Port-à-Lucine - Quartier Publique

[Straight Jacket]

And again, as the posters get torn apart, it doesn't take more than half a day to see them renewed with new creative slogans

[Better Dread than Dead]

[The absence of Maitresse Verinne van Haute from her usual loitering spot on the terraces is sharply felt. Likewise any who come to speak with her in the Théâtre de la Cathédrale are informed by House Jalabert’s sentries that she is not in. Where could she be? What has happened to her?]

[Better Dread than Dead]

[The Maîtresse, it seems, has returned, though more often than not, some one wearing the livery of House Jalabert is following her, even as she spends her time idling or carrying on conversations in the terraces. She nevertheless seems to carry a smile, the haggard and weary expression she often wears punctuated by eyes full of determination.]

[urathraviel]

A woman in red was seen walking along the docks just before dusk, she was not seen to return for some time. When she did return to make her way to the cathedral she seemed to have some dificulty walking in a straight line.

[BraveSirRobin]

In an orderly march, and stationed throughout the Quartiers Publique and Savant, Gendarmes under the command of the Hawk, Sergeant Joachim von Schrötter, begin to double their watches. A few fresh faces seem to have joined the ranks of the Gendarmerie Nationale, and a declaration mobilizing the National Militia has been issued. At all hours, the Falkovnian is seen remaining vigilant on his patrols, and now wears a breastplate over his uniform, glistening in sunshine and the night-lights of the City. Long since the Fourth of July, the Gendarmerie Nationale has remained relatively dormant and complacent, drills of musketry and bayonet work held every week to a number of conscripts. Now, the drills have ceased, and like a hive of bees, the National Militia has been mobilized from the comfort of it's home and into the streets and the outskirts of the City of Lights.

[Dumas]

Word spreads of a ship, Le Montcalm, that crashed through the wharves of the Quartier Marchand, and into the Widow's Walk at sunset. Much damage seemed to have been dealt to the docks, and shortly after a detachment of gendarmes secured the scene of the landed vessel, a grievous attack evidently took place at the Theatre de Cathedral in the Quartier Publique. More gendarmes rushed to the scene as the sounds of fighting could be heard inside, and many reported the sight of brief flames licking at the windows of the Theatre as smoke issued from the building.

As the fire died down and more Gendarmes and House Jalabert guards both arrived and departed from the Theatre, rumor began to spread, at first from the mouths of the Gendarmes, and then others, that the pair of attacks was the responsibility of Falkovnian allied agents, committing acts of sabotage and operating on the behest of the Former Council of Brilliance that was deposed by the Covenant at the end of the recent civil war...

[Pitch-Black]

A supposed historian by the name of Vince Székely has been seen asking around for those familiar with the Dementlieuse Civil War for a history book he is allegedly writing on behalf of the Society of the Erudites. He has made it clear he wishes for interviews with those regardless of the side they had fought and that he aspired to write a fact-based account of the conflict with a particular interest in those with military involvement in the past. He has shared publicly he is available to meet any interested and that he is staying at the Broken Spire in the Marchand.

[Better Dread than Dead]

[The din of construction coming from within the Théâtre de la Cathédrale, coupled by the infrequent sight of furniture gutted by fire or moldy being moved out and pristine, expensive furniture being moved in, has finally abated, gradually becoming replaced with the sounds of impassioned dramatic monologues and instruments being practiced upon, as some members of the troupe start to partake in intense, almost daily rehearsals and those curious wander in to visit. Whenever not preoccupied with matters involving House Jalabert's preeminent playhouse, its self-styled "impresaria", Maîtresse Verinne van Haute, can generally be found on the terraces just outside the building she manages, being ever the socialite, though she is conspicuously absent in the evenings whenever the moon is full.]

[Chaoshawk]

Protests at the Palais Dirigeant

An immense crowd gathered at the currently neglected Palais Dirigeant in the Publique Quartier of Port-a-Lucine. It was clear they were agitated over the conditions of workers and commoners in the City of Lights. Among their number included miners, sailors, and people of all walks of life from across the lower classes of society. Many throw rotten fruit and vegetables at the small line of gendarmes at the Palais entrance as a gendarme officer tried to urge for calm expression of discontent. A few youths also began to throw rocks. As more gendarmes rushed to the scene to contain the violence a rock struck the gendarme officer at the Palace, knocking him down and causing the gendarmes to respond in kind.  Sergeant Schrotter began to attempt to defuse the situation and found himself opposite arguing with a union leader called Jacques Varteur. As the people shouted their grievances, many of them about lack of food or money and the loss of universal suffrage, a brief fire broke out inside of the palace gendarme barracks. As the word 'Fire' was shouted gunshots were heard as two gendarmes and four protesters were felled. The mass of people began to panic and flee, pushing past the gendarmes who avoided being trampled as the crowd returned to the Quartier Marchand. Despite fearing the worst, both gendarmes survived and the worst injury is from an armed assailant whose gun exploded and maimed her hand. One man was arrested on the scene. The wounded commoners were taken to local hospices and the gendarmes cleared the area. However, tensions remain high.

Rumor has it the leaders of various unions have gathered in the Quartier Ouvrier to sign a formal petition of redress of grievances directed to the Provisional Government.

[BraveSirRobin]

     The common face of Joachim von Schrötter, off-duty in a personal suit wrought of dark maroon and khaki was seen in the Quartier Publique in the early hours of the 7th of Février. The sight of a mangled corpse was presented to the Falkovnian by a woman wearing the costume of a cat's mask and paws, which he proceeded to take charge of and walk upwards, and towards the ramparts leading to the Cathedral of Ste. Mere-des-Larmes. Minutes later, from the adjacent district of the Quartier Savant, the shrill siren of a Gendarme's Signal Whistle was heard in the night, and sounds of a scuffle and clanging blades. The Falkovnian never emerged from the upper ramparts to return to the Quartier Publique, nor has he been seen on duty since.

[Better Dread than Dead]

[After the premiere of "The Tale of the Comtesse", Maîtresse Verinne van Haute was reportedly seen leaving the Théâtre de la Cathédrale with one of the actors, a giomorgo named Razvan Kardos. It is only later that the Maîtresse returns to the City of Lights alone, worn and appearing distraught at times, a curious necklace of oxidized silver always partly visible around her neck.]

[BraveSirRobin]

[The Masquerade Ball taking place in the Ballroom of the Governor's Hotel was interrupted briefly late into the night of the 20th of Avril. A Gendarme's signal whistle was sounded several times, and an off-duty female Gendarme with raven hair could be seen escorting a man and a woman wearing kilts and tribal decor away from the festivities, towards the Quartier Savant bound in shackles.]

[volski01]

During the early morning hours, in the Quartier Publique, a man is seen becoming chased from the Marchand, followed by a gang of unsavory characters and calibans wielding weapons. As the entourage of criminals chased they man, they shortly broke off, seen killing a few noble civilians, and a pair of Gendarmes. Two bystanders, one in a commoner's garb, and the other clad in all black attire quickly dispatched the group assailing the civilians.

[BraveSirRobin]

A rather large commotion was had in the Quartier Publique in the earliest hours of the 10th of May. Two individuals, a man and a woman, donning antiquated plate armor were accosted by numerous members of the Gentry, before a young, Raven-haired Gendarme moved to follow. The incident escalated into a full-on shootout at the Western Gates of Port-a-Lucine, an extended gunfight occurring at the gates in which over twenty or thirty shots were exchanged between Gendarmes at the City's borders and the now vagabonds and outlaws. Word returns that several Gendarmes died in the crossfire, exaggerated tales of morbid magic and flying axes afoot.

[Tycat]

In the backlash felt by some after a recent loss of the city's own philanthropist and thespian, Maitress Van Haute, a large fired haired man has been seen in less than his typical relaxed demeanor staring long and hard at the Ste. Mere de Lames with what onlookers describe to be visible contempt and righteous indignation. Though last seen armored, it is said that he left the Theatre de la Cathedrale in a company of grievers to the Governor's hotel, and resigned himself to the care and fight for another young woman's life. Countless well wishers have been seen coming and going, traveling from all reaches of the Core, and leaving with teary eyed faces and stoic trepidation. Although he has not been seen leaving the building since, some might find him perhaps in the window facing the great and old Cathedrale, staring out towards it as if staring in. Judgement has clearly been passed...

[Arawn]

[Rumors spread through Port-a-Lucine like wildfire; the Gendarme Agnes Gauthier, the controversial hero of the Covenant War, has been arrested and placed in solitary confinement for the murder of Verinne van Haute; her trial date is yet to be posted, but both those who remember her kindness to soldiers of both sides during the late war and those who consider her a traitor to the Republique and murderer eagerly wait to see what promises to be a spectacle similar to those staged by the late Maitresse.]

[Bastard Son]

In the middle hours of the day, outside the Governors Hotel, Ronan Howle the Proprietor and Editor of the popular newspaper Compagnon d'Érudits was struck in an attempted assassination. Having been on his way to the Gendarmerie to answer summons, according to witnesses he stopped for a cigarette, and was brutally cut down beneath a cloak of shadow.

A shocking and violent act towards a scholar of little consequence, perhaps beyond his last edition of Compagnon d'Érudits

Shortly thereafter a cadre of Gendarme were seen pursuing the wounded Arcanist into the Hotel.

[Bastard Son]

In the early morning, a cadre of Gendarme led by Alix Martineau, assited by the notable half-vistani Razvan exited the Governors Hotel, escorting the recently struck arcanist Ronan Howle, clearly grievously harmed now missing his arm, with a heavy limp and bruised flesh.

He was shackled by a single cuff and led rather quick smart through the city towards the Gendarmerie.

He has not been seen leaving.

[Arawn]

Word spreads through the City of Lights that more defendants have been arrested in connection with the trial of the infamous Agnes Gauthier, other Ezrites believed to have been culpable for the death of the Maitresse. The government seems determined to make the trial as visible as possible, and rumor has it that even the Ezrite hierarchy intends to testify against the co-defendants, with Toret Pineau seen coming and going from the Palais Dirigeant.

A formal notice outside the main door of the Palais announces the date of their trial to be Monday at 6:00 PM. //EST

[ardenchasemoradin]

A blonde clean-shaven young Ezrite in a green and black suit with green cloak is seen routinely in the Quartier Savant and Publique. Rumor has it that he is attempting to meet with the imprisoned Ezrites.

[Arawn]

Rumor spreads like wildfire through the City of Light, speaking of a trial rich in scandal and human probability, in which the presiding magistrate blamed no less a person than the head of the Provisional Government, Michelle de Froissart, for the death of Verinne van Haute. Although the night is peaceful, for the most part, rumors suggest that a man matching the description of court judge Gaston de la Vigne was seen dragged unconscious or worse from his home in the middle of the night, and that he has not been seen again since. The House guards on duty are doubled and paranoid aristocrats fret in their parlors.

For all of them have heard the words of the convicted Agnes Gauthier: Order must be restored; the Council must return; all that which was so long fought over in the endless carnage of the Civil War must be protected, even if it means yielding to those who seem to be the only ones who can keep their hands firmly on the tiller of state. Nobles of the Covenant and nobles of the Council alike dread what is to come.

[BraveSirRobin]

[Without warning during the waning hours of June the 10th, a sudden skirmish broke out at the Western Gates of Port-a-Lucine. One female Gendarme of raven-hair, sporting a rapier and pistol was seen engaging some sort of gangley, hunch-backed Caliban or other creature on her own, beating a fighting retreat to the other Gendarmes for reinforcements. A signal of the Gendarme's Whistle, and several more Gendarmes were roused from their post in what was a brilliant, if brief battle. All of the Gendarmes on shift were found dead, slain in their boots and the unconscious or worse raven-haired Gendarme was drug away from the City of Lights by her leg...

Some say, the Gendarmes refused to enter the City Walls for fear of the creature coming within and harming innocent civilians, others say the battle ended so abruptly they couldn't have fled to safety even if they wanted to. The only physical evidence remaining is what appeared to be some perceived final stand by the statue of Pauline Jenout, the bodies of the Gendarmes recovered by their comrades some hours later.]

[goldenelvensorceress]

A familiar golden clad elf is seen directing a large amount of golden furniture and other golden relics being moved out of the theatre.

Afterwards she is seen leaving into the mists near the shore.

[urathraviel]

A miserable looking Director Pratt was seen trudging into the theatre for a change of clothes, his current black suit covered in pumpkin guts anc smeared cake.

[Tycat]

Bloody writing smeared on the door of the Theater de la Cathedrale has stirred quite a crowd during what should have been the rehearsal of the latest performance. Several of the actors and staff were seen disturbed, moving from the eastern outskirts to the theater and then to the Gendarmerie. All the city for now can view the dismal warning: "Wages of sin are death."