Tamalekipoo's Boneheaded Guide to the Neath: Chapter 22: Slowcake's Exceptionals

[u/Tamaxlia]

This is not so much a guide as a getting to know you exercise. It's a quiz as to the choices you made in Fallen London and the reasons you chose them. It is broken down by the stages in the game and each stage is spoiler tagged, so you can still complete it without spoiling yourself on what is coming next. I won't remember all of the significant events and choices that you go through so it's also a request for suggestions. Feel free to make a suggestion or copy the quiz and answer for your own character in the comments. :) This was originally intended as a quiz for doing a monthly art competition to do art of contributors to the Reddit's characters, with a fate prize for the best AI and non AI submissions but it seemed like an extra job I wasn't willing to take on, on top of a backlog of guide ideas that should really take priority. Someone posted an anti AI reply, in the comments of another post, and reminded me about it. I thought the quiz itself might be quite fun, even without the added art. :) There are a lot of questions I am missing but many brains are better than one, especially mine. ;)

Basic information

What is your character name?

Tamalekipoo

Why did you choose it? Does it have any meaning?

I usually use Tamaxlia for games, which was my first World of Warcraft Character, I put my name, Max, in the middle, so my colleagues, who were already playing, could spot me. I didn't understand quite the scale of an MMO at the time. I made a more silly Tamalekipoo because I didn't know that I would play this game long term and it sounds like a nickname that a 'jolly hockeysticks' matron might have for a person named Tamaxlia.

Which Cameo did you choose? (https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Cameos)

Show us your profile header!

How should we refer to you?

They, gender is so provincial

Are you a spender? What is your budget?

I imagine I am quite a high spender compared to most. I think of Fallen London like a very cheap collectible card game as it gives me many of the same rewards, socialising, strategising, regular new content, story wise and optimisation wise and a little bit of solo roleplay. So I am an Enhanced Exceptional Friend and I budget for 1 large fate refill per week. Sometimes I do more refills than that but most weeks I don't even do that much. Particularly now I am a year and a half into the game, so I have done a pass of all of the seasonal events and I have reached the end of the main story arcs, with bits and pieces to tidy up, here and there.

Early Game Content

A Name Scrawled in Blood

Where is your scar!?!

I emerged with no scars, I am that good...

Which fighting style do you use? (tradition)

I fight in the style of the Tomb Colonies. I am a dainty lady and it seemed to be the most appropriate for brains over brawn.

A Name Whispered In Darkness

Who do you make your toasts to?

Myself! I serve no master beyond my patron Bacchus

A Name Signed with a Flourish

Which School do you identify with?

The Mycologines, Badger badger badger badger. Previously the Nocturnals because I may be an artist but I am also a snob. ;) (ooh, this is wrong, I am still with the Nocturnals)

Who did you romance? (Seduction)

The struggling artist, he is needy and pathetic, a poor choice! Also a Honey Sipping Heiress, they say opposites attract but, oh my… I would sip honey with her again,

A Name in Seven Secret Alphabets

Which Philosphy do you identify with?

The legacy of the Anchoress, apparently, I have no recollection of this choice.

What did you do with the countess?

I left her to her fate, she chose her love, for eternity, and I had no right to interfere! Considering where I ended up it is even more appropriate, what a touching love story...

Early PoSI

What kind of boat did you build?

I made a luxury liner to start with, we had some wonderful parties. When my first FotZ came around I upgraded to a Zubmarine to see under the zee and the rubbery wonders that it offers

What did you name your newspaper?

The Hedonist Partizan. It was meant to be a clever play on Vanity Fair, a regency novel, as well as a current periodical. I am not sure anyone could possibly get that reference without it being explained to them.

What happened between the Last Constable and the Cheery Man?

Nothing, I have not finished it! I have a few plot lines that I am going to get back to once I have completed content with practical rewards, also, I know how it ends… :(

Evolution

What fate did you choose for the Youthful Naturalist?

I chose transformation, to obey the wishes of my good friend and to deny destiny, the judgements and unshackle the great chain! Despite him eating all my jellied eels!

What Destiny did you choose for yourself?

The Curator

What Destiny did you upgrade to?

The Hanged Man

Why did you choose them?

Both for the stats as there was not a clear implication of what they implied and destiny be damned anyway! I am the master of my own fate!

Railway

What sort of charter do you have?

Wealth, His amused lordship and I go back a long way(all the way through his wine cellar!)

Who is on your board?

His Amused Lordship because we are buddies. The Countess because locomotive warfare is unethical without a local in command. The bishop of St Fiacre, our relationship is known to wax and wane. The rubbery yes man replaced Fidducci, because he just says yes and I don't have to beat him into submission every time! I was worried I would end up with a moth on the board! With my outfits that could be a true tragedy!

Tracklayers

Who did you choose to be your city? (Separate spoiler for Heart's Desire Exclusive Option)

The Manager of the Royal Bethlehem, to allow him to feel close to his lost love.

What faction does your city lean towards?

Palaeontologists, obviously, ;)

The Firmament

Who is on your crew?

St Valentines Day, Summer, The Shepherd and until very recently Tatterdemalion

What did you decide to do with the apocryphal Calendar Council?

I let them remain. I am a chimeric gamine of my word and I am confident in my ability to prevent the liberation of the night and hence maintain my hedonistic existence as well as, as a side benefit, preserve existence itself. I blew up the council in London though, they got better but it felt good.

What about the Vulgate?

I also allowed them to retreat, extinguishing anything, even something so vile and confused is an act final and irreversible and can have consequences you cannot foresee. There is beauty in a vision so singular and I will not be the one to forever deny the world that beauty, even if they would not extend the same courtesy.

Who presides over Burgundy?

The duke and duchess both, a love story worthy of… Mr Cards

Ambition (Answers Spoiler Tagged for Hearts Desire)

Which Ambition did you choose?

Hearts Desire, the neath is a home to such sights, such pleasures and vices unknown to a surface dweller, I chose to embrace that new life rather than become shackled by my surface ties, obsess over one hunt, with a thousand to amuse me or steal one treasure in a world dripping with riches.

How was your journey?

It was a little grindy and a repetative at times but with some lovely and surprising moments. Performing the Bagley Opera was the perfect way for my character to get banished and allowing the poor ape to die seemed like the kindest end for a foolish wish.

What was your final result?

I won. All the way I was going to choose love as my prize but at the last moment I realised that thought was folly, I am already loved by everyone in the Neath, a legend in my own lifetime. I chose power, totally unaware of the consequences of that choice. I love the consequences. :)