I have absorbed possibly every single line of text pertaining to Hunter’s Keep, the sisters, the maidservant and the well (in Fallen London and Sunless Sea) and it still makes my brain very upset. Every theory I see or invent feels like it’s missing some essential piece and I end up overthinking it for ages. Still frustrating years later!
Almost makes me want to burn the place to the ground.
[quote=Sir Joseph Marlen]On an unrelated note, I’m loving/hating how this one question has become the equivalent of last mystery set’s "Why are there no foxes in the city?" question.[/quote] If I remember correctly, not a single Fallen London player answered that question correctly. The answer was something like, "Because they were upset that Mr Cups gave the rats dominion over scraps instead of them." I also don’t recall anyone in the forum being able to produce even the slightest shred of in-game text to support that answer, which leads me to think that it, like the new questions about who put the key in the well and who was the first noman, are questions that have no defined, in-game answer. Perhaps we’re only intended to guess at these Appalling Secrets. Hopefully a lucky few will get the answers correct this time around.
When it comes to the "vast, humped, furred shape" in the well, is there any explanation for all that light? Could it be a daughter of the Mountain of Light? Kind of like Mt Nomad, but not nearly as large? And therefore quite likely the youngest daughter? Seeing as the sidebar snippet is supposed to be rumours, maybe the part with "youngest daughter for safekeeping" is the only part that is true and matters, so the one who hid the key would be the Mountain of Light? If that is an entity that is capable of hiding items. Maybe the key was placed in/on the mountain, and a small part of it was splintered off to go hide it, and that part therefore became the "youngest daughter"? Or might there be some other way for the Mountain of Light to have a daughter? Could that fabled Thief-of-Faces and the Mountain of Light have a second daughter, which would then possibly make more of the sidebar snippet be true, if the Thief-of-Faces could be considered a "mad king" (hungry monarch?) and he was at the time visiting Polythreme? Could he even have been eaten by a Stone Pig, to make that entire rumour true?
But I have never been to Hunter’s Keep, or Polythreme, or anywhere else outside of London other than Mutton Island. So what do I know? Nothing really. Haven’t even played Sunless Sea yet.
Unless he came from another end of Stone Pig after that - he’s still active and occasionally visits Mt Nomad.
Light and glim connection possibly link us to moon-misers, but they’re not furry. Unless someone dabbled in shapeling arts and made one so. But why?
Hm, btw, Thief-of-Faces is one of the greatest in these arts - being artificial creature of creators of these arts constantly remaking itself helps.
edited by Aro Saren on 7/6/2018
Does anyone have any additional thoughts on "Who was the first Noman"? Here are some random ideas:
Perhaps a list of canonical nomen would help narrow this down:
[quote=James Sinclair]
Perhaps a list of canonical nomen would help narrow this down:
Also Mr Sacks from the original incarnation of Christmas content, who as far as I can tell, wasn’t modelled on a specific Master.
How do we know that Elderwick is Aldwych? Also, could someone explain the story of the working man’s friend?
[quote=DonaghyLogan]How do we know that Elderwick is Aldwych?[/quote]We don’t know for certain, but there is a preponderance of evidence indicating that. We know only a few things about Elderwick: it includes a balustraded house, booksellers, a church, and artist’s lodgings (from Light Fingers).
If we’re being technical, though, which Failbetter might, Aldwych is the name of the modern street (which has historical roots). In Victorian times, there was Wych Street, which was demolished and the modern Aldwych established.
[quote=DonaghyLogan]Also, could someone explain the story of the working man’s friend?[/quote]The Working Man’s Friend and Family Instruction is a publication by John Cassell, hence the newspaper image. John Cassell is almost certainly the former March who was killed by the Haunted Doctor on behalf of the Calendar Council:
So the creator of "The Working Man’s Friend", John Cassell (March of the Calendar Council), was murdered by the Haunted Doctor on behalf of the Calendar Council. That’s the answer if the mystery asks after his fate.
Given the question specifically asks what Elderwick was called before London fell, Wych Street is almost certainly the correct answer. FL’s current year is still nine years before Aldwych was built in our world.
Aldwych the modern street wasn’t laid down until the 20th century, but I found several references to Aldwych the locale in 19th century sources - and apparently, before it was Drury Lane, Drury Lane held the same title.
These Are The Answers I came Up With:
What was Moloch Street called before London fell?
[ spoiler]
Baker Street.
What was Elderwick called before London fell?
[ spoiler]
Wych Street.
What was Lusitania Row called before London fell?
[ spoiler]
Picadilly Arcade.
What was Blythenhale called before London fell?
[ spoiler]
Bethnal Green.
What are the seven colours of the Neathbow?
[ spoiler]
Irrigo, Gant, Violant, Cosmogone, Apocyan, Viric, and Peligin.
What is the Great Game played for?
[ spoiler]
Secrets, information, and influence.
Name the seven doors of the Bazaar
[ spoiler]
Copper, Glass, Ivory, Ormolu, Steel, Teeth, and Paper.
What does the Bishop of Southwark keep in his barn?
[ spoiler]
The Wing-of-Thunder Bat and Mr. Hearts.
Why do Snuffers eat candles?
[ spoiler]
They ate wax back when they lived in the Elder Continent, where the Wax-Wind blows. But the Wind blows not in London, so they need an alternative source of food, sustaining on the memories of wax.
Who is May?
[ spoiler]
Gilgamesh, the manager of the Royal Bethelhem and a member of the Calander Council.
One of the Empress’ issue died. But which?
[ spoiler]
Prince Leopold, the Delicate Duke.
What happened to the working man’s friend?
[ spoiler]
He was murdered by the Haunted Doctor.
Who was the original architect of the Dawn Machine?
[ spoiler]
June of the Calander Council.
Name a hero of the season of revolutions
[ spoiler]
Virginia and Feducci are two examples of heroes from the season of revolutions.
Who hid the key in the well?
[ spoiler]
Cynthia hid the key.
Who was the first noman?
[ spoiler]
Mr. Sacks was the first nomad.
Who opened the mirrors?
[ spoiler]
The daughter of the mountains, Mt. Nomad.
Why do cats hate snakes?
[ spoiler]
They are fighting the War of Illusions over Parabola.
What do the Fingerkings want?
[ spoiler]
To escape Parabola and Rule London, in order to reach the Garden.
What happened in the last February of sunlight?
[ spoiler]
The Bazaar spoke as london was stolen by bats.
Re-guarding the question “What was Elderwick Called Before London Fell?”
I believe that the correct answer would be “Wych Street”, rather than Alderwych Street due to the fact that Wych Street wasn’t demolished until the redevelopment from 1901-1905 where it was renamed Alderwych Street, which was prior to the fall of London.
[quote=Lea Green]Who hid the key in the well?
[ spoiler]
Cynthia hid the key.[/quote]Is there any particular reason why your answer is Cynthia, or is this a guess?
[quote=Who are the Naughts and the Crosses?]These two gangs of futureless urchins have been waging their ritual war over the territory between the corners of Wick Street and Hobbe Lane, and Alley Alley and Blue Ghost Street almost since the Fall. The savagery demonstrated in the conflict is the stuff of penny-dreadfuls.[/quote]I’m unsure whether this sidebar snippet causes any problems with the current leading hypothesis that Elderwick was formerly known as Wych Street. It could be a particularly cruel joke on the part of the Masters to make such a similarly named street to confuse old Londoners. It could just be an early inconsistency or candle pun. Still, it’s food for thought.
I very much doubt Wick Street is Wych Street. Wych Street didn’t form part of a two-by-two grid - it was, if I’m reading the map aright, just a short street with no crossings. Plus it’s in a comparatively fashionable part of town, near the University - unlikely to remain an urchin battleground for long.
London was rearranged into a labyrinth when it fell, though.
Of course I haven’t really been following the mapping discussion, so maybe it’s not as twisted as I’m imagining.
My guess for Elderwick is the Strand.I am writing this message basically from Wych st. Nothing about it is exceptional. It was a small street (unlike the Strand) and in no way was renowned for balustrade houses and (albeit similarly located) is more of a stretch to associate with Covent Garden than the Strand. Moreover, Aldwych derives it’s name from Ealdwic - an old Roman settlement that included what is now the Strand.
edited by genesis on 7/11/2018
[quote=a Nice Friend]London was rearranged into a labyrinth when it fell, though.
Of course I haven’t really been following the mapping discussion, so maybe it’s not as twisted as I’m imagining.[/quote]
Sure, nothing’s set in stone, not even the stones… one short street getting two new intersections seems unlikely, though.
I’ve just done a little more nosing around 19th century texts, and found several references to Drury Lane being the Via de Aldwych, and one to "Aldwych Field" being everything between St Giles and where Drury Lane meets the Strand.
edited by Sir Frederick on 7/11/2018
I think the Rubbery Men hid the Key in the well, as it is a tentacled key, though it may as well be Cynthia as she advises you on the key…
[quote=James Sinclair][quote=Lea Green]Who hid the key in the well?
[ spoiler]
Cynthia hid the key.[/quote]Is there any particular reason why your answer is Cynthia, or is this a guess?[/quote]
I got my answer from this Journal Excerpt by Atanatix, inferring mainly from the mention of the sisters.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Atanarix?fromEchoId=10100438
edited by LostLegion on 7/11/2018