The Alt, the Candle, and the Name
I thought I’d give a quick update as to my progress in Fallen London, as my conjecture on the lore surrounding a certain Drowned One got a bit of attention previously.
Spoilers, duh.
First, the links to my character profiles. I didn’t intend to make my alt public, but I want it to be out there so that I can prove it’s me when she enters Horizon, for purposes of asking other Seekers about the other two endings.
Tranderas: http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Tranderas
Samia: http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Samia%20R
I basically took the summer off from FL due to a lack of sense of direction on Tranderas. I had already done all the stories I felt I could do without losing important grinding carousels. When it occurred to me how short a clock I would be on to try to push for Cerise’s candle by Sacksmas, I came back and gave Samia Exceptional Friendship. Here’s where we are now:
Tranderas came out of his hiatus and immediately found Jack-of-Smiles, which I incorrectly assumed would lock me out of the Velocipede Squad carousel (aside: Polythreme is my least-favorite zone in FL). He then finished the story of the Cheery Man and the Last Constable, which is a story I’m mad at because of how emotional it made me. As of this evening, he has stepped off his ship after a few successful terms as Governor of Port Carnelian, and is awaiting his invitation to return to the Traitor Empress’ Court.
Samia hit PoSI shortly after her return to the Neath. She immediately set to work obtaining a Tramp Steamer and a Gang of Hoodlums, the latter of which she is using to steal Bazaar Permits for her future home. Now she awaits word from a certain Firebrand so that she may piece together his relationship with that oh-so-distant Missionary.
As for me, I’ve continued to question what, exactly, you’re doing when you hit that black-bordered card and start down the worst path of your life. The game tells you the name; forum hints suggest that you’re not becoming the Drowned One; and the multiple endings suggest that there’s power in A Question. I know what I’m doing. I know the costs. I know the time investment. I don’t know why.
That appears to be the point of The Seeking Road. It was meant to ask players why they keep punishing themselves through video games that are hard just for the sake of being hard, with no reward other than having done it. In this case you actually have a reward in sight- the story at the end, and the ability to say you did it.
But seriously, why? I mean from your character’s point of view this time. Let’s look at the beginning of SMEN. He has gone on expedition after expedition, collecting some small treasure caches and bits of stories about the Fourth City. Then suddenly, there they are- the seven stones! They have letters of the strange language he’s seen around London, especially in the Bazaar, and they shine with a weird light. This is obviously quite the find! Now he takes these stones home, and tries to study them, but finds a mark scratched off of them. Curious, he takes the Stones to an expert, whose eyes start to bleed from a failed attempt at understanding them. No matter. Our character craves knowledge. He tries again. His sleep suffers, but for the most part, he’s fine. Then, one night, he hears a whisper. It’s not just gibberish; it’s instructions. He follows them, curious about what will happen. He lights a candle. The flame burns into his retina. He knows. A strange hunger overtakes him. He sates it with some raw meat, because that’s the only thing that seems like it will satisfy it, but it doesn’t. Those whispers get a little louder. He’s still hungry, and now a voice is plaguing him. Now it tells him to meditate, to form a fist, breathe, and release everything you knew. His senses immediately dull. Things are fuzzy and hard to remember. What was I doing? And why do I hear laughing that appears to come from nowhere and everywhere at once?
What manner of being keeps pressing on after all that?
It’s a preposterous proposition for the character, and that’s only the beginning. By the time the first candle is obtained, he’s died... I believe at least eight times, but probably more. He’s been to prison at least seven times and been driven mad (by FL standards) at least seven times. He can’t dream without feeling shackles. He has scars that won’t close. And his very sense of himself feels... broken. And there’s still six candles to go.
Perhaps it’s beyond the realm of rational comprehension on purpose. It’s obsession, it’s madness. It starts at curiosity and ends at oblivion.
I’ve written a lot about The Name and London itself, without even discussing some of my other theories and comments on what I know so far.
Another time, perhaps.