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Post by Ladorak on Aug 9, 2009 17:42:35 GMT -5
Sciurus Whirlpaw....the name did not unfortunately ring a bell with the Marquis. He'd file that name away though, just in case. Everybeast in here was probably a traitor at any rate as far as the shrew was concerned. He followed the squirrel up the stairs and to the conference room, stealing curious glances here and there at the interiors of the offices and all of the new faces....this wasn't good. Who were these beasts? Rebels?
"Ah good! Marquis Gottschalk! You have arrived! My name is Otto Kurtz." the shrew turned his head as they arrived in a large conference room. The Marquis's eyes almost immediately narrowed.
"Yes.....a former hypnotist from what I hear....who has a warrant out for his arrest...isn't that right Mr. Kurtz?" Gottschalk asked with a bit of acid in his tone.
"After tonight that warrant will be dropped, I assure you. Once Rosferia becomes a republic I will no longer be called a criminal. I invite you to join us in our endeavors Marquis. You have command of the National Guard. How would you like to be elevated to a much higher position? Say....in charge of all of Rosferia's armies? You'd replace the rather inept General Elmdor and be given full command. I assure you that we only do this because of the King and his crimes against this nation. We seek to remove him and implement a republic, where no one beast rules everybeast else."
The shrew sneered at this, an amused look crossing his face. "No....no, no I don't think so. Trying to bribe me Mr. Kurtz? You are nothing but an upstart rebel....you ALL are rebels in fact. I'm sorry but I don't take orders from rabble." the Marquis huffed haughtily. "I suggest you all disperse now. What you are suggesting is treason and I hereby place ALL of you under arrest in the name of the King!" the shrew thundered, slamming his fists down on the table. "Wait here...I'll be back with more Guardsbeasts and we'll see how long this little theatrical uprising of yours lasts." He turned, heading for the door...only to be seized on both sides of him by two members of the rebel movement. "Unpaw me you blackguards! This is treason! You'll all be arrested for this and hanged....or worse!"
"No...." the low, calm voice came from behind him. "No Marquis Gottschalk.....the only one who's under arrest is you." Otto's voice was like a whisper, a dead leaf blowing in the wind. "I had hoped you'd be reasonable....but I'm afraid that's not going to happen. I wasn't trying to bribe you....I was being serious. I respected you more than I respect that hedgehog Elmdor! But it seems as if you aren't willing to cooperate. Take the Marquis downstairs and escort him to Abbey Prison. We'll lock him up there with the rest of the royalists where he can await his trial under the new republic." With a shriek, the shrew struggled as he was led away by several beasts, heading out of the room and down the stairs.
Abbey Prison was a new prison that was recently opened in the building of an old abbey. It was being used specifically to house royalist prisoners who supported the King and was rapidly filling up. It would be Gottschalk's home it appeared for an indeterminate amount of time until the republic could decide what to do with him. Coward....Otto thought bitterly. Why were these nobles all the same? Why couldn't they just take a stand against their monarch? Why couldn't they accept the fact that they were no better than the average beast on the street?
"Sciurus....go and inform General Santere downstairs that he's now head of the National Guard...by order of the Cosnair Commune. Camille...write out the official orders placing him in charge of the National Guard." were Otto's next instructions. "Sciurus....Santere is a mongoose....you'll find him downstairs in one of the offices, wearing his National Guard uniform."
"R-r-right Otto!" Camille said, and darted off to begin writing up Santere's orders.
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Post by Carrow on Aug 9, 2009 17:53:23 GMT -5
Sciurus nodded silently, padding off back downstairs, and heading for the offices. It was more by luck than judgement that the squirrel found Santere's office. Knocking softly upon the door, Sciurus received an 'Enter, please' from inside. The squirrel opened the door, and gave a sigh of relief as he saw who was within: the very creature he had been sent to inform, the mongoose General, Santere.
"There's rather a lot going on upstairs, so I'll be brief. Erm, you are General Santere, right? Otto Kurtz sent me down here with a message," Sciurus said as he stepped inside.
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 9, 2009 18:46:06 GMT -5
The mongoose cleared his thread, adjusting his large cap upon his head. "Yes...I am General Santere. What can I do for you?" asked the General, interrupted briefly by the yelling Gottschalk as he was dragged past the two of them. "Oh dear...isn't that my superior officer....sort of?" he asked. He wasn't technically in the National Guard anymore because Gottschalk had booted him out. He had been forced to after the massacre of last year, when his troops had fired into a crowd of protesters. Santere hadn't really been responsible, but the public had needed a scapegoat. In reality though it was probably Elmdor and not Gottschalk who had relieved him.
"Unpaw me! This is treason! Treason! Do you understand the implications of that!" Gottschalk was practically screaming now. "You will pay for this! I'm a Marquis! You lowly beasts can't touch me!" they weren't listening to him though as they dragged him outside, his legs nearly refusing to work out of protest at his position. He was facing now a very large group of beasts that were gathering outside.
They recognized him immediately. They were gathering of course to march on the King's Palace, but they knew a noble when they saw one. His uniform and his shrill voice gave him away right off. Some in the crowd began to ask where he was being taken, to which his escort replied they were going to throw him in Abbey Prison. Some overly zealous beast, who had a real disliking for the aristocratic class and probably a bit intoxicated to boot, decided that prison was too good for this whiny shrew, and promptly drew a pistol out of his coat pocket.
"Stinkin' aristocratic royalists! They should all die!" he exclaimed, and before anybeast could stop him the crazed creature fired off a shot directly into the back of Gottschalk's head, killing him instantly. His innards splayed out a bit onto the front steps and this seemed to delight the crowd, who proceeded to attack and trample his body, crying out for the downfall of the monarchy and the nobility.
Santere had heard the gunshot outside of the building, and wrinkled his nose. "What in the devil was that do you suppose?" the mongoose asked.
***************
"Long live the Nation! Down with the veto! Down with the traitor!" it was becoming too much. Augustine wanted to block his ears, to shut out the calls of his disloyal troops. Those ingrates! Didn't they realize that such calls were treason!?
"Your Highness!" a silky whisper came into the leopard's ear. Augustine turned abruptly to face Spinfer, his main secretary at the Palace.
"Spinfer! It seems at least half of the National Guards on duty here and almost all of the artillery beasts think very little of me. Where is Gottschalk? He's supposed to be dealing with this! I can't expect to handle Palace security all by myself after all! That's what he's for!"
"Your Highness I believe that Marquis Gottschalk was summoned to the City Hall. He should be back presently. But your majesty I must INSIST you withdraw into the Palace. It's not safe out here. Please..." the stoat adviser pleaded.
The feline agreed, wanting to hear those ringing bells and the cries of his Guardsbeasts no more. "Major Von Bachmann! Assume your position at the foot of the stairs! Set the Guard up as you see fit!" Augustine called over to his mongoose head of security.
"Yes My King!" Von Bachmann said, saluting stiffly and turning on his heel. "Scarlet Guard! Assume positions as we discussed!" The elite Guard moved as one, filing back into the Palace behind the King and leaving the questionable National Guards outside. Some of them began leaving their posts, heading towards City Hall to answer the tocsin's call, and the artillery began to turn their guns on the Palace itself, ready to fire on the building if needed. It seemed the situation was rapidly deteriorating for King Augustine.
"This is outrageous!" the monarch declared as he padded down a hallway towards his royal chambers.
"I agree Your Highness but our defenses here are quite good. We should be able to bar access to the Palace as long as necessary." Von Bachmann was saying.
"See that it is done. And send a message Spinfer if you please to the Assembly. Ask them about what their take on the situation is. I'm retiring to my family's chambers. Come and see me when you hear word from them." were the leopard's instructions.
"Yes my liege." the stoat replied, bowing low as he moved to comply with Augustine's request.
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Post by bookity101 on Aug 9, 2009 19:57:07 GMT -5
Noel had been been visiting the family of one of the beasts that had gone down during a storm on one of his fathers many risky ventures. He actually was just pulling up to the town hall when the clanging started. He sat in the carriage for a while, watching the comings and goings of the beasts hurrying in and out of the building.
Noel was willing to wait till everything would settle down, but Myles was getting fidgety. Myles was a supporter of the Revolution, and he had noticed some beasts that he recognized as leaders. "Mister Noel, can I go in, take a look around?" Noel looked at the lad. "No you may not Myles." Noel watched as Myles' whole figure slumped down. Noel smiled down at him. "Well, at least not by yourself ," Noel jumped to door opening it before Myles had a chance to react. "You are going to have to put up with your noble employer coming in with you." Noel jumped to the ground, his attitude lighter than it had been in months. "I want to learn about this Revolution that has you and others all hyped up." Myles face light up. "I'd love to Sir."
Noel and Myles were barely on the ground when they heard the screams of the Marquis. "What is the meaning of this foolery?" Noel muttered under his breath. He recognized Gottshalk, they had attended the Academy around the same time, though Noel couldn't say that he liked the guy, he was far to whiny and thought far to much of his sub-par abilities in Noel's mind. But that didn't mean that Noel wasn't shocked when he was murdered.
Noel didn't even know what he was doing when he started towards the beast at a run. Vaulting over the obstacles in his path, he landed lightly on his feet in front of the beast holding the weapon, knocking the still smoking gun out of his paw, yelling at him before he even thought to much of what he was going to say. "No, Don't Do That!" His face was only angry at the waste of a life, not at the idea of the revolution as a whole. He lowered his tone, but could still be heard clearly by most present. "If you go shooting every beast that you don't like, or is mostly useless like the poor beast," he said motioning with a paw at the carcass of the Marquis. "You'll only make enemies, what about those nobles who give up there title but don't support you? If you go killing all of their outspoken friends, that will lead to trouble later on, or trouble now for the young ones," He said,, this time pointing at a married couple who had brought along there kits. The littlest one had buried her head in her mothers skirt, but the older lads were looking at the body with a mix of terror, and wonder. Noel moved so their view was blocked.
"And, my over eager friend, if you just shoot willy-nilly all around you, you are bound to miss and hit one of the innocents in this struggle." Noel's chest was heaving as he began to realize that, one he had just yelled at a beast he had never even seen before, and that everybeast was looking at him, not a position he was comfortable with. Shaking off the feeling, he gestured to Myles and the carriage driver. "Get the body out of here Myles, no need for him to be gawked at, unfortunate beast." ****** With the body taken care of, Noel slipped into the building, trying to find somebeast who could explain the situation to him, hoping for someone with a military standpoint. He poked his nose in various rooms, finding beasts from all walks of life there, but they all wore civilian clothing, till he found by accident, General Santere's office. He knocked on the door before entering, but just walked in after he did. He nodded to the red squirrel but focused in on the General. He came to attention, the navy's being just slightly different from the National Guards he didn;t think of that though.
"Sir, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I though that you should know that Marquis Gottshock was shoot on his way to what I assume was prison, my driver and manservant* are taking care of the body."
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Miri dressed carefully, the pricks she had gotten from the thorns weren't all that big, they just hurt! Grabbing the water bottle and her belt from off of the bed, she headed out the door going towards the lobby.
A few moments later she was in the lobby, coming up beside Monty. "Hey Boss, do you know what all that claning is about?" She asked as she adjusted her belt, "A beast can't sleep with that racket going on."
((*Does anybody have a word besides manservant? I couldn't think of anything else...))
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 9, 2009 22:06:18 GMT -5
((Mammalservant might work. Not sure. Apologies for my error as well. Santere is a mink, not a mongoose. )) Santere's meeting with Sciurus was interrupted when a meerkat that Santere thought he recognized but couldn't exactly be sure of poked his head in the door. He seemed to Santere to be from the Navy, but the mink couldn't really place the meerkat at this point in time. It was interesting...the way he saluted Santere like that. The mink wasn't entirely sure that he outranked this beast but just had to assume he did...whoever he was. Out on the street, Noel had left a rather puzzled and now guilty feeling assassin. He hadn't exactly thought about the repercussions to the noble/third estate relations. To him, all nobles were despicable, and though he had no idea who this meerkat was, he seemed at least quite concerned for the safety of the beasts around him. The angered beast hadn't really thought about that. Gulping, he put his pistol away without bothering to reload it. He could do that when they began their actual march. The crowd was parting in order to let the body of Gottschalk into the carriage, wondering why some seeming noble from who knew where wanted to stain his carriage seats with Gottschalk's blood but..... Santere sniffed at the news, a look of confusion crossing his face. "The Marquis....is dead?" the mink asked, as if he couldn't believe that fact. "That....was the gunshot I heard?" he pondered this for a moment, trying to decide if this were a good thing or bad thing. Did this mean he was to take command of the National Guard now? "I.....see....." was all he said at first. "Um....you said you had news for me or something right?" he asked of Sciurus now. "That is most unfortunate...." he added quickly, though his voice was devoid of any emotion. He seemed to be drifting in his own thoughts and trying to process everything at once. Gottschalk was dead? Was that a good or bad thing? He couldn't exactly say he felt remorse over this fact. But so much was supposed to happen this night that he couldn't let himself dwell on the death of one beast, even if it had been his somewhat superior officer. "Thank you....for taking care of the body." he said at last. "You are....?" he asked, but was answered by Otto Kurtz, who had come up behind Noel. "He's Noel Telious....a Captain in the Navy if I recall. Though you must forgive me Captain...I do not recall the name of the ship you are currently assigned to." the otter said, offering his paw. "Also I am unsure of whether you are a royalist or a republican, as you do come from a noble background. Welcome to the new City Hall. We're in the process of installing a new government here for the benefit of the city, and plan to move against the King's Palace very soon in order to remove Augustine from his seat of power. If you are in favor of that then by all means, join us. We're set to move against the Arsenal soon. If you are against that idea well...I'm afraid we'll have to detain you here until our uprising is over....it's nothing personal you realize." Otto didn't want to antagonize a potential ally, but knew that if he was a noble and had not deserted yet like many of his comrades, then he was probably more likely than not in favor of the Revolution. Otto only hoped the meerkat felt no attachment to King Augustine. That could complicate things of course. Santere, for his part, had turned his attention back to Sciurus whilst Otto spoke with Noel. **************** "No...I do not." Monty said, straightening his green cloak around himself. "But there's definitely something wrong. I suspect some sort of mass movement is going on.....perhaps against the King's Palace like we've been hearing so much about these past few weeks. Either way I intend to find out. Are you armed?" he asked her. He of course had his cane-sword and his pistol. He wasn't about to go out in the streets of Cosnair without weapons....just in case. He patted his vest pocket as he said this, subconsciously making sure he didn't somehow forget his pistol on the way down. It was still there....it hadn't moved.....of course.
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Post by Carrow on Aug 10, 2009 6:33:30 GMT -5
"Well, General," Sciurus replied, smiling slightly, "I do indeed have news for you, and it's this: By order of the Cosnair Commune, you are now head of the National Guard. It seems that quite a few creatures were out for the former Marquis' blood," the squirrel commented drily. "In any case, he has been dealt with now."
Sciurus turned to Otto, as he seemed to be the leader of the entire group. "Sorry for interrupting, of course, but I must ask: What's to be done next? And who, may I ask, is this creature, I don't think I've seen him before. Again, my apologies."
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 10, 2009 9:37:51 GMT -5
The mink swallowed again, knowing that his time had come. He was to be given command of the National Guard....just as they had discussed. Nodding several times in a rapid motion, he finally stood up, pushing his chair in behind his desk. "Very well then....I'll go and assume command at once. I'll let them know that Marquis Gottschalk is no longer able to command his troops. As we planned, I'll withdraw the cannons from over the bridges. That way our fighters on the other side of the River Trist can link up with our main group as they move from here towards the Palace. I'll also try and get as many of the regiments of the National Guard as I can to join us in our fight."
He placed a bicorn hat upon his head, looked around the room, nodded resolutely, and strode out of his office. The time had come. He was responsible for the National Guard now...and it was up to him to get them to join in overthrowing their monarch....which wouldn't be difficult as many of them detested the King anyways. "Sorry I have to leave you Captain, but perhaps I'll speak to you again when all of this is over." The mink headed for the entrance of City Hall, slipping out into the night and heading to where Gottschalk had been stationed before. He would work subtly.....discreetly until the insurgents were on the move in the streets.
"As I just announced Sciurus, this here is Captain Noel Telious of one of the warships in the Rosferian Navy...though which one in particular I cannot recall, forgive me Captain." Otto informed Sciurus, speaking to Noel on the side as well. "He's from the First Estate....that being the nobility of course.....though he hasn't actually defected yet, so I am assuming he is not entirely a supporter of the King....though forgive me for making assumptions." the otter said, not wanting to offend the officer.
"You must have come here thinking that City Hall was still in the paws of the old government. Well apologies once again, but the Commune has taken charge. If there is anything I can help you with bring it to my attention at once. We intend to move against the Arsenal very soon in order to arm ourselves and as said, you're more than welcome to join us. Tell me Captain, where do your sympathies lie?" the otter asked curiously, though he wasn't planning on despising the meerkat if he did indeed support the King. He seemed to have a level head on his shoulders after all, and Otto respected him for that.
Otto was also secretly pleased with Sciurus's reaction to Gottschalk. Perhaps a few months ago the squirrel would have been a nervous wreck at the news, but now he seemed to not let it effect him visibly. That was good.....maybe he WAS ready for this coming conflict then. He would have to be tonight. There would no doubt be resistance....Otto couldn't expect the Scarlet Guard to stand down if they had orders to protect their monarch after all. They were very well paid professionals, and would die for the King if necessary.
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Post by bookity101 on Aug 10, 2009 11:58:48 GMT -5
Noel nodded once to the General as he left, then turned to Otto, a small smile growing on his face. "My good squirrel, as your friend here said, I am Noel Telious, Captain of H.M.S. umm wait a moment, what will the Navy be called after this Revolution goes through anyway?" Noel shook his head.
"Well, I am Captain of the good ship Bold, and also as your friend said, my title is Noel Telious, formerly Duke of Pemingburrough." He said this last bit with a bow to them both. He turned back to Otto, offering his paw to him. "You seem to have the up on me. I don't know who you are." Myles walked in almost as soon as he finished introducing himself. Myles, unlike Noel, knew most of the faces of the big-wigs in the Revolution, and finding himself faced with Otto Kurtz and Sciurus Whirlpaw was almost to much for the teen. His face lite up immediately on his entrance, but he kept his tounge in check because his employer was right there.
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Post by Carrow on Aug 10, 2009 12:18:23 GMT -5
Sciurus had been thinking of Gottschalk's death. Otto wasn't the only one pleased that such an event had not affected the squirrel; Sciurus liked to think that he had toughened up in the last while. Besides, he thought, the former Marquis had already been dealt with beforehand, and, while the shrew's demise at the paws of the populace, so soon, at least, had come as a surprise to the squirrel, he had to admit that he didn't feel unduly bothered about what had happened.
Sciurus had, this time, been paying attention to Otto's words. Before, he had taken more interest in what Santere had said, which explained why he had felt the need for his otter friend to repeat himself. He shook paws with Noel, smiling as he spoke.
"Well, quite pleased to meet you, Captain Telious. I'm Sciurus Whirlpaw. I echo Mister Kurtz's question, as I am curious to know, where do your sympathies lie?"
The squirrel's sharp eyes had spotted Myles, and he smiled upon seeing the look on the youngster's face. As excited as he was about all the events that were to unfold, so far Sciurus felt as though he had not been given ample opportunity to, for lack of a better phrase, prove himself in the eyes of the Commune. The squirrel wasn't saying much, as he had quite a lot on his mind, already thinking ahead, thoughts of what was to come whirling around in his mind. He realised that things had not really gotten going just yet, but Sciurus was a creature who did well when he had things to do. If the squirrel was honest, he couldn't wait to get going.
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Post by Ladorak on Aug 10, 2009 14:48:56 GMT -5
"Ah yes....unsure what to say on that one mate." Otto said, in reference to what the warships would be called after the King fell. That was good news! It meant that Noel was at least expecting that to happen. That meant he wasn't fully adverse to their Revolution. At least that was the otter's line of thinking.
He grasped the paw of the meerkat and shook it heartily. "I'm Otto Kurtz, former lawyer from Gradvar who quit that nation because of compulsory military service. I came here and sat on the National Constituent Assembly when it was formed 3 years ago, and then it dissolved in favor of our failed Legislative Assembly. After that, because I was barred for running for a post in that new assembly, I ran a side business as a hypnotist and became actively involved in the Cordeliers Club, one of the leading clubs in this city that would like to see the overthrow of the King in favor of a true republic for Rosferia you see."
He cleared his throat, letting Sciurus shake Noel's offered paw now. "As you can see our efforts have finally paid off. Along with myself and Paul Cutter as well as Milton Dragonis, I guess you could say I was one of the founding members of this movement, and intend to lead from the front tonight." he looked behind him briefly to see that the move in to the offices by the new workers was going smoothly. Aside from the murder of Gottschalk, which Otto didn't exactly see as too much of an aberration, the night was still theirs as far as he could tell.
He smiled down at the youth that was accompanying the meerkat. Myles was absolutely glowing it seemed as he appeared to be familiar with the otter. A lot of revolutionaries at this point in time were. "I apologize for rushing you Captain Telious, but I really do insist that we hurry. We need to get this march underway as soon as possible. We plan to head to the Arsenal first and then the Palace. Will you be joining us or remaining here? If you came here for a specific purpose I'm afraid City Hall is undergoing a change right now, but we'll do our best to address your need if that is the purpose for your visit."
Behind Otto were several beasts descending the stairs, and Milton and Cutter were included in their ranks. They seemed to be finalizing some last minute details between themselves. The whole place was coming alive as more and more beasts were gathering outside for the march. They weren't wasting time it seemed in their revolution tonight.
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