Mission Objectives:

• Find and operate the door to the secret stairway.
• Find and read the correspondence from the Mechanists to Gervaisius. (optional)
• Find at least seven secrets.
• Map out at least half of the mansion.
• Get out to the streets.
• Don't get into any confrontations with the locals.

• 1 noisemaker arrow

Sneaky, Sneaky, Sneaky

     found this mission to be a bit disappointing. At times it felt like an unfinished mission, that mission being Masks which comes right after this one. Though it has different objectives you'll be seeing a lot of the same stuff. Admittedly the same thing was done with Ambush! and Trace the Courier but those missions were spaced apart so you didn't find yourself playing them back to back.
    Start by moving northwest to some boxes. Climb atop the small roof and operate the tiny switch to enter the Chapel. Exit the chapel heading east then leave the next room going north into the hall. Some quick tips: Always lean into the hall to check it. Avoid running on the marble. Jump across strips of carpet, its quieter landing on carpet than walking on marble. Remember to close doors behind you, sound doesn't travel as far when the door is closed.

Saaaaaay, this should look familiar to the old Thieves out there.

    Proceed east through the double-doors and enter the first room on your right. Operate the small switch behind the desk to open a secret door in one of the closets. Use it to enter the Workshop. Use the east door to enter the security office. Turn off all security systems.

Then my lord proceeded to punch holes into his carriage. Why? I asked. Speed holes said he. I must admit, he may hath discovered something.

    Hide in the shadows and let the conversation finish. Carefully follow the mechanist into the Ballroom. Make your way to its west end and see if there is a metal toolbox sitting atop a workbench. If so, open it and take the cuckoo, if not we'll look for it elsewhere. Return to the Foyer and head north all the to the end. Take out your sword and chop the tapestry down. Use the switch to open a secret passage. Visit all the rooms on this passage, if its money you like there are loose coins to be found just about everywhere on this mission. When you have finished with all the rooms exit on the west end of the passage. Continue west to the last door and head up stairs.

Sneak, Sneak, *Squish* "Eww..what's this?"

    Entering the north hall of the second floor is tricky. At least it was until someone pointed out to me the switch that opens the secret door. Approach the arch to the main hall, look down and to the left for a switch on the edge of the marble arch. It will open up the secret passage behind you. Take time to visit all the rooms the passage connects to. In particular, make the first room the security station by taking the first right, and then the next right through the secret door. After you visit all the rooms the secret passage connects to, return to the Trophy Room and exit heading south. Cross the hall and jog left a little to the next door. Follow the short passage to the Ballroom.
    Walk south then turn left through the double-doors. Turn right and approach the south door to the Foyer. If you don't have the cuckoo look for a toolchest around here. Do not open the south door of the foyer. It would be bad. Return to the Ballroom and continue south out the other side. Keep going across the hall and into the next room. Use the security station to turn everything off. Take the east door to the next room. Enter the second closet and look near the floor for a switch. This will open access to another secret passage. Explore all the rooms that connect to this passage, save the Library on the east end for last.

Hush, Hush, Sweet Lorna

    It should be pretty obvious this library is haunted. Listen for the voices, as they get louder it is a hint that an object is nearby that you need to look at. In total, there are four books to read and a secret passage hiding evidence. (Book one: N stack at the end on the left. Book two: On table in front of firepalce. Book three: Y stack at the end on windowsill. Book four: T stack in middle on left when you face south.) You have to enter the hidden passage before the spirits are satisfied. It can be found on the north end of the library. (See the secrets for details.) When they are, go up to the second floor to the southeast corner. Find both scrolls and read them. One scroll is the correspondence needed for an objective, the other completes the sad story of Lorna and Giles. Return to the first floor of the library and exit out the door in the northeast corner.
    Use the cuckoo on the clock. Set its hands to 12 o'clock. Don't bother exploring the third floor, there is no loot to be found and its not worth the effort. You'll have plenty of time to look around in the next mission. Take whatever route you wish to the Foyer on the first floor. Before you do you might want to listen in on a conversation by the south door to the Foyer on the second floor. Don't worry, it's safe now.
    When you reach the Foyer on the first floor make sure the double-doors leading to the Ballroom entrances are open. Shoot a noisemake arrow through them. As the guard goes to investigate ready your lockpicks. When he crosses the half-way point in the Foyer walk over to the east doors. Pick them open and run away into the night.

If thou seeist this, reloadsie thy game save manfool.

Thiefy nod to the following taffers for their help: mervin