James StAnthony
Administrator
Posts: 28
11/28/2019
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The Exceptional Story for December is here!
You are invited to join the Mollusca Tour de London! Intrigue, dirty tricks and all manner of slugs abound! Who will win – who will cheat – and what will be the cost for racer and gambler alike?
Por Una Cabeza is the first story in the Season of Animals and was written by Chandler Groover. In this season you will experience three stories of the bonds between human and beast, the fauna of the Neath and the divides between London and the animal kingdom.
Begin with the Season of Animals card available throughout London.
Editing and QA: James Chew and Olivia Wood
Art: Tobias Cook
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 members’ 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!
Finishing all three stories in the Season of Animals will make you eligible for an additional opportunity, to follow.
If you want to keep an Exceptional Story beyond its release month, you must complete the related storylet in the current Season’s card. This will save it for you to return to another time.
EN: Updated with a link to Chandler's website!
edited by James StAnthony on 12/9/2019
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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1783
12/9/2019
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I understand that Chandler always uses as many of the player character's resources as he can. Which is... amazing. Even if it's just a mention of your profession, or your accomplishments. First because it makes you happy and makes the story more alive and personal, and second because it leaves no annoying plot-holes, that slight disconnect you feel when an ES pretends you have never been to the palace before. Masterful!
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Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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Nonomori
Posts: 25
12/23/2019
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Something curious happened to me after playing this story.
[spoiler]
One of the slugs is called The Zahir, which is the title of a short story by Jorge Luis Borges. When Doña Villar reveals her name (Clementina), I suspected a reference to the work of Borges.
Google soon gave me the answer: Clementina Villar is, in certain editions of the story, a character from that same story. Doña Villar seems to be a nod to this character, or could even be herself.
But then I found that in other editions of the story the character is not called Clementina, but Teodelina Villar. In fact, in ALL the references, extracts and articles that I have seen she is called Teodelina, not Clementina (I have consulted my own copy and she is also called Teodelina Villar).
It seems that Teodelina Villar is the original name of the character, or at least the most widespread, but I have no idea why there is another version of the story with a different name.
[/spoiler]
edited by Nonomori on 12/23/2019
edited by Nonomori on 12/23/2019
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Vahniel
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Optimatum
Posts: 3666
11/29/2019
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Another lovely Chandler story! The plot was humorous and gripping, the prose delectable, and Doña Villar's characterization was fantastic. This story falls slightly below My Kingdom and Cricket for me, but playing this was still a blast. Though his prior stories leave Chandler's general plot direction more predictable, the execution of the twists and mechanical depth felt fresh as always. (Though I was less impressed with this particular Ending Weirdness scene.) And like others, I'm grateful for a chance to use my Cider for good!
I wonder how many people will intentionally lose their bet, or sabotage hers...
Μαρσ wrote:
Ehm.. When and how exactly should the race move forward? I have tore down my lodgings during the first leg of the race, only to find out the slugs haven't moved at all: Por una Cabeza remains at 41, and nothing I do seems to change it.
Check the newspaper from the main storylet! Each phase of the race, you need to both investigate in one location and watch the race at another.
--
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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Diptych
Administrator
Posts: 3493
12/3/2019
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Amalgamate wrote:
Lettucefighting happens, I believe, every 2 phonograph actions.
...this game really is rather special.
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Sir Frederick, the Libertarian Esotericist. Lord Hubris, the Bloody Baron.
Juniper Brown, the Ill-Fated Orphan. Esther Ellis-Hall, the Fashionable Fabian.
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Optimatum
Posts: 3666
12/6/2019
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I actually quite liked our inability to change the outcome this time. In most Exceptional Stories, the protagonist is a powerful force who can singlehandedly decide outcomes affecting many other characters. When we're guaranteed to fail, it furthers the story but often isn't sufficiently justified by in-story elements. For example, last month people said that The Committee's endings dissatisfied because each led to the same outcome, when in-universe many of our characters could have done more. It's the cutscene incompetence problem: our character is smart enough to beat the Boatman at chess but is tricked by some NPC, or can rob the Bazaar but can't sneak up on an amateur. The difference with this story is that your character isn't outplayed by someone less qualified—the game is rigged from the start. We're not forced to lose, it just doesn't matter when we win.
It also helps that, unlike Chandler's previous stories, this one ends up character-focused. We still have the trappings of an adventure story, gallivanting around and uncovering secrets, and that part's definitely fun. But while the big event of the story implies the racers are the important ones, the real focus is the woman who, for most of the story, seemingly does nothing to contribute. I can see why someone might dislike her shameless, unbeatable cheating, but that's not the point of her character. We're told from the start that she cons people; the story is about learning why.
--
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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Arcengal
Posts: 196
12/7/2019
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I feel like Chandler can't really put a foot wrong. Every story I've played that he's written (including my first, the Rat Catcher) has been simply amazing.
[spoiler] I can understand the murmurings about our actions not mattering as a player, but having gone from wanting the rats to win to suddenly wanting the urchins to win to OH LORD WHAT DO I TELL HER TO BET ON?!, it was a terrific ride and I was genuinely stumped about what to do in the end. I was glad of the happy ending because it made me feel my choices mattered, even if there was no *wrong* choice. I do feel the outcome of her bet with Hell should have been more impactful than it turned out to be (I chose to help her win) but, again, it was so well-written and well paced that I can't complain.[/spoiler]
I also loved that me going to Flute Street was something that came up, and from what I'm seeing I'm envious of all your crazy cider owners.
Was there a different bit of text for anyone on Heart's Desire! ? I saw that was a requirement for the lines I saw.
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Arcengal
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NotaWalrus
Posts: 221
12/9/2019
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I did also kinda like how our choices didn't matter so much. It was refreshing to face off against a mastermind who already has all the cards, has prepared for every eventuality, and just needs you to play your own part. This story nailed the feeling of being a pawn in greater game more than any story related to the Great Game I have played.
We didn't have a chance to change the outcome and that's kind of the point. After all, we have a 0% chance of success.
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http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/NotaWalrus
Ignacious, the Fluid Professor, he will accept most social invitations, including boxed cats and affluent photographers (but only betrayals), though he is absent-minded and might take more time than entirely necessary. He apologizes.
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Azothi
Posts: 586
11/28/2019
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PSA: For those of us with a certain apple cider, there's a little something at the end.
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Azoth I, the Emissary of Cardinals - A Paramount Presence (not currently accepting new Proteges)
Away to where the Chain cannot bind us.
 Hesperidean.
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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1783
11/28/2019
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Oh God this was beautiful. Great characters. Great scenes. Amazing ending. And the Cider snippet in the end - that was really worth it.
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Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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mp
Posts: 43
11/29/2019
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[spoiler]The Rubbery outcome: https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/mp/17209146 [/spoiler]
edited by mp on 11/29/2019
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/mp
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Hattington
Posts: 210
11/29/2019
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mp wrote:
For those interested, I've echoed the secret ending mentioned by Azothi: https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/mp/17209344
As someone who grinded for years to get my own cider, I just wanted to say this story was worth it for finally having someone in-story I can share a sip with.
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The Dawnburnt Vake-Rider: https://www.fallenlondon.com/Profile/Hattington
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Jaina
Posts: 239
11/29/2019
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What a fabulous story. I got back to playing after a hiatus and wow, this story... it was truly exceptional. I'll admit to some bias as I've lived in Argentina and I have a great love for certain aspects of it... not to mention that I find Villar quite appealing and would happily have my character marry her were that possible.
I looked up the song 'Por Una Cabeza', and it's from 1935. I think this is additional confirmation (on top of the fact that their fashion is ahead of its time by a few decades) that Hell has at least some access to the future.
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Cair-Var, a power-hungry lover of Devils and Rubberies
Hungry Ego, A morally upstanding citizen
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Azothi
Posts: 586
12/19/2019
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Re: Lomias, regarding the story.
[spoiler]
Lomias wrote:
The second thing would be Doña Villar's very plan against the Dapper Devil. I know the writer wants to depict her as a cunning con-artist with her scheme go as planned. It almost succeeded, if it was not my character she has chosen to aid her in the bet where her soul is at stake. I mean, we don't even know each other before this race! Considering my character as such a fickle person (my bad), how could she be so certain that I would help her? I did, just because I was in the right mood to help someone, and I would be happy to see a devil's failure. I wouldn't risk my soul by having me at other's mercy (especially my character's) if I were Doña Villar!
This is one aspect of the story that makes more sense if you intentionally make Villar lose the bet. For reference, you can see that result here. The dice are already loaded. If you help her, she wins the bet. If you sabotage her, she doesn't lose anything. There's a reason why the Indebted Spirifer was around, after all. The reason she asks you to aid her is precisely that "we don't even know each other before this race!", as you say. To the Dapper Devil, you're nobody but a neutral witness to the contract. It's as she says:
Her Last Gamble wrote:
"I needed to cultivate a dispassionate third party. To play as fair as possible! And demonstrate, above all, that I'm not cheating. Not this time." She spends the rest of the race dancing with the Dapper Devil to prove she isn't cheating, and she secretly leaves the key with you - the "dispassionate third party". If she had an ally present, the devil would undoubtedly suspect foul play. It's another way to stack the deck right beneath the devil's nose. You're bait to tempt the devil into taking the bet, and you're a chance for her to guarantee victory, even when she has no need for it.
She says it best. "Even when I lose, I always win."
[/spoiler]
--
Azoth I, the Emissary of Cardinals - A Paramount Presence (not currently accepting new Proteges)
Away to where the Chain cannot bind us.
Hesperidean.
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phryne
Posts: 1347
12/29/2019
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This was the second story (after Cricket, Anyone?) in which we saw a devil dance the Correspondence, which I find very interesting, especially concerning devils' association with bees. After all, bees communicate by dancing.
I have a feeling that the Revolution in which the Devils overthrew the old order might've involved a lot of dancing. Maybe this is why they throw so many balls - maybe each ball is dedicated to a particular hero of the Revolution.
And now I want to see Virginia dance. Or maybe not. No, maybe rather not... 
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Accounts: Bag a Legend • Light Fingers • Heart's Desire • Nemesis • no ambition
Exceptional Stories, sorted by Season and by writer ― Favours & Renown Guide
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dov
Posts: 2580
12/24/2019
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Meradine Heidenreich wrote:
Has someone already mentioned that this title has its own Wikipedia page? (I was looking for a translation for the mouseover text...)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Por_una_Cabeza
Thank you so much. I've completely missed this fascinating layer of meaning.
--
 Want a sip of Hesperidean Cider? Send me a request in-game. Here's an_ocelot's guide how.
(Most social actions are welcome. Please no requests to Loiter Suspiciously and no investigations of the Affluent Photographer)
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Skinnyman
Posts: 2133
12/25/2019
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Maybe that with Christmas on the Surface and Sackmas down here some have forgotten about this exceptional story.
Just make sure to unlock it by tomorrow! 
Merry Sackmas!!!
--
ESs items and quality requirements sheet. Please check if there are errors or if something is missing
Achievement list if you're feeling bored!
I am accepting Plant battles, Neath's Mysteries card, Starveling Cats and boxed cats.
No suppers, no second chances gain and no need to cure my menaces!
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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1783
12/6/2019
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Huh. You really couldn't change the outcome. True. But the fact that I noticed it just now... and the fact that the game told you that from the beginning... when it gave you O% chance to beat Dona Villar... I don't know, I didn't mind. Perhaps because the end was heartwarming, for a change, and even though I disliked the protagonist, I didn't mind at all.
Will the next one be a weasel story? Let it be a weasel story.
--
Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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Skinnyman
Posts: 2133
12/27/2019
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Because it was delayed one day, let us bump it once more for the last hour before this ES gets locked! Maybe someone out there will find this useful!
--
ESs items and quality requirements sheet. Please check if there are errors or if something is missing
Achievement list if you're feeling bored!
I am accepting Plant battles, Neath's Mysteries card, Starveling Cats and boxed cats.
No suppers, no second chances gain and no need to cure my menaces!
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silurica
Posts: 210
12/30/2019
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Lord Chillingsworth wrote:
I've been stuck at Day 31 of the race for a few weeks now -- I can't get higher than 1 Snooping for a Scoop. Nothing I try seems to do anything. Might some gentle soul out there have a clue for this hapless author?
edited by Lord Chillingsworth on 12/29/2019
Snooping for a Scoop is tied to investigation, so you need to investigate another one of the competitors if you haven't already (and you will need to investigate them all eventually).
--
 Meika Osborne, the Reckless Researcher
 Leonard West, the Scarlet Informant
 Chizuru Nishiooji, the Rueful Ex-Diplomat
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Optimatum
Posts: 3666
12/30/2019
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Sounds like you may have already begun an investigation inadvertently. Try checking all the locations around London, as the investigation storylet should be somewhere there, but if nothing's obvious support@failbettergames.com is always a safe bet.
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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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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1783
12/30/2019
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Did you go to the mansion? You have to go back each time.
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Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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Alonto
Posts: 2
1/1/2020
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I very much enjoyed this story!
I can't believe they got me to feel invested in a slug race :P
As soon as I found out who the Gambler was, I felt like I had to help them (again). It was really nice to see that success.
I also liked Dona Villar very much. She felt like I could be at ease around her, and also that she could easily cheat me for everything. A tragic figure and a resourceful mastermind at the same time.
Two thumbs up from me
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theonie
Posts: 77
3/2/2020
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The Curious Watcher wrote:
For people who have the Racing Slug of Fine Pedigree [Society Favor Pet], does it open up any extra options? It would be weird for them to include an option for something as niche as Cider, only to ignore the pet that likely inspired this story in the first place.
This is late, but I don't see that anyone has answered your question and for the benefit of anyone also starting this story months after it was released, yes, there is a little extra text if one has one's very own slug. The first time you meet Dona Villar, you ask about racing your own slug, but alas, that's not possible; here's the echo: https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/theonie/17872086 . There's also an option to feed your slug lettuce in the garden; echo here: https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/theonie/17872108 .
I'd like to echo everyone's delight with the story and add that a small thing I find particularly pleasing is that we actually move to the location we're supposed to be, within the story. In most ES's that doesn't happen, we stay in the location we started out in, even if the story has moved us all around London. It's a small thing -- but maybe it's complicated to code? no idea -- but it really adds to the verisimilitude of the story for me.
edited by theonie on 3/3/2020
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theonie, an inescapable, midnight, terrifying, and irresistible lady. All social actions except Affluent Photographer welcome. As a Midnighter, will gladly accept all invitations to Orphanages.
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Lady Karnstein
Posts: 278
3/17/2020
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For the record, I kept the Epilogue waiting since December, but as of yesterday, having just gotten the Cider, Caroline shared it with Doña Villar, only then finishing the story. That is how much I liked that character and story, and how much I wanted to give it the *right* ending.
edited by Lady Karnstein on 3/17/2020
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Lady Caroline Karnstein, The Moral Hedonist (Description)
Infamous writer, artist, and courtesan. Unrepentant Invert. Hesperidean.
Paramount Presence, Correspondent, Nocturnal. Poet Laureate of the Neath, Ambassador to Arbor
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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1783
12/20/2019
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Go back to Dona's mansion. After you finish with the tasks there,, move to the next leg of the race. You investigate them one by one, as the race progresses.
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Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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Lomias
Posts: 84
12/20/2019
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Azothi wrote:
Re: Lomias, regarding the story.
[spoiler]
Lomias wrote:
The second thing would be Doña Villar's very plan against the Dapper Devil. I know the writer wants to depict her as a cunning con-artist with her scheme go as planned. It almost succeeded, if it was not my character she has chosen to aid her in the bet where her soul is at stake. I mean, we don't even know each other before this race! Considering my character as such a fickle person (my bad), how could she be so certain that I would help her? I did, just because I was in the right mood to help someone, and I would be happy to see a devil's failure. I wouldn't risk my soul by having me at other's mercy (especially my character's) if I were Doña Villar!
This is one aspect of the story that makes more sense if you intentionally make Villar lose the bet. For reference, you can see that result here. The dice are already loaded. If you help her, she wins the bet. If you sabotage her, she doesn't lose anything. There's a reason why the Indebted Spirifer was around, after all. The reason she asks you to aid her is precisely that "we don't even know each other before this race!", as you say. To the Dapper Devil, you're nobody but a neutral witness to the contract. It's as she says:
Her Last Gamble wrote:
"I needed to cultivate a dispassionate third party. To play as fair as possible! And demonstrate, above all, that I'm not cheating. Not this time." She spends the rest of the race dancing with the Dapper Devil to prove she isn't cheating, and she secretly leaves the key with you - the "dispassionate third party". If she had an ally present, the devil would undoubtedly suspect foul play. It's another way to stack the deck right beneath the devil's nose. You're bait to tempt the devil into taking the bet, and you're a chance for her to guarantee victory, even when she has no need for it.
She says it best. "Even when I lose, I always win."
[/spoiler]
Wow, I get it. Thanks for the reference, I can see her trick now. That explains my question, yet it makes my character's decision completely worthless. Whichever slug I pick, whoever wins the game, aid the Doña Villar or not, they don't matter. I would prefer my character could at least change something in the end, for better or for worse. But still, it's a good story.
edited by Lomias on 12/20/2019
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Lomias
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Meradine Heidenreich
Posts: 468
12/24/2019
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Has someone already mentioned that this title has its own Wikipedia page? (I was looking for a translation for the mouseover text...)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Por_una_Cabeza
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Meradine%20Heidenreich
The Starveling kit
Gobbled up the bit
of cheese on my tray ..
"O Weh!"
No plant battles, please.
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NNNnobody
Posts: 103
12/11/2019
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This cavilling at the end was really cheap. Every real lawyer would tear you apart for that nonsense. So I'm rather unimpressed by our mastermind here. Though I don't mind that I couldn't decide her fate. Afterall, she was hardly relevant to what I was doing. She was just a character with her own story while I had my shenanigans during the race.
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/NNNnobody
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Fadewalker
Posts: 136
12/3/2019
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I didn't like the sunken actions though I liked this mechanic. I didn't realize it at the beginning, but cheating is an art of subtlety after all. The phonograph was a secret and the progress of the racers would tell, so we shouldn't cheat in that obvious way.
And I loved some mechanics in this stories, which are actually clever ways of characterization. The discription of "You have a 0% chance of winning this game". And after you advised her to bet on the wrong slug, the covert plot of the spirifer turned overt, but this card would never be played if I helped her. I was a card in her hand, and it made no difference which card would go, she would always make it. All of these convinced me she is Dona Villar, "richer than a duchess, less trustworthy than a viper."
edited by Fadewalker on 12/3/2019
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A fervent supporter of the Council and the Masters.
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Shadowcthuhlu
Posts: 1557
12/4/2019
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So trying to get back into my routine of actually being around here. . .
I enjoyed this story from the start Dirae Erinyes can easily forgive any rats that distract them from the endless schemes at this point. I'm glad the racers were in cahoots so I could give them all a happy ending but I wasn't a fan of the spending resources to cheat and then realizing that was no reason to cheat earlier when you get to the phonogram. Cheated hell out of another soul. If there is one disappointment, is that we don't have minor slug races to bet on
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Dirae%20Erinyes. Closed to calling cards, but open for all other social action. I also love to roleplay.
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NotaWalrus
Posts: 221
12/4/2019
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Knocked it right out of the park. This is now one of my favorite stories, just below Lost in Reflections and Cricket, Anyone? Doña Villar is a brilliantly-written mastermind.
edited by NotaWalrus on 12/4/2019
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http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/NotaWalrus
Ignacious, the Fluid Professor, he will accept most social invitations, including boxed cats and affluent photographers (but only betrayals), though he is absent-minded and might take more time than entirely necessary. He apologizes.
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Yae
Posts: 7
12/5/2019
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Hmm I dont know, I found this one to be rather disappointing.
Not only did our actions not matter at all, you also had no way of unconvering the plot.
The plot itself was obvious from the beginning, the urchins, them cahooting, and of course her being such a great super over the top mastermind totally untouchable UGH. Just aggrevating and boring. Way too forced.
And on top of that the reward for the whole story was just meh...
That reward point is something I noticed the last months in general. While before you could manage to get great gains in renown, favors or some other qualities, lately you only get large (but ultimately useless) quantities of "selling" materials Glim Shards, Scrap Cloth, etc
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http://www.fallenlondon.storynexus.com/profile/Yae
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The Curious Watcher
Posts: 263
11/30/2019
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chiche wrote:
Those mice are so cute that I didn't help others in the back. I'm curious about the result of deliberately losing the final gamble. Is anyone willing to tell me?
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Azoth%20I/17204268
--
The Thirteenth Master of the Bazaar:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Thirteenth%20Master%20of%20the%20Bazaar
The Silent Vake Hunter: GONE NORTH
The Ravenous Wanderer:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Ravenous%20Wanderer
The Melancholic End-Bringer:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Melancholic%20End-Bringer
The Lethal Nightmare:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Lethal%20Nightmare
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Fadewalker
Posts: 136
11/30/2019
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This is the first ES I played since I returned to Fallen London. It was to my great delight. Tension and entanglement were finely constructed and neatly arranged in one wager. And Doña Villar, tricky and charming. I was also glad to see the sluggish fashion mentioned before now being implemented with bread and butter of London life. I loved this one.
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A fervent supporter of the Council and the Masters.
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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1783
12/1/2019
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Jolanda deeply disliked Dona Villar but her heart grew so warm in the end, many unsavroy things were forginen. I used her Cider in the end of course - I would have used it anyway.
Also, having danced that kind of tango where you think you have died and yet it doesn't matter, I found the descriptions out of this world. It's easy to get cheesy when writing about tango, and to avoid that, and deliver such a scene instead, was no small feat.
Finally, I really wish for more stories like that, where our actions matter and we are able to bring about a really happy ending if we wish so. It's Christmass, after all!
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Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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naraoia
Posts: 66
12/2/2019
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Catherine Raymond wrote:
My husband, esrtweet, is having trouble figuring out how to finish the race. He has the phonograph key and has used it, but now no matter what he does, either the racers are affected or he's fighting lettuce. If you have any assistance to provide, you can send me a PM to cathyr19355. Thanks!
For anyone having trouble with this... I got stuck in the loop for a long time. Without spoilers--at the end of the race you can "fine tune" the position of each of the three slugs. Do not do what I did and just boost your favored entrant to ridiculous levels. I got mine to 21 thinking that would ensure victory. Ha ha ha. That meant a LOT of backtracking. The secret is that the other slugs must be at exactly 9, no more, no less. Your entrant must be at 10 or better. Then you can hunt around for the card that will let you finish the race. It's easy enough to fix, but tedious and it quickly becomes an action sink. This was my one quibble with an otherwise superlative ES!
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/naraoia
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Amalgamate
Posts: 435
12/3/2019
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Jolanda Swan wrote:
Finally, I really wish for more stories like that, where our actions matter and we are able to bring about a really happy ending if we wish so. It's Christmass, after all!
Actually, that was one of the bits that annoyed me here - our actions really didn't matter.
The three racers were in cahoots, so it didn't matter which one of them won - the three go into business the same way no matter what. Dona Villar gets away the same way regardless of what you do, as far as I can tell. (My heart never warmed up to her and I tried to sabotage her, making sure to tell her to bet on the wrong slug. Didn't matter, she outsmarts the Brass Embassy anyway.)
The funny thing is, I really didn't mind our actions not mattering for the three slug racers! I liked them all, and I was happy to see them all work together. On the other hand, it really annoyed me that Dona Villar got off scot-free regardless of what I did.
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http://www.fallenlondon.com/Profile/amalgamate
Social invitations of all kinds welcome, especially games of chess and deadly sparring!
Also happy to help with nightmares, send sips of Cider, and plant battle.
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Skinnyman
Posts: 2133
11/29/2019
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James StAnthony wrote:
In this season you will experience three stories of the bonds between human and beast, the fauna of the Neath and the divides between London and the animal kingdom. At looong last!!!
After more than a year since I expressed my opinion about something like this, we have such an ES!
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ESs items and quality requirements sheet. Please check if there are errors or if something is missing
Achievement list if you're feeling bored!
I am accepting Plant battles, Neath's Mysteries card, Starveling Cats and boxed cats.
No suppers, no second chances gain and no need to cure my menaces!
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Blaine Davidson
Posts: 388
11/29/2019
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I loved this story. Things that I had completed years ago became slightly relevant or outright updated, a woman after my own heart, and a reason to grind for the infamous cider.
While this Exceptional Story literally and metaphorically started out sluggishly it is easily a contender for my ES of 2019 and I hope we see Clementina again, soon.
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Blaine Davidson, a reserved and sensible woman with a fondness of collecting rarities.
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Lord Garuda
Posts: 102
11/29/2019
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I don't know what it is about sports themed Exceptional Stories, but we clearly need more of them. This didn't quite reach the heights of "Cricket, Anyone?" to me, but it was a great ES. I liked that the lighter tone didn't lower the stakes of the story, and I ended up liking Clementina a lot. It was fun to see my ambition and choice of benefactor acknowledged in here, too.
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Cora%20Seacoale - A Correspondent working towards her Heart's Desire.
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Ronald%20Valente - A Rat-Catcher hunting the most dangerous prey.
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Azothi
Posts: 586
11/29/2019
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simone wrote:
在Veilgarden举行的“伦敦软体动物巡回赛：第14天”中，有没有人暗示过。我被困在这里，我的进度“窥探”仍为1，但我不知道剩下的地方。
I'm investating the Rubber
edited by simone on 11/29/2019 你需要去Mrs Plenty's Carnival.
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Azoth I, the Emissary of Cardinals - A Paramount Presence (not currently accepting new Proteges)
Away to where the Chain cannot bind us.
Hesperidean.
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The Curious Watcher
Posts: 263
11/29/2019
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[spoiler] Rat Victory: https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/Den%20Blackwell/17209038[/spoiler]
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The Thirteenth Master of the Bazaar:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Thirteenth%20Master%20of%20the%20Bazaar
The Silent Vake Hunter: GONE NORTH
The Ravenous Wanderer:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Ravenous%20Wanderer
The Melancholic End-Bringer:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Melancholic%20End-Bringer
The Lethal Nightmare:
https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Lethal%20Nightmare
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Winthropx
Posts: 166
11/29/2019
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Well, I’m going to wait to complete this story till I get my own cider. Best start grinding now!
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Bishop Winthrop, a kind-hearted soul
A Paramount Presence
I accept all social actions
His Appearance
http://community.failbettergames.com/topic9363-your-characters-appearances.aspx?messageid=229809&Page=10#post#post229809
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mp
Posts: 43
11/29/2019
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For those interested, I've echoed the secret ending mentioned by Azothi: https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/mp/17209344
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/mp
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The Ambivalent Dynamo
Posts: 41
11/29/2019
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[spoiler] For those curious what happens if you helped the orphans win: https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Ambivalent%20Dynamo/17204362 . If anyone helped the Rat Jockey/Rubbery Man would you know what happened? [/spoiler]
edited by The Ambivalent Dynamo on 11/29/2019
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Ambivalent%20Dynamo Happy to take most social actions except plant-related ones. Don't hesitate to send one.
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Jolanda Swan
Posts: 1783
11/28/2019
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Lovely so far! But honestly, I hope it allows us to slap a certain someone with a leaf of lettuce really, really hard in the end.
In a completely unrelated note, the art weirds me out. I don't know if it's the slappable face or the anachronistic haircut/jewels/expression but I can say with certainty that the slag is the most likable thing in this picture.
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Lover of all things beautiful, secret admirer of ugly truths, fond of the Parabola Sun... and always delighted to role play.
http://fallenlondon.com/profile/Jolanda%20Swan
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Siankan
Posts: 1048
11/28/2019
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Jolanda Swan wrote:
In a completely unrelated note, the art weirds me out. I don't know if it's the slappable face or the anachronistic haircut/jewels/expression but I can say with certainty that the slag is the most likable thing in this picture.
She does rather look like a female lead from a 1980s punk movie, given piercings ca. 2010 and put in a dress and pearls that could be from any period but not her social class. Perhaps she spends too much time at the Brass Embassy (pun not intended)?
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Prof. Sian Kan, at your service.
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BillyCosmos!
Posts: 30
11/28/2019
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Just in case, I’m going to get rolling on a new edition of The Sub-Terrestrial Times-Examiner.
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Overjoyed to finally have a decent secretary to take dictation. Even if it is a somewhat more mushroomy sort of secretary than one might be used to.
Dictated, thuroughly read.
William, "Billy" Cosmos, the !
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The Ambivalent Dynamo
Posts: 41
11/28/2019
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[spoiler] Keep progressing through the story and you'll eventually get it [/spoiler]
edited by The Ambivalent Dynamo on 11/29/2019
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https://www.fallenlondon.com/profile/The%20Ambivalent%20Dynamo Happy to take most social actions except plant-related ones. Don't hesitate to send one.
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