Act 1: The Descent

Guide Rue Valley Act 1: The Descent, covering character creation, personality traits, and initial social checks with Dr. Finck and the receptionist.

Act 1 of Rue Valley introduces character creation, personality traits, and initial interactions. Players define Eugene Harlow's personality using 9 points, influencing dialogue and social checks. The game begins with Eugene waking up to Dr. Finck, followed by a social check with a receptionist. Key early events include finding a door security warranty, inspecting a statue, and interacting with Ben's car. The act concludes with recording Ben and emailing the video to Dana, leading to a conversation about Riley.

When starting a new game, your first task is to define Eugene Harlow's personality. You have 9 points to allocate to various traits. These choices affect dialogue options and determine success in "Checks." To pass at least one personality check, consider picking at least one point in Extraverted.

After character creation, hold the button on the bottom-right to "wake up." You will find yourself talking to Dr. Finck, your therapist. Dialogue choices here are not critical for immediate progression. Once Eugene leaves, he will attempt to get the attention of a busy receptionist, performing your first Social Check. If you have at least one point in Extraverted, you will pass.

Inside, interact with the suitcase. Depending on your personality traits, Eugene might put it away and sit on the bed, or sit on a chair. Time will pass, and you will receive a phone call. Accepting or rejecting the call, and your choices during it, do not significantly alter the immediate path. A dream sequence follows, offering insight into Eugene's character.

Upon exiting his hotel room, Eugene witnesses a truck hitting a transformer. Afterwards, go downstairs and interact with the vending machine. Press the "reddish button" to get a bottle of water and drink it to remove the "Thirsty" status.

Later, in Maxine's room, interact with papers to find a door security warranty. Use your phone to go to "fortilocdor.com." If this is unhelpful, use your phone to "Ask the police for Walter's police records." You can use the name "Malcolm Scribovitz." Ask to read Walter's first record in its entirety. Then, go to the first floor and enter the study through the double doors.

In a new cemetery area, interact with the statue of Maynar on a horse. Select all options while inspecting it to find damage and update the Intention. Then, go to the Hydroponics farm and interact with Ben's car. Inspect everything inside, then talk to Dana. All attempts will fail, so ask for her contact information before restarting the loop. Lastly, interact with Ben and choose to record him while he is high. Restart the loop, go to the Kuiper Belt, and use Frank's phone to email Ben's video to Dana. This will lead you to Ben, where you can ask him about Riley to complete the Intention.