"L.B. Industries is a factory which fell with London, and then fell a little further. Inaccessible to Londoners, it was taken over by Rattus Faber. Ratty generations later, they still run the place, producing cotton and steel to trade with London, and weapons reserved for their own kind."[1]
L.B. Industries, is an an old London factory which was buried deep during the Fall. It was forgotten by all except the Rattus Faber, which now claimed and operate the factory under the legal principle of adverse possession.[2] The adverse possession of the factory was only made known during the Grand Clearing-Out, when the factory was rediscovered when workers began digging under the Blind Helmsman.[3] Over the generations, the factory machinery has been modified to better suite it's new rat workforce, however, the factory does hire human workers to speed up the production of cotton, steel, and Rattus weaponry.[4]
The Fore-Rats
Vast machinery wheezes and steams; heavy metal thumps and crushes; pipes rattle and squeal. It differs from a London factory only slightly: long levers give the rats sufficient force to work human-sized controls and pulleys are as much a mode of transport as part of the workings.[5]
The Grizzled Gaffer
The Grizzled Gaffer is perhaps the oldest of the fore-rats. He is known for white snout and his slow methodical work on the controls of what at some point may have been a loom.[6] Being on of the oldest workers in the factory, he is the most experienced and careful of the worker.[7] In his youth, he would dig up old coins around the factory, collecting them and holding on to them until they could be of value.[8] He is also irreligious, however, he tolerates idolatry since it makes many of the young under him happy.[9]
The Masterly Machinist
The Masterly Machinist is a fore-rat the colour and size of a loaf of bread, whose head is often found deeply immersed in a tool box.[10] He is particularly concerned with the well being of his workers and has ensured that all workers in the factory do not go hungry.[11] Constantly tinkering, he is also married to the main fore-rat of the factory.[12]
The Eager Engineer
The Eager Engineer is the youngest of the fore-rats.[13] Known as a prodigy, who recently passed her tests, this fore-rat is noted for there eagerness and courage, alongside there small stature, black fur, and bright eyes.[14] The main fore-rat of the factory is the mother of the Eager Engineer, while the Masterly Machinist is the father.[15][16]
References
↑"Welcome to L.B. Industries!", Fallen London"L.B. Industries is a factory which fell with London, and then fell a little further. Inaccessible to Londoners, it was taken over by Rattus Faber. Ratty generations later, they still run the place, producing cotton and steel to trade with London, and weapons reserved for their own kind."
↑Head Far Beneath the Blind Helmsman, Fallen London"Following the tunnel leads to an old London factory – one that fell deeper than the rest of the city when it was pulled into the Neath. In the dust and chaos, it was forgotten by all but the Rattus Faber. They claim that, under the legal principle of adverse possession, it is now theirs."
↑"Welcome to L.B. Industries!", Fallen London"L.B. Industries is a factory which fell with London, and then fell a little further. Inaccessible to Londoners, it was taken over by Rattus Faber. Ratty generations later, they still run the place, producing cotton and steel to trade with London, and weapons reserved for their own kind."
↑Your Labour, and its Fruits, Fallen London"Vast machinery wheezes and steams; heavy metal thumps and crushes; pipes rattle and squeal. It differs from a London factory only slightly: long levers give the rats sufficient force to work human-sized controls and pulleys are as much a mode of transport as part of the workings."
↑The Grizzled Gaffer, Fallen London"A white-snouted rat, hunched with age, works slowly and methodically on the controls of what might once have been a loom."
↑Ask for a Crackling Device as payment, Fallen London"The Grizzled Gaffer backs away when you accept the Crackling Device. He turns to the rats behind you in line. "Mind out! Mind out!" It seems he's had bad experiences working with one in the past."
↑Accept old coins as a reward, Fallen London"The Grizzled Gaffer twitches his whiskers […] "That brings back memories. I used to dig them up all the time, run a string through them and haul them back here." He nods at the Fore-Rat. "Her predecessor thought they'd come in handy. They might, still.""
↑Accept a reverent thanks for your labour, Fallen London""Oh, should I have asked?" The […] Gaffer peers up at you as you accept the reliquary. "You one of the religious types, what wants to baptise us?" He shakes his head. "I don't hold with this kind of idolatry, but it makes some of the young ones happy.""
↑The Masterly Machinist, Fallen London"A rat the size and colour of a loaf of bread has his head immersed in a toolbox. As you watch, he withdraws an implement and immediately sets to connecting wires on an ancient-looking spinning mule."
↑Receive your pay in biscuits, Fallen London"The Masterly Machinist […]. When you receive your crate of biscuits, he nods in approval. "A healthy body, a healthy worker." A rat in the queue behind you snickers. The Machinist spins to face them. "Well, have you known a single rat here go hungry?""
↑The Masterly Machinist, Fallen London"The Fore-Rat scampers to a sheet on the wall, where she scratches a mark in a column. She looks down at her paws, briefly bashful. "That's my 'usband that is. Can't go wrong working with 'im. Lovely chap. Very skilled. Very kind.""
↑The Eager Engineer, Fallen London"A small, bright-eyed, black rat scampers along the gantry. She runs along the very edge, clearly unconcerned by the drop"
↑The Eager Engineer, Fallen London"The Fore-Rat trots to a sheet on the wall, where she scratches a mark in a column. "I think she's too young, but she's passed all the tests and her dad says she's a prodigy. Prodigy!" She twitches her nose at you. "We'll see. Might be more 'n you can handle but it's your choice.""
↑Make bobbins, Fallen London""Stand down," the Masterly Machinist nods to the white rat. "We'll get this one to take over here." He shoos the white rat away. "I'm sure you've someone you'd rather spend time with." The Machinist doesn't wait till he's out of earshot to add. "He has a soft spot for my daughter.""
