The Tentacled Entrepreneur

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"He may have unconventional means of communication, but he is a very experienced businessperson. His factories rival those of Mr Fires. His personal wealth exceeds that of His Amused Lordship. His tentacles are glossy and its eye perceptive."[1]

The Tentacled Entrepreneur is a cunning London businessman of the Rubbery kind.

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The Tentacled Entrepreneur has achieved considerable success by embracing the principle that wealth commands respect. He maintains a stronghold on the amber trade and oversees a network of factories, predominantly staffed by Rubbery workers[2] but also guarded by human enforcers.[3] His first factory was established in Ealing Gardens,[4] and he has since relocated most of his operations there.[5] These factories are a blend of meticulous human-like organization and distinctly Rubbery aesthetics.[6] They mass-produce toys, collectibles, and other goods.[7] However, his true fortune comes from the amber trade—the factories serve as little more than a front.[8]

Observing the rise of F. F. Gebrandt,[9] another successful industrialist, the Entrepreneur took to heart the lesson that connections to The Masters of the Bazaar are essential for lasting influence.[10]

Despite his success, societal acceptance remains elusive. Members of the upperclass loathe to even be seen in his company.[11] Prejudices prevent him from conducting business freely.[12] Dining with humans is particularly challenging—his attempts at using human utensils often result in a mess.[13] Social etiquette is another hurdle, further isolating him from the elite.[14]

The Entrepreneur uses placards and picture books to communicate his desires.[15] He moves with an unusual gait for a Rubbery Man—almost as if he has bones hidden beneath his undulating flesh.[14] In his free time he makes pottery in a secret room at home.[16]

Mayoral Campaign

In 1898, the Tentacled Entrepreneur launched a campaign for the position of Lord Mayor of London under the undulating cries of "OTHATAROOTH!". The phrase means comradery, change and a host of other things.[17] His vision was one of transformation through creativity, advocating for the artistic expression and societal inclusion of Rubbery Men.[18] His plan began with hosting a salon devoted to a Rubbery cultural renaissance, followed by establishing a permanent home for their art. Depending on London's reception, the movement would expand—concerts, sculpture classes, and more.[19] His campaign was managed by the Nocturnal Landscape Artist and attracted two polar opposite supporter groups: businessmen and bohemians.[20] Supporters received artwork personally crafted by the Entrepreneur.[21]

Behind the scenes, tensions simmered. The Landscape Artist sought power alongside the Entrepreneur,[22] seeing art as a means to gain influential patrons, while the Entrepreneur prioritized Rubbery protection. Additionally, the Entrepreneur struck a deal with Mr Fires: in exchange for Special Constables to protect Rubbery Men, he would supply Fires with amber.[10] While the bohemians embraced his vision, skeptics emerged. Critics feared he was merely mimicking exploitative human patrons, using art for influence rather than genuine advocacy.[23] Rival candidates, (correctly) suspecting backing from the Masters, questioned his independence.[24]

During the campaign, he became one of Helicon House’s most generous patrons, working to make the avant-garde establishment more accessible to the public.[25] His patronage turned it into a thriving hub for Rubbery culture, providing a platform for both Rubbery and human artists to explore unconventional mediums.[26]

Ultimately, the Tentacled Entrepreneur lost to The Viscountess of the Viric Jungle. The Landscape Artist was displeased, but the Entrepreneur and his Rubbery supporters remained resolute, implying they would try again. Though he did not win, he successfully secured Special Constabulary protection for his people—an important victory.[27] Had he triumphed, London would have experienced a brief Rubbery cultural renaissance, filled with concerts, exhibitions, and artistic opportunities. However, such a radical shift likely would have been too much for London’s elite, and the mayoral position would have been abolished at the end of his term. Nonetheless, his efforts ensured that Rubbery artistic recognition was permanently established.[28]

The Entrepreneur's Patronage

"The Tentacled Entrepreneur's study is windowless and dark, an interior void in the building that you wouldn't know was there from the shapes of the rooms around it." "Within, a semicircle of guests surround a small sculpture on a dais. In the relative darkness, it's hard to make out the material, or the shape; something dark and tangled – a bramble, an octopus, a venus flytrap?"[29]

After the Entrepreneur's bid for Lord Mayor failed, however, he reevaluated his goals.[30] In pursuit of his new priorities, he commissioned a Rubbery Man called the Malleable Sculptor[31][32] to produce and showcase unique works of art,[33] the first of which resembles a massive jaw that lightly clamps around those who interact with it.[34] The Entrepreneur's further plans for himself and his kin are unclear, but it seems that rather than aimlessly striving for similarity with London,[35] he is pursuing another path, and perhaps even a new beginning.[36]

Batachikhan

Before becoming the Tentacled Entrepreneur, he was known as Batachikhan—a name he and his interpreter, Barqujin, chose together.[37] He emerged from the subterranean Warrens of Amber beneath London around the fall of the Fifth City. Among his kind, names are an alien concept,[38] but he has insisted on being recognized as masculine.[39] Batachikhan is quite old; several centuries old.[40]

The Entrepreneur is known for using cards and picture books nowadays, but he hadn't always had them. Right after the Fall, Batachikhan communicated like any other Rubbery Man, expressing his thoughts through a symphony of honks, burbles, hoots, and resonant wurbles.[41] He supplemented these sounds with gestures, symbols, and Barqujin's scrawled notes on slate.[42]

His journey to London was no mere accident—he arrived with a purpose. Chosen by his people, Batachikhan took on the role of an emissary, entrusted with preparing for the eventual emergence of the Rubbery Men.[43] Yet, his ambitions differed from those of humanity. He sought neither power nor conquest, but rather acceptance and commerce.[44]

Determined to establish contact with London through trade, he believed that the careful exchange of amber and other exotic goods could secure a place for his kind among the city's denizens. More than anything, he obsessed over the idea of owning a shop[45]—a vision of himself behind a merchant’s counter, tentacles deftly arranging wares, serving customers as any proper Londoner might.

As evident by the proliferation of Rubbery Men and the Tentacled Entrepreneur's industrial empire, Batachikhan successfully completed both his mission and fulfilled his dreams.

Historical & Cultural Inspirations

The story of the Rubbery Men, and Batachikhan’s journey in particular, mirrors the experiences of immigrants in Victorian London who sought to integrate into society through commerce and industry. Despite facing deep-seated prejudices, many immigrants established successful businesses, carving out economic niches that fostered both community cohesion and gradual acceptance. Jewish immigrants in London and New York between 1880 and 1914, for instance, often concentrated in specific trades, while Chinese and Indian communities, despite facing discrimination, built businesses that served both their own people and the wider public.

The late 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement, a reaction against industrialization’s dehumanizing effects, emphasized traditional craftsmanship and sought to integrate art into daily life. In Victorian Britain, art was frequently used as a vehicle for social reform, with exhibitions and public works promoting various causes. The Tentacled Entrepreneur’s efforts to establish salons and art spaces reflect this tradition—using artistic expression to challenge societal boundaries and advocate for change.

The name Batachikhan further reinforces his role as a pioneer. In The Secret History of the Mongols, a 13th-century chronicle of Mongolian origins, Batachikhan is identified as the first of his race. Barqujin, the Entrepreneur’s interpreter, likely proposed this name because he was the first of the Rubbery Men to make contact with London—the first among the Rubberies, just as his namesake was for the Mongols.

References

  1. ↑ Invite the Tentacled Entrepreneur to the Board, Fallen London
  2. ↑ The Tentacled Entrepreneur..., Fallen London "He has a stranglehold on the amber trade and a warren of factories crammed with Rubbery workers. All his wealth, though, hasn't bought him more than a foot in society's door."
  3. ↑ Sneak into the Factories of the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London "The workforce may consist of Rubbery Men, but the security is provided by humans. They do not believe you have any legitimate business within."
  4. ↑ Rubbery Observances, Fallen London "The Tentacled Entrepreneur built his first factory just down that block."
  5. ↑ Tour the Neighbourhood, Fallen London "[...] the Tentacled Entrepreneur brought most his operations here, where the factories could expand and the workers live [...]"
  6. ↑ Sneak into the Factories of the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London "The factory floor requires the Rubbery men to sit closer together than seems comfortable. They are engaged in intricate assembly work, each adding several parts to a mechanism before passing it on to the next. A Rubbery foreman emerges onto a balcony overlooking the factory floor. You withdraw into the shadows. Before they sit down to work, each Rubbery washes its tentacles at a basin by the door. You try the tap: it's warm water, from a tank lined with Nevercold brass. When the shift changes, all the Rubbery men stand at once and file out through one door, while another lot come in by a second door. It is as precisely marshalled as anything arranged by Mr Fires. A Rubbery janitor passes through with a mop, washing a floor that is already spotless. On the hour, the factory clock strikes. A Rubbery cuckoo emerges from the clockface and sounds the hour: seven gurgling trills. One of the workers looks curiously in your direction, but does not raise an alarm. Halfway through the shift, a Rubbery attendant passes down the aisle with a bucket. A few pieces of amber gleam at the bottom."
  7. ↑ Visit the Factories of the Tentacled Entrepreneur as an invited guest, Fallen London
  8. ↑ Visit Helicon House as the guest of your Rubbery Bellringer, Fallen London "No, no, the Entrepreneur is not busy with his factories. The money comes from amber. The factories are... what is the Bellringer saying? He cannot make you understand with burbling. Finally he takes one of his bells and removes the clapper. The factories are a bell without a clapper."
  9. ↑ Ask the Tentacled Entrepreneur his opinion of F.F. Gebrandt, Fallen London "The Tentacled Entrepreneur wishes to answer personally, which requires gestures, bubbles and his picture-book: the Entrepreneur respects F.F. as a businesswoman and, in fact, has studied her rise to power. It has provided a useful model."
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Choose a Target: the Tentacled Entrepreneur's Campaign, Fallen London "To investigate the rumours of a rift between the Nocturnal Landscape Artist and the Tentacled Entrepreneur, you have made your way to the rooftops, and now dangle from the eaves of the Artist's home. You have a perfect view through the window. The Landscape Artist has, the Entrepreneur writhes, pushed his personal interest in the art itself, ignoring the goal of gaining protection for the Rubberies. The Landscape Artist fires back – combining English and near-dislocating finger gestures – that the art will pull in powerful patrons. The noise the Tentacled Entrepreneur makes requires no translation. He sees himself out, and heads off carrying a large sack. You follow. He is met by a brace of Special Constables who escort him to the personal dirigible of Mr Fires. You move closer. They do not spot you. It is a moment before you can find a suitable viewpoint. You peer in to see Fires and the Entrepreneur, alone. On a desk is a pile of amber. Beside that is an object which resembles a huge piece of pulled toffee. It could be art, if you were the generous kind. Mr Fires prods it with one claw. "Would you consider using your factories in a more—" The Entrepreneur has his back to you; you cannot see what he says. "I see. I can't claim to understand. But, the agreement stands. I'll encourage the Specials to be more amenable to donations. Then you can hire them to protect whomever you like." He tuts. "And if you change your mind about the fact— Very well." The Entrepreneur is leaving. You'd best do so too."
  11. ↑ Propose that the Board endorse the Tentacled Entrepreneur for Lord Mayor, Fallen London "I could explain to my friends a vote for either of the other two," says the Bishop of Saint Fiacre's. "But the Tentacled Entrepreneur? Society would be stunned. They might even start to regard us as a reforming institution, and that, I need hardly remind you, might complicate our further prospects for investment."
  12. ↑ ...has a business proposition, Fallen London "For some it's plain prejudice, for others it's concern for their rival interests in Wolfstack. No-one will do business with a rubbery partner. You feel like you're holding out a bag of echoes and no-one will take it from you."
  13. ↑ ...is confused by the cutlery, Fallen London "But really, how is something with a face full of tentacles supposed to eat soup? You are among the guests splattered in its determined attempt, and are stuck with the stains for the rest of the evening."
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 ...is heading hopefully in your direction, Fallen London "[His] grasp of etiquette is superficial, hinging on trappings and ritual. Having refused to give up his hat, coat, and cane, he perspires fiercely […] and shakes your hand for the entire length of your conversation, leaving glistening deposits behind. […]"
  15. ↑ The Tentacled Entrepreneur (Card), Fallen London "When speaking one-on-one, the Entrepreneur relies on a picture based phrase-book to convey complicated concepts. However, this is of little use for Mayoral campaigning; persuading Londoners one at a time would take years."
  16. ↑ Discover what the Tentacled Entrepreneur does to relax (12 FATE), Fallen London "When you ask the Entrepreneur, he shakes his head. He proceeds to respond as though you asked about funding for the arts. Later, however, when the Landscape Artist has headed home, the Entrepreneur beckons you to follow. Your journey through London is escorted by Constables. One even tips his hat 'goodnight', as you're welcomed inside the Entrepreneur's home. The Entrepreneur leads you to his office. Tall library shelves are lined with leather-bound books, with indents in the binding to provide better grip for a tentacle. The heavy mahogany desk has no doubt been imported from the Surface. The padded desk chair has pristine leather, perhaps never been sat in at all. The spinning globe which unlocks the hidden door is not a traditional addition. Behind the bookcase is a bare room, spattered with paint and dried clay. At one corner, a pile of discarded amber. In a small cupboard to the other, a number of... vase? attempts. They all seem to aim for one shape, even the failed attempts, as if fumbling for something left behind and barely remembered. The Tentacled Entrepreneur hands one to you. His face tendrils quiver with pride. It is not good, he conveys. But it is his."
  17. ↑ The Tentacled Entrepreneur (Choose your Candidate 1898), Fallen London "Othatarooth! – a surprising rallying cry, but apparently it embodies creative camaraderie, aspiration and fundamental change. The Entrepreneur means to make London a canvas for the art of the Rubbery Men."
  18. ↑ Learn more about the Tentacled Entrepreneur’s campaign, Fallen London "The Artist beams, happy to assist in the interpretation. To the Artist's delight, the Rubbery Men have begun exploring 'art', even creating their own. The Entrepreneur will as Mayor, through this art, reveal new heights to human and non-human creativity. "Reshaping Society, through art!""
  19. ↑ Discover his plans for London, Fallen London "The Landscape Artist takes up where the tentacles trail off. "To start with, we'd host a salon devoted to a Renaissance of Rubbery Culture. Set up a permanent home for their art. Then, once we have seen London's reaction, we can adjust. Perhaps we'll host concerts. Or offer sculpture classes. Personally, I'd like to set up a Nocturnal-Amberine school. It has, however, been suggested that I'm getting ahead of myself there." He rolls his eyes; clearly this has long been a point of contention."
  20. ↑ Choose the Tentacled Entrepreneur as your candidate, Fallen London "The Entrepreneur's supporters fit into two disparate groups. The first is the crowd of businessmen, taking advantage of the gathering to broker deals and compare cigars. They are studiously avoiding increasing series of obscene pranks performed by the second group. If you were of the cynical persuasion, you might think that the bohemian excesses were being played up to disrupt the deal making – but perhaps it's just the usual electoral excitement. The Nocturnal Landscape Artist rushes over to you, and splutters an approximation of a Rubbery greeting. He grimaces and offers you a handkerchief. "I'll stick to interpretation... Damn!" He has pierced his thumb on the pin he's used to attach an amber rosette to your collar. "I keep doing that! You'd think I'd get the knack eventually.""
  21. ↑ A Cloud-filled Sphere, Fallen London "They say it's the Entrepreneur's own work. It's called: 'Yearning'. Well, actually, I can't pronounce its title […]"
  22. ↑ Ask the Nocturnal Landscape Artist to let you into his confidence, Fallen London It is finally quiet – the majority of the supporters have headed home. The Tentacled Entrepreneur has departed to check a factory. The Nocturnal Landscape Artist sits with you in a back room, an open bottle between you. "He couldn't do this without me," the Artist says, pouring two glasses. He downs one. "The Entrepreneur doesn't really get art, not like I do." The Artist shakes his head, starts sipping at the other glass. "He needs me. As a teacher. A mentor. Fortunately, he does act on my advice. An' we both have the same goals. True Rubbery art – it's new to them, too. They don't even seem to know why they make it. But if we could get London to accept it, then we have the opportunity to watch the birth of this form of expression. God, their music. You should hear their music..." Both glasses are refilled. "You have to keep this to yourself. He's the money, but I'm the brains. We'll be mayor, just you see." A bottle finished, and you've not even had a drop.
  23. ↑ Undermine the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London "At first you are dismissed as spiteful – lying to sabotage the only campaign supporting the arts. But a wave of nervousness runs through the gathered bohemians. Many count themselves as artists, and are acutely aware of how easily they can be discarded by the powerful. All know the tales of promising painters suddenly abandoned and plunged into poverty. Would this patron be the same as any other? The Nocturnal Landscape Artist pushes through the crowd. He stands in front of the muttering mob, offering assurances. Yes, the Rubbery Men work hard, but work is hard. The Entrepreneur has only ever done what is necessary to rise in a society set against him. Unlike his human peers, he wishes to use that influence to raise up others, so that they have no further need of patronage. He wishes to end this cycle, not pull the Rubberies into it. The Artist is persuasive, because the bohemians wish to be persuaded. But you have sown some seeds of doubt."
  24. ↑ Ask F.F. her opinion on the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London "F.F. takes you to one side. "I wish to be perfectly frank. Many in London are not entirely comfortable with our Rubbery neighbours. For him to have achieved success, and for him to be a... semi-credible candidate, off his own bat? Unlikely. If he isn't backed by a Master, then I'm your aunt." She shakes her head. "I'm not unsympathetic. My own entanglement with the Masters was regrettable and deeply unpleasant, but long in the past. But someone that beholden is unsuitable for a position of significant leadership.""
  25. ↑ Visit Helicon House as the guest of your Rubbery Bellringer, Fallen London "This is a public night. [...] if the Tentacled Entrepreneur has his way, it will be easier to stay for a time."
  26. ↑ Visit Helicon House with the Dean of Xenotheology, Fallen London "Several of the Rubbery people are gathered around a sculpture [...] "We shouldn't approach without permission," [...] "Their [...] posture is one associated with... sacred receptiveness. [...] This is a time of extraordinary change for them. A few years ago, Rubbery culture had nothing like this—""
  27. ↑ Have a word with the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London
  28. ↑ Have a word with the Tentacled Entrepreneur (The Waswood), Fallen London "The Waswood shimmers; amber grows in greasy fragments along its boughs. Its pools occlude, an illusion of some greater depth emerges in the shallow ponds. Through them you see London, transformed, albeit partially, by the Entrepreneur's victory. Districts opened to the Rubbery Men, as never before. Concerts, galleries, recitals: Rubbery works become the flavour of the season. Of course, afterwards, the title of Lord Mayor is abolished, in undoubtedly unrelated circumstances. It is an experiment London does not wish to repeat – but it cannot close the door upon the gap that the tentacle has opened."
  29. ↑ Chiaroscuro, Fallen London
  30. ↑ Discuss the Tentacled Entrepreneur's plans, Fallen London "He ran for Mayor and lost. Is he embittered? Planning something new? [...] The old striving was... unsuitable?"
  31. ↑ Accept another invitation from the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London "The Entrepreneur, [...] gesticulates an introduction; [...] this Rubbery is the one responsible for the [...] stone sculpture you touched in this very study, a few evenings ago."
  32. ↑ Stay after hours for a singular occasion, Fallen London "Standing before the cauldron, [...] is the Malleable Sculptor – looking a bit more malleable than when you last saw him."
  33. ↑ Chiaroscuro, Fallen London "The Tentacled Entrepreneur's study [...] Within, a semicircle of guests surround a small sculpture on a dais."
  34. ↑ Touch the sculpture, Fallen London "[...] the sculpture [...] snaps shut around your hand [...] It's a pointed surprise, but not painful [...] [...] the object's shape [...] it's a mouth, or simply a jaw."
  35. ↑ Discuss the Tentacled Entrepreneur's plans, Fallen London "He, or the Rubberies together, or his progenitors, tried to become worthy-through-similarity to other Londoners, [...] Now, that desire is replaced."
  36. ↑ Accept another invitation from the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London "The Entrepreneur [...] looking for images that might explain: bohemians hawking paintings on the street in Veilgarden; hands holding brushes, chisels, and pens; [...] But also stranger images; a tangle of newborn serpents; a zee-steamer cresting the horizon; a single chicken's egg sitting on a table."
  37. ↑ Batachikhan: Census Options, Mask of the Rose Barqujin: "Based on consultation of a favourite epic of mine, we decided upon Batachikhan."
  38. ↑ Batachikhan: Introduction, Mask of the Rose Barqujin: "Names are unknown to his people."
  39. ↑ Batachikhan: Introduction, Mask of the Rose Barqujin: "Though of course, he is not a man. But he has insisted upon the masculine."
  40. ↑ Batachikhan: The Census, Mask of the Rose Barqujin: "We have functioned admirably these last centuries. Why you wish to change the arrangement is beyond me."
  41. ↑ Batachikhan: Returning the Amber, Mask of the Rose Batachikhan: "He makes a series of burbling squeaks, escalating in pitch, volume and duration. He makes a percussive noise through the application of several tentacles into each other at studied intervals."
  42. ↑ Batachikhan: His Ambition, Mask of the Rose "Batachikhan hoots appreciatively and produces a piece of slate. Another tentacle holds a piece of chalk. Barqujin reluctantly takes the chalk and slate while Batachikhan gestures."
  43. ↑ Batachikhan: His Ambition, Mask of the Rose "He has a purpose. To go ahead. To prepare the path. For the others. They wait below."
  44. ↑ Batachikhan: His Ambition, Mask of the Rose Batachikhan: "REQUESTED FRIEND-PARTNER-ENEMY BARQUJIN ESSENCE-GATHER —COMMERCE-BARTER MERCHANT-DREAMS TRADE-COIN-WANT"
  45. ↑ Batachikhan: Returning the Amber, Mask of the Rose Batachikhan: "Batachikhan makes an aggrieved honk. He need not wait. A shop of his own. Now."
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