Where to Find the Hall of Ablution 📍
The Hall of Ablution is located during your escape route from Castle Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village. This blood-filled room is one of the first truly challenging puzzles in the game and can halt your progression if you don’t know the correct solution.
When you’ll reach it:
- After several encounters with Lady Dimitrescu
- During exploration of the castle’s upper floors
- Before reaching the Distillery and Tasting Room on B1
⚠️ Warning: Lady Dimitrescu actively stalks you during this section. Solve the puzzle quickly but carefully.
The Puzzle Riddle: What Does It Mean? 📜
When you enter the Hall of Ablution, you’ll see a blood-filled pool surrounded by four statues and an inscription on the wall:
“Women are blind to male advances, but the poor shall take their chances to give their lord their bounty sown, so that soon the wine may flow.”
Statues in the room:
- Lord on a horse (mounted rider)
- Shrouded woman (hooded woman with wine bottle)
- Noblewoman (woman with wine glass)
- Three poor men (three figures together)
Your task: Rotate each statue in the correct direction to drain the blood from the pool.
Step-by-Step Solution 🔄
Step 1: Lord on Horse – Turn Right ➡️
Action: Rotate the lord on horse statue so it faces right toward the shrouded woman.
Why:
- The lord represents the “male” in the riddle
- Must face toward a woman (though she won’t “look” at him)
- His position establishes the hierarchy
💡 Tip: Rotate the statue by interacting with it and using the action button for rotation.
Step 2: Shrouded Woman – Turn Forward ⬆️
Action: Rotate the shrouded woman statue so she faces forward toward the noblewoman with the glass.
Why:
- This woman holds the wine bottle
- “Soon the wine may flow” means the wine bottle holder must face the wine glass holder
- She’s “blind to male advances” – doesn’t face the lord
Visual hint: The shrouded woman has a hood – a clearly visible detail helping with orientation.
Step 3: Noblewoman with Glass – Turn to Door 🚪
Action: Rotate the noblewoman so she faces the door, which means toward the shrouded woman.
Why:
- She has an empty wine glass
- Must face the shrouded woman who has the wine bottle
- She’s also “blind to male advances” – doesn’t face the male statues
❌ Common mistake: Rotating her completely away from the shrouded woman. Make sure she faces the correct direction for the “wine flow”.
Step 4: Three Poor Men – Turn to Door 🚶♂️
Action: Rotate the three poor men so they face the door toward the lord on horse.
Why:
- “The poor shall take their chances to give their lord their bounty”
- Poor men must face their lord to deliver bounty
- They’re directing toward the authority figure
Final check: All four statues should be correctly oriented according to the above.
Visual Diagram: Correct Orientation 🗺️
[DOOR]
↑
[Poor Men] → [Lord on Horse]
↓ ↓
[Noblewoman] ← [Shrouded Woman]
[BLOOD POOL]Arrow directions show where statues face:
- Poor Men → Lord on Horse
- Lord on Horse → Shrouded Woman
- Shrouded Woman → Noblewoman
- Noblewoman → Back toward Shrouded Woman
What Happens After Solving? 🎯
Once all statues face the correct directions:
- Blood drains from the pool in the center of the room
- A hatch is revealed at the bottom of the pool
- You can climb down through the hatch
- You’ll reach the Distillery and Tasting Room on B1 of Castle Dimitrescu
- Progress continues deeper into the castle
⚠️ Lady Dimitrescu warning: She may arrive during puzzle solving. Work quickly but accurately.
Understanding the Riddle’s Wordplay 📖
For those who want to understand why the solution works:
“Women are blind to male advances”
Meaning: Both female statues (shrouded woman and noblewoman) must face away from the male statues (lord and poor men).
Application:
- Noblewoman faces the door = away from men
- Shrouded woman faces forward = away from lord
“The poor shall take their chances to give their lord their bounty sown”
Meaning: The poor men must face their lord to deliver their bounty/harvest.
Application:
- Poor men face lord on horse
- Represents feudal system where peasants give tribute
“So that soon the wine may flow”
Meaning: The wine bottle holder (shrouded woman) must face the wine glass holder (noblewoman) for symbolic wine “flow”.
Application:
- Shrouded woman with bottle → Noblewoman with glass
- Completing the wine serving chain
Troubleshooting: What If It Doesn’t Work? 🔧
Problem: Blood isn’t draining
Solution:
- Double-check each statue individually
- Make sure they’re facing EXACTLY the right direction
- Some statues require a specific angle, not just “general direction”
- Try resetting the puzzle by leaving the room and returning
Problem: Lady Dimitrescu kills me during solving
Solution:
- Memorize correct positions BEFORE starting the puzzle
- Rotate statues in quick succession
- If she arrives, run away, wait for her to leave, return
- Save before entering Hall of Ablution if possible
Problem: I don’t know which statue is which
Identification:
- Lord on horse: Obvious – rider on horseback
- Shrouded woman: Has hood and holds bottle
- Noblewoman: Elegant dress, holds empty glass
- Poor men: Three figures together, simply clothed
Speedrun Tips ⚡
For players wanting to solve the puzzle as quickly as possible:
Optimal order:
- Start with poor men (near entrance)
- Then lord (across from poor men)
- Next shrouded woman (beside lord)
- Finally noblewoman (completing circuit)
Time save:
- Memorize exact rotation counts for each statue
- Use audio cues – blood starts draining immediately after correct solution
- Don’t wait – descend through hatch immediately
What’s Next: Distillery B1 🍷
After successful puzzle solution and descent through the hatch:
You’ll find:
- Distillery and Tasting Room area
- More Castle Dimitrescu lore documents
- Continuation of escape route
- Possible items and resources
- Further puzzle elements in castle
Prepare for:
- More Lady Dimitrescu encounters
- Additional environmental puzzles
- Combat scenarios in confined spaces
FAQ
Q: Can I solve the puzzle in any order?
A: Yes, the order of rotating statues doesn’t matter. Only the final orientation of all four simultaneously triggers the solution.
Q: What if I turn a statue the wrong direction?
A: Nothing happens. Just rotate it to the correct direction. There’s no penalty for wrong attempts.
Q: Is it possible to skip the puzzle?
A: No, it’s required for progression through Castle Dimitrescu. You must solve it.
Q: How much time do I have before Lady Dimitrescu attacks?
A: Varies, but generally you have several minutes. If you hear her footsteps or music cue, work faster.
Q: Is there an alternative solution to the puzzle?
A: No, only one correct solution exists based on the riddle.
Q: Can I solve the puzzle before reading the riddle?
A: Technically yes through trial-and-error, but the riddle significantly helps understand the correct solution.