Weasels
"Weasels have become fashionable pets in the city of late: small, clean, fierce and very happy underground."[1]
Weasels are more or less outwardly identical to their Surface counterparts, though they display a limited degree of sapience like many other of the Neath's animals. They're capable of singing popular tunes,[2] playing card and parlor games,[3] and specially trained weasels were once used by agents of the Great Game for an unknown purpose.[4]
Weasels have recently become popular pets in Fallen London, given their natural preference for the underground and their relative cleanliness. Weasel-sellers peddle these creatures throughout the streets of Spite, and they may train their weasels to attack anyone who tries to accost them.[1] Weasels are also eaten as delicacies by certain individuals and factions, such as urchins,[5] tigers,[6] and apparently the Boatman himself.[7]
On occasion, Londoners pit weasels against each other in tournaments of weasels, played in weasel-pits;[8][9] this sport is often played a bit more seriously than one would expect.[10] These tournaments are reported in the Fighting Weasel Digest,[11] and ravens are known for their apparent oracular abilities in predicting these tournaments' outcomes, though this practice is considered cheating.[12][10] Certain weasels are even bred for this purpose;[13] Araby Fighting-Weasels are a bronze-furred,[14] powerful breed specially trained to fight in weasel-pits,[13] and are known for their cunning and proud disposition.[15] Unfortunately, like all sports, tournaments of weasels suffer from their fair share of cheaters, including an apparent case of weasel-doping.[16]
The Ancient and Honorable Company of Weasel-Fanciers are a group of renowned weasel enthusiasts who regularly send their weasels out to battle Rattus Faber.[17] They notably hand out prizes to weasels who display amazing skill, elegance, and manners,[18] though they dislike participants who game the playing field using selective breeding.[19]
Lucky Weasels are weasels that are renowned for their exceptional luck; this unfortunately does not imply that they bring others luck.[20] Salt Weasels are an extremely rare variety of weasel that originate north of Fallen London in the Pale Wastes; these weasels are known for their relative guilelessness,[21] and are unfortunately hunted for their valuable fur.[22]
The performers of Mahogany Hall frequently use weasels as part of their performances, putting the animals in high demand in the area.[23] But a particular tune in Mahogany Hall may cause the poor creatures grievous harm...[24]
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A Weasel. -
A Lucky Weasel. -
An Araby Fighting-Weasel. -
A Salt Weasel. -
A Weasel-Infested Velocipede. -
Plagued by a Popular Song?
