The Parabolan Panther

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"In London she's a slim torbie with a preference for mackerel. But behind the mirrors she is sleek and dark as wood-smoke, and final as arsenic."[1]

The Parabolan Panther is a disgraced feline noble. She appears in the real world as a torbie cat with a damaged ear,[2] but in Parabola, she is a sleek black panther.[3] She moves between London and the world of dreams with uncanny ease, and her knowledge of Parabola is extensive; she knows where the mirrors lead and how to go through them.[4] She is not above using the methods of the Fingerkings[5] or other unconventional means[6] to traverse Parabola.

Once, the Panther was the Marchioness of the Falling Sky Desert.[7] She waged dream-wars against the Fingerkings alongside her fellow "Marcher-lords" (possibly nobles of the Mirror-Marches). In a battle at the Dome of Scales, she was nearly killed by a falling column, but was rescued by one of the enemy[8] — likely the Ophidian Gentleman, as he shows a lingering but unrequited affection for her.[9] This act of mercy caused her fellow cats to doubt her loyalties. The Panther was accused of treason, stripped of her rank, and "banished from her own dreams," and she indicates that the Duchess may have had a hand in the punishment.[10]

Before her exile, the Parabolan Panther met a leopard[11] during battle after saving him from the Ophidian Gentleman;[12] her mate's full title is Minister Plenipotentiary of the Seven Dead Cities.[13] Their affair was already scandalous due to a large difference in rank, and became even more so after the Panther fell into disrepute.[13] Regardless, she continues to search for her mate in Parabola, checking memorial inscriptions to ensure he has not fallen in battle.[14]

The Parabolan Panther is the sister of the tiger-count[15] who had an affair with the Lady in Lilac and sired Maybe's Daughter.[16] This makes her Maybe's Daughter's aunt. (Or perhaps Maybe's Daughter's Father's Sister?)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London
  2. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "The tortoiseshell-tabby with the ragged ear has a favour to ask. 'I must visit the other place. However, due to my present circumstances I'm forced to use the back way in. And for that, I need you."
  3. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "In London she's a slim torbie with a preference for mackerel. But behind the mirrors she is sleek and dark as wood-smoke, and final as arsenic."
  4. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London ""This is the one. In we go. Chop chop." You reach out a hand. The surface yields like butter. As you push through, the cat tangles between your feet. You stumble into an abrupt, moist heat. Sleepy green light washes over you. Trees rise on every side. Jungle ferns unfold their waxy leaves."
  5. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "She looks around thoroughly, paying particular attention to the chimneys and window-sills. "If my honourable peers caught me using our enemies' tricks... Well. It would be unfortunate.""
  6. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "Your companion twitches her whiskers as if she's about to do something distasteful. She nudges you towards the surface of the shield. Together, you pass through it. There is a reeling, vertiginous sensation. [...] A heavy jungle heat replaces the Neath's comfortable chill. The park's solemn meres are gone, and hulking trees rise around you."
  7. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "Before her exile she was the Marchioness of the Falling Sky Desert. He is the Minister Plenipotentiary for the Seven Dead Cities (a very lowly position in the grandiose peerage of cats). Even before her disgrace their relationship was a scandal. They met during the battle of the Smoking Shore, where he earned his limp and she saved him from an Ophidian Gentleman."
  8. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "We fought them here, you know," your panther tells you, conversationally. "Myself and the other Marcher-lords. I got pinned under this column when it fell. It would have been the end of me, but an enemy showed an uncharacteristic moment of weakness."
  9. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London ""There is no need for violence, Marchioness. I only came here to tell you that I missed you." He leaves."
  10. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "You pole your way across the lake as the panther trails a dreamy paw in the water and tells you of her exile. How she was accused of consorting with the enemy, stripped of her titles and banished from her own dreams. "The Duchess' justice is not kind," she murmurs."
  11. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "A sinewy leopard"
  12. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "They met during the battle of the Smoking Shore, where he earned his limp and she saved him from an Ophidian Gentleman."
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "Before her exile she was the Marchioness of the Falling Sky Desert. He is the Minister Plenipotentiary for the Seven Dead Cities (a very lowly position in the grandiose peerage of cats). Even before her disgrace their relationship was a scandal."
  14. ↑ Parabolan Panther, Fallen London "The statue is covered in names and titles. Most are old, but some are freshly engraved. It's these your panther pays close attention to. "He's not there," she says, with relief. "Good. Good. Let's go home, shall we?""
  15. ↑ Invite her to dine with you, Sunless Sea "(I know my father. I'm a countess on his side, actually.)"
  16. ↑ Speak with the tiger, Sunless Sea "I understand you've become involved in my daughter's intrigues. (And my sister's. Is she really serving as a mascot?)"
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