The Attic & the 3rd Floor

Pick either investigator — Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood — there's no gameplay difference between them. Stay and watch the opening cutscene rather than skipping it; it's the game's only real introduction to what's happened at the house. Notice the third floor hallway during the intro: it's crossed with no danger here, something that won't be true once you're actually in control.

You start in the attic. First, use the Push action on the wooden closet to move it in front of the window, then push the chest over the trapdoor by the piano. This blocks off two ways monsters could otherwise ambush you while you're still getting used to the controls.

Search the closet for the Old Indian Cover and the chest for a working Rifle. The table by the hobby horse holds an empty Oil Lamp. If you want to dig deeper, Jeremy Hartwood's suicide note and a book on the Golden Fleece are also in the attic — neither is required to finish the game, but both are easy to miss once you leave.

Once you have all five items, head down the stairs near the hobby horse to the 3rd floor.

Investigate the storage area for a Can of Oil and a hunting Bow. Fill the empty Oil Lamp with the oil and discard the empty can. Open the door and head out into the 3rd floor hallway — it's safe to save here, since no ink-ribbon-style limit applies to this game's saves.

The 3rd floor hallway has a rotten spot in the floor — stepping on it means trouble, so save before crossing if you haven't already. Head into the bedroom to the right of the attic stairs door. It closes automatically behind you; search it thoroughly before leaving.

The desk holds the Chest Key, and the chest it opens holds the Old Cavalry Saber — keep any pieces of it even if the blade later breaks. When you leave the bedroom, a zombie is waiting just past the door. Two Rifle shells kill it outright, or several saber hits if you'd rather save ammunition.

Head into the bedroom across the hall — a second zombie attacks from behind, dealt with the same way. Leave through the other door into a woman's bedroom. Disturbing the vase by the bed triggers a rat-thing crashing through the window; deal with it, then break the vase open by throwing it.

The vase holds the Dresser Key, which unlocks the room's dresser for two Small Mirrors — you'll need both very shortly.

Leave through the door by the bed into the bathroom. The cabinet holds a First Aid Box with a flask that adds 10 health when drunk (it adds to your current total, it doesn't just restore a max). Drink it now and drop the empty box.

Before heading downstairs, drop anything you don't need. Keep only: Oil Lamp, Bow (if you already grabbed it from the storage area), Old Cavalry Saber (all pieces), Rifle, Old Indian Cover, and the small flask if unused.

Leave the bathroom area by the doors leading to the stairs — two nightgaunts guard them. Place one Small Mirror on each of the two small statues in the hallway to banish both creatures back to the Dreamlands.

With both nightgaunts gone, save the game and head downstairs to the 2nd floor.