Moonvale is the gripping sequel to the beloved mystery game Duskwood, and Episode 3 delivers the biggest Duskwood-related bombshell of the entire series so far.
If you have been waiting for the Duskwood storyline to take centre stage again, Episode 3 is the episode you have been holding out for. Between Charlie’s revelations, the long-awaited reunion with the Duskwood friend group, and a jaw-dropping final scene, this episode packs in more than enough to keep you theorising until Episode 4 arrives.
Spoiler Warning: This guide covers the complete Duskwood side story in Moonvale Episode 3 in full detail, including the episode’s biggest reveal. If you have not played through the episode yet, bookmark this page and come back when you are ready.
This post focuses entirely on the Duskwood storyline and the Duskwood-related Easter eggs found throughout Episode 3.
Charlie’s Questions: What He Knows About Duskwood
The Duskwood storyline kicks off when Charlie approaches MC and asks about their connection to Duskwood. What he reveals next is significant.
According to Charlie, on the very same night Hannah was rescued:
- A complete network blackout hit Duskwood
- Authorities placed fences on Grimmrock and across all roads, cutting off every exit
- Internet access in Duskwood remains restricted to this day
- Rumours are circulating that an important criminal is hiding in Duskwood, with Jake being the most likely candidate
Charlie goes further and asks MC directly about their possible association with Jake. He mentions that some rumours even suggest Jake and MC were arrested together or hiding together at some point.
At this moment in the game, players have the choice to share as much or as little about their knowledge of Jake as they want. How much you reveal to Charlie is entirely up to you.
Charlie then offers to help MC stay updated on all the latest Duskwood news. He follows through almost immediately by sharing footage of the mine explosion, which is the video of the moment Richy set the fire during the Duskwood finale.
The Duskwood Reunion: Group Video Call and First Group Chat
Shortly after Charlie’s conversation, the story shifts to one of the most emotional moments of the episode. Thomas initiates a video call with MC, but the connection drops quickly. However, in those brief seconds, you can see Thomas, Dan, Cleo, and Jessy on screen, all of them visibly relieved to see MC alive and well.
When the call disconnects, the group moves to a text-based group chat. Here is what each character reveals:
Key moments from the first Duskwood group chat:
- Jessy brings up the ongoing network outage in Duskwood as an explanation for the poor connection
- Lilly asks directly whether Jake is with MC
- The group confirms that police investigated them thoroughly, searching their cabin specifically while looking for Jake
- No one was allowed to leave Duskwood during the investigation period
- None of the group members has any communication with Jake at the moment
- Thomas receives a text from his brother with a major update: Duskwood is reopening
The news about Duskwood reopening triggers a sharp response from Dan. He immediately raises the possibility that the police may have caught Jake, which would explain why the lockdown is ending.
Dan then brings up Richy. He speaks about Richy’s involvement in Hannah’s kidnapping and what it meant, but this conversation hits Jessy hard. She goes offline, and the first group chat with the Duskwood friends comes to a close on a bittersweet note.
It is worth noting here that everyone in the friend group is quietly worried about Jessy. Richy’s death has affected her more than anyone else, and she has been refusing to talk about it or acknowledge it openly with the group.
Thomas and Cleo’s Private Chat
Using the secret hack tool (thanks to Jake), players can still access private chats that the characters are not sharing openly. Episode 3 reveals two particularly telling exchanges.
In this intercepted chat, Thomas is acting distant and detached regarding Hannah and the rest of the group. When Cleo directly confronts him about his behaviour, Thomas deflects and avoids giving a straight answer.
Jessy’s Plans for a Party
On a warmer note, Jessy is planning a reunion party for Hannah in Aurora. She reaches out to MC and asks them to speak to her brother Phil later, as Phil got along well with MC during the events of Duskwood. Jessy needs Phil’s restaurant for one night to celebrate Hannah’s return.
Jessy explains that she genuinely needs this party to happen. Not just for Hannah, but for everyone in the group. She wants one night where things feel normal and happy again. She is also planning a celebration for MC.
Thomas Opens Up to MC
Later in the episode, Thomas messages MC privately to apologise. His apology is specifically about the moment in Duskwood when he tried to send MC into the mine.
Thomas explains that Hannah’s disappearance changed something in him during that time. Despite everything he did as part of the investigation, he says he felt like the most useless person in the group throughout the entire ordeal.
He also shares his current theory: Thomas believes Jake is still in Duskwood, hiding deep enough in the forest to stay out of the police’s reach.
That belief has pushed Thomas into action. He reveals that he has been organising the group to search the forest for Jake, planning to go out looking for him themselves. However, he has not told everyone about this plan yet.
The Gravel Plant Search: Cleo and Dan’s Secret Chat
The hack tool reveals another private conversation, this time between Cleo and Dan. This one is particularly interesting.
It turns out that Thomas has not told Dan about the forest search plans. Cleo fills Dan in, and also reveals that the group’s search of the forest has so far turned up no clues about Jake’s whereabouts.
Dan’s response is sharp. While he makes it clear that he has no personal interest in finding or saving Jake, he offers a calculated piece of reasoning. If he were Jake, he would not hide in the forest. Instead, he would choose the Gravel Plant, the abandoned spot where the Duskwood group used to gather, drink, and hang out together.
Dan’s logic is straightforward. The Gravel Plant is comfortable enough to stay in for an extended period, and crucially, it is easy to spot anyone approaching the location, giving the person hiding there plenty of warning if police or anyone else comes near.
Cleo’s Mysterious Clue (and Abrupt Exit)
Cleo separately contacts MC and tells them that she has discovered an important clue. She asks MC not to get angry with her before she explains further. Then, without warning, Cleo goes offline.
The abruptness of this exit immediately signals that whatever Cleo has found is serious enough to make her hesitate before sharing it. The build-up here is deliberate and effective.
Jessy Finally Opens Up
Before the episode’s final reveal, there is a quieter but deeply important moment. Jessy opens up to MC about how she is really feeling following Richy’s death.
She reveals that Richy’s death has hit her harder than she has let on to the rest of the group. The reason why is devastating. Jessy spoke to Richy just minutes before he died. During that conversation, Richy told Jessy his entire plan.
She carries the weight of that conversation. She blames herself for what happened because she knew and did not stop him.
On top of this, Jessy not being able to contact MC after the events took a much harder toll on her mental state.
THE BIGGEST REVEAL!!!
This is your final spoiler warning. If you wish to reach the climax of Episode 3 through your own gameplay, stop reading here.
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After Cleo’s mysterious sign-off, she eventually video calls MC. She makes MC promise two things before showing anything:
- Not to tell anyone
- Not to freak out
Cleo then walks through the Gravel Plant on camera. The location is abandoned, with graffiti-covered walls throughout. A sudden sound of a metallic clang startles Cleo.
She takes a flight of stairs and makes her way slowly toward the entrance of a room.
She stops at the threshold and says:
“You can come out now.”
The person who steps into the frame is none other than Richy.
Richy is alive.
This is the climax of Moonvale Episode 3 and the biggest reveal of the Duskwood storyline so far. The mine explosion, his apparent death in the finale, the grief Jessy has been carrying, and the sealed roads around Duskwood all take on new meaning with this single moment.
Our Older Theories:
What This Means Going Into Episode 4
Richy being alive at the Gravel Plant raises several urgent questions that Episode 4 will need to address:
| Question | What We Know So Far |
| Did Jake save Richy? | Unknown — no confirmation either way |
| Did Richy plan his own escape? | Possible but unlikely |
| Is Jake at the Gravel Plant with Richy? | Unconfirmed, but Dan’s Gravel Plant theory now feels very significant |
| How did Cleo find Richy? | It is most likely that she went to search the Gravel Plant alone after speaking with Dan and found Richy there. |
Episode 3 closes with more questions than answers, but that is exactly what makes a great mystery game. The Duskwood side story in Moonvale is building towards something much larger, and the Richy reveal ensures that Episode 4 is one of the most anticipated releases in the series so far.
The Duskwood Storyline in Moonvale Episode 3 at a Glance
| Story Beat | Key Detail |
| Charlie’s reveal | Network blackout in Duskwood the night Hannah was rescued |
| Roads blocked | Fences placed on Grimmrock and all roads sealed off |
| Internet access | Restricted in Duskwood to this day |
| Rumour | An important criminal is hiding in Duskwood (likely Jake) |
| Mine explosion video | Shared by Charlie — footage of Richy’s fire from the Duskwood finale |
| Group video call | Thomas, Dan, Cleo, and Jessy reconnect with MC before the call drops |
| Duskwood reopening | Thomas receives a text from his brother confirming this |
| BIGGEST REVEAL | Richy is alive |
Key Takeaways
- Charlie reveals that Duskwood has been in total lockdown since Hannah’s rescue, with roads sealed, internet restricted, and rumours of a criminal still hiding there
- The Duskwood friend group reunites with MC through a video call and group chat, confirming the police searched their cabin thoroughly
- Thomas believes Jake is still in Duskwood and has been organising a search of the forest without telling everyone
- Dan suggests the Gravel Plant as the most logical hiding spot if Jake is still in the area
- Jessy is struggling privately with guilt over Richy’s death, having spoken to him just before it happened
- Cleo discovers Richy at the Gravel Plant alive, which is the climax of Episode 3 and the biggest reveal of the series yet
- Episode 4 now carries the weight of answering whether Jake is involved, how Richy survived, and what Cleo’s role in all of this actually is
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