The Shattered City: Chapter One

[yalenusveler]

"I think this whole conflict between the nobles and everyone else is stupid." Kerrian finally said. While probably a very accurate assessment of the situation, it required a touch more elaboration, which he soon provided. "The Aristocracy provides needed services, giving order. But they need the common people to actually ensure that things get done. " He then sighed, and shrugged.

"The aristocracy needs to be more sensitive to commoner needs, and the anarchists need to realize they're making the problem worse for every other commoner who isn't a bomb tossing lunatic. Otherwise, the situation will get far worse, and the wolves will eat us all."

[Cronax]

Mr. Agale took an unoccupied seat, paradoxically keeping his board like posture and leaning forward to the edge of his chair, "It seems to me the root of this nation's troubles stem not from a lack of property among the common man, but from a lack of opportunities for personal advancement. Dementliu is sorely in need strong guild system to give the lower classes a feasible means to increase their fortunes. Bereft of it is no wonder that the more industrious among among them have turned their energies toward revolution. I would wager a guess that if affairs were permitted to continue to their logical progression, we would end up with an atrophied oligarchy similar to those now found in Hazlan and to a lesser extent Nova Vaasa."

"Unless of course these anarchists were to prevail." Agale scoffs, hoping to provoke a reaction. "Their motives, or at least what we assume to be their motives are opaque. The definition is most likely at odds between their members and certainly at odds with their means of accomplishment. Based on what I have observed so far, it seems they would not know what to do with a victory could they succeed in achieving one."

Insight 23, trying to determine if Delarue actually believes what he is saying.

[Kaitou Kage]

Cyrus nodded as Tomas headed into the alley. The Lawgiver taught that it was important to know the strengths and weaknesses of the tools you had. Tomas's soft heart and open demeanor made him very well-suited to dealing with so-called innocents. So once the Lamordian engaged the girl, the Lawgiver priest glanced around and began walking down another street.

"I'll return shortly," he said.

Streetwise 14. Does my 31 Perception give me any bonuses there?

Stealth 24 I believe, though if Cyrus gets lost he won't really need to bother with the Stealth, will he?

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Perhaps the problem," Lia quietly opines, "is that a land shrouded in the darkness of an ancient class system denies that it is still wandering in the darkness, and claims to be enlightened. This land claims to be one of reason. What is the reason for denying that a system of nobles and serfs still exists, be it under another name?"

[NeoTiamat]

Quartier-Ouvrier, Port-a-Lucine; March 10th, 770, 6:19 PM
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"Are you lost, Reine?" Tomas asks, honestly concerned. He makes no hostile or sudden motions, pretending to be unaware of the girl's escape route. "You'll forgive me for noticing, but those clothes seem a little...new...you know? Well, except that natty old cloak."

"No." Reine said, helping herself to another chestnut. A lock of her auburn hair fell down across one eye as she reached for it, which the girl brushed away in annoyance. Reine was desperately in need of a good comb. And a haircut. "Are you? Ezra says you've been travelling a lot."

The small slip of a girl tilted her head as she watched Tomas, possibly hearing things that no one else heard... or possibly just noticing that Tomas's boots, after a trip through the Quartier Ouvrier, were more than a little dirty.

[Nerit]

Nerit watched Tomas and Reine with hands folded in front of her. Head slightly bowed, she took slow, short steps toward the two in the alley.

"Hello, I'm Sister Nerit," she spoke softly. "Does Lady Ezra speak to you?"

Careful to leave space for the girl so as not to trap her in, she smiled. The Ezran pendant was clearly visible at her chest, of course.


(Insight: Why Reine's rifling through the cloak = 25)

[NeoTiamat]

The Rondelet Residence, Quartier-Savant, Port-a-Lucine; March 10th, 770, 6:13 PM
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"Perhaps the problem," Lia quietly opines, "is that a land shrouded in the darkness of an ancient class system denies that it is still wandering in the darkness, and claims to be enlightened. This land claims to be one of reason. What is the reason for denying that a system of nobles and serfs still exists, be it under another name?"

"I think this whole conflict between the nobles and everyone else is stupid." Kerrian finally said.

"How charmingly naive." Hugo Delarue said sharply, eyeing Kerrian with what could only be described as you are an idiot vibes. "That sort of social contract went out of style with the Feudal ages. The power of the nobility is based on wealth and political influence, not on any kind of medieval obligations---

"Yes, which is exactly why the aristocracy ought to be disbanded fortwith." M. Evrard interjected, waving an arm towards Lia. "The lady is quite right. We're saddled with an antiquated institution that has to be abolished before Dementlieu starts resembling Falkovnia. The only way the people are going to accept the burdens of the state being levied upon them is if they have the say in how the state must be run-!"

"My dear man! Are you being absurd? To dump the responsibility of the state onto those poor people's head when half of them haven't enough bread to fill their bellies? Who could possibly be expected to have to worry about all that excruciating politics nonsense in such a condition!" Madame Loiseau fussed, getting almost weepy eyed at the thought. "And just yesterday my darling girl was saying that most the people in the Quartier Ouvrier could barely read! And are these people to be forced to do our taxes now? We must let the people educated to handle all of this do so, not dump it all on the heads of common shopkeepers-"

"Madame, these are not children! The reason they are ill-equipped to handle government is because they are too poor to educate themselves upon the government, a condition inflicted upon them by the government!" Evrard interrupted, with some heat. "And I think we have ample evidence that the government has no intention of correcting this problem, due to an ill-concieved notion that the people are easier to control when ignorant-"

"Well I never! How could you say such things about our faithful public servants! I'll have you know that my boy works around the clock to help make Dementlieu a better place, to be maligned in such a way by- by- an armchair philosopher-!" Madame Loiseau huffed quite violently, jolting Delarue into dropping his half eaten pastry onto the floor. Glaring slightly at the woman, Delarue reached out and grabbed another one off the plate, scattering the remaining treats as he did so.

[DocBeard]

"A little." Tomas admitted, not entirely able to hide his surprise at the claim. He remembers the last time he met someone who could speak to the angels and saints, and has to shrug off the sudden, inexplicable urge to-

Ah, Nerit. Impeccable timing, Tomas thinks, frowning a little. "Chestnut, sister?"

[NeoTiamat]

Quartier-Ouvrier, Port-a-Lucine; March 10th, 770, 6:21 PM
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"You won't believe me," the girl said, quickly withdrawing a few steps, cloak in tow. "No one believes me. You'll try to take me to the place with bars, like all the others. B-but Ezra won't let you. Ezra says I mustn't be taken there again, and you must listen to Ezra." Reine sketched the shield over her chest, huddling back toward the alleyway wall.

[DocBeard]

"We won't." Tomas's gentle voice insists, but he makes no motion; a frightened child is like a frightened animal, and must be allowed to make the initial movement. There is a brief look at Nerit before a calculated risk is taken. "I spent some time in one of those places, Reine, and I only think you should have to go there when you are likely to hurt another person because you are sick."

Tomas lets that lie for a minute, chewing on a chestnut slowly. After swallowing, Eisenwald adds, "I might not believe you. But that doesn't really mean anything; I used to not believe in a lot of things I later found out where perfectly true."

[Nerit]

Nerit politely lifted her hand to reject the chestnuts. She lowered herself to her knees, revealing the prized humility of the monastic class. It meant they truly believed the Lady wouldn't care if their bleached habits became stained in an effort to help the unfortunate. They wouldn't care.

"I believe you," she whispered to Reine, with a sharp, pointed look toward Tomas for his 'might not' comment. "You don't have to go anywhere you don't want to, child. But I know there's a place where they will all believe you. Where you are allowed to hear the Lady."

Nerit smiled again. "Do you see this?" She held up the shield in her hand, about chin height, to show Reine. "I come from that very place. Now how could I not believe you?"

The child must be starving. After all, it was obvious she had rifled through that coat out of curiosity; perhaps she wanted trinkets or money to exchange for food. At any rate...it meant the cloak had been abandoned or dumped after the crime.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Yes, which is exactly why the aristocracy ought to be disbanded fortwith." M. Evrard interjected, waving an arm towards Lia. "The lady is quite right. We're saddled with an antiquated institution that has to be abolished before Dementlieu starts resembling Falkovnia."

"Falkovnia is one of several places I have never personally been to," Lia quietly interjects. "But as madame Loiseau has so astutely observed ... things are quite bad here already. Disbanding the aristocracy may not, however, be the best solution. Wealthy people of privilege who are told they are to lose one or both of these traits are unlikely to gracefully acquiesce. Rather, it might be well to view the ideals claimed by the founders of Dementlieu, and form a council that is truly of the people, staffed by representatives of all groups.

Let those aristocrats who are of good character donate funds and supplies to help create such an institution, where truly all layers of society have a say in the running of the state. And let them help in that same manner to bring all layers of society to such a state of education and prosperity that all men and women can see clearly, can choose without fear of presure which will steal the bread from the mouths of their children, and that they feel their words have meaning in the world they inhabit.

No doubt what I suggest is politically immature and will breed new problems, but ... the old problems are so very bad right now. A change of pace would do the political system good, I think."

"Well I never! How could you say such things about our faithful public servants! I'll have you know that my boy works around the clock to help make Dementlieu a better place, to be maligned in such a way by- by- an armchair philosopher-!"

"Indeed, madame?" Lia asks politely. "And what does your son do? And I fear you do the gentleman an injustice. All philosophies must begin in the armchair, the forum, the places of rest and discussion. Philosophy requires cool heads as much as fiery hearts: once the head has properly shaped the thought, the heart must bring it forth and inspire the masses to follow it through."

[NeoTiamat]

Quartier-Ouvrier, Port-a-Lucine; March 10th, 770, 6:23 PM
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"We won't." Tomas's gentle voice insists, but he makes no motion; a frightened child is like a frightened animal, and must be allowed to make the initial movement. There is a brief look at Nerit before a calculated risk is taken. "I spent some time in one of those places, Reine, and I only think you should have to go there when you are likely to hurt another person because you are sick."

Nerit smiled again. "Do you see this?" She held up the shield in her hand, about chin height, to show Reine. "I come from that very place. Now how could I not believe you?"

"Ezra won't let me be taken," Reine whimpered, balling the cloak in her hands and clutching it to her chest. "No one believes me. Not even the Lady's servants. But Ezra won't let me." Tears began to flow, and the girl struggled with her sleeve, desperately trying not to let them show.

"The Lady's servants pretend to be kind," she sobbed. "But I can't go there. I can't ever go there."

"I'll return shortly," he said.

Cyrus melded into the long shadows, passing by his other comrades in the square. Thierri, still kneeling by the fountain by the rotting dog, didn't even glance up as the dommer moved past him. But as he walked by where Katja was standing, talking to the poorly-dressed women, he saw her tilt her head around, following him out of the corner of her single eye.

The Quartier Ouvrier was a twisting, wretched hive of ill-planned streets. More women, plastered with make-up and fake smiles, were hanging about the alleyway corners. Other men passed by, and walked off with a few of them, still others drank heavily as they staggered home through the streets. A few disease ridden beggars huddled against the building walls, before the owners came and chased them off. They didn't look likely to survive the night.

Eventually, Cyrus found where the other end of the alley connected to. Tomas and Sister Doherty stood across from him, the girl a little closer, still sniffling into the cloak.

[The Whistler]

It was not particularly difficult to gauge Celeste’s feelings regarding Lia’s political philosophy, even on a point-by-point basis; she did very little to disguise them. To wit:

"But as madame Loiseau has so astutely observed ... things are quite bad here already.

{Regretful sigh, accompanied by a momentary slackening of the fan, along with a resigned nod}

"Disbanding the aristocracy may not, however, be the best solution.”

{Immediate perk-up}

"Rather, it might be well to view the ideals claimed by the founders of Dementlieu, and form a council that is truly of the people...& c.

{Progressively more enthusiastic nodding; smiling}

No doubt what I suggest is politically immature and will breed new problems, but ... the old problems are so very bad right now. A change of pace would do the political system good, I think."

“Oh my…how very elegant, Mlle. Mourneswaithe!” The tone of voice indicated genuine surprise; apparently, Celeste really hadn’t considered the like before. “A solution which accounts for the most deeply held concerns of…yes, of all parties! For one who loathes to forsake the needs of any class, no matter how lofty or how destitute, I daresay this is a uniquely fortuitous ideal. Why, to think that the future of our fair nation may have been sculpted in this very salon! I shall have to make note of it for posterity.”

"Well I never!...& c."

All philosophies must begin in the armchair, the forum, the places of rest and discussion. Philosophy requires cool heads as much as fiery hearts: once the head has properly shaped the thought, the heart must bring it forth and inspire the masses to follow it through."

Fortunately enough, Celeste had spent the bulk of Mme. Loiseau’s affronted rebuttal making note of the Birth of the New Dementlieuse Aristocratic Republic in her appointment book (quite literally; if you looked over her shoulder and could read her handwriting, the entry said “March 10, Evening: Present for Birth of New Dementlieuse Aristocratic Republic”, embroidered by a number of supportive squiggly lines and curlicues). As such, she was not paying attention for the argumentative portion of the debate, though she did come up for air near the end of Lia’s discourse on philosophy. By appearances, she was just as impressed by it:

“Astute observation upon astute observation! I could not possibly concur more thoroughly, Mlle. Mourneswaithe. After all, if we may quibble at the particulars of government, at least we may agree that merely thinking upon the matter is the first step to a more harmonious future? Speaking as a patroness of the arts, so much of our present reality is entrenched upon the airy foundations of philosophy—of symbolism! To debate politics in such a fashion cannot help but be illuminating.” She smiled winningly at the room in general.

Diplomacy 21 to (primarily) get everyone to settle down/stop bogarting Delarue's stage time and (secondarily, if possible) get them talking about the more symbolic aspects of politics—the closer we can get to what these folks think about the founding artifacts, and the kind of statement stealing them might make, the better.

[Kaitou Kage]

Cyrus smiled at some of the less ugly streetwalkers as he passed, but inwardly he spat in disgust. The Hazlani enjoyed female company, sure, but he preferred women with class. These had no class and he shuddered to think of the punishments that would be inflicted on him by socializing with them.

Finally he reached the opposite end of the alley. The girl was still there, talking to Eisenwald and now the nun. Cyrus folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall just beside the alley and tiled his head to listen.