Penstock: Difference between revisions
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{{Character | {{Character | ||
|image1 = | |image1 = SS_oldman2gaz.png | ||
|location = Penstock's Land Agency, [[The Echo Bazaar]] | |location = Penstock's Land Agency, [[The Echo Bazaar]] | ||
|allegiance = [[The Echo Bazaar]]}}<blockquote>''"He stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner. But that frock-coat is of the finest fabric and the newest cut. “My name is Penstock,” he says."''<ref name=":0">[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Fallen_London#Interactions A dusty gentleman, ''Sunless Sea''] ''"Tired eyes, sallow skin. He stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner. But that frock-coat is of the finest fabric and the newest cut. “My name is Penstock,” he says."''</ref></blockquote>'''Penstock''' is a land agent who manages Penstock’s Land Agency, a modest office situated on the eastern flank of the Bazaar.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/A_Visit_to_the_Bazaar#Interactions Go with her, ''Fallen London''] ''"Penstock's Land Agency: a modest office in an immodest location, hard against the eastern flank of the Bazaar - that spired fortress of commerce that towers over London. Penstock stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner, but his eyes are very wise."''</ref> On the surface, he inspects, purchases, and sells property.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Memoirs:_Quality_of_Lodgings#Usage Sell your Mansion, Sunless Sea] ''Penstock, the land agent, looks over the Mansion with a gloomy eye. “Roof's going,” he suggests. “But it's a good size, I suppose.”''</ref> But beneath the Agency, beyond Penstock’s Wicket, lies '''the Sundered Sea'''—the vast reservoir that serves as the Bazaar’s [[lacre]]-vats.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Sundered_Sea|A Sundered Sea|Fallen London|}}</ref> Access to this hidden expanse is granted only through Penstock’s Wicket, an entrance guarded by Penstock himself, leading to the depths below via an elevator of sorts.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Pass_the_Wicket_and_descend|Pass the Wicket and descend|Fallen London|}}''[…] "This is only the way down," he tells you […] "There are other ways up. At least, you should hope there are." […] There is a scent – the unmistakable ammonia of lacre – and you hear something, too. It sounds very like the sea.''</ref> | |allegiance = [[The Echo Bazaar]]}}<blockquote>''"He stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner. But that frock-coat is of the finest fabric and the newest cut. “My name is Penstock,” he says."''<ref name=":0">[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Fallen_London#Interactions A dusty gentleman, ''Sunless Sea''] ''"Tired eyes, sallow skin. He stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner. But that frock-coat is of the finest fabric and the newest cut. “My name is Penstock,” he says."''</ref></blockquote>'''Penstock''' is a land agent who manages Penstock’s Land Agency, a modest office situated on the eastern flank of the Bazaar.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/A_Visit_to_the_Bazaar#Interactions Go with her, ''Fallen London''] ''"Penstock's Land Agency: a modest office in an immodest location, hard against the eastern flank of the Bazaar - that spired fortress of commerce that towers over London. Penstock stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner, but his eyes are very wise."''</ref> On the surface, he inspects, purchases, and sells property.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Memoirs:_Quality_of_Lodgings#Usage Sell your Mansion, Sunless Sea] ''Penstock, the land agent, looks over the Mansion with a gloomy eye. “Roof's going,” he suggests. “But it's a good size, I suppose.”''</ref> But beneath the Agency, beyond Penstock’s Wicket, lies '''the Sundered Sea'''—the vast reservoir that serves as the Bazaar’s [[lacre]]-vats.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Sundered_Sea|A Sundered Sea|Fallen London|}}</ref> Access to this hidden expanse is granted only through Penstock’s Wicket, an entrance guarded by Penstock himself, leading to the depths below via an elevator of sorts.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Pass_the_Wicket_and_descend|Pass the Wicket and descend|Fallen London|}}''[…] "This is only the way down," he tells you […] "There are other ways up. At least, you should hope there are." […] There is a scent – the unmistakable ammonia of lacre – and you hear something, too. It sounds very like the sea.''</ref> | ||
Revision as of 18:39, 17 February 2025
"He stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner. But that frock-coat is of the finest fabric and the newest cut. “My name is Penstock,” he says."[1]
Penstock is a land agent who manages Penstock’s Land Agency, a modest office situated on the eastern flank of the Bazaar.[2] On the surface, he inspects, purchases, and sells property.[3] But beneath the Agency, beyond Penstock’s Wicket, lies the Sundered Sea—the vast reservoir that serves as the Bazaar’s lacre-vats.[4] Access to this hidden expanse is granted only through Penstock’s Wicket, an entrance guarded by Penstock himself, leading to the depths below via an elevator of sorts.[5]
Every Christmas, he permits select Londoners to descend into the Sea, allowing them a rare opportunity to commune with the Bazaar.[6] Penstock wields absolute control over access to the lacre-vats; even other servants of the Bazaar must seek his permission.[7][8]
A deeply loyal servant, Penstock harbors a love for the Bazaar that borders on devotion. He is intensely concerned for its mental and physical well-being[9] and staunchly opposes its use of sphinxstone, for that would only exacerbate its melancholy.[10][11] His appearance reflects his burdens—tired eyes, a sallow complexion, and a fine yet somewhat worn frock-coat. He walks with a stoop, coughs frequently,[1] and, due to his proximity to the Sea, carries with him the scent of ammonia and despair.[12]
Before entering the Bazaar’s service, Penstock was a zailor with no care for his own being, a past he does not speak of often. He may have once participated in The Marvellous,[13] and it was he who facilitated The Lady in Lilac’s contact with the Bazaar.[14] Yet, despite his devotion, he considers love to be the most terrible burden of all.[15]
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