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This is a page which will serve as a scaffolding for building up the 1880s game.

Game Specifications

• Set in New Orleans
• All PCs were at the same orphanage - TheStJamesOrphanage The St. James Orphanage
• Arrive at the orphanage by 1865
• The orphanage will accept children until they’re around 16
• Game will start in 1880s, so PCs need to develop prelude up to that point
• If away from orphanage, write letters, or provide some other type of updates to keep the group knit together.
• No meta power required - Batman will be totally competent in this game - but everyone MUST be a carrier. Any major handicaps must be acquired during life, rather than congenital.
• No requirements for awakening timing.
• Orphanage life was tough. Orphans are neglected, beaten when they misbehave, and spend their days in work houses.

To do:

• (Each PC) Provide:
• Date and age when you arrive at orphanage
• Other minimal character facts (name, e.g.)
• (Kel) organize the characters into a minimal timeline, and set up shell events to get the role playing started. NOTimelineOrphanage Orphanage Timeline

French Quarter Overview based on a 1870's map
French Quarter Detail <#kate: I put in the hotel and orphanage arbitrarily here (it seemed a good spot in relation to the church and market), but I'm totally open to altering the position. The other details are historical landmarks that were there at the time (or before then). I'm hoping to add more but if anyone knows of something else to add, let me know. I'm happy to either share the file or get it into Google in a more editable format (but don't really feel like spending the time figure that out at the moment so a picture you have now =P) #>
St. James Hotel Front Facade Drawing
St. James Orphanage Front Facade Drawing
Hotel and Orphanage Site Layout
Orphanage Interior
Hotel Second Floor
Hotel Third Floor
Hotel Fourth Floor


Orphans and Orphanages
Orphanages
Louisiana Online Historical Newspapers
SiblingsPossibilities

PCs to choose their beds in order of arrival - with NPCs likewise choosing as appropriate.

Left Side	Right Side
Stairs	Bed 1 - Jefferson
Bed 2 - Name?	Bed 3 - Name?
Bed 4 - Name?	Bed 5 - Name?
WBed 6 - Callahan	Bed 7 - Name?
WBed 8 - Name?	Bed 9 - Name?
Bed 10 - Name?	Bed 11 - Name?
Bed 12 - Name?	Bed 13 - Valerie

Contemporary picture of a similar hotel
Hotel bedroom
Hotel bedroom
Parlor room
Sitting room
Dining room

NONpcs NPC's Page

Descriptions:

(Bill since you are clean up guy. Dide you want to clean up this section? I think most of it was copied already to the NONpcs page)

VincentBlack Vincent and RoseBlack Rose Black run the TheStJamesHotel St. James Hotel. A large hotel that is in the heart of the French Quarter (Address needed. Adjacent buildings needed.)

The children have little interaction with Mr. Black. He is a stern man, tall and thin, with gray edges to his dark black hair. He smokes a pipe and likes to keep to himself. He drinks in the evenings, and generally seems sour and sad. He never talks with the children.

Rose is a very devout Christian and attends Church every Sunday, and participates in all the Church functions. (Church name needed). She insists that all the children attend Sunday service with her. She is the reason that the Orphanage is open, and she wants to make sure to save the children's souls.

The children are lead to church all tied together with some rope (to keep them together) they are sat in the back and prayed at.

After Church, Sunday afternoon is the only real "free time" besides evenings that the children have. They are left a bit to their own devices. They are however expected to be in at 6 sharp (if the last bell rings and your not home, you are in BIG trouble) for Sunday Dinner. The staff and the children eat together that one meal. The staff and children eat in a small side room, the Black's and the guests ear in the large hotel dining room.

Other meals, the children are fed in the kitchen after the staff have eaten, 8pm (by the church bells) then off to bed.

The children all sleep in the same room, at the top of the stairs in the orphanage, the bedroom has a single window, which can be used to access the tower, otherwise the window looks out over the cemetery.

The Hotel was used by Confederate Soldiers as a way station during the war. Mr. Black is a strong Confederate supporter, and a Confederate flag hangs in the Black's apartment. There is a piano in the Hotel parlor.

TheStJamesOrphanage The Saint James Orphanage is attached to the hotel via a small dirty alley, which is the path the children workers take to the hotel early each morning. The Blacks live in an apartment in the hotel.

Rose, much like her name loves flowers, she maintains a sizable garden, one of the children's jobs is to tend the garden there. She displays her flowers on the front desk of the hotel, and everywhere else she can. When the garden is not producing, she pays an exorbitant sum to have flowers brought in.

Rumors is that the Blacks had two children a boy and a girl, its unclear what happened to them, the staff doesn't know or doesn't say. There are pictures of several people who look like the Blacks on the mantle in the den of the Black's apartment, but it is unclear if they are relatives or children. (Children being children can feel free to make up what they think the truth is.)

A long time ago, the Orphanage and the Hotel were a church complex, and it gate still is attached to a small cemetery. The only bit of the Church that remains is what used to be the bell tower, the bells are long gone but the tall spiral tower remains attached to the Orphanage. By crawling out of one of the upstairs windows, and along the rooftop the children can reach the tower which still has a small room where the bells used to be. From this room they can overlook most of the city and hear music floating in from downtown.

The head of the staff is MartinFrench Mr. Martin French. He is a short stout man that is all muscle. He's bald with a thick black beard and a loud voice and smile. He shows up to work every day in his fine pressed tuxedo. He is very proud of his job. He interacts with the children, calling them his "little soldiers." He is not mean, but expects the children to do the jobs they are assigned and is not afraid of beating children who misbehave, or slack off in their duties. As a policy each child is beaten their first day so that they "know what it feels like."

It is unlikely that his last name is actually French, but he does speak fluent French, and will use it to converse with the the Creole staff. He was an officer during the war, and has some wartime connections to Mr. Black, but he does not speak of it. He is very reverent of Mr. Black and will never speak ill of him.

<#bill: Question: The description above says that "French" is probably not really is last name - that's why I didn't make him a page when I was making pages for the Blacks et al. I take it, we've decided that French is actually his last name? Does that mean we can remove that outdated part of the text? Will we eventually get a last name for Nora? Or is she like Madonna? #>

Nora has no last name based on her life as a slave.

I dont know where you got that assumption Bill but it would be wrong.

No one ever calls "Mr. French" by any other last name, but the Black's never call him that, they call him Martin. It is common knowledge that Mr. French, is not his correct last name, but it is unknown to the PCs what his real last name is.


The Chef, LouisLavinie Louis Lavinie, is the only other white staff member. A huge fat man he has a jolly laugh and thick red hair. He claims to have been "classically" trained but has no "proof" other than that his food is tasty. He loves the children, and is constantly sneaking them treats and things (much to the chagrin of Mr. French). Louis can read and write and teaches any interested children the same skills. (Anyone who is interested would learn the basics from Louis, and then once they showed the aptitude, would be given jobs (signing in guests etc) to improve their skills.) Other than on the job training, Sunday School, and lessons from Louis the children have no other formal education.

Nora, a willowy black woman is the head maid. She was Mr. Black's slave, and still basically is in all but name. He treats her well and she runs the house and hotel in the shadow of Mr. French. Mr. French is big and vocal, the face of the hotel, and is "in charge" but the place really dances to the beat of Nora. She believes good help is doing things before people realize they need to be done, and that includes whipping the children if necessary. Cross Mr. French and you earn a beating and lack of supper. Cross Nora and your life is hell, and the children know it. They don't so much hate her as they do fear her. Her word is law, but as long as you do your job and stay on her good side all doors will remain open for you.

ElizabethClark Elizabeth Clark, the matron, is the person the children interact with the most. She is employed by Mrs. Black to do the real work involved with running the orphanage. Keeping the children clothed and fed, putting them to bed, caring for them when they are sick, all these tasks fall to Elizabeth, or Mrs. Lizzy as the children sometimes call her. She lives and sleeps in a small room underneath the loft where the children sleep, acting as both a caretaker and a prison guard. She is not cruel to the children, but this is a job for her and she treats it like one. She is very even handed with the children and by the nature of Nora and Mr. French ends up being the good cop more often than not. She is not above spanking and punishments, but at the end of the day, the children's best interest are in the forefront of her mind. She is a large (big, tall and muscular, not fat) creole woman, with a big laugh. She and Louis flirt a lot but nothing more appears to come of that, otherwise she spends her nights alone. If she is not actively dealing with the children (when they are at work, for example) she acts as a maid / laundrywoman. The linens and other sundries are stored in the large open area under the loft where the children sleep.

AbnerHayes Abner Hayes

Note: There are between seven and twelve at the orphanage at any given time.

---

Notes etc below:

Kelly's random thoughts (These are mutable but might give people some things to incorporate) :

1) I think the orphanage is run as a business...my gut is that its attached or nearby a factory / hotel thing and the orphanage provides for the children but they are expected to work at the business "getting real world training to make them productive members of society." (In other words free labor in exchange for room and board).

2) I think the business was heavily involved in the civil war, but with it over, has seen better times. (example if it was a hotel it housed soldiers, if it was a factory it made munitions, etc.)

3) I think the business is run by the male half of a couple, while the female half runs the orphanage. (I can also see the whole family being involved...oldest daughter cooking the kids food, oldest son working as the foreman at the business).

4) I think the orphanage has a tall tower or spire that the kids can climb up and look out over the city.

Ill add more as my brain churns, others can feel free to add as well.


<#kate: Kate has some questions for folk. Many might need to wait until earlier events are figured out, some might be none of my business =P but I need to get them out of my head before I go...more crazy: #>

<#kate: Court: Do you think Jeanne's native language becomes apparent? I think it would be neat, and something Ella would be curious about, if only learning a few phrases here and there rather than becoming fluent or anything. #>

<#court: Yes - I think it's definitely apparent. I suspect she's old enough that she will retain an accent at least while she is at the orphanage, and we'll see what happens for later. And even though she'll gain English fluency quickly, I suspect she will retain some odd turns of phrase that will pop up periodically. #>

<#kate: Cool. I bet this will come out in the events but I'll keep my ear out for stuff that Ella might pick up #>

<#kate: Court & Jonah: You guys have two different dates for your characters arrival. Given that your siblings, is there a reason the other characters would know? #>

<#court: There is a reason, and the other characters will probably be told something. However, to figure out exactly what they are told, I believe that should play out in our arrival scenes or, if it doesn't come up there, in another event soon after. #><#jonah: What she said. #>

<#kate: Neat I'll look forward to it =) #>

<#kate: Jonah: You mention Ollie likes dancing. Do you mean he's just wiggly or does he like to / grows to like more "formal" dancing (like steps not tuxedo waltz)? Ella definitely likes to dance and might abscond with him if he's a willing partner =). #>

<#jonah: I think he'd be up for it! I imagine sometime in his teen years he could be entertained by perhaps a jazz club or a zydeco party... (I'm not sure what's historically appropriate, but that's a minor matter!) #>

<#kate: Very fun. This brings up another question (see below!) #>

<#kate: Bill & Jonah: How does Cole / Ollie get their nickname? Cole introduces himself as Nicolas in the initial Ella event, so does it come after that? How about Ollie or does is he always called that? #>

<#jonah: At least for Ollie, he gets his nickname from his family. His real name is Olivier, but apparently Ollie is a reasonably historically popular Cajun nickname. He's going to arrive with very little English (much like Jeanne) but I think he learns quickly, both from the other kids (perhaps Celeste?) and from Mr. French. #>

Mr. French is not much of a teacher, but he would use French if it was clear that Ollie (or anyone) didnt speak English.

<#bill: Kate, I hadn't 'officially' decided. Cole is an established nickname/diminutive form of Nicholas - so that would be the easy answer. There's also his 'coal' black hair and dark eyes... so maybe that's how he picks it up. But I will say that he definitely doesn't come to the orphanage calling himself Cole. I am content for it to come about at the orphanage if that's what happens, but it's fine if it doesn't. Maybe he picks it up in the military or sometime later as an adult. I will note for Kel that it is a nickname he likes, so I'd ask that it's not a name that any npcs whom he doesn't like come up with for him (like Mr. French, I'm pretty sure he'd not going to like Mr. French). If it doesn't happen at the orphanage or by the time our game comes to a close, that's cool. #>

<#kate: Bill & Kelly: How does Cole carry his soldiers around? How does Callahan keep his coin? #>

Callahan keeps his coin in his left shoe when he goes about his day. He often has it in his hand as well. (He looks at it before he goes to bed and puts it under his pillow when he sleeps.)

<#bill: I think he just keeps them in his pockets. They are pretty small. Now, that may change should issues arrive at the orphanage. If one of the adults tries to take them away or kids try to take them he'd have to get a little more creative in how he holds on to them. No shoe thought...that would hurt. #>

<#kate: Ann & Kelly: How does this seem to you? PianoEvent #>

<#bill: Maybe I missed something...Why is there a piano event already? It seems premature as I'm not sure we can say who is there or not. #>

Its in progress. The idea is to have stuff to drop in, once characters establish they are doing things other characters and figure out if they are involved and things can evolve and change. I have the core characters dealing with stuff. If it later turns out that Cole would be involved with the event then we will alter it.

In the same way I would be happy to have Cole having an event where he goes hunting with Abner and Callahan if you think that would happen, and then we will evolve it if other PCs feel they would be invovled.

I dont see what the problem is.

<#kate: Kelly:
1a. When does Callahan first discover the Bell Tower? I'm assuming well before Ella's arrival, but thought it might be a good Timeline Event to include. #>

Callahan knows about the Bell Tower before any of the PCs get there. He is happy to show anyone brave enough to go out on the roof it at his earliest opportunity.

<#kate: 1b. Can anyone go out to the Bell Tower or is it King Callahan's domain (especially with his money stash up there?) or some kind of rite of passage?
#>

Anyone can go out there, as I said Cal is happy to show people, he likes showing off. He keeps his stash of money out there, and I feel like other characters keep important things they dont want the adults to be able to get at out there as well. He sleeps by the window and usually knows who comes and goes, so it would be difficult for someone to take his money, but if someone feels like they would we should have an event!

<#kate: 2. How does Erin react to Shawn's adventuring? #>

Erin has a "boys will be boys" mentality, she worries about him, but she is not mad.

<#kate: 3. Is there some kind of curfew those who sneak out adhere to? I feel like Ella would be one of them, and would be interested to know if there are "rules" the children have figured out. #>

The children are "in bed" after dinner, and are expected to be up and starting work at 5 am. There is no curfew, but if you are late for work, or sleeping on the job then punishment ensues. Also if you are not in your bed at 5 a.m. when Mrs Lizzy comes to "check" there is hell to pay.

<#kate: 4. Are there any "hazing traditions" besides Mr. French's initial beating?
#>

Introduction to the Bell Tower, nothing else that I know of.

<#kate: Cool so just to consolidate for my brain in 1869:#>

• Callahan: 10
• Celeste: 11
• Deco: 9 <#ann: I think he is 8 in 1869 if he is 5 in 1866, though of course it depends on where his birthday falls.#>
• Ella: 9
• Jeanne: 10
• Jefferson: 10
• Minnie: 10
• Nicholas: 9 <#ann: I think it's 10. Bill, confirm?#> <#bill: Depends when in 1869. OOG, his d.o.b. is Dec. 21, 1859 - so, probably 9?#>
• Ollie: 8
• Shawn and Erin (twins): 9 - <#ann: if they are 9 when they arrive in 1865, shouldn't they be 13 in 1869? #> <#kate: I know Kel was aiming to have folks be around the same age - so maybe he meant 9 in 1869 in the above? I don't really care, but in terms of meeting people it's definitely different to meet a 9 than a 13 year old, and I find it weird that Shawn would follow around Callahan if he's that much older#> Kate is right with the intent to have everyone around the same age. So 9? My brain is broken when it comes to this.
• Valerie: 8 - acts very mature.

<#bill: Question: Normally, I'd think that orphanage have a relatively steady ebb and flow of children. Children come in...children age out and leave...children come in. The way we have it set up and it seems all of the children at the orphanage (not just the PCs) are about the same age and there's no older children leaving while younger/newer children enter. That may be just a practical issue...I can see having to create enough NPCs for 10 years in people coming and going being a lot of work for Kel. But I wanted to ask: 1) Is that on purpose? 2) If so, is there an in-game reason for it? (like the orphanage just opened up recently and this is the first crop of kids?) #>

You are absolutely correct that it is a pratical thing, that creating 30+ NPCs to keep the orphanage stocked, would break Kelly's tiny little mind.

The in game justification is that Mrs. Black starts up the orphanage, and likes "raising the children" but at some point after Ella comes to realize that they dont really have the money to keep this up. So they stop looking for "new" children, and just deal with the ones that they have.



<#kate: 6. You mention Erin's particularly cute (Ollie apparently is too). Is there any effort to get these kids into real homes? #>

This is just me, but I don't see a particular push for adoption.

<#kate: 7. You mention Louis being willing to teach kids to read / write. I feel like Ella gets inspired because she finds the music (see her description on the timeline page). Are these teachings like lessons too? Like there's a time and place for it Ella would note and be able to jump in on or something to ask about? #>

Louis just does it after dinner, reading to the children, having them read him recipes and things.

<#kate: 8. Maybe much will be clarified if we could work out how the lessons work. I would think they'd happen daily, maybe after morning chores, and Elizabeth would teach them. The whole schooling aspect just strikes me as odd given that they're supposed to be little worker bees. Perhaps that's just me... #>

<#ann: Kate, I'm confused why you think the schooling aspect is odd given that they're worker bees. They aren't being schooled, that's the point. Louis just sort of shows the kids who are interested when they ask, rather than having a formal school time. I'd imagine that some days all the kids want some lessons, other days everyone is too tired, and on most days only a couple kids bother, though, as always, Kelly can correct me if I'm wrong in my understanding. #>

<#kate: This is pretty irrelevant a clarification now, but that was my point: They are worker bees which shouldn't include being schooled unless more randomly by Louis I believe the below contradicts this, which is 100% fine, but that was why I brought it up for discussion. #>

I think Ann has it right, there are no direct lessons unless a child shows some sort of talent or aptitude.

No schooling, see above

<#jonah: I disagree - the documents describing the history of orphanages were pretty clear that education was a priority!
From Orphanages (posted earlier by Kate): I'm ok if we want to make this into the orphanage from Annie or Oliver Twist, but since I know that some folks have an affection for keeping things accurate, I feel like we should give the Blacks some credit and let them run this orphanage under a philosophy similar to what's described above as "industrial homes" with "vocational education". That, to me, would certainly mean lessons in reading and writing, and math lessons as well.
Adding Needs for opinions on the question of education: NeedsAnn #>

Okay thats fair. I think they are getting plenty of "vocational" education, they get on the job training of cooking and cleaning basically. I am okay with them getting lessons as well, but none of the current characters are really set up to teach them. I will have to think how I am going to handle this NPC wise.

Also I am curious to how other people feel about this.

My gut is that a teacher (paid for by the Blacks) is brought in to teach the kids during the slow part of the day (10ish post checkout till 3 when guests start coming in...)

<#kate: I'm cool with being schooled or not, whatever floats. If so, why can't Elizabeth teach them? She gets them up, they work until breakfast, do a lesson during breakfast (eat and write their letters or whatever), work, lesson 2 of the day maybe with a mid-day snack, work again, dinner, lesson, bed?#>

<#court: I like the idea of Elizabeth doing something formal, and Louis doing his ad hoc thing. Works for me! #>

<#bill: I'm generally in favor of the the realistic, until there's a good (read: fun) reason to deviate. So if education is the norm, then I say let's do it. But if someone's got an idea about how less education could lead to a good story/more fun, then I say we make history whatever we want it to be. Otherwise, I have no preference. #>

Okay lets go with Elizabeth teaching. It means that the teaching cannot progress too much past basic reading and writing and math, since Elizabeth is not super educated herself but at least gives the kids the basics.

Add "Needs" when bed picking is available

• Jonah
• Court
• Bill

Pick beds. Ann's up next, then I'll go fill in more NPCs and so on.

<#ann: I don't want to pick a bed until I've met the other orphans, because if I'm instant bffs with one of them (unlikely) or totally hate one of them (also unlikely, but you never know), that's going to affect where I want to sleep. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but that's just who I am.#>

okay

<#bill: does anyone mind if I clean this page up a bit? My OCD is kicking in... Seems to me we can remove certain things like - the conversation about a balcony (that's resolved - we've got one), like the conversation about a piano (that's resolved - we've got one), like the conversation about siblings (that's resolved - I'd leave the link to the siblings page, but we know Courtney and Jonah are the only PC sibs). If no one has any objections I'd like to stream line this page a bit...#>

<#jonah: Go for it! #>

I'm fine with whatever.

<#kate: I'd like to make a separate page for some of the "answered" questions rather than them just deleted. It's been my experience having stuff in writing is better in case it needs to be referenced. So how about sticking whatever you want to remove here: NOAnswered #>

<#bill: The idea wasn't to just delete them, so much as retain the facts/conclusion/answers here - incorporate them onto the page appropriately - and remove the extraneous things. I know...what's extraneous is a matter of opinion. But I went ahead and moved stuff over to your page. Hopefully you find the organizing/consolidating I did acceptable. #>


<#kate: This might need to wait until folks figure out more stuff but Jonah's answer above made me wonder who among the NPCs / PCs might be of the sneaking out inclination? I'm guessing Minnie, Valerie (unless it's to the cemetery), and Erin are nos, and I'd think Jefferson and Deco would fit into this too although they might be convinced. Ella's obviously a yes and it seems Callahan and Shawn would be too. How about the others?#>
<#court: Jeanne would be of a mind to sneak out, as long as she had a reason, be it to rebel or to support anyone she ends up bonding with. #>

<#bill: I have a question about...well, questions like this. The orphanage is really 'pre-game' but we are doing many things in order and rping certain things (like arrivals). So, I'm torn as to whether we are just sharing everything with each other or if we're letting it come out (or not) in the flow of things. I'll note Courtney answered this question, but to a question about why she and Jonah arrive separately she suggested it come out during the flow of everything. Just thought maybe we should all get on the same page. I can go either way or do a hybrid. Thoughts? #>

Umm, I don't know why there needs to be a giant process with this, I think the combo of some summary, some rp'd event, some timeline has been great so far. I don't see whats broken, or needs fixing?

NeedsCourt
NeedsJonah
NeedsAnn
NeedsBill

<#kate: Are there other instruments in the hotel? maybe with Abner (like a harmonica, guitar, whatever)? I feel like Ella'd jump on any she can get her hands on. #>

<#kate: How are the kids tied together for Church? By the waist? Wrist? In my mind I see them lined up by height for some reason and then lassoed. #>

<#kate: The St. Louis Cathedral was the big one around and I figure we go there (?). How do the kids take to the church? I think Ella likes to the organ music (I doubt there's kick ass Gospel) and can give a rats about the actual faith stuff. Just something to consider if not answer given privacy / figuring things out. #>

<#ann: I'm down with that. Celeste is Catholic, so she'll fit right in.#>

<#kate: Are there any celebrations (this is something I remember doing in the BC game) like birthdays? I can't imagine many of the children know exactly when theirs are, but maybe we do a song and dance for the Blacks on Rose's birthday or something for Louis. Just a thought on something to maybe add to the timeline. #>

<#bill: I will note that Cole definitely knows his exact birth date. In fact, it is an occasion he marks/celebrates each year - either publicly or privately depending on how it's handled in the orphanage/orphanage culture regarding birthdays. #>

<#ann: Celeste knows her birthday too.#>

<#kate: Cool. Perhaps for the folks with birthdays, we can have little "events" like we did in BC. I imagine that it's something everyone can look forward to and there seem few and far between. #>

<#kate: Another thing to think about - New Orleans has lots of storms, including the following that really happened: New Orleans Storms 1865-1879. I'm not sure how historically accurate we need to be, but I thought I would bring it up before adding anything to the timeline. #>

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• 2012-01-26 05:20:50
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