Bullbone Island

From The Fifth City Wiki

"Fragments of bone mix with the shingle at the shore. Others poke out from tide pools and little caves. Most of the bones are from cattle, you think. Drowned, most likely. Most are from around the Fall, but a few smooth pieces are much older. There are no cattle on the island now."[1]

Bullbone Island is an uninhabited island in the Unterzee near London.[2] It is named after the bones and fossils that cover the shoreline, most of which are from drowned cattle, while some come from deceased humans.[3] The island is minimally visited and the only known people here are exiles from London,[4][5] though ancient writings from the First City have been found as well.[6] A few animals make their homes here: groups of weasels roam about to feast on Phosphorescent Scarabs,[7] and wild Lamplighter Bees build hives.[8]

A mandrake, a root-like creature with a face.
A mandrake.

Bullbone's most notable feature is its forest of enormous mandrakes. These mandrakes are so large they resemble trees,[9] and their teeth-filled maws make disturbing them a risky proposition.[10] Like most mandrakes, they scream loud enough they apparently shake glim loose from the roof,[11][12] though they also produce a humming that reverberates throughout the soil,[13] as well as roars, curses, and even laughter.[14] Strange, whispered voices may also emanate throughout Bullbone with no apparent source; these may come from underwater mandrake groves, though their sounds do not disturb the water's surface.[15]

Historical and Cultural Inspirations[edit | edit source]

Bullbone Island may have some connection to the Bull of Heaven, a divine beast from the Epic of Gilgamesh who was defeated by the titular king and Enkidu. This is supported by the presence of First City writings on the island; the First City borrows many elements from the Epic.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The bones of Bullbone, Fallen London
  2. ↑ Destination: Bullbone Island, Fallen London "A largely deserted island near London [...]"
  3. ↑ The bones of Bullbone, Fallen London "Fragments of bone mix with the shingle at the shore. [...] Most of the bones are from cattle, you think. Drowned, most likely. Most are from around the Fall, but a few smooth pieces are much older. [...] A few of these bones are human, [...]"
  4. ↑ Bullbone Island 1, Fallen London "Steamers keeping a regular schedule don't stop at Bullbone Island. Barely anyone lives here."
  5. ↑ Someone lives near the mandrake-copse, Fallen London "You spot a top hat moving through the undergrowth. [...] He chose to exile himself when he discovered a secret of the royal family."
  6. ↑ Oho - a little writing, Fallen London "You can't make out what it says, but this is definitely First City writing."
  7. ↑ Weasels about, Fallen London "The weasels have been attracted by a population of skittering beetles. The little darlings have been feasting on bugs for some time – there's a pile of glowing discarded shell fragments for the taking."
  8. ↑ Wild bees, Fallen London "There are a few hives of wild lamplighter bees scattered around Bullbone Island."
  9. ↑ Where the Wild Mandrakes Grow, Fallen London "Up at the centre of Bullbone Island grows a circle of bottle-green trees. Only they're not trees. They're mandrakes."
  10. ↑ Creaking in the breeze, Fallen London "They've heard you. A toothy maw slowly splits a trunk open. Run!"
  11. ↑ Sparkling around the Copse, Fallen London "The ground sparkles around the great mandrake trunks. There's glim here. Perhaps the mandrakes' screams rattled it loose."
  12. ↑ Spiritual happenings, Fallen London "The mandrakes' screeches echo from their copse at night."
  13. ↑ Creaking in the breeze, Fallen London "You hear no screams and no singing. But there's a humming, of sorts. Something that reminds you of the depths of the earth below your feet."
  14. ↑ Creeping closer, Fallen London "Mandrakes are known to scream. [...] you hear them roar and curse and laugh."
  15. ↑ Search the island, Fallen London "Whispering voices rise and swirl [...] You can't see anything that could possibly cause the sounds. The water around the island is still, [...] something stirs beneath the water, but no ripples disturb the surface. [...] It looks like an underwater mandrake grove, leaves moving as if a gentle breeze were blowing. They must be stirring in a current – but how, then, is the surface so still?"
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