Station VIII

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"Factory VIII is a monstrosity of brick and glass, its towering walls and high up windows lending it the air of a prison. The factory does not produce the foul coal stench of those in London, instead it emits bright clouds of pungent scents – which occasionally bring passers-by to tears."

Station VIII is a large chemical factory located in the Hinterlands, which serves as the fifth station of the Great Hellbound Railway.

Monstrosity of Brick and Glass

"Huge vats hang suspended from the ceiling by thick, steel chains. An array of gurgling pipes and taps draw away garish fluids into pressurised containers and retorts. Massive hammers make repetitive thumps. Steam shrieks from vents. The factory is unpleasantly loud."

Station VIII, also known as Factory VIII, is a Masters-run facility that produces a variety of emotion-inducing substances. The creation of these substances involves a variety of lengthy chemical processes which extract a specific emotion from an item suffused with sentimental value. These production methods are a closely guarded secret, protected from outside eyes by a number of surly guards who constantly patrol the factory. The aforementioned meaningful items are usually tracked down and collected by Pinnock, a resourceful Rattus Faber who also works as the partner of the Shivering Relicker.

The main floor of the factory is devoted to the mass production of simpler products. The mammoth machinery creates constant noise, and inhaling the fumes of half-processed sentiments can cause unwanted emotional reactions, forcing the workers to wear cloth masks while on the job. A separate room, filled with all manner of chemical equipment, is used to experiment with samples and produce more complex substances.

Station VIII's immediate surroundings are few: four houses that lodge the factory's workers, a small pub that's sometimes also used as a makeshift school, and a tall dirigible mast used as a landing spot for visiting Masters. The people living around the Station inadvertently interact with the colorful fumes and liquids deposited by the factory's inner workings, which induce sudden bouts of a wide variety of emotions, from joy to melancholy.

PRIVATE

"Workers wear leather aprons, with thick cloth covering their mouths and noses. They hover over flasks and flames, beakers and condensers. Surly guards patrol the gangways – protecting the method of manufacture as much as the product."

The factory is administrated by the Blithesome Overseer, a rather stressed and cautious individual with close connections to the Masters of the Bazaar. The Masters' ultimate plans for the factory's products are unclear, although some of the more accessible substances have started to make rounds in Surface markets. Additionally, it seems that Mr Wines is interested in using the Factory's products to positively influence the growing women's suffrage movement.

One of the Factory's many rooms is marked as 'Communications'; this small, cupboard-sized room contains a brass console filled with many levers and buttons that enables contact with any of London's other specialized Stations. Curiously, the folder of codes that enables contact with Station I appears to have been stolen, which has prompted the Overseer to chain the other folders to the desk. There is also a device in this room that seems to allow its user to observe London's skyline from afar.

Station VIII was originally only a single room, personally overseen by one of the Masters. They say one of the Station's earliest creations can still be found in this disused space. Touching the metallic liquid makes one's teeth reflexively gnaw, and brings out the feeling of a throat being ripped between one's jaws, suggesting that the substance might have been created from the feelings of a particular Master.

Sentiment Extraction

The operations at the Factory VIII produce a variety of unique chemicals and substances. The following is a list of only some of them.

Special extracts.

Fillip of Effervescence is a burgundy colored oil with a silver sheen that invokes curiosity and courage in the imbiber. This product is commonly advertised to adventurers, students and individuals in their midlife crisis. As a result of its sharp flavor, its commonly consumed along with drinks such as fortified wine or strong coffee. Halcyonic Tonic is a green and gelatinous liquid that invokes the feelings of joy and optimism. It is typically consumed with liquor or a cup of hot chocolate and is particularly enjoyed by those with a sweet tooth. Since the Tonic is literally bottled joy, it's a valuable commodity for several Surface powers who want to placate their restless citizens.

Crystallised Euphoria is a colorless crystalline substance that, as its name would suggest, induces a strong feeling of euphoria upon consumption. This chemical can be produced from the feelings associated with a person's first return from Death. Powder of Renewal is a rare, talcum-like substance of reflective scarlet with the ability to restore yearning and hope to an individual, especially those with crushed ambitions and dismissed hopes. It's commonly applied under the eyelids, although it can be consumed via other methods, such as adding it to a drink.

Just a drop.

The Oil of Companionship is a thick oil that induces feelings of camaraderie and companionship when applied on skin. A key ingredient in the Oil is the feeling associated with a person hearing their pet, such as a Cat, speak for the first time in the Neath. The Salve of Righteousness is an orange oil that inspires roaring confidence when applied to the skin. Production of the Salve usually involves items associated with a vindication of religious faith brought about by witnessing certain Neath phenomena, such as the Devils, for the first time. The Salve can be mixed into a less viscous and intense version called the Holy Sanguinarine Ointment, a treacle-colored substance that smells of incense and can be used to remove boils, warts and untimely doubts.

Concentrate of Self is a peculiar Peligin substance that reaffirms and strengthens the character of the person that consumes it. This substance is usually produced using moments that reaffirm one's identity and beliefs. It notably has applications in cooking, where small doses can intensify a dish's unique flavour. The Distillation of Retribution is a heady mixture associated with the feeling of finally having the ability to achieve vengeance. This mixture can distilled further into the Discriminating Aconite, a delicate poison harmful only to those who deserve to feel it's effects. Thus, the label of every bottle of the Aconite simply reads "You know what you did".