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Welcome to The Fifth City, the Neath's Unofficial Lore Wiki!

The unofficial, user-written guide to the lore of the intertwined worlds of Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, and other related content published by Failbetter Games! All artwork used in articles is sourced from Failbetter, unless otherwise indicated. Some art may be edited with appropriate crediting.

Caution: spoilers abound! This wiki is not intended as a substitute for Fallen London or any Failbetter game. Please support Failbetter and enjoy their content officially. We discuss the games' background information in detail here, so tread carefully if you are a new player or don't want to be spoiled.

We're currently working through the wiki to fill in gaps, and any and all contributions are valued! Pardon our dust - some information may be of dubious validity or uncited. If you're interested in helping, you can join our Discord server to meet with our community!

What is Fallen London?

"Fallen London: once capital of the British Empire, now home of the Bazaar. Deep. Dark. Expensive. Marvellous. Here you can find everything from immortality to unnervingly good mushroom wine."

Fallen London, Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, The Silver Tree, and Mask of the Rose all take place in an alternate history where five major cities in succession have fallen underground into a vast cave known as the Neath.

Fallen London is set in the 1890s and Sunless Sea begins in 1887; both games are set approximately 30-40 years after London became the fifth city to fall to the Neath. Fallen London explores this transfigured London and its intrigues, while Sunless Sea ventures beyond the city's docks to the Unterzee, an underground saltwater body about the size of Europe, awash with mystery. Mask of the Rose is a prelude to both these games, as it takes place shortly after the Fall of London in 1862, and offers a slice of life in the ensuing chaos and adjustment.

Sunless Skies takes place in 1905, in "a possible future" where London discovered space travel some time after the events of Fallen London and Sunless Sea. They have established a foothold in the High Wilderness, where the stars hold sway.

The Silver Tree, set in the 13th century, depicts the Fourth City that fell before London, and features a few characters who are still alive and well in Fallen London.

A map of Fallen London

Other FAQs

Some questions on your mind? What is the Neath? The Neath is an enormous cavern within the Earth populated by various settlements, some less familiar than others. What is the Unterzee? A massive saltwater body that spans the entire Neath. It has a western and southern coast, and dozens of islands peppered throughout. What exactly happened to London? Forty years ago, in 1862, London was stolen by bats. Although no one really says "stolen" anymore; it was a transaction, not a theft. What is the Echo Bazaar? The Bazaar is the center of commerce in Fallen London. Almost all legal business is conducted here. Who are the Masters of the Bazaar? Mysterious cloaked figures who each specialize in one field of trade. What is Hell? Now located due west of London; accessible via rail from the Moloch Street station. Home to devils, goat-demons, imps, and the like. Not popular among tourists. What is the Correspondence? A language of mysterious sigils. Has a tendency to set unfortunate readers on fire - physically, mentally, or some measure of both. What are Judgements? The light above, the enforcement of law. It would be foolish to challenge such a power. Or would it? What is the Dawn Machine? - SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE SUN. THE - What is the Discordance? I see you have nothing to ask, and so I have nothing to answer. Stoke the furnace, please; I can't stand the cold. Who is Mr Eaten? Keep asking such questions, friend, and you'll lose the very head on your shoulders...

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