"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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"Light sparkles through the jewelled petals onto the marble-white paths. Wherever you explore, poets and singers perform their latest work, while artists peer behind canvases to try to capture the beauty in oil and chalk. In the horrors of the High Wilderness, this is a place of safety and wonder where nothing could possibly disturb the peace. Hmm. But what is that buzzing in the distance?"[1]
Titania is a commune built atop a giant orchid in the Reach.
"Titania is cupped in the petals of a colossal orchid. Heady with scent, lurid with colour."[2]
The orchid upon which Titania is built lends the place a perfumed atmosphere,[3][4] and pollen saturates the wind.[5] The city is a refuge for bohemians who seek inspiration from the beauty of the High Wilderness,[6] using unique materials like pigments from the Reach's flora or stories from visiting skyfarers.[7][8] It is governed by a council consisting of the Rhapsodic Mayor, the Melancholy Poet, and the Stone-Faced Sculptor, who organize exhibitions for their students, but often bicker when discussing art and the commune's direction.[9][10]
Titania may seem idyllic, but a threat looms over all who live here:[11] a nearby hive of Chorister Bees regularly swarms the port to harvest the orchid's nectar,[12][13] damaging Titania's structures and injuring its citizens.[14] The city's crystal spires and domes were not built by its current settlers, implying they were left deserted, and the Rhapsodic Mayor was unfortunately unaware of this problem when she founded the community.[15]
Long ago, the flower of Titania was apparently originally supposed to grow "large and perfect," but it "debased itself on stolen nectar" to lure Chorister Bees in the hopes of becoming a hive. This angered the Silent Saint, an Aeginae who considered the flower's actions amalgamy and a violation of the High Wilderness' laws. The Saint tried to destroy the flower,[16] but its crusade seems to have failed, and it is now a frozen corpse in the Reach.[17]
The Midnight Rose[]
"A precarious descent of ladders leads down to the hideout of the Midnight Rose: a spiral of rickety platforms clinging to the great orchid's stalk. There, the Rose have constructed an edifice of glass, something between an orangery and a cowshed. It hums with bees, and shivers with sobbing."[18]
"We are democratising art. Thanks to our cage-garden, a writer need not speculate about the sorrow of a lover as their beloved dies; they can taste our honey and know it themselves. We are no longer subject to the tyranny of experience."[19]
Hidden under the petals of Titania is the Midnight Rose, a greenhouse[20] that produces and exports gaoler's honey.[21][22] Unlike typical cage-gardens, the prisoners here possess keys and are free to leave anytime;[23] according to their handler, the Ethereal Apiarist,[24] this is because the prisoners are artists who believe they must suffer for their art.[23] The Apiarist believes that this treatment may inspire the artists to further pursue their skills, and that by distributing red honey, she is freeing its imbibers from the "tyranny of experience."[25]
Historical and Cultural Inspirations[]
Titania is the Queen of the Fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a powerful nature spirit. Shakespeare likely borrowed the name from Greek mythology.
↑The Porphyry Font, Sunless Skies"Here, the Melancholy Poet gathers stories from skyfarers. She then arranges to pass them on to any artist or writer willing to pay [...]"
↑Attending an Art Exhibition, Sunless Skies"The Melancholy Poet, Rhapsodic Mayor and Stone-Faced Sculptor have brought their best students together to showcase their work. They stand at a respectful distance, glaring at each other. [...] Once the visitors have moved away, however, they immediately launch into lengthy diatribes on the many ways they could have done better."
↑A New Start For Titania, Sunless Skies"The Rhapsodic Mayor [...] Perhaps you can help settle a [...] matter for us. We've agreed that we need to choose one style and stick with it, but..." She sighs, gesturing at her fellow council members, the Melancholy Poet and Stone-Faced Sculptor. "Well, we find ourselves at an impasse. Your thoughts?""
↑Write a Port Report, Sunless Skies"What is Titania? A question with no easy answer. To the poets, [...] To the stone workers, [...] the playwrights, [...] A place of tranquillity, of creation, and— Your interviewee pauses, suddenly looking worried. Do you hear buzzing? Apologies. Must get inside."
↑DIES IRAE, DIES APIS!, Sunless Skies"Titania is under siege! Chorister bees flood its streets and petals. [...] once the nectar is gathered, the Hive departs."
↑Rally to Titania's defence, Sunless Skies"The Chorister Hive fills the air with stingers and song. The Titanians resist as best they can. Once the the Hive has collected its nectar (and the Titanians' home is ravaged), it leaves again [...]"
↑Meeting with the Rhapsodic Mayor, Sunless Skies"We couldn't believe that nobody else had colonised it after, well, whoever built all the crystal domes and spires. Honestly, I couldn't believe our luck. Then the Chorister Hive descended on us. Everything has a price, I suppose.""
↑Look into the Saint's Eye, Sunless Skies"Inside, you see an image. A choir of many voices; a flower meant to grow large and perfect, debasing itself with stolen nectar. A horde of Chorister bees approach, maddened and entranced. A flower that seeks to become a hive. Amalgamy. The seventh letter. The Saint begins its tearing work."
↑Employ the arts of deduction, Sunless Skies"[...] the hideout of the Midnight Rose: a spiral of rickety platforms clinging to the great orchid's stalk. There, the Rose have constructed an edifice of glass, someting between an orangery and a cowshed."
↑ 23.023.1Accompany her as she works in the glass house, Sunless Skies"The prisoners cry out, [...] Around each of their necks hangs a key on a chain. "They can free themselves at any time, but choose not to. They are artists, you see. They believe they must suffer if they are to one day make great art.""
↑Accompany her as she works in the glass house, Sunless Skies""Yes, well. They are romantics. Perhaps telling themselves this lie will give them the confidence to make something remarkable. [...] "We are democratising art," [...] "Thanks to our cage-garden, a writer need not speculate about the sorrow of a lover as their beloved dies; they can taste our honey and know it themselves. We are no longer subject to the tyranny of experience.""
