Associating With Radical Academics

You have made friends among iconoclasts and free-thinkers.

Obtained through a Bronze-bordered opportunity card

A gathering of scholars

Unlocks: Watchful 69
Academic and scientific knowledge diffuses mostly through learned journals and monographs; but irregular meetings of scholars also play a part.

Attend an assembly of academics

It passes the time. One might even learn something. (Watchful test)

Reward spoiler

An intriguing beginning

An endless lecture on some of the more distressing habits of toads. A baroque theory of how social harmony may be engendered by remodelling roads into calming shapes. Some nonsense about passing through mirrors. A few half-joking mentions of an academic secret society that studies the lands across the Unterzee. Now you think of it, that confirms some of your suspicions. Perhaps these people are worth looking into. After all, who can you think of that is better-suited to exploring far lands than yourself?
A twist in your tale! You are now associating with Radical Academics
Watchful increase

Failure spoiler

Not academia's finest hour.

An interminable lecture on some of the more unpalatable habits of snails. An elaborate theory on engendering social harmony by reorganising all tea-shops. Some nonsense about passing through mirrors. Do any of these people do anything useful?
Watchful increase
Nightmares increase

Story

Unusual Academics

Unlocks: Persuasive 81, Associating with Radical Academics 1
You have heard of a secret society that overlaps somewhat with academia. It sometimes sponsors expeditions across the Unterzee.

Finding their works

The society themselves are very secretive. They have been known to discreetly publish, however. Perhaps you can find some of their works.

Reward spoiler

The Dilmun Club

Your feet are sore from roaming between libraries and private collections, but you have something. The monograph is rather wry. It may be contaminated with jokes. However, you do pick up some interesting points.
The society in question is the Dilmun Club. They are concerned with some sort of… location? principle? person? Their theories diverge, but it's definitely something down here that has to do with the rarity of death. The monograph contains several veiled references to exhibits in a museum. Could that be the Museum of Mistakes? Is that where you should be looking?
Watchful increase
Gain: 46 x Cryptic Clue
associating with Radical Academics has increased to 2!

failure

Tomes dusty and irrelevant

It's difficult to be sure of what you're looking for. The society is involved with exploration and, at least to an extent, spiritual matters. Beyond that you're not sure. You spend a frustrating few days going between bookshops, libraries and those private collections to which you have access. All you have to show for it are sore feet and a sense of having just missed something.
Watchful increase
Nightmares increase

The Museum of Mistakes

[Unlocked with Watchful 93; associating with Radical Academics 2]
Everyone has heard of the Museum of Mistakes. Hardly anyone has been inside it.

Find a way in

Security at the museum is ridiculously strict. One might be best served by using academic credentials and contacts.

_ challenge

Success spoiler

The Museum

You write earnest letters. You bribe, blackmail or buy University contacts. You present largely genuine credentials. You propose ever more abstruse researches.
After weeks of effort, you are allowed one half-hour in the Museum. It's barely enough to walk around the place, but it is all you have. You are allowed neither notebook nor camera.
The exhibits are fascinating. It is hard to believe even half are genuine. A tray of thirty First City coins. A stuffed two-headed bat almost the size of a man. A scrap of black sail-cloth labelled 'Achaean, c 1200BC'. Two locks of hair, one dark and the other amber-coloured. The centrepiece of the Museum is a single half-eaten fig. It is unlabelled.

Watchful increase
Gain: 100 x Cryptic Clue
Associating with Radical Academics increase to 3

Failure spoiler

Watchful increase
Nightmares increase

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