The Creditor: Difference between revisions
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Unfortunately, the [[Masters]] realized the Bazaar would not be able to pay without causing a cataclysm.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_what_might_happen_if_the_Creditor_does_contact_the_Bazaar|Ask what might happen if the Creditor does contact the Bazaar|Fallen London|}} ''""The most likely outcome," [...] "is that the Bazaar would attempt to honour the debt [...] even if [...] damaging to London, or fatal to itself.""''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Sleeper|The Sleeper|Fallen London|}} ''"The struggle to meet that pledge. The city almost sold [...]"''</ref> Furthermore, the Bazaar cannot risk defaulting, as the Creditor might spread word of its perfidy.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Slip_the_stone_into_the_lacre_gently|Slip the stone into the lacre gently|Fallen London|}} ''"She will pay anything [...] rather than have the Creditor... send a report? [...] tell someone that she was dishonest."''</ref> Thus, the Masters did not report the situation to the Bazaar,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Bazaar%27s_ignorance|Ask about the Bazaar's ignorance|Fallen London|}} ''"When the debt was incurred, it wasn't necessary to emburdenate the Bazaar with a full accounting, [...]"''</ref> and they sealed the Merchant in an endless slumber<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Bazaar%27s_ignorance|Ask about the Bazaar's ignorance|Fallen London|}} ''"When the debt was incurred [...] We ourselves found a [...] resolution," says Mr Spices [...] I was the one who thought of putting the Merchant to sleep."''</ref> to freeze the debt as long as the Merchant stayed asleep.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Sleeper|The Sleeper|Fallen London|}} ''"The Debtor cannot be woken [...] When he wakes, his debt will be due, [...] the loophole [...] that sent the Debtor to sleep instead."''</ref> | Unfortunately, the [[Masters]] realized the Bazaar would not be able to pay without causing a cataclysm.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_what_might_happen_if_the_Creditor_does_contact_the_Bazaar|Ask what might happen if the Creditor does contact the Bazaar|Fallen London|}} ''""The most likely outcome," [...] "is that the Bazaar would attempt to honour the debt [...] even if [...] damaging to London, or fatal to itself.""''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Sleeper|The Sleeper|Fallen London|}} ''"The struggle to meet that pledge. The city almost sold [...]"''</ref> Furthermore, the Bazaar cannot risk defaulting, as the Creditor might spread word of its perfidy.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Slip_the_stone_into_the_lacre_gently|Slip the stone into the lacre gently|Fallen London|}} ''"She will pay anything [...] rather than have the Creditor... send a report? [...] tell someone that she was dishonest."''</ref> Thus, the Masters did not report the situation to the Bazaar,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Bazaar%27s_ignorance|Ask about the Bazaar's ignorance|Fallen London|}} ''"When the debt was incurred, it wasn't necessary to emburdenate the Bazaar with a full accounting, [...]"''</ref> and they sealed the Merchant in an endless slumber<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Bazaar%27s_ignorance|Ask about the Bazaar's ignorance|Fallen London|}} ''"When the debt was incurred [...] We ourselves found a [...] resolution," says Mr Spices [...] I was the one who thought of putting the Merchant to sleep."''</ref> to freeze the debt as long as the Merchant stayed asleep.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Sleeper|The Sleeper|Fallen London|}} ''"The Debtor cannot be woken [...] When he wakes, his debt will be due, [...] the loophole [...] that sent the Debtor to sleep instead."''</ref> | ||
As [[London]] expanded its business ventures into the Hinterlands, [[Mr Fires]] took matters into its own hands. By infusing the tracks of the [[Great Hellbound Railway]] with Justificande coins, which mandate forgiveness from those who receive them, Fires hoped to resolve the issue,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_it_about_the_Hillchanger_Tower_(Furnace_Abandoned)|Ask it about the Hillchanger Tower (Furnace Abandoned)|Fallen London|}} ''"The Bazaar owes a debt to its Creditor [...] I hoped that laying [...] tracks made of Justificandes across its face would [...] constitute either repayment or the means to silence."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Justificande_Coin|Justificande Coin|Fallen London|}} ''"ONE DAY YOU WILL FORGIVE is stamped on the back. It is a commandment as much as a promise."''</ref> but its actions only agitated the Creditor.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Rely_on_your_previous_rapport|Rely on your previous rapport|Fallen London|}} ''"Trespasser, you have laid your road across my face [...] like a fool, Fires made bargains [...] Trying to stave off my rage [...]"''</ref> Now, the Creditor's patience is wearing thin,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Sleeping_Merchant|Ask about the Sleeping Merchant|Fallen London|}} ''""That matter," [...] "has drawn on [...] too long. It will not be allowed to continue for [...] longer. [...]"''</ref> and the Railway's further intrusions may shatter this delicate stalemate.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Rely_on_your_previous_rapport|Rely on your previous rapport|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] you have laid your road across my face [...] My patience has been great [...] Now it is time to account [...]"''</ref> | As [[London]] expanded its business ventures into the Hinterlands, [[Mr Fires]] took matters into its own hands. By infusing the tracks of the [[The Great Hellbound Railway|GHR]] with Justificande coins, which mandate forgiveness from those who receive them, Fires hoped to resolve the issue,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_it_about_the_Hillchanger_Tower_(Furnace_Abandoned)|Ask it about the Hillchanger Tower (Furnace Abandoned)|Fallen London|}} ''"The Bazaar owes a debt to its Creditor [...] I hoped that laying [...] tracks made of Justificandes across its face would [...] constitute either repayment or the means to silence."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Justificande_Coin|Justificande Coin|Fallen London|}} ''"ONE DAY YOU WILL FORGIVE is stamped on the back. It is a commandment as much as a promise."''</ref> but its actions only agitated the Creditor.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Rely_on_your_previous_rapport|Rely on your previous rapport|Fallen London|}} ''"Trespasser, you have laid your road across my face [...] like a fool, Fires made bargains [...] Trying to stave off my rage [...]"''</ref> Now, the Creditor's patience is wearing thin,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Sleeping_Merchant|Ask about the Sleeping Merchant|Fallen London|}} ''""That matter," [...] "has drawn on [...] too long. It will not be allowed to continue for [...] longer. [...]"''</ref> and the Railway's further intrusions may shatter this delicate stalemate.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Rely_on_your_previous_rapport|Rely on your previous rapport|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] you have laid your road across my face [...] My patience has been great [...] Now it is time to account [...]"''</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == |
Revision as of 21:18, 21 May 2023
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"You might call it a contract or a treaty or an oath, whatever best suits you. But this Power will not suffer you to go further into the Neath, nor to change it more from what it was, unless some limit is attached to your actions, and some price paid for the imposition."[2]
The Creditor is a power that presides over the Hinterlands.
Living Earth
"All the land past the Evenlode is touched by the Creditor. And the closer territory, too, we have ways of visiting."[3]

The Creditor is an ancient, earthly entity who rules the Hinterlands between London and Hell.[4][5] It monitors all traffic through its realm,[6][7] and in the past, trespassers would be summoned to its court, the Magistracy of the Evenlode.[8][9]
When brought to the Creditor's throne room,[10] interlopers would have to agree to leave the Hinterlands unblemished. In addition to a verbal agreement, they were also required to pay a gage: collateral only returned if the deal was upheld.[11][6] This practice was standard[12] until after the Second City, as the Creditor abandoned its court[13] and left only ruins behind.[14]
History
"Service to a fierce and brilliant star. A cleaving birth – better not dwell on this. It was painful to lose your sister-self."
"Then: the Neath. Time passing, small creatures slipping past, minor affairs that are not worth looking into; and then a sudden, awful shock. You had responsibilities. You oversaw disputes and kept peace between the Sun's experiments. You thought these little animals couldn't possibly be of any concern."[15]

The Creditor was once an entity of the High Wilderness that served a "fierce and brilliant" Judgement,[16][17] likely the Sun itself. During the Cataclysm of Silver,[18] it was violently split in twain, and its "sister-self" became the Moon.[19][20] The other half found itself in the Neath with instructions from the Sun:[21] to oversee and protect the Shames[22] who were hidden from the Judgements' sight.[23] The Creditor focused its attention on the most powerful beings and ignored any smaller creatures. It worked as a mediator and a peacekeeper,[24] resolving disputes between powers through the rule of honor and word.[25][26]
When Hell first arrived in the Neath, its leadership petitioned the Creditor for a safe route to the Unterzee. In return, the Creditor hired them for their legal services. The Solicitor-Baroness was chosen as the Creditor's solicitor, and she still acts in this role to this day.[27]
Biology
"It takes from the folds of its robe a mirrorcatch box, and without explanation or ceremony, shines pure sunlight on the Creditorial stone. What comes back is not sunlight. For the briefest moment, everyone in the room appears other than human, their bodies boulders and trees and false-stars, and then the image fades."[28]

The Creditor is a being of living earth,[29] and the topsoil of the Hinterlands is its "face."[30] It can move entire mountains to communicate gestures such as greetings,[31] and can unleash powerful earthquakes.[32] Its presence is not solely confined to the Hinterlands; in fact, no part of the Neath is truly beyond its reach.[33] The Creditor has a multifaceted identity, and Hillchanger Tower is one such aspect.[34] The Creditor can view the world using Hillchanger as a proxy,[35] though Hillchanger also shows some limited autonomy from its host.[36]
The Creditor's "internal" flesh resembles the surface of its sibling, the Moon.[37] This material reacts with moon-pearls,[38] and can be consumed by others to communicate messages.[39] It can also reflect sunlight to induce visions of a strange and shapeful world;[40] this property is analogous to moonlight.[41]
Personality
"FROM EACH HER OWN LAW;"
"AND NONE SHALL ESCAPE THE LAW SHE HAS MADE."[42]

The Creditor is a firm believer in the value of oaths and personal honor,[43] and respects those who commit to their word.[44] It loathes being disrespected[45] or ignored,[46] and it prefers to treat counterparties as equals.[47] It is not aggressive; rather, it is resolute,[48] but still willing to use force if necessary.[49][50]
The Creditor cares deeply about the Hinterlands and does not want it damaged or changed.[51][52][53] It is nostalgic, and it feels as time has passed, honor lost its value among the Neath's modern denizens.[54] Thus, it wishes the Neath was more monstrous,[55] and it wants the Shames to move freely again undisturbed by the Judgements.[56] Being such a singular and unique entity, it is also implied to be lonely.[57]
A Fateful Deal
"A payment was offered long ago, in the Bazaar's name. The Creditor still lives. Between London and Hell. It must not be reminded, the terms of its patience must not be strained. Above all, no new promises can be made."
"In the first of all cities, the Cedar was witness of oaths."[58]

During the era of the First City,[59] the Sleeping Merchant led a caravan to the Hinterlands in search of fortune. He carried with him the seal of the Echo Bazaar itself.[60] The Creditor noticed the intrusion, and brought him to Evenlode for judgement.[61] The Creditor feared that the Bazaar and its citizens would damage the Hinterlands, so it demanded insurance to prevent this.[62] However, the gage was inexplicably measured against every soul in the Neath.[63] The Merchant did not know the Neath's true population,[64] so he promised this enormous payment on the Bazaar's behalf.[65][66]

Unfortunately, the Masters realized the Bazaar would not be able to pay without causing a cataclysm.[67][68] Furthermore, the Bazaar cannot risk defaulting, as the Creditor might spread word of its perfidy.[69] Thus, the Masters did not report the situation to the Bazaar,[70] and they sealed the Merchant in an endless slumber[71] to freeze the debt as long as the Merchant stayed asleep.[72]
As London expanded its business ventures into the Hinterlands, Mr Fires took matters into its own hands. By infusing the tracks of the GHR with Justificande coins, which mandate forgiveness from those who receive them, Fires hoped to resolve the issue,[73][74] but its actions only agitated the Creditor.[75] Now, the Creditor's patience is wearing thin,[76] and the Railway's further intrusions may shatter this delicate stalemate.[77]
References
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