The Royal Family: Difference between revisions
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== The Heartbroken Bibliophile == | == The Heartbroken Bibliophile == | ||
'''Princess Helena Augusta Victoria '''(born May 25th, 1846) has become "an abhorrence of rusting quills."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] An abhorrence of rusting quills screams at you, flaring its spines like an iron sun."''</ref> She has a unique taste for red honey that | '''Princess Helena Augusta Victoria '''(born May 25th, 1846) has become "an abhorrence of rusting quills."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] An abhorrence of rusting quills screams at you, flaring its spines like an iron sun."''</ref> She has a unique taste for red honey that is distinct from her siblings; namely, she partakes in honey extracted only from one individual, who is kept separate from the other prisoners.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"H_____ will touch only honey from a single inmate of the cage-gardens, whose cage was kept away from the rest."''</ref> Her discarded poetry also litters the floor of the Palace. | ||
In our world, Helena helped write a biography of Prince Consort Albert and translated several books from German to English. She was considerably devastated when her father died, and began to court Albert's librarian, who was dismissed when the flirtation was discovered. | In our world, Helena helped write a biography of Prince Consort Albert and translated several books from German to English. She was considerably devastated when her father died, and began to court Albert's librarian, who was dismissed when the flirtation was discovered. | ||
== The Recalcitrant Sculptress == | == The Recalcitrant Sculptress == | ||
'''Princess Louise Caroline Alberta '''(born March 18th, 1848), the [[Recalcitrant Sculptress]], is "the gaunt thing with a coat of glass feathers."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] a gaunt thing shivers in a coat of glass feathers. [...]"''</ref> Since her transformation | '''Princess Louise Caroline Alberta '''(born March 18th, 1848), the [[Recalcitrant Sculptress]], is "the gaunt thing with a coat of glass feathers."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] a gaunt thing shivers in a coat of glass feathers. [...]"''</ref> Since her transformation, her sculptures have taken on the appearance of horrifying and warped humanoid shapes.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"Before each step, you nudge the feathers aside with your toe. The glassy sounds are shrill in the cellars' hush. There are shapes in the dark: statues. The Recalcitrant Sculptress was gifted when she still had hands. Now, her works are crude; as twisted as dying oaks. This one has a set of stubby, vestigial arms protruding from the sides of its head. Another, further in, has a narrow torso covered in mouths. You pass between the monstrous statues as swiftly as you dare."''</ref> She was known as the prettiest of Victoria's daughters and a skilled artist. | ||
In our world, Louise pursued an artistic career despite her royal status, and enrolled in the National Art Training School in 1863. She ultimately produced several famous sculptures. | In our world, Louise pursued an artistic career despite her royal status, and enrolled in the National Art Training School in 1863. She ultimately produced several famous sculptures. | ||
== The Bellicose Prince == | == The Bellicose Prince == | ||
<blockquote>''"It was all and yet none of these. You must return, and return again, until you have eaten your way through to your own rotten core, and devoured it. Until then, this torture is no less than you deserve."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London'']</ref>''</blockquote>'''Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert '''(born May 1st, 1850), the [[Bellicose Prince]], has become "the weeping horse-sized grub."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The carcass of a goat stretches across the table. Around it, horrors congregate. [...] A weeping, horse-sized grub half-mounts the table [...]"''</ref> | <blockquote>''"It was all and yet none of these. You must return, and return again, until you have eaten your way through to your own rotten core, and devoured it. Until then, this torture is no less than you deserve."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London'']</ref>''</blockquote>'''Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert '''(born May 1st, 1850), the [[Bellicose Prince]], has become "the weeping horse-sized grub."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The carcass of a goat stretches across the table. Around it, horrors congregate. [...] A weeping, horse-sized grub half-mounts the table [...]"''</ref> After a string of costly errors during his service in the [[The Campaign of '68|Campaign of '68]] against [[Hell]], he began consuming his own red honey as "penance."<ref name=":0">[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"For weeks, you let the bees tear away pieces of your mind. You relive the torture every time you swallow your own honey, but the agony is nothing to that of confronting yourself. Sometimes, the pain recedes enough for you to see what is happening to your body, but it comes as no surprise. This new form matches who you have always been."''</ref> He had initially been put off by the honey his siblings were taking, and thus avoided becoming a monster at first,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"There is more honey than you could possibly eat, in any flavour you desire. You ask for soldiers' memories, but there must be something wrong with the honey because these recollections taste only of boredom and pain. You cast the spoon aside and watch as your siblings eat, and grow monstrous."''</ref> but his relapse resulted in his eventual transformation.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
In our world, Arthur spent his life in the military, and was said to be Victoria's favorite child. In the ''Fallen London'' timeline, however, it appears she paid him little mind.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"When the day is won, you march to your mother's room to inform her of your triumph, but she closes the door in your face."''</ref> | In our world, Arthur spent his life in the military, and was said to be Victoria's favorite child. In the ''Fallen London'' timeline, however, it appears she paid him little mind.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"When the day is won, you march to your mother's room to inform her of your triumph, but she closes the door in your face."''</ref> | ||
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== The Playful Prodigy == | == The Playful Prodigy == | ||
'''Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore '''(born April 14th, 1857), the [[Playful Prodigy]], is "the spider-thing with face-hands and needle-fingers."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Playful Prodigy makes no sound as she stirs from the ceiling. You do not hear her unfold her spindly limbs. You do not see her long hands reach down, or the frightened, child-like faces that peer from each palm. You feel the needled finger, though, as it pricks a vein in your neck. Sharp as a bee sting."''</ref> | '''Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore '''(born April 14th, 1857), the [[Playful Prodigy]], is "the spider-thing with face-hands and needle-fingers."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Playful Prodigy makes no sound as she stirs from the ceiling. You do not hear her unfold her spindly limbs. You do not see her long hands reach down, or the frightened, child-like faces that peer from each palm. You feel the needled finger, though, as it pricks a vein in your neck. Sharp as a bee sting."''</ref> In the ''Sunless Skies'' timeline, she was able to return to human form, and has become known as the '''Generous Princess.'''<ref>[https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/London#The_Silken_Salon The Silken Salon, ''Sunless Skies''] ''"The Generous Princess manages many affairs of court. She cultivates alliances, forms opinions, sets trends, makes introductions, suggests promotions and dismantles reputations. She attracts rumours like a lantern attracts moths. It's said that she fears the light of the suns, and that her gifts inevitably destroy the recipients. She can sometimes be found in her salon, where she welcomes visiting captains."''</ref> The real Beatrice was babied by her mother, became Victoria's constant companion after Albert's death, and married a German prince (to Victoria's exasperation at losing her innocent baby daughter). | ||
In the ''Sunless Skies'' timeline, | |||
== The Captivating Princess == | == The Captivating Princess == | ||
Revision as of 03:51, 12 April 2025
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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. |
"These are the Empress' children. The oldest ones stand in a row at the back. The Redundant Heir holds a goblet in one casual hand. The drip that runs down its stem seems too treacle-like for wine, and too brightly red. To his left stands the Dutiful Daughter; to his right the Brooding Captain. Before them, the younger children sit on stools: the Heartbroken Bibliophile, the Recalcitrant Sculptress, the Bellicose Prince, and the Delicate Duke (who is still much mourned in patriotic corners of society).
At the very front, cross-legged on the floor, sits the Playful Prodigy. She has the cheeks of a cherub and blue, mischievous eyes. In her arms is a baby, wrapped in a black swaddling-cloth: presumably the Captivating Princess.
Only the oldest child is absent: the Empress' Shadow, who did not Fall."[1]
After the Fall, the Empress' children began cultivating bees[2] and experimenting with gaoler's honey using their own servants,[3] taking great joy in the act.[4] However, at some point they consumed a contaminated strain of red honey[5] that caused all but two of them to be transformed into monsters.[6] One stayed on the Surface, and the Captivating Princess, who was born in the Neath, managed to avoid the effects (at least superficially).[7] One may see the siblings as they were before, but only in a mirror.[8] Thanks to this predicament, many of the royal children suffer from severe insecurities and other character flaws, but they still seem to retain sapience despite their appearances. Their quarters are hidden beneath the Shuttered Palace, locked behind five locked doors.[9] A senior Keeper of the Cage-Garden in the Shuttered Palace speculates that the royal children's transformation must also have something to do with their heritage.[10]
The Empress' Shadow
Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise (born November 21st, 1840), the Princess Royal, nicknamed "Vicky," remained on the Surface[11] and married the future Kaiser Frederick III of Germany. Frederick only ruled for three months in 1888 before his untimely death of cancer, leaving his and Vicky's son Wilhelm II as Kaiser. This does not appear to have changed in the world of Fallen London.
The Redundant Heir
Prince Albert Edward (born November 9th, 1841), nicknamed "Bertie," seems to have transformed into a gigantic humanoid creature with a severe hunch and limp.[12] He occasionally visits Flute Street to presumably alter his deformed appearance. Bertie's wife Alexandra of Denmark and now-grown son Prince Albert Victor have history surrounding London's politics. In his youth Albert was quite the playboy, visiting London's brothels with other high society men.[13]
In our world, Victoria blamed Bertie's carousing for Prince Consort Albert's death, but Bertie succeeded her as Edward VII anyway. Prince Albert Victor died of influenza in 1892; he avoided this fate in the timeline of Fallen London.
The Dutiful Daughter
Princess Alice Maud Mary (born April 25th, 1843) has become "the Serpentine Coils."[14] In the mirror, she is a tall, thin, and neat woman wearing a brocaded gown.[15] She married the Prince of Hesse in Germany; her youngest daughter Alexandra (now Tsarina of Russia) is known to exist, born in 1872, so we may presume she raised her family on the Surface as in real life, making only occasional visits to London. Her final trip to England was in late 1876, so perhaps it was around this time that the siblings all took red honey.
Historically, Alice provided comfort to Albert as he died, then provided moral support to Victoria. Alice and Victoria's relationship was rather turbulent toward the end of Alice's life; she died of diphtheria in 1878.
The Brooding Captain
Prince Alfred Ernest Albert (born August 6th, 1844), nicknamed "Affie," is now "the Shadow with Teeth,"[16] a black mass of razor sharp teeth with a long red tongue.[17] His movement is restricted to some extent by his current form.[18] He has a rivalry with the Captivating Princess.[19] In the mirror, he is a heavy-set man adorned with gleaming Admiralty medals.[20] He brought his ship, the HMS Galatea, down to the Neath.[21]
The real Affie joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and became captain of the Galatea in 1867 at the age of 22. He held this position until 1879, before being promoted and assigned to other ships.
The Heartbroken Bibliophile
Princess Helena Augusta Victoria (born May 25th, 1846) has become "an abhorrence of rusting quills."[22] She has a unique taste for red honey that is distinct from her siblings; namely, she partakes in honey extracted only from one individual, who is kept separate from the other prisoners.[23] Her discarded poetry also litters the floor of the Palace.
In our world, Helena helped write a biography of Prince Consort Albert and translated several books from German to English. She was considerably devastated when her father died, and began to court Albert's librarian, who was dismissed when the flirtation was discovered.
The Recalcitrant Sculptress
Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (born March 18th, 1848), the Recalcitrant Sculptress, is "the gaunt thing with a coat of glass feathers."[24] Since her transformation, her sculptures have taken on the appearance of horrifying and warped humanoid shapes.[25] She was known as the prettiest of Victoria's daughters and a skilled artist.
In our world, Louise pursued an artistic career despite her royal status, and enrolled in the National Art Training School in 1863. She ultimately produced several famous sculptures.
The Bellicose Prince
"It was all and yet none of these. You must return, and return again, until you have eaten your way through to your own rotten core, and devoured it. Until then, this torture is no less than you deserve."[26]
Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert (born May 1st, 1850), the Bellicose Prince, has become "the weeping horse-sized grub."[27] After a string of costly errors during his service in the Campaign of '68 against Hell, he began consuming his own red honey as "penance."[28] He had initially been put off by the honey his siblings were taking, and thus avoided becoming a monster at first,[29] but his relapse resulted in his eventual transformation.[28]
In our world, Arthur spent his life in the military, and was said to be Victoria's favorite child. In the Fallen London timeline, however, it appears she paid him little mind.[30]
The Delicate Duke
Prince Leopold George Duncan (born April 7th, 1853) had hemophilia, a blood disorder common among the royal families of Europe, which left him in poor health. In the Fallen London timeline, he has died,[31][32] and it's unknown whether he recovered or not. Historically, he was made the Duke of Albany in 1881 and died in 1884.
The Playful Prodigy
Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (born April 14th, 1857), the Playful Prodigy, is "the spider-thing with face-hands and needle-fingers."[33] In the Sunless Skies timeline, she was able to return to human form, and has become known as the Generous Princess.[34] The real Beatrice was babied by her mother, became Victoria's constant companion after Albert's death, and married a German prince (to Victoria's exasperation at losing her innocent baby daughter).
The Captivating Princess
The Captivating Princess was born during the year of the Fall, and thus does not have a historical counterpart. Unlike her siblings, she has retained her human form, which is also unnaturally beautiful;[35] it is implied that she exchanged her body for its Parabolan counterpart in order to remain human.[citation needed]
References
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