Editing The Royal Family

{{Major spoiler}}
{{Character
|image1 = Crown2.png 
|location = [[The Shuttered Palace]]
|alias= The Empress's Issue
|relationships = [[The Empress]] (mother)<br>
[[The Consort]] (father)
}}
<blockquote>''"These are the Empress' children. The oldest ones stand in a row at the back. The Redundant Heir holds a goblet in one casual hand. The drip that runs down its stem seems too treacle-like for wine, and too brightly red. To his left stands the Dutiful Daughter; to his right the Brooding Captain. Before them, the younger children sit on stools: the Heartbroken Bibliophile, the Recalcitrant Sculptress, the Bellicose Prince, and the Delicate Duke (who is still much mourned in patriotic corners of society).''

''At the very front, cross-legged on the floor, sits the Playful Prodigy. She has the cheeks of a cherub and blue, mischievous eyes. In her arms is a baby, wrapped in a black swaddling-cloth: presumably the Captivating Princess.''

''Only the oldest child is absent: the Empress' Shadow, who did not Fall."''<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London'']</ref></blockquote>After the Fall, the [[Empress]]' children began cultivating bees<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Reunion Reunion, ''Fallen London''] ''"The sound of the door shutting rings in your head. Not this don't make me see. It takes the siblings some time to decide upon which bee best suits their purpose. The hives are new, each prince and princess has cultivated their own. The competition is fierce."''</ref> and experimenting with [[Gaoler's Honey|gaoler's honey]] using their own servants,<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Reunion Reunion, ''Fallen London''] ''"They are new to this, and prone to squabbling. Wings are pulled, limbs plucked. The once favoured nanny trembles, as her old charge lovingly pins back her ears. The swarm, when it comes, is swift. The family lingers over the hives, waiting for the honey to come. Eventually, they tire, and the lure of honey nearer at hand draws them away, into red dreams. The dream carries you with it."''</ref> taking great joy in the act.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Reunion Reunion, ''Fallen London''] ''"You burst from the dead bushes, armed only with your fury that they are doing this to your old retainers. That woman was once their favourite nanny – and now they cage her and daub her ears with honey. Another paints her expression, capturing the moment with oil and canvas as they open the hive."''</ref> However, at some point they consumed a contaminated strain of red honey<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"The colony is troubled. We try to control whose memories they are allowed to harvest, but some years ago there was a contaminant. The bees started attacking their own. Before we could sample the honey for an explanation, it was gone. Torn away in chunks."''</ref> that caused all but two of them to be transformed into monsters.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story)|The Gift|Fallen London|}} ''"A Sprightly Septuagenarian drones about the revels of his youth to a patient ingénue. "...and the gaoler's honey flowed like a river! Or at least a tributary. There were tureens of it. Vats! We didn't know, then, of course. Terrible thing. Bad strain. Hence all this..." he waves a vague hand at the darkness."''</ref> One stayed on the [[Surface]], and the [[Captivating Princess]], who was born in the [[Neath]], managed to avoid the effects (at least superficially).<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Reunion Reunion, ''Fallen London''] ''"The change imposed by the Red Honey was a gift. As it was to me. The rest of our family proved... inadequate to the wonders on offer. They grew indulgent, lazy. [...]"''</ref> One may see the siblings as they were before, but only in a mirror.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] "''In the mirror, the company dines with poise. Knives cut sensible morsels. Silver forks dip. Behind you, you hear flesh tear. A crack, as a bone splits lengthways. Insistent, grisly chewing."''</ref> Thanks to this predicament, many of the royal children suffer from severe insecurities and other character flaws, but they still seem to retain sapience despite their appearances. Their quarters are hidden beneath the [[Shuttered Palace]], locked behind five locked doors.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_wine_cellars_of_the_Palace The wine cellars of the Palace, ''Fallen London''] ''"The cellars under the Shuttered Palace are constantly guarded and protected by five doors with five locks. There must be something interesting down there."''</ref> A senior Keeper of the Cage-Garden in the Shuttered Palace speculates that the royal children's transformation must also have something to do with their heritage.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"Never touched honey myself. I've seen what it does. Not just to people like her, but to the takers. Makes everything inside come out, so you can see what they were trying to keep hidden. Doesn't happen to everyone. Think there has to be something in the blood before people start to, you know—" he jerks his head towards the mist-shrouded palace, "—get like that."''</ref>

== The Empress' Shadow ==
[[File:Youngvic.png|thumb|The Empress' Shadow]]'''Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise '''(born November 21st, 1840), the Princess Royal, nicknamed "Vicky," remained on the Surface<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"Only the oldest child is absent: the Empress' Shadow, who did not Fall."''</ref> and married the future Kaiser Frederick III of Germany. Frederick only ruled for three months in 1888 before his untimely death of cancer, leaving his and Vicky's son Wilhelm II as Kaiser. This does not appear to have changed in the world of ''Fallen London.''

== The Redundant Heir ==
'''Prince Albert Edward '''(born November 9th, 1841), nicknamed "Bertie," seems to have transformed into a gigantic humanoid creature with a severe  hunch and limp.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"Even hunched as he is, he towers over you. You speak soothingly. Does he understand? Perhaps. He shuffles aside, dragging one foot behind him. It seems you may pass."''</ref> He occasionally visits [[Flukes|Flute Street]] to presumably alter his deformed appearance. Bertie's wife Alexandra of Denmark and now-grown son Prince Albert Victor have history surrounding London's politics. In his youth Albert was quite the playboy, visiting London's brothels with other high society men.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"In a dresser you find a set of balled scarlet stockings and a journal. The initials in the front cover read A.E. It vividly describes a campaign of assignations at brothels across the city, in the company of eminent men. The entries are decades old – many of the men named must have taken ships to the tomb-colonies by now. [...]"''</ref>

In our world, Victoria blamed Bertie's carousing for Prince Consort Albert's death, but Bertie succeeded her as Edward VII anyway. Prince Albert Victor died of influenza in 1892; he avoided this fate in the timeline of ''Fallen London.''

== The Dutiful Daughter ==
'''Princess Alice Maud Mary '''(born April 25th, 1843) has become "the Serpentine Coils."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The carcass of a goat stretches across the table. Around it, horrors congregate. [...] The next chair is filled with flopping serpentine coils."''</ref> In the mirror, she is a tall, thin, and neat woman wearing a brocaded gown.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] After him comes the Dutiful Daughter, angular and neat. Is it the hem of her brocaded gown that makes that noise? Like slithering coils?"''</ref> She married the Prince of Hesse in Germany; her youngest daughter Alexandra (now Tsarina of Russia) is known to exist, born in 1872, so we may presume she raised her family on the Surface as in real life, making only occasional visits to London. Her final trip to England was in late 1876, so perhaps it was around this time that the siblings all took red honey. 

Historically, Alice provided comfort to Albert as he died, then provided moral support to Victoria. Alice and Victoria's relationship was rather turbulent toward the end of Alice's life; she died of diphtheria in 1878.

== The Brooding Captain ==
'''Prince Alfred Ernest Albert '''(born August 6th, 1844), nicknamed "Affie," is now "the Shadow with Teeth,"<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The carcass of a goat stretches across the table. Around it, horrors congregate. In the Brooding Captain's chair crouches a thing of blackness and teeth. [...]"''</ref> a black mass of razor sharp teeth with a long red tongue.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"You dart into the passage as razored teeth clash at your heels. The floor vanishes beneath you, and you tumble through the splinters of a ruined stair. You land hard, but feet-first. Above you, your hunter shrieks in rage. You see a winding red tongue; tatters of something ragged caught in its teeth."''</ref> His movement is restricted to some extent by his current form.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"Someone has driven iron stakes into the wall the stair once stood against. You could climb back up, if you needed. The shadow could not. Perhaps that is why it rumbles at you from the doorway, rather than leaping down."''</ref> He has a rivalry with the Captivating Princess.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''""It's very selfish of you to keep her like this, Alfred," the Princess sighs. "You're forcing your own foibles on her. She could be better. So could you." The Brooding Captain grinds his teeth. There is the sound of sabres clashing."''</ref> In the mirror, he is a heavy-set man adorned with gleaming Admiralty medals.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The first to enter is the Brooding Captain. You watch his medals gleam in the mirror. Though he is a heavy-set man, he makes no more noise than a shadow. [...]"''</ref> He brought his ship, the ''HMS Galatea'', down to the [[Neath]].<ref>[https://sunlesssea.miraheze.org/wiki/Adam%27s_Way Adam's Way] - ''Deliver the snuffer to the Avuncular Broker'' - "Inside is a chart, its folds stiff with zee-salt. The corner is stamped with the seal of the Empress herself. It is labelled 'First voyage of the ''Galatea'', 1867' and shows a tenuous, roving course across the Unterzee."</ref>

The real Affie joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and became captain of the ''Galatea'' in 1867 at the age of 22. He held this position until 1879, before being promoted and assigned to other ships.

== The Heartbroken Bibliophile ==
'''Princess Helena Augusta Victoria '''(born May 25th, 1846) has become "an abhorrence of rusting quills."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] An abhorrence of rusting quills screams at you, flaring its spines like an iron sun."''</ref> She has a unique taste for red honey that's distinct from her siblings; namely, she partakes in honey extracted only from one individual, who is kept separate from the other prisoners.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"H_____ will touch only honey from a single inmate of the cage-gardens, whose cage was kept away from the rest."''</ref> Her discarded poetry also litters the floor of the Palace. 

In our world, Helena helped write a biography of Prince Consort Albert and translated several books from German to English. She was considerably devastated when her father died, and began to court Albert's librarian, who was dismissed when the flirtation was discovered.

== The Recalcitrant Sculptress ==
'''Princess Louise Caroline Alberta '''(born March 18th, 1848), the [[Recalcitrant Sculptress]], is "the gaunt thing with a coat of glass feathers."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] a gaunt thing shivers in a coat of glass feathers. [...]"''</ref> Since her transformation into a monster thanks to the effects of red honey, her sculptures have taken on the appearance of horrifying and warped humanoid shapes.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"Before each step, you nudge the feathers aside with your toe. The glassy sounds are shrill in the cellars' hush. There are shapes in the dark: statues. The Recalcitrant Sculptress was gifted when she still had hands. Now, her works are crude; as twisted as dying oaks. This one has a set of stubby, vestigial arms protruding from the sides of its head. Another, further in, has a narrow torso covered in mouths. You pass between the monstrous statues as swiftly as you dare."''</ref> She was known as the prettiest of Victoria's daughters and a skilled artist. 

In our world, Louise pursued an artistic career despite her royal status, and enrolled in the National Art Training School in 1863. She ultimately produced several famous sculptures.

== The Bellicose Prince ==
<blockquote>''"It was all and yet none of these. You must return, and return again, until you have eaten your way through to your own rotten core, and devoured it. Until then, this torture is no less than you deserve."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London'']</ref>''</blockquote>'''Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert '''(born May 1st, 1850), the [[Bellicose Prince]], has become "the weeping horse-sized grub."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The carcass of a goat stretches across the table. Around it, horrors congregate. [...] A weeping, horse-sized grub half-mounts the table [...]"''</ref> He fought in the [[The Campaign of '68|Campaign of '68]] against [[Hell]], but his refusal to surrender<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"The lieutenant is a coward, and will not advance. When a rider brings him an envelope, you intercept it. It contains orders to retreat. Your heartbeat quickens. This campaign is your last chance for glory, and if you return to London—You burn the letter."''</ref> combined with his later desertion<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"Alone, you crawl up an outcrop and fumble for your field-glasses. You watch helplessly as devils storm the glowing trenches, and herd the rest of the platoon into cages. This is your doing."''</ref> took a massive toll on his self-image. He would then consume his own red honey as "penance",<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"For weeks, you let the bees tear away pieces of your mind. You relive the torture every time you swallow your own honey, but the agony is nothing to that of confronting yourself. Sometimes, the pain recedes enough for you to see what is happening to your body, but it comes as no surprise. This new form matches who you have always been."''</ref> turning him into the maggot of a man he thought he always was.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"Back at the palace, you stare at the military murals in disgust. Perhaps if you could understand how you became so despicable, you could reverse the process."''</ref> 

In our world, Arthur spent his life in the military, and was said to be Victoria's favorite child. In the ''Fallen London'' timeline, however, it appears she paid him little mind.<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/A_Crown_of_Thorns A Crown of Thorns, ''Fallen London''] ''"When the day is won, you march to your mother's room to inform her of your triumph, but she closes the door in your face."''</ref>

== The Delicate Duke ==
'''Prince Leopold George Duncan '''(born April 7th, 1853) had hemophilia, a blood disorder common among the royal families of Europe, which left him in poor health. In the ''Fallen London'' timeline, he has [[Death|died]],<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"[...] the Delicate Duke (who is still much mourned in patriotic corners of society)."''</ref><ref>[https://www.failbettergames.com/news/the-mysteries-revealed-again The Mysteries Revealed, Again, ''Failbetter Games''] ''"One of the Empress' issue died. But which? The Delicate Duke / Prince Leopold, or Duke Leopold"''</ref> and it's unknown whether he recovered or not. Historically, he was made the Duke of Albany in 1881 and died in 1884.

== The Playful Prodigy ==
'''Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore '''(born April 14th, 1857), the [[Playful Prodigy]], is "the spider-thing with face-hands and needle-fingers."<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"The Playful Prodigy makes no sound as she stirs from the ceiling. You do not hear her unfold her spindly limbs. You do not see her long hands reach down, or the frightened, child-like faces that peer from each palm. You feel the needled finger, though, as it pricks a vein in your neck. Sharp as a bee sting."''</ref> She was originally supposed to marry Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte; this would imply that the Anglo-Zulu war, in which Louis-Napoleon died (ending the marriage plans), did not happen thanks to the Fall. Furthermore, the existence of the Bonapartist separatist faction in France further implies that the Bonaparte dynasty does not have the relevance it did historically. 

In the ''Sunless Skies'' timeline, Beatrice was able to return to human form. '''The Generous Princess''', as she's now known, is notorious for her extravagant (and extremely dangerous) gifts and services and is the center of society in [[New London]].<ref>[https://sunlessskies.miraheze.org/wiki/London#The_Silken_Salon The Silken Salon, ''Sunless Skies''] ''"The Generous Princess manages many affairs of court. She cultivates alliances, forms opinions, sets trends, makes introductions, suggests promotions and dismantles reputations. She attracts rumours like a lantern attracts moths. It's said that she fears the light of the suns, and that her gifts inevitably destroy the recipients. She can sometimes be found in her salon, where she welcomes visiting captains."''</ref>

Historically, Beatrice was babied by her mother, became Victoria's constant companion after Albert's death, and married a German prince (to Victoria's exasperation at losing her innocent baby daughter).

== The Captivating Princess ==
The '''[[Captivating Princess]]''' was born during the year of [[The Fall of London|the Fall]], and thus does not have a historical counterpart. Unlike her siblings, she has retained her human form, which is also unnaturally beautiful;<ref>[https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Gift_(Story) The Gift, ''Fallen London''] ''"Only the Captivating Princess looks as she did in the mirror. Among the nightmares, her beauty is worst of all. It rakes your eyes like fire. Mercifully, your senses flee."''</ref> it is implied that she exchanged her body for its [[Parabolan]] counterpart in order to remain human.{{fact}}

== References ==
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[[Category:Other Things of Significance]]