Knife-and-Candle

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"Death is not always permanent in Fallen London. This permits the practice of the violent but strangely boyish game of murderous gentlemen's tag called the Game of Knife-and-Candle."

Note the guns under the table...

Knife-and-Candle is Fallen London's more polite game of murder, polite in this case meaning one which doesn’t quite send the loser to the Slow Boat.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The Game is On!

The Gamekeeper's Cottage. Art from FL.

The game is run by the mysterious Committee, seemingly led by Mr. Iron himself, in the Gameskeeper’s Cottage located on Watchmaker’s Hill. Those who wish to participate in this game have their name written in silver in the Blind Book. The Committee enforces the rules of Knife-and-Candle by means of hired umpires. Umpires of Knife-and-Candle enforce the Committee rules by breaking up the offending members' fight. It is considered bad form for an umpire to murder the players, but it does happen on occasion.

As players win duels they gain iron knife tokens, prize tokens, proud parades of victories, and the coveted Assassin of Assassins title. These items are used to increase the player rank or order, attract lucrative sponsorship, and obtain powerful gear and weaponry such as a Waxwail Knife or Shroud of Little Midnights.

Leagues and Styles

Knife-and-Candle currently has two leagues in which players may participate, the Iron League and the Moon League. All new participants start out in the chaotic Iron League, where fellow duelists may attack at any time. In the Iron League, duels take the form of ambushes, like a game of cat and mouse. The Moon Leagues, however, are a more stately affair. In the Moon Leagues, duels take the form of declared moves and countermoves. Each player takes turns building their strategy and the duel can be ended at any time, and for any reason, if so desired. Advanced players in the Moon Leagues may participate in special Golden Duels which are just like regular duels except more prestigious.

There are three basic fighting styles approved by the Committee for use in Knife-and-Candle duels. The first fighting style, Savage, is the style of focusing on brute strength and force. It is used to overpower the opponent. The next fighting style, Elusive, is the style of keeping to the shadows. It is used to take one’s opponent by surprise, and has the added benefit of robbing them of their weaponry at the same time. The final fighting style, Baroque, is the style of confusion and chaos. Baroque throws one’s opponent off their game and creates an advantage for the player.

Savage!

Elusive!

Baroque!

Original by NiteBrite/Mrs. Brite

The Orders

Along with the Leagues, Knife-and-Candle also has several Orders: like-minded players who share a certain playstyle or ranking in the Game.

• The Order of the Wistful Rose is the most inclusive of the Orders. Its members have proven their competence, but they lack the prestige of the other Orders.
• The Order Vespertine are a feared Order known for their usage of Savage tactics. As players, they often strike first and are rumored to eat what they kill, but not really, that would be disgusting. However, what is disgusting is the requirement that initiates drink the blood of a bat. The Order Vespertine actually originates from the Elder Continent, and their rites are a corruption of the Presbyterate's laws and traditions. They often convene in the overcrowded marketplace of Dish-and-Spoon in Spite.
• The Order Serpentine is notorious for its usage of Elusive tactics; many of its members have mastered the art of entering and leaving without a single sign, often via the usage of mirrors. In fact, they may have ties to the Fingerkings themselves.
• The Order Ovate is famed for its Baroque tactics. As the most mysterious of the Orders, they may not even know what side they're on, but they may have a connection to the frost-moths that emerge from the Tomb-Colonies.
  

  Order of the Wistful Rose, Unfettered

  

  Order Vespertine, Irresistible

  

  Order Serpentine, Silent

  

  Order Ovate, Glory

The Medals

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That which is inscribed on the Medals

Order of the Wistful Rose The seeds that falleth like the years of a life: they shall be numbered, and the least that remaineth shall be counted. Whoso watereth seeds with their tears: salt shall be returned unto them. Whoso watereth seeds with another's blood: salt shall be returned unto them. The seeds are numbered, yet that number shall not be recorded; not the shadow of its script nor the fall of its tally. In gold we find the number, in silver, in bronze, and in the Forms: and to increase in number is exaltation.' Who cometh to the Gate in summer shall be met with a sword of ice, and who cometh to the Gate in winter shall be met with a sword of fire. None shall enter save those that sip honey. None shall leave save those that devour. Yet shall we dwell therein forever. (This one is annotated: Lib. Vis. II. i.) Order Vespertine: THE PRESBYTER SAITH: you shall harm no thing that flies, for they carry with them the airs of the Garden. No bee, no bird, no bat. Only to my servants is it given to hunt them, and that only for my table. Yet I am generous: all shall feast. THE PRESTER SAITH: The Thief-of-Faces shall not be suffered to return to the Garden, nor its chattels, nor its children. It has taken from us that which is precious and returned only lies and empty fires. It shall be locked in a prison of flint, and it shall know no light. THE PRESTER SAITH: When I die, yet shall I not die. The hour of my death shall be chosen, yet no man shall choose it. I am eternal, and yet my reign in circumscrib'd by law and Fate. I will feast at my funeral, and my child shall be my cup-bearer. THE PRESTER SAITH: in the Garden is the Design; in the Garden occured the Ascents; in the Garden were selected the Shames. Therefore none shall enter it without that they be blinded with thorns and bound with the Three Oaths. And should any seek to alter the Design or repeat the Ascent or uncover the Shames, they shall be given to the Wax-Wind. Order Serpentine: ONCE UPON A TIME there was a little snake, no bigger than your finger, who lived behind the mirror. The little snake was very lonely, and the only friends he could find behind the mirror were old memories and strangling roots and the grumpiest bee above or below the world. And so... ...THE LITTLE SNAKE asked the grumpiest bee in both worlds for help. And the bee said, why should I help? And the snake said, I will give you one-fifth of all I gain thereby. So the bee thought, and he said, in a far place there grows a rose. And that rose... ...THE ROSE, WHICH IS CALLED EXILE'S ROSE, has a property of passage. So shall I brew a honey from its dusts and pollens, and the honey shall be sweet, and it shall bring those who taste it, here to your dwelling. And sometimes they shall stay forever. And the little snake was very pleased with all the new friends the honey brought, but... ALL THE LITTLE SNAKE'S NEW FRIENDS spoke fondly of the place outside the mirror. And the little snake thought: what if I could walk there among all my friends-to-be? They need not leave. We would be all so very happy. But I may not walk in my own skin. So perhaps my friends shall lend me their skin... Order Ovate: -- 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.) -- MESSENGER: What do you among my spires? OWLS: Why, great master, we watch. We wait. We eat. MESSENGER: You watch and you wait and consume, you say. But is there not one who will make you his prey? 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. -- PHOENIX (to herself): I am so very tired of flames. I will drown myself in snow and emerge in perfect serenity. Or emerge not at all. MESSENGER: What’s that? You have no more use for flame? PHOENIX: Oho! A visitor! MESSENGER: A pleasure. Will you guess my name? PHOENIX: I know you. All we things of fire do. You are the ragged messenger who carries a troth from the Sun to - MESSENGER: -name her not! Name her not, the b___h! PHOENIX: Aren’t we touchy! I had no idea. -- MESSENGER: You, again. DRAGON: Yes. I remain the servant of your master. As do you. He awaits you. MESSENGER: Do not. I beg you, do not. He cannot yet hear what I have to say. DRAGON: (carelessly) You have a little longer. Should this place fail, two remain. (Exit) MESSENGER: Not yet enough. Not yet enough!