Below-Stairs

A player-created Guide is available for this content: Helicon House (Guide)

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ID: 323654

Spoiler warning! This page contains details about Fallen London Actions.

[…] down an unadvertised staircase, there is a room where extraordinary changes are performed – Shapeling alterations of flesh and bone. If the inhabitants of Helicon House are well-disposed toward you, you might take your own place at the cauldron.

Description summary:
The second paragraph varies based on who accompanied you.

Helicon House Companion	Second paragraph
Starry-Eyed Scoundrel	The Scoundrel hovers nervously. It seems he finds this view not alluring but faintly alarming.
Stormy-Eyed Scoundrel	The Scoundrel hovers nervously. It seems he finds this view both alluring and alarming in equal measure.
Master Jewel Thief	Your spouse surveys the room keenly, though it's not obvious what if anything here would attract his avarice.
Celebrated Artist's Model	Your spouse poses languidly in the corner, in an attitude meant to inspire admiration and longing. None of the Rubberies takes any notice.
The Admiralty Lackey	The Admiralty Lackey looks around the cluttered kitchen in discomfort. It is clear he does not wish to be here.
Roguish Semiotician Infamous Mathematician Flexible Intelligencer Joyful Charter Clerk Joyful Illuminator Soothing Palaeontologist	Your spouse takes in the proceedings with a glance, then looks expressively towards you, as though to remark that they might have known you'd be interested in this sort of thing.
Blooming Wallflower	The Blooming Wallflower fades against the wall as much as possible.
Platonic Partner in Crime	Your platonic partner in crime is never more than an arm's length from you.
A Bewildering Procession of Companions, Lovers, Suitors, and Paramours	Several of your companions start looking curiously into pots and picking up bits of amber.
Both your spouses	Your spouses curiously examine the amber, idly proposing theories about its nature.
Your Spouse, Returned Your Lover, Returned Your Brother, Returned Your Daughter, Returned	Your (resurrected loved one) looks uncertainly around the basement, perhaps wondering whether such scenes are common in the Neath.
Esoteric Accomplice Fabulous Accomplice	Your accomplice stays alertly by your side, obviously anticipating there may be some call for her services.
Genre Painter	The Genre Painter watches the proceedings with some fascination, perhaps filing away the scenes before him as inspiration for future work.
Prescient Automatist	The Prescient Automatist watches the proceedings with some fascination, perhaps filing away the scenes before him as inspiration for future work.
Noman	Your Noman stares expressively at the bubbling cauldron.
Player Spouse	Your spouse absorbs every detail of the scene. You will, you fancy, be speaking of this on the way home.

[Find the rest of the story at https://www.fallenlondon.com]

Unlocked with Time Remaining at Helicon House 1, Discovered: Below-Stairs (hidden)

Storylet appears in Helicon House

Options:

Perform the duties of a sous-artist

•  Spoiler ID: 243797
  

  Unlocked with Time Remaining at Helicon House 2
  

   

  Challenge information

  Broad, Watchful 150 || 103 - very chancy (41%) || 128 - chancy (51%) || 153 - modest (61%) || 178 - very modest (71%) || 203 - low-risk (81%) || 228 - straightforward (91%) || 250 - straightforward (100%)
  

  Narrow, Shapeling Arts 3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)
  

  Success

  Stirring dedication

  • Watchful is increasing…
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House
  •  You've gained 2 x Fitting in at Helicon House

  Failure

  Careless work

  • Watchful is increasing…
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House
  •  Scandal is increasing… (+2 CP)

  ^

Consider yourself closest to Rubbery Men

•  Spoiler ID: 244510
  

  Unlocked with Closest To - any, Fitting in at Helicon House 10
  

   

  Success

  A contorted expression

  • You have moved to a new area: Ealing Gardens
  •  You are closest to the Rubbery Men. (Sets Closest To - to 150 - Rubbery Men)
  •  Your 'Time Remaining at Helicon House' Quality has gone!
  •  Your popularity this evening has just suffered a setback. (Removes Fitting in at Helicon House)
  •  You are now free of invited companions for the evening. (Removes Helicon House Companion)

  ^

Descend further below

•  Spoiler ID: 261638
  

  Unlocked with Favours: Rubbery Men 7, Renown: Rubbery Men 40, Fitting in at Helicon House 5
  Locked with Location of an Underground Organ
  

   

  Success

  Far beneath

  Redirects to: What Do They Want?

  ^

Upgrade Bones

Draw tentacles from the cauldron

•  Spoiler ID: 245696
  

  Unlocked with 5 x Nodules of Warm Amber, Time Remaining at Helicon House 2, Fitting in at Helicon House 4
  

   

  Challenge information

  Narrow, Shapeling Arts 3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)
  

  Success

  Flesh from amber

  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House
  •  You've lost 5 x Nodule of Warm Amber
  •  You've gained 3 x Withered Tentacle
  •  Shapeling Arts is increasing… (+1 CP, up to level 5 + Shapeling Studies)
  •  You've gained 2 x Fitting in at Helicon House

  Failure

  Again

  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House
  •  Shapeling Arts is increasing… (+1 CP, up to level 5 + Shapeling Studies)

  ^

Convert your fin-bones into something more impressive

•  Spoiler ID: 244407
  

  Unlocked with 10 x Fin Bones, Collected, Fitting in at Helicon House 2, Time Remaining at Helicon House
  

   

  Challenge information

  Narrow, Shapeling Arts 3 (50% base) || 0 - high-risk (20%) || 1 - high-risk (30%) || 2 - tough (40%) || 3 - very chancy (50%) || 4 - chancy (60%) || 5 - modest (70%) || 6 - very modest (80%) || 7 - low-risk (90%) || 8 and above - straightforward (100%)
  

  Success

  Poured in

  •  You've lost 10 x Fin Bones, Collected
  •  You've gained 1 x Amber-Crusted Fin
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House
  •  Shapeling Arts is increasing… (+1 CP, up to level 5 + Shapeling Studies)

  If there is no more Time Remaining at Helicon House:

  • Redirects to: Helicon House

  Failure

  Poured in

  •  Wounds is increasing… (+1 CP)
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House

  If there is no more Time Remaining at Helicon House:

  • Redirects to: Helicon House

  ^

Create a Flourishing Ribcage

•  Spoiler ID: 237956
  

  Unlocked with 1 x Human Ribcage, 1 x Thorned Ribcage, Fitting in at Helicon House 3, Time Remaining at Helicon House
  

   

  Challenge information

  Narrow, Shapeling Arts 5 (50% base) || 1 and below - almost impossible (10%) || 2 - high-risk (20%) || 3 - high-risk (30%) || 4 - tough (40%) || 5 - very chancy (50%) || 6 - chancy (60%) || 7 - modest (70%) || 8 - very modest (80%) || 9 - low-risk (90%) || 10 and above - straightforward (100%)
  

  Success

  Burbles

  •  Shapeling Arts is increasing… (+1 CP, up to level 5 + Shapeling Studies)
  •  You've gained 1 x Flourishing Ribcage
  •  You've lost 1 x Human Ribcage
  •  You've lost 1 x Thorned Ribcage
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House

  If there is no more Time Remaining at Helicon House:

  • Redirects to: Helicon House

  Failure

  Awkwardness and error

  •  Wounds is increasing… (+2 CP)
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House

  If there is no more Time Remaining at Helicon House:

  • Redirects to: Helicon House

  ^

Create a Ribcage with a Bouquet of Eight Spines

•  Spoiler ID: 237955
  

  Unlocked with 1 x Skeleton with Seven Necks, 1 x Thorned Ribcage, Fitting in at Helicon House 3, 3 x Nodule of Trembling Amber, 3 x Searing Enigma, Time Remaining at Helicon House
  

   

  Challenge information

  Narrow, Shapeling Arts 7 (50% base) || 3 and below - almost impossible (10%) || 4 - high-risk (20%) || 5 - high-risk (30%) || 6 - tough (40%) || 7 - very chancy (50%) || 8 - chancy (60%) || 9 - modest (70%) || 10 - very modest (80%) || 11 - low-risk (90%) || 12 and above - straightforward (100%)
  

  Success

  Burbles

  •  Shapeling Arts is increasing… (+1 CP, up to level 5 + Shapeling Studies)
  •  You've gained 1 x Ribcage with a Bouquet of Eight Spines
  •  You've lost 1 x Thorned Ribcage
  •  You've lost 1 x Skeleton with Seven Necks
  •  You've lost 3 x Nodule of Trembling Amber
  •  You've lost 3 x Searing Enigma
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House

  If there is no more Time Remaining at Helicon House:
  Redirects to: Helicon House

  Failure

  Awkwardness and error

  •  Wounds is increasing… (+3 CP)
  •  You've lost 1 x Time Remaining at Helicon House

  ^

Raise Shapeling Arts Cap

Solicit guidance in the Shapeling Arts

•  Spoiler ID: 243130
  

  Unlocked with Base Shapeling Arts 5 (You have learned mutability. Perhaps, though, your mindset can bend even further?), 400 x Nodule of Warm Amber, 2250 x Nodule of Deep Amber, Fitting in at Helicon House 5
  Locked with Shapeling Studies
  

   

  Success

  A lesson in apprehension

  • You have moved to a new area: Ealing Gardens
  •  Your maximum Shapeling Arts is now 6. (Sets Shapeling Studies to 1)
  •  You've lost 400 x Nodule of Warm Amber
  •  Your 'Time Remaining at Helicon House' Quality has gone!
  •  You've lost 2250 x Nodule of Deep Amber
  •  You are now free of invited companions for the evening. (Removes Helicon House Companion)
  •  Your popularity this evening has just suffered a setback. (Removes Fitting in at Helicon House)

  ^

Solicit further guidance in the Shapeling Arts

•  Spoiler ID: MISSING
  

  Unlocked with Shapeling Studies exactly 1, Base Shapeling Arts 6, 8 x Helical Thighbone, 8 x Knotted Humerus, 250 x Nodule of Warm Amber, Fitting in at Helicon House 7
  

   

  Success

  A cooperation of essence and bone

  • You have moved to a new area: Ealing Gardens
  •  Your maximum Shapeling Arts is now 7. (Sets Shapeling Studies to 2)
  •  Your 'Time Remaining at Helicon House' Quality has gone!
  •  You've lost 8 x Helical Thighbone
  •  You've lost 8 x Knotted Humerus
  •  You've lost 250 x Nodule of Warm Amber
  •  Your popularity this evening has just suffered a setback. (Removes Fitting in at Helicon House)

  ^

Advance Becoming Acquainted with Rubbery Art

Stay after hours for a singular occasion

•  Spoiler ID: 254461
  

  Unlocked with Time Remaining at Helicon House 0-2, Fitting in at Helicon House 3, Becoming Acquainted with Rubbery Art exactly 2, 10 x Nodules of Deep Amber
  

   

  Success

  Reshaped

  •  You've lost 10 x Nodule of Deep Amber
  •  You are becoming more acquainted with Rubbery Art. (Sets Becoming Acquainted with Rubbery Art to 3)

  Redirects to: After Helicon House

  ^

The London Horticultural Show (Estival 2023)

Petition for a demonstration on living flesh

•  Spoiler ID: 260311
  

  Unlocked with The State of the Emergency is 3 (World Quality, now locked), Shapeling Studies, Helicon House Companion exactly 5, London, Falling 12-49, Fitting in at Helicon House 5
  Locked with Knowledge: Ecstasies of Change
  

   

  Success

  Shaped

  • You have moved to a new area: Ealing Gardens
  •  You've learned something from Helicon House. (Sets Knowledge: Ecstasies of Change to 1)
  •  The Overworked Commodore will want to hear of this. (Raises Bearing Admiralty Intelligence by 1)
  •  Shapeling Arts is increasing… (+1 CP, up to level 5 + Shapeling Studies)
  •  You've gained 3 x Nodule of Trembling Amber
  •  Your popularity this evening has just suffered a setback. (Removes Fitting in at Helicon House)
  •  Your 'Time Remaining at Helicon House' Quality has gone!
  •  You are now free of invited companions for the evening. (Removes Helicon House Companion)

  ^