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{{Neath_Location|image1 = Aestival.png|caption1 = A hole in the roof. Art from "Sunless" Sea.|location = The Calumnies|allegiance = None|notable_inhabitants = None|music = [https://failbettergames.bandcamp.com/track/submergio-viol Submergio Viol]}}''"Sun! A great beam of sunlight bathes the island! Squint into the dazzle: far above, there's a hole in the roof. In that light you see beaches of white-gold sand; trees heavy with bright fruit; the reds and blues and greens of the Surface." ''
{{spoiler}}
{{Neath_Location|image1 =  
Aestival.png
|location = [[The Unterzee|The Calumnies]]|allegiance = Uninhibited|music = [https://failbettergames.bandcamp.com/track/submergio-viol Submergio Viol]|port=Lesley's Harbour}}<blockquote>''"Sun! A great beam of sunlight bathes the island! Squint into the dazzle: far above, there's a hole in the roof. In that light you see beaches of white-gold sand; trees heavy with bright fruit; the reds and blues and greens of the Surface."''<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Aestival#Location_description|Location description|Sunless Sea}}</ref></blockquote>


'''Aestival''' is an island in the Unterzee, above which lies a hole in the roof of the Neath.__forceTOC__
'''Aestival''' is an island in the [[Unterzee]], above which lies a hole in the [[Roof of the Neath]].<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Aestival#Location_description|Location description|Sunless Sea}} ''""Sun! A great beam of sunlight bathes the island! [...] far above, there's a hole in the roof."''</ref> The [[sunlight]] shining through gives it the appearance of a picturesque beach, with white sand, fruit-bearing trees, and other features evocative of the [[Surface]].<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Aestival#Location_description|Location description|Sunless Sea}} ''"In that light you see beaches of white-gold sand; trees heavy with bright fruit; the reds and blues and greens of the Surface.""''</ref> Unfortunately, sunlight is both deadly and highly alluring to denizens of the [[Neath]], and zailors who visit Aestival may lie down on the sands and smile as their life fades away.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Aestival#Interactions|Gather supplies|Sunless Sea}} ''"[...] on the way back to the ship, one of your crew topples over [...] She's smiling blissfully. "Go on, cap'n," she says. "I've missed the zun." Her eyes close. Sunlight is perilous for those who've lived in the Neath too long."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Menaces:_Yearning,_Burning#Interaction_description|Interaction description|Sunless Sea}} ''"Enough of this darkness. Go to the sun. Give yourself like a spark to smoke."''</ref>


==Oh How I've Missed It==
Given its dangers, Aestival is completely uninhabited aside from a scattering of wildlife.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Aestival#Interactions|Gather supplies|Sunless Sea}} ''"Soft-shelled crabs and plump birds too stupid to know a hungry zailor from a tree."''</ref> There is evidence of past settlement, however, including a country house filled with the bones of its former inhabitants - likely killed by sunlight as they were getting ready for breakfast.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Aestival#Interactions|Investigate the ruins|Sunless Sea}} ''"There was some sort of installation here - and what looks like a handsome country house. [...] what happened to them? [...] Chairs strewn with bones - a half-dozen skeletons. [...] These people died peacefully, sitting down to breakfast, as the Surface sunlight spilled over them."''</ref> Hidden within Aestival is a mysterious meteorite-like object: a mechanism of the [[Red Science]]. This object was a prototype launched by the [[Iron & Misery Company]] at the roof, breaking it open and letting the sunlight pour through.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Aestival#Interactions|Seek the Iron & Misery company prototype component|Sunless Sea}} ''"Seek the Iron & Misery company prototype component [...] Days of back-breaking labour unearth a [...] a meteorite. A broken armature of steel and copper sheathes its sides. The zailors fall back before it as the glyphs on its side crawl with fire. [...] "This must be what broke the roof. [...] A Seal of the Red Science!! [...]"''</ref>


Surface sunlight streams through, bathing the sunlight in its glow and triggering intense rushes of pleasure. It's beautiful, but deadly to denizens of the Neath, who die on contact with sunlight due to the [[Judgements|Sun]] reminding them of the laws of life and death. Unlike when visiting the Surface, where zailors will try to shield themselves from the burning sky, many crewmen who arrive here will happily give themselves over to the sunlight, going out with a final smile. This, of course, makes Aestival one of the most dangerous places in the Neath. As a result, it is completely uninhabited, save for a few animals and dead bodies. It does make a good place to harvest fruits and other bounties, but one has to be careful.
As of 1899 (''Fallen London''), Aestival has been settled despite all odds. The island now exports familiar Surface crops like sugarcane and coconut, and it has an exclusive trade deal with the nearby [[Empire of Hands]] for, of course, bananas.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Aces_High|Aces High|Fallen London}} ''"Ask where they get bananas [...] There is an island near the Empire named Aestival. Due to some geological quirk, it lies in a sunbeam that penetrates the cavern roof. They grow wonderful foods there. Sugarcane, coconut, and lately, bananas. I negotiated an exclusive trade agreement for their bananas. [...]"''</ref>


According to the Irrepressible Cannoneer, a meteorite-like Seal of the Red Science is what broke the roof.
== References ==
{{Scroll box|text=<references/>}}


==A Colony? A Colony!==
It is possible to protect oneself and one's crew from the sunlight and found a colony there. One might just have to spend a lot of money to obtain the proper protection, because, well, sunscreen isn't a thing in the Neath, is it? You'll need help from a [[the Dawn Machine|certain Machine]] though.
[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:The Unterzee]]
[[Category:The Unterzee]]
[[Category:The Neath]]
[[Category:Minipage]]

Latest revision as of 18:39, 11 February 2025

"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."

Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution.

You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.


"Sun! A great beam of sunlight bathes the island! Squint into the dazzle: far above, there's a hole in the roof. In that light you see beaches of white-gold sand; trees heavy with bright fruit; the reds and blues and greens of the Surface."[1]

Aestival is an island in the Unterzee, above which lies a hole in the Roof of the Neath.[2] The sunlight shining through gives it the appearance of a picturesque beach, with white sand, fruit-bearing trees, and other features evocative of the Surface.[3] Unfortunately, sunlight is both deadly and highly alluring to denizens of the Neath, and zailors who visit Aestival may lie down on the sands and smile as their life fades away.[4][5]

Given its dangers, Aestival is completely uninhabited aside from a scattering of wildlife.[6] There is evidence of past settlement, however, including a country house filled with the bones of its former inhabitants - likely killed by sunlight as they were getting ready for breakfast.[7] Hidden within Aestival is a mysterious meteorite-like object: a mechanism of the Red Science. This object was a prototype launched by the Iron & Misery Company at the roof, breaking it open and letting the sunlight pour through.[8]

As of 1899 (Fallen London), Aestival has been settled despite all odds. The island now exports familiar Surface crops like sugarcane and coconut, and it has an exclusive trade deal with the nearby Empire of Hands for, of course, bananas.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Location description, Sunless Sea
  2. ↑ Location description, Sunless Sea ""Sun! A great beam of sunlight bathes the island! [...] far above, there's a hole in the roof."
  3. ↑ Location description, Sunless Sea "In that light you see beaches of white-gold sand; trees heavy with bright fruit; the reds and blues and greens of the Surface.""
  4. ↑ Gather supplies, Sunless Sea "[...] on the way back to the ship, one of your crew topples over [...] She's smiling blissfully. "Go on, cap'n," she says. "I've missed the zun." Her eyes close. Sunlight is perilous for those who've lived in the Neath too long."
  5. ↑ Interaction description, Sunless Sea "Enough of this darkness. Go to the sun. Give yourself like a spark to smoke."
  6. ↑ Gather supplies, Sunless Sea "Soft-shelled crabs and plump birds too stupid to know a hungry zailor from a tree."
  7. ↑ Investigate the ruins, Sunless Sea "There was some sort of installation here - and what looks like a handsome country house. [...] what happened to them? [...] Chairs strewn with bones - a half-dozen skeletons. [...] These people died peacefully, sitting down to breakfast, as the Surface sunlight spilled over them."
  8. ↑ Seek the Iron & Misery company prototype component, Sunless Sea "Seek the Iron & Misery company prototype component [...] Days of back-breaking labour unearth a [...] a meteorite. A broken armature of steel and copper sheathes its sides. The zailors fall back before it as the glyphs on its side crawl with fire. [...] "This must be what broke the roof. [...] A Seal of the Red Science!! [...]"
  9. ↑ Aces High, Fallen London "Ask where they get bananas [...] There is an island near the Empire named Aestival. Due to some geological quirk, it lies in a sunbeam that penetrates the cavern roof. They grow wonderful foods there. Sugarcane, coconut, and lately, bananas. I negotiated an exclusive trade agreement for their bananas. [...]"
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