Port-à-Lucine - Quartier Ouvrier

[EO]

Word spreads throughout the streets that yet another murder has taken place in one of the seedy tenements of the Quartier Ouvrier. Citizens shake their heads at the too common story.

[Kung Fu Orc]

A bizzare story comes out of the dirty slums of Ouvrier. A mysterious figure, clad in the regailia of a knight, bearing the symbol of the Raven slinks through the slums at night, protecting foolish pedestrians and the hospices from violence. He moves with almost supernatural speed, fights with inhuman skill- seldom killing his opponents, leaving pickpockets and cutthroats unconscious for the Gendarme or their own victem, but showing no mercy for murderers and bandits. He seldom speaks, and then only in a hoarse, raspy, forced voice, like wind being blown over paper.

None known his name, and most chide the silly theatrics of it all - a grown man running around in costume, beating up hoodlums as some vigilante. The nerve.

But still, the nights of Ouvrier are a little bit safer now. Just a little.

[LawfulJoe]

Whispers amongst the common street thugs and cutthroats say that the night has turned against them.

"I was out in zee night with zee boys, doin zee rounds, lookin for zee fools who not know zee night is ours. It was long after zee midnight when I hear Peppe' scream. When I turn he is layin in zee street with his throat cut clean."

The man runs a hand through his thick hair as he relate the tale to a companion at the Bullseye.

"Zen Sherri, I see her fall as zee shadows come alive and slice open her guts zen disappear into zee dark again. Don't know what to do, so I run and I have no shame in sayin I run as fast as Philip can run.

With a shaking hand he takes a shot of "Bullet" and calms himself as the night replays in his mind.

"Just before dawn I dared to go back. Zee sight I see was one zat will give even me Nightmares. Zee streets are littered in zee bodies of my companions. All of zem are cut, some in zee back and others in zee guts. Zey where all dead, Roger zee club, Dead Eye Ammie, Jackie quick hands, zey all were dead, all of zem zat was on zee night patrol."

The man Philip is speaking to rubs his temples as the news adds stress to his already worry lined brow,
"Did you see who did zhis Philip?"

Philip closes his eyes and shivers,
"All I can remeber of zee killer was zee eyes zat glowed red in the fires light as zey peered out from under zee shadowed hood, zey were hard, and merciless. I zink Philip will take a vaction till zee streets calm down."

[LawfulJoe]

Whispers about a dark angel spread through the poor and downtrodden people of Quartier Ouvier. The normal predators of the street are turning up dead in frightening numbers, while random people have been blessed with presents of hundreds of Solars, mysteriously found within their homes. This continued for 2 weeks and then died down. 40 families benfited from the tis dark angel and easily 3 times that of the criminal element suffered for their sins by this same being, or so it is rumored.

The words, "bless you angel of the night" are heard on some lips while others curse and ward themselves against evil when the subject is breached.

[Mrjunkie]

Local thugs, backstabbers and smugglers chuckle of a man clad in red entering the Workers Tavern with some kind of prospect, before the figure knew it he'd been knocked unconscious, robbed of his belongings...a pair of calibans were paid an unknown amount to take him to the docks where he was unceremoniously dumped in the sea...

[marlewebber]

A bloodied whip discarded on a cobbled sidewalk.  Rapturous cries from the lips of the faithful in the darkened hours.  And a slow trickle of papers appearing overnight.

BLESSED BE THE HAND THAT SCRIBES, THE EYE THAT WATCHES, THE EAR THAT WILL GIVE HEED, THE LIMBS THAT WILL RUSH.

FOR THIS IS THE CLARION ANNOUNCING HER COMING, THE END OF ALL AND NONE, THE FINAL EMBRACE, THE BLESSED UNION.

EZRA WATCHED TIRELESSLY OVER HER FAITHFUL FEW, THEIR WORKINGS TRUE AND VALLIANT; YET FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS, THE LEGIONS OF THE NIGHT STILL PREVAILED.

FOR EACH FALLEN REDEEMED, FIVE MORE WOULD BEFOUL THE WORLD WITH THEIR DEPRAVITY.

THERE WAS MUCH SUFFERING AND ANGUISH AMONGST HER SERVANTS. AND EZRA ANSWERED THEIR DESPERATE PLEA.

“LET NOT THE WAYS OF THE LEGIONS DAUNT YOU, FOR THEIR TAINT WILL GNAW UPON ITSELF, AND YOU WILL CLEANSE ITS DESPICABLE REMAINS.

BLACKEN AND SIN, ACCEPT AND BE SWEPT, FOR ONLY IN REVELING WITH THEIR VILE WAYS SHALL THE CLEANSING EXACTED BE MEANINGFUL.

FOR IF IN DEED YOU ARE FEW AND DISTRAUGHT; PURGE RELENTLESSLY THAT WHICH THE LEGIONS FLAUNT OPENLY, BEGIN WITH YOURSELVES.”

AND HER FAITHFUL OBEYED. AND THEY SET TO ADORNING THEIR BODIES AND SOULS WITH THE SIGN OF THE PURGE OF THE LEGIONS’ MARK.

GLORIOUS IN THE VESTIGE OF VIRTUE, EACH SOUL A CLEANSED SPARK THAT WOULD BRING SUCCOR TO THE BLEAK HOLLOW.

THE MISTS OF DEATH COME. AND THE FLOCK ABSOLVED SHALT BE. IN THE FLICKER OF LIFE AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

[DM Tarokka]

A series of children have been killed during the night. Many of them had broken necks. Most of them were armed with crossbows, daggers, knives. "Punishing some to educate thousand", someone seems having whispered around the "Muse".

[Rixula]

At night time, a dark tall person has been seen after groups of thieves, killing them with ease and leaving behind corpses that are ripped apart

[LoLJohnFerro]

A man in red and black armor walks past the carnage of the killings of children and horribly torn apart rouges.
    After a few moments of silence he sighs and mutters.. "How unclean a kill..."

[Kendric98]

Some people pass by a dark clad woman staring at the ancient ruins of Ezras temple as if waiting for some sign of something.

[marlewebber]

Several written copies of this prayer circulate through the Quarter Ouvrier, blown about the cobblestones and filth.

Holy saint Marle, Icon of Her sainted image,
Guide us, show us your path
Help those in need,
Give strength to the weak,
Comfort the sorrowful,
kiss us with the kisses of Her mouth.
For your love is better than wine.
Saint Marle, all who seek your help,
experience your unfailing protection.
Amen.

[Emomina]

One of the Sisters of Compassion hospices was severely vandalized, with rocks thrown in windows, and shouting occurring throughout the night. Apparently someone took refuge with the Halans, after angering some of the local street thugs.

[DM Tarokka]

A letter is left in a specifc point of the area, by a mute sailor woman.

[Dhark]

Fresh linen & food stocks , clothes for the needy , shoes for the waifs , all are seen being bought in abundance by the Sisters of Compasion after a recent charity event raised some thirty thousand solars for the local hospices.

[LawfulJoe]

People on their ways to work in the warehouses and down at the docks as well as children playing in the alleys and streets of the quartier have stumbled upon many dead bodies. Men, women and children, cut down as if attacked from all sides. Some of the salin are known thieves and cutthroats giving the impression that some sort of vigilante is about. Mixed feelings are heard in the gossiping, some making mention that the Dark Angel had returned, others concerned that it is the work of a rival gang trying to secure their place in the streets.

[LoLJohnFerro]

People spy a man in red and black armor stakling the streets in an attempt to find this "Dark angel".

[k_moustakas]

Dawn greets the poor section of Port-a-lucine with a grizzly sight. Slaughtered and mutilated bodies lying all around, some of known thugs and others of poor peasants. Word is out of terrible, otherwordly singing and screaming filling the night.

Even stranger is that there is no new bounty posted up following this night following the murders. Instead many, many bounties taken down .

[kanedellesk]

Some say that a new resident has taken up in the Grand City. A haggard and seemingly broken-spirited man, with an eye patch and many scars, is seen around the city. He frequently visits the Gendarme headquarters. His name is unknown, though, since few if any people in the Port have attempted to speak to him.

[Dhark]

In the poorer district of Port-a-lucine the Hospices seem a little warmer this day, Like many others across the core they are decorated by many candles .  If asked why the custodians simply reply..It is Imbolc.....Candlemass, they repeat to blank expresions, as if that were explination enough.

February 2nd marks the first Halite
celebration according to the general consensus
of the Barovian Calendar. On this day, it is
typical of the witches to celebrate life and union
in all its forms. This celebration is known as
Imbolc (Im-bulk) to the church, though the
masses have given it the more common name or
Candlemass. All members of the church spend
this day with their families and loved ones.
Each member present lights a candle in addition
to what other light sources are present. Homes
and hospices belonging to members of Hala are
said to be warm on this day, despite the probable
harsh coldness of the time of year. While it is
never explained, witches of Hala urge couples to
bed down early that evening. The witches of
Hala also retire early that night. Not
surprisingly, there are a good many children
born nine months later.

[Badelaire]

A black clad swordsman shrouded in witchery casually strolled through the streets and alleys at night, cutting down men and women who raised arms against him. The almost business-like manner in which he decapitated no less than seven of the people he felled leads many to question what value is placed on life when someone can so callously profit from death. Needless to say that figure was last seen sauntering off towards the Gendarme's offices, no doubt lessening their coffers considerably...

[High_Priestess_of_Tinsel]

The torchlit streets ring with the sound of heavy, metal clad footsteps, accompanied by a subtle song and the whistle of bolts from the shadows. Blood stains the cobbles come morning, the sun rising upon headless bodies, telling the tale of those who foolishly accosted the night time traveller and his singing companion.

[Budly]

A very angry woman is muttering about how poor the Manor Retreat is compared to the hotell in the open café, eagerly muttering about gaining a fitting job to be able to return to the hotell!

[Hades]

Rumor spreads of a new gang being sighted in Port-A-Lucine.  They seem to be a collective of thugs and dark wizards who have taken residence in the Quartier Ouvrier.  The rumor further spreads that this gang is violent in nature and should be avoided.  In spite of their appearance however, the streets have seemed much safer as of late.  Less and less thugs roam the streets at night, leaving only "The Family."

[dutchy]

with the recent increase of outlander visitors people begin to gossip why they are here with their sword shields and armors most look upon them with disgust with their backwarded ways.

also word passes among the outlanders that the kargat been active in the port, its been said that 1 of the thirteen dukkars been taken by the kargat the worry among the vistani grows as madame eva's prophecy is beeing fullfilled.

[Dread]

The slums in which the majority of the halflings live within Quartier Ouvrier have been littered with what appears to be a "wanted ad", written in Halfling, then in High Mordentish, and lastly in Common (Vaasi):

"Eddirduyr, gurmwycg yw Port-a-Lucine!

Um dni cesg yw isyrylus ybbyhdoruduim legurk ud neht wyh ayo ert ayoh weluca dy legi irtm liid? Ty ayo nefi e timuhi dy mii ehd bod urdy lyduyr? Ehi ayo e neht zyhgih? Uw ayo ehi, le Theatre de la Cathedrale um ur tuhi riit wyh mdekinertm, sehbirdihm, ert mid-syrmdhosdyhm.

Bealird um 40 solars e tea, dzusi zned um kufir pa dni zyhgnyomim wyh zyhg dir dulim em khoicurk. Culudit dy 8 bymuduyrm, my liid zudn Absalom Nightlyre em myyr em bymmupci!"

"Attention, parents du Port-a-Lucine!

Est-ce le manque de possibilités économiques qui rend difficile pour vous et votre famille à joindre les deux bouts? Avez-vous un désir de voir l'art mis en mouvement? Êtes-vous un travailleur acharné? Si vous êtes, le Théâtre de la Cathedrale est dans le besoin pour les machinistes, charpentiers, constructeurs et la mise en.

Le paiement est 40 Solars par jour, deux fois ce qui est donné par les maisons de travail pour dix fois travail exténuant. Limité à 8 positions, afin de répondre avec Absalom Nightlyre dès que possible!"

"Attention, kinsfolk of Port-a-Lucine!

Is the lack of economic opportunities making it hard for you and your family to make ends meet? Do you have a desire to see art put into motion? Are you a hard worker? If you are, le Theatre de la Cathedrale is in dire need for stagehands, carpenters, and set-constructors.

Payment is 40 solars a day, twice what is given by the workhouses for work ten times as grueling. Limited to 8 positions, so meet with Absalom Nightlyre as soon as possible!"