The solution to the Creature Kitchen clock puzzle is clockwise to 7, counter-clockwise to 10, and clockwise to 4. Entering this sequence opens the grandfather clock cabinet located inside the Oddities room, rewarding you with the first half of the blue crest and the House Salad recipe. Because the dial operates like a combination lock, turning the hand past a number or moving in the wrong direction resets the mechanism.
Grandfather Clock Riddle Breakdown
Before you can interact with the puzzle clues, you must open the desk drawer directly underneath the typewriter in the Oddities room to grab the typewriter handle. After attaching the handle to the machine, interact with it to print out the poem that contains the movement sequence.
| Poem Line | Clue Meaning | Dial Direction | Target Hour (Roman Numeral) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Went clockwise round the mountain, landed one pace past due south" | South marks 6 o'clock on the face; one pace past 6 is 7 | Clockwise | 7 (VII) |
| "Done shopping at Lumtown, trekked back the way he came. Rune in hand, the man ended a couple paces past North's flame" | Heading backward from 7 towards North (12 o'clock), stopping two paces past it | Counter-clockwise | 10 (X) |
| "At sunset, with bag and sword, the wizard made for the east. His goal was the town named four [Fore]" | Heading back towards the east side of the dial, landing directly on four | Clockwise | 4 (IV) |
Step-by-Step Instructions to Solve the Clock
- Retrieve the typewriter handle from the drawer beneath the typewriter desk and install it on the machine.
- Read the poem from the typewriter to verify the clue has registered.
- Approach the grandfather clock located on the opposite wall.
- Turn the dial clockwise until the hand points directly to 7 (VII).
- Turn the dial counter-clockwise back up and around to 10 (X).
- Turn the dial clockwise forward to 4 (IV).
- Let go of the dial. The cabinet doors will swing open immediately upon reaching 4.
How to Reset and Avoid Common Input Mistakes
The grandfather clock puzzle is frequently discussed on Steam forums due to specific control quirks and audio cues that confuse players:
- The 8 o'clock click is a reset indicator, not a success chime: When turning the dial clockwise past the 8 position, the clock mechanism makes a loud crunching or clicking noise. Many players mistake this sound for a correct code checkpoint. In reality, that noise indicates the internal tumbler has reset. If you hear this click in the middle of entering numbers, your current attempt has been wiped.
- Strict combination lock rules: Just like a real locker lock, you cannot overshoot a number and nudge it backward. If your target is 7 and you coast past VII toward VIII, you must sweep around past 8 to clear the dial and start from the beginning.
- Reading the Roman numerals: The clock face uses standard Roman numbers. Make sure you align the pointer accurately with VII (7), X (10), and IV (4). Stopping between numerals will fail to trigger the door latch.
Oddities Room Rewards and Next Steps
Opening the grandfather clock cabinet provides two key items:
- House Salad Recipe: Requires chopped lettuce, tomato slice, cheese slice, and bread slice.
- The First Half of the Blue Crest: A required quest item to leave the Oddities room.
To exit through the sealed double doors leading to the grove, you need the complete crest. The second half is held by the Moth NPC present in the room. You must feed the Moth four vegetarian meals (such as Fruit Salad, Bean Burrito, French Fries, or Gulab Jamun) to raise its friendship. Once the fourth meal is accepted, the Moth drops the remaining half of the crest. Combine both crest pieces on the door to proceed toward the game's final encounter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Creature Kitchen clock puzzle combination randomized?
No. The combination is static across all save files and playthroughs: clockwise to 7, counter-clockwise to 10, and clockwise to 4.
Why does the clock dial make a loud clicking sound?
The loud click heard around the 8 o'clock position signifies that the lock mechanism is resetting. It is not an audio cue confirming that a step was performed correctly.
What should I do if the clock cabinet refuses to open?
Spin the dial clockwise completely past 8 until you hear the reset click. Then smoothly turn clockwise to 7, counter-clockwise to 10, and clockwise to 4 without overshooting any of the markings.
Where is the second half of the blue crest?
The grandfather clock holds only the first half. The second half is rewarded by feeding four vegetarian meals to the Moth inside the same room.
