The Elder Continent

"Why do they call it the Elder Continent? That vast continent to the South with a glowing mountain at its heart - where the Presbyter has ruled for a thousand years - is older by far than any of London's civilisations. Which is embarrassing."

Adam's Way. Beyond this port city lie the kingdoms of the Presbyterate, shrouded in lies. Art from SS.

A vast, sprawling continent to the south of Fallen London and the location of the Garden and the Mountain of Light, called Stone by zailors. It seems to have been founded by survivors from the Third City. The only named city is Varchas, however, there are at least 77 countries.

Adam’s Way is the gateway to the Elder Continent, a waterway stained incarnadine with the Mountain’s blood, through which only living ships can pass. The Wax Wind also blows from the South, and it’s not exactly good for one's health, because it's literally wax. (This also blows through Polythreme.)

Fallen London allows access to the Carnelian Coast, which is nominally part of the Elder Continent but not treated as such here, and with an Exceptional Story, allows access to Apis Meet (Adam's Way). There may be another way in the future. Sunless Sea allows access to Port Carnelian, Adam's Way, and Varchas, but only for a day at a time.

The Garden: Eden?

The Garden’s presence in the Neath seems to predate the Bazaar’s; only flying things may enter, and to harm one is considered a crime. Snuffers once walked freely in the Garden, but were cast out. Sounds familiar. Perhaps it is Eden, but far more mysterious...

The Garden provides a strange source of vitality to the entire continent; fruit can grow from rocks, bones can sprout from the soil. Dark-dewed cherries and St. John’s Lilies both come from the Elder Continent, and Hesperidean Cider is made from apples which grow in the Garden.

The source of the vitality is the Mountain of Light, an entity that is quite high up on the Great Chain of Being. It lies near, or perhaps in, the Garden. While it does not provide eternal life like the Garden, it does bathe the whole continent in soft light. It is also the source of the Wax Wind.

The Presbyterate

The College of Mortality governs the seventy-two kingdoms of the Presbyterate; it elects a leader, called a Presbyter, through a ceremony that seems permanently fatal to anyone who isn’t from the Continent. After the Presbyter’s time in office is up, he lives nameless among the College of Mortality.

The College of Mortality is a necessity due to the increased vitality of basically everything on the Elder Continent. Even for denizens of the Neath, its citizens are difficult to kill, so to prevent overpopulation, the College of Mortality makes sure no person lives longer than they should. (Perhaps the aforementioned unnatural exuberance is the reason why Feducci is practically immortal?)

The Mithridate Office is another arm of the Presbyterate; its aim is to confuse foreigners by spreading false stories of the Elder Continent.

Strange Dangers

There is a disease endemic to the Continent that sets souls on fire. Even for people raised there, this is invariably fatal. Unusual fungal infestations are also commonplace; anyone who harvests fungi will almost definitely harbor a very severe infestation that may make them more mushroom than human.

Tigers are a powerful and influential faction here; it is advised that one does not press one's luck with them.

Original by NiteBrite/Mrs. Brite