Things to do in Veilgarden...
When your Persuasive is 31-40
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The Curate and his… Sister?
Certainly, they're both rich and certainly, they're both handsome. You've heard peculiar stories about these two, but your exploits have given you a taste for intrigue.
Unlocked with Persuasive 33 (No longer available with Persuasive 48 or Intrigue: the curate and his sister 1)
Begin to work your way into their affections.
Rich, handsome…and virtuous. Would it be any fun if it were too easy?
(Persuasive challenge; chancy at 36, modest at 38, straightforward at 42)
Their address, and your second-best clothes
Find out more first. Then perhaps you can decide how to approach them.
Begun a new venture!
Intrigue: The curate and his sister
An occurrence! Your
'the Subject of Admiring Attention' Quality is now 1!
Something else will happen soon… don't worry. All shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.
Gossip with the Melancholy Curate's servants
You have your eye on a handsome curate, or possibly his equally handsome Enigmatic Sister. If she is his sister…
Unlocked with Persuasive 33, Intrigue: the curate and his sister 1 (No longer available with Investigating… 7)
Charm information out of them
Servants are all but invisible. A forgetful employer might share confidences when they're in the room…
Raising Investigating… to 3 will unlock more possibilities
(Persuasive challenge; high-risk at 34, modest at 38, straightforward at 41)
Scraps and tidbits
The details you learn vary from the fascinating to the completely trivial. She has a weakness for yellow silk. He has a terrible singing voice. She plays the piano. He speaks 'all kinds of foreign languages'. She does missionary work among the Clay Men. She likes her tea with three sugars…
Persuasive increase
Gain: 37 x Whispered Secret
Investigating… increase (2 change points)
An especially intriguing tidbit…
They have separate bedrooms. Of course. They're brother and sister. But once a month, they spend all night praying together, alone in the curate's bedroom.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 37 x
Whispered Secret
Gain: 1 x
Cryptic Clue
Investigating… increase
No-one's talking to you
You must seem a little too eager.
Persuasive increase
Scandal increase
Attend a service at the Melancholy Curate's church
He doesn't have a reputation for entertaining sermons. But his Enigmatic Sister attends, too. you might learn something.
Unlocked with Persuasive 33, Intrigue: the curate and his sister 1, Investigating… 3 (No longer available with Investigating… 9)
Watch and listen
This may be the dullest sermon you've ever heard. But the church is warm, his voice is soothing, and you can admire his profile, or his sister's, at your leisure…
Raising Investigating… to 8 will unlock more possibilities.
(Persuasive challenge; modest at 38, low-risk at 42)
Fearfully dull, but…
…you learn a fair amount about the Melancholy Curate's character. And you eavesdrop when his sister talks to his parishioners. Also, on the way out you snaffle a number of spare candles. The church has plenty, after all.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 37 x Foxfire Candle Stub
Investigating… increase (2 change points)
Nodding off delightfully…
The warmth, the soothing voice, the ususually comfortable pews. You drift away into a dream. You might be moved to embarrassment that you dreamed of such things in a church. But if your dreams are a hint of what is to come…
Persuasive increase
Gain: 7 x
Romantic Notion
Investigating… increase
You're shaken awake!
Whoops! Dropped right off, there. Everyone is glaring at you. You sink into your seat. Will the Curate or his Sister remember your face?
Persuasive increase
Investigating… decrease
Present your compliments to the Curate and his sister…
It's time to visit the Melancholy Curate and his Enigmatic Sister. Polish your smile.
Unlocked with Persuasive 33, Intrigue: The curate and his sister 1, Investigating… 8 (No longer available with Investigating… 15)
Knock on the door with a bunch of fresh fungus
'I've heard so much about the work you and your brother have done here: in all honesty I'm overcome with admiration!'
Raising Investigating… to 10 will unlock more possibilities.
(Persuasive challenge; modest at 38, straightforward at 42)
A pleasant afternoon
You're welcomed inside. There is tea, cake and piano music. The house is as you'd heard: considerable luxury, for a mere curate. The Melancholy Curate is indeed gloomy, but full of erudite conversation, and burningly charismatic up close. His sister has much less to say for herself. You catch her watching you uncertainly over the rim of her tea-cup. But you do feel you're making progress.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 18 x Cryptic Clue
Investigating… increase
Delve into the secrets of the Curate and his sister…
There's definitely a mystery here. You should find out more before you get in too deep.
Raising Investigating… to 14 will unlock more possibilities.
Unlocked with Persuasive 33, Intrigue: The curate and his sister 1, Investigating… 10 (No longer available with Investigating… 20)
A tale of woe
Perhaps you could share some invented confidences of your own, and hope it prompts a confession from them. It might backfire if they don't believe you.
(Persuasive challenge; modest at 40, straightforward at 44)
'No, no, we were not always as you see us, either…'
They've led a complicated life. Missionary work in the West Indies. An unfinished medical degree in Prague. She inherited some sort of import-export business, but if you understand correctly, it all went wrong? Oh, and apparently she's his
adopted sister.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 18 x Cryptic Clue
Investigating… increase
(2 change points)
'No. No, we were not always as you see us, either…'
They've led a complicated life. Missionary work in the West Indies. An unfinished medical degree in Prague. He adds, 'Of course, that was before St Dunstan's - ' and then stops short. She lays a warning hand on his arm. The conversation ends there. St Dunstan's? That's over in Spite.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 18 x Cryptic Clue
Investigating… increase
Up the back stairs…
Or you could just rifle furtively through their bedrooms, if you think you're stealthy enough. Don't get caught.
(Shadowy challenge; straightforward at 35)
Unexpected finds
There: spilling from a desk drawer, a sheaf of correspondence. You snatch it up and leave. Fascinating stuff. His years studying the voodoo traditions of the West Indies…a bill of sale for an extraordinary quantity of brass… Good Lord! a half-burned fragment of rather a frank love-letter, signed by his sister. Was it addressed to him? Hard to be sure. But it was in his desk.
Shadowy increase
Gain: 6 x Stolen Correspondence
Investigating… increase
(2 change points)
Unexpected finds
There: spilling from a desk drawer, a sheaf of correspondence. You snatch it up and leave. Fascinating stuff. His years studying the voodoo traditions of the West Indies…a bill of sale for an extraordinary quantity of brass…and
an expired infernal contract! It's not in his name or his sister's. These things are bought and sold as conversation pieces. But it's unusual for a clergyman to keep one in his desk. To say the least.
Shadowy increase
Gain: 1 x An Infernal Contract
Gain: 2 x Stolen Correspondence
Investigating… increase
(4 change points)
Read poetry with the Melancholy Curate and his Sister
The incautious reading of poetry may inflame passions. Which would be nice.
Raising Investigating… to 18 will unlock more possibilities.
Unlocked with Persuasive 33, Intrigue: The curate and his sister 1, Investigating… 14
Propose the reading of something improving
One of the classics. Something to encourage reflections on things that are beautiful and things that pass.
(Persuasive challenge; modest at 40, straightforward at 44)
The Curate's Sister sobs decorously
Even the Curate can't suppress a single tear. Although you notice he catches it carefully in a handkerchief and burns the handkerchief as you leave. In any case, your shared emotion has brought you all a little closer.
Persuasive increase
Investigating… increase
(1 change point)
Propose the reading of something stimulating
Some popular recent poetry borders on the decadent, and even the indecent. It might steer the conversation in promising directions. Or it might get you thrown out into the street.
(Persuasive challenge; modest at 43)
Extraordinary.
By the time the Curate's Sister finishes reading that business about the seven sorrows, her voice is trembling a little, all three of you are faintly flushed and the temperature in the room has risen appreciably.
Persuasive increase
Investigating… increase
(3 change points)
What did she just say?
By the time the Curate's Sister finishes reading that business about the seven sorrows, her voice is trembling a little, all three of you are faintly flushed and the temperature in the room has risen appreciably. Intriguingly, you're sure you hear the Sister murmur: 'There's nowhere like home.'
Persuasive increase
Investigating… increase
(16 change points)
That didn't go down well
The Curate gets as far as a slightly anatomical reference and a distinctly pagan one, frowns and abruptly recalls an appointment with a parishioner. The atmosphere as you are escorted from the room is definitely chilly.
Persuasive increase
Investigating… decrease
Complete your acquaintance with the Melancholy Curate. Or his Enigmatic Sister.
You are now a regular and very welcome visitor to their household. And both of them have dropped hints that you might become more welcome still. Your last poetry session ended very late: tonight you sleep in the guest bedroom.
Unlocks: Persuasive 35, Intrigue: The curate and his sister 1, Investigating… 18
Knock on the Melancholy Curate's door
You think you've learnt enough about your target to make a convincing play for his affections.
(Investigating… challenge; modest at 20)
A memorable night, and a peculiar breakfast
You learn a great deal that night. The Melancholy Curate's education has been quite extensive, and he is delighted to share his knowledge. There are details of the situation that you find a little alarming, but, well, you've come this far.
You and the Curate both arrive a little late at breakfast. His Sister does not remark on it, but a peculiar smile hovers around her lips.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 39 x Silk Scrap
Gain: 4 x Appalling Secret
Hedonist increase
~5-10 change points
Your
Intrigue: The curate and his sister Quality has gone!
(Although it doesn't say so.)
Your
Investigating… Quality has gone!
(Although it doesn't say so.)
A misunderstanding
The Curate is deep in… prayer? Although does one need black candles to pray? He does not take kindly to the interruption. You apologise and withdraw. Perhaps another time.
Persuasive increase
Investigating… Quality decrease
Scandal increase
Knock on the Enigmatic Sister's door
You think you've learnt enough about your target to make a convincing play for her affections.
(Investigating… challenge; modest at 20)
A memorable night, and a peculiar breakfast
The Enigmatic Sister is everything you might have hoped, and indeed, some things you didn't expect. Her origins may be more exotic than you'd expected. Although if this is so, why is she here? And with a clergyman of all people? Still. A remarkable few hours.
You take the opportunity to retrieve some souvenirs on the way down to breakfast. You are both a little late. The Curate does not remark on it, but he seems sterner and gloomier than ever this morning.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 42 x Silk Scrap
Hedonist increase
~5-10 change points
Gain: 58 x Nevercold Brass Sliver
Your
Intrigue: The curate and his sister Quality has gone!
(Although it doesn't say so.)
Your
Investigating… Quality has gone!
(Although it doesn't say so.)
Bad timing?
The Sister's window is open. The room is freezing cold. And her bed has not been slept in. You withdraw, puzzled. Perhaps another time.
Persuasive increase
Investigating… Quality decrease
Do you know…I think both of them are rather charming.
Is she his sister? How open-minded are these modern clergy? Perhaps it's time to find out. But if this goes wrong, your relationship with them will be utterly destroyed. [Succeed or fail, your Investigating will be reset.]
(Investigating… challenge; almost impossible challenge at 20, modest at 26, straightfoward at 30)
A night which leaves you lost for words.
'Exceptional'? 'Unforgettable?' 'Ineradicable?' Well, you can hardly bring yourself to regret it, although it raises concerns about the destination of your soul that you thought you were long past. You are quite certain, now, that she is not his sister; that he was human once, and in many senses still is; that they don't have a single soul between them; and that she, at least, doesn't feel she's losing anything by it. You are not certain whether they knew all along exactly what you were up to.
By mutual agreement, the three of you decide not to take your breakfast in the dining room the next morning. A servant of unimpeachable discretion brings you tea, toast and marmalade, closing the door very quietly behind him.
Hedonist increase
~15-20 change points
Persuasive increase
Gain: 80 x Silk Scrap
Gain: 4 x Appalling Secret
Gain: 1 x Incendiary Gossip
Your
Intrigue: The curate and his sister Quality has gone!
Your
Investigating… Quality has gone!
Both of them are rather charming…but let's not take any chances.
Perhaps they'll come to you. And if not, you'll wait for a better opening. [This choice allows you to retain your Investigating… if you fail.]
Requires 6 Fate
Fate-locked content must not be placed on the wiki, per the developers.
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Venture: uncover hidden tattoos
You've heard that a Tattooed Courier is carrying secrets of especial value. If you can only arrange to see those coded tattoos…
Unlocked with Persuasive 36 (No longer available at Persuasive 47)
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Storylets for this Venture all occur in Veilgarden. They are gathered on their own page. |
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Not quite archaeology
A friend has found a valuable cache of Second City relics. Well, 'found'. More correctly, 'baked some clay tablets, scratched nonsense into them and then rubbed them with dust.' But that's a pedant's objection.
Unlocks: Persuasive 37, Connected: Criminals 1 (No longer available at Persuasive 52)
Play the Professor
Your acquaintance needs someone who can pass as a scholar. Your role will be to nod judiciously for a bit and then go wide-eyed with excitement at the significance of your find.
(Persuasive challenge; modest at 42, straightforward at 46)
'Do you know what you have here?'
Your voice shakes. Your hand trembles. You improvise ever more fantastic details about the Second City. You go down on your knees and plead for the relic-seller to donate them to your university. The heartless wretch ignores you and sells them to his original customer for a crate of Shrieks! No, wait, that's what you wanted. Here's your share.
Persuasive increase
Gain: 20 x Primordial Shriek
'For Science. For Knowledge. For Posterity!'
Your voice shakes. Your hand trembles. You improvise ever more fantastic details about the Second City. You go down on your knees and plead for the relic-seller to donate them to your university. Hoorah! The customer has a change of heart and refuses to buy! She will not deprive a scholarly institution of this find! No, wait! That wasn't in the plan!
Persuasive increase
Scandal increase
Fabricate and then foil an elaborate plan to steal the tablets
Well, if they’ve been stolen then they must be worth something, right?
(Watchful challenge)
'And this is how the villains did it…'
You arrange for the counterfeit tablets to be stolen and immediately declare yourself on the case. You make a great show of picking up clues, interviewing witnesses and building a picture of how the crime was committed. The potential buyers are fascinated, and when you recover the tablets, they immediately buy them at an inflated price. There is, apparently, one born every minute.
Watchful increase
Gain: 22 x Primordial Shriek
What is wrong with the criminals in this city?
You arrange for the counterfeit tablets to be stolen. That's the last you hear of them or the robbers. You curse the lack of reliable criminal henchmen in the Neath.
Now you're reaching higher levels, failures at Persuasive challenges will often increase your Scandal. There are many ways to reduce Scandal, including a social action when it rises high enough.
Watchful incerease
Scandal increase
