Scrimshander

"Before you looms the bone tower of Scrimshander, the City of Remembrance. Ivory structures jut from the pile, supported by buttressing tusks. As your light plays across them, you can make out inscriptions. Names, pictures, and dozens of lost languages."

Scrimshander is a giant underwater repository of knowledge, carved into the tower's ivory walls.

Bones Upon Bones

"Soldier, scholar, servant of art, Hist'ry welcomes without toll, But be warned, 'ere you depart, None who enter, escape whole."

Upon possibly millions of bones and ivory pieces is perhaps the single largest source of stories and recordings of the past. On every wall, there are tales of heroism and dramatic depictions of Neathy epics, the largest source of which is the massive Ivory Archive. An important part of visiting Scrimshander is the tradition associated with leaving: All are welcome to enter, but none may depart without leaving something of themselves behind. This warning is more literal than one may think- the incense that's burned by the chroniclers can make people lose their memories and their feelings towards others. The only way to avoid this fate is to leave something more physical behind- that is to say, one's finger bones.

Patrons

"Inhabitants wear ashen robes and carry steel-tipped bone quills, but you recognise most as Drownies or Chelonate expatriates. While most are quiet and ignore visitors, you hear heated arguments over interpretations of the sacred remains."

Drownies and Chelonites make up most of the tower's inhabitants. The two groups are opposed to one another due to their differing beliefs about what truly shapes history: Chelonites believe that history is shaped by the actions of heroic heroes and other great figures, while Drownies believe that history is shaped by cyclical changes in economy, scientific progress and other forces that surround every individuals. This battle of beliefs leads the two groups to stage many historical plays that they reenact at The Stage of History.

"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously." 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.

History is what you make of it

"Above, an imperious figure wearing a crown of ivory judges each performance from a raised theatre box. All are served by a single man, weaving between the crowd and wearing a perpetual smirk."

The individual in charge of The Stage is a jovial man called The Glib Historian, who is happy to award the ivory crown to any play that seems the most convincing at the moment, and believes that "history is what you make of it". The Glib Historian's own history is ironically shrouded in mystery, althought one may find a clue about it on the very first skeleton of Scrimshander- a corpse of a massive Midnight Whale, covered entirely with stories written in ancient greek and a single crude portrait of the Historian himself.

"Are you quite sure you want to know this?" 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.

I AM A CANDLE

"Here among the other lost histories, I am hidden from the Presbyterate's agents and oracles. But were I to venture above the waves, the Wax-Wind would find me, and I'd end my days a candle."

Deep within Scrimshander lies a place called The Stygian Repository, made using the Pelegin bones of deep zee-monsters. Within that dark place is Mariam, once a daughter of the Presbyter and the former leader of The Seven Against Nidah. To escape the Presbyter's wrath she allowed The Fathomking to curse her, turning her skin Pelegin and making her forget all that she knew. Now she bids her time, trying to remember her past and scheming new plans towards making immortality a common good.