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The Berners Street Hoax is the biggest prank of the 19th century. Can you pull it off?
[[Let's Go->Intro]]
<<set $phase_collection to false >>
<<set $phase_tumult to false >><img class="background" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/london_title.png"/>
T’was a mediocrely foggy day; one of many typical London fall mornings. You take the corner towards Hook’s bureau; evade a few people rushing; and look down the street.
The city’s awakening; the ubiquitous noise of people slowly increases together with the sun climbing the sky westwards. A few carriages were rolling on the manky streets already; a couple of maids were transporting bins of laundry, chit-chatting with each other in shrill soprane tones of voice.
The effect of the coffee you drank half an hour ago is slowly unfolding; and you’re feeling rather well, ready to serve another day as a loyal helping hand for Hook.
Another corner to the right; and your destination comes in sight, a four-storied, bulky office building; towering high above the surrounding structures. You open the main gate and go inside, greeting the portier on the way. No response, he’s still half-asleep, as usual in the morning hours.
As you climb up the two rows of stairs up to the office, you notice agitated talk coming from Hooks bureau. You slow down your walk; and as you reach the double-door; the voices get clearer.
//Should I eavesdrop?//, you ask yourself; standing before the massive entry.
[[Wait and Listen]]
[[Enter Directly]]
<div id="redmap">
<div id="bloxford"><<link "">><<goto "Bloxford Street">><</link>></div>
<div id="faker"><<link "">><<goto "Faker Street">><</link>></div>
<div id="reek"><<link "">><<goto "Reek Street">><</link>></div>
</div>
[[Go Home->Interlude]]
<img class="background" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/bloxford_street.png"/>
You find yourself on the Bloxford Street.
<<nobr>>
[[Map]]<br/>
<<if $photographer isnot true>>
[[Photography Shop]]<br/>
<</if>>
<<if $chalcographer isnot true>>
[[Chaclographer Workshop]]<br/>
<</if>>
<<if $rugdealer isnot true>>
[[Oriental Rugshop]]<br/>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><img class="background" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/faker_street.png"/>
You find yourself on the Faker Street.
<<nobr>>
[[Map]]<br/>
<<if $priest isnot true>>
[[Church]]<br/>
<</if>>
<<if $inventor isnot true>>
[[Weird Workshop]]<br/>
<</if>>
<<if $weaponsdealer isnot true>>
[[Weapons Shop]]<br/>
<</if>>
<</nobr>><img class="background" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/reek_street.png"/>
You find yourself on the Reek Street.
<<if $visitedDetective isnot true>>
<<set _randompassage to either(
'Detective',
'Normal Reek Street Text'
)>>
<<include _randompassage >>
<</if>>
<<nobr>>
[[Map]]<br/>
<<if $visited_criminal isnot true>>
[[Shadey Alley]]<br/>
<</if>>
<<if $prostitute isnot true>>
[[Shadey Tavern]]<br/>
<</if>>
<<if $pharmacist isnot true>>
[[Pharmacy]]<br/>
<</if>>
<</nobr>>The sun slowly sinks towards the horizon, taking its golden light away with it step by step.
People start rushing onto the streets to engage in their offtime activities, or to merely join the nightlife; and so you think about ending your current odyssey through the city streets.
You decide that you've organized enough people to arrive on monday morning. Also, the amount of money that Hook gave you is slowly thinning out; and maybe you want to take a few bucks home for yourself.
You leave the main square between Reek, Bloxford and Faker street, and head into a side street to make your way home.
Wondering if you did well; you fight through the crowd rushing into the streets, and soon enough; you see the building in which you live appear behind the rows on rows of houses.
You wonder how all of this is going to turn out; and have some trouble finding sleep; may it be because of nervosity or sorrow but in the end, slumber takes over.
And just a few hours later, the time had come:
The time to watch the great Berners Street Hoax pan out.
[[Monday 8.00->8.00]]
<<set $phase_collection to false >>
<<set $phase_tumult to true>>
<<set $tumult to 0>>
<<linkappend "Wait for a while">>
<<if $photographer is true>>
<<include "Happening Photographer">>
<<set $photographer_present to true>>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
<<linkappend "Wait for 5 more Minutes">>
<<if $chalcographer is true>>
<<include "Happening Chalcographer">>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
[[Continue->9.00]]
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>>
<<linkappend "Wait for a while">>
<<if $inventor is true>>
<<include "Happening Inventor">>
<<set $inventor_present to true>>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
<<linkappend "Wait for 5 more Minutes">>
<<if $weaponsdealer is true>>
<<include "Happening Weaponsdealer">>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
[[Continue->10.00]]
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>>
As you go through the old wooden door of the Fakerstreet Church, the dark wood being held together by black steel bars, you enter a very long hallway, lined with supporting pillars to the left and right. The walls consisted of huge sandstone blocks; decorated with ornaments painted with a yellow tint. Your eyes can barely make out the wooden altar at the end of the hallway, as they are blinded by the white light casted from the majestic church window at the very end of the nave. As you Walk through the Church, a figure dressed in black with a unnaturally stiff posture approaches you quickly, his feet moving in such a controlled, mechanical way make it seem as if his body is floating over the ground.
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/priest.png"/>//“Come closer my child. Welcome to the Fakerstreet church.”// The priest makes the sign of the cross as he looks down upon you before he rests his hands touching each other in front of his stomach //“I see you have a conflicted soul, how can I help you?”//
[[Father, I come to you with a great sadness. My masters mother is very close to death. and we need the consultant of god. please come by to 54 Bernerstreet as soon as possible. At Monday 10 o'clock perhaps?->Character Priest]]
[[Apology father, but I need to go!->Faker Street]] You enter the Shop, and the first thing to catch your eye is some kind of flag hanging on the wall. The flag bears a white ground with a black eagle. It is the flag of Prussia. The workshop is filled with mysterious objects and apparatuses.
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/inventor.png"/>A dark haired man with a german accent, which you didn't even realize being here at first, starts talking to you from the side: //"Welcome in my modest schopp! Everything you see iz for zale! I also take special rekwests."//
[[Go Back to the Street ->Faker Street]]
[[Do you sell any weapons?]]
[[Why did you come to London?]]
You enter the Shop, everything is well organized. You see a number of rifles and pistols on display and in the corner you can also see a few blades and daggers, everything seems to be on sale. You walk up to the counter and ring the bell. A man past his 40's with a trimmed beard shows up coming out of the workshop, he looks at you from above his reading glasses while he smiles.
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/weaponsdealer.png"/>//"Welcome, welcome… the name is George Attling, call me George. How can I help you sir? Are you looking for a weapon for self defence? Our rifles are in top condition. Or maybe a wedding gift? We have some nice gold plated dueling pistols with custom ornamentation."//
[[I need to go now->Faker Street]]
[[Yes I do need a wedding gift for my master, what can you recommend me?->Gift]]
[[Indeed sir, I am looking for a weapon for self defence.->Self Defence]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/priest.png"/>He scans you for a second with a stern, judging look in his eyes before he replies, calmly smiling: //"Of course, I will be there Monday 10 o'clock."//
<<set $priest to true>>
[[Thank you father->Faker Street]] <<set _randompassage to either(
'Normal Text',
'Normal Text',
'Boffington Teaclub'
)>>
<<linkappend "Wait for a while">>
<<if $prostitute is true>>
<<include "Happening Prostitue">>
<<set $prostitute_present to true>>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
<<linkappend "Wait for 5 more Minutes">>
<<if $priest is true>>
<<include "Happening Priest">>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
<<include _randompassage >>
[[Continue->11.00]]
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>>
<<set _randompassage to either(
'Normal Text',
'Normal Text',
'Carl Uber'
)>>
<<linkappend "Wait for a while">>
<<if $pharmacist is true>>
<<include "Happening Pharmacist">>
<<set $pharmacist_present to true>>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
<<linkappend "Wait for 5 more Minutes">>
<<if $rugdealer is true>>
<<include "Happening Rugdealer">>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
<<linkappend "Wait">>
<<if $tumult lte 70>>
<<include _randompassage>>
<</if>>
[[Continue->12.00]]
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>>
<<linkappend "Wait for a while">>
<<if $criminal is true>>
<<include "Happening Criminal">>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
<<linkappend "Wait for 5 more Minutes">>
<<if $detective is true>>
<<include "Happening Detective">>
<<else>>
<<include "Tumult Handler">>
<</if>>
[[Contiue->Rateing]]
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>>
You look down upon the riot upon you, and you can’t hold a grimy smirk from taking hold of your expression. You’ve done it. There’s a small fire burning somewhere; some people started beating each other up; you hear screams and shouts from enraged discussions all around you…
It is done. Berners Street had become absolute Mayhem, a small, seemingly unimportant spot in the city; engulfed in chaos.
“Boy! Boy!” Hook runs towards you, half smiling, half in shock.
“Mister! I did it, now haven’t I?”
“Oh, boy-o.” He pauses to catch some breath. “You absolutely, abso-hecking-lutely have outdone yourself, boy. Let me give you this well deserved hug! And a raise! A raise for sure!”
<img class="background" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/succsess.png"/>
And so, without a chance for defense, you get overpowered by Hook’s hug, and endure the most literally “breathtaking” experience with the thought of your raise; while Berners Street descends into madness right by your side.
[[Return to Start->Start]]
You watch the Berners Street; and get weak at the knees.
A fire has erupted in one of the houses, and it’s flames are starting to set the roof of the house next to it on fire. You hear someone scream “MURDER!!” and panic erupts; while the fire brigade gets stuck on the way to the scene.
Helplessly you observe the fire spreading further and further, the screams of the people intensifying. At a certain point you start running for your life; as destructive Chaos starts taking hold of the whole quarter. People trampling over each other in mindless fear; the police, arriving way too late gets stuck on the fire brigade trucks and the people in between; as the brigade can’t seem to decide if they should fight the fire or leave. It’s absolute terror; and you run, run as fast as you can.
Before you can even get a hold of your thoughts and look where you’re running, you see him. Hook. He’s running towards you, but something isn’t right.
Like everything else right now.
You reach Hook breathless and yip as loud as you can “Leave! Run!”
Then he crashed down to the ground. Trying to catch him, his weight pulls you down with him. You quickly straighten up and check Hook.
His face is pale. His eyes blurry, staring into nothingness.
“Mr. Hook, what...no!”
“Oh boy….what have you done…”
<img class="background" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/london_fire.png"/>
And so, in an alternative timeline than ours right now, you became the cause for the second great London Fire, that caused hundreds of peoples lives, and made many homeless. You’ve overdone it; most sadly. But can anyone really blame you? Hook gave you this explicit order. Oh, Hook is dying. Yeah, right.
Well, if that’s the case, you’ll be definitely blamed anyway.
[[Return to Start->Start]] You stand there, and look upon the Berners Street 54 and its surroundings...and are actually a bit disappointed. There’s some murmurs and maybe a dispute here and there, but it doesn’t seem like any aggressive group dynamics might kick in, nor are there any outrageous quarrels to be seen.
You hear steps behind you.
“Hmm, boy, disappointing.” It’s Hook. And his expression mirrors what he said.
“I’m sorry, mister Hook. I gave my best. I can understand your disappointment.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll do it myself next time.” And as he turns around and walks away, you hear him whisper “It’s always the same...useless, all’of em.”
And so, you write history in a different way than expected. Instead of writing it, you delete an event from the books of history, and the Berners Street Hoax never happened.
[[Return to Start->Start]] You enter a dark alley and instantly try not to vomit from the disgusting smell of garbage and filth that accumulated over many years here. You accidently step into something soft and take a look at your shoes when out of nowhere a shadow appears in front of you. A rather short man stands in front of you, with icy eyes staring directly into yours. He wears remarkably flawless black clothes for someone that just appeared in a dark alley in the most notorious street of london. He smiles and says:
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>//"Hey! Psssssshhht, listen! Today is yer special day. Hehehehe!"//
[[Turn around and walk away->Reek Street]]
[[What do you mean by Special Day? Are you some kind of dealer?->Dealer?]]
[[First you appear out of nowhere and then you speak to me without introducing yourself? Begone you filthy streetrat!->Agressive]]
<<if $anger_prositute is true>>
You are blocked from entering the tavern by a big man with a dark hrumpf. Probably you should'n have angered Miss Mary.
[[Back to the Street->Reek Street]]
<<else>>
You enter a dark, smokey lounge and you instantly start to feel uneasy because of the mixed stench of cheap cigars, sweat and perfume. As you try to peek through the wavery clouds of smoke you see that everything in the room is covered in red fabric. Even the curtains, which seem to be hanging there since the the house was built, are colored in a dark red. Although it might’ve been the many years the fabric was exposed to the smoke that colored it so dark.
A gentleman sits on one of the many couches and two rather lightly dressed women in their mid 20’s sit on both of his sides, arms around his neck and laughing. You hear distant moaning through the walls as you walk up to the reception, which is illuminated by a pair of tremendously overscaled candles. A lady with too much makeup on her face looks at you and smiles. The way she is dressed you now are 100% sure that you are in a brothel.
[[Return to the Street->Reek Street]]
[[Speak to her]]
<</if>>
<<if $visitedPharmacist is true>>
//"Oh, you again. Have you made a choice yet? The standard medicine or the experimental alternative?"//
[[Just Medicine]]
[[Alternative Medicine]]
<<else>>
You enter a small room and you wait a moment until your eyes adapt to the darkness in this store. Only a little ray of sunlight passes through a small opening between the curtains, with which someone seemingly tried to cover up all the windows inside the room. There is a counter and behind it several shelves filled with glasses of all kinds and shapes, sizes and colors. A short man past his sixties with thick eyeglasses sits behind the counter reading a book. His face expression is reminiscent of a motionless, dumbfounded mask. Calm, happy and probably extremely high on morphium. As you clear your throat, he looks up directly into your eyes. A moment passes. He still doesn’t say anything.
"Good day Sir, I want to order some medicine!"
The old man looks surprised at first, but then replies with a remarkably deep voice:
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/pharmacist.png"/>//"Ahh a customer well clothed! I don’t get much customers these days, you know? Since the rumours spread, that there is a rugdealer at Bloxford street who sells special drugs. Back in the day the people really appreciated our family recipes! But nowadays they rather go for that low quality street rubbish. Anyway, what kind of medicine do you need? Something entertaining or something for serious use?"//
[[I have to go->Reek Street]]
[[What do you mean with entertaining?]]
[[I would like to have medicine for my Masters bronchite->Just Medicine]]
<</if>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>You push the giant, shiny, hand made, wooden framed glass door of the brand new building and step in. The store is one big room. Two well-dressed gentlemen sit together on a small table having a cup of tea and a chat, while another man in the back of the room is handling something with a big camera. In the other corner, a young lady in a brand new white dress practises some poses in front of a big picture of an empty London street in deep winter. There are also a lot of frames and shelves filled up with cameras, lenses and other stuff.
The whole room is very clean and tidy. Everything shines and sparkles.
One of the two chatting gentlemen interrupts the talking and turns his head around. He is a very big man, definitely overweight, wearing a dark brand new suit with a black top hat, a big moustache covered his upper lip.
He turns his big nose towards you and says in a scottish accent:
//I’ll be with ye in a Moment, Sir.//
He lights his pipe and continues the talk with the other gentleman, also a very big one.
[[Return to the Street->Bloxford Street]]
[[You stand still and listen to the gentlemen]]
[[You decide to take a walk through the store and check it out a little bit.]]<<if $visitedChalcographer is true>>
Hello again dear Sir. My Offer still stands. 20 Pounds just name the details and the place.<br/>
[[Accept->Deal Chaclographer]]<br/>
[[Return to the Street ->Bloxford Street]]
<<elseif $angered_calcographer is true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/> Alright boy, get out of my house!<br/>
[[Leave the Shop->Bloxford Street]]
<<else>>
Strolling down the Bloxfordstreet, looking for house number 211, you suddenly stand in front of a tiny entrance between a multilevel family house with a small tea store in its first floor on the left side and a former pet shop on the right, which seems to be abandoned since ages.
Above the small door an old copper sign slightly covered in patina says:
“COOPER NEEDLESTICH - ENGRAVER since 1858”
You take a look through the little window beneath the small entrance but you can’t see anything because of the dust and dirt on the glass.
You push the old, screeching door carefully and enter the building.
The room you enter is an absolute mess, you haven’t seen anything like that before in your life. There is metal stuff everywhere; tons of copper plates are piled on top of each other, nearly reaching the ceiling. Hundreds of hammers, burins and other strange tools are lying around the room. There is the pungent smell of metal and flame hanging in the air.
You take a step to the counter in the back section of the room when a fat cat suddenly jumps from a stack of metal plates, touches your pants while rushing to the door. She obviously sniffed the rare chance to leave the building since you opened the door.
[[Hello?! Anybody home?]]
[[Freaking Cat! God damn you dirty beast!]]
<</if>>
You stand in front of a small store wedged in between the giant Larks & Lancer Clothing Company store and a very old theater. You can’t see inside because the showcase is covered with carpets from the inside. A young man opens the door and steps outside followed by two other young men carrying a wrapped carpet. Finally, an elder woman steps outside, talking to a well-dressed gentlemen and says goodbye to him in an extremely polite way. The Gentleman then sees you and immediately welcomes you.
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"Good day, Sir! Welcome! Please, come in! There is still room for you!"//
You enter the tiny shop. It is overfilled with rugs and heavily overcrowded. There are at least thirty people standing around, chatting with each other, checking out the rugs stacked on the floor and hanged on the walls, dealing and discussing with the sellers. The mood is tense, things are hectic.
By passing the gentleman, he speaks to you:
//"Business is going through the roof! I just came back from a three month business travel through Northwest Africa. People love my new stuff. Oh, from talking so much, i forgot to introduce myself; my name is Weapunder, this is my shop. May i advise you?"//
[[Leave the Shop->Bloxford Street]]
[[With pleasure.]]
[[Hmm.. I think i first look around a bit->Keyword]]
You cower down a bit, tilt your head and hold your ear towards the door. You try to make out the muffled voices.
//“... standing any chance! Hah! Your money’s as good as mine already, Hook!”//
//“Don’t be too sure about that, Beazley! We will see.”//
//“Do and think what you must, Hook. So, its a bet?”//
//“It’s a bet!”//
//“No sealing it with a handshake, Hook? Afraid?”//
//“Pah. Come here, you lousy wannabe-architect!”//
A slight clapping sound is audible through the thick wooden door as their hands meet for an energic handshake.
//“Well, Hook, ‘til then!”//
As steps approach, you swiftly react and push against the door and enter. Mr. Hook is standing behind his desk, his left hand clenching a cup of coffee; the other guy, apparently a certain Mr. Beazley, came to a halt as you opened the door, and looks at you with a startled expression on his face. //“Good morning, Sir”//, you say and nod into Hooks direction. Then, looking at Beazley, you merely hint at a bow. //“Good morning to you aswell, sir”//, you quickly add.
//“Good day.”// Beazley scurries out; leaving the door open.
A brief moment of silence follows, only Beazleys hasty steps from the staircase are audible, slowly fainting away.
“Good morning, boy. How are you?”, Hook asks, still standing.
“Im good, sir, very kind that you ask. How are you instead? I think I overheard some kind of… a discussion, sir?”
//“Ahh…”// Hook exhales loudly, sits down and points at the chair on the opposite side of his desk. //“Take a seat, will you. I’ve got something to do for you, boy.”//
“Well, that’s what I’ve been hired for, no?” You smile a bit and sit down, only to notice the warmth of its preceded occupation. You shudder somewhat, but you try to focus on Hook again. “Tell me, sir. It would be an honor.”
//“Well, boy, listen up. I trust you, and you know that. Do… you know that?”// He lifts a brow.
//“I sure do, sir.”//
//“That’s good. So, listen carefully…”//
''What do you do?''
[[Actually listen carefully]]
[[Only listen halfway; and just try to snap up the most important bits]]Heaving open the heavy doorwing, you step into a heated discussion, it seems.
//“You won’t be standing any chance! Hah! Your money’s as good as mine already, Hook!”//
Hook is sitting behind his desk, obviously unnerved. On the opposite side: a skinny dude in a wavy coat, throwing gestures, reddened face. He wears a checkered scarf, tightly wrapped around the neck. No wonder his face is this red, he must be smothering, you think for yourself.
Your enter most obviously startled the present gentlemen.
“Good morning, Mr. Hook. Good morning, sir”, you state confidently; and then quickly add: //“The gentlemen may forgive my interruption. I will leave you to your discussion.”//
//“No, no, boy. Good morning to you as well. I’d like you to join us in our...feverish interlocutions”//, Mr.Hook answers in a friendly manner. //“Take a chair and sit with us, boy.”//
He points towards the conference table. You take up a chair and heave it over to Hooks desk; and take a seat in a slightly angular way, so you can see both of the attendants, but mainly face the strange mister on the opposite side of Hook.
//“May I present to you, Mr. Samuel Beazley; my boy. He’s a friend of mine.”// Hook looks at you strangely; swiftly raising his eyebrows only a tiny tad when saying ‘friend’.
//“Well met, sir.”//
//“Well met, boy.”//
//“Wonderful. Now that we’re all acquainted, may I introduce our young friend here to the latest quarrel, Mr. Beazley?”//
He nods. His face had lost a bit of its redness; and he seems to calm down.
//“Very well. Samuel -”//, he looks at him and lifts a brow //“- and I, we had a bit of a dispute. He strongly believes; even insists, may I say; that the placement of any property given, here in beautiful ol’ London; totally and absolutely defines and influences its ability to gain fame; or exposure of any kind. I heavily disagree. In my, honest and unambiguous opinion, I think any, and I say any, place or housing can become the center of attention, if the circumstance is given. But Samuel - “// Hook turns his head again, throwing another provoking look towards Beazley //“- kind of seems to ignore the evidence given.”//
//“Oh bollocks! Come on, Theodore, there is no darn evidence! A poor house in a poor quarter will always be a shaky abode at societies dead end. And you know that.”// Beazley’s face is reddening again.
//“That’s exactly the point, Samuel. I do not know.”// Hook turns around and looks at you with a strange shine in his eyes.//”And that’s what it’s all about, boy. We’re unable to find a meeting point in this discussion. So, dear Mr. Beazley here proposed some kind of...uh, a bet; I guess one could say.”//
//“Not some kind of bet, Beazley, it’s a bet. A bet in the most literal sense. We just haven’t found an agreement on the stakes yet. Maybe your…”// Beazley looks at you with a condescending stare //“...your butler has some astute idea concerning the matter?”//
A snobbish grin phases in on his expression.
A short, awkward silence follows.
''What do you do?''
[[Involve yourself into the discussion]]
[[Extricate yourself from the discussion as best as you can]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>10 o'clock, monday morning, the Berners Street just awakes from a peaceful sleep. Some early birds are whistling and flying from roofs to trees and back. A little cat slowly walks across the street, a stray dog exactly observes her but is obviously too tired to attack.
A brown carriage with not less that eight horses in front comes around the corner. The coachman climbs down his seat and opens the door. A big man in an very expensive suit steps out, puts on his hat, adjusts his tie and removes a little dust with his hand from his shoulder. Then he just stands there and looks up to the house.
The coachman approaches him: //"Mr. McFlare, Sir. Should i unload the stuff right here?"//
Lance McFlare, still focused on the building, waits a moment, then answers: //"Aah.. Yes! Please! Just keep going, i’ll knock the door!"//
He steps towards the entrance, beholds himself in the reflecting glass in the middle of the door and finally knocks. After a while, a middle-aged man opens the door. //"Good Morning, Sir."//
//"Good Morning to you, Sir! Me name's Lance McFlare, the photographer!"//
The servant looks a little confused:
//"Eeh.. Alright. And so?"//
//"Well, I’m here to make the portraits. Is everybody ready?"//
//"What portraits? Today? Now?"//
//"Well, as you ordered!"// Lance smiles tensely, as a slight insecurity sneaks in on his expression.
//"Me? When?"//
//"Oh, maybe it was another servant of your household. Excuse me, I have a lot of customers. But this is the Berners Street number 54, home of the Lady Tottenham, isn’t it?"//
The servant scratches his head. //"Eh, yes. Lady Tottenham lives here. But i don’t know anything of portraits, or any other appointments today. It's monday, the Lady rests to be in shape for tomorrow, and today is marked as her official resting day. Wait a moment.."//
He turns around and shouts into the house:
//"Lisa! Would you please come down for a second?"//
A young maid in a beautiful dress comes to the door: //"Yes?"//
//"Did you order a photographer for today?"// The servant asks friendly, but determined.
//"A photographer? No? Why should I?"//
Lance McFlare, just observing the whole thing and visibly losing his calm: //"I was ordered to make portraits of the Lady’s family, 30 people, here, now."//
//"30?! The Lady doesn't even have any family!"//
//"Or was it just the old dog? I don’t remember. I was hoping you could tell me. Excuse me, I sometimes twist things when I have this much of work to do."//
The servant and the maid exchange a confused look.
//"I am most irritated right now. The Lady hates dogs! She once was attacked by a giant violent dachshund and got bitten in the heels! I am commanded to shoot every dog entering this house! There must be a mistake in your books somewhere, sir."//
//"Well, that comes a little unexpected. I am sure that one, young gentleman ordered me to the Lady Tottenham at 54 Berners Street."//
The servant exhales demonstratively, as he replies: //"Which gentleman?! There are only the Lady Tottenham, then Lisa, I mean, the maid, and myself in this house!"//
//"The person giving me this order said that Mrs. Tottenham was his employer, he even had papers proving that."//
//"Sir, I think you’ve been had by somebody. I’m sorry, we need no photographer. Please go away now, before the Lady wakes up and realises what happens here."//
The photographer takes a look around, comes closer to the servant and speaks quietly, but with a dire tone in his voice: //"Alright, just to make that clear: If I find out that somebody in this house is playing games, you will get a lot of trouble! I do not have the time for such silly shenanigans!"//
He turns around and walks away angry, shouting to the coachman:
//"Load! Immediately! We're off. God darn it!”//
<<set $tumult += 8>><<if $photographer_present is true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>A small, skinny man in old brown clothes comes around the corner, looks at the facades of the houses, trying to catch the numbers. As soon as he spotted the photographer, he walks straight to him:
Engraver: //“Oh no, it’s you.. that cocky photographer. Still trying to make art with your funny flashlightbox?”//
Lance:// “Haud yer wheesht! I’m leaving this ugly place! Wait, what are you doing here?”//
Engraver: //“Well, i was ordered by the Lady to make a portrait of her dog. I guess she understands art and chose the right way to make the portrait. And you? Tried to catch the sunrise?”//
Lance: //“You got ordered? What is going on in here?! You bastards!”//
He runs towards the house but immediately stops after a few meters, gets even more angry, turns around and looks straight into the engravers eyes:
Lance: //“You dirty old creep! It was you! You ordered me to them and now you’re here laugh at me! I’ll break your neck!!”//
The Engraver wants to say something but gets surprised by the strong hit of the photographer. He falls face down to the floor, two knocked out teeth fall to the ground beside him; as a pool of blood spreads slowly. Desperately he tries to crawl away but the photographer starts to kick him repeatedly.
A coachman comes down from his coach and tries to calm him down but gets also hit very badly. He runs away, rumples on doors and windows of the neighbours and screams for help.
The photographer still beats the old engraver, while some neighbours run out of their doors and try to stop the photographer. A young man accidentally hits an elder neighbour who immediately takes revenge by taking a big camera from the carriage and smashes it towards his head. In a horrible, blood spattering event of mass wrestling; riot arises. You hear someone calling for the police.
<<set $tumult += 26>>
<<else>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>8 o’clock, saturday morning, the Berners Street just awakes from a peaceful sleep. Some early birds are whistling and flying from roofs to trees and back. A little cat crosses slowly the street, a stray dog exactly observes her but is obviously too tired to attack.
A small, skinny man in old brown clothes comes around the corner, looks at the facades of the houses, trying to catch the numbers. As soon as he spotted the 54, he heads straight to the entrance, adjusts his coat a little bit and knocks at the door. Shortly after, a middle-aged man, probably Miss Tottenhams servant, peeks outside and says nothing.
//"Oh, Sir. I’m here for the portrait!"//, the engraver says.
The servant stares in bafflement as he replies: //"Who are you? What do you want?"//
//"I'm Cooper Needlestich, officially attested engraver, sir. I’m here for the portrait of the Lady’s Labrador!"//
//"The Lady’s Labrador?! But the Lady hates dogs!"//
The engraver seems irritated. //"Hmm..? How? I have an appointment!"//
//"Excuse me, but who exactly sent you?"// The servant starts to get angry; and his voice reflects that.
The engraver looks around in a disturbed manner; grasping for any clue what was happening.
//" It was some guy! This… i don’t remember the name… darn it."//
//"Well, there is only me, the young maid and of course the Lady Tottenham in this house. I am sorry, we did not order you, sir. Now please leave."//
The engraver, influenced by the servants angriness, now starts to get aggravated as well. "But you did order me! Monday, about 10 in the morning, 54 Berners Street, Lady Tottenham, Portrait of the Labrador. That is what i noted!"//
The servant, trying to contain himself, replies: //"Sir, i am definitely sure nobody is asking for you. As i told you, the Lady hates dogs. There is no Labrador in this house, nor are there any other pets, let alone somebody who ordered you. Please leave now, before the Lady wakes up and realises what’s going on down here!”
A sad tone takes over the engravers voice: //"No, this can’t be true! I was ordered, now i’m here! You want to dump me? Well, but then you’ve got to pay me!"
The servant, now visibly raging; still tries to keep his condition, but slowly gives in to angriness: //"Watch your mouth! Go home! Nobody called you at all!"//
Little did he know, that the engraver is a bullheaded companion.
//" But you did! I didn’t take that long of a way to immediately get sent away!"//
//"I did not! Get away, or I’ll call the police!"//
The engraver takes a break, a deep breath and finally steps back a little bit.
//"Sir, this will have dramatic repercussions! I am an artist! I will not put up with that! To your disadvantage, i do know a lot of influential people in this part of the city! Note!!"//
The engraver turns around and leaves the place quickly.
<<set $tumult += 9>>
<</if>>In a desperate attempt to seem smart; you just speak out the first thing that comes to your mind.
//“Uhh...we could….uhh, maybe...maybe the loser should come up for all the costs that came up throughout the bets process?”//
//“Oh, really?”// Beazley purses his lips. //“So if you start to build a damn two-hundred meter tower down the at the docks; declare its going to be a museum, import an abundance of golden trinkets and ancient sculptures, art and all of them Brummagems, then I’m to come up for its costs once its built and done, like in, what, fourty years maybe!? Impossible.”//
Hook laughs out loud. //“LOL!”//, he yells in a strange manner.
//“What?”//, Beazley and I asked in unisono.
//“Nothing, nothing.”// He throws his hand in a gesture, grinning, as he continues: //“But, I am intrigued by my fellow’s idea. We could limit the money spent to an acceptable degree by making our agreement…”//, he lifts his eyebrows and grins, //“...a timed one.”//
//“Timed? As in, 24 hours for example?”//, Beazley barfs.
//“Uhh, that’s a tad too few time for such a task, I fear. You wouldn’t want this to be an unfair matter, won’t you?”// Hook stands up from his chair; and starts walking around, as he speaks. //“I think 72 hours should be enough. Three days. Starting at ten o’clock today. I’ll need the most part of today to make some…preparations. Throughout the last day, which should be...uhh…”// Hook turns around and hushes back to his desk again, quickly scrolling through his agenda. //“So, well, today’s november the twenty-fifth, and it’ll soon be ten o’clock. Today I’ll prepare everything, mhmm, mhmm…”// he scribbles something into his booklet, then continues, //“tomorrow we’ll organize it all, yes, yes…”// again, he notes a few words, //“and then, at ten o’clock the twenty-seventh, we’ll find ourselves at 54, Berners Street, and watch the…spectacle!”//
//“Spectacle? Hook, you’re delusional.”//
//“I may be, my friend, and now? So, is it a bet?”//
//“It’s a bet!”// Beazley answers overeager.“No sealing it with a handshake, Hook? Afraid?”
//“Pah. Come here, you lousy wannabe-architect!”//
You watch them shaking their hands and exchanging goodbyes, and see Beazley off with a “‘Til then” as he makes his way out. After hearing the sound of the heavy door below closing, Hook looks up from his notes and addresses you.
//“Boy, are you ready?”//
//“Uhh, ready? Ready for what, sir?”//
//“Well, to get stir up some tumult, my boy! Ha-hah!”//
The nagging feeling of skepticism slowly manifests inside your mind. //“You wanted me to go and win this bet all this time?”//
//“Well, ye-eah.”// He glares at you, shaking his head quickly; //”Aren’t you my readily assistant after all? Employed and well paid to help in my everyday duties?”//
//“Sir, I am unsure whether or not this counts as an ‘everyday duty’, as you so nicely put it, sir.”//
//“Oh come on, boy! Are you telling me you want to miss out on such an opportunity?”//
//“What opportunity, sir?”// You lift your shoulders and hold up your palms, //“What am I even supposed to do exactly?”//
//“I’ll prepare money, for you to spend in the name of this bet. And! And I’ll prepare some papers that will identify you as my messenger.”//
//“And then? I’m still in the unclear about the task itself, sir.”//
//“You’ll scurry around downtown, and uptown as well if you want. Get people to visit the Berners Street. Make up reasons, set appointments and get the folks over there! It’s quite the easy task, I’d say.”//
You’re speechless, standing there amidst the room, hand-wringing in confusion.
Hook speaks up again. //“Don’t give me that flustered look, boy! It’ll be fun! All the consequences and costs will be hung up on Beazley in the end, isn’t it?”//
//“Yeah, as long as we win the bet.”//
//“We will win the bet. Where’s your enthusiasm?”//
//“I fear my enthusiasm is absent today, sir.”
Hook laughs wholeheartedly at my response. Then comes over to tap my shoulder.
//“Give it a try at least, won’t you? We’ll meet up tomorrow morning, I’ll hand you everything you’ll need. And then, you just take the whole day to assemble as big of a crowd as you can down at Berners.”//
A silenced sigh escapes you. But, after all you’ve been, at least more or less, persuaded to obey.
Hook gives you a few other tasks for the present day; and leaves you with that; expecting you tomorrow morning.//
[[Accept it ->Continue]]
[[Try to talk Hook out of the idea->Talk Hook out of the idea, explaining how nonsensical this all is.]]
Quickly you stress to find an adequate answer without being insulting.
“Gentlemen, I can assure you I feel most honored to be asked this directly to join in on your active conversation. But; as you sure may both understand; neither my social status nor my very limited general knowledge allow me to participate in such a sophisticated discussion.”
That was good, you think to yourself.
“Coward.” Beazley’s response is delivered in a harsh dryness.
“Yeah, totally.” Hook shows a sneering smirk.
An appalled “Excuse me?” escapes you.
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist boy, come on! Tell us what you think, won’t you?”, Hook asks, but it almost seems like an order.
[[ Give in and think of a good idea->Involve yourself into the discussion]]
[[You defend your position harshly and insist on not involving yourself]]The sunshine, flooding the room in a gloomy orange light; really started to warm things up. While Hook starts to explain what the morning fuzz was all about; you take off your jacket and get comfortable in your seat, unlike before. By the time you find yourself all set and ready to go; you recognize, that even if you really wanted to listen; now Hook’s deep into the matter and you missed some information already. So you raise a hand lightly. “Pardon me, sir. Please, can you recapitulate the last few sentences?”
“Ah, boy, pull yourself together, will you? Where were we again?”
“Don’t worry sir. Just start over. You know what they say: ‘Emphasis through Repetition’”
“Humbuck. Nobody says that.” He gives you a stern look; followed by a hand gesture similar to a throwaway move. Then he takes a deep breath, and starts over again.
“So, Beazley and I had a bit of a discussion, boy. It’s a bit hard to explain; but basically it’s like that: Beazley insists on being in the right concerning a specific arguing point. He assumes, no, he even believes, that the location of an address, real estate or property inside of good ol’ London, is absolutely determining the possible amount of fame and publicity the concerned property or housing, or whatever it may be, may ever have.” You look a bit flustered and confused; and Hook is recognizing that. He continues: ”Now, this may sound complicated, but what I mean by that, is pretty simple. Beazley thinks, and I quote; that a ‘poor house in a poor quarter will always be a shaky abode at societies dead end’; and I strongly believe in the falsification of this very narrow-minded statement. As there is no imminent evidence considering this discussion point, we...uhh..” he checks your expression again; and softly plants his face into the palm of his hand.
“Listen, boy. Beazley says that there are certain places, that can not ever become famous. I said, that’s wrong. Are you following me?”
You nod, feeling a rush of blood to your cheeks. Hook was an author, so the vocabulary he used was always very overwhelming; but; at least he was patient.
“I asked you a question, boy.”
“Yes, sir, I follow.”
“Good. We made a bet, Beazley and I.”
“Is the bet, that you will try to make a very shady place very famous, sir?”, you quickly throw in your assumption to show that you’re following what he’s saying.
“Exactly. Now, here’s where you come into play, boy.”
“How may I serve, sir?”
“I have a very specific place in mind, you know? Its at the Berners Street. An absolute nightmare of a building, to be honest, not more than a ramshackle hut; but -”, he clears his throat, “ I think that is exactly what the task is all about, wouldn’t you agree?”
You nod again, adding a sloppy “Yessir”.
“So, the exact address is 54, Berner St. and the building is officially my property. Some weird inheritance or something. I’ll prepare a small bundle for you that will certify that and your authenticity as my trusted servant, so you may speak and act in my name.”
“That is an honor, Sir, truly. May I know, what exactly I’ll speak and how I’ll have to act though?”
He looks at you with a witty smirk.
“You’re such a smart boy, sometimes, at least. I, most logically, want you to go outside; and make this disgrace of a house famous! Do your best, spend as much as you need -” he squints, “- but for god’s sake be considerate. But I’ll easily spend some grands to beat that nutcase. Especially…”
his smirk returns, this time wider, “...since the loser of the bet has to come up for the costs, hah!”
[[Continue]] You act like you’re listening, nod in blind agreement; and somehow try to extract the most important info. Hook’s talking in high vocabulary again; and the longer he goes on, the more you have to focus; if you want to or not.
You understand that there is a bet, something about a house on a certain “Berners Street”, and that you’ll have to organize something. Realizing that you’re not totally following; you slightly lift your hand and ask://”Excuse me sir, what exactly do I have to do again?”//
For a fraction of a second, an expression of disappointment hushes over Hook’s face.
You think you understand him whispering a “Lord help me..” under his breath, as he starts over again. You’re all ear now; and listening to what he’s saying, you figure out pretty fast what there’s to do.
Apparently, Hook had a bit of an argument with Beazley; about if it would be possible to make a random place in London famous. Beazley would disagree, saying, that if it is just a shack downtown; it will never become famous for anything else than maybe being haunted. But Hook is fully convinced, that any place can become noteworthy; or famous; if the right circumstances are given. Hook bestows you with the task, to organize as many different parties and/or people to a certain address; and wants you to assemble as much random people as possible around and in that spot. The afore heard Berners Street it is; house number 54 to be exact.
Before you can ask; he explains://” We don’t have an exact time limitation; but we will show Beazley that a few days will be enough. And…”// he pauses artistically, //“I will prepare a little satchel for you with enough financial backup to fulfill your task today; as well as some papers, so you may identify yourself as my right hand at any time.”//
Right hand?, you blush a bit, feeling kind of honored. “Yes, sir. May I ask a question?”
//“You may, boy.”//
“How do I know if I make the right decisions? I fear that if I call upon the wrong people to come by, then maybe they’ll cause trouble..”
//“That’s exactly what I’m hoping for, boy. You know, this house at the 54. Berners Street is nothing of worth to me. I actually want you to call upon the ‘wrong’ people to come by. Let there be a fuming mess of a disorder down there! Ha ha, let it become utter chaos!”//
You look at Hook with doubt written all over your expression.“Sir, and you are sure that a ‘satchel’ of money will suffice for this task? What if the ordered people start increasing their wages upon arriving there? What if we get billed for transport costs; what if something brea-”
//“Ah, ah, ah, boy. Calm down. You know, as long as we win this bet; and get this address on the Gazettes; we won’t have to pay anything. I tricked good ol’ Beazley into thinking there would be no chance to win this for us. So he agreed to the condition, that the loser pays it all. Now, what do you say?”//
He smiles widely, obviously underestimating the situation and the possible drawbacks from this.
But, as usual, there wasn’t all that much worth in discussing with him. He is an eccentric mind; giving out eccentric tasks, for the most eccentric reasons. At least, as long as one doesn’t equate ‘eccentric’ with ‘insane’, that is.
//“Well then, boy. Go make yourself ready. I’ll be having your equipment prepared in a quarter.”//
''What do you do?''
[[Talk Hook out of the idea, explaining how nonsensical this all is.]]
[[Agree, and do as he pleases.->Continue]]Thinking about all the things you got explained to you; you realize that all of this is utter nonsense. Why would anyone even accept such a bet? What was there to prove?
“Sir.” You strike a serious note as you speak.
“Yes, boy?”
“Are you sure this whole thing is a good idea, sir?”
“What are you implying, boy?” Annoyance swings in Hooks voice.
“This...bet. I am quite bothered by the whole thing, I must say.”
“Oh, really? And what would you know?”
“Well….first of all, there isn’t anything to win or to lose here. The argument you and Beazley had isn’t an argument at all. Have you heard of “the great london fire”, sir?”
“Sure I have, boy. Tragic.”
“Tragic, yes. But the place where the fire started, the pudding lane, now boasts a huge memorial down the road, and is generally known. Everyone informing oneself about the great fire automatically will get to know of the pudding lane. Can you see where I am going here, sir? The pudding lane wasn’t anything spectacular, or worth to become famous. But this exact happening made it a marked and known place in the end.”
“I see, I see. Continue.”
“What is there to continue, sir? You are obviously in the right when it comes to this argument, and there is no point in trying to reprove it. In fact, even if the loser of the bet takes all of the cost; in case something unexpected or bad happens; that will only hurt both of your reputations, sir. And; in the worst case; bring at least one of you two into bankruptcy. I wouldn’t want to act as an active messenger for such a vile thing to happen.”
Nice, you think to yourself, I even could exclude myself from the affair already, hehe.
Hook sits there, sunken in thought. After a few seconds the wrinkles on his forehead flatten out; and he looks up to you.
“We shouldn’t do this, shouldn’t we, boy?” He sighs. “Ah, what a shame. I was hoping for a bit of exciting suspense and play in my old days. But it turns out, wisdom may not be a thing of age, boy.” He looks at you, nodding. “Well then. I’ll write Beazley. Hopefully I can explain myself as eloquently as you did, ha-hah!”
“I fully trust your capacities as a well-known author, Mr. Hook.”
“Don’t get cocky, boy. Here.” He hands you a list. “Your daily to-do list. Get to work; and I’ll do the same.”
“Sure thing, sir.”
You take the list, walk across the room, enter your bureau, and start with your daily tasks.
And so, without ever knowing, you prevented the Berners Street Hoax from happening.
''The End''
[[Back to Start ->Start]]
And so, on the next day, you head over to Hook’s office again, ready to do as he pleased.
As Hook hands you the satchel & the papers, you realize that something's off.
"Mr. Hook, I am sorry, but these papers say that I'm the servant of a...'Mrs. Tottenham'?"
Hook gives you an almost childish look of secrecy. //"Well boy...maybe, only maybe, I may have forgotten to add a few details. Hah."//
"What details, Sir?"
//"Uhm...well, I maybe I forgot to mention that a certain lady still lives at the Berners Street...specifically, in house number 54."//
"Mr. Hook. Are we going to turn an old lady's life into hell for this bet?"
Hook's cheeks started to glow in a feverish red by now. //"I don't know, will we?"//
"How is this even legal, sir?"
//"Well, it is not, I presume. That's why maybe you should go all out and make sure we win."//
You give the old bastard a flustered look. "And what, maybe even lie and use her name to awake the semblance of legitimacy when I ask people to come by? Is that what you want?"
Most obviously that was exactly what he wanted; his happy expression upon you jokingly proposing that; show his true intentions. But he plays it down; merely saying: "Do what you must, boy. It's on."
You sigh; but take the papers and the satchel; and make yourself ready.
You will, finally, go out into the streets of London, and try to get as many people to visit the Berners Street 54 as you can. The more trouble you stir up, the better, that’s the whole plan. Even if 'ol Mrs. Tottenham might not like it.
You try to keep in mind that getting people that don’t like each other to the Berners Street at the same time, will increase the turmoil even more.
Hook seems very enthusiastic, as he gives you a satchel of money and a few papers wrapped in an envelope. He quickly explains to you why and how the papers are relevant; and advises you to spend the money wisely.
With a witty smirk on his face he retreats back into his bureau; and wishes you good luck and success.
So you step out into another frosty London fall morning, ready to engage in your given task.
Make Berners Street famous, no matter what!
<<set $phase_collection to true >>
<<set $money to 100>>
[[Get out the Map->Map]]Gentlemen, all the peer-pressure and scoffing in the world wouldn’t change my mind. I am here to serve as an assistant, not an advisor. I am not qualified; and I strongly refuse to partake in this discussion, as already said. If I speak my mind; and my words and or ideas result in a catastrophe; I do not want to take the blame, gentlemen.” You look at Hook with a stern expression and continue: “Sir, I kindly request to be handed today’s to-do-list, so I may put myself to use.”
“...”
Silence. Both Beazley and Hook look at you, Beazley in some kind of disgust, Hook in disappointment. The silence continues for a few seconds, then Hook breaks the quietness with a sigh; stands up; opens his drawer; and takes out a folded piece of paper.
“Well then, boy. Here.” He holds the paper towards you. “As you please. Though I think you should know, that your reaction beforehand definitely came around more brash and impertinent than anything you could have said concerning our little chat. Take this list, and leave. We’ll talk later, assistant.” Hook’s angry, and hands you the to-do-list with a snippy look.
“Sir.” You take the paper and go towards the door to your small bureau, giving Beazley a shallow nod as a greeting on your way out.
The to-do-list only states some paperwork and a bit of grocery shopping. You decide to start with the paperwork, as it’ll eat up most of the time. You hear Hook and Beazley through the door, murmuring. You try to ignore it and start answering pleads here, ordering some ink there, kind of boring stuff, but at least there’s nothing complicated; and so you work through your way through the list for the next few hours. Hook isn’t in the office anymore at noon; and after you wait for a quarter, you decide to go get lunch. As you return half an hour later, there’s still no sign of Hook. You’re not worried though, he’s out often; but you can’t shake off the feeling of having disappointed Hook. The fact that he isn’t here, and maybe avoids you; only makes your remorse grow.
The clock shows almost three o’clock, as you finally finish all of the paperwork for today.
You pick up the list of the things Hook wants you to buy; and make your way down the stairs, down the street, down to the grocery store. After you bought everything, you find yourself back at the bureau at four.
Before you enter, you already know: he’s back. You heave the door open with one hand and enter.
Hook sits behind his desk, moveless. A depressed expression darkens his face.
“Good evening, sir. I’ve succesfu-”
“Hush, boy.” Hook doesn’t even look at you.
You nod. “Sir.”
Walking towards the private section of the bureau to unload the groceries, Hook stops you.
“Boy.” A grim tone weeps from his voice.
You immediately turn around. Something’s not right. Not at all.
“Sir, yes, sir?”
“You’re fired. Go home.”
“What?! Becau-”
“Do. Not. Discuss with me. No law keeps me from doing this. You was supposed to be my assistant. And if my assistant has such a stick up his arse and can’t even involve himself in a lighthearted discussion; what is he good for? Every damn moron can do the paperwork and buy me darn apples and all that bric-a-brac, I employed you because I thought of you as a witty, good-willing youngster. Not a stuck-up bore. Go home now. Dismissed”
[[Return to Start ->Start]] <<if $phase_collection is true>>\
<div class="gameheader">\
<div class="topbar_left">\
</div>\
<div class="topbar_middle">\
<div class="data"><img class="icon" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/Wallet.png"/><<print $money>>£</div>\
</div>\
<div class="topbar_right">\
</div>\
</div>\
<<elseif $phase_tumult is true>>\
<div class="gameheader">\
<div class="topbar_left">\
</div>\
<div class="topbar_middle">\
<div class="data"><img class="icon" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/Tumult.png"/>''Tumult'' <<print $tumult>></div>\
</div>\
<div class="topbar_right">\
</div>\
</div>\
<img class="background" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/berners_street.png"/>
<<else>>
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>You give a nod, turn around a little bit and take a step beside. There are some magazines laying on another table. You take one of them, scroll through the pages a little bit and try to understand what the gentlemen are talking about.
<<set $photographer_info to true>>
//"… you have never seen anything like this, i’m telling you, Lance! You will be the first in the city to own it, i promise you!"//
//"Ah Dinnae Ken. Still not sure about the price..."//
//"Don’t be so stingy! It will pay off! You’ll get way more commissions when it gets around the city that Lance McFlare has this camera!"//
//"It’s brand new?"//
Other Gentleman: //"Even newer than brand new, Lance! You even can’t buy it in Germany yet!"//
//"So, how will ye get it, mate?"//
//"Well, you know.. I know a man who knows a man who lives in Leipzig. He knows someone whose brother-in-law works for the company and they have already distributed some test models to professional photographers around Leipzig. In a couple of months they will bring them to the german stores and according to my calculations they will export it in about half a year. So.. At the release date in germany, the professional photographers who tested the cameras, can buy them or give them back. And this is the point where the brother-in-law of the man who knows the man in Leipzig who knows my man comes in; If some of the photographers give their cameras back, he can buy one of them and send it to me. Of course all of the gentlemen want a piece of the cake, but i promise you, it will be worth it!"//
//"Hmmm.. I’ll pay more to get a new model a little bit sooner than the other photographers in the city? That’s normally not my kind of business."//
//"Think about the prestige, Lance! Everybody will get jealous of you! You even might get a job for “The Visitors Magazine of London”. This is still your biggest goal, isn’t it?"//
//"Sure, mate! If there is anything more that i could reach, it would be a photo of mine printed in the visitors magazine. But still.. i am not sure about the whole story.. There are a lot of gentlemen involved in this and i don’t know anybody of them..."//
//"You know me! And you know how i work, don’t you?"//
//"Aaaye, but still..."//
//"Think about it, Lance!"//
//"I will. While i’m helping the client here."//
He stands up, pushes back the chair adjusts his collar and comes straight towards you.
//"Aye, Sir, i am sorry that you had to wait, but ye know.. business… My name is Lance McFlare, welcome to my studio!"//
[[I need a photographer]]
[[I’m late, i’ll come back soon->Bloxford Street]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/> You step towards a cabinet displaying old cameras. Some of them have a few traces of usage, but everything is very clean and seems to be lovingly cared for.
You take a closer look at a sporadic prototype of a camera that basically looks like a wooden box with a hole in it. On top there is something poking out of it, like a little drawer. You wonder what it is and you put it out just a tiny bit. The big man with the moustache and the top hat interrupts his talking and turns his head towards you:
//"Sir! Please don’t touch! This thing is very fragile and worth a lot!"//
[[Sure, excuse me, it’s fascinating!->Nosy]]
[[What’s the use of this?->What's This?]]
[[Oh, i just wanted to look around a little bit. Anyway, i got to go. See you!->Bloxford Street]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>//"Aye, right place, right time! Although my timetable is quite full, i do have some time left for new commissions! What exactly are we talking about?"//
[[My employer Mrs. Tottenham wants a professional family portrait for the album.->Album]]
[[My employer Mrs. Tottenham wants a portrait of her dog. The old Labrador is slowly dying and needs to be caught in a wonderful picture for the next generations.->Dog]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/> //"Good! I’ll be there on time! Good day, Sir!"//
<<if $photographer_pricecheap is true>>
<<set $money -= 10>>
<<else>>
<<set $money -= 15>>
<</if>>
<<set $photographer to true>>
[[Bloxford Street]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>
After a while, a small skinny man in ragged brown clothing enters the room from a back room behind the counter. He looks up to you, eyeing you from top to bottom, opens the strange lids of his glasses, somewhat reminiscent of some kind of microscopes and clears his throat.
//"I heard you, Sir, but i had to finish my work. You know, as an artist i need the flow. It’s hard to restart after getting disturbed.An artist like me needs to focus constantly to get the right result."//
[[Excuse me, i didn’t want to disturb your workflow, Sir.->Excuse]]
[[You call yourself an artist?->Artist?]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>A small skinny man in old brown clothes rushes into the room from a back room behind the counter. He looks up to you, eyes you up and down, opens the microscope-kinda-lid of his horn glasses and raises a warning finger.
//"I heard that, boy! Don’t you ever call my cat a dirty beast again, huh?!"//
[[I am very sorry, Sir. I didn’t want to be rude. That cat just frightened me, you have to understand. I love pets!->pets]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"Sounds good! Saturday 10:00 o’clock? The address is 54 Berners Street."//
<<set $money -= 10>>
<<set $chalcographer to true>>
[[Return to the Street ->Bloxford Street]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/inventor.png"/>//"Yes, yes. I have the finezt weapenz that money can buy, huehuehue… They are of far better quality than everysing from this moron Attling!"//
<<linkappend "Can you propose me an efficient, but still affordable model?">>
//"Well how about this one?"//
He shows you a pretty standard barrel gun. You don't know enough about weapons to really judge the iron correctly, but it'll do the job; you guess.
<<linkappend "Okay, I'm in. Just bring them to 54 Berners Street on monday, would 10 o'clock work out for you?">>
//"Sure thing. Well, then I'll bring this specififc model to 54 Berners Street. For only 15£ in pre-comission fee, if I may ask."//
<<if $money lt 15>>
[[I can't afford that.->Faker Street]]
<<else>>
[[Accep Offer->Deal Inventor]]
[[No thank you.->Faker Street]]
<</if>>
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/inventor.png"/> The man blushes upon hearing this question, but starts explaining anyway.
//"I was exiled from Berlin for my… controverschial experimenz. They claimed I cauzd something like a, you know, a sity fire."//
He points at a newspaper article that says (Geisteskranker Tüftler in Berlin verursacht Stadtbrand), and then adds: //"Of course… this is not true…"//
[[Do you sell any weapons?]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/inventor.png"/>//"Very well, I'll be there between 9 and 10 o'clock. See you then, young sir."//
"Thank you. Until then", you answer, and leave the shop.
<<set $money -= 15>>
<<set $inventor to true>>
[[Faker Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/prostitute.png"/>//"Well, hello there, handsome - what gives us the pleasure to have such a fine gentleman in our house?"//
She lights up a slim cigarette and examines you from top to bottom with an insinuating look.
[[I’m here to ask if it’s possible to order one of your many services to my house.]]
[[Excuse me I think I entered the wrong building...->Bad Offer]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/prostitute.png"/>//"Let me think…. Yes there is a possibility to order our services to your house - but of course in exchange to the normal price plus a small surcharge for transport and commodities. What kind of service do you want anyway? Normally I could offer you any kind of service - from dainty housemaids to salacious nuns we have everything - but since we have to transport our girls to yours, a flamboyant costume would attract too much attention. What is your address? It would be around ''25£''."//
<<if $money gte 25>>
[[That’s a reasonable price. The address is 54 Bernerstreet. It will be on Monday->Deal Prositute]]
<</if>>
[[That’s way too expensive! Let’s say 15£. What do you think?->Barter Prostitue]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/prostitute.png"/>//"Are you sure about that? Can I offer you at least a glass of our best champagne?"//
You have a very bad feeling about accepting the offer, as she opens a new bottle of champagne and pours it in two glasses. At least it’s not poisoned…
<<set $anger_prositute to true>>
[[You politely decline the offer and leave the building with a strange feeling in your gut...->Reek Street]]
[[You decide it’s time to drink since you haven’t had a glass of champagne since your masters anniversary 3 months ago. You thankfully accept her offer.->Secret Prositute]]
She smiles and reaches under the counter to bring out a bottle of champagne, opens it and takes a swig of it directly from the bottle.
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/prostitute.png"/> //I’ll let the girls dress up in a nun’s robe so they won’t attract too much attention. They'll come around 10 o'clock... and don’t worry - they won’t wear anything under it. And if you want to visit us in the meantime, feel free to come whenever you feel like.//
She bursts out in loud laughter and you smell her bad breath mixed with the smell of cheap champagne. You greet her once more and decide to get out of this filthy house that you’ll probably never ever will visit again.
[[Return to the street->Reek Street]]
<<if $prostitue_pricecheap is true>>
<<set $money -= 19>>
<<else>>
<<set $money -= 25>>
<</if>>
<<set $prostitute to true>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/prostitute.png"/>She looks at you shocked as if you had hurt the last bit of pride that’s left in her.
//"I already told you that I have to calculate the safe transport of my girls. Lowest I can go is 19 £...Just for you, because, well...lets say you remind me of someone."//
<<set $prostitue_pricecheap to true>>
<<if $money gte 19>>
[[ Alright, I will accept the offer. Make sure to send them to 54 Bernerstreet on Monday->Deal Prositute]]
<</if>>
[[That’s still too much. Let’s make a reasonable compromise:10£ and I promise to come and use your services again.->Fail Barter]]She looks at you in anger and raises her voice.
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/prostitute.png"/>//"Who do you think I am? I am Mary O’Ral, the proud owner of this establishment and I welcome all my guest with the best offer there is in the whole city. If you’re not satisfied with our pricing, you are welcome to leave this place and search the city for cheaper services. '' NOW GET OUT!''"//
<<set $anger_prositute to true>>
[[I...->Reek Street]]You wake up two days after in a alley and people are standing around you.
//“Tout bien, Monsieur?”//
//“Je crois qu’il ne parle pas du francais…”//
You look to the horizon and see a huge metal Tower, resembling a crane of some sorts. Although it seems like it is still in construction you feel the finished building wouldn't be much prettier than this ugly metal skeleton of a building before you. But still, one question remains:
''WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?''
[[Return to Start->Start]]
<<if $prostitute_present is true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/priest.png"/>A priest appears behind the corner and walks up to the House. He sees three nuns; but doesn't realize they're the prostitutes you ordered. Upon recognizing the nuns he approaches them saying:
//" Hello sisters! What brings you here on such a sad day?"//
The three black dressed ladies look down on the priest.
//"So it was you who ordered our services ? Hah, you even brought the fitting costume! I like this."//
She touches his robe and smiles at him seductively.
//"Your old hag and your butler sent one of us away… But I’m glad to see we didn’t get here for nothing."//
She squints at him and smiles.
One of the nuns seems to recognize the priest, though.
//"No, no, stop it! He is Benjamin Waters - the priest in this district."//
Benjamin eyes the three Nuns suspiciously: //"Wait a moment, I know you. You are some of the filthy slags from the reek street, how dare you come here wearing these holy robes!? Don’t you know that someone is dying here? Take these clothes off immediately! “
He forms his two hands into a cross in an exaggerated gesture.
//"Ohhh I see, you are already fired up in your role! Do you want to //exorcise// us?"//
She smiles and starts taking off her robe, right there on the street. The second nun stops her immediately.
// "No!! He actually IS a priest, don’t you get it?"//
The priest covers his eyes in an attempt to contain his urge to look. //"Stop at once! You should be burned alive for this blasphemy. God shall punish you through my hands!!!"//
He raises his hand against them.
The two nuns instantly turn around and start running away drawing the attention of all pedestrians around them, including 2 policemen passing by.
//" HELP US! THE PRIEST IS TRYING TO SNEAK UNDER OUR ROBES!! "//
//" I ALWAYS KNEW HE COULDN’T TAME HIS INNER ANIMAL! "//
//"LIES - all LIES! God won’t forget your blasphemy!!"//, the priest proclaims furiously.
The policemen immediately run towards the priest blowing their police whistles, causing more people to watch the scene. They detain the priest and start to interrogate him.
The nuns disappeared in all this rumble in a sidealley.
<<set $tumult += 27>>
<<else>>
Benjamin Waters, the Priest arrives at the street. As he moves to his destination he gets greeted by the people with respect passing by. However, before arriving at the House a gang of young kids, mostly boys gather around him and start teasing him. They try to steal his suitcase and pull on his black clothing. At first the priest acted as if nothing happened, while the pedestrians on the street watch the situation from afar. Suddenly, the holy man loses his temper and and curses the lord in a shouting manner. the people, especially the women are shocked at his outrage. they will not forget that.
<<set $tumutl +=6>>
<</if>><<if $priest_present is true>>
A priest appears behind the corner and walks up to the House. He sees three nuns; but doesn't realize they're the prostitutes you ordered. Upon recognizing the nuns he approaches them saying:
//" Hello sisters! What brings you here on such a sad day?"//
The three black dressed ladies look down on the priest.
//"So it was you who ordered our services ? Hah, you even brought the fitting costume! I like this."//
She touches his robe and smiles at him seductively.
//"Your old hag and your butler sent one of us away… But I’m glad to see we didn’t get here for nothing."//
She squints at him and smiles.
One of the nuns seems to recognize the priest, though.
//"No, no, stop it! He is Benjamin Waters - the priest in this district."//
Benjamin eyes the three Nuns suspiciously: //"Wait a moment, I know you. You are some of the filthy slags from the reek street, how dare you come here wearing these holy robes!? Don’t you know that someone is dying here? Take these clothes off immediately! “
He forms his two hands into a cross in an exaggerated gesture.
//"Ohhh I see, you are already fired up in your role! Do you want to //exorcise// us?"//
She smiles and starts taking off her robe, right there on the street. The second nun stops her immediately.
// "No!! He actually IS a priest, don’t you get it?"//
The priest covers his eyes in an attempt to contain his urge to look. //"Stop at once! You should be burned alive for this blasphemy. God shall punish you through my hands!!!"//
He raises his hand against them.
The two nuns instantly turn around and start running away drawing the attention of all pedestrians around them, including 2 policemen passing by.
//" HELP US! THE PRIEST IS TRYING TO SNEAK UNDER OUR ROBES!! "//
//" I ALWAYS KNEW HE COULDN’T TAME HIS INNER ANIMAL! "//
//"LIES - all LIES! God won’t forget your blasphemy!!"//, the priest proclaims furiously.
The policemen immediately run towards the priest blowing their police whistles, causing more people to watch the scene. They detain the priest and start to interrogate him.
The nuns disappeared in all this rumble in a sidealley.
<<set $tumult += 20>>
<<else>>
You see a black cab arriving in front of the house. The cabdriver looks around him as if he was followed. But with a big smile. He lets the passengers out, but you can’t really see them since they got out behind the cab.
Three eye-catching young nuns appear from behind the cab. They walk up to the door , giggling and looking around as if they were watched.
They knock on the door.
A servant opens. //" Why, yes, hello?"//
//"Well hello! You must be the gentleman who ordered our services! May we //exorcise// the bad spirit in your manlihood with our special ritual?"// She blinks repeatedly.
//"What on earth?!?! I didn’t order services of this kind! And especially not an exorcism for my manlihood!"//
He looks at the nuns in suspicion and then suddenly says: //"Are you the kind of nuns they tell rumours about? You know, the kind of woman who dresses up as some kind of character, and then..."//
He stands uncomfortably as he shuts up and then adds:
//"To say it more politely: Are you three fancy women dressed up as nuns?"//
//"Well we are fancy women , but that doesn’t mean we aren’t nuns, hee hee hee."//
//"Well, I don’t believe that you can be a working girl and a nun at the same time. Nuns have to make a vow of chastity! This is RIDICULOUS! What is even happening here?"//
One of the nuns seems to get angry.
//"Do you want our services or not? I can’t believe someone paid and ordered us here to reject us at his entrance?!? Well that’s actually fine with me because there’s no way I would serve a customer this ungrateful AND lavish!!"//
All of a sudden, an old mistress, old lady Tottenham herself, shows up on the doorstep.//"WHAT exactly is going on? What are all this alarums and excursions about?"//
The servant, hastily answering: //"M’Lady! These Prostitutes are dressing up as nuns and trying to convince me that i ordered them here!"//
One of the supposed nuns whispers under her breath: //"Lord in heaven, how did we anger you to get treated like that?"// She puts her hands together and starts praying.
Lady Tottenham, totally falling for the act; raises her thin voice: //"How dare you call these nuns prostitutes? Don’t you have the tiniest bit of respect for the people who devoted their live to God?! "//
The servant, visibly unnerved, answers: //"They referred to themselves as "fancy women"!! It’s the truth!"//
Another one of the nuns, joining in on the act of her companion; also starts murmuring under her breath: //"May God help this lost soul. We will go back to the church and pray for him."//
The old lady Tottenham turns to her servant and starts yelling.
//"What are you talking about? They clearly are nuns! Now go back inside after you apologize to them! "///
//"This is OUTRAGEOUS! They are just strangers and you trust them more than me, a loyal servant of many years?!?!? I will unveil this heresy!!"//
The servant grabs one of the nuns robes and with one swift pull he rips it off her, revealing her lingerie.
The folks passing by the house stop and look at the nuns curiously.
The lady’s patience runs out, though:
Lady: //"Jack! GET IN AND DO. YOUR. WORK!"//
The servant flinches and hushes back into the house angrily.
But it seems lady Tottenham isnt done yet, as she turns to the nuns and screams: //" AND YOU! BEGONE, YOU IMPOSTEROUS SLAGS!!"//
While the stripped down nun tries to leave the street as fast as possible, the people living on the street are observing the situation from their windows. The two remaining nuns look at each other confused, while old lady Tottenham shuts the door to her house in a massive slam.
<<set $tumult += 10>>
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/pharmacist.png"/>//"Ahhhh you’re new to this neighborhood am I right?
I was asking you, if you would need something that helps your body to recover AND has a feature of entertainment. Like every drug store with a bit of ambition, we only sell the best medicine. And of course our special mixtures which's recipes have been passed down generation after generation for the last 120 years! And, if I may allow myself to say such an arrogance, we’ve been passed out generation after generation for 120 years because of them, too."// He chuckles. //"So, do you want the special mixtures or the traditional medicine?"//
[[Of course I will try the special mixtures. What kind of special mixtures do you have?->Alternative Medicine]]
[[Actually I’m just looking for a simple medicine for my masters bronchite. Do you have anything like that?->Just Medicine]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/pharmacist.png"/>//"Hmmm yes we have all different kinds of medicine for bronchite! For example those two. Only 14£."//
He walks up to a shelf, grabs two flasks from it and looks at them. You wait as he inspects the inside of the glasses carefully for several minutes. You wait patiently and after some time you clear your throat again to wake him up out of his daydream.
//"Oh sorry, I was lost in reverie, I fear. Excuse me."//
He walks up to you and passes you the two glasses.
You remember that your task is to order the services to Bernerstreet 54.
<<if $money gt 14>>
[[ Could you send those Bottles on Monday 11 o'clock to my house, the Bernerstreet 54?->Deal Pharmacist]]
<</if>>
[[You know what? I’d like to order those two and in addition some of your special mixture. What kind of mixtures do you have?->Alternative Medicine]]
[[I will come back to your store later this day. I have some urgent business to do. My apologies.->Goodbye]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/pharmacist.png"/>//"Ahhh, you chose wisely! I have this special mixture that works well with...uhh, with bronchite! I guess, at least. It’s called the Chinese Dragonleaf water. We imported the best oriental herbs for this product. For 7£ only."//
He hands you a small jar with a dark greenish liquid inside. You look at the label.
It says:
//Chinese Dragonleaf Water. 85% Alcohol, Morphia, Cannabis, Chloroform, Chinese traditional Herbs.//
Who on earth would allow this man to sell these kind of mixtures?
[[Alright, I will try this. And those other bottles too. Could you send them to 54 Berners Street on Monday?->Deal Pharmacist]]
[[ I think i will just stay with the normal medicine. Can you bring them on Monday to 54 Berners Street? ->Deal Pharmacist]]
[[ I don’t have much time - I’ll visit your store later this day.->Goodbye]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/pharmacist.png"/>//"Excuse me, what?"//
"I asked, if you could send those bottles to 54 Bernerstreet on Monday morning."
//"Send those bottles where on Sunday?"//
"Send them to 54 Berners Street on Monday!"
//"When should I send them?"//
"On Monday, best at 10 o'clock!"
//"Well then, so I will send them to you at 58 Berners Street on Monday."//
"No it’s 54, not 58!"
//"Ok, I’ll send them to 54 Berners Street on Monday."//
"Fine! I’m looking forward to a punctual delivery!"
//"You can count on me - have a nice Day sir! And next time try our family recipes - they are famous here in the City! And also, that makes 14£ up front."//
<<if $money gte 14>>
You pay and leave the place with a slight suspicion that the drugs will never arrive at Berners Street 54….
<<set $money -=14>>
<<set $pharmacist to true>>
[[Return to the Street->Reek Street]]
<<else>>
[[Sorry I can't afford that ->Reek Street]]
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/pharmacist.png"/> //What a shame! I’m looking forward to welcome you again sometimes!//
You leave the building with a sense of guilt. Although he was a very … special kind of drugstore owner - he seemed to be friendly and passionate about his customers.
<<set $visitedPharmacist to true>>
[[Reek Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>//"Hehehehehe! You don’t know me? The notorious, the feared, the shameless O’Flannigan!! A DEALER! Indeed, I call myself a dealer. A death dealer! And as I said, today is your lucky day - I am in a good mood, so I’ll make ya a special offer: I will raid, kill, steal, rob and beat up people for half the price! What do you say?"//
[[I would be delighted to accept your offer! In fact, I was searching for someone to take care of my old mothers retirement, if you know what I mean.->InitialOffer Criminal]]
[[That’s an interesting offer you have but unfortunately I have to decline. It’s not the kind of business I am looking for.->Agressive]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>//"Do I have to slice you in two to take me seriously? Noone insults me, the notorious, the feared, the shameless O’Flannigan!"//
He takes out a short knife and a gun and points both towards you.
[[RUN!]]
[[You know what? Maybe we can talk about this matter of pride like real men. Since I don’t carry much money with me at the moment how about i use your services and pay a little extra in advance? I will come back later.->No Deal Criminal]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>//"Hehehehehe! So you’re gettin’ tired of yer old hag, huh?! HUEHEUEHEUEHE! HIAHAIAHAIAH HUOHOHOHO HIEHIEHEIHE!! What do you want me to do? Poison? Stab? Or do you have any... //special// requests?"//
His laugh tells you that he’s not entirely sane. Maybe not at all. He starts to get fidgety out of excitement like a kid whose mother just promised him a candybar. You now know why he’s one of the most famous criminals in London. Even a police officer wouldn’t touch such a hot iron like him.
[[I just want you to steal something from her. A diamond ring which you can find in her jewelry case. Don’t hurt anyone if it isn’t necessary.->FinalOffer Criminal]]
[[Let me think about your offer again. I'm not quite sure if I really need your services.->Agressive]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>//"Oh you want me to steal something for ye? You came to the right guy!//
It's not like you just forced me into this deal"//
He ignores your comment.
//"I can steal anytime, anywhere for .... let's say 20£. This is a one-time offer! Watcha say?"//
<<if $money gte 20>>
[[That sounds good! Go to Berners Street 54 at 12 o'clock.->Deal Criminal]]
<</if>>
<<if $money gte 5>>
[[You know what? I'll give you 5£ right now and come back in 10 minutes with more so I can pay you the rest.->No Deal Criminal]]
<<else>>
[[I don't have anything of value on me I... just leave->Reek Street]]
<</if>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>//"Alright, you got yourself a deal. I'll be happy to intervene, heehee."//
<<set $money -=20>>
<<set $criminal to true>>
<<set $visited_criminal to true>>
[[Leave the street->Reek Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>//"Alright you got yourself a deal... though a redundant, small one."//
<<set $money -=5>>
<<set $visited_criminal to true>>
[[Leave the street->Reek Street]] As you try to escape you suddenly hear a loud bang followed by unbearable pain in your chest. You fall down and get a glimpse at O’Flannigans malicious smile before everything turns dark and cold, forever.
''YOU DIE''
[[Return to Start->Start]]
<<if $inventor_present is true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/weaponsdealer.png"/>As George Attling arrives at the street he freezes in place as he spots Hans Bernhard Wicht with his smoking carriage full of noisy machines. //"Haaaaans!! HAAAANS !!"// he shouts angrily, walking swiftly towards the carriage. //"Hans, Bernhard, Wicht!"//
Some other people present stop chatting, arguing and all and start watching the unusual encounter.
As Hans Bernhard, the german scientist, notices that it is George Attling that is shouting his name, his face takes up a reddish hue; his expression changing into an angry stare as he replies: //"George Attling, you have no business here. These fine people ordered my fancy gadgets and definitely not your scrap metals!"//
//"Careful now Hans! you are the one who moved to london trying to steal my customers!"//
//"What are you going to do George, shoot me?"//, he replies with an arrogant voice.
With a deep red head George opens his briefcase and draws his colt revolver that is apparently already loaded, before he aims directly at Hanses head. A loud noise erupts followed by a painfully uncomfortable silence as everyone present freezes in place. As the smoke of the revolver clears the view, the german inventor lies flat on his face on the cold street ground. The gaps between the shiny square bricks filling themself slowly by his dark red blood.
The people, standing still in shock, need a second to recollect themselves, before they run away, screaming in fear for their lives.
<<set $tumult += 26>>
<<else>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/weaponsdealer.png"/>As George Attling arrives at the street with his package he walks up to the house. Suddenly he slips and lets his box fall to the ground. the case opens up and his weapons fall to the ground visible for everyone to see.
The people around stop, look at the weapon, and quickly after frantic chatting can be heard all over the place about why someone would bring a weapon to old Mrs. Tottenhams house. But also, people got quite interested in the gun itself; some even seemed to think about picking the gun up...
Attling knew that rumors will spread around the city quicker than a fire; but his publicity stunt seems to take a bad turn. The people slowly gather in front of the number 54...
<<set $tumult += 7>>
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/inventor.png"/>The german scientist that you ordered arrives with a carriage full of mysterious devices made out of brass and copper; with moving gears and smoke and steam escaping the mechanical parts.
Right after coming to a stop, the vehicle catches fire, with the scientist immediately leaving his carriage to try and put out the fire with his jacket, before his coat also starts catching fire.
//"Scheisse!”// he shouts before addressing the other people present, //"Please move on, there is no reason to be worried I, Hans Bernhard Wicht have everything under con- "//
A loud noise interrupts the Inventor as his equipment starts to fall apart, first in small explosions, followed by a big, earth-rumbling bang that catapults the loaded parts into all directions, hitting people and causing their clothes to catch fire. The people run and try to flee from the street screaming.
<<set $tumult += 8>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/pharmacist.png"/>A tiny man with thick glasses walks up to the house. As he stops in front of 54 Bernerstreet he suddenly looks around confused. Then he turns around and walks down the street where he came from. After about 50 meters, he stops again, turns around and walks again in the direction of the house. After he repeated this 5 to 6 times, he finally stops in front of the house and walks up to the door.
A nice-looking maid greets him after he knocks: //"Good day, Sir. How can I be of service?"//
//"Hello! I’m here to bring you your drugs!"//
//"Drugs? Noone in this house takes any drugs! "// Sincere shock hung in the maids voice.
//"I’m sorry, young lady, but I’m pretty sure that a servant living in this house ordered me to bring my precious medicine to you! He even had identifying papers."//
//"What are you talking about? We have a servant in our household, but he is here in this house all the time, to look after the old lady! I think this must be a horrible misunderstanding going on!"//
The pharmacist replies : //"EXCUSE me, young lady, but same goes to you! Misunderstanding, hah. I’m the proud descendant of Daniel Algan, and someone told me that your lady meets my medicine. So I’m not gonna stand back and watch people get ill because some small minded maid doesn’t let me in!"//
//"Well EXCUSE ME, Mister, but I won’t let you in into the house under no circumstances!"//
//"Listen , I’m a respected man in my field and my duty is to help people who got ill! If you stop me from carrying out my duty you’re robbing me off my life will! My business is already decreasing because of some stuck up rugdealer from Faker Street and now a precious customer first orders my best family mixture and then rejects me at his door. How would you feel like at my position?"//
The maid, trying her best to keep her composure, answers quickly: //"Well, Sir, I am really sorry for you but we honestly didn’t order something from your store. It might be that someone else ordered it and you got the wrong adress."//
A sudden shine lights up in the pharmacists eyes.
//"Wait! I think you’re right! IT MUST HAVE BEEN THAT GOBERMOUCH FROM FAKERSTREET! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!!"//
He takes out 4 jars of his backpack and throws them on the street. An alcoholic smell spreads over the street as he takes out a box of matches and throws them in a swift move to the wet ground. The mixture, which flowed over the street instantly catches fire and the part of the street in front of the house starts burning.
//"HERE YOU GO! This is for your “hospitality”! And now I’m gonna go to Bloxford street and burn this Flabbergabs rugs down! HAHAHAHA!!"//
<<set $tumult += 8>><<if $pharmacist_present is true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>Suddenly, a well dressed gentleman walks up to the house. With him, he pulls a cart with several giant rugs on it. Dave, the traditional pharmacist you ordered, whose attention had been directed towards something else up until that point, first glances at the gentleman and then sees the rugs.
//"YOU! YOU FOPDOODLE STOLE MY CUSTOMERS. AND NOW YOU THINK YOU CAN PLAY ME FOR A SUCKER?!?!"//
The rugdealer flinches visibly, then collects himself quickly.
//"Hey! Watch your mouth! I’m here to professionally deliver rugs!"//
//"RUGS? MORE LIKE DRUGS! Everybody knows that you sell drugs without a license!"//
The rugdealer, obviously becoming unnerved, counters: //"Do these huge rugs look like drugs to you? Maybe you overdrugged and took too many of your shitty spice blends you call medicine!"//
The pharmacist's head starts reddening as his anger grows. //"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? The recipes for my mixtures have been passed down over 9 generations! My ancestors didn’t invest their blood and sweat into refining and perfecting the mixtures only that some stuck up bastard can trample over them with his dirty rugs!"//
//"Your ancestors were probably burned on the stake for being accused for witchery and black magic… those dirty bastards. And I'll have you know that I have done yer mother!! Take that!"//
A gasp arises from the people that had gathered around the two to observe the dispute. The pharmacist also seems to be taken aback by such an affront.
//" Excuse me?! I’M GOING TO TEACH YOU THE UNLIMITED POWER OF MY DRUGS!! I’M GOING TO SEND YER UGLY FACE STRAIGHT TO HELL!"//
Dave takes two flasks out of his backpack and throws one of them at the cart filled with rugs. The alcoholic fluid, quickly wetting the whole cart; immediately catches fire through a chemical reaction with the drugs wrapped inside the rugs. Victor, the rugdealer, desperately tries to save his rugs from the fire and manages to pull one of the rugs from the cart. During this brief moment, Dave throws another bottle - it hits Victor on the head, shatters and he falls on the street unconscious. The Second bottle sprayed the mixture all over Victor’s body and he too starts catching fire. Several people watching the scene start screaming for the police and the firefighters. But it’s already too late. After a few minutes the only remains of Victor are a black burned, bread-like corpse on the ground next to his cart. The pharmacist meanwhile used the turmoil to safely escape into a sidealley.
<<set $tumult += 27>>
<<else>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/> Suddenly a man pulling a cart full of carpets comes around the corner. As he reaches the entrance of number 54, he stops, carefully releases the cart, pulls off his hat, bows to the crowd and shouts:
//"Good morning everybody, i’m Victor S. Weepunder and i have a special delivery for a beautiful young Lady!"//
A servant opens the window of the house at Berners Street 54 a bit and sticks his head out:
//"Eeeh.. what do you want?"//
The Rugdealer still smiles and looks at the servant enthusiastically, praising on://"As i said, i have the delivery for the young Lady. I am right on time, as usual! That’s what i am famous for! Reliability and best quality!"//
The servant gets a little angry, takes a deep breath and says slowly:
//"The Lady has not ordered your what-ever-you-deliver! She hasn’t delivered anything today, neither did I or the housemaid. What is going on today?!"//
The Rugdealers grin freezes, and he stutters://"B… b.. but.. I… what…”, suddenly he gets a little angry: //"Where is the younger servant? The one who visited my store and ordered for the Lady?"//
The servant now completely opens the window and leans out of it://"I am the servant and I am the only one! Now get away from the ladys property! Now!"//
The Rugdealer gets very angry now: //"Who do you think you are?? I am heavily busy! I just came back from a long business trip! You have no idea how hard i work!!"//
Suddenly the servant takes out a rifle and shoots in the air twice. The Rugdealer runs away and hides behind his cart. Hundreds of birds are quickly leaving their nests on the roofs of the houses. People are running around. A man accidentally tramples a young cat. Her dying meow gets lost in the screaming of the death fearing people. There is a lot of panic in the Berners Street.
<<set $tumult += 9>>
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/criminal.png"/>It is now 12 o'clock and you see O'Flannigans silhouette hushing over the street directly to the door. He knocks two times, puts something that somewhat looks like bloodstained knife in front of the door and hides right next to it. The door opens and a maid appears. At first she looks confused, then she sees the Knife and screams loud.
//"Lady Tottenham!! Lady Tottenham!!"//
She goes back inside and you can hear her shouting lady Tottenhams name several times more. During the small time gap, O'Flannigan sneaks into the house. For the next couple of minutes you hear nothing. Then out of nothing you hear a scream followed by the bursting sound of a chair crashing through the window in the 1st floor.
//"Get him!"//
O'Flannigan appears at the window and jumps through it with astonishing speedto escape onto the street.
//"Go to hell y'stuck up bastards! You were just robbed by the notorious, the feared, the shameless Shamous O’Flannigan!! HAAAHAHAHA!!"//
He runs away, continuing his maniacal laugh.
The servant and the maid watch him leave out of the window with tears in their eyes, while the crowd on the street gathers around the house.
Even though a few observant citizens immediately follow O'Flannigan, he quickly disappears in the distance, in a little space between two houserows.
<<set $tumult += 9>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/detective.png"/>Suddenly the criminal O'Flannigan, that had made his way to 54 Berners Street by now, trips and falls to the ground. He swears and spews curses as he gets up. But in the middle of his motion he stops and looks around like a lost child.
Herlock Sholmes appears from behind a bush and slowly walks towards Shamous, while he still struggles to get up.
//"You fell in to my trap! I actually didn't believe it would work out. How does it feel to be glued to the ground?"//
//"YOU! WHO ARE YOU??? I've never seen you in this town!"//
//"You could say that I am quite the opposite of you - a detective genius who is unpredicteable for others. It took quite the calculations to come up with a plan for catching someone like you."//
Herlock reaches his hand behind his back and takes out handcuffs. O'Flannigan sees the opportunity, takes out a round object from his jacket and throws it on the ground. A lound bang followed by a thick cloud of smoke that spreads on the street leads to people panicking on the street. For a few seconds you can't hear anything. Then Suddenly you hear gunshots and groaning from the middle of the cloud. The smoke thins out and both Herlock and Shamous lie on the sidewalk.
// CALL A DOCTOR!! //
Herlock groans in pain and holds his chest, which is covered in blood while Shamous still lies motionless on the ground.
<<set $tumult += 26>>As you pass by the many ran down buildings in Reek street, you suddenly feel something on your shoulder. You turn around and look into the face of a man in his thirties, with a dark beard and horn-rimmed spectacles. He looks at you with a worn out look.
[[Approach Him]]The people are as shady as this street is.<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/detective.png"/>//"Excuse me sir, I never saw you here in this area - and as I can see you are a servant to someone. Your clothes are too expensive for a day laborer and too cheap for a businessman. Your shoe soles have been replaced already 2 times, you must walk around a lot, yet your posture tells me that you trained yourself to keep your back up straight. You see this?"//
He points at your left forearm.
//"See those white particles on your jacket? Those are cotton fibers. You MUST be a servant, only servants use white cloth on their left forearm to serve meals and beverages."//
He stares at you intensely and you start to feel a little bit uneasy. But you're definitely impressed by his deductive skills.
//"Excuse me! I didn’t introduce myself: I am Herlock Sholmes, an aspiring private detective. Currently I am searching for the most notorious criminal in this area - but this madman’s mind is too far gone, too churned and twisted for me to fully understand. You might’ve heard of him already. Do you have a brief moment of time to answer some questions?//
<<set $visitedDetective to true>>
[[Of course! How can I help you?->Help]]
[[Mind your own business! I’m sure someone as brilliant as you can track down some random criminal by yourself.->Dissmiss]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/detective.png"/>//"Excellent! Now for the first question: Did you happen to encounter a subject named "O’Flannigan" somewhere here? If you did, you would know who he is. He never hides, yet nobody was able to track him down; even until this very day."//
<<if $criminal is true>>
[[I don’t really want to get involved in this case but I know for sure when and where to find him..->Doge Question]]
<</if>>
[[ I never heard of him and most definitely never met him…->Dissmiss]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/detective.png"/>//"What a shame! Well I won’t waste your time anymore, I guess."// He throws you a critical look, taxing you from top to bottom. //"Keep your eyes open - these streets are dangerous…."//
He walks away and disappears in the next alley.
[[Return to the Street->Reek Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/detective.png"/>//"WHAT DID YOU SAY? How can you be so certain? He is an unpredictable being! Nobody can find a pattern in his behaviour except that he commits crimes everyday… People don’t call him Shamous the Shameless O’Flannigan without reason."//
[[ Oh you meant THE SHAMOUS O’Flannigan? I thought you searched for someone else. I’m sorry to boost your hopes for such a short time! I’m sure someone as brilliant as you can find him in no time!!->Dissmiss]]
[[I’m not gonna tell you more than this: Go to 54 Bernerstreet next monday. He will be there. He always carries a gun and a knife. Be prepared! I have to go now - my master is awaiting my presence...->DealDetective]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/detective.png"/>//"Hmmmm… I don’t know if I can trust you in this matter. I will think about this thoroughly. If i don’t have any clue until then, I will maybe show up at 54 Berners street.//" And after giving you another stern look, he adds://"Maybe."//
<<set $detective to true>>
[[Return to the Street->Reek Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/> //"Well, as you can see, there is a wide selection. Do you have any favourites? Colors? Patterns? Size?"//
[[Hard to say. My employer, Mrs. Tottenham wants to replace all the rugs in her house. The current ones are very old and used. We need different colors and sizes. I think the best way to find out would be if you could visit us.->Replace Rugs]]
[[I need a really big blue rug with dense pattern. Have you got something like that?->Big Rug]]
[[Oh I have to leave.->Bloxford Street]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/> //"Sounds like a big job! Well, as i said, i am very busy at the moment. I could visit the Lady at monday, but we have to agree to a payment in advance of 16£."//
<<if $money lt 16>>
[[I don't have enough money... Goodbye Sir->Bloxford Street]]
<<else>>
[[Great, Monday, 11 o'clock, 54 Berners Street. Alright?->DealRugdealer]]
[[Hmmm, that seems a little too much for something we do not buy yet. The Lady wouldn’t accept that. You have to reduce the price a little bit.->Cheaper Price]]
[[Way too much; I can't give you this much in advance. I’m sorry!->Even Cheaper]]
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"Good! See you there, Sir!"//
<<if $rugdealer_pricecheap is 1>>
<<set $money -=12>>
<<set $rugdealer to true>>
<<elseif $rugdealer_pricecheap is 2>>
<<set $money -=10>>
<<set $rugdealer to true>>
<<else>>
<<set $money -=16>>
<<set $rugdealer to true>>
<</if>>
[[Leave the Shop->Bloxford Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"Well, we don’t want to risk the relationship between you and your employer, don't we? A last proposal: How about 12£?"//
<<link "Great, Monday, 11 o'clock, 54 Berners Street. Alright?">>
<<goto "DealRugdealer">>
<<set $rugdealer_pricecheap to 1>>
<</link>>
[[Still too much. I’m sorry! Have a nice day, Sir!->Bloxford Street]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"Wait, Sir, we can talk about that! You have to understand that visiting your employers house is much work these days. I can’t afford work for free, neither do you, right? I need a down payment of at least 10£. That’s my last offer!"//
<<link "Great, Monday, 11 o'clock, 54 Berners Street. Alright?">>
<<goto "DealRugdealer">>
<<set $rugdealer_pricecheap to 2>>
<</link>>
[[Still too much. I’m sorry! Have a nice day, Sir!->Bloxford Street]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"Don’t you worry, Sir. As long as you respect my artworks, i am always open for a fine chat, especially if you want me to do my artwork for you. Is that the reason of your visit? By the way, my name is Cooper Needlestich, i am the owner."//
[[ Sure.I was assigned by my employer Mrs. Tottenham to hire somebody to make a portrait of her dog, an old and prideful labrador. She fears that he will leave us soon and she wants to have a memory of him lying on her late husband's former armchair.->Dog Portrait]]
[[Well, i just wanted to ask the way to the photographers store. It’s the same Street, isn’t it?->AngeredChalcographer]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"Hmmmpf… so do you?"//
[[Well.. you know. they are alright..!->Excuse]]
<<linkappend "Just kidding, hate those ugly skunks!">>
<<set $angered_calcographer to true>>
Alright boy, get out of my house!
[[Leave the Shop->Bloxford Street]]
<</linkappend>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"Oh, dogs are my speciality. What size are we talking about?"//
"Well, it should be a big portrait. I mean a giant one. I mean, it’s a memorial!", you lie as good as you can. Which doesn't say much, sadly.
//"Well, sounds like a lot of work. I normally do blanket prices for this kind of work. Let’s say ''20£''."//
<<if $money gte 20>>
[[Sounds good! Monday 8 o’clock? The address is 54 Berners Street.->Deal Chaclographer]]
<<else>>
[[I can't afford that->Bloxford Street]]
<</if>>
[[The Lady can’t afford that, i guess. Maybe i have to go to the Photographer.->Barter Chalcographer]]
<<set $visitedChalcographer to true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/weaponsdealer.png"/>//“Very good, very good, lets see… “//
The Merchant looks through his workshop and grabs an old looking dusty box.
”This my friend, yes, this is a set of dueling pistols that are almost one hundred years old, yes yes, almost as old as I am, ha! They are in mint condition of course; and wouldn't they make a great wedding gift?”
He makes inviting gestures around the box with his hand, hovering it left and right while talking.
//"I'll sell you this selected set of revolvers for only 25£. Now, what do you say?"//
<<if $money lt 25>>
[[I can't afford that->Faker Street]]
<<else>>
[[Thats great I take it, can you deliver the set to 54 Bernerstreet by Monday 9.00pm?->Deal Weaponsdealer]]
[[No thanks->Faker Street]]
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/weaponsdealer.png"/>//“Very well sir, I have just the Iron you need, heeheehee.”//
He grabs a box from below the counter and puts it in front of you before opening it. You're no weapons expert, but you recognize some kind of colt being contained in the box.
//”This, my young friend, is an import from the USA, the united states of the americas, as you may know, and its a colt "Dragoon" revolver, sir."//
With an almost loving touch he caresses the iron's barrel.
//"You can load 6 rounds at once and shoot the one after the other without reloading! Bang! Bang! Bang!. Only 7£. A must, isn't it?"
<<set $weaponsdealer_pricecheap to true>>
<<if $money lt 7>>
[[I can't afford that->Faker Street]]
<<else>>
[[Sounds great I take 10 of them, can you deliver the revolvers to 54 Berners Street by Monday 9 o'clock?->Deal Weaponsdealer]]
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/weaponsdealer.png"/>He nods and smiles a bit.
//"Happy to do business with you."//
<<if $weaponsdealer_pricecheap is true>>
<<set $money -= 7>>
<<set $weaponsdealer to true>>
<<else>>
<<set $money -= 25>>
<<set $weaponsdealer to true>>
<</if>>
[[Leave the shop->Faker Street]] You hear high pitched chattering, like a flock of chicken shortly before feeding time. You turn around. A group of elderly Women dressed in black come towards you. A skinny Madame with a book under her left armpit and an unusually long neck directs her screeching voice to one of the women with a sunscreen umbrella.
//"As I said, my dearest Ventulia, the latest work of Charles Hoppes, is, for all it’s flaws, in it’s representation of women as mere reflections of men, definitely not subtitle for a reading circle discussion. As I already told Mary, women are not supposed to delve into these misadventures named politics."//
Another woman, you presume her name might be the previously mentioned Ventulia, counters the skinny locknecked woman: //"No, Desmeralda, that’s not what I said. I agree with your previous assertion of why the role of a woman of class in a gentlemans society is the one of a mere observer to be correct, but I still think everyone of us should at least know what we talk about. "//
Desmeralda replies: //"I think that matter should be put at rest over some tea and cake."//
The group of elderly ladies comes to a halt in front of you. The one with the long neck speaks up: //"Are you by any chance one of Mrs.. Tottanhams servants? What’s all this noise about in front here? Has anything happened to Mary? We are her dear friends, of the Boffington Tea Club, and we are scheduled at 10 A.M., but I presume you should know that. Well, we are here."//
She contracts her umbrella and hands It over in your direction.
<span id="output">
<<click "Take the umbrella">>
<<replace "#output">>
<span>
“Of course Ma’m.” You reply kindly and make a gesture towards the door of the House. "Please, Mrs Thottanham is awaiting your comforting company."
Without the bat of an eye the Longneck walks past you and enters the House, followed by the chattering group of old ladies accompanying her.
</span>
<</replace>>
<<set $tumult -= 10>>
<</click>>
<<click "Let them down">>
<<replace "#output">>
<span>
"I…" you try to think of something.
//"Is there a problem boy?"// The Longneck asks, whilst throwing back her head in an overperformed gesture. Her nose more and more starts looking like a pick the way she moves it around, and her accomplices, which all make similar moves like the flock of hens that they are, copy her without hesitation. You want to say something but are unsure.
//"Can we now see Ms. Tottenham if you are finished with your stare? It seems like you've never seen a group of well-educated widows having a day off, huh?"//
"No, uhh, you can’t visit." You reply.
//"Why?"//
"Because Mrs Thottenham is..." You quickly try to come up with any lie that comes to mind: "Dead. She, most sadly, passed away yesterday."
A gasp goes through the flock of black clothed hens, like being shook up by a fox in their stable they start crying and hysterically crying out loud. They draw the attention of many pedestrians and even leap out in to the street obstructing it for the bygoing cabs. Some faint and pedestrian gentlemen rally to stop their fall on to the hard street floor. In the big stir you created you leap out of sight of the flock and move yourself towards the other side of the street, while the Boffington Tea Club mourns a supposedly former member.
</span>
<</replace>>
<<set $tumult += 10>>
<</click>>
</span>
The tumult around Berners Street increses more and more people gather to see the unfolding chaos in front of the house.<<set $phase_tumult to true>>
<<set $tumult to 0>>
[[8.00]]
<<set $photographer to false>>
<<set $chalcographer to true>>
<<set $inventor to true>>
<<set $weaponsdealer to true>>
<<set $priest to false>>
<<set $prostitute to true>>
<<set $rugdealer to true>>
<<set $pharmacist to true>>
<<set $criminal to false>>
<<set $detective to false>><<include "Tumult Handler">>
<<linkappend "Continue">>
<<if $tumult gte 105>>
<<goto "Overdone Ending">>
<<elseif $tumult gte 100>>
<<goto "100 Ending">>
<<elseif $tumult lt 100>>
<<goto "Underperformance Ending">>
<</if>>
<</linkappend>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>//"Braw! I have a lot of experience in family portraits. How many people are in the family?"//
"Around 30 people. We also need a portrait of every single one."
//"Ouch! That’s a lot of work! But i love long portrait sessions like this! Well, listen: I offer you ''16£'' for the family portrait. Pay upfront. What do you say?"//
<<if $money gt 15>>
[[Alright->Deal Photographer]]
<</if>>
[[The Lady can’t afford that, i am sorry!->No Deal Photographer]]
<<if $photographer_intel is true>>
[[Listen, the Lady Tottenham is very well-known in the Borough, has a lot of connections to people you might be interested in. If you would do her this favour, she might do a bit of advertising for your work->Barter Phographer]]
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>//"Well, i have to say that i have an allergic reaction to any pets. I’m sorry, i can’t do this!"//
[[Are you sure that there is no way? The Lady would pay very well!->Pay Well]]
[[ Too bad, see you!->Bloxford Street]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>//"Who is the Lady again?"//
<<linkappend "Her late husband was an important key figure in the travelling business of london decades ago. She is still kindly regarded by a lot of travel agencies and publishers.">>
//"What kind of publishers?"//
<<linkappend "Look, i’m not very well informed in this field. She always writes Letters to the editors of something called “visit” magazine or something alike…">>
//"The Visitors of London?! Good god! It would be amazing to meet somebody with contacts to the editors of that magazine! Is it possible to visit the Lady? I will bring my stuff! Maybe she will have a lil’ extra time to talk! Alright, I'll do it for 10£ upfront."//
<<set $photographer_pricecheap to true>>
<<if $money gt 10>>
[[Alright. This Monday at 8 o'clock ? The address is 54 Berners Street.->Deal Photographer]]
<<else>>
[[Oh sorry I can't afford that goodbye->Bloxford Street]]
<</if>>
<</linkappend>>
<</linkappend>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>//"I am very sorry Sir, but i can’t do this. There is a lot of work these days."//
[[Bloxford Street]] ''Lance McFlare'' //"What do you define as 'well paid', Sir?"//
//I think 11£ should be possible.//
''Lance McFlare'' //"Well, maybe my allergic reaction to dogs isn’t that bad. Yes, i remember that in general it only happened with cats. Maybe you could pay a little extra of 5£ as a kind of insurance? Just in case that i need to visit the doctor after this commission. And that dog will definitely not walk into my studio! I will bring my stuff to the Lady’s place!"//
[[Alright. This Monday at 8 o'clcok ? The address is 54 Berners Street.->Deal Photographer]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/> //"Of course it is! Are ye familiar with cameras?"//
"Not really. How does this work?"
//"It doesn’t work at all without a good photographer. You are lucky to talk with the best photographer in London right now."//
He stands up, whispers something to the other man and walks towards you.
//"How can i help you, Sir?"//
[[My employer Mrs. Tottenham wants a professional family portrait for the album.->Album]]
[[My employer Mrs. Tottenham wants a portrait of her dog. The old Labrador is slowly dying and needs to be caught in a wonderful picture for the next generations.->Dog]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/photographer.png"/>//"Oh, the camera is of a very complicated and complex manufacture. I don’t want to be rude, but most people wouldn’t understand it anyway."//
He stands up, whispers something to the other man and walks towards you.
//"How can i help you, Sir?"//
[[My employer Mrs. Tottenham wants a professional family portrait for the album.->Album]]
[[My employer Mrs. Tottenham wants a portrait of her dog. The old Labrador is slowly dying and needs to be caught in a wonderful picture for the next generations.->Dog]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"Don’t you even think about photography, Sir! That new rubbish of making pictures will never reach the high quality of an well done artistic engraving!
Listen, i’ll do it for 17£!"//
<<if $money gte 17>>
[[Sounds good! Monday 8 o’clock? The address is 54 Berners Street.->Deal Chaclographer]]
<</if>>
[[Still too much->Fail Barter Chalcographer]]<<set $angered_calcographer to true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"You can’t be serious about that, Sir! Oh no.. a gentleman enters my shop, interrupts my artistic workflow and asks for the crappy photographer.. Oh god, how did i deserve this? Please get out, I think I may have to hang myself."//
[[Leave the Shop->Bloxford Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/><<set $angered_calcographer to true>>
//"You really think this is a discount, huh? I am an Artist! Well, go visit your crappy photographer, then!"//
[[Leave the Shop->Bloxford Street]] <img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"This is outrageous! Do i look like a plumber to you, brat?"//
[[Excuse me, Sir, i don’t mean to be rude. This place just doesn’t look like an artists atelier. And.. you just don’t really look like an artist at all..->Artist Excuse]]
[[To be honest; What about a really dirty old plumber?->Anger Artist]]<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"Just because i do not paint, neigher look like a fancy painter, it doesn’t mean i do not make art. I still do pictures and - if i may be so bold - in a more artistic way than a painter. And please do not try to talk me into that new rubbish they call photography.. Now they try to do pictures with the help of some kinds of light machines.. What a waste of time! Anyway, how can i help you, Sir?"//
[[ Sure.I was assigned by my employer Mrs. Tottenham to hire somebody to make a portrait of her dog, an old and prideful labrador. She fears that he will leave us soon and she wants to have a memory of him lying on her late husband's former armchair.->Dog Portrait]]
[[Well, i just wanted to ask the way to the photographers store. It’s the same Street, isn’t it?->AngeredChalcographer]]<<set $angered_calcographer to true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/chalcographer.png"/>//"What about; get out of my shop?!"//
[[Leave the Shop->Bloxford Street]] As you wish, Sir! You’ll find me over here!
You take a look around the crowded shop. There must be several thousands of rugs in this tiny shop. You wonder how this gentleman could transport them all over the sea.
Just as you touch a beautiful small patterned red rug, somebody suddenly tapps on your shoulder. You turn around quickly. There is a small man looking up to you.
//"Hey, what’s the keyword?"//
[[Excuse me?->What Keyword?]]//"The keyword for.. you know.. C’mon, i bet you’re not here for carpets!"//
"The keyword for what?"
//"C’mon! You are really here for buying carpets? Well, you just don’t look like someone buying a carpet.."//
"I honestly have no idea what you are talking about.."
//"C’mon, everybody knows that this man does not only have business with carpets! They say, he deals with drugs! Good quality stuff!"//
"Are you sure about that?"
//"Rumors, just rumors! But i believe them! I saw people leaving the store with very heavy rugs! Too heavy! The must be a lot of other stuff rolled in. Anyway.. nevermind.."//
He turns around and vanishes into the crowd. You are a little confused, walk around the store and meet again Mr. Weapunder.
<<set $rugdealer_intel to true>>
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"Can i help you now, Sir?"//
[[With pleasure.]]
[[Oh I have to leave.->Bloxford Street]]
Three grey painted cabs with a sketchy drawn initial "U" on it’s doors pull a hard break in front of you. The obvious leader of the three, wearing a grey top hat, also bearing the ominous initial, lets down the window and starts talking to you.
//"Greetings, Lad... Some one called for Carl Ubers Cabs?"//, he shouts. A chubby Irishman from one of the other cabs interrupts him quickly though, trying to get his attention. But the dude that presented himself as Carl Uber ignores him, shouting: //"Brian, I told you, that’s a drive for the Boss!"//
The irish driver snarks.
//"You are paid by the hour to do the jobs I give you, nothing else.”
He looks over to the third cabbie, a ragged dude with dirty clothes and a face showing the expression of someone about to dose off.
//"And what are you doing here Harold?...HAROLD?"//
The old man seems to have awoken from his daytime senility and starts spouting indistinct sillables.
//"What? No, I said I’m going to Berners Street and you was supposed to pick up the cabs from Mayfair. It says it clearly on your chalkboard."//
He looks over to you again. //"Now, did you order the Services of Carl Ubers Cabbie Service, or not?"//
<span id="output">
<<click "I’m not sure. Do you have a licence?">>
<<replace "#output">>
<span>
//"Don’t you dare asking! This is the new form of cab organising, and it works. License-free!"// He winks.
The Irish guy from the other cab spits and shouts into your direction: //"Yeah, he probably lost it betting, the ole gambling addict."//
//"You darn Bog-trotter' you can leave any time!"//
//"What did you call me?"//
The Irish Guy jumps down his cab and approaches Carl Uber. But, while jumping off, his cabs horses shoo and run wild and his cab crashes into a building across the street. While the churning dust of the crash slowly falls, the irish and Carl Uber exchange punches. The horses draw the cab further down the street and cause mayhem on the sidewalks as people try to evade the rolling horses dragging the remains of Carl Ubers cab through the street of London.
</span>
<</replace>>
<<set $tumult += 15>>
<</click>>
<<click "No thanks.">>
<<replace "#output">>
<span>
//"You see guys?"// He turns around //"Now it’s another hour wasted. This costs me hundreds of pounds. Where am I going to live with such bad business."//
He makes his point not only overly dramatic, but also lifts his top hat to reveal his bald spot underneath.
//"Well at least you have a house, Carl"//, the Irishman replies, //"While I and Harold still have to live in our be damned cabs."// Before the irish had finished his sentence, Carl Uber forces the reins of his horses and drives off with an unsavely speed down the road, as if the mention of his employees working conditions somehow seemed to unease him.
</span>
<</replace>>
<<set $tumult -= 10>>
<</click>>
</span>
There is a bit of activity going on...oh, wait. No, it’s just a
swarm of crows flying off.
Berners Street seems more lively than usual.
Which...means not much, sadly.
The general mood seems to be bad. Although the people making up this “general mood” aren’t many yet.
There’s actually a bigger group of people gathered around the house now. You seem some people from the sidewalks joining in.
Now there is actual chaos spreading slowly. The air is filled with agitation; and an aggressive mood seems to take hold of the people walking into the bunch.
<<nobr>>
<<if $tumult lte 10>>
<<include "Tumult 0">>
<<elseif $tumult lt 30>>
<<include "Tumult 10">>
<<elseif $tumult lt 40>>
<<include "Tumult 30">>
<<elseif $tumult lt 60>>
<<include "Tumult 40">>
<<elseif $tumult lt 90>>
<<include "Tumult 60">>
<<elseif $tumult lt 100>>
<<include "Tumult 90">>
<<elseif $tumult gt 100>>
<<include "Tumult Overdone">>
<</if>>
<</nobr>>
Are you smelling a fire? Yeah. Definitely a fire.
And the droning noise of discussions everywhere, yes, you can feel it. This is absolute chaos!
You start trembling when looking at the street. Violent mayhem. You feel your face paling; and start heavily worrying.
Most literally, nothing is happening. Like, absolute lull.<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>Any kind of blue, any kind of patterns! Best quality, best price! Let me show you!
He tugs at your sleeve and cuts his way through the crowd to a huge stack of blue rugs. Talking to himself he starts to rummage through the stack and finally pulls out a couple of big rugs.
Is this what you are looking for, Sir?
[[Yes! That one! That’s it! How much?->Buy Rug]]
<<if $rugdealer_intel is true>>
[[hmmm.. it’s pretty but i need a bigger one. You know.. a heavy one. Really heavy, if you know what i mean..->Drugs]]
<</if>><img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"Just 16£ today! Delivery is included, of course!"//
<<if $money gte 16>>
[[ Alright. Could you deliver on Monday 11 o'clock at 54 Berners Street? ->DealRugdealer]]
<</if>>
[[What? Were these rugs woven with caviar extract by nude virgins in Walhalla?->Cheaper Rug]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"Eehm.. I think this must be one of the biggest in my selection. Anyway, why should it be heavy?. This makes no sense to me.."//
"Maybe the carpet is not that important but the weight."
//"I can’t follow you, Sir.."//
"I just like heavy carpets. I like heavy furniture in general. Heavy furniture with heavy stuff in it, that’s my taste."
//"I think i understand.. You really seem to like heavy carpets.."//
"I adore, I love, I //worship// heavy carpets. Especially when they are rolled up. I’m sure you know what i mean."
The gentleman comes closer to you and whispers:
//"I know exactly what you mean, i have tons of new stuff from Casablanca. Superior Quality. 16£, delivering is included. You just have to tell my where and when.."//
[[Saturday,11 o’clock, Berners Street 54. Bring a really heavy one!->DealRugdealer]]
<img class="character" src="http://bsh.zeitsturm.ch/img/rugdealer.png"/>//"You Sir have no idea of the origin of these high quality rugs! Don’t be ridiculous!"//
<<linkappend "I’m sorry, what was the price again?">>
12 £, no alternative, no dealing!
<<if $money gte 12>>
<<link "Great, Monday, 11 o'clock, 54 Berners Street. Alright?">>
<<goto "DealRugdealer">>
<<set $rugdealer_pricecheap to 1>>
<</link>>
<</if>>
[[You are ridiculous! And your prices!->Bloxford Street]]
<</linkappend>>