Forum game: Ask the character!

Fallen London
81

Hell… well, as pompous and self-righteous as the Church and their friends can be, I might reasonably expect to find myself aligned with Hell; however, I can’t help finding them just as pompous as their opposition. Although I enjoy the company of a few individuals connected with the Brass Embassy, I find Hell’s denizens largely unpleasant. And their taste is truly atrocious.
As far as the soul trade, I have no real objections to it. Someone very dear to me is soulless, and that does nothing to change my regard. I would, however, hesitate to sell my own soul; as tattered and faded as it is, I retain something of a sentimental attachment to the old thing. Besides, I doubt it would fetch much.

A question for reflection and remembrance: Who has betrayed you?

82

The University. I brought to them truth. I sought justice. They cast me down. I suspect that they see now the folly of their mistake, but I will not be satisfied until I the University welcomes me again, and the Provost… well…

The Drownies always have room for another in their choir.

On that note, with whom do you most desire a reckoning?

83

Ooh, now that’s an interesting question. (DragonRidingSorceress leans forward eagerly. Her teasing, lascivious smirk is gone. Instead, her face is alight with delight at the academic challenge.) Hell is complicated. I don’t think it is the Hell of Christianity. I don’t think the Devils are the Devils of Christianity, either. I think they just took those names and those forms because they were a convenient way of expressing themselves to us - a metaphor, if you will. The Devils do seem to have been around for some of the previous Cities.

Now… this is likely to get confusing. I have snippets of information, half-heard stories from friends, rumour, innuendo, outuendo, and I am trying to weave them together into something coherent. I apologise in advance if this makes no sense. I hope that at least it will entertain.

I think, in much the same way that a cat is not a cat in Parabola, so too are Devils not Devils. Hell is close to Parabola, by all accounts. There has been some talk of Devils as Bees pollinating a Tree - the Tree of Life, perhaps? But what is that, in truth? Hesperidean Cider must come from somewhere.

Collecting Souls is truly interesting. Humans seem to need Souls for motivation and positive emotions - for the figurative &quotinner light&quot.

I know Devils are interested in the Correspondence. That in itself is shrouded in mystery. Based on what I have heard and read and seen… perhaps the Correspondence is the language of the stars? There certainly seems to be a connection. For those of you who have seen the Seventh Letter (I think it is called), the Bazaar seems to be a Messenger of two Judgements - which again, seem to be stars.

Are souls sparks of star-stuff, illuminating us from within? Do the Devils seek to gain souls of their own by studying ours, or are souls needed for the creation of new stars? Or for something else entirely?

I may be very wrong. I certainly have no sure answers. The Devils are fascinating, mysterious, and very, very dangerous. They want our Souls, for whatever reason. And although the loss of your Soul will not kill you, the Soulless seem to lack an inner light.

(She pauses, seeming to debate whether to share the next bit of information.)

Devils also want to travel North, following the River that is Death. North, north, north lies a path of destruction, and perhaps a path of knowledge. I do not know exactly what is to be found there, for I am not willing to make the sacrifices required. Others are… (She glances at Seeker of Names. The hooded figure is silent, but has the air of one who is listening. DragonRidingSorceress pauses, but Seeker of Names does not speak. She shakes her head and turns back to her audience.)

I have rambled long enough. I have no answers. I have only suppositions. All I can conclude is: while Hell is a very useful contact to have, I will not be selling my Soul.

In a related question - although perhaps not all will see the relationship - what do you think of Lacre? I suspect Devils have opinions of it, but I have not heard them.

[OOC: Forgive me, the answering took a while.]
—
edited by dragonridingsorceress on 11/10/2014

84

We found something on Corpsecage Island. Old, it was, and fascinating. We lost it during one of Orthos’ raids. We suppose that if we were to claim to be angry with any one individual, it would be him. We will be revenged in time.

There is also the matter of a certain lodge, but they have yet to take any actions against us in particular, so we hesitate to refer to that as a desire for a reckoning.

85

Lacre? Is that some sort of cheese? I miss cheese. I once ate a decent young woman’s attempt at neathy cheese at a church picnic. She was a decent woman that is, not the cheese. A word of warning: Don’t try to make cheese out of mushrooms, squid, or rubbery lumps. It does not end well.

Do you miss the surface? If so, what most of all?
edited by Avian Overlord on 11/10/2014

86

I surely do not miss the Surface. Society was so restrictive, so limiting , especially to one of my sex and temperament. I thrive in the Neath, and if there are sticks-in-mud here they do not hold sway unopposed (and besides, I need someone to scandalize). Too, the Surface lacks Devils, Clay Men, Rubbery Men, and the glorious nightmares of the Correspondence. Death is a bit too nasty up there, too.

Question: What is your favorite Neathy festival? Why?

87

Feast of the Masks is good for business and never fails to cheer me up. I particularly like the part where careless Seekers (but I repeat myself) get caught by the Grand Hunt. Their tears are sweeter than red honey.

Speaking of which, what is your greatest regret?

88

Regrets are a luxury I do not indulge in often. Often, the decision I have made are the ones that seemed the best in the situation, given my understanding of it. However…There are times when I regret the whole sordid affair with the Comtessa…Blasted bad business all way 'round.

But for the next question, I pose this one to you:

Which Master do you fear the most?

89

Mr Eaten. I don’t know. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know.

Please Dear God I don’t want to know.

What has been your most satisfactory purchase down in the 'Neath?

90

(DragonRidingSorceress grins.) My spacious lodgings in a Spire-Emporium of the Bazaar. The little touches of luxury make it truly satisfying.

What Surface animal or plant do you miss most?

91

There are enough animals in the Neath to satisfy any taste. As for flora… well, I was raised in a city, and my military career taught me to regard vegetation as more of a nuisance than anything (gets in the way of a proper battle, you see). Nonetheless, I do occasionally miss the forests of the Surface - real, living forests, I mean. It’s also d–n hard to get hold of flowers down here, which can be inconvenient when it comes to romantic gestures. Something about fungi just seems to be lacking in that respect.

A question of terror and madness… What do you dream of when your Nightmares become too great?

92

Cities that never were… Cities that, if not for that great betrayal, would have been. New and old horrors… The Thing Beneath the Palace Cellars that few know of… And the device in the surface-embassy that no one does. That… Thing. The one that watches. Never stops watching. No… No! Trouble me with your questions no more! Now… Here is my question for all you accomplished criminals and duelists. What have you done that haunts you till now?
edited by Aegis1000 on 11/12/2014

93

The killing of Captain Vendrick. No one’s fault but my own; Feducci out and out said that Black Ribbon Dueling was to the final death… but after three duels in which that didn’t happen, I somehow thought it was all a joke.

That is not a mistake I shall make again. Friendly murder is one thing, but nothing final. Never.

Come to that, though, who was your favorite enemy/rival? The gentleman or lady who you enjoyed striving against, knocking down, or just cocking a snook at?

94

Virgina the deviless. Showing the devils that despite their hunts, that no, they don’t know the Forgotten Quarter all that well. One particular coup I am particularly fond of is how I tricked her into thinking the correspondence (some form of enchonian I believe) was the language of the “Stone Pigs”. And they don’t even exist! At least, not to my knowledge.

Would you rather get drunk at a party of Mr. Wines or have a few hours with Mr.Pages books? Why?

95

The books, definitely! Mr. Pages’ collection must surely have answers to some of the greatest mysteries of the Neath! I can always get drunk with poets or feast with high society (or enjoy cigars, brandy, and urbane conversation with devils), but Mr. Pages must preserve unique books from the earliest cities and perhaps even knowledge of Hell, Parabola, and the Judgments themselves.

Which of the Neathy colours (irrigo, cosmogone, etc.) is your favourite? When did it appear to you most poignantly?

96

Cosmogone. There is so little down here that is warm or red. The lamps are cold white, and fires suffice, but. There’s something about the color that’s different than the light of fires.

I’m a born and bred Londoner, but sometimes I’ll dream of it. And I’ll long for something above the Roof.

A question for you. Winter’s drawing near, and soon the lacre will fall. What’s your most treasured winter memory?

97

It was winter when my sweetheart came back from the Zee, back from the peligin depths and the Fathomking’s feasts, neither of which he remembered. He remembered teeth. He remembered song. His hands were cold in mine, but solid – I could hold them. I could make them warm.

I smiled until my face ached, until my heart hurt with loving.

Who in the Neath makes your heart smile?

98

There are some…a certain thief, though that remains a private affair…More often, though, it is less &quotwho&quot then &quotwhen.&quot

If you step outside, at just the right moment, you can catch an urchin piping a tune about happy tomorrows…if you stand in one specific spot, and tilt your head just so, all the lights in the Neath will seem to shine that little bit brighter, and all of Fallen London will spread out before you…Walk the streets, going nowhere in particular. Listen not to anything, but everything. Feel the beat underneath your feet, the flow through the streets…When you can understand just how marvelous, how precious, how fragile this life is, a mile from mortal sun…Then my heart smiles, for then I know that [b]I Am Alive.

[/b]Where is your favorite place to go, when the world is cold, and the past steps on your heels?

99

Ah, at such a time what place could be better than my private library? Nothing keeps the world at bay like shelves upon shelves of thick books, thin books, picture books, and poems; a chair deep enough to curl up into; a roaring fire in the fireplace; and a bottle of Broken Giant. And if a certain special someone is there, too…all the better.

Question: What scares you most in the Neath?

100

Soran: North.

Zero: Just… &quotNorth&quot?

Soran: Yes.

Zero: Right… Well, my greatest fear down here is probably the Unterzee. I already didn’t like water - I’ve had some bad experiences on the surface - but the Zee is something altogether more frightening. And just the thought of becoming a drownie… Shudders I will travel the Zee if I have to, but I do try to keep my time out there to a minimum.

Soran: So, deliberately getting yourself booted to the tomb-colonies for the sake of a lewd ballet is &quotkeeping your time on the Zee to a minimum&quot?

Zero: Hey, some things are just worth it.

Cairn: As for me, I fear that I may never be forgiven by-

Soran: Hold it, stop; does this have anything to do with me?

Cairn: Why, yes, but I merely-

Soran: Then shut up or give a real answer; preferably the former. You’re not fooling anyone with your little repentant act.

Cairn: … Very well. I suppose I have some misgivings about the whole business of people coming back from the dead own here. There’s some disturbing possibilities there.

Soran: Yes, maybe if we’re lucky some kind person will deign to bury you alive. Now, I believe that’s all our answers, but I’ve asked the last two questions, so…

Zero: I’ll do it! Who has the most punchable face in the Neath?