Thank you for the details on this route! It helped me immensely in figuring out the rest! 馃榿
Before I reveal my solution for the True Ending, I would like to state that yes, I enjoyed this enough to explore numerous options and post on a year-old thread about this... 馃ぃ Also, I did attempt your route here exactly as stated, and with several different slight variations such as you implied/suggested -- e.g. use the clock at night more often, pickup Rite of Devotion on Morning 2 instead of Morning 1, since LILY is in the library then -- and still ran into the same exact result as you described when the game moves to Day 6. 馃
I am quite certain that one of the keys is NOT obtaining the Hallowed Incense -- OR using it where possible prior to Night 4 -- since I was able to achieve the True Ending without even talking to LILY until she is standing in front of the crystal ball at that time. Talking to KATHERINE every single day is also paramount with your proposed route, since she will not provide any indication in her dialogue that she is "coming around" until Day 5. 馃槄
I will now outline the exact actions I performed on each day below. It is fairly optimized -- for those of you who've gotta go fast 馃槈 -- but I believe you can engage in almost any conversation that doesn't involve using items during this route and still achieve the same result, as long as you at least perform all listed actions at the listed times. Here goes!
*ROUTE SPOILER*
Morning 1:
- Head to Kitchen and collect Bitter Herb (in LILY's sole presence, her position can be a real run-killer here 馃ぃ but you really need her suspicion!)
- Head to Library and collect Rite of Devotion
- Head to Storage Room and collect Sanctified Oil (KATHERINE and SARAH are here, but they won't become suspicious enough to interfere later)
- Talk to KATHERINE here in the Storage Room
- Head to Upstairs Hallway and use the Clock
Day 1:
- Enter ALICE's Room (in LILY's sole presence)
- Return to Upstairs Hallway and use the Clock
Night 1:
- While preparing dinner, collect the Divine Fruits
- Add them to ALICE's plate
- After dinner, go to Sleep
Morning 2:
- Exit your Bedroom to see what happened
- Head to Storage Room (new bedroom) and collect Ornate Key and Plain Iron Key (Bonus points if you beat MINERVA inside! 馃ぃ)
- Return to Upstairs Hallway and use the Clock
Day 2:
- Head to Foyer (downstairs) and talk to KATHERINE
- Open the Cellar here in the Foyer (using Plain Iron Key)
- Collect Consecrated Belly Lotion x1
- Return to Upstairs Hallway and use the Clock
Night 2:
- Head to Storage Room and go to Sleep
Morning 3:
- Head to Library and insert Rite of Devotion among the scrolls (MINERVA is here, but she won't become suspicious enough to interfere later)
- Head to Parlor and use the Clock
Day 3:
- Talk to KATHERINE here in Parlor
- Use the Clock again
Night 3:
- Head to Library and watch SARAH read the Rite of Wisdom (you only need to see her turn to face the scrolls on the table)
- Head to Storage Room and talk to JUDIE
- Give JUDIE the Sanctified Oil (this will require talking to her again if you haven't already done so today)
- Go to Sleep here in Storage Room
! Resist any urge to investigate who has left the room and go right back to Sleep
Morning 4:
- Head to Parlor and open the jewelry box (using Ornate Key)
- Take the Blessed Necklace from the jewelry box
- Head to Storage Room and place the Blessed Necklace on MINERVA'S dresser (in LILY's sole presence)
- Return to Upstairs Hallway and use the Clock
Day 4:
- Use the Clock again
Night 4:
- Talk to KATHERINE here in Upstairs Hallway
- Head to Bathroom and talk to MINERVA
- Offer MINERVA some Consecrated Belly Lotion (this will require talking to her again if you haven't already done so today)
- Head to Games Room and talk to LILY
! When LILY asks if you believe in magic, answer Yes (this will require talking to her again if you haven't already done so today)
- Head to Storage Room and go to Sleep
>> At this point, LILY should come to pose your involvement with recent happenings in the Storage Room
>> Also, it appears the scene with KATHERINE watching MINERVA walk out of the Storage Room plays without the game re-drawing the screen, i.e. the player character and KATHERINE react/speak, but the room appears to be empty.
Morning 5:
- Enter the Temple (beneath Foyer staircase) and collect the Consecrated Belly Lotion x2
- Return to Foyer and Talk to KATHERINE
! Offer KATHERINE some Consecrated Belly Lotion (this will require talking to her again if you haven't already done so today, and you only get ONE prompt, so don't accidentally skip it! 馃槰)
- Head to LILY's Room (upstairs) and enter to confront her
- Talk to LILY and answer Yes, you've been performing the ritual
- Return to Upstairs Hallway and use the Clock
Day 5:
- Use the Clock again
Night 5:
- Head to Storage Room and go to Sleep
>> At this point, an additional scene with LILY will play in the Storage Room and the True Ending unfolds when you enter the Temple.
Once again, a fantastic game! I am thoroughly convinced there are MANY more solutions than mine based on the different avenues for each ritual item and activities each guest is performing at any given time! 馃榿