooded killer. Hurry.

Alexander, you must let me be. I have to concentrate.

Paint the man, cut the lines, cut the flesh, watch the blood spill - let it come.

"Please, I didn't do anything."

Paint the man, cut the lines. Paint the man, cut the lines!

"Please!" the man cries

Hush, hush - now you sleep.

I did well! One life for another. You hear me, Guardian of the Orb? I did all this for you! Now, once more, withdraw your shadow from my domain!

Alexander, there isn't much time. I can feel it. We must act swiftly. I will do whatever it takes.

The Kidnapping (1/1)

18th of August 1839

Tonight, we will unlock the power of the Orb and ultimately banish the shadow hunting me. I feel it closing in on me and I fear for my life more than ever.

Just outside Altstadt lies a small settlement where Zimmerman, a dairy farmer, lives with his wife and three children. We took the coach and went there. Our visit was unexpected and Alexander was able to strike Herr Zimmerman down without alerting the others. As he went to take care of the farm hands, I began to look for the children.

We should have more than enough prisoners to finish the ritual now.

Downfall (1/1)

18th of August 1839

I cannot believe what I have become. One of the girls escaped and I chased after her all the way upstairs. I hunted her down and...

What is a life worth? How many lives can I take before I surrender my own? Sure, I would kill a murderer to save an innocent. But to kill an innocent to save myself - a cold blooded murderer!

Revenge (1/1)

19th of August 1839

It's not fair! I'm not to blame. I've been manipulated by that demon. He played my guilty conscience and duped me into facing the shadow alone. That vile, conspiring man. He expects me to meet my death as he steals power beyond imagination?

Alexander, I will kill you for what you have done. If only the shadow had caught me in London or Algeria, I wouldn't have to suffer this humiliation. You made me a murderer, a monster!

And now, I merely await my death. I'm too weak to press on. I can hardly stand as my knees fail me. I cannot see, as my eyes are dressed in tears. I'm as broken as the men I've tortured. If only I could wipe my fear away as we did with them.

Alexander of Brennenburg

• Is he safe? Well, it's for his own good.

• Soon it will be ready. Let there be enough time.

• He escaped!? Where is he now?

• Daniel, is that you? What are you doing?

• I hear you breathing Daniel. Do you hear me? Have you changed your mind?

• Daniel! Turn around this instant. You are carrying the Shadow with you!

• Is this guilt I'm witnessing, Daniel? If so, blame yourself. You started this. You sent me that letter asking for help and this is how you repay me? How dare you!

• Daniel. You have gone too far. I have to stop you. I can't let you proceed any further. I'm sorry my friend.

• What are my intentions, Daniel? Salvation. It used to be yours. But now you only seek misplaced revenge. How do you justify your violence? Is it for the greater good? Are you doing the world a service? It is you who caused all this pain and death. If you had accepted your fate and submitted to the Orb when you first discovered it, none of this would have happened. It is curiosity in league with your selfishness that is killing us both.

• You had me worried. Quite frankly, I'm not sure what to do with you. I hold no grudge against you, Daniel. We are so very much the same, you and I. Did you really drink from the Amnesia mixture? It does explain so much of your behavior. You never did finish what you set out to do. You talked about redemption. How you would face the Orb's Shadow and save our work - and me? I will grant you another chance to redeem yourself. You can wait here and stop the Shadow. Thank you - friend.

• I was wondering if you were going to show up.

• I see Agrippa convinced you to run some errands. Tell me, is everything nice and clear now? Am I the villain? Good and evil. Such comforting concepts - but hardly applicable. Are you so blind that you see no good in me? Or evil in Agrippa?

• It saddens me to see you filled with such hate. Is vengeance really what you seek? I hoped you of all people could appreciate the grave nature of this situation. After all, it has always been your life we were fighting for. Isn't it worth a little... sacrifice? Come, help me finish the ritual. There's still time before the Shadow catches up with you.

• Do you see, Daniel? A whole other world - isn't it beautiful? I can finally return... home. But you... I am sorry Daniel. You won't be able to enter. You are still tainted - branded by the Shadow. It will consume you either way.

• Thank you my friend. Your sacrifice won't be forgotten. You will be celebrated, forever!

• No, you fool! You have ruined us!

• No, don't do that.

• I realize, you doubt my intentions. Why would I take such extreme measures to save your life? Maybe, I'm saving mine too.

• Stop it, Daniel, you are ruining it. We are so close - I beg you.

• I'm just like you, Daniel. A prisoner of circumstance. Trapped in a world I no longer recognize. As you gain your freedom, will you deny me mine? We are so close now. Closer than I've been for centuries.

• No, you fool! You killed us - you killed us both!

Memory capsules

• One day I will return. If it wasn't for the thought of you, my love, I wouldn't be able to go on. When I find myself doing terrible things, I take comfort in you. As long as I am able to think of you and long for a life together, I know I'm better than the others. I weep for them, they lust for power without restraint, where I only crave fair judgment and a safe return.

• When will it be my turn? Have I not shown restraint? My patience spans centuries. From where I came, mankind is not even wasted a breath, yet I bow to you. I have done so much for you and I have gained nothing in return. Agrippa, I trusted you. It was I who in all fairness should have entered that gate.

• I fear for Daniel, for he is reckless. He is tainted by the approaching Shadow and will not be able to pass the gate. Will he be able to accept this in the end? My love, I've seen evil in him. How am I to trust him with the truth? What cruel irony that I have to do unto him what Agrippa did unto me.

• Is it you, my love, I miss the most, or is it perhaps myself? I know what I have become, I am not blind. I am a monster to them, a demonic sultan perched on a dark mountain top. There is little I can do to redeem myself. The Black Eagle fears me and after Napoleon's defeat it is only a matter of time before they will demand my head on a platter. I must remove myself from this land. This time it must work. If I can't return home now, I shall perish.

• In court, the order of the Black Eagle spew their politics at each other while I sit quietly in place, willfully forgotten. Once in a while someone will notice me and lose themselves in a silent cower before regaining their senses. They all know I am the one and same Alexander who helped their fathers and grandfathers to found this great Order. I've seen them take their fathers' places, and they too will grow old and pass away. While I remain the same, aged not by time, but by anguish.

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa

• Help me... pull the switch... next to me... please.

• Thank you, you have my gratitude. My name is Agrippa, who might you be? ...Daniel? Like the prophet thrown into the lion's den? Tell me - are you among the lions, Daniel? You want to stop Alexander? Oh my... so Babylon shall fall, you say? You worry too much, Alexander is toothless without an Orb... he has one? That's... that's not very promising at all. The Sanctum is basically impenetrable while guested by an Orb. It could be breached by another, but Alexander broke his, I mean, my Orb, a long time ago. ...Really? Well, if you tell the truth, by all means seek out the pieces of the broken Orb and mend away. I believe he uses them for torture now. They practically leak madness, which is quite useful I understand. There should be six of them. Look around the Choir and the Transept, you should be able to find them there.

• Daniel, I hate to bother you further, but... if you are really going after Alexander, would you consider... taking me with you? I know it sounds ridiculous - I mean look at me. But if you find anything concerning a man named Johann Weyer, would you please bring it to me? I believe he was working on a way to help me. A recipe for some sort of potion - a tonic to free me from this husk of mine.

• So, the laboratory is locked. That is unfortunate. But it can wait. Find the Orb pieces and the ingredients for Weyer's tonic. We'll have to deal with the laboratory door later.

• What lever? Oh, that one. So many of Alexander's things are breaking down. Look around, maybe the other room. There are machine parts hidden all over this place. You'll find a way to fix it.

• You got the doors open? Good going. I knew you could do it.

• Incredible - you found Weyer's recipe. Then there still might be a chance. Listen carefully. Alexander is working on opening a gate - a door to another world. It is where he wants to go. If you could put your anger aside, let him open the portal before you take your revenge. Let me pass the gate, Daniel. Please, find the ingredients and prepare the tonic Weyer describes and do so before you assemble the Orb. The barrier keeping you from the Inner Sanctum will only be breached for a short time. Unless everything is taken care of before, you won't be able to save me.

• I see you have found some Orb pieces, but there should be more. Alexander would most likely keep them close to torture contraptions. Check the Choir and Transept for more.

• You seem to have found all the Orb pieces used in the Transept. Go to the Choir and find the rest.

• Looks like you cleaned out the Choir. Head for the Transept and find the rest of the Orb pieces.

• I see you have all the Orb pieces you need. I know I have no right to ask anything of you, but if you could find it in your heart to gather the ingredients for Weyer's tonic before attempting to mend the Orb, there might still be a chance for you to save me. Please, my fate is in your hands.

• You have everything, what are you waiting for? Head towards the Chancel and find a way into the laboratory. Inside, you should be able to produce the tonic Weyer talked about.

• Daniel, good to see you...

• Was there something else...?

• Ah, you again...

• How are things coming...?

• Who, me? I am Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. I was once quite important, you know. Baron Alexander has sustained my soul in this dead husk for years. Who knows how many... hundreds I presume.

• Alexander is quite impressive in many ways. But he has grown impatient.

• Why me? I'm the next best thing. Alexander really wanted none other than Johann Weyer... you've never heard of Johann Weyer?! My God, boy! He is probably the greatest man in history and you don't know him?! Or is it the world who has forgotten him? [sigh]... Weyer was my pupil - my pupil. Yes, I do take pride in that fact. Is it so wrong?

• I found a Mithraeum once. One which had not been plundered. Do you know of Mithraism? I suppose it doesn't matter. It's an old faith - building temples out of caverns. The dark walls being the universe and inside are its followers... humans watching the sky slowly turn. But the followers do have one thing to allow them a real sense of connection to creation... the Orbs.

• Not many Orbs are left. They sometimes consume themselves or break when used by an uninitiated. I was lucky. The Orb I found spared my life and returned to where I had found it. I know, because Alexander took it and brought it to Brennenburg.

• Weyer was a brave man and dared to proceed where I did not. He unearthed a number of cavern temples and gathered a whole collection of Orbs. But unlike every other finder since the fall of the Mithraic faith, he was able to unshackle the horror you and I connect with the Orbs. He used them and was able to travel far and wide. Beyond the world itself.

• Me, powerful? Not in the way I had hoped for. I have done all that I can to escape this prison, but now I use all my strength merely to stay alive.

• My pupil, Johann Weyer, said he had found a way to take me with him beyond the stars. But I was too afraid to come along. Silly really... and now all I can do is regret it. I always hoped Weyer would return and give me a second chance. But so does Alexander, that's why he keeps me here... as a hostage, hoping Weyer will reveal himself.

• You are a good boy, Daniel, and I appreciate your company, but I believe you have more important things to take care of.

• You should hurry, Daniel. No time for sitting around.

• Daniel! I thought I had lost you. The castle trembled and I could hear the Chancel collapse. The laboratory might be accessible now. Make haste. You are more than ready to make the tonic. Go on, you should find everything you need in the laboratory.

• What are you doing? Time is running short. Hurry, you'll find everything you need in the laboratory.

• You did it. Thank goodness! Now, pay attention. First feed me the tonic, and then use the saw to remove my head. As the tonic begins to work you will be able to cut off my head without taking my life. Then take my head and bring it with you as you enter the gate Alexander is opening in the Inner Sanctum... what do you mean? Why wouldn't you enter the gate? We can't argue now - you need to act.

• Don't get ahead of yourself. First we need the tonic.

• Quickly! Off with the head! And Daniel, whatever happens - get me through that gate.

• There he is. Do you see him, Weyer? He deserves so much more. Please help him, I know you can. Don't worry, Daniel. It will be alright.

Loading screens

Rose

• The door slammed shut behind him and he knew he would never again see the old tailor at Berkeley Square. Another lone soul in London - seemed appropriate somehow.

• The other children cheered him on. His name voiced in a steadily rising pace, urging him to do it. "Am I really doing this?", the young boy thought and struck his victim with a rock.

• He fell to the kitchen floor. Tears were beginning to well in his eyes as he received the first kick in his stomach. Hazel remained hidden, in fear she too would be punished.

• A fragrant taste of rose lingered in his mouth. Turkish Delights, he thought, just like the ones at the consulate in Constantinople.

• Traveling to Dover meant going through Canterbury. He made sure to pay a visit to avoid the sense of guilt connected with the neglect of family.

• Alexander became silent. He didn't know what to say. He could no longer recognize his friend sitting across the carriage.

• The crying had stopped and he could hear a whisper coming from the cell. They were up to something and he would have to punish them.

Catacombs

• The sand gave way to his tired body as he fell from the camel's back. He felt the wind gently sweep across his face and his dry, crusted lips.

• It was done, the men said. The tomb had been revealed. Tin Hinan awaits, grinned the toothless foreman.

• The statues were praying - gazing into the dark domed ceiling.

• The desert dunes were like waves in a sluggish sea. While the caravan moved the land appeared motionless, but in camp the hills moved.

• A handful of sand trickled from the crumbling stone ceiling and pushed down on the brim of his hat. He braced himself as the cavern suddenly shifted and settled.

• The stone slab looked like a safety measure. It wasn't meant to be moved ever again.

Desert

• After enduring three days in Algiers, a sailboat was finally arranged to take him across the Mediterranean Sea to Gibraltar. Having reached British territory, it was just a matter of reserving a cabin on SS Hortensia, headed for London.

• The cloth smelled of desert and damp musk. The pieces lay scrambled on top. Too many of them, he thought, or perhaps too few.

• It became impossible to avoid. The commotion in the streets begged for his attention. As he opened the shutters the French soldiers opened fire on the two young men fighting back. Their voices silenced in a haze of gun smoke.

• He sat down by the Casbah wall gasping for air. Sweat poured from his forehead and onto the sand veiled ground.

Water

• He crashed through the surface. The dark Atlantic water smothered him as he struggled to make sense of the situation.

• Something large brushed against his leg and he felt himself being dragged along by the current of the beast. He pushed himself above the surface. "Help!", he cried as the ocean swallowed him again.

• He felt himself being hoisted out of the ocean. The lacquered hull of SS Hortensia glittered in the soothing warm light of a setting sun. He turned his head to the calm ocean reaching towards the coast of Portugal and thought, "Is this another dream?".

Trunk

• Herbert's trunk was wrapped in rope. The lock had been broken, by thieves he assumed. He wondered if anything had been left considering all the hands it had passed.

• "Is this another dream?", he thought, and screamed at the top of his lungs.

• He returned the tea cup to the saucer and picked up the Orb as one would an apple, and pondered on the strange happenings.

• The thin cold mist brushed his face as he stepped outside. London weather could be cruel, but it was the kind of cruelty he could handle.

• He climbed out of bed and looked out the window. It was completely dark. He waited, glanced at the old clock, and waited some more. Four o' clock, he thought, it's enough.

• He tried to fit the pieces together, but like the sand dunes, they shifted when you weren't looking.

Hand

• Sir William Smith had been marked. There was no way for him to know that the young man from the other day cast such a terrible shadow.

• Professor Taylor was the second death caused by his damned curiosity.

• He panted heavily, trying his best to keep himself from screaming. The medicine cabinet had been overturned and lay collapsed on the floor. He reached through the broken glass door and grabbed all the sedatives he could find.

• The strange letter frightened him, but it was the only one which offered him some comfort.

• He flipped through the Book of Monarchs looking for etchings and counted. Nine different kings from all over Europe had been depicted with an Orb resting in their hands.

Brennenburg

• The dark towers of Brennenburg rose above the forest and were silhouetted against the snow white moon. He couldn't help feeling sad for some reason.

• The morning sun flickered between the pine trees as the carriage approached the castle. A faint memory of reflections in the window pane repeated itself over and over.

• Moving that orb was like pushing a star in the night sky. It wasn't supposed to happen. The Shadow isn't some vengeful spirit, it is the universe catching up with itself.

• Carefully treading the unknown land, he looked over his shoulder at his travel companions. The outrider touched the brim of his hat as a final farewell.

• He unraveled the cloth protecting the orb. Alexander reached out, picked it up, and held it up against the light. "Cover it", he said, "Keep it covered at all times".

• The servants avoided him, yet he knew they were there. They all smelled of spiced wine, a mystic scent permeated by clove and sage.

Alexander

• The beautiful wild orchid seemed a testament to nature's strength, being able to grow inside Brennenburg. Alas, it was Alexander's studies and care which enabled the flower to blossom.

• The purpose of the Inner Sanctum had always been to study the orbs and find a way to force them to yield their power. However, he was still unaware of this.

• The blue light blinded him as it had done inside that murky tomb in Algeria. It was just as enchanting and he tried to approach it, but the baron's firm hand held him back.

• He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but no shape or contour appeared.

• The red taint burst from the walls as if they had begun to bleed. He cried out in fear as the spectacle began to consume the blue shimmer.

• Alexander knew there must be a way to finish the ritual before it was too late. He had to teach his friend to harvest the vitae. That much was certain.

Well

• Henry Bedloe went to class carrying the anger of his bitter mother. He never cried, he made others cry instead. Pain is like that, you either become sad or you become angry. Henry always chose the latter.

• There is never any escape. Things like this live with you always. How could he know if Henry would show up down the road or even at his house? Is he that mad? Would he do that?

• Hazel spent all summer in bed. He used to read to her after helping father with his work. In his mind he was like Scheherazade, and as long as he kept telling the story she would not die

• When Hazel turned fifteen she had lived three years longer than doctor Tate had foreseen. Her parents had given up from exhaustion and decided to have her committed for permanent treatment at Canterbury Hospice, but she was still alive. She had embraced him and wished him a grand adventure in Algeria.

• He wasn't particularly afraid of the dark, but he had always disliked going into the basement. His father urged him on to fetch the red dye. As he stepped into the dark, he thought, "I will never escape this".

• The blue colored tint came crashing down. His father heard the jar break and yelled from upstairs. There was no need for punishment. He could already feel the sting of his father's belt.

• He cried like the little boy he was. All alone in the dark basement, broken glass tearing at the flesh of his naked feet, and blood mixed with blue tint.

Strappado

• Something died inside of him that day. Watching that man slip away was more than his mind was willing to handle.

• Such filth, he thought. Good men can safely cheer departure as they are nothing but a burden to mankind. They shall not be missed.

• The fear had begun to drown him again. He reached once more the empty bottle of Laudanum. In frustration he smashed it against the bedpost.

• It had gone too far. The man was suffocating as he could no longer breathe properly between the lashes. Displeased, he started to look for the Damascus rose oil.

• The thick liquid spread across his tongue. He swallowed excessively to consume every drop. He looked through the window at the widespread forest and the morning sun. "Will this ever end?", he thought.

• Carefully cutting the man open made him think. "This is how father must feel about his craft. Being an artisan, relying on one's skill to perform something so delicate, grants a certain form of pride".

Girl

• She cried and struggled as he pulled at her arm. Her flowered Sunday dress ripped and she fell into the mud.

• He had turned angry. It was easy to take her insolence and make her the villain in this story. But she didn't deserve to die. Even he could see that.

• Alexander saw that the evening had taken a toll on his friend's mind and barred him from the Inner Sanctum. He could no longer be trusted to be a part of the ritual.

• The sight of her lifeless body crippled his psyche. He tried to remove himself from the scene, but he could not. Instead he fell to his knees and begged her for forgiveness.

• All his life he had thought that he was a good man. Terrible deeds were only commited by terrible people, like Henry Bedloe, the bully in school, but now he had seen what he himself could do.

• If it wasn't for Alexander, he would still be innocent and be able to die so.

Death screens

• Keep out of the water...

• Dead flesh can act as a distraction...

• Block the path. Run...

• Tread carefully...

• Do not venture too far...

• Darkness can act as cover...

• Move carefully...

• Think before running...

• Hide in closet...

• Move quickly...

• The Shadow is closing in...

• Close...

• Create a distraction...

• Watch your step...

• Sleep...

• Hide and wait...

• Don't run...

• They are close...

• Paths change as the world darkens...

• Run...

• You have to carry on...

Notes

Daniel's Note to Self

19th of August, 1839

I wish I could ask you how much you remember. I don't know if there will be anything left after I consume this drink.

Don't be afraid, Daniel. I can't tell you why, but know this. I choose to forget. Try to find comfort and strength in that fact. There is a purpose. You are my final effort to put things right.

God willing, the name Alexander of Brennenburg still invokes bitter anger in you. If not, this will sound horrible.

Go to the Inner Sanctum, find Alexander and kill him. His body is old and weak, and yours, young and strong. He will be no match for you.

One last thing, a Shadow is following you. It's a living nightmare - breaking down reality. I have tried everything and there is no way to fight back. You need to escape it as long as you can.

Redeem us both Daniel. Descend into the darkness where Alexander waits and murder him.

Your former self,
Daniel.

Wilhelm's Contract

I hereby offer my full attention and services to Alexander, Baron of Brennenburg. This contract will reign for a total of 3 years when my freedom shall return to me. In addition, Alexander, Baron of Brennenburg, is to recommend my services at the Prussian royal court and within the sanctum of the Order of the Black Eagle.
 
May no man break this seal.
 
Wilhelm, house of Gerich.

Local Folklore

Altstadt and Brennenburg Castle 1801
Another region rich with lore is Altstadt, deep within the East Prussian woods. For centuries there have been stories surrounding the hamlet and its neighbor, castle Brennenburg. The quiet forest-clad mountains dressed with scattered lakes is as picturesque as can be, albeit the area is haunted by the dark. Ask any local and you will hear proof of the widespread superstition. All travelers should indulge themselves in such conversations since it will certainly serve as exciting entertainment. All of them have their own twists on the tales, but there are some motifs that keep reappearing.

The Gatherers
This story reaches all the way back to the time of the Thirty Years' War. It is said that soldiers who abandoned their duty got lost in the cold dark woods and were forever damned to roam the grounds. Their bodies wrought by their tainted souls have left them disfigured and empty of essence. Many have sighted them over the years and describe them as horrid revenants. They move silently through the woods, shying away from any beholder. They are called Gatherers as they seem to follow some ambition to steal living creatures. It is their prey which can be heard struggling inside damp burlap sacks dragged behind them which reveal their presence. What dark scheme do they follow?

A Visit Undone
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, the well known erudite, visited Altstadt at the start of the 16th century. He resided in the local inn for a fortnight as he looked for remnants of kingdoms past. During his stay all the prominent members of society paid notice and he is mentioned in many records at the time. One day he went to investigate a burrow in the northwestern glades only to never be seen again. Heinrich is known to have passed away in Grenoble some ten years late. He dismissed the notion of ever visiting Altstadt, which makes you wonder what really happened. Who was this mysterious man who visited the sleepy hamlet in the woods and what happened to him?

The Immortal Baron
The Baron of Brenneburg lives a reclusive life with his family at his castle nearby Altstadt and like most those of noble birth, rumors are inherited alongside with the title. Researching the history reveals little before the castle was consumed by fire in the late 16th century. It was rebuilt by Alexander, a nobleman from the Rhinelands claiming the role as protector of the Prussian State. Alexander helped the region to flourish and remained popular throughout his presumed lifetime. The family has always been secretive when it comes to lineage and heritage, therefore the birth and death of Alexander and his offspring has never been fully recorded. This has fed the idea that the baron is in fact the one and the same who came from the West over three hundred years ago, lived through the time of occupation, and joined the coveted Order of the Black Eagle along with the great leaders of this country.

Regarding Closing of the Wine Cellar

Wilhelm and his fools have endangered my research long enough with their absentminded handling of the human vessels. The sheriff is keeping a watchful eye on the forest and is killing my trusty servants. It's just a matter of time until they follow the trail to Brennenburg. I need to lock Wilhelm and his men up to avoid further investigation from the public. The wine cellar will therefore be sealed off until the matter has been handled. Either the king's men leave or they will starve. Whatever comes first - they can rot for all I care.

Maybe I will feed them some wine, it would in a sense solve both of my problems.

Wilhelm's Last Words

My name is Wilhelm, house of Gerich. These are my final words, my confession and testament. Two years ago I was summoned to the castle Brennenburg. As most of the aristocracy, I was curious about what this supposed knight of the Order could want from me and accepted the invitation. The baron was friendly and offered me a proposition.

It dawned on me that the nature of the contract was sordid and that the reason I was chosen was because of the follies of my past and not the honors I've been rewarded with during my time as a soldier. I was to kidnap healthy humans upon his slightest whim and do so without asking questions. In return he would attest to my character at the royal court, advancing my position within noble society. I would like to claim that I struggled with my decision, but it came swiftly and I accepted wholeheartedly.  

Ever since that day I've brought men, women, and children to Brennenburg. I can't remember the numbers, but there were many, perhaps even a hundred. None of whom were ever seen or heard from again.

Tonight the baron invited me and my men down to the wine cellar to celebrate our work. I had my suspicions as we descended the stairs, but he insisted and joined us in a toast. The wine tasted fine and my men drank without restraint.

So begins the punishment for our sins. The baron has locked us up and returned upstairs. Forgive me for what I have done. I was weak and fell into his diabolic ways. My men are screaming, their skin has been pierced by their own tangled bones. I feel my insides revolt against their God given nature. Blood has begun to pour from my eyes and I can no longer...

Early Alchemy Experiment

This is my third attempt to produce artifical Vitae. The former compounds lacked the potency I need, but I sense I'm close. Calamine and Orpiment are a given and the Cuprite binds them well. This time I will attempt Aqua Regia instead of Aqua Fortis in hope it will produce a more even solution

The experiment was unsuccessful. The solution is higly acidic and proves impractical to put to any use except as a detergent. Organic tissue reacts especially violently to the solution and should be handled with the greatest care. I might be able to use the recipe, but I'm losing hope that I will find an alchemic solution to my predicament.

Chemical Relocation

The lack of a chimney to properly vent the fumes from my most recent experiments has taken its toll on many of my less stable ingredients in storage. Some seem unaffected, but many are stained by the fumes and will be difficult to salvage. I shall do what I can and move them to the wine cellar.

Regarding Explosive Mixture

Alexander,

I have prepared the explosives you needed for clearing the flood drain. I can't stress enough how important it is that the mixture is handled with care. Please try to tell your featherbrained servants this before you go ahead with your plans. The liquids are not by themselves explosive and should be kept separated to avoid further mishaps. I have arranged two large vats in the next room for the ingredients. All you need to do is to mix the liquids and you are ready to go.

Agrippa

In Case of a Missing Rod

If a full set of three rods is unavailable, there is one rod in the inner Study rooms which might work in case the elevator breaks down again. Unless it is absolutely necessary, always use the spare rods in the storage before using a mended one.

Letter Regarding the Discovery of an Orb

To my most trusted student and friend Johann Weyer.

The most remarkable thing happened as I was traveling through the Prussian woods this summer. I finally found one of the orbs I have been looking for the last twenty odd years. It is as inexplicable as the Heliodromus described it in the Hortus Conclusus. It was as it was told about, an underground Mithraic temple crowned with the unearthly artifact. The orb was big enough to fill my cupped hands and the texture was smooth and jagged - its color washed while rich. Contrast is not enough to describe its nature. It was an impossibility, an artificial paradox captured within stone.

I was staying in a nearby village called Altstadt, investigating one of the antiquated trails, when I finally found the cavern. I went inside and suddenly I could verify the truth of these enigmatic artifacts - they were real.

As you can understand, this is the most important discovery of my life, but it has also become my greatest fear. As I entered the underground chamber I could feel that I was trespassing. Because of my curiosity I did my best to fight these instincts and fetched the orb from its place. I scrambled out of the chamber and into the woods. I could sense something was following me, it bayed loudly as it closed in. The beast, this guardian of the orb, was relentless in its pursuit.

I made my way to a nearby ravine where I stumbled upon some men fishing in the lake. I tried to warn them as I passed, but fortunately they remained as I continued my escape. When I heard their cry of pain echo through the valley, I felt such a tremendous sense of relief, thinking I would be spared.

Suddenly a blue shimmering light engulfed me and the colors of the forest were washed away before my eyes. I kept running through the bleak surroundings, the trees had turned charcoal black with leaves of cinder, the ground covered in murky water. I pressed on through the drenched land as the glowing ember gave way to the rising wind and rained on me. I could hear pleading screams in the distance and I joined in as pain and fear overtook me. I fell to the ground gasping for air.

This certainly must sound strange, but I had been carried miles away across the Alps to a grassy field outside Genoa. The guardian had taken the orb from me, but still until this day I fear its return. Sometimes I lay awake at night listening  for the howling cry I heard in the forest. It has been nearly a decade since that day and I still haven't been able to write about the incident.

The last time we spoke you told me about your interest and ongoing research into the mythic orbs and I realized I owed you the truth about my visit to Altstadt.

Your friend and mentor,

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa

Animal Experiment

Canis Lupus Familiaris - 1658, April 12

After a short study it is clear that the agitation found among humans can be found in the dog. Fear and pain induce stress which seems to trigger an endogenous response, causing the animal to burst with energy. I believe that the catalyst is produced in the brain. It is difficult to determine exactly where and what it is, but I can sense it, it reeks of cosmic genesis.

There is an inherent problem in harvesting this energy since the creature is bound to die from the exercise. I must refine this process of torture to enable any real work to be done. More experiments must be performed, but it seems that only human beings are able to produce the amount necessary. It might be their ability to appreciate the severity of the process that ultimately augments their experience of terror.

Anatomy Frontiers

1658, January 9

Further disappointment. The antiquarian's latest findings yielded nothing. I'm still unable to grasp the inner workings of life and its relation to the power I sense within it. I shall pursue more books on the subject, but I suspect it will be in vain. Since no research has been made in my particular interest I must attempt to fill that void myself. Clearly humans emanate more of the energy I seek, but I hope animals will suffice as they would prove less of a hassle to acquire.

Elevator Machine Instructions

If the elevator breaks down again, make sure to use the steam engine to build up pressure before channeling it into the machinery.

Adjust the levers to get the right amount of pressure inside the chamber. The meters should read: Up 8 & Down 8.

Make sure the flow is set according to the following chart:

- Trinity Steam Set Functions

- Four-phase Amplitude

- Complete Steam Flow Cycle

Note that the machine will not check proper configuration until all rods are inserted.

Machine Equipment Memo

Note that there are only two spare rods left in the storage for the elevator machinery. Make sure to only discard the ones which are badly damaged and keep the others in the inner Study rooms in case all three would crack again.

Machine

13th January, 1799

The work I have put into this machine is unequaled by the reasoning of any man. The thought that generations of men have passed away since I first attempted to reconstruct the design is most tiring. The limitations of this world have made my work incredibly difficult. It has forced me to build the thing almost a hundred times larger than the delicate contraption it tries to emulate.

Not to mention the flow of tamed lighting crudely replaced by pressured steam pushing its way through pipes and turbines. It shames me to think of what the inventor would have thought of my monster. Where he works with a magnifying glass to carefully fix all the parts, I push five men to erect a tower of wrought iron in the hope it will have even the tiniest hint of the power found in a Traveler's Locket.

Plague Outbreak

The strange deaths among the servants and the prisoners have finally been resolved. It seems that the drain sewer which has recently been opened up for use as a means of transport is plagued by a peculiar poisonous fungi.

The victims seem to have suffered an extremely quick outbreak of sickness affecting the entire body. Some of my men, including myself, are blissfully spared by this calamity but it is clear that this cripples my progress. The prisoners die quickly and their contaminated vitae lacks the energy I seek.

I shall immediately start working on a vaccine.

Vaccine Trials

The vaccine enabling my men to work in the fungi-ridden sewer is a definite success. Unfortunately, only a few of the servants have been remedied as the procedure proved difficult. The others will perish, and eventually I will have to create more of them to keep my experiments running.

Note that an injection of vaccinated blood will work as a shield long enough to pass the sewers without any risk of infection. It will do fine for prisoner transport.

Agrippa Channels Weyer

Weyer taunts me from the other side. I trusted him with my true reason for my efforts and still he insists on me releasing Agrippa. How an enlightened man can show such lack of compassion in a seat of power disgusts me. I can't bring myself to part from Agrippa as he is and has been for centuries my only link to the worlds beyond.

Weyer claims he tries his best to release me from my banishment, but that he needs me to give him Agrippa first so he too can help. If he could guarantee success, I would happily oblige, but how am I to part from him if my return might be denied. I know what they are capable of, I have seen their deception.

Optimism is a most hopeless feeling, but I must retain it. I shall prepare for his release.

To release Agrippa without killing him, Weyer told me to feed him a tonic made from a paralyzer, vitae, and Tampter.

The poisonous fungi should work as a paralyzer if I can find the internal gland from a large specimen. The Choir seems to be a fertile grounds for this sort. I should then be able to extract its contents with the proper tools.

The vitae could be extracted as usual from any agonized human victim's blood. I just need large amounts to distill it properly. Remember to collect this during the next torture session.

Tampter on the other hand will prove more difficult. I don't think it exists in this world. Simply writing the word with these letters looks wrong. I believe it's a property of the secretion in the water dwelling Kaernk. I will have to address Weyer with this as he will have to supply me with a host. Also a properly prepared well should suffice to contain it.

The Shattered Orb

All is lost. I must once again start over. Ever since I recovered the Orb first found by Agrippa, I have depended on it for my research. The incident with Wilhelm made me most impetuous. Fearing a paucity of prisoners, I proceeded with the Final Ritual without proper foresight. The Orb cracked and fell into six parts.

I have tried everything, but have of yet to mend the thing. Unless I can think of a way to piece it together, I will have to find another. There is still life in the pieces and even if the Orb isn't restored, I might be able to salvage some of its power for some other purpose.

Centuries have past in vain and I begin to wonder if I will ever be able to see my love again. How much longer can I sustain my life?

Notes on Torture

There are quite a few things to be said about torture. I had figured that the reaction I would get from the victims would be highly individual. Thankfully this is not the case. The humans all have a very similar approach to dealing with physical pain and the terror of anticipation.

I can't stress enough the importance of restraining the victims before proceeding. Even the most timid creature can break out in fits of violence where their strength exceeds their expected prowess. If proper care has been put into breaking the victim, this should not be a problem, but it will also hinder the effect I am after. The right steps to take are, therefore: to restrain while the victim is still dazed, proceed by presenting the form of torture you are about to apply, and then to continue with the actual act.

The point of presentation is to infuse terror. The human mind is extremely efficient, as it will trigger itself into greater fear simply by imagining it. While applying pain, make sure to avoid massive damage as it will prove more efficient if the process can be sustained. Also, apply the pain in doses, if possible with breaks to let the body settle. If you are whipping or cutting the victim, strike once, wait for the pain to subdue, then strike again.

As long as the body suffers it will continue to produce the vitae and saturate the blood with its properties. Only with careful performance will the victim yield maximum effect. If the victim doesn't behave as expected, it is likely that all will be for naught. Before this happens, feed them the Amnesia drink and try again later.

Last Prisoner Note

There is little left to say. I write solely to prevent myself from revisiting the memories of these last few days. If I am fortunate, I will fall asleep and time will pass without effort. I have begun to wean myself of my prison.

When I first arrived I felt like I was being buried inside a tomb, but now I feel the close walls comforting me. As long as I am in here there is no pain, the walls protect me from the outside. I even laughed earlier as one of my wardens dropped a key down the pipes. It gave me hope for a second, thinking I could escape if only I could somehow reach it from here.

In my dreams, Alexander, I am king. In my dreams I best you and escape your clutches, and return with all the knights of the realm carrying pistols and sabers. In my dreams...

Flashbacks

Daniel: Alexander, is it inside the castle?

Alexander: In a manner of speaking. Come, bring the lamp. You've been to the Refinery have you not?

Daniel: I don't believe I have. Is it connected to the... what did you call it?

Alexander: The Inner Sanctum, my most precious chamber, Daniel. And it lies well beyond the Refinery. In fact... it lies beneath the very stone of Brennenburg.

---

Alexander: Much of the castle is old and hasn't been tended to for centuries. When the Shadow arrives, it won't take long until things start falling apart.

Daniel: We are just buying time anyway. Let's do what we can.

Alexander: There isn't much to be done about the wards. We should reinforce weak structures. The ground will tremble and there is a risk everything will cave in on us - especially downstairs. Here... here... and there. Let's get the servants working on it.

---

Alexander: You have to be swift - when you activate the first one... you hear that? If it stops, you'll have to start over.

Daniel: Isn't all this a bit... excessive?

Alexander: You can never be too careful, Daniel.

---

Alexander: Hmmm... there should be more cuprite. Let me see, let me see... and one part aqua fortis.

---

Servant #1: Where did the baron go?

Servant #2: Who cares? He left us enough wine to last us a lifetime! Or at least [burp] until tomorrow!

---

Servant #1: What's happening? Oh! It feels... like... my chest is going... to burst!

Servant #2: My God, Wilhelm, do something!

Wilhelm: Accept it. We're not getting out of here alive.

Servant #2: How can you say that? Alexander, you piece of shit, let us out of here! [coughs]

---

Daniel: It sure is dark in here.

Alexander: Yes, and there is a good reason for it, but you can light the lamp now if you wish.

Daniel: What's the reason? For the darkness, that is.

Alexander: Stay close - be careful not to stray.

Daniel: What's the reason? Why is it so dark?

Alexander: Pay attention, Daniel. It's important that you keep going straight and make sure not to stray.

---

Daniel: You have an ascending room! Will it take us to the Inner Sanctum?

Alexander: It will definitely take care of the vertical part of our journey. So, you have ridden an elevator before?

Daniel: Yes, the colosseum at Regent's Park has one. It takes you to the gallery where you can view the panorama.

Alexander: Good. This ride might be a little longer - and in the other direction.

---

Daniel: My journal is gone, what would they want with my journal?

---

Daniel: The key! Please, let it be here.

---

Daniel: Oh, thank God, there it is. Huh, guess it is a good place to hide it then.

---

Alexander: Daniel?

Daniel: [gasp] What?

Alexander: Still having nightmares, I see.

Daniel: Yes, I can't shake them. They come every night.

Alexander: We'll put a stop to them, you'll see.

---

Alexander: Let's see what you have to offer.

Dog: [whimpering]

Alexander: [grunts] Ugh... what a mess. I should have sharpened the saw, but I can sense it, it's definitely there.

---

Elise Zimmermann: Please, let me go. I won't tell anyone, I swear. I just want to go home... no! Get away from me! Leave me alone!

---

Elise Zimmermann: Why are you doing this!? Get away from me!

---

Elise Zimmermann: Oh God, no! Please, I beg you!

---

Herbert: Don't forget your bag, Daniel.

Daniel: I won't, Herbert.

Herbert: There is no shame in using a parasol in the desert. As it happens, it's imperative to your survival.

Daniel: But it looks ridiculous.

Herbert: The shame will hurt much less than dying, I assure you.

---

Alexander: Come - this way.

Daniel: What was that?

Alexander: Forgive me, I should've warned you. One of my responsibilities as a baron is that of a prison warden. This is where criminals are locked up.

Daniel: Like a dungeon?

Alexander: Very much so. Come - don't linger.

---

Elise Zimmermann: But mother, I don't want to leave without you.

Agatha Zimmermann: Hurry child - you must go. Find Gabriel, the outrider, and tell him to alert the king's men.

Elise Zimmermann: No, you come too!

Agatha Zimmermann: Please, we don't have time to make the hole any wider!

Elise Zimmermann: But...

Agatha Zimmermann: Someone is coming. Hurry! I'll cover the hole with the bed. Everything will be fine - I promise.

---

Daniel: Where is she!? Where did she go!?

Agatha Zimmermann: [sobbing] No, I won't tell. I'll never tell you!

Daniel: You are just making things worse. Look - this is no place for a young girl all by herself. She could be hurt or worse. There is no telling what horrors await down there.

---

Prisoner: Hey! Anybody, help! Christ - I don't believe this. Why... I mean why? What did I do to deserve this? I mean, it can't be... do I deserve this? It wasn't my fault! Why did he have to go in there? You don't go into burning houses, he should have known better.

---

Daniel: Hey you! Stop!

Elise Zimmermann: Don't come any closer! I just want to leave.

Daniel: You can't go outside! It's too dangerous!

Elise Zimmermann: I'm telling Gabriel.

Daniel: I doubt that very much.

---

Daniel: So you use the drain sewers as a means of transport?

Alexander: Yes - they were built to divert water from an underground spring and are quite spacious. It seemed only natural to incorporate it into the overall structure.

Daniel: But we won't be using it.

Alexander: Not today. The flow is seasonal and when the spring runs dry, the damp tunnels produce a rather poisonous type of fungi. There is an antidote, of course - but we won't be bothering with it today. Come, this way instead. We're almost there.

---

Daniel: Herbert, how did we find this place?

Herbert: An old friend back in Algiers gave me a map.

Daniel: Why isn't he with us? Didn't he want to come?

Herbert: He wanted to, Daniel. But things don't always turn out the way we plan.

---

Daniel: You are conserving water from the spring.

Aexander: Yes, it enables me to control the water in the drain sewers to some extent. Also, it can be used for all sorts of purposes.

Daniel: Like for drinking.

Alexander: Well, that too, but mostly to run different machines.

Daniel: Ahhh... like water mills.

Alexander: Exactly.

---

Alexander: Do you see Daniel? It has yielded.

Daniel: What?

Alexander: The Shadow.

Daniel: It has?

Alexander: For now. Come, let's get this out of here so we can get some peace.

Daniel: Yes, let's. Where to?

Alexander: Just down the corridor, to the Morgue.

Daniel: Are there more... dead men there?

Alexander: You did well, Daniel. Come, let's get going.

---

Man: What? What happened? Why are all these dead...? Where am I? What's happening? Help! Anybody, help!

---

Man: Two... three days now. This is ridiculous. Why doesn't someone come to this room!? Hey! Anybody! Am I all alone here? Help! Help! I'm so tired... if I sleep, will I wake from this nightmare? If not, I pray my heavenly Father will take me in my sleep.

---

Prisoner: What's happening? What are you doing? Let me go! Please don't take me - nobody ever returns!

---

Alexander: Agrippa? I need you to stay awake, can you feel the syringe?

Agrippa: No, I can't feel anything. Alexander?

Alexander: Yes?

Agrippa: Soon, I won't even be able to move, will I?

Alexander: Your life is safe.

Agrippa: I don't doubt that, but will it be worth living?

---

Prisoner: I know this. I've been here already. I know this taste - the taste of Damascus rose obfuscating the truth in a dim haze. They may sweep the traces from my memory, but my body remembers. These cuts speak volumes, even though my mind remains silent. They will be back, oh, they will be back.

---

Alexander: Just a little further.

Daniel: It's like Orpheus descending into the underworld!

Alexander: Are you hiding something?

Daniel: What do you mean?

Alexander: Never mind. Your intuition is - remarkable.

Daniel: I'm not sure I'm following.

Alexander: It doesn't matter. It's just a myth after all.

---

Alexander: These cells are meant to hold prisoners who are under treatment. The people you send for will end up here. Remember that the confinement itself works as a preamble to the torture and you should pace yourself. Don't take anyone before they are ready.

Daniel: Understood.

Alexander: Sounds from the torture chambers are shuffled in through those pipes in the ceiling. Manage your victims well and let one prisoner's pain instill terror in his cellmate.

---

Prisoner: How much more, baron? How much more am I supposed to withstand? Kill me already! Kill me!

Alexander: This one, prepare him.

---

Prisoner: Let me go, you brute! [grunts]

Daniel: The cradle is ready.

Alexander: Good.

Prisoner: You? You're a man... how can you partake in this!?

Daniel: Is he alright?

Alexander: He is one of the wicked, don't pay his lies any attention.

Prisoner: I'm not a bad man, it was an accident...

Alexander: He set a man on fire.

Prisoner: It wasn't my fault! Why won't anyone listen!?

Daniel: That's horrible.

Alexander: Of course - we are dealing with monsters here.

---

Prisoner: No, no please! I'll do anything! Whatever you want! [sobbing] Anything! I'll do anything! I'm innocent!

---

Alexander: The wheel is good for keeping your victim still during the procedure. They can be bound around the circumference or simply stretched across, tying limbs to the spokes and rim. All tools are, by this point, useful, and you may administer the torture in any way you like. But the forte of the wheel is the gaps. When you have decided that the victim shall die, you can smash their limbs with a hammer, making them fold in between the frame.

Daniel: But they'll die - too quickly, I mean.

Alexander: No, don't worry. The human body is much more resilient. They can survive for days until they finally succumb.

---

See also

• Penumbra (video game series)

• Amnesia: Justine