Set in 1346 in a fictional area in north England.
The Priory of Our Lady of Thorns is a small priory (not a full monastery). It probably used to have 20 full monks and 20 lay brothers, but plagues, crop failures, and wars have led to its decline. A certain sense of two-centuries-old and dusty and worn is apparent in descriptions.
That doesn’t mean all of the characters are old or dusty.
not jokey, except when player is trying to do cliche IF things, like XYZZY
British English, not American, and avoiding modern phrasing. The game should sound like how Aldwin might speak (except not Middle English, obviously)
Latin phrasings on things the monks write. Often translate for the player except in cases where it is probably easy to guess meaning
Aldwin ALWAYS refers to brothers as “Brother Foo” out of respect. Other monks might refer to him more casually, or to each other.
Accentuate weather, temp, light, smell, sound.
Many things can be smelled (Aldwin is studying herbology!)
Remigio is uneducated and a refugee from Tuscany. His speech is broken English-Italian. It’s not meant to be mean, though, so make sure it doesn’t sound Mario-cliche or such.
Aelred’s death is a big emotional center to the story and Aldwin’s reactions to it, so it should come up in related place (player wears his old gloves, etc)
Wilfred is the other main emotional character. He should always be kindly. He should be the obvious person to confess to at the point Aldwin might like to. In the worst ending (inaction), Wilfred dies.
Aldwin has been living here for months, so he knows the space well and has even been in the Crypt once. He hasn’t been in the Crypt Vestry. He doesn’t know about the FitzAlan Crypt (and perhaps the younger monks also don’t know, since its unused for a well)