Things to do at New Newgate Prison

---

An Inauspicious Beginning?

When you begin the game, you find yourself a prisoner in a cell in New Newgate Prison: a miserable dripstone cell with a barred window and a straw mattress but with and a magnificent view of the lights of the Bazaar reflected in the dark waters of the Unterzee below.

You are only allowed 1 Opportunity Card at a time here and have only two qualities: a Stranger 1 and Suspicion 3. You will remain in New Newgate Prison until your Preparing for a Daring Escape quality has reached 3.

No actions are available, at first, other than this Opportunity Card.

Imprisoned! - Click on this card

Trapped in a dripstone cell, you plot your escape…

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with a Stranger 1

Reward spoiler

Imprisoned! - Click on this card

Trapped in a dripstone cell, you plot your escape. Find your way out and seek your fortune in Fallen London.

[You've played an Opportunity Card. Click the deck again to draw another, and play that one to begin your escape.]
A twist in your tale! You are no longer a Stranger.

After the first Opportunity Card, the only option is this card.

Forumlate an Escape Plan - Click on this card

Perhaps there's a way out…

Auto-Fire

Reward spoiler

Forumlate an Escape Plan - Click on this card

Perhaps there's a way out…

It must be a half-mile fall from the barred cell window to the dark waters below. But a supply dirigible brings food to the prison every day. It passes directly below your window. And the mortar that holds the window bars in place is old and rotting. If you can work them free…

[You've unlocked Storylets! Use them to begin your escape. When your Preparing for a Daring Escape quality reaches 4, you'll be ready to escape.]
A twist in your tale! You are now Preparing for a Daring Escape.

---

Storylets

Storylets are unlocked at this point, through which you can raise your Qualities and eventually escape. (Other Opportunity Cards, listed below, are also available and provide various rewards.)

Escape using your Dangerous abilities

Strength is the most direct route.

[This is a storylet. Storylets aren't used up like Opportunities - they're always available as long as you have the right Qualities and are in the right location.]

[Playing this storylet will build up your Preparing for a Daring Escape.]
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

A straightforward approach… Use brute force against the bars!

The mortar around the bars is in poor condition. With strength and patience, you can work them free.
Dangerous challenge, straightforward at 6

Reward spoiler

They're coming loose!

Keep going. You're getting closer to freedom.
Preparing for a Daring Escape increase
Dangerous increase
Forceful increase

Failure spoiler

They're not budging.

Perhaps it's the wrong angle. Perhaps you're just tired. It is exercise of a sort, anyway.
Dangerous increase

This might be faster… Kill a rat for its tools.

Some of the rats here use tiny pickaxes and even minute sticks of dynamite to make their tunnels. If you can grab some tools…
Dangerous challenge, straightforward at 8

Reward spoiler

Got it!

You wrap the chisel in cloth to soften the sound of your taps, and work away at the bars. You make good progress. But there's nowhere to hide it, and next time your cell is searched you're forced to drop it out of the window. You almost think you can hear the splash, far far below…
Preparing for a Daring Escape increase
Dangerous increase

Failure spoiler (unknown)

Escape using your Persuasive abilities

Why waste your own energies when you can get someone else to help?

[This is a storylet. Storylets aren't used up like Opportunities - they're always available as long as you have the right Qualities and are in the right location.]

[Playing this storylet will build up your Preparing for a Daring Escape.]
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

A straightforward approach… Hoard food to bribe a gaoler

A knife would be pushing it. But if you save up enough food to bribe a gaoler, you might persuade one to bring you a fork to scratch away at the mortar.
(Persuasive challenge)

Reward spoiler

The gaoler makes the exchange, grudgingly

The fork is some wretchedly inferior alloy. You work away for a couple of hours until it snaps.
Persuasive increase
Preparing for a Daring Escape increase
Subtle increase

Failure spoiler (unknown)

This might be faster… Charm a gaoler.

You don't really know whether the gaoler is male or female under its thick hood. You're not even sure it's human. But it might be quicker than saving up food.
(Persuasive challenge)

Reward spoiler

You've made a, er, friend

You have your fork, delivered with an unsettling affectionate snuffling noise from beneath the gaoler's hood. You work away for a couple of hours until it snaps.
Persuasive increase
Preparing for a Daring Escape increase
Subtle increase

Failure spoiler (unknown)

Escape using your Shadowy abilities

Stealth and cunning may be what this escape needs…

[This is a storylet. Storylets aren't used up like Opportunities - they're always available as long as you have the right Qualities and are in the right location.]

[Playing this storylet will build up your Preparing for a Daring Escape.]
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

A straightforward approach… Steal a peg from the laundry

If you can smuggle wooden pegs from the laundry back to your cell, you can use them to dig at the mortar around the bars. But they're not ideal tools.
Shadowy challenge, straightforward at 6

Reward spoiler

You got them!

You scratch away at the bars for a couple of hours before the peg snaps.
Shadowy increase
Preparing for a Daring Escape increase

Failure spoiler

You're being watched too closely

Perhaps next time…

This might be faster… Steal a hammer and chisel from the tunnels on your next work shift

The gaolers use work gangs of prisoners to expand the prison tunnels. You could steal a hammer and chisel. But the tools are watched carefully.
Shadowy quality, straightforward at 8

Reward spoiler (unknown)

Failure spoiler (unknown)

Escape using your Watchful actions

Keep your eyes open, and who knows what you might find…

[This is a storylet. Storylets aren't used up like Opportunities - they're always available as long as you have the right Qualities and are in the right location.]

[Playing this storylet will build up your Preparing for a Daring Escape.]
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

A straightforward approach… Wait for the gaolers to drop something useful

They're not what you'd call tidy.
(Watchful challenge)

Reward spoiler (unknown)

Failure spoiler

Nothing of interest

Perhaps next time…

This might be faster… Snatch up a discarded hammer and chisel

The gaolers use work gangs of prisoners to expand the prison tunnels. If you could spot an unattended hammer and chisel and bring them back to your cell…
(Watchful challenge)

Reward spoiler (unknown)

Failure spoiler (unknown)

---

Opportunity Cards

As you are prepare your escape, opportunities arise that you can take advantage of. All of these opportunity cards "auto-fire", which means they take effect immediately when you select them.

You have a certain something…

The eyes of your fellow prisoners follow you.

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with Planning for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

You have a certain something…

The eyes of your fellow prisoners follow you. Even in rags, you have an undeniable charm. That charm will serve you well - if you ever get out of this dismal hole.
Gain: 1 x Confident Smile

It's a long, long way down…

The lights of Fallen London glimmer on the shore of the Unterzee…

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with Planning for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

It's a long, long way down…

The lights of Fallen London glimmer on the shore of the Unterzee like a handful of discarded jewels. During the 'day', when they light more candles and gaslights down there, those jewels are brighter. Entranced by the view, you drift into a reverie. You have an idea! Not something for right now, but it will help you later.
Gain: 1 x Sudden Insight

There's something on the wall…

Is that a message?

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with Planning a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

There's something on the wall…

Is that a message? 'Mr Twitch is innocent…' It doesn't mean anything to you, but perhaps someone will pay for this information.
1 x Whispered Secret

An unsual graffito

Someone has written five lines of hauntingly beautiful poetry

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

An unusual graffito

Someone has written five lines of hauntingly beautiful poetry in the ceiling. (Someone else has scrawled the word NANCY across it).
Persuasive increase

A fight!

You don't recall how the fight started…

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

A fight!

You don't recall how the fight started. It was quiet in the exercise room and suddenly fists were flying. You took a knee to the ribs, but managed to flatten a pair of beefy thugs before the gaolers came. They will be wary of you now. They know you're strong.
Gain: 1 x Hard-Earned Lesson

A note pushed under your cell door

'DON'T TRUST FAST HETTY!'

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

A note pushed under your cell door

'DON'T TRUST FAST HETTY!' Who is Fast Hetty? And why would you trust someone with a name like that? Odd, but possibly useful.
Gain: 1 x Hastily Scrawled Warning Note

A really big spider!

A spider the size of a large kitten scuttles across your cell floor…

Auto-Fire
Unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

A really big spider!

A spider the size of a large kitten scuttles across your cell floor. For reasons best known to itself, it's carrying a human eyeball. It stops and stares at you. In fact, the eyeball appears to be staring at you.

With a horrid start, you realise the eyeball looks very like your own! You reach up to your face to confirm that you still have a full complement of eyeballs…and wake up.

The cell is empty. There is no sign of spiders, eyeballs or gruesomeness of any other kind.

[Spending action points on Opportunities instead of Storylets may bring unexpected rewards, but it's never certain.]
A twist in your tale! You are now having Recurring Dreams: Is Someone There?.

What's that in the nook by the ceiling?

Something pale is wedged up there.
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Try to jump to reach it

It's a long way up.
(Dangerous challenge)

Reward spoiler

Got it!

It's a half-melted candle that someone must have tried to hide up there.

[You've found an Advantage! Advantages may give you a second chance when you fail a difficult Challenge - but they only work once.]
Dangerous increase
Gain: 1 x Twincandle

Something strange outside the window…

Something pale is wedged up there.
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

The shadows look wrong out there.

Hoist yourself up to the window and investigate. Shadows gather thickly around the window, fluttering like leaves in the wind.
(Watchful challenge)

Reward spoiler

There's something outside the window…

Someone - someone with a good head for heights - has stuck a candle in a crevice in the outside wall of the prison, hundreds of feet above the Unterzee. Interestingly, this candle seems to emit shadows, not light…you reach out and take it.

[You've found an Advantage! Advantages may give you a second chance when you fail a difficult Challenge - but they only work once.]
Watchful increase
Gain: 1 x Anticandle

Today your gaoler is carrying an unlit stump of candle.

Are those teethmarks in it?
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Persuade him to give up his snack.

You might find a use for it…

Reward spoiler

Got it!

There's something unusual about this candle.

[You've found an Advantage! Advantages may give you a second chance when you fail a difficult Challenge - but they only work once.]
Persuasive increase
Gain: 1 x Listening Candle

It's a long, long way down

You can make out the lights of Fallen London glimmering at the edge of the Unterzee like a handful of dropped jewels…

Auto-fire
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

It's a long, long way down…

You can make out the lights of Fallen London glimmering at the edge of the Unterzee like a handful of dropped jewels. During the 'day', when they light more candles and gaslights down there, the jewels are that much brighter. Above you in the cavern roof, the phosphorescent artificial stars they've embedded there are much closer.

[Spending action points on Opportunities instead of Storylets may bring unexpected rewards, but it's never certain.]
Watchful increase

There's something on the wall.

Is that a message?

Auto-fire
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1

Reward spoiler

There's something on the wall…

Is that a message? 'Master Wallerey knows where the Big Bone is locked…' It doesn't mean anything to you, but perhaps someone will pay for this information.

[Spending action points on Opportunities instead of Storylets may bring unexpected rewards, but it's never certain.]
Gain: 1 x Whispered Secret

Some graffiti here…

'DON'T GAOLERS EAT FLESH…

Auto-fire
unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 1, 1 x Whispered Secret

Reward spoiler

Some graffiti here..

'DONT GAOLERS EAT FLESH…' Is that a warning? A request? A hint? A question?

[Spending action points on Opportunities instead of Storylets may bring unexpected rewards, but it's never certain.]
Gain: 1 x Whispered Secret

---

Your Preparations Are Nearly Complete!

When your Preparing for a Daring Escape quality reaches 3, the following storylet appears.

A newspaper?

This copy of The Unexpurgated London Gazette is weeks out of date. Nevertheless, it is a rare luxury in this place.
Unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 3

What's this?

There is a handwritten note between the society columns and Madame Shoshana's horoscopes. You squint to read it in the dim light.

Reward spoiler

All shall be well

The simple block writing reads: 'Have patience. When you escape, arrange for lodgings. I will send assistance there. All shall be well.'

Is that message for you? Who knows you're here? Why are they helping you?
A twist in your tale! You are now the Protégé of a Mysterious Benefactor.
Preparing for a Daring Escape has increased to 4!

---

This is it!

When your Preparing for a Daring Escape quality reaches 4, the following storylet appears and you have a choice before you.

Escape from New Newgate Prison!

Everything is prepared. You wrench the bars free and squeeze hastily through the window as the supply dirigible approaches. You pause briefly on the narrow ledge outside, then leap on to the upper surface of the dirigible, sliding several alarming feet before you get a grip. You are free!

[That's the introductory section of the game finished. Fallen London is now yours to explore! Welcome, delicious customer! Be sure to visit the Bazaar to buy better tools and equipment.]
Unlocked with Preparing for a Daring Escape 4

Escape to Watchmaker's Hill

You're tough enough to handle the Dangerous work at Watchmaker's Hill. Become the most feared gentleman in the city.

Reward spoiler (unknown)

Escape to Spite

You've always been cunning and quick. You're going to make your fortune through Shadowy activities in Spite.

Reward spoiler (unknown)

Escape to Veilgarden

Work? You? Wine and song and all the pleasures of the underworld now. Work later. It'll be easy for someone as Persuasive as you.

Reward spoiler

Veilgarden!

The dirigible spirals slowly down over the smouldering lights of Fallen London. The cavern breezes of the Neath pluck at your clothing. You're over Veilgarden: laughter and drunken song drift up through the chill cavern air. As the dirigible passes the spire of St Aegidius, you leap to safety. You clamber down into Veilgarden, avoiding the nests of bats and ravens as you go.
You've changed lodgings. Your new lodgings are an Abandoned Family Crypt. The opportunities this address provides mean you can keep 1 Opportunity cards in your hand.
You've moved to a new area: Veilgarden
Your actions have been refreshed!
A twist in your tale! You are now a New Arrival.
A twist in your tale! You are now Homeless!.
A twist in your tale! You are no longer Preparing for a Daring Escape.

Escape to Ladybones Road

You're in this city to uncover its deepest mysteries. Ladybones Road is the best place to start: a place to be Watchful.

Reward spoiler

Ladybones Road!

The dirigible spirals slowly down over the smouldering lights of Fallen London. The cavern breezes of the Neath pluck at your clothing. You cough as smoke and sulphurous fog drifts up from the dark streets around Ladybones Road. As the dirigible passes low over Hangman's Arch, you leap, rolling as you land on the broad flat top of the arch. It's an easy climb down from here. The heads of the recently hanged turn to watch you as you pass. One gives you a sardonic wink. Welcome to Fallen London.

You've changed lodgings. Your new lodgings are an Abandoned Family Crypt. The opportunities this address provides mean you can keep 1 Opportunity cards in your hand.
You've moved to a new area: Ladybones Road
Your actions have been refreshed!
A twist in your tale! You are now a New Arrival.
A twist in your tale! You are now Homeless!.
A twist in your tale! You are no longer Preparing for a Daring Escape.

---

A New Arrival

You have escaped from New Newgate Prison to somewhere in Fallen London. A few more Opportunity Cards, specific to new arrivals, are available, but then you are on your own in the destination you chose when you escaped.

need to add these here or maybe make a new page for them

---

All images and directly quoted text are © Failbetter Games Ltd. and are used by permission.
Failbetter Games asks that you read the FBG Fan Project Guidelines before adding content to this wiki.