Propose a Pertinent Point
A player-created Guide is available for this content: The Spider Symposium (Guide) |
Spoiler warning! This page contains details about Fallen London Actions. |
[First paragraph]
The symposium is discussing language. But what aspect? Its relationship to thought? Parts of speech? The nature of meaning? How it relates to truth, or reality?
[Third paragraph]
[Fourth paragraph]Description summary:
The first and third paragraphs vary based on your Debate Angle, and the last paragraph varies based on the number of Chelicerae Clicked in Applause.
Debate Angle | First Paragraph |
---|---|
1 | You have scrambled onto a boulder […] you would have a commanding view of the room, were it not for the lack of light. It is perhaps for the best – the fixed gazes of the thousands of young spiders you assist in debate could throw you off your stride. |
2 | You cling to the web beside the Titan. From the ceiling, you would have a commanding view of the room […] Perhaps it's for the best – not being able to see the hunger of your audience will make for easier confidence in speaking. |
3 | The scholars in their prime have arrayed themselves on levels around the chamber as if it were an amphitheatre. To speak for them, you need only stand at the front of one wall. From there, you have hundreds of spiders before you – and at your back. |
Debate Angle | Third Paragraph |
---|---|
1 | "Yes," chitters a spider the size of your foot. Its pedipalps wave forlornly. |
2 | "Yes," whispers the isolated titan. You can barely hear its voice over the rustle of so many spiders, constantly shifting. |
3 | "Yes," snaps a rose-red scholar, clearly not entirely enthusiastic about the subject matter. |
Chelicerae | Fourth Paragraph |
---|---|
0 - 14 | You are a novelty here, and are permitted to speak. |
15 - 29 | A small gaggle of bright-blue spiders whisper urgently, then flee into the pits of darkness at the cavern edges. |
30 - 44 | Can a spider blush? Certainly, the way this whiskered ancient is waving its pedipalps suggests a certain embarrassment. |
45 - 59 | A spider adorned with several scarlet spines rattles them in disagreement. It is clicked into silence. |
60 - 74 | Unable to come up with a suitable riposte, one spider begins spinning a spiral web from the ceiling. All is well until it sticks a thread to the leg of a neighbour. The rest of the Symposium pointedly ignores their squabble. |
75? - 89 | Thousands of eyes turn to a spider speaking in opposition to your allies. It, in turn, glares at you – but it has no point in rebuttal of your own. |
90 - 109 | A dozen purple-haired spiders turn to the bulbous, bile-green arachnid behind them. It has not, as far as you can tell, done anything to cause affront. They are merely manoeuvring to direct attention elsewhere. |
110 - 177 | A silver spider the size of a cart horse clears its throat to speak. Silence falls, then nothing. Has it fallen asleep? Died, mid thought? Or merely realised it has no point to make? |
181 - 234 | You cannot see the spider that speaks next, or even make out its words. But a whisper comes from the depths of the chamber, one which sets the other spiders shifting uneasily. Did this hidden spider approve of your words, or scorn them? |
235 - 399 | Several spiders are ostentatiously weaving. They have stood down from the argument, and wait to see who dares to go against you. |
400 - 609 | The chamber is unsettlingly quiet, for something so filled with living creatures. Everyone present waits for your next word, hoping for something they can tear apart, or, perhaps, that will simply bolster their own opinions. |
610+ | All the spiders, even your allies, are staring. You have brought to their chamber a philosophical mind and linguistic facility that they are ill-equipped to oppose. |
[Find the rest of the story at https://www.fallenlondon.com]
Unlocked with a redirect from Add your voice to that of the smaller spiders, Align with the isolated titan or Speak for the self-proclaimed 'scholars in their prime'
Storylet appears in The Singing Mandrake
Options:
Suggest that thought shapes language
- Spoiler
Challenge information
Broad, Persuasive 50 || 35 - very chancy (42%) || 43 - chancy (51%) || 51 - modest (61%) || 60 - very modest (72%) || 68 - low-risk (81%) || 76 - straightforward (91%) || 84 - straightforward (100%)
Success
As a great poet said...
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 5 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Rare Success
As a great poet said...
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 15 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Failure
Mistaking a poet for more?
- Persuasive is increasing…
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Posit that language makes reality
- Spoiler
Challenge information
Broad, Persuasive 178 || 122 - very chancy (41%) || 152 - chancy (51%) || 181 - modest (61%) || 211 - very modest (71%) || 241 - low-risk (81%) || 270 - straightforward (91%) || 297 - straightforward (100%)
Success
Too absurd to be refuted
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 32 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Rare Success
Too absurd to be refuted
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 34 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Failure
Easily refuted
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've lost 19 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Suggest that they define knowledge
- Spoiler
Challenge information
Broad, Persuasive 230 || 158 - very chancy (41%) || 196 - chancy (51%) || 234 - modest (61%) || 273 - very modest (71%) || 311 - low-risk (81%) || 349 - straightforward (91%) || 384 - straightforward (100%)
Success
Arrogance, thwarted
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 34 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Failure
Defeat?
- Persuasive is increasing…
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
The Academic Mood
Pass the floor to a spider inadequately prepared for debate ( Mood 0 - 25)
- Spoiler Locked with The Academic Mood 26
Challenge information
Broad, Persuasive 125 || 86 - very chancy (41%) || 107 - chancy (51%) || 128 - modest (61%) || 148 - very modest (71%) || 169 - low-risk (81%) || 190 - straightforward (91%) || 209 - straightforward (100%)
Success
Self-absorbed, rather than absorbed
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 24 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Rare Success
Self-absorbed, rather than absorbed
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 34 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Failure
Tables turned
- Persuasive is increasing…
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Probe them on the nature of truth ( Mood 0 - 49)
- Spoiler Locked with The Academic Mood 50
Challenge information
Broad, Persuasive 125 || 86 - very chancy (41%) || 107 - chancy (51%) || 128 - modest (61%) || 148 - very modest (71%) || 169 - low-risk (81%) || 190 - straightforward (91%) || 209 - straightforward (100%)
Success
Redirected debate
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 15 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Rare Success
Redirected debate
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 34 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Failure
Brought back into order
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've lost 19 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Suggest that language shapes thought ( Mood 50 - 100)
- Spoiler Unlocked with The Academic Mood 50
Challenge information
Broad, Persuasive 125 || 86 - very chancy (41%) || 107 - chancy (51%) || 128 - modest (61%) || 148 - very modest (71%) || 169 - low-risk (81%) || 190 - straightforward (91%) || 209 - straightforward (100%)
Success
A restless susurration
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 15 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Rare Success
A restless susurration
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've gained 34 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)
Failure
Unconvinced
- Persuasive is increasing…
- You've lost 19 x Chelicerae Clicked in Applause
Claim Rewards
Accept a Volume of Collated Research
- Spoiler Unlocked with Chelicerae Clicked in Applause 10
Success
A bound volume
- You've gained 1 x Volume of Collated Research
- You've gained 10 * ( Chelicerae Clicked in Applause - 10) x Silk Scrap
Redirects to: Return the Symposium to Deadlock
^
Accept some handma— some silk
- Spoiler Unlocked with Chelicerae Clicked in Applause 60
Success
Soft as silence
- You've gained 2 x Thirsty Bombazine Scrap
- You've gained 5 x Whisper-Satin Scrap
- You've gained 10 * ( Chelicerae Clicked in Applause - 60) x Silk Scrap
Redirects to: Return the Symposium to Deadlock
^
Accept the contents of a small cocoon
- Spoiler Unlocked with Chelicerae Clicked in Applause 110
Success
An indiscriminate collection
- You've gained 2 x Unprovenanced Artefact
- You've gained 1 x Aeolian Scream
- You've gained 1 x Baptised Rattus Faber Corpse
- You've gained 1 x Unearthly Fossil
- You've gained 10 * ( Chelicerae Clicked in Applause - 110) x Silk Scrap
Redirects to: Return the Symposium to Deadlock
^
Accept the contents of a large cocoon
- Spoiler Unlocked with Chelicerae Clicked in Applause 235
Success
The lucky one
- You've gained 1 x Emetic Revelation
- You've gained 10 * ( Chelicerae Clicked in Applause - 235) x Silk Scrap
- You've gained 1 x Lost Research Assistant
Redirects to: Return the Symposium to Deadlock
^
Accept some of the finest linen
- Spoiler Unlocked with Chelicerae Clicked in Applause 610
Success
A rare cloth
- You've gained 1 x Parabola-Linen Scrap
- You've gained 10 * ( Chelicerae Clicked in Applause - 610) x Silk Scrap
Redirects to: Return the Symposium to Deadlock
^
Coilheart Games
Speak with a member of the audience
- Spoiler Unlocked with The Coilheart Games is 2 (World Quality, now locked), Of Stripes, and Coils 150, Coilheart Eagles 10, On the Trail of Some Fourth City Relics 100
Locked with Lead: Strands of the Motherlings
Success
No reward narrative information available for Fate-locked actions.
- You now have 1 x Lead: Strands of the Motherlings
- You've gained 1 x Bearing Valuable Leads
- [The Academic Mood change…] (random)