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.


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

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


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

March: Investigate the French battle-plans

Unlocked when 1757 is:

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

; Unlocked with

<P>The Nawab's hopes of playing the British and French against each other have succeeded too well...

Investigate the court

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


Politics and religion

Speak with the priests

A straightforward challenge

You fiddle with your amulet conspicuously until one of the younger priests approaches you with his head bowed; his scalp is tonsured, and he wears the sacred thread across his body. There was a time where you were deemed unworthy to touch his shadow. No longer, it seems. You ask him about the people, their fears and gossip. He is friendly enough until you imply that you are here on a mission from the Nawab. His face closes up quickly; there is no finesse in his refusal to give you any information, but simple stubbornness is as effective.

Several wealthy Hindu merchants who are powerful at court watch you as you depart; do the priests know something of value, or are they merely displeased with the Nawab? You hope, for your own sake if nothing else, that any conspiracy against the court does not have a religious dimension. An attempted coup could quickly spiral into a damaging civil war.

23 change points, 27 more needed to reach level 50.

Serenity is increasing...

You succeeded in a Serenity 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.

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.

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.


The Nawab's hopes of playing the British and French against each other have succeeded too well. An outright war between the British and the French is a dangerous situation. Especially if one of them wins - there is no such thing as an idle army, after all.

The French do not have the military might of the British in Bengal, but perhaps they have...other advantages?

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 Company Man

A straightforward challenge

Monsieur Jean Law is the chief of the factory in the nearby town of Kasim Bazaar; the closest representative of the French East India company.

            4
            You need Perception 4 (you have 35)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 194)

            4
            Unlocked with Perception 4 - you have 35

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 194

The French General

A straightforward challenge

You know little of the Marquis De Bussy-Castelnau save two facts: he is widely considered the French military genius of his time, and Cani crosses herself at the mention of his name.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 194)

            4
            You need Serenity 4 (you have 33)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 194

            4
            Unlocked with Serenity 4 - you have 33

The Wily Governor

A straightforward challenge

The Nawab has negotiated with Pierre Renault, the Governor of Chandernagore, in the past. He makes little secret of his dislike for Indians.

            2
            You need Imagination 2 (you have 194)

            4
            You need Curiosity 4 (you have 31)

            2
            Unlocked with Imagination 2 - you have 194

            4
            Unlocked with Curiosity 4 - you have 31

A boost to morale

You will gain 2 x The Defences of Chandernagore and 5 x visions

The dreams of Chandernagore are unstructured and shifting. Underneath the bravery and drum-beating of the young soldiers is blue-white fear like fire, and visions of death. You could smooth their troubles slightly, and leave them refreshed for the morning.


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

Investigate the anxious town of Murshidabad

<P>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...

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...


War in the south

The French General

A straightforward challenge

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 193)

            4
            You need Serenity 4 (you have 33)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 193

            4
            Unlocked with Serenity 4 - you have 33

De Bussy dreams of sacking forts, and soldiers screaming in the pre-dawn light. You have heard rumours of de Bussy's alliance with the Rajah of Vizianagar against his British-allied enemies in the Deccan. It seems that Bengal is not alone in its strife.

Strangely, you are heartened by his dark-drenched dreams of blood and cannonfire: he would be a formidable opponent to the British, if he could be tempted into an alliance.

5 change points, 29 more needed to reach level 34.

Serenity is increasing...

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've lost 1 x Imagination (new total 193).

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 289).

You've gained 1 x An Enemy of the British (new total 115).


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 289

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.


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

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.

Murshidabad

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

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.

            12
            You need Perception 12 (you have 44)

            12
            Unlocked with Perception 12 - you have 44

The Sikh Merchant

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.

            12
            You need Curiosity 12 (you have 37)

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


Svapnasthana

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

Always

Always


A woman of means

The Factor's Wife

Curiosity

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

A straightforward challenge

As you lay out the pieces, you enquire after her business following the siege. “It was a damned hot time of it, I don't mind telling you,” she says, as she pours the tea with that surprising grace. “War is no good for anyone but the quick and the dead, and I intended to be one of the quick ones. So I laid my hands on a store of powder and shot and got it out of the city under cover of a shipment of grain, and myself and my ledgers in a cartload of fever-dead. An experience I'll not soon forget.”

She gives a dyspeptic chuckle and moves a piece. You can tell that she intends to dine out on this story for many years. And so she shall, if any of her listeners can keep their dinner down.

Then, is she selling powder to the Nawab? “Aye, but it's a seller's market,” she says with a wink. “I'd never sell coal dust for powder, but there's nothing to say a merchant can't label their powder-barrels as wine or indigo and let them sit a-while as the prices go up. The Nabob's excise-men can't tell the difference, or won't for a friendly fee.” She laughs, and traps one of your pieces in a neat move. She is certainly enamoured with her own good sense.

And what of her husband? you ask, playing along. She gives you an empty look, and removes her pipe from her mouth. “Didn't make it out, poor devil,” she says. You are not terribly surprised.

13 change points, 25 more needed to reach level 38.

Curiosity is increasing...

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

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

Threats of War has not changed from 15 because it's higher than 15.

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


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.


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

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.


Murshidabad

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

Always

Always


Svapnasthana

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

Always

Always


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.


Further memories of your past

Your rooms are luxurious and comfortable, as befits your status. There are plump hand-embroidered silk bolsters, a censer filled with sweet smells of jasmine and sandalwood, bright-glazed jugs filled with cool water with fresh mint and lemon-slices, shelves of books carefully dusted by quiet, respectful servants each morning.

Yet it was not always so: sometimes, as you cast your eye about the casual opulence, you are drawn to recall how you came to be here.

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

Murshidabad

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

Recall training with Cani

A straightforward challenge

The first time you stepped into her mind, she threw you back into the waking world with casual power. Your teacher, patience visibly ebbing away, had ordered you to get into Cani's bed and hold hands with her.

Recall your first days at court

A straightforward challenge

The court seemed a place full of wonder and terror to your eyes.

            14
            You need Perception 14 (you have 44)

            14
            Unlocked with Perception 14 - you have 44

Recall your teacher's funeral

An almost impossible challenge

There was no body: by tradition they burned a person-shaped sacking form filled with sweet spices, cardamom and ginger-root and oudh.

            16
            You need Perception 16 (you have 44)

Recall your father

You will gain 15 x Memories and 4 x Imagination each time you play this branch.

You have cut yourself away from the rag-and-bone child that you once were. Was it a haphazard decision, or one long deliberated? You last saw him as you were being led away from your home, your hand held fast by your new teacher as she whispered of the grandeur of the Nawab's court. Yet your father's eyes look back at you when you look in the mirror. Some things cannot be so easily left behind.

Recall a moment of passion

A straightforward challenge

There was a moment where you nearly confessed all to Cani. You are sure she knows of your passion; after that, how could she not?

            16
            You need Perception 16 (you have 44)

            1
            You need An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil 1

            16
            Unlocked with Perception 16 - you have 44

            1
            Unlocked with An unrequited passion for Cani Theruvil 1


March: Investigate the British plans for war

The British East India Company sends representatives and envoys and obsequious traders, as if it is not a conquering force. You are familiar with some of its faces - but what lies behind?

You decide to investigate the minds of your enemy, to better understand their weaknesses.

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 commander of the army

Perception

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

A straightforward challenge

Robert Clive - or Colonel Clive, as you should call him - commands the armies that threaten the French town of Chandernagore. Knowing his mind will be of great value.

            6
            You need Perception 6 (you have 35)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 193)

            6
            Unlocked with Perception 6 - you have 35

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 193

The admiral

Serenity

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

A straightforward challenge

Charles Watson commands His Majesty's Navy in the East Indies. His ships recaptured Calcutta, and now he plans to sail to Chandernagore.

            6
            You need Serenity 6 (you have 33)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 193)

            6
            Unlocked with Serenity 6 - you have 33

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 193

Mrs. Watts

Curiosity

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

A straightforward challenge

The wife of William Watts, she is - surprisingly - well liked by the Bengalis, court and citizenry alike. Even the Nawab's mother, Amina Begum, appears to like her. Curious.

            6
            You need Curiosity 6 (you have 31)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 193)

            6
            Unlocked with Curiosity 6 - you have 31

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 193

False intelligence

Playing this branch will give you 2 x The Defences of Chandernagore and 2 x An Enemy of the British

Clive's map of Chandernagore is accurate. Too accurate. It would be so easy to disturb its layout in the dream, and perhaps cause confusion in the wake too...

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 193)


Rose and Pomegranate

Recall your first days at court

A straightforward challenge

Your old teacher had installed you in rooms next to hers, and assigned you servants to bathe you, dress you, feed you. She had even arranged for a shy young nobleman from the eastern provinces to read you stories at the evening meal. You slipped away from all their cleansing hands at every opportunity, shedding your silks in little extravagant heaps and hiding from the sharp-eyed servants. Once you had run headlong into the legs of the Nawab Alivardi Khan himself and found yourself upended, looking dazedly up at his forked beard. Several courtiers had gasped in the background but he had smiled and handed you a sweet from a voluminous pocket.

The taste of rose and pomegranate molasses is still thick in your mouth when your teacher sweeps into your rooms that evening. “Are you now ready to learn, child?” She asked. You remember standing up, and bowing your head in the fashion of a courtier – it was the first time, but not the last.

8 change points, 37 more needed to reach level 45.

Perception is increasing...

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

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

You've gained 8 x Memories (new total 1,362).

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've gained 2 x Imagination (new total 1,189).


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.


A promise of protection

Mrs. Watts

A straightforward challenge

The British East India Company sends representatives and envoys and obsequious traders, as if it is not a conquering force. You are familiar with some of its faces - but what lies behind?

You decide to investigate the minds of your enemy, to better understand their weaknesses.

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.

The wife of William Watts, she is - surprisingly - well liked by the Bengalis, court and citizenry alike. Even the Nawab's mother, Amina Begum, appears to like her. Curious.

            6
            You need Curiosity 6 (you have 31)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 192)

            6
            Unlocked with Curiosity 6 - you have 31

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 192

Frances Watts dreams of French sepoys dragging her from her bed and lashing her hands together with rope. Five of the Nawab's guardsmen enter her room, spilling her captors' blood all over her genteel embroidery, and freeing her from her bonds. Amina Begum appears as Frances is weeping on the bed, and cradles her gently. How intriguing - has Mrs. Watts managed to induce Amina Begum to offer her protection from the French, should it be required?

7 change points, 25 more needed to reach level 32.

Curiosity is increasing...

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 290).

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've lost 1 x Imagination (new total 192).


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

Investigating the situation for the Nawab 290

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

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...


Svapnasthana

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

Always

Always

Wander in dreams

Unlocked when 1757 is:

February - the Treaty of Alinagar brings a tenuous peace

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

<P>The Brahman priests took great pleasure in quoting the sacred texts, answering your childish questions with ancient dogma in a language that you were not allowed to learn...


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.

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.

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.


Wander in dreams

The Brahman priests took great pleasure in quoting the sacred texts, answering your childish questions with ancient dogma in a language that you were not allowed to learn. They told you to be content in your position, to respect your social betters, that food prepared by your mother's washed hands would somehow pollute their pure high-caste bodies.

Brahman or Shudhra, Mussulman or Anglo – you know there are some dreams that step across all social boundaries.

And here, in the dreaming, you step where you like.

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 dream of flight

Curiosity

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

A straightforward challenge

Find a dream of escape and blue-drenched sky. The risk is falling. But that's what makes it fun.

            1
            You need Curiosity 1 (you have 31)

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 192)

            1
            Unlocked with Curiosity 1 - you have 31

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 192

A dream of death

Serenity

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

A straightforward challenge

In small measures, even spreading silence of death grows less oppressive. Be wary you do not grow to like it.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 192)

            1
            You need Serenity 1 (you have 33)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 192

            1
            Unlocked with Serenity 1 - you have 33

A dream of things past

Perception

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

A straightforward challenge

Sometimes you tire of fancy and imagining. Memories are often much more complex in the dreaming – it is easy to slip too far from the truth.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 192)

            1
            You need Perception 1 (you have 35)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 192

            1
            Unlocked with Perception 1 - you have 35

A dream of futures unseen

You will gain 1 x Sliver of Prophecy and 3 x Visions

It is easy to believe in the divine in the dreaming. You have seen visions and hallucinations both; sometimes there is no difference between them.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 192)


Poverty and discontentment

The Silk Quarter

A straightforward challenge

Trade is still being conducted briskly, but there is an edge of desperation under the ritual forms of bargain and barter. Shopboys despatched to the stock-rooms for more material often come back shaking their heads. Merchants open their hands and mutter imprecations to Allah and Lakshmi and Christ in turn. The shopfronts are stuffed full of silk and lace and ribbon, but the store-rooms are growing bare. Murshidabad's trade is Bengal's economic lifeblood and the Anglo-French war is doing it no favours; poverty breeds discontentment.

14 change points, 24 more needed to reach level 38.

Curiosity is increasing...

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


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.


Gold, bright, eternal

A dream of things past

A straightforward challenge

Wander in dreams

The Brahman priests took great pleasure in quoting the sacred texts, answering your childish questions with ancient dogma in a language that you were not allowed to learn. They told you to be content in your position, to respect your social betters, that food prepared by your mother's washed hands would somehow pollute their pure high-caste bodies.

Brahman or Shudhra, Mussulman or Anglo – you know there are some dreams that step across all social boundaries.

And here, in the dreaming, you step where you like.

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.

Sometimes you tire of fancy and imagining. Memories are often much more complex in the dreaming – it is easy to slip too far from the truth.

            1
            You need Imagination 1 (you have 193)

            1
            You need Perception 1 (you have 35)

            1
            Unlocked with Imagination 1 - you have 193

            1
            Unlocked with Perception 1 - you have 35

You see one dainty ankle curve from under a length of gold-embroidered fabric – the zari hem is broad but worn. The dreamer's heart beats raggedly in time to the tabla; the dream itself pulses with each breath. The nautch girl in the middle of the floor begins to spin, her yellow skirts belling out across the marble. The zari catches the light and the bells ring richly underneath the sound of her laughter and for one long and mad moment it seems as if she will never stop spinning. You stumble out of the dream with your hair askew, your eyes bright. You know that the man sleeps with a carelessly torn patch of that zari under his pillow.

18 change points, 18 more needed to reach level 36.

Perception is increasing...

use imagination to act in the dreaming world

You've gained 1 x Imagination (new total 193).

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

You've gained 3 x Memories (new total 683).


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


Svapnasthana

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

Always

Always