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{{Character|title1=January|location=[[The Museum of Injustice]]<br> | {{Character|title1=January|location=[[The Museum of Injustice]]<br> | ||
[[Pan]] (1905)|allegiance=[[The Calendar Council]] | [[Pan]] (1905)|allegiance=[[The Calendar Council]] | ||
[[The Liberation of Night]]|alias=The Masked Curator|image1=January.png|caption1= | [[The Liberation of Night]]|alias=The Masked Curator|image1=January.png|caption1=|relationships=}}<blockquote>''"'It is always only the beginning of the work,' she says. 'A hand up, a word in an ear, a few pages written in a forbidden book. We do not have to complete the work, but we may not set it aside.'"''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_her_goals_(January)|Ask about her goals (January)|Fallen London}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
'''January,''' also known as the '''Masked Curator,''' is a senior member of the [[Calendar Council]]. She is also the founder and guardian of the [[Museum of Injustice]], an institution that exists to document and record oppression.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Invite_January_to_the_Board|Invite January to the Board|Fallen London}}''"Her attention is now turned to curating the Museum of Injustices, a collection for which she is always finding new prospective exhibits."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Remind_her_of_a_meeting_at_the_Museum_of_Injustices|Remind her of a meeting at the Museum of Injustices|Fallen London}} ''""Many wrongs have been done to us," says January. "And even if others choose to forget, I do not.""''</ref> She wears a Janus mask, with one side scowling and the other weeping.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Season_Conclusions_(Guide)#The_Season_of_Revolutions|Season Conclusions (Guide)#The Season of Revolutions|Fallen London}} ''"A Masked Curator waits at the door. Her mask bears two faces, one grim and scowling, the other weeping."''</ref> Her true appearance is left undescribed beyond her artwork. | '''January,''' also known as the '''Masked Curator,''' is a senior member of the [[Calendar Council]]. She is also the founder and guardian of the [[Museum of Injustice]], an institution that exists to document and record oppression.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Invite_January_to_the_Board|Invite January to the Board|Fallen London}}''"Her attention is now turned to curating the Museum of Injustices, a collection for which she is always finding new prospective exhibits."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Remind_her_of_a_meeting_at_the_Museum_of_Injustices|Remind her of a meeting at the Museum of Injustices|Fallen London}} ''""Many wrongs have been done to us," says January. "And even if others choose to forget, I do not.""''</ref> She wears a Janus mask, with one side scowling and the other weeping.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Season_Conclusions_(Guide)#The_Season_of_Revolutions|Season Conclusions (Guide)#The Season of Revolutions|Fallen London}} ''"A Masked Curator waits at the door. Her mask bears two faces, one grim and scowling, the other weeping."''</ref> Her true appearance is left undescribed beyond her artwork. | ||
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January critiques the Emancipationist school of thought as championed by [[Furnace Ancona]], on the grounds that they prefer to ignore and escape oppression rather than confront it.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_the_Emancipationists_(January)|Ask her about the Emancipationists (January)|Fallen London}} ''"They understand work, but they do not understand the philosophy or the strategy of what lies before us. They would rather escape their oppressors than confront them and cast them down. [...] How many villages of the downtrodden do we scatter across the Neath, while the Masters, and higher powers still, go on as they have been? Forever producing new victims? The Emancipationists have no answer for that.""''</ref> She thinks similarly of [[Cornelius]] and his Prehistoricists; according to her, they assume mistakenly that higher powers ''must'' behave by their own rules.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_the_Prehistoricists_(January)|Ask her about the Prehistoricists (January)|Fallen London}} ''""Their philosophy is ingenious and foolish," says January. "The Prehistoricist thinkers believe that they can shame the great powers, shame the stars themselves, into acting according to their own rules. [...] But which of those above us ever intended to be fair? They don't ask themselves this, and they don't begin the true work; they dabble in experiments that help no one.""''</ref> She cannot argue, however, with the unphilosophical desire to lead an army of one's own creations.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_the_Prehistoricists_(January)|Ask her about the Prehistoricists (January)|Fallen London}} ''"A second thought occurs to her. "Their unphilosophical members are on more solid ground. They believe it would be entertaining, and that it would spare them considerable effort, if they commanded an army of ferrous beasts. I offer no counter-argument there.""''</ref> | January critiques the Emancipationist school of thought as championed by [[Furnace Ancona]], on the grounds that they prefer to ignore and escape oppression rather than confront it.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_the_Emancipationists_(January)|Ask her about the Emancipationists (January)|Fallen London}} ''"They understand work, but they do not understand the philosophy or the strategy of what lies before us. They would rather escape their oppressors than confront them and cast them down. [...] How many villages of the downtrodden do we scatter across the Neath, while the Masters, and higher powers still, go on as they have been? Forever producing new victims? The Emancipationists have no answer for that.""''</ref> She thinks similarly of [[Cornelius]] and his Prehistoricists; according to her, they assume mistakenly that higher powers ''must'' behave by their own rules.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_the_Prehistoricists_(January)|Ask her about the Prehistoricists (January)|Fallen London}} ''""Their philosophy is ingenious and foolish," says January. "The Prehistoricist thinkers believe that they can shame the great powers, shame the stars themselves, into acting according to their own rules. [...] But which of those above us ever intended to be fair? They don't ask themselves this, and they don't begin the true work; they dabble in experiments that help no one.""''</ref> She cannot argue, however, with the unphilosophical desire to lead an army of one's own creations.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_about_the_Prehistoricists_(January)|Ask her about the Prehistoricists (January)|Fallen London}} ''"A second thought occurs to her. "Their unphilosophical members are on more solid ground. They believe it would be entertaining, and that it would spare them considerable effort, if they commanded an army of ferrous beasts. I offer no counter-argument there.""''</ref> | ||
In the ''Sunless Skies'' timeline, as of 1905, | In the ''Sunless Skies'' timeline, as of 1905, January has left the Neath with [[December]] and [[February]]. The three revolutionaries reside in [[Pan]] in [[Eleutheria]].<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/Winter%27s_Reside|Winter's Reside|Sunless Skies}} ''"Three of the revolutionaries' governing Calendar Council live here: February, January, and ineffable December."''</ref> | ||
== A Darkened Path == | == A Darkened Path == | ||
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Among many other subjects, she has studied the [[The Discordance|Discordance]], and believes she can use it to further the Liberation of Night.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_what_she_found_at_Hurlers_(January)|Ask about what she found at Hurlers (January)|Fallen London}}''"Nothing," says January. "I did not find an old ally; I did not learn anything of its history, nor observe the nature of its solitude. I did not learn to dine on shadows, or find sustenance in the dark. I did not experience a miracle of providence. And so the Liberationists to come will not benefit from what I have not learned."''</ref> | Among many other subjects, she has studied the [[The Discordance|Discordance]], and believes she can use it to further the Liberation of Night.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_what_she_found_at_Hurlers_(January)|Ask about what she found at Hurlers (January)|Fallen London}}''"Nothing," says January. "I did not find an old ally; I did not learn anything of its history, nor observe the nature of its solitude. I did not learn to dine on shadows, or find sustenance in the dark. I did not experience a miracle of providence. And so the Liberationists to come will not benefit from what I have not learned."''</ref> | ||
January's further background is never directly mentioned, but it is made quite clear that she is Jewish. She inherited a shofar from her family<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Grant_January_the_right|Grant January the right|Fallen London}} ''"The ram's horn is longer than her arm. "It has been in my family a long time[…]" She lifts the horn and blows, a blast that goes on and on, more and more loudly, until it seems impossible for anyone to keep blowing; but she continues anyway."'' (T'kiah gedolah!)</ref> and references<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_her_goals_(January)|Ask about her goals (January)|Fallen London}}''""It is always only the beginning of the work," she says. "A hand up, a word in an ear, a few pages written in a forbidden book. We do not have to complete the work, but we may not set it aside.""''</ref> ''Pirkei Avot'',<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.2.16?lang=bi Pirkei Avot:] ''"It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it."''</ref> a compilation of rabbinical teachings on ethics and morals. | January's further background is never directly mentioned, but it is made quite clear that she is Jewish. She inherited a ''shofar'' from her family<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Grant_January_the_right|Grant January the right|Fallen London}} ''"The ram's horn is longer than her arm. "It has been in my family a long time[…]" She lifts the horn and blows, a blast that goes on and on, more and more loudly, until it seems impossible for anyone to keep blowing; but she continues anyway."'' (T'kiah gedolah!)</ref> and references<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_her_goals_(January)|Ask about her goals (January)|Fallen London}}''""It is always only the beginning of the work," she says. "A hand up, a word in an ear, a few pages written in a forbidden book. We do not have to complete the work, but we may not set it aside.""''</ref> ''Pirkei Avot'',<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.2.16?lang=bi Pirkei Avot:] ''"It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it."''</ref> a compilation of rabbinical teachings on ethics and morals. | ||
== Historical and Cultural Inspirations == | == Historical and Cultural Inspirations == | ||
While January's stated motivations are metaphysical, there were a few real-world events toward the end of the 19th century that could have shaped her perspective and desire to end oppression: for instance, the growing social inequality that came alongside the rise of industry (precipitating the American Gilded Age across the Atlantic) | While January's stated motivations are metaphysical, there were a few real-world events toward the end of the 19th century that could have shaped her perspective and desire to end oppression: for instance, the growing social inequality that came alongside the rise of industry (precipitating the American Gilded Age across the Atlantic); the Victorian uptick in xenophobia and overall political conservatism across Britain (which is reflected in London mostly as antagonism against other species); and the rise of anti-Semitic sentiments and violence, beginning around 1881, that drove millions of European Jews to emigrate. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Scroll box|text=<references/>}} | {{Scroll box|text=<references/>}} | ||
Latest revision as of 04:38, 7 June 2025
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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. |
"'It is always only the beginning of the work,' she says. 'A hand up, a word in an ear, a few pages written in a forbidden book. We do not have to complete the work, but we may not set it aside.'"[1]
January, also known as the Masked Curator, is a senior member of the Calendar Council. She is also the founder and guardian of the Museum of Injustice, an institution that exists to document and record oppression.[2][3] She wears a Janus mask, with one side scowling and the other weeping.[4] Her true appearance is left undescribed beyond her artwork.
Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue[edit]
"We will not even be able to imagine something beyond this hierarchy until we have brought it down."[5]
January is an ardent and outspoken supporter of the Liberation of Night,[6][7] believing it to be the surest and greatest way of dismantling injustice,[8] and fantasizes about extinguishing the Sun and Moon alike.[9]
January is not a light conversationalist; she seems to always be thinking about some deeper subject even while making small talk and sharing stories.[10] Even with those she trusts, she probes for deeper details about their lives and families.[11] When given the opportunity, she is a brilliant schemer, always steps ahead of everyone else in considering the ramifications of a plan.[12][13] She knows August well, though they aren't exactly friends,[14] and she values April as an ally;[15] meanwhile, she seems to see right through September as not being ready to fill his shoes.[16][17]
January critiques the Emancipationist school of thought as championed by Furnace Ancona, on the grounds that they prefer to ignore and escape oppression rather than confront it.[18] She thinks similarly of Cornelius and his Prehistoricists; according to her, they assume mistakenly that higher powers must behave by their own rules.[19] She cannot argue, however, with the unphilosophical desire to lead an army of one's own creations.[20]
In the Sunless Skies timeline, as of 1905, January has left the Neath with December and February. The three revolutionaries reside in Pan in Eleutheria.[21]
A Darkened Path[edit]
"January was once the Dean of Benthic. Now she has a great deal to say about the ivory tower, most of it bitter, but she remains unmistakably professorial."[22]
January was the Dean of Benthic College at some point in the past;[23][24] her disdain for the University as an institution suggests that she may not have left her position willingly.[24] A book apparently authored by her, kept in the Agendums of Ascent, discusses methods of radicalizing students of various disciplines.[25] Another of her books documents the injustices perpetrated by the Judgements,[26] and she notes that she has written many others, although they are not printed under her revolutionary alias.[27]
Among many other subjects, she has studied the Discordance, and believes she can use it to further the Liberation of Night.[28]
January's further background is never directly mentioned, but it is made quite clear that she is Jewish. She inherited a shofar from her family[29] and references[30] Pirkei Avot,[31] a compilation of rabbinical teachings on ethics and morals.
Historical and Cultural Inspirations[edit]
While January's stated motivations are metaphysical, there were a few real-world events toward the end of the 19th century that could have shaped her perspective and desire to end oppression: for instance, the growing social inequality that came alongside the rise of industry (precipitating the American Gilded Age across the Atlantic); the Victorian uptick in xenophobia and overall political conservatism across Britain (which is reflected in London mostly as antagonism against other species); and the rise of anti-Semitic sentiments and violence, beginning around 1881, that drove millions of European Jews to emigrate.
References[edit]
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