The Sisterhood's Island Convent
Sinning Jenny marked a tiny spot of land, miles away from anywhere else. A good place to hide.
Buying secrets The Mother Superior says, 'The Circumcellions have got our supply steamer again. Can you take pity on penniless nuns and help us out with a few things from London? And then we can have a nice long chat.'
To the convent
Rain lashes the black rock island. A few pale lights glow near the summit. A cold welcome.
You've moved to a new area: The Convent
'Approaching Journey's End' has been reset: a conclusion, or a new beginning?
Your 'Troubled Waters' Quality has gone!
An Experienced Zailor is increasing…
Ambition: Bag a Legend! - Landfall at the Convent
The Sisterhood's convent sits on a black spit of an island, hidden and alone…
unlocked with Ambition: Bag a Legend! 44
Making shore
You've picked a bad time to visit. The keening wind smashes wave after wave against the rocks. Will you be able to land at all?
Dangerous challenge, very modest (80%) at 158
What a welcome!
A creak, then a scream as a section of rudder snaps off on an underwater spur. You're nearly there, but the jetty is small - built for boats much smaller than your vessel. It's the only place to land. Anchoring and rowing ashore is out of the question in this weather. Through the spray, you can see figures on the headland. Black figures, indistinct in the gloom. Perhaps a dozen of them. You're wrestling with the wheel when a quartet of lines slap over the rail. Your crew is quick enough to catch a couple and tie them. Ten minutes later, your ship is safely moored. You step to the jetty to find a squad of sodden nuns glaring at you. A burly veteran wipes the rain from her wimple and prods a thick finger at you. 'We're going back to Vespers. And you can stay out here until we're done.'
Dangerous increase
Ambition: Bag a Legend! has increased to 46!
Ambition: Bag a Legend! - Outside Convent
You stand outside the convent, in the cold rain…
unlocked with Ambition: Bag a Legend! 46
Nothing to do but wait
You stand outside the convent, in the cold rain. Lights within burn merrily.
Watchful challenge, modest (70%) at 138
Meeting the Sisters
A bell somewhere above you marks out the hour. The gloom is thick here, but you can see that this place has been built for defence more than utility. The narrow stone stairway leading to the convent would be murderous to storm. The convent's walls are thick, and you have a suspicion that the lump sticking out of the roof might be a cannon rather than a gargoyle. Vespers is over. The iron-studded door opens a crack and you squeeze in. A dozen nuns eye you with expressions that range from suspicion to curiosity. Everyone is armed - they all carry the spiked rosaries you've seen before. A few have revolvers. One has an axe, and she doesn't look like she's about to fetch firewood. Most have dark skin. A Coptic sect, perhaps? A tiny bell rings in a side room. The nun with the axe gestures towards a door. You enter and find yourself in the Mother Superior's office. It has more of the war room than the cloister. Maps are pinned to tables, with little paper flags marking objectives. The walls are hung with rifles and the stuffed heads of beasts - a marsh-wolf, a giant slug and a spiky… sea-urchin thing. The Mother Superior's face bears claw-scars. An attack long ago that cost her an eye. She motions for you to sit with her. 'So, you found us then? Our agent in London said you'd be here soon. And that you're a promising sort. Seen the great beast and survived, eh? Well, let me tell you something. We're nuns now. But don't let the habits fool you. We're here to fight. And if you're half the Vake-hunter that I've been told you are, we'll help you.'
Watchful increase
Ambition: Bag a Legend! has increased to 47!
Staying with the Nuns
The Sisterhood's hospitality is hardly sumptuous…But it's that or the rocks outside
Ears flapping
Wrap your coat tight, sit by the fire and listen to the nuns swap stories.
5 actions
Watchful challenge, low risk (90%) at 180
Zzzzzz
You have a warm spot by the fire, and it's been a long day. You pretend to fall asleep, snoring like a broken steam-boiler for added authenticity. It's an old trick, but it works. The talk in the little study is far from spiritual. The nuns talk about the politics of Italy, revolutions in the Americas and the price of imported photographs. Most of them have never seen the Surface, but they're fascinated by the idea of the sky. When one starts reciting some overwrought Celestial poetry you actually drift off.
Watchful increase
You've gained 13 x Vision of the Surface
Ambition: Bag a Legend! - Weighed and Measured
unlocked with Ambition: Bag a Legend! 47
Is that how it is?
The Mother Superior sucks her teeth. 'Jenny vouches for you, and that does mean something. But I'm afraid I'll have to see for myself.' She shrugs and leaves the room. Armed nuns burst through every door and window, intent on your demise!
Dangerous challenge, modest (78%) at 157
Blood on the wimple
You dodge the first fusillade of bullets, and kick over a table for cover. Two tiny nuns with daggers leap over it and stab at you. While you're dealing with them, that big bruiser with the axe hacks your makeshift defence into kindling. A novice tosses throwing blades at your face. Few people are violently disposed towards nuns by nature. However, these particular sisters will tear you into chunks unless you defend yourself. You pull a bayonetted rifle from the wall and lay about yourself with it, sending wimples flying. You bludgeon, stab and shoot your way through the sacred warriors. You run out of nuns before you run out of bullets. The Mother Superior returns, and tuts over your handiwork. 'Robust enough, I'll grant you. And quick. But you've killed two of them. Sloppy. They'll get penance when they're back, and we'll have to teach you a little more finesse. Still, it's good to see that Jenny has the right of you.'
Dangerous increase
Ambition: Bag a Legend! has increased to 48!
Ambition: Bag a Legend! - Vigilance
The Mother Superior of the Sisterhood says, 'Well, I suppose you're fierce enough…But will you see the signs when they come?'
unlocked with Ambition: Bag a Legend! 48
Vigilance
'Vigilance,' says the Mother Superior, lighting her pipe, 'is the hunter's virtue. Go and stand in the corner. Turn around the moment before I tap your shoulder.'
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Vigilant
You stare into the dusty corner. Plain mahogany panelling that could use a clean. Still air. The carriage clock in the room next door chimes on the quarter hour. The silent minutes drag into hours. Something. A shriek and the beat of leathery wings far away, and high up. Are you hearing things? Has the Vake dared to come here? Or are your senses now closely attuned to it that you can follow its movements? The lightest of sack-cloth rustles. The faintest hint of tobacco. You reach around and grab the Mother Superior's wrist, an inch from your shoulder. Your vigilance is beyond question. You've proved all you need to. Now for some answers.
Ambition: Bag a Legend! has increased to 49!
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Ambition: Bag a Legend! - The Sisterhood
An elderly nun with ink-stained fingers presents the Mother Superior with a sheaf of papers…The Mother Superior's eyes narrow and she mutters under her breath. Nuns shouldn't know words like that.
unlocked with Ambition: Bag a Legend! 49
Buying secrets
The Mother Superior says, 'The Circumcellions have got our supply steamer again. Can you take pity on penniless nuns and help us out with a few things from London? And then we can have a nice long chat.'
unlocked with 2 x Collection of Curiosities, 2 Cellars of Wine, 1000 Silk Scrap, 2000 Rat on a String
The real work
Your crew and the sisters drag the crated supplies from your ship. When each crate has been inspected and logged, the burly nun with the axe points you to a narrow spiral staircase. The Mother Superior wants to speak with you on the roof. You struggle to keep your feet under you. The wind on the roof is fierce. It billows the Mother Superior's habit out behind her like ink in water. She's leaning on the rooftop cannon. You notice that the cannon's carriage has been altered - the gun can fire straight up. 'You're a good hunter, I can see that,' she shouts above the wind. 'Best we've had in a good while. So we'll take a chance on you. My sisters and I have been watching the Vake for a many years. Since the Second City, in fact. We were a royal house then. We played those black-cloaked vultures for fools, so we did. Beat them at their own game and pulled the nose of the Bazaar. And they never forgave us. Kept the youngest sister hostage while the rest of us ran for it. We ended up here. It was all for nothing, as it turned out. Those dned feather-wearing heathen P… no. That's a story for a different day. The Sisterhood have been many things since those days. Scholars. Carnival performers. Explorers. And now nuns. But we've always kept watch. And if we can endure the wrath of the Masters for centuries without number, we can dn well do anything.' 'So, you're ready for the real work. I think we can kill the Vake. Or at least you can, with our help. But you're going to need some training. And to find out some secrets. Let's get to it. Once you've trained for a while, I'll tell you what we think the Vake actually is. This is the end of Bag a Legend for now
Ambition: Bag a Legend! has increased to 50!
Put to Zee!
Your ship is ready. The wide black waves await.
Lay in supplies and sail Stow your supplies, bid a farewell to nuns and set out to zee!
Out to zee
You steam briskly away through the swells. Let's hope you'll be able to land safely next time you visit.
You've moved to a new area: the Broad Unterzee
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