The Wistful Deviless

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"The road to the crater ends at a brass gate in the crater wall. Beside it stands an oddly charming little cottage. It's thrown together from pumice and basalt, but it features honeysuckle. An equally charming deviless in a tea-gown leans against the cottage wall, twirling a parasol and fanning herself."

"I am the guardian of this place. You may not pass. But can I offer you a cup of armillaria tea?"[1]

The Wistful Deviless is a deviless who resides on the island of Mount Palmerston.[2] She is a member of the Brimstone Convention,[3] a group of exiled aristocrats from Hell, and she guards the route to the volcano's crater to ensure no interloper hears things they should not.[2][4]

The Deviless is polite, demure, and entirely nonthreatening to those who visit her quaint little residence.[2] She responds to gifts graciously,[5] has a tendency to overapologize for social misjudgements,[6] and can be very openly emotional.[5] She is also a very sappy drunk.[7] When duty calls, she is willing to be threatening, but will (usually) not harm those she cares about.[4] The Wistful Deviless is still a devil, however, and has some odd habits and views. She keeps a suitcase made of human skin,[8] enjoys poisonous wines,[9] and has a great love for souls.[5] She also has a condescending attitude towards humans, and is confused and disgusted by emotions such as compassion.[10][11]

The Deviless is a restless spirit who feels dissatisfied with her current station.[12] Her faith in the Brimstone Convention has wavered,[13] and she misses London, Hell,[14] and opportunities for mischief[15][16] and the procurement of souls.[17][18] She seeks to feed the Brass Embassy information about the Convention so they may allow her return,[19][20] but her true loyalties are indeterminable.[21]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The Wistful Deviless, Sunless Sea
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Story description, Sunless Sea "The road to the crater ends at a brass gate in the crater wall. [...] An equally charming deviless in a tea-gown leans against the cottage wall, [...] “I am the guardian of this place,” she remarks languidly. “You may not pass. But can I offer you a cup of armillaria tea?”"
  3. ↑ The Deviless disconsolate, Sunless Sea "I long to return from exile. I was such a fool. There's no future with the Convention."
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Go up to the crater, Sunless Sea "It's possible that you might be able to eavesdrop on the Convention, somehow [...] When you wake, you're in the Deviless' cottage. Your head is in her lap. "I found you on the slopes," she says. "I thought I'd better bring you in before you heard anything you shouldn't." She smiles. "Strictly speaking, I should burn your ears off. But it's so nice to see you.""
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 A hesitant request, Sunless Sea ""Do you happen to have a case of souls for me? [...] I'd like a keepsake. And all souls are ours, you know, by right." [...] The Deviless lifts the lid of the crate. The light from the souls within illuminates her face. She stares at them for a long moment, and then tears begin to roll silently down her face. "Thank you," she says. "I've missed them so." [...] "Let me tell you something very special." (She whispers it in your ear: her breath smells like hot stone.) "But you should go now. Thank you.""
  6. ↑ Refuse tactfully, Sunless Sea "I understand. It is a little indelicate. But I've had so few human friends. I'm sorry if I'm tactless sometimes. Sit with me a while. Let's just talk. Oh, and I have this hamper of honey-fungus that your cook might find a use for [...]"
  7. ↑ Invite her to supper in your quarters, Sunless Sea "She seems more wistful than usual [...] Finally you realise that she's drunk. She's saying something about the old days - [...] She looks directly into your eyes. "You're very pretty," she says. Then she falls face-down in the remains of her chops and stewed mushrooms, and begins to snore."
  8. ↑ Tell the Deviless it's time to go, Sunless Sea "She lifts a single man-skin valise. "This is all I need. Take me back to London.""
  9. ↑ Invite her to supper in your quarters, Sunless Sea "She complains that you have only human spirits, not the cloying poisonous stuff that devils favour, but she drinks it liberally regardless."
  10. ↑ The Wistful Deviless, Sunless Sea ""Why did you have to spoil everything?" she complains. "And why - why are you warning me now? No, don't tell me. It'll be one of your human reasons. Compunction or compassion or one of those. What an untidy race you are.""
  11. ↑ The Wistful Deviless comes calling, Sunless Sea "You pat her consolingly and wait for her to finish. It takes a while. She seems embarrassed when she leaves: irritated, even, as if she blames you."
  12. ↑ The Deviless disconsolate, Sunless Sea "She pours the tea with a shaking hand. Her eyes are distant. "The lights, the agonies, the scalding mists of lead. I miss them so. I long to return from exile. I was such a fool. There's no future with the Convention.""
  13. ↑ Story description, Sunless Sea "At the Convention, I had a purpose. We were going to destroy so many things. I lost faith in that purpose, but I have no more faith here."
  14. ↑ A hesitant request, Sunless Sea "I just - I told you that I miss London. I miss Hell."
  15. ↑ No sympathy for the deviless, Sunless Sea "All right. I have lives to ruin. Perhaps I'll see you again. Don't drown."
  16. ↑ Escort the Deviless to the Brass Embassy, Sunless Sea "You've done a terrible thing, and I am terribly grateful. Take this." [...] "Perhaps I'll see you again. You're so much fun.""
  17. ↑ A hesitant request, Sunless Sea ""Do you happen to have a case of souls for me? No I'm not going to eat them! We don't eat souls, usually. [...] I just - I told you that I miss London. I miss Hell. I'd like a keepsake. And all souls are ours, you know, by right.""
  18. ↑ Escort the Deviless to the Brass Embassy, Sunless Sea ""London! Oh, the souls, the souls. I haven't smelt so many since - " She inhales, eyes closed, face rapt. Your hackney-carriage approaches the Embassy."
  19. ↑ The Deviless disconsolate, Sunless Sea ""Will you help me? I overhear things, here at the gate - the Convention's plans. Take them back to London for me. The officialdom of Hell will show gratitude to me, [...]"
  20. ↑ Give the Deviless the news from the Embassy, and the gift, Sunless Sea ""So listen. I have something more valuable for them. The names of seven devils back home who remain loyal to the aristocracy, to Brimstone. Here. Take the names: give them to the Embassy. Ask them if I can come home. [...]"
  21. ↑ Pass on your 'independent verification', Sunless Sea "Pass on your 'independent verification' [...] Rare event (60%) [...] A traitor [...] "How interesting. And unfortunate. This directly contradicts the Deviless' information. Well, treachery is to be expected: I wish she hadn't been so gauche about it. But that's the Brimstone Convention for you." [...] A loyalist [...] "I am delighted to say that this information precisely matches what the Deviless has told us. So we can rely on her: unless you are unreliable in your turn.""
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