The Moloch Street Express
|
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. |
"[...] you are one of a very slim number to not only have made the journey to Hell, but to have returned too."[1]
The Moloch Street Express, also known as the Moloch Line, is the original rail line linking London and Hell.
On the Railway to Hell...
The Moloch Street Express departs from Moloch Street Underground Station in London.[2] The line is managed by devils,[3] who use the train for travel and cargo transportation.[4][5] However, the train itself is a neutral entity,[6] and the Bazaar does not involve itself much in its affairs.[7]
Londoners who sign away their souls eventually ride the Moloch Line to Hell;[8] this practice appears to be a clause of the infernal contract involved in becoming soulless.[9] The date of summoning is chosen by Hell so that a given individual may fulfill some "need."[10][11] Other human passengers aboard the Express include those who have made a deal with Hell and are traveling to receive their reward;[12] it is also possible to reserve a ticket for someone ahead of time, regardless of the status of their soul.[13] Humans who travel to Hell via the Moloch Line almost always do not return,[1] and the soulless meet an unknown fate once they arrive.[14]
Hellward Bound
Like its newer cousin the Great Hellbound Railway, the Moloch Line was built by the Tracklayer's Union.[15] The two rail lines depart from the same station,[16] but the key difference between the two is that the Moloch Line is a direct route with no stops between London and Hell outside of special requests.[17] Whereas the Great Hellbound Railway runs above ground through all sorts of terrain,[18] the Moloch Line runs mostly through underground tunnels,[19] though there are also several bridges along the route; the first five of these are called Insurrection, Anarchy, Tumult, Temerity, and Dissent.[20] The two rail lines converge at Marigold Station.[21]
The Moloch Street Express's platform at the Underground Station is surrounded by hawkers who exchange goods with the passengers; after all, the departing soulless won't need their possessions in London anymore.[22][23] The interior of the train is lavish, furnished with seats, beds, and other amenities.[24][25] The coaches are staffed by devils,[26] while goat-demons drive the train[27] and maintain its infernal engines.[28][29] According to an ancient law, if the Express arrives late, all souls aboard may go free.[30] As a consequence, its workers take great care to keep track of time and distance,[31] and tampering with the brakes is punishable by immolation.[32]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London
- ↑ Sidebar Snippets#Places, Fallen London "What can you find in Ladybones Road? Moloch Street Underground Station is the first stop on the journey to Hell."
- ↑ Add Train Defences, Fallen London "Someone points out that the Moloch Line, as run by Devils [...]"
- ↑ Persuade Virginia/Tables, Fallen London "I don't expect that we'll be able to tempt very many Devils away from the accommodations of the Moloch Line [...]"
- ↑ Send a moderate amount of Bees to Hell, Fallen London "The bees are transported [...] Each box is given its own hansom carriage. [...] you discover that it has taken two entire journeys of the Moloch Street train [...]"
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "I won't risk a diplomatic incident with London by contravening the neutrality of the train."
- ↑ Point out the extraordinary flaws in their service, Fallen London "[...] he is eagerly requesting you not to involve the Bazaar in a question of untaxed transport. It seems that he does not want Mr Fires to take an interest in Moloch Street Station."
- ↑ A Commotion at Moloch Street Station, Fallen London "Moloch Street Station is where the soulless depart London for Hell."
- ↑ Intervene on behalf of the Foolhardy Journalist, Fallen London ""Listen, I signed a contract. My time has come. That's all there is to it!""
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "Hell can't object if you take a precautionary ride before your final voyage [...] The Conductor examines your contract [...] Hell has no need for you at present. But there's always room for the soulless on the Moloch Street Express."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "Hell can't object if you take a precautionary ride before your final voyage [...] The Conductor examines your contract [...] Hell has no need for you at present. But there's always room for the soulless on the Moloch Street Express."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "[...] the Earl was a spirifer. He had until today's date to collect sufficient souls and return to Hell, where he was to be rewarded [...]"
- ↑ A One Way Ticket on the 12:15 to Hell, Fallen London "A promise written on singed vellum. One day Hell will call you by name and assign you your seat."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "[...] Now, where's my mansion? [...] Her smile falters only a little at the approaching goat demons. [...] The Gates of Hell part [...] Behind them, a ruddy fog is encroaching [...]"
- ↑ Ask about their past work, Fallen London ""We did all the tracks from Moloch Street to the Iron Face," [...] "Commissioned by Hell [...]"
- ↑ Accept the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's, Fallen London "You've negotiated with Hell [...] about building track from Moloch Street Station."
- ↑ For All the Saints Who From Their Labours Rest, Fallen London "[...] I'll arrange for the train to make a brief stop at Marigold Station. It'll be the only stop we make before Hell. [...]"
- ↑ The Next Stretch of Track/Lay track, Fallen London
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "The train rattles along a network of [...] tunnels, occasionally surfacing [...] in fog-shrouded moorland or riding the tracks over a wakeful bog."
- ↑ For A Dream Of Innocence, Fallen London "The first four bridges on the railway line to Hell are called Insurrection, Anarchy, Tumult, and Temerity. You are heading [...] under the fifth bridge, Dissent. [...] The guard of the Moloch Street Express is uncommonly inhospitable [...] you'll have to go on foot."
- ↑ Head to Marigold Station, the end of the line, Fallen London "Where the Great Hellbound Railway meets the Devils' own lines."
- ↑ Following a trail to Moloch Street, Fallen London "Around the station, women in black dresses buy and sell [...] They trade in the possessions of those departing [...]"
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "[...] family members and hawkers crowd the platform."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "Rows of leather couches [...] Small beds suspended in golden cages [...] Five passengers sit [...] smoking, playing cards or enjoying Hell's complimentary brandy."
- ↑ For All the Saints Who From Their Labours Rest, Fallen London "The seating is plush, the air is just a tad too warm for comfort."
- ↑ For All the Saints Who From Their Labours Rest, Fallen London "The tea-trolley rattles by occasionally, captained by an ill-tempered deviless."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "The engines roar rhythmically, the Driver growls and bleats [...]"
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "Embers from the open boilers, stoked by a shaggy-flanked goat demon, [...] The engines themselves [...] are attended by another Goat Demon - presumably the driver."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "The fearful engines that propel all souls to damnation. [...] Infernal machines [...] amber lights like braziers shine. [...] a great lattice of hydraulics and pistons, whirring gears."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "[...] if the train arrives late, all souls aboard go free. An ancient accord [...]"
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "A system of lamps [...] are stationed along the sides in intervals [...] It is of the utmost importance that Hell's trains are able to keep track of time and distance."
- ↑ The Twelve-Fifteen from Moloch Street, Fallen London "[...] if we find you tampering with the brakes, you will be immolated."
