The Nacreous Outcast: Difference between revisions
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The Outcast was exiled on account of multiple crimes, most of which cannot be described by human languages. One of them was love,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Nacreous_Outcast#Interactions|Invite it to dine with you (2)|Sunless Sea}} ''"It begins to say "I ushed to love - " and then suddenly excuses itself."''</ref> which is forbidden among the species of [[Axile]],<ref name="principles heartmetal">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles Heartmetal|Sunless Sea}}''"I was forbidden love, by the Bazaar, when I left the world Axile. But I don't regret it. I never regret."''</ref><ref name="eolith">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles an Ambiguous Eolith|Sunless Sea}}''"Kneel, kneel, and my Emissary will gift you Scintillack. The secret. The Bazaar brought me; brought us all, all us shapelings, Axiles. The Flukes, the misers, even my Emissary. Why? Too deep a secret for me, my friend. Even here, too deep for me. Perhaps when you end me..."''</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="sunlesssea.miraheze.org"/> to the entity whose mind suffuses the [[Principles of Coral]].<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Nacreous_Outcast|Invite it to dine with you (2)|Sunless Sea}} ''"The Principles found it an apt tool, and has been its patron ever since."''</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>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Nacreous_Outcast#Interactions|Invite it to dine with you (2)|Sunless Sea}} ''"It begins to say "I ushed to love - " and then suddenly excuses itself."''</ref> which is forbidden among the species of [[Axile]],<ref name="principles heartmetal">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles Heartmetal|Sunless Sea}}''"I was forbidden love, by the Bazaar, when I left the world Axile. But I don't regret it. I never regret."''</ref><ref name="eolith">{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|Give the Principles an Ambiguous Eolith|Sunless Sea}}''"Kneel, kneel, and my Emissary will gift you Scintillack. The secret. The Bazaar brought me; brought us all, all us shapelings, Axiles. The Flukes, the misers, even my Emissary. Why? Too deep a secret for me, my friend. Even here, too deep for me. Perhaps when you end me..."''</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="sunlesssea.miraheze.org"/> to the entity whose mind suffuses the [[Principles of Coral]].<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Nacreous_Outcast|Invite it to dine with you (2)|Sunless Sea}} ''"The Principles found it an apt tool, and has been its patron ever since."''</ref> | ||
==An End, Averted== | ==An End, Averted?== | ||
{{Major spoiler small}} | {{Major spoiler small}} | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
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<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> | <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]]]] | [[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.miraheze.org/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.miraheze.org/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.miraheze.org/wiki/https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Salt_Lions#Interactions|"Shalt-Flions"|Sunless Sea}}</ref> for a chess game against an outside opponent,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/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.miraheze.org/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.miraheze.org/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.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Pulse_of_the_Principles|The Last Game|Sunless Sea}}''"The Emissary, trembling, takes his place across the board from you. "He will dissolve with me," the Principles tells you, consolingly. "It's for the best. You must win the game. Defeat him, and he and I will end. I will leave treasure. Hurry. My thoughts grow burdensome.""''</ref> To this end, the Outcast was ordered to gather materials<ref name="offer help" /><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Salt_Lions#Interactions|"Shalt-Flions"|Sunless Sea}}</ref> for a chess game against an outside opponent,<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/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.miraheze.org/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 events played out a bit differently than expected. Somehow, the Principles was 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, now called the '''Nacreous Survivor''', was spared its demise.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Nacreous_Survivor|Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London}} ''"What has changed this Rubbery Man?"''</ref> However, this meant that the Principles could 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 name="invite dine 2" /><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Nacreous_Survivor|Speak with the Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London}} ''"The [...] Survivor runs a tentacle over [...] rock, [...] "Zhis ish hhwat it hwanted.""''</ref> but it feels a mixture of grief and relief, both 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," [...] "becoshh offh Prinshhipulssh." Anger; grief; relief. "Washh not hhwaht I hwanted.""''</ref> | Of course, the Outcast feared this fate,<ref name="game last" /> but in the ''Fallen London'' timeline, events played out a bit differently than expected. Somehow, the Principles was 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, now called the '''Nacreous Survivor''', was spared its demise.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Nacreous_Survivor|Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London}} ''"What has changed this Rubbery Man?"''</ref> However, this meant that by 1899, the Principles could 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 name="invite dine 2" /><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Nacreous_Survivor|Speak with the Nacreous Survivor|Fallen London}} ''"The [...] Survivor runs a tentacle over [...] rock, [...] "Zhis ish hhwat it hwanted.""''</ref> but it feels a mixture of grief and relief, both 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," [...] "becoshh offh Prinshhipulssh." Anger; grief; relief. "Washh not hhwaht I hwanted.""''</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 00:23, 13 February 2025
"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[4] and the Rubbery language,[5] though its speech in the former can be difficult for some to understand.[6] It is familiar with esoteric culinary arts[7] - though it prefers its food uncooked.[8] It is typically very terse[9] and has a reserved demeanor.[10] 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.[11][12]
The Outcast was exiled on account of multiple crimes, most of which cannot be described by human languages. One of them was love,[13] which is forbidden among the species of Axile,[14][15] and it is implied that the recipient of its affection was a Fluke.[16] As punishment, it was abandoned at Port Cecil, where it became an emissary[4] to the entity whose mind suffuses the Principles of Coral.[17]
An End, Averted?
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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."[18]
The Principles of Coral wished to descend the Great Chain of Being[19] and free itself of thought forever.[20] To this end, the Outcast was ordered to gather materials[1][21] for a chess game against an outside opponent,[22] and act as a surrogate for its master.[23] It was to lose on the Principles' behalf, upon which the minds of both beings would perish.[20][23]
Of course, the Outcast feared this fate,[20] but in the Fallen London timeline, events played out a bit differently than expected. Somehow, the Principles was significantly weakened,[24][25] while the Outcast, now called the Nacreous Survivor, was spared its demise.[26] However, this meant that by 1899, the Principles could no longer defend its reef from exploitation.[27] The Survivor is dismayed at the ill treatment of the being that once gave it a home,[3][28] but it feels a mixture of grief and relief, both for itself and the purpose it once bore.[29]
References
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