Surface Ties: the Assailant

This is one of four related storylets, each invoving remembering people you knew from the surface and tied to one of the major qualities.

The Recalling the Surface: Dangerous quality:
Is someone from the surface intent on harming you?

1. - Hounded by the Unjust
2. -
3. - Unreason's Plaything
4. - Memories of Blood

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Surface Ties: the Assailant

It's one of the monster-hunters at the Medusa's Head who tips you off. Someone is looking for you, they say. Someone with a knife and no sense of humour. Someone from the surface. Who is it?
Unlocks: Dangerous 12

A villain that you once bested

Facing the villain was perilous and promised little reward, but it had to be done. You find yourself doing that a lot.

Reward spoiler

Sometimes you think about those you've defeated

They were savage wretches, and you are satisfied that any violence you dispensed on the surface was the only way. You can't help but wonder if any of them might follow you down here.
A twist in your tale! You are now Recalling the Surface: Dangerous 1 - Hounded by the Unjust.
Magnanimous is increasing…

A former victim seeking revenge

Violence for money is just something that you do. You don't lie awake at night worrying about what happened to your victims.

Reward spoiler

A maniac… again

Why do you attract these lunatics? Why won't they just leave you alone? Why do they take such pleasure in stabbing you?

Reward spoiler

What do these people want?

A steady stream of violent encounters with lunatics has quieted your fear, but left you somewhat bewildered. It is unfortunate that the Neath has a rich and impressive variety of madmen with which to torment you.
A twist in your tale! You are now Recalling the Surface: Dangerous 3 - Unreason's Plaything.
Daring has increased!

Surface Ties: the Assailant

A villain you once bested on the surface has followed you down to the Neath, intent on revenge!
Unlocked with Recalling the Surface: Dangerous 1

Give the villain a sound thrashing!

The villain should have stayed on the surface. There is nothing here for them but a painful defeat.
(Dangerous challenge)

Reward spoiler

Why do they make you do this?

After a brief brawl on the cobblestones, the villain lies in a bloody mess at your feet. You are not even breathing heavily. > Your villain admits final defeat: you will not be troubled again.
Dangerous increase
You are now Recalling the Surface: Dangerous 4.

Failure spoiler (unknown)

Talk the villain out of revenge

Perhaps you could solve this without bloodshed. Or, you know, with just a bit of bloodshed.
(Persuasive challenge)

Reward spoiler

"What good does this do you?"

initially, the villain sneers at your words; but your heart-felt speech (interrupted only for a headlock and light face pounding when your audience becomes quarrelsome) eventually strikes home, and he pauses. He begins to speak of a new life on the surface. Is the Neath an opportunity for you both to change your ways?
Persuasive increase
Recalling the Surface: Dangerous increase

Surface Ties: the Assailant

You are assailed by a madman with a knife… again! You recognise him from your life on the surface, but… that grin! He's Jack-of-Smiles!
(unlocked with Recalling the Surface: Dangerous 3)

Talk him out of it

Perhaps there is some vestige of sanity left? Perhaps you can talk to the man that was, and get to the bottom of this.

Reward spoiler

That didn't go well

Jack grins and stabs you. However mad he was before, he's beyond redemption now. Still, he'll move on to new victims: you won't be troubled by this one again.

Recalling the Surface: Dangerous has increased to 4 - Memories of Blood!
Wounds increase

Fight him off!

Has he been possessed? Is he copying other madmen? Has something terrible called him to the Neath? Right now it doesn't matter - knives are flashing!
(A challenge for your Dangerous quality.) straightforward at 24

Reward spoiler

Dangerous increase
Recalling the Surface: Dangerous has increased to 4 - Memories of Blood!

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