ONE OBSERVATORY. TWO EXPLANATIONS.
The Eiderwake Files.
The star that never rose.
Five clocks disagree. A brilliant astronomer has vanished. A light is flashing where no light should be. You have thirty-two minutes before the tide reaches the lower chambers.
NEVER ROSE22:36 / THE DISAPPEARANCE
PLAYTEST
Every minute matters.
At 22:36, superintendent Hollis Trent reported Dr. Ada Wren missing from the observatory. Trent believes she fled by boat with a photographic negative. The harbor master disputes that. A storm is closing in, and the lower rooms are almost at sea level.
Some records use the harbor’s correct time; others use inaccurate station clocks. Work out what actually happened, where Wren went, and why the light in the telescope is wrong.
- Open all 12 evidence exhibits and compare the clocks.
- Answer 9 deduction questions, checking each against the evidence.
- Use optional hints if you’re stuck; there is no score penalty.
- When all answers are verified, unseal the final report and witness letter.
Play at your own pace. This free open playtest is not for sale. Your case progress stays in this browser on your device.
One missing observer.
The harbor wireless chime is the time reference. The four other clocks tell a different story. Reconstruct the route through the building before making your final decision.
Each answer must be supported by the archive. The final report is held under seal until all nine conclusions agree with the evidence.
Verify all nine conclusions to reconstruct Ada Wren's disappearance.
The star that never rose.
— Dr. Ada Wren
What did you notice?
This edition exists to test whether the story, documents, and deduction flow make a satisfying mystery night. It's not a live commercial product, and no payments or personal information are collected here.
Our first case, The 9:17 Blackout, is a shorter, complete free investigation.
Open case 001How did the case hold up?
We'd like to know whether the clues made sense, where you got stuck, and how long a genuine playthrough took. Praise is welcome, but detailed criticism is more useful.
Send your answers through our short Google Form. No email address or purchase is required. Submitted answers go to the studio's Google spreadsheet for playtest research only.
Submit feedback onlinePrefer a local worksheet? The form to the right stays on your device; it only copies or downloads a text report. It does not send anything to us or transfer answers to the online survey.