"The road to the crater ends at a brass gate in the crater wall. Beside it stands an oddly charming little cottage. ... An equally charming deviless in a tea-gown leans against the cottage wall, twirling a parasol and fanning herself. “I am the guardian of this place,” she remarks languidly. “You may not pass. But can I offer you a cup of armillaria tea?”"[1]
The Wistful Deviless resides seemingly blissfully at the top of Mount Palmerston. Her innocent appearance and demeanor[2] bely her status as a vital member of the Brimstone Convention, the fallen aristocracy of Hell.[3] Her job is to not only observe the events of the Convention, but to make sure no prying eyes from outside witness its plots and schemes.[4]
To visiting zailors, the Deviless is polite, demure, and entirely nonthreatening.[2] She responds to gifts graciously,[5] has a tendency to overapologize for social misjudgements,[6] and is usually very openly emotional.[7] Her responses to offers of sympathy and companionship are contrarian, however, and just as intense.[8][9] On top of all this, she is somehow an even sappier drunk.[10] When duty calls, she is willing to be threatening, but will not harm someone she cares about.[4]
The Deviless is a lost... well, not a soul, but whatever the Hellish equivalent of one might be. While she enjoys the plotting of the Brimstone Convention, and enjoys having a cause to fight for,[11] she misses Hell and wishes to return one day.[12][13] As such, she has become a double agent. She is willing to sell out her neighbors to return home,[14] but is cunning enough to aim to poison that deal too.[15][16]
↑ 2.02.1Tea with the Deviless, Sunless Sea"No doubt she'd be much less pleasant if you tried to break down that gate: but just now, she's a courteous, soft-voiced woman in a tea-gown."
↑ 4.04.1Independent verification, Sunless Sea"When you wake, you're in the Deviless' cottage. Your head is in her lap. "I found you on the slopes," she says. "I thought I'd better bring you in before you heard anything you shouldn't." She smiles. "Strictly speaking, I should burn your ears off. But it's so nice to see you.""
↑A hesitant request, Sunless Sea"The Deviless lifts the lid of the crate. The light from the souls within illuminates her face. She stares at them for a long moment, and then tears begin to roll silently down her face. "Thank you," she says. "I've missed them so." [...] "Let me tell you something very special." (She whispers it in your ear: her breath smells like hot stone.) "But you should go now. Thank you. Come back soon...""
↑Refuse tactfully, Sunless Sea"I understand. It is a little indelicate. But I've had so few human friends. I'm sorry if I'm tactless sometimes. Sit with me a while. Let's just talk. Oh, and I have this hamper of honey-fungus that your cook might find a use for - "
↑Give the Deviless the news from the Embassy, and the gift, Sunless Sea"The Deviless opens the parcel. Amanita sherry! She pours you each a splashy glass, chattering giddily. She blushes when she sees you push the glass away. "Force of habit! I don't really want to poison you. It's such good news, isn't it? Do you really think they trust me? I would so love to get away from this ghastly little rock, back to where the souls glow and the dances never end…""
↑Sympathy for the deviless, Sunless Sea""I don't have a home," she snuffles. "I can't have a home. I should never have been hatched..." You pat her consolingly and wait for her to finish. It takes a while. She seems embarrassed when she leaves: irritated, even, as if she blames you. "
↑Offer to take her back to Palmerston, Sunless Sea"She rises from her seat in a single fluid motion, nostrils wide, eyes glaring. For a moment you think she's going to slap your face. "And you people call us cruel," she hisses. She slams the door on her way out."
↑Invite her to supper in your quarters, Sunless Sea"She seems more wistful than usual [...] Finally you realise that she's drunk. She's saying something about the old days - [...] She looks directly into your eyes. "You're very pretty," she says. Then she falls face-down in the remains of her chops and stewed mushrooms, and begins to snore."
↑The Wistful Deviless comes calling, Sunless Sea"“I miss the peace of that place,” she says. “Palmerston. There was a little wind that walked in the grey-grass on the mountain’s slopes. It carried the smell of ashes. I hated it, because it reminded me of home - but now - now, I wake, and I think I hear it. At the Convention, I had a purpose. We were going to destroy so many things. I lost faith in that purpose, but I have no more faith here."
↑The Deviless disconsolate, Sunless Sea"She pours the tea with a shaking hand. Her eyes are distant. "The lights, the agonies, the scalding mists of lead. I miss them so. I long to return from exile. I was such a fool. There's no future with the Convention." "
↑Give the Deviless the news from the Embassy, and the gift, Sunless Sea"So listen. I have something more valuable for them. The names of seven devils back home who remain loyal to the aristocracy, to Brimstone. Here. Take the names: give them to the Embassy. Ask them if I can come home. Sail swiftly, my brave captain. All my hopes rest with you."
↑Warn the Wistful Deviless, Sunless Sea"She's a double-agent who tried to deceive Hell. You tipped Hell off. If she tries to go home, they'll be ready for her."
