The Artist’s Guide On Who to Eat With in Pentiment

There are entire books written about the importance of sharing your meal with someone, whether it be for your own mental health or to help you schmooze your way to the top of the corporate ladder. But who you pick to eat with in Pentiment has even higher stakes, as these time slots are essential in learning key information for your investigation.

Here are all the meal options for Act 1, including a synopsis of each conversation with all relevant details. There will be mild spoilers.

Who to Eat With in Pentiment

Day 1

These time slots are spoken for. You’ll need to have lunch with Otto outside of the abbey, beside the guest house, then head to the refectory for dinner with the brothers and the baron.

Day 2

• Lunch
  • Head to the Drucker’s for lunch. Again, you’ll have no choice in the matter.

• Supper

We finally get to choose who to eat with! Each meal will reveal something about your investigation, but you won’t be able to attend all of them.

• Guest House – Lady Salomea

Yes, you can speak to the dead baron’s wife. As you might suspect, she has some questions for you. She discloses that she knew about the baron’s infidelities. She says that she loved him but they weren’t friends. She hopes that it wasn’t his “appetites” that lead to his end.

Unfortunately, beyond being interesting, this conversation doesn’t reveal much about what has occurred. But it does give you access to a note and letter if you return later.

• Forest – Smokey

Smokey, the charcoal burner, is actually a huge gossip, and he drags Vaclav into it. In terms of sheer entertainment, this is the best lunch to attend.

Vasclav says he saw a man, the Hungarian monk, in the woods. He was doing a ritual with blood. His own blood. He dripped the blood into the water and repeated a Latin phrase over and over. The only Hungarian we know of is Brother Ferenc.

Smokey also reveals that the monk and nun who do the shopping in town, Wojslav and Sister Matilda, are… close. Perhaps the closest in the forest, where Smokey can see.

Apparently, Roman ruins are beneath the town and the abbey. But then one day, the Romans just vanished. The Roman ruins are a pentiment, and Tassing, as it is now, is just the new painting. How clever!

Related: How to Get into the Secret Library in Pentiment

• Alban Bakery – Grett and Ulric

This conversation is unfruitful, as it only reveals that Matilda and a brother might be fraternizing and that Matilda seems troubled. It also reveals that Father Thomas is very fond of the status quo. You get more information for your investigation through Smokey. 

• The Midwife’s House – Lucky the Stone Mason and Agnes the Midwife

You learn that they had two “innocents” die, their daughter and unborn granddaughter, which is a direct reference to the note found in the Baron’s pocket. Lucky also discloses that he found a secret passage in the crypt.

There’s ample character content on other townsfolk, which might be helpful later on. 

• Zimmerman House – Otto and Old Otto

The conversation is mostly about how they hate the abbot and the miller, and how bad their aches are. It will give you a hint about the Sister investigation route, telling you to speak to Mother Cecilia.

But the most substance you’ll gain from this conversation is that the real gossips in town are the Gertners, Johan Bauer’s family, or Kat Bauer. That’s debatable.

• Frantz Bauer House – Frantz and Kat

This meal is essentially Frantz berating his wife, his daughter-in-law, talking about beating his children, and then saying he wished he had more sons. The only real content is that Otillia has been coming to their yard to take firewood.  

• Johan Bauer Farm – Johan and Heddy

Heddy’s happy to learn the Baron was killed but you otherwise learn very little from this conversation. It’s mostly just the family bickering with themselves and complaining about the taxes and waiting for Otillia to die so they can buy her land.

• The Gertner Farm – Clara and Peter

The Miller is raising his prices and the towns folk are struggling because of it. You will learn a little about the Baron’s predatory behavior toward women, specifically a sister and a girl that used to live with Lucky and Agnes.

_______________________

In terms of progressing your investigation, the best meals to attend to are Smokey’s and Lucky’s. Fortunately, you’ll have the chance to dine again tomorrow, so don’t worry about missing anything.

Day 3 – LUNCH

All lunches that were available yesterday will still be available today. If you chose an option yesterday, that option will not be available today.

• Abbey’s Cloister –  Sebhat

Sebhat is the only new and unique option for today. Speak to him in the abbey’s cloister. All the mothers and children come, excited to hear Sebhat’s stories. During this lunch you’ll learn that Father Gernot only eats white bread… but more importantly, you’ll net the Empty-Headed Achievement, and the Miller’s son, Paul, will disclose that he saw “a Roman” rise from his tomb like Lazarus. He likely means the closed tunnel near the aqueduct ruins and the mill.

• Guest House – Lady Salomea

Refer to the day before.

• Forest – Smokey

Refer to the day before. The only difference is that, if you went to the Spinning Bee, you’ll be able to tell Smokey that Big Jorg is interested in Sister Zdena.

• Albans Bakery –  Grett and Ulrick

Refer to the day before.

• The Midwife’s House – Lucky and Agnes

Refer to the day before.

• Zimmerman House – Otto and Old Otto

Refer to the day before.

• Frantz Bauer House – Frantz and Kat

Refer to the day before.

• Johan Bauer Farm – Johan and Heddy

Refer to the day before.