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 the Principles of Coral.
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 glowing 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 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] In addition to its home in the Principles, it has a residence in an isolated part of London, where it draws figures in the windows and sings.[7][8]
The Outcast was exiled on account of multiple crimes, most of which cannot be described by human languages. One of them was love,[3] which is forbidden among the Axiles,[9][10] and it is implied that the recipient of its affection was a Fluke.[11] As punishment, it was abandoned at Port Cecil, where it became an emissary[1] to the entity whose mind suffuses the Principles of Coral.[3][12]
An End, Averted
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"Zhis ish hhwat it hwanted. Zhis ish not ffwaht it hhwanted."
"Am fflike zhis, becoshh offh Prinshhipulssh. Washh not hhwaht I hwanted."[13]
The Principles of Coral wished to descend the Great Chain of Being[14] and free itself of thought forever.[15] To this end, the Outcast was ordered to gather materials[1][16] for a chess game against an outside opponent,[17] and act as a surrogate for its master.[18] It was to lose on the Principles' behalf, upon which the minds of both beings would perish.[15][18]
Of course, the Outcast feared this fate,[15] but events played out a bit different than expected. Somehow, the Principles was significantly weakened,[19][20] while the Outcast, now called the Nacreous Survivor, kept itself intact.[21] However, the Principles can now no longer defend its reef from exploitation.[22] The Survivor is dismayed at the ill treatment of the being that once gave it a home,[23][3] but it feels a mixture of grief and relief for itself and the purpose it once bore.[24]
