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The Test of Substance
Deathsdoorstep ambience
Category Story Event
Type Story
Data ID 306391

The Test of Substance is a Sunless Skies Story Event.

Guide[ | ]

This is a location in Death’s Door.

To continue, captains must have their face removed.  This requires a moderate Iron challenge or costs a Testament of Roses.

Having no face reduces Hearts by 5.

Faces can be recovered at The Quartermaster’s Office.

Refusing to give up your face results in Invisible status.

This location leads to Deeper into the Catafalque.

Story description[ | ]

Here the tunnel opens up into a great hall. The Gangling Sequestrator sits on her raised throne, surrounded by hanging lanterns and censers. As the spirits pass beneath her at a steady shuffle, she extends one telescopic arm and settles a veiny hand across their porcelain mask. With a moment's wrenching effort she yanks it away, leaving the spirit faceless. It turns and heads deeper into the Catafalque.

Trigger conditions[ | ]

Location: Death's Door
Area: Limbo
Frequency: Always (100%)

Interactions[ | ]

Actions Requirements Effects Notes
Endure the removal of your face
This is the first test. Only those who surrender their visage can pass.

Game note: You will lose your face, and with it 5 Hearts. Perhaps you will be able to get it back at a later date.

Failed event
Failure
The hand encloses your face. A twist, a wrench, and your flesh starts to give away like malleable clay...

No. You can't. You knock the Sequestrator's hand away and push madly through the crowd, heading back to the surface.

You have failed the Test of Substance. Logoi follow you every step of the way back through the Catafalque, watching you with burning eyeless intensity. Your hesitancy has given yourself away – they've realised you are not actually dead.

Game note: You are reduced to the status of Invisible once again.

Successful event
Faceless
The hand encloses your face. A twist, a wrench, and it retreats with something ragged clutched between its fingers. It hardly hurts at all. If anything, it feels as though a weight has been lifted.

Your new reality becomes apparent only when you touch your face, and feel nothing but an expanse of brute blank flesh. Your vision dims, as though a grey veil has closed over the world. With some effort, you are able to manifest a lipless slit of a mouth, which screams.

You have passed the Test of Substance, and your face is gone. You may move further into the Catafalque.
Bargain for special treatment
When you present your Testament of Roses to the Sequestrator, she agrees to be a little more gentle in removing your face.

Game note: You will lose your face, and with it 5 Hearts. Perhaps you will be able to get it back at a later date.

Faceless
The Sequestrator teases your face away delicately, like she's peeling a scab. Her hand retreats with something ragged clutched between its fingers. It doesn't hurt at all. A weight has been lifted.

Your new reality becomes apparent only when you touch your face, and feel nothing but an expanse of brute blank flesh. Your vision dims, as though a grey veil has closed over the world. With some effort, you are able to manifest a lipless slit of a mouth, which screams.

You have passed the Test of Substance, and your face is gone. You may move further into the Catafalque.
Refuse to give up your face
The Sequestrator is already stretching one long arm toward you, her fingers twitching in anticipation.
Refusal
The hand encloses your face. A twist, a wrench, and your flesh starts to give away like malleable clay...

No. You can't. You knock the Sequestrator's hand away and push through the crowd, heading back to the surface.

Logoi follow you every step of the way back through the Catafalque, watching you with burning eyeless intensity. Your hesitancy has given yourself away – they've realised you are not actually dead.

Game note: You are reduced to the status of Invisible once again.

Press deeper into the Catafalque
You have passed the Test of Substance, and surrendered your face to the Sequestrator.

Game note: Your face can be reclaimed from the Quartermaster in the Endless Furrows.


Links[ | ]

Links In[ | ]

Deathsdoorstep ambience The Catafalque

Links Out[ | ]

Deathsdoorstep ambience Deeper into the Catafalque, Deathsdoorstep ambience The Endless Furrows


Template:Navbox story events

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