Looking For The Exceptional Rose

This storylet begins during the Feast of the Exceptional Rose. Appeared in 2012.

'Do yer wanna see the real Exceptional Rose?'

An Opportunistic Urchin intercepts you on your doorstep with an intriguing question.
Unlocked with 1 x Gift of Adoration

Reward spoiler

A bargain worth making

'You got one o' them fancy mushroom wossnames. If yer give it them up at the Lab'rinth, they'll let us in ter see the real Rose! But thass all they'll take. I dunno why!'
You've seen the carnival fakes, of course. But imagine: The real thing! A legendary vegetable like no other. The Opportunistic Urchin winks exaggeratedly at you. 'I'll find yer later an' show yer the way. Don't tell anyone!' he whispers, loud enough to wake the neighbours, before disappearing through the window. Now you will have to wait for him to turn up again.
A twist in your tale! You are now Looking for the Exceptional Rose.

These opportunity cards can turn up anywhere:

The Opportunistic Urchin turns up

'Psst! 'Over 'ere!' He's lurking in an alleyway, scarf around his mouth, as if he's frightened to be recognised.
Unlocked with 1 x Gift of Adoration, Looking for the Exceptional Rose 1

'We need another bribe, innit.'

He wants you to hand over something interesting 'to distract the copper 'oo's on the beat round there…'
Unlocked with 1 x Intriguing Gossip

Reward spoiler

'Oo.'

You pass on a morsel juicy enough to keep a policeman occupied for a substantial chunk of time. 'Coo,' says the urchin. 'E'll 'ave ter tell everyone about that!'
Looking for the Exceptional Rose increase (2 change points)
Lose: 1 x Intriguing Gossip

Tell him to go away

He should have warned you about this earlier.

Reward spoiler

'Gah.'

Surely he's just trying it on. His shoulders do slump when you give him his marching orders, though.
Your 'Looking for the Exceptional Rose' Quality has gone!
Heartless increase (capped at 8)

The Opportunistic Urchin needs your help

A tap on your window. 'Ere! You gotta 'elp me! Copper's after me, innit.'
Unlocked with 1 x Gift of Adoration, Looking for the Exceptional Rose 1

Help him

Let him in to hide in your parlour.
(Shadowy challenge)

Reward spoiler

'Cheers!'

You let the little chap huddle in a corner until the sounds of stamping and police whistles have faded. 'Cheers,' he says. 'Couldn't take yer to the Rose if'n I was in New Newgate, eh?'
Shadowy increase
Looking for the Exceptional Rose has increased to 2 - Waiting for the Opportunistic Urchin!

Tell him to get lost

You don't want to get in trouble with the Constables.

Reward spoiler(unknown)

Unknown, but probably:

Your 'Looking for the Exceptional Rose' Quality has gone!
Heartless increase (capped at 8)

The Opportunistic Urchin again

Unlocked with 1 x Gift of Adoration, Looking for the Exceptional Rose 2
Him again. 'I jus' need one more thing, innit. Ole lady wot runs the pub wants a little somethin' fer leavin' the cellar door open.'

Tell him to get lost

You'd rather keep your gift after all.

Reward spoiler(unknown)

unknown, but probably:

Your 'Looking for the Exceptional Rose' Quality has gone!
Heartless increase (capped at 8)

Give him what he's asking for

Might as well. You've come this far.
Unlocked with 1 x Amanita Sherry

Reward spoiler

'Cheers.'

The urchin tucks the bottle under his arm and lurches off, whistling. He had better not drink that himself.
Looking for the Exceptional Rose increase (2 change points)
Lose: 1 x Amanita Sherry

The one true Exceptional Rose

Unlocked with 1 x Gift of Adoration, Looking for the Exceptional Rose 3
The Helpful Urchin buttonholes you on the street. 'Told yer I'd find yer. Orlright, this way.' He sets off in the direction of the Shuttered Palace. 'Ave yer got the fancy mushroom? I tole yer, they won't take nuffink else.'

'Gimme, then.'

Do you want to see the Exceptional Rose? Even if it means losing your Gift of Adoration? Consider the giver. Consider the Rose.
A matter of luck: pretty good odds.

Reward spoiler

The Rose itself!

You're a few streets away from the Palace now. The Opportunistic Urchin turns down a dank alleyway by the side of a tavern, and points down the cellar steps. 'That way, innit,' he says. 'C'mon.' You descend, away from the alleyway's meagre pools of light, then pass through an ink-black cellar towards a steady green glow from a subterranean corridor. A sticky hand clutches yours until you are back in the light, when it is abruptly withdrawn. A tiny figure, head-to-toe in brown hessian and clutching a broom, regards you with outstretched palm.
You hand over your fungal bribe. It is sniffed and evidently satisfactory, because the little sweeper ushers you over to a small alcove. It's the source of the green light. A tiny garden blooms here, an oasis in the bone-dry cellar. At the centre, glowing brightly, sits the Rose.
A tiny child's face turns and blinks up at you from the blood-red petals. It bares tiny golden fangs. Acid-green eyes stare balefully. The soft, pillowy petals look so real, it's as if you've seen them in a dream. If this one's a fake, it's a marvel of the clockmaker's art.
An occurrence! Your 'Looking for the Exceptional Rose' Quality is now 5 - You have seen it. If it wasn't a real miracle, it was a miracle of art.! (I had my 'Looking for the Exceptional Rose' Quality changed to 11 instead of 5 - but in fact my Quality was already 5…)
^ Same
Gain: 5 x Romantic Notion
Gain: 2 x Mystery of the Elder Continent
Gain: 1 x Memory of Light
Lose: 1 x Gift of Adoration
I also had 'The Gates of the Garden' has increased to 6 [was 1, maybe it appears only if your quality is at least 1]
^ No, I gained 'The Gates of the Garden' despite not having it before.

Reward spoiler(unknown)

unknown

Change your mind

Actually, this whole thing is a bit unpleasant. Tell the urchin to go away and find another dupe.

Reward spoiler(unknown)

Unknown

Unknown

up to top

---

Fallen London is © 2010-2016 and ™ Failbetter Games Limited: www.fallenlondon.com. This is an unofficial fan work.
Read the Rules for Posting before adding content to this wiki.