The Coilheart Games

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"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."

Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution.

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"The Tiger Keeper rises to his hind legs. "London!" He is bellowing now, gold eyes alight with zeal. "The Sixth Coil is opening at last! And we shall share its boundless riches... with the victors of the Coilheart Games!" The Tiger Keeper's shout ends in a roar, quickly adopted by his fellows in the Gardens."[1]

The Sixth Coil was a notable event of (the fourth) 1899, during which London hosted an international sports competition to judge who would be worthy to enter the titular Sixth Coil of the Labyrinth of Tigers.

Announcement

The Tiger Keeper

In the false-summer of the fourth 1899, sapphire-and-gold-clad urchins darted through London’s streets, scattering vellum fliers and glittering gems in their wake. Their message was simple yet momentous: the tigers of the Labyrinth and the Court of the Wakeful Eye had a proclamation to make.[2]

In Tyrant’s Gardens, beneath the grand bandstand, the regal tigers of the Wakeful Eye gathered. At their center stood the Tiger Keeper, flanked by Mr Inch.[3] They announced that a contest was to be held in London — one that would determine who among not only London’s citizens but the entire Neath was worthy to pass beyond the sealed gates of the Sixth Coil and claim its boundless riches.[4]

Speculation gripped the city. What lay within the Sixth Coil? None were more eager to uncover its secrets than Mr Huffam of the Unexpurgated London Gazette. Ever the journalist, he issued an open invitation: any who possessed knowledge of the Sixth Coil were to report to the Gazette’s offices and enlighten him.[5]

The heart of the tournament would beat within the Labyrinth of Tigers. The first coil of the Labyrinth was transformed into a grand stadium, its cages repurposed into galleries, its pathways into promenades.[6] For the duration of the event, visitors could purchase a Coilheart Indulgence to gain admittance.[7] Beyond the Labyrinth, amphitheaters rose across the city, each a monument to London’s restless hunger for spectacle.

The Koloman Republic's Flag

Four major international delegations descended upon London for the Games. First came the Wakeful Eye delegation, arriving in prowling grace, bearing gifts befitting giant, imperious cats.[8] Second came the Khanate, its contingent led by the Eagle Clan — proud, efficient, and clad in electric finery. Among them, members of the Tortoise Clan loomed, though much less in presence than their compatriots.[9] Next, a procession of bandaged figures: the tomb-colonists of the Grand Sanatoria. They shuffled forth, ancient and withered, yet lively and eager for diversion.[10] Last to arrive was a delegation shrouded in mystery: the Koloman Republic, a supposedly European power from the Surface. They disembarked from a ferry on the Cumaean Canal, their motives veiled.[11]

Once all the major competitors arrived, it was time for the opening ceremony. London’s streets emptied into the Labyrinth of Tigers, its freshly constructed amphitheaters packed with expectant crowds.[12] As the Wakeful Eye delegation, led by the Tiger Keeper, took their seats, a tremor rippled through the arena.[13] A hush fell. Then, panic—whispers of past calamities turned to cries of alarm. The Tiger Keeper, undaunted, rose above the unease, his voice cutting through the fear like a knife through velvet. Order returned, though unease lingered in the air.[14] He continued with the ceremony, delivering a speech on the indomitable spirit of the Neath (or some suitably grandiose rhetoric), before finally announcing the Games’ commencement. Later, the Keeper seemed unsettled, actively avoiding his fellow tigers.[15]

The Tournaments

Four grand tournaments unfolded across London, each testing a different virtue: imagination, intellect, science, and body. Alongside these, smaller contests such as mycological flyting, gadgetry, riddles, freeform rooftop racing, and much more took place. Winners of these smaller events were awarded the Distinction of the Waking Fire, a symbol of excellence in all four virtues.[16]

The Tournament of the Sciences

The Tournament of the Sciences took place at Wolfstack Docks, featuring two challenges: shipbuilding and ship racing. Competitors first had to construct a vessel capable of enduring the treacherous, toxic waters between Hell and the Sere Palace. Those that survived would then race across the Unterzee.[17]

The primary contenders included the Koloman Republic, led by the cunning Shifty Tinkerer;[18] the Grand Sanatoria, represented by a Cackling Mechanic;[19] the Eagle Clan, guided by the Diplomat-Engineer;[20] and the Tortoise Clan, under the steady hand of the Methodical Sage.[21] The judging panel was small but diverse, composed of Londoners and emissaries from various islands across the Unterzee.[22]

Curiously, the Eagle Clan delayed construction, instead focusing on an enigmatic device. Disaster struck when an explosion rocked their shipyard, leading to the rapid confiscation of the apparatus by the Constables.[23] Huffam's investigation revealed that the device—a vast, intricate light array—was designed to enforce normality, potentially counteracting something Parabolan or even Elder Continental in origin, hidden within the Labyrinth.[24]

In the end, the tomb-colonists’ trireme outpaced all rivals, claiming victory.[25]

The Tournament of the Imagination

Veilgarden’s open studio amphitheatre hosted the Tournament of the Imagination, an artistic free-for-all where any medium was permitted.[26] Competitors included the Koloman Republic’s Bespectacled Choreographer,[27] presenting a dance from home; the Court of the Wakeful Eye’s Pantherine Impressionist, painting a grand canvas;[28] the Eagle Clan’s Irascible Architect, sculpting a statue of an eagle;[29] and a London-based collective—originally called the Planetary Society for the Advancement of the Arts,[30] later rebranded as Cosmic Unity for the Progression of Aesthetics[31]—led by the Bohemian Sculptress, who crafted an avant-garde play. Judges were numerous and varied, with the Captivating Princess presiding as head judge.[32]

Midway through, tensions flared when the Pantherine Impressionist received an ominous visit from her superiors—the Lord of Inks and the Striped Officiant—bearing orders from the Banded Prince. She was instructed to sabotage her own work. Furious, but compliant, she defaced her nearly completed masterpiece, replacing it with a cruder, more hastily version.[33] Huffam’s inquiries confirmed a longstanding tradition: the Tigers participate in the Games, but they never intend to win.[34]

The tournament concluded with the bohemian troupe’s performance—a play so bewildering that the judges had to declare it the winner.[31]

The Tournament of the Intellect

Spite’s abandoned opera house provided the setting for the Tournament of the Intellect, a high-stakes chess tournament — albeit with modifications.[35] The competitors included the Koloman Republic’s Sun-Kissed Polymath, the Court of the Wakeful Eye’s Patient Mastermind, the Eagle Clan’s Aquiline Assistant, and the enigmatic Principles of Coral, represented by the Rubbery Enthusiast. The judging panel spanned Codex, the College of Mortality, Parabola, and even the Fathomking’s Court.[36]

Amid the matches, a public spat erupted within the Koloman delegation. The Sun-Kissed Polymath and the Rogue Translator, erstwhile lovers, fell into a heated argument, culminating in the revelation that they were both Surface spies.[37] Further investigations revealed that the Koloman Republic itself was a fabrication—its entire delegation comprised of agents from various Surface powers. Additionally, evidence surfaced suggesting the Sixth Coil imprisoned not treasure, but a tiger.[38]

The tournament ended with the Patient Mastermind claiming victory, though their expression betrayed only reluctance.[39]

The Tournament of the Body

The final tournament took place on a football field near Bugsby’s Marshes in Watchmaker’s Hill, where dueling champions clashed.[40] Major competitors included the tomb-colonists, led by the Whispering Duelist; the Court of the Wakeful Eye, represented by the Armoured Veteran; the Eagle Clan, championed by the Striking Protector; and a band of warriors from Skite, led by the Weeping Mercenary. The judging panel featured members of the Dilmun Club and the Black-Ribbon Society.[41]

A particularly harrowing bout saw the Whispering Duelist face the Eagle Clan’s Lacquered Lieutenant. Fighting with reckless ferocity, she pressed her advantage until Feducci himself intervened, pulling her away just before she could strike the killing blow.[42] Huffam’s relentless investigations uncovered an unnerving truth: those who had entered the Sixth Coil in previous Fallen Cities were not dead, but trapped. The Whispering Duelist’s motivation became clear — she sought to rescue a lost love, a victor of the Third City’s Coilheart Games. Reports hinted that the Coil’s “treasure” was no mere tiger, but perhaps something even older, even more serpentine.[43]

The tournament concluded with the Weeping Mercenary claiming a hard-fought and bloody victory.[44]

The Coil

As the Games drew to a close, crowds spilled from the amphitheatres — some reveling in their teams’ victories, others drowning their sorrows in defeat. Then, a sudden tremor struck, far stronger than the one that had shaken the ground during the opening ceremony.[45] The amphitheatre groaned and fractured, its stonework and masonry splitting apart. Panic surged through the spectators, but fortune was on their side — the stands had already emptied enough that no casualties occurred.[46]

Meanwhile, the tremors led the Tiger to check on the gate to the Sixth Coil, only to find it slightly ajar. Sensing something amiss, a delegation of four representatives, accompanied by Mr. Huffam, confronted the Wakeful Eye delegation—though notably, the Tiger Keeper was absent.[47] Their inquiries were met with deflections and refusals. Undeterred, Huffam rallied the various international delegations, determined to uncover what the Tigers had been hiding. Through their combined efforts, they pieced together the grim truth: the Games had been a front for something far darker, tied to the Sixth Coil’s secrets. Huffam wasted no time — his exposé laid bare the full extent of the Tigers’ schemes.[48] With the weight of the revelation behind them, Huffam and a contingent of victorious athletes stormed the Labyrinth to confront the Tigers.[49] Cornered, the Striped Officiant was forced to confess — but even he had not known the full horror.[50] The tributes taken as offerings were not dead; they remained trapped within the Sixth Coil, and worse still, the Seventh Coil — an ancient shame of the Tigers — lurked within, threatening to break free. Desperate, the Striped Officiant implored the gathered representatives for aid in containing the Seventh Coil and rescue the imprisoned tributes.[51]

The plan took shape swiftly: they would chart the labyrinthine depths of the Sixth Coil, mapping its ever-shifting terrain[52] while arming themselves with devices capable of repelling the Seventh Coil’s influence.[53] The path to its prison-heart was treacherous, but once located, their course was clear. A team of champions — Cackling Mechanic, Weeping Mercenary, Bohemian Sculptress, and Patient Mastermind — would descend, deploying xanthous bulb arrays to blind the entity and free the tributes from its thrall. Once all were safe, they would seal the gate with powerful Correspondence sigils, ensuring the Seventh Coil remained bound.[54]

Upon entering the Sixth Coil, the group encountered the missing Tiger Keeper — standing before the colossal, furred, and serpentine form of the Seventh Coil itself. They watched in cautious silence as the Keeper pleaded with the entity, urging it to escape with him.[55] But the Seventh Coil had no intention of fleeing. It did not see itself as imprisoned but rather protected.[56] It spoke of its frustration with the tributes it had been offered — mere puppets bent to its will. The Tiger Keeper, however, was different. He loved the Seventh Coil of his own volition.[57] And so, the creature sought to merge with him, just as the union between the Seventh Scion and the Coiler of Hearts had birthed it long ago.[58]

The Seventh Coil

The group sprang into action, activating the xanthous arrays. A burst of searing light filled the Coil, forcing the entity to recoil in agony. The tributes, once bound in its grip, staggered free.[59] As the rescuers hurried to lead them out, the Tiger Keeper turned on them, lashing out in fury. But the skirmish was brief— the Keeper was wounded and thrown back. The Seventh Coil, seeing its beloved harmed, howled in distress and coiled protectively around him. It did not chase the escaping tributes. It merely held him.[60] As the last of the group emerged, the great doors to the Seventh Coil's lair were sealed with reinforced Correspondence sigils, trapping it within once more.[61]

The New Tiger Keeper

London erupted in celebration. The rescued tributes disappeared into the jubilant crowds, while the Banded Prince arrived to personally honor the victors of the Coilheart Games.[62] In the wake of the scandal, the Striped Officiant was appointed the new Tiger Keeper, charged with maintaining the seal—now that the Games were no longer necessary.[63] Huffam’s damning report was swiftly censored by decree of the Empress and the Banded Prince, but he found a way around it: he published the story as fiction, altering names and details to slip past the censors.[64]

As the festivities faded and the city returned to its rhythm, the international delegations departed, some tributes among them. Others chose to stay, vanishing into the ever-churning throng of London.[65] The Sixth Coil’s doors remained open. And under the watchful eye of the new Tiger Keeper, patrols were set to descend regularly, ensuring that what lurked below would never be forgotten.[66]

Historical & Cultural Inspirations

The structure of the Coilheart Games, with its diverse international participation, draws clear parallels to the Olympic Games. This resemblance is further accentuated by the event's timing, which coincided with the real-life Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Imagery throughout the event narrative draws heavily from English poet William Blake's 1794 poem The Tyger, which delves into themes of creation, beauty, ferocity. and the duality between innocence and experience.

The Koloman Republic's name is a nod to Coloman of Stockerau, an Irish pilgrim martyred near Vienna in 1012 after being mistaken for a spy. The republic's flag also incorporates symbols associated with him.

References

  1. ↑ Stripes in the Bandstand, Fallen London
  2. ↑ Grab a flyer, Fallen London "The tigers – of the Labyrinth, and of the lands across the zee – have an announcement. Today. In Tyrant's Gardens. Already a slow trickle of citizens, pockets bulging with discarded sapphires, meanders in the direction of the excitement."
  3. ↑ Stripes in the Bandstand, Fallen London "For the bandstand and its immediate area are replete with tigers. They loll on jaundiced grass and lounge on velvet pillows. They chuff on fragrant pipes and examine their claws. They stretch out their paws, and yawn hugely. (A yawn, for a tiger, is a full-body experience, one that begins at the tail and ends at the teeth, endeavouring to exhibit as many deadly muscles and claws as it can. A yawn, for a tiger, is a form of threat.) At the heart of the bandstand, occupying a futon the size of a string section, is a tiger in an emerald velvet smoking cap. And beside him stands Mr Inch – zoologist, beast-trainer, and the only human within this stripy inner circle."
  4. ↑ Stripes in the Bandstand, Fallen London "Our Labyrinth has many coils. Oft-visited, and less-visited. New, and very old indeed. One coil has remained shuttered since before my tenure: the sixth. Soon, it will open, and with its opening comes our opportunity to offer riches in return." Tigers chuff in agreement. Nearby, one chuckles, and his neighbour bats him with an oversized paw. "To show the beneficence of the Wakeful Eye, a select group will be permitted to enter the Coil and partake of its riches. This group" – golden eyes survey the crowd – "will consist of the winners of a tournament. One that we shall hold in the coming weeks. A tournament not just for London, but for the whole Neath."
  5. ↑ Examine the card, Fallen London "'INFORMATION WANTED: What's in the SIXTH COIL?' Good MONEY Paid for SOLID & PUBLISHABLE Leads! Report EXCLUSIVELY to the Offices of the GAZETTE.'"
  6. ↑ The Clamour of Construction, Fallen London "The Labyrinth of Tigers is still open to visitors, but large swathes of the entrance and first coil are given over to construction efforts. Timber; metal; cranes and work teams; tigers roaring orders; exhibits roaring in complaint. Similar, smaller amphitheatres are under construction across the Fifth City – it appears the Labyrinth owns more London property than initially appeared."
  7. ↑ Purchase a 'Coilheart Indulgence', Fallen London "The urchin selling them is cheerful. "Similar to a season pass, 'cept shorter and with terms an' conditions. It'll let you in for the whole tournament, though!""
  8. ↑ Burning Bright, Fallen London "Gold and emeralds gleam amidst the fog, like eyes in the dark. Tigers chuff and purr, licking red lips, red tongues. The emissaries of the Wakeful Court have arrived."
  9. ↑ Eagle's Splendour, Fallen London "Bright lights from Wolfstack. The crowds teem to the docks: a second delegation has arrived. A great swell of bodies leaves tall ironships. The Eagle Clan of the Khanate are here in strength. Banners in blue; electric lights; suitcases and trunks. So very many suitcases and trunks. A child tries to get a look inside one, and the electric blade of a Striking Protector almost beheads her. A Diplomat-Engineer attempts to smooth things over with her parent. If the Eagle is here to compete, they certainly mean business."
  10. ↑ Memento Mori, Fallen London "Another peal of bells from Wolfstack Dock; another delegation for the games. Though, judging from the crowds at the docks, there seems to be some confusion. The usual tomb-ships for the Colonies are docked in port, tattered banners aflutter from the steam of the factories. But they are not admitting passengers. No, quite the contrary, they are disembarking them. A bandaged horde shuffles onto the jetties. A Raucous Grandmaster positively tap-dances down the gangplank. They bring banners; they bring swords; tomb-horses; clubs. They are here to compete."
  11. ↑ New Dawn, Fallen London "Who is here this time? A familiar peal of bells from Wolfstack; the familiar groan of ships' horns. A ferry, direct from the Cumaean Canal, unloads a cargo of brightly dressed newcomers. They must be from the Surface; their skin looks too bright, too hale. They crowd about the gangplank, performing elaborate courtesies before disembarking according to some protocol you don't quite understand. Their dress is European, though you'd struggle to identify anything more specific. Banners unfurl as they process into the city: they pronounce that the Koloman Republic has come to compete."
  12. ↑ Packed to the Rafters, Fallen London "Walls of people swerve off to the left and right of you, tiers upon tiers of people seated or standing, looking down on the dazzling mosaic-clad arena floor. From here, it is possible to get a good view of the crowd – and what a crowd it is."
  13. ↑ Packed to the Rafters, Fallen London "The delegation from the Resplendent Court of the Wakeful Eye settles on a series of rugs and scatter cushions, while the Tiger Keeper walks a circle at its centre. When the silence has ratcheted to breaking point, he raises a great paw——and the earth trembles."
  14. ↑ A Prelude, Fallen London "PEACE." The Tiger Keeper cuts through the panic, half speech and half roar. People freeze. You feel it too, cold command running up your spine like a droplet of water. "It is only the coil shifting." The vice of uncertainty eases. Quiet, again. With the crowd stilled, the stand's tremors stop, and no earth-born violence manifests to start them up again. "All is well." The Tiger Keeper's face is serene; almost rapturous. None of the tigers have stirred in the commotion. The Keeper circles through them now, so all the crowd may see their calm. "Be seated. The Sixth Coil is merely stirring, in anticipation of your glories."
  15. ↑ Seek out the Tiger Keeper, Fallen London "At your approach, the Keeper sinks back into an approximation of feline relaxation, examining his claws. It is not altogether convincing. "Scamper off and enjoy the celebrations, would you? Exciting times, to be sure – but if anybody asks me any more questions, I fear I may have to eat them." He slinks off into the crowd. In the other direction, the hordes part before a group of his peers from the Wakeful Eye. A less forgiving eye might accuse him of avoiding them on purpose."
  16. ↑ An Opportunity for Excellence, Fallen London "The Distinction of the Waking Fire is not one of the Games' headline prizes. A multidisciplinary medal awarded to those individuals who excel in each of the Coilheart Games' four Tournament virtues, it is difficult for one crowd to track and watch a competitor's progress – participants can make their mark in any of the hundreds of minor competitions taking place across the Fifth City. It's eclectic, wide-ranging, and extremely difficult to pull off. It can also be accomplished as an individual. It is perfect."
  17. ↑ A Tournament of the Sciences, Fallen London "A colossal worksite hangs over the distant town of Jericho Locks like a storm cloud. For each competing team there is but one aim: the creation of a ship. The first test for such a craft is a simple one. It must merely survive in a confluence of the waters of Hell and the poisoned overflow from a nearby Second City palace. The second test is more difficult: a race from the waters of Hell out to the wild Unterzee. For this, the shipyard is a riot of noise, frustration and frantic activity."
  18. ↑ Meet the delegation (Koloman Republic), Fallen London "Yet these distinguished personages, all replete with a dizzying array of accents and national dress, defer to an oil-stained mechanic whose accent is pure Birmingham. A Shifty Tinkerer, who ignores their compatriots in favour of locking themselves in their workroom, and emerging only for tea: weak."
  19. ↑ Meet the delegation (Tomb-Colonies), Fallen London "Some of the Colonists are more sprightly, newer arrivals from Venderbight who outrace their more senior colleagues, finishing sentences and grasping ideas before, frost-moth like, they emerge from desiccated mouths. The leader of this cohort is a Cackling Mechanic, whose grin is visible beneath her bandages."
  20. ↑ Meet the delegation (Eagle Clan), Fallen London "Eventually, however, you are awarded a glimpse of the Diplomat-Engineer who has, if not top billing, then sits near the apex of the heap. Her designs circulate; her commands direct. With the extent of the work, it's not a surprise to occasionally find her taking a clandestine cigar behind warehouses."
  21. ↑ Meet the delegation (Tortoise Clan), Fallen London "Competition within competition seems the order of the day, with each representative tasked with his or her own design. This competition, too, needs a judge, whom you find stalking the bays, ledger in hand and a frown on his face. The Methodical Sage sighs as he sees you. "They either go fast, or they are buoyant. I must leave further instruction; we are to race on the water, not under it.""
  22. ↑ Deliberate with the judges, Fallen London "The judging panel is small but represents a diversity of lands – a mix of Londoners and representatives from various islands across the Unterzee. There's a delegate from Mutton Island, the Hooded Woman, who gives you a filthy chuckle from beneath her cowl. A cavy-knight from Pigmote, bristling with indignation. The judge from Irem has yet to arrive. And there is another absence: the head judge. But still, you offer little nudges – a compliment here, a suggestion that you know a secret there."
  23. ↑ Approach the source of the ominous humming, Fallen London "Across the work bays, engineers race towards the source of the noise: a closed bay in the Eagle's shipyard. At the same time, Eagle scholars, attended by members of the White-and-Gold, rush in the opposite direction. You arrive just as the whole yard is illuminated in an electric blue, and then the explosion carries you almost to the river. When you regain consciousness, your eyes open onto darkness. There is a dreadful ringing in your ears: all noise is a distant incessant hum. As your eyes adjust, you can make out the source of the explosion: a vast device, shuddering to a halt. It sits smoking in the Eagle's bay, the doors blown clean away and the sheets covering it merely smouldering ashes. You can make out the Diplomat-Engineer remonstrating furiously with the judging panel just as the medical staff arrive to attend to the blood in your ears. Already the Constables are here, closing the doors and carrying away the confiscated remnants of the machine."
  24. ↑ What has come of the investigation into the Eagle Clan?, Fallen London "Huffam's pile of papers on the subject is large, and threatening to topple. "It seems they're of the opinion that the Labyrinth is the shelter of something Parabolan in origin. Plausible, if you ask me. Although, knowing the tigers, it could equally be something dreadful from the Continent." He pauses to wipe ink off his fingers. "That contraption that they built during the tournament – some kind of light. Effective against dreams. I don't pretend to follow the science.""
  25. ↑ Watch the race, Fallen London "But it is the Sanatoria's dread trireme, pale banners aloft like thunderclouds ahead, that takes the lead. Captained by the Cackling Mechanic, who, true to form, stands at the bow and roars, the wheels of the boat unfold to gasps from the crowd. The triple array of oars sweep the banks while the great chariot wheel rolls under, powering the boat via the water flowing through ambulant mills. That they crush all that impedes the ship's progress in the water is a happy accident. There are cheers from train and carriage as the procession wends its way to Wolfstack, and victory."
  26. ↑ A Tournament of the Imagination, Fallen London "A Neoclassical amphitheatre has been hastily constructed on a vacant lot in Veilgarden. For the time being, it is an open-air studio, where the tournament's competitors have organised into sections. Paints are being brought in by the bucketful, and Bazaarine literature by the cartload."
  27. ↑ Meet the delegation from the Republic, Fallen London "The one in charge of organising the performance is a Bespectacled Choreographer – a small man with huge eyes and a circumspect demeanour. He happily regales you with a precis on the 'quaturva' dance they intend to perform: it was rediscovered in 1841 by the great Kolomanian Romantic poet Ludwig van der Caligari-Mastroiani, whose tireless work in reviving the proud and antique Kolomanian culture extended through many years of visiting remote villages in the Kolomanian mountains and extricating their dances, traditional dress, agricultural practices, beloved family recipes, folk tales, and crafts."
  28. ↑ Meet the delegation from the Court (Imagination), Fallen London "But the real action surrounds the Pantherine Impressionist, who is hard at work on the vast canvas. She holds the brush with her mouth and draws in sweeping arcs. The remaining tigers seem to be here to assist, or advise."
  29. ↑ Meet the delegation from the Eagle, Fallen London "Sculpture – both as a decorative craft and as high art – has been chosen as the medium for the Khaganians' submission to the tournament. The delegation here is actually led by an Irascible Architect, who goes through tea almost as fast as he goes through pencils. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a larger-than-life sized statue of an eagle, being attended to by its own brigade of expert sculptors."
  30. ↑ A Tournament of the Imagination: Aiding the Bohemians, Fallen London "In their corner of the amphitheatre, the Bohemians have flown an actual flag. It depicts a viric-tinged lizard above the words "Planetary Society for the Advancement of the Arts." They have begun to rehearse a play, which seems to mostly involve a lot of languid conversation and a slow but steady flow of wine."
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Watch the judging, Fallen London "In the end, the judges award victory to the coalition of Bohemians – the 'Cosmic Unity for the Progression of Aesthetics', whose name has changed in the last hour. Against all odds, every element of their work – the painted backdrops, the intricate costumes, the writing, the performance – perfectly meshes to form an explosive form of pure theatre."
  32. ↑ Pursue the attention of the head judge, Fallen London "The Captivating Princess presides over the other judges like – well, like a monarch."
  33. ↑ Witness an argument, Fallen London "By the time the Lord of Inks and the Striped Officiant leave the amphitheatre, she has painted over a ragged swathe of almost-finished masterwork with white primer. The sketch she scribbles in its place is not nearly so intricate, or accomplished."
  34. ↑ What are these tigers up to?, Fallen London "Huffam's brow furrows into familiar and well-worn creases. "Well, there's the rub. The 'what' of it is clear enough. They aren't trying to win – actively working against it! As it's important for them to appear as though they're taking part, while handily losing. Seems they've never tried to win, even when this has happened before." He looks up, straining to reach a scrap of paper on the other end of his desk. "Yes, that's another curious thing. Seems all this has happened before – the Sixth Coil opening, that is. People entering, et cetera." It takes him a moment to return from the tangent. "Like I said, the 'what' is clear. But the 'why'? I'll be d__ned." He clicks his fingers, and a sub-editor brings over another pot of tea. "Whatever is happening here is important enough to send over a hunting party of dignitaries. But they only want to supervise, and they don't want us to know it.""
  35. ↑ A Tournament of the Intellect, Fallen London "A grand pavilion rises like a mushroom over Spite. The site of an abandoned opera house has been commandeered as the stage for the most pretentiously titled of the tourneys. Here, amidst sighing silk ceilings and lavishly ornamented chambers, the great game will be played. The only difficulty is that no competitor seems able to agree on the exact rules: each team has brought its own variation of chess. Still, someone will surely work things out."
  36. ↑ Have a chat with the judges (Intellect), Fallen London "The judging panel is large and varied – a mix of Londoners and foreigners. There's a delegate from Visage, wearing a long-beaked ibis mask. There's a former governor of Port Carnelian, perpetually swirling a shiraz. You offer little nudges – a compliment here, a suggestion that you know a secret there."
  37. ↑ Investigate a commotion, Fallen London ""You should have thrown the match before. I know your orders. You were not to face me," the Polymath says in English, switching as if to involve the crowd in the disagreement. "You thought that I would not be on guard because of last night? You will not outplay me as you did in Vienna." He turns to the judges, retrieving a blocky device – similar to a corresponding sounder – from his pocket. "These receive orders from the Surface. She has one, too. Check her skirts." He leans back, staring only at his opponent."
  38. ↑ What's the story with the Koloman Republic?, Fallen London "Huffam sits in the midst of an ever-growing labyrinth of paper and empty teacups. He rubs his brows, as if fending off a headache. "Not a country at all, are they?" He slaps his notes with the back of his hand for emphasis. "Spies, all of them. Or 'incognito diplomats'. Vienna, Paris, who knows where else. Would have seen through it immediately if my head were screwed on straight. Thank goodness for a lover's quarrel, eh?" A landslide of paper temporarily obscures the old man from view. "What I don't understand is why they're here. Their intelligence about the Coil's contents is all over the place! It can't be sold; it's shameful, or imprisoned; it's just another tiger."
  39. ↑ Watch the final matches, Fallen London "The Patient Mastermind stands, their coat damp with perspiration. The smile on their face begins to fade as the truth of their victory sinks in."
  40. ↑ A Tournament of the Body, Fallen London "A tourney of blade and blood and bone, of besting others in the opening of opponents. It is to be held in the new football grounds, near Bugsby's Marshes. Wits quip that the venue has been chosen to best conceal the corpses in the soft marshy earth. The judges say death must be performed with honour: true skill lies in mastery over bloodlust as well as the blade."
  41. ↑ Have a chat with the judges (Intellect), Fallen London "The panel comprises of a curious mix: the Dilmun Club, with the golden apples of their club pinned to their lapels, and the Black-Ribbon, each bearing their own armament of death. Already there is debate – is the manner of death more important than the last moments of life that led to it? No one here seems to be an authority on honour. Someone has brought a chivalric manual, which is being soundly ignored."
  42. ↑ Witness a duel, Fallen London "The Whispering Duellist murmurs something as she unsheathes a dagger from her bandages. She presses a jade-beaded necklace to her lips for a moment, before grasping the hilt of her second blade. The Eagles' second, a Lacquered Lieutenant, parries adroitly, slicing away one dagger with his own, the curve turning to reach the second. But she drops low, has one dagger in his thigh, and as his blood gouts into the sand, retrieves the first and sticks it in his throat. Again. Again. And again. Again — Feducci races into the arena, pulling her away from the remnants of her opponent before she can strike true death. She whispers something to him, about the coil, about her need, about torments beyond death. Feducci is impassable: he drags her away."
  43. ↑ What motivates the delegation from the Grand Sanatoria?, Fallen London "Huffam looks grave. "I always had a hunch, but I didn't think it would be this serious. It seems those who enter the Sixth Coil do not come back out again." He frowns, and cross-references three other pieces of paper. "But nor do they die. I would scarce believe it, except we have the eyewitness accounts – that Duellist. You know, the quiet one." He lifts a teacup, only to find it empty. He stares into the dregs for a long while. "All of which would rather suggest that the previous entrants to the Coil are all still down there. With... it. The treasure. The tiger? And now we're getting reports that it's a serpent, too.""
  44. ↑ Watch the proceedings, Fallen London "In the end, the judges award victory to the soldiers of Skite. The Weeping Mercenary stands alone, their blood mingled with their enemies, their open wounds now filled with the lifespill of others. In each duel, they almost fell, seeming to succumb to their wounds. But, at the very last, they always rose again, taking out their less wounded opponent with their final strength. For such valour – in facing two enemies in each bout, their opposition and Death – they are accorded all honour. The name of Skite has never been thundered so loud in London – until now."
  45. ↑ The Uncertain Gulf Between Inconvenience and Danger, Fallen London "—a vibration shudders up through your feet. Your knees bend. The ground groans, and the groan travels. Through wood and metal, into the skeleton of the grand amphitheatre. A crack shudders across the mosaiced arena floor, and a section of seating collapses inwards. This time, the tremor does not stop."
  46. ↑ Through Coil and Cage, Fallen London "The tremors stop. Dust hangs in the air, muffling shouts and the uneasy settling of the fallen stands. Around you, the noises speak more of confusion and alarm than pain; the amphitheatre was almost empty when the tremor hit."
  47. ↑ Striped; Barred; Banded Together, Fallen London ""Upon my authority. Get out." The Striped Officiant surveys you, as if looking for someone in particular. You look around too. Where, in all this, is the Tiger Keeper?"
  48. ↑ Read the front page (Good Graces), Fallen London "'The Gazette can report this morning, after an extraordinary effort of international journalism, the truth of the Labyrinth's oft-touted Sixth Coil.' [...] The Sixth Coil does not contain treasures, but [...] A union of enemies, royal tiger and serpent-of-the-glass [...] It requires sacrifice. And so [...] tributes are offered to the glass: the victors of the Coilheart Games."
  49. ↑ Striped Shames, Fallen London "The assembled delegates and Coilheart victors nod and jeer. You have been here for almost an hour, now, and it keeps coming back to this. The look on the Striped Officiant's face when your group had barged into the Labyrinth – utter weariness and defeat – forestalled most of the violence, but to call relations strained would be a monumental understatement."
  50. ↑ Present a pertinent detail, Fallen London "The Striped Officiant's face falls in shock, jowls exposing the black of his maw. This, it seems, was not known to him – a new horror, piled atop old guilts. "Truly?" He reaches for a copy of the Gazette, perusing it with ever-greater dismay. "But... It has been so long. I do not mean to be callous, but 'not dead' does not always mean ali—""
  51. ↑ Unease and Humbled Pleas, Fallen London "It is on behalf of The Prince of the Smoking Shore and Duke of all the Isles, Archipelagos and Peninsulae that were once the Sovereignty of the Humbled Satraps that I now beg for your aid. For all the Neath's aid." The Officiant sits up, then leans forward, paws outstretched, prostrating himself before you all. "Help us contain the Keeper, and the Seventh Coil."
  52. ↑ Consider navigating the Sixth Coil, Fallen London "The Striped Officiant looks grave. "It is not called a labyrinth for nothing. The prison we now call the Sixth Coil was built by the very first Stained Tigers of an ancient Prince to be disorienting, an ever-changing trap. The warriors we have sent within have not returned. But it will nevertheless need to be explored and mapped, to locate the Keeper and the Seventh Coil within its depths.""
  53. ↑ Consider the obstacles facing a rescue, Fallen London "Everybody listens closely when the Officiant is on this subject. "If the Tributes remain alive, as you say, then they will be enmeshed. Either within the defences of the prison itself, or tangled in the grasp of the Seventh Coil." He scratches behind his ear. "They say that the Seventh Coil spoke to its old minsters, and filled their minds with silver. Those who rejected him, he robbed of their shapes." The tiger shudders, a long movement from skull to tail. "We will need a means of cleansing outside influence – the influence of Parabola.""
  54. ↑ Listen to the plan, Fallen London "Thanks to your efforts, we've mapped a route through the Sixth Coil to the cell at its heart. We're treating the route with fixative now – it should remain stable for long enough to get you there." The Striped Officiant steps back to allow the Cackling Mechanic and the Patient Mastermind the floor. You notice that the tiger has the vibrant gunk all over his own paws; he has clearly been getting stuck in. The Patient Mastermind pushes forward five tangles of wires and bulbs, each about the size of a side table. "Once we're at the heart, this is how we'll free the Tributes and fend off the Seventh Coil," the Cackling Mechanic says. "Arrays of xanthous bulbs, all connected to a single sounder pair fitted with a contingency measure. Let go of the button, and let there be light." You note that nobody calls it a 'dead man's switch' this time. "We hope—" The Patient Mastermind coughs. The Cackling Mechanic pauses. "Yes. We are extremely confident that flooding the cell with this light will this will weaken the Seventh Coil's influence, providing the imprisoned Tributes with an opportunity to flee." The Weeping Mercenary steps forward. "Which is where I come in. I'll protect them, and get as many people as possible towards the exit." "Now, the light arrays won't last long. They draw a tremendous amount of power, and we can't bring in any bigger generators. So it'll need to be quick." The Bohemian Sculptress is serious. "Once we're all out, we'll seal the door. I've been working with the Officiant to refine a binding sigil. It'll hold."
  55. ↑ The Keeper and the Coil, Fallen London "Words from the deep shadows halt your approach. "Please – my lord. My love." The Tiger Keeper's throaty voice is plaintive. "We must go. Your court takes too long to gather, and our time is short.""
  56. ↑ Remain hidden, Fallen London "Escape is your notion. You push past a pillar-tree of gold-veined marble to see the Tiger Keeper, enthroned beside the enormous eye of the Seventh Coil. Before him, kneeling in strictly regimented rows, a crowd press their forelocks to the silver-veined undergrowth. We are not trapped. We are contemplative. A low hiss-roar, and something distant cracks and breaks. Is our company not enough for you, now that you behold us in the true?"
  57. ↑ The Keeper and the Coil, Fallen London "But not you. You came of your own will, dear consort. At last, at last, the Seventh Coil's face emerges from the shadow. Scaled and furred and behemoth, dipped to touch the Tiger Keeper's forehead. Together, we will bathe in eternity."
  58. ↑ Prowl as a tiger prowls, Fallen London "Is, and Not, and always, and never. We will become you as once we became each other. The Seventh Coil and the Tiger Keeper barely look away from each other, the Keeper entranced atop his throne, and the Coil hauling ever more of its body out from the shadows."
  59. ↑ The Shock of Noon After an Age of Night, Fallen London "There is light. Searing and harsh, brilliant questing fingers of it. The faceted jungles fade beneath the tide of law emanating from the Xanthous Arrays. Shadows flee. Beneath them all are flat, silvered planes – like a house of mirrors, or the inside of the diamond. The Seventh Coil hisses, rearing, retracting from the blazing light. The Patient Mastermind cries in triumph – behind you, the silver burns out of the eyes of the assembled crowds of tribute. Your analogues from city's past blink control back into their eyes."
  60. ↑ Sprint to your allies, Fallen London "Its coils retract once more to the darkness, looping around the injured Keeper. With the Mechanic at your side, you sprint the final few metres to the great double doors."
  61. ↑ Locking the Door Behind You, Fallen London "And the last bulbs in the Xanthous Arrays gutter and pop, the generators spent, you tumble through the great golden doorways to the Seventh Coil's hidden cell, the Cackling Mechanic at your side. You are the last through – the vestibule crowds with awakened tributes."
  62. ↑ Approach the Banded Prince's dais, Fallen London "The Banded Prince greets you one at a time, by name. The Cackling Mechanic. The Bohemian Sculptress. The Patient Mastermind. The Weeping Mercenary. You. He speaks plainly. He does not ask you to kneel."
  63. ↑ Catch the eye of the Striped Officiant, Fallen London "He nods, long and slow, at your greeting. "It's 'Ambassador', now, actually." There is amusement in his voice, mixed with that familiar weariness. "Or 'Keeper', if you prefer. His Majesty requires that the posting here be filled, and deemed me most qualified." A chuff of resignation. "I am to oversee the Sixth Coil, and monitor the seals within, to prevent the need for such dishonour as has plagued us until now.""
  64. ↑ Mr Huffam's unpublished exposé, Fallen London "The Banded Prince and the Traitor Empress may have placed an injunction upon the Gazette, but you doubt Huffam will rest there. There's more than one way to break a story."
  65. ↑ Bask in the peace, Fallen London "Outside, the lights and sounds of London play out their typical dramas. A few more ships set zail from Wolfstack. More visitors leave, or melt into the shadows of the Fifth City until they're no longer visitors at all. After the light and clamour of the Coilheart Games, it looks almost as if nothing has changed."
  66. ↑ Entering the Sixth Coil, Fallen London "The Tiger Keeper, torchlight glittering off his circlet, pads back and forth before the Sixth Coil's doors. The tigers have not been able to push them back closed; the previous Keeper's left their sealing mechanisms spent and fractured. "We will need to be doubly vigilant, now. With the outer doors open..." He shrugs, a ripple of muscle. "I have set up patrols within. To chart the depths, and ensure that the inner sanctum remains sealed." His tail hangs low. "We would welcome any aid you would offer." A twitch of the whiskers. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know where the rest of the other fellow's tobacco stash was, would you?""
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