Mount Palmerston
"Sullen lights glow green at the jetty's edge. Behind the port buildings, the island is is knee-deep in ash. There are ruins here and there, of houses destroyed by fire. Far above, the mountain's top flickers red: just for an instant."[1]
Mount Palmerston is a large volcanic island to the north of the Unterzee.
A Hell Away From Home[edit | edit source]
"Brimstone. Always brimstone."[2]
Mt Palmerston is a sparsely populated volcanic island whose landscape is largely marked by burned ruins.[3] Many farmers have attempted to settle here, but their ventures were ended by past eruptions that scorched their fields[4] and left the ground covered in a thick layer of ash.[3] The island bears traces of ventures other than failed settlements: for instance, a ruin containing graffiti of the Dawn Machine written in a language of Hell, and an ossuary containing a bent cross carved of bone.[5] There is also a hidden oasis, full of unnatural trees covered in strange fungi[6] — and aquatic monstrosities that no wise zailor should meet head-on.[7] The waters near Palmerston are prowled by Faustic Corsairs, a unique brand of corsair ship only found near this location.[8] Little else is known about these vessels, their crews, or their employers, but the name implies the influence of devils.
The soul trade has a strong foothold at Palmerston, with mysterious hooded figures serving as contacts for smugglers.[9] One such character is the Buzzing Beggar, who despite its title does pay for smuggled souls.[10]
The Brimstone Convention[edit | edit source]
"There was a revolution in Hell: and the aristocracy of devils fled here. Here, they plot in exile."[11]
"You bend your head closer. Closer. You feel the sounds tingling in your teeth and bones now. You can make out words: Judgements. Dream. Zalt. Alliance. Ecstasy. The sound overcomes you, and your vision blurs to red and grey."[12]
Centuries ago, Hell underwent a Season of Revolutions, in which it overthrew its princes. The aristocrats on the losing side took up shelter at Mt Palmerston, where they formed the Brimstone Convention. They reside near the summit of the island and rarely interfere with the port below,[13] but their droning - like billions of bees - permeates through the mountain's upper slopes, loud enough to rattle a person's teeth from their skull.[14] It is not known whether the Convention's membership currently includes Grand Devils; it is confirmed that at least one prince of Hell resided here at some point,[15] but according to a Marigold Knight, the Convention believes all of Hell's former princes are slain.[16] Either way, the Brass Embassy is hellbent on hunting down these renegades, and will pay large indulgences for information.[17] In turn, the Palmerston exiles are plotting their own counter-revolution; while their plans appear desperate and impractical,[18] they may involve Parabola, the Judgements, Salt, and perhaps even an alliance with any one of these influential powers.[19]
A certain Wistful Deviless resides in a cozy cottage near Palmerston, acting as a guardian of the crater.[20] Despite her station, she misses Hell, and seeks to feed intelligence about the Convention to the Brass Embassy so that they may allow her return.[21]
Historical and Cultural Inspirations[edit | edit source]
Many real-life locations called "Palmerston" existed throughout history, named after the famous Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston. Temple was the Prime Minister of the UK from 1859-1865, and had a long and famed career as a politician throughout the Victorian Era; due to his reputation, diplomacy, and political activity, explorers named many sites after him. One such site is the Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands of Polynesia, a chain of 15 small islands which in fact rest on top of a volcano.[22] Of these islands, the island of Palmerston is the only one currently populated.[23]
References[edit | edit source]
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