The Octagonal Tomb

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"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."

Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution.

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"The tower is octagonal, rising in storeys like tree rings towards the cavern roof. Dark mosaics in ancient style suggest that this was perhaps, a tomb."

"From somewhere deep, deep below comes a low and persistent rumbling sound. It might almost be snoring."[1]

The Octagonal Tomb is a mausoleum in the Hinterlands that houses the Sleeping Merchant.[2] It is ancient and labyrinthine, rising above the ground rather than descending below. Within the tomb are painted figures missing their eyes, and a strange rumbling is audible from beneath.[3]

During the time of the First City,[4] the Merchant made a deal with the Creditor[5] that landed the Bazaar in severe debt.[6][7] To delay the payment, the Masters sealed him in eternal sleep and interred him in the Tomb.[8][2] In Parabola, Mr Mirrors[9] shrouded the Merchant's dreams in gant,[10] preventing him from being woken.[11] Should these protections fail,[12] the debt will be due,[13] with potentially ruinous consequences.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Leave the barge (The Octagonal Tomb), Fallen London
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Leave the barge (The Octagonal Tomb), Fallen London "At [...] three rivers are [...] remains of a tower where the Merchant once slept."
  3. ↑ Leave the barge (The Octagonal Tomb), Fallen London "The tower is octagonal, rising in storeys like tree rings [...] Dark mosaics in ancient style [...] There is a labyrinth of rooms, [...] Painted idols watch [...] all of whom [...] had their eyes removed. [...] From somewhere [...] below comes a [...] rumbling sound. [...]"
  4. ↑ The Nature of the Debt, Fallen London "IT WANTED THE MONEY, [...] IT TRICKED A FIRST CITY MERCHANT [...]"
  5. ↑ Review the terms of the contract, Fallen London "What [...] were [...] the promise to the Creditor? [...] The debt [...] due when the Sleeping Merchant is awake again."
  6. ↑ Breathe an ancient air, Fallen London "The Merchant, [...] To escape [...] he promised [...] on behalf of himself, and on behalf of the Bazaar. He pressed his seal [...]"
  7. ↑ The Sleeper, Fallen London "[...] A caravan [...] A man who carried the [...] seal [...] to pledge the faith of the Bazaar [...] for an impossible ransom."
  8. ↑ Ask about the Bazaar's ignorance, Fallen London "When the debt was incurred [...] We ourselves found a [...] resolution," says Mr Spices. [...] putting the Merchant to sleep."
  9. ↑ A Conclave of the Masters, Fallen London ""The Merchant will not wake," [...] "Mr Mirrors did solid work [...] "Mr Mirrors [...] sealed him into Parabola [...]"
  10. ↑ A Paler Shade of Gant, Fallen London "Parabola shapes itself [...] But this place is muted and muffled."
  11. ↑ Clear the gant away, Fallen London "Clear the gant away [...] It isn't easy work [...] what you see: the Merchant-that-was [...] "Is he waking? [...] he will, very soon."
  12. ↑ Review the terms of the contract, Fallen London "[...] the Masters [...] walled off his dreams [...] to keep him asleep. If [...] breached, [...] the Creditor will wake him [...]"
  13. ↑ The Sleeper, Fallen London "The Debtor cannot be woken," [...] "When he wakes, his debt will be due [...]"
  14. ↑ Ask what might happen if the Creditor does contact the Bazaar, Fallen London ""The most likely outcome," [...] "is that the Bazaar would attempt to honour the debt [...] even if [...] damaging to London, or fatal to itself.""
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