The Manager of the Royal Bethlehem Hotel: Difference between revisions
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The Merry Gentleman<br> | The Merry Gentleman<br> | ||
The Priest-King of the First City|relationships = [[The King with a Hundred Hearts]] (lover) | The Priest-King of the First City|relationships = [[The King with a Hundred Hearts]] (lover) | ||
[[The Capering Relicker]]<br>(uncle)}}<blockquote>''"He also chucks you under the chin, which is a little over-familar, but, well. His buttons are so very shiny. It's difficult to quarrel with a man of such shiny buttons. 'Thank you,' he says. 'I do hope you'll continue to enjoy your stay.'"''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Thank_the_manager|Thank the manager|Fallen London|}}</ref> | [[The Capering Relicker]]<br>(uncle)}}<blockquote>''"He also chucks you under the chin, which is a little over-familar, but, well. His buttons are so very shiny. It's difficult to quarrel with a man of such shiny buttons. 'Thank you,' he says. 'I do hope you'll continue to enjoy your stay.'"''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Thank_the_manager|Thank the manager|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''"The priest-king wears white linen, and many layers of shining copper and brass jewellery. He is unmistakably the Manager of the Royal Bethlehem Hotel."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Looking_in_the_garden|Looking in the garden|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>'''The Manager of the Royal Beth''', also known as '''the Merry Gentleman''', is the Priest-King of the [[The Fallen Cities|First City]]. His lover was the King with a Hundred Hearts. He is responsible for the First City's Fall, as he sacrificed it in return for the King with a Hundred Hearts' life when the latter was dying of "fits".<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Looking_in_the_garden|Looking in the garden|Fallen London|}}</ref> Despite the King's hatred for [[Polythreme|what he has become due to this deal]], the Manager still loves him after thousands of years.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Meeting_the_King|Meeting the King|Fallen London|}} ''"I no longer love him. How could I, after what he had done to me? But his love abides, over the sea in London."''</ref> | ||
As of now, he also acts as '''May''' of the [[Calendar Council]], and gives his dark blessings to aspiring [[revolutionaries]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Try_your_best_to_sleep|Try your best to sleep|Fallen London|}}</ref> His book in the Agendums of Ascent records stories of forbidden and tragic passion.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Calendar_Code|The Calendar Code|Fallen London|}}''"These are powerful tales: of hands touching for the first time on carnival rides; of intimacies stolen by doors which listen. The ecstasies captured in the middle section give way to a sombre conclusion: stories of old lovers separated by dark waters, and of hearts turned to stone."''</ref> | |||
He is also certainly a player of the [[Marvellous]], and his desire is to share [[Polythreme|his lover's fate]] by becoming a second living city. This may be a reason why he collects diamonds, since all he needs is a diamond from the [[Mountain of Light]] to replace his heart.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Manager%27s_heart%27s_desire|Ask about the Manager's heart's desire|Fallen London|}}</ref> Besides these, he has quite an appetite for mysteries and ancient lore.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Buy_a_permanent_reservation_at_the_Royal_Bethlehem_Hotel|Buy a permanent reservation at the Royal Bethlehem Hotel|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Convince_the_Manager_of_the_Royal_Bethlehem_to_train_you|Convince the Manager of the Royal Bethlehem to train you|Fallen London|}}</ref> | |||
He is also certainly a player of [[ | |||
In [[Parabola]], he keeps the Garden of Nightmares.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ambition_%E2%80%93_Arm_Yourself_Against_the_Garden_of_Nightmares|Arm Yourself Against the Garden of Nightmares|Fallen London|}}</ref> | In [[Parabola]], he keeps the Garden of Nightmares.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ambition_%E2%80%93_Arm_Yourself_Against_the_Garden_of_Nightmares|Arm Yourself Against the Garden of Nightmares|Fallen London|}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 02:18, 5 October 2024
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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. |
"He also chucks you under the chin, which is a little over-familar, but, well. His buttons are so very shiny. It's difficult to quarrel with a man of such shiny buttons. 'Thank you,' he says. 'I do hope you'll continue to enjoy your stay.'"[1]
"The priest-king wears white linen, and many layers of shining copper and brass jewellery. He is unmistakably the Manager of the Royal Bethlehem Hotel."[2]
The Manager of the Royal Beth, also known as the Merry Gentleman, is the Priest-King of the First City. His lover was the King with a Hundred Hearts. He is responsible for the First City's Fall, as he sacrificed it in return for the King with a Hundred Hearts' life when the latter was dying of "fits".[3] Despite the King's hatred for what he has become due to this deal, the Manager still loves him after thousands of years.[4]
As of now, he also acts as May of the Calendar Council, and gives his dark blessings to aspiring revolutionaries.[5] His book in the Agendums of Ascent records stories of forbidden and tragic passion.[6]
He is also certainly a player of the Marvellous, and his desire is to share his lover's fate by becoming a second living city. This may be a reason why he collects diamonds, since all he needs is a diamond from the Mountain of Light to replace his heart.[7] Besides these, he has quite an appetite for mysteries and ancient lore.[8][9]
In Parabola, he keeps the Garden of Nightmares.[10]
He is described as having eight fingers[11] (though unclear if in total or on each hand) and a penchant for the dandyish side of the Fifth City's fashion, trying to blend in with his eccentric stovepipe hat, brass-buttoned frock coat and silver-capped cane.[12]
His uncle is the Capering Relicker, the man who brewed the first Hesperidean Cider.[13]
Historical and Cultural Inspirations
If the Crossroads Shaded by Cedars (the First City) is Uruk - though we don't know for sure, besides that it was from Ancient Mesopotamia - then the Manager would be Gilgamesh, the King with a Hundred Hearts would be Enkidu, and the Capering Relicker would be Utnapishtim. These three are key players in the Epic of Gilgamesh. That said, the King with a Hundred Hearts' origin is different (in the Fallen London universe, he is a traveler from China[14]), and most of the main events of the Epic aren't mentioned in the story of the First City.
