The Scarlet Cascabel (Updated to Version 2 - Feb 10, 2020)

[<Username>]

Since the authors are currently active in this thread, I thought I have a chance to ask again:

One question to the authors: The ghost of Elizabeth Blackwell and the evil entity both appeared as colored mist when I played v2. I seem to remember they had visible bodyparts in v1. Was this changed? If yes, why?

[Tannar]

First, thanks for playing BOTH versions, we know that's quite an undertaking, lol. And we hope you enjoyed it. And also, good question!

To answer your question, yes, this was changed in version 2. The idea behind the change was that we wanted to make the evil entity scarier and more clearly represent her being under the scarlet cascabel curse because the "evil entity" is, in fact, Elizabeth, or rather her tortured soul suffering under the curse. Our original idea was to make the entity have the red mist that you saw, but inside it would be the actual "physical" form of Elizabeth's ghost, recognizable as her, but she herself would be moving in slow motion while the entity as a whole was moving quickly. We just were never able to pull it off in a way we were satisfied with and eventually just left it as the mist.

[PerfectlyDark]

Glad to hear it! SC is quite a long mission, but def was a labor of love for us both to make - really glad you enjoyed it, and hope you like my very first mission MC too!

SC was brilliant, thank you. I started playing FMs a very long time ago (you can see from my reg age - I'm just not very active!). SC is definitely amongst my favourites.

MC was great too. I was happy to find the treasure key at the end, but despite nearly 4hours of play still missed 1007 gold and 2 secrets! Your level design is top knotch, great balance of challenge.

[<Username>]

First, thanks for playing BOTH versions, we know that's quite an undertaking, lol. And we hope you enjoyed it. And also, good question!

To answer your question, yes, this was changed in version 2. The idea behind the change was that we wanted to make the evil entity scarier and more clearly represent her being under the scarlet cascabel curse because the "evil entity" is, in fact, Elizabeth, or rather her tortured soul suffering under the curse. Our original idea was to make the entity have the red mist that you saw, but inside it would be the actual "physical" form of Elizabeth's ghost, recognizable as her, but she herself would be moving in slow motion while the entity as a whole was moving quickly. We just were never able to pull it off in a way we were satisfied with and eventually just left it as the mist.

The mission is a masterpiece. I greatly enjoyed both versions. In the second one, I appreciated the additional content. At the same time, I preferred the look of the evil entity in the first one. Thought I was experiencing a bug when I saw its altered appearance in the second version. It was nowhere near as intimidating. I am surprised this was an intentional change.

[Vitro13]

I see that A Very Thiefy Christmas Special isn't the first fm that Pukey and Tannar have knocked out of the park...


NM, figured out what was doing wrong. =)

[Vitro13]

Wow, the Overlook ain't got nuthin' on the Blackwell. While I sort through this, how do you go see Mr. Davidof in room 7?

[Stingm]

I believe you need to search behind the front desk more.

[Vitro13]

I believe you need to search behind the front desk more.

Besides a couple of amusing letters and an apparently unfrobbable key, I still find nothing.

[baeuchlein]

My old notes mention that I found the key to that room (number 7) on a person in the library. It is, however, possible that this is not identical for all versions of "The Scarlet Cascabel".

[CopperBoltwire]

Playing this for the first time, just got access to the Winter wing, or i assume it is.
But i have no idea what to do next, I find the hints to obtuse and not very helpful.
4 hours, and i spent an hour in the winter wing.
So i found 2 rooms: One that looks like a bed room, that has an access point back to near the start through some locked doors. You can faintly see this fountain.
The other section required me to climb this tower like thing. I get to what looks like a kitchen, again with 2 beams of moonlight as mentioned in a book. But no clear idea of what to do.
Two other rooms of note is the lower room where there is a bunch of dummies with weird eyes, i could break them with the sword, so i did for fun and frustration. And my water arrow would douse the red smoke in the basin
Another room is the one with a table and broken statue and the dummies around it. Set dressing?
In the room with the Basin and the breakable dummies are some doors that won't open.

Maybe i missed a room or place?

Was also talk about some kind of crown...
I'm at a loss for what to do.
Hope someone can help.

EDIT: Nevermind I'm just a freaking blind... The way to progress in this section was obvious, if i had slowed down, in the kitchen looking tower there is a semi-hidden switch. Obvious when you see it.