The Fierce Philanthropist

"I saw it! Ask anyone! ...except her. Don't ask her."

The following page is not properly cited as per our revamped content policy. Therefore, the article may contain information from speculative or non-canon sources.

You can find out more about our citation policy here.

"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."

Beyond this point lie spoilers for Fallen London, Sunless Sea, or Sunless Skies. This may include midgame or minor Fate-locked content. Proceed with caution.

You can find out more about our spoiler policy here.

"The Admiralty - and other powers - disapprove of such innovation. Therefore, we will need to be discreet. I have procured experts, labourers, and a workshop. They are well-paid, and loyal."

The Fierce Philanthropist is an entrepreneur living in Port Carnelian.

A Force To Be Reckoned With[]

Otherwise known as Evelyn Lytton,^[1]^[2] the Philanthropist comes from a wealthy industrialist family. Alongside her husband (referred to only as Lytton), who was a church administrator with a congregation at his disposal, the Philanthropist raised funds for the campaign of the Seven Against Nidah.^[3] In the event of Mr. Lytton's demise or unavailability, the Philanthropist was to replace him as financier of the campaign.^[4]

The Agreement About Nothing of Consequence[]

"London, the Presbyterate, the Khanate, Khan's Shadow, the New Sequence and even the Iron Republic have all concluded that there’s nothing of any importance under the Zee, and they’ve all agreed to leave it well alone. That means the places below the waves are off limits to you, too."

The Fierce Philanthropist financed the recreation and development of Zubmarines in 1887, which violated the Agreement About Nothing of Consequence - but not that the Admiralty could do anything about it, anyway, with their lack of manpower.

The Agreement About Nothing of Consequence, signed circa 1886 but circumvented by enterprising zailors almost immediately, is a treaty between the various nations of the Unterzee to ban all exploration of the Unterzee's depths as well as research and construction of zubmarines.

Prior to the Agreement, London's Admiralty conducted its zubmarine research at Station III; the Khanate's zubmarine research base is unknown, but some scientists associated with the project later took up residence at Khan's Shadow.

The New Street Line[]

"There is no line, only the idea of one. We have conductors operating throughout the Empire, reporting to me. I'll point you to one of them and they'll tell you where you need to go. Assuming, of course, you're ready to be responsible for another's freedom."^[5]

As of 1905, the Philanthropist is a co-owner of the Steam & Sapphire Company, an engine yard in New London.^[6] Secretly, however, she runs an underground railroad called the New Street Line.^[7] The "railroad" smuggles prisoners from several Workworlds, such as the Brabazon Workworld,^[8] and encourages unrest within them.^[9] Her nephew, the Firebrand Conductor, is one of the "conductors" on this line.^[10]

She still likes sherry.^[11]

References[]

↑ Deliver his wife's locket, Sunless Sea "You hold the open locket up before him. “Evelyn,” he says, involuntarily, and looks at you."
↑ Ambition: an Additional Sherry with the Fierce Philanthropist, Sunless Sea "When you raise the matter of your search for immortality, and the involvement of Lytton, the man who shares her name, she grows thoughtful."
↑ What was his role in the Seven?, Sunless Sea "“I came from modest means. However, my congregation consisted of industrialists, the gentry, bankers... People with an interest in immortality and the willingness to invest. My doctrine was unconventional - eternal life in this life, not the next.”"
↑ The Financier, Sunless Sea "You remind her that he wants no further part in the endeavour. "Yes. But he has told us who should replace him." She clicks open the locket. The face of the Fierce Philanthropist looks out. "
↑ The New Street Line, Sunless Skies
↑ Trade Gratitude to win the Bookkeeper's trust, Sunless Skies "He gives you a yellowing train ticket and shows you an address. It belongs to a Fierce Philanthropist, co-owner of the Steam & Sapphire company."
↑ Inquire into the New Street Line's secretive work, Sunless Skies "We have conductors operating throughout the Empire, reporting to me. I'll point you to one of them and they'll tell you where you need to go. Assuming, of course, you're ready to be responsible for another's freedom."
↑ Enquire about the work, Sunless Skies "Everyone deserves the right to their own hours. To live them at the pace God intended! But on the workworlds a pauper spends a month of their life to ensure an hour of rich man's luxury. [...] Those who escape from the workworlds are hunted. My— Our patron arranges passage for as many as she can."
↑ Ship arms to a workworld, Sunless Skies "You'll never bring down a workworld, but an uprising here means fewer overseers here."
↑ Campaign for the Firebrand Conductor's release, Sunless Skies ""He's her Ladyship's nephew," the Stationmaster tells you. The Fierce Philanthropist never mentioned that."
↑ The New Street Line, Sunless Skies "She sits tall in her chair, a sherry bottle to one side, her papers to the other. She pours you a glass. "Please, have a seat.""

[1] Deliver his wife's locket, Sunless Sea "You hold the open locket up before him. “Evelyn,” he says, involuntarily, and looks at you."

[2] Ambition: an Additional Sherry with the Fierce Philanthropist, Sunless Sea "When you raise the matter of your search for immortality, and the involvement of Lytton, the man who shares her name, she grows thoughtful."

[3] What was his role in the Seven?, Sunless Sea "“I came from modest means. However, my congregation consisted of industrialists, the gentry, bankers... People with an interest in immortality and the willingness to invest. My doctrine was unconventional - eternal life in this life, not the next.”"

[4] The Financier, Sunless Sea "You remind her that he wants no further part in the endeavour. "Yes. But he has told us who should replace him." She clicks open the locket. The face of the Fierce Philanthropist looks out. "

[5] The New Street Line, Sunless Skies

[6] Trade Gratitude to win the Bookkeeper's trust, Sunless Skies "He gives you a yellowing train ticket and shows you an address. It belongs to a Fierce Philanthropist, co-owner of the Steam & Sapphire company."

[7] Inquire into the New Street Line's secretive work, Sunless Skies "We have conductors operating throughout the Empire, reporting to me. I'll point you to one of them and they'll tell you where you need to go. Assuming, of course, you're ready to be responsible for another's freedom."

[8] Enquire about the work, Sunless Skies "Everyone deserves the right to their own hours. To live them at the pace God intended! But on the workworlds a pauper spends a month of their life to ensure an hour of rich man's luxury. [...] Those who escape from the workworlds are hunted. My— Our patron arranges passage for as many as she can."

[9] Ship arms to a workworld, Sunless Skies "You'll never bring down a workworld, but an uprising here means fewer overseers here."

[10] Campaign for the Firebrand Conductor's release, Sunless Skies ""He's her Ladyship's nephew," the Stationmaster tells you. The Fierce Philanthropist never mentioned that."

[11] The New Street Line, Sunless Skies "She sits tall in her chair, a sherry bottle to one side, her papers to the other. She pours you a glass. "Please, have a seat.""

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]