Persuade the Implacable Detective

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ID: 249275

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From: Debating Matters of Business with the Board

What does she know about this question? What does she know that she hasn't spoken of?

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Challenge information

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• 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 100, increased by 40 points per , and 20 points per , , and . Each point of reduces it by 20 points.

Success

She is convinced!

The Implacable Detective simply nods.

Description summary:
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, 2	"No doubt these choices will become easier once we're outside of London itself," observes the Detective.
7	"There is something heartening about a rugged landscape," says the Implacable Detective. She remarks that she's always wished to travel more herself.
9	"It sounds dangerous," says the Implacable Detective. This is not a no.
10	"I suppose," says the Implacable Detective. "We can invite him back if we change our minds."
11	The Efficient Commissioner is opposed to a lot of our essential business. It would be much more straightforward to have a license or permit structure: we buy a permit to build west, the Bazaar leaves us alone to do it."
12	"How does it work, voting him off the board? If I vote for him to stay, would that make him go?"
13	"I don't question her own activities," says the Implacable Detective. "Not much. But the company she keeps sets a very bad example for London."
14	"Good, get him out of here," says the Implacable Detective. "I've never found him even slightly tolerable." This is an old grudge, from when Feducci became mayor and the Implacable Detective only won increasing obscurity.
15	"She has outlived her usefulness on the board, and I am not at all sure she's been open with us concerning her actual relationship with Hell. In addition to which, her choice of hats makes her look fast."
16	"I have already solved her mystery," says the Implacable Detective. "So if it's useful to let her go, we can. I won't be suffering from the lack of an explanation."
21	"The Gracious Widow's only interest in the GHR is in how she can turn it towards her own criminal enterprises," […] "I can't imagine why she was invited in the first place. It is not as though her affiliations are a well-kept secret."
22	"I suspect my colleague of Revolutionary affiliations, and the GHR would not want to be associated with such a thing if she's ever caught in the midst of bombing an embassy. Consider the message that would send."
23, 27	"He isn't causing trouble, but he isn't doing much good either," says the Implacable Detective.
24	"He openly goes by the name September," says the Implacable Detective. "At least, he would do if his accent didn't qualify as a cipher on its own. There's no mystery about where his loyalties lie."
26	"She might be better employed on the other side of the mirror," says the Implacable Detective. There was, it seems, a spat between the two of them, and the Detective found a dead bat in her handbag, which she has not yet been able to forgive.
30	"She has been something of a liability all the way back to her Benthic days," says the Implacable Detective. "It was the reason they had to be rid of her, in the end."
33	"It is not a very comfortable fellow board member," admits the Implacable Detective. "When you know what it means – which isn't always – you usually regret knowing."
160	The Implacable Detective raises one eyebrow implausibly high – does she know something about the Hurlers that she's not letting on? – but supports the motion.
250	The Implacable Detective sits forward and speaks eagerly of the scientific opportunity. There has always been a streak of the Benthic in her.
500	The Implacable Detective […] has been inclined for many years to regard Parabola as a somewhat fanciful invention on the edge of truth. Once persuaded, however, she agrees the approach would open many startling opportunities to the GHR.
510	"[…] But do the Hellworms give rides? Can they be studied? Is there anything else we should do with them besides dig tunnels […]? It seems a shame to make such an investment in the esoteric without deriving the maximum information from the process."
700 - 720	"I have done some background investigation of my own," says the Implacable Detective, unapologetic. "I found nothing that would absolutely preclude the appointment."
800	"He does not strike me as the kind of person with many deep strategic thoughts about matters of business," she says. "But I suppose he won't do too much harm, either."
850	"Very well," says the Implacable Detective, with a slightly unnerving smile. "I look forward to seeing what results."
905	The Implacable Detective shrugs. "I don't suppose the board will suffer too much from the second claim on her attention."
910	The Implacable Detective shrugs. "I don't suppose the board will suffer too much from the second claim on his attention."
931	"Agreed," says the Implacable Detective. "We should never have allowed things to get so out of hand in the first place."
932	"I confess I am curious to see the consequences of this exceptionally foolish and improbable experiment," says the Implacable Detective. "Who knows! Perhaps it will be unexpectedly effective."
933	"I favour anything that discourages the criminal element in the Neath," says the Implacable Detective. "Let's keep the Hinterlands visible."
934	"We might as well," says the Implacable Detective. "The alternatives don't impress me."
940	"With significant reservations," says the Implacable Detective. "But I have been brought to believe there might be some positive consequences in this case."
941	"I question disbursing such funds indiscriminately," says the Implacable Detective. "But it might improve the popular perception of the GHR."
1000 - 1020	"An eminently practical solution," says the Implacable Detective.
1100 - 1110	"If you feel that strongly about the battle," says the Implacable Detective, "then it makes sense to mobilise all of the available forces."
1200	"At the moment, the city represents a safe haven for the criminal element," says the Implacable Detective. "We may improve matters if there are links with the Magistracy and with London itself."

• Persuasive is increasing…
• You've lost 1 x Uncommitted Board Members
•  The Implacable Detective is now voting with you. (Sets The Implacable Detective's Vote to 1)

Redirects to: Debating Matters of Business with the Board

Failure

Unconvinced

The Implacable Detective shakes her head firmly.

Description summary:
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	Failure Description
9	"It isn't the kind of territory you'd want to walk through, let alone try to put a train over," warns the Detective.
10	"His Amused Lordship is a less frivolous person than he might seem," says the Implacable Detective. "I'd rather not lose his influence from the board. And, to be blunt, his fortune may sometimes be an advantage to us."
11	"I'd rather keep her. Those of us who have been here since the Fall ought to stick together."
12	"One thing you can say for those who've run for Mayor: the public has already had a chance to discover their secrets."
13	"Some of her activities are questionable," the Implacable Detective agrees. "But she is not primarily a criminal, and she has done some good."
14	"Feducci has contacts and connections in many places beyond London," says the Implacable Detective. "That may prove a larger asset than we realise, when we're dealing with the powers of the Hinterlands."
15	"If it weren't for Virginia, we wouldn't have this railway in the first place."
16	"I admire a person who will roll up their sleeves and get to work," says the Implacable Detective. "And as far as I can see, that's Furnace."
17	"The Dean has done some very respected research on unusual topics," says the Implacable Detective. "Matters that become more relevant the further we go into the Hinterlands."
18, 19	"The Bishop is a person of substance," says the Implacable Detective. "You may take it from me; I've looked into his background."
20	"The Entrepreneur's financial backing has been of significant use to the board. He deserves his place here, and I see no reason to send him away."
22	"Assuming we don't fear her bombing Moloch Street, yes," says the Implacable Detective. She doesn't sound as though she's joking about the risks.
23	"Oh, let him stay. We were all young once, and maybe it will teach him something. Besides, he gave up adventuring to Hell in order to do this."
24	"[…] I assume, considering his loyalties and his unfitness for a business venture, that there must have been some truly compelling reason to involve him. And since I do not know what […] I also do not know whether the necessity has been resolved."
26	"Someone with her official affiliations brings prestige to the board, and allows us to fundraise more effectively," says the Implacable Detective.
28	"I find his predictions interesting, […] I wish he knew more about the Elder Continent as well. I wonder how he would choose to describe it... perhaps we should […] send him there? No, a foolish idea. Still, let's not throw him off the board."
29	"Furnace aside, he seems to have the greatest sway with the tracklayers. He's a useful point of contact. I do wonder whether he's really so scarred as all that, under the bandages – but it isn't polite to pry, of course."
30	"Do you know who she was, before she had to leave Benthic?" asks the Implacable Detective. "Have you not heard of her studies – both scientific and mystical?"
31	"The Wry Functionary is party to secrets even I don't know," says the Implacable Detective. "His position within the Shuttered Palace means that he hears everything."
32, 33	"I disagree with removing any board members who make the meetings substantially more interesting," she says.
35	"The Dauntless Temperance Campaigner and I have never cooperated as successfully as one might hope," says the Implacable Detective.
100	"I'm no judge of architecture," says the Implacable Detective. "I can't say I care for it, though."
105	The Implacable Detective frowns at the drawing. "It looks like it's drawn up for a Surface war, and not the kinds of creatures you might find down here."
115	"Can't imagine the Church would approve of us putting up something like that. And it looks hard to police, too. Lots of concealed spots for pickpockets and that sort of thing."
120	"That'll be expensive," she remarks, paging through the drawings. "Impressive, I can't question that. But do we want to spend that much?"
140, 150	"I'm no judge of architecture, but the drawings look a bit foolish to me."
200	"I wonder whether speed might be more to the point than armour?" muses the Implacable Detective. "A sufficiently fast train becomes a weapon in itself, of course."
205	"I don't believe this recommendation was made in the spirit of a law-abiding citizen," […] "I naturally have no objection to the passengers bringing along any small personal articles, but that does not appear to me to be the true point of the proposal."
210	"It is an expensive innovation, and I am uncertain it will pay for itself. Are we sure that very many persons of high social standing and heavy purses are inclined to buy tickets? Have we conducted an inquiry, or engaged any advertising?"
220	"No one wants the workers to starve, of course," […] "On the other hand, an unreasonably large payment for services rendered would likely result in other labour difficulties – unrest in London, workers competing to gain entry to the Union […]"
230	"Is that entirely necessary?" she asks. "It's a very extreme solution, and the investors put a good bit into this business. You wouldn't want to discourage them investing again."
240	"It is an unnecessarily harsh and unjustified solution," says the Implacable Detective firmly.
800	"Was there really no one more suitable?" […] "If not, I am frankly disappointed in Furnace Ancona's management. I would have expected her to put more care into the development of additional leaders. Did she think she would live forever?"
850	"It will be particularly amusing if Furnace returns and objects," says the Implacable Detective. "I believe I would enjoy being a spider on the wall, when that happens."
933 - 934	"I appreciate the aim, but I am not sure about the costs."
940	"By 'charity', in this case, we apparently mean to denote 'smuggling'," says the Implacable Detective crisply. "I have no intention to lend the GHR's good name to such a thing."
941	"Surely we have better uses for our wealth."
1000 - 1020	"We don't know enough about the Tower to be making such promises," she says. "Almost all situations would benefit from more study."
1100 - 1110	"The train was expensive," she says pointedly. "Do you want to send it where a single bad encounter could turn it all into a giant pot of treacle?"
1200	"It's a den of criminals," says the Implacable Detective. "And the less we have to do with it, the better."

• Persuasive is increasing…

Redirects to: Debating Matters of Business with the Board