A Walkthrough to ‘Muse: An Autumn Romance’ by Christopher Huang

Muse: An Autumn Romance is an emotional historical romance—a rare genre—that is thoughtful and well-written. The puzzles are based on normal Victorian, priestly behaviour that could be easily mastered, and the in-game hints are very helpful. However, reaching the optimal ending might require multiple tries, and it is easy to leave out some information you’d rather not miss. So here’s a walkthrough that takes the story seriously, unlike the irreverential one on IF Archive.

Walkthrough

Day One

get trunk
get into boat # failure
give trunk to boatman # here she comes...
x her
x her

Now we are following them into the inn.

e # an artist is here, but we don't want to lose her
s
s
ask rene about rooms
introduce myself to german
x konstanza

They went upstairs.

i # oh the trunk's heavy
up
w
drop trunk

Perhaps we should now try to get acquainted with Konstanza?

e
down
n
greet konstanza
walk with konstanza
talk to konstanza
x konstanza # your clerical collar gains you trust and respect
ask konstanza about father
ask konstanza about anniversary
ask konstanza about mother
ask konstanza about parents
ask konstanza about village

Let’s stop intruding on her and go upstairs.

s
up
w # the air is stuffy here
open window # suspicious, let's take a look
e # oh no
e
lift him
shout for help
shout for help
shout for help

Day Two

get up
e
e # a priest cares about his spiritual welfare
ask viktor about suicide
ask viktor about klara # let's take a look at the window later
ask viktor about daughter
x window
w
down
ask rene about viktor
change rooms # now without the view he might answer the question about Klara
up
w
ask viktor about wife

There seems to be a rift in the father-daughter relationship. As a priest, it’s your job to mend it.

e
e
open window
x konstanza
x dresser
open drawers
x journal
take journal
?? read journal # for a Victorian gentleman this is probably not the way. But of course our protagonist is a bit prying
w
w
give journal to viktor

Now let’s get down and have some breakfast.

e
down
ask rene about viktor
ask yvette for breakfast

Who’s the artist?

greet artist
ask john about job
ask john about art
ask john about perfection # remember the earlier quote on 'perfect beauty'?
john, draw konstanza # show him perfection
ask john about lady
ask john about village
ask john about church
ask john about lebrun
ask john for sketchbook
x sketch
give sketchbook to john

Let’s first visit the village priest and enquire about the troubles of Viktor. Remember he’d had a few words with him last night?

out
ask rene about john
out
n
e
introduce myself to priest
ask priest about viktor
ask priest about klara
ask priest about lady # 'alone and unloved'
ask priest about john

Now console Konstanza.

s
x konstanza
greet konstanza
ask konstanza about father # there's a grave misunderstanding
read gravestones
ask konstanza about home
tell konstanza about home
tell konstanza about emma # her distraction is your cue: don't gush on about yourself
tell konstanza about john
ask konstanza about john # an introduction is in order
ask konstanza about love

Let’s report back to Viktor.

w
s
up
w
tell viktor about daughter # now relay the message to Konstanza
e
down
out
e
tell konstanza about viktor

A deed done.

w
john, paint konstanza
s
up
w
ask viktor about daughter # Reconciled.

We should introduce the young people now.

e
down
out
w
introduce konstanza to john
ask john about lady # see? Now he's met the perfect beauty
ask konstanza about john
ask konstanza about love # softened

Now we should help John convince Konstanza of his ability as an artist.

e
s
e
ask yvette about john
ask yvette for sketchbook
out
out
w
give sketchbook to konstanza
ask konstanza about john # see?
give sketchbook to john
john, paint konstanza
x john
x painting
x konstanza # !

Do not intrude on the young people any longer.

drink coffee
drink coffee
ask lebrun about viktor
ask lebrun about lady # see the change?
greet maurice
ask maurice about john
get up
n
n
# Wait for John
up
x seascape
x landscape
ask john about lady # he has intention now
ask john about seascape
buy landscape # don't buy the seascape! It is very tempting but will destroy his confidence
d
ask emma for money # it's night now, let's get back
s
s
e
ask viktor about john # looks good, eh?
out
up
e
close drawer
sleep

Day Three

get up
x window # Konstanza is no longer brooding in the churchyard
w
d
i # now we've got money, buy the painting
out
out
n
w
greet konstanza
ask konstanza about father
ask konstanza about john
ask konstanza about love
e
n
n
up
x seascape
greet john
ask john about viktor
give cheque to john
s
w # won't work now
s # the news, let's have a final word with her
n
w

Finis.

Observations

Some claimed this piece moved them to tears; I was moved, though not shaken to that degree. Brontë and Hardy and Dickens make me feel empathy with the protagonists; I could only sympathise with the ageing vicar. Perhaps this is deliberate? So that the text adventurer does not lament the opposition of the stars? So that the conjunction of the minds of youth is poignant yet sweet?

Autumn?

The cooling air and the magnificent colours don’t play much of a role in the story, whereas you are in your autumnal years.

Muse?

The piece is dedicated to the muse of this story. The thunderbolt¹ cracked out of despair, upon impossibility. It struck, the electric charges colliding into oblivion, but the momentary brilliancy engendered something to be immortalised in eternal lines…

Do you remember the girl Anton Chekhov glimpsed in the train station, or the Armenian?

Some critics say Chekhov invented ‘the beauties.’