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{{Neath_Location|image1 = Bullbone-header-edited.png|caption1 = Bullbone Island|location = [[The Unterzee|The Southern Archipelago]]|allegiance = Uninhabited|notable_inhabitants = [[Mandrakes]]}}<blockquote>''"Fragments of bone mix with the shingle at the shore. Others poke out from tide pools and little caves. Most of the bones are from cattle, you think. Drowned, most likely. Most are from around the Fall, but a few smooth pieces are much older. There are no cattle on the island now."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_bones_of_Bullbone|The bones of Bullbone|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>
{{Neath_Location|image1 = Bullboneheader.png|caption1 = Not much to see. Art from FL.|location = Southern Archipelago|allegiance = Independent|notable_inhabitants = Mandrakes}}<blockquote>''"They say that not all the bones are from bulls, and the trees dance in the pale glim-light."''</blockquote>'''Bullbone Island''' is a mysterious island in the Southern Archipelago.


The island is mainly populated by animals, including a particularly large population of weasels. Mandrakes as big as trees also run wild here, and their hypnotic singing is a persistent hazard. The weasels try to hunt the beetles that live on the island, which glow like fireflies.
'''Bullbone Island''' is an uninhabited island in the [[Unterzee]] near [[London]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Destination:_Bullbone_Island|Destination: Bullbone Island|Fallen London|}} ''"A largely deserted island near London [...]"''</ref> It gets its name from the bones and fossils that cover the shoreline, most of which are from cattle that apparently drowned. Bones from ancient cattle can also be found here, as well as those from humans.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_bones_of_Bullbone|The bones of Bullbone|Fallen London|}} ''"Fragments of bone mix with the shingle at the shore. [...] Most of the bones are from cattle, you think. Drowned, most likely. Most are from around the Fall, but a few smooth pieces are much older. [...] A few of these bones are human, [...]"''</ref> Very few people visit this island or live here,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Bullbone_Island_1|Bullbone Island 1|Fallen London|}} ''"Steamers keeping a regular schedule don't stop at Bullbone Island. Barely anyone lives here."''</ref> besides those on exile from [[London]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Someone_lives_near_the_mandrake-copse|Someone lives near the mandrake-copse|Fallen London|}} ''"You spot a top hat moving through the undergrowth. [...] He chose to exile himself when he discovered a secret of the royal family."''</ref> The island is home to a few known animals: groups of [[weasels]] roam about to feast on [[Phosphorescent Scarabs]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Weasels_about|Weasels about|Fallen London|}} ''"The weasels have been attracted by a population of skittering beetles. The little darlings have been feasting on bugs for some time – there's a pile of glowing discarded shell fragments for the taking."''</ref> and [[Lamplighter Bees]] build hives here.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Wild_bees|Wild bees|Fallen London|}} ''"There are a few hives of wild lamplighter bees scattered around Bullbone Island."''</ref> Ancient writings from the [[First City]] have also been found here.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Oho_-_a_little_writing|Oho - a little writing|Fallen London|}} ''"You can't make out what it says, but this is definitely First City writing."''</ref>


Bullbone may have been part of the [[The Fallen Cities#The First City, date unknown|First City]]. The island has only one human resident, a recent exile from [[London|London]], who chose to leave after discovering a court secret.
Bullbone's most notable feature is its forest of enormous [[mandrakes]]. These mandrakes are so large they resemble trees,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Where_the_Wild_Mandrakes_Grow|Where the Wild Mandrakes Grow|Fallen London|}} ''"Up at the centre of Bullbone Island grows a circle of bottle-green trees. Only they're not trees. They're mandrakes."''</ref> and their teeth-filled maws make disturbing them risky.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Creaking_in_the_breeze|Creaking in the breeze|Fallen London|}} ''"They've heard you. A toothy maw slowly splits a trunk open. Run!"''</ref> Like most mandrakes, they scream loud enough that glim is apparently rattled from the [[The Roof of the Neath|roof]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sparkling_around_the_Copse|Sparkling around the Copse|Fallen London|}} ''"The ground sparkles around the great mandrake trunks. There's glim here. Perhaps the mandrakes' screams rattled it loose."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Spiritual_happenings|Spiritual happenings|Fallen London|}} ''"The mandrakes' screeches echo from their copse at night."''</ref> though they also produce a humming that reverberates through the soil,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Creaking_in_the_breeze|Creaking in the breeze|Fallen London|}} ''"You hear no screams and no singing. But there's a humming, of sorts. Something that reminds you of the depths of the earth below your feet."''</ref> as well as roars, curses, and even laughter.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Creeping_closer|Creeping closer|Fallen London|}} ''"Mandrakes are known to scream. [...] you hear them roar and curse and laugh."''</ref> Strange, whispered voices may also emanate throughout Bullbone with no apparent source; underwater mandrake grooves may be the cause, though their sounds do not disturb the water's surface.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Search_the_island|Search the island|Fallen London|}} ''"Whispering voices rise and swirl [...] You can't see anything that could possibly cause the sounds. The water around the island is still, [...] something stirs beneath the water, but no ripples disturb the surface. [...] It looks like an underwater mandrake grove, leaves moving as if a gentle breeze were blowing. They must be stirring in a current – but how, then, is the surface so still?"''</ref>


Archaeologists working with the Dilmun Club are permitted to access the island.
== References ==
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[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:The Unterzee]]
[[Category:The Unterzee]]
[[Category:The Neath]]
[[Category:The Neath]]

Revision as of 00:10, 13 May 2024

"Fragments of bone mix with the shingle at the shore. Others poke out from tide pools and little caves. Most of the bones are from cattle, you think. Drowned, most likely. Most are from around the Fall, but a few smooth pieces are much older. There are no cattle on the island now."[1]

Bullbone Island is an uninhabited island in the Unterzee near London.[2] It gets its name from the bones and fossils that cover the shoreline, most of which are from cattle that apparently drowned. Bones from ancient cattle can also be found here, as well as those from humans.[3] Very few people visit this island or live here,[4] besides those on exile from London.[5] The island is home to a few known animals: groups of weasels roam about to feast on Phosphorescent Scarabs,[6] and Lamplighter Bees build hives here.[7] Ancient writings from the First City have also been found here.[8]

Bullbone's most notable feature is its forest of enormous mandrakes. These mandrakes are so large they resemble trees,[9] and their teeth-filled maws make disturbing them risky.[10] Like most mandrakes, they scream loud enough that glim is apparently rattled from the roof,[11][12] though they also produce a humming that reverberates through the soil,[13] as well as roars, curses, and even laughter.[14] Strange, whispered voices may also emanate throughout Bullbone with no apparent source; underwater mandrake grooves may be the cause, though their sounds do not disturb the water's surface.[15]

References

  1. ↑ The bones of Bullbone, Fallen London
  2. ↑ Destination: Bullbone Island, Fallen London "A largely deserted island near London [...]"
  3. ↑ The bones of Bullbone, Fallen London "Fragments of bone mix with the shingle at the shore. [...] Most of the bones are from cattle, you think. Drowned, most likely. Most are from around the Fall, but a few smooth pieces are much older. [...] A few of these bones are human, [...]"
  4. ↑ Bullbone Island 1, Fallen London "Steamers keeping a regular schedule don't stop at Bullbone Island. Barely anyone lives here."
  5. ↑ Someone lives near the mandrake-copse, Fallen London "You spot a top hat moving through the undergrowth. [...] He chose to exile himself when he discovered a secret of the royal family."
  6. ↑ Weasels about, Fallen London "The weasels have been attracted by a population of skittering beetles. The little darlings have been feasting on bugs for some time – there's a pile of glowing discarded shell fragments for the taking."
  7. ↑ Wild bees, Fallen London "There are a few hives of wild lamplighter bees scattered around Bullbone Island."
  8. ↑ Oho - a little writing, Fallen London "You can't make out what it says, but this is definitely First City writing."
  9. ↑ Where the Wild Mandrakes Grow, Fallen London "Up at the centre of Bullbone Island grows a circle of bottle-green trees. Only they're not trees. They're mandrakes."
  10. ↑ Creaking in the breeze, Fallen London "They've heard you. A toothy maw slowly splits a trunk open. Run!"
  11. ↑ Sparkling around the Copse, Fallen London "The ground sparkles around the great mandrake trunks. There's glim here. Perhaps the mandrakes' screams rattled it loose."
  12. ↑ Spiritual happenings, Fallen London "The mandrakes' screeches echo from their copse at night."
  13. ↑ Creaking in the breeze, Fallen London "You hear no screams and no singing. But there's a humming, of sorts. Something that reminds you of the depths of the earth below your feet."
  14. ↑ Creeping closer, Fallen London "Mandrakes are known to scream. [...] you hear them roar and curse and laugh."
  15. ↑ Search the island, Fallen London "Whispering voices rise and swirl [...] You can't see anything that could possibly cause the sounds. The water around the island is still, [...] something stirs beneath the water, but no ripples disturb the surface. [...] It looks like an underwater mandrake grove, leaves moving as if a gentle breeze were blowing. They must be stirring in a current – but how, then, is the surface so still?"
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