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==The Duke of Drama== | ==The Duke of Drama== | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote>''"The Court lacks for an Imperial Artist-in-Residence. The last one… well, we won't see them for some time. My point is that the Court wishes to be entertained with original compositions. Your early works impressed the Empress, and she doesn't even like mushrooms. So get to it, would you? We can't wait to see what you come up with."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder|A polite tap on the shoulder|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
''"The Court lacks for an Imperial Artist-in-Residence. The last one… well, we won't see them for some time. My point is that the Court wishes to be entertained with original compositions. Your early works impressed the Empress, and she doesn't even like mushrooms. So get to it, would you? We can't wait to see what you come up with."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder|A polite tap on the shoulder|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | [[File:FL Victoria.png|alt=An image of Queen Victoria.|thumb|[[The Empress]]]] | ||
The Veteran Privy Counsellor is a duke<ref name=":0">[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder A polite tap on the shoulder, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor would like you to come this way. He's a Duke, isn't he? You should probably pop along."''</ref> with a significant amount of social sway over the [[Shuttered Palace]]. Per his title, he is a longtime member of the Privy Council, a formal body of advisors to the [[Empress]]. He has resided at the Empress' Court for sixty years,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Try_to_discover_his_reasons Try to discover his reasons, ''Fallen London''] ''"This man is a veteran of sixty years of palace intrigue."''</ref> and thus has amassed extensive connections. He possesses enough blackmail to threaten all of London’s Ministers;<ref name=":12">[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Take_port_with_the_Veteran_Privy_Counsellor Take port with the Veteran Privy Counsellor, ''Fallen London''] ''"The current crop of Ministers all went to Summerset college within a few years of each other, y'see? They're Stoats one and all. If you need a favour, just mention the stuffed weasels, or the custard game, and they'll be brought to heel […]"''</ref> unsurprisingly, he is in turn surveilled by [[Rattus Faber]], who are more than happy to sell incriminating evidence about him''.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sell_a_Corresponding_Sounder_for_4000_Rat-Shillings Sell a Corresponding Sounder for 4000 Rat-Shillings, ''Fallen London''] ''"[…] "Funny, we nicked — sorry, acquired, one just like this the other day." […] She […] produces a thin paper of deciphered code. […] It seems the sounder was connected to the Veteran Privy Counsellor's private residence. The compensation is generous."''</ref>'' Decades ago, likely prior to the [[Fall of London]], he governed a "considerable portion" of Africa.<ref name=":2">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder|A polite tap on the shoulder|Fallen London|}} ''"Any of these chairs would sell for more than your lodgings. The wallpaper is made of zebras. There are paintings dating from the time when your host governed a considerable portion of Africa. The office is far enough from the Throne that you may speak above a whisper."''</ref> His office, located far from the Empress' throne, is decorated with opulent furniture, old paintings, and wallpaper made of zebra hide.<ref name=":2" /> | The Veteran Privy Counsellor is a duke<ref name=":0">[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder A polite tap on the shoulder, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor would like you to come this way. He's a Duke, isn't he? You should probably pop along."''</ref> with a significant amount of social sway over the [[Shuttered Palace]]. Per his title, he is a longtime member of the Privy Council, a formal body of advisors to the [[Empress]]. He has resided at the Empress' Court for sixty years,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Try_to_discover_his_reasons Try to discover his reasons, ''Fallen London''] ''"This man is a veteran of sixty years of palace intrigue."''</ref> and thus has amassed extensive connections. He possesses enough blackmail to threaten all of London’s Ministers;<ref name=":12">[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Take_port_with_the_Veteran_Privy_Counsellor Take port with the Veteran Privy Counsellor, ''Fallen London''] ''"The current crop of Ministers all went to Summerset college within a few years of each other, y'see? They're Stoats one and all. If you need a favour, just mention the stuffed weasels, or the custard game, and they'll be brought to heel […]"''</ref> unsurprisingly, he is in turn surveilled by [[Rattus Faber]], who are more than happy to sell incriminating evidence about him''.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sell_a_Corresponding_Sounder_for_4000_Rat-Shillings Sell a Corresponding Sounder for 4000 Rat-Shillings, ''Fallen London''] ''"[…] "Funny, we nicked — sorry, acquired, one just like this the other day." […] She […] produces a thin paper of deciphered code. […] It seems the sounder was connected to the Veteran Privy Counsellor's private residence. The compensation is generous."''</ref>'' Decades ago, likely prior to the [[Fall of London]], he governed a "considerable portion" of Africa.<ref name=":2">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder|A polite tap on the shoulder|Fallen London|}} ''"Any of these chairs would sell for more than your lodgings. The wallpaper is made of zebras. There are paintings dating from the time when your host governed a considerable portion of Africa. The office is far enough from the Throne that you may speak above a whisper."''</ref> His office, located far from the Empress' throne, is decorated with opulent furniture, old paintings, and wallpaper made of zebra hide.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
[[File:Court.png|alt=Queen Victoria being attended to by a servant.|thumb|[[The Shuttered Palace|The Empress' Court]]]] | |||
The Counsellor has been assigned the responsibility of appointing the Imperial Artist-in-Residence,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder|A polite tap on the shoulder|Fallen London|}} ''"The Court lacks for an Imperial Artist-in-Residence. The last one… well, we won't see them for some time. My point is that the Court wishes to be entertained with original compositions. Your early works impressed the Empress [...] We can't wait to see what you come up with."''</ref> and while such a duty sounds rather droll, he has in fact been using this privilege as a popularity mill for an unknown amount of time. He has a penchant for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, often encouraging artists to create works that offend the sensibilities of the Court,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Complete_a_novel Complete a novel, ''Fallen London''] ''""You should be aware that the Court disapproves of supernatural themes, racy passages and tales of usurpation." The Veteran Privy Counsellor raises a conspiratorial eyebrow. What's he playing at?"''</ref> and eventually instigating them to get themselves banished from the court through an exceptional degree of scandal.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_weighty_decision A weighty decision, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor wants you to compose an opera so audacious that it will get you banished from the Empress' Court: permanently, perhaps."''</ref> He uses the ensuing chaos to grant the banished artists government positions at home and abroad,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Head_in_as_a_guest Head in as a guest, ''Fallen London''] ''"If you can impress them, I'm sure we can get your appointment confirmed eventually."''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Face_of_London The Face of London, ''Fallen London''] ''""What a pleasure it is to see you again […] And how happy I am to grant you this honour: the governorship of Port Carnelian.""''</ref> allowing them to rebuild their reputation enough to return to the Court as celebrities.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Look_for_the_Veteran_Privy_Counsellor Look for the Veteran Privy Counsellor, ''Fallen London''] ''""[...] We've been following your prog— [...] you should know that London's most captivating princess has an interest in visiting Port Carnelian. [...] if a notably successful governor invited her [...] she would [...] invite them to Court.""''</ref> His motivations remain unclear, but he is known to hold clandestine meetings on the Palace roof with something that can fly, and he has a [[The Correspondence|Correspondence]] tattoo meaning "faith kept, aeons" — suggesting an oath or allegiance.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Try_to_discover_his_reasons Try to discover his reasons, ''Fallen London''] ''"You sniff out rumours […] He has taken a few discreet coach trips to the University […] He attends meetings on the palace roof […] No-one else ascends the stairs. […] a tattoo from Clathermont's, identified only as 'C. special, 1: faith kept, aeons.'"''</ref> The [[Masters of the Bazaar]] may be involved, as they have an interest in shaping notable Londoners.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Insist_on_Favourable_Circumstances Insist on Favourable Circumstances, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Bazaar takes a special interest in the Notable."''</ref> | The Counsellor has been assigned the responsibility of appointing the Imperial Artist-in-Residence,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_polite_tap_on_the_shoulder|A polite tap on the shoulder|Fallen London|}} ''"The Court lacks for an Imperial Artist-in-Residence. The last one… well, we won't see them for some time. My point is that the Court wishes to be entertained with original compositions. Your early works impressed the Empress [...] We can't wait to see what you come up with."''</ref> and while such a duty sounds rather droll, he has in fact been using this privilege as a popularity mill for an unknown amount of time. He has a penchant for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, often encouraging artists to create works that offend the sensibilities of the Court,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Complete_a_novel Complete a novel, ''Fallen London''] ''""You should be aware that the Court disapproves of supernatural themes, racy passages and tales of usurpation." The Veteran Privy Counsellor raises a conspiratorial eyebrow. What's he playing at?"''</ref> and eventually instigating them to get themselves banished from the court through an exceptional degree of scandal.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_weighty_decision A weighty decision, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor wants you to compose an opera so audacious that it will get you banished from the Empress' Court: permanently, perhaps."''</ref> He uses the ensuing chaos to grant the banished artists government positions at home and abroad,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Head_in_as_a_guest Head in as a guest, ''Fallen London''] ''"If you can impress them, I'm sure we can get your appointment confirmed eventually."''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Face_of_London The Face of London, ''Fallen London''] ''""What a pleasure it is to see you again […] And how happy I am to grant you this honour: the governorship of Port Carnelian.""''</ref> allowing them to rebuild their reputation enough to return to the Court as celebrities.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Look_for_the_Veteran_Privy_Counsellor Look for the Veteran Privy Counsellor, ''Fallen London''] ''""[...] We've been following your prog— [...] you should know that London's most captivating princess has an interest in visiting Port Carnelian. [...] if a notably successful governor invited her [...] she would [...] invite them to Court.""''</ref> His motivations remain unclear, but he is known to hold clandestine meetings on the Palace roof with something that can fly, and he has a [[The Correspondence|Correspondence]] tattoo meaning "faith kept, aeons" — suggesting an oath or allegiance.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Try_to_discover_his_reasons Try to discover his reasons, ''Fallen London''] ''"You sniff out rumours […] He has taken a few discreet coach trips to the University […] He attends meetings on the palace roof […] No-one else ascends the stairs. […] a tattoo from Clathermont's, identified only as 'C. special, 1: faith kept, aeons.'"''</ref> The [[Masters of the Bazaar]] may be involved, as they have an interest in shaping notable Londoners.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Insist_on_Favourable_Circumstances Insist on Favourable Circumstances, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Bazaar takes a special interest in the Notable."''</ref> | ||
== But Not the Most Dramatic Man == | == But Not the Most Dramatic Man == | ||
<blockquote>''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor smiles thinly, but does not permit any mention of the w_r, and certainly not of the S____d M_n, within these walls. 'The Palace knows well enough how to function in times of— Well, at all times.'"''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Appeal_to_the_Court|Appeal to the Court|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>The Counsellor has political duties that extend beyond the arts, of course. When the [[Great Hellbound Railway]] reached [[Balmoral]] and fell back under the Crown’s jurisdiction,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Attend_dinner Attend dinner, ''Fallen London''] ''""Your railway is causing me a difficulty now that it stops at Balmoral. Technically, Balmoral is property of the Bazaar, but the Masters had no wish to travel so far west to manage it – so that duty fell back to the Crown.""''</ref> he appointed the Unyielding Highlander as the settlement's Castellan.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Meet_the_Unyielding_Highlander Meet the Unyielding Highlander, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor […] hands the Unyielding Highlander a silver seal."''</ref> During the [[Starved Men|Starved]] attack that followed the [[London Horticultural Show]], he went so far as to restrict any mention of the matter within the Palace, turning away any pleas for help from the city.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Plead_for_assistance Plead for assistance, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor smiles thinly, but does not permit any mention of the w_r, and certainly not of the S____d M_n, within these walls. "The Palace knows well enough how to function in times of— Well, at all times."''''"''</ref> | <blockquote>''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor smiles thinly, but does not permit any mention of the w_r, and certainly not of the S____d M_n, within these walls. 'The Palace knows well enough how to function in times of— Well, at all times.'"''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Appeal_to_the_Court|Appeal to the Court|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote> | ||
[[File:Balmoral.png|alt=A castle's tower.|thumb|[[Balmoral]]]] | |||
The Counsellor has political duties that extend beyond the arts, of course. When the [[Great Hellbound Railway]] reached [[Balmoral]] and fell back under the Crown’s jurisdiction,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Attend_dinner Attend dinner, ''Fallen London''] ''""Your railway is causing me a difficulty now that it stops at Balmoral. Technically, Balmoral is property of the Bazaar, but the Masters had no wish to travel so far west to manage it – so that duty fell back to the Crown.""''</ref> he appointed the Unyielding Highlander as the settlement's Castellan.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Meet_the_Unyielding_Highlander Meet the Unyielding Highlander, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor […] hands the Unyielding Highlander a silver seal."''</ref> During the [[Starved Men|Starved]] attack that followed the [[London Horticultural Show]], he went so far as to restrict any mention of the matter within the Palace, turning away any pleas for help from the city.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Plead_for_assistance Plead for assistance, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Veteran Privy Counsellor smiles thinly, but does not permit any mention of the w_r, and certainly not of the S____d M_n, within these walls. "The Palace knows well enough how to function in times of— Well, at all times."''''"''</ref> | |||
As invested as he is into both social and political scheming, the Counsellor is, at the end of the day, a typical old aristocrat. He dislikes poetry<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Write_poetry Write poetry, ''Fallen London''] ''"Poetry," says the Veteran Privy Counsellor. "How very fashionable." He seems only the tiniest bit disappointed.'' | As invested as he is into both social and political scheming, the Counsellor is, at the end of the day, a typical old aristocrat. He dislikes poetry<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Write_poetry Write poetry, ''Fallen London''] ''"Poetry," says the Veteran Privy Counsellor. "How very fashionable." He seems only the tiniest bit disappointed.'' | ||
Revision as of 16:58, 3 February 2025
"The Veteran Privy Counsellor would like you to come this way. He's a Duke, isn't he? You should probably pop along."[1]
The Veteran Privy Counsellor is a highly influential nobleman in London.
The Duke of Drama
"The Court lacks for an Imperial Artist-in-Residence. The last one… well, we won't see them for some time. My point is that the Court wishes to be entertained with original compositions. Your early works impressed the Empress, and she doesn't even like mushrooms. So get to it, would you? We can't wait to see what you come up with."[2]
The Veteran Privy Counsellor is a duke[3] with a significant amount of social sway over the Shuttered Palace. Per his title, he is a longtime member of the Privy Council, a formal body of advisors to the Empress. He has resided at the Empress' Court for sixty years,[4] and thus has amassed extensive connections. He possesses enough blackmail to threaten all of London’s Ministers;[5] unsurprisingly, he is in turn surveilled by Rattus Faber, who are more than happy to sell incriminating evidence about him.[6] Decades ago, likely prior to the Fall of London, he governed a "considerable portion" of Africa.[7] His office, located far from the Empress' throne, is decorated with opulent furniture, old paintings, and wallpaper made of zebra hide.[7]
The Counsellor has been assigned the responsibility of appointing the Imperial Artist-in-Residence,[8] and while such a duty sounds rather droll, he has in fact been using this privilege as a popularity mill for an unknown amount of time. He has a penchant for pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, often encouraging artists to create works that offend the sensibilities of the Court,[9] and eventually instigating them to get themselves banished from the court through an exceptional degree of scandal.[10] He uses the ensuing chaos to grant the banished artists government positions at home and abroad,[11][12] allowing them to rebuild their reputation enough to return to the Court as celebrities.[13] His motivations remain unclear, but he is known to hold clandestine meetings on the Palace roof with something that can fly, and he has a Correspondence tattoo meaning "faith kept, aeons" — suggesting an oath or allegiance.[14] The Masters of the Bazaar may be involved, as they have an interest in shaping notable Londoners.[15]
But Not the Most Dramatic Man
"The Veteran Privy Counsellor smiles thinly, but does not permit any mention of the w_r, and certainly not of the S____d M_n, within these walls. 'The Palace knows well enough how to function in times of— Well, at all times.'"[16]
The Counsellor has political duties that extend beyond the arts, of course. When the Great Hellbound Railway reached Balmoral and fell back under the Crown’s jurisdiction,[17] he appointed the Unyielding Highlander as the settlement's Castellan.[18] During the Starved attack that followed the London Horticultural Show, he went so far as to restrict any mention of the matter within the Palace, turning away any pleas for help from the city.[19]
As invested as he is into both social and political scheming, the Counsellor is, at the end of the day, a typical old aristocrat. He dislikes poetry[20] but adores ballet, even dancing spontaneously at the thought — though his skills are as poor as one would expect of an elderly, portly man.[21] He dismisses modern technology,[22] and maintains a private club where he socializes with fellow nobles[23] over his favorite port wine.[24] And like an untold number of powerful men over the course of history, he has his, shall we say, preferences.[25] He has many illegitimate children scattered throughout London's orphanages and poor-houses,[26][27] whom he neither acknowledges nor provides financial assistance.[28] He remains keenly aware of the damage they could inflict on his reputation should the truth come to light,[29] but he may also acknowledge that exposure would harm the children and their mothers far more than it would harm him.[30] Despite the potential consequences, Feducci has taken an interest in seeking out one of his offspring.[31]
Historical Inspirations
The Privy Council, the formal body of advisors to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, is primarily made up of senior politicians who are current or former MPs. It was created in 1801 as the renamed successor to the Privy Council of Great Britain, which in turn superseded several separate and longstanding councils for each country incorporated into the UK.
References
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