"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 Rubbery businessman based in 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."[2]
The Tentacled Entrepreneur has achieved considerable success by embracing the principle that wealth commands respect. He is a kingpin of the amber trade,[3] which is the source of the bulk of his revenue.[4] He also oversees a network of factories that are primarily staffed by Rubbery Men[3] and dedicated to the mass production of toys, collectibles, and other goods,[5] but these are not a massive income stream and are implied to essentially be a front.[4] His first factory was established in Ealing Gardens,[6] and he has since relocated most of his operations there.[7]
Observing the rise of F. F. Gebrandt, another successful industrialist,[8] the Entrepreneur followed her lead in making connections with the Masters of the Bazaar in order to secure lasting influence.[9] Despite this and his broader success, societal acceptance remains elusive: members of the upper class are loath to be seen in his company,[10] and prejudice prevents him from conducting business freely.[11] He does not speak English, preferring to use placards and picture books to communicate,[12] and like most of his species, he struggles with human etiquette and food despite putting in great effort.[13][14] Before the Entrepreneur had his system of alternative communication, he spoke the rather musical Rubbery language,[15] and was assisted in translation by a Fourth City woman called Barqujin.[16]
The Tentacled Entrepreneur has also been known as Batachikhan, a name that he and Barqujin chose together.[17] Among his kind, names and binary gender are foreign concepts,[18] but upon his arrival in London, he insisted upon being recognized as masculine.[19] Batachikhan is several centuries old,[20] and emerged from what is now called Flute Street around the time of the Fall of London. Chosen by his fellow Rubbery Men as an emissary to the newly transported city, he was entrusted with preparations for the eventual emergence of more of his kind.[21] He did not seek power or conquest, but commerce and social understanding,[22] reasoning that trade would be the best way to secure a place for his kind among humanity. More than anything, he obsessed over the idea of owning a shop[23] — a vision of himself behind a merchant’s counter, tentacles deftly arranging wares, serving customers as any proper Londoner would.
Needless to say, Batachikhan has completed his mission and fulfilled his dreams... and then some. In his free time, Batachikhan makes pottery in a secret room at home;[24] supporters of his mayoral campaign received his art as souvenirs.[25]
Mayoral Campaign
"Unlike most politicians, the Entrepreneur does not leave gaps for interpretation in his words: he cannot. He communicates in mimes and contortions. Often, the Landscape Artist must take over, to translate. As Mayor, the Tentacled Entrepreneur will reinvigorate the creative spirits of the Neath. 'Life without art is unremitting drudgery! Inspiration leads to aspiration!'"[26]
In 1898, the Tentacled Entrepreneur ran for Lord Mayor of London under the undulating cry of "OTHATAROOTH!". The phrase means comradery, change, and a host of other things.[27] His vision was one of transformation through creativity, advocating for the artistic expression and societal inclusion of Rubbery Men.[28] He would host a salon devoted to Rubbery culture, and eventually establish a permanent home for their art; the rest of the plan would depend on London's response.[29] His campaign was managed by the Nocturnal Landscape Artist,[30] who also acted as his translator;[31] it attracted a strange combination of business folk and bohemians, for contrasting reasons.[32]
Behind the scenes, tensions simmered, as the Landscape Artist was using the Entrepreneur's finances to gain influence and secure his own patrons.[33] Additionally, the Entrepreneur's dealings with the Masters were not popular with all of his supporters; he had set up a protection racket for fellow Rubbery Men in exchange for supplying Mr Fires with amber.[9] Critics feared he was merely mimicking exploitative humans and using art for influence rather than genuine advocacy,[34] and his rival candidates questioned his independence.[35] Despite these concerns, the Entrepreneur became one of the most generous patrons of Helicon House, an existing but relatively new establishment for the promotion of Rubbery art, and worked to make it more accessible to the public during his candidacy.[36] His funding transformed it into a thriving hub that provided a platform for Rubbery and human artists to collaborate and explore unconventional media.[37]
Ultimately, the Viscountess of the Viric Jungle won the election, to the chagrin of the Nocturnal Landscape Artist. Although the Entrepreneur failed in his bid, securing Special Constabulary protection for his people was an important victory for their security.[38] He reevaluated his goals,[39] and chose to focus more on the promotion of Rubbery art; in addition to continuing his patronage of Helicon House,[40] he commissioned a Rubbery sculptor[41] to create more unique and interactive artwork for display in London.[42] His further plans for himself and his kin are yet to be revealed, but he has made a clear statement: rather than aimlessly striving for similarity with London's humans,[43] he is pursuing another path, and perhaps even a new beginning.[44]
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 prejudice, many immigrants established successful businesses, carving out economic niches that fostered both community cohesion and gradual acceptance. For instance, much of London's Jewish community worked in clothing manufacturing, and thousands of Italian immigrants provided food and entertainment on the streets. Meanwhile, Chinese and Indian immigrants came to London as sailors, dock workers, and domestic laborers, but also built businesses like restaurants and laundry services that served both their own people and the wider public.
The late 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement emphasized traditional craftsmanship and sought to integrate art into daily life, as a reaction against the dehumanizing effects of industrialization. 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 of using artistic expression to challenge societal boundaries and advocate for change.
According to the Secret History of the Mongols, a 13th-century chronicle that documents the life of Genghis Khan and includes a semi-mythical account of his ancestry, Batachikhan (or Batachiqan) was the first Mongol, the son of a blue-grey wolf and a doe. Barqujin likely proposed this name for the Entrepreneur because he was the first of the Rubbery Men to make contact with London, and thus the first of his kind in a sense.
↑ 3.03.1The 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."
↑ 4.04.1Visit 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."
↑Tour the Neighbourhood, Fallen London"[...] the Tentacled Entrepreneur brought most his operations here, where the factories could expand and the workers live [...]"
↑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."
↑ 9.09.1Choose a Target: the Tentacled Entrepreneur's Campaign, Fallen London"'The noise the Tentacled Entrepreneur makes requires no translation.[...]He is met by a brace of Special Constables who escort him to the personal dirigible of Mr Fires. [...]You peer in to see Fires and the Entrepreneur, alone. [...] 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'll encourage the Specials to be more amenable to donations. Then you can hire them to protect whomever you like. [...] And if you change your mind about the fact— Very well.""
↑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."
↑...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."
↑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."
↑...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. […]"
↑...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."
↑Batachikhan: Returning the Amber, Mask of the RoseBatachikhan: "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."
↑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."
↑Discover what the Tentacled Entrepreneur does to relax (12 FATE), Fallen London"'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."
↑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 […]"
↑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!""
↑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."
↑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. [...] 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.'"
↑Ask the Nocturnal Landscape Artist to let you into his confidence, Fallen London"He couldn't do this without me [...] The Entrepreneur doesn't really get art, not like I do. [...] 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... [...]You have to keep this to yourself. He's the money, but I'm the brains. We'll be mayor, just you see."
↑Undermine the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London"At first you are dismissed as spiteful [...] 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 [...] offering assurances. [...] 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."
↑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.""
↑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—""
↑Have a word with the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London"You interpret his gestures to mean that he is disappointed, but also satisfied with some of his progress. With one tentacle, he points out the Specials guarding the Rubbery entourage. One thing, at least, has changed for good."
↑Have a word with the Tentacled Entrepreneur, Fallen London"The Landscape Painter recovers enough poise to join the conversation as well. "You should join us at Helicon House in a few months," he says. "We are still going to open it to a larger audience, even if it cannot be such a grand production as we hoped.""
↑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."
↑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."
