The Tesliss Equation is an AIF game by GoblinBoy, which was released on 19 December 2012. You can download it from http://aifcommunity.org/games/tads/tads_2/.
The design of The Tesliss Equation allows the player little freedom to wander off track, as the scenes occur in a predetermined order that the player cannot change. There are very few traditional text adventure puzzles. Instead the player mainly affects the story through menu-based choices and by deciding who to have sex with.
Consequently, this will not be a step-by-step walkthrough. Instead I will try to describe each scene with the general aim of keeping all three hidden endings available until the end of the game. Other paths will be noted where possible. Reading the comic book in the nurse's office after each scene will help you to determine the effects of your actions.
Thanks
Big thank you to Phillip Miley on aifarchive, who was the first to report how to see through the illusion.
The Special Hidden Endings
As with most of GoblinBoy's recent games, there is a code word that allows the player to view all of the pictures in the game. To learn this word, the player needs to find all three of the 'hidden' endings.
Hidden Ending 1
This has three main requirements:
1) The PC must resist the temptations that Lyra puts in his path. That means that he must not have sex with Lilian, Chrissy, or Miss Joliffe.
2) He must see through the illusion and confront Lyra (see 'Piercing the illusion' below).
3) He must have sex with Lyra in Groldar's fortress, and then not kill her.
Hidden Ending 2
To get this ending the PC must be on good enough terms with both Kitty and Rocket, so that they are willing to share him at the end of the game. He must also have had sex with Lyra, and then convince her to join him, Kitty and Rocket.
This is possibly the easiest hidden ending to get because there are a lot of different ways to achieve the requirements. For example, if you reveal the formula, Groldar will use it to obliterate all human life. While this might seem like a bad thing, it does make Kitty and Rocket more willing to share you since the future of the human race is in the balance. You can have had sex with every female character in the game, including drugging Emily, and they will still be willing. The only exception is if you lied to Emily about having sex with Rowena.
Hidden Ending 3
To get this ending the PC must be on good enough terms with both Kitty and Rocket that they are willing to share him, without having revealed the formula.
This means that must declare your feelings to the two girls whenever you're given the opportunity (Rowena in the changing room, Emily in the library, Rocket in Groldar's fortress). You also have to avoid making them jealous by having sex with either of them.
Make a note of the word you get with each ending. Combine it into a single word and you'll have a command that allows you to view all of the game's pictures.
Piercing the illusion
The illusion created by Lyra has a number of inconsistencies. If you notice enough of them, you will be able to see the baseball bat on your final visit to the nurse's office. You can use the bat to attack Jessica, and get information out of her.
All of Lyra's avatars have green eyes, so examine the eyes of every female character (including 'Rowena' when she comes into the nurse's office; ask her about them as well). You will eventually get a comment about how there seem to be an unusual number of green-eyed women at school.
Examine the photos on Jessica and Miss Joliffe's desks (you will need to examine the desk first). You will notice that they both seem to have been taken at the same time and place.
The false memories that Lyra has implanted in Hiro about himself aren't very detailed. You will notice this if you think about 'me' 'family', 'father', 'mother', 'sister'. Likewise, if you ask Emily or Rowena about 'family' you will get a suspicious response.
Class 1 (science)
There's not much you can do during science class, although you should examine Miss Smith's eyes (and any other part of her that takes your interest), since you may not get another opportunity. You can also think about any topic that takes your fancy (eg. Emily x7, Rowena x6, Miss Smith, Miss Joliffe, Robert, Lilian, me, family, mother, father, sister, school, formula)
Answering the questions (correctly or not) does not seem to have any plot effects.
When you exit the class there will be a cut scene. After it finishes you will be able to talk to Emily and Rowena. You should talk to them and ask them about things (eg. family) now, as there will be limited opportunities later. You could also examine their eyes so that you know what colour they're supposed to be.
Nurse's office 1
Examine Jessica's eyes (and any other part of her that takes your interest), as well as the photo on her desk (you will need to examine the desk first). You should also read the comic book if you want to know what really happened in the last cut scene.
Lie on the bed and follow instructions until you're given the choice of whether or not to take the performance enhancing injection. Doing so will make it much easier to defeat Robert in the boxing match, but there don't seem to be any plot effects either way (the comic will be the same no matter how you beat him).
Class 2 (gym)
If you took the injection it will be straightforward to defeat Robert, as the descriptions will strongly hint at what he's going to do next. Alternatively, you can beat him through liberal use of undo. I'm not certain what plot effects defeating Robert has, but nearly every other character comments on it positively and so it seems like the best thing to do given what's actually happening.
While the match is occurring, Lilian will be posing in the background. Examine her eyes if you can avoid being hit too much. You can also try to examine other parts of her body. The pictures will vary according to Lilian's pose at the time.
Nurse's office 2
If you wait one turn, 'Rowena' will come into the nurse's office. Examine her eyes and then ask her about them. You could also ask her about her family to make it even more obvious that she's not who she appears to be.
Once she leaves, read the comic book (to see what really happened during the boxing match) and wait until Jessica returns. Follow her instructions.
Class 3 (psychology)
Examine Miss Joliffe's eyes (and any other part of her that takes your interest). Examine Chrissy's eyes when you get the opportunity (and before she closes them).
Merely volunteering does not affect the hidden endings. Miss Joliffe will end the class if you try to remove Chrissy's panties or bra, but you can unzip and enjoy a brief blowjob. There is also enough time to rub her pussy to orgasm if that's all you do.
After the class finishes, examine the photo on Miss Joliffe's desk (you will have to examine the desk first). You should get a comment about there being something odd about it.
You can also enjoy a full scene with Chrissy and then a non-interactive scene with Miss Joliffe (if you volunteered), or just Miss Joliffe's scene (if you didn't volunteer). However, doing so will block off the first hidden ending, so save first if you want to explore those scenes. After her scene, Miss Joliffe will ask who you really wish you were fucking, but that seems to be mainly to encourage you towards Rowena.
Class 4 (library)
You will have another opportunity to talk to Emily here, although if you've done anything with the other female characters it's probably better not to mention it. I usually just compliment her until the menu options come up.
It's important that you at least hint at your feelings for Emily at this point (ie. choose option b or, preferably, c). This is required for both the scene with Emily at her house, and for the hidden endings involving Kitty.
Nurse's office 3
There's not much for you to do here except read the comic book (to see what actually happened during your conversation with Emily) and follow Jessica's instructions. Once she strips down you have two turns to examine individual bodyparts.
Class 5 (pool)
Having sex with Rowena will block off several of the hidden endings, so you should save here if you want to explore that path.
Either ask Rowena about her eyes or examine them. You can also examine her breasts, which she seems to like.
When the menu conversation starts I normally choose the following options (variations are possible):
a) "Well, what did you want to talk to me about?"
a) "Well, it's still nice to see you."
b) "I'm just... trying to say that I really like you, Rowena."
a) Wait for her answer
c) Just kiss her
Then wait and watch her changing. Choose a) Go into the changing room with her.
From this point there are a number of outcomes:
If you pick b) Apologise and leave, Lilian will appear in the playing fields later (h/t bof.hell) and the hidden endings will be unaffected.
If you pick a) Try to make out with her and then b) Be the voice of reason and stop this here, Lilian will not appear, but the hidden endings will not be affected.
If you pick a) Give Rowena what she wants and fuck her, the hidden endings involving Rocket and Kitty will be blocked off (unless you reveal the formula, in which case you can still get the second hidden ending).
Nurse's office 4
If you tell Jessica about what you did with Rowena (assuming you actually did something) it will trigger a partial scene with her. Otherwise, just read the comic book (to see what actually happened with Rowena).
As you leave, Jessica will offer you an aphrodisiac to use on Emily. You can take it or not at this point, but you'll eventually end up with the aphrodisiac no matter what you do.
Class 6 (break)
If you avoided doing anything with Rowena at the pool (see above) Lilian will approach you as soon as you enter the playing fields. You can take Lilian up on her offer or walk away (you could also examine her eyes if you haven't already). Having sex with her will block off the first hidden ending.
If you reject Lilian (or she doesn't appear to begin with) there will be a cut scene where Robert and his cronies threaten Rowena to get you to reveal the formula.
Nurse's office 5
Read the comic book (to find out what really happened on the playing fields) and then lie on the bed. When you stand up, Jessica will treat you to a little oral action. Letting her finish doesn't negatively affect any of the endings. You can also interact with Jessica to a limited extent (clothed kissing and touching).
If you've picked up enough clues to see through the illusion, there will be a baseball bat here. The 'best' option is to attack Jessica with it (see below). However, that jumps you to outside Groldar's fortress meaning that you miss science class and Emily's house, so you should save here so that you can explore both paths.
attack Jessica
b) Keep asking her questions
b) Ask what you will get in return
a) Hit her with the bat (the other option triggers a non-interactive scene that ends the game)
Attacking Jessica plays out slightly differently depending on whether or not you've had sex with Lilian, Miss Joliffe or Chrissy. If you haven't, you will see a little girl looking in the window in the last picture Jessica shows you. This means that you've fully pierced the illusion and perceived the good that is still in Lyra, which is necessary for the first hidden ending.
Class 7 (science)
The safest thing for the rest of the world, is for you to leave as soon as class is over. However, if you want to play around a bit, you have a choice between answering immediately or letting Miss Smith try to persuade you.
If you do answer immediately, Miss Smith will give you some pictures of herself and then move on to the interactive scene. However, if you want to play hard to get, Miss Smith will ask you to lick her breasts, perform oral sex on you, and then let you perform oral sex on her. If you still claim to know nothing at this point, the scene will end. If you only know a little of the equation, she will offer her pussy and then her ass in order to get the rest of the answer. Once she has it, you will move on to an interactive scene.
Emily's house
At this point you can choose to drug Emily's drink and have sex with her. Emily will eventually suggest that you have sex with an unconscious Rowena. Doing so leads to a bad ending. If you refuse, you will jump to inside Groldar's fortress, but both Kitty and Rocket will be unconscious.
Alternately, if you declared your feelings in the library you can do things the natural way, by complimenting and flirting with her until she wants to be kissed.
After the sex scene Emily will start asking you about what's happened during the day. Emily will be upset if you admit to having sex with Lilian, Jessica, Miss Joliffe or Miss Smith, but there won't be any long-term repercussions. However, if you had sex with Rowena and lie about it to Emily, Kitty will reject you after Groldar is defeated (even repopulating the world isn't enough to convince her).
If you completely avoid her questions, you will go to sleep only to be woken late at night with Emily gone. If you go downstairs, Jessica will make one last attempt to persuade you to give up the formula (unless you've already done so, in which case she will be here to 'reward' you). If you refuse you will get the bad ending (as if you had drugged Emily and raped Rowena). If you accept Jessica's offer, you will get to enjoy an interactive scene with her before the bad ending.
You can also trigger the jump to inside Groldar's fortress at any time by telling Emily about the unusual things that have happened that day.
Groldar's fortress
Below is a map to help you find your way around. Note that there is an error in the description of the room east of the altar room which omits one of the exits. If you saw through the illusion, you will start on the rope bridge west of the entrance (not included on the map).
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| Created with Trizbort |
If you drugged Emily, both Kitty and Rocket will be unconscious and you won't be able to wake them. However, that does mean that you can do whatever you want with them if that's your thing. Additionally, if you leave unconscious girls alone in the altar room, any monsters who wander in will rape them.
If Kitty is conscious, you can wake Rocket by getting Kitty to scout the dungeon and then kissing Rocket. For the hidden endings involving Rocket and Kitty you should choose the following conversation options when you talk to her:
2) Ask her about your relationship
a) Tell Rocket you love her too
You should also ask Rocket about the pleasure beaches and her blonde friend, as her answers are more revealing when Kitty is absent.
The easiest way to overcome the wandering monsters is simply to wait for them in the altar room. That way you'll have Kitty's help to defeat them (if she's conscious), but Rocket won't be left unguarded. However, there are also a few monsters who don't venture into the altar room.
The first place you should go is the armoury to pick up the ice sword. This makes combat quite a bit easier.
Next go north towards the treasure room. An orc should be wandering about (although he does sometimes come into the altar room). Kill him and search the body for a key. Use this to open the chest in the treasure room and take the dildo.
In the easternmost room you will encounter Lyra. Defeat her like a normal monster, and then choose the following options:
a) Tell her you will spare her in exchange for information
b) Kill her anyway (if Kitty is present you should spare Lyra, as you won't be able to do the next step)
b) Fuck her
At this point you can also talk to her normally, which fleshes out her and Hiro's past. When you've done everything you can, you will get two options. Pick a) Say you have had enough now (unless there are things you still want to do, such as using the dildo) and then b) Let her go. Note that you will now have new conversation options with Kitty and Rocket concerning Lyra.
The dildo needs to be used on a female character in order to activate it. If you have sex with Lyra (as above), she will be more than happy to help you. Rocket will also help you if you've declared your feelings for her (you will need to get her alone before you can ask her). Kitty will require the most convincing (even if you've already had sex with her), but demonstrating the dildo on the statue should be enough. Next fuck the statue (accessible from the pit room) with the dildo to wake Melissandre. This is optional, but it makes the battle with Groldar a lot easier.
Finally, enter Groldar's throne room from the room Lyra was in. If you're on course for the hidden endings involving Kitty, there will be a brief cut scene where she admits her feelings for Hiro.
Defeating Groldar will be easier if you awoke Melissandre, as she will appear when either you or Groldar are on zero hit points (and Groldar's hit points are lower). You can still defeat Groldar without Melissandre, but it takes a lot longer (and is probably impossible without using undo) and doesn't seem to have any plot effects.
Ideally you should save just before defeating Groldar, as this will allow you to explore all the ending options available to you. Melissandre's choice doesn't seem to have any plot effects, so it's between you and your conscience if you want to have sex with her.
After you've returned to the real world, you will be give a series of choices to make.
Hidden Ending 1
d) Choose neither
a) Forgive her and take her back
Hidden Ending 2
c) Choose both
b) Try and convince her to join you, Kitty and Rocket
Hidden Ending 3
c) Choose both
c) Reject her
You can also get Kitty alone, Rocket alone, Kitty & Lyra, and Rocket & Lyra, but these do not count as hidden endings.
