Scene 3: The Curator's Study
You step into the quiet sanctuary of Alistair Vance's private workroom. Unlike the vast open air of the Grand Library, this room feels claustrophobic, packed with brass instruments, rolled navigational charts, and glass specimen cabinets.
Dominating the back wall beneath a dark oil painting is an imposing Clockwork Wall Safe, encased in heavy riveted steel with three rotary brass dials. A faint ticking sound emanates from within its mechanical housing.
Examine the Study
Click any item below to inspect it:
Inspect the Roll-Top Desk
Scattered across the green felt blotter are personal correspondence and a page torn from Vance's private diary:
"The auctioneers will look for simple locks, but my work is guarded by classical order. Remember the four Cardinal Virtues (Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance) that anchor every true philosopher's compass."
Examine the Oil Painting Above the Safe
A dramatic portrait of an astronomer charting the night sky. At the base of the frame, a small brass plaque is engraved with a single warning:
WARNING: Mechanical lockout triggers automated alarm after any incorrect combination attempt.
Inspect the Clockwork Safe Dials
The safe's faceplate features three distinct rotatable tumblers:
- Dial I: Numbers 0 through 9
- Dial II: Numbers 0 through 9
- Dial III: Numbers 0 through 9
Clue recap from prior rooms:
- The foyer grandfather clock was frozen at 03:42.
- The library stained-glass window advised: "Look to the frozen hands in the foyer to align the first two turns; add the number of cardinal virtues to seal the lock."
The Clockwork Safe Dial Selector
Select the 3-digit combination you wish to enter into the tumblers: