The Vake: Difference between revisions
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''"On long evenings at the Medusa's Head, where the monster-hunters drink, they brag about the beasts they've bagged - | {{Character|image1 = Bagalegend.jpeg|caption1 = |name = <font color="white"><span style="background-color: white">Mr Veils</span></font>|location = [[Fallen London]] | ||
The Tower of Chimes (1905)|allegiance = Independent}}<blockquote><p style="font-weight:normal;">''"On long evenings at the Medusa's Head, where the monster-hunters drink, they brag about the beasts they've bagged - the Cantigaster, the Eater-of-Chains, the Spider Council, Jack-of-Smiles in his many bodies. But no-one tells stories about the Vake: the Vake, for whose head the Department offers a standing reward of four million Echoes. Four ''million.''"<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ambition:_Bag_a_Legend!_0|Ambition: Bag a Legend! 0|Fallen London}}</ref>''</p></blockquote><blockquote><p style="font-weight:normal;">''"What is the Vake? They say it's not a monster at all. They say it's a man who dresses up as a bat. To, ah, prowl the city by night. But that would just be stupid."<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sidebar_Snippets|Sidebar Snippets|Fallen London}}</ref>''</p></blockquote><p style="font-weight:normal;">'''The Vake''' is a fearsome batlike monster that has an astronomical bounty on its head.</p>__FORCETOC__ | |||
==Death from Above== | |||
<blockquote><p style="font-weight:normal;">"''When the Vake is mentioned, everyone goes quiet. No-one has any boastful stories. Why?"''</p></blockquote><p style="font-weight:normal;">No one in the [[Neath]] dares confront this beast head-on, not even the most daring monster-hunters. After all, the Vake's primary prey is the people who hunt it.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Into_The_Wastes|Requiem for a moustache|Fallen London}}</ref></p> | |||
Some of the stranger newspapers of the Neath have claimed to run interviews with the Vake, but these are, for the most part, with persons under the influence of Black Wings Absinthe.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/This_really_can%27t_be_good_for_you|This really can't be good for you|Fallen London}}</ref> Probably. | |||
The Vake is a | ==What is it? == | ||
{{Major spoiler small}}<blockquote>''"The Mother Superior settles into your comfiest chair. "The Vake is a Master," she says. "Perhaps you'd already guessed that.""''</blockquote> | |||
{| | More wild and irrepressible than the other Masters, [[Mr Veils]] suffered greatly from being trapped inside a dark and musty cavern, surrounded by creatures it would not even consider worthy prey in its prime.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Embattled_with_Curator_Mr_Veils|It sees you. It simply doesn't take a great deal of interest.|Fallen London}}</ref> And then it came up with an idea. One day, the [[Department of Menace Eradication]] received a staggering new commission: ''four million'' echoes for the head of "the Vake," a giant winged creature that threatened the carefree lives of [[London]]'s citizens.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ambition:_Bag_a_Legend!_0|A standing reward of four million Echoes|Fallen London}}</ref> The reward was so immense that some thought it a joke, but its authenticity was backed up by Veils itself. The Department even received a considerable sum in advance,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Put_your_trophy_on_the_clerk%27s_desk|To be paid by the Bazaar and backed by Mr Veils|Fallen London}}</ref> so the word about the mysterious creature and a bounty on its head spread quickly. | ||
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Particularly sharp hunters had already figured out that the Vake ''is'' Veils; rather than wanting to die, it began preying upon those who would seek to slay it. It lured the unwary into [[Parabola]] using Black Wings Absinthe: a brew that grants a feeling of flight, visions of a hunt between stars, and eventually, glimpses of something winged following the drinker in the night.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Something_tapping_at_the_window|Tap tap on the glass.|Fallen London}}</ref> Eyewitnesses of the Vake were mostly wiped out or scattered when the [[Fourth City]] collapsed, hence the fresh and exciting bounty on its head — but far from London, on the little island of [[Abbey Rock]], lies the headquarters of a Sisterhood that has been training and preparing to kill this Curator for millennia.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_Sinning_Jenny|Ask her about Sinning Jenny|Fallen London}}</ref> | |||
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| | The Vake is just one of Veils' identities, but it has taken a forefront for the past few decades, and Veils' identity as a [[The Masters of the Bazaar|Master of the Bazaar]] has faded into the background.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/And_then_there_are_three|Most die gasping. So does the one that looks like Mr Veils|Fallen London}}</ref> This had almost no effect on its reputation in [[London]]; after all, it has always been cryptic, and [[Mr Wines]] might be the only one who notices that anything has changed beneath its heavy cloak.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Stop_and_look_through_a_distracting_mirror_1|Stop and look through a distracting mirror 1|Fallen London}}</ref> | ||
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[[Category: | == It's Baaaack! == | ||
<blockquote>''"The hunched shape continues to climb the chain, wings sweeping behind it. It meets your gaze with a furious glare. There is nothing behind those eyes except an intense and sincere desire to murder you and everyone you know."''<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Last_Minute|Stay rooted in reality|Sunless Skies}}</ref></blockquote>The Vake left the [[Neath]] alongside a few of the other Masters.<ref name="ask about other masters">{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Chiropterous_Hoarder#The_Chiropterous_Hoarder|Ask about the other Masters?|Sunless Skies}}''"So in secret, a few of us followed you to the sky. Most of us did so quietly."''</ref> It roosts in the Tower of Chimes (formerly the [[House of Chimes]])<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Last_Minute|Heave-ho!|Sunless Skies}} ''"Something hunched and tattered crawls from the broken hole, its limbs unpleasantly long, its movements erratic. Shaking powdered glass from its leathery wings, it hooks one claw around your chain. It raises its head. Its screech is the sound of death in the dark."''</ref> and has completely given itself over to bloodthirst<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Last_Minute|Stay rooted in reality|Sunless Skies}} ''"The hunched shape continues to climb the chain, wings sweeping behind it. It meets your gaze with a furious glare. There is nothing behind those eyes except an intense and sincere desire to murder you and everyone you know."''</ref> and brutal hunting games.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Last_Minute|Kill the creature|Sunless Skies}} ''"A claw taps a playful tune against glass. Shave-and-a-haircut— Then the window shatters. The abomination slides into your locomotive, thrashing, scrabbling, unfurling until it fills the corridor. Its screeches lash you, scar your mind. Bullets merely crumple on its hide."''</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
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[[Category:Nonhuman]] | |||
[[Category:Characters]] | [[Category:Characters]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:16, 12 March 2025
"On long evenings at the Medusa's Head, where the monster-hunters drink, they brag about the beasts they've bagged - the Cantigaster, the Eater-of-Chains, the Spider Council, Jack-of-Smiles in his many bodies. But no-one tells stories about the Vake: the Vake, for whose head the Department offers a standing reward of four million Echoes. Four million."[1]
"What is the Vake? They say it's not a monster at all. They say it's a man who dresses up as a bat. To, ah, prowl the city by night. But that would just be stupid."[2]
The Vake is a fearsome batlike monster that has an astronomical bounty on its head.
Death from Above[edit]
"When the Vake is mentioned, everyone goes quiet. No-one has any boastful stories. Why?"
No one in the Neath dares confront this beast head-on, not even the most daring monster-hunters. After all, the Vake's primary prey is the people who hunt it.[3]
Some of the stranger newspapers of the Neath have claimed to run interviews with the Vake, but these are, for the most part, with persons under the influence of Black Wings Absinthe.[4] Probably.
What is it?[edit]
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Beyond this point lie major spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include endgame or major Fate-locked spoilers. Proceed at your own risk. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here. |
"The Mother Superior settles into your comfiest chair. "The Vake is a Master," she says. "Perhaps you'd already guessed that.""
More wild and irrepressible than the other Masters, Mr Veils suffered greatly from being trapped inside a dark and musty cavern, surrounded by creatures it would not even consider worthy prey in its prime.[5] And then it came up with an idea. One day, the Department of Menace Eradication received a staggering new commission: four million echoes for the head of "the Vake," a giant winged creature that threatened the carefree lives of London's citizens.[6] The reward was so immense that some thought it a joke, but its authenticity was backed up by Veils itself. The Department even received a considerable sum in advance,[7] so the word about the mysterious creature and a bounty on its head spread quickly.
Particularly sharp hunters had already figured out that the Vake is Veils; rather than wanting to die, it began preying upon those who would seek to slay it. It lured the unwary into Parabola using Black Wings Absinthe: a brew that grants a feeling of flight, visions of a hunt between stars, and eventually, glimpses of something winged following the drinker in the night.[8] Eyewitnesses of the Vake were mostly wiped out or scattered when the Fourth City collapsed, hence the fresh and exciting bounty on its head — but far from London, on the little island of Abbey Rock, lies the headquarters of a Sisterhood that has been training and preparing to kill this Curator for millennia.[9]
The Vake is just one of Veils' identities, but it has taken a forefront for the past few decades, and Veils' identity as a Master of the Bazaar has faded into the background.[10] This had almost no effect on its reputation in London; after all, it has always been cryptic, and Mr Wines might be the only one who notices that anything has changed beneath its heavy cloak.[11]
It's Baaaack![edit]
"The hunched shape continues to climb the chain, wings sweeping behind it. It meets your gaze with a furious glare. There is nothing behind those eyes except an intense and sincere desire to murder you and everyone you know."[12]
The Vake left the Neath alongside a few of the other Masters.[13] It roosts in the Tower of Chimes (formerly the House of Chimes)[14] and has completely given itself over to bloodthirst[15] and brutal hunting games.[16]
References[edit]
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