How to solve Ferenc’s Volvelle Puzzle in Pentiment

Pentiment is a medieval historical-driven adventure game on PC and is free to play with Xbox Gamepass. Step into the shoes of a master artist, Andreas Maler, and determine how his story unfolds by crafting his background and choosing his words and interactions with the people around him. You will have to weave your way out of a web of lies and conspiracies as you are thrust into a crazy adventure. Choose your steps carefully, and keep your eye out for any little detail that might help you solve the puzzles in your path, such as Ferenc's Volvelle Puzzle. Here's how you can decode this secret message.

How to solve Ferenc's Cipher with the zodiac signs in Pentiment

During the story, after your first day of work in the Scriptorium, you will witness Prior Ferenc attempting to hide this volvelle puzzle along with some manuscripts. The first thing you will want to do after talking with Sister Illuminata is check out the manuscripts in the Scriptorium on his podium. This will reveal that he is taking notes of the zodiacs. Then, you can make your way out of the Scriptorium to the Prior's House right outside in the Old Bailey. You will find the volvelle tucked away on a stand, and selecting it will open up the puzzle.

You aim to match the zodiacs with the correct elements around the wheel and find the correct letters to spell out the message. If you selected Bookworm as your hobby or Heavens and Earth as your favorite subject, this would help you with the zodiac elements. Otherwise, the elements are as follows:

• Fire: Sagittarius, Aries, Leo
• Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
• Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn
• Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Related: All Background Choices in Pentiment and what they do

The result should spell out the word: higerhard. You will want to pay close attention to the slip with the cipher and the zodiacs above them. You can move your cursor over each zodiac sign on the slip, which matches with a letter on the volvelle. Here are the steps you can take to get to that point:

1. Move your cursor over the first symbol: Libra, spin the wheel so yellow is on the top: Air, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: h.
2. Move your cursor over the second symbol: Capricorn, spin the wheel, so green is on the top: Earth, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: i.
3. Move your cursor to the third symbol: Aries, spin the wheel so red is on the top: Fire, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: g.
4. Move your cursor to the fourth symbol: Pisces, spin the wheel so blue is on the top: Water, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: e.
5. Move your cursor to the fifth symbol: Sagittarius, spin the wheel so red is on the top: Fire, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: r.
6. Move your cursor to the sixth symbol: Aquarius, spin the wheel so yellow is on the top, Air, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: h.
7. Move your cursor to the seventh symbol: Virgo, spin the wheel so green is on the top, Earth, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: a.
8. Move your cursor to the eighth symbol: Taurus, keep the wheel so green is on the top, Earth, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: r.
9. Move the cursor to the ninth and final symbol: Scorpio, spin the wheel so blue is on the top, Water, and then select the letter that the cursor is on: d.

If done correctly, it was will prompt Andreas to comment about the solved puzzled and the phrase: higerhard. Depending on your background choices, Andreas might know some connections to the phrase and what it might mean. However, you will have to progress further in the story to discover your next steps with this secret message.

Looking for more Pro Game Guides Pentiment content? Check out our guides on What do red underlined words mean in Pentiment? or Best ways to gain positive favor with NPCs in Pentiment!