Lyme

From The Fifth City Wiki

"After a few attempts at various crafts, Lyme produces a passable pair of crocheted mittens. He's making good progress with a spoon, too. It turns out that Clay Men sometimes ingest mud or gravel. It strengthens them."[1]

Lyme is a Clay Man with a notably taciturn demeanor,[2] even for Clay Men. He began his existence as a carving on a temple wall: a depiction of a Pharaoh’s daughter arriving in Polythreme for the first time. At some point, the carving separated from the stone and took on life, becoming Lyme. He was later relocated to London.[3]

Like all Clay Men, Lyme possesses immense strength,[4] but struggles with tasks requiring fine motor skills.[5] He has been taken in by two Unfinished Men, Jasper and Frank, who refer to themselves as his uncles. The pair are grooming him for a role in their shady enterprises,[6] though Lyme remains inexperienced and a bit awkward.[7] To prepare him, they insist he learn about human customs and manners.[8]

Lyme is largely unfamiliar with many human concepts: social hierarchies, politics, leisure, philosophy, and the like. However, he feels a strong connection to things that still bear the mud of their origins,[9] particularly potatoes.[10] He has also formed an unlikely bond with the Persian,[11] a cat known for her stealth and skill in espionage.[12]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Dexterity, Fallen London
  2. ↑ Take on a Clay Pupil, Fallen London "It's a quiet afternoon. Frank ushers a taciturn Lyme into the empty theatre. "Get a move on," he chivvies. "Yer manners won't learn themselves, will they?" He leaves you and Lyme standing in a pool of dusty gaslight, looking at each other."
  3. ↑ Speak to those who know, Fallen London "They say Polythreme's been here for ever. I dunno about that, but there used to be a carving in a temple of when the first ship turned up here carrying a Pharaoh's daughter. The carving's a Clay Man now, and gone to London. Heard he was getting lessons in language and etiquette. Mebbe he'll be the next Clay Broker."
  4. ↑ Photographer: Lyme, Fallen London "If anyone can carry a sixty-pound camera up five flights of stairs without expiring or even perspiring, it's Lyme. Let's hope he can operate the d__n thing, too."
  5. ↑ Dexterity, Fallen London "Lyme tries hard, but in his huge hands, spoons bend, knitting needles snap and pencils splinter. You haven't dared give him a knife."
  6. ↑ Take on a Clay Pupil, Fallen London "Jasper and Frank introduce him as their 'nephew'. His name's Lyme. He's rough round the edges even for a Clay Man. They want him trained up in human manners, to make him more useful to the 'business'."
  7. ↑ Help her negotiate, Fallen London "Jasper and Frank's 'nephew' Lyme isn't as experienced in the art of extortion as they are. […] You shame him into leaving - and not before he's promised to buy a ticket to see the Sardonic Music-Hall Singer's next performance."
  8. ↑ Educating Lyme, Fallen London "Jasper and Frank want him to understand human manners. Your job is to play Dr Coppermann to Lyme's automaton - fitting, as your lessons are to be held in the empty auditorium at Mahogany Hall."
  9. ↑ A basket but no list, Fallen London "[…] he chooses mushrooms of various types, potatoes, turnips – he has an affinity with things that are still covered in the mud they grew in. [...]"
  10. ↑ A basket but no list, Fallen London "You let Lyme do the choosing at the market. But he keeps buying potatoes. The muddier, the better, as far as he's concerned. When you gently prompt him to consider other vegetables, he just stares at you. […]"
  11. ↑ A real challenge, Fallen London "Lyme doesn't need to catch a cat. He's already friendly with a tabby who goes by the name of the Persian. And she's told him some delightfully useful things. Well, who would have thought? Perhaps young Lyme will be a gifted pupil."
  12. ↑ Consult the Persian, Fallen London "The Persian is a noted authority on matters of stealth and intrusion. Don't let the fact that she's a cat bother you."
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