VERS L'AVANT!

[Drekavac]

Forward!
Editor: Helaine Favreau

Citizens of the Republic, do you tire of the pointless gossip and drivel that entertain the overindulgent and insipid nonsense you see in papers with little content? Do you tire of fraudulent imposters who claim to represent the people? Do you want to hear what is truly going on in this fair Republic of ours? Look no further, my friends. Forward! Shall delve into what is important to the Dementlieuse people and all people high and low shall see REAL news and politics in our fair country.

The General has fallen!
Author: Casin Gillette

General Gaston Virieux, a hero of the Dementlieuse people. He is not without fault for his indulgences and great appetite, but, his actions to defend Dementlieu from its foremost enemies the Falkovnian State demonstrated his loyalty and fidelity to the people of Dementlieu. His name united people high and low for he was a worthy commander to lead others in the prime of his day. While we suspect his abrupt death at a debate to determine who the Council of Brilliance chooses to led our army against the Hawk in Richemulot to be suspicious, we must carry on. It is perhaps little surprise members of the Borcan delegation were present at his abrupt death leaving us without a clear leader to rally behind, but instead several promising candidates with their own perks and flaws in the public consciousness.

The Successors?
Author: Lucas Larroquette

Gabriel d'Aubry is a gendarme and a noble, known for his violence against the common people. He is a brutish thug who wraps himself around a thin veneer of nobility, but, he has forgotten his noblesse oblige when it suits him. Recall dear reader when the Borcan serpents lambasted him, rightfully, but with questionable motives of their own. Now look at their joint announcement, it is most likely he has cut a deal despite the barbed words and we know, dear reader, you are not easily fooled by this public performance as we know very well the Borcan embassy has its members in the Jalabert Theatre likely not content to bring us good Borcan theatre traditions, but, also poisonous and seditious words and schemes against good, earnest and hard working Dementlieuse people. d'Aubry is a brute, but, at least he recognizes the Falkovnians are the root of all evil and must be defeated with prejudice. His other qualities leave us with limited desire to see him lead our veterans who fought the Hawk numerous times. Perhaps if chosen he may do us proud and destroy the Hawk and secure grain that is rightfully ours. We have other veterans of war being considered.

Raymon Lucroy, former lieutenant in the Company of the Fox, noble of an old, decadent eastern noble whose relatives participated in the Solemn Covenant while he himself fought against the Maitriser. Dear reader, it seems we have yet another candidate with a spotty record. While he did fight the right for us to vote by fighting the Solemn Covenant and he was, fortunately for him, not present at the massacre at the Duchy of Beauvais under the infamous Juste Marceaux, he was present when Port-a-Lucine fell after treachery occurred under the Gendarmerie and the Fox's watch. To his credit, he did not bend the knee to the Solemn Covenant and was taken prisoner before joining the Gendarmerie in Chateaufaux. His charity to veterans' charities and his house hiring veterans of war is remembered. We must wonder, what bribe he may have taken to take the barony of Challignac with the support of his former enemy on the battleifeld, the Baron of Miseaux? While the populist nobles of the north and the enlightened common people of Avejan, Mistree, and de la Rose might see a new Oskar de Larose in the making, we stand vigilant, dear reader, to see what sort of man he truly is.

Baudouin de Courcillon is a relatively unknown gentlemen, but we wouldn't be journalists if we didn't investigate our topics beforehand. House de Courcillon are patriots by any measure. They are warriors like the aristocrats of old, these ones are slightly less gluttonous than the gentry who forgot how to walk without gout. However, his uncle the Baronet Emeric de Courcillon is a silent man perhaps undoubtedly since his sons decided to stand against the people's voice and faced their ends in the revolution. This tradition of eastern autocracy and standing on the peoples' rights would make us considered about Baudouin, yet, he fought in a noble cause. He fought on the side of the Black Army of Gundarak against their Barovian and Invidian oppressors. Perhaps he is a mere mercenary and soldier of fortune or perhaps he was driven ideologically to help them in their cause against tyranny that nearly realized a western, enlightened Gundarak that stripped itself of superstitious death cults and backwards Barovian suzerainty. We know this means he has wet his blade and has experience as a soldier as the Black Company has returned to Dementlieu once more with Gundarakite emigres returning to the bastion of liberty once more. Perhaps his foreign experience may lead to freedom lovers across the world to rally under the Dementlieuse banner, but, his family's mixed actions in the past leave us tentatively optimistic.

The other candidates include a disgraced, incestuous, opportunistic Dame who paid lip service to the needs of the common people and worked with the disgraced, treacherous Workers' Congress after its successors betrayed Jacques Varteur. Perhaps the Dame ought to prove she is more than the sins of her past to warrant further consideration, but we are not holding our breath.

Mr. Katayama is a foreigner who has no hope of being selected, but, perhaps had his name brought in for consideration simply so he may enter the dialogue at all and be recognized as someone of note. Well, Mr. Katayama you have been noted, you Bellegarde stooge. You greedy, Rokuman mercenary. We noted the outlandish people you employ, how they flaunt our traditions and culture. We are onto you and your plutocratic leanings to grow fat on Dementlieuse coin so you may return home to Rokushima Taiyoo. You should do us all a favor and just go back to your backwards, warring isles. You are no friend of the Dementlieuse people.

The End of the Workers' Congress
Author: Suzanne Laporte

Following Jacques Varteur's death came the spiritual end of the Workers' Congress. Imprisonment, assassinations, and finally a rather awful death caused by a betrayal of a 'leader' deciding to marry into a noble family followed by her spouse being disavowed by his reactionary father has caused a split in the guilds of Port-a-Lucine. Despite their best efforts to shatter us and the Gendarme dogs attacking us on the streets instead of going after the criminals who rob the people as well as the criminals who rob us while sipping tea in Savant. Gaston LaRoux, President of the People's Party has rallied workers, artisans, and even enlightened minor nobles who see the righteousness of Varteur's cause. The Revolutionary spirit lives on and shall not be daunted by its enemies who would stifle liberty and freedom. With support from northern nobles and the common people both city and rural alike, we foresee greater organization and therefore we hope the Council of Brilliance takes notice that the people expect their rights to be protected. LaRoux has been interviewed by Mlle. Suzanne Laporte for this issue and we are happy to share key parts of that conversation.

Suzanne: What is the People's Party and its goals?

Gaston: Our goals are to represent the interests of the common people of Dementlieu. To protect the rights of workers, to fight for better wages, protections in dangerous industries and mining. To fight against Gendarme overreach and point out corruption in the government. Furthermore, we would like to see the rights of the common people to be allowed to vote in future Council elections, it's about time we returned this right.

Suzanne: And How will you fight for these rights?

Gaston: We will peacefully protest, engage with business owners, papers like yours, and those with money, influence, and power to see things our way and hope that they shall be on the right side of history. Leon would want a more equitable republic and that is what we will fight for.

Suzanne: What do you say about the violent riots and attacks of recent days?

Gaston: There are provocateurs, we believe they are paid by unscrupulous actors and we disavow any violence or attempt to overthrow the government. We wish to reform society through dialogue and persuasion. Furthermore, we protest against violence against people rightfully organizing and gathering to protest. The Gendarmerie must act restrained or it will lose its legitimacy in the eyes of the people. In the end, the people will win.

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Duclos Brewery does not tolerate violence and troublemakers will be shown the door!

Correspondence may be sent to 789 Valet St, Quartier Ouvrier near Quartier Marchand