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==Infernal Archaeology==
==Infernal Archaeology==
Virginia has a taste for the souls of the learned and well-known. She has a significant interest in the histories of [[the Fallen Cities]] and the language of [[the Correspondence]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Virginia%27s_attention|Virginia's attention|Fallen London|}}</ref> and can often be found conducting research in [[the Forgotten Quarter]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Observe_Virginia|Observe Virginia|Fallen London|}}</ref> This puts her in frequent rivalry with other archaeologists, including Dr. Orthos, a scholar who has headed many expeditions.  
<blockquote>''"You sweat in the fierce heat and plush chairs of Dante's Grill. Before you is a plate of chops, drowned in white gravy. Virginia is laughing. "I'm afraid you're out of luck. My country is free, our oppressors are buried, and I have endless diversions. I am a problem for you: I am content."'' </blockquote>Virginia has a taste for the [[souls]] of scholars; she has an interest in the [[Correspondence]], and can often be found conducting research in the [[Forgotten Quarter]]. This puts her in frequent rivalry with other archaeologists, including Dr. Orthos, a scholar who has headed many expeditions.  


Virginia is a player of the Marvellous.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ambition:_Heart%27s_Desire_%E2%80%93_Virginia|Ambition: Heart's Desire %E2%80%93 Virginia|Fallen London|}}</ref> Long ago, she was a heroine of Hell's Season of Revolutions, helping overthrow a Prince of Hell after having an affair with him. The exiled prince still has an interest in her, but sadly for him, he is imprisoned alone on [[Corpsecage Island]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Uncover_the_location_of_a_One-Time_Prince_of_Hell|Uncover the location of a One-Time Prince of Hell|Fallen London|}}</ref>
Virginia is a player of the [[Marvellous]], and her heart's desire is laconic: "sanctuary." Long ago, she was a heroine of [[Hell]]'s Season of Revolutions, helping overthrow a Prince of Hell after having an affair with him. The exiled prince, who still has an interest in Virginia, is imprisoned in solitary confinement on [[Corpsecage Island]].


==Infernal Elections==
==Mayoral Campaign==
<blockquote>''"Virginia's followers don't preach abstinence, nor even restraint. They advocate exercises, physical and spiritual, and spread the twin practices of penitence and callisthenics wherever they go."''<ref name=":0">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Virginia_(Card)|Virginia (Card)|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>Virginia successfully ran for [[Mayor of London]] in 1897, under the slogan ''"Good for the Soul''." Despite her status as a deviless, the [[Brass Embassy]] quickly disavowed any involvement with her candidacy and stated to the press that she had "Nothing to do with us" and "She's your problem now."<ref name=":1" />
<blockquote>''"Virginia's followers don't preach abstinence, nor even restraint. They advocate exercises, physical and spiritual, and spread the twin practices of penitence and callisthenics wherever they go."''</blockquote>Virginia successfully ran for [[Mayor of London]] in 1897, under the slogan ''"Good for the Soul''." Despite her status in [[Hell]], the [[Brass Embassy]] quickly disavowed any involvement with her candidacy and stated to the press that she had "Nothing to do with us" and "She's your problem now." Virginia's platform promoted the concept of a "Clean Bill of Health," and promised to nourish the collective [[soul]] of [[London]] with the help of innovative treatments and the opening of a public spa for the "honing of the self."  


Virginia's platform encouraged a "Clean Bill of Health,"<ref name=":1">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Virginia_(Learn_more_about_the_Candidates:_1897)|Virginia (Learn more about the Candidates: 1897)|Fallen London|}}</ref> and promised to improve the lives and health of [[London]]'s soul as a whole, using modern medicine<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Learn_more_about_Virginia%27s_campaign_(The_Waswood)|Learn more about Virginia's campaign (The Waswood)|Fallen London|}}</ref> and by opening a public spa to allow the "honing of the self, like a knife on a whetstone."<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_Virginia%27s_plans_for_London|Ask about Virginia's plans for London|Fallen London|}}</ref> Despite their rivalry, Dr Orthos chose to support Virginia's campaign, partly out of support for her policies and partly because if she won, he would have less interference in his Forgotten Quarter expeditions.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Virginia_(Choose_your_Candidate_1897)|Virginia (Choose your Candidate 1897)|Fallen London|}}</ref> He was not her only surprising ally; Virginia gained a motley crew of support, with society figures, lower-ranking devils, and even some members of the clergy campaigning on her behalf.<ref name=":0" /> Most surprising, a lot of her funding came from supporters from campaigners in the Temperance movement, who were nervous about Virginia's strategies but found that their views aligned with her agenda.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Reach_into_a_secret_memory_of_Virginia|Reach into a secret memory of Virginia|Fallen London|}}</ref> Some of Virginia's more fervent allies put up posters depicting her as a new Queen Elizabeth, emblazoned with the caption "Rex Virginia;" these posters were quickly confiscated by the Ministry.<ref name=":0" />
Despite their archaeological rivalry, Dr. Orthos supported Virginia's campaign as a spokesman;<ref name=":2" /> while he supported her policies, he knew that if Virginia won, he would encounter less interference in his work. Virginia gained a motley crew of support from society figures, doctors, [[Goat-Demons|goat-demons]] (even though the Embassy had snubbed her), and even some members of the clergy — but much of her funding came from an even more surprising source. While advocates for the temperance movement were nervous about her strategies, they found that their views aligned with her agenda of well-being. Some of Virginia's more fervent allies put up posters depicting her as a new Queen Elizabeth, emblazoned with the caption "Rex Virginia;" these posters were quickly confiscated by the Ministry.


At the conclusion of the election, the [[Jovial Contrarian]], London's mayor at the time, said that the office of mayor was "corrupt, shambolic and altogether unfit for purpose," and declared that he had abolished it. He immediately created the new title of Lord Mayor, and announced that Virginia would be the first person to hold it.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Election_1897:_The_Victor_is_Announced|Election 1897: The Victor is Announced|Fallen London|}}</ref>
After Virginia won the election, the [[Jovial Contrarian]], in his final act as Mayor, stated that his own office was "corrupt, shambolic and altogether unfit for purpose," and declared that he had abolished it. In its place, he created the new title of Lord Mayor, and announced that Virginia would be the first person to hold it.
==Rex Virginia==
=="Rex Virginia"==
<blockquote>''"Is this what London does to its mayors? Jenny's term was only three years ago. Did anything last? […] It doesn't matter. I refuse to be measured by the work of my predecessors. What I shall do will stand so high above them that it will not be necessary."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Jenny%27s_Lighthouse_(The_Waswood)|Jenny's Lighthouse (The Waswood)|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>After the election, Virginia immediately started working on her spa. She bought and renovated a townhouse for the purpose<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Lord_Mayor_of_London_(Virginia)|The Lord Mayor of London (Virginia)|Fallen London|}}</ref> and made an agreement with the Dynamite, a revolutionary faction of devils, to hire a group of devil "physicians" of sorts.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Investigate_the_Mayor_(Virginia)|Investigate the Mayor (Virginia)|Fallen London|}}</ref> Visitors were often surprised by the odd treatments offered; they might be asked to sit in a copper bathtub and guess the number of people it had ever held, stay in a waiting room filled with terribly boring literature on Rubbery physiognomy,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Investigate_the_Mayor_(Virginia)|Investigate the Mayor (Virginia)|Fallen London|}}</ref>  "read a range of dreadful 'improving' works of literature," eat "some kind of sour-cream porridge," "drink a litre of room temperature water," or "lie still and think of anything – anything at all – other than a Rubbery Man." Needless to say, these recommendations didn't seem to have much of an effect at all.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Accompany_Virginia_for_a_treatment|Accompany Virginia for a treatment|Fallen London|}}</ref>  
<blockquote>''"Is this what London does to its mayors? Jenny's term was only three years ago. Did anything last? […] It doesn't matter. I refuse to be measured by the work of my predecessors. What I shall do will stand so high above them that it will not be necessary."''</blockquote>Virginia immediately started working on her spa; she bought and renovated a townhouse for the purpose and made an agreement with the Dynamite, a revolutionary faction of [[devils]], to hire a group of devil "physicians" of sorts. Visitors were often surprised by the odd treatments offered; they might be asked to "read a range of dreadful 'improving' works of literature," or "lie still and think of anything – anything at all – other than a Rubbery Man." Needless to say, these novel ideas were ineffectual.<ref name=":3" />


During the [[Fruits of the Zee Festival]], Virginia searched for a mask used by an orderly in the [[The Orphanage|Orphanage]], which [[Mrs Plenty]] was said to have taken with her after she left that place, and which was disposed of shortly after.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Discover_Virginia%27s_scheme_(The_Waswood)|Discover Virginia's scheme (The Waswood)|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/An_Anonymous_White_Mask,_Zee-Stained_and_Mildewy|An Anonymous White Mask, Zee-Stained and Mildewy|Fallen London|}}</ref> Virginia wanted to use the mask to uncover the memory of that event.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Give_Virginia_the_mask_(The_Waswood)|Give Virginia the mask (The Waswood)|Fallen London|}}</ref>
Months later, as it became clear to all that Virginia's spa was a failure, she made an announcement out of the blue that overshadowed her prior goals: a deal had been struck with [[Hell]]. Regardless of the efficacy of her original plan, electing a devil as Lord Mayor had made Hell's attitude toward [[London]] more relaxed, allowing Virginia to negotiate the opening of the [[Hinterlands]] between the two cities to Londoners. She created the Ministry of Upper River Development, leading to the foundation of the [[The Great Hellbound Railway|Great Hellbound Railway]], which constructed a second rail line between London and Hell.  
 
==References==
Towards the end of her term, Virginia stated, "I know that my Spas have not produced such immediate results as London might have hoped. The work proceeds."<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Propose_that_the_Board_endorse_F._F._Gebrandt|Propose that the Board endorse F. F. Gebrandt|Fallen London|}}</ref> Then out of the blue, she announced that a deal had been struck with Hell; it seemed that regardless of the inefficacy of her plans, electing a devil as Lord Mayor had made Hell's attitude toward London more relaxed. Virginia cleverly negotiated the opening of the Hinterlands to Londoners and founded the Ministry of Upper River Development, leading to the foundation of the [[The Great Hellbound Railway|Great Hellbound Railway]], which constructed a second rail line between London and Hell.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Advertisements_of_a_New_Venture|Advertisements of a New Venture|Fallen London|}}</ref>
{{Scroll box|text = <references/>}}
 
At the end of her term, at the conclusion of the Election of 1898, she announced that Londoners, in their "unique and incomprehensible genius" had chosen [[The Viscountess of the Viric Jungle]] as their next (and, as it turned out, final) Lord Mayor.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Election_1898:_The_Victor_is_Announced|Election 1898: The Victor is Announced|Fallen London|}}</ref>
== Reference ==


[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Devils]]
[[Category:Devils]]

Revision as of 07:59, 20 February 2025

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"Virginia is a deviless of particularly refined tastes, and particularly elaborate cunning."[1]

Virginia is a fashionable, knowledgeable, and high-ranking deviless, and a former Lord Mayor of London.

Infernal Archaeology

"You sweat in the fierce heat and plush chairs of Dante's Grill. Before you is a plate of chops, drowned in white gravy. Virginia is laughing. "I'm afraid you're out of luck. My country is free, our oppressors are buried, and I have endless diversions. I am a problem for you: I am content."

Virginia has a taste for the souls of scholars; she has an interest in the Correspondence, and can often be found conducting research in the Forgotten Quarter. This puts her in frequent rivalry with other archaeologists, including Dr. Orthos, a scholar who has headed many expeditions.

Virginia is a player of the Marvellous, and her heart's desire is laconic: "sanctuary." Long ago, she was a heroine of Hell's Season of Revolutions, helping overthrow a Prince of Hell after having an affair with him. The exiled prince, who still has an interest in Virginia, is imprisoned in solitary confinement on Corpsecage Island.

Mayoral Campaign

"Virginia's followers don't preach abstinence, nor even restraint. They advocate exercises, physical and spiritual, and spread the twin practices of penitence and callisthenics wherever they go."

Virginia successfully ran for Mayor of London in 1897, under the slogan "Good for the Soul." Despite her status in Hell, the Brass Embassy quickly disavowed any involvement with her candidacy and stated to the press that she had "Nothing to do with us" and "She's your problem now." Virginia's platform promoted the concept of a "Clean Bill of Health," and promised to nourish the collective soul of London with the help of innovative treatments and the opening of a public spa for the "honing of the self."

Despite their archaeological rivalry, Dr. Orthos supported Virginia's campaign as a spokesman;[2] while he supported her policies, he knew that if Virginia won, he would encounter less interference in his work. Virginia gained a motley crew of support from society figures, doctors, goat-demons (even though the Embassy had snubbed her), and even some members of the clergy — but much of her funding came from an even more surprising source. While advocates for the temperance movement were nervous about her strategies, they found that their views aligned with her agenda of well-being. Some of Virginia's more fervent allies put up posters depicting her as a new Queen Elizabeth, emblazoned with the caption "Rex Virginia;" these posters were quickly confiscated by the Ministry.

After Virginia won the election, the Jovial Contrarian, in his final act as Mayor, stated that his own office was "corrupt, shambolic and altogether unfit for purpose," and declared that he had abolished it. In its place, he created the new title of Lord Mayor, and announced that Virginia would be the first person to hold it.

"Rex Virginia"

"Is this what London does to its mayors? Jenny's term was only three years ago. Did anything last? […] It doesn't matter. I refuse to be measured by the work of my predecessors. What I shall do will stand so high above them that it will not be necessary."

Virginia immediately started working on her spa; she bought and renovated a townhouse for the purpose and made an agreement with the Dynamite, a revolutionary faction of devils, to hire a group of devil "physicians" of sorts. Visitors were often surprised by the odd treatments offered; they might be asked to "read a range of dreadful 'improving' works of literature," or "lie still and think of anything – anything at all – other than a Rubbery Man." Needless to say, these novel ideas were ineffectual.[3]

Months later, as it became clear to all that Virginia's spa was a failure, she made an announcement out of the blue that overshadowed her prior goals: a deal had been struck with Hell. Regardless of the efficacy of her original plan, electing a devil as Lord Mayor had made Hell's attitude toward London more relaxed, allowing Virginia to negotiate the opening of the Hinterlands between the two cities to Londoners. She created the Ministry of Upper River Development, leading to the foundation of the Great Hellbound Railway, which constructed a second rail line between London and Hell.

References

  1. Hearing Rumours of Virginia's Progress, Fallen London
  2. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :2
  3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :3