"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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"He is here incognito, but his expensive hat and booming laugh give him away. A man worth knowing. He has influence at the Shuttered Palace."[3]
His Amused Lordship is a nobleman with a taste for the unusual.
"His Lordship is enjoying the show. He roars with laughter at a 'toff' comedian who manages a creditable impression of His Lordship himself. The female impersonators reduce him to tears of delight."[4]
His Lordship has a characteristic wit, an affable demeanor, and a seemingly endless amusement at the strangeness of the Neath. Unlike many aristocrats who cling to propriety, he delights in scandal, eccentricity, and intellectual stimulation. He is well-connected in high society, and can often be found mingling with both the aristocracy and more bohemian circles — whether at social events, salons, or simply in the company of those who intrigue him.[5] He is particularly interested in the arts, social intrigue, and political machinations, and uses his influence to advance plans that he finds entertaining or promising.[6]
His favorite.
His Lordship is also a connoisseur of wines, and an array of other drinks that could generously be described as alcoholic.[7] Unsurprisingly, his drinking habit has earned him a rather severe case of gout, which he has chosen to treat with "evil snails."[8][9] As the year 1900 and the dawn of a new century approached, he busied himself with preparations for a grand New Year's party, which of course included purchasing enormous quantities of wine.[10] However, after the Empress declared the 20th century canceled, His Lordship found himself bereft of his promised celebration, left with piles of unopened champagne bottles... and a mountain of debt. In an effort to recuperate his losses, he sold off his excess wine,[11] and promised to "swear off the stuff for good."[7] That promise may have been rather short-lived, however.[12]
His Lordship owns a yacht, the Noble Garter.[13] He also owns the wreck of the St Elmo, and uses it to gather a motley crew of ne'er-do-wells for midnight drinking and mischief.[14]
A Patron of Exploration (As Long As It's Fun)
"Up to the task, then? Splendid. I'll see you at Orchard House for the next meeting. You know it? It's on Varlet's Walk, near Jekyll Gardens. Marvellous. Now, let me ask you this. Have you heard the one about the Kashmiri Princess, the urchin and the Starveling Cat?"[15]
A golden apple of immortality, the badge of the Dilmun Club.
His Amused Lordship is a member of the Dilmun Club, an association of academics whose main goal is the attainment of immortality. He is one of the more approachable and affable members of the club, often serving as an intermediary or source of information for those who wish to understand its inner workings. He is, as such, also liable to invite those who catch his eye to club meetings at Orchard House.[16] While His Lordship shares his peers' goal of finding the Garden, he does not appear to possess the same level of urgency, desperation, or caution as some of his colleagues. Instead, he revels in the excitement the Club's quests bring;[17] he sympathizes with and enthusiastically supports the Youthful Naturalist for this reason.[18]
In addition to his endeavors with the Dilmun Club, His Lordship is a founding member of the Great Hellbound Railway.[19]
His Lordship's Deeper Endeavors
"In the migrainous straits of deep sleep, there is a marsh where candle-flames buzz like wasps."
WARNING: Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London's most infamous storyline: Seeking Mr Eaten's Name. Turn back now.
You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.
"Damn fool game. I only played to rescue a damn fool friend. Well, friend undersells it rather a lot. She wouldn't be pleased to hear me describe her so."[20]
His Amused Lordship was once a player of the Marvellous, the great card game whose prize is the fulfillment of one's Heart's Desire.[21] He played his way to the final match, only to run out of coins. Undeterred, he bet his title and all its estates on one final chance — and won.[22] In the end, he triumphed, and with his Wish, he saved Mrs Plenty from the ruinous path of Seeking Mr Eaten's Name.[23] Amusingly, Mr Eaten may still hold a grudge against him for this.[24]
Unfortunately, His Lordship could not save his own wife. Long before Miriam Plenty abandoned the Seeking Road, Her Ladyship was her companion in the quest. When the path demanded betrayal, Her Ladyship sought her husband's help in betraying Miriam. But by then, His Lordship's affection for Miriam had grown, and instead he warned Miriam. Soon afterward, Her Ladyship vanished, never to be seen again.[25] Out of respect — or perhaps unease — newspapers carefully avoid mentioning his marital status.[26]
Historical and Cultural Inspirations
His Amused Lordship is inspired by British actor Brian Blessed,[27] who is also an accomplished mountaineer and explorer.
References
↑Greet the Captain (Repeat), Fallen London"The Merry Captain's bellow is muffled by his mask. [...] His Amused Lordship struggles with the final buckle for a moment before throwing the mask across the room and roaring."
↑His Amused Lordship - 1, Fallen London"While attending a rather vulgar music-hall show, you bump into His Amused Lordship. He is here incognito, but his expensive hat and booming laugh give him away."
↑His Amused Lordship wishes you to call upon him at the Palace, Fallen London"For a man with a somewhat dissolute reputation, his Lordship is rather erudite. Apparently he patronises the occasional scientific expedition. Now that you look, his desk is covered in works by radical thinkers. You see the writings of spiritualists, unorthodox theologians and students of the Correspondence."
↑ 7.07.1In His Lordship's Private Cellars, Fallen London"The cellar is all but empty – the last of his Lordship's folly flogged at cut-rate prices. "I've been saving the best of it – or the most interesting, at least. My final tipples, before I swear off the stuff for good. What catches your eye?""
↑Consider the news from Vesture (Living Shell), Fallen London"I confess, I had some hope the Shell of Regret could cure gout. Utterly fanciful, in retrospect. But those evil snail things from the Bazaar are such an unpleasant treatment. Where do they come from, anyway?"
↑A Revel to end all Revels, Fallen London"The end of the century approaches and [...] His Amused Lordship has taken it upon himself to plan a New Year's soirée of truly catastrophic proportions. [...] Enough food to resupply an army. A whole circus' worth of entertainers put on payroll. A mountain of silverware, table linen, dishes, trays, serving carts and the like – and battalions of servants to contend with it all. The revelers will ring in the new year in grandiose style – and presumably also spend all of 1900 dealing with the aftermath of this party."
↑A Member of the Crew of the St Elmo, Fallen London"A notorious drinking club, gathered by His Amused Lordship, who meet at certain midnights upon his wrecked ship. This select group is the subject of many a fanciful legend, some of them even true."
↑Can His Amused Lordship help you find the Dilmun Club?, Fallen London"His Amused Lordship recalls that he has already sounded out your interest. "Up to the task, then? Splendid. I'll see you at Orchard House for the next meeting. You know it? It's on Varlet's Walk, near Jekyll Gardens. Marvellous.""
↑Speak with His Amused Lordship (Aboard the Noble Garter), Fallen London"A new record! Never caught anything with a bank account this big before! [...] I knew this research would be exciting, but I had no idea how much! All right, yes, also dangerous, illegal, but what isn't? When it's worth doing [...] And stealing from the Royal Navy! I can't wait to see the Commodore's face at billiards!"
↑Vote with His Amused Lordship, Fallen London"Let him come back! I'll hold open the door myself. Do I have to open my cheque-book too? Tell me how much to write. Anything he wants to study deserves patronage."
↑Piece your clues together, Fallen London"That leaves His Amused Lordship a man possessed with a notorious zest for life. Perhaps he is one of the former winners of the Marvellous?"
↑Ask for His Lordship's advice, Fallen London"I played conventionally at first. [...] I played fair, as a gentleman should. But by the second round, it was plain as the eyes in my skull that I was losing. My coins were spent. So I staked the last thing I could – my title and all its estates. [...] If your opponent accepts, you may play one more hand. All or nothing. They call it the Chance. [...] I got lucky. I hope you do too."
↑Ask His Lordship about the Marvellous, Fallen London"Damn fool game. I only played to rescue a damn fool friend. Well, friend undersells it rather a lot. She wouldn't be pleased to hear me describe her so. [...] She was on a dark path, a seeker of that which shouldn't be sought. I played the game to win her back."
↑The stone and the eyes, Fallen London"O you of the resonant chest and the beard blushed bright: far-travelled, Principle-Thief, Intimate of Wines, perfumed lord. When the candles are lit, your name will be spoken only to be unspoken, and the void will reject it, even the void."
↑A Confession of his Amused Lordship, Fallen London: "His Amused Lordship is, possibly, a widower. His confession starts: 'I do not know what has happened to my wife.' His wife was obsessed with a terrible quest. Something involving wells and voices. She had a partner upon it, one 'Miriam', of whom his Lordship developed increasing affection. Eventually, the quest required that Miriam and her Ladyship turn upon each other. His wife turned to his Lordship for assistance, but he balked. He informed Miriam of his wife's plan. Shortly thereafter, his wife disappeared."
↑Turn in His Amused Lordship's Confession, Fallen London"It would be suspicious for the Gazette to fall silent on matters of His Amused Lordship. He is, after all, both popular and prominent in Society. The regular columns [...] look at more serious aspects of his work [...] They carefully avoid anything which might give rise to the question of whether he is, or is not, an eligible bachelor."
↑Paul Arendt, on a Reddit AMA: "Brian is very much the inspiration for his Amused Lordship, yes"
