A council of joy

A council of joy
Type	Story Event
Linked to	Saviour's Rocks
Data ID	167637

A council of joy is a Sunless Sea Story Event.

Trigger conditions

A council of joy is triggered after completing The Secret of the Nocturne, returning to Saviour's Rocks and selecting the The Secret of the Nocturne action in Report back to the Web of Stone.

Story description

"The sorrow-spiders have reconvened to hear of your progress. A stench of impatience fills the air."

Overview

This represents approximately the halfway mark in the Story of Saviour's Rocks. You've done Festival Preparations at Saviour's Rocks port of Nativity, visited The Web of Stone, attended A council of sorrow, been to The Wreck of the Nocturne and uncovered The Secret of the Nocturne, and returned here. And, if you've been reading all the text, along the way you've seen some incredibly creepy stuff.

Interactions

Unlike the previous council, A council of sorrow, there's a little more choice here. A few times, you can only pick one of two options (although it won't affect the story at all). At the end, you have a chance to request help from the Captain of the Nocturne, requiring a medium Pages or Iron check. Succeeding here will make the upcoming fight significantly easier, so take a risk, you have nothing to lose by trying to get him.

Actions	Requirements	Effects	Notes
Present the Young Scholar's Notebook You have your doubts about its veracity. Still, if there was a secret to be found on the Nocturne, it surely lies within these pages.	Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 46	A sense of apathy prevails "Indeed, a splendid prize, I have no doubt," says the Emissary of Spiders, handing it off to a Widow without even breaking open the pages. "But what of the ship? Did you encounter any... resistance?" Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 47 +4 x Bolts of Spider-Silk
The unseeing eye in the dark You were watched. It can not have been a coincidence.	Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 47	The spider-council chitters with excitement "Yes. Yes, I fear that we have not been strictly honest in our dealings," the Emissary of Spiders says, with no hint of guilt or remorse, or even a sense that this should come as a surprise. "Permit me to... share a story. It was, I believe, a century ago that the myopic masters forged a deal with a great beast, an Avaricious Lorn-Fluke. It would provide..." He pauses at the stern bite of a sorrow-spider... "A service, yes. In exchange, secrets. One hundred years of the secrets its service would allow to be harvested." He leans in. "For the sake of all that is and all that is to come, some secrets can never be shared." Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 48
Volunteer nothing You're being played. Ominous.	Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 47	The spider-council chitters suspiciously "How curious." The Emissary of Spiders is silent for a moment, listening to his masters. He nods. "I fear to tell you that I may have not been entirely honest in our dealings thus far." "Permit me to... share a story. It was, I believe, a century ago that the myopic masters forged a deal with a great beast, an Avaricious Lorn-Fluke. It would provide..." He pauses, a sorrow-spider biting him sternly... "A service, yes. In exchange, secrets. One hundred years of the secrets its service would allow to be harvested." He leans in. "But for the sake of all that is and all that is to come, some secrets can never be shared." Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 48
A secret that worries even the sorrow-spiders? You're getting out of your depth now.	Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 48	An abandoned vessel. An abandoned secret. Does this mean the sorrow-spiders discovered something so terrible, or so important, that they decided not even they should know it? That seems most out of character. Unless they were simply waiting until their deal expired to stake a claim... "I can neither confirm, nor deny, of course," says the Emissary of Spiders. "What matters at this present juncture is the vessel. It must be removed from the geometry, and the reach of the unworthy. The intractable masters demand this be done." Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 49
Agree They're not telling you something, of course. But you've seen this out so far...	Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 49	An excited chittering fills the air The Emissary of Spiders smiles. "Excellent. I eagerly await the news of your success." Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 50 (A Salvager for Spiders)
Refuse They're not telling you something, of course. And you refuse to be the pawn of sorrow-spiders.	Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 49	An angry chattering fills the air The Emissary of Spiders silences the chattering with a weary wave. "Our enemies will already consider you their enemy, too. I suggest you make the best of the situation. Lorn-Flukes are not famed for their forgiving nature. But it will be as you wish." Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 50 (A Salvager for Spiders) +5 x Terror	Game note: You can continue or ignore the spiders' mission, as you prefer.
Negotiate for the Captain of the Nocturne The sorrow-spiders have him within their Tree of Seasons. Nobody knows a ship better than its captain. His advice would be invaluable on this task.	Pages Challenge (164 for 100%) Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 50	Failure	Pick the best chance you have to get the Captain, you only get one shot.
		Fruits of the zee are not to be relinquished They are angry at the mere thought of giving up one of their prizes. You try every diplomatic trick up your sleeve, but they merely take them as insults. Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 51
		Success
		A reluctant agreement They are angry at the mere thought of giving up one of their prizes, but you talk them round. Junior sorrow-spiders are dispatched to cut down the former Captain of the Nocturne from the Tree of Seasons. His atrophied limbs and sightless eyes mean he will never command again, but his mind remains sharp enough to be of assistance. Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 51 Saviour's Rocks: The Fate of the Nocturne = 11 [Rescued the Captain from the Tree of Seasons]
Demand the Captain of the Nocturne If they want your help with this, they can start giving you some real assistance, not lies!	Iron Challenge (164 for 100%) Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 50	Failure	Pick the best chance you have to get the Captain, you only get one shot.
		Fruits of the zee are not to be relinquished They are angry at the mere thought of giving up one of their prizes. Your attempt at an ultimatum almost leads to violence, calmed only by the Emissary of Spiders' long experience at handling his masters. Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 51
		Success
		Unthreatened, yet intimidated They are angry at the mere thought of giving up one of their prizes, but you brow-beat them into it. Junior sorrow-spiders are dispatched to cut down the former Captain of the Nocturne from the Tree of Seasons. His atrophied limbs and sightless eyes mean he will never command again, but his mind remains sharp enough to be of assistance. Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 51 Saviour's Rocks: The Fate of the Nocturne = 11 [Rescued the Captain from the Tree of Seasons]
Leave the Web of Stone It is time to end this.	Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 50 - 51	The Emissary of Spiders escorts you to port He looks forward to seeing you at the Festival of Silk, once the task has been completed. Caught in the webs of Saviour's Rocks = 55 (A Salvager for Spiders)	Head back to The Wreck of the Nocturne to continue the story.