EPISODE 11: The Bet
over 5 years ago – Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 06:37:23 PM

This is a story driven Kickstarter campaign. It will be run as a paragraph game (gamebook). Under this link you will find a previous episode of the story. And here is a new one:

EPISODE 11: The Bet

Lord Balmoral's mansion was very impressive, but one couldn't help but feel it was somehow past its prime.

The butler left me waiting by the door for a while.When they finally let me in, I was immediately escorted to the sitting room.

A man dressed as a jockey passed me in the doorway. Before greeting me, the Lord cried out to him enthusiastically:

'Are you sure it will win?'

The jockey turned around.

'Yes.' 'The best oats, all the others are a bit sick. Trust me. And please remember our deal.' He bowed and left.

'I beg your pardon,' the Lord said to me. 'I'm very partial to horse racing.'

My attention was riveted not only by his words, but also by a peculiar wooden item on his table.

'Excuse me, but before we continue... What is that unusual contraption on the table?'

'Oh, this thing? It's the latest invention... Or rather, a gadget. A special device to hold the cards up. Very useful both in bridge and in poker. I'm also very partial to card games.'

A horse-racing and card playing enthusiast; a mansion, once luxurious, now seeming a bit squalid. My conclusion was the Lord might be suffering from a particular illness that strips one of both reason and money: a passion for gambling.

'You came here because of Lenore, didn't you?' he asked.

'How did you know?' I answered in surprise.

'I saw you at the funeral.'

'Oh yes, please forgive me, I did not recognise you.'

'It's understandable. You were very deep in despair. I understand that, my dear sir. I will say this: I loved her too.'

In silence, I sat down opposite him. He didn't say anything further. I opened my mouth a couple of times, just to say something, but no words could get past my throat.

'I did a lot of stupid things for this woman,' he said finally. 'Me, a Lord, visiting a governess with flowers and chocolates. Writing her poems. Sending her messengers. But she wasn't interested in my affections. I think she gave her heart to you.'

He sighed heavily.

'Even when she moved to East End and was never heard from after that, I made a bet with Lord Bellinger that against all odds she will survive there or come back safe and sound. He thought she would end up dead in East End.'

He sighed even more heavily.

'I lost my fortune because I wanted to believe she wass all right. I beg you, if she somehow turns out to be alive, please let me know. I will not vie with you for her attention, I just want to know she is safe and sound. And I will split with you the money from the bet.'

'But you attended her funeral,' I answered, agitated.

'You did too. But I learned from Angus Merryweather that her face was so disfigured from the shot that it was impossible to recognise her. Maybe it wasn't her then?'

Apparently this man took leave of his senses from all the despair and his gambling problem. But that drunken seaman... I need to try another lead.

“I did a lot of stupid things for this woman.” Story Goal achieved!

Alternative personality card revealed: Lord Balmoral.

New agent sculpt revealed: Jockey. New building sculpt revealed: Palace.

New add-on revealed: Card Holders.

Now choose your next step

I decided to:

- Go to the mansion of Mister Scrooge and find out why Lenore paid him a visit (vote A).

- Go to the institution of Mister Thomas Gradgrind to learn how he knew Lenore (vote B).

Please make your votes in the comments section of this update. One backer - one vote. If you use social media, you can also vote on the PHALANX Facebook profile.

We will count the votes at 06.00 AM EST and our character will follow the way you have choosen in a new update, posted at 10.00 AM EST.

About the Add-ons

Additional set of 50 metal Victorian Coins, 99x66 cm Canvas Mat and Wooden Card Holders are add-ons that you can add to your pledge for extra cost.

To include add-ons in your pledge, please click on the Manage Your Pledge button. To include any items you would like to receive, simply increase your total pledge for the amount of the add-ons. For example - if you want to add Canvas Mat to your pledge, please click Manage Your Pledge button and increase your pledge from £60 to £95. You will be able to let us know in the Pledge Manager (after the campaign ends) which items you have added to your order.

The 50 metal Victorian Coins and Wooden Card Holders add-ons do not affect your shipping price. The 99x66 cm Canvas Mat add-on will increase your shipping price by £8-£10 (this is huge!). You will pay for shipping in the pledge manager, after the campaign ends.

Thank you and happy gaming!

PHALANX Team

EPISODE 12: They are at my mercy
over 5 years ago – Sat, Sep 15, 2018 at 06:37:13 PM

This is a story driven Kickstarter campaign. It will be run as a paragraph game (gamebook). Under this link you will find a previous episode of the story. And here is a new one:

EPISODE 12: They are at my mercy

Both the tenement and Mister Ebenezer Scrooge's flat looked very squalid. I was looking at the accountant's office by his name located at the ground floor, and I couldn't wrap my head around how a man dealing in finances can live so poorly.

'What do you want?' he started impolitely. 'I'm eating my dinner and I want to do it fast, so I can get back to work.'

'I understand. If I was in your position, I would also work as much as I can.'

'What do you mean by "in my position"?'

'I can see that your business is quite slack.'

'Quite the opposite. It's very brisk and many important persons owe me money, so they are at my mercy.'

He knitted his eyebrows and then brightened up.

'Ah! You think that because I'm not spending money it means I'm poor? Quite the opposite. I care about money, I don't spend it on nonsense, so I can enjoy its presence... And in a place you would never reach, except over my dead body,' he finished very distrustfully.

'I'd just like to know what was it Lenore wanted from you.'

'That gullible girl? She told me I was her last hope, but she was not very hopeful. She said she needs a loan for her charity idea. A loan! Like there was a chance a charity could ever pay for itself!'

'What was the idea?'

'I don't know, some women's fantasies about helping the poor. She wanted to help both the lousy rabble from East End and the immigrants.'

'I gather you told her she would not get any help from you.'

'Quite the opposite. I told her I would help, but in due time. She immediately turned from a sulky madam into a delighted young woman. She asked when would that be. Do you know what I told her?'

'No.'

'That it will happen when hell freezes over.' And he laughed like he'd just told the best joke in the entire world. He chuckled so much that tears appeared in his eyes. 'She ran out like a bear with a sore head,' he finished happily.

'I guess the weather in hell can be quite important to you. After all, you will certainly be moving there some day. Good day.' And I slammed the door behind me.

What a horrible man. Lenore needed help and that's how he treated her!

I was wondering what to do next. Having no other trails, I decided to go to the institution of Mister Thomas Gradgrind to learn how he knew Lenore.

“It will happen when hell freezes over.” Story Goal achieved!

New personality card revealed: Ebenezer Scrooge.

New game variant revealed: Building Cards.

There will be no voting today, and the plot will follow in the way you have chosen during the previous vote: A -> B. During the weekend we will prepare for the final days of the camapign, to get back on Monday with a new episode. Please share here your thoughts about the plot - your suspicions and visions of how the story will end!

Building Cards game variant

This variant adds another new layer of tactics to the game. Each building miniature on the board receives a special action, themed according to it’s name and design.

During game setup, before players place their pieces on the board, shuffle the Building Cards and deal 1 card to each player. Place the remaining Building cards to the side without examining them. You keep these cards secret until you decide to play them. These cards give an extra ability to your specified Buildings, when their miniatures are placed on the game board. You can use these abilities at any time during your turn (alike City Area Cards abilities). Some of the cards are one use only, some have an ongoing effect and some act as interrupt cards. The detailed description of each ability is written on the card.

If the ability has an ongoing effect and is currently in play (the card is revealed), and the connected building gets removed from the board, you have to remove this card from the game as well.

We hope that you will enjoy this new game variant as much as we do!

New language edition

The game will have a full German edition. We will announce the publisher in 1-2 weeks, as at first the paperwork must be done.

Thank you for your continous support and have a happy weekend!

PHALANX Team

EPISODE 6: You are looking in the wrong place.
over 5 years ago – Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 12:49:42 PM

This is a story driven Kickstarter campaign. It will be run as a paragraph game (gamebook). Under this link you will find a previous episode of the story. And here is a new one:

EPISODE 6: You are looking in the wrong place.

Walking down the street I saw a teenage boy just a few meters from me, pushing aside a manhole covering the entrance to the sewers. I assumed (quite correctly, as it turned out) that it was the aforementioned Artful Dodger.

'Boy, wait a minute!' I shouted to him.

'No time, sir. You want,' he gave me a half-smile, saying that, 'you come with me. We can talk down there. Just take your shoes off first. Would be a shame if those pretty shoes got covered in shit.'

And then he disappeared down there.

Having no time to lose, I took off my shoes, tied the shoelaces together, and hung this "necklace" on my neck. Then I took off my stockings, put them in my pocket and rolled up my trousers. And I went down, trying not to lose the boy tosher.

I couldn't see him in the darkness, but my hearing was soon quite sharp. I heard someone in front of me paddling in the water, so I went that way.

'Blimey, I did not think you would actually come. You have to have a mighty reason. How can I help you?'

'Did you know Lenore?'

'Yes.'

'I'm looking for her murderer.'

'Then you're looking in the wrong place.'

'What do you mean?'

'Lenore was doing a lot to help the poorest citizens of London and she had plans to do even more. Nobody here would even lay a finger on her.'

'But her body was found here, in East End.'

'Yes, close to where I was that night, looking for stuff. Not much one can see in the sewers, but believe me, you can hear a lot near the drain holes. And so it happened that during the night I was close to the place where they found the body. So she was either killed by a very quiet criminal with a very quiet weapon or someone just planted her body there.'

'Who could do such a thing?'

'The aristocrats, who else? I know you need to sniff around East End first, just to be sure, but then you should take a good look at the lords. They were the ones angry at her for fraternizing with the low-borns such as us.'

A long silence followed, and I realized Artful had nothing else to say. I was just about to bid him farewell, when something cold and metallic sneaked in between my toes. I took this circular object out with disgust and it was a whole crown!

'Ha! Congratulations,' he smiled, saying that. 'To think someone lost an whole crown down the sewers. He must have been enraged... Now you can also call yourself a tosher. I hope you have the same luck with your investigation.'

I put the crown into my pocket ("pecunia non olet") and thanked the tosher for his information. When I found myself back on the surface, I had to admit that the smell of London streets is not bad at all. I went down the street to find the second person that Nancy had mentioned.

The little match girl was hard to spot. She did not stick out; she just sat in the corner of the brick fence, looking like she was waiting for someone.

'It would be easier for you to sell something if you approach people to show them your merchandise.'

'My shoes are too big. They fall off my feet when I'm walking.'

They were indeed at least three sizes bigger than they should have been.

'I will give you money for new shoes, little girl, if you answer my question.' I took out my locket with Lenore's portrait and asked: 'Have you seen this woman?'

'Yes, it's Lenore. She always bought matchsticks from me and gave me food.'

'When did you see her last?'

'The day they found her dead.'

'My God, it must have been an awful sight for you.'

'But I saw her alive. It was before THAT happened.'

'What was she doing?’

'Going to the factory with a man.'

'How did he look?'

'Taller than her, in worker's clothes and a funny hat. Like made from towels. And he was very tan. And he had a beard.'

'Anything else?'

'Yes, she was telling him she had to disappear, because she was in danger.'

A man in a towel hat and worker's clothes... Was he Lenore's murderer or her failed protector, in whom she confided?

'Thank you, love. Here's your money. Should be enough for shoes and dinner.'

It was nice to see a smile on a child's face. I walked away, but came back a moment later.

'You shouldn't just stand there, waiting for someone to notice you. You should shout: "Matches, I'm selling matches!" so people actually notice you. And don't walk around with a bare head in this cold. Here are some more pennies; buy a headscarf or something. If you want to sell more matches, go where people need them: around pubs, where men smoke pipes.' The girl looked at me with wide eyes, absorbing everything I just told her. 'Understood?' I asked just in case.

'Yes, sir.'

'I know it requires courage, but I assure you, your life will get easier.'

I hope she puts my advice in to practice, or else she will not survive long.

The London Docks were at the end of my passage. I approached the seaman by the wall, who was singing a drunkard's song about what he and his comrades shall do with a drunken sailor.

'Good day, sir,' I said politely, opening the locket with Lenore's portrait. 'Have you seen this woman, maybe some time ago?'

He looked at me vacantly, and then at the object in my hands. He frowned, burped, and started his drunken rave:

"Did see, did see, a fine woman, that was. I will think of her at sea. At sea, where you have to pull yourself together,' he hiccuped, like he was emphasizing his state of mind.

''When did you see her?'

'Aroun’ shix hours ago. She want'd to buy s'mthin' at the d-docks. I want'd to t-t-take her drinkin', but she told me to shtay awayyy. When a lady don't want, I don't impose.'

'Mate, I attended her funeral today. It had to be someone else.'

'Wus her!' he exclaimed. 'I know wut I shaw. From the c-crow's nesht I can shee the land in hund-dred miles. I have good eyes!'

'She is dead.'

'That's wut I shaw, a walk-kin’ corpse! Wus her!'

He tried to grab me by the frock coat, but I moved away from that disgusting man. He fell down on the cobble, cried out once, and then immediately started to snore.

This trail was pointless. But I had one more place to visit.

“The smell of London streets is not bad at all.” Story Goal achieved!

New agent sculpts revealed: Tosher, Little Match Girl, Seaman.

Continue to EPISODE 7, at 09.09.2018, 10.00 AM EST.

There will be no voting today and tomorrow, as we want to let you (and us) have a little break during the weekend. :) But there will be story updates, and the plot will follow in the way you have chosen during the previous vote: A (162) -> B (58) -> C (8).

Instead of voting, please share here your thoughts about the plot - your suspicions and visions of how the story will develop!

Please tell your friends about this project, as we would love to have more people here - both backing the game and following our story. :)

Thank you for your continous support and have a happy weekend!

PHALANX Team

EPISODE 5: Where the Poor Live.
over 5 years ago – Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 12:39:45 PM

This is a story driven Kickstarter campaign. It will be run as a paragraph game (gamebook). Under this link you will find a previous episode of the story. And here is a new one:

EPISODE 5: Where the Poor Live.

When I reached East End, a woman approached me. Her attire was very provocative, and I had no doubts regarding her profession.

'Hello there, handsome... Do you fancy some entertainment with a beautiful lady like me? For you it's a special price!'

Her words were crude, but also true. I mean partially true, I would never entertain myself in the company of a lecherous woman! That was a lie! She wasn't also a lady. But one thing I couldn't deny - she was beautiful. In this area I was rather expecting women with syphilitic wounds on their faces, without teeth, and with lichen. This one though looked like a picture of health and youthful beauty.

Discreetly, I took out a couple of shillings.

'Oh, a gentleman like you can certainly do better than that.'

'I will not take much of your time...'

'Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure that with me you will relax and it will be longer... and more pleasant than usual.'

'My need is for information, not your body. And I will pay you for just that.'

She looked around and started whispering.

'What do you want?'

'I want to know who killed Lenore.'

'I would like to know, too. Women die in London in a mysterious way, that's true, but not women like her. I have no idea who killed her and why.'

'But you can surely tell me who could know more...'

'It definitely wasn't Dimsdale, the one she lived with before she died. He doesn't seem like grieving, but he would go through fire and water for her. That I guarantee you. If he had known something, he would have killed the man who hurt Lenore himself.'

The girl thought for a moment.

'The child vendors are the best observers. They see everything and say nothing - until someone asks them. Talk to the girl that sells matchsticks and by God, buy some of them from her before she starves! It's just a couple of pennies. Some of the toshers might have heard something too. A tosher is someone who lives on whatever coins and jewelry he fishes out from the sewers. Artful Dodger is the one who most frequents the area where Lenore was murdered. There is also a type of man who notices absolutely EVERY woman, so he can later create a harem in his imagination, to serve him during long sea voyages. If you meet a seaman, tell him how she looked. If he has seen her, he will remember exactly where, when, what she was wearing, and how she looked when he undressed her in his mind.'

'Is that all?'

She hesitated for a moment.

'There is also Fagin the Kidsman, the king of... let's say, the young beggars. The old bastards might know something, he knows the worst scum of this city. But I'm not saying he'll tell you anything. You'll find him in the third tenement just around the corner. But whatever you see in his flat, do not call the police. Because then you will die... and it's likely I will die too. When you knock on the door, say Nancy sent you and it's about Lenore. And have at least a florin ready for his information. Maybe it will help... Don't let him trick you into paying more, though, because even if he doesn't know anything, he'll try to squeeze the last penny out of you.

“They see everything, and say nothing.” Story Goal achieved!

New agent sculpt revealed: Street Girl.

Now choose your next step

If you want to investigate the citizens, vote for A.

If you're going to Fagin's tenement, vote for B.

If you want to leave East End and go to West End, vote for C.

Please make your votes in the comments section of this update. One backer - one vote. If you use social media, you can also vote on the PHALANX Facebook profile.

We will count the votes at 06.00 AM EST and our character will follow the way you have choosen in a new update, posted at 10.00 AM EST.

Thank you and happy gaming!

PHALANX Team