"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."
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"Should you, or should you not hide your abilities? A fool might be underestimated – but you should not play the fool. No, such a tactic is overused. Play the fool's fool. Or perhaps not a fool at all. But play. Or fool. Victory is thus inevitable."[1]
March is a member of the Calendar Council who was appointed after his predecessor's death.
"March needs assistance containing an escape of secrets (it is perhaps not entirely his fault; he inherited a compromised network)."[2]
March is a mysterious individual whose appearance is unknown. His writings in the Agendums of Ascent are a book of nonsense and rhymes, which contemplate through code the strategy of concealing one's abilities to fool others.[3] His study in the Agendums also contains a hidden bottle of wine.[4] It is not clear if March is truly committed to playing the fool,[5] but his agents are known to make efforts to appear amateurish during their operations.[6] It is said that March inherited a "compromised network" from his predecessor and often suffers information leaks,[7] but it is not clear whether this is part of his facade. Regardless, some members of the Council have suggested replacing him.[8]
March has an interest in the tattoos of the Clathermonts, specifically the "Singer of Roses," which was never documented by the Lady in Lilac.[9] He also works with the Affluent Photographer, a member of his cell who is opposed by the Jovial Contrarian.[10]
March's status in the Upstairs is unknown, but organizations called the March Bureau and the Marchists are known to exist in this timeline.[11][12]
The Working Man's Friend
"March is a merry-eyed man of mature years in a battered fustian waistcoat and threadbare nankeen trousers. He claps you on the shoulder as he hands you a packet of beans, crying: "Thus we end the Bazaar!""[13]
"I offered my medical skills to the Liberation. I healed society – by killing, permanently, those I tended. One day, they ordered me to treat a member of the Council. His religion conflicted with his politics, and since I was already seeing him for headaches, they—"[14]
The individual who previously held the title of March was likely John Cassell,[15] also called "the working-man's friend."[16] He was a coffee enthusiast[17] and a self-proclaimed enemy of Mr Wines,[18] who openly distributed Wines' Darkdrop coffee beans to those in need.[19][20] He opposed the Echo Bazaar,[21] and was bold enough to act openly in his capacity as a member of the Calendar Council,[18] but it remains unknown whether he was committed to the cause of the Liberation of Night. He was a jovial man[22] and a close friend of the Dauntless Temperance Campaigner, who addressed him as "John" and was the one to find his body after his death.[23][24]
The previous March was betrayed and killed by the Haunted Doctor,[16] who had been treating him for headaches. The permanent death of March was ordered by none other than the Calendar Council themselves, as they believed March's religion "conflicted with his politics."[16][17]
Historical Connections
John Cassell was a social reformer, publisher, and temperance advocate who worked to improve the lives of the working class through education. He published a variety of serials over the course of his career, including The Working Man's Friend and Family Instructor, which aimed to educate its readers without judgement or assumption as to who they were; the Illustrated Family Paper, providing reading material for families; and The Illustrated History of England. He was also a tea and coffee merchant, and an ardent Christian.
↑The Calendar Code, Fallen London"Whimsical stories of ridiculous characters, and many of the words seem made up. [...] It takes a few minutes, but you begin to discern hidden messages among the straightforward absurdity. [...] 'Should you, or should you not hide your abilities? A fool might be underestimated – but you should not play the fool. No, such a tactic is overused. Play the fool's fool. Or perhaps not a fool at all. But play. Or fool. Victory is thus inevitable.' ... What? [...] Sixteen snickers against a frisky whisker? It's not clear which is worse: the painful rhymes or the shoddy typesetting."
↑The Calendar Code, Fallen London"Some of the blocks of text are strangely aligned, in a way suggestive of a carpenter's joins. [...] A concealed compartment pops open. What's this? A secret aid for late-night study? [...] gained 1 x Bottle of Broken Giant 1844."
↑The Calendar Code, Fallen London"Play the fool's fool. Or perhaps not a fool at all. But play. Or fool. Victory is thus inevitable. [...]"
↑Motive over loss, Fallen London"The tattoo parlour burglars disappeared into the depths of the Flit. They used professionals' tools, but they bungled the entry, and one of them tripped over an occasional table. Incompetents from the Flit... March's people? [...] The tattoo parlour burglars were very good. They gave the impression of an amateur job, but covered their trail impeccably. This in itself tells you something about them [...]"
↑Bury the Council's Secrets, Fallen London""March needs assistance containing an escape of secrets (it is perhaps not entirely his fault; he inherited a compromised network).""
↑Motive over loss, Fallen London"Clathermont nods. "March again. He's been after the Singer of Roses for years. He won't find it here, of course. The missus never wrote that one down.""
↑Refuse her and speak with the Jovial Contrarian, Fallen London"So, she wants you to take a cudgel to the Nostalgic Sonnetist? Well, the fellow does deserve a beating – more for his scansion than his politics. But that does confirm to me that she's part of March's cell. [...] Leave this with me. I think I can turn it to both our advantage."
↑ 17.017.1Drink with the Doctor, Fallen London""I offered my medical skills to the Liberation. I healed society – by killing, permanently, those I tended." [...] "One day, they ordered me to treat a member of the Council. His religion conflicted with his politics, and since I was already seeing him for headaches, they—" [...] "He offered me his shilling coffee every time I visited. Maybe his politics were unwise, but – I owed him better.""
↑ 18.018.1--Two action refreshes for the price of one!--, Fallen London"The Calendar Council: [...] It's unusual to see a Calendarman walk the streets openly, [...] here's March, the self-proclaimed adversary of Mr Wines, distributing little brown paper parcels of... coffee beans?"
↑Something unexpected (retired), Fallen London""Not for you, my friend! You have enough already! But I will exchange you this uncertain package for a single packet of your beans: that I may distribute beans more fairly.""
↑Something invigorating, Fallen London"March is a merry-eyed man of mature years in a battered fustian waistcoat and threadbare nankeen trousers. He claps you on the shoulder [...]"
↑Betray the Haunted Doctor's trust, Fallen London"John was one of my dearest friends. I was the one who found him – collapsed in his Blackfinger office, lying on a pile of tracts. Thank you, [...] I see I have another campaign to mount. I'll rally the troops. I'll see the Council brought to justice."
