Editing Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face (Guide)

{{GuideFor|Concept = Concept:Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face}}{{Audience|EarlyMYN}}[[Has icon::File:Ratmasked.png|right]]
{{IL|Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face}} is an old story tied to a set of other qualities in the early midgame.
While the story itself doesn't require you to use all of these qualities, they have been collected in this guide for ease of access. Be warned: There are optional parts in this storyline that are possible to lock yourself out of, but you will always be able to reach the end.

A hard requirement to start the story is {{IL|Dangerous}} 90, but higher is recommended.

Rewards:
Completing the story will either give you a repeatable way of purchasing {{IL|Casing...}} / {{IL|Running Battle...}} or it will give you the {{IL|Albino Rat}}, which can give you a discount when upgrading your University Laboratory to equipment level 7 and some other things. Completing the story will also give {{IL|Fate|1 x}}. See the Endings and Epilogue section for more information about rewards.

:{| class="wikitable"
!WARNING: Starting the main story will cause some options to be temporarily or permanently locked.
|}
*{{IL|Investigating a threat to your Rat Companions...}} will be permanently locked unless you've already started it - see prelude for this.
*It will be temporarily impossible to find the albino rat at {{IL|Playing with Broken Toys}} 9, but if you're already at 10 you have nothing to fear. Otherwise you will have to complete Seeking the meaning of the Plaster Face before you can continue Playing with Broken Toys.      

==Qualities and Abbreviations==
The story (with extras) uses the following qualities:
*{{IL|Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face|Property=Is guide for}} (SMPF): Shows your progression in the main storyline.
*{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Property=Is guide for}} (HRMI): Progress quality when investigating the Big Rat.
*{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Property=Is guide for}} (Serenity): Shows the confidence of the plaster face. It's easier to sneak up on the Plaster Face if Serenity is high.
*{{IL|Sympathetic about Ratly Concerns|Property=Is guide for}} (SaRC): May be gained both before and after the main story and is important for a single action in the beginning of the story.
*{{IL|Investigating a threat to your Rat Companions...|Property=Is guide for}} (Inv.): Progress quality in the optional prelude, and will be kept as long as you don't finish the mini-carousel.
*{{IL|Running Battle...}} (RB): Progress quality used when gathering forces against the Big Rat. Also see [[Running Battle (Guide)]] for this, though a table with many of the relevant actions have been copied to this guide.

Other abbreviations:
*{{IL|Working Rat}} - Worker
*{{IL|Talkative Rattus Faber}} - Talker
*{{IL|Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief}} - Bandit
*{{IL|Disgraced Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief}} - Disgraced

==Prelude==
The story starts with an optional prelude that is admittedly hard to find. The investigating part is locked with progress in the main story.
In order to start the prelude, you need a {{IL|Working Rat|Appearance=Worker}} and a {{IL|Ratskin Suit}}.
This will cause you to draw the card [[Sartorial squeamishness]] which allows you to start {{IL|Sympathetic about Ratly Concerns|Appearance = SaRC}}.
Both of these equipment items may be useful at a later stage of the game, the suit as equipment and the rat for improving your university laboratory, so buying them is not necessarily a loss.

===Investigating your rats (optional)===
In order to start the investigation part of the prelude, you need the following requirements:
*{{IL|Working Rat|Appearance=Worker}}
*{{IL|Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief|Appearance=Bandit}}
*{{IL|Talkative Rattus Faber|Appearance=Talker}}
*{{IL|Dangerous}} 85
*Having {{IL|Disgraced Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief|Appearance = Disgraced}} from [[Making_Your_Name_(Guide)#A_Picnic_on_the_Marsh's_Edge|the rat invasion]] unlocks an extra option.

Having these causes a storylet to appear in your lodgings: [[A night-time conference]]. Choosing either option gives {{IL|Investigating a threat to your Rat Companions...|Appearance = Inv.}}, which unlocks [[Out-ratting the rats|another storylet]]. On this storylet you may buy a {{IL|Disgraced Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief|Appearance = Disgraced}} if you don't have it already, as well as options to increase your {{IL|Investigating a threat to your Rat Companions...|Appearance = Inv.}}, until you reach at least 5. The best strategy is probably to just start the main story at this point, as not finishing the prelude gives you a permanent source of {{IL|Disgraced Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief|Appearance = Disgraced}}s in the later stages.

Should you wish to continue, you must [[Address the problem of this Big Rat]].
If you addressed the problem by offering to help your rats, you will gain more {{IL|Sympathetic about Ratly Concerns|Appearance = SaRC}}, as well as resetting the investigation. This will be handy in the next section.

===Raising your Sympathies===
Regardless of what you do, including whether you start the investigations at all, you may increase your {{IL|Sympathetic about Ratly Concerns|Appearance = SaRC}} quality by drawing [[The Departed]] in {{IL|Watchmaker's Hill}} and laying a single rat in the pile. This works as long as you have at least a single cp of {{IL|Sympathetic about Ratly Concerns|Appearance = SaRC}} from the clothing card. Beware: Some of the other options will remove your SaRC, and the same may happen if you somehow have both a {{IL|Midnight Matriarch}} and a {{IL|Scuttering Squad}} and side with the cat.

Having {{IL|Sympathetic about Ratly Concerns|Appearance = SaRC}} 3 gives a big advantage in the following section.

==The Main Story==
This is the part of the story that everyone does. Make sure that you have started investigating in the prelude if that's something you want to do. Likewise, it is suggested that you either have {{IL|Playing with Broken Toys}} 10, or that you're not in a hurry to do that story.

Start the story by checking out [[The sculpted scowl]] at your lodgings with {{IL|Dangerous}} 90. You will either need to pass a {{IL|Watchful}} 100 challenge, or with a {{IL|Pair of Luminous Neathglass Goggles}} you may pass a dangerous challenge instead. Continue with [[The plaster face is sneering]]. Having a {{IL|Working Rat|Appearance = Worker}} from earlier will let you pass a watchful challenge and you will have {{IL|Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face|Appearance = SMPF}} 2. This is where {{IL|Sympathetic about Ratly Concerns|Appearance = SaRC}} becomes useful. If you have SaRC 3 you may skip a 10% luck challenge that gives {{IL|Nightmares}} on failure. If you don't have this, consider checking the prelude section above.

===Investigating the Big Rat===
This is the main section of this story, from level 3 to level 8. Each step will require {{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} 5, which is gained by having your rats investigate.

{| class="article-table mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Table showing investigation options
|-
! Option
! Requirement/Cost
! Challenge
! Success
! Rare Success
! Failure
|-
|[[Have the Talkative Rat ask the Big Rat's guards]]
|{{IL|Talkative Rattus Faber|Appearance = Talker}}
|{{IL|Luck}} 60%
|{{TableList|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +3 CP
|{{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub|50 x}} }}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +3 CP
|{{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub|55 x}}
|{{IL|Lump of Lamplighter Beeswax|5 x}}}}
|{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} -4CP
|-
|[[Have the Working Rat drill a peephole into the Big Rat's lair]]
|{{IL|Working Rat|Appearance = Worker}}
|{{IL|Luck}} 70%
|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +1 CP
|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +3 CP
|{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} -1CP<ref>not lower than 5</ref>
|-
|[[Have the Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief discover the Big Rat's next move]]
|{{IL|Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief|Appearance = Bandit}}
|{{IL|Luck}} 80%
|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +3 CP
|{{TableList|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +3 CP
|{{IL|Opening a Bundle of Oddities}} (up to 60)}}
|{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} -10 CP
|-
|[[Let the Disgraced Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief loiter]]
|{{IL|Disgraced Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief|Appearance = Disgraced}}
|{{IL|Luck}} 50%
|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +4 CP
|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +5 CP
|{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} -2CP
|-
|[[Make a contribution in Lamplighter Beeswax]]
|{{IL|Lump of Lamplighter Beeswax|100 x}}
|
|colspan="3"|{{TableList|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +3 CP
|{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} +1 CP
|{{IL|Lump of Lamplighter Beeswax|-100 x}}}}
|-
|[[Send a lavish tribute of Foxfire Candles]]
|{{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub|500 x}}
|
|colspan="3"|{{TableList|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} +3 CP
|{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} +10 CP
|{{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub|-500 x}}}}
|-
|[[Deface the face]]
|
|{{IL|Dangerous}} 100
|colspan="2"|{{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} -3 CP
|{{TableList|{{IL|Wounds}} +1 CP
|{{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} -1 CP}}
|-
|[[A remarkable piece of good fortune! (9 FATE)]]
|{{IL|Fate|9 x}}
|colspan="4"|See action
|}
<references />

In order to progress you will need to increase {{IL|Having Rodentine Minions Investigate...|Appearance = HRMI}} to 5, which is exactly 15 CP. It's generally not worth it to spend resources here. Using rats and assuming no rare successes you need 5 successes with the Bandit or the Talker, or 3 successes with the Disgraced + 1 success with one of the other rats.

Generally speaking, Bandit > Disgraced > Talker for speed, but due to the economical benefit of using the Talker, in practise you will probably prioritise the Talker over the Disgraced. Don't worry too much about {{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} at this point.

*{{IL|Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face|Appearance = SMPF}} 3:
At this level you will have the option of doing things yourself or having your Talker do things.
Doing it yourself is a {{IL|Shadowy}} 110 challenge, while using your rat is a {{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}} 7 challenge. If your serenity is high, it is suggested that you let your rat do this for you, while if you have low serenity, you might as well do it yourself, assuming you have a decent shadowy. Succeeding yourself will reduce serenity by 20 CP, while failures with the rat will cost your rat, but increase serenity by 10 CP. As the Talkers are fairly cheap, this is not a big sacrifice, and probably one of the cheaper ways to increase serenity.

*{{IL|Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face|Appearance = SMPF}} 4-7:
For these levels you will have to send a rat. If you fail you will LOSE your rat, so unless you have 100% chance at an option, always use the Talkers. If you want to use a rat that isn't talkative you also have to spend more time investigating, so it's best just using your Talkers. As usual, failing will increase {{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}}, and thereby increase your odds.

*{{IL|Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face|Appearance = SMPF}} 8:
Same as before, but a rare success with the Disgraced will give you a Bandit! Of course, anything but a rare success will cost you your Disgraced...

If you did the Investigating your rats section of your prelude you may be able to get as many Disgraced rats as you need until you succeed, for a chance to gain a Bandit. Otherwise it might be best to use Talkers here too, at least until your odds with the Disgraceds is decent.

*{{IL|Seeking the Meaning of the Plaster Face|Appearance = SMPF}} 9:
Now you probably have a lot of {{IL|Serenity of the Plaster Face|Appearance = Serenity}}, but in order to proceed, you will have to lower it all the way to 4. Unless you want the quality to stick around it might be nice reducing it all the way to 0, if you like having cleared qualities.

===Gathering your forces against the Big Rat===
In order to defeat the Big rat you will need to raise {{IL|Running Battle...}} (RB) up to at least 5, but preferably at least 6 for killing the Big Rat and preferably at least 10 for capturing the big rat alive. This assumes a gain of at least 3 CP/action of {{IL|Running Battle...}} and gives estimates of 14 actions on average for killing the big rat at RB 6 or 29 actions for capturing the Big Rat at RB 10 (Correct values are likely slightly higher). See [[Running Battle (Guide)]] for other sources of RB.

Defeating the big rat, one way or another will give a bounty of 2000 rostygold (or 500 + favours if handing him to the constables). Allowing the Big Rat to live and defeating him one way or another give different endings (see below). Note that allowing the Big Rat to live will give a hit to SaRC.

{| class="article-table mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+[[Gather your forces against the Big Rat]]
|-
! Option
! Requirement
! Effect
|-
| [[Use the cats]]
| {{IL|Making Use of Cats}} 3
| {{IL|Running Battle...|Appearance = RB}} +3 CP
|-
| [[Advertise a spot of hunting]]
| {{IL|Renown: Society}} 10
| {{TableList|{{IL|Running Battle...|Appearance = RB}} +3 CP|{{IL|Scandal}} +1 CP|{{IL|Secluded Address}} }}
|-
| [[Contact Mr Inch]]
| {{IL|Acquiring Exhibits for the Labyrinth of Tigers}} 4
| {{TableList|{{IL|Running Battle...|Appearance = RB}} +3 CP|{{IL|Scandal}} +1 CP}}
|-
| [[Set a watch on the area]]
| {{IL|Renown: Urchins}} 15
| {{IL|Running Battle...|Appearance = RB}} +3 CP
|-
| [[Assemble those rats who would prefer to be free]]
| {{IL|Dangerous}} 103 (challenge)
| {{TableList|{{IL|Running Battle...|Appearance = RB}} +3 CP|''or''|{{IL|Wounds}} +1 CP on failure}}
|}

==Endings and Epilogue==
There are two different endings, one if you kill or imprison the Big Rat, one if you team up with him. It's not completely clear which one is mechanically superior, because it depends on how much you will be using {{IL|Casing...}}, as well as how much you'll draw the somewhat negative opportunity card.

===General reward===
Regardless of your ending, you will gain the following:
*A prize for defeating the Big Rat, usually {{IL|Rostygold|2000 x}} and {{IL|Fate|1 x}}
*Alternatively {{IL|Rostygold|500 x}} + {{IL|Favours: Constables|3 x}} and {{IL|Fate|1 x}}

===Ending the Big Rat===
If you chose to end the Big Rat, you will eventually draw a card: [[The Albino Rat's story]]. This will give you the {{IL|Albino Rat}}, which will cause another opportunity card to enter your deck from time to time: [[Rat Melancholy]]. This is not a particularly good card. In addition, you will be able to [[Keep your equipment minutely calibrated|upgrade your equipment]] in the {{IL|University Laboratory}} for a reduced price - equal to one {{IL|Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief}} and five {{IL|Working Rat}}s, which have a total buy price of 644 {{E}}. If you already had improved your equipment, you may employ the rat in your lab on the albino rat card to remove the card either way. In addition to this, you gain a discount on 10 {{IL|Whirring Contraption}}s when making a {{IL|Gear-driven Skeletal Monkey}} in {{IL|The Bone Market}}.

Reward summary:
*A cool companion ({{IL|Albino Rat}})
*A mechanically bad opportunity card that may be removed with {{IL|Equipment for Scientific Experimentation}} 7
*Discount on improving {{IL|University Laboratory}} equipment to 7 (saves a {{IL|Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief}} and five {{IL|Working Rat}}s)
*Discount of 10 {{IL|Whirring Contraption}}s when making a {{IL|Gear-driven Skeletal Monkey}} in {{IL|The Bone Market}}

===Joining the Big Rat===
If you instead chose to ally yourself with the Big Rat, this opens up a permanent storylet in your lodgings: [[Alliance with the Big Rat]]. This allows you to do several actions, of which the following are notable:
*Buy {{IL|Casing...|9 CP}} for {{IL|Talkative Rattus Faber|3 x}} (2.4 {{e}})
*Buy {{IL|Running Battle...|6 CP}} for {{IL|Foxfire Candle Stub|100 x}}
*Buy {{IL|Rattus Faber Bandit-Chief}} for {{IL|Antique Mystery|15 x}} (worth 187.5 {{e}}, instead of buying one for 320 {{e}})
[[Category:Guides]]