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"Marigold Station sits in the very shadow of Hell. The white walls of that city loom on the horizon, like stormclouds before the first crash of thunder. The station is a small splash of orange in the harsh and broken moorland before Hell."[1]
"This station is the final stop before Hell on both the Moloch St Line and, now, your own – yet, there are no facilities, not even a waiting room. There is only a single bench, at which an elderly devil sits, chewing cloves."[2]
Marigold Station was built by Hell as the penultimate station of the Moloch Line,[3][4] and was later designated the last stop of the Great Hellbound Railway.[5] The station is little more than a building with walls grown from marigold flowers, containing a single bench.[2] An ancient Hellish amphitheater stands nearby;[6][7] within it is a gate leading to an enormous chasm containing the Mandolinist, a deposed Grand Devil.[8][9]
"This Knight of the Marigold earned the enmity of Hell through their evasions. Hell rewrites its doctrine regularly: the revolution moves ever forward. This Knight, however, was once a historian. They attempted to create a comprehensive analysis of the revolution. They were given to the Marigold for their trouble and commanded to return only when they had found Truth."[11]
"You been to Marigold Station. I remember the stink of it."[12]
Near the end of Hell's Season of Revolutions, the warring factions signed the Treaty of the Marigold.[13] Per this treaty, dissenters among the devils are offered a choice: either recant their views and accept the majority opinion, or "take up the Marigold."[14] The latter group are given marigold badges and exiled, and may only return upon completing a typically impossible task.[15] The Gnarled Stationmaster monitors these Knights of the Marigold, and tracks them down after some time to check their status.[16]
Some examples of these Knights include a historian who tried to document the revolution when Hell demanded mutable history,[17] and the Marigold Menagerie Keeper, who proposed easing the tortures of the Grand Devils.[18] Many of these Knights meet bitter ends,[19] and it is implied Hell does not want them to succeed, instead cultivating false hope so they may run themselves into the ground.[20][21]
↑ 2.02.1The Marigold Station, Fallen London"The station [...] the walls are formed from living marigolds forced to grow in a tight lattice [...] the final stop before Hell on both the Moloch St Line and, [...] your own [...] there are no facilities, [...] only a single bench, [...]"
↑The Empty Amphitheatre, Fallen London"An ancient arena stands high upon a hill. Colossal basalt stones lean against each other to form a colosseum. [...] A gate yawns in the ground above a vast pit, [...]"
↑The Mandolinist, Fallen London"The chasm below Marigold is the size of the Vatican. No light disturbs its depths: [...] At the heart of the abyss there is a great pillar. Something stands against it, perhaps pinned or impaled. [...] Its breath is sweet as roses, perfuming the rotting of its body."
↑Accept a commission 2, Fallen London"The Season of Revolutions [...] At its end, the Treaty of the Marigold was a critical component of the peace that followed."
↑Accept a commission 2, Fallen London"The Treaty established a provision for dissenters, [...] who oppose a decision of the collective body of Hell. Such devils must acquiesce with the majority, or [...] take up the Marigold."
↑Accept a commission 2, Fallen London"A Marigold-bearer is given a badge [...] burdened with an often impossible task. [...] they must leave Hell, exiled. [...] to return, they must complete their task."
↑The Destiny of the Marigold, Fallen London"This Knight of the Marigold earned the enmity of Hell [...] Hell rewrites its doctrine regularly: [...] This Knight, [...] was once a historian. [...] attempted to create a comprehensive analysis of the revolution. They were given to the Marigold for their trouble [...] return only when they had found Truth."
↑Ask her about the Marigold, Fallen London""I came of age after the Revolutions," [...] intended for diplomatic service. [...] I devised a [...] scheme: forgiveness [...] an easing of their torments. [...] I was told how could I be sure they were in torment? I had never seen them free [...] "I [...] was exiled until I could [...] say that the Grand Devils are worse off now than they were previously." [...] Still, I've found occupation of a sort here."
↑The Payment of Hell, Fallen London"The Gnarled Stationmaster [...] "Nasty business, the Marigolds. [...] We must always offer the possibility of redemption – even if we never mean to fulfil it."
