The Nacreous Outcast
"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 Port Cecil.
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 that glows with silver light. Unlike most Rubbery Men yet encountered, it can speak both English[1] and the Rubbery language,[4] though its speech in the former can be difficult for some to understand.[1] It is also familiar with esoteric culinary arts[2] - though it prefers its food uncooked.[3] It is typically very terse[5] and has a reserved demeanor.[6]
The Outcast was exiled by its fellow Rubbery Men on account of multiple crimes. Its crimes largely cannot be described by human languages, but one of them was love,[3] which is forbidden among the Axiles;[7][8] the recipient of its affection might have been a Fluke.[9] As punishment, it was abandoned in Port Cecil where it became an Emissary[1] to the Principles of Coral,[3] the entity whose mind suffuses the area.[10]
The Principles of Coral wishes to descend the Great Chain of Being[11] and free itself of thought forever.[12] The Outcast has been ordered to gather materials[1][13] for a chess match against an outside opponent[14] and act as a surrogate for its master.[15] If the Outcast loses on the Principles' behalf, the Principles will descend the Chain, but the minds of both beings will perish in the process.[12][15] Despite the Outcast's dedication to the Principles,[16] it still fears such a grim fate.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Offer assistance with dissolution, Sunless Sea
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Increase your Hearts, Sunless Sea
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Invite it to dine with you (2), Sunless Sea
- ↑ Story description, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Let the Nacreous Outcast approach the altar, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Invite it to dine with you, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Give the Principles Heartmetal, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Give the Principles an Ambiguous Eolith, Sunless Sea
- ↑ 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?"
- ↑ Gather Scintillack, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Give the Principles a Wakeful Idol, Sunless Sea
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 The Last Game, Sunless Sea
- ↑ "Shalt-Flions", Sunless Sea
- ↑ Setting up, Sunless Sea
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Win the match, Sunless Sea
- ↑ Invite it to dine with you (1), Sunless Sea
