The Fourth City: Difference between revisions
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== The Fall of the Fourth City == | == The Fall of the Fourth City == | ||
The Khan's favorite daughter, the princess Cheren (or Shirin), sought the recipe for an immortality-granting drink made of peaches.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|The Lore of the Peaches|The Silver Tree}} ''[…] and a reference to peaches that gave ‘vita sine finem’-Life without end…''</ref> She designed an elaborate silver fountain called the Silver Tree, and constructed it with the help of a captive of the Khan, the sculptor William of Paris.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree| William the sculptor |The Silver Tree}}</ref> Cheren and William fell in love, but the Khan would never allow them to marry.<ref name=":02">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|The Story of the Fountain|The Silver Tree}}''"The Princess had designed the Silver Tree. She and the Sculptor were in love. The Khan would never allow them to marry."''</ref> Their plight and the tense relationship between Cheren and her father<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|The Ending for the Khan and his daughter|The Silver Tree}} ''"'Cheren is wilful, but I do love her above all else,' said the Khan. 'My father is flawed, but I do love him very dearly,' said the Princess."''</ref> drew the interest of the [[The Masters of the Bazaar|Masters]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|Karakorum was too powerful|The Silver Tree}} ''"Love - love is the key. It overcomes religion, politics, self-preservation. It is the end of all things. Let us discuss the city's loves, and how we may use them…"''</ref> and [[Mr Wines]] was sent to start the negotiation for the eventual purchase of Karakorum.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|I Confronted the Emissary|The Silver Tree}}'' "[…] In fact, you may call me by my true name, now: Mr Wines, at your service! […]"''</ref> | The Khan's favorite daughter, the princess Cheren (or Shirin), sought the recipe for an immortality-granting drink made of peaches.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|The Lore of the Peaches|The Silver Tree}} ''[…] and a reference to peaches that gave ‘vita sine finem’-Life without end…''</ref> She designed an elaborate silver fountain called the Silver Tree, and constructed it with the help of a captive of the Khan, the sculptor William of Paris.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree| William the sculptor |The Silver Tree}}</ref> Cheren and William fell in love, but the Khan would never allow them to marry.<ref name=":02">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|The Story of the Fountain|The Silver Tree}}''"The Princess had designed the Silver Tree. She and the Sculptor were in love. The Khan would never allow them to marry."''</ref> Their plight and the tense relationship between Cheren and her father<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|The Ending for the Khan and his daughter|The Silver Tree}} ''"'Cheren is wilful, but I do love her above all else,' said the Khan. 'My father is flawed, but I do love him very dearly,' said the Princess."''</ref> drew the interest of the [[The Masters of the Bazaar|Masters]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|Karakorum was too powerful|The Silver Tree}} ''"Love - love is the key. It overcomes religion, politics, self-preservation. It is the end of all things. Let us discuss the city's loves, and how we may use them…"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|http://silvertree.storynexus.com/|The Emissary's Secrets: Ambush|Silver Tree|}}''"'My cohorts and I would buy this city. We want to take it somewhere it would live forever. The story of the Princess, the Sculptor, and their love is delicious.'"''</ref> and [[Mr Wines]] was sent to start the negotiation for the eventual purchase of Karakorum.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|I Confronted the Emissary|The Silver Tree}}'' "[…] In fact, you may call me by my true name, now: Mr Wines, at your service! […]"''</ref> | ||
In late December 1253, the missionary and explorer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Rubruck William of Rubruck] reached Karakorum, where he found to his surprise that there was already a community of Christians present, including a few from his native France. Eventually, he was accepted into the court of Mongke Khan; there he learned of a plot between the Khan's sons to instigate an invasion from Cathay<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|I Confronted the Emissary|The Silver Tree}}''"The invading forces must have come from Cathay, from the most belligerent branch of the Khan's family.''"</ref> (China), which Mr Wines planned to exploit to push the Khan into selling Karakorum.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree| 'This city will betray you...' |The Silver Tree}}'' "He told me that letting him buy the city was the only way to save it - armies from Cathay and Persia marched on it even now." ''</ref> As the city stood on the brink of destruction, Karakorum was sold and transported to the Neath, thwarting the invasion. | In late December 1253, the missionary and explorer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Rubruck William of Rubruck] reached Karakorum, where he found to his surprise that there was already a community of Christians present, including a few from his native France. Eventually, he was accepted into the court of Mongke Khan; there he learned of a plot between the Khan's sons to instigate an invasion from Cathay<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree|I Confronted the Emissary|The Silver Tree}}''"The invading forces must have come from Cathay, from the most belligerent branch of the Khan's family.''"</ref> (China), which Mr Wines planned to exploit to push the Khan into selling Karakorum.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Silver_Tree| 'This city will betray you...' |The Silver Tree}}'' "He told me that letting him buy the city was the only way to save it - armies from Cathay and Persia marched on it even now." ''</ref> As the city stood on the brink of destruction, Karakorum was sold and transported to the Neath, thwarting the invasion. | ||
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== Internal Turmoil == | == Internal Turmoil == | ||
One of the last Khans of the Fourth City, called the '''True Khan,''' had a vision of his city's eventual demise, and left with his loyal followers to build the [[Khanate]] across the [[Zee]]. The Great Khan's departure left the '''Last Khatun''' to rule over the Fourth City; she made a crown of [[Fingerkings]] to gain wisdom, but unwittingly became their puppet. In retaliation, the inhabitants of the city rebelled and trapped her within a statue.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/What_is_the_object_of_your_campaign%3F|What is the object of your campaign?|Fallen London}}</ref> It may have been during this time of ophidian influence that the Fingerkings encouraged the Fourth City to invade [[Hell]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_a_Relic_of_the_Fourth_City|Examine a Relic of the Fourth City|Fallen London}}''"It is undeniable that the Many-Fingered Kings drove the Fourth City to war with Hell."''</ref> an effort that failed disastrously.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Investigate_the_Fourth_City%27s_War_against_Hell|Investigate the Fourth City's War against Hell|Fallen London}}</ref> | One of the last Khans of the Fourth City, called the '''True Khan,''' had a vision of his city's eventual demise, and left with his loyal followers to build the [[Khanate]] across the [[Zee]]. The Great Khan's departure left the '''Last Khatun''' to rule over the Fourth City; she made a crown of [[Fingerkings]] to gain wisdom, but unwittingly became their puppet. In retaliation, the inhabitants of the city rebelled and trapped her within a statue.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/What_is_the_object_of_your_campaign%3F|What is the object of your campaign?|Fallen London}}</ref> It may have been during this time of ophidian influence that the Fingerkings encouraged the Fourth City to invade [[Hell]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Examine_a_Relic_of_the_Fourth_City|Examine a Relic of the Fourth City|Fallen London}}''"It is undeniable that the Many-Fingered Kings drove the Fourth City to war with Hell."''</ref> an effort that failed disastrously.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Investigate_the_Fourth_City%27s_War_against_Hell|Investigate the Fourth City's War against Hell|Fallen London}}</ref> The Fingerkings may have done this as retribution for Hell teaching the Fourth City how to imprison them.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Arcana Arcana, ''Fallen London''] ''"Gardening is Hell's forté," the deviless continues. "Without our techniques, the Fourth City couldn't have built their galleries. They imprisoned serpents, you know, from beyond the glass. Locked them in statues. Enchained them with art. That's the only way to catch a snake."''</ref> | ||
Finally, after what may have been decades of upheaval, Yesterday's King rebelled against the Masters, who razed the Fourth City to the ground and began searching for a new city to buy.<ref name=":2" /> The Fourth City was dissolved in [[The Echo Bazaar|lacre]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Look_down_into_the_depths|Look down into the depths|Fallen London}}</ref> and most of it was crushed by the ensuing fall of London.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Great-Aunt_Beatrice%27s_Legacy|Great-Aunt Beatrice's Legacy|Fallen London}}''"This must be the Fourth City, Karakorum. Or what remains after it was crushed under the 'surface' of the Neath when London fell."''</ref> Its remnants can be found in the place Londoners call the [[The Forgotten Quarter|Forgotten Quarter]], and in the depths of [[Flute Street]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Great-Aunt_Beatrice%27s_Legacy|Great-Aunt Beatrice's Legacy|Fallen London}}’Great-aunt Beatrice was right. Flute Street is huge. But there are places where you can see evidence of the Fourth City.’</ref> Its survivors and descendants are spread between [[The Carnelian Coast|Port Carnelian]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_day_in_Murgatroyd%27s_Imperial_Tea_Shop|A day in Murgatroyd's Imperial Tea Shop|Fallen London}}</ref> [[Arbor]],<ref name=":1" /> and the [[Khanate]]. | Finally, after what may have been decades of upheaval, Yesterday's King rebelled against the Masters, who razed the Fourth City to the ground and began searching for a new city to buy.<ref name=":2" /> The Fourth City was dissolved in [[The Echo Bazaar|lacre]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Look_down_into_the_depths|Look down into the depths|Fallen London}}</ref> and most of it was crushed by the ensuing fall of London.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Great-Aunt_Beatrice%27s_Legacy|Great-Aunt Beatrice's Legacy|Fallen London}}''"This must be the Fourth City, Karakorum. Or what remains after it was crushed under the 'surface' of the Neath when London fell."''</ref> Its remnants can be found in the place Londoners call the [[The Forgotten Quarter|Forgotten Quarter]], and in the depths of [[Flute Street]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Great-Aunt_Beatrice%27s_Legacy|Great-Aunt Beatrice's Legacy|Fallen London}}’Great-aunt Beatrice was right. Flute Street is huge. But there are places where you can see evidence of the Fourth City.’</ref> Its survivors and descendants are spread between [[The Carnelian Coast|Port Carnelian]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_day_in_Murgatroyd%27s_Imperial_Tea_Shop|A day in Murgatroyd's Imperial Tea Shop|Fallen London}}</ref> [[Arbor]],<ref name=":1" /> and the [[Khanate]]. | ||
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[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Rubruck William of Rubruck] was a Flemish Franciscan friar who embarked on a missionary expedition to Karakorum in 1253. Western knowledge of the city as it was in the days of Möngke Khan exists thanks to William's [https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/rubruck.html extensive account of his journey], which he wrote for King Louis IX of France upon his return to Crusader territory in 1255. While there, he met a handful of other western Europeans who had been taken as captives from Hungary, as well as a community of Nestorian and Greek Orthodox Christians led by captives from Greece, Hungary, Russia, and the Caucasus. | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Rubruck William of Rubruck] was a Flemish Franciscan friar who embarked on a missionary expedition to Karakorum in 1253. Western knowledge of the city as it was in the days of Möngke Khan exists thanks to William's [https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/rubruck.html extensive account of his journey], which he wrote for King Louis IX of France upon his return to Crusader territory in 1255. While there, he met a handful of other western Europeans who had been taken as captives from Hungary, as well as a community of Nestorian and Greek Orthodox Christians led by captives from Greece, Hungary, Russia, and the Caucasus. | ||
William of Paris is another name recorded for the French metalsmith [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_Boucher Guillaume Boucher].<ref>{{Citation|https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-asian-studies/article/abs/guillaume-boucher-a-french-artist-at-the-court-of-the-khans-by-leonard-olschki-baltimore-the-johns-hopkins-press-1946-viii-125-p-illustrations-250/F1FCC5CFC1DC679FA82D8BCEA6FB8137|Guillaume Boucher|Cambridge University}} | William of Paris is another name recorded for the French metalsmith [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_Boucher Guillaume Boucher].<ref>{{Citation|https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-asian-studies/article/abs/guillaume-boucher-a-french-artist-at-the-court-of-the-khans-by-leonard-olschki-baltimore-the-johns-hopkins-press-1946-viii-125-p-illustrations-250/F1FCC5CFC1DC679FA82D8BCEA6FB8137|Guillaume Boucher|Cambridge University}} </ref> Boucher was indeed a captive of the Khan who lived in Mongolia thereafter, and according to William of Rubruck, he did craft a Silver Tree for the Khan. However, there are no records to indicate that Boucher and Cheren fell in love; in fact, historical records indicate that Boucher's wife and adopted son were with him at the court of the Khan. | ||
== References == | ==References== | ||
<references /> | {{Scroll box|text = <references/>}} | ||
[[Category:Places]] | |||
[[Category:The Neath]] | |||
[[Category:The Fallen Cities]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:54, 6 April 2025
"Who carves horse-head amulets out of bone? Whoever lived in the Fourth City. If all the Fourth City amulets on sale are real, they must really have liked horses." "...the fourth we remade..."
As the immediate predecessor of London, the Fourth City has been well-studied, and the identities of both the city and those associated with it are known conclusively. The Mongol capital of Karakorum fell to the Neath in 1254 CE, during the reign of Möngke Khan.[1]
The Fall of the Fourth City[edit]
The Khan's favorite daughter, the princess Cheren (or Shirin), sought the recipe for an immortality-granting drink made of peaches.[2] She designed an elaborate silver fountain called the Silver Tree, and constructed it with the help of a captive of the Khan, the sculptor William of Paris.[3] Cheren and William fell in love, but the Khan would never allow them to marry.[4] Their plight and the tense relationship between Cheren and her father[5] drew the interest of the Masters,[6][7] and Mr Wines was sent to start the negotiation for the eventual purchase of Karakorum.[8]
In late December 1253, the missionary and explorer William of Rubruck reached Karakorum, where he found to his surprise that there was already a community of Christians present, including a few from his native France. Eventually, he was accepted into the court of Mongke Khan; there he learned of a plot between the Khan's sons to instigate an invasion from Cathay[9] (China), which Mr Wines planned to exploit to push the Khan into selling Karakorum.[10] As the city stood on the brink of destruction, Karakorum was sold and transported to the Neath, thwarting the invasion.
Accounts vary as to what exactly became of Guillaume and William thereafter, but they are both long since deceased. William's soul was found in a Brass Embassy warehouse, alongside the soul of a Nestorian monk he met in Karakorum,[11] and his dreams are the probable origin point of Yesterday's Clerestory in Parabola.[12] Cheren, who still mourns for Guillaume,[13][14] is still alive thanks to her peach brandy; she is now known as the Gracious Widow.[15]
Adversaries[edit]
Since Mongke Khan was not granted any sort of immortality and several Khans ruled after him, the era of the Fourth City was filled with tumult and power struggles, and several factions warred with it over its history:
- the Copper, who stuck to the ways of the Third City and may have been connected to the God-Eaters[16]
- the Rosers, who hired devils to teach them the ways of Parabola[17] and eventually fled into Arbor[18]
- the Motherlings, who worshipped sorrow-spiders[19] and were able to create spider-councils by weaving the spiders' legs together.[20] The wife of the last Khan was one of the Motherlings.[21]
- Yesterday's King led a rebellion against the Masters at the Widow's behest, leading to the city's downfall.[22]
During its lifespan, the Fourth city tried and failed to invade the Elder Continent.[23][24]
Internal Turmoil[edit]
One of the last Khans of the Fourth City, called the True Khan, had a vision of his city's eventual demise, and left with his loyal followers to build the Khanate across the Zee. The Great Khan's departure left the Last Khatun to rule over the Fourth City; she made a crown of Fingerkings to gain wisdom, but unwittingly became their puppet. In retaliation, the inhabitants of the city rebelled and trapped her within a statue.[25] It may have been during this time of ophidian influence that the Fingerkings encouraged the Fourth City to invade Hell,[26] an effort that failed disastrously.[27] The Fingerkings may have done this as retribution for Hell teaching the Fourth City how to imprison them.[28]
Finally, after what may have been decades of upheaval, Yesterday's King rebelled against the Masters, who razed the Fourth City to the ground and began searching for a new city to buy.[22] The Fourth City was dissolved in lacre,[29] and most of it was crushed by the ensuing fall of London.[30] Its remnants can be found in the place Londoners call the Forgotten Quarter, and in the depths of Flute Street.[31] Its survivors and descendants are spread between Port Carnelian,[32] Arbor,[18] and the Khanate.
In the Sunless Skies timeline, after the gate to the High Wilderness at the Avid Horizon was opened, some of the Fourth City's survivors and descendants - at least the entire Eagle Clan, potentially all of the Khanate, and some of the exiles of Khan's Shadow - passed through and established a new Khanate at Eagle's Empyrean.[33]
Historical Inspirations[edit]
Karakorum was the capital of the Mongol Empire for a brief period of time, built by Ögedei Khan, the third son of the legendary Genghis Khan. It was expanded by Möngke Khan, who was Ögedei's nephew and thus one of Genghis Khan's many, many grandchildren.
William of Rubruck was a Flemish Franciscan friar who embarked on a missionary expedition to Karakorum in 1253. Western knowledge of the city as it was in the days of Möngke Khan exists thanks to William's extensive account of his journey, which he wrote for King Louis IX of France upon his return to Crusader territory in 1255. While there, he met a handful of other western Europeans who had been taken as captives from Hungary, as well as a community of Nestorian and Greek Orthodox Christians led by captives from Greece, Hungary, Russia, and the Caucasus.
William of Paris is another name recorded for the French metalsmith Guillaume Boucher.[34] Boucher was indeed a captive of the Khan who lived in Mongolia thereafter, and according to William of Rubruck, he did craft a Silver Tree for the Khan. However, there are no records to indicate that Boucher and Cheren fell in love; in fact, historical records indicate that Boucher's wife and adopted son were with him at the court of the Khan.
References[edit]
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