Hello. Not sure if the correct procedure is to reply here, or start a new thread, but ...
I managed to knock all of Auntie Ethel's masked thralls unconscious after entering the area behind the fireplace (before the showdown with Auntie Ethel).
It seems to work fine, but as soon as you removed the mask from the final person (I checked twice, it doesn't matter who, just the last one of the bunch), they all die. Like D-E-D.
Is this intended? I am very disappointed, sigh, spent such a long time trying to figure out a peaceful solution to this.