The Fireplace

**The Fireplace** is a place that serves as host for "The Flames", a magical entity that commands the Reaper , the protagonist of Deadbolt, and Charon the Ferryman. In the game "The Flames" gives instructions and intel in a very cryptic way (speaking always in verse, never in prose) to the reaper to kill the undead and stop their plans and schemes.

## Gameplay

"The Flames" will give you missions, and sometimes new weapons as well. To speak with the flames, just sit in the chair by using the 'E' key, or use the 'R' key to sit without starting it.

If you talk to them you will open a menu with 2 tabs:

* Mission: "The Flames" will tell you about your next mission in verse. Sometimes certain words are highlighted; clicking those will result in certain elements or new enemies, mostly it just unlocks the new mission.
* Intel: Information about the level and/or tips on it. This information is not told by "The Flames" but by the Reaper himself; this is demonstrated by the fact that the intel is narrated in first person and that according to the Reaper, "The Flames" never speaks in prose.

However, there might be some extra tabs, usually explaining the highlighted words that may appear on the mission tab. These can give you some information about enemies or about new elements such as phylacteries; sometimes it just gives you trivial information, for example about your cat.

## Meeting the player

Upon crossing the corpse portal you can find the area "Home Sweet Home", where you can find a wooden cabin equipped with several weapons. In front of that cabin is a well that you can enter. Following the path through the well will result in the player entering a room where he can find several candles praising a figure, this figure is in fact "The Flames" true form. He looks like a big black skeleton with several candles on his arms and legs and two big candles along with some other candles on his "head". Oddly enough when the player sits down in front of him to talk to him, he doesn't speak in verses like he normally does. Speaking to him will trigger the Ibzan fight.

After the player killed Ibzan, he will tell the player that he has done enough and will turn off all the lights, putting the player to a rest.

## Dialogue

### Zombies Kingz:

#### Mission 1 **Noisy Neighbors**:

> After sitting down:
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The flames roar to life - and a voice speaks out. "Another life, well returned!"
Option '\*Mission\*':

> "My Candles tell me tales,
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> Undead form and blossom
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> Find their abode and knock,
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> And free them from their jails."
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> The flames never spoke in prose.
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> [Unlocks Mission]
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Option 'Intel':

> Undead are easiest to kill when alone.
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Option 'Undead':

> The fire like and sneers. Undead, zombies included, must be helped towards the afterlife.
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#### Mission 2 **New High:**

After sitting down:

> The flames roar to life.
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Option **Mission:**

> "The undead begin to crop
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> strange powders from below.
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> Incite the flame -
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> eject their brains."
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Option **Intel:**

> There's a bouncer on the far side of the house. I can kill him to get his weapon.
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Option **\*powders\*:**

> A new drug called "ash." His candles say that it makes you feel like you're alive again. The flames -
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> my employer - wants to know more.
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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Option **bouncer:**

> Large zombies with shotguns. Takes a few shots to the head to bring them down.
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#### Mission 3 **Smoke Signals:**

After sitting down:

> The flames roar to life - and I see visions inside.
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Option **Mission:**

> The fireplace began to speak,
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> "Flesh caskets breathe.
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> Burn the ash,
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> scatter their teeth."
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Option **Intel:**

> I see two entrances to the house. The left entrance has less zombies, but the right entrance has more
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> weapons. My choice.
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Option **\*New Gun\*:**

> I see visions of Charon, the Ferryman. He may be interested in the souls I have collected for our
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> mutual employer - I should see him at the docks before my next mission.
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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Option **docks:**

> Charon lives at the docks - I can exchange souls for weapons before I accept my mission.
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#### Mission 4 **Puff:**

Option **\*Mission\*:**

> "No moment to flee -
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> he should not be here.
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> A man with a heart,
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> cannot live with me."
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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Option **Intel:**

> The Candles tell me that Puff keeps an old machine gun in his basement - something he stole from the
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> Trideads. I am sure it still works.
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Option **\*Puff\*:**

> Shadows cast along the wall, and the flames show me silhouettes of Puff's death.
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> This is the first time my employer has given me a specific target - and I succumb to the thrill.
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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#### Mission 5 **Follow the Hounds:**

After Sitting down:

> The flames roar to life, with more vigor than usual. My employer is happy with success.
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Option **\*Mission\*:**

> "Hellhounds from beneath,
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> bred by the undead.
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> Go stop the weeping,
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> and gnashing of teeth."
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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Option **Intel:**

> Hellhounds are three headed dogs with amazing sense of hearing, but they can't open doors. I'll use
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> that to my advantage.
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#### Mission 6 **The Bogeyman:**

After sitting down:

> The flames roar to life - and I see visions inside.
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Option **\*Mission\*:**

> "My Candle has searched,
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> but never returned."
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> The second address is familiar to the fireplace - I'll find what happened to the Candle.
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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Option **Intel:**

> The zombies have hung up security cameras. They don't do much, but will scream if it sees me for too
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> long. I'll avoid them, or shoot them down.
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Option **Candle:**

> Candles are the eyes and ears of the flames, always observing and bringing information.
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#### Mission 7 **No Vacancy:**

After sitting down

> The flames roar to life.
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Option **\*Mission\*:**

> The Zombie Kingz have become scared of my hunt. They have begun heavily guarding a nearby motel - I will find what
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> they are hiding.
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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Option **Intel:**

> The Candles tell me that Zombie Kingz patrols are nearby. I'll have to be quick, in case there are reinforcements.
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#### Mission 8 **Supply and Demand:**

After sitting down:

> The flames roar to life - and I see visions inside.
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Option **\*Mission\*:**

> "Their location - explained!
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> Burn the ash,
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> burn the dead,
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> and free souls contained."
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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Option **Intel:**

> My mission is to destroy all the ash - but it is best if I focus on killing the undead first.
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#### Mission 9 **Roland:**

After sitting down:

> The flames roar to life - and I see blood inside.
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Option **Mission:**

> "Attempting to lead,
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> his creed to salvation.
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> A man with ambition,
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> cannot live with me."
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Option **Intel:**

> Rolands' house is filled with many guards - but the only target is Roland. I'll separate him from his men.
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Option **\*Roland\*:**

> His death will shatter the Zombie Kingz leadership - I must remember that the mission is to kill
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> Roland, not the others.
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> [Mission Unlocked]
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## Trivia

* As evidenced by the level editor, The Fireplace is likely the God of Life. This also explains his line prior to the fight with Ibzan, stating "I am not the God of Death.".