Comstock House

"Cruelty can be instructive, and what is Columbia, if not the schoolhouse of the Lord?"

- Zachary Hale Comstock

Comstock House is Zachary Hale Comstock's base of operations in BioShock Infinite.

History
Comstock House is the executive estate in Columbia. Comstock established the residence as his principal workplace and central headquarters of the Founders. The structure, built upon the three heads of the Founding Fathers, is its own floating island, connected by tethers to Emporia.

The building is accessed via drawbridge -- lined with six smaller statues of the Founding Fathers. The drawbridge is lowered in sections by pulling a lever set near the gate.

The Comstock Re-Education Center, established at Comstock House in 1909, functions as a experimental behavior treatment lab where Comstock's scientists "scour all trace of rebellion from [the] mind[s]" of social dissenters through brain surgery and mental conditioning.

Outside Comstock House
Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth arrive on the Bridge to Comstock House while a ferocious lightning storm brews around them. As Booker pulls the lever to lower the drawbridge, Songbird appears and hurls him through the window of an adjacent building. When Songbird follows to finish Booker off, Elizabeth begs Songbird to let him live, and eventually sacrifices her freedom in return for his safety. Songbird takes off with Elizabeth, and Booker pursues them.

Dropping down, Booker crosses the bridge, inadvertently passing through a Tear. The summer storm gives way to a blizzard, confusing Booker. As he enters the building, he comes across several Tears from which he can hear Elizabeth in obvious distress.

First Floor
Comstock House is in a severe state of disrepair, with debris littering the area and smashed windows leaving the first floor exposed to the elements. At the center of the room is a large statue of Elizabeth brandishing a sword. Her voice can be heard over an internal public address system, prophesying in a manner similar to Comstock.

After passing a room with a large statue of Elizabeth, Booker enters a room centered on an elevator shaft. Approaching the door marked "Restricted" alerts the Boy of Silence guarding it and causes the Lunatics to attack. After dealing with the Lunatics and hitting the intercom button, Booker demands to see Elizabeth. The gate remains sealed, but an elevator descends through the shaft. A sign beside the Restricted entrance says that it can only be opened on approval of the Warden, whose office is located on the third floor.
 * "Her Loving Embrace": This portion of the building houses a lunatic asylum known as The Hall of Our Lady. Disturbed inhabitants wander aimlessly, guarded by the Boys of Silence -- each wears a mask of one of the Founding Fathers, and many seem to be experiencing the effects of inter-dimensional transfusion.
 * Operating Theater: An area designed for the purpose of performing operations before an audience and under the observation of head surgeons. It overlooks the Surgery wing of Comstock House.
 * Surgery: The center of the Operating Theater, and the area in which the actual procedures are performed. This area is where Elizabeth is trapped during Booker's excursion through Comstock House.

Second Floor

 * Where We Lie: A dilapidated surgical center, where medical procedures are performed on inmates. A Tear reveals Comstock's attempts to bend Elizabeth's will.
 * Where We Weep: A crematorium where the dead are incinerated in the facility's furnace.
 * Where We Cleanse: The bathing facilities for the institution. A Tear reveals Dr. P. Pettifog and Elizabeth's first meeting; he mentions that Booker has been gone for a long period, but Elizabeth seems to remain undaunted.
 * Where We Sleep: The asylum's dormitory. A long narrow room with beds for about thirty-one, it is guarded by another Boy of Silence.

Booker boards the elevator, which stops at the second floor and deposits him in the Atrium. Another Boy of Silence is close by, but this time Booker has the option of avoiding it with stealth. A Kinetoscope is around the corner to the left of the elevator entrance, but the path continues to the right. Elizabeth continues to speak prophetically over the PA system, though Tears continue to reveal a different Elizabeth in great pain. Having come nearly full circle, Booker finds himself back at the Atrium, but the stairs up to the third floor are blocked by guards, a Zealot of the Lady, and a pair of Automated Turrets. A Tear around the right corner reveals that Elizabeth, after being taken, waited for Booker so long that she was close to starvation.

Third Floor
A Tear in the room Where We Work allows Booker to listen in on a conversation between Dr. Pettifog and Elizabeth, which reveals that at least six months have passed since Elizabeth and Booker were separated. There is a Kinetoscope is right at the entrance to the first room. In the last room, yet another Boy of Silence stands guard, with a piece of Gear on a table behind him. A Voxophone can also be found at the far end of this room behind the column.
 * Where We Work: A series of rooms where the inhabitants do menial labor, creating the faces of the Motorized Patriots, flags, and other patriotic memorabilia.
 * Where We Learn: A classroom where the Lunatics are brainwashed via use of propaganda films. An instrumental version of Pachelbel's Canon accompanies the film playing.

When Booker enters the Where We Learn classroom, Elizabeth professes over the PA system that she has long since given up on Booker, having been indoctrinated by Comstock herself. Through a broken one-way mirror, Booker proceeds on to the Security Center, passing a Kinetoscope along the way.

Security Center
This area is in far better shape than the rest of the building. There's a Voxophone and a piece of Gear available in the lower area.

Warden's Office
Past the interrogation areas on the upper floor is the Warden's Office. This room is dominated by a viewing monitor tuned recording the first floor. Booker flips the switch to open the security gate, but is immediately attacked.

When he reaches the Security Center lobby again, Elizabeth is heard over the loudspeaker, proclaiming that she is continuing Comstock's work and will not only drown the world below in holy fire, but also continue this act across a million other worlds. She states that the mind, in order to be "purified," must be exposed to every version of itself, explaining the condition the lunatics in the asylum are in. Booker then heads down to the elevator to access the open Restricted area.

The Operating Theater
"It wasn't the torture that broke me. It wasn't the indoctrination. It was time. Time rots everything, Booker. Even hope."

- Old Elizabeth

Booker passes through the security gate and runs into Rosalind and Robert Lutece next to a Tear. After the duo and the Tear disappear, Booker continues into the destroyed Operating Theater.

He spots Elizabeth across the room silhouetted in an open doorway. She laments that she has lost control of everything, the lunatics and her plan, and that it took all of her strength to bring Booker to this time period. She offers her hand to Booker, and when he takes it, he sees that she is now an old woman.

Standing besides Elizabeth on a roof ledge, Booker observes Columbia attacking New York City in the year 1984, just like in his vision. Elizabeth tells him that her hope for rescue faded with time, and when Booker claims that he was on his way to save her, she reveals that, in each alternate reality, Songbird always stops him. Elizabeth, resigned to her current fate, created the Tear that Booker ran through on the bridge to Comstock House, so that she could help Booker save her alternate past self. She gives him a coded message and opens a Tear, sending Booker back in time to 1912. Booker then heads across the Operating Theater into the Surgery.

Surgery
"I'm back...1912. Before she... There's still time."

- Booker

Dr. Pettifog and Dr. Powell are beginning the operation to attach Elizabeth's collar without sedation, while Comstock looks on from above. A pair of small Siphons prevent Elizabeth from opening any Tears that might save her. Booker heads upstairs to disable the machines, encountering armed guards, Automated Turrets, and a Motorized Patriot along the way. When Booker disables the Siphons, Elizabeth opens a Tear to a field beset by a twister, killing the two surgeons. Booker heads back down, frees Elizabeth, and gives her the coded message. Elizabeth swears to kill Comstock to keep him from turning her into a monster; after a brief discussion, Booker vows to kill Comstock in her place.

Heading back upstairs, Elizabeth picks the locked door to Powell's office, giving the pair access to a gold bar, a Voxophone, an Infusion, and the gate to the elevator leading to the Library.

Booker and Elizabeth emerge in the foyer to the Comstock House Library; the actual library appears to be barricaded. The two venture out to board the Hand of the Prophet.

Comstock House Roof
The pair emerge on the top of Comstock House and fight their way through an onslaught of enemies. Elizabeth can pick the lock to a small office area that contains a Veni! Vidi! Vigor! machine and a safe, as well as a Voxophone recording. At the end of the roof, they come across a Founder gondola, programmed to return to the airship. They commandeer the vehicle and leave Comstock House.

Walkthrough
{{Sp|width=100%|Extended Walkthrough|

Boys of Silence
For this section, the player will be facing primarily melee enemies in large numbers. Weapons with knock-back effects that also effect large areas -- such as the Shotgun or Volley Gun -- are ideal here. The player should also be aware that the Heater, Carbine, Hand Cannon, and Pistol will be available on the level itself, and thus not necessary to bring in from Emporia. The Shotgun is not available until close to the level's end.

The Devil's Kiss Vigor is effective in this situation, especially if fully upgraded. A combination of Murder of Crows and Devil's Kiss will occasionally take out an entire squad of lunatics, even in 1999 Mode. When facing non-lunatic enemies, there is a room on the first floor with water for increased Shock Jockey effectiveness. Because the non-lunatic enemies at this level can deal large amounts of damage quickly, Return to Sender is also a strong option.

Blood to Salt and Storm will aid in the casting of Devil's Kiss, often leaving the player with a net neutral or even gain of salts while dealing very high damage. Because of the effectiveness of the Vigors against the lunatics, it is recommended that the player fight exclusively with Vigors in order to conserve ammunition.

Vampire's Embrace is excellent for cleaning up the few lunatics that may survive a Vigor blast, replenishing any health the player may have lost. Urgent Care or Bull Rush are suggested for the pants slot, and the player should remember to switch to Extra! Extra! whenever they spot a Voxophone.

Surgery Battle
Because Elizabeth will not be around and the player will be facing almost exclusively heavy hitter enemies, this section can be one of the hardest in the game. Weapons with knock-back effects such as the Shotgun and Volley Gun are almost essential here, and a secondary high-damage weapon like the RPG will also be effective. Weapons that require accuracy such as the Sniper Rifle and Carbine are not recommended, as the player will often be too overwhelmed to use the sights.

Unlike the previous section where the player is swarmed with weak enemies, the player will be unable to replenish their salts to an ideal degree. As such, Vigors should be chosen with care. Possession will be especially useful, as nearly every enemy is strong enough for its use. Return to Sender will be excellent for when the player is overwhelmed, and Devil's Kiss will be able to damage the otherwise powerful enemies. The combination of Shock Jockey traps and Undertow is also a great way to take out powerful foes. Stunning Vigors such as Murder of Crows and Bucking Bronco are not recommended, as enemies will survive though the entire stun time and waste salts.

Blood to Salt is once again a great choice for Gear, but Spare the Rod becomes a superior hat to Storm. Bull Rush and Last Man Standing are good choices for pants, as is Deadly Lungers if combined with Spare the Rod. Vampire's Embrace and Overkill are strong boot choices.

The player should keep in mind that the Infusion found at the end of this section is the last one available in the game.

Roof Battle
With Elizabeth back at the player's side, this section becomes easier then the previous one. The open nature of the section makes weapons such as the Sniper Rifle and Carbine highly effective, though a closer range weapon like the Shotgun should still be kept on the player at all times.

Undertow/Shock Jockey traps work wonders in this section, as does Possession if the player is able to hit the Flak Cannon enemy that provides covering fire. Return to Sender is once again be a great way to get out of a bad situation, though other Vigors are relatively ineffective. Using Charge, however, is a great way to hop from ship to ship -- the player need only target an enemy to do so.

Rising Bloodlust is an ideal hat, as the player will not be able to use melee attacks effectively during this section. Blood to Salts remains the best shirt. Urgent Care is effective in the hit-and-hide environment, and Head Master will be useful for Carbine users, especially when combined with Tunnel Vision. }}

New Enemies

 * Boy of Silence

Voxophones

 * 1) Elizabeth - A Leash
 * 2) Elizabeth - The Value of Choice
 * 3) Elizabeth - Debts
 * 4) Elizabeth - A Last Chance
 * 5) Elizabeth - Ending It
 * 6) Elizabeth - Smothered in the Crib
 * 7) Harrison Powell - Pavlov's Bell
 * 8) Rosalind Lutece - An Ultimatum

Kinetoscopes

 * 1) Sunrise
 * 2) Hummingbirds
 * 3) Battleship Falls

Behind the Scenes

 * Various images flash briefly during the film in the classroom including shots of the people and citizens of Columbia, Elizabeth's face, and the illustration of Comstock. The equation seen briefly (Δχ Δρ ≥ ħ/2) is that of the uncertainty principle. Other messages flashed throughout the film include: Ark, Lamb, Wave Particle, Sodom, Prophet, Elizabeth, Seed, DeWitt, Anna.
 * Found in the "Where we Cleanse" room, there is a wheelchair that slowly rolls into the middle of the floorspace. If the player stands in front of it, it will stop. However, the wheel animation will continue to play.
 * Upon entering Comstock House, a distorted version of the song "Lacrimosa" from Mozart's Requiem Mass in D Minor can be heard. This song is also heard in the First Lady's Memorial.