Editing The Seventh Letter

{{Major spoiler}}

''"The show is cancelled, the poster claims. Mahogany Hall - London's most notorious Music Hall and theatre - is closed tonight. You know better."''<ref name = "going to theater">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Going_to_the_theatre|Going to the theatre|Fallen London|}}</ref>

[[File:Scrawl1.png|alt=A mysteries sigil.|thumb|[[The Correspondence|''Almost never remembered'']]]]

'''''The Seventh Letter''''' is a scandalous and forbidden play that dramatizes the story of the [[Echo Bazaar]].__forcetoc__

== The Neathy Play ==

''"The Seventh Letter! They only show that in secret at Mahogany Hall! A production at the Panopticon? How does the Ministry of Public Decency permit it?"''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/To_see_the_play|To see the play|Fallen London|}}</ref>

 

While the play's subject matter is esoteric,<ref name = "watch play 4">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London|}}</ref> it is also notoriously moving and emotional.<ref name = "watch play 1"/> The performances of the play's tragic characters can move even the most dignified audience members to tears,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while|Watch the play for a little while|Fallen London|}} ''"Her rendition of the Hymn [...] sends a bankerly fellow fleeing from the auditorium in tears."''</ref> and certain scenes are so horrifying that the play has an intermission beforehand for faint-hearted audiences to take their leave.<ref name = "watch play 1"/>

''"They say only six letters of it should ever be written together. The seventh will doom all."''<ref name = "going to theater"/>

 

The following is a summary of all that is known of ''The Seventh Letter''.

''"Yet no sweeter than yours, great master. I acknowledge it so."''<ref name = "watch play 1"/>

The actress playing the '''Raven''' is introduced. She sings her aria, the '''Hymn of Shames''', which contains the following lyrics: ''"The glowing-hearted mountain / the river in the sky / the near night and the deep night..."''<ref name = "watch play 1"/>

The Raven comments that her song is superior to that of "the stone, the swan, the storm," but is interrupted by the arrival of the '''Messenger''', to whom she defers, and whom she addresses as "great master".<ref name = "ovate night">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Order_Ovate,_Night|Order Ovate, Night|Fallen London|}}</ref> The Messenger, played by multiple actors of multiple gender identities,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_2|Watch the play for a little while 2|Fallen London|}} ''"The Messenger is [...] always played by a man and a woman, alternately, scene by scene. In this performance, there are three actors, and you're not sure any of them are a man or a woman, precisely."''</ref> is dressed in "rags of cloud." They ask a question, into the darkness of the scene: why they should sing; when all of their songs are burned to their skin?<ref name = "ovate night"/>

''"Ah, were it only my unfettered choice. But I owe him his hunts and the joys of his voice."''<ref name = "watch play 2"/>

[[File:Master.png|alt=A hooded figure.|thumb|A [[Master]].]]

The Messenger is beseeched by the '''Owls''', who have taken up shelter within the Messenger's spires.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_2|Watch the play for a little while 2|Fallen London|}} ''"The Messenger-actor who receives the flattery of the Owls, [...]"''</ref> The Messenger asks what the Owls are doing within its spires; they respond that "we watch. We wait. We eat."<ref name = "ovate blood">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Order_Ovate,_Blood|Order Ovate, Blood|Fallen London|}}</ref> The Messenger mentions that the Owls are on the run from a being known as the '''Hunter''';<ref name = "ovate blood"/><ref name = "watch play 2"/> in response, the Owls beg for safety from the Hunter's wrath. However, the Messenger cannot simply do away with the Hunter, as they "owe him his hunts and the joys of his voice."<ref name = "ovate blood"/>

The Hunter later confronts the Messenger, and the Messenger warns him to hold back his greed. In response, the Hunter screams at the Messenger a "litany of solar insults."<ref name = "watch play 2"/>

''"Aren't we touchy! I had no idea."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_3|Watch the play for a little while 3|Fallen London|}}</ref>

The '''Phoenix''', described as a "thing of fire",<ref name = "ovate ice">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Order_Ovate,_Ice|Order Ovate, Ice|Fallen London|}}</ref> is introduced. She recites her famous soliloquy: ''"I am so very tired of flames. I will drown myself in snow, and emerge in perfect serenity. Or emerge not at all."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_3|Watch the play for a little while 3|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the soliloquy for which the part is so well-known - "I am so very tired of flames. I will drown myself in snow, and emerge in perfect serenity. Or emerge not at all."''</ref>

The Messenger then arrives abruptly, and asks the Phoenix what she is doing. The Phoenix responds by greeting them, and pointing out that the Messenger is the one carrying a troth from the Sun to another. The Messenger interrupts the Phoenix, and furiously demands that she does not speak the recipient's name.<ref name = "ovate ice"/>

Later, the Phoenix prepares to undergo her '''Last Immolation'''. During certain productions of the play, rather than undress before her dramatic Immolation as would be expected, the Phoenix's feathered robes burst into blue flame, and she crackles like ice in the process.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_3|Watch the play for a little while 3|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] the Phoenix usually disrobes to undergo her Last Immolation [...] the Phoenix does not disrobe - her feathered robe bursts into [...] blue flame [...] You could swear that [...] you hear her crack [...] like new-made ice."''</ref>

''"Not yet enough. Not yet enough!"''<ref name = "watch play 4"/>

The Messenger is confronted by a '''Dragon''', another servant of the Messenger's superior. The Dragon reminds them that their superior still awaits the Messenger; in turn, the Messenger begs the Dragon for more time, as they are not yet ready to deliver their message. The Dragon indifferently responds by stating that the Messenger still has time remaining, and that "two remain" if "this place" fails, but the Messenger believes that this is not nearly enough.<ref name = "ovate glory">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Order_Ovate,_Glory|Order Ovate, Glory|Fallen London|}}</ref>

 

Later, seven Dragons capture and hold a tribunal for their prisoners: the Messenger, the '''Chained Sun''', the '''Messenger's Daughter'''. The Dragons also kill the Hunter and '''Time''' itself. Two of the Dragons' mouths are covered in the '''Blood of the World''', and the Dragons drag their prisoners to the '''Wound in the World'''. The '''Seventh Dragon''' states the crimes of those accused: ''"Betrayal of Messages, Undelivery of Words, Vile Breeding, Conspiracy in Darkness, and Unlicensed Love."''<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London|}} ''"The Dragons [...] are seven in number. One carries Time gored on a horn. Another has the Hunter carelessly slung [...]. Two more [...] are daubed with red - 'The Blood of the World,' [...] They drag the Messenger screaming, [...] to [...] the Wound in the World, where the Chained Sun and the Messenger's Daughter wait. The Seventh Dragon recites the crimes of the Sun and the Messenger - Betrayal of Messages, Undelivery of Words, Vile Breeding, Conspiracy in Darkness, and Unlicensed Love."''</ref>

 

When the Seventh Dragon mentions the last crime, its fellows scream in an incalculable rage. The curtain then falls as the seven Dragons feast on their prisoners.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London|}} ''"The Seventh Dragon recites the crimes [...] When the Dragon says [...] 'Unlicensed Love', its fellows [...] rage [...] the Dragons cease their screaming and lunge forwards, to feed on their prisoners. The curtain falls [...]"''</ref>

 

''RAVEN: Truly my voice is sweeter than the song of the stone, the swan, the storm....''

 

''(Enter a MESSENGER beribboned with RAGS of CLOUD.)''

 

''RAVEN: (in haste) ...yet no sweeter than yours, great master. I acknowledge it so.''

 

''MESSENGER: O blackness, o blackness, wherefore should I sing? When all of my songs are seared on my skin?''

 

''(Exeunt.)''

 

[[File:Medaleggbronze.png|alt=A bronze medal emblazoned with an egg.|thumb|Blood]]

 

 

 

''OWLS: ....pray, great master, preserve us. Let us hear his shriekings no more, and we will serve you always.''

 

''MESSENGER: Ah, were it only my unfettered choice. But I owe him his hunts and the joys of his voice.''

 

''--''<ref name = "ovate blood"/>

 

''PHOENIX: Oho! A visitor!''

''MESSENGER: A pleasure. Will you guess my name?''

 

 

 

''--''<ref name = "ovate ice"/>

[[File:Medalegggold.png|alt=A silver medal emblazoned with an egg.|thumb|Glory]]

 

 

 

 

 

 

== Analysis ==

''The following is a player-written analysis of the cast and story of the The Seventh Letter. Do note that this analysis is liable to change as the lore of Fallen London develops and evolves.''

The "Messenger" is the [[Echo Bazaar]]; the Messenger bears a message for the [[Sun]],<ref name = "ovate ice"/><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Aver_it|Aver it|Fallen London|}} ''"[...] your employer soars towards the Judgement, its hide flaring with the message it carries."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Demand_an_explanation_(from_Mr._Cups)|Demand an explanation (from Mr. Cups)|Fallen London|}} ''"The Bazaar's dream is a folly! Its message will be spurned, [...] Let it suffer, and let the sun suffer [...]"''</ref> and possesses the Bazaar's iconic spires.<ref name = "ovate blood"/><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Upgrade_your_guest_room_to_a_Spire-Emporium|Upgrade your guest room to a Spire-Emporium|Fallen London|}}</ref>

 

The "Owls" are the [[Masters of the Bazaar]]. They reside within the Messenger's spires,<ref name = "ovate blood"/><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Enter_the_Carriage|Enter the Carriage|Fallen London|}}</ref> and the Masters' species, the [[Curators]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Declare_your_(Skeleton_Type)_a_completed_Curator|Declare your (Skeleton Type) a completed Curator|Fallen London|}}</ref> have been compared to owls.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/No_map_knows_the_place_you_go|No map knows the place you go|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/%22What_is_due%3F%22|"What is due?"|Fallen London|}}</ref>

The identity of the "Hunter" is unconfirmed, but it is likely [[Mr Veils]]. Veils killed several other Curators during its time in the [[High Wilderness]],<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Hunt|The Day of the Hunt|Fallen London|}}</ref> and is known to shriek as the Hunter does when acting as the [[Vake]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Anticipate|Anticipate|Fallen London|}} ''"The Vake shrieks [...]"''</ref><ref name = "ovate blood"/>

The identity of the "Phoenix" is unknown.

The seven "Dragons" are [[Aeginae]], beings that feed on time<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.fandom.com/wiki/The_Aeginae|The Aeginae|Sunless Skies|}}</ref><ref name = "watch play 4"/> and are often referred to as dragons.<ref>{{Citation|https://sunlessskies.fandom.com/wiki/The_Aeginae#Story_description|Story description|Sunless Skies|}}</ref>[[File:Stalactite.png|alt=A stalactite.|thumb|[[Storm]]]]

The Dragon that warns the Messenger is [[Storm]]; Storm is an Aeginae who is known to have interacted with the Bazaar in the past.<ref name = "ovate glory"/><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Chelonate#The_Chelonate|Deliver Sphinxstone for Penstock|Sunless Sea|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Corridors_of_Frostfound#Trigger_Conditions_8|Fumble in the darkness|Sunless Sea|}}</ref>  

The Dragon mentions a time limit that will expire if "this place" and the "two remaining" fail;<ref name = "ovate glory"/> this refers to the [[Fallen Cities]], as London is known to be the Fifth of these,<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Sidebar_Snippets#The_other_cities|Look: an eye.|Fallen London|}}</ref> and there are two further cities remaining<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Bask_in_the_light_1|Bask in the light 1|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref name = "going to theater"/><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Attend_a_service_at_the_Chapel_(no._6)|Attend a service at the Chapel (no. 6)|Fallen London|}}</ref> for the Bazaar to use in its mission to collect love stories to deliver to the Sun.<ref name = "ovate glory"/><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Bask_in_the_last_remnants_of_the_light_1|Bask in the last remnants of the light 1|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/To_the_garden|To the garden|Fallen London|}}</ref>

The "Wound in the World" is the [[Avid Horizon]], which has been called a "wound in the sky,"<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London|}} ''"They drag the Messenger screaming, [...] to [...] the Wound in the World, [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Approach_the_Convocation|Approach the Convocation|Fallen London|}}</ref> and the "Blood of the World" is the result of the damage done by the Dragons to spacetime; similar effects can occur through the use of [[Red Science]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London|}} ''"The Dragons [...] Two [...] are daubed with red - 'The Blood of the World,' [...]"''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/The_Corridors_of_Frostfound#Trigger_Conditions_4|Surrender to the traces of horror|Sunless Sea|}}</ref>

The "Messenger's Daughter" is [[Stone]], the daughter of the [[Bazaar]].<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London|}} ''"They drag the Messenger screaming, [...] where the Messenger's Daughter wait."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://sunlesssea.fandom.com/wiki/Adam's_Way#Adam.27s_Way|Go ashore with the Adventuress|Sunless Sea|}}</ref> The "Chained Sun" is the [[Sun]], who in the play is presumably arrested by the Dragons for its experiments in the [[Neath]], including the existence of Stone herself.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Watch_the_play_for_a_little_while_4|Watch the play for a little while 4|Fallen London|}} ''"They drag the Messenger screaming, [...] where the Chained Sun [...] wait."''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/%22..end_it,_as_I_swore_I_would.%22|"..end it, as I swore I would."|Fallen London|}}</ref>

The identity of the "Raven" is unconfirmed, but based on the name and lyrics of the Raven's Hymn,<ref name = "watch play 1"/> she is likely one of the [[Shames]], the beings created by Stone who were considered aberrations by the [[Judgements]]<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Flint|Flint|Fallen London|}} ''""Shames!" [...] "Mountain's get!""''</ref><ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Leviathan|Leviathan|Fallen London|}} ''"The fossils [...] are all Shames," [...]  "Evolutionary errors, or so the Judgements believe."''</ref> and forced to stay in the Neath.<ref>{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Order_Vespertine,_Irresistible|Order Vespertine, Irresistible|Fallen London|}}</ref><ref name = "lacre currency">{{Citation|https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Propose_a_currency_infused_with_lacre|Propose a currency infused with lacre|Fallen London|}}</ref> As such, the scene depicting the Raven most likely takes place in the Neath, as the Shames were known to roam the Neath freely in ancient times.<ref name = "lacre currency"/>

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