Cornelius: Difference between revisions
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<blockquote>''"He unwinds the bandage around his head. His face is covered with tiny mouths, none of them bigger than an eye. When his first mouth is silent, the other mouths speak, or grimace. All these mouths give him a strange cadence; he speaks with one voice and another, like verses of poetry."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>''"He unwinds the bandage around his head. His face is covered with tiny mouths, none of them bigger than an eye. When his first mouth is silent, the other mouths speak, or grimace. All these mouths give him a strange cadence; he speaks with one voice and another, like verses of poetry."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
[[File:Discordant law 3.png|alt=Teeth in a black background.|thumb|Smile (and smile, and smile, and smile...)]] | [[File:Discordant law 3.png|alt=Teeth in a black background.|thumb|Smile (and smile, and smile, and smile...)]] | ||
Cornelius is an apparently young man wearing [[The Tomb-Colonies|tomb-colonist]] bandages who walks with an asymmetrical gait.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] He walks like a young and wounded man, [...] asymmetrical, [...] his bandages are dusty only from custom and long use in the Tomb Colonies."''</ref> Beneath his wrappings, his face is covered in numerous tiny mouths, each of which can speak and emote independently.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] He unwinds the bandage around his head. His face is covered with tiny mouths, none [...] bigger than an eye. When his first mouth is silent, the other mouths speak, or grimace. [...] he speaks with one voice and another, like verses of poetry."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Offer_him_his_soul_back|Offer him his soul back|Fallen London|}} ''"He smiles (and smiles, and smiles, and smiles...) [...]"''</ref> Rather than argue amongst themselves, these mouths repeat, rephrase, or build upon one another's statements.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_what_he_thinks_of_the_Creditor%27s_offer_for_Furnace|Ask what he thinks of the Creditor's offer for Furnace|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] Make me into a city. Trade me for Furnace." Other voices join in. "Trade me." "I beg you." "If you don't, I'll make your life a hell." "The Masters won't mind." "The Board won't notice." "The Creditor can't tell us apart.""''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"All these mouths give him a strange cadence; he speaks with one voice and another, like verses of poetry."''</ref> | Cornelius is an apparently young man wearing [[The Tomb-Colonies|tomb-colonist]] bandages who walks with an asymmetrical gait.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] He walks like a young and wounded man, [...] asymmetrical, [...] his bandages are dusty only from custom and long use in the Tomb Colonies."''</ref> Beneath his wrappings, his face is covered in numerous tiny mouths, each of which can speak and emote independently.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] He unwinds the bandage around his head. His face is covered with tiny mouths, none [...] bigger than an eye. When his first mouth is silent, the other mouths speak, or grimace. [...] he speaks with one voice and another, like verses of poetry."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Offer_him_his_soul_back|Offer him his soul back|Fallen London|}} ''"He smiles (and smiles, and smiles, and smiles...) [...]"''</ref> Rather than argue amongst themselves, these mouths repeat, rephrase, or build upon one another's statements.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_what_he_thinks_of_the_Creditor%27s_offer_for_Furnace|Ask what he thinks of the Creditor's offer for Furnace|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] Make me into a city. Trade me for Furnace." Other voices join in. "Trade me." "I beg you." "If you don't, I'll make your life a hell." "The Masters won't mind." "The Board won't notice." "The Creditor can't tell us apart.""''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speaking_with_Cornelius|Speaking with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"All these mouths give him a strange cadence; he speaks with one voice and another, like verses of poetry."''</ref> Cornelius is [[Souls|soulless]]: he willingly gave up his soul before his first death and does not want it back, as he feels it has not been with him during "anything that matters."<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Offer_him_his_soul_back|Offer him his soul back|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] shakes his head. [...] "I parted with that soul before my first death. It hasn't been with me through anything that matters.""''</ref> | ||
Cornelius is a talkative person even if one ignores his many extra mouths,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Hear_him_out_2|Hear him out 2|Fallen London|}} ''"His need to speak is electric in the air."''</ref> though he is not candid and his answers may seem prepared or rehearsed.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Conversation_with_Cornelius|Conversation with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"He is not as frank as Furnace [...] sometimes his answers seem rehearsed."''</ref> He is fond of animals<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Support_Cornelius%27_motion_regarding_a_route_to_Moulin|Support Cornelius' motion regarding a route to Moulin|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] a suitable range of animal companions [...] "We should be able to get most of what we need from a good array of scout bats." [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Hillchanger._Again.|Hillchanger. Again.|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] "I was thinking," says Cornelius, "that we may need an assault animal of some kind.""''</ref> and has a preference for nonhuman company;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_whether_she%27d_let_Cornelius_stand_in_her_place|Ask whether she'd let Cornelius stand in her place|Fallen London|}} ''""Cornelius [...] "And he always did have a taste for non-human companionship.""''</ref> he has been rumored to cavort with [[devils]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Persuade_the_Dauntless_Temperance_Campaigner/Tables|Persuade the Dauntless Temperance Campaigner/Tables|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] There was, [...] a rumour regarding Cornelius and a loose-living deviless."''</ref> He gets along well with fellow scholars and anyone he feels kinship with,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Persuade_Cornelius,_the_Bandaged_Prehistoricist|Persuade Cornelius, the Bandaged Prehistoricist|Fallen London|}} ''""And part with a fellow Tomb Colonist?" demands Cornelius. "Surely not. [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Persuade_Cornelius,_the_Bandaged_Prehistoricist/Tables|Persuade Cornelius, the Bandaged Prehistoricist/Tables|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] Get rid of the Dean?" asks Cornelius, [...] she's almost the only person here with a [...] broad understanding of different species, of the [...] Chain. She is less interested in the anatomy than in the culture, [...] I see our work as entirely complementary. And necessary, [...]"''</ref> but also has a tendency to people-please.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_those_stones_out_in_the_frozen_patch_of_Neath|Ask about those stones out in the frozen patch of Neath|Fallen London|}} ''"But Cornelius always did need to keep people happy [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Support_Cornelius%27_motion_regarding_a_route_to_Moulin|Support Cornelius' motion regarding a route to Moulin|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] a gusty sigh from the rest [...] realising he has not lived up to expectation, Cornelius adds, "And some weasels? | Cornelius is a talkative person even if one ignores his many extra mouths,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Hear_him_out_2|Hear him out 2|Fallen London|}} ''"His need to speak is electric in the air."''</ref> though he is not candid and his answers may seem prepared or rehearsed.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Conversation_with_Cornelius|Conversation with Cornelius|Fallen London|}} ''"He is not as frank as Furnace [...] sometimes his answers seem rehearsed."''</ref> He is fond of animals<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Support_Cornelius%27_motion_regarding_a_route_to_Moulin|Support Cornelius' motion regarding a route to Moulin|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] a suitable range of animal companions [...] "We should be able to get most of what we need from a good array of scout bats." [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Hillchanger._Again.|Hillchanger. Again.|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] "I was thinking," says Cornelius, "that we may need an assault animal of some kind.""''</ref> and has a preference for nonhuman company;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_whether_she%27d_let_Cornelius_stand_in_her_place|Ask whether she'd let Cornelius stand in her place|Fallen London|}} ''""Cornelius [...] "And he always did have a taste for non-human companionship.""''</ref> he has been rumored to cavort with [[devils]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Persuade_the_Dauntless_Temperance_Campaigner/Tables|Persuade the Dauntless Temperance Campaigner/Tables|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] There was, [...] a rumour regarding Cornelius and a loose-living deviless."''</ref> He gets along well with fellow scholars and anyone he feels kinship with,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Persuade_Cornelius,_the_Bandaged_Prehistoricist|Persuade Cornelius, the Bandaged Prehistoricist|Fallen London|}} ''""And part with a fellow Tomb Colonist?" demands Cornelius. "Surely not. [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Persuade_Cornelius,_the_Bandaged_Prehistoricist/Tables|Persuade Cornelius, the Bandaged Prehistoricist/Tables|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] Get rid of the Dean?" asks Cornelius, [...] she's almost the only person here with a [...] broad understanding of different species, of the [...] Chain. She is less interested in the anatomy than in the culture, [...] I see our work as entirely complementary. And necessary, [...]"''</ref> but also has a tendency to people-please.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_those_stones_out_in_the_frozen_patch_of_Neath|Ask about those stones out in the frozen patch of Neath|Fallen London|}} ''"But Cornelius always did need to keep people happy [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Support_Cornelius%27_motion_regarding_a_route_to_Moulin|Support Cornelius' motion regarding a route to Moulin|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] a gusty sigh from the rest [...] realising he has not lived up to expectation, Cornelius adds, "And some weasels?""''</ref> | ||
== Mouths Upon Mouths == | == Mouths Upon Mouths == |
Revision as of 20:38, 18 June 2024
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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. |
"Revolution is our place. Think about it. Scientists. Artists. Speech-makers. Novelists. We're the ones that look at the world and see how it should be and how it's falling short, and we go to work shouting on street corners, or writing angry novels, or packing gunpowder into casing. Different methods. But the soul is always seeking and striving."[2]
Cornelius is a former leader of the Tracklayer's Union, and the leader of the Prehistoricist movement.
The Scientist-Philosopher
"You've heard of this Tomb-Colonist. Once he was a partner of Furnace Ancona. There are rumours that he is still around, somewhere."[3]

A former partner of Furnace Ancona,[4] Cornelius is a scholar and philosopher[5] with expertise in many fields. His repertoire includes esoteric languages, such as the Correspondence,[6][7] as well as the art of constructing creatures.[8] To accomplish the latter, he employs various techniques, including the Shapeling Arts, to assemble his creations from bones, viscera, souls, and amber.[9] He can also use more mundane practices, such as selective breeding, to accomplish nonetheless extraordinary results.[10] He is also skilled at appealing to others' hopes and ideals to win their favor.[11]
Cornelius is the founder of the Prehistoricist ideology.[12] Its basic principles are that humans are not suited for hard labor, and instead should find and employ creatures that thrive on such work.[13] Cornelius believes that the Great Chain of Being is a rule that there is, or may be created, a creature suited for every role, and that humans are not workhorses, but agents of revolution who better the world in whatever ways they can.[14]
Appearance and Personality
"He unwinds the bandage around his head. His face is covered with tiny mouths, none of them bigger than an eye. When his first mouth is silent, the other mouths speak, or grimace. All these mouths give him a strange cadence; he speaks with one voice and another, like verses of poetry."[15]

Cornelius is an apparently young man wearing tomb-colonist bandages who walks with an asymmetrical gait.[16] Beneath his wrappings, his face is covered in numerous tiny mouths, each of which can speak and emote independently.[17][18] Rather than argue amongst themselves, these mouths repeat, rephrase, or build upon one another's statements.[19][20] Cornelius is soulless: he willingly gave up his soul before his first death and does not want it back, as he feels it has not been with him during "anything that matters."[21]
Cornelius is a talkative person even if one ignores his many extra mouths,[22] though he is not candid and his answers may seem prepared or rehearsed.[23] He is fond of animals[24][25] and has a preference for nonhuman company;[26] he has been rumored to cavort with devils.[27] He gets along well with fellow scholars and anyone he feels kinship with,[28][29] but also has a tendency to people-please.[30][31]
Mouths Upon Mouths
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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. |
"This is what Cornelius' experiment did. He invoked a power against speaking 'more than one truth with the same mouth.' So when I needed to speak for one of my constituents that I don't personally agree with, this happened. Didn't silence me, though."[32]
"It was my fault. I called on the Discordance, I read the law of ice, I tried to enter the Adulterine Castle."[33]

Cornelius once led the Tracklayer's Union alongside Furnace Ancona.[34] While building the Moloch Line between London and Hell,[35] he specialized in bargaining with the devils who hired them.[36] When the TLU reached the Hurlers - the great standing stones marked with the frozen Discordance[35] - their Supervising Deviless wanted the stones excavated, but Furnace refused due to the dangers.[37] In response, the Deviless deliberately stoked Cornelius' curiosity,[38][39] motivating him to study the Hurlers anyway.[40] She was also the one to take Cornelius' soul.[41]

Cornelius saw Furnace's tendency to advocate for those she disagreed with as inauthentic and self-sacrificing, and implored her to stop many times. With a possible, but not confirmed, desire to "cure" her problem himself,[42] Cornelius read a Discordant Law[43] that forbade "speaking more than one truth with the same mouth." This law gave Furnace a new face whenever she spoke for someone she did not agree with personally, ending up with three faces total.[44] It also gave Cornelius his extra mouths,[45] and quickly killed him.[46]
After his return from death, Cornelius spent half a year in the Tomb-Colonies.[47] His status is a subject of rumor and debate among the Tracklayers,[48][49] and he continues to advocate for Prehistoricism.[50] He still cares deeply for Furnace,[51] but is critical of her and her leadership;[52][53] for her part, Furnace refuses to work with him in the future due to his actions.[54] One day, Cornelius plans to return to the Tracklayers' Union, hoping to regain power and continue the pursuit of his ambitions.[55][50]
References
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