The Nacreous Outcast: Difference between revisions
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The Nacreous Outcast's most striking physical feature is a scar glowing with silver light. Unlike most [[Rubbery Men]] yet encountered, it can speak both English<ref name="offer help" /> and the Rubbery language,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Overheard_at_Zee:_Materials|Story description|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> though its speech in the former can be difficult for some to understand.<ref name="offer help" /> It is familiar with esoteric culinary arts<ref name="increase hearts" /> - though it prefers its food uncooked.<ref name="invite dine 2" /> It is typically very terse<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Shattered_Citadel_Encounters|Let the Nacreous Outcast approach the altar|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and has a reserved demeanor.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Nacreous_Outcast#Interactions|Invite it to dine with you|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> In addition to its home in the Principles, it has a residence in an isolated part of [[London]], where it draws figures in the windows and sings.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_visit_to_the_Outcast|A visit to the Outcast|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Collect_a_Confession_from_the_Nacreous_Outcast|Collect a Confession from the Nacreous Outcast|Fallen London|}}</ref> | The Nacreous Outcast's most striking physical feature is a scar glowing with silver light. Unlike most [[Rubbery Men]] yet encountered, it can speak both English<ref name="offer help" /> and the Rubbery language,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Overheard_at_Zee:_Materials|Story description|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> though its speech in the former can be difficult for some to understand.<ref name="offer help" /> It is familiar with esoteric culinary arts<ref name="increase hearts" /> - though it prefers its food uncooked.<ref name="invite dine 2" /> It is typically very terse<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Shattered_Citadel_Encounters|Let the Nacreous Outcast approach the altar|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and has a reserved demeanor.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Nacreous_Outcast#Interactions|Invite it to dine with you|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> In addition to its home in the Principles, it has a residence in an isolated part of [[London]], where it draws figures in the windows and sings.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_visit_to_the_Outcast|A visit to the Outcast|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Collect_a_Confession_from_the_Nacreous_Outcast|Collect a Confession from the Nacreous Outcast|Fallen London|}}</ref> | ||
The Outcast was exiled on account of multiple crimes, most of which cannot be described by human languages. One of them was love,<ref name="invite dine 2" /> which is forbidden among the [[Axile|Axiles]],<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles Heartmetal|Sunless Sea|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles an Ambiguous Eolith|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and it is implied that the recipient of its affection was a [[Flukes|Fluke]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_visit_to_the_Outcast|A visit to the Outcast|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the Outcast lopes toward a mirror, and wheezes against the glass. [...] A foggy circle forms. [...] [It adds] a border of spikes to the circle. The Outcast [gestures] [...] A forlorn lover? [...] A foolish partner?"''</ref> As punishment, it was abandoned at [[Port Cecil]] | The Outcast was exiled on account of multiple crimes, most of which cannot be described by human languages. One of them was love,<ref name="invite dine 2" /> which is forbidden among the [[Axile|Axiles]],<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles Heartmetal|Sunless Sea|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles an Ambiguous Eolith|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and it is implied that the recipient of its affection was a [[Flukes|Fluke]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_visit_to_the_Outcast|A visit to the Outcast|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the Outcast lopes toward a mirror, and wheezes against the glass. [...] A foggy circle forms. [...] [It adds] a border of spikes to the circle. The Outcast [gestures] [...] A forlorn lover? [...] A foolish partner?"''</ref> As punishment, it was abandoned at [[Port Cecil]], where it became an emissary<ref name="offer help" /> to the entity whose mind suffuses the [[Principles of Coral]].<ref name="invite dine 2" /><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Port_Cecil#Interactions|Gather Scintillack|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> | ||
==An End, Averted== | ==An End, Averted== | ||
{{Major spoiler small}} | {{Major spoiler small}} | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
''" | ''"Zhis ish hhwat it hwanted. Zhis ish not ffwaht it hhwanted."'' | ||
<em>"Am fflike zhis, becoshh offh Prinshhipulssh. Washh not hhwaht</em> I <em>hwanted."</em><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Nacreous_Survivor|Speak with the Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | |||
[[File:Principlesofcoral.png|alt=A coral reef shaped like a chess piece, with some settlements nearby.|thumb|[[The Principles of Coral]]]] | |||
The Principles of Coral wished to descend the [[Great Chain of Being]]<ref name="give idol">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles a Wakeful Idol|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and free itself of thought forever.<ref name="game last">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|The Last Game|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> To this end, the Outcast was ordered to gather materials<ref name="offer help" /><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Salt_Lions#Interactions|"Shalt-Flions"|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> for a chess game against an outside opponent,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Setting up|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and act as a surrogate for its master.<ref name="win match">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Win the match|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> It was to lose on the Principles' behalf, upon which the minds of ''both'' beings would perish.<ref name="game last" /><ref name="win match" /> | The Principles of Coral wished to descend the [[Great Chain of Being]]<ref name="give idol">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles a Wakeful Idol|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and free itself of thought forever.<ref name="game last">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|The Last Game|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> To this end, the Outcast was ordered to gather materials<ref name="offer help" /><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Salt_Lions#Interactions|"Shalt-Flions"|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> for a chess game against an outside opponent,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Setting up|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> and act as a surrogate for its master.<ref name="win match">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Win the match|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> It was to lose on the Principles' behalf, upon which the minds of ''both'' beings would perish.<ref name="game last" /><ref name="win match" /> | ||
Of course the Outcast feared this fate,<ref name="game last" /> but | Of course, the Outcast feared this fate,<ref name="game last" /> but events played out a bit differently than expected. Somehow, the Principles has been significantly weakened,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_around_town_about_the_scintillack_refinery|Ask around town about the scintillack refinery|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the Principles ain't wot they were.""''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Meet_with_a_bright_and_fading_mind|Meet with a bright and fading mind|Fallen London|}} ''"—o my piece, [...] I yearn to topple still..." [...] The Fading Mind flutes a sigh [...]"''</ref> while the Outcast survived the incident, now named the '''Nacreous Survivor'''.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Nacreous_Survivor|Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London|}} ''"What has changed this Rubbery Man?"''</ref> However, the Principles can now no longer defend its reef from exploitation.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_around_town_about_the_scintillack_refinery|Ask around town about the scintillack refinery|Fallen London|}} ''"Used to be the reef [...] rise up against thieves, but the Principles ain't wot they were." [...] someone breaks off [...] coral without [...] eyes all burned out. [...] London's [...] on our doorstep."''</ref> The Survivor is dismayed at the ill treatment of the being that once gave it a home,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Nacreous_Survivor|Speak with the Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London|}} ''"The Nacreous Survivor runs a tentacle over [...] black rock, shorn of coral. "Zhis ish hhwat it hwanted.""''</ref><ref name="invite dine 2" /> but it feels a mixture of grief, and relief, for itself and the purpose it once bore.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Nacreous_Survivor|Speak with the Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London|}} ''""Am fflike zhis," the Nacreous Survivor gestures at itself, "becoshh offh Prinshhipulssh." Anger; grief; relief. "Washh not hhwaht I hwanted.""''</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 20:49, 25 December 2022
"A Rubbery Man rises from a cyst in the floor. An iridescent cicatrice crosses its face. Even in this flood of silvery light, it pulses like a fevered moon."[1]
The Nacreous Outcast is a Rubbery Man from the Principles of Coral.
A Star-Crossed Creature
"Flif your hanf on the ftool. Farphaf! Ophen your eyess."[2]
"I ushed to love - "[3]
The Nacreous Outcast's most striking physical feature is a scar glowing with silver light. Unlike most Rubbery Men yet encountered, it can speak both English[1] and the Rubbery language,[4] though its speech in the former can be difficult for some to understand.[1] It is familiar with esoteric culinary arts[2] - though it prefers its food uncooked.[3] It is typically very terse[5] and has a reserved demeanor.[6] In addition to its home in the Principles, it has a residence in an isolated part of London, where it draws figures in the windows and sings.[7][8]
The Outcast was exiled on account of multiple crimes, most of which cannot be described by human languages. One of them was love,[3] which is forbidden among the Axiles,[9][10] and it is implied that the recipient of its affection was a Fluke.[11] As punishment, it was abandoned at Port Cecil, where it became an emissary[1] to the entity whose mind suffuses the Principles of Coral.[3][12]
An End, Averted
|
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. |
"Zhis ish hhwat it hwanted. Zhis ish not ffwaht it hhwanted."
"Am fflike zhis, becoshh offh Prinshhipulssh. Washh not hhwaht I hwanted."[13]
The Principles of Coral wished to descend the Great Chain of Being[14] and free itself of thought forever.[15] To this end, the Outcast was ordered to gather materials[1][16] for a chess game against an outside opponent,[17] and act as a surrogate for its master.[18] It was to lose on the Principles' behalf, upon which the minds of both beings would perish.[15][18]
Of course, the Outcast feared this fate,[15] but events played out a bit differently than expected. Somehow, the Principles has been significantly weakened,[19][20] while the Outcast survived the incident, now named the Nacreous Survivor.[21] However, the Principles can now no longer defend its reef from exploitation.[22] The Survivor is dismayed at the ill treatment of the being that once gave it a home,[23][3] but it feels a mixture of grief, and relief, for itself and the purpose it once bore.[24]
