Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Jean Law

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Maratha Envoy

The Hindu Marathas make no secret of their imperial ambitions - their envoy is a bold fellow

William Watts

The British representative of the Nawab's court - blessed with a most charming wife.

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Faizen's honour

You allowed the truth of Faizen's death at the Nawab's hands to emerge - you upheld her honour.

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A lost heritage

Could it be that there are others like you, sa-ilu raised apart from the Nawab of Bengal's court?

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

A spy in the British camp

You blackmailed the treacherous courtier Nandakumar - now he spies on the British for you.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Dreaming

You are in the dreaming

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You must investigate threats to the Nawab's power both in the dream and the wake
Raise this quality to 10 to progress

The Defences of Chandernagore

Ditches, fortifications, artillery, intelligence: you will need all this & more to have a hope of turning aside the British
You must raise this quality to 10 to progress

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

A Marathi Scroll

Stolen from the desk of the Maratha Envoy - it could hold valuable secrets. If you can decipher it.

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

You have a torn scrap of your mother's favourite sari. Your memories come into sharper focus when you carry it with you.:1

A scrap of yellow silk: You have a torn scrap of your mother's favourite sari. Your memories come into sharper focus when you carry it with you.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

A five-pointed lotus tattoo

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

often gained by accident rather than design

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You tried to defy the Begum once, but no longer. You are in her power.

You tried to defy the Begum once, but no longer. You are in her power.:3

Ghaseti Begum: You tried to defy the Begum once, but no longer. You are in her power.

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

The Mughal Sa-ilu

Amir is the sa-ilu to the Mughal Court at Delhi - a prideful, bearded young man

Amir is the sa-ilu to the Mughal Court at Delhi - a prideful, bearded young man

Shadowhair

The mysterious shadowhaired woman appears to have powers in the dream. She is also working for the British - a dangerous opponent.

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Unquiet bones

You hid the truth of Faizen's death at the hands of the Nawab - will she continue to ravage the dreaming?

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

An arrangement with Nandakumar

The treacherous courtier offered you British silver in exchange for your silence - and you accepted.

Seeking out Nandakumar

Seeking out Nandakumar 5 - You have - dealt with - the situation

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Seeking out Nandakumar: You have - dealt with - the situation

Uneasy Sleepers

Courtiers & commoners alike lie insensate in the hospital wards: they cannot be woken. What strange plague is this?

Incubus

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

Investigating the Conspiracy

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

1757 April & May - War in Bengal and Rumours of Conspiracy

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

April & May - War in Bengal and Rumours of Conspiracy

April & May - War in Bengal and Rumours of Conspiracy

1757: April & May - War in Bengal and Rumours of Conspiracy

The Wake

You are in the wake

Imagination

gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

Exercises of Power

Exercises of Power 15 - Your name is spoken with reverence - or is it fear?

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Your name is spoken with reverence - or is it fear?

Your name is spoken with reverence - or is it fear?:15

Exercises of Power: Your name is spoken with reverence - or is it fear?

Rumours of Madness and Dissent

Explore the dreaming and the wake for rumours and threats

Growing whispers of conspiracy, rumours of madness and magic - all of these could prove threatening to your mission
Explore the dreaming and the wake for rumours and threats

Threats of War

Explore the dreaming and the wake for clues

The British march against the French, the Afghans and Marathas bristle at your borders - who is the greatest threat?
Explore the dreaming and the wake for clues

Reluctant Conspirator

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

Lover's Quarrel

A quarrel with your lover

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


March: Investigate the court

True treachery is bred inside the cool courtyards and marble corridors of the palace. In daylight the court is by turns sneering and wary – they will never accept the grey vibuthi streaked across your forehead on auspicious mornings or the low-caste darkness of your skin. But they fear your magic, as well they should.

At night you step inside their stiff court masks and disassemble them from the inside out. Their most delicate joys, their sweetly secret sorrows, their most venal ambitions – you must know them all.

Every successful action in the dream world uses up Imagination - if you use up all your Imagination you must go back to the wake to gain more.

Svapnasthana

The dream world is beautiful, and treacherous - even for one so skilful as yourself.

The ladies of the court

A straightforward challenge

The ladies of the Nawab's court have excellent imaginations. In the wake their smiles are hidden behind the purdah in their guarded apartments, but you may walk amongst them freely in the dream.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 225)

            5
            You need Curiosity 5 (you have 31)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 225

            5
            Unlocked with Curiosity 5 - you have 31

Behind the General's mask

A straightforward challenge

You have suspicions of Mir Jaffar, the Nawab's general. Perhaps it is time to investigate them more thoroughly?

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 225)

            1
            You need 1 x Mir Jaffar  (you have 27)

            5
            You need Perception 5 (you have 35)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 225

            1
            Unlocked with 1 x Mir Jaffar  - you have 27

            5
            Unlocked with Perception 5 - you have 35

The close advisors

A straightforward challenge

The Nawab raises men up carelessly and drops them with as little ceremony. You are not the first of low birth he has honoured, but you are the only one who has remained so.

            5
            You need Perception 5 (you have 35)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 225)

            5
            Unlocked with Perception 5 - you have 35

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 225

The Maratha Envoy

A straightforward challenge

A recent addition to the Nawab's retinue is an envoy from the warlike Maratha empire, which threatens Bengal from the West. You do not know what he wants, but his appearance at this time of crisis cannot bode well.

Success will unlock The Maratha Envoy quest.

            5
            You need Serenity 5 (you have 32)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 225)

            5
            Unlocked with Serenity 5 - you have 32

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 225


Prayer and Prophecy at the Temple

You find yourself drawn to return to the little temple in Murshidabad. The daily prayers and chants of the priests carry on despite the Anglo-French war and the mutters of conspiracy; their slow rituals are comforting and familiar.

The temple is a devotional space but also a social one. Many people talk in huddles and whispers, bringing sacrifices and gossiping with their neighbours. You could learn much, with a sharp ear.

Murshidabad

The Nawab's capital city is a glittering jewel on the banks of the river Bhagirathi

Observe the homas

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

A straightforward challenge

The homa, the ritual-fire, burns constantly. The priests are fat with offerings of milk-sweets and fruit; it would be useful to know what people are praying for.

            10
            You need Serenity 10 (you have 49)

            10
            Unlocked with Serenity 10 - you have 49

Speak with the priests

A straightforward challenge

They will know many of Murshidabad's secrets – spiritual and otherwise. Will they recognise your low-caste features if you approach too closely? Perhaps they will be blinded by your wealth and reputation.

            12
            You need Serenity 12 (you have 49)

            12
            Unlocked with Serenity 12 - you have 49

Pray at the shrine of Ganesha

A straightforward challenge

The elephant-headed god is the lord of obstacles. There are many ahead of you; it would be wise to ask his favour in your mission.

            14
            You need Serenity 14 (you have 49)

            14
            Unlocked with Serenity 14 - you have 49

The Black-Tongued Prophetess

A straightforward challenge

She had seized you upon the street in Chandernagore, and offered to tell you her terrible prophecies. Now she sits cross-legged in the temple courtyard. Her kohl-ringed eyes flash open, and regard you tauntingly. Do you dare approach her?

            16
            You need Serenity 16 (you have 49)

            16
            Unlocked with Serenity 16 - you have 49


Impossible hungers

The close advisors

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

A straightforward challenge

            5
            You need Perception 5 (you have 35)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 224)

            5
            Unlocked with Perception 5 - you have 35

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 224

The Nawab's confidantes this week seem - particularly unpleasant. You do not think you have to worry about them plotting treason. They are far too busy indulging their baser appetites, and dreaming of worse besides. In their dreams the Nawab is always opium-mazed, his laughter sharp like glass, his eyes unfocused and cruel. You fear for his sanity if this revelry continues. You fear for Bengal.

6 change points, 30 more needed to reach level 36.

Perception is increasing...

You succeeded in a Perception challenge! (Simple challenges mean you don't learn so much.)

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've lost 1 x Imagination (new total 224).

You must investigate threats to the Nawab's power both in the dream and the wake

You've gained 1 x Investigating the situation for the Nawab (new total 276).

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

You've gained 1 x Marked by Shadow (new total 71).


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Jean Law

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Maratha Envoy

The Hindu Marathas make no secret of their imperial ambitions - their envoy is a bold fellow

William Watts

The British representative of the Nawab's court - blessed with a most charming wife.

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Faizen's honour

You allowed the truth of Faizen's death at the Nawab's hands to emerge - you upheld her honour.

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil

An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil 1

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A lost heritage

Could it be that there are others like you, sa-ilu raised apart from the Nawab of Bengal's court?

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

A spy in the British camp

You blackmailed the treacherous courtier Nandakumar - now he spies on the British for you.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

1757 March - Anglo-French rivalry threatens Bengal

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

March - Anglo-French rivalry threatens Bengal

March - Anglo-French rivalry threatens Bengal

1757: March - Anglo-French rivalry threatens Bengal

The Dreaming

You are in the dreaming

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

Investigating the situation for the Nawab

Investigating the situation for the Nawab 276

Investigating the situation for the Nawab

You must investigate threats to the Nawab's power both in the dream and the wake
Raise this quality to 10 to progress

The Defences of Chandernagore

You must raise this quality to 10 to progress

The Defences of Chandernagore 10 - Formidable fortifications

The Defences of Chandernagore: Formidable fortifications

Ditches, fortifications, artillery, intelligence: you will need all this & more to have a hope of turning aside the British
You must raise this quality to 10 to progress

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

A Marathi Scroll

Stolen from the desk of the Maratha Envoy - it could hold valuable secrets. If you can decipher it.

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


A calming prayer

Pray at the shrine of Ganesha

A straightforward challenge

Prayer and Prophecy at the Temple

You find yourself drawn to return to the little temple in Murshidabad. The daily prayers and chants of the priests carry on despite the Anglo-French war and the mutters of conspiracy; their slow rituals are comforting and familiar.

The temple is a devotional space but also a social one. Many people talk in huddles and whispers, bringing sacrifices and gossiping with their neighbours. You could learn much, with a sharp ear.

The elephant-headed god is the lord of obstacles. There are many ahead of you; it would be wise to ask his favour in your mission.

You ring the bell and push yourself to the front of the crowd. The idol of Ganesh is made of stone rather than silver or gold, with small glinting chips of jet for eyes. He is wreathed in marigolds and jasmine. His upper arms hold an axe and a noose; he holds a sweet in his lower left hand, and his own broken tusk in the lower-right. His trunk is smoothed from the touch of many hands. One of the priests lights the camphor and incense on a silver plate, and chants as he circles it around the idol in the inner sanctum.

You empty your mind of self, and let your eyes unfocus as the priest's sanskrit shlokas pound rhythmically in your ears. It is curiously freeing, to let your mind wander like this – perhaps it is similar to the sensation of dreaming? You, sa-ilu, would not know. The prayer completes; you touch your head to the floor, and make your three clockwise turns around the shrine, feeling a sense of peace that lasts through the day.

9 change points, 41 more needed to reach level 50.

Serenity is increasing...

You succeeded in a Serenity challenge! (Simple challenges mean you don't learn so much.)

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true

You've gained 5 x Visions (new total 1,567).

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've gained 1 x Imagination (new total 1,161).


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

A five-pointed lotus tattoo

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

The Mughal Sa-ilu

Amir is the sa-ilu to the Mughal Court at Delhi - a prideful, bearded young man

Shadowhair

The mysterious shadowhaired woman appears to have powers in the dream. She is also working for the British - a dangerous opponent.

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Unquiet bones

You hid the truth of Faizen's death at the hands of the Nawab - will she continue to ravage the dreaming?

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

An arrangement with Nandakumar

The treacherous courtier offered you British silver in exchange for your silence - and you accepted.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Uneasy Sleepers

Courtiers & commoners alike lie insensate in the hospital wards: they cannot be woken. What strange plague is this?

Incubus

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

Investigating the Conspiracy

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Wake

You are in the wake

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Rumours of Madness and Dissent

Growing whispers of conspiracy, rumours of madness and magic - all of these could prove threatening to your mission
Explore the dreaming and the wake for rumours and threats

Threats of War

The British march against the French, the Afghans and Marathas bristle at your borders - who is the greatest threat?
Explore the dreaming and the wake for clues

Reluctant Conspirator

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

Lover's Quarrel

A quarrel with your lover

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


Svapnasthana

The dream world is beautiful, and treacherous - even for one so skilful as yourself.

Sa-ilu: Travel back into the wake

Unlocked with Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams 1 - you have 7; Unlocked when 1757 is:

February - the Treaty of Alinagar brings a tenuous peace

March - Anglo-French rivalry threatens Bengal (you have this)

You have been trained to keep a very careful map of the twists and turns you take on your dream-wanderings in your head...

Always

Always

Delve into Chandernagore's tainted dreams

Unlocked when 1757 is:

March - Anglo-French rivalry threatens Bengal (you have this)

<P>At night, Chandernagore is a town of fear and sickness...

Investigate the court

<P>True treachery is bred inside the cool courtyards and marble corridors of the palace...


Murshidabad

The Nawab's capital city is a glittering jewel on the banks of the river Bhagirathi

Sa-ilu: Travel into the Dream

Unlocked with Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams 1 - you have 7; Unlocked when 1757 is:

April & May - War in Bengal and Rumours of Conspiracy (you have this)

<P>Murshidabad is quiet with the rhythms of rest...

An Arrangement with Nandakumar

Unlocked when 1757 is:

April & May - War in Bengal and Rumours of Conspiracy (you have this)

; Unlocked with An arrangement with Nandakumar 1 - you have 1

<P>You came to an arrangement with the traitor Nandakumar after discovering that he had been bought off by the British in Chandernagore...

Inspiring your imagination

Your powers as sa-ilu come from the imagination, your creative essence...

The Story So Far

Unlocked with A Dream of the Fever-Tree 8 - you have 8; Unlocked with Investigating the Conspiracy 3 - you have 3

<P>The final battle looms on the horizon...

Always

Always

An opium-wreathed afternoon in the Nawab's court

<P>Of late, the Nawab's weekly durbar is charged with anxiety, thick with heat and the closeness of bodies...

Moonlit Ghazals at the Mystic's Tomb

<P>This month the singers meet by moonlight at the tomb of a saint, littering the manicured grass with their polished instruments and porcelain opium-pipes...


you flow on, you wander, you pass through states of existence

At night, Chandernagore is a town of fear and sickness. The French tear down palaces and slums alike for raw masonry, building last minute barricades against the coming British siege. Disease spreads even more quickly in the dream world than the waking, the minds of the sick and maimed leaking trails of blood and rot into the liminal spaces that connect the dreamers to each other.

Here are minds at their most unguarded – it is easy to uncover their secrets, and perhaps even to manipulate their dreams. If you are willing to endure the risk. The teachings of the sa-ilu warn against being caught in the dream of a dying man. There are no accounts that describe what it is like, and that tells you enough to be wary.

The Baker's Son

A straightforward challenge

A few families defiantly occupy their homes despite the Governor's decision to tear them down for fortifications. One such house, a baker's, caught fire in the dead of night. Some whisper that the French set the fire, in order to evict the baker's family. The baker's son will survive – and his account will influence the attitude of the locals towards the French, and their enthusiasm to defend Chandernagore against British attack. You could perhaps influence him yourself...

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 224)

            8
            You need Serenity 8 (you have 32)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 224

            8
            Unlocked with Serenity 8 - you have 32

The Dark Wards

A straightforward challenge

You have noticed that in the dreams of the gravely injured, the dreamer's bodies are often strangely distorted. They can swell to the size of a city, fire and plague playing out in the precincts as their flesh knits or rots. Other times the mind is so distended by sickness and sensation that the dreamer almost disappears altogether. You will have to be especially cautious as you explore the dreams rising hotly from the fever-wards.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 224)

            8
            You need Perception 8 (you have 35)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 224

            8
            Unlocked with Perception 8 - you have 35

The Young Surgeon

A straightforward challenge

What is it that draws you to one dream above another? Amidst all the the fear for the siege, the plans for escape or manipulation, one dream is bright and musky as a lantern fresh with moths. In his cell in the hospital, the young French surgeon dreams in vivid, unmistakeable colour.

Success will unlock a multi-part quest: A Dream of the Fever-Tree.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 224)

            8
            You need Curiosity 8 (you have 31)

            0
            You need A Dream of the Fever-Tree 0 and A Dream of the Fever-Tree no more than 0 (you have 4)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 224

            8
            Unlocked with Curiosity 8 - you have 31

            0
            Unlocked with A Dream of the Fever-Tree 0 - you have 4


Moonlit Ghazals at the Mystic's Tomb

This month the singers meet by moonlight at the tomb of a saint, littering the manicured grass with their polished instruments and porcelain opium-pipes. The Sufi poet who challenged you when you came here last welcomes you with a wine-soaked greeting, and offers to introduce you to the nervous young singers tuning their sarangi.

“Or,” he demurs, with a sly look. “Would you prefer to shame us all with another recitation?”

It is a warm night, smelling of almonds and spice; a night for singing ghosts to rest, or calling down the favour of the gods, if you were inclined to be so romantic.

Gain Imagination if you succeed - but do not fear failure, it can often be rewarding.

Ask for an introduction

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

A straightforward challenge

The Sufi Poet is pleased to demonstrate his knowledge and authority, pulling you through the crowd with light, cutting comments about the skills of the poets and musicians you leave in your wake. “But this singer,” he tells you, voice shot through with reverence. “Ah, I will not use words, sa-ilu, to grasp at such a mystery.”

            12
            You need Perception 12 (you have 43)

Recite a Hindu poem

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

A straightforward challenge

You have long favoured the great poet-saint Tulsidas, said to be a reincarnation of the First Poet Valmiki who penned the epic Ramayanas. Perhaps the Sufis and ghazal-singers would appreciate hearing a song of your heritage?

You are so tired

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

A straightforward challenge

Perhaps you could recite an ironic poem by the great Khaqani; at this moment, it reflects some of your darkest presentiments.

            12
            You need Curiosity 12 (you have 37)

            12
            Unlocked with Curiosity 12 - you have 37

Take a risk

A straightforward challenge

There are whispers of dissension amongst the poets assembled; whispers of the Nawab's weakness, his refusal to take counsel. They would certainly enjoy some veiled mockery, and you have just the verse, penned by the Persian poet of the people, Sa'di.

            0
            You need Loyal to the Nawab of Bengal 0

            12
            You need Perception 12 (you have 43)

            0
            Unlocked with Loyal to the Nawab of Bengal 0

            12
            Unlocked with Perception 12 - you have 43


Cool white sheets

The Baker's Son

A straightforward challenge

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 223)

            8
            You need Serenity 8 (you have 32)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 223

            8
            Unlocked with Serenity 8 - you have 32

You find the child's dream without too much difficulty, following the smell of smoke laced with the heavy sweetness of burning sugar from the bakery. His dreamscape shifts between a plain room with a narrow cot, and what you recognise as the local ayurvedic's sickhouse in the poorest quarter. Quicker than you anticipate, the dream shifts again, and the boy floats face-down on a river of sky.  The boy's wounds sprout cool white-feathered wings, from the seeds planted in him by the fire. His mind is surprisingly strong and flexible.

The burning bakery appears as though projected on his white wings, flames feathering over his skin. There were French soldiers billeted in the house next door: they collect their valuables and watch with bloodshot eyes as the boy's house burns.

It is simple, almost too simple, to thrust your hands into the fire and reshape his dream ever so slightly.  Now: one of the French soldiers turns from the flames and shucks off his uniform jacket. He wraps his around the boy and picks him up as the smoke and shock overtake him. If you have judged correctly, when the boy wakes he will not remember much of the fire itself, but associate the sight of a French uniform with safety. You slip away from his dream – do you tell yourself that you have done the boy a kindness?

27 change points, 6 more needed to reach level 33.

Serenity is increasing...

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've lost 1 x Imagination (new total 223).

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

You've gained 5 x Memories (new total 660).

Exercises of Power has not changed from 15 because it's higher than 15.


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Jean Law

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Maratha Envoy

The Hindu Marathas make no secret of their imperial ambitions - their envoy is a bold fellow

William Watts

The British representative of the Nawab's court - blessed with a most charming wife.

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Faizen's honour

You allowed the truth of Faizen's death at the Nawab's hands to emerge - you upheld her honour.

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A lost heritage

Could it be that there are others like you, sa-ilu raised apart from the Nawab of Bengal's court?

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

A spy in the British camp

You blackmailed the treacherous courtier Nandakumar - now he spies on the British for you.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Dreaming

You are in the dreaming

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You must investigate threats to the Nawab's power both in the dream and the wake
Raise this quality to 10 to progress

The Defences of Chandernagore

Ditches, fortifications, artillery, intelligence: you will need all this & more to have a hope of turning aside the British
You must raise this quality to 10 to progress

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

A Marathi Scroll

Stolen from the desk of the Maratha Envoy - it could hold valuable secrets. If you can decipher it.

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


Break my fetters

Ask for an introduction

A straightforward challenge

Moonlit Ghazals at the Mystic's Tomb

This month the singers meet by moonlight at the tomb of a saint, littering the manicured grass with their polished instruments and porcelain opium-pipes. The Sufi poet who challenged you when you came here last welcomes you with a wine-soaked greeting, and offers to introduce you to the nervous young singers tuning their sarangi.

“Or,” he demurs, with a sly look. “Would you prefer to shame us all with another recitation?”

It is a warm night, smelling of almonds and spice; a night for singing ghosts to rest, or calling down the favour of the gods, if you were inclined to be so romantic.

Gain Imagination if you succeed - but do not fear failure, it can often be rewarding.

The Sufi Poet is pleased to demonstrate his knowledge and authority, pulling you through the crowd with light, cutting comments about the skills of the poets and musicians you leave in your wake. “But this singer,” he tells you, voice shot through with reverence. “Ah, I will not use words, sa-ilu, to grasp at such a mystery.”

The singer in question is a dark-skinned youth wearing a hard expression and rough-spun clothes – a refugee from Chandernagore. The Sufi Poet introduces you, and the boy makes an untutored bow, eyes flashing at your jewels, your amulet of office. He has probably never seen so much wealth; you smooth your face of expression as he begins to sing.

He chooses a Persian ghazal of Laila and Quays, later called Majnun, madman, because of his obsessive love for her. It is a familiar story, and one that ends in tragedy; but the boy sings it like a tale of revenge, each couplet burning in the night air. He snarls and rages as Layla is married to another, his fingers make the sarangi strings weep when she dies, voice heating and drying in the desert sun as Majnun wanders bereft. You feel faint as he sings the song to its conclusion; the silence is a cool relief, stuttered with applause.

You make your excuses and leave soon after; it is many days before you stop hearing his voice, feeling the sand of the desert under your bare feet, imagining your heart squeezed to bursting with youthful passion.

37 change points, 7 more needed to reach level 44.

Perception is increasing...

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've gained 1 x Imagination (new total 1,162).

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

You've gained 5 x Desires (new total 1,177).


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

A five-pointed lotus tattoo

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

The Mughal Sa-ilu

Amir is the sa-ilu to the Mughal Court at Delhi - a prideful, bearded young man

Shadowhair

The mysterious shadowhaired woman appears to have powers in the dream. She is also working for the British - a dangerous opponent.

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Unquiet bones

You hid the truth of Faizen's death at the hands of the Nawab - will she continue to ravage the dreaming?

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

An arrangement with Nandakumar

The treacherous courtier offered you British silver in exchange for your silence - and you accepted.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Uneasy Sleepers

Courtiers & commoners alike lie insensate in the hospital wards: they cannot be woken. What strange plague is this?

Incubus

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

Investigating the Conspiracy

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Wake

You are in the wake

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Rumours of Madness and Dissent

Growing whispers of conspiracy, rumours of madness and magic - all of these could prove threatening to your mission
Explore the dreaming and the wake for rumours and threats

Threats of War

The British march against the French, the Afghans and Marathas bristle at your borders - who is the greatest threat?
Explore the dreaming and the wake for clues

Reluctant Conspirator

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

Lover's Quarrel

A quarrel with your lover

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


Svapnasthana

The dream world is beautiful, and treacherous - even for one so skilful as yourself.

Always

Always


Murshidabad

The Nawab's capital city is a glittering jewel on the banks of the river Bhagirathi

Always

Always


Sa-ilu: Travel back into the wake

You have been trained to keep a very careful map of the twists and turns you take on your dream-wanderings in your head. You trace your steps back into Cani's dream.

Always

Leave the dreaming

Cani always dreams of Madras in the middle of cloying summer. Clearly the girl is half-mad. You walk through the kitchen doorway framed by strings of white cowrie-shells, glinting like teeth.


Of late, the Nawab's weekly durbar is charged with anxiety, thick with heat and the closeness of bodies. It seems as though half of Murshidabad has decided to traipse to the Palace.

The grand hall is wreathed in opium smoke; half-clad dancing girls laugh and cavort to the tunes of wine-maddened musicians. Servants in gold chains and white langotis fan the courtiers with palm-fronds. The holy men have absented themselves, muttering darkly of ill-omens and wickedness.

Amongst the fearful revelry, refugees from Chandernagore come to trade the last of their wares or beg the lords for land, diplomatic Envoys exchange packets of documents, and the nobles talk endlessly of war and provisions and treachery.

Many of these courtiers can be visited in the dreaming as well.

The Mughal Envoy

A straightforward challenge

Your Nawab owes his fealty to the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II of Delhi, a man who has spent forty of his fifty-five years of life imprisoned and is known to be in the thrall of his clever Vizier ul-Mulk. You wonder which one of them the Envoy reports to; it would be wise to choose your words carefully.

The French Representative

A straightforward challenge

Jean Law looks like a man with a rakshasa, a demon, pursuing his dreams. As you yourself have not visited them much of late, you surmise that it is the stress of the Anglo-French war that is causing the haggardness in his face. To your surprise, he approaches you.

The Sikh Merchant

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

A straightforward challenge

Omichand represents a large guild of silk-weavers and silversmiths; he is a devout Sikh, and known for his fearlessness in business deals. His wealth and connections make him powerful, and he is reportedly discontented with the Nawab. It would be prudent to keep an eye on him.

The Factor's Wife

A straightforward challenge

It seems the Irish-French merchant escaped the fall of Chandernagore none the worse for wear. She chuckles at the sight of you, and waves away another supplicant, gesturing for you to sit at the chaupar board. It seems Madame has set up shop right here in the Nawab's court. A chilling thought: she will probably be running the kingdom by next year.

            1
            You need 1 x Madame Molloy  (you have 1)

            12
            You need Curiosity 12 (you have 37)

            1
            Unlocked with 1 x Madame Molloy  - you have 1

            12
            Unlocked with Curiosity 12 - you have 37


Always

Always


Cautious politics

The Sikh Merchant

A straightforward challenge

There is a small hush in the conversation as you walk towards the group of merchants around Omichand. That in itself is not ominous: you are justly feared in your own right. You smile and make some innocuous comments. Before long the group begins to talk more naturally, growing accustomed to your presence. You watch Omichand as he carefully diverts the conversation, siphoning it to particular conclusions. Much of their talk is mercantile: lamenting the interruptions in trade caused by the British siege, details of new trading agreements, rumours of wartime tax-levies.

But here and there you find a chime of discontent with the Nawab's political choices, quickly silenced with a look from Omichand. The Sikh offers nothing but cautious praise for the Nawab – but he is also gently sweating under your gaze. You wonder what he is hiding.

7 change points, 31 more needed to reach level 38.

Curiosity is increasing...

You succeeded in a Curiosity challenge! (Simple challenges mean you don't learn so much.)

Growing whispers of conspiracy, rumours of madness and magic - all of these could prove threatening to your mission

Rumours of Madness and Dissent has not changed from 15 because it's higher than 15.


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

A five-pointed lotus tattoo

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

The Mughal Sa-ilu

Amir is the sa-ilu to the Mughal Court at Delhi - a prideful, bearded young man

Shadowhair

The mysterious shadowhaired woman appears to have powers in the dream. She is also working for the British - a dangerous opponent.

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Unquiet bones

You hid the truth of Faizen's death at the hands of the Nawab - will she continue to ravage the dreaming?

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

An arrangement with Nandakumar

The treacherous courtier offered you British silver in exchange for your silence - and you accepted.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Uneasy Sleepers

Courtiers & commoners alike lie insensate in the hospital wards: they cannot be woken. What strange plague is this?

Incubus

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

Investigating the Conspiracy

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Wake

You are in the wake

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Rumours of Madness and Dissent

Growing whispers of conspiracy, rumours of madness and magic - all of these could prove threatening to your mission
Explore the dreaming and the wake for rumours and threats

Threats of War

The British march against the French, the Afghans and Marathas bristle at your borders - who is the greatest threat?
Explore the dreaming and the wake for clues

Reluctant Conspirator

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

Lover's Quarrel

A quarrel with your lover

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Jean Law

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Maratha Envoy

The Hindu Marathas make no secret of their imperial ambitions - their envoy is a bold fellow

William Watts

The British representative of the Nawab's court - blessed with a most charming wife.

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Faizen's honour

You allowed the truth of Faizen's death at the Nawab's hands to emerge - you upheld her honour.

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A lost heritage

Could it be that there are others like you, sa-ilu raised apart from the Nawab of Bengal's court?

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

A spy in the British camp

You blackmailed the treacherous courtier Nandakumar - now he spies on the British for you.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Dreaming

You are in the dreaming

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You must investigate threats to the Nawab's power both in the dream and the wake
Raise this quality to 10 to progress

The Defences of Chandernagore

Ditches, fortifications, artillery, intelligence: you will need all this & more to have a hope of turning aside the British
You must raise this quality to 10 to progress

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

A Marathi Scroll

Stolen from the desk of the Maratha Envoy - it could hold valuable secrets. If you can decipher it.

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


Murshidabad

The Nawab's capital city is a glittering jewel on the banks of the river Bhagirathi

Always

Always


March: Investigate the court

True treachery is bred inside the cool courtyards and marble corridors of the palace. In daylight the court is by turns sneering and wary – they will never accept the grey vibuthi streaked across your forehead on auspicious mornings or the low-caste darkness of your skin. But they fear your magic, as well they should.

At night you step inside their stiff court masks and disassemble them from the inside out. Their most delicate joys, their sweetly secret sorrows, their most venal ambitions – you must know them all.

Every successful action in the dream world uses up Imagination - if you use up all your Imagination you must go back to the wake to gain more.

Svapnasthana

The dream world is beautiful, and treacherous - even for one so skilful as yourself.

The ladies of the court

A straightforward challenge

The ladies of the Nawab's court have excellent imaginations. In the wake their smiles are hidden behind the purdah in their guarded apartments, but you may walk amongst them freely in the dream.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 223)

            5
            You need Curiosity 5 (you have 31)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 223

            5
            Unlocked with Curiosity 5 - you have 31

Behind the General's mask

A straightforward challenge

You have suspicions of Mir Jaffar, the Nawab's general. Perhaps it is time to investigate them more thoroughly?

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 223)

            1
            You need 1 x Mir Jaffar  (you have 27)

            5
            You need Perception 5 (you have 35)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 223

            1
            Unlocked with 1 x Mir Jaffar  - you have 27

            5
            Unlocked with Perception 5 - you have 35

The close advisors

A straightforward challenge

The Nawab raises men up carelessly and drops them with as little ceremony. You are not the first of low birth he has honoured, but you are the only one who has remained so.

            5
            You need Perception 5 (you have 35)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 223)

            5
            Unlocked with Perception 5 - you have 35

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 223

The Maratha Envoy

A straightforward challenge

A recent addition to the Nawab's retinue is an envoy from the warlike Maratha empire, which threatens Bengal from the West. You do not know what he wants, but his appearance at this time of crisis cannot bode well.

Success will unlock The Maratha Envoy quest.

            5
            You need Serenity 5 (you have 32)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 223)

            5
            Unlocked with Serenity 5 - you have 32

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 223


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

A five-pointed lotus tattoo

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

a black design over your heart; a mark of shadow

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

The Mughal Sa-ilu

Amir is the sa-ilu to the Mughal Court at Delhi - a prideful, bearded young man

Shadowhair

The mysterious shadowhaired woman appears to have powers in the dream. She is also working for the British - a dangerous opponent.

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Unquiet bones

You hid the truth of Faizen's death at the hands of the Nawab - will she continue to ravage the dreaming?

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

An arrangement with Nandakumar

The treacherous courtier offered you British silver in exchange for your silence - and you accepted.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Uneasy Sleepers

Courtiers & commoners alike lie insensate in the hospital wards: they cannot be woken. What strange plague is this?

Incubus

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

You have chosen to impress the Young Surgeon with fear rather than admiration

Investigating the Conspiracy

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

There are disturbing rumours of conspiracy: you must investigate further.

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Wake

You are in the wake

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Rumours of Madness and Dissent

Growing whispers of conspiracy, rumours of madness and magic - all of these could prove threatening to your mission
Explore the dreaming and the wake for rumours and threats

Threats of War

The British march against the French, the Afghans and Marathas bristle at your borders - who is the greatest threat?
Explore the dreaming and the wake for clues

Reluctant Conspirator

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

You have agreed to side with the conspirators - for now.

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

Lover's Quarrel

A quarrel with your lover

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


An unexpected offer

The Maratha Envoy

A straightforward challenge

March: Investigate the court

True treachery is bred inside the cool courtyards and marble corridors of the palace. In daylight the court is by turns sneering and wary – they will never accept the grey vibuthi streaked across your forehead on auspicious mornings or the low-caste darkness of your skin. But they fear your magic, as well they should.

At night you step inside their stiff court masks and disassemble them from the inside out. Their most delicate joys, their sweetly secret sorrows, their most venal ambitions – you must know them all.

Every successful action in the dream world uses up Imagination - if you use up all your Imagination you must go back to the wake to gain more.

A recent addition to the Nawab's retinue is an envoy from the warlike Maratha empire, which threatens Bengal from the West. You do not know what he wants, but his appearance at this time of crisis cannot bode well.

Success will unlock The Maratha Envoy quest.

            5
            You need Serenity 5 (you have 32)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 222)

            5
            Unlocked with Serenity 5 - you have 32

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 222

The Envoy is sitting on a low cushioned bench sipping a glass of lassi flavoured with roasted garlic and cumin - the smell makes your mouth water. He smiles at you, unsurprised, and conjures a second tumbler. "I wondered how long it would be before you visited me," he says, as you try very hard not to swallow your own tongue in surprise.

"You look shocked. Surely you did not think the Nawab of Bengal alone in his possession of a sa-ilu?" His expression shutters. "Ah," he says softly. "You did. Such a shame. So much of your own history is lost to you, poor child."

He turns away sharply as the dream begins to waver. "I am not skilled in dreaming. Meet me in my rooms. I have much to tell you."

28 change points, 5 more needed to reach level 33.

Serenity is increasing...

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've lost 1 x Imagination (new total 222).

You must investigate threats to the Nawab's power both in the dream and the wake

You've gained 1 x Investigating the situation for the Nawab (new total 277).

The Hindu Marathas make no secret of their imperial ambitions - their envoy is a bold fellow

The Maratha Envoy has not changed from 1 because it's higher than 1.


Pearl-Encrusted Box

Its insides are mirrored; you keep your most precious mementos safely locked within.

A scrap of yellow silk

A precious memento from your past.

A precious memento from your past.
Enhances your Perception by +1

Shadow-marks

The shadow has written itself on the flesh of your body; do you welcome its darkness, or fear it?

A cowrie-shell tattoo

a black swirl on your palm, which transforms into a pattern of embedded milk-white shells in the dreaming

An unusual collection

the pleasures and pains of daily life are valuable resources that you carefully collect - spend these sharp & precious things in both the dreaming and the wake

Desires

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes

a glittering collection of carnal lusts, dark ambitions, secret hopes
Gain desires by choosing to indulge your ambition, curiosity and lust

Visions

a swirling mass of mystical prophecy, hallucination & divine pronouncement - some may even be true
inspired by the gods, meditative experiences & wandering in the dream

Memories

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia

your own & others, some sharply painful, others softened by nostalgia
found in recollections & particularly fine experiences

Traumas

a compendium of pain - you do not know what compels you to collect these little miseries
often gained by accident rather than design

The Principal Players

There are many here who would change history - some will be remembered, and others too-quickly forgotten

Ghaseti Begum

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

You have seen Ghaseti Begum's forbidden face; now your life is in her hands

Cani Theruvil

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

She is your portal into the world of dreams and your partner, like it or not

Mir Jaffar

The Nawab's smiling, thickly-moustachioed general - there is something about him you dislike.

Pierre Renault

The Governor of Chandernagore - he will never be your ally, but perhaps he is your enemy's enemy?

Jean Law

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Factory chief at Kasim Bazaar - a potential ally against the British?

The Maratha Envoy

The Hindu Marathas make no secret of their imperial ambitions - their envoy is a bold fellow

William Watts

The British representative of the Nawab's court - blessed with a most charming wife.

Amina Begum

Rabia Begum is the Nawab's mother - a fiercely loyal ally, but relatively powerless

Survivor of the Black Hole

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

You witnessed the horrors; you will always remember that place

Faizen's honour

You allowed the truth of Faizen's death at the Nawab's hands to emerge - you upheld her honour.

Sa-ilu: you walk in dreams

spies, assassins, advisers - the sa-ilu have shaped history since the time of Babylon

You follow your own path

games of politics & power  are for the rich, you have learned to look out for yourself

Marked by Shadow

the dreaming can be more treacherous than the sea, crueller than the gods - do not let this quality grow too high

An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

She is your partner in the dreaming - but she could be so much more...

Playing the divine messenger

You must have your amusements

Poisoned by the Begum

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

You must return to the Begum each week for the antidote

Delving into Benigno's past

Half-missionary, half-madman: you gather up fragments of Benigno's intriguing past

Indigo-stained lips

Your lips and tongue are a rich royal blue from indigo dye - surely no one will notice?

A missed connection

Eyes the colour of river-water running across granite; you will remember them forever

A lost heritage

Could it be that there are others like you, sa-ilu raised apart from the Nawab of Bengal's court?

A Dream of the Fever-Tree

Its colours are too vivid, it is saturated with the taste of bitter bark - the Young Surgeon's dreams intrigue you greatly.

A spy in the British camp

You blackmailed the treacherous courtier Nandakumar - now he spies on the British for you.

Seeking out Nandakumar

The Nawab instructs you to meet with his man in Chandernagore, to help the French defend against the British threat

Bengal, 1757 - a troubled time

The Dreaming

You are in the dreaming

Imagination

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

use imagination to act in the dreaming world
gained in the wake, you use Imagination in dreams

Curiosity

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

"you will never be lovelier than you are now" - energy, desire, ambition

Perception

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

'he who sees me in a dream truly sees me' - observation, using the senses

Serenity

'look upon success & failure with an equal eye' - calmness, detachment & logic

An Enemy of the British

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

You know it is only a matter of time before trade becomes conquest

Investigating the situation for the Nawab 277

You must investigate threats to the Nawab's power both in the dream and the wake
Raise this quality to 10 to progress

The Defences of Chandernagore

Ditches, fortifications, artillery, intelligence: you will need all this & more to have a hope of turning aside the British
You must raise this quality to 10 to progress

Exercises of Power

the myth of the sa-ilu grows in the telling; percieved power can be more potent than actual power, sometimes

Dreams of distant shores

You yearn to set sail, to let the sea open up before you like a blue-bright pathway leading you to lands unknown

Ancient and forgotten magics

The world is stranger than even you - dream-walker, sorcerer, stranger - could possibly suspect

A Marathi Scroll

Stolen from the desk of the Maratha Envoy - it could hold valuable secrets. If you can decipher it.

Madame Molloy

The formidable Madame Molloy is an Irishwoman married to a French trader, a smuggler, and a dab hand at chaupar. A useful woman to know.


Investigate the anxious town of Murshidabad

The streets are lit with lamps every evening, casting their oily shadows on groups of bearded men and young boys, hard-faced factory workers, housewives and merchants. Courtiers emerge from their fine homes and mix with commoners; a curious sight. The city feels on the edge of something terrible and momentous; the darkness outside its precincts seems to stretch and yowl.

The ancient seat of the Nawabs of Bengal feels papery-thin, its stone and mortar worn down by fear of British and French soldiers marching across Bengal, and of uncertainty within the court.

Murshidabad

The Nawab's capital city is a glittering jewel on the banks of the river Bhagirathi

The Silk Quarter

A straightforward challenge

Your own home is not far from the bustle of the Silk Quarter, where bolts of bright cloth are sold by men with brighter smiles. Perhaps you will find good news in the faces of the prosperous merchants?

            15
            You need Curiosity 15 (you have 37)

            15
            Unlocked with Curiosity 15 - you have 37

The Supreme Court

A straightforward challenge

As the capital city of Bengal, Murshidabad is also the seat of judicial power. Lawyers gossip notoriously; perhaps you could find some useful information if you paid a visit to the grand edifice.

            16
            You need Perception 16 (you have 43)

            16
            Unlocked with Perception 16 - you have 43

The Hospital

A straightforward challenge

Charity is an Islamic obligation: when the Nawab ascended to the throne, he gave a waqf, an charitable endowment, to a local hospital. Those too poor to hire physicians of their own throng its halls.

            16
            You need Serenity 16 (you have 49)

            16
            Unlocked with Serenity 16 - you have 49

The Jahan Kosha Cannon

Gain 2 x Threats of War and 2 x Imagination each time you play this branch.

Built during the time of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the seven-ton cannon is seventeen feet and six-inches long. It is placed on a great wheeled carriage amongst the roots of a shady peepul tree; tourists flock to it on warm days. You might find something of worth in their chatter.


Svapnasthana

The dream world is beautiful, and treacherous - even for one so skilful as yourself.

Always

Always