Chapter Nine - The Oath (Winchester castle yard; market; prison cell;back alley; Huntleigh abandoned house; pastures) The Pillars of the Earth Guide

Last update: 20 December 2017

Walkthrough to Pillars of Earth, chapter 9:

• Find a shelter
• Find Richard
• Get money for the jailer
• See Bartholomew
• Find Bartholomew's money
• Find hope
• Sell the wool

Find a shelter

You have to sleep somewhere so head to your townhouse (in the bottom left part of the map; move your mouse cursor to the screen's edges to get access to the entire map), the one near which Richard stands. Sadly, you learn that your enemies already took it. You can walk around the city and knock to various houses, taverns, inns and churches but there are two places where Aliena and Richard can sleep.

The first place is the cathedral (in the middle of the bottom part of the map, slightly above the second south gate). However, you should knock there after the moment when the bells start ringing - this indicates that it is time to prey (you will see a monk's icon next to it). The second shelter is the house on the right (in the bottom of the map) - after the conversation with the man you might think this is isn't the right place. However, knock to any other door and the man from the previous house will open the door again. He lets the siblings in.

Find Richard

You are near the castle. Look at the group of knights (right from the gate near which Aliena stands) and at two groups of nobles (in the bottom of the screen). You can overhear their conversations - thanks to that you can learn a little bit about the earl. This allows you to get closer to your brother who stands near the stairs. Speak with him.

Try to enter the stairs that lead to the castle. The guard will inform you that the earl is in the dungeon.

Get money for the jailer

Head to the left side of the yard and reach the jail's door. Speak with the jailer, Odo. You need a penny to enter inside. Also, ask about the woman with whom the jailer spoke earlier. She is Meg, wife of a merchant who has a stall at the market. End the conversation - the siblings will automatically move on the market.

There, you have to speak with Meg. She stands near the stall with wool (in front of you). The woman can pay the heroes if they count her bags with wool.

You are now inside the stall with the wool bags. Count them by clicking RMB on the bags - there should be 22 of them, even though Richard insists that there are 23. If you make a mistake, Aliena will start counting from the beginning again. When you decide that you are done, speak with Richard and give Meg the number. Click on 22 and you will receive 2 pennies (you get 1 penny if you gave her the wrong answer).

By looking at the wool on the cart located on the right, you get another entry in "Documents" tab. This one is about Meg's work. Leave the market (by going either right or left).

See Bartholomew

Select the castle from the map (bottom left part). There, you have to go left. Speak with the jailer and tell him that you have a penny (or give it to him) - you can now choose the right dialog options that will allow you to keep money. Use the advice that Meg gave you while you were leaving and tell the jailer that you thought that he is a decent person (otherwise, he takes your penny but he only lets one of the children in - give him two pennies so both children can enter the cell).

Inside, you have to speak with Bartholomew. During that conversation you have to decide if you want to tell him about your current situation and Matthew's death or you want to spare him from that knowledge.

The earl starts coughing. Search for water. The one in the bucket is dirty and smells bad. However, you can notice that water drops down from the ceiling (on the right). Find something that you can use to collect it. On your father's right you can notice a cracked jug. Place it where the water falls down and then give it to Bartholomew.

You now have to swear an oath that you will take care of your brother until he gets back your father's lost fortune and title. Leave the cell and head to the fortress (towards the bottom of the screen). Wanted poster is now added to "Documents" tab.

Find Bartholomew's money

Select the West Gate (on the left, above the castle) - the priest, the one your father met there, should have his money. Speak with the monks who stand near the gate (1; the icon near the gate) - sadly, they have just entered the town which means that you won't learn anything from them. Speak to the women who stand nearby (2; the icon to the right of the monks) - they inform you that the monk frequents "The Boar" a lot (3; a boar's icon will appear above that place).

Go to that tavern (the upper part of the map) - you learn that a stableboy in a green hat can give you more information. Go to the boy but be careful - you can't go to him by following the shortest path (his icon is above the cathedral) because William's soldiers will capture you (4). Head a few steps to the left, then down (5) and after that you have to go right by following the main road. The stableboy (6) informs you that the priest you are looking for is called Ralph and he is from St. Michael's church. The priest can be found in the back alley near that church (7; the icon on the right, above the East Gate).

The priest is there and it seems that he decided to appropriate your father's money. You learn that you won't get anything from father Ralph by talking with him. Examine the barrel with alcohol (on the right). Notice (by clicking RMB on it) a leather belt sticking out under the barrel (Bartholomew mentioned about a belt like that) - try to lift the barrel. It is too heavy. In that case you have to stab it with your dagger. After that you can lift the barrel - Aliena will pick up father's belt. Sadly - the money pouch is missing. Show the item to the monk. However, this also won't work. Threaten father Ralph with your dagger - first, you have to order Richard to watch the back-alley's entrance. Thanks to that you get some of father's money.

Find hope

You have to go to Huntleigh, the village where aunt Edith lives. As always, during your journey you have to make decisions. On your way to Gloucester Aliena's feet will start to bleed. You can ignore that and keep following the path or you can go left and visit a cobbler in Haystead. You can: buy a pair of shoes that costs more than a half of what you have, decline his offer or ask for a cheaper pair (again, you can buy them or decline his offer).

After that you can make a camp or go to St. John-in-the-forest's area. After asking one of shepherds about the road the siblings reach their uncle and aunt's abandoned house.

Look around it - there are no items that you can add to your inventory but examining all of the interactive objects a few times (by clicking RMB and LMB) allows you to listen to Aliena's commentary about what could have happened here. You can check: the destroyed wall in front of you, the shelve on the left, debris in the right corner, meat hanging on the right and fireplace in the bottom of the screen. Then, you have to go outside.

There, you have to examine the burned house (Edith and Simon's fate note is added to "Documents" tab). Also, you can take a look at the stable on the right and the cart that stands next to it (the vehicle is in a good shape). Head right (take a walk) - you reach the same shepherd you have met before.

Speak with him - show your interest in his work and ask about your family. Also, you can talk to him about delivering wool to Winchester. At first, the man won't agree to Aliena's offer. However, he will change his mind when you use the belt with money on him. You can now negotiate a price for a sack of wool - check the wool's quality first if you want to reach the lowest price. Interact with the sack on the shepherd's right. Aliena finds its quality to be questionable. If you stick with that statement, you will be able to buy it for one pound.

Go back to the burned house, go inside and speak with Richard. They boy will be attacked. Fight back with your dagger.

Sell the wool

You reach the market (Aliena's notes on trading were added to "Documents" tab). Approach the cart with wool and take a wool sample. Then, speak with the wool merchant who stands in front of the stall. The man gives you his price. Aliena can agree to his offer but you can also try to bargain.

If you want to succeed at bargaining, you need strong arguments - end the conversation and approach the wool cart. Keep clicking on it until you run out of dialog lines. Speak with the merchant again but this time you have to praise your wool (dry, clean, strong). Then, you can give him your price (reasonable). Make a deal.