Jasper and Frank are a pair of Unfinished Clay Men and loyal enforcers of The Masters of the Bazaar.[1] Unfinished Men are a subset of Clay Men who are incomplete in some manner, either physically or metaphysically.[2] While Jasper’s specific deficiency is unclear, Frank is missing a hand.[3][4]
Jasper and Frank's amiable nature,[5] dry humor, and sarcastic quips[6][7] belies their fearsome reputation as the most brutal of the Masters' enforcers.[8] They are often deployed to tie up loose ends in the Masters' schemes.[9][10] Unlike many Clay Men, they are also literate.[7]
Jasper and Frank’s loyalty is to the Masters as a whole, but which Master they serve at any given time is interchangeable. As such, they frequently become embroiled in the power struggles between the Masters.[11][12] They are most commonly employed by Mr Fires[8] and Mr Stones[7].
They employ hammers as their weapons[13][3][14]—though often, their bare fists are enough to get the job done.[15] Despite their immense power, they are not particularly fast or agile.[16] Jasper and Frank supervises the activities of the Neddy Men and reports to Mr Fires at the Masters' meetings.[17]
Just Business
They have a lair in Wolfstack Docks, guarded by Clay underlings.[18] Jasper and Frank have a long-standing protection racket at the Antimacassar Theatre.[19] They also extort money from Spite merchants.[20] They steal from other Clay Men as well.[21]
Despite their criminal endeavors, they maintain a legitimate front at Mahogany Hall, where they offer etiquette lessons to paying customers.[22] They have also taken in a "nephew", a young Clay Man named Lyme, whom they are training for a future in their illicit enterprises.[23]
When not working for the Masters or running their rackets, Jasper and Frank enjoy watching Clay boxing matches from a private booth in The Clay Quarters.[24] On holidays, they return to their homeland of Polythreme.[25]
Historical Inspirations
Jasper and Frank are heavily inspired by the <nowiki> Kray twins, infamous London gangsters active from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. Their in-game portrait is a homage to the famous photograph of the Kray twins taken by photographer David Bailey.
↑Sidebar Snippets: Clay Men, Fallen LondonUnfinished Men are Clay Men who lack something - sight, a voice, a hand, conscience, obedience. You can't really tell a crippled Clay Man from an Unfinished Man, except that ordinary Clay Men are never criminals. The distinction, unfortunately, often evades Constables and citizens alike.(Shoddy workmanship.)
↑ 3.03.1It's my box now!, Fallen London"A fight with two Unfinished bruisers was never going to be easy. Frank swings his hammer wildly with his one good hand, cracking your ribs. It's not obvious what Jasper is missing, but it's not strength or skill."
↑Doing the Rounds, Fallen London"Jasper and Frank, the amiably brutal Clay agents of the Masters, pop by for a little word. They want to know where a certain local gossip is."
↑"I do.", Fallen London"Jasper wipes away an imaginary tear [...] "Lovely wedding," says Frank cheerily"
↑ 7.07.17.2In the Seventh Sorting Hall, Fallen London"Beautiful penmanship, isn't it, Frank?" asks Jasper. "Shame we're too illiterate to read it," […] "Whenever Mr Stones wants privacy, we always seem to misplace our educations."
↑Catch me if you can!, Fallen London"Jasper and Frank are Unfinished Clay Men. Clay Men are known for their strength and tirelessness. Unfinished Men are notorious for their viciousness. Neither are famous for speed or agility."
↑Attend one of the gatherings of the Masters, Fallen London"The Clay Man, Jasper, reports on the activities of the Neddy-Men. [...] Mr Fires nods in vague satisfaction as items on the [...] to-do list are ticked off: intimidation, extortion, the occasional gentle dispatching of a troublesome individual to the River."
↑Something not too difficult, Fallen London"Set him the task of collecting protection money from the box office at the Antimacassar Theatre. Jasper and Frank have a long-standing relationship there."
↑Even the odds in a clay dispute (5 FATE), Fallen London "Jasper and Frank, the notorious Clay Man criminals, have just been paid. Their pockets rattle with moon-pearls. They're already onto their next racket, harassing a Clay Man in a battered overcoat."
↑Provide Master-Classes in Etiquette, Fallen London"Jasper and Frank, Unfinished Men and occasional enforcers for the Masters of the Bazaar, have a business idea. If they supply the pupils, will you provide etiquette lessons?"
↑Take on a Clay Pupil, Fallen London"Jasper and Frank introduce him as their 'nephew'. His name's Lyme. He's rough round the edges even for a Clay Man. They want him trained up in human manners, to make him more useful to the 'business'."
