Chaoseed
Posts: 13
12/31/2011
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What is the Eater-of-Chains?
- It's a creature that lurks in dreams.
- It appears canine in nature.
- It can hunt and track.
- It has an evocative name.
- It's possible to breed a "Dream Hound" which appears quite similar to the Eater-of-Chains.
- I just got a card where I met a puppy—and I saw something in its eyes very reminiscent of the Eater-of-Chains.
- (If I've missed something, feel free to enlighten me!)
All of this engendered certain wild ideas in my mind. Here's where I wander off into bizarre realms of speculation: [spoiler]Dogs have been domesticated by humanity; given "chains". The Eater-of-Chains is a dog-spirit that has broken its chains; thus, rebelled against humanity. Perhaps it's the spirit of a specific dog, or perhaps it's a conglomeration of dogs. Perhaps it is the manifested dream of all dogs who wish to free themselves from human bondage.[/spoiler]
Well, it COULD happen, anyway. :P
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@Chaoseed on Twitter and Echo Bazaar
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Indigena
Posts: 1
1/2/2012
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I've always thought that the Eater-of-Chains was Fenrir. Powerful canine-shaped creature whose name suggests that it can't be chained and who isn't unwilling to nibble a bit at hands? Fits rather well. Also, in one of the newer Eater-of-Chains cards, going to its lair causes it to try to bite your hand off, like Fenrir did to Tyr.
I think it's also associated with actual marsh wolves, since after playing with the Empress's puppy, you dream of "a giant marsh wolf". Also, Fenrir, according to Wikipedia, means "fen-dweller", which doesn't seem too far from "marsh wolf". I suspect that actual marsh wolves are descendants of the Eater-of-Chains, but with enough ordinary wolves in their ancestry for them not to manifest any qualities.
If the Eater-of-Chains really is Fenrir, then the Eater-of-Chains being the Empress's puppy could be part of its being chained. I wonder if it wears a collar while it is the puppy.According to the perhaps-not-trustworthy Wikipedia, Garmr, the watchdog that guarded Hel's gate, was associated with Fenrir; whether or not that's relevant I don't know.
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theodor_gylden
Posts: 117
1/2/2012
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Wieland Burandt wrote:
I like your theory, Indigena. Fenrir (or any other mythological hell-hound, for that matter) is the Eater-of-Chains, forced to disguise as a puppy... and it's probably plaguing our dreams because it wants someone to free it -- but what would happen if someone actually did... ?
Perhaps this is why those bitten by the Eater become vicious and hungry-eyed -- is something of the beast inhabiting and escaping through them, like the Inhabiter-of-Wolves? (Dare I speak the word 'werewolf'?)
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Journal: http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/echo_theodor
Annotations & Epistles: http://theodor-gylden.dreamwidth.org/
Storylet: http://theodor-gylden.dreamwidth.org/11160.html
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Urthdigger
Posts: 939
1/5/2012
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G. Augustus Gourmandghast wrote:
Early wrote:
Philistine.
In all likelihood, the probability of such a claim being correct is more than favourable. Don't be jealous, now, darling.
Urthdigger wrote:
Well, it's been my impression that being marked by the eater of chains is a bad thing in general, so I think it'd probably be portrayed in such a way that even folks who like werewolves would consider "Yeah, I wanna get rid of this. NOW."
Unless you mean having lycanthropy in the game offends you in some manner. . .
Ah, you misunderstand me. I only express my most incredible displeasure at the idea of becoming, and (or!) knowing any werewolves. I'd rather be a Clay ...Person... than a hairy, two-legged mongrel every second fortnight. Wolfmen destroy the bedroom, make a mess of your sheets, scare the cats, and leave an impenetrable, vile stench when wet, that unfortunately, simply takes decades of lye and scrubbing to get out. In addition, I, who sadly has indeed incurred the Mark, would simply die with all the shaving that lycanthropy would present unto me. And, to think of pulling the hair and brambles out of my petticoats and stockings...! Horrors, horrors that hopefully shall not come to pass.
Well then, better fix it soon! Even as someone who likes werewolves, I do have to say I'd find the experience unpleasant. I understand the transformation can hurt like the dickens, and it would be so inconvenient when trying to woo one of my many conquests. I'd hate to have them ask me to meet them and have to say "Oh no darling, I cannot. It is that time of the month you see... wait, no, it's not what you think... yes I'm a man... no I'm not going to explain what I meant..."
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Looking for second chances to maximize your loot output from those troublesome storylets? Check out our handy gang of volunteers in this thread, or even volunteer yourself!
@Urthdigger on twitter
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Andrey Shmarev
Posts: 35
1/6/2012
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Ladies and gentlemen we need to rationalize this issue on whichever beast is the most ferocious and health-detrimental (both to body and mind). The vake is worth a million echoes , the eater-of-chains has not had a price to it's head yet because it tends to cheat death more oftenly than the average citizen or maybe because that sort of beast shares some sort of diplomatic inmunity . Which means that pursuing that monstruosity is not only non-profitable but it can certainly damage one's reputation at the eyes of the "powers".
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G. Augustus Gourmandghast
Posts: 39
1/4/2012
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Early wrote:
Philistine.
In all likelihood, the probability of such a claim being correct is more than favourable. Don't be jealous, now, darling.
Urthdigger wrote:
Well, it's been my impression that being marked by the eater of chains is a bad thing in general, so I think it'd probably be portrayed in such a way that even folks who like werewolves would consider "Yeah, I wanna get rid of this. NOW."
Unless you mean having lycanthropy in the game offends you in some manner. . .
Ah, you misunderstand me. I only express my most incredible displeasure at the idea of becoming, and (or!) knowing any werewolves. I'd rather be a Clay ...Person... than a hairy, two-legged mongrel every second fortnight. Wolfmen destroy the bedroom, make a mess of your sheets, scare the cats, and leave an impenetrable, vile stench when wet, that unfortunately, simply takes decades of lye and scrubbing to get out. In addition, I, who sadly has indeed incurred the Mark, would simply die with all the shaving that lycanthropy would present unto me. And, to think of pulling the hair and brambles out of my petticoats and stockings...! Horrors, horrors that hopefully shall not come to pass.
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Just 'Gus' will do, thank you.
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