Revision [25934]
This is an old revision of NOAnswered made by BillHamilton on 2012-01-27 00:04:44.
Sleeping Arrangements
<#kate: I remember doing this with the girls in the dorm, and was thinking we might "arrange ourselves" within the orphanage as well, in this case picking "beds". I'm guessing "beds" is more straw mattresses or blankets on the ground than warm and cozy things. It might be more of a chaotic mess up there too, where individual "spaces" aren't really had, making this moot, but until then, I'll plow on. The image that I have is of a long rectangular room with 6 beds on the left, 7 on the right with an open hole in the floor for the stairs making up the missing bed unit. Maybe (if interested) people can pick their spots below? I realize that Ann would probably get first pick and we'd go down the line based upon arrival times, and this might be dependent on where NPC's end up but I thought I'd start the potential discussion. The WBed at 6 and 8 is my way of representing the one window we apparently have according to Kel. The Left Side also overlooks the Garden and Cemetery while the Right side is on the Hotel and Kitchen side of things. The main entrance is on the first floor below Bed's 12 and 13 while the tower is above stairs and bed 1. Hopefully that makes some sense. #>
Number of Children at the Orphanage
<#ann: I have a question: How many children are in the orphanage in total? Are we the only ones, are there dozens/scores/hundreds? - Ann#>
There are between 7 and 12 children in the orphanage. So the PCs + a few others. I have not fully fleshed out the other characters yet. I would like to get some idea of the other PCs personalities, so the characters that I make do not overlap too heavily. E.G. if Cole is a big troublemaker, then I don't want to make a troublemaker character.
Starting Date Discussion/Single Sex v. Mixed Orphanage Discussion/Education and Vocational Training Discussion
<#kate: Hey all. Been thinking about my character (gasp) and was wondering if we could tweak some of the years so that her respective ages could make sense? I'm hoping to have her be 21-22 in 1880, while arriving at the orphanage around 9, putting the "start year" around 1867-68 rather than 1865. I was also hoping she would be the 4th or 5th of the PC's to arrive as well. Not sure if any of that works, but let me know. Happy character developing. Kate. #>
<#ann: I don't have a problem with that. I did some initial investigating, and while the majority of orphanages were single sex, I did find records specifically in New Orleans that referenced sending both male and female children to the same institution, and other records that talk about the Blank Orphanage for Girls and Blank Orphanage for Boys, which imply sister schools, so that's not too much of a problem. I have found numerous references to integrated schools in New Orleans in this period (thought by the end of the century that had changed), so if we decide to be an integrated orphanage, I think we can let that slide. I'm still looking for more detailed information about what it was like to live in an orphanage in this time period, but signs seem to indicate that schooling would be important. Almost every reference to NO orphanages mention 'good education' (though of course the official press is hardly going to say otherwise.) Most mention teaching girls to sew, and several say they teach boys 'a useful trade'. At least one orphanage in NO was doing the laundry of hotels and steamboats, so that might be something to think about.) #>
<#bill: The other option is that was make the game happen earlier....like 1878 or so. I think I would prefer that option, but I can go either way. #>
<#court: Shifting the timing either of the ways mentioned is fine with me! And I think my character would be good arriving at the orphanage earlyish, so that shouldn't be in conflict for arrival order! -ct. #>
<#jonah: JP: I have no problem with that date adjustment. If you have something cool in mind, I'd say let's go for it. (As an aside, don't forget that the new wiki syntax works! I've updated the above text to use the new stuff. #>
Balcony and Piano Discussion
<#kate: I'd like a balcony (maybe iron wrought like they have in all those pictures) where you can hear music and maybe see some of the fancy folks in town. -Kate #>
<#ann: If there is a high tower, would we need a balcony? I sort of like the idea of sneaking out on the roof/tower to listen to the music. It gives it a forbidden air. In response to being a factory/hotel, I would vote for the hotel. There's much more varied work and more physical work in running a hotel than in working in a factory. Learning to sew, do laundry, cook, etc can be useful skills. -Ann #>
<#kate: I'm cool if the tower = balcony. I just wanted a place where my character could hang out (sneak out more probably) and listen to music. In reply to the hotel / factory - could we do both? The girls at the hotel, the boys at the factory? I hate to be stereotypical but I feel like the guys would be put to work in a more physically demanding environment (hauling stuff, chopping, working with machines) while the girls might be more the laundry, cooking route. Either way works for me really, just wanted to voice the option. Since my hope is to have a musically inclined character, could there be a piano in the hotel? - Kate #>
Piano is a go in the hotel.
I would prefer if everyone is in the same place. I can find lots of manual labor for the boys to do (chop wood, haul landry, carpentry, plumbing, etc)
<#ann: It's the physical nature of doing laundry and baking bread that I'm counting on to build my muscles! Sewing is tedious and sedentary, but that's about the only household task that is not back-breaking. But I'm down with making it a hybrid hotel/factory if that's what we want. There's more scope there for people being able to either gain a skill they want to have or make their lives miserable in a particular way, whichever path they want to take with the character-Ann#>
Sibling Discussion_
<#court: Factory/hotel/balcony all sound great! I also wanted to bring up the possibility of siblings again... J and Bill I think expressed initial interest, but as everyone thinks about their characters more, I wanted to check in again. I will start an email thread or create a subpage for whoever wants to jump on the bandwagon! My initial thought was to create a family in which mental illness of a parent was a prime factor in the child(ren) going to the orphanage. I've been doing some research and thinking and can bat around ideas with whoever lets me know they'd like to! =) -Court#>
Subpage for the siblings go!
<#bill: l Kel, did you create a subpage somewhere that I'm not seeing? Or are you just telling us to go ahead and create one? #>
<#kate: Hey Court - Sounds fun but I think I'll skip on the siblings at this point. My vote would be for the hotel if we're only doing one. -Kate #>
<#court: Here's that subpage! SiblingsPossibilities #>
Abner Hayes Question and Answer_
<#bill: Question: I took a look at the share docs in google and noticed that one of the rooms is listed as belonging to Abner Hayes. Who is that? #>
<#kate: Kel didn't have time to add a paragraph about him, but he's a regular resident at the hotel. Description forthcoming: AbnerHayes. #>
Done
Helpful Links
<#kate: Ann already found the Picayune (through BPL if you're interested) but here's a link to more local newspapers of the era:
Louisiana Online Historical Newspapers #>
<#kate: Syntax in use! Also, I hope these work. Orphans and Orphanages and Orphanages They might be interesting reads and suggest some different family dynamics than just having both parents deceased. - kate #>
Hold Old People Are When Ella Arrives in 1869 Discussion
<#kate: 5. I'm trying to get a feel for how old the other orphans are when Ella arrives (selfish I know). I realize that precise ages may not be available as the kids might not know, but a general sense would be great: #>
<#kate: a. Deco arrives in 1866 at "a very young age" - like 3? 5? #>
I'll reserve rights to change things as I sort this out, but Ill make educated guesses.
5 for Deco.
<#kate: b. Jefferson was left at 6 but you don't mention a year. Any idea on how long he's been there? #>
A while. Let's say he's 10 when you arrive?
<#kate: c. Who is older, Erin and Shawn and by how much or are they twins? How old are they when they arrive in 1865?
#>
They are twins. 9
<#kate: d. How old is Valerie? #>
Indeterminate, young but acts very mature. say 8
<#kate: e. How old is Callahan? #>
10
NPC Descriptions
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.
Lack of Different Children Discussion
<#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.
