Advising the Loquacious Vicar

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Advising the Loquacious Vicar

The following actions are in Ladybones Road.

Tea with the Vicar

There's a note on your doorstep. The local vicar will be around later for tea.

Put the kettle on

Tea with the vicar is a tradition going back centuries. What will this fellow be like?
Unlocked with Watchful 3
Watchful challenge

Reward spoiler

A knowledgeable sort of priest

'Ah, but of course. But tell me, have you read Finnegan's treatise on the House of the Soul? Nonsense, of course, but it did raise some interesting points…' This fellow's quite a find. He's erudite and articulate. You learn a surprising amount while your tea grows cold.

Watchful increase
Gain: 40 x Cryptic Clue
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 1 - Tea and Research!

Failure spoiler

A dull afternoon

The Loquacious Vicar doesn't half like to talk. You wonder whether he absorbs tea through his fingertips. He certainly doesn't shut up long enough to drink any. If only he'd say something useful or interesting.

Watchful increase

More Tea with the Vicar

The Loquacious Vicar is back, speaking excitedly about everything and nothing…What does he want?
unlocked with Advising the Loquacious Vicar 1

Give him tea and calm him down

Excitable clerics are of no use to anybody.
unlocked with Watchful 8
Watchful challenge (high-risk at 8)

Reward spoiler

An intriguing development

You chance an eccles cake, and that slows the Loquacious Vicar down enough for you to make some sense of his words. He is setting about writing a book. The definitive work on the nature of the soul in the Neath, apparently. But he needs field research done. And he's found a bursary from the Bishop of Southwark. Well well. This could be useful.

Watchful increase
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 2 - Tea and Research!

Failure spoiler

Oh, do shut up

You sit through a solid hour of rapid-fire half-baked theology and are none the wiser. What are you talking about, man?

Watchful increase

The Vicar's Search for Knowledge

The Loquacious Vicar needs you to carry out field research for his book.
unlocked with Advising the Loquacious Vicar 2

Option 1: 'A matter of some interest to me…'

The C.V.R. knows as much about this as anyone.
Unlocked with Shepherd's Timepiece 1

Reward spoiler

A sort of salvation

'There is a charitable organisation that makes its business the restoration of living souls to living flesh.' (You skip over the details of your connection to the Committee: if they wish to recruit the Vicar, they will do so in their own good time.) 'The process requires candles and music and a sort of prayer, but it's not what you'd call an orthodox ritual. For example - '.

An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 3 - Tea and Research!
Watchful increase (4 change points)
You've gained 200 x Foxfire Candle Stub.

Option 2: The Nature of Souls

'I need you to find out whether a soul, having been removed, can be restored to a person. Living or dead. To begin with, let's stick with books and asking experts. I don't think we're ready for empirical work here just yet.'
Unlocked with Watchful 13

Reward spoiler

Gathering knowledge

You hunt out rare books and scholars of the metaphysical. You listen to devils. You harange a spirifer - a trader in souls. From what you gather, it's possible for a soul to be removed and then re-attached to a living body. As to a dead one, nobody wants to talk about it. Even the spirifer blanches and heads away when you mention it. The Loquacious Vicar is delighted, and shares his bursary with you.

An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 3 - Tea and Research!
Watchful increase
You've gained 150 x Foxfire Candle Stub.

Option 3: 'From what I hear…'

Perhaps you should be circumspect in describing your sources.
Unlocked with 1 x Spirifer's Fork

Reward spoiler

A careful truth

'I heard from a gentleman who'd worked at the Brass Embassy' - technically true - 'that restoration was possible through the mechanism of brass, wax and acoustic intervention. I haven't heard of a soul restored to dead flesh. But in the matter of the brass - '

Watchful increase

A Matter of Mortality with the Loquacious Vicar

The Loquacious Vicar was very pleased with your last research…He'd like you to do more.
unlocked with Advising the Loquacious Vicar 3

The nature of devils

'I need to you to find out whether devils can die. No! Not like that! Just ask around. No experiments!'
unlocked with Watchful 18
Watchful challenge

Reward spoiler

Hard to say

The mortality of devils is uncertain. A few bravos have claimed to kill one, but half the time the devil in question turns up later. Some well-known devils have been missing for years. But it's possible that they were recalled rather than buried. Nobody you know recalls seeing a devil's corpse. Your ecclesiastical patron nods along to your report. He's unsurprised by the lack of clarity, although obviously a little disappointed. He rewards you with some oddities that have turned up on the collection plate.
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 4 - Tea and Research!
Watchful increase
4 x Certifiable Scrap

Looking to Warmer Climes with the Loquacious Vicar

The Loquacious Vicar wants you to find what you can about the place up the river…Hell.
unlocked with Advising the Loquacious Vicar 4

Option 1: You know just the fellow

Call around when he's calm.
unlocked with Acquaintance: Regretful Soldier 1

Reward spoiler

A quiet word

'Oh. No. I… I didn't make it that far. My regiment engaged in the Forgotten Quarter. It was only the Heavy Brigade that made it a few paces into Hell. Only one I know who's still in the Neath is Reginald. He went into the Church after that, you know.'

The Vicar isn't pleased that's Hell's mysteries are closed to him, but understands that you did your best. More scraps from the collection plate.
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 5 - Tea and Research!
Watchful increase
4 x Certifiable Scrap

Option 2: Remnants of the war

'I don't mean you should pack a suitcase. And devils, of course, never speak of Hell. But one hears of a military expedition in that direction.'
unlocked with Watchful 23
Watchful challenge

Reward spoiler

Getting nowhere quickly

You examine regimental diaries and talk to historians. Hardly any of the old soldiers from the ill-fated campaign of '70 are still in the Neath. One has attained high office and no longer speaks of such things. Another is a drunk, no doubt passed out in some gutter. The Vicar isn't pleased that's Hell's mysteries are closed to him, but understands that you did your best. You are remunerated with more oddities from the collection plate. Who exactly attends this church of his?
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 5 - Tea and Research!
Watchful increase
4 x Certifiable Scrap

The Loquacious Vicar is Looking for a Theme

The Loquacious Vicar has his research, but is looking for a theme to his book…How will you advise him?
unlocked with Advising the Loquacious Vicar 5

Option 1: Forceful castigation of infernal influences

Send the devils packing! They have no place in a Christian society!

Reward spoiler

Fire and brimstone

'Yes, yes, of course. What can the Church be relied on if not for moral guidance? Research can wait. The allure of brass is a terrible and seductive allure.'
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 6
Watchful increase
Connected: The Church increase
Connected: Hell decrease
Forceful increase (probably capped at 5)

Option 2: Empathy for the devils

Let's not be hasty. Perhaps the devils have something to offer London.

Reward spoiler

The hand of friendship

'Perhaps you're right. Much of what we think we know is based on the wisdom of thousands of years ago. We must be more modern. We must treat our neighbours with respect and decency. They are sure to do the same. The Bishop won't like it, though.'
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 7 - Extending a Hand to Devils!
Watchful increase
Connected: Hell increase
Connected: The Church decrease
Subtle increase (probably capped at 5)

Option 3: A matter of commerce

The devils themselves don't matter so much as what we can trade from them.

Reward spoiler

A commercial work

'An original viewpoint, and one much under-represented in academic work.' He does look a little dubious, but you point out that it may please the Masters. He promises to mention both you and Mr Pages in his dedication…
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 8 - Making Money from Deviltry!
Watchful increase
Connected: The Masters increase
Ruthless hasn't changed, because it's higher than 5

Option 4: A call for further research

We just don't know enough. We shall know. We must know!

Reward spoiler

Perhaps later

'Well, that does rather leave my book in limbo. I agree, of course, that we need to learn more. But I'm not sure how that's going to make my name as a scholar of the infernal. Still, mistakes here could be horribly costly. You're right.'
An occurrence! Your 'Advising the Loquacious Vicar' Quality is now 9
Watchful increase
Steadfast increase (capped at 5)

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