I have now rewritten the end of the club scene where Jack meets Lady Jane and Sir Malcolm. There are 2 versions of this, one if the player has watched the boxing and one if not
I hope this provides a better introduction and makes more sense than the previous version which was very blunt and somewhat zero to one hundred miles an hour. All feedback gratefully received
Boxing version
Sir Malcolm makes an untidy pile of the unconscious thugs, dusts his hands off and then smiles at you broadly. He holds out his hand and you shake it warmly.
“Jack Sinclair, Malcolm Penrose, pleased to meet you.”
You both turn to Lady Jane Joseph and she bows politely. You notice her captivating eyes are a vivid green. You thank them both for their help and say:
“A most unusual turn of events - even for the adventurers club”
Lady Jane speaks: “No doubt hired by Percy Thistlethwaite. He would do anything to get his hands on that meteorite. The steamer to Angola leaves tonight and we have to be on it if we are to stand a chance of reaching it before he does”
“Wait a moment…we?”
“Now,now Jack we are all adventurers here!” says Lady Jane. “Straight after the lecture I ran into Sir Malcolm and it was clear we had the same thing in mind: beat Percy to the jewel. It didn’t take much detective work to see that you were also on the same track. The shenanigans in this alley just confirm that someone wishes you bad intent. No common or garden mug-hunter in a hundred mile radius of London would be stupid enough to try anything at the Adventurers Club!”
“I hadn’t planned on making this an expedition!” you say, but not with ill feeling “I only decided to go on this jaunt after the lecture!”
“I think the facts are pretty straightforward Jack” says Lady Jane “We are racing to the jewel. It is somewhere in Angola. The steamer leaves tonight. If we miss it then the next one is a week away, giving Percy a massive head start. We stand more chance of success if we work as a team. Oh, one more thing - we have the last tickets so unless you fancy a long swim or taking the trip as a stowaway then I suggest we get moving and discuss this further over dinner”
You catch Sir Malcolm smirking from the corner of your eye and know that you lost this argument before you even knew you were having it.
Lady Jane whistles for a carriage and you speak to Sir Malcolm
“Well now we have one thing in common” you say
“What’s that Old Boy?” replies Sir Malcolm
“We both know what it feels like to be knocked flat by Lady Jane!”
You shake hands again and a carriage arives.
Non boxing version
Sir Malcolm makes an untidy pile of the unconscious thugs, dusts his hands off and then smiles at you broadly. He holds out his hand and you shake it warmly.
“Jack Sinclair, Malcolm Penrose, pleased to meet you.”
You both turn to Lady Jane Joseph and she bows politely. You notice her captivating eyes are a vivid green. You thank them both for their help and say
“A most unusual turn of events - even for the adventurers club”
Lady Jane speaks
“No doubt hired by Percy Thistlethwaite. He would do anything to get his hands on that meteorite. The steamer to Angola leaves tonight and we have to be on it if we are to stand a chance of reaching it before he does”
“Wait a moment…we?”
“Now,now Jack we are all adventurers here!” says Lady Jane. “Straight after the lecture I ran into Sir Malcolm and it was clear we had the same thing in mind: beat Percy to the jewel. It didn’t take much detective work to see that you were also on the same track. The shenanigans in this alley just confirm that someone wishes you bad intent. No common or garden mug-hunter in a hundred mile radius of London would be stupid enough to try anything at the Adventurers Club!”
“I hadn’t planned on making this an expedition!” you say, but not with ill feeling “I only decided to go on this jaunt after the lecture!”
“I think the facts are pretty straightforward Jack” says Lady Jane “We are racing to the jewel. It is somewhere in Angola. The steamer leaves tonight. If we miss it then the next one is a week away, giving Percy a massive head start. We stand more chance of success if we work as a team. Oh, one more thing - we have the last tickets so unless you fancy a long swim or taking the trip as a stowaway then I suggest we get moving and discuss this further over dinner”
You look again at the tidy pile of thugs in the alley and weigh up the odds of success in going alone.
Sir Malcolm whistles for a carriage and Lady Jane speaks to you:
“Remember Jack, a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet”
“Try telling that to them” you reply, nodding at the comatose thugs.
A laughing Lady Jane replies “I guess that’s true. Well in that case, let me put it like this - don’t make me force you!”
With that Lady Jane raises her guard and drops into a fighting stance, all the while smiling winningly.
The carriage arrives and Sir Malcolm helps Lady Jane aboard. She turns to you
“Saved by the bell Jack… this time” she says
Nothing now would stop you from joining them.