"There are some things we were not meant to know, they say. But you wouldn't be down here if you took that seriously."
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"The Sun is dangerous to Neath-dwellers like your crew, but the Surface has its temptations."[1]
The Surface is the blanket term for the lands above the Neath, bathed in the life-giving and life-taking light of the Sun.
"The trees are the dusty green of old jade: the hills, tawny as a lion. You are pale as milk, all of you. The crew splash in the canal, whenever they can, to cool themselves after the heat of the sun. "It's not right up here," your bo'sun confides. "I keep thinking I'm going to fall off up, like. But it calms the heart to look at, don't it?""[2]
A Sunlight-Filled Mirrorcatch Box.
The two primary connections between the Surface and the Neath are the Travertine Spiral[3] and the Cumaean Canal.[4] Traveling to the Surface can be profitable, but it is also extremely dangerous, as exposure to sunlight can be a death sentence for denizens of the Neath.[5]
Zailors who travel to the Surface often engage in the highly illegal sunlight trade, where they fill mysterious Mirrorcatch Boxes with captured sunlight, and sell them to those who can afford such a luxury.[6] Quite a few citizens of the Neath miss sunlight, even if they won't openly admit it, and peddlers of sunlight can turn in huge profits, but they also have a bad habit of succumbing to their own product.[7]
Neathy folk struck by nostalgia for the Surface may also indulge in Surface-inspired dinners,[8] or may import food from the Surface for an extremely high price.[9] They may also import Surface-grown flowers, but these wither quickly, unless they're properly embalmed beforehand.[10]
The Last Labyrinth is a maze that connects the Neath to the Surface. Under most circumstances, the Cumaean Canal or the Travertine Spiral would be more attractive options. But if those were to become unusable, the truly desperate might find its key, brave its corridors, face its Inhabiters, and finally emerge in, of all places, Shepton Mallet.[11]
The Garden Embassy[]
The Decorated Ambassador
"You are invited to the grand opening of the Garden Embassy. The embassy will represent the interests of a number of Her Enduring Majesty's colonies. A ball is to be held to celebrate the occasion. The invitation is signed by the Decorated Ambassador herself."[12]
Despite London's current position, the capital of Britain still has some sway over its Empire. In order to easily facilitate relations, several colonies of the commonwealth founded the magnificent Garden Embassy in Veilgarden.[12] The Embassy is lavishly decorated with Surface flowers that attract plenty of local wildlife.[13]
↑ 12.012.1The Garden Embassy, Fallen London"You are invited to the grand opening of the Garden Embassy. The embassy will represent the interests of a number of Her Enduring Majesty's colonies. A ball is to be held to celebrate the occasion. The invitation is signed by the Decorated Ambassador herself."
↑The Garden Embassy, Fallen London"The bird clucks happily as you scatter crumbs. [...] "From that new Embassy they're setting up in Veilgarden. They've got flowers and everything! It ain't natural." "
