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One of the most chaotic scenes in House of Ashes is The Horror, when monstrous creatures raid the protagonists. House of Ashes is part of the well-known Dark Pictures horror anthology series. Who lives, dies, and is injured in this scene will have drastic repercussions for the rest of the game, so read on to discover what kinds of choices you'll have to make.RELATED: Beginner's Tips For House Of AshesSecrets Found During This Scene:

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Pictures Found During This Scene:

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Bearings Affected In This Scene:

  • Blood
  • Infected
  • Doctor Stokes
  • The Ancient One

Note: This walkthrough is detailing the Theatrical Cut of the game, which you experience the first time you play the game. After your first playthrough, you unlock the Curator's Cut, in which you play (most of) the same scenes as a different character.

Updated January 16, 2022 by Gabrielle Huston: This guide has been updated with the various possible decisions you can make in this scene and their consequences in-game. Since House of Ashes is a complex game with hundreds of endings, we acknowledge that we will miss details in these walkthroughs. However, we strive to provide you with as much information as possible.

Salim And Dar V.S. The Surviving Americans: Eric (Nick If Eric Is Dead)

House of Ashes - The Assault - Salim pointing his gun at Nick

When the Americans push forward through the catacombs, they run into Dar and Salim. Dar asks Salim to translate for him and barks orders, but what Salim says in English is to communicate with Nick a bit more politely.

  • If Rachel Is Alive: Rachel (who is bilingual like Salim), tells Dar he'd better back off.
House of Ashes - The Assault - Eric with decision wheel

Eric (or Nick, if Eric is dead) can declare what he thinks they should do with the Iraq soldiers: restrain them, or let them help you deal with the creatures? Depending on your choice and on Salim's past experiences, he may say that the two groups need to work together or that he doesn't trust the Americans.

  • If Rachel Is Alive And Salim Killed Eric During 'The Truce': Rachel will ask Nick if Salim is the person who killed Eric, and he will confirm it.

Before anything else can happen, they start to hear the cries of the creatures. Salim will run to pull open the door up ahead and Nick will join him, followed begrudgingly by Jason. Dar will guard the corridor that they came down.

  • If Rachel Is Alive: She helps to open the door.
  • If Eric Is Alive: He helps Dar guard the corridor.

If Clarice is present, she begins to have another spasm. When Dar and Salim ask what's wrong with her, you can reply that Clarice is turning into one of the creatures or that Clarice is still one of you.

Foreboding Dialogue Choice

Defiant Dialogue Choice

Eric (or Nick) says that Clarice is turning, like Joey, and Clarice will be left behind.

Eric (or Nick) says that Clarice is still part of their team. Dar will question him.

Somber Dialogue Choice

Optimistic Dialogue Choice

Clarice will be left behind.

Clarice will go with the group.

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The Assault In The Sacrificial Chamber: Nick

House of Ashes - The Assault - Balathu reappears
  • If Clarice Is Still With The Group: Clarice begins to have another fit. When Rachel comes to check on her, Clarice says that she isn't going to make it and begs Rachel to leave. Clarice dies.

The creatures quickly begin to descend on their location as the assault begins. Almost immediately, Jason is grabbed by a creature and pulled down a side corridor. Nick runs after him but is stopped by a shadowed figure.

  • If Balathu Was The Last To Die During 'Cursed': Balathu has become infected and become one of the creatures - he is now referred to as the Ancient One.
  • If Kurum Was The Last To Die During 'Cursed': Kurum has become infected and become one of the creatures - he is now referred to as the Ancient One.
House of Ashes - The Assault - The Ancient One Bearing

'The Ancient One' Bearing updates with the information.

House of Ashes - The Assault - Nick with Rifle or Crucifix decision

As the Ancient One advances, Nick can either use his Rifle or his Crucifix on him.

  • Nick Uses Rifle: There's a quick-time event to shoot at the Ancient One but failing it or passing it makes no difference. The Ancient One grabs him and he is injured. The 'Blood' Bearing is updated.
  • Nick Uses Crucifix: Nick shows the crucifix to the Ancient One, who looks at it in confusion. The Ancient One grabs him and he is injured. The 'Blood' Bearing is updated.

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Fending Off The Creatures: Salim

House of Ashes - The Assault - Salim shooting creature

While Nick is being attacked, Salim is fending off several creatures of his own. This begins with two quick-time events to fire at two creatures who are attacking him.

  • Both Quick-Time Events Are Passed: Rachel and Salim continue fighting creatures side-by-side. One vampire pounces on Rachel and another leaps off a wall towards Salim. Salim gets a quick-time event with both creatures in view: the player can choose which creature to shoot.
  • Either Quick-Time Event Is Failed: The creature injures Salim. The 'Blood' Bearing updates. Rachel saves Salim.

Rachel and Salim continue fighting creatures side-by-side. One vampire pounces on Rachel and another leaps off a wall towards Salim. Salim gets a quick-time event with both creatures in view: the player can choose which creature to shoot.

  • Salim Shoots The Creature Attacking Rachel: Rachel recovers and continues to fight the creatures. The creature that was attacking Salim will injure him. The 'Blood' Bearing updates.
  • Salim Shoots The Creature Attacking Him: The creature that was attacking Rachel will infect her and she will faint (but not die). Salim will not be injured. The 'Infected' Bearing updates.

Saving Nick: Eric (Nick If Eric Is Dead)

House of Ashes - The Horror - Eric looking at Balathu and Nick

Nick does not have a death during this scene, so if Eric is dead by this scene he escapes without Eric's help.

Note: it is unclear exactly how this happens. It is suspected that, if Rachel is alive, she may get a choice to save Nick or Escape, like she gets the chance to save Eric or escape (see below). If more information about this becomes available, this guide will be updated.

However, if Eric is alive, he notices Nick is in trouble and tries to help him.

  • If Eric Knows The Creatures' Weakness: He uses the UV wand on the Ancient One.
  • If Eric Doesn't Know The Creatures' Weakness: He shoots at the Ancient One.

Either way, the Ancient One throws Nick to the ground and attacks Eric. Salim helps Nick to escape, but Eric is left with the Ancient One.

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Saving Eric: Rachel/Eric

House of Ashes - The Assault - Rachel with Save or Escape decision

This scene only appears if Eric is still alive.

As the others flee the Sacrificial Chamber, Rachel faces a decision. Eric is being attacked by Balathu because he saved Nick. Should Rachel save Eric, or keep running?

If Rachel Is Dead, Was Infected Earlier In This Scene, Or Decides To Escape

If Rachel Decides To Help Eric

Rachel is not there to help Eric. Eric gets a quick-time event to try and break free by himself.

Rachel must complete a quick-time event to pick up Eric's UV wand.

Eric Succeeds Quick-Time Event

Eric Fails Quick-Time Event

Rachel Fails Quick-Time Event

Rachel Succeeds Quick-Time Event

Eric gets away and attempts to flee.

  • If Clarice Stayed With The Group Into The Sacrificial Chamber: Clarice catches up with Eric and kills him.
  • If Clarice Was Not In The Sacrificial Chamber: Eric flees successfully.

The Ancient One kills Eric.

Rachel is attacked and infected (but not killed) by a creature. The 'Infected' Bearing updates. Eric gets a quick-time event to try and break free by himself.

Rachel burns the creature and blinds the Ancient One, and Rachel and Eric flee together. The 'Ultraviolet' Bearing is updated. The Ancient One throws a spear at Rachel and she gets a quick-time event to dodge it.

Eric Succeeds Quick-Time Event

Eric Fails Quick-Time Event

Eric gets away and attempts to flee.

  • If Clarice Stayed With The Group Into The Sacrificial Chamber: Clarice catches up with Eric and kills him.
  • If Clarice Was Not In The Sacrificial Chamber: Eric flees successfully.

The Ancient One kills Eric.

Rachel Fails Quick-Time Event

Rachel Succeeds Quick-Time Event

Rachel is impaled and killed by the spear. The creature infects her. The 'Infected' Bearing updates. Eric continues to flee.

  • If Clarice Stayed With The Group Into The Sacrificial Chamber: Clarice catches up with Eric and kills him.
  • If Clarice Was Not In The Sacrificial Chamber: Eric flees successfully.

Rachel avoids the spear. The creature attacks and infects her, but she is not killed. The 'Infected' Bearing updates. Eric continues to flee.

  • If Clarice Stayed With The Group Into The Sacrificial Chamber: Clarice catches up with Eric and kills him.
  • If Clarice Was Not In The Sacrificial Chamber: Eric flees successfully.

Note: It is unclear whether the events would be the same or different if Rachel decides to help Eric but Eric wasn't using his UV wand against the creature because he didn't know about the creatures' weakness. If more information becomes available, this guide will be updated.

The scene concludes as the survivors flee and Dar is killed.

  • If Clarice Stayed With The Group Into The Sacrificial Chamber: Clarice kills Dar.
  • If Clarice Was Not In The Sacrificial Chamber: Creatures kill Dar.

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