Persuade the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's

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ID: 240871

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From: Debating Matters of Business with the Board

His opinion does not always show in his expression.

Game Instructions: He is ripe for bribery. Other branches in this storylet may help to persuade him.

Unlocked with Board Member: The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's

Locked with The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's Vote

Challenge information

Broad, Persuasive 100

• 69 - very chancy (41%)
• 85 - chancy (51%)
• 102 - modest (61%)
• 119 - very modest (71%)
• 135 - low-risk (81%)
• 152 - straightforward (91%)
• 167 - straightforward (100%)
  

Base difficulty is probably 100, increasing by 40 per point of Board against the Status Quo, and 20 per point of Board against the Church, Board against Urchin Interests, Board against the Bazaar, Board against the Interests of Society, and Board for the Fingerkings. Every point of Corruption of the Board reduces the initial base difficulty by 40 points.

Success

He is convinced!

"You've convinced me," says the Bishop. He so rarely explains how you've convinced him, or why he agrees. Perhaps it would give too much away.

Description summary:
The text varies with the Question before the Board. The text above is the generic result; questions with more specific results are listed below.

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

Question	Success Description
1 - 3, 9, 310 - 320, 800, 850, 932	"I see," he says, as you lay out your arguments. "You have a point."
4	"Better the grass than the hills," he says. "We'll find fewer things to alarm us, by that route."
5	"If we have to go through the hills," he says, "then we should cut the path quickly and make sure the work is well lit. Don't let the explosions be too big, and never cut too deeply into any hillside."
7	The first time you ask his opinion, he shares some thoughts about The Abyss and the Darkness of the Soul. The second time, he agrees that a bridge is a fine thing.
17	"If she was invited as a representative of the Church's views, she was poorly chosen," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre. "Her theology is syncretistic and her interest largely theoretical. I have heard her actively advising a student against prayer."
19	"He'll ask me why, later," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre, in a weary tone. "But I suppose he can go."
100, 105, 115 - 160	"Oh, very well," says the Bishop. "I had hoped for something more uplifting – a station that also carried the glory of the church – carved saints over the door? But I see that the mood of the company does not tend in that direction."
170	"Our tracks running alongside the tracks of Hell. May I vote for the proposal but against the metaphor?"
181 - 187	"If we must indulge the Tracklayers one last time, one place is as good as another."
200	"A reputation for danger on the line would be most deleterious to the business," says the Bishop. "We should do all in our power to protect our customers, as a matter of financial prudence."
205	"The better class of clientele do like to bring along luggage. And expeditionary equipment."
210	"If we hope to attract the right sort of rider, this is exactly the sort of thing we ought to undertake […] The better families of the Neath do remember […] that they used to take the Grand Tour. They used to engage in Excursions. […]"
300	"It hardly seems worth memorialising in a charter," remarks the Bishop. "But if it pleases you to write it down..."
340	"Excellent," says the Bishop. "I expected something far less uplifting. And I do have several young priests […]" you get the impression that the Church is […] not having enough postings to go round. Older rectors live much longer […] so they don't retire.
400	"Ready payment of dividends will make future investors more eager to join us," says the Bishop. "It is a fine recommendation."
500, 510, 931 - 934	"There may not be a better way," admits the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's. "That is the only reason it is worth considering."
520 - 523, 525 - 529	"There would be worse ways," says the Bishop. "Probably many worse ways."
600	"Very well!" The Bishop of Saint Fiacre looks more than usually ruffled. Perhaps even 'harassed.' "I see I will not be allowed any peace unless I agree. But […] People will be mentioning it at my clubs, asking what on earth we were thinking."
610	"A cat for Mayor is a little peculiar," admits the Bishop of Saint Fiacre. "It deserves comment. But her lineage is impeccable. The Salesperson in Viric may be an unknown, but the Viscountess is not."
620	"A tolerable choice," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre. "Certainly when one considers some of the alternatives."
700, 720	"Their 'Kirk' out there needs some attention," he says. "And the whole business should be made more regular."
710	"Oh, very well!" says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's. "Very few folk find their way out there anyhow."
905	"She wouldn't be my choice," the Bishop sniffs. "But I can't see why we should hold the Burrow Church back."
940 - 941	"I suppose I cannot argue against a charitable mission," Fiacre says, raising an eyebrow a little too high.
1000, 1020, 1030	"A power of this kind could be a powerful ally," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's. "It may have existing contracts with devils, but that does not put it at Hell's disposal."
1100, 1110	"A test run, perhaps." The Bishop says, steepling his fingers. He does not elaborate on a test run for what.

• Persuasive is increasing…
•  You've lost 1 x Uncommitted Board Members
•  The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's has committed to vote on your side. (Sets The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's Vote to 1 - The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's is voting on your side)

Redirects to: Debating Matters of Business with the Board

Failure

Unconvinced

[varies]

Question	Failure Description
1 - 3, 9	The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's reviews the map with the eye of an experienced explorer, and raises several questions about the surveying accuracy. Could these be in error? Are you certain enough to commit to this course?
4	"The grass would be better than the hills, but I wish there were some way that would take less from the workers."
5	"The hills are very old and very dangerous," says the Bishop.
7	"That sounds expensive," says the Bishop. "And dangerous. And are you entirely sure that the Station will reward the bother of going there?"
10 - 16, 20 - 24, 26 - 33, 35, 37	The Bishop says some eloquent words on the value of continuity. A Board, collectively, has a personality and a will. It would be misguided to change its composition too frequently, or the company will be likewise erratic.
17	The Bishop says some eloquent words on the value of continuity. "She is perhaps not exactly what I would have chosen, but now that she is a member of the board, we have much to gain from retaining her."
19	"No," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre. "Reginald has his exasperating moments, to be sure, and he proposed a liturgical adaptation for Whitsun Sundays that verged on the heretical. But he is a true servant of the Church, and we do not have many."
100, 105, 120 - 150	The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's finds the building distressingly secular. He points out that the station does not set aside any room for a chapel, and that there's nothing about possible frescoes for the ceiling.
115	Ah," says the Bishop, frowning. "Surely any passengers seeking this sort of thing would be more disposed to ride the Moloch Line?"
160, 170	The Bishop examines the station plans with a raised eyebrow. "Bit of a dismal place, isn't it," he says. "I suppose the views from the train windows won't improve further West, either."
181 - 187	"This seems like an entirely unreasonable use of company resources," says Fiacre.
200	"Perhaps we would do better to ask why our trains so frequently come under attack," begins the Bishop.
205	The Bishop frowns at the compartments. "What precisely are we bringing into London in such quantities, I wonder?"
210	"We have other purposes for our money than lavishly appointing our trains," says the Bishop.
220 - 280	"There are undoubtedly methods of diplomacy that would be less expensive." He doesn't elaborate, however.
300 - 320, 340	"I would prefer that we not declare our intentions so openly," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's. "To take a stand inevitably invites criticism and charges of hypocrisy. Our acts can speak for us more effectively."
400	The Bishop brings out the account books and reviews a few […] lines. In his view, the company cannot afford to grant dividends at the moment, and any impression to the contrary can only be the result of tragic innumeracy among the voting members.
500	It is rare for the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's to become so exercised about anything, but the prospect of diverting the train through Parabola offends him almost past speech. […]
510	"Even in ordinary circumstances one has doubts about compacts with Devils," says the Bishop. "The contract to rent a living animal will certainly be full of alarming caveats. And then the creature itself! There must be an alternative."
520 - 523, 525 - 529	"There might be approaches to this matter that would be more congruent with the aims of church and society," says the Bishop slowly.
610	"I admire the Viscountess. Her lineage is impeccable and her human allies include nobility at the highest levels. Nonetheless, a cat may face certain difficulties. The Lord Mayor's robes, for instance, would need to be resized."
700, 720	"It isn't a bad idea," says the Bishop […] You have the sense he rather likes the Board being so important that it can weigh in on this matters of Neathy politics. "But I wonder whether another even more suitable candidate might not be found."
710, 800, 850	"An idiosyncratic choice," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's. "And he's no ally to the Church."
905	"Perhaps if you had picked me," the Bishop says with a frown, "I might have a different view."
931, 933 - 934	You can't get the Bishop to agree. "Surely we can find a better course of action?"
932	The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's offers a rather grumpy refusal.
940	The Bishop of Saint Fiacre is no stranger to Neathy phillanthropy – he asks to see the accounts of those organisations that will benefit, know who their donors are, understand how the trains will be used.
941	The Bishop of Saint Fiacre frowns. "I'd agree, but... can we truly afford it?"
1000, 1020, 1030	"We should be cautious in dealings with this power. I don't share the alarmist tendencies of our well-known friend the Commissioner. Nonetheless..." His argument against appears to boil down to "you never know."
1100, 1110	The Bishop gives you a weary look. "Is this really the best use of our resources you can think of?"

Other Votes	Second paragraph of Failure Description
(none)	The Board Secretary dutifully minutes the objection.
Virginia	Virginia makes an acid remark about the Church's opposition to Progress. The Bishop of Saint Fiacre's replies – in the soft voice that completely faileth to turn away wrath – that the sort of Progress endorsed by Hell is not worth having.

• Persuasive is increasing…

Redirects to: Debating Matters of Business with the Board