#lorebook

[anti-cyra]

New Series: Halen Academy

Welcome to Halen Academy, a magic school where only the best and brightest from all walks of life are allowed to enter these hallowed halls. The academy strictly prohibits any form of discrimination — giving anybody whether human, vampire, demon, beastkin and otherwise a chance to learn and grow. However, humans haven’t been admitted into the academy for centuries… until you came along. Nevertheless, your professors are dedicated to providing you quality education and upholding the academy’s tradition of allowing accessible magic for all. 

Be fairly warned, human. Your peers may not all agree; some may accept you, some may find a way to cast you out. After all, the darkest mage of all time was a human who took the knowledge of magic and twisted it for his own greed, staining Erachar’s history. At the end of the day, it is up to you to prove them wrong… or right.

· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

Released characters: Halen Academy faculty members

⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ 2nd POV Singular User (one character across multiple bots) ⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ Gender neutral human user x he/him bots. ⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ Bots from this series will have "HA" as a label along with HALEN ACADEMY in the tagline. ⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ Deals with themes of magic, school life, and various species such as vampires, beastkin, demons, etc. ⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ On-going series with more to be added along the way! ⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ Bots may know of each other vaguely, but plots are generally unrelated to each other unless mentioned otherwise.

For a detailed overview and lorebook, please click here. Characters will also be linked and updated in the doc.

[autumnslance]

Werlyt in Lorebook 3

So Werlyt gets a page expanding on its location and history a bit, to be expected as the new Encyclopaedia Eorzea 3 goes over both Shadowbringers and Endwalker content. What they do with its history as an Imperial province again paints Gaius in a better light...in ways we already knew were IC for him as established in earlier content, while also being straight up out of Machiavelli's The Prince in a way that makes complete sense for the Empire when dealing with conquered provinces, and how we've even heard before how some of them are ruled very much like native Garlean regions.

See, one of the oldest tricks in the literal book is you conquer a province, and especially if it proves unruly, you give it a nasty governor. Use them to root out the rebellious factions, while also tearing apart the old systems, stripping resources, crushing the populace, etc. THEN you send in a Reasonable Guy to take over who ousts the bad vicious leader, restores order, treats the people well, and so on. Now that new governor--and by extension his emperor for sending him--looks better in the eyes of the people, a problematic political/military rival has been killed/broken politically, the unruly elements have already been culled, and the people are just grateful for a reprieve from their misery. More acquiescent and "this isn't so bad after all."

Another famous literary example (and with a new movie a few months out) is Dune; once Harkonnen takes back Arrakis, he sends one nephew, Raban, who is literally nicknamed "the Beast", to be a horrible bully of a governor. His job is to root out the remaining loyal Atreides and quash the local Fremen. Then once Raban's atrocities were at their peak, Harkonnen meant to send in his heir, Feyd-Ruatha, to be the golden prince who would get rid of the problematic Raban (lethally if needed) and be accepted by the people as a decent leader. Of course, Dune's story rolls out differently, but the play is the same.

The Garlean Empire did the exact same thing in Werlyt.

For 30 years the subjugated nation was oppressed and stripped of resources. When the Empire's attention moved toward Othard and the military presence thinned enough a rebellion rose up, it was still crushed, but not before the previous viceroy was killed in the revolt.

Then Gaius van Baelsar came in and restored order. We already knew Gaius had a habit of appointing the right people for the job, regardless of race and social standing; he continued that in Werlyt, and was otherwise a good governor, working to ensure the populace was cared for, administered properly, even improved education and literacy rates. So after a few decades of crushing abuse...now Werlyt had a "reasonable governor" who treated them like people and took care of them, if still under the auspices of the Empire. They made it look like a better deal, and the previous guy was a mistake that shouldn't have happened.

This also tracks with pre-Praetorium Gaius as the "true believer" of Garlemald's Imperial mission of taming the "savage" lands and ushering them into the "civilized" ways of the Empire and adding those peoples' knowledges, cultures, skills, and might to the Empire to make everyone better. That "unity" aspect he and other leaders like Quintus van Cinna spouted while missing the hypocrisy. Gaius was a good governor because he thought that was the entire point--and then also led to his opposition of the Meteor Project. He never wanted to wipe Eorzea out, he wanted to bring it under Imperial control and govern it as he had Werlyt.

So for twenty years, Gaius was the reasonable governor getting good grades in cultivating Werlyt as a respectable and flourishing province of the Empire. Then he was sent to Ala Mhigo to conquer that, and through it the rest of Eorzea.

...And then Valens van Varro took over Werlyt and pretty much overnight undid everything reasonable a decent governor would do because of his jealousy over Gaius and his own ambitions for power, especially after the civil wars left the Imperial throne vacant. Also cuz again, they have to spend this branch of story making Gaius look better by making Valens cartoonishly bad at everything. Rather than trusting what they already wrote about a complicated man who truly believed in his mission until forced to see how he had been a pawn sowing misery his whole life. But they've tended to rewrite Gaius and his on screen characterization a lot as it is, and with Garlemald not getting an expansion of its own (they had considered it but ultimately worked its fall into ShB and EW), it feels like they hammer this point in Werlyt to speed run what was supposed to be an actual rehabilitation arc for the character.

And then it once again frames the quintent as rebellious heroes who thwarted Valens plans to use them and the Weapons project for his own ends and sure we'll let that go cuz the folks in Werlyt need something. They do have a named leader (Talbot Hunte) and a government set up and none of it really mentions Gaius, though we know they put him in charge of their military. Cuz yeah, he was one of their conquerers--but they also know that they can work with him and that he knows how to run an army effectively.

Also all the quintet are literally named "aan Baelsar" in their entries, though the main thing I noticed there was that Milisandia did in fact dye her hair red to account for the discrepancy in her child appearances in the various flashbacks. Apparently it was cuz she noticed Alfonse seemed very fond of one of their caretakers at the orphanage, and so Milisandia changed her hair to be the same color to try and get his attention, quietly pining for him for years but never letting him know about her not-quite-sisterly affections.

[blackblood-tonic]

Emblem concerts I've done for the Emblematic Contest

I just forgot to post them here

[valentine-cafe]

. ˚◞♡ 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒆, 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝒈𝒐◞ ₊˚

⊹ ۪ ࣪ ᥫ᭡ our wiki ꒱ 

𖹭. our lorebook/wiki is on an external site ( notion ), you do not need any former knowledge of this site ro navigate

𖹭.it looks better on desktop, but if you are on mobile, make sure that you change your browser settings to "desktop site" in the top left corner. otherwise, you can simple use the mobile look

𖹭. if you struggle with anything don't be afraid to give us a shout!

[theelderscrollsarchive]

"Hello, impatient friend! You left before we could finish our business, but do not be worried. You are fitting right in, yes? In this, we are alike. But alas, I am a busy Khajiit. I have no time to uncover why the dead rise in the Temple of the Mourning Springs. Not why the Sea Vipers pick through smashed Dominion ships at Shattered Shoals. Perhaps you will know, one day soon. On that day, seek out the fine-looking Khajiit by the bridge to Mistral and I'll trade curiosity for coin. Your new friend, - Razum-dar

[fromthecellarsofoldnewgate]

An Afternoon at the Pride and Sorrow.

A new tearoom is open in Spite. Or perhaps you never noticed it before. It’s inviting all the same.

>Head inside. Perhaps they’ll have something you like.

Inside is lit with an assortment of London candles and Khaganian lightbulbs. Well dressed spies sip their drinks along with fierce-looking criminals. This is an exceedingly dangerous place, only kept in check by the Stoic Former Urchin manning the counter. The place is decorated with various pieces of art, mostly depicting nature of both the Surface and Neath. A few pieces depict battle, but these are behind the counter, staring at patrons as a sort of threat.

>Speak with the Former Urchin behind the counter.

They are stern and short with their replies. Their name starts with an H. They like working here- it’s better than the Flit. No, they hate chess. Checkers is more their speed. Everything sold here is good for a cold Neathy day.

That sort of answer. Conversation is not on the menu.

>Try some tea.

It’s soothing and warms you from the very center of your being.

>Wounds is dropping.

A few chess boards are scattered around, with a few friendly games going on.

>Play chess with a fellow patron.

>Your Watchful quality gives you a 100% chance of success.

This is a friendly game. No ulterior motive, no greater game like the Moonlit Chessboard. Whether spy or criminal, the game is seemingly the same- a standard opening from some chess book, then rapid deviation.

You win, and the two of you thank each other for the time. Nobody wants to start anything, rightfully so.

>Chat with a Ragged Academic.

His answers are quiet yet rambling. It feels like he would be better suited to a lecture hall. His work is boring and drab- studying the day-to-day current events of the Surface is not nearly as interesting as it seems. His lecture halls must be empty.

>Play chess with a Ragged Academic.

>Your Player of Chess quality gives you a 100% chance of success.

He opens with a familiar move- not from books, but from Parabola. You counter with a similar move. The game is fierce, tense. You scrape by a win with your last bishop. He beams as he loses. “Good move, friend!”

>Chat with the Last Mortician.

She is seldom seen in the front of house. Today is a rarity. She is old, older than the Fall, yet younger than you expect. She speaks of charity, of helping those who cannot help themselves, of unorthodox methods, and a little of life in London, before the Fall.

>Play chess with the Mortician

>Your Player of Chess quality gives you a 50% chance of success.

>Failure.

She only has one rule: no matter the color picked, you go first. You open according to best practices. And she retaliates with a useless move. But those moves pile up. She snowballs, and you are felled in the avalanche. She smiles as she packs the set up. “Well played.”

>Success.

She only has one rule: no matter the color picked, you go first. You open according to best practices. And she retaliates with a useless move. You see the game she is playing, and you adapt. You prepare your endgame as you tear hers down. At the endgame, she forfeits. Packing the set up, she explains.

“I know when I’m beat. No sense dragging it out. Solid work. Come back later, I might have some work for a clever player like you.”

>Take your leave of this place.

You’ve seen enough. Back to the streets of Spite, and the pickpockets and markets.

[larkkspuur]

A muzzled hound I'm tied and bound A wild beast crying for release I want my mouth So I may howl And share with silence of the trees

ID:

The Illusionist, a character belonging to/portrayed by @tempulian​. She has long, braided blackish purpleish hair, black shadowy skin that is dripping, a white shirt that puffs at the sleeves and ends at the elbows, a long purple skirt, and around her neck is an eye of ender. She also has a white mask with pitch black eyes and mouth and “eyeshadow” that is lime green with streaks of white. The mask is frowning. She is reaching for her neck where the eye of ender is, that has blood behind it and a sketchy hand reaching out for it through her chest. Her hair is cut off at the end of the braid, where the end looks like a scorpion stinger with lime green drips coming out of it. Around her neck are white, fanged teeth with blood on them. Behind her are a pair of angry pink eyes.

End ID

Bloodless version under cut

ID:

Same image but the blood has been removed from the teeth and from behind the hand and ender eye, and the hand reaching through her chest is white. End ID

[skeletalk-art]

Elder Scrolls Skyrim: The Dreamstride (Lorebook, Audiobook & Art)

[ecm-writes-sometimes]

Is the Eridean number system base 10?

This is a piece of worldbuilding that I’ve thought about, but not truly fleshed out with its own history; I like to think that, much like many of the early civilizations of our own world, the cultures of Erdeia developed base 10 number systems independently, and at least by the current year, Y475, with sufficient cultural diffusion and sufficient international diplomatic relations such that a unified calendar system can be established, most of the world (or at least the more-developed nations, kingdoms, or empires) has agreed to the use of mathematical or scientific measurement methods similar to our world’s SI standard. Great question, thanks for the inspiration!

[troythecatfish]

[thebridgebeyond]

Lorebook:

The Taiber’su Civil War

I've been thinking about the monarchs again, which is not unusual considering I'm still processing the zhuard monarch who reached Issuhiro. But a few days ago I got some insight..

《《○》》

There was only ever one record of the Taiber’su taking over a realm, and it was their own. The brief epiphany on the matter suddenly came through and it became realized that it was a gritty situation involving faction(s) of Taiber’su. One of which, from what I gleaned, was more radicalized that the other (they may not have been the only ones in the skirmish to be such a way but I sense a civil war conflict between two). It's strange to have a different view of the zhuard creators than previously noted, but that's sometimes the case when I get glimpses like these. They weren't conquers (that much I knew..they never invaded anywhere outside of their realm on purpose minus Expo 07).

That belligerent faction sought to turn the realm into something they saw as a better fit for them. They wanted to create without interference. The ability to make their own fauna, to recreate what was their own world--it was a very odd obsession that I can't really pinpoint the source of. For some, the act of playing God may come to mind, and that's most likely the case. This faction was not in need of making such creatures...they did so out of enjoyment.

When things were getting hairy during this civil war, they made an executive decision to release two zhuard monarchs to test their power and as a show of might (the Issuhiro monarch was the third, but she was not involved in this first incident). The agenda again was more or less to turn the realm into an area for their own creations, letting them be an artistic and, in some cases, more advanced interpretation of what the faction saw. Thus the Taiber’su empire being born, slowly.

In these instances of monarch attacks, the targets were not only enemy towers, but Taiber’su civilians too. The damage from the two resulted in far too many casualties, even when the monarchs were called back in a stupor. The attacks were random but happened more than once. The realm really did become a wasteland--the monarchs (particularly one and of her frenzies) evaporated the oceans, the area grew dark with ashes, and one would only spot strange creations in the darkness.

[autumnslance]

Does the new EE volume cover any of the job abilities or artifact gears we've gotten since ShB? Really curious about things like Xenoglossy and the afflatus spells

The only jobs with abilities and artifact gear it goes into are those introduced in Shadowbringers and Endwalker; Gunbreaker, Dancer, Reaper, Sage, and Blue Mage get write ups. There’s a 2 page spread of some Machinist weapons, but otherwise the previous jobs are not touched on again.

The book is very focused on the ancient world and set up for the Zodiark/Hydaelyn conflict leading to the plot, the First, the new regions in EW, Ardbert & crew’s journey and explaining the details of Shadowkeeper’s villainy (and why she’s so guilt-ridden over it all now cuz wow), and all the people, places, storylines, side content, holidays, and creatures we’ve encountered the last 2 expacs, up to the end of 6.0 (So there's no patch information). All of the 24 man raids from ARR through Stormblood, Bozja, and the 4 man dungeons of Shadowbringers and 6.0 are detailed.

But Not YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse. The NieR raids are entirely missing from the lorebook. Anogg and Konogg get short entries in the section with the other dwarves, but the last quarter of Anogg’s entry is blotted out (one of three entries in the book that are redacted; the Beavers and Other Ones in Ultima Thule are the others). I expect the raid series' lore is being folded in NieR's own, as is per usual with extra-game material for that series.

Also there's more than a little gender muckery going on; an unseen leader with no one sure what they look like or what gender they are. Giott from the ShB Role Quests being referred to as "they." Nutsy, of Clan Nutsy hunts, is suddenly using she/her (kinda sure it was he/him in game?? Have to check if they ever mentioned Nutsy's pronouns/gender before). The Loporrits have no biological gender, they pick pronouns cuz they think the people of Etheirys doing so is a cute "quirk." They stuck with the lore of Viera/Viis children not having visible biological sex traits until puberty (and then most of them present as female). This on top of what we got about dragons in the patch content (we knew about the asexual reproduction, but it's confirmed they really don't care about gender and also choose it out of a hat), and is emphasized in Vrtra's simulacra being of various ages and genders over time; Varshan's just the latest random model.

They also seem to emphasize even more that this book is written as if in universe, even with several of the secrets it does spill, noting the Scions' reports and information, and how much of it is trustworthy or not, and what the Scions themselves did not report on or redacted, which is really things like not talking publicly about exactly what happened to them--nor the details of the WoL's battles--in Ultima Thule. So it seems primarily to preserve some MSQ specific events for playthrough, and also to not simply blow-by-blow retell said MSQ. It also says where their accounts have been corroborated by other sources, such as when they note the Sharlayan Forum unanimously backing the Scions' records without caveats.

This also indicates the Scions are understandably not publicly sharing all the Traumas MSQ has put them through, nor some of the truly dangerous or simply sensitive information the main party is privy to. And adds a neat little twist on how some folks may be skeptical of the Scions actions, methods, and motivations for their heroics and what that looks like to the general public from the outside, and the people who have to collect and record these histories and observations, even if the evidence speaks for itself.

The devs do this "in universe" storytelling often, because doing so gives the writers wiggle room to make changes/retcons, as the IC writers of these framing devices and lore info dumps can be mistaken, lying, biased, or otherwise writing to their own agenda even while purporting to be as objectively honest as possible. It allows for flexibility in the lore for them, and makes space for plenty of headcanons for us.

I'll probably do a post on the Vrandtic language and alphabet, and Faerie runes, at some point as that's of interest for me in specific. For now, let's just say they took the easy-ish way despite going into detail on the development and proliferation of Eorzean Common in a previous EE.

In fact, here's the Table of Content for the Lorebook, transcript under the cut, mistakes probably mine, etc:

THE INVENTORY OR INDEX

CONTAINING THE CONTENT OF VII BOOKS SEEKING TRUTHS ACROSS AND BEYOND OUR STAR

The First Book: Etheirys 005

The Ancient World - 006

The Beginning of the Final Days - 014

Norvrandt and the First - 024

The History of Norvrandt - 026

The Warriors of Light - 032

The Flood of Light -040

A Century of Vrandtic History - 043

The Language of Norvrandt - 052

Eorzean Holiday Traditions - 054

The Second Book: Children of the Cosmos 065

The Hrothgar - 066

The Viera - 068

The Arkasodara - 070

The Loporrits - 072

Races from Distant Stars - 074

Peoples of the First - 082

The Pixies - 086

The Nu Mou - 088

The Fuath - 090

The Tupaq Amaro - 091

The Qitarri - 092

The Hobgoblin - 094

The Third Book: Distant Lands 095

The Crystarium - 096

Lakeland - 104

Eulmore - 106

Kholusia - 110

Amh Araeng - 112

Il Mheg - 114

The Rak'tika Greatwood - 116

The Tempest - 118

Werlyt - 120

Bozja - 122

Old Sharlayan - 124

Labyrinthos - 130

Radz-at-Han - 132

Thavnair - 140

Garlemald - 142

Mare Lamentorum - 144

Elpis - 146

Ultima Thule - 148

The Fourth Book: Servants of Fate 151

Faces of the Crystarium - 152

Vanquishers of Virtue - 154

Makers of the Mean - 156

Faces of Lakeland - 158

Faces of Kholusia - 159

Faces of Eulmore - 161

Faces o Amh Araeng - 163

Away with the Fae - 165

Keepers o the Rak'tika Greatwood - 166

Faces of the Tempest - 168

Faces of Werlyt - 169

The Bozjan Resistance - 171

The IVth Legion - 172

Faces of the Firmament - 173

Faces of Sharlayan - 174

Scholars of the Studium - 175

Faces of Labyrinthos - 177

Faces of Thavnair - 178

Faces of Garlemald - 180

Faces of Mare Lamentorum - 182

Faces of Elpis - 183

Echoes of Ultima Thule - 185

Faces from Journeys Past - 186

The Fifth Book: Journeys Traced 189

The Unending Journey - 190

The Labyrinth of the Ancients - 192

Syrcus Tower - 193

The World of Darkness - 194

The Void Ark - 195

The Weeping City of Mhach - 196

Dun Scaith - 197

The Royal City of Rabanaste - 198

The Ridorana Lighthouse - 199

The Orbonne Monastery - 200

The Bozjan Southern Front - 201

Castrum Lacus Litore - 202

Delubrum Reginae - 203

Zadnor - 204

The Burn - 206

The Ghimlyt Dark - 207

Holminster Switch - 208

Dohn Mheg - 209

The Qitana Ravel - 210

Malikah's Well - 211

Mt. Gulg - 212

Amaurot - 213

The Twinning - 214

Akademia Anyder - 215

The Grand Cosmos - 216

Anamnesis Anyder - 215

The Heroes' Gauntlet - 218

Matoya's Relict - 219

Paglth'an - 220

The Tower of Zot - 221

The Tower of Babil - 222

Vanaspati - 223

Ktisis Hyperborea - 224

The Aitiascope - 225

The Dead Ends - 226

The Stigma Dreamscape - 227

Smileton - 228

The Sixth Book: Inventive Designs 229

Gunbreaker - 230

Dancer - 232

Reaper - 234

Sage - 236

Blue Mage - 238

The Gunblade - 240

Throwing Weapons - 242

The Scythe - 244

Nouliths - 246

Machinist Kit - 248

A Gunbreaker's Panoply - 250

A Dancer's Panoply - 251

A Reaper's Panoply - 252

A Sage's Panoply - 253

A Blue Mage's Panoply - 254

The Seventh Book: Curious Creatures 255

A Broader Bestiary - 256

Beastkin - 258

Seedkin - 260

Wavekin - 261

Cloudkin - 262

Scalekin - 263

Forgekin - 264

Ashkin & Voidsent - 268

Soulkin - 269

Transfigured - 271

Extrastellar Life - 273

Creations - 275

Eden Primals - 278

Beasts of the Final Days - 282

The Ultima Weapon Projects - 286

Elite Clan Nutsy Marks - 292

Lakeland - 292

Kholusia - 293

Amh Araeng - 294

Il Mheg - 295

The Rak'tika Greatwood - 296

The Tempest - 297

Elite Marks of the Gleaners' Guildship - 298

Labyrinthos - 298

Thavnair - 299

Garlenald - 300

Mare Lamentorum - 301

Elpis - 302

Ultima Thule - 303

Supplements

Solidarity Through Celebration - 064

Protectors of the Realm - 150

[lapandablasee]

fighting the urge to make a neocities lorebook just for me and my ocs but I need to draw them more to do that, praying for a hyperfixation stat like rn please god

[thepentagonaltrapezohedron]

I keep seeing people say Cyn's dead by the time of the series but I don't agree.

Like tell me this isn't Cyn:

Also, there's Cyn's screen when she becomes a zombie drone at the start of episode 5:

Brightened version:

[][][][hello :]

I see you are [di S eful/sad)

I see you are inoperable end]]

--- l fD--t] [selfD ]end]]

I see we could [trl ] [ edit for you

I will not discard you

[][][][][][Absolute[S

access? Y/N

. [ 0001%

I see you will be here for a while

That "I will not discard you" makes me pretty skeptical of the idea Solver fully assimilated Cyn.

Also also:

STRING "ABSOLUTE SOLVER" BLOCKED BY ADMINISTRATION "CYN"

Cyn is not only different from the Solver, she is still active.

What's neat is that this image is from the pilot, so they might have planned for Cyn to still be alive from the start.

[theelderscrollsarchive]

Necromancy in Modern Tamriel by Wafimeles Masteret (Lorekeeper) Eternal slumber was once taken for granted. But now, necromancy has appeared in numerous locations across Tamriel. Anonymous spies have pinpointed the Cult of the Black Worm as the insidious force responsible. This sect, once hidden from view is spreading and offers the weak-willed what seems a guaranteed rise to power. Its chief opposition is the Mages Guild, but with the Guild in disgrace in Cyrodiil and banished from the Imperial City, the Order of the Black Worm seems ascendant. Hidden cells of these necromancers are called Worm Nests, led by a priest of undeath who takes the mantle of Worm Anchorite. Such priests may even have converted to undead form, after which they're called Worm Eremites. They are never apart from undead protectors, either summoned or reanimated. The leader of this cult is the Altmer mage Mannimarco, whose name is never spoken aloud by the cultists, he is instead invoked (with a whisper) as the King of Worms. No more must be written about him, his tendrils of power and influence snake far and wide.

[fromthecellarsofoldnewgate]

Inspired by this excellent post, here’s a few places I’ve made for the lads

The Pride and Sorrow

Located in Spite, this tea room is supposedly a haunt of spies and criminals seeking a more refined/quiet place to relax and chat about their days. With the counter manned by a Stoic Former Urchin, talk flows free with the leaves. Rumors persist, however, of backroom dealings involving a former funeral director. Whether these are true or not, few have seen the Last Mortician in the front of the store. Even fewer have played chess with her. (And even fewer than that have beaten her). Supposedly a favorite of the Koloman Republic, during the Coilheart Games.

Factions: Criminals, the Great Game

Notable Persons: The Last Mortician, the Stoic Former Urchin, the Ragged Academic

The Extracurriculars Department at Benthic

A underfunded and underappreciated experiment by the Dean of Extracurriculars to ‘expand the students’ knowledge’, it has scrabbled out a living amongst the resurgent Correspondence Department and bitter academic rivalry.

It’s various courses include:

Department of Photography, headed by a Polite Daguerreotypist

Department of Surface Studies, headed by the Ragged Academic

Applied Zeefaring Ztudies, headed by a Grousing Zailor

Contemporary Literature (Not Romance!), headed by an Ailing Typist

And many others. A small (friendly) rivalry has brewed between the Academic and the Daguerreotypist. Despite this, the departments generally get along, sharing students and resources where possible.

Factions: The University: Benthic

Notable Persons: Ambrose Ashcroft, Dean of Extracurriculars, the Polite Daguerreotypist, the Ragged Academic, the Ailing Typist, the Grousing Zailor, a Motley and Loyal Cadre of Students

Paulson’s Provisions

A small pub situated just near enough to Prickfinger Wastes to be dangerous, and just close enough to the Department of Menace Eradication to be a favored spot of monster hunters on a seriously tight budget. Owned and operated by Kip Paulson, this pub has stood solid for a decade, despite London’s general bad time with summer festivities- Kip and his rowdy crowd have survived the Starved War, the Great Sink, and the Coilheart Games more or less unscathed (though with more patrons from the Tomb-Colonies). Revolutionaries and Constables tip back pints with Monster-Hunters and Tomb-Colonists, and with a strict ‘No Weapons’ policy, the peace is shakily kept.

Factions: Revolutionaries, Tomb-Colonists, Constables

Notable Persons: Kip Paulson, the Prussian Swashbuckler, the Retired Constable, the Forthright Demolitionist

Her Majesty’s Locomotive, Freefall

A Parsival-class locomotive, this is less a location and more a mobile base for a peculiar Germanic mercenary. Fitted with guns that let her punch far above her weight, she’s the pride of her Captain and crew. She’s stated that she’ll work for any price as long as it puts fuel in her firebox, and she always follows through on a contract. Some have sighted it engaging in piracy, flying a Prussian flag brought from Old London, and a few vintage bottles of wine, for celebrations and sharing amongst rescued skyfarers.

Notable Persons: The Prussian Sky-Captain, the Forthright Demolitionist