The Well of Wonders

The Well of Wonders
The Well of Wonders (Sidebar)
Located in	Eleutheria
Ports	None

The The Well of Wonders is a Discovery in the outer circle of Eleutheria.

When nearby, it has the same effect on Terror as a Horror spectacle. When above the well, you will be prompted to "Approach" by pressing R, beginning the storylets.

Log Entries

Your engine rocks, caught in the turbulence of a well that is trying to swallow the sky.

Fatalistic Signalman: "A Well. Best to give it a wide berth."
Fur flies. The Rat Brigade at each others' throats over the division of a biscuit. The moment passes. Awkward silence.
Incognito Princess: "I find Wells terribly romantic, don't you? So mysterious. So avid."
Repentant Devil: "Wells are prisons, Captain. Remember that.
Turbulence shakes the train. The Incautious Driver cackles.
Your Aunt's lips move silently, as if reading something that only she can see.
"They put on plays here." The Clay Conductor expects you to recognise that this is not a good thing.

Approaching the Well of Wonders
Category	Story Event
Type	Story
Data ID	292750

Approaching the Well of Wonders

"The air is thick as treacle. Rocks rattle against the hull, thrown by the well-winds. Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction(MusicPlays)"

Interactions

Actions	Requirements	Effects	Notes
Descend into the Well Hulls can be repaired.	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≤ 0	Descent Between the well's pull and the well-winds' push, your locomotive is jerked and jolted. The engine-room is unbearable. But before your stokers collapse, you push through to a calm beneath the storm; a bubble of peace surrounding a floating garden. Here, a maze of pebbled paths and immaculate hedges leads only to vicious thorned bushes which surround the island. A full half of the place is dominated by a Grecian style theatre, with seats carved out of a hill to face a stage of bone-white sand. Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 1 Into the Well of Wonders = 1 [On the edge of dream, an awakening...] Triggers event:  A Disturbance
Descend into the Well What remains now that the play is over?	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≥ 20	The Remnants of a Story The thorn bushes have conquered grass and rock alike, growing over what remains of the maze, the theatre and its stage. Dried blood and blackened ash still mark the site of your performance. There is nowhere to put down the locomotive.
Return to the Garden Something draws you back to this twisted place.	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≥ 1 and ≤ 15	Welcome back I knew you would come return. Triggers event:  A Garden Where Time Is Still
Depart this place Stoke the engines. Fight the pull of the Well.		Onwards and away Full steam ahead. You return to more familiar stars.
Look into the well The well will look back. Game note: This will enable you to lose your well rites, or perform the Rite of Raving.		Triggers event:  The Rite of Raving

A Disturbance
Category	Story Event
Type	Story
Data ID	292881

A Disturbance

Interactions

Actions	Requirements	Effects						Notes
The silence is broken Clumsy animal footsteps. The stench of human flesh in my presence.	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 3	A Disturbance Trespassers. You walk my paths. Pluck the fruit from my trees. Gorge yourselves until your bellies ache and your fat chins glisten with juice. Enjoy your stolen feast. You, and you; you will join my chorus. The rest of you are not worthy of a role. Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 10 Token: The Prologue = 5 Triggers event:  A Garden Where Time Is Still		Wait... That one. The Captain. Walking alone...		The Captain. Yes. A different kind of soul. A spark of potential? Perhaps. We shall see... Prepare to wake up, my children. We have guests.
... Visitors from far away. A new taste in the air.	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 2	A Disturbance You trespass in my garden. Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 3
...	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 1	A Disturbance Awake. The play will begin once again. This time my story will be told. Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 2

A Garden Where Time Is Still
Category	Story Event
Type	Story
Data ID	292883

A Garden Where Time Is Still

The humans disembark to enjoy the calm my garden provides. Flower-perfumed air brushes their oily skin. Red apples burden the trees and swollen berries cluster on every bush. They pause, cautious, but soon feasting begins.

Interactions

Actions	Requirements	Effects						Notes
The Captain explores the Garden They find themselves in a clearing, shaded by cedar and oak.	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≤ 10	The Eternal Tea Party The Trespasser Captain approaches warily, despite the welcoming scents of afternoon tea. The tea is hot. The scones are soft and warm, dribbling with butter and strawberry jam. My guests sit frozen in their endless repast, watching eternity through unblinking, bloodshot eyes. WoW – Captain Visited Tea Party = 1		The Captain looks closer at the Lost Girl The Speaker of my Truth. The first of my delightful pets.		She fled her life – all the way down a rabbit-hole. In my garden, that dream came true. So many years have not passed for her since then.
				The Captain examines the Restless Vagabond My King Who Wars. Who else could take on such a role?		His wanderings followed the sun beyond the edge of any map. But all such travels must cease, eventually.
				The Captain examines the Runaway Scion A poor match for the King Who Speaks, but one that suffices.		A prince-in-waiting, fleeing an extinct kingdom. I have seen the royal blood spilled many times. His veins will not endure another performance of my story.
				The Captain pokes at the Thrice-Dead Bride Every Chorus needs its Mistress.		She found profit in love and death, many times over. Her story should have ended at the bottom of the well where her last 'victim' overcame her. But the deepest wells often echo each other. When circumstances are right, their depths can bleed together.
				The Captain considers the Careless Scholar My dear Prince Apostle prepares for the final show.		The knowledge tempts people to strange shores. What did they think they would find with that contraption of mirrors and glass? A chance at glory? Soon, my Scholar.
				The Captain notices the empty seat A spare stone bench by the table, awaiting its player.		Will you sit in it, my Captain? Are you at last the one our story has waited for? The stage is set. The stars themselves hold their breath. Token: The Empty Seat = 1 [The Captain has glimpsed their future...]
The Captain tours my Theatre Preparations are complete, but for one last thing.	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≤ 10	The stage is set It is perfect. I would not permit otherwise. The Trespasser Captain stands on my stage to witness the entrance of the audience. Their crew fills the front row. More of their kind, recent arrivals, take the next few rows. Behind them, men of rubber and outcast bats and buzzing devils and— the rest are of no consequence. They can only hope for the privilege of witnessing a story greater than their own. They will finally have that chance. WoW – Captain Visited Theatre = 1
The Captain turns to leave No. You have been chosen for greatness. Take your seat.	WoW – Captain Visited Tea Party ≥ 1 WoW – Captain Visited Theatre ≥ 1 Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≤ 10	The Trespasser Captain resists Leave then, Captain. But my song will remain, whispering of the glory that you could have known. When it draws you back, my cast will be waiting. You will return. Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 15
The Captain takes their assigned seat The play begins...	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≥ 15	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 20 Triggers event:  Dramatis Personae
The Captain takes their assigned seat The play begins...	WoW – Captain Visited Tea Party ≥ 1 WoW – Captain Visited Theatre ≥ 1 Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction ≤ 10	Ballad of the Solonacean Conjunction = 20 Triggers event:  Dramatis Personae