Things to do in Spite...

If you are a Courier for the Dead

61-70

You can become a Courier for the Dead through an Opportunity Card obtained when you find yourself on a slow boat passing a dark beach on a silent river. These storylets unlock when you obtain that Story Quality. Alternately, you can use courier for the dead to cheat in a duel.

Deliver a message to the Gracious Widow in Spite

When you were temporarily…well let's not mince words. When you were dying, you were charged with delivering a message to the Gracious Widow in Spite.
[Unlocked with a Courier for the Dead 1]

Arrange a meeting with the Gracious Widow through your contacts with her people

The Widow is a figure of some importance among the shadier of London's Oriental inhabitants. If you have contacts there, you can make use of them.
[Unlocked with Connected: the-widow 10]

Reward spoiler

A meeting is arranged

You are given a time, a date, and an address. 'The room will be dark,' you are warned. 'Don't light a match. It will not be considered polite.

Your a Courier for the Dead Quality is now 2!

Trade favours to arrange a meeting with the Gracious Widow

The Widow's people keep to themselves. But they do have dealings with the other criminals of the city. You can trade in some favours to have a mutual friend arrange a meeting.
[Unlocked with Connected: Criminals 10]

Reward spoiler

A meeting is arranged

You are given a time, a date, and an address. 'Don't mess about,' your associate cautions you. 'The Widow never does.'

Connected: Criminals decrease
Your a Courier for the Dead Quality is now 2!

Abandon your promise

Horrid stories are told of the vengeance of the dead. But they're, well, dead. How much harm can they do?

Reward spoiler

Nightmares increase [15 cp]
A twist in your tale! You are no longer a Courier for the Dead.
Persuasive decrease

Meet the Gracious Widow in Spite

Unlocks: Courier of the Dead 2
You have arranged to deliver the dying spirit's message to the Gracious Widow. Let's hope she likes the message.

Abandon your commission

Something about this unnerves you. Perhaps it's the commerce with the dead. Perhaps it's the Widow's occasional reputation for dipping living men in hot tallow. In any case, you are prepared to risk the vengeance of the ghost you betrayed.

Reward spoiler

Night after night, you wake screaming

You're back in the boat on the river, and the young woman to whom you made your promise is there with you. But she's in rather worse repair than last time. She lays her skeletal fingers on the skin of your arm. She twines her rotting hands in your hair. She whispers in your ear, and you hear very clearly the tiny noises the worms make as they move against each other in her mouth. By the time the dreams finally end, your acquaintances barely recognise the haggard, careworn face you present to them.
Nightmares increase (large went from 1 to 5)
A twist in your tale! You are no longer a Courier for the Dead.
Persuasive decrease
Steadfast decrease

Deliver the message

The room where you meet the Widow is utterly black. You hear a chair creak as she settles herself. You explain the situation. There is a long pause. 'Whisper the words to me,' she says.
(A matter of luck: it could go either way.)

Lucky spoiler

Success!

You lean across the table, as close as you dare. The Widow grasps your chin with firm cold fingers and guides your face close to - you assume - her ear. You whisper the words the spirit told you.
 
You sense the Widow draw back. Was that a gasp, or a sob? Or just an indrawn breath? When she speaks, her voice is calm. 'Thank you,' she says. 'You may go.'
 
You seem to have earned a little gratitude, and the burden of your promise is gone from you. You'll sleep easier at night.
Nightmares decrease
Connected: The Orient increase
Steadfast increase
A twist in your tale! You are no longer a Courier for the Dead.

Unlucky spoiler

A difficult silence

You lean across the table, as close as you dare. The Widow grasps your chin with firm cold fingers and guides your face close to - you assume - her ear. You whisper the words the spirit told you.
 
There is a very long silence. The Widow settles back. She drums her fingers on the table.
 
'The whip and the river,' she suddenly says. Strong hands grasp you and drag you struggling through a different door than the one you entered. A grim and bloody half-hour later, you are flung into the Stolen River. That could have gone better. But at least the burden of your promise is gone from you. You'll sleep easier at night.
Wounds increase
Nightmares decrease
Connected: The Orient decrease
Steadfast increase
A twist in your tale! You are no longer a Courier for the Dead.

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