Grimrock

I've seen the different rocks in the circle and placed the skulls there, and even added a fourth to complete the compass points, but no joy.

It's OK I;ve done it. The different rocks weren't the indicator i thought.

Hi Thom,
The land of the wargs was a combat challenge until I redid the swamp to ensure I had enough vitality to survive. The puzzle has me though. I have the golden dragon, which I suppose is the idol in the note. I thought that the Roman numerals in the note referred to the 3 niches and would open the stairway if the idol was placed successively in them in the order given. Not so. The idol didn't seem to interact with the large dragon statues, so there wasn't a way to use the number order with them that I could see. So once again, I'm crying for help. I saw the little pedestal, but can't see how the number order might apply to this. Perhaps I am not looking at the numbers in the right way.

You were so close with your idea of the three alcoves. But think "the other way round"...

I've tried reversing the order, (starting on the right) , using the numbers as a number of times to put the idol in the aslcove in succession, or combinations, like the first number is the alcove and the others numbers of times to insert the idol. Still no success. Does this puzzle automatically reset, or do I need to do something to start it each try? Thinking the other way can't mean put the alcove in the idol, so I'm stumped.

Normally you shouldn't reset the puzzle somehow. If you hear a sound while putting the dragon in the alcove, you've failed...

I've certainly heard the sound a few times. I was thinking it was a sign that the particular move was right. Back to work.

And now the horn. No obvious effect from sounding it. The bit of text talks of leaving, but going outside and sounding elsewhere doesn't help. The click sounds don't seem to have any pattern. Yet another hint needed.

The message doesn't say "leave" !

I've gone through my inventory for something to do with manners but can't make a connection. So if I have to leave something in the alcove, I can't identify it. The horn doesn't do the trick whether I sound it or not.