The Mercies: Difference between revisions
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{{Character | {{Character | ||
|image1 = Mercy. | |image1 = Mercy.png | ||
|location = [[London]] | |location = [[London]] | ||
|allegiance = [[The Tomb-Colonies]] | |allegiance = [[The Tomb-Colonies]] | ||
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== Lettice, the Mercy == | == Lettice, the Mercy == | ||
<blockquote>''"You're good fun for a softskin, but don't slow down. I said don't slow down! I'm shooting spiders at six."''<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Lettice,_the_Mercy Lettice, the Mercy, ''Fallen London'']</ref></blockquote>The more sociable of the two, Lettice has amassed a colorful history of friendships, | <blockquote>''"You're good fun for a softskin, but don't slow down. I said don't slow down! I'm shooting spiders at six."''<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Lettice,_the_Mercy Lettice, the Mercy, ''Fallen London'']</ref></blockquote>The more sociable of the two, Lettice has amassed a colorful history of friendships, enemies, and lovers.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Apply_her_particular_expertise_in_a_novel_way_(Lettice) Apply her particular expertise in a novel way, ''Fallen London''] ''"Lettice does indeed have a long recollection of her many past enemies, friends, lovers... and those who overlap more than one category. But it takes an afternoon to untangle the anecdote, only to discover it has barely any relevance at all."''</ref> She's a connoisseur of destruction: well-versed in armaments,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_to_help_with_ordinary_research_(Lettice) Ask her to help with ordinary research, ''Fallen London''] ''"Lettice knows a little something about every type of weapon you can think of. When you ask why, she always says, "Target practice.""''</ref> chemistry,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_to_help_with_ordinary_research_(Lettice) Ask her to help with ordinary research, ''Fallen London''] ''"Lettice draws various unsavoury comparisons between these chemicals and the substances used for embalming. The story about the preserved skunk will be haunting you for some time to come."''</ref> explosives,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Laboratory_Services_of_Lettice_the_Mercy Laboratory Services of Lettice the Mercy, ''Fallen London''] ''"She's inclined toward blowing things up. Destructive testing is her greatest interest. But she also has a few things to say about the Third City, if you ask politely."''</ref> and applications of other sciences that can be used to effect mass destruction.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_to_help_with_ordinary_research_(Lettice) Ask her to help with ordinary research, ''Fallen London''] ''"You might not have expected Lettice to be patient enough for this kind of work. But it is the sort of mathematics that flattens cities, and she is very much interested. It's all you can do to stop her copying sigils of the Correspondence into your equations just to find out what happens."''</ref> She's knowledgable in [[The Third City|Third City]] history as well.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_her_what_a_Tomb_Colonist_would_say_about_this Ask her what a Tomb Colonist would say about this, ''Fallen London''] ''"Of course, she is not just any Tomb Colonist. But she knows more about the Third City and its survivors than most Londoners."''</ref> Lettice is also a member of the '''Order of the Blackened Hoof''', a defiant society of tomb-colonists who refuse to be exiled quietly.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Rendezvous_Aboard_the_HMS_Ungulate A Rendezvous Aboard the HMS Ungulate, ''Fallen London''] ''""We's the Order of the Blackened Hoof, and we ain't goin' quietly!" The subsequent war cry from the assembled Blackened Hooves is raspy, decrepit, and utterly terrifying. Lettice grins, and puffs on her pipe. "You need guns, or alibis, or bandages – give us a call.""''</ref> | ||
When Karakorum was on the brink of becoming the [[The Fourth City|Fourth City]], she fled with her family, only to abandon them mid-flight in a vainglorious attempt to find the Great Khan and save the city. She failed. Karakorum fell into the Neath, and much later, she found her family in the Tomb-Colonies, much diminished.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Confession_of_Lettice A Confession of Lettice, ''Fallen London''] ''"The confession recalls the fall of the Fourth City. [...] When the bats came, Lettice began to lead her loved ones to safety. But halfway to the city's gate she abandoned them in order to seek out the Great Khan, instead. Perhaps she could save him, and perhaps he could save the city? She could not, and he could not. Much, much later, she tracked her surviving family down in the Tomb-Colonies. Those that remained, at least."''</ref> | When Karakorum was on the brink of becoming the [[The Fourth City|Fourth City]], she fled with her family, only to abandon them mid-flight in a vainglorious attempt to find the Great Khan and save the city. She failed. Karakorum fell into the Neath, and much later, she found her family in the Tomb-Colonies, much diminished.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Confession_of_Lettice A Confession of Lettice, ''Fallen London''] ''"The confession recalls the fall of the Fourth City. [...] When the bats came, Lettice began to lead her loved ones to safety. But halfway to the city's gate she abandoned them in order to seek out the Great Khan, instead. Perhaps she could save him, and perhaps he could save the city? She could not, and he could not. Much, much later, she tracked her surviving family down in the Tomb-Colonies. Those that remained, at least."''</ref> | ||
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<blockquote>''"Muscaria Brandy is lethal to breathing humans. "Year in Hell," Grace explains creakily. "Taste for the stuff. Good in coffee." A year in Hell? But she says nothing more. That's Grace for you."''<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_grace_of_Grace The grace of Grace, ''Fallen London'']</ref></blockquote>Grace is the quieter sister, less sociable, but no less dangerous. She once served as a sponsor in [[Knife-and-Candle]],<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Grace,_the_Mercy Grace, the Mercy, ''Fallen London''] ''"Grace is the one who doesn't talk much. She supports her protegé(é)s with Muscaria Brandy, and likes Elusive players who win."''</ref> and later became a player in Hearts' Game ([[Mr Apples|Mr Hearts]]’ replacement for the blood sport) after it was discontinued.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Work_with_the_Knight Work with the Knight, ''Fallen London''] ''""So it's the Khan of Hearts this time, is it?" She tuts, and wraps a loose bandage more tightly around her forearm. "Can't be helped." She stalks into the night, and does not check that you are keeping up."''</ref> Grace, accustomed to the intimate brutality of Knife-and-Candle, finds the drawn-out poisonings of Hearts' Game less personal.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Eight_of_Ribs:_Close_Quarters Eight of Ribs: Close Quarters, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Knight chafes against the strictures of the game. She seems used to something […] more violent. "Problem with poison," she says, "is that you don't often get to watch it work." She flashes one of her terrifying grins. "I prefer the personal touch.""''</ref> She plays on the edge of the rules, with methods that would barely qualify.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Run_your_target_down_in_the_street_%E2%80%93_carefully Run your target down in the street – carefully, ''Fallen London''] ''"You are lucky that the target survives the blades and blood loss. "[...] death by any means other than poison is grounds for disqualification." An umpire has appeared [...]"''</ref> | <blockquote>''"Muscaria Brandy is lethal to breathing humans. "Year in Hell," Grace explains creakily. "Taste for the stuff. Good in coffee." A year in Hell? But she says nothing more. That's Grace for you."''<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_grace_of_Grace The grace of Grace, ''Fallen London'']</ref></blockquote>Grace is the quieter sister, less sociable, but no less dangerous. She once served as a sponsor in [[Knife-and-Candle]],<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Grace,_the_Mercy Grace, the Mercy, ''Fallen London''] ''"Grace is the one who doesn't talk much. She supports her protegé(é)s with Muscaria Brandy, and likes Elusive players who win."''</ref> and later became a player in Hearts' Game ([[Mr Apples|Mr Hearts]]’ replacement for the blood sport) after it was discontinued.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Work_with_the_Knight Work with the Knight, ''Fallen London''] ''""So it's the Khan of Hearts this time, is it?" She tuts, and wraps a loose bandage more tightly around her forearm. "Can't be helped." She stalks into the night, and does not check that you are keeping up."''</ref> Grace, accustomed to the intimate brutality of Knife-and-Candle, finds the drawn-out poisonings of Hearts' Game less personal.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Eight_of_Ribs:_Close_Quarters Eight of Ribs: Close Quarters, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Knight chafes against the strictures of the game. She seems used to something […] more violent. "Problem with poison," she says, "is that you don't often get to watch it work." She flashes one of her terrifying grins. "I prefer the personal touch.""''</ref> She plays on the edge of the rules, with methods that would barely qualify.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Run_your_target_down_in_the_street_%E2%80%93_carefully Run your target down in the street – carefully, ''Fallen London''] ''"You are lucky that the target survives the blades and blood loss. "[...] death by any means other than poison is grounds for disqualification." An umpire has appeared [...]"''</ref> | ||
She | She was in [[Hell]] for a year, which left her with a lasting taste for Muscaria Brandy.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_grace_of_Grace The grace of Grace, ''Fallen London''] ''"Muscaria Brandy is lethal to breathing humans. "Year in Hell," Grace explains creakily. "Taste for the stuff. Good in coffee." A year in Hell? But she says nothing more. That's Grace for you."''</ref> She knows a coffee recipe that increases the drinker's strength<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Grace%27s_Stirrup-Cup Grace's Stirrup-Cup, ''Fallen London''] ''"A flare of light behind your eyes! A taste like tar and terror. A thick and oily rolling in your stomach. When you cough, it comes up black. When you clench your fists, you could splinter timber."''</ref> at the cost of their health.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Grace%27s_Stirrup-Cup Grace's Stirrup-Cup, ''Fallen London''] ''"A horrifying concoction of coffee dosed with poisons, medicines, and spirits [...]; it is unlikely to kill you stone dead."''</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 17:43, 15 April 2025
"The Mercies, Grace and Lettice, are legendary for their rambunctiousness, and drinking holes pride themselves on weathering the tomb-colonist pair's storms of destruction. For all that, there is one thing that can be said in their favour: there are only two of them. [...]"[1]
The Mercies are a notorious pair of tomb-colonist twin sisters, Lettice and Grace, infamous across London for their wild behavior and daredevil antics.[2] They tear through the city in a phaeton of their own,[3] driving with reckless glee and leaving chaos in their wake.[4] Partakers of gaoler's honey,[5] heavy drinkers,[6] and inveterate smokers,[7] Apparently, their vices preserve them somehow.[8] Survivors of the Fourth City, they were mischievous even in their youth, bold enough to prank the Masters themselves.[9]
Lettice, the Mercy
"You're good fun for a softskin, but don't slow down. I said don't slow down! I'm shooting spiders at six."[10]
The more sociable of the two, Lettice has amassed a colorful history of friendships, enemies, and lovers.[11] She's a connoisseur of destruction: well-versed in armaments,[12] chemistry,[13] explosives,[14] and applications of other sciences that can be used to effect mass destruction.[15] She's knowledgable in Third City history as well.[16] Lettice is also a member of the Order of the Blackened Hoof, a defiant society of tomb-colonists who refuse to be exiled quietly.[17]
When Karakorum was on the brink of becoming the Fourth City, she fled with her family, only to abandon them mid-flight in a vainglorious attempt to find the Great Khan and save the city. She failed. Karakorum fell into the Neath, and much later, she found her family in the Tomb-Colonies, much diminished.[18]
Grace, the Other Mercy
"Muscaria Brandy is lethal to breathing humans. "Year in Hell," Grace explains creakily. "Taste for the stuff. Good in coffee." A year in Hell? But she says nothing more. That's Grace for you."[19]
Grace is the quieter sister, less sociable, but no less dangerous. She once served as a sponsor in Knife-and-Candle,[20] and later became a player in Hearts' Game (Mr Hearts’ replacement for the blood sport) after it was discontinued.[21] Grace, accustomed to the intimate brutality of Knife-and-Candle, finds the drawn-out poisonings of Hearts' Game less personal.[22] She plays on the edge of the rules, with methods that would barely qualify.[23]
She was in Hell for a year, which left her with a lasting taste for Muscaria Brandy.[24] She knows a coffee recipe that increases the drinker's strength[25] at the cost of their health.[26]
References
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