Editing Balmoral

{{spoiler}}
{{Neath_Location|image1=BalmoralFL.png|caption1=|location=[[The Hinterlands]]|allegiance=[[The Empress]]|notable_inhabitants=[[September]]<br>
[[The Clay Highwayman]]<br>
[[The Marigold Menagerie Keeper]]|title1=Balmoral}}<blockquote>''"A towering manse, dappled with dead ivy, crowned with turrets and a sturdy keep. The castle was built for the Empress and the Consort before London fell. When it did, due to legal entanglements, Balmoral fell with it."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Balmoral_Castle|Balmoral Castle|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>

'''Balmoral''' is a royal estate located in the [[Hinterlands]]. It is the fourth station of the [[Great Hellbound Railway]].__forcetoc__

==Her Majesty's Other Castle==
<blockquote>''"It is Her Enduring Majesty's Scottish holding, brought down in the Fall with the rest of her personal possessions."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Enter_Balmoral|Enter Balmoral|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>
[[File:FL Victoria.png|alt=Queen Victoria|thumb|[[The Empress]]]]
Balmoral was originally built in Scotland on the [[Surface]]. It was considered part of the [[The Empress|Empress']] holdings, so it fell alongside [[London]] during the [[The Fall of London|Fall]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Enter_Balmoral|Enter Balmoral|Fallen London|}} ''"It is Her [...] Majesty's Scottish holding, brought down in the Fall [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Balmoral_Castle|Balmoral Castle|Fallen London|}} ''"The castle was built for the Empress [...] London fell. [...] due to legal entanglements, Balmoral fell with it."''</ref> The castle itself is currently closed to the public.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Knock_2|Knock 2|Fallen London|}} ''""Go 'way. Unless ye have the Empress' seal, I'll no' admit ye." [...] He slams the gate shut."''</ref> Within its kitchen is a dumbwaiter (freight elevator), which by some anomaly leads all the way up to the Surface.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Dumbwaiter_of_Balmoral|The Dumbwaiter of Balmoral|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the Balmoral kitchen dumbwaiters connect [...] to a modest-sized townhouse in Edinburgh."''</ref> This device is used to smuggle goods both in and out of Balmoral, such as Surface flowers<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Intercept_a_shipment|Intercept a shipment|Fallen London|}}</ref> or [[The Neath|Neathy]] treasures.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Send_up_some_Tinned_Ham|Send up some Tinned Ham|Fallen London|}}</ref>

A group of painters work out of a distillery<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Visit_the_Distillery|Visit the Distillery|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] artists [...] paint using the abandoned distillery as their studio."''</ref> at '''Crathie''', a town near Balmoral.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Crathie|Crathie|Fallen London|}}</ref> They provide the [[Shuttered Palace]] with artwork of Balmoral,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_to_the_Stiff-Backed_Critic|Speak to the Stiff-Backed Critic|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the works [...] all go direct to the Palace. [...] "The Palace [...] wants [...] artists to provide Her Majesty with landscapes of Balmoral [...]"''</ref> but only as the Empress "wishes to remember it."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Undertake_a_commission|Undertake a commission|Fallen London|}} ''"The Palace requests landscapes depicting Balmoral as Her [...] Majesty wishes to remember it."''</ref>'' Not all of Crathie's Scottish residents are particularly satisfied with the Empress, however; there is a dialect spoken in the town where invocations of specifically English customs like tea and scones are considered terribly rude and inviting of punishment.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Practise_the_Unspoken_Languages|Practise the Unspoken Languages|Fallen London|}} ''"There is a specific dialect of English spoken only at Crathie where the more English the word, the worse its invocation. To speak of tea and scones in that place is to invite a swift drubbing and then trussing up in the woods for the not-deer to find."''</ref> 

The [[The Clay Highwayman|Clay Highwayman]] and his gang have a hideout within Balmoral's woods.''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Discovered:_The_Clay_Highwayman%27s_Hideout|Discovered: The Clay Highwayman's Hideout|Fallen London|}}</ref>''

===The Kirk of the Septemberists===
<blockquote>''"The Old Kirk is the haunt of locals and radicals, gathered among the pews to discuss poetry, philosophy and politics. The congregation comprises many of the old servants of the Empress, cut adrift after the Fall. Some resided in Crathie before the Fall, others arrived later – outcasts and exiles searching for a safe harbour west of London and east of Hell."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Kirk_of_the_Septemberists|The Kirk of the Septemberists|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>
[[File:September.png|alt=A man with red hair and a beard.|thumb|[[September]]]]
The '''Kirk of the Septemberists''' is a gathering of intellectuals at Crathie. Their leader is [[September]] of the [[Calendar Council]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Kirk_of_the_Septemberists|The Kirk of the Septemberists|Fallen London|}} ''"The Old Kirk [...] locals and radicals, gathered [...] to discuss poetry, philosophy and politics. [...] Some resided in Crathie before the Fall, [...] current leader is known as September, [...]"''</ref> and their numbers are predominantly Scottish,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_to_September|Speak to September|Fallen London|}}</ref> consisting of Crathie's old residents and those seeking refuge from [[London]] and [[Hell]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Kirk_of_the_Septemberists|The Kirk of the Septemberists|Fallen London|}} ''"Some resided in Crathie before the Fall, others arrived later [...] searching for a safe harbour west of London and east of Hell."''</ref> The Septemberists organize readings and debates about works of literature, specifically those connected to [[Mr Pages]] and its bureaucracies. They believe that by studying Pages' writings and quirks, they will gain insights on how to thwart its oppression.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Discern_hidden_truths|Discern hidden truths|Fallen London|}} ''"The speakers at the Kirk dissect literature, poetry, scripture and political tracts [...] Each text under discussion was either penned by Mr Pages, or originated from its personal publishing house. [...] in London th' pen is th' sword o' th' Masters. Tae ken th' mynd o' oor enemy, we must study his wurds for their meaning."''</ref>

==The Woods of Balmoral==
{{major spoiler}}
<blockquote>''"Dead and dying pinewoods skirt the boundaries of Balmoral. Despite its state, the woodland remains dense. Eyes watch from the thick undergrowth. Howls come from deep within the wood."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Woods_of_Balmoral|The Woods of Balmoral|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>''"We really did our best, but what with the ocular modifications and the Empress' frankly ridiculous stipulation that 'the woods always be seen in moonlight', things went awry. Still, I'm glad some of them are still alive."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Report_a_sighting_of_a_Fox|Report a sighting of a Fox|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>
[[File:Moonparliament.png|alt=Parliament under moonlight.|thumb|[[The Upstairs]]]]
Dense woods surround Balmoral, though its trees are decrepit and withered.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Woods_of_Balmoral|The Woods of Balmoral|Fallen London|}} ''"Dead and dying pinewoods skirt the boundaries of Balmoral. [...] the woodland remains dense."''</ref> These woods are said to be haunted, and rumored to be a place where travelers can witness their destinies.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Have_a_quiet_word_with_September|Have a quiet word with September|Fallen London|}} ''"They say th' woods are haunted. [...] they say a man might see his destiny in the woods too."''</ref> In truth, they are lit by [[moonlight]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Explore_the_woods|Explore the woods|Fallen London|}} ''"The moon disappears, [...] You search for a [...] cause, [...] uncover a slim cache. [...] once it would have held smuggled moonlight."''</ref> which gives wanderers visions of an alternate reality known as the [[Upstairs]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Consider_the_Moonlight_(45_FATE)|Consider the Moonlight (45 FATE)|Fallen London|}} ''"Moonlight [...] from the Surface [...] give one false memories of a London that never fell."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Wander_the_woods|Wander the woods|Fallen London|}} ''"The moon is gone. You are no longer seeing elsewhere."''</ref> In the Upstairs' timeline, [[September]] was killed by the [[The Empress|Queen's]] regime<ref name = "september listening">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Accompany_September|Accompany September|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] mournful laments for Lost September. [...] September listens [...] He hears his name [...] the long slow starvation in some [...] cell below the Palace. [...] those who came out to the streets in his name and marched north."''</ref> before her overthrow and exile to Balmoral.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Cut_with_Moonlight|Cut with Moonlight|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] screams a curse on Her Exiled Majesty, who cowers at Balmoral."''</ref> To avenge his death,<ref name = "september listening"/> the Septemberists besieged the Queen and her army,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Compel_the_Ghillie_to_extend_your_visit|Compel the Ghillie to extend your visit|Fallen London|}} ''"Her Majesty sieged. [...] Be brave fir our lads in scarlet."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flatter_the_Ghillie_into_extending_your_visit|Flatter the Ghillie into extending your visit|Fallen London|}} ''"She's safe. We'll drive the Septemberists back yet."''</ref> which turned Balmoral's woods into a war zone.<ref name = "wandering">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Wander_the_woods|Wander the woods|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] you encounter a trench. The moon gazes down [...] The bloody bodies of Septemberists hang [...] There has been an ambush [...]"''</ref> While the real woods remain peaceful, the moonlight makes it difficult to distinguish between the two realities.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Wander_the_woods|Wander the woods|Fallen London|}} ''"The moon gazes down on you [...] The bloody bodies of Septemberists hang in the woods [...] There has been an ambush [...] You are walking in a dead woodland [...] The moon is gone. You are no longer seeing elsewhere."''</ref> Some of Balmoral's staff are trapped seeing the Upstairs permanently, including the castle's caretaker who keeps the gates shut,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Knock_2|Knock 2|Fallen London|}} ''"A [...] ancient peers from [...] within. [...] Unless ye have the Empress' seal, I'll no' admit ye." [...] "Must keep the Empress safe from the Septemberists." He slams the gate shut."''</ref> and the '''Devoted Ghillie''' who guards the forest.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Into_the_Moonlit_Woods|Into the Moonlit Woods|Fallen London|}} ''"A Devoted Ghillie [...] guards the woods."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flatter_the_Ghillie_into_extending_your_visit|Flatter the Ghillie into extending your visit|Fallen London|}} ''""She's safe. We'll drive the Septemberists back yet." That they don't seem to be troubling anyone overmuch at present is apparently irrelevant."''</ref> 
[[File:Moon.png|alt=The moon.|thumb|[[The Moon]]]]
The Balmoral's woods are managed by the [[The Marigold Menagerie Keeper|Marigold Menagerie Keeper]] under an agreement between the Empress and [[Hell]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_to_the_Keeper_of_the_Marigold_Menagerie|Speak to the Keeper of the Marigold Menagerie|Fallen London|}} ''"Speak to the Keeper of the Marigold Menagerie [...] She monitors the animals of the wood, under the terms [...] struck between Balmoral and Hell for the upkeep for the forest."''</ref> Per the Empress' demands, the woods were populated with animals such as deer<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Report_a_sighting_of_Red_Deer|Report a sighting of Red Deer|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] creativity was [...] required. Your Queen is a very demanding woman."''</ref> and grouse,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Report_a_sighting_of_Grouse|Report a sighting of Grouse|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] I'm not sure there's [...] much one can do to improve a bird, [...] "But Her Majesty asked that we preserve her stocks."''</ref> albeit biologically modified to suit their environment.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Report_a_sighting_of_a_Fox_2|Report a sighting of a Fox 2|Fallen London|}} ''"The foxes here have been altered by the [...] requirements of the [...] monarch who ordered them."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Report_a_sighting_of_a_Fox|Report a sighting of a Fox|Fallen London|}} ''"We [...] did our best, but what with the ocular modifications and the [...] stipulation that 'the woods [...] in moonlight', things went awry."''</ref> They are now quite monstrous, with alterations like extra beaks,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Track_down_the_Capercaillie|Track down the Capercaillie|Fallen London|}} ''"You [...] catch the flutter of wings [...] Black feathers, [...] seven beaks. The call is distinctive, strangled like a grouse."''</ref> silver eyes,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Track_your_quarry|Track your quarry|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] silver eyes blink in the darkness."''</ref> or a tendency to roar.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Locate_the_source_of_the_roaring|Locate the source of the roaring|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] see deer running. [...] They leap and run, bellowing and roaring."''</ref> However, under moonlight they may appear strangely familiar.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Track_your_quarry|Track your quarry|Fallen London|}} ''"A fox, its fur flaming red, [...] The moon silvers its coat [...] diving into the undergrowth once more. The moonlight begins to fade: a thick, black tail brushes the ground [...] silver eyes blink [...]"''</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:The Hinterlands]]
[[Category:Places]]
[[Category:The Neath]]