The ward register · Velstraven · Morass Games Wiki

A major room of chapter 5. When you walk in, the room card reads: The ward register keeps the occupied refuge sealed; no one inside can leave.

Narrated walkthrough

The ward register from its entrance — The ward register: how to solve it

Getting there

Chapter 5, on the lowest floor, off the Deep protection complex hall through the arch signed The ward register.

What is wrong

Room card: "The ward register keeps the occupied refuge sealed; no one inside can leave." Three concentric selector rings each turn a routing elbow to one of four outlets. The outer ring routes the occupancy channel, the middle ring the heat-test channel and the inner ring the shared warning return. Two hand bellows in the side test bays prove a routing before the release catch will take it.

What you can work

Outer ring: Routes the occupancy channel; each turn moves its elbow to the next of four outlets.
Middle ring: Routes the heat-test channel.
Inner ring: Routes the shared warning return.
Occupancy test: A hand bellows that sends a wooden follower through the occupancy track.
Heat test: A hand bellows that sends a wooden follower through the heat-test track.
Release: The release catch; it engages only after both tests have run a safe routing.
Face: The register's sooted front, with wear lines crossing the ring seams (a reading aid).
Basin: A dry basin under the register, facing its lit underside (a reading aid).
Reading lamp: Optional light to read by.
Reading shutter: Optional second light angle.

Solution

A nudge

The elbow on the outer ring has to reach the linkage that opens the refuge. From where it starts, that outlet is two detents round.

The full solution

Stand close in front of the register and Handle the Outer ring twice. Aim at the lower part of its rim; the card reads "E · interact" when it is within hand reach.
The elbow on the outer ring has to reach the linkage that opens the refuge. From where it starts, that outlet is two detents round.
What you see: "The ring turns its routing elbow to the next outlet." The card shows: the outer ring leads to the refuge opening.
Handle the Middle ring once.
The heat-test channel must close the test-bay shutter, so the hazard bay stays isolated.
What you see: Card: the middle ring leads to the test-bay shutter.
Handle the Inner ring three times.
The warning return has to reach the warning flag. It starts on a closed bypass, three detents away.
What you see: Card: the inner ring leads to the warning flag (3 of 4 put right).
Handle the Occupancy test and wait until its wooden follower stops, about three seconds.
The bellows pushes a follower through the present routing to prove it physically.
What you see: "The hand bellows sends a wooden follower through the selected track."
Handle the Heat test and wait the same way.
Both channels must be proved. Only one follower runs at a time, so starting the second early cancels the first run.
What you see: The same bellows line; its note then reads "Its follower has run the present routing to the end."
Handle the Release.
With both tests finished on the safe routing, the catch locks it in.
What you see: "The safe routing catches. The occupied refuge stays open; the hazard bay remains isolated." Then "The ward register settled."

Other ways that work

Orient (Water, Will, Will) cast at a ring turns it one detent, the same as a hand.
Reading aids that never decide the outcome: Cleanse surface (Fire, Water, Water) twice on the Face clears its soot ("Warm runoff carries removable soot into the trough."); Reveal traces (Wind, Fire, Water) on the Face strengthens the wear lines ("Condensation and raking light strengthen existing metal seam edges."); Redirect light (Wind, Wind, Water) on the Basin shows the lit underside and rear service lines ("The reflector redirects the existing lit underside into view.").

Watch for

Turning any ring again clears both tests. Set all three rings first, then run the tests.
The rings have four detents and wrap round. If you overshoot one, keep turning.
The room card names each ring as it comes right, so you can see which ones still owe a turn.
Once the release has caught, the rings refuse to turn: "The final mechanical catch retains the safe routing."
Settling this room and the choked cistern brings the closing line: "The student is safe and the ward register retains its tested safe routing. The mechanical campaign is complete; you can continue exploring."

If it goes wrong

Nothing in this room can fail. The release refuses until the routing is safe ("The tested linkages do not yet open the refuge, isolate the test bay and retain warning.") and until both tests have run ("Both test followers must finish their runs before the release catch can engage.").

Achievements here

The Register Answers: Solve the ward register.
The Register by Hand: The Register by Hand: do the whole route above by hand. Outer ring twice, middle once, inner three times, both tests, then Release. Light the Reading lamp by hand if the room is too dim. Any spell the room accepts spoils it, including the reading aids, a Stilling ward, Heat on the lamp, Orient on the shutter, or Boost jump, Hasten, Rising draught or Short traverse cast inside the room. Casts at furniture and casts that shed or unravel do not count.
Clean Slate: Clean Slate: cast Cleanse surface at the Face, then Reveal traces at the Face within 20 seconds. Both are accepted at any time, but they are casts in this room, so do not combine this with The Register by Hand on the same visit before the release.

Spells used

Orient, Cleanse surface, Reveal traces, Redirect light.