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The Fifth City: Fallen London's Lore Wikia
The Fifth City: The Neath's Lore Wiki
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in: Creatures, The High Wilderness

Curators

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"These are real stars. They burn above the roof of the Neath, beyond the earth, in the spaces of heaven."

WARNING: Beyond this point lie extended spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, or Sunless Skies. This may include endgame or Fate-locked content, including spoilers for formerly restricted storylines such as the endings of Seeking Mr Eaten's Name. Look away now.

You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.


"Intelligent, locomotive-sized chiroptera, able to pry an engine apart with their claws, or pummel it with their hellish shrieks. Curators accumulate hoards, which they guard violently. Each hoard collects artefacts or creatures themed to the Curator’s particular obsession."[1]

Curators are a race of space bats that hoard treasures in the High Wilderness.

An Anatomy Lesson[]

"The Masters wouldn't care for you saying so. But the wings, the arms and legs, all fit."[2]

While Curators have many things in common with their earthly counterparts, they also possess humanoid hands, which allow them to hold items - or food - while in flight.[3][4] Curators may also possess other anatomical oddities, such as horns or even semi-sentient teeth which can move independently from their owner.[5][6][7]

It is shown that, while their typical size is massive, Curators can shrink in size to interact more properly with humans. However they can also lose control of this ability while upset, returning to something closer to their original size.[8] Curators who lack part of something called the "Dual Nature" are called Runts, and have smaller statures[9] and are unfortunately viewed as weaker by their peers.[10][11] It has been suggested that this "dual nature" of most Curators is that they are hermaphroditic, and that Runts only possess one set of reproductive organs. However, there is no conclusive confirmation of this, and Mr Menagerie (a Runt who uses it/its pronouns[11]) serves as a counterexample to the typically cited instance of Mr Candles (the only known Curator Runt to use he/him pronouns).[12]

Like other bats, Curators are sensitive to sound; they can even enter a state of intoxication when exposed to music.[13][14]

Merciless Pedlar-Magnates[]

"Once, we gathered here. We held our bargains and boasted of our chiefs. Our bands displayed the finest of goods. Our magnanimity was sharp as knives. All knew our worth. Then the light came. They made of our grounds sport. A dancing place. A laughing place. They made bargains of their own."[15]

Chiropteroushoarder

A Curator formerly known as Mr Apples.

Each Curator possesses an inherent desire to acquire and hoard a unique type of thing.[16] This obsession is present even before birth; in fact, an expecting parent Curator can experience its child's obsession as a unique form of pregnancy cravings.[17]

Curators spend much of their time alone or in small groups called flocks,[18] traveling and hunting in the High Wilderness, but occasionally they congregate in large numbers to trade and socialize.[19] During these gatherings, they follow a strict calendar called the Order of Days that determines their activities:

  • The Day of the Hunt, a time for killing lesser creatures and showing off trophies.[20]
  • The Day of the Feast, a time for eating and socializing.[21]
  • The Day of Council, a time for discussions and debates.[22]
  • The Day of Bargain, a time for trading.[23]
  • The Day of Slaughter, a time for murder between Curators.[24]

Some Curators become very successful during their long lives, achieving the ranks of band leaders and magnates amongst their comrades.[25][26]

Crimes and Messengers[]

"Charity is a crime. The punishment severe."[27]

Curator society is harsh, and there are many actions and situations which can result in ostracism of an individual.[28] Some of these include:

  • Hoarding
  • Light-bringing
  • Impersonation
  • Delivery of false testimony
  • Perpetration of the crimes of knife and of candle
  • Idleness
  • The dwelling-on of dreams
  • Runtery
  • Aberration
  • Pursuit of a Treachery
  • Failure and defeat; a fall from king to beggar
  • Glass-whispering
  • Charity
  • Truth-strangling
  • Violation of the Order of Days, “which determines the hour of the hunt, the feast, the council, the bargain, and the slaughter”

Outcast Curators sometimes enter into servitude to Messengers, for protection and a chance to escape their previous misfortune.[29][30] One such group can be found serving the Echo Bazaar in the Neath. A different flock once served the House of Rods and Chains, although they have been disbanded since its death.[31]

References[]


  1. ↑ Curator, Sunless Skies
  2. ↑ Declare your (Skeleton Type) a completed Curator, Fallen London
  3. ↑ Declare your (Skeleton Type) a completed Curator, Fallen London
  4. ↑ Examine the creature's collection, Sunless Skies
  5. ↑ Watch, Sunless Sea
  6. ↑ Bite like Mr Veils, Fallen London
  7. ↑ Enter the compartment - with the Hideous Promissory Note, Fallen London
  8. ↑ https://fallenlondon.wiki/wiki/Ambition:_Light_Fingers!
  9. ↑ Force the Convocation tell you how to reach the Grave of Mirrors, Fallen London "The Convocation shrink back. "LET'S NOT BE HASTY," says the smallest one (which still towers above you)."
  10. ↑ No map knows the place you go, Fallen London "A Tree which lacks the Dual Nature is less. A Beast which lacks the Dual Nature is no less. This kind are not Trees, nor are they Beasts. Each Clutch has sometimes its Runt, who lacketh part of the Nature. Even the Runt has uses. Consider the Owl."
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Give Mr Barleycorn the Seal of Mr Menagerie, Sunless Skies "The Runt [...] "I confess, I am amazed it has survived. My master was not tolerant of its various weaknesses. Its single-mindedness; its cleaving to antiquated custom. How it chafed at its chains." Mr Barleycorn dips the seal in ink and presses it to paper. "Still. I am glad it has found new purpose. I'm pleased to hear it's doing well.""
  12. ↑ Tell them what became of him, Fallen London "The others will comb the sea, [...] They will find each mote of Candles. He is a wound, an absence, a decay, but they will assemble his elements for the ceremony. [...] They look upon the remnants of the Runt; they grieve; they will not forget."
  13. ↑ Give Mr Barleycorn the Seal of Mr Pipes, Sunless Skies
  14. ↑ A loyalty worthy of praise, The Silver Tree "[...] Behind a curtain, a servant was playing a pipe of some sort, as was customary at these dinners. The Emissary was swaying, very gently, in time to the music. [...] He lurched, suddenly, and stumbled off. I would have believed him intoxicated, but that night, as usual, he had not had even a sip of airag."
  15. ↑ Listen to a story of things past, Sunless Skies
  16. ↑ Curator, Sunless Skies
  17. ↑ Offer Mr Spices your medical opinion on its peculiar health, Fallen London
  18. ↑ Show it the seal of Mr Barleycorn, Sunless Skies
  19. ↑ Listen to a story of things past, Sunless Skies
  20. ↑ Observe the Day of the Hunt, Fallen London
  21. ↑ Observe the Day of the Feast, Fallen London
  22. ↑ Observe the Day of Council, Fallen London
  23. ↑ Observe the Day of Bargain, Fallen London
  24. ↑ Observe the Day of Slaughter, Fallen London
  25. ↑ Listen to a story of things past, Sunless Skies
  26. ↑ A secret about the Masters, Failbetter Games
  27. ↑ Listen to a story of things past, Sunless Skies
  28. ↑ A secret about the Masters, Failbetter Games
  29. ↑ A secret about the Masters, Failbetter Games
  30. ↑ Show Mr Barleycorn's seal, Sunless Skies
  31. ↑ Talk with Mr Barleycorn, Sunless Skies
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