Pan

"The sound of far-off pipes. You near Pan, the unruly heart of Eleutheria."

"You approach Pan. Pan of the crimson mysteries. Pan of the pipe-haunted groves. Pan: the dusky, delirious, divided heart of Eleutheria."

Pan is a settlement at the center of Eleutheria, built on top of the ruins of a cathedral. It's a bastion of criminals and outcasts, where the thieves, smugglers, murderers, cults, and rebels of the High Wilderness reside.

A Ruler Without

Pan is first and foremost disputed territory, but the center dock is considered neutral ground. The various factions of Eleutheria gather here for business and conquest; as such, Pan is full of turmoil and intrigue, and many of the settlers here push the boundaries of what can be considered "civilized".

The "ruler" of Pan is the Cypress King, whose only purpose is to break up disagreements between factions during the Hour of Argument. The position of the Cypress King can be challenged during the Hour of Thorns. Because of this, the occupant of the position changes constantly. January, of London's Calendar Council, held this position at one point.

Since the Halved imposed a strict ban on storytelling, exchanges of information must always be done in secret.

The Factions of Pan

Below are some details regarding the various factions residing in Pan. Many of these factions inhabit a platform near the main dock.

The Brazen Brigade

"The Brigade dislikes anything that smacks of republicanism, in the same way that someone who once experienced bad prawns has no desire to do so again." "As for the Brigade, they are unique among devils I've known. Their saints are the grand devils who once served in the Heavens, but rebelled and were cast down or imprisoned or fled. The stories are inconsistent on the point." The Brazen Brigade is a group of devils, and others, who venerate the saints of Hell. Led by the Scarlet Condottierre, they aspire to replace the Judgements as the rulers of the heavens. During the Hour of Trumpets, the Brigade hunts down wrongdoers, who have been branded with "the Calf-sign." But their bloodlust may get a little out of control... Brigade members also act as the interpreters of the Adamant Idol, the effigy of the Piper-Saints of Hell. The piping of the Adamant Idol determines the activity of Pan.

The Calendar Council

Three of the revolutionaries' governing Calendar Council live here: February, January, and ineffable December. "Those who join us should be prepared to defy the suns. And prepared to win, for our grievances are immeasurable." After the gateway to space was opened, the Calendar Council founded their new base of operations here, known as Winter's Reside. Amusingly, they also began recruiting individuals through Christmas cards. Currently, they lure in and torment unwitting volunteers in an attempt to use their pain to attack the stars. Only three members of the Council, January, February, and December, are known to be at this location. August is off by himself at the wreck of the Berrenger, debating arguments that he doesn't even believe himself. As usual.

The Heart-Catchers

"A grizzled coterie of gardeners care for this unusual orchard. The plants that grow here are Heart-Catchers, whose fruit looks - and speaks - like human heads." "We've advised kings and Curators and Measurers. If our advice was bad, why did they return?" Heart-Catchers are plants whose fruits look like human heads. They can apparently capture deaths; this strange phenomenon is a means of averting one's own manner of death and pushing it on someone else's poor unfortunate soul. Their gardeners act as their representatives in Pan's forum. The very first Heart-Catcher was the Second Storyteller, someone who, against all odds, convinced the King who Wars to abandon light. The Halved granted him the dubious reward of making him immortal in the form of a plant. Those who drink his tears will witness the darkening of the Halved.

The Gentlemen

"Here, in the lawless galleries of Pan, the Gentlemen have no need to hide their activities. Smugglers boast of their schemes and their murders. Wild laughter rings out. Knives glint." "A sign has been hammered onto the pillar. 'If you've done something that can't be forgiven – if there is no place left to run – if you would seek refuge with the Gentlemen, record your name and crime.' It is barely legible under a thick coat of frost." The Gentlemen are a coalition of experienced smugglers. They mainly smuggle starshine, starlight-laced water combed from the pools of Eleutheria, which when imbibed induces nostalgia for Earth. Aside from contraband, they also trade in secrets. They've built a confessional booth where skyfarers can confess their secrets in exchange for money, and they recruit criminals from the Avid Horizon in exchange for their confessions.

The Neonocturnals

"...a proud poet of the Neonocturnal school, who wrote works condemning society's hypocrites. His tongue is barbed, his pen venomous, and his temper as thin as cheesewire." The Neonocturnals are a new artistic movement spearheaded by the Masked Citizen. While the old Nocturnals appreciated the darkness of the Neath, the modern Neonocturnals focus more on criticizing society; their works are often revolutionary in nature. They moderate the forum of Pan during the Hour of Argument.

The Word-Eaters

"Twice, Eleutheria has been turned upside-down by storytellers. Now, the profession is prohibited in Pan. During the Hour of Veracity the Word-Eaters bare their feet, cover their faces with ash, and roam the city, confiscating stories." The Word-Eaters are the servants of the Halved. Normally, they're just ordinary citizens of Pan, but during the Hour of Veracity, they cover their faces with ash and extract stories from unlucky roaming citizens. Skyfarers are common targets of the Word-Eaters, since they have many stories to tell.