Editing The Bishop of St Fiacre's

{{Spoiler}}<blockquote>''"...the Good Book, as we are continually discovering here in the Neath, painted a few details with a broad brush. And one doesn't become a Bishop without learning to find new meanings in Scripture. Even God wears a mask. Sometimes, we must look behind it for the truth."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Accept_the_vial_from_the_Bishop|Accept the vial from the Bishop|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>{{Character|title1=The Bishop Of Saint Fiacre's|image1=image1 = <gallery>
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</gallery>|caption1=Looks can be deceiving.|location=St. Fiacre's Cathedral, [[London]]|allegiance=[[The Church]]<br>
[[The Marvellous]]}}The '''Bishop of St. Fiacre's''' is a [[Church]] official who presides over '''St. Fiacre's Cathedral''' in [[London]].

== The Reluctant Cousin ==
<blockquote>''"Oh, it might seem very carefree, prowling London, pulling the faces off anyone you fancy. But changing one's habits from week to week? Endlessly leaping out of windows to avoid the Constables? And the only place to find wax, here, is in candles."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}}</ref></blockquote>As a clergyman, the Bishop preaches that "God always forgives."<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Youthful_Naturalist%27s_history|Ask about the Youthful Naturalist's history|Fallen London|}} ''"Fortunately, it's never too late. God always forgives."''</ref> More reflective and nostalgic than charismatic<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Bones_of_St_Fiacre%27s|The Bones of St Fiacre's|Fallen London|}} ''"His Grace leads you through hidden galleries, into deep catacombs, lighting foxfire candles with a flame on a long-handled wick. [...] Entire generations crowd the walls, crammed into vaults. [...] "I often come here to pray for the dead. They deserve God's blessing too.""''</ref> and a man of many contradictions,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"I am a man without a face, but I have many faces. I am a man who has neither mother nor motherland. I believe in forgiveness, but I cannot receive it. I like jam, and I dislike crumpets. But I adore candles."''</ref> the Bishop keeps no shortage of secrets and spends plenty of time in solitude.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Bishop_of_St_Fiacre%27s_(Loyalties_2)|Speak with the Bishop of St Fiacre's (Loyalties 2)|Fallen London|}} ''"Sometimes I envy these bones. No more decisions to make. No more pleasure, but no more pain either. They never lie or deceive. Death makes even the worst criminals honest. I can speak freely when I'm around them, without having to worry about treachery. Without betrayal waiting in the wings."''</ref> His beliefs are frequently unorthodox,<ref name=":2">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"I have some quite heterodox beliefs. I take care to ensure these beliefs are not visible in the pulpit, or in the newspapers. I believe in God; in fact, I believe in several. I believe in salvation, or at least in digestion. And I believe in hope. Hope is not necessarily fashionable."''</ref> although a constant among them is the aforementioned conviction that all may be redeemed;<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"I believe in redemption; or, at least, in redaction. The universe is not a kindly place. We subsist in a fragile shadow – a transient refuge from the gaze of the heavens [...] I hope that the Bazaar can be redeemed – and the power which it serves. And if they can see their mistakes erased, then surely the rest of us can too? The heavens are not merciful. But we are free, down here. I believe that we can manufacture our own mercy.""''</ref> his Anglican faith is simply one of the lenses through which he portrays his beliefs.<ref name=":2" /> He admits to sometimes envying the dead,<ref name=":1" /> and views Death itself as "our greatest ally" and not something to be feared.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Bishop%27s_alliances|Ask about the Bishop's alliances|Fallen London|}} ''"We all wear masks. False faces to cover the truth. Life itself is a mask, and the face it covers is Death. When the flesh falls away, Death remains. [...] Death is our greatest ally. More cunning than any mortal. More subtle. More generous too. Life is fickle. Brief. Life cheats. But the bones play fair. [...] We must work with Death. Not shamefully hide our faces."''</ref>

The Bishop is not human, but a [[Snuffer]].<ref name=":3">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"("You're a Snuffer. A Cousin.") "I am. I trust you'll keep it to yourself. [...] I only borrow my faces from those already dead, or those who choose to surrender them.""''</ref> He resents his origins, having followed the path of Christianity in order to better fit in among humans,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"And I am tired. I found the doctrines of your God, but they are not enough. I had hoped to become human, but I cannot. I had hoped to win a soul, but I can only steal it."''</ref> and chooses to only take faces from the dead and the willing.<ref name=":3" /> Like the rest of his kind, however, he is engaged in a long-term search for the [[Garden]];<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_word_with_the_Bishop_of_St_Fiacre%27s|A word with the Bishop of St Fiacre's|Fallen London|}} ''""We lost the precise location, long ago," the Bishop whispers. "We remember so little about it. I was there, you know, once... I could tell you such things. But you'll see it soon, I hope. You'll open the way. You have a knack for opening things. When we have its location, you will ensure that... all our needs are satisfied. Yes? You will eat of the fruit of the Garden, too. You have my promise. All shall be well.""''</ref> this pursuit has led him to become a noted member of the [[Dilmun Club]], where he once worked closely with the [[Youthful Naturalist]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Discuss_the_Youthful_Naturalist%27s_history|Discuss the Youthful Naturalist's history|Fallen London|}} ''""It's better to leave certain hatchets buried," says the Bishop. "Suffice it to say that my contact in Cline was also his. We worked very well together, at one point.""''</ref>

As a player of the [[Marvellous]], the Bishop has formed an alliance with his fellow player, the [[Boatman]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Receive_certain_privileged_information|Receive certain privileged information|Fallen London|}} ''""His Lordship and I, every now and again, meet a few friends to play cards," explains the Bishop. "[...]You might know one other member? Thin fellow. Rows a boat. Loves to gamble. Chess is his favourite, but anyone can play chess. The Marvellous is a more exclusive game. [...] Some time ago, the Boatman himself won.""''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Study_the_cards_on_the_table_(Malleability)|Study the cards on the table (Malleability)|Fallen London|}} ''""If you're seeking immortality, it helps to have Death on your side," the Bishop continues. [...] "Game after game, year after year, I sat across from him at the card table. We got to know each other rather well.""''</ref> and made a deal with him to escape temporary [[death]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Bishop_of_St_Fiacre%27s_(Aboard_the_Noble_Garter)|Speak with the Bishop of St Fiacre's (Aboard the Noble Garter)|Fallen London|}} ''"I suppose you must know everything by now. My acquaintance with Death has helped me avoid the River. A delicate relationship."''</ref> This in turn led him to negotiations with the Boatman's "kin,"<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Discuss_the_Dilmun_Club_(Loyalties_3)|Discuss the Dilmun Club (Loyalties 3)|Fallen London|}} ''"The Bishop has been courting allies [...] You'd never suspect the cafés he visits. His card-playing days introduced him to Death, as you're well aware. But I have it on good authority that he's also negotiating with Death's twin. They've been in contact for some time."''</ref> [[December]] of the [[Calendar Council]], who also has goals involving the Garden.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Speak_with_the_Bishop_of_St_Fiacre%27s_(Aboard_the_Noble_Garter)|Speak with the Bishop of St Fiacre's (Aboard the Noble Garter)|Fallen London|}} ''"Death's sibling is a Chain-Breaker. Sometimes they conspire as the Twelfth Month. Whenever they visit London, we take tea. I would have them stand beside us at the Mountain's foot. With their aid, we could win the Garden."''</ref> The Bishop's desire to become something other than a Snuffer has also led him to an interest in the [[Prison of Flint]]<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Greet_the_Bishop_of_St_Fiacre%27s_in_the_name_of_the_Dilmun_Club|Greet the Bishop of St Fiacre's in the name of the Dilmun Club|Fallen London|}} ''"A prison of flint, deep in the brightness of the Elder Continent – far from the Garden that we seek, but there is a connection of sorts... [...] I have need of a certain rare principle that can be found in that prison."''</ref> and its chaotic life-essences<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"I can, however, hope to be no longer a Snuffer. I will end what I was. I will use these essences you have brought me. I will abandon my self to find a lesser self: but perhaps a better self. Like a new shape found in flint."''</ref> - although this conflicts with his sincere wish to return home with his people to the Garden.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ask_about_the_Bishop%27s_own_heart%27s_desire|Ask about the Bishop's own heart's desire|Fallen London|}} ''"To be forgiven. To be welcomed. To end all these darkened days of wandering. To taste sweet fruit upon my tongue and walk in pastures gold. [...] And I would not walk there alone. I would open the gates, and lay a path so that others could follow, those who knew the signs."''</ref>

While we use the term "Snuffer" here for clarity, the Bishop considers the term to be offensive, and prefers his kind to be called "Cousins."<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"(Ask about the Cousins) He's been at pains to use a politer term than 'Snuffer'. You should, too."''</ref> He has a sister, the '''Woman in Yellow''', with whom he has a turbulent relationship.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"("Do you know anything about a woman in a yellow dress?") "My family has shown an interest. I was afraid of this. I have cut my ties with them, and they work hard to spite me. Especially my sister.""''</ref> She resents that he has converted to Christianity, and mistrusts his plans for their species' return to the Garden.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''"All the Cousins want to return to the Garden. But I deeply mistrust my brother’s methods. And I cannot abide his disgusting fixation on the Christian faith. But we were always together… we both came half-formed from the same source. I miss him."''</ref>

== References ==
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