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I have no honour, but nor do I have access to the redacted clue.  So....  the large letter count makes me think it might be one of those gangly AGS-Script commands, but I can't make anything fit.  chANGehotspotLABel, or something like that.  I don't know.  Maybe if there were some sort of softened, semi-redacted hint....

Can you give me to Wednesday night?  I'll make the effort if I know I can have two days to get something together.

Just some thoughts....

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"A laboratory without a water source" = lab -oratory (a source of holy water?).  I only gather this based on Haggis' work.  I was thinking it was "labratry" since O₂ is a "source" of water....

We never got clarification on Haggis' stab at a famous game ("angry birds") with the "ry birds" killed off: angry birds, but it makes sense to me.

"Trapped in a red flower" would imply that "ang" would be inserted inside the name of a red flower, or possibly "a red flower" itself.  I flirted with "ar-ang-ed", but apparently that has two Rs.   The "trapped" bit may or may not imply that the whole word is trapped inside, or whether its letters are spread out.  By letter count alone, "lab" + "ang" + "red flower" = 18 letters implies quite a long flower name.  My guess is "red carnation", but I can't get it to work.

Significantly, according to the clue "lab" comes after everything, so in theory we could just use the brute force method and search the AGS site for an 18 letter word pairing that ends in some combination of "lab".  In theory....

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Ry birds?  Is this a typo, or are words just getting weirder?

All good suggestions!   I wonder what will come of them....

Unfortunately I've got this big presentation at work coming up in a couple of days, and its sucking up all my free time.  But rest assured, the sassy saga of the Hotel Exotica will continue after the weekend.

~BvB

Very good, you guys got it!

Now who's next?

Upon closer inspection, the red oval embedded within the business end of the battleaxe seems to be some sort of Death Ruby, no doubt forged in the bowels of darkness by some long-forgotten god of the underworld like Anubis or Nergal or F. Spaghetti Monster Sr.  In the mean time, although details are sketchy because of the terror of fear that now grips his mind, Jimmy is pretty sure he has shot his revolver at his assailant, and he is also pretty sure that said assailant caught the bullet in his teeth and then smiled briefly at him.

In an unrelated development, there seems to now be another stain growing on the landing carpet.

Also, Larry got bored of trying to squint out the difference between emperor cockroach and ditch-digging cockroach, so he has kinda wandered off.

Wow, these certainly are very plausible answers.  Ohms, in particular, is definitely a step in the right direction for "electrically".  In the mean time, I'll leave you with a more obvious hint about indecisive noises....

Spoiler

Er... closer?

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What sound do you make when you are being indecisive?

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Å 

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Er.... closer?

Also well-reasoned, but incorrect.

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What sound do you make when you are being indecisive?

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Not bad guesses, but incorrect so far.  Who else wants to take a violent stab at it?  Anyone?

Electrically indecisive silica (1)

Larry tries his best to peep through the cockroach hole, but he can't make out anything inside!

Jimmy tries to lounge indifferently on the stairs while levelling his revolver at the approaching hulk, but begins to lose his nerve as the extremely tough looking dude draws closer.  "Mr. Le Brûte, sir...." he stammers, noticing with his peripheral vision that the muscle-bound man appears not to be entirely human.  "Er..... nice battleaxe!" he squeaks feebly.

Le Brûte fixes Jimmy with a stare of loathing and disgust usually reserved for insects about to be smashed....

Larry sniffs the colouring-ball-shaped carpet stain while simultaneously trying to investigate the hole in the wall and smooching Jimmy, who draws the revolver and aims it squarely at the unknown burly-man who continues to slowly but ominously ascend the staircase.  The carpet stain smells like teen spirit, the contents of the hole feel like the material culture of an advanced insectile civilization, Jimmy's breath tastes like twinkie and chewing tobacco, the unknown man seems nonplussed about both having a revolver aimed at his head and man-on-man lip action, and there is the sound of either flamingos flocking or a cocktail party emanating from the grate.  Oh, and Larry says he needs a pee break soon.

Slightly Bigger Hint:

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Hwat hpapens whne yuo psill smoethngi?

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Apparently I only "previewed" this yesterday without actually "posting" it. 



The Gumption Gumshoes proceed down the stairs.  At the first landing they discover several potential inventory possibilities, including a gateway to the cockroach nest, a woman's orphaned shoe, and a mysterious irregularly shaped carpet stain.  The thumping of heavy boots indicates that someone else is in the stairwell, climbing up towards them.

It's nice to see some healthy speculation for a change.   Unfortunately, healthy != correct.

Big Hint:

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What happens when you spill somethign?

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Go far damning spills (4, 8)

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Larry attempts to acquire a cockroach, but the little scamps are far too quick and agile to be caught.  At his approach they all scurry under the door to the old couple's room. 

Jimmy, meanwhile, examines the burden of guilt.  It is of medium size, but seems to have the propensity to swell if the situation deteriorates.  Its shape defies description, but in terms of hue it is a healthy pink.  According to Larry it smells of sweat and nicorette gum.

The prying pair prepare to head downstairs.