The Grand Geode

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"You breathe gold. You think light."

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"A naval base, with the Royal Navy's emblems, curiously amended. Efficient, bright-eyed women and men work briskly, everywhere you look. They are singing: hymns with unfamiliar words. Hard-faced Royal Marines watch you carefully, barring entry to the Geode's heart."[1]

The Grand Geode, located far south of London, is officially designated as Station V - one of the eight known stations maintained by the Admiralty.

Station V...?[edit | edit source]

"A plaque by the docks has been defaced with orange paint, but you can still make out the original inscription: 'STATION V (ADJUNCT)'."[1]

While the Grand Geode is still overseen by one of the Navy's Commodores,[2] this Station has become the headquarters of the New Sequence, a large splinter faction of the Royal Navy who have chosen to serve another master.[3] Any questions about the true purpose of the Station are casually deflected.[4]

The New Sequence opposes the influence of the Echo Bazaar;[5] as a renegade faction with significant influence in the military,[6][7] they pose a threat to London's powers that be, even if their means are typically nonviolent.[8][9] The Admiralty is well-informed on the Sequence's activities at the Grand Geode because many of its members are their former comrades.[6][7] It is little wonder, then, that mention of the Geode appears to make Admiralty officials visibly nervous.[10]

That Hypnotic Dawn[edit | edit source]

"You find yourself nodding, and then jerk suddenly awake. The Commodore is smiling. Your cup is empty. You feel well: very well. A little euphoric, even. 'Come back soon,' he says softly."[11]

The magnificent reflected dawn throughout the Geode leaves visitors' memories rather fuzzy, especially after prolonged periods of time.[8] The New Sequence works to secure new members by simply letting the Dawn Machine's mind-altering light draw in new converts;[12] they will even go so far as to accept "willing" recruits in lieu of payment.[13] The Sequence is still testing the capabilities of the Dawn Machine, and may be able to use its light and influence toward goals that reach further than persuasion.[14]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Grand Geode, Sunless Sea
  2. ↑ Ask to speak with someone in authority, Sunless Sea "The Commodore shakes your hand warmly. He's a handsome, open-faced fellow in an immaculate Navy uniform."
  3. ↑ Sell the Memento Mori to the servants of the Dawn Machine, Sunless Sea "Our Light will grow stronger. Not only as our fleet grows stronger."
  4. ↑ Ask to speak with someone in authority, Sunless Sea "He deflects questions about the purpose of this installation - "classified, you know" - but smilingly offers you tea, biscuits and mineralogical anecdotes."
  5. ↑ Deliver the Sphinxstone, Sunless Sea "The Bazaar is the enemy of our Light. [...] Well, our Light will sort it out, you'll see."
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ask to speak with someone in authority, Sunless Sea "The Commodore shakes your hand warmly. He's a handsome, open-faced fellow in an immaculate Navy uniform."
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Grand Geode, Sunless Sea "A naval base, with the Royal Navy's emblems, curiously amended. Efficient, bright-eyed women and men work briskly, everywhere you look. [...] Hard-faced Royal Marines watch you carefully, barring entry to the Geode's heart."
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ask to speak with someone in authority, Sunless Sea "You find yourself nodding, and then jerk suddenly awake. The Commodore is smiling. Your cup is empty. You feel well: very well. A little euphoric, even. "Come back soon," he says softly."
  9. ↑ The Icarian Cup (Story), Fallen London "After that, your memories are awash with warmth and light. [...] Something is wrong. Those thoughts weren't yours!"
  10. ↑ Grand Geode, Sunless Sea "The Admiralty official takes notes scrupulously, but with an expression of mild terror, like a novice vivisector wincing with a scalpel. The rest of the office studiously busy themselves with other tasks."
  11. ↑ Ask to speak with someone in authority, Sunless Sea
  12. ↑ Ask to speak with someone in authority, Sunless Sea "Teasing clues linger in your memory. A zailor asked to stay behind, and you permitted it, because - because - "
  13. ↑ Purchase an Element of Dawn from the Commodore, Sunless Sea "No no - your seven youths and maidens, ahahaha, I mean your seven crew, are not 'expenses'. They will live rich, satisfied, glorious lives."
  14. ↑ Ask the Commodore for a defence against sunlight for Aestival, Sunless Sea "The skull which once adorned the Eater of Names now lies within, its forehead marked with a glyph of furious power. [...] This will drink the danger of the sunlight."
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