Vesture: Difference between revisions
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=== Before There Was Vesture === | === Before There Was Vesture === | ||
<blockquote>''"Is there a difference between Vesture, Investure and Investiture? All three have seemingly occupied the same place, at one time or another. Though only two appear as part of the Presbyterate..."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Tease_out_the_subtleties_hidden_in_Presbyterate_nomenclature|Tease out the subtleties hidden in Presbyterate nomenclature|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>The ancient cities of Investure and Investiture were both predecessors of modern-day Vesture;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Tease_out_the_subtleties_hidden_in_Presbyterate_nomenclature|Tease out the subtleties hidden in Presbyterate nomenclature|Fallen London|}}''"Is there a difference between Vesture, Investure and Investiture? All three have seemingly occupied the same place, at one time or another. Though only two appear as part of the Presbyterate..."''</ref> Investiture is said to have been devoured by spiders.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Convince_the_Manager_of_the_Royal_Bethlehem_to_train_you|Convince the Manager of the Royal Bethlehem to train you|Fallen London|}}''"Of Arbor stolen by roses, and Investiture devoured by spiders."''</ref> The humans and spiders of the region once warred bitterly,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"The cloth depicts great spiders hanging like lanterns from a forest canopy. Some bear weeping scars, others are missing limbs and eyes. One of the central figures is a luminous, amethyst-pelted spider – smaller than the others. It stands apart from its damaged kin, instead depicted near a gathering of humans. They too are injured."''</ref> but ultimately allied to share resources and artistic expertise.<ref name=":2">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"The Concordat, [...] When the two Vestures became one. When we learned what we might gain from each other: our resources and their art."''</ref> The agreement that unified the two species has been called both the Peace of Vesture<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"[...] The Peace of Vesture, when the spiders and humans became one nation. [...]"''</ref> and the Concordat of Silks.<ref name=":2" />{{ | <blockquote>''"Is there a difference between Vesture, Investure and Investiture? All three have seemingly occupied the same place, at one time or another. Though only two appear as part of the Presbyterate..."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Tease_out_the_subtleties_hidden_in_Presbyterate_nomenclature|Tease out the subtleties hidden in Presbyterate nomenclature|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>The ancient cities of Investure and Investiture were both predecessors of modern-day Vesture;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Tease_out_the_subtleties_hidden_in_Presbyterate_nomenclature|Tease out the subtleties hidden in Presbyterate nomenclature|Fallen London|}}''"Is there a difference between Vesture, Investure and Investiture? All three have seemingly occupied the same place, at one time or another. Though only two appear as part of the Presbyterate..."''</ref> Investiture is said to have been devoured by spiders.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Convince_the_Manager_of_the_Royal_Bethlehem_to_train_you|Convince the Manager of the Royal Bethlehem to train you|Fallen London|}}''"Of Arbor stolen by roses, and Investiture devoured by spiders."''</ref> The humans and spiders of the region once warred bitterly,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"The cloth depicts great spiders hanging like lanterns from a forest canopy. Some bear weeping scars, others are missing limbs and eyes. One of the central figures is a luminous, amethyst-pelted spider – smaller than the others. It stands apart from its damaged kin, instead depicted near a gathering of humans. They too are injured."''</ref> but ultimately allied to share resources and artistic expertise.<ref name=":2">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"The Concordat, [...] When the two Vestures became one. When we learned what we might gain from each other: our resources and their art."''</ref> The agreement that unified the two species has been called both the Peace of Vesture<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"[...] The Peace of Vesture, when the spiders and humans became one nation. [...]"''</ref> and the Concordat of Silks.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}} ''"The Concordat of Silks [storylet title]"''</ref> | ||
== Political Turmoil == | == Political Turmoil == | ||
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As a result of the coup, the rightful heir to Vesture's throne, the '''Injurious Princess''', was deposed and exiled.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Season_of_Sceptres:_A_Visitor_to_London|The Season of Sceptres: A Visitor to London|Fallen London|}} ''"She is the heir to the Kingdom of Vesture, the silkweavers of the Prester. Her throne was lost in an uprising and a usurper sits in it now."''</ref> She was forced to leave her younger brother behind, but promised to eventually return to retrieve him;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"When the Tyrant came to power I had to leave quickly. Like a thief in the night – from my own country! My brother was just a boy. Barely sixteen. I couldn't take him with me, but I made him a promise."''</ref> he is currently under the guardianship of the Tyrant,<ref name=":4" /> who had also previously served as the Princess's regent.<ref name=":3" /> A skilled player of chess and a force to be reckoned with,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Season_of_Sceptres:_A_Visitor_to_London|The Season of Sceptres: A Visitor to London|Fallen London|}}"''She produces a handsome chess set made from chert wood. [...] Her stratagems are sudden and without quarter. [...] "Please don't try to rob me. I'd hate to break a third arm before noon.""''</ref> the Princess now seeks to regain her lost throne by any means necessary.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Season_of_Sceptres:_A_Visitor_to_London|The Season of Sceptres: A Visitor to London|Fallen London|}} ''"The Princess is in London hoping to raise enough capital to bring the unpleasantness to a swift conclusion."''</ref> | As a result of the coup, the rightful heir to Vesture's throne, the '''Injurious Princess''', was deposed and exiled.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Season_of_Sceptres:_A_Visitor_to_London|The Season of Sceptres: A Visitor to London|Fallen London|}} ''"She is the heir to the Kingdom of Vesture, the silkweavers of the Prester. Her throne was lost in an uprising and a usurper sits in it now."''</ref> She was forced to leave her younger brother behind, but promised to eventually return to retrieve him;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"When the Tyrant came to power I had to leave quickly. Like a thief in the night – from my own country! My brother was just a boy. Barely sixteen. I couldn't take him with me, but I made him a promise."''</ref> he is currently under the guardianship of the Tyrant,<ref name=":4" /> who had also previously served as the Princess's regent.<ref name=":3" /> A skilled player of chess and a force to be reckoned with,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Season_of_Sceptres:_A_Visitor_to_London|The Season of Sceptres: A Visitor to London|Fallen London|}}"''She produces a handsome chess set made from chert wood. [...] Her stratagems are sudden and without quarter. [...] "Please don't try to rob me. I'd hate to break a third arm before noon.""''</ref> the Princess now seeks to regain her lost throne by any means necessary.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Season_of_Sceptres:_A_Visitor_to_London|The Season of Sceptres: A Visitor to London|Fallen London|}} ''"The Princess is in London hoping to raise enough capital to bring the unpleasantness to a swift conclusion."''</ref> | ||
Vesture and [[Arbor]], specifically the part of Arbor that exists in reality, share a border.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"[...] And then there is the other one – where Arbor still exists on the Elder Continent. That Arbor still shares some of its borders with Vesture. [...]"''</ref> The Prester has forbidden his kingdoms from meddling in each other’s affairs,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"The Prester Saith: Every Planet In Fixed and Solitary Orbit: intrigue between nations is forbidden."''</ref> and he himself has not found suitable reason to help depose the Tyrant;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"[...] The Elder Continent is formed of many sovereign states and cities, all ruled by the Presbyter. Were he to think ill of the Tyrant of Vesture, help working against her could be more overt. But she has not offended the Presbyter. Indeed, her reforms may make Vesture more valuable to him."''</ref> however, | Vesture and [[Arbor]], specifically the part of Arbor that exists in reality, share a border.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"[...] And then there is the other one – where Arbor still exists on the Elder Continent. That Arbor still shares some of its borders with Vesture. [...]"''</ref> The Prester has forbidden his kingdoms from meddling in each other’s affairs,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"The Prester Saith: Every Planet In Fixed and Solitary Orbit: intrigue between nations is forbidden."''</ref> and he himself has not found suitable reason to help depose the Tyrant;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"[...] The Elder Continent is formed of many sovereign states and cities, all ruled by the Presbyter. Were he to think ill of the Tyrant of Vesture, help working against her could be more overt. But she has not offended the Presbyter. Indeed, her reforms may make Vesture more valuable to him."''</ref> however, a representative of the [[Roseate Queen]] has indicated that the Princess's return to the throne would be an asset to both kingdoms and a strong potential ally.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_House_of_Silk_and_Flame|The House of Silk and Flame|Fallen London|}}''"It would do us all good if Arbor could count on Vesture's loyalty in the future."''</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 07:48, 27 April 2025
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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 tapestries are luxurious. Patterned backdrops enrich foregrounds in lustrous carmine, lush verdure and luminous cerulean. Unicorns vie with spiders for dominance of web-haunted forests, while weavers enter spider-shrouded palaces with torches to draw out new silk. A coat of arms of three spiders on a burning field appears on each tapestry."[1]
Vesture is a kingdom in the Elder Continent that provides silkweavers for the Presbyterate.
A Kingdom of Silk[edit]
"The coach passes through vast forests, hung with webs and lost jewels. You see great stone houses rising through the canopies: these are the old silk houses, built like castles commanding the heights of Vesture. A great river runs through a valley, the colour of obsidian."[2]
Spiders are abundant in the jungles that cover most of Vesture, and are central to its society and economy. The kingdom is dotted with secluded Silk Houses, where spiders and human weavers craft its valuable exports.[3] The people of Vesture revere their arachnid companions, and human weapons and palaces feature their images;[4][5] they also employ giant spiders to draw their carriages.[6] Weavers are trained at the House of the Loom, the "oldest place in Vesture," which also serves as a burial ground[7] (since the people of the Elder Continent are rather hard to kill). The capital of Vesture is called Vestment.[8]
Vesture's tradition of weaving is governed by its strict Doctrine of Originality. No two Silk Houses are permitted to produce the same patterns or styles, and a House that does not meet quality standards will be torn down if there are no signs of improvement.[9] Every year, the palaces of Vesture gather to offer their silks for the Presbyterate and royal house to judge and take as tribute. Flattery is forbidden, as are depictions of humans.[10]
Each Silk House in Vesture is assigned a single Great Spider, sustained by a sherd of the Mountain so that they are long-lived[11] and extremely hard to kill.[12] It spends its entire life in its House,[13] supported by a designated team of weavers.[14] Only members of the royal family are allowed to end the life of an elderly Great Spider;[15] after this, the Silk House is burned,[16] its weavers are auctioned off to other Houses,[17][18] and the Spider is given a formal funeral.[18]
Every palace in Vesture, except for the royal palace, also has its own arachnid matriarch.[19] The royals are tasked with finding suitable larvae and bringing them to each palace to be reared.[20] The spiders, for their part, do not appreciate having their young stolen, so they are distrustful of humans and attack anyone participating in the practice on sight.[21]
Before There Was Vesture[edit]
"Is there a difference between Vesture, Investure and Investiture? All three have seemingly occupied the same place, at one time or another. Though only two appear as part of the Presbyterate..."[22]
The ancient cities of Investure and Investiture were both predecessors of modern-day Vesture;[23] Investiture is said to have been devoured by spiders.[24] The humans and spiders of the region once warred bitterly,[25] but ultimately allied to share resources and artistic expertise.[26] The agreement that unified the two species has been called both the Peace of Vesture[27] and the Concordat of Silks.[26][28]
Political Turmoil[edit]
"Seeing your interest, the Injurious Princess introduces herself. She is the exiled heir to the throne of Vesture, the kingdom represented in the tapestries. She's in London to raise the capital and information required for a successful invasion of her homeland."[1]
Until relatively recently, Vesture was ruled by a decadent queen, whose indulgences and refusal to mitigate a famine in the kingdom led to an uprising known as the Bakery Riots.[29] Amidst the chaos, the queen's sister[30] (or niece)[31] exploited a disagreement among the country's weavers to plunge the nation into civil war and claim the throne for herself.[31] The usurper now rules as a ruthless and arbitrary Tyrant surrounded by her opportunistic court,[32] who seeks to abolish the Doctrine of Originality and threaten the societal foundations of Vesture.[33] The Tyrant is rumored to have fed the former queen to the spiders.[34]
As a result of the coup, the rightful heir to Vesture's throne, the Injurious Princess, was deposed and exiled.[35] She was forced to leave her younger brother behind, but promised to eventually return to retrieve him;[36] he is currently under the guardianship of the Tyrant,[34] who had also previously served as the Princess's regent.[31] A skilled player of chess and a force to be reckoned with,[37] the Princess now seeks to regain her lost throne by any means necessary.[38]
Vesture and Arbor, specifically the part of Arbor that exists in reality, share a border.[39] The Prester has forbidden his kingdoms from meddling in each other’s affairs,[40] and he himself has not found suitable reason to help depose the Tyrant;[41] however, a representative of the Roseate Queen has indicated that the Princess's return to the throne would be an asset to both kingdoms and a strong potential ally.[42]
References[edit]
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