Editing Penstock

{{Character
|image1 = SS_oldman2gaz.png
|location = Penstock's Land Agency, [[The Echo Bazaar]]
|allegiance = [[The Echo Bazaar]]}}<blockquote>''"He stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner. But that frock-coat is of the finest fabric and the newest cut. “My name is Penstock,” he says."''<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Fallen_London#Interactions|A dusty gentleman|Sunless Sea|}}</ref></blockquote>'''Penstock''' manages Penstock’s Land Agency, a modest office situated on the eastern flank of the [[Bazaar]].<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/A_Visit_to_the_Bazaar#Interactions Go with her, ''Fallen London''] ''"Penstock's Land Agency: a modest office in an immodest location, hard against the eastern flank of the Bazaar - that spired fortress of commerce that towers over London. Penstock stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner, but his eyes are very wise."''</ref> Officially, he inspects, purchases, and sells property.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Memoirs:_Quality_of_Lodgings#Usage Sell your Mansion, Sunless Sea] ''Penstock, the land agent, looks over the Mansion with a gloomy eye. “Roof's going,” he suggests. “But it's a good size, I suppose.”''</ref> But beneath the Agency lies the '''Sundered Sea''': the vast reservoir that serves as the Bazaar’s [[lacre]]-vats.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Sundered_Sea|A Sundered Sea|Fallen London|}}''"Sigils beat in the ceiling of these caverns [...] the lacre spuming below takes the red light and returns it, somehow, as purest white. Distance is difficult to judge, but this space would handily absorb a cathedral or two. It's a second sea, but a divided one. The lacre foams in cells and pits [...]"''</ref> Access to this hidden expanse is granted only through '''Penstock’s Wicket''', an entrance guarded by Penstock himself, leading to the depths below via a ramshackle elevator.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Pass_the_Wicket_and_descend|Pass the Wicket and descend|Fallen London|}}''"'Downstairs' is a redly lit grotto hollowed from the carapace of the Bazaar. A heavily chained cage-lift awaits you at the back. Penstock unlocks it: his hands are trembling."''</ref> 

Penstock wields absolute control over access to the lacre-vats; even other servants of the Bazaar must seek his permission.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Practical_Numismatics Practical Numismatics, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] the Efficient Commissioner […] has filled kegs of lacre, with Penstock's permission. [...]"''</ref><ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Mr_Sacks!_Take_this_pail_of..._snow%3F_2 Mr Sacks! Take this pail of... snow? 2, ''Fallen London''] ''"The lacre is of the quality I might have expected. Yes, indeed. Not generous, but sufficient. […] I shall commend you to Penstock, should that time come." It snares it […]. What's this it's left behind? Since when does Mr Sacks leave gifts?''</ref> In this capacity, he was responsible for facilitating [[Millicent Clathermont]]'s past affairs.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/A_Visit_to_the_Bazaar#Interactions Go with her, ''Fallen London''] ''"There is another sea beneath the Bazaar," Penstock declares. "A paler sea. Yes, I would imagine you might make the bargain your mother made. Yes, I helped her go down there. But she took a terrible chance even then... and the Bazaar is not well. Not now. Are you certain?" (Said in conversation with [[Maybe's Daughter]].)''</ref> Every [[Christmas]], he permits an array of [[London|Londoners]] to descend into the Sea, giving them a rare opportunity to commune with the Bazaar.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Penstock%27s_Wicket Penstock's Wicket, ''Fallen London''] ''"She's been expecting you," […] "Would you like to come downztairs?"''</ref>

While deeply loyal, Penstock also sincerely loves the Bazaar;<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Talk_about_the_Courier_2 Talk about the Courier 2, ''Fallen London''] ''"Is that so strange? Perhaps. But I'm not the only one. Penstock, too. There are others... some of us came to it naturally, some with assistance. But the passion in those spires!" […] a curl of hair falls across her cheek. "It cannot be denied forever."''</ref> he is intensely concerned for its mental and physical well-being<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Confer_with_Penstock Confer with Penstock, ''Fallen London''] ''"Penstock is the Bazaar's faithful servant, always concerned for the Bazaar's welfare and its state of mind. He has views on the debt."''</ref> and objects to its use of [[The Salt Lions|sphinxstone]], which exacerbates its melancholy.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Did_you_detect_the_intrusion_of_a_nautical_%27z%27_into_his_greeting%3F Did you detect the intrusion of a nautical 'z' into his greeting?, ''Fallen London''] ''He jumps, as if you'd performed some impossible act of witchcraft. "How did you—? Yes. […] I was moved to intercede against this Station IV villainy." Anger blushes […] "They're feeding old memories into the lacre-vats. Go below, and smell for yourself."''</ref><ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Bright-Eyed_Sequencer#Penstock's_Plea Penstock's Plea, ''Sunless Sea''] ''“The Bazaar has been feasting on old memories from the Salt Lions. It only makes her more melancholy, and that's worse for all of us... but especially those who love her. So we've found another use for the Sphinxstone. We can set something right.”''</ref> He doesn't seem to have a problem with the Bazaar's consumption of the corpses<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Pilfer_a_large,_mysterious_box|Pilfer a large, mysterious box|Fallen London}}''"Someone has nailed the coffins comprehensively shut. The stencilling reads 'SOOTHE & COOPER'. A franked, handwritten label adds 'DELIVERY TO DEPOT (A), STATION III'. One of the coffins is open and empty. The adjacent lacre pool seethes like a glass of liver-salts."''</ref> in the [[Heartmetal|Soothe & Cooper Long-Boxes]] though.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}''"It's hard work, moving nightsoil. But I've got long-boxes. Soothe & Cooper. Plenty down in storage after... well, that's another story. I pack 'em full and then cart 'em out."''</ref> His appearance reflects his burdens: tired eyes, a sallow complexion, hunched posture, a persistent cough.<ref name=":0">[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Fallen_London#Interactions A dusty gentleman, ''Sunless Sea''] ''"Tired eyes, sallow skin. He stoops like a clerk and coughs like a miner. But that frock-coat is of the finest fabric and the newest cut. “My name is Penstock,” he says."''</ref> Thanks to his proximity to the Sea, he also smells of ammonia and despair.<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/The_Bright-Eyed_Sequencer#Interactions_2 Reject his plea, ''Sunless Sea''] ''"He smells of ammonia and sadness. You should go somewhere that does not smell of those things."''</ref> Despite his devotion, Penstock considers caring for someone to be the most terrible burden of all.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Penstock|Penstock|Fallen London|}} ''"There's no worse burden than caring for someone. Can't say I recommend it."''</ref>

Before entering the Bazaar’s service, Penstock was a zailor with no care for his own well-being, a past he does not speak of often.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Penstock|Penstock|Fallen London|}} ''"'Nerves still frayed. I miss the zee.' He swirls the liquid in his cup pensively. 'I was a reckless zailor. Didn't care overmuch if I lived or died. Nothing to care for, not even myself.'"''</ref> He also implies that he once participated in the [[Marvellous]].<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Key_to_your_Rooms_above_a_Gambling_Den Key to your Rooms above a Gambling Den, ''Fallen London''] ''Penstock smiles sadly. "Almost I long for the days of the Marvellous. But the Masters are not merciful."''</ref>

==The Vicomte==
{{Spoiler}}<blockquote>''"I guess you know now that some contracts have fangs. And I might've incorporated a particularly hungry legal clause into this deed. The Vicomte de V_____? He's how an observer might, let's say, interpret such a clause. How the terms can manifest for a receptive mind. When you see him at your château, that's due to the copy you signed. But I've put the same clause into other contracts. Whatever he told you about our relationship, though, I'm not his servant."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>[[File:Vicomte.jpeg|thumb|The Vicomte]]
Beyond his usual duties, Penstock bears another, more peculiar responsibility. 

[[The Vicomte|The Vicomte de V_____]] is a humanoid manifestation of a parasitic law: a sigil written on the [[Bazaar]]'s body, which dates back to its descent from the [[High Wilderness]] into the [[Neath]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}''"He's a real foreigner – if you follow. The Bazaar came from very far away. She brought a few things with her. Not on purpose. Like how a dog might pick up ticks out in the wilderness. The Vicomte de V_____, well, he's just like a tick. Like a tick that finally dropped off and purchased an aristocratic title."''</ref> This sigil both devours and inspires passion; after the Bazaar discovered its unwelcome passenger, it found that the parasite could help cultivate love stories.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}''"One sigil differs from the rest. It oozes thick crimson fluid. "A parasitic law," says Penstock. "It doesn't just eat passion. It inspires passion. All those properties, with this legal clause worked into their contracts? Inspire passion too. Even if they nip a little. That's why she wants to spread it. London needs inspiration. You won't hold it against me, will you?" He lets out a sigh. "It wouldn't be the first time I've done something foolish for love.""''</ref> To that end, the Bazaar tasked Penstock with embedding copies of the sigil into property deeds, ensuring the Vicomte’s continued influence.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}''"I guess you know now that some contracts have fangs. And I might've incorporated a particularly hungry legal clause into this deed. The Vicomte de V_____? He's how an observer might, let's say, interpret such a clause. How the terms can manifest for a receptive mind. When you see him at your château, that's due to the copy you signed. But I've put the same clause into other contracts. Whatever he told you about our relationship, though, I'm not his servant."''</ref> However, the Vicomte requires a link to the Bazaar in order to manifest, so Penstock has another, far less dignified duty: collecting the Bazaar’s "nightsoil" (excrement), packing it into empty Soothe & Cooper Long-Boxes, and personally delivering it to the Vicomte’s residences.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}''"He needs to maintain a'' connection''. That's what the samples are for. Nightsoil of the Bazaar. As his property agent, it's my job to move nightsoil onto his estates. Without it, the Vicomte couldn't stay at his own addresses."''</ref> 

Penstock resents the Vicomte’s intimate bond with the Bazaar.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}''"A connection. Right," says Penstock. Is that jealousy you detect? Whatever it is, Penstock smiles sadly, and the impression is gone.''</ref> The creature is, after all, quite literally attached to the messenger. Worse still, age has made the labor of hauling boxes of refuse increasingly unbearable. He longs to be rid of the Vicomte, yet he cannot act against it directly; tampering with the original sigil could harm the Bazaar itself.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Caveat_Emptor|Caveat Emptor|Fallen London|}}''"I couldn't have done that myself," he says, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. "Even now, I'm not sure how well she'll take it. But something had to happen. I'm getting too old to drag long-boxes around. If the estates weren't prepared, you see, the deeds with the sigil wouldn't stick. You can keep this one. I won't be transporting much nightsoil again."''</ref> 

==References==
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[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Human]]