Quotes in House of Ashes

Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to light...

This article is about The Dark Pictures Anthology's third installment, House of Ashes .

You're going it alone. Independent. Admirable. Possibly foolish...

The content below contains spoilers from one or more of the games. Read at your own risk!

Man of Medan

Little Hope

House of Ashes

The Devil in Me

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Sub-Pages

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• Man of Medan
• Little Hope
• House of Ashes
• The Devil in Me

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Meetings

First meeting

curator1 — Cursed — Theatrical Cut

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
The Curator's introduction
Generic_Introduction	You teeter on the edge of an abyss. Your survival will depend on the choices you make. They will be as a compass guiding you through the unknown. Will you find the path to salvation? Or be lost in the darkness forever?	The Curator welcomes the player(s). (Singleplayer/Movie Night)
briefing	Let me speak plainly. You are about to make some difficult decisions... Decisions that will affect the lives of others. How those decisions play out will become clear over time...	The warning about decisions. (Singleplayer/Movie Night)
MP_MNight_First_time	Before we begin, it’s worth remembering not all parties end the same way they started. Some can leave their guests a little the worse for wear. But, uh, I’m getting ahead of myself...	The Curator welcomes new players without save files of House of Ashes. (Shared Story/Movie Night)
MP_MNight_Returning	Ready to descend into the unknown once more? A party is nothing without a ‘host’... and I will play my part, as I’m sure ‘you’ will play yours... Shall we begin?	The Curator welcomes experienced players with save files of House of Ashes. (Shared Story)
The Curator introduces himself
SP_NewPlayer	I expect you’re wondering who I am and... where you are...	The Curator tells to the new player that he expects them to not know him. (Singleplayer)
NP_Gen_IntroductionEditcopy	I am the Curator; the custodian of tales. My purpose is to keep a record of everything you do, every decision, or mistake, you make...	The Curator introduces himself to the new player(s). (Singleplayer/Shared Story/Movie Night)
SP_ReturningPlayer	It’s good to see you again... You’re probably keen to get started, let us not dally any longer.	The Curator tells to the experienced player with save files he is glad to see them. (Singleplayer)
RP_Gen_Introduction	As you are aware, I am the Curator - the custodian of tales. My purpose is to keep a record of everything you do, every decision, or mistake, you make...	The Curator introduces himself to the experienced player(s) with save files. (Singleplayer/Shared Story)
Introduction of the Repository
Repository_Introduction	This is my repository... It is filled with untold stories, stories about friends and enemies, loyalty and betrayal, life... and death...	The Curator talks about his Repository.
Rep_Intro_Allplayers	Understand that I am not here to help you. Although I have been known to bend the rules from time-to-time...	The Curator warns that he isn't allowed to help.
Singleplayer/multiplayer choices
SP_CHOSEN	To descend into the unknown alone is extremely brave... Or extremely foolish... Perhaps there is more to you than meets the eye.	The Curator encourages the player. (Singleplayer)
MP_CHOSEN	Many minds burning bright with the same idea... poetic, don’t you think? Some choices will bring you closer together, while others will push you apart...	The Curator talks about choices of the players. (Shared Story/Movie Night)
The Curator's advice and briefing about Pictures
Advice	Let me give you a few words of advice. Throughout the story, you will encounter certain pictures - pictures, which allude to possible outcomes... I suggest you pay attention to their meaning - they could foreshadow a future best avoided... But alas, the sands of time have run out for us. We’ll meet again soon to see how you’ve fared... or failed...	The Curator mentions pictures.

curator1 — Cursed — Curator's Cut

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Greeting
SP_CCut_Returning_player	There you are — it seems our story has yet more secrets to reveal. Your part in this play is far from over. And so, are you ready to go ‘once more unto the breach?’	The Curator welcomes the player again.
The rest of the Curator's meeting will be the same as in Theatrical Cut, starting from RP_Gen_Introduction sequence.

Second meeting

curator2 — Breaking Up

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Introduction
Generic_Commentary	What nightmare have these luckless souls fallen into?	The Curator welcomes the player again.
Reaction to Eric's survival
Eric_Alive	Poor Rachel has been lost to the darkness.	The Curator says Rachel fell into the pit.
Eric_ropecut	Bonds that were once thought unbreakable have now been cut free. The heart is always the first to fall...	The Curator comments on Eric's decision to cut the rope.
Nick_Rachel_Drop	And there are always unexpected casualties with any separation.
Reaction to Eric's death
Eric_Dead	One life cut short... Another lost to the darkness... Seems things have taken a turn for the worse, wouldn’t you say?	The Curator talks about player's losses.
Description of Eric's death
Eric_Shot	It wasn’t a bad way for Eric to bow out. At least he died a soldier’s death.	The Curator says Eric died like a soldier. (Eric was shot by Dar)
Eric_Edge	'Semper fidelis'. He paid the ultimate price for his loyalty. Eric’s decision not to let go of Rachel cost him more than he ever expected.	The Curator says Eric paid a price for his loyalty. (Eric refused to cut the rope)
Commentary about Jason and Nick realtionships
jasonnickgoodrelation	What of Jason and Nick? Brothers in arms, but are they really as close as they appear? Or will it be a case of each man for himself?	The Curator comments on Jason and Nick. (High relationship)
jasonnickbadrelation	What of Jason and Nick? Brothers in arms but with a darkness in their past that will test the strength of their friendship.	The Curator comments on Jason and Nick. (Low relationship)
Reaction to Merwin's death
leftmerwin	Let's not forget that they've already left one man behind to die tonight.	The Curator's reaction to Jason's decision to leave Merwin.
merwindied	Let's not forget that they've already lost Corporal Merwin to the dark and the night is still young.	The Curator's reaction to Merwin's death by killing.
The Curator describes Salim
salimdidntshoot	Which brings us to Salim. He seems level-headed. An almost reluctant soldier perhaps?	The Curator talks about Salim.
The Curator talks about the situation
candles	An unwelcome fate now awaits our survivors. Trapped beneath the earth, swallowed by the void.	The Curator's warning.
Reaction to survival/death of Eric
candleflicker	One by one, their lights will be snuffed out. Unless you can find the means to save them.	The Curator says the player should find a way to save everyone.
ericcandle	It's inevitable that some lights flicker and die. How long the remaining flames burn for is up to you.	The Curator sympathizes with the player's first loss.
Offer of the hint
Curator_Offerhelp	It’s not my place to concern myself with the affairs of others. But it does keep things interesting... I can offer you some words of advice, as long as you are willing to keep this strictly between ourselves?	The Curator offers his hint.
Choice camera
Curator2_PlayerHintChoice	—	A sequence with a choice. In multiplayer mode only the host decides to take a hint.
Reaction to acceptance
Curator_HelpAccepted	A prudent choice all things considered. Long ago I met a blind poet who impressed upon me these wise words: ‘Long is the way and hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light’. That’s all for now...	The Curator's hint.
Reaction to refusal
Curator_HelpRejected	Very well. At least you'll have no one but yourself to blame if things don't pan out quite as you intend.	The Curator is disappointed.
End of the scene
endingnote	That's all for now.	The Curator ends the conversation.

Third meeting

curator4 — The Well

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Introduction
Intro	An ancient horror has awoken from its slumber and is hungry for blood. Shall we see how many have fallen into shadow?	The Curator wants to sum up the player's results so far.
Reaction to survival of the protagonists
All_Safe	Rachel found her way back to the light. Well done. All alive. Although don't get complacent, their lives still hang by a thread.	The Curator congratulates the player and warns them to be careful.
Reaction to death of the protagonists
LOST_ONE	Rachel found her way back to the light. A pity, her husband wasn't there to welcome her back.	The Curator comments on Eric's death. (Act 1)
onedown	Only one name in the ledger - an acceptable loss, considering the circumstances.	The Curator says one death is an acceptable loss. (Only for LOST_ONE)
LOST_ONE_V2	One returns to the light, while the other goes out forever. Poor Eric. Bad luck, but then again Eric cheated death once before back on that highway. Perhaps death finally caught up with him?	The Curator comments on Eric's death. (Act 2)
racheldied	Rachel found her way back to the light, but the darkness reclaimed her. 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away'. Poor Eric, he won't win her back now.	The Curator comments on Rachel's death.
LOST_TWO	Ah Rachel, a second name in the ledger. Casualties are starting to mount. We'll never know if she and Eric could repair the wreckage of their marriage.	The Curator comments on double death. (Eric died in Act 1 and Rachel in Act 2)
LOST_TWO_V2	Two down, three left standing. Rachel and Eric: separated in life, but reunited in death.	The Curator comments on double death. (Eric and Rachel both died in Act 2)
DEAD_CHARACTERS	It's almost as if you're trying to get them killed.	The Curator makes a cruel remark. (Eric and Rachel both died in mined hallway)
The Curator says a few words about Nick's situation
Nicks_Fate_Unknown	Let's hope nothing 'unfortunate' has befallen Sergeant Kay. Those taken by the abyss seldom live to tell the tale.	The Curator talks about Nick's trouble.
The Curator discusses Jason and Salim relationship
J_and_S_Mistrust	As for Jason and Salim - sworn enemies who cannot seem to bury the hatchet - unless that hatchet is buried in a back.	The Curator's black humour about relationships between Salim and Jason.
The Curator's dark joke
exit	I don’t want to seem like an ungracious host, but time is against us... I’ll be here to greet your charges as they cross the finishing line, or to bury what remains of them under it.	The Curator uses "finishing line" metaphor to warn the player about "grave" consequences of their choices.

Final meeting

curator5 — Daylight

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
The Curator counts alive protagonists
All_Survive_Introduction	"The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." Bravo. It appears your charges have emerged from their ‘Hell’ in one piece. Although this ordeal, will continue to haunt them for the rest of their lives..	The Curator congratulates the player. (All protagonists are alive)
Some_Died_Survived_Intro	"Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell." Not bad. You’ve guided some of your charges to the light, while others have fallen to the darkness... Survival often comes at a great cost. A cost that others sometimes must pay.	The Curator says the player's results are not bad. (Some protagonists are dead)
All_Died_Introduction	"This horror will grow mild, this darkness light." What a mess that turned out to be. At least your charges cannot suffer any longer. Well... not in this life.	The Curator says the ending is a mess and the group won't suffer any longer. (All protagonists are dead)
The Curator reacts to sole survivors
Eric_Alive	Impressive, Eric is still alive and kicking. The mission was a disaster. Lives were lost. But the man whose bright idea it was — Colonel Eric King... walks out in one piece. Isn't that always the way?	The Curator talks about Eric.
Nick_Alive	Sergeant Kay managed to hold his nerve and focus on staying alive. He could have easily surrendered to the nightmare hunting him. But he proved he had the "right stuff" after all.	The Curator talks about Nick.
Rachel_Alive	As for Rachel... you kept her from falling into the darkness after all. She had to dig deeper than most to survive. "That which does not kill us, makes us stronger." Words to live by.	The Curator talks about Rachel.
The Curator's reaction to Salim's fate if he is sole survivor
SALIM_ALIVE	Salim survived to fight another day. The father could not accept being separated from his son, so he fought his way back to the light. Touching.	The Curator talks about Salim. (Salim went home)
SALIM_ARRESTED	Salim escaped one hell only to end up in another. It will be a long time before he sees his son again. At least he escaped with his life... if not his freedom.	The Curator talks about Salim. (Salim was arrested by military)
The Curator reacts to sole survivor Jason/Jason and Salim only survivors ending
jasonlikessalim	"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." First Lieutenant Kolchek was a revelation, was he not? He finally made peace with the demons he had been carrying with him... and forged the unlikeliest of friendships.	The Curator talks about Jason. (High relationship with Salim)
jasonhatessalim	"Never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep." Words which First Lieutenant Kolchek lived by. He never learned to see eye-to-eye with Salim... did he?	The Curator talks about Jason. (Low relationship with Salim)
The Curator reacts to Eric and Nick only survivors ending
N_and_E-Positive	It’s encouraging to see that Eric and Nick have accepted the past and decided to make peace. I suspect that’s more agreeable than having to bury one or the other. Friends... if only out of respect for Rachel’s memory.	The Curator discusses relationship between Eric and Nick. (High relationship)
N_and_E-Negative	It seems Eric and Nick are just never going to see eye-to-eye. They both loved and lost under the Arabian sands... their choices have driven a wedge between them which can never be lifted. Enemies until the last.	The Curator discusses relationship between Eric and Nick. (Low relationship)
The Curator's farewell
Generic_Ending	I look forward to our next encounter. Perhaps, I’ll choose a story that’s a little more... homely next time. Somewhere you’d be guaranteed of a decent night’s sleep. Rest assured, wherever it is you’ll find it extremely hard to leave... Until the next time. You know the way out.	The Curator says goodbye to the player.

Meaning of hints and advices

• The Curator's hint means that the protagonists will face multiple hardships in their path to the surface.

Miscellaneous

Launch Trailer

Come in. I've been expecting you. From cradle to grave, each life is its own tale. Most are mundane, orderly. But others end up here, in my special collection. I am the Curator, the custodian of rare tales. Tales of horror, of darkness... of death. In these stories, life is but a thread, waiting to be cut short at any moment. To survive, one must plan ahead. Outsmart your opponents. Lest your own light be shuffed out. O'Death. How it feels to hold the fate of a living soul in your palm. Feel their heartbeat skip with the merest tremble of your hand. To decide which choices they make. Head or heart. Sacrifice or survival. Good or evil. Such power. But not one that I wield. No, I am merely an observer in these tales. YOU are in control here. Your decisions determine who lives and who dies. For good or for ill, their fates rest in your hands. Your hour draws near, so let me leave you with a final word of warning. In these stories, fate rarely plays fair.