The Cave of the Nadir

"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. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.

"This then is the Cave of the Nadir: aswim with auroral light, filled with a deep silence that makes the Forgotten Quarter seem like Spite on market-day."

The gate of the Nadir.

The Cave of the Nadir, accessible via the Forgotten Quarter, is bathed in irrigo.

Who...Where are You?

Despite this Neathy color's tendency to make people forget, this cave filled with it has a surprising number of residents. It's a wonderful place to survive the fall of a city. However, irrigo has drawbacks: other than memory loss, it can make those exposed to it grow bony plates over their eyes. These people eventually die, and yield the infamous Eyeless Skulls. It is assumed that this is because the human body reflexively tries to shield itself from irrigo. These horrific skulls are still bloated with irrigo, and holding on to them for too long may cause adverse side-effects. 

The cave is sought out by quite a few of London's factions, especially the Revolutionaries, and they will pay very handsomely for its location.

QUEEN OF INKS

"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.

"I was given up, you know. I am that part of her that does not remain. That part that never learnt to love a monster."

"I could try to tell you the way, but it can't be told, only shown. I don't recommend it. It's not safe. I've only replaced one set of dangers with another."

This candle is red, red, red as hearts.

Millicent Clathermont, alias the Lady in Lilac, descended into the Nadir and sacrificed much of herself in order to be infused with irrigo. This made her immune to the deadly effects of sunlight on ordinary residents of the Neath, and also immune to being found because anybody who sees her will forget her once she's gone.

The part of her that she sacrificed is still in the Nadir, and she guards a blood-red candle. If a Seeker takes the candle, Lilac insists in coming with them, noting that the Nadir has reduced her to nothing but the candle's guardian, and without it she would be nothing at all. So for the rest of the torturous journey, she accompanies the Seeker, making parenthetical comments.

The Nadir's Purpose

"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.

"Are you quite sure you want to know this?" Beyond this point lie major spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, or Mask of the Rose. This may include endgame or major Fate-locked spoilers. Proceed at your own risk. You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.

"The Seven Treacheries guard the Neath, but there is one place more closely guarded still: a place the Masters can't touch, a place the Bazaar can't see, a place beneath St Cerise's well. This is [a] wound of which Cerise's redness is only a shadow. The place where hearts go. The Nadir."

The Cave of the Nadir is what protects the Neath from the wrath of the Judgements, as they too are vulnerable to irrigo. Hence why the Revolutionaries are seeking it out, to hasten the Bazaar's end.

(Thank you to Lapis on the FBG Discord for help with this page!)