Chapter 3-6: Requisite for a Reckoning
Navigation:
Chapter 1: The Rescue
Chapter 2: The Restoration
Chapter 3: The Riddle
-3-1: Fetching up the First Verse
-3-2: Second Stanza in the Stables
-3-3: Well Versed in Backtracking
-3-4: Don’t Fear the Reaper
-3-5: Method to the Madness
-3-6: Requisite for a Reckoning
Chapter 4: The Reckoning
Chapter 5: The Race
RIDDING THE VINES BY READING THE RHYMES
Once you’ve managed to re-emerge in the Grand Hallway with the Barons rhyme intact, we’ll work our way to delivering it as intended. Crivens provides us some insight on the path ahead, “Well, you’re almost there, Sir! There’s the door to my master’s quarters. Now approach it and read the verse aloud!” Descending to the main floor is clearly out of the question, as it’s been roped off, so the only way to go is up. From where you start off in front of the Experiments Chamber door, head up the staircase to your right until you’ve leveled off at the top floor. This floor houses the Challenge Door leading to the Baron’s Quarters, which can be found at the end of this lengthy banister directly across from Dr. Krackpot’s Lab. Once you’ve reached the end, it’s just a simple matter of carrying on down the elaborate corridor towards the curious looking Challenge Door shrouded with purple vines to have Cooper begin reading the rhyme.
Unfurling the parchment, Cooper clears his throat as he looks uneasily from the Challenge Door to the rhyme. “In my room I do hide a surprise.“, he begins, “But the secret’s for nobody’s eyes…” The Baron’s Door begins beating against its frame, as if something on the other end is protesting to get out. As the purple vines retreat from their spot on the outside of the door, a shaken Cooper draws his eyes away from the spectacle to continue reading. “Check the flaps, a-okay! Spin the prop, chocks away…” As the beating becomes more pronounced, thick black smoke begins seeping out from underneath the door and around its frame before a great crack of lighting is heard from beyond. Cooper stares in amazement before retreating back towards the parchment, which contains our final verse that we received from Dr. Krackpot. “Faster down the runway we go. Let’s take to the skies, tally-bally-ho!” With the reading finished, Cooper draws his full attention to the Baron’s Door.
Quickening its pace, the Challenge Door continues to slam against its frame reaching a climax that seems to shake Ghoulhaven Hall itself. The thick smoke continues to pour out in heavier dollops as the knocking continues to add strain to the hinges! As the action accelerates, a glowing purple outline begins to encircle the edges of the door, filling the area with a brilliant aura of blinding light. Squinting to see the outcome, Cooper watches as the door comes very close to opening several times before a deafening wallop fills the air, silencing any other sounds in its wake. After using the rhyme like a shield, Cooper peers over nervously as the smoke clears from the area and the Barons Door is left ajar, showing little sign of the struggle seen seconds prior. Hardly able to contain his excitement, Cooper beams with pride at the result as he strides over to the Challenge Door. If only things were that simple Cooper, the Baron isn’t going to let you into his quarters that easily!
BEARING IT ALL EN ROUTE TO THE BARON’S QUARTERS
You’ll have to brave one last challenge before you can progress into the Baron’s Quarters, and if you don’t know what to do straight off you’ll be left at the mercy of the Grim Reaper for even a moments reflection. While the open Challenge Door certainly looks alluring ahead, you’ll find that the sinister chortling that can be heard in the corridor belongs to a Super Scary Shock sequence that we’ll have to brave first. Before carrying on however, you’ll need to take note of a decorative vase to the right – smash it open and you’ll find a short ladder, a smaller vase and an Unfavorable Soup Tin waiting inside. While our newfound weapons will provide us an ample means of attack, we’ll have to deal with the Super Scary Shock sequence first so that our items aren’t wasted when Cooper is hoisted into the air by the gnarled hand from below. Once you’re ready, continue ahead into the clutches of the Super Scary Shock sequence to get it out of the way early.
You won’t have any help from a Shocker Blocker! Soup Tin when you put yourself up into the Shock sequence, so be sure to slam the buttons as quickly and accurately as possible to get away unscathed. If you can’t get to all of the buttons in time your health will be halfed after losing 10 units of energy, though it’s not the end of the world as this challenge won’t have you confronting any offensive Ghoulies close up. Once you’ve managed to survive the sequence, we’ll have to only take a few jaunty steps towards the doorway to the Barons Quarters to find our next challenge awaiting us; defeat the Haunted Door that’s just popped off of its hinges using only 10 hits or less! There’s no sense hammering it away with your fists, as this will only waste your available chances to get some heavy blows in. Before the Haunted Door can cover too much ground you’ll be tasked with heading back toward your destroyed vase and hurling the smaller version you uncovered towards it.
Once you’ve made your mark successfully, the Haunted Door will be knocked backwards to the floor, allowing you some leeway to make a quick escape. In this case we’ll sprint over to the right on the side that didn’t have a vase to break and then carry on this route around the corner until we’ve made it to the vined Challenge Door that features a Skeletons face overhead. You should manage to spot a light blue vase to the right side of the door, break it open to reveal a smaller vase, a collection of bottles and an Unfavorable Soup Tin. Grab the small vase off of the ground first, and do what you can to avoid accidentally picking up the Unfavorable Soup Tin. Once you’ve gotten close enough to the Haunted Door, cast the small vase at its frame and then head back to the Skeleton Door once you’ve made contact. You should have just enough hits to polish it off with the remaining bottles, which will cause the door to explode once you’ve landed the sixth bottle.
While the Challenge Door will swing open once the Haunted Door is defeated, it’s too early to celebrate just yet. A flood of Imps pass into the Grand Hallway from the Baron’s Quarters and you’ll be tasked with defeating the lot in meager twenty seconds! Hopefully dealing with the door hasn’t led you too far away, as you’ll have to make your way back before the Imps have a chance to disperse. You’ll want to try and keep the entire group isolated in one area, preferably in the corridor hosting the Barons Door for easier access. After you’ve dealt with the masses the last few Imps will attempt to escape; keep on their tails and deal with them before the Reaper shows. They should remain manageable even if he does, so keep pressing on. Once you’ve done that it’s a simple matter of braving a single Super Scary Shock challenge at the Barons Door, which if you’ve grabbed the 5 Energy Soup from the Haunted Door should have you surviving regardless.
Optimal Super Scary Score Assessment:
Ghoulies Defeated: 550+ Ghoulies total.
Time Taken: >2 Hours 10 minutes total play time.