Professor Wensleydale of Hardiwck
“Professor?”
“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not buying your- why, Bishop! What brings you here?”
“I require you to restore an epic, and perhaps modernize it.”
“Any old ______ would do. Why me?”
“Because all the others refused.”
“What?”
“Not to mention, your department seems to imply that you are the most qualified.”
At this I leaned in.
“What language is it in?”
“Correspondence.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh, yes.”
You’ve gained 1* Surface-Rose Petal(new total 3).
Renown: the Church is increasing…
A twist in your tale! You are now Restoring an Epic.
The Church
I entered St. Fiacre’s, where I’d be sure to have my wedding, during a normal service. The Bishop wanted me to do this, so I may as well start here.
The sermon was based around Hebrews 11:1; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Not truly inspirational, but it gave me a couple of ideas.
“Sir? Could you give me a random nugget of wisdom? No? Okay…”
“Madam? Do you have the time to spread some of His word? … I understand.”
This went on for a while, until I left, feeling uplifted and slightly inspired.
Austere is increasing…
Melancholy is increasing…
Nightmares is dropping…
Suspicion is dropping…
Scandal is dropping…
You’ve gained 1*Surface-Rose Petal(new total 4).
Restoring an Epic has increased to 2!
The Urchins
Next, I combed the Flit for the Fisher-Kings. Maybe they could give me ideas about mood.
That, and also funding. The Bishop didn’t provide any of that.
As I encroached upon them, they threw a bunch of jars at me. Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop doing that! Ow!
Some of the screams sounded godlike, though. And maybe I can sell these broken jars… or sculpt them.
For now, though, I needed to get these scraps out of my arm.
Shadowy is increasing…
Daring is increasing…
Subtle is increasing…
Nightmares is dropping…
Wounds is increasing…
You’ve gained 1*Surface-Rose Petal(new total 5).
You now have 55*Correspondence Plaques.
You now have 1*Aeolian Scream.
Restoring an Epic has increased to 3!
The Bohemians
Ah, the Singing Mandrake. One of my “favorite” taverns in London. The patrons would almost certainly inspire me.
…
“AAAAAAAAAGH. SCREW HEADACHES.”
Well, at least I’m inspired.
Watchful has not increased.
Shadowy is increasing…
Persuasive has not increased.
Hedonist is increasing…
Wounds has increased to 2- Aches and Pains!
You’ve gained 1*Surface-Rose(new total 6).
Restoring an Epic has increased to 4!
You’ve lost 50*pence(new total 23525).
The Revolutionaries
Oh, b____y hell. The Missionary has been inviting people to my parlor. I might as well get inspiration from them.
“The Liberation of Night.”
“No, no, no. This thing was written about 550 years ago. Was the Liberation a concept back then? Actually, screw it- can you bring me the eighth month?”
After twelve hours, I had about two stacks of notes. The Contrarian left, leaving me a drink of particular taste.
Daring is increasing…
Ruthless is increasing…
Subtle is increasing…
You’ve gained 1*Surface-Rose Petal(new total 7).
You now have 1*Vial of Master’s Blood.
Restoring an Epic has increased to 5!
The Society
Now, I would need to make sure that this project was favorably reviewed. Onto the court of Her Enduring Majesty!
The footmen greeted me, and I had a few people to talk to: the duchess; Mr. Huffam; and the functionary.
I followed the cats, and the Duchess spoke to me. “Tell me something- what brings you here?”
“I’m here for some advice as to what would please the Court’s tastes. I’m restoring an epic from a long time ago.”
“Throw in some romance.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
I quickly gave Mr. Huffam a note, asking for a few favorable reviews of my work.
And the functionary? He was having a hangover, so he wasn’t able to speak to me. Oh well.
Shadowy is increasing…
Melancholy is increasing…
Restoring an Epic has increased to 6!
You’ve gained 1*Surface-Rose Petal(new total 8).
The Masters
Didn’t want to have to make this appointment, but I had to. For the sake of this… project.
“Mister Pages?”
“Yes, Professor?”
“I am here to talk about a project I am working on. It’s called The Midnight Battle. I would like your word that you will not turn it to ash.”
I slid an envelope with more exotic pieces of information towards it.
“You have my word.”
And so I went on my way.
Nightmares is increasing…
You’ve lost 5*Epaulette Mate(new total 0).
You’ve lost 5*Queen Mate(new total 0).
You’ve lost 10*Vital Information(new total 0).
You’ve lost 5*Uncanny Incunabula(new total 0).
You now have 1*Written Promise of Mr. Pages.
An Invocation
I sat down to translate.
“Oh tell me the tale of a great King, a King who claimed the throne after his brother destroyed his home, a King who fought against the incursion of the unnatural, a King by the name of-”
Inspired… has increased to 5!
You’ve lost 1*F.F. Gebrandt’s Superior Laudanum (new total 2).
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