Polythreme Streets
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What happens in Polythreme?

Everything's alive there, or so the story goes. Coal burns with a long low moan, steel is forged under protest, new-minted coins still shriek with pain and horror. It sounds a horribly callous place. Not to mention remarkably noisy.


Leaving Polythreme

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Put to Zee!

Your ship is ready. The wide black waves await.

Lay in supplies and sail

Stow your supplies, quiet anything that complains and set out to zee!

This is always successful, but very Watchful characters may receive an additional advantage.

Be sure you are ready. Once you've set to zee, it will take you a little while to return. It will also interrupt ongoing tasks: Progress qualities like Investigating, Fascinating and Term Passing will be reset.

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Zail Away on the Tramp Steamer

The Tramp Steamer is back in port. Or perhaps it's a different one. They all look like one battered, sad old ship after a while.

Buy a ticket to London

Time to go home. This is more expensive than using your own ship, and the steamer only goes to London. You can gain Surface-Silk scraps by seeing the sights in Polythreme.
Unlocked with Surface-Silk Scrap x 80

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Things to do at Polythreme at anytime

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One Might Profit Even in Such a Place

Copper mooring posts that wail when they have no ship. A warm wind blowing crackling, cackling leaves. You can turn your hand to gain even here.

Make off with a box of silks

A steamer from London unloads a few boxes of Surface silks. Nobody is paying much attention. After all, the Clay Men are not given to theft.
(Dangerous Challenge, Straightforward at less than 119)

Observe the camaraderie of objects

Can a copper kettle and a stone-lidded table feel kinship? They say that nobody and nothing is alone in Polythreme.
(Watchful Challenge, Straightforward at less than 119)

Soft to the touch

The Clay Men of Polythreme have an especial fondness for surface silk. Perhaps you could tell them stories of other places and persuade them to part with their silken friends.
(Persuasive Challenge, Straightforward at 125)

Lurk in the eaves

Do the residents of Polythreme gossip? Do stony lips whisper secrets between the white stone columns? Will you be there to hear them?
(Shadowy Challenge, Straightforward at 125)



Making your way through Polythreme

This storylet begins the Polythreme carousel, in which most of the rewards and story in Polythreme focuses around.

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Begin your Polythremic Promenade

Low, heavy buildings of pale stone. Copper railings at the quayside and moans in the air. Polythreme awaits you.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0

Set forth into the stone-flagged street

Are you a wanderer of no great purpose? A writer of travelogues? Or do you have some deep purpose in Polythreme? It matters not: it all begins with setting one foot before the other.



Unnatural Exuberance 11-2

At this stage in Polythreme your goal is to build up your Investigating and/or Fascinating qualities before your Unnatural Exuberance quality reaches 1. You can do this by spending fate, trading goods, playing opportunity cards, or by trading your Investigating or Fascinating qualities for the other. Almost every action will reduce your Unnatural Exuberance by one, so you have 10 actions to reach your goal.

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A Most Useful Meeting

Someone is following you. A collection of threadbare black clothes, all wrapped in white belts. He shuffles along uncomfortably while his clothes moan in unison.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2-11

Spend Fate to get Investigating… and Fascinating…

Your pursuer isn't particularly subtle. Perhaps something delightful could come of turning around and confronting him. This will give you enough Fascinating… and Investigating… to ensure success in any one endeavour here. Remember that it will disappear if you leave Polythreme.

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Requires 15 Fate

Fate-locked content must not be placed on the wiki, per the developers.

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Paying Your Way

The wheels of advancement are oiled with gifts. Bribes, you say? Well, if you were being uncouth. And do these people really understand commerce? The prices rise as your endeavours progress.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2-11

Give surface-silk to Clay Men

The trio of Clay Men are for the tithe-ship to London soon. Take their minds off the matter. This will always gain you Fascinating…
Unlocked with Surface-Silk Scrap x 25, Unnatural Exuberance 8-11

Offer silks to a clothes-colony

The man-shaped colony of dresses, hats and gloves draws longing glances from passing Clay Men. It is mainly made up of brightly-coloured Oriental silks. This will always gain you Investigating…
Unlocked with Surface-Silk Scrap x 25, Unnatural Exuberance 8-11

Spread tales of love and glamour

There are a few people of flesh and blood around Polythreme. Most inhabit clothes-colonies. But who doesn't appreciate a story of romance? This will always gain you Fascinating…
Unlocked with Romantic Notion x 50, Unnatural Exuberance 5-7
A matter of luck: it could go either way.

Speak of romance to an empty garden

There's a formal garden around the villa overlooking the town. Nobody is ever there, but you can't shake the feeling that someone is listening. Perhaps they're lonely. This will always gain you Investigating…
Unlocked with Romantic Notion x 50, Unnatural Exuberance 5-7
A matter of luck: it could go either way.

Speak of the Elder Continent at Arcimboldo's

Arcimboldo's is the Polythreme coffee house. The atmosphere doesn't compare well to Caligula's, but the coffee is passable if you ignore the screaming. This will always gain you Fascinating…
Unlocked with Mystery of the Elder Continent x 25, Unnatural Exuberance 2-4
A matter of luck: it could go either way.

Present your findings to an academic gone native

The Uncomfortable Academic came here years ago to study the place. He's long since gone native, wearing a fractious colony of hats and scarves. He likes to keep up with academic progress, though. .This will always gain you Investigating…
Unlocked with Collated Research x 5, Unnatural Exuberance 2-4
A matter of luck: it could go either way.


Trading your Fascinating/Investigating for Investigating/Fascinating (Unnatural Exuberance 11-2)

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A Clay Man of Wealth and Influence

That Clay Man is dressed in a whispering velvet suit of fashionable London cut. He carries a heavy copper rod and the air of a person of dignity.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2-11

So that's who he is

Everyone in Polythreme knows the Clay Broker. He organises the tithe of Clay Men to the Masters of the Bazaar. Collar him for a chat. This will trade in some of your Fascinating… quality to gain Investigating…
Unlocked with Fascinating… 1
A matter of luck: it could go either way.

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Robes and Belts and Masks And Mantles

Polythreme isn't quite how the stories have it. The houses don't have eyes or teeth, even if they do sometimes bulge and stretch. There are Clay Men here, of course, but they are outnumbered by hobbling man-shaped collections of clothes variously called clothes-legions and clothes-colonies.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2-11

Pull off a mask

What is under the clothes? Men? Clay Men? Nothing at all? You must know. This will trade in some of your Investigating quality to gain Fascinating…
Unlocked with Investigating 1
A matter of luck: it could go either way.



Unnatural Exuberance 1 (Rewards)

At this stage you can trade in your Investigating and Fascinating Qualities for rewards. You can also trade the qualities in to pursue larger stories with bigger rewards, and which open opportunity cards with skills-based tests to improve your progress.

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Spending your Time

If you have no deeper purpose, Polythreme offers distractions to visitors. This will exchange your Fascinating… and/or Investigating… qualities for gain.

The Voice in the Fog

The Voice in the Fog is a public house where visitors from London drink and sometimes stay. If your inventory is behaving, you could pass an evening here.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 1, Fascinating 12

There's someone in there

You're fairly sure that this short, hunched-over collection of rags, belts and hats has a person inside it. Perhaps you'll be friends.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 1, A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Fascinating 13

What's going on in the bay?

The steamer is making good time coming into Polythreme's harbour. She's huge, nearly a hundred yards long. She flies no colours.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 1, Investigating 12*

Speak to a matched pair

You occasionally see this pair on the hills above the town. Both are dressed in black rags and bound with white belts and masks. There's a copper rod ten feet long shackled to their belts and keeping them apart.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 1, A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Investigating 13

What's going on here?

The sounds of tramping feet and solemn merriment cover the sighs and wails of never-silent Polythreme. A festival, perhaps?
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 1, Fascinating 7, Investigating 7

A walk in the villa gardens

The copper gates to the marble villa above the town remain shut. They and the low walls provide less of a barrier to tresspassers than the near-palpable aura of menace and guarded privacy.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 1, A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Fascinating 8, Investigating 8

A Distressing Lack of Progress

Whatever you were attempting, you have been foiled by your own impedimenta. They were faking obedience! Your overcoat has you hostage!
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 1


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The Clothes-Colony

The clothes-colony flops about pathetically on a white stone step. It's mainly scarves and socks.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1

A helping hem

What this clothes-colony needs is a good coat at the centre of it. Actually, perhaps it might suit you…
Unlocked with Fascinating 12, Battered Grey Overcoat x 1


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A Guided Tour of Polythreme

London's artistic and academic sets are fascinated by Polythreme. There's a decent living to be made as a travel writer if you have the skills and can persuade someone to show you around.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1

Speak to a few natives

It wouldn't do to get too friendly, but you can tip your hat at the less distressing Clay Men and clothes-legions.
Unlocked with Fascinating 12

Speak to everyone you meet

You're important enough that nobody is going to accuse you of going native. You can afford to be gregarious.
Unlocked with A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Fascinating 13


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A Little Spy Work

Possibly your purpose in coming here. Or perhaps you're just keeping your hand in.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1

Find out who's here

If any sort of Game goes on here, one should discover who's playing.
Unlocked with Investigating 12

Get more details about the players

You'll be able to write the Polythreme chapter of Slowcake's Exceptionals by the time you're through.
Unlocked with A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Investigating 13


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A Clay Snub

A trio of Clay Men walk up the hill, away from a fourth. They tut and harrumph and throw glances back over their shoulders.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1

A Clay pariah

Who is that Clay Man? And why do his fellows look away and shuffle off when he passes? This begins a story concerning the Unfinished. You may find it to your advantage to acquire an Exceptional Hat before the story ends.
Unlocked with Investigating 12


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Jack's House

For all its wailing and screaming, Polythreme isn't a big place. Jack's knives had to come from somewhere or someone.
Unlocked with The Jack-of-Smiles Case 10

Found it

It's barely even work. The Clay Men are a guileless lot, and they all know the place.
Unlocked with Investigating 12, Unnatural Exuberance 1


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Heart's Desire - Seeking the Manager's Beloved

The Manager of the Royal Bethlehem has promised not to play the Marvellous. But who did he make that promise to?
Unlocked with Ambition: Heart's Desire! 13

Clay wisdom

The Manager mentioned a temple. The Clay Priest, worn with age and wearing white silks, will speak with you.
Unlocked with Investigating 12, Unnatural Exuberance 1



Writing of your Polythreme Travels

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The Deeper Questions

Who governs Polythreme, if walls and arches need governance? And how did this place, with its curious vital principle, come to be?
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, Writing of your Polythreme Travels 1

Speak to those who'll offer opinions

Learn what you can while you're here.
Unlocked with Fascinating 12

Speak to those who know

Perhaps you can attract a better class of guide.
Unlocked with A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual) , Fascinating 13

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Finishing your Travelogue

It's time to finish your travel writing and send it back to London. How will you describe Polythreme and its inhabitants?
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, Writing of your Polythreme Travels 2

An island of importunate horrors

The sooner you are gone from this vile island and its unnecessarily mobile and opinionated masonry the happier you will be.
Unlocked with Fascinating 12

A strange place, but no better or worse than any other

Like London or anywhere else, Polythreme has its songs and its screams.
Unlocked with Fascinating 12

A wonderland

A place where nobody is ever lonely.
Unlocked with Fascinating 12



Spying on Polythreme

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Looking a Little Deeper

Now you have an idea of who the players are here, what is the King with a Hundred Hearts doing?
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, Spying on Polythreme 1

Ask around

Surely the people of Polythreme will speak about their king.
Unlocked with Investigating 12

Look to buildings

Perhaps carvings and temples hold the answers.
Unlocked with A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Investigating 13

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Making your Report

You've studied Polythreme's ways. Now, will anyone listen?
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, Spying on Polythreme 2

For your own records

Are you outside the world of intrigue? Or will nobody listen to you?
Unlocked with Investigating 12

Report to the Masters of the Bazaar

They'll be pleased to hear how their little client state is getting along.
Unlocked with A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Investigating 13

Report to Revolutionaries

Revolution in Polythreme might be an uphill struggle. But the cause will not be denied!
Unlocked with A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Investigating 13

Report to the Brass Embassy

Do they know about the Iron Republic's attack here? Do they care?
Unlocked with A Person of Some Importance (A Significant Individual), Investigating 13



An Unfinished Story

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A Clay Snub

A trio of Clay Men walk up the hill, away from a fourth. They tut and harrumph and throw glances back over their shoulders.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1

A Clay pariah

Who is that Clay Man? And why do his fellows look away and shuffle off when he passes? This begins a story concerning the Unfinished. You may find it to your advantage to acquire an Exceptional Hat before the story ends.
Unlocked with Investigating 12

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Investigating the Unfinished

Why are the Unfinished different? Where do they come from?
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, An Unfinished Story 1

Go looking

Someone in Polythreme knows the answer.
Unlocked with Investigating 12

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An Unusual Approach to Reproduction

The Clay priest said that the King with a Hundred Hearts dreams new Clay Men into being.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, An Unfinished Story 2

How literal were his words?

It's hard to tell in a place like this, but was the priest speaking in metaphor?
Unlocked with Investigating 12

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The Unfinished Birth

The King with a Hundred Hearts stirs in his nightmares. An Unfinished Man is born tonight.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, An Unfinished Story 3

But where?

Polythreme is a big place to cover on foot. Where will the birth happen?
Unlocked with Investigating 12

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Eyes Everywhere

In Polythreme, someone or something is always watching you. But you feel the attention more keenly of late.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, An Unfinished Story 4

From across white walls

The Unfinished Clay Man whose birth you attended has been watching you. He's quick, though, and surprisingly sly. Can you catch him?
Unlocked with Investigating 12

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The Unfinished Fugitive

What will you do with this Unfinished Clay Man on the run?
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 0-1, An Unfinished Story 5

Agree to his bargain

Hide the Unfinished Clay Man on your ship. Drop him at the nearest friendly port. Let him… do something unnatural to your hat.
Unlocked with Investigating 12, Exceptional Hat x 1, An Explorer of the Unterzee (The Captain)

Refuse him

Tell the Clay Broker where he's hiding. There's a generous bounty on such runaways.
Unlocked with Investigating 12, Ruthless 1



The Jack of Smiles Case

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The Ironmonger's Workshop

The Cheerful Cutler seems innocent of malice, and you've confirmed that he's only been here a month. It's something about the workshop or its contents, therefore.
Unlocked with The Jack-of-Smiles Case 11

Find out its history

The workshop is unusually dormant for a Polythreme building, at least to the casual glance. Does this building have a history?
Unlocked with Investigating 12, Unnatural Exuberance 1

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Jack's End

Now you know that the Ironmonger's Workshop is the source of the knives and, therefore, of Jack-of-Smiles. But what will you do about it?
Unlocked with The Jack-of-Smiles Case 12

Destroy it

Leave no stone standing. Throw the tools into the harbour - no, a part of the zee a long way from Polythreme. There will be no more Jack. But if you do this, you may never know who was ultimately responsible.

Leave it intact

Leave the Clay Priest to do what little he can. More knives may be made, but you must know who did this.

Defeat Jack completely

Only a particularly blessed individual could hope to both destroy the workshop and hunt down the villain behind all this murder. Thankfully, you are such a person. Among other things, this will take you back to London.

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Requires 10 Fate

Fate-locked content must not be placed on the wiki, per the developers.

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Destroy the Source

Your crew have set to with hammers and axes…The workshop lies in ruins.

Burn it

You spread lamp oil over the ruins. Your bosun nods that the tools and tables are packed away in the hold of your ship, ready for sinking far from here. You light the match.




Opportunity Cards

These cards are the bread and butter of how you progress in Polythreme. Nearly all of them are luck checks, and are quite troublesome to use to progress to your Investigating/Fascinating to high enough levels to merit rewards. Two opportunity cards appear if you're 'Spying on Polythreme' or 'Writing of your Polythreme Travels' which are skill-checks and give Investigating or Fascinating respectively. These are frequently occurring cards and can be used alone to reach any goal safely without having to rely on luck or goods.

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The Temple

The building halfway up the hill is low, heavy and of white stone, much like its peers. But the entrance arch carved with eyes marks it as a temple.

Have a look around the temple

The temple is quiet. You hear the wails and clanks of the nearby market, but nothing from within the building. This will gain you Investigating…
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
A matter of luck: pretty good odds.

Poke around the grounds

You've heard that on certain festival days, offerings of silk are buried in the temple grounds. This will exchange some of your Investigating… for Surface-silk Scraps.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2, Investigating 4

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The Ruin

Despite their apparently great age, Polythreme's white stone houses are in fine condition. But this one, at the edge of town, is crumbling.

Have a look around the temple

The walls are rattling
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
A matter of luck: it could go either way.

What's that fluttering?

Is that a book you can see in the ruins? A journal, by the looks of it. This will exchange all your Investigating… quality for Romantic Notions.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2, Investigating 8

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The Wax Wind Comes

Get inside! Get inside!

Crouching in a low stone building

The danger will pass. But who is here with you? This will give you either Fascinating… or Investigating…
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
A matter of luck: it could go either way.

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The Priest at the Temple

Polythreme's temple usually stands empty. But here is the priest, a worn and chipped Clay Man wearing ragged white silks.

Speak of his spiritual work

Clay Men aren't often given to ponder matters of origin and existence. What does this Clay priest actually do? This will gain you Fascinating…
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
A matter of luck: it could go either way.

Speak to the Clay priest of matters romantic

Do Clay Men love? This will exchange all your Fascinating… quality for Romantic Notions.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2, Fascinating 8
A matter of luck: pretty good odds.

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At the Market

On the Surface, the close-packed stalls and chattering Clay Men would comprise a bazaar. But, well, you know.

Attract attention at the market

Make an impression on the Clay Men who keep the stalls of rustling silk and subdued copperwork. This will gain you Fascinating…
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
A matter of luck: pretty good odds.

Wander around the market

Do you have time to stop and peruse? This will exchange some of your Fascinating… quality for Surface-silk Scraps.
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2, Fascinating 4

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The Masked Man

The man in the masks and the hats shuffles along like he carries all the world on his back.

Bid him a good morning

Is there a man in there? Or just more clothes and copper pans and bits of white stone? This could get you some Fascinating… and Investigating…
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
A matter of luck: pretty good odds.

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Fractious Furniture

Get inside! Get inside!
Unlocked with Spying on Polythreme 1-2, Unnatural Exuberance 2-11

Examine the carvings

These chairs have been decorated by unsympathetic knives, presumably as petty revenge. Their wood is a good medium for spies' messages, though. This could gain you Investigating…
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
(Shadowy Challenge Straightforward at 125)

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The Zailors at Polythreme's Harbour

Most steamers don't stay in Polythreme long. The captains don't much like what the place does to coal.
Unlocked with Writing of your Polythreme Travels 1-2, Unnatural Exuberance 2-11

Speak with the zailors

They might not know as much about Polythreme as the natives, but they're often much easier to talk to. This could gain you Fascinating…
Unlocked with Unnatural Exuberance 2
(Persuasive Challenge Straightforward at 125)



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