The Engine of Khufu — walkthrough
Each entry is one command, in order, separated by slashes.
Directions are abbreviated (n, se, u, d). This is
the exact sequence the game's own test suite runs, so it is always current.
Act I — The Survey Camp
examine letter / out / e / talk to vane / ask vane about ibrahim / w w / talk to nafisa / ask nafisa about the beams / ask nafisa about the crack / take plans / e s / talk to ibrahim / ask ibrahim about 1907 / ask ibrahim to sing it / ask ibrahim about the shafts / n u / ne / talk to dietrich / ask dietrich about the chambers / sw / s take bucket / n / e / u / in
The one thing Act I is for: ask ibrahim about 1907, then ask ibrahim to sing it. Take the canvas bucket from the well head — Act IV cannot be finished without it.
Act II — The Descending Passage
e / d / examine lining / d / strike wall / listen douse lamp / strike wall / listen / light lamp / d / examine floor douse lamp / strike east / listen / d / listen / u light lamp / u / e / listen / u / examine block d / w / u / u / u
Strike the same wall twice, once lit and once doused, and let your own book correct itself. The game will not let you go up until it has.
Act III — The Relieving Chambers
u / examine slots / s / s / examine coffer / examine shafts u / e / u / u / u / u examine gable / douse lamp / strike beam / d / strike beam / d wait / wait / wait / wait / wait / wait strike beam / d / strike beam / d / strike beam / wait wait / wait / wait / wait / wait / wait wait / wait / wait / wait / wait / u u / strike beam / d / d / strike beam / u u / u / u / strike beam / d / d d / strike beam / u / u / strike beam / d d / d / w / d / light lamp / d
Walk the stack once with the lamp so you have counted it, then douse and identify each chamber. Nelson's is struck only when everything has gone quiet — that is what the waits are for, and it is the only way to be hurt in this game.
Act IV — The Water Machine
examine air / n / examine water / examine scale / s / w examine machine / examine shafts / examine sluices / douse lamp / strike vessel / light lamp pour / pour / pour / pour / pour / pour pour / pour / pour / shut the second sluice / pour / pour pour / shut the first sluice / pour / w / examine column
The cascade fills from the bottom, so it is five, then four, then shut the second sluice, then three, then shut the first, then one. Thirteen buckets and two turns of the bar.
Act V — The Apex
examine column / examine stroke / e / examine vessels / e / u examine manuscript / n / n / u / examine valley / leave it running
The last command is the choice: leave it running, stop it, or publish. Three endings.
Still stuck, or found something that looks like a bug? Write to hello@freetextadventures.com — every message gets read, and it is also where to send an idea for a future adventure.