babelfishwars
Administrator
Posts: 1152
4/28/2016
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The Exceptional Story for May is here!
You are invited to a marvellous party!
Be served by trained Pentecost Apes whose aspirations of humanity will amuse and repel. Discover the dark culinary secrets of the Empire of Hands. Just keep a tight grip on your soul.
Treachery. Revenge. Canapés. RSVP for a night you'll never forget.
Play An Exceptional Story: Tea and Sympathy to begin, available throughout London.
The Pentecost Predicament was written by Richard Cobbett. Editing, QA and special thanks: Chandler Groover, Chris Gardiner, James Chew and Olivia Wood. Art by Paul Arendt.
EXCEPTIONAL FRIENDSHIP
In addition to a new, substantial, stand-alone story every month, Exceptional Friends enjoy:
- Access to the House of Chimes: an exclusive private member's club on the Stolen River, packed with content
- An expanded opportunity deck: of ten cards instead of six!
- A second candle: Twice the actions! 40 at once!
This is the final story in the Family Ties season. If you've played The Frequently Deceased and The Seven-Day Reign, finishing this story will make you eligible for an additional opportunity, to follow.
If you want to keep an Exceptional Story beyond the month it’s for, you must complete the related storylet in the House of Chimes. This will save it for you to return to another time.
AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE!
Exceptional Stories usually change over on the last Thursday of the month, with the new story replacing the previous one. Unusually, The Seven-Day Reign is going to be available to play for a further week! This serves as a welcome to the new Exceptional Friends who’ve joined us since we launched in the App Store. (Hello!)
Please remember to be liberal with your use of spoiler tags when discussing this story. If you're unsure whether something is a spoiler, use the tag! Here's a reminder of our position on spoilers and guidance.
edited by babelfishwars on 4/28/2016
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Mars, God of Fish; Leaning Tower of Fish
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The Duke of Waltham
Posts: 150
4/28/2016
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And thus the Seven-Day Reign becomes the Seven-Day Regency...
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The Duke of Waltham welcomes requests for assistance from those troubled by menaces, and His Grace's townhouse is always open to visitors who will not attempt to steal the silverware or extract support for yet another ill-advised scheme concerning photographers.
H. Cartwright, secretary.
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Kalix
Posts: 50
4/28/2016
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Hmm. I just saw the description of this story on the Fate page, and scared a cat off the sofa by wailing "Oh no, please not cannibalism again!". And it started so well...
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+3
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Kylestien
Posts: 749
4/28/2016
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Kalix wrote:
Hmm. I just saw the description of this story on the Fate page, and scared a cat off the sofa by wailing "Oh no, please not cannibalism again!". And it started so well...
Prehaps that's exactly what they WANT you to think, and the real dark culinary secret of the Empire of Hands is that they don't use knifes and forks. The horror!
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I will accept all actions, though I hold the right to refuse for my own reasons. However, if you explain WHY you send me a harmful action like Loitering or Dantes,And I feel the reason good, I will consider it more. http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Kylestien
Persuasive patron. You want a lesson, send me a message asking for one.
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Mr Sables
Posts: 597
4/28/2016
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Kalix wrote:
Hmm. I just saw the description of this story on the Fate page, and scared a cat off the sofa by wailing "Oh no, please not cannibalism again!". And it started so well...
I don't think there's any cannibalism? At least so far . . .
Then again, I totally missed the cannibalism aspect of the last story, so don't take my word XD
[spoiler]I'm loving the story itself so far; disliking the timed mechanic, as it places a huge amount of stress on the player, and timed levels are things I've always despised in games . . . it's just way too much, especially when one likes to explore and read the stories at hand, as I'm living in total fear my first two failures (luck might not have been a great requirement for that check) will stop me from doing all I need. The fact needing to go back to my cage erases all progress also is frustrating. So - yeah - I'm loathing that side of it.
I love the variety of mechanics, though, as the flash lay was unexpected but fun to play. I do tend to play those on auto-pilot though, without reading, so it can feel more of a grind (as the content isn't personalised to the story), but it was a nice break and gave a nice change to usual mechanics. The story is also fun and different. Adoring what it brings to the soul trade, the addition to new lore, and the new characters that seem very unique and quite interesting, even for brief cameos 
I'll leave more thoughts when I'm finished; the length is excellent, too, as it doesn't feel over too quickly and has a well-paced narrative I'd say four stars so far, but . . . yeah, this part is insanely stressful XD[/spoiler]
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Kalix
Posts: 50
4/28/2016
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I am relieved 
I actually really liked this one, especially after the Young Stags- it was still a bit dark, but it didn't leave me sad :-)
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absimiliard
Posts: 759
4/28/2016
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They know what they did....
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"Because, Parabola!" -- the Curious Captain
Eating nightmares from friends -- and I'm easy to befriend.
Absimiliard: the Black Rose of Wolfstack Docks
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M. Cinder
Posts: 25
4/28/2016
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I do hope it's not cannibalism. They are already apes. They really don't need any more savagery.
My guess right now is something to do with souls and spirifage, but I might just be biased due to the apes being receptacles for the souls of the damned.
I am slow with these stories intentionally, so hopefully the discussion don't die out before I finish it.
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+5
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Mr Sables
Posts: 597
4/28/2016
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Just finished the story
Excellent work! I was so glad that the time-mechanic allowed enough space for me to do what I needed to do, as that was what terrified me when I first saw it pop up! XD The choices were amazingly inclusive of everything any potential player could want to pick, and the outcomes were fascinating and very well written. It was perfect length and had a lovely variety of game mechanics
It's one I'd love to replay one day, as there were so many variations that seem they could lead to different outcomes . . . some massively so, some more subtler . . . can't say enough how much I enjoyed this one
[spoiler]Anyone know what happens if you pick to end early by burning a certain thing?[/spoiler]
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Bertrand Leonidas Poole
Posts: 335
4/28/2016
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Even though we don't really know much of the Cardsharp Moneky's origins or intentions, and really have no clue as to whether it is even a Pentecost variety at all, or just an unusually intelligent monkey, there is one thing rather bugging me.
What did it bet in the Marvellous? What did that other pious fellow with the burning eyes bet, while we are on the subject?
What does that monkey even hope to win?
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+4
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Dinjoralo
Posts: 9
4/28/2016
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Well, this looks like it'll be fun...
Wait, I need three of my menaces lowered before I can even get into the good stuff? What? Come on, now...
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Dinjoralo, a secretive gentleman who does whatever he fancies. Particularly loves the warmth of Hell's finest. Finds entertainment in watching flawed people live their banal, meaningless lives, while bizarre things happen around them.
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M. Cinder
Posts: 25
4/28/2016
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Bertrand Leonidas Poole wrote:
Even though we don't really know much of the Cardsharp Moneky's origins or intentions, and really have no clue as to whether it is even a Pentecost variety at all, or just an unusually intelligent monkey, there is one thing rather bugging me.
What did it bet in the Marvellous? What did that other pious fellow with the burning eyes bet, while we are on the subject?
What does that monkey even hope to win?
It's not out of the question that it was a human who bet their humanity and lost it.
edited by M. Cinder on 4/28/2016
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Optimatum
Posts: 3666
4/28/2016
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When I first remembered this was for Family Ties I wondered whether my aunt was getting back into spirifage with a new group of buyers.
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Optimatum, a ruthless and merciful gentleman. No plant battles, Affluent Photographer requests, or healing offers; all other social actions welcome.
 Want a sip of Cider? Just say hi!
PM me for information enigmatic or Fated. Though the forum please, not FL itself.
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Trilby
Posts: 290
4/28/2016
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I'm going to regret not takeing the tea, aren't I?
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Hark DeGaul
Posts: 208
4/28/2016
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I'm not sure if anyone else has gotten this, but...
[spoiler]When leaving the kithcen of the Merchant's house I got an autofire event with a shoeless child. I chose the second option and pressed onwards but instead of taking me onwards it's just looped me back around to the same event. Is that supposed to happen or is that a bug?[/spoiler]
edited by Hark DeGaul on 4/28/2016
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The Dawn-Eyed Optician: http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Hark%20DeGaul
That Vicar Who Ruined the Royal Wedding for Everyone (including himself): http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Hebediah%20Fix
The Dreaded Relative: http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Your%20Aunt
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Trilby
Posts: 290
4/28/2016
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Also, was I supposed to do something to get the merchant's key?
I didn't really get anything special from the party itself. Aside from a 2 journals of infamy.
edited by Triliby on 4/28/2016
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suinicide
Posts: 2409
4/28/2016
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You can grab the key in a bit. I think its just so you don't have to do the luck check again if you fail during the first night.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/profile/sunnytime
A gentleman seeking the liberation of knowledge, with a penchant for violence.
RIP suinicide, stuck in a well. Still has it under control.
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Kylestien
Posts: 749
4/28/2016
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I just keep failing the luck check. It's now 11:15 and I'm still stuck in this cage.
...How am I even sending this message anyway? 0-0
edited by Kylestien on 4/28/2016
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I will accept all actions, though I hold the right to refuse for my own reasons. However, if you explain WHY you send me a harmful action like Loitering or Dantes,And I feel the reason good, I will consider it more. http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Kylestien
Persuasive patron. You want a lesson, send me a message asking for one.
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suinicide
Posts: 2409
4/28/2016
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I think thats how long I spent stuck in there too. The cage is nothing more than a front for the RNG.
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/profile/sunnytime
A gentleman seeking the liberation of knowledge, with a penchant for violence.
RIP suinicide, stuck in a well. Still has it under control.
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Optimatum
Posts: 3666
4/28/2016
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I drank the tea. And I now have Menace: A Terrible Itch 1 - MAKE IT STOP!
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Optimatum, a ruthless and merciful gentleman. No plant battles, Affluent Photographer requests, or healing offers; all other social actions welcome.
Want a sip of Cider? Just say hi!
PM me for information enigmatic or Fated. Though the forum please, not FL itself.
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