Shaping Clay

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A Gesture of Support

This story begins with an Opportunity Card.

Do They Drink Tea?

The tea shop is in a quiet side street. The owner is refusing to serve a pair of Clay Men their pot of tea and sponge cake.
Unlocks: A Person of Some Importance 1

Side with the Clay Men.

Inform the owner that his prejudice is intolerable. You will patronise more humane establishments in future.

Reward spoiler

White knuckles under grey

You throw down your napkin with some force and march out with the two Clay Men. They don't quite know what to make of you, but they recognise a gesture of support when it's offered. One shakes your hand with a bone-wrenching grip.
An occurrence! Your Shaping Clay Quality is now 1
Magnanimous increase

Do Nothing.

Enjoy your tea in clayless peace.

Rewards spoiler

Peace and quiet

This marble cake is delicious. And only for the likes of you.
An occurrence! Your Shaping Clay Quality is now 1!
Ruthless increase (unless too high, the case at 30)

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Familiar Clay Faces

The following actions appear in the Bazaar Sidestreets when your Shaping Clay quality is 1.

Familiar Clay Faces

On the street, a tiny, red-faced chandler berates a pair of hulking Clay Men. Apparently they knocked over his display of chanterelle-scented candles. You've met these two before, in a tea shop. A crowd is beginning to form.
Unlocks: Shaping Clay 1

Join the mob hounding them

A little exercise is just the thing.

Reward spoiler

Not like us decent folk

The Clay Men growl and retreat from the mob, but their kind are not fleet of foot. The festivities escalate to the cobble-throwing stage before the Constables arrive to break things up. Why did they bother? It's not like a thrown cobblestone will hurt them.
Heartless increase, unless to high (the case at 21)
Your Shaping Clay Quality has gone!
Connected: Urchins increase

Leave well alone

Life is too short to involve oneself in the problems of the lumpen.

Reward spoiler

Best off out of it

It's better to be well away before someone gets hurt. Especially if that someone is you.
Your 'Shaping Clay' Quality has gone!

Offer them a job

Travelling around London on foot is such trouble, and the old sedan chair is enjoying a fashionable resurgence. These two look strong enough. [This will gain you a Clay Sedan chair, a highly fashionable mode of transport].
Unlocks with:
7 x Strong-Backed Labour 2000 x Rat on a String, 1000 x Rostygold, 1000 x Silk Scrap each
1 x Bazaar Permit 10000 x Deep Amber
100 x Foxfire Candle Stub

Reward spoiler

Taken for a ride

The Clay Men, George and Garfield, agree to your terms. They don't ask about your motives. In a matter of moments you have acquired a pair of burly bearers - they will carry you and your chair around the city in high style. The ride is a little bumpy, but the sound of clomping hobnail boots clears the traffic most effectively. And they eat less than horses.
You've lost 7 x Strong-Backed Labour
You've lost 1 x Bazaar Permit
Your 'Shaping Clay' Quality has gone!
You now have 1 x Clay Sedan Chair
You've lost 100 x Foxfire Candle Stub

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Opportunity Card

A day out in your Clay Sedan Chair

Unlocks: 1 x Clay Sedan Chair

For a little sport

It's a novel pastime, made popular by the Young Stags' Club. Your target has only their feet. You have a sedan chair and an umbrella. Can you bring them down before they reach Hood's Bridge? It is hard on your bearers, but what larks!

Reward spoiler

Got him!

Your bearers' feet thump like rocky pistons as you race down Moloch Street to Hood's Bridge. Pedestrians scatter as you bellowing at your bearers to run faster. You catch him near the turn to Hollow Street, laying him out with a single swing of your umbrella. The prize is yours! One of George's knees is hanging a little loosely. Probably nothing serious.

Magnanimous decrease
Ruthless increase OR Ruthless hasn't changed, because it's higher than 5
Gain: 200 x Foxfire Candle Stub

To make a point of treating them well

It is the obligation of an employer to treat employees with respect and kindness. You're going to teach George and Garfield reading and arithmetic, whether they like it or not.

Reward spoiler

Making a start

George believes that no good will come of this, and makes slow progress. Garfield, the brighter of the two, understands the value of an education and forges ahead. You make a point of telling your society friends about your philanthropy, and they are suitably impressed. One particularly earnest banker talks about setting up a school.

Steadfast increase OR Steadfast hasn't changed, because it's higher than 3
Magnanimous increase
Connected: Society increase

To follow Jack's trail

A little ghoulish. But a popular London pastime nevertheless.
(A matter of luck: it could go either way.)

Success spoiler

The trail is EEEE!

Jacks are in fine form tonight! A stabbing near Hangman's Arch. A sort of grim nocturnal masquerade down by the Stolen River. A rooftop chase along by St Fiacres! You, George and Garfield pound along the streets in pursuit of the flapping black figure. The Velocipede Squad swerves into your wake! Passersby cheer at the mighty ting of their little bells! Is it Jack? Is it the Vake? If it's just a burglar, he's going to be really sorry. The chase ends when the Special Constables corner him up a steeple, and your loamy gentlemen carry you home.

Nightmares Increase
Gain: 3 x Tale of Terror!
Gain: 3 x Appalling Secret

Rare success spoiler

A Satisfying Outcome

Jacks are in fine form tonight! A stabbing near Hangman's Arch. A sort of grim nocturnal masquerade down by the Stolen River. A rooftop chase along by St Fiacres! You, George and Garfield pound along the streets in pursuit of the flapping black figure. The Velocipede Squad swerves into your wake! Passersby cheer at the mighty ting of their little bells! Is it Jack? Is it the Vake? If it's just a burglar, he's going to be really sorry.
As the moonish light dims, he veers away: but George spots him scale a drainpipe, and draws constabulary attention with an eerie Polythreme howl. The chase ends as the Special Constables corner him up a steeple. 'Word-smuggler,' one says menacingly. 'Mr Pages will be grateful.' He tosses you a badge.
1 x Antique Constable's Badge
Gain: 3 x Tale of Terror!

Failure spoiler

The trail is cold

Constables and Jack-watchers nod and tip their hats. Is he out tonight? Was there a sighting in Hollow Street? No, just another bit of honey-mazed nonsense. Spore-toffee sellers look disconsolate. Eccentrics hoping to be murdered slope home in a huff. The night is still as cathedral chrysm.
Nightmares decrease (1 change point)

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