Liberté Égalité Unité

[Radilo]

Liberté Égalité Unité

1746

On marshy land that would one day serve one of the largest cities in the southern hemisphere, now only sits a small village. The river that would one day ferry commerce and drive industry, now serves only fishing boats. Cattle graze where a palace of marble and steel would one day sit.

Traders from Gallia had been by here before, so the sight of white people was nothing new, but those who would arrive today would not be seeking to buy some goods and leave. This was to become a more permanent relationship. There was little pomp and spectacle for what happened that day.

 

[Montelimar]

1746

When the inhabitants of the sleepy little fishing village went to sleep the night before, little did they know what sight they would behold come the rising of the sun. As the first villagers began waking to ready themselves for the day's work, they were shocked to see as they looked out over the water, a small fleet of ships enter in the bay and begin dropping anchor off shore. Though they had seen the ships of the white people before, the number and size of these caused a great stir as the whole village was soon awake and gathering near the waters edge to see the spectacle. As historians would one day write, what the villagers was witnessing was the beginning of what would be the end of their way of life.

From the quarter deck of the flagship was the man that will set in motion events that will be felt for generations to come. Aboard the sixty-four gun ship-of-the-line Ardent, Louis Guillouet, comte d'Orvilliers, had come to this sleepy little village for one reason, to lay claim to this village and the lands beyond and to bring all those that lived there under the rule of His Majesty, King Michel II of Montelimar. And to insure that the mission was successful, Orvilliers had at his disposal the ships and troops to enforce crown rule. Looking down from the quarter deck, he addresses the man waiting below.

"Colonel, you may begin landing your troops......Oh, and Colonel, one thing more, if the natives have any objections to our being here, do not hesitate to explain things to them."

 

[Radilo]

1746

The native people of the region were called Nethians [or peoples of the Nïce (NEE-see) River] by whites, but they did not refer to themselves as a collective group. Rather each clan or village considered themselves to be independent. A long time ago there were powerful empires that dominated the area, but their power waxed and waned like all others. Now though no one state dominates the region.

The people of the fishing village were growing nervous about the presents of military vessels (they had learned by then the distinction between the traders’ and navies’ vessels). The village chief, Urhim (ur-HEEM), was particularly afraid; a small band of men with only two or three guns amongst them could not fight of any act of aggression by soldiers aboard those ships. He knew that the village was going to lose its territory and independence; but he feared for what else these new visitors might do to its people.

 

[Radilo]

It is always easier to let an conquering army through, than it is to fight them. Some young men were arrogant enough to think that they could fight... but Urhim would not let them. He had ordered their few guns hidden, along any spears or swords that they had. This was no assurance that they would be left unharmed, but it was all that could be done.

 

[Radilo]

OOC: I'm going to be doing some hopping around with the time... so the time line of this thread is not linear.

 

[Montelimar]

1746

The colonel that the Comte d'Orvilliers had addressed was Louis Gouy Sacriste de Tombebeuf, sieur de Montpouillan, colonel of the Regiment de la Sarre, and though D'Orvilliers was in charge of the expedeition, it was Montpouillan that commanded the troops and was responsible for securing the beach and the Nethian village. Having been given the word, Montpouillan ordered his first company to load into boats and head for shore under the potection of the fleet's guns and as the many longboats from the ships approached the shore, it was rightly assumed that the sight of the boats filled with soldiers and the warships would convince the Nethians that any attempt to resist would likely be futile, for even if they could fight off the white coated troops landing on their shores, the ships in the bay could destroy the village and all there with little effort at all. So it was without resistance that the beach and village was secured and the royal standard of Montelimar was first raised over site that would one day be a center of commerce and the center of Frankish culture in the south.

 

[Radilo]

1768

It had been about a generation since the arrival of the Frankish to the shores of the colony of Radilo—Radilo, a bastardized word for “Land of the South” in Italian (terra del sud ~ radelu ~ Radilo), a popular language amongst traders at that time. Nouveau Port had become a respectable trading hub for merchants seeking the exotic goods that were coming out of the new colony. The native peoples of that region had, by in large, accepted their domination. And though initially reluctant, many had converted to Catholicism and were speaking French when in public.

This is not to say that there were those who would not be conquered. Some villages beyond the frontier were not so quick to fall; there clan rulers tried to organize, but this met with little success.

It is during this time that a crop would be introduced that would have major implications for the future of the country. Grapes, it turned out, grew very well in the fertile region that was outside the Nïce River basin and delta. This region was named Champagne by the settlers, after the famous wine producing region of Arendaal. At this time a young Jas Richard Hennessy, the younger son of a Monteliman Aristocrat, came to this new land to with the ambition of establishing a winery.

 

[Radilo]

1862

The Victorian era in Europe was not kind to the poor throughout Europe. In the Province of Radilo, things were no different. Initially the franks who immigrated to the new colony were those with fortunes to be made, but after a while many of the urban poor were increasingly coming to the new province in attempt to leave the poverty that haunted them within Europa proper.

Many of these poor were no better off then the bulk of the aboriginal blacks who inhabited the province before the Europeans. While some of them were able to get out of poverty and join the wealthy European social circles, most lived in shanty towns in the urban centers or as poor farm workers in Champagne and the surrounding regions.

Ironically, it was not the estate owners, businessmen, and nobility who shunned their black counterparts, rather it was the poor. The wealthy Franks and Blacks had been inter-mingling for nearly a hundred years; and these well educated people felt little prejudice towards each other. In the poor communities, though, there was much animosity between the races.

The whites who immigrated to Radilo had hoped to get better jobs then in Montelimar, but they found that they had to compete with poor blacks for the same jobs. The Blacks felt that these new white immigrants were taking their work, and that so many additional laborers were driving down wages. As a result there was much animosity between the two groups.

One troubling development, that would not come to hurt the country until later, was that there was an emerging middle class—made of almost all franks. The reason for this was that the bankers who had only recently come from Europa had felt more suspicious of the blacks, so only loaned to working class whites; this went unnoticed by the established aristocracy. (The only exception was the financial branch of the Hennessy family that would lend to blacks.)

 

[Radilo]

1862

Le Château de Hennessy, Cognac:

Jas Lyon Moet Hennessy had been running the company of his Great-Grandfather for some time. It was doing well. He had more money than anyone else in Radilo; his family’s wealth could easily be equated with the royal families of Europe. His family did more than just sell wine and eau-de-vie, but controlled a whole host of industries. His cousin in Franken was in part running the largest financial firm in the world. In nearly all of Europe, the Hennessy’s had a footing; everyone in the world knew about him and his family.

He wanted more.

Throughout the world there was a new way of doing things. Democracy was taking hold; the idea of republic was alluring, the idea of independence. But his loyalty was to a family that was interwoven to the European aristocracy. He could not support a republic… but he was a Hennessey; he could hold both fire and water in the same hand.

(ooc: I'm actually drinking Hennessy VS as i'm writing this )

 

[Radilo]

1862

Nouveau Port

Lunette was an orphan who grew up in the slums. She was fourteen and working in a factory. She wore dirty cloths and always went barefoot. She was happy, though, because she had a love. Renée was a nice boy; he took good care of his little wife. He was her age, and had moved to the city to find work, ending up in the same factory as Lunette. These two young lovers were white, but they were different from other workers of their ethnicity; they did not mind associating with blacks. Lunette’s closest fried (apart from her husband) was a young black girl named Christine. Christine had a similar life story to that of Lunette. The young women also shared another common factor: they both had a unique political mind set.

While the enlightenment was originated in the bourgeoisie, its ideals were now becoming more accepted and admired amongst those in the working classes—should they be able to read and write. Ignorance and illiteracy, however, abounded in the slums. Lunette and Christine had no formal schooling, rather they thought themselves (and each other) how to read and write. They adored the written word; it was an escape from the harsh reality they endured (though beer and brandy helped too).

Together they founded a small group in a local pub that would talk about the radical notion of democracy. Initially it was just them and their husbands, but after a while it grew to about a dozen or so. All uneducated and poor factory workers, there was little action that the group could ever hope to take, this group met for discussions and drinks—not revolution. This was entertainment for them; a penny and a smile could get a young girl a pint of stout or a shot of brandy. Combine this with an active tongue and one could forget about being poor for a night.

Le Château d’Hennessy, Cognac

Jas Lyon also enjoyed drinking and talking about radical politics. But he sipped on cognac that cost more then a year’s earnings for Lunette and her husband. He wore large gold rings and silk shirts. His notion of a hard day’s work was quite different: he never broke a sweat, unless he had too much to drink (which was not uncommon). His circle of friends was made of powerful aristocrats, all torn as he was between preserving the family wealth and great possibilities of democracy.

He resolved a way to get both. He could expand his family’s power through democracy. All they did now was sit in a virtually powerless legislature, or preside over a symbolic fiefdom. With democracy, however, a charismatic businessman could run the whole country. Jas Lyon was not lacking in any of such charisma.

 

[Radilo]

1853, Nouveau Port

These are the last words of Haat Bulvier:

There is no doubt in my mind that the Negros of this country have been beholden to an arcane set of foreign customs. While there is no doubt that modernity has its virtues; to abandon our identity for that of the white man is unacceptable. I remind you that it was not but four generations ago that our forbearers lived a life dedicated to their identity. Where are the gods, the furs, and the tongues? We have traded them in for Christ, silk, and Romance. We have sold ourselves short.

We can no longer love our cultural slavery. We must seek out what is uniquely ours. Do not scorn the white man; scorn ourselves for abandoning so willingly those things that composed our collective souls. It is one thing to accept political rule; it is another to accept our subservience. The men who forced these customs upon us are now dead; the policy of reverse assimilation has now ended. If as the king says all men are equal under him, then we are entitled—at least—to the equality of ideas.

Thank you.

With that he stepped off the stage to a cheering audience and made his way outside. There he was stabbed to death by four men. He was not a radical, but the fear of any moderation sent some into rage. His friend Jas Lyon attended his funeral, and gave an elegant eulogy.

 

[Radilo]

1864

Cognac

Lunette and Renée had moved to Cognac after the birth of their little girl, Cossette. Nouveau Port, they thought, was too dirty, and for Lunette it is easier to work in a vineyard carrying a baby on her back than in a factory. Renée had worked in the vineyards before, and was able to get the two jobs with JHMC. Being farm hands, they made less money than at the factory, but it cost less to live in the country than in the city… and they got more time off.

One thing that Lunette enjoyed about Cognac was that the university there was not opposed to letting non-student’s sit in on classes. So wile she could not afford to go or get a degree, she could watch lectures on her days off. She would sit quietly in the back off the hall, cradling her little baby in her arms, and listen to the professor. She was a curiosity to the other students, most of whom came from rich families. Many would ask her questions, and talk to her after class.

One girl in particular would always talk with Lunette after class; eventually the two would eventually become close friends. This girl was Antoinette Moet Hennessy, the youngest daughter of Jas Lyon.

Antoinette learned much from her new friend. For the first time she saw what life was like for those who worked for her father. She would often go to Lunette and Renée’s house and have dinner with them. It was often just bread and thin soup, washed down with plenty of wine (all JHMC employees got a stipend free wine and spirits… a tradition that continues today).

Lunette told Antoinette how nice it was working for her father. While not paid much, employees of Hennessy did enjoy a higher standard of living then most of their working class counterparts. They lived in a small house that more resembled a cottage. They lived as peasant’s did in another time ~ there was a warmth about their hearth that was not felt elsewhere in the world. Antoinette told Lunette how this made her father happy; as he wanted to set a new standard of sorts.

Lunette’s friend Christine would often come down from Nouveau Port and the three women would go to pubs and shows. Together they were an odd site… the daughter of the wealthiest man in the country, a barefoot farm girl with a baby in tow, and a black factory worker. The notion that these three could be friends was odd to many, and possibly threatening to some.


1865

Château d’Hennessy, Cognac

Antoinette had often told her father about her adventures with her two new friends, and Jas Lyon decided that he would like to meet them. So he invited them both to eat dinner at his chateau. Though to call the place a chateau was a bit of an understatement; it was more like a palace… it was the largest private residence in the world, and still is in the Southern Hemisphere.

The two young women (and accompanying toddler) walked along the Cour d'Honneur; they had seen the palace from the road, but had never approached it like this. They were greeted by their friend at the bottom of the horseshoe steps that lead to the entrance of the main hall of the palace. The three exchange hugs.

“And how is my little friend doing?” Antoinette said as she kissed Cossette on the forehead; the toddler giggled. “My father is waiting for us in the library.”

The three girls walked up the steps and into the main hall. The young Hennessy thought nothing of it, but the two working girls were rendered speechless. Along the hall there were carved stone statues and priceless artwork; much of the ceiling and walls were intricately gilded; the floor on which Lunette’s dusty feet padded was made of elegant marble and granite tiles. The whole place had an aura of wealth and power.

 

[Radilo]

1865

Château d’Hennessy, Cognac

The three young women continued down the grad halls of the palace until they reached the vast library. The giant vaulted ceiling was decorated with gilded stucco and vast frescoes. In the center of the hall there was a large globe made of solid onyx, decorated with other semiprecious stones and gold. On the walls there were enormous shelves of books, many of which were originals, first editions, or one-of-a-kinds.

Sitting in an ornately carved chare, smoking a pipe, and occasionally taking a nip from a snifter was Jas Lyon—the head of the powerful Hennessy Family .

“Papa,” said Antoinette hugging her father, “these are Lunette and Christine.”

The two girls curtsied, and little Cossette tried to imitate her mother.

“Welcome. Come, sit down,” he said gesturing to a large couch beside him.

The three sat down; as they did so he poured them each a glass of cognac.

“Lunette, my daughter tells me you are quite intelligent,” he said as he handed them each their drinks.

“Thank you sir,” she said taking the glass. Cossette by now was walking the best she could around the large room, seemingly amazed by the strange place.

“My my, that is a lovely child, Cossette right? How old is she?”

“She’ll be two in a few months.”

“You and your husband are very lucky to have her… You do both work for me correct?”

“Yes sir,” said Lunette smiling.

“Ah. And how about this fine young negress, is she in my employ?”

“No sir,” Christine said, “I work for Parondi in Nouveau Port.”

“Then you might end up working for me soon… I have had my eyes on that factory for some time.”

“To be honest monsieur, I would rather work in the country… but jobs for you fill up quickly.”

“Then it is done. You and your husband can move to Cognac whenever you are ready.”

“Really?” asked Christine, noticeably surprised.

“Why not. If you are a friend of my daughter, then you are a friend of mine.”

Christine hugged Antoinette, and the three girls laughed joyfully.

“Tell me girls; Antoinette has said to me you are both interested in politics?”

“Aye, sir.”

“Then we might get along very, very well,” said Jas Lyon with a wide smile.

 

[Radilo]

1870

Cognac

As time progressed Lunette had developed a close friendship with Jas Lyon. While her friend Christine was interested in politics and democracy, her fascination did not rival that of Lunette. Antoinette had entered a stage in her life where she was more interested in rich young men than philosophy. The three were, and were always going to be, close… But the odd relationship between Lunette and Jas would have consequences that far outlived them.

Lunette was remarkably intelligent. Jas Lyon thought that it would be a waste for her to stay as a farm hand. He paid in full for her to attend the University of Cognac, giving her husband a promotion to keep up their income. Lunette did well in school, and after a few years left with a law degree. (First getting a bachelor’s was not required then.) Jas had plans for her…

“I don’t know Jas,” said Lunette trying on the dress.

“You cannot to Montelimar dressed in rags,” Jas responded.

“I cannot see how Antoinette wears things like this every day.”

“After a while you get use to it.”


“I think you look better wearing a working dress… but I think it still looks nice,” Renée said as his wife readied herself for the trip.

“You only like it because it reveals more,” she said smiling back at him.

“Maybe,” he said, “or maybe because when I think of you, I see you as that young peasant girl.”

She kissed him.

“I will always be that,” she whispered into his ear.

“I think you look pretty, mommy,” said Cossette as she walked into the room.

“Thank you sweet y.”

Cossette hugged her mother… “I want to go too mommy.”

“I’m sorry dear, but I will be home soon.”

 

[Radilo]

1870

Streamliner Coseques, Somewhere in the Great Sea

The boat that Lunette and Jas traveled on was not an ordinary streamliner. It was one of many owned by the Hennessys, but this vessel was reserved only for family members. Per this it was as lavish and luxurious as any palace.

Lunette always felt uncomfortable being waited on… especially by Hennessy’s servants, who would wait on her hand and foot. She tried to not let this bother her, as she was having a pleasant time on the vessel. This would be the first time she had ever been to Europa Proper… or for that matter go anywhere outside of Radilo.

She found herself lounging on a beach chair on the upper deck, drifting between sleep and consciousness. The warm sun and salty breezes helped her to float between worlds. She was awoken though, by an argument.

Two of the deckhands were shouting slurs at each other; one was white and the other was black. As it got heated, other deckhands got involved—divided along racial lines. Worrying that a fight might break out the ships captain was called to break up the fight. The captain was black, and some of the white sailors would not back down. One of them even took a swing at the captain, but missed.

“What the fucking hell is going on here!” shouted Hennessy as he walked out of his quarters in a silk bathrobe.

“Bit of a scuff sir, I apologize.” said the captain.

“No need Captain—you tried to quell this. But the rest of you need to stop it, now! I don’t give a damn what goes on in the pubs or streets of Nouveau Port, but when you are in my employ you will not duke out any racial grievances. Now get back to work.”

The deckhands dispersed.

Lunette had seen worse; she thought nothing more about it… she went back to sleep. Later in life she would come to remember the incident for what it was: the forecast of bad things to come.

 

[Radilo]

1870

Schloss Hennessy, St. Jacob, Franken

The fog had just began to settle as the sun crept over the horizon; it was early spring and life was coming back. Birds began to stir; morning doves cooed for winter was finally defeated. An elegant stage coach stopped at the gates of a lavish palace; out stepped Jas and Lunette. Waiting for them, dressed in a fur cape and silk top hat, was Robert Hennessy St. Jacob.

“It has been too long Jas.”

“Aye, how have things been in the north?”

“The business takes up most of my time. So what have you been up to?”

“Plotting the over through of empires,” said Jas with a grin.

“Indeed,” said Robert laughing, “and who is this find young maiden?”

“I’m no maiden.” Lunette said with an eyebrow raised.

“Ha! Well come inside—let us get warm and something to drink.”

The three made their way towards the palace.

 

[Radilo]

1870

Schloss Hennessy, St. Jacob, Franken

Robert was set to inherit the Earldom of St. Jacob from his father, Ludwig Moet Hennessy. Ludwig was Jas Lyon’s uncle, and was one of the major players in international commerce. For years he had been the co-director of the financial and trade giant Guttenberg Gruppe. He had laid out the plans for the company that much contributed to its rapid growth and success. The model he set up was eventually adopted by his brother, Jas Aloise—Jas Lyon’s father, for JHMC (Hennessy). Ludwig had retired from the company, and the job of co-director had fallen to his son, Robert, named after his mother Andrea’s father Duke Robert IV—the other original co-director of the company. Ludwig and Andrea were enjoying their retirement, and were traveling the continent at the time of Jas Lyon and Lunette’s arrival.

Robert poured Lunette and Jas a cup of tea.

“So cousin, how is business in the south?”

“Things are going very well. We are shipping our namesake to every country.”

“Even those ran by Mohammadites*?”

“Since when have I had any reservations about bootlegging?”

“Ha! And what about that lawsuit*?”

“We are still fighting it out, but I think we will win.”

“Indeed, so why does this fine young girl accompany you?”

“She is here to help me with my plan.”

“What plan?”

“I said I was plotting to over though empires; that was not in jest.”

“You’re shitting me! What do you plan to do?”

“Within the decade Radilo will be a sovereign nation… but I will need your help to do it.”

“I’m listening…”



*Muslims

*Moet and Chandon of Arendaal is suing JHMC (Jas Hennessy – Moet and Chandon) of Radilo over naming rights.

 

[Radilo]

1870

Schloss Hennessy, St. Jacob, Franken

“What you are describing to me, Jas, sounds like treason.”

“I have no intent of overthrowing the King. I just want independence for Radilo.”

“With your self as the Governor General, I suppose.”

“You know me well, Robert… but I will need you to help me.”

“How so?”

“Apart from Henri, I don’t really know anyone up here. Being as I spend the bulk of my time in the south, I have had inadequate minglings. You, on the other hand, are very well plugged into the northern aristocracy.”

“I would say that the main branch of our family might have more pull in Louis’s court than the St. Jacobs would.”

“I might have more sway but I will need support from other nobles. Other power players might see my moves as threatening.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Might I ask though young lass, what are you going to be doing?” said Robert as he turned to Lunette.

“I will be presenting the legal arguments to the King Louis IX. I have written up a draft constitution for the new dominion,” she said sipping her tea.

“Quite a feat for a girl so young.”

“Thank you. To be honest, there is much knowledge that has allowed me to build upon.”

“A well studied girl indeed, which family did you come form?”

“I come from no family, my child and husband are all I have.”

“A child, but you are just a child.”

“In the working classes we tend to have babies at a young age. Besides I’m older than I look, twenty-two.”

“Well then, if Jas thinks you are up to the task, then I think you are.”

 

[Radilo]

1863

Nouveau Port

It was a warm summer’s eve, and Lunette and Renée were enjoying themselves at an open air pub. Lunette was sitting on Renée’s lap, a pint of stout in hand. Her drunken eyes settled on his; she kissed him and laid her head on his.

“You’re drunk,” he said.

“Well so are you,” she said giggling. “*Hiccup* I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Renée held his little love in a long embrace. They’d head home soon, after a few more pints… The two kissed and Lunette hopped off of his lap. She sat on the stool next to him and finished her drink. The young bartender, a girl they knew, slid them over two more pints. The whole evening hadn’t cost them twenty cents; drinks were cheap in Radilo. But cheap alcohol did not only lead to bouts of being overly affectionate… it could lead to false courage and needless rage.

The two sat quietly in their stools, drinking their beer, and occasionally kissing one another. At the other end of the bar something about spilling a beer led to a fight between two men. One of the men was much larger and less drunk so it was a quick fight. One punch and the other man went down. Had that been it no one would have thought twice about it. But the now unconscious man’s friends didn’t take very well to their friend’s humiliation. “No n****r hits a white man,” shouted one of them. The Man who had quickly cleaned their friend’s clock was black, and they weren’t going to let that stand.

A full scale fight broke out, involving half the pub. Worried, Renée and Lunette quickly ran out of the bar and back to their apartment. The fight was broken up by the police a few minutes later, no one was seriously hurt, but the memory of that night would not go away from Lunette’s mind. She hated the way things were. That night she laid out her grievances to Renée, while resting in his arms. He kissed her and said that there wasn’t much they could do. “I know,” she responded, “but maybe someday we could do something.”

 

[Radilo]

“A kingdom that will not attend to the aspirations of its citizens shall cease to exist.”
- Haat Bulvier

1870

Valmy, Kingdom of Montelimar

Outside the Monteliman capital, the Hennessy’s had a relatively small but beautiful villa. This is where the final preparations for their presentation to King Louis IX of Montelimar. They would petition for the independence of Radilo. Such a blunt proposal might be scoffed at by the royal, so Hennessy would make it clear that he spoke for the entire country… Radilo would be independent on terms favorable to the King, or not. It would be his choice.

The idea of independence was alluring to many in Radilo. Other colonies had been separating from their mother countries, and many felt that it was now Radilo’s time. Rich and poor, black and white, everyone wanted this. The radical movement was strong in the south; such was not news to Valmy. Despite the tradition of journalistic neutrality, Les Temps du Nouveau Port and other papers were pushing for independence. The idea of a revolution was being whispered in the pubs and cafés.

Hennessy’s and Lunette’s proposal to have an independent dominion under the Montemilan Crown would be viewed as a compromise. This was intended to be a velvet revolution.