two-keys/content/games/clockmakers-attic.yaml

id: clockmakers-attic
engine: story
category: escape-room
title: The Clockmaker's Attic
tagline: Locked in an old clockmaker's attic. Every clock is ticking. So are you.
estimatedMinutes: 40
difficulty: 1
players: { min: 2, max: 2 }
theme: { primary: "#8a5a2b", accent: "#f2c66d", background: "#17110b", headingFont: "Playfair Display" }
roles:
  A:
    name: The Tinkerer
    blurb: You're on the workbench side. Clocks, gears, and the old man's letters.
  B:
    name: The Collector
    blurb: You're on the shelves side. Paintings, samplers, and his treasure inventory.
intro: |
  You bought an old house on a whim. The attic door was painted shut.
  Tonight you finally pry it open, step inside together... and it **slams behind you**.

  Dust. Brass. A hundred clocks, all still ticking. A letter on the workbench:

  > *"Whoever finds my attic, welcome. I've hidden the way out in my favourite things.
  > Work together. Nothing in here opens for one pair of hands. — Old Mr Albrecht"*

  A tall beam of shelves splits the room in half. You can hear each other, but you can't see each other's side.

chapters:
  - id: ch1
    title: The Three Clocks
    narrative: |
      An old sea trunk sits in the middle of the room. Brass padlock, three dials.
    clues:
      A:
        - id: a1-clocks
          title: Three clocks on the workbench
          type: diagram
          body: |
            ```
            🐦 ROBIN clock ..... hour hand on 3
            🦉 OWL clock ....... hour hand on 7
            🦊 FOX clock ....... hour hand on 9
            ```
            All three stopped. The trunk lock has three dials, 0–9.
      B:
        - id: b1-sampler
          title: Embroidered sampler on the wall
          type: note
          body: |
            *Stitched in faded thread:*

            **First the bird that sings the dawn,
            then the hunter on the lawn,
            last the bird that rules the night.
            Set them so, and set them right.**
    lock:
      id: lock-trunk
      prompt: Set the trunk's three dials.
      inputType: code
      format: 3 digits
      answers: ["397"]
      hints:
        - The sampler gives you an order. The clocks give you numbers.
        - Dawn bird = robin. Hunter = fox. Night bird = owl.
        - Robin 3, fox 9, owl 7.
      successText: |
        The trunk creaks open. Inside, wrapped in velvet: a **music box** with four coloured buttons,
        and a small brass key.
      keyName: Trunk Key

  - id: ch2
    title: The Music Box
    narrative: |
      The music box is silent. Four buttons on its lid: **red, blue, green, gold**.
      Press them in the right order and it should play.
    clues:
      A:
        - id: a2-musicbox
          title: Engraving under the lid
          type: note
          body: |
            *"Play the colours of the sky-bow, top to bottom.
            All but the one my pendulum stole."*
      B:
        - id: b2-painting
          title: Small oil painting on the shelf
          type: photo
          body: |
            *A painted rainbow over a village. Only four bands, top to bottom:
            **red, gold, green, blue**.*
        - id: b2-pendulum
          title: The grandfather clock on your side
          type: photo
          body: |
            *A tall clock. Its brass pendulum has been painted a deep **green**.
            A label on the case: "Borrowed a colour for my favourite clock. — A."*
    lock:
      id: lock-musicbox
      prompt: Which order do you press the buttons?
      inputType: text
      format: Three colours, in order
      answers: ["REDGOLDBLUE"]
      hints:
        - The "sky-bow" is a rainbow. The Collector can see one.
        - The pendulum stole green. Leave it out.
        - Red, gold, blue.
      successText: |
        The music box plays a tinkling waltz. A drawer pops out of its base.
        Inside: a crank handle and a sketch of the **gear wall**.
      keyName: Music Box Key

  - id: ch3
    title: The Gear Wall
    narrative: |
      On the far wall, three brass gears mesh together. A crank socket sits on the biggest one.
      A drawer below has a number dial.
    clues:
      A:
        - id: a3-gears
          title: The gear wall
          type: diagram
          body: |
            ```
            (Gear A: 48 teeth) ⟷ (Gear B: 16 teeth) ⟷ (Gear C: 24 teeth)
                  ↑ crank
            ```
            Each gear meshes with the next. Every tooth that passes on one passes on the other.
      B:
        - id: b3-instructions
          title: Note pinned to the shelf
          type: note
          body: |
            *Turn my crank exactly **5 full turns**.
            The drawer wants to know how many full turns **Gear C** makes.*
    lock:
      id: lock-gears
      prompt: How many turns does Gear C make?
      inputType: code
      format: A number
      answers: ["10"]
      hints:
        - Count teeth. Five turns of Gear A moves 5 × 48 teeth past every gear.
        - Gear B doesn't change the answer. Only the first and last gear matter.
        - 240 teeth ÷ 24 teeth per turn = 10.
      successText: |
        The drawer slides open. Inside: Mr Albrecht's last letter, and his treasure inventory, complete.
      keyName: Gear Key

finale:
  type: escape
  prompt: The attic door has a seven-letter word lock.
  clues:
    A:
      - id: af-letter
        title: Mr Albrecht's last letter
        type: letter
        body: |
          *My dears,*

          *Line up my seven treasures **in the order I made them**, oldest first.
          Their first letters are the word I'd give the two of you.*

          *— A.*
    B:
      - id: bf-inventory
        title: Treasure inventory (dates engraved on each)
        type: table
        body: |
          | Treasure       | Year made |
          |----------------|-----------|
          | Violin         | 1922      |
          | Fob watch      | 1902      |
          | Rocking horse  | 1915      |
          | Egg timer      | 1931      |
          | Oil lamp       | 1909      |
          | Rug loom       | 1938      |
          | Easel          | 1920      |
  lock:
    id: lock-door
    prompt: Enter the seven-letter word.
    inputType: text
    format: 7 letters
    answers: ["FOREVER"]
    hints:
      - Sort the treasures by year, oldest to newest.
      - "1902 Fob watch, 1909 Oil lamp, 1915 Rocking horse..."
      - F-O-R-E-V-E-R.
  successEnding: |
    **FOREVER.** The lock clicks. The door swings open onto the stairs.

    On the back of the door, carved into the wood: *"Albrecht & Marta, 1901. Forever."*
    He built the whole attic as a puzzle for his wife. Now it was one for you.

    **You escaped!** 🕰️🔑