Editing Port Cecil (Guide)

{{GuideFor|Location=Port Cecil}}{{Audience|MidZailing}}[[File:Principlesofcoral.png|right]]
{{ActivitySummary
|Activity=Scintillack Dreaming
|Length=Fixed
|Starting Actions=0
|Progress Actions=13
|Ending Actions=1
|Progress Details=Prepare with the {{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Lamp-Cats}} or {{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Miners}} During high tide, and then hinder the factions during low tide, depending on desired end.
|Output Items=*{{IL|Appalling Secret}}
*{{IL|Cryptic Clue}}
*{{IL|Tale of Terror!!}}
*{{IL|Scrap of Incendiary Gossip}}
*{{IL|Romantic Notion}}
*{{IL|Moon-Pearl}}
*{{IL|Zee-Ztory}}
*{{IL|Map Scrap}}
*{{IL|Knob of Scintillack}}
*{{IL|Withered Tentacle}}
*{{IL|Silvered Cat's Claw}}
*{{IL|Journal of Infamy}}
*{{IL|Puzzle-Damask Scrap}}
*{{IL|Emetic Revelation}}
*{{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}
*{{IL|Lost Research Assistant}}
*{{IL|Segmented Ribcage}}
*{{IL|Antique Mystery}}
*{{IL|Memory of a Much Lesser Self}}
|Raw EPA = 4.30
|Raw SPA = 5.71
}}
==Unlocking Access==
=== Route to Port Cecil ===
In order to reach {{IL|Port Cecil}}, you will need to have a ship, as well as {{IL|Embarking on a Voyage of Scientific Discovery}} 2. See the [[Embarking on a Voyage of Scientific Discovery (Guide)|Guide]] on how to get that.

Having these will allow you to acquire {{IL|Discovered: The Principles of Coral}}. There are currently two ways to obtain this:
* Get {{IL|Partial Map|8 x}}s and [[Assemble your Partial Maps|assemble them]] from your inventory. (This loses the maps.)
* Set zail and look for the route yourself. In particular, that means you have to zail to the Stormbones and zail in that area until you draw the card [[A Coral Commotion]]. The easiest way is setting zail to Corpsecage Island and not dock there.

Once you draw the card, use it to [[Find a quicker route into Port Cecil|find your route]].

You still have to zail there, though!

{{CollapsibleSection|Title = Things you may wish to acquire before you set zail|collapsed = yes|level = 3
|Content = 
You will require the following:
* {{IL|Moon-Pearl|5000 x}}
* {{IL|Zee-Ztory|100 x}}
* {{IL|Bottle of Broken Giant 1844|10 x}}
* {{IL|Puzzling Map|1 x}}

It is also recommended to be able to reach {{IL|A Player of Chess}} 10. If you cannot, don't worry - it just saves you some money.
}}

=== Business deed ===
Once you arrive, talk to the proprietor of the {{IL|Visit The Poisoned Pawn|Appearance = Poisoned Pawn}}. After the conversation, and provided you have brought the required goods along, you will receive your {{IL|Deed to a Port Cecil Business, Encoded in Chess Notation|Appearance = Deed to a Port Cecil Business}}.
==Normal exploration==
You also have access to certain repeatable actions via {{IL|Explore Port Cecil}}. For example, you can [[Wander Port Cecil's heights and depths|earn]] a few {{IL|Zee-Ztory|Appearance = Zee-Ztories}} if you are just a few short.

Notably, {{IL|Observe the comings and goings of the gilled lamp-cats}} is also an early source of {{IL|Silvered Cat's Claw}}s, which you eventually need for a {{IL|Tiger-Furred Oneiropompic Stave}}.

==Mining for Scintillack==
There are three phases to this carousel: '''High Tide''', '''Low Tide''', and the '''Perigee of Silver'''. The carousel takes a fixed number of actions (14), tracked by {{IL|Tides of Port Cecil:}}. During the main part of the carousel, you may favour the Cats or the Miners. The pay-out at the Perigee depends on which faction is ahead, but not by how much. There is a unique pay-out for if they are tied, and a different option if neither faction has much progress.

While the pay-out from the Perigee is substantial, up to two-thirds of the material rewards are received during High and Low Tides. Maximising value is fairly straightforward, but optimising specific item pay-outs may require finesse. 
===High Tide===
;[[High Tide in The Poisoned Pawn]]
:Lasts for 6 actions. Every option gives +3 CP to either {{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats}} or {{IL|Miners' Preparations}}. The progress is the same for all options, on success or failure.<ref>Needs verification for low-difficulty branches.</ref> These qualities are not directly tied to the final pay-out, but rather change progress gained from actions during Low Tide.
:Higher-difficulty options grant greater material rewards on success. Items are worth {{e}}2.00 for the easier, {{e}}3.00 for the harder Primary Stat challenge, and {{e}}3.20 for the Advanced Skill challenge. Of note, the Red Science miners' option pays in Scintillack, which may be sold directly for {{IL|Hinterland Scrip}}.
:All options give {{IL|Tides of Port Cecil:|Appearance = Tides of Port Cecil|1 x}} on both success and failure.
{| class="article-table"
!Option
! Challenge
!Success
!Failure
|-
|[[Lead the lamp-cats in a chess lesson]]
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance = }} 120
|{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Appalling Secret|10 x}} <br> {{IL|Cryptic Clue|25 x}}
|{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|+3 CP}}
|-
|[[Provide the lamp-cats with somewhere to rest]]
|{{IL|Watchful|Appearance = }} 180
|{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Tale of Terror!!|6 x}}
|{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|+3 CP}}
|-
|[[Instruct the lamp-cats in the coral calcification of the locals]]
|{{IL|Monstrous Anatomy|Appearance = }} 9
|{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Scrap of Incendiary Gossip|5 x}} <br>  {{IL|Romantic Notion|7 x}}
|{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Scandal|+2 CP?}}
|-
|[[Provision the miners with ropes and harnesses]]
|{{IL|Persuasive|Appearance = }} 120
|{{IL|Miners' Preparations|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Moon-Pearl|200 x}}
|{{IL|Miners' Preparations|+3 CP}}
|-
|[[Direct the miners towards a promising dig site]]
|{{IL|Persuasive|Appearance = }} 180
|{{IL|Miners' Preparations|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Zee-Ztory|6 x}}
|{{IL|Miners' Preparations|+3 CP}}
|-
|[[Use your knowledge of the Red Science to improve the miners' pump]]
|{{IL|Artisan of the Red Science|Appearance = }} 9
|{{IL|Miners' Preparations|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Map Scrap|7 x}} <br> {{IL|Knob of Scintillack|1 x}}
|{{IL|Miners' Preparations|+3 CP}} <br> {{IL|Wounds|+2 CP}}
|}
:

===Low Tide===
;[[Low Tide in the Scintillack Pools]]
:Lasts for 7 actions. Options increase or decrease {{IL|Feline Argentation}} and {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction}}, with increases scaling based on your qualities from High Tide. The balance of these qualities determines the nature, but not value, of your rewards at Perigee.
:As before, options give material rewards roughly in-line with their difficulty, ranging between {{e}}2.00 - 3.00 per action.
:Also as before, all options give {{IL|Tides of Port Cecil:|Appearance = Tides of Port Cecil|1 x}} on both success and failure.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Option
!Challenge
!Success
!Failure
|-
|[[Distract the lamp-cats with local wildlife]]
|{{IL|Watchful|150|Appearance=}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+(1+{{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}|{{IL|Feline Argentation|-3 CP}}|{{IL|Withered Tentacle|4 x}}}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+(1+{{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}}}
|-
|[[Deploy advanced cat-wrangling tactics]]
|{{IL|Watchful|200|Appearance=}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+(1+{{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}|{{IL|Feline Argentation|-3 CP}}|{{IL|Silvered Cat's Claw|30 x}}}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+(1+{{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}}}
|-
|[[Bring the scintillack miners some 'refreshments']]
|{{IL|Persuasive|150|Appearance=}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+(1+{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|-3 CP}}|{{IL|Memory of Distant Shores|4 x}}}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+(1+{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}}}
|-
|[[Prey on the miners' health concerns]]
|{{IL|Persuasive|200|Appearance=}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+(1+{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|-3 CP}}|{{IL|Journal of Infamy|6 x}}}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+(1+{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}}}
|-
|[[Convince the miners and lamp-cats of their commonality]]
|{{IL|Mithridacy|6|Appearance=}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+({{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+({{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}|{{IL|Romantic Notion|20 x}}}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+(1+{{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+(1+{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}}}
|-
|[[Liberate some raw scintillack]]
|{{IL|Shadowy|120|Appearance=}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+(1+{{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+(1+{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}|{{IL|Knob of Scintillack|1 x}}}}
|{{TableList|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|+(1+{{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}}) CP}}|{{IL|Feline Argentation|+(1+{{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}) CP}}}}
|}
:

===Rewards===
;[[The Perigee of Silver]]
:Lasts for 1 action. Gives one item worth {{e}}12.50 and 3 items worth {{e}}2.50, with the exact rewards depending on whether {{IL|Feline Argentation}} or {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction}} was higher whilst the higher of the two was at least 3, if they were equal and both at least 3, or both less than 3.
:All options reset {{IL|Tides of Port Cecil:|Appearance = Tides of Port Cecil}} to 0.
{| class="article-table"
!Option
!Requirement
!Reward
|-
|[[Travel back to port with the celebrating miners]]
|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} > {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}}, Extraction at least 3
| 1 x {{IL|Puzzle-Damask Scrap}} <br> 3 x {{IL|Knob of Scintillack}}
|-
|[[Bear witness to a lamp-cat ritual]]
|{{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} > {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}}, Argentation at least 3
| 1 x {{IL|Emetic Revelation}} <br> 3 x {{IL|Extraordinary Implication}}
|-
|[[Claim something that no-one was looking for|Claim something that ''no-one'' was looking for]]
|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} {{=}} {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}}, both at least 3
| 1 x {{IL|Lost Research Assistant}} <br> 3 x {{IL|Segmented Ribcage}}
|-
|[[Meet with a bright and fading mind]]
|{{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} < 3 and {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} < 3
| 1 x {{IL|Antique Mystery}} <br>3 x {{IL|Memory of a Much Lesser Self}}
|}

===Profitability===
If a player is capable of achieving 100% success on the most difficult actions, the return from this activity can be as high as {{e}}60.20 over 14 actions, for a total of '''4.30 EPA'''. Taking the easiest options with a 100% success rate will give {{e}}46.00 over 14 actions, for a total of '''3.29 EPA'''.

Some fraction of the reward can be sold for Scrip directly.

===Strategy for a tie===
If all you are looking for is a tie with both qualities at least 3:
*During High Tide, play 3 options each that raise {{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats}} and {{IL|Miners' Preparations}}. You should now be at level 3 (plus 3 CP) for both.
*During Low Tide, keep playing either {{IL|Convince the miners and lamp-cats of their commonality}}, or {{IL|Liberate some raw scintillack}} (you can also switch between the two options). In this case both of these options raise the progress of both factions by an equal amount, ensuring a tie.

There are more complex options if you want different resources from Low Tide. For example:
*During High Tide, play 6 options for the lamp-cats and none for the miners, which should give you {{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity|5}} and {{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations|0}}.
*During Low Tide: 
**First impede the lamp-cats 6 times, giving 6 CP of {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} (on success or failure).
**Then liberate some scintillack once, giving 6 CP of {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} and 1 additional CP of Extraction (total 7) on success, leaving both qualities at level 3.

Since six of your actions are impeding the lamp-cats, this is a good way to earn {{IL|Withered Tentacle|Appearance=Withered Tentacles}} and {{IL|Silvered Cat's Claw|Appearance=Silvered Cat's Claws}}, both of which have few grindable sources, on your way to getting {{IL|Segmented Ribcage|Appearance=Segmented Ribcages}} and {{IL|Lost Research Assistant|Appearance=Lost Research Assistants}}. Many other combinations are possible, but this is the one that provides the maximum amount of otherwise difficult to obtain items.

===Strategy for a bright and fading mind===
You will {{IL|Meet with a bright and fading mind}} and unlock a special quality if you manage to get both factions below level 3, which just means that both need to have less than 6 CP of progress at the end. One way to achieve this is:
*During High Tide, use your actions exclusively for cats. This will leave you at 0 {{IL|Miners' Preparations|Appearance=Preparations}} and 5 {{IL|Receptivity of the Lamp-Cats|Appearance=Receptivity}}. That means that
**taking actions against the miners will give -3 CP {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} and +6 CP {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}}.
**taking action against the cats will give -3 CP {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} and +1 CP {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}}.

*During Low Tide, we primarily work against the cats, taking the minimum of anti-miner actions to reduce the minimal progress they make. Making more difficult checks you may fail is dangerous here and may jeopardize the goal. Go:
*#against the cats 3 times. As they have no {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} yet, it will simply increase {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} to 3 total CP. Failure here is acceptable and has no impact on the strategy.
*#against the miners to wipe their {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} from 3 CP back to 0. This will raise {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} to 6 CP. '''This must succeed.'''
*#against the cats 3 times to knock their 6 CP of progress down to 3 or lower. This will raise {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} to 3 CP. ''This must succeed at least twice.'' If you fail the first or second check, take a 100%-success option or use Second Chances if there is none.

*There is an alternate path for Low Tide which requires more checks with a perfect success rate overall. Go:
*#against the cats 2 times. As they have no {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} yet, it will simply increase {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} to 2 total CP. Failure here is acceptable and has no impact on the strategy.
*#against the miners 2 times to wipe their {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} from 3 CP back to 0. This will raise {{IL|Feline Argentation|Appearance=Argentation}} to 12 CP. ''This must succeed at least once.''  If you fail the first check, take a 100%-success option or use Second Chances if there is none.
*#against the cats 3 times to knock their 12 CP of progress down to 3. This will raise {{IL|Iron & Misery Scintillack Extraction|Appearance=Extraction}} to 3 CP. '''These must all succeed.'''

Of course, you can swap cats and miners and their respective progress qualities in the above guide.

Note that you won't get to change your mind and pick the option that requires having more of one quality than the other.


<references />
[[Category:Guides]]