- Needle in a Haystack chapter 1 walkthrough covers the monastery investigation and escape.
- First priority: speak with Antonius and identify the correct suspect.
- Critical trigger: rest until the next day, then eat in the dining hall.
- Escape route: prepare the blood order, collect the keys, and meet Antonius at 6:00 p.m.
- Final choice: turn Antonius over to the bailiff or honor your agreement.
Needle in a Haystack Chapter 1 Walkthrough Overview
Needle in a Haystack chapter 1 walkthrough is easiest when you treat the monastery section as an infiltration mission rather than a combat quest. Your objectives are to locate Antonius, survive the poisoning sequence, prepare a blood-filled goat skin, recover the monastery keys, and leave through the planned meeting point.
Video Highlights:
- Finding and speaking with Antonius inside the monastery
- Triggering the dining hall poisoning sequence
- Preparing blood and collecting the hidden monastery keys
- Meeting Antonius at the dormitory balcony after 6:00 p.m.
- Resolving the final confrontation without relying on armed combat
Investigation
- Locate Antonius
- Explain why you are searching for him
- Avoid rushing into open conflict
Preparation
- Rest through the first night
- Follow the dining hall sequence
- Arrange the blood order and find the keys
Escape
- Meet Antonius at the dormitories
- Follow the route beyond the monastery
- Choose whether to report or release him
Keep the monastery routine intact whenever possible. Completing duties or waiting in a concealed place gives you time to advance the quest without creating unnecessary suspicion.
| Objective | Required Action | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Find Antonius | Speak with him in the monastery | Choosing the wrong dialogue approach |
| Trigger the plot | Rest, then eat in the dining hall | Missing the poisoning sequence |
| Prepare the escape | Order blood and recover keys | Searching the wrong kitchen area |
| Leave the monastery | Meet at the balcony after 6:00 p.m. | Losing track of Antonius outside |
| Finish the quest | Decide Antonius's fate | Starting an unsafe armed encounter |
Entering the Monastery and Finding Antonius
After arriving at the monastery, begin by locating Antonius. He is the person connected to the investigation, so this conversation establishes the direction of the quest. Tell him that you are looking for a guide in the monastery and intend to punish or kill that person. This explanation allows the next sequence to develop without immediately forcing a fight.
The monastery follows a strict daily routine. You can perform duties during the waiting period or remain hidden, but the important progression point is reaching the next day. Do not assume that exploring every room is necessary before the poisoning event.
Locate the Suspect
Search the monastery for Antonius and speak with him directly. Use the dialogue that explains you are seeking a guide and want justice against him.
Advance to the Next Day
Go to the bed and rest until the following day. If you need to pass time safely, complete available duties or wait in a concealed location.
Enter the Dining Hall
On the next day, go to the dining hall and eat. After waiting for roughly one or two hours, the poisoning scene should begin.
Survive the Scene
Your character will become poisoned and collapse, leading into the next cutscene. Continue once control returns and prepare for the escape phase.
The quest depends on its daily routine. If the expected scene does not begin, check that you rested until the next day and completed the dining hall meal before waiting.
| Phase | Where to Go | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Monastery interior | Locate Antonius |
| Dialogue | Antonius | Explain your objective |
| Waiting | Bed, duty area, or hiding place | Advance to the next day |
| Poisoning | Dining hall | Eat, then wait for the scene |
| Transition | After the collapse | Continue toward the escape setup |
Poisoning, Blood, and Monastery Keys
Once the poisoning sequence ends, the quest gives you a choice in how to proceed. The direct option is generally faster, while helping Antonius escape requires more preparation. The escape route depends on two items: blood from the kitchen and monastery keys hidden in a back room.
To begin the preparation, visit the kitchen at night. Find the table containing the written orders and use it to arrange the blood. On the following day, a goat skin filled with blood will be available in the kitchen area. The keys are also nearby, but they are easy to overlook.
Night Preparation
Find the kitchen table with the written orders and use it before advancing the day.
Blood Pickup
Return to the same kitchen area the next day and collect the goat skin filled with blood.
Key Search
Check the rear rooms beyond the kitchen. The monastery keys rest on a shelf and can be difficult to spot.
Use the kitchen as your reference point. Move from the main kitchen to the back room, then check the next back room and inspect the shelf carefully for the monastery keys.
| Item | Location | Timing | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written orders | Kitchen table | During the night | Starts the blood preparation |
| Goat skin with blood | Kitchen table or nearby kitchen area | Following day | Required for the escape plan |
| Monastery keys | Shelf in the rear kitchen rooms | During the preparation search | Supports the escape route |
| Bed | Sleeping area | First night | Advances the opening sequence |
Preparation Checklist:
- Speak with Antonius before advancing the day
- Trigger the dining hall poisoning sequence
- Use the written orders on the kitchen table
- Collect the goat skin filled with blood
- Search the rear rooms for the monastery keys
The keys are not presented as a major quest marker. Search the shelf in the second back room instead of stopping in the main kitchen or first rear room.
The 6:00 p.m. Escape Route
With the blood and keys secured, speak with Antonius again. The final escape begins at 6:00 p.m., so use the remaining time to prepare and avoid wandering far from the sleeping quarters. At the appointed time, travel to the dormitories where you sleep. Antonius should be waiting at the balcony.
A cutscene follows the balcony meeting. Afterward, follow Antonius out of the monastery. If he appears to vanish after the conversation, do not immediately restart the quest. Continue along the path leading away from the monastery and check the route ahead; he may reappear farther along the escape path.
Confirm the Supplies
Make sure you have both the goat skin filled with blood and the monastery keys before returning to Antonius.
Wait for Evening
Advance time until 6:00 p.m. Avoid beginning the escape early because the meeting is tied to the evening schedule.
Reach the Dormitories
Go to the dormitories where you sleep and look toward the balcony for Antonius.
Follow the Path
After the cutscene, leave the monastery and follow the route outside. If Antonius is not immediately visible, keep following the indicated path.
A pathing issue can make Antonius disappear after the balcony conversation. Follow the escape route outside instead of waiting at the monastery; he can be found farther along the path.
| Escape Check | Correct Condition |
|---|---|
| Blood | Goat skin filled with blood collected |
| Keys | Found on the shelf in the rear rooms |
| Meeting time | 6:00 p.m. |
| Meeting place | Dormitory balcony |
| After the cutscene | Follow the path outside the monastery |
Final Choice, Combat, and Quest Resolution
The final decision determines how Antonius's story ends. You can honor the agreement and let him go, or fight him unarmed and take him to the bailiff. The nonlethal fight route is more demanding because you must knock him out without using weapons, then deliver him for questioning.
Choose your preferred resolution based on your objective rather than treating one outcome as mandatory. If you want a direct conclusion, the fight and bailiff route is straightforward once you are ready for close combat. If you prefer to keep the agreement, allow Antonius to leave after the escape conversation.
Release Antonius
Honor the agreement and let him go. This avoids the later unarmed confrontation.
Unarmed Takedown
Fight Antonius without weapons, knock him out, and carry out the handover.
Bailiff Resolution
Bring the unconscious Antonius to the bailiff so he can be questioned.
The quest is ready for its final resolution once you have escaped the monastery, located Antonius on the outside route, and chosen whether to release him or deliver him to the bailiff.
| Resolution | Method | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Let him go | Honor the deal after the escape | Lower |
| Capture him | Win an unarmed fight | Higher |
| Bailiff outcome | Take the unconscious Antonius to the bailiff | Requires successful takedown |
Q: What is the first major objective in the Needle in a Haystack chapter 1 walkthrough?
Find Antonius inside the monastery and explain that you are searching for a guide you intend to punish or kill.
Q: How do I trigger the poisoning sequence?
Rest until the next day, go to the dining hall, eat, and wait roughly one or two hours for the scene to begin.
Q: Where are the monastery keys?
Search the kitchen's rear rooms. The keys are on a shelf in the second back room and can be easy to miss.
Q: What happens if Antonius disappears after the balcony cutscene?
Follow the path outside the monastery. Antonius may be farther along the route rather than at the point where the conversation ended.