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| The Unassailable Founder | |
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| Category | Story Event |
| Type | Story |
| Data ID | 300586 |
The Unassailable Founder is a Sunless Skies Story Event.
Story description[]
The Founder lingers in the Berrenger's central atrium, hands in the pockets of her leather jacket, chatting to everyone who passes. She combines an encyclopedic knowledge of everyone's names and habits with the uncanny ability to recognise them, despite their mask. "Questions? Complaints?" she asks, turning to you. "Or simply here to take a new role?"
Trigger conditions[]
Area: Limbo
Frequency: Always (100%)
Interactions[]
| Actions | Requirements | Effects | Notes |
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| Ask what she's not telling you
You're a well-established part of the community aboard the Berrenger now, and you've heard rumours. What is the Founder hiding?
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The Secret of the Berrenger
The Founder beckons. You follow her to the Berrenger's charred engine-room. Freezing winds swirl through the crack in the hull.
"After I stole this dreadnought from the Empire, I went to the Halved to pledge my allegiance." She pauses. "But the Halved would not accept me. I was devastated. I turned the Berrenger into a hub of discussion, hoping that one day, we would come to a consensus that could guide me." "This is no wreck." She rubs at the charred boiler with a gloved finger, smudging black dust away to reveal gleaming iron beneath. "That's all illusion. The hull can be fixed in a day; the rust was applied by paintbrush. The Berrenger is ready for war, as soon as I decide war is more important than debate."
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| Ask about the mark on her neck
The Founder's hand moves automatically to cover it up. For a moment, you could've sworn it was an eye, nestled between neck and collarbone.
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An Uneasy Admission
"Before we reached the Wilderness, I was an Admiral in London's fleet. While patrolling the Unterzee, we came across something under the water. A scar, or an eye, or – something. I dived to investigate. I still don't understand what happened down there, but I met something far greater than myself. And I came back with this." She brushes the eye on her neck with a fingertip.
"Years later, in the Wilderness, I took charge of London's greatest dreadnought, still in early experimental stages. That's when the eye opened. At that moment I knew, deep in my bones, that I had to seek out Eleutheria."
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| Ask why her mask is different from the others
The face of the bat is distinctive. You've not seen another during your time aboard the Berrenger.
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The Mask of the Bat
The Founder laughs. "My father was a diplomat for London. In my formative years, we were stationed on an island called Visage, far out to Zee. The locals' lives revolved around the mask they wore. We chose our faces for ourselves. I was keen to implement something similar here."
She adjusts her bat-mask. "This represented the worst of outsiders, the exile who brought nothing but misfortune and death. After I turned traitor and left the Admiralty, it seemed an appropriate statement."
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| Ask how the Berrenger ended up in Eleutheria
It's clearly a huge and impressive locomotive, of Albion origin. Why is it stranded in Eleutheria, and stuffed with anarchists?
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The History of the Berrenger
"The Berrenger was a dreadnought developed in secret to guard against star-madness," says the Founder. "On its maiden voyage, I stole it.
"It was easy enough. I was the Admiral placed in charge of the bl__dy thing." She snorts. "While we patrolled a quiet corner of Albion, I convinced my crew of the merits of the Liberation. After a mostly bloodless mutiny, we embarked on a pilgrimage to Eleutheria. We planned to pledge ourselves to the service of the Halved." Her mouth tightens. "It didn't work out."
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| Ask how she recognises everyone, despite their masks
Every mask is just one among hundreds.
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The Founder's Talent
"I grew up on Visage," says the Founder. "I don't need a face; I can hear your voice, see the curve of your back, the way you walk. I can recognise a member of this community just by the pattern of acne on the back of their neck.
"When I was first establishing the community here, I quickly learned that true anonymity can turn people into monsters." She raises her hand in cheery greeting as an Aspirant wanders past. "Hello, Ronald! You see, the fact that I know who they are keeps the community honest. It's good to remind them occasionally."
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| Switch to the Mask of the Aspirant
A sculpted silver rose, blank, eyeless, mouthless. "The Aspirant listens," says the Founder. "And blossoms."
Game note: This mask gives opportunities to listen to lectures. |
The Aspirant
As the mask slips over your face you realise that it is ingeniously designed so that you can see perfectly between the folds of the silver petals.
"The Aspirant's role is to absorb," says the Founder. "Go to the Library and read a book, or go to the Forum and enjoy yourself. Stay quiet. Grow."
 A Teeming Wreck
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| Switch to the Mask of the Supplicant
"The Supplicant's job is to talk," says the Founder, fastening the mask of a hideously-toothed angler fish over your face. "And, perhaps, entice."
Game note: This mask gives opportunities to deliver lectures. |
The Supplicant
A miniature lantern dangles from your new mask, swinging back and forth between your eyes.
"The Supplicant gives speeches in the Forum," says the Founder. "Thanks to the mask, a person's reputation or lack thereof doesn't matter here. Just stand and talk and if you're saying something worthwhile, perhaps you'll attract an audience."
A Teeming Wreck
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| Switch to the Mask of the Scintillant
A woman's face, wreathed in glorious flames. "The Scintillant learns through experimentation," says the Founder. "Putting aside concern for the safety of others or themselves."
Game note: This mask gives opportunities to conduct experiments. |
The Scintillant
The flames on the mask are orange-yellow tissue which rustles as you move your head.
"The Scintillant's purpose is to visit the Laboratories and take part in the experiments," says the Founder, clapping you on the back. "Good luck! Last time I went to the Laboratories I lost a finger."
A Teeming Wreck
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| Switch to the Mask of the Recalcitrant
A snarling face halfway between bulldog and gargoyle. "A difficult role," cautions the Founder. "A squabbler. Recommended for those who've spent time as an Aspirant."
Game note: This mask gives opportunities to debate. |
The Recalcitrant
The mask is oddly uncomfortable, digging into your skin, cutting off the blood to your ears. You peer out through a wall of gruesome fangs.
"Go to the Forum or the Debating Halls, and raise hell," says the Founder. "Ask impertinent questions. Hit close to home. The mask allows you to speak loudly and truthfully without losing friends."
A Teeming Wreck
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| Swap stories with the Unassailable Founder
She greets you with a hand clasped warmly on your shoulder.
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Armchairs and anecdotes
You follow the Founder through a nearby hatch. She leads you up to a cubby-hole where the habitual din of the Berrenger is muted, and two battle-scarred armchairs await you. Between them, a well-stocked drinks cabinet.
The two of you sit and chat long into the evening. You tell her about patches of darkness, wefts of time, brushes with monsters and madness; she shares hair-raising tales of her perilous escape to Eleutheria, and rumours about some of the more outrageous vagabonds and oddballs who have recently passed through the Berrenger.
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Advanced query needs investigation
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| Leave the conversation
Other matters require your attention.
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A Teeming Wreck
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Links[]
Links In[]
A Teeming Wreck
Links Out[]
A Teeming Wreck
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