In the world of Sunless Skies, a gothic horror RPG by Failbetter Games, Queen Victoria plays a role unlike any other historical depiction. This is not the queen of Earth’s 19th-century empire, but rather an immortal monarch ruling the High Wilderness from her celestial throne. She is a being of power, mystery, and divine authority, having transcended mortality and reshaped the British Empire into something cosmic and uncanny. Queen Victoria in Sunless Skies embodies both the grandeur of empire and the unsettling weight of eternal rule, making her one of the most compelling and enigmatic figures in the game’s narrative universe.
The Immortal Empress of the Skies
Victoria Reborn as the Sun
In the alternate universe of Sunless Skies, Queen Victoria has become more than human she is referred to as the ‘Traitor Empress’ and has taken the place of the old sun, becoming a literal celestial body. Her transformation from human monarch to divine presence is not merely symbolic. She has replaced the old sun of Albion and now shines over the empire as a conscious and commanding force. Her ascension reflects the game’s recurring themes of ambition, hubris, and the cost of immortality.
Monarch of Albion
Queen Victoria rules Albion, the central region of the British Empire in the skies. Her court is a mixture of arcane bureaucracy and religious reverence, a place where politics and worship intertwine. As the head of state and deity, Victoria commands absolute loyalty from her subjects, and her word is treated as law both moral and universal.
Queen Victoria’s Role in the Game
A Central Figure in Albion
When players enter the Albion region, Queen Victoria’s influence becomes immediately apparent. Her rule is visible in the architecture, the customs, and even the laws that govern the stars. She does not appear as a character to be directly interacted with like in traditional RPGs, but her presence permeates the narrative. She is felt in whispers, decrees, and the ominous glow that lights the void.
The Aesthetic of Divine Monarchy
The game uses religious imagery to portray Victoria. She is worshipped as a divine entity an Empress and a sun, conflated into one radiant form. Shrines, prayers, and stories surround her reign, casting her as both savior and tyrant. This duality adds depth to her character and to the moral ambiguity that defines the Sunless Skies universe.
The Empire Under the Empress
Imperial Power and Consequences
The Empire that Victoria rules is vast, stretching across the stars. It is an institution built on the power of ambition and the fear of rebellion. However, the Empress’s grip on power comes at a cost. The people under her rule suffer from repression, secrets, and surveillance. The once-celebrated Empire now resembles a divine autocracy, beautiful but terrifying.
Citizens and Subjects
Every citizen of Albion lives under the gaze of the Empress. Their lives are shaped by her will, directly or indirectly. Some worship her as a goddess, others fear her as a tyrant. Throughout your journey, you will encounter many who reflect on her reign with awe, dread, or confusion. The diversity of perspectives on her rule makes her empire feel truly lived-in and dynamic.
Religious Symbolism and Myth
Becoming the New Sun
Queen Victoria’s transformation into the sun is a pivotal element of Sunless Skies lore. It signifies the Empire’s attempt to master the cosmos, to dominate not only the material world but also the metaphysical. In absorbing the role of the sun, she replaces something natural and ancient with something imperial and human-made a dangerous ambition that leads to existential questions about power and identity.
The Cult of the Empress
Devotion to Queen Victoria has taken on the form of religious worship. Shrines to her celestial form dot the universe, and sermons preach her eternal glory. This theocratic style of governance merges imperial ideology with spiritual belief, blurring the line between devotion and control. Players may choose to accept or challenge this divine monarchy as they shape their own path.
Narrative Themes and Player Impact
Choice and Interpretation
Though Queen Victoria cannot be fought or overthrown directly, players influence the world that surrounds her. Their choices shape how Albion responds to their presence, whether they support or resist the Empire’s ideology. These decisions reflect the game’s larger themes of identity, rebellion, and moral compromise. The Empress represents the ultimate authority, and players must decide how to relate to that power.
Stories and Legacies
Throughout the game, many storylines touch upon Queen Victoria’s reign. From exiled nobles to rebellious thinkers, the stories of the skies are shaped by her long shadow. Players uncover truths about her rule, question the legitimacy of her divinity, and explore the human costs of her eternal governance. These layers of storytelling add richness to the journey and make the Empress more than just a background figure she is a symbol of everything the player must confront.
Exploring the High Wilderness
Locations of Imperial Influence
Several locations within Albion and beyond are direct extensions of Queen Victoria’s rule:
- London: The capital of the Empire in the skies, now a city of devotion and control.
- The Reach: A region still under growing imperial influence, where the Empire’s grip is challenged.
- Port Prosper: A symbol of colonial expansion, where loyalty to the Empress is tested by hardship.
Artifacts and Echoes
As players explore, they may find items, texts, and echoes of history that reveal more about Queen Victoria’s transformation and her role in shaping the stars. These discoveries contribute to a broader understanding of what it means to rule forever, and what must be sacrificed to maintain that rule.
The Legacy of the Sunless Empress
Queen Victoria as Metaphor
Queen Victoria in Sunless Skies is not just a ruler she is a metaphor for imperialism stretched beyond time, for ambition that defies nature, and for the desire to control even the divine. Her transformation into a literal sun reflects the dangers of unchecked power and the terrifying beauty of a world built on control and reverence.
The Player’s Relationship with Power
In navigating Queen Victoria’s empire, players must constantly assess their stance toward authority. Do they serve faithfully, seeking favor from the divine ruler? Or do they question the morality of a sun that shines by decree, not by nature? These questions are woven into the core of the game, and the Empress stands at their center watching, glowing, eternal.
Queen Victoria in Sunless Skies is a powerful reimagining of historical monarchy in a cosmic horror setting. As the immortal Empress and literal sun of Albion, she commands reverence and fear in equal measure. Her rule symbolizes the seductive allure of eternal power and the dangers it poses to freedom, truth, and humanity. Through exploration, choices, and encounters, players uncover the deep complexities of her reign and the galaxy-spanning impact of a single, godlike ruler. Whether seen as divine protector or oppressive tyrant, the Empress’s presence shapes every journey through the dark, beautiful skies.