Port-a-Lucine - Quartier Publique

[BraveSirRobin]

======== 1. AVRIL, 777 B.C. ========


It has been several months, since a carriage escorted by Company cavalrymen saw the return of the Baronesse d'Estellier to her distant Estate among the Border Baronies. Precarious in timing, as her name was sung upon the streets by bards, and art galleries dedicated to her exploits. Though word infrequently returned from the East of the activities, throughout the months, the common sight of members of The Company of the Phoenix lodging within the Capital, and surrounding areas, waned by the day. Once merchantmen and private soldiers, many of the fresher faces of the Company of the Phoenix would return to their homes in Port-à-Lucine, though not in any manner of uniform. Word among the commons soon became that The Company of the Phoenix had amicably begun the transition away from their mercenary past; The veteran soldiers who served faithfully by the Baronesse d'Estellier's side were rewarded with grants of tenency within Estellier, and employment within the Household Retinue.

A family born of ambition, trade, and war had grown silent in the months following. Trade resumed from Estellier, through the River Musarde into Borca, Richemulot, and beyond. The uniforms that once served with a dated sigil of a singular Phoenix were given the crests of a Noble Household, charged with the precarious duties of guarding portions of Dementlieu's Eastern Border, and managing trade tariffs upon a river port.

In the early morning of the 30th of Mars, 777 B.C., a carriage could be seen travelling along the Avenue du Progrés, colours of wine-red, and a pale navy blue emblazoned upon the wood-lacquer of the body, and the crest of a defiant Phoenix of white-marble glistening in the Dementlieuse sun. Mounted cavalry of the de Phélypeaux brought the carriage to the city limits, before departing, and off-stepped the Baronesse d'Estellier alongside her former First Lieutenant of the Company of the Phoenix, Monsieur Thibaut Duport; Now, purported to act as Capitaine de la Garde of her family's retinue.

A woman known for passion, ambition, and for being politically outspoken returned from Estellier with a tired countenance, a passive air, and reservation to engage in the political arena. What once twinkled in the eye of this ambitious young woman had been tempered by the weight of her station, and now it was not uncommon to see a mirthless dull in her gaze, for what time she was found in the public eye.

Most would remark that she could be seen staring off into the terraces, or enjoying tea and coffee alongside Monsieur Duport's watchful eye in the time since, keeping to herself.


What burdens of the aristocracy removes a youthful luster so?

[DM Indolence]

The celebrated Mournful Lily Acting troupe, fresh from their performance of the Silver Steed and in the high esteem of the gentry, depart the gates of Port-a-Lucine, bound for stages unknown. Though their numbers are seemingly reduced, they leave with no shortage of admirers, many of whom mark them as due for the higher accolades than mere fame and fortune.

[Steam and Metal]

[The renowned stage magician Stella Seifert was seen by onlookers cradling the body of an older man, gore and entrails spilling out where he looked to have been impaled; after a fashion, Stella sets the body down and kneels near it, puncturing the quiet night with a wail and violent, ugly sobbing. The body is carried off by the Gendarmerie in short order, and she follows an officer off in the direction of the Quartier Savant, moments later, alongside a Dementlieuse woman in blue chainmail.

Later, Stella walks through the terraces again, with all the energy of a sleepwalker. She makes past Club L'Artiste towards the docks, venturing inside Boutique d'Outremer; she does not exit for some time.]

[Day Old Bread]

Late in the night, as nobles and visitors to the Serene Republic were enjoying a nice quiet evening on the terraces of the Publique, a gigantic blood elemental laid waste to the lower terrace. Many Gendarme lost their lives, along with a few nobles. Foreigners and natives alike, quickly sprung into action to dispatch the creature. The group then made their way around the city, looking for the cause of the disturbance. Hours of searching yielded no results

[BlankStare]

With the Célébration de la Gloire Martiale approaching, one of the championship prizes is displayed on the Terraces. La Gloire du Champion- the unique rapier is rumored to depict scenes of valorous Gendarme in action on its flats, etched out in a fortune's worth of carefully cut sapphires and diamonds embedded in the silvery blade itself. It is rumored that the Gendarme-honoring blade will be placed on display at La Fleur d'Ambre sometime ahead of the coming tournament.

[RedMoney]

The Red Vardo have set up shop in the Quartier Public, a wide selection of rare goods on display.

[Clementine]

Some rumors speak of the young woman, Madeleine Voland having passed out in the lobby of the Governor's hotel. After some assessment, she was carried off for a doctor by the Maitre, Emeric Desrosiers and two other women in their company.

[Vallaki Justice]

-Rumors of a grotesque caliban or magical conjuration attempting to assault a local nobleman briefly spreads across the Quartier Publique.  Though, after being dispatched by the Gendarmerie Nationale with zero casualties or injuries, all seemed to be well and life continued as normal.-

[Madame Trousers Son]

The execution of Arielle de Bellavance saw, as she was delivering her last words, the body of her younger sister, Juliette, brought forth and presented by an elven woman in red and black, to the shocked and horrified gasps of many in the crowd.

The body was covered up quickly, though not before Arielle could see it, cursing the elven woman with her dying breath...

[Agony]

[The people of Port-a-Lucine, be they aristocrat or lowborn, were shocked to see the massive, ruined cathedral in the heart of the city, Ste. Mere des Larmes, become enveloped by mist and then replaced by a dense and thick forest of giant trees, if only for a few minutes' time. Eventually, the leaves on the gigantic trees turned yellow and brown, falling off their branches. The trees seem to vanish as autumn turns to winter, revealing the cathedral just as it was before. Onlookers across the city were stunned, spell-bound by this incredible feat of illusion.]

[BwpsychoName]

[Dark carriages arrive by nightfall to The Governor's Hotel, quietly unloading furniture and luggage. A handful of men and women, some of whom appear to be Borcans garbed in black and white, remain as the carriages retreat from the city some hours later.]

[DM Indolence]

The Vicomte de Mazerac and the granddaughter of Seigneur de Bellegarde are noted strolling the Savant and the Quartier Publique, arm in arm. Their quiet and chaperoned outing is cut short when Marie-Louise de Bellegarde catches a glimpse of Gendarmes carrying away a body, covered in a blood-stained sheet. Her scream startles many of the nearby gentry, and several of the more gentle among them follow Marie-Louise's example in fainting on the spot.

[DM Indolence]

Bride-to-be Madeleine Voland is seen out and about on the terraces of Port-a-Lucine, striking up a conversation with the Dowager Comtesse de Placide of House Richelieu. Voland is noted as expressing her admiration for street and stage magic, crafts largely considered by her peers as frivolity at best. Further, Volland derides the "folly" of the fine arts institutions of Port-a-Lucine. The Jalaberts in particular are singled out, their celebrated Theatre of the Cathedrale being disparaged as "old, empty, and dusty". Gossiping tongues wag, wondering that what grudges Houses Voland and de Sauvre have against Dementlieu's artistic elite.

[inkcorvid]

Falkovnian ambassador Hermann von Wittendorf and Sieur Dorian de Sauvre were seen to lock horns verbally this morning. After numerous barbs directed at the institution of the Gendarmerie and then at the Chevalier's wife, the Sieur defended her honour with a challenge to the ambassador: a game of chess, "a game without the possibility of deception or misdirection", to be held tomorrow at the Faculty of Law ...

[DM Indolence]

In the bustling streets of Port-a-Lucine, neither carriages nor riders astride horseback are a remarkable sight. The departure of one of Hermann von Wittendorf's Falkovnian aides draws notice only for the unseemly haste with which he rides east, and the laughably unfashionable clothes he wears.

[Vallaki Justice]

Monsieur Andre de la Cour was escorted from the Governor's Hotel in shackles by an off-duty Gendarme, Marcel de Renault, and Mademoiselle Rithwarian Luelana towards the Gendarmerie Nationale de Port-a-Lucine.  A few nobles were left stunned and speechless at the sight, though it otherwise proceeded without spectacle or fanfare.

[Maffa]

An almost all green clothed warden is has been asking about his sister in faith Danika around the terraces.

His communication efforts hindered by his lack of knowledge of high mordentish and questionable usage of the common tongue, has nonetheless left a notice seeking information about her.

[DM Indolence]

Ongoing negotiations between Borca, Richemulot, and Dementlieu are rocked when General Gaston Virieux is seized by a sudden tremor, collapsing to the ground. Quick action by members of the Gendarmerie Nationale see his life saved, and he's rushed into a carriage to be tended in his home. Negotiations are undeterred, though an impassioned speech and accusations by the Ambassador from Richemulot, Esteve Peirol, sees the Dementlieuse delegates lose footing. In the end, a grand bargain is struck. No doubt the remaining details will be finalized in backroom dealing within the halls of power, but for now an accord stands, though none seem truly satisfied.

[PrimetheGrime]

Madame Celeste Seifert is seen ascending the ramp to the terraces when three Gendarme stop her. After a brief exchange of words, the Gendarme lead the stiffened woman towards the Gendarmerie. She is not seen for some time.

[PrimetheGrime]

[Flashy and large posters begin to sprout up prominently around the Quartier Publique, in particular on the notice board for the public as a Gendarme recruitment official makes rounds, laden with stacks of paper.]

//placed in game

[Thorne]

Lost and found:
Items of significant value were left on the counter at the bank last night (the 20th), but I secured them for their rightful owner. You can recover them by contacting me and identifying what was lost and in what quantity. I can be contacted at the Keep of the Dryad and as a Solamnian I seek no profit from your misfortune merely to return this misplaced property.

- Owen Harrow of Harrowgard

A few of these notes are found at the bank, and terraces outside.

[Chabxxu]

A few days after being seen leaving the city on horseback riding towards Edrigan, it is a much smaller group, almost cut in half, that comes back to the city. Gendarmes Gabriel d'Aubry and Basile Corbeau are seen slowly making their way towards the Gendarmerie, their armor wearing clear signs of battle. The blond nobleman seems to be in a state of shock, ignoring the looks and questions of bystanders as he dragged himself to the Quartier Savant. Both of them were seen entering the building and weren't seen again for many hours...

[bunnie]

Luggage is loaded, farewells are said. The newly wedded Mesdames de Chauret are seen boarding a carriage early in the morning, a rabbit bundled in the shorter's arms. They depart in the direction of Richemulot. It is unclear of whether the guise of a honeymoon is truthful or not.

[Dhelindria]

On the eve of White Day, a heavily laden wagon arrives at the back of the Governor's Hôtel. Dozens upon dozens of various crates marked "decorations" are carted into the ballroom.

[Siobhan]

A small, handwritten note is posted along in unobtrusive corners of the message boards of the publique. It is written in High Mordentish.

seeking instruction

I am a self-taught violinist in search of a professional teacher. Private lessons are preferred.

Please write to Mademoiselle Mariana Dragavei at the Manor Retreat.