Quest
These are the story/quests featured in Hidden City. There is a vast number of stories, and please note that the order and categories are unorganized, so it might be a bit difficult to navigate. Thank you for your understanding.
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The Detective Takes on the Case
Detective
A Poltergeist is raging in the cafe. It’s a malicious anomaly that turns all things upside down. It’ll be hard for an ordinary man to deal with it. Please bring back the items under the Poltergeist’s influence, so we can find out how to beat it. Quickly!
Good - some of Martha’s tools, but I haven’t seen them before. A secret mechanism has triggered an opening in the wall and I can see a document.
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The Collector’s Records
Valerie
We’re not experts on ghosts or magic, even though I know a little about love spells. The Detective once told me the Collector studied these phenomena in detail. There should be records in his house - maybe we can find some information there.
Look what I’ve found! It’d be useful if I could make out the handwriting... Remember those objects floating upside down in the cafe? Look at this: “A Poltergeist is one of the most powerful and evil spirits; wherever it appears, a real hell begins. Poltergeists can easily move objects, regardless of their weight, and can even upend a man.” This is a Poltergeist, but how do we deal with it?
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On the Track of Gargoyles
Valerie
Something terrible is happening in the Café! No, don’t go in there, just look at what’s going on inside! Objects fly around, the counter is upside down, a cupboard hangs in the air near the ceiling... Did you hear that? Someone’s shouting! That girl must be inside and the spirits won’t let her go! What if this invasion is her fault? We’re faced with a completely new anomaly! Let’s ask Martha for advice. Do we still have enough time left?
Martha’s nowhere around. A note on the table reads: “Meditating in the astral realms. Interrupt only if the end of days imminent.” Oh, no! She can’t help us.
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Statue of Mercy
Valerie
It speaks no more... Say I’m not dreaming. Someone said the Engineer had put a magical heart into the statue. Now it can hear when someone needs help and even alert others about it. So, someone has been locked up somewhere by gargoyles?
These stone gargoyles aren’t very talkative or at all shy. They just flew away from us and didn’t agree to help. But one of them stopped and beckoned us to follow. It led us to the Red Rose Café, grimacing and wheezing terribly. If it could talk, everything would be simpler.
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She Speaks!
Conductor
You do nothing but crank out trouble! Anomalies have escaped from the Station Building and flooded the City. Hopefully, the residents had time to take shelter. Martha says these effects are far more dangerous than previous ones. I think someone, pointing no fingers, deserves a flogging for wanting another trinket! Go to City Hall, try to find books or records on spirits, anything!
We did the rounds of City Hall and find nothing of interest. The anomalies will soon reach here, then... Oh, look, the statue under the stone veil has stirred! Now it’s muttering something! I can hear its voice. Hush, I can’t make out the words... “Help me... Does anyone hear me? I can’t get free.” Did you hear that? “I’m locked up... gargoyles... ” I don’t get it!
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Ghosts at the Station
Conductor
What have you two done? I said it was dangerous here! Why did you approach the crashed plane? Now even I’m scared to get close to the Station. Do something about it!
Look, I’ve never seen it before... Usual methods are useless here – firecrackers make the spirits angrier. Their numbers are increasing! We are overwhelmed!
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A New Acquisition for Valerie
Valerie
This new guy is so cute, but he wouldn’t pay attention to me. No wonder, look at me! I have nothing fancy to wear and look like a ninny! Can you help? I saw a beautiful hairpin at the Crash Site, but didn’t have time to pick it up. It’s an elegant, old item. To be honest, I’m scared to go to the Station because of those flashes and shadows in the windows. And I’m afraid of the Conductor. Please, bring me that hairpin.
Thank you, it’s so beautiful! Now this guy will notice me. Oh, what’s going on? The flashes at the Station are getting brighter... And, do you hear that noise... ?
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Survival Kit
Detective
Your help today was truly invaluable. While you were searching for a compass I had time to patch up old scratches and disinfect Valerie’s wound. In a couple of days it’ll heal and the girl will be running around just like before. I’m ready for a new case but after the whole deal with the manticore I need a survival kit. Put one together for me.
Okay, now I have all the necessities for a new case. The key is to stay sharp and keep your eyes open. Thank you so much, buddy.
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Correct Orientation
Detective
Quite a battle, eh! The manticore is defeated. My blood is still roaring with adrenalin! Now you see how dangerous the adventures in the City of Shadows can be. I’ll need a survival kit so I won’t be caught unaware again. But what kind of a survival kit doesn’t have a trusty compass in it? I have to wander narrow streets of the City too often. Can you bring me one?
A sturdy serviceable compass. Only one like that can help you orientate yourself in the City’s conditions. It’s a real rarity but I have no doubt you’ll somehow find it, partner.
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Fear of Light
Detective
This manticore is really strong and, even though I now have a magically-charged machete, I simply might be too slow to deal a death blow. I have an idea: manticores are nocturnal creatures, just like werewolves, meaning they’re afraid of bright light. The light of signal flares is so bright it can blind monsters. Find me signal rockets.
Signal rockets are just what I need. With them distracting the monsters we now have a chance. Well, let’s get down to business. I’ll deal with the manticore with my magical machete and you deal with the werewolves. To battle!
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Surrounded!
Detective
I see you have a machete in your hands. I need it right now! Can you go up to the roof, while I distract the manticore? It’s pitch-dark in City Hall, so you’d better take your flashlight.
Thanks, I couldn’t fight back without you. Last night I found some clues on the Collector’s. Went to City Hall to try and find some info on him and was attacked by the Manticore. This creature is a rare visitor - someone didn’t want me learning the Collector’s secrets.
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Monsters Around!
Valerie
While we were looking for a machete, werewolves also appeared at City Hall. Detective ruined quite a number of werewolf furs during his investigations and now the sharp-toothed monsters have decided to have their revenge while he is boxed in by the manticore. By the way, one of the werewolves holds a brush kit for getting fingerprints in his jaw, the one that Detective dropped as he escaped from the manticore. I’m sure he will be really grateful if you return it to him.
Hey, I’m here at the top! Oh, you’ve found my brush kit! Thank you, it’s the only one I have. I will thank you properly when I get out of this mess.
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A Machete for the Detective
Valerie
Great. Now I need to find a huge machete to charge with magic and bring to Detective.
Oh my gosh, what a frightening weapon! Its blade is dark as if smeared with blood. I’m sure it’ll become even deadlier in the capable hands of our Detective!
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Stolen Amulet
Martha
I see the Threefold Amulet in the magic mirror. One of the Mistress’s countless admirers left it for her once.\n Some suitors return without seeing her even once, others enter the Manor and never come back...\n Find the amulet, the Detective is waiting for your help.
Yes, this is the Threefold Amulet. Now you can charge a machete with battle magic. For this just slide the amulet along the blade.
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Solid Protection
Alex
I was carrying the sabertooth claw with me to protect myself from Night Terrors. Those horrible anomalies are always waiting for me. The claw does a good job of scaring them off. Only I seem to have lost it somewhere...
Yes, that’s the sabertooth claw I was talking about. Do you see how it gleams with magical light?
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Poor Martha
Martha
So, you need the Threefold Amulet to charge a weapon with magic and take it to the Detective, who’s hiding from a manticore on the roof of City Hall? I’ll help you. I’ll need a rejuvenating elixir and a sabertooth claw. The rejuvenating elixir can be made from orchids. Will you bring them to me? I’ll even share a few sips with you.
Excellent, the orchid potion will be ready shortly. Now I need a sabertooth claw. I lent it to Alex a couple of weeks ago and he’s not so eager to return it.
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Amulet or Life
Valerie
The Medium has the Threefold Amulet, can you go to her place? But you’d better prepare some magical present for Martha. She did mention that she was out of Truth Powder, so I think if you show up with some, she won’t be able to say no.
Detective is in trouble, you say? The Threefold Amulet exists, I worked with it once. But I was completely exhausted after the ritual. I can help you.
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Damsel in Distress
Valerie
Here you are, at last - I’m safe now!\n Look at this wound on my leg. I’ll explain later as it’s bleeding badly. I’m feeling dizzy...\n Do you have a bandage? No? Me neither, I’m so careless...\n Please find a first-aid kit, I won’t last long without it!
Thanks to you, I won’t die from blood loss... or fear. Now I’ll disinfect the wound and apply a bandage. Quite stylish! Valerie, who’s been in many a tight spot... Ah, let me tell you what happened...
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Queen as a Gift
Martha
While you were away I discovered the Queen of Spades at the Manor House Gate. You’re saying you’ve already found several cards there? The Queen must have been well hidden.
Of course, I can imagine why so many cards were there - one of the Mistress’s admirers must have found those cards and given them to her. But she rejects most of her suitors’ gifts, so they’re often left lying at the gate. I wish I had someone to give me a gift!
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Fan of Beauty
Valerie
The Jack? Yes, I have such a card, why? No, I really need it, though I don’t play cards! This guy is such a handsome, curly-haired young man... I so lack male company! The Conductor is too old, the Cardsharp is too slippery and the Detective doesn’t pay me any attention. Jack is so pretty I don’t want to give it to you! Oh, all right, I’ll trade it for a music player. There’s no one to dance with, but at least I could listen to music. The player is somewhere among the wreckage.
Let me have a last look at lovely Jack. Now take it and leave before I change my mind. I already want it back, but I’ll control myself for a little while. I’d listen to my music player, but I don’t have any headphones. Maybe you can find them? Hey, where are you going?
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Martha Helps
Martha
The Queen and Jack of Spades from Cardsharp’s deck? Of course I’ve heard of his deck. He fusses over it like a hen with just one chick. He was very upset when he lost the cards. I can find their actual location, but I need to take a couple of sips of my special potion. You can see how exhausted I am, I can’t even get up from the chair. The last ritual used too much of my energy. Find me the potion and I’ll be able to see the truth.
These are the images that were revealed to me after I drank half of the potion. Look closely... A young girl, a small animal on her shoulder... That’s Valerie. She’s near the crash site and she has Cardsharp’s Jack of Spades.
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Cards at the Gate
Cardsharp
It took me a long time to reshuffle the deck. Relations between the cards are messed up; they quarrel, make peace, then quarrel again. Yet I managed to make some sense of their hubbub. The cards believe that someone else is at the Manor House gate. You should go back there - my cards never lie. At least, not to me.
The Ten and the King? Great! Only two cards remain, then my life will regain its former happiness. Yes, I’ll keep my word; complete the task and the Joker is yours.
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The Ace of Spades
Cardsharp
The Ace is the highest card in the suit. It would never leave the lower cards unattended. Spades have an innate desire to control. The Ace shouldn’t be far from the other cards of the suit.
We have the Ace, only four cards remain. But finding them will not be an easy task!
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Spades with Us
Cardsharp
We must place the cards in a special box that will protect them from the City and the City from them. But back to the point: spades are a nocturnal suit, so you have a greater chance to find it by moonlight. We should look for it at night.
Give me those cards, quickly! My hands are shacking with excitement - I’m touching the spades for the first time in many years. Wait, the suit is incomplete. Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten are missing - the Black Straight. They’re the top spades and the whole deck. Why can’t we find them? Something’s going on, here.
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Obedient Diamonds
Cardsharp
When I have two suits, I again feel the secret connections between the cards. When I lost the deck I lost a part of my soul... The Diamonds are in the Manor Gate area. They are very amenable.
Yes, my diamond! Let me put the cards together... Hey, guys, stop quarreling; don’t you recognize each other? You are united again, so get used to it! Don’t look like that - I’m not crazy! Don’t you hear the fuss the cards make? No? Only a professional card player can hear it.
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Thief
Cardsharp
Did you see a werewolf near the Station? He has the Ace! Tender, vulnerable card in the clutches of that hairy monster... Please, rescue the Ace, quickly!
I was so worried while you were gone. Even my top hat sweated with excitement! Have you brought the Ace? Great, all the clubs are assembled.
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Two Suits
Cardsharp
I spread a few combinations and the cards confirmed my guess: the Top Clubs are near where the lower ones were. You claim they aren’t there? But they could be nearby, at the Station, say. Cards don’t lie; it’s worth checking.
We now have Clubs and Hearts, black and red, righteous warriors and crafty fellows – they balance each other. Half the deck is in my hands... Oh no! The Ace of Clubs is missing!
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Severe Clubs
Cardsharp
Clubs are next. When that plane crashed into the Station I felt a burst of magical energy - my cards calling. They must have been hidden nearby and the accident woke them. Magic cards can’t be damaged by fire, but I’m still worried about my Club Suit. Please find it quickly!
You found only the lower clubs? But I can feel the otheres in the Station area! Give me them, I want to hold them in my hands again.
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Talking Cards
Cardsharp
I spoke to the cards you found. The lower Hearts told me their higher brothers and sisters were near a gilded gate - the Manor House Gate. How can Cards talk? Not with words but the combinations when they’re spread. This Deck... I can use it to play the whole City. I’ll tell you later what it means and let you learn wonderful things. But now, please, look for the remaining cards by the Gate.
Now I have all the Hearts. I was wrong to doubt your abilities.
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Tricky Hearts
Cardsharp
The Seven of Hearts is quite symbolic! It means we should start our search with this suit. Take another look in the café; maybe the remaining Hearts are hidden there, too.
Six, Eight, Nine, Ten... It seems the City itself sent you to me! Only the Top Hearts are left! You haven’t found them in the Café, right? Hmm... Where could the Collector have hidden them?
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Seven
Cardsharp
If you help find the Magic Deck, I’ll give you the Joker. This special card can turn into any of the City’s amulets. My amazing deck is inseparably linked with the Red Rose Café, but I can no longer enter. Will you look inside? If not the cards themselves, at least some trace of them...
The seven of hearts - one of my cards! I haven’t seen it for years but you found it so quickly. You should ask the Collector how it got there. I hate him so much! Later, I’ll tell you what happened to him.
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Cause of the Disaster
Detective
Buddy, it seems the boggarts took the flight data recorder from the crash site. It looks like a bright orange ball and records all the flight parameters and the crew’s conversations. Let’s find the stolen device. I think we’ll manage faster with artifacts. Please lend me some.
Look, the artifacts have formed a bright beam that indicates some kind of device. It’s the flight data recorder! But how do we extract all the information from it now? I’ll show it to Martha. She should know exactly what to do with it. Thank you for your help.
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Valuable Recording
Detective
Buddy, we’d better not go to the crash site right now. It’s too dangerous there. Right in front of my eyes, the boggarts pulled off an item that looked like a voice recorder from the plane. It can contain valuable recordings made before the crash. Help me retrieve it!
You managed to find the voice recorder. Quick, let’s listen to what’s recorded on it. "A Dark Fog cloud appeared on our way. It’s enveloping the plane and all the devices are going crazy. It seems that a crash is inevitable..." Buddy, the sound cuts out here. I’ll try to restore the recording.
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Lucky Find
Isabelle
We’re using the jar of jam you found to attract the boggarts. I’m sure they’ve already smelled its alluring sweet scent and are about to flock here. When the jam weakens the boggarts’ watchfulness, we’ll take the things they stole from the crash site.
The jar of jam worked! I see you wasted no time and found a life jacket. I also found a few things from that plane. We’ll take them back to the crash site so that later we can recreate the scene of the accident in more detail.
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Hunting with a Camera
Isabelle
I’ve been studying boggarts for a long time, but I still don’t know what they look like. The fact is that it’s a very nimble anomaly. But I want to try to take a picture of boggarts with a special camera. Let’s go explore a place where they might be hiding.
Great, I managed to take a picture of the boggarts. Here it is... But the location in the picture looks completely different, as if it was taken somewhere else. It seems that boggarts are able to distort pictures. That’s why there are no photos of this anomaly!
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Sweet Bait
Isabelle
The boggarts stole valuable items from the plane that could help us discover the cause of the crash. I almost succeeded in tracking down the anomaly, but the boggarts hid when they heard me. I know they like sweets. Let’s try to lure them out. Find a jar of jam to attract them!
I see you found a jar of delicious jam. Mmm... The boggarts will flock to it as soon as we open the lid. So, are you ready to lure out these petty thieves and retrieve the things they stole from the crashed plane?
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Mysterious Crash
Isabelle
We’ll still have the opportunity to investigate the crashed plane. Now it’s more important to return the things stolen from there. I think I found the anomaly’s trail. Look, there’s an oxygen mask. I’m sure it was stolen by the boggarts!
You retrieved the oxygen mask from the crashed plane from the boggarts. It wasn’t easy! I’ll try to determine where the anomaly went next. Thanks for the help!
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Heart-to-Heart Talk
Martha
Mayor still hasn’t said where he hid the key to the Exploration Chest? Well, there is one more way to peek into a spirit’s memories - a séance. I will need something that belonged to him, his favourite cane, for instance. If you can find it and I conduct a successful séance with the Mayor’s ghost, he’ll remember even his grandmother’s maiden name. I promise.
You are cleverer than I thought. The Spirits were right about your extraordinary skill at finding unusual items. Okay, let’s join hands – I’m starting the ritual. You may ask your question now.
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Frozen Memories
Martha
Making film for the memory camera is a work of art! And I’m a seer, not an artist! But of course I can do it. Magical dust is, actually, a task for a novice magician but the coating process is a hassle. The dust goes everywhere and burns your eyes. I won’t do it unless you bring me protective spectacles.
We have film. We can make one more photo and, hopefully, the Mayor will remember something about the Exploration Chest. There’s a city square in the picture of Mayor’s memories. The Mayor himself is in the middle of it but why is it so dark around him? What kind of a memory is this? Let’s show him the photo.
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Magic Photo
Cardsharp
We need film for the camera - a special one coated with magic emulsion. It can’t be found in the City these days but, luckily, I put one away for a rainy day. Find it.
Great, now I can take a photo of the Mayor’s memories. Mayor, sir, please take a look at that photo. Do you remember something?
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Truth Is out There
Cardsharp
Once, the Camera of Memories was nearly stolen from me by boggarts. After that I hid it in a safe place. It’s time to find the Camera and use it to help the Mayor’s Ghost recall the past.
We need to take a picture of the Mayor. The photos will reveal one of his memories. Some of the pictures may help him remember his past. And if he remembers, he’ll tell us the key’s location.
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The Key!
Martha
We have the Mayor’s Seal, now we need the key to the City Gates. It must be somewhere in the City, unless it’s been stolen by gargoyles since they’re attracted to shiny things. If you are brave enough, get the key to the City Gates from the gargoyles.
Thank you. The seal and the key will help me to find the ghost of the Mayor in the spiritual world. His spirit will appear now and you can ask him about opening the Chest. See, here he is...
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The Seal of the Past
Martha
I could conduct a séance and summon the Mayor’s spirit. To do so I need a couple of items that still bear his essence... As Mayor, he must have possessed the City ??Seal and the Key to the City. First, you should find the Seal.
What a beautiful thing! It features the City’s ancient emblem. However, the seal has worn down over the years and I can’t make out the detail. No matter, I’m sure it’ll prove useful.
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Where’s the Coffee?
Conductor
Since we’re in a café, would you bring me a mug of coffee? Refreshing yourself before such a serious matter won’t do any harm. Besides, after a shot of caffeine I grasp things better...
Thank you.
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Old Photos
Cardsharp
How can we find this mysterious Keeper? A wonderful idea has crossed my mind! There are portraits of famous city dwellers in the City Hall. You could compare them with the picture from the newspaper.
Here’s the portrait we’ve been looking for. What’s written on the plate beneath? “City Mayor.” So, the citizens entrusted the Chest Key to their Mayor?
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Search the Past
Cardsharp
Did you open the City Dungeons doors? I’ve learned that the City’s Exploration Chest is there, with the artifacts that can change the City’s rules. I’ve found it, but it’s locked and there’s no key. Maybe old records will tell us where it may be?
You found a piece of a newspaper? It’s at least a hundred years old and has almost completely faded. I’ll try to read it but I need to find my golden pince-nez.
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Treasures of the Fog
Juliette
Mon ami, when the fog cleared I spotted some items in the square. If you bring them to me we can see what they are.
The fog gifted us a rare artifact - the Hand of Midas. Martha, the City’s medium, has one like it. The item bestows great luck on its bearer when it comes to finding gold coins. Take it - it’s yours now.