Something fun we wanted to bring to the forum is the opportunity to inspire other players with player based gossip and intrigue. The eyes of the British Ton are always on you, so it is best if you act accordingly. If the event is salacious enough, the event may even make it onto the Romancing Jan Social Media!
Guidelines:
1.Please include the date in which this occurred and details vague enough to lead to speculation. Also these are things that the public WOULD see, not something super private or discreet.
2. These are one time occurrences.
3. All players involved must consent to the activity, and the posting.
4. To make sure the event becomes canon, someone needs to write a letter about the occurrence.
As I've just started working on the RJ social media, Athena and I thought it would be fun if every so often some gossip made it on there.
25 February 1812 – Robinette Merchant Docks
For the past 24 hours, the activity around Captain Griffen’s ship the Firebird has been frenetic. Foodstuffs and water are hastily being stowed. Gunpowder charges and cannon shot are arriving and carefully being place in the fore and aft magazines. Crew is arriving with seabags. Interestingly, the crew members are older than usual and there is a lot of smiles, hugs and slaps on the back as crew members see each other. Two mysterious passengers arrive in long cloaks and disappear below decks. By early afternoon, Captain Griffen, his son and their lynxes arrive with a couple of trunks which are stowed in the Captain’s cabin. They are the last to arrive. Captain Griffen surveys the ship, and nods satisfied. He turns to a woman in an officer’s uniform. “Grace, take us out and gather the officers for a meeting in the conference room as soon as we cast off”. Captain Griffen, his son and their lynxes go below.
After the Firebird is moving down the Thames, the officers disappear below. They come back topside with grim expressions on their faces, and they disperse, talking to groups of crew members who also become upset.
Captain Griffen and his son come topside and walk to the quarterdeck. He looks at the crew and says. “So now you know. Let’s be about it. Loose jibs and topgallants, if you please. Oliver, please make sure all stans’ls are in working order for the open sea."
Captain Griffen stands next to the helmsman, holding his sleeping son and staring off into the distance as the Firebird picks up speed while moving down the Thames towards the ocean.
Lady Camilla Davenport was seen calling on Lt. Col. Adira Hartwright keeping as much of her appearance disguised as possible, but to no avail. Being escorted inside by Lady Malaya Dakiya suggests something may have gone wrong during a blade lesson. The real question is, what is Lady Camilla Davenport doing picking up a blade to begin with?
January 13, 1812
A carriage pulls up to the front of Buxton's Clothiers. A teenage girl exits one side and comes around to the other to open the door. She helps a warmly cloaked Eleanor down from the carriage. It is difficult to tell with the cloak, but Eleanor appears thin, and moves more slowly than the young proprietress is generally known for. As she enters the shop, cries of happy surprise can be heard from within.
January 7th, 1812
Caroline is seen bidding farewell to Miss Betsey Martinez in front of the Boscawen's London residence. The Boscawen's leave in their carriage, and no sooner had they turned a corner when Miss Martinez is then seen stopped and greeted by a lady of the name of Miss Catherine Grace. The raven hair elegant lady is all delight at seeing Miss Martinez and offers all her best smiles. She also offers to accompany Betsey some of the way back to her next place of business to catch up with what she has been up to since they had last spoken about three years ago. The two seemed to converse for more than a few blocks before they part ways at an intersection.
January 4th, 1812
Miss Caroline Boscawen was seen in London the day prior to the Twelfth Night masquerade in the company of Miss Betsey Martinez, co-owner of the Martinez Fine Stone and Jewelry Imports business. The two women were in the company of two children, one was a child dressed in masculine clothing who is addressed as he/they with fair complexion and a head full of curls kept back in a ponytail by a ribbon. The other was a little girl in feminine clothing who presented as having mixed heritage from Benin and Spain, her curls very much like the other child-she reassigned her gender publicly in 1811 with her feminine presentation. The children appear to be between the ages of 9-11. The children are surnamed Martinez. Both women and the children entered a residence, smiles of merriment and inside jokes shared.
15 Dec 1811 - Portsmouth Yard
The docks are buzzing with rumors of Captain Viscout Blackmore's capture by the French Navy. Speculation abounds concerning the fate of Captain Jack, his crew, and his beloved HMS Stalwart. The Admiralty has neither confirmed nor denied rumors.
15 December 1811 - Robinette Merchant docks - Early morning
Carrying a sleepy Alexander, Captain Griffen arrives from Tintagel Garden and boards a new ship, the Firebird, with their lynxes Esmeralda and Stella. Moored next to the Belette, it is easy to see that the Firebird has a longer hull, taller masts, and two more guns on each broadside. If one looks closer, the Firebird's cannon look larger than the Belette's. After final preparations, the Firebird casts off, heading to Venice with a hold full of fine woolen cloth and bone lace from Dorset and port from Porto. Captain Griffen comes back up on deck to pilot the ship east on the Thames, his face hardened with stern resolve.
On the night of the Wilde Violet operas the Boscawens were witnessed leaving the home they leased in London and entering their carriage. The Boscawen sisters sported fine colorful fabrics draped over their gowns that had been purchased in the Atlantic Triangle and beaded jewelry purchased from the Westlands artisans with Jasper and Turquoise.
Just as the evening was wrapping up and people were planning to either go home or after hour gatherings, the Boscawen sisters were seen saying goodbye once more to the Countess of Oakwood ( @Captain Jack ’s mother) when their parents looking distressed interrupted. It was overheard that they must part as some pressing news had arrived to their house concerning Hugh Boscawen's brother, the Viscount of Falmouth. He had been bed ridden for some time due to complications from the miasma illness. While the Countess urged them on to leave the opera house and attend their pressing business, the Honorable Hugh Boscawen looked pale with worry, while Diana pressed his hand on the way to their carriage, Sara and Caroline behind them and comforting their father by taking his hand as the door closed.
15 October 1811 - Robinette Merchant Dock - late morning
The Belette has just pulled into dock, empty. Captain Griffen, once more looking weary and grief stricken leaves the ship as his second in command Lieutenant Caspar Littleton begins loading for the monthly trip to Porto with medicines and other goods for the Basque Resistance. Captain Griffen checks with the Persephone's first officer, Lieutenant Sara Wilkins, and she confirms the ship is ready to sail. Captain Griffen nods and takes a carriage back to Tintagel Garden. He emerges again with 5 trunks and wearing a torc. He bids tearful goodbye to the staff, Lady de Beauchamp and Miss Buxton as he returns to the docks. If one is listening carefully, they will hear that Captain Griffen is heading to Cranborne Manor to grieve in seclusion. Boarding the Persephone, they cast off into the current of Thames, heading to Portsmouth.
13 October 1811 - Robinette Merchant Dock - late morning
The dock is a swarm of activity this morning. The Persephone has just landed, returning from Dublin with a full hold of goods for Cillian Kalagren. A crew labors to unload the Persephone, while another struggles to load the last crates from Maison Grace onto the Belette, and a third prepares the Belette to sail. Captain Griffen emerges from his cabin on the Persephone in a crisp and clean uniform and makes his way to the Belette, trading seabags with a Tintagel Garden staff member as he crosses the dock. Sometime later, carriages appear and an entourage of people board the Belette. Captain Griffen smiles warmly and descends the gangplank to escort Lady Ashbrooke aboard. As she disappears below, Captain Griffen turns to greet Pierre, Lady Ashbrooke’s formidable butler. The two men shake hands and quickly embrace before Pierre goes below. Captain Griffen goes to the wheel and gives the order to cast off for Le Havre. Lady Arabella Ashbrooke is going Home.
5 October 1811 (backdated) - Robinette Merchant Dock
A weary looking Captain Griffen casts off from Robinette Docks on a trade voyage to Dublin with a full hold of goods from Cillian Kalagren in the hold of the Persephone. Captain Griffen takes a deep breath as he steers the ship into current of the Thames, straightening his posture, his face more at peace than when he boarded. Back on the dock, a crew was leisurely and carefully loading the Belette with a pile of crates from Maison Grace that have an address in Paris as the final destination.
1 October 1811, Tintagel Garden – mid morning
Captain Griffen is outside preparing the front gardens for winter when a carrier for the Post hands him a pile of letters. He sorts through the envelopes as he begins to walk back inside the townhome, when he stops, dropping the other letters. Captain Griffen tears open the letter in his hand and reads the one written page. Once, twice, thrice. He moans and cries out in sorrow and anguish, then falls to his knees on the walk to the front door. The staff summons @Lady Tabitha Catherine Louise de Beauchamp (Sam) and @Eleanor Buxton (Kath) to help Captain Griffen back into the house. Later that afternoon, a mourning wreath is placed above the door. A black ribbon is tied to the front doorknob. Black ribbon surrounds the door and the wreath as all the front curtains are drawn shut. Staff could be seen wearing black armbands.
21 September 1811 - Berkeley Square, London - 2 AM
The early morning after Mabon is dark and quiet in Berkeley Square. All of a sudden a loud scream erupts from Tintagel Garden - a scream full of heart-rending agony, anguish and despair. Lights turn on in the townhome, where @Captain Katharine Sunderlin (she/her, Kim) lives when in London and where @Abraham Griffen (Steve he/him) had taken up residence after an argument with his father, as a another such cry trumpets forth, filled with pain, immense pain and paralyzing sorrow. An uneasy quiet once again fall son Berkeley Square, but the lights in Tintagel Garden stay on until dawn.
23 and 24 August 1811, Brook Street (backdated) Over recent weeks, Eleanor and Lady Tabitha de Beauchamp have been seen together in public several times (always properly chaperoned): at a tea shop, at the Glorious Twelfth, and enjoying the sights of the Triangle Festival. On the afternoon of the 23rd, Lady Tabitha arrives at Eleanor's home in Brook Street, seeming in some haste. Eleanor lets her in, and it is a couple of hours before she departs again. A teenage girl is seen delivering a letter to the post. The next morning, a carriage arrives at the door, and several trunks and bags are loaded into it. Eleanor, accompanied by the same teenage girl, enters the carriage, which drives to Tintagel Garden. Eleanor and the girl are welcomed there, and the trunks and bags are unloaded and taken inside.
4 September 1811 -Robinette Family Merchant Docks – morning
An unknown ship, battered but shipshape, docks in the mid morning. The stern plate names the ship as “*Demeter*”, the same ship that was written about in the Society Gazette at the beginning of August. Lady Kalagren and her maid disembark to the waiting Kalagren carriage. The interaction between Captain Griffen is strangely cooler than it was when the two left on the *Belette* nine days ago. Lady Kalagren’s entourage quickly leaves the ship, enters the carriage and departs for home. The *Demeter* casts off once more and travels a short distance the to the Robinette Company’s drydock. Captain Griffen talks to each crew member as they leave the ship. The Captain disappears into to his cabin and comes out with his seabag. He smiles as he pats the hull of his new ship. He sighs and sheds of few tears in remembrance of this trip and of his more tragic recent loss. The Captain leaves the ship, now the “*Persephone*”, as the water begins to drain from the drydock.
25 August 1811 (Backdated) -Robinette Family Merchant Docks – morning
The “Belette” is getting ready to leave on a trip with two missions and the atmosphere at the dock is festive. Cillian and Kathryn Kalagren seem very excited to leave and greet Captain Griffen warmly as they arrive, Lady Kalagren with her patent brilliant smile. Final trunks are stowed, the extra crew on board, the “Belette” casts off, catching the river current and tide gracefully as she dances slowly out of the docks, heading downriver to the mouth of the Thames and the sea. Lady Kalagren can be seen shadowing sailors and Captain Griffen as they do their work. Finally, Captain Griffen gives the wheel to Lady Kalagren to pilot the “Belette” downriver as she disappears into the morning mist
22 August 1811- Robinette Merchant docks - early night.
The Belette wearily docks in the darkness of the night. Basque refugees disembark, and with much hugging, are loaded onto the awaiting wagons that disappear swiftly into the night. A haggard Captain Griffen mingles with the crew as they quietly leave for home. The Captain departs after all others are gone, taking a carriage to Tintagel Garden. When he arrives, he walks to the steps, pausing to look at the gazebo on his right and the box of toys on his left. If one looks closely, one would see the tears on his face. He gently knocks on the door and is let in. Soon after the door closes, cries of disbelief and anguish can be heard from inside the townhome, then silence. Within the hour, staff can be seen hurrying from Tintagel Garden to Maison Grace, Maison de Lune and Wexmarch House. @Captain Katharine Sunderlin (she/her, Kim) @Lady Arabella Ashbrooke (Mitzie) @Lady Tabitha Catherine Louise de Beauchamp (Sam)
I've been meaning to get to this for over a week but I finally have some time now that G12 is over! I will be adding several backdated entries here as replies to this comment from over the summer. 🦇
19 of July Manchester Square, London
July 17th, Miss Hazel Wynnewood's home, Manchester Square Afternoon
Miss Elisa Thomas was seen arriving at the residence of Miss Hazel Wynnewood. She carried in her arms numerous packages that she seemed to have a bit of trouble managing, including multiple tins of cookies, a few books and a cane. She was quickly ushered inside.
Shortly after Miss Elisa Thomas’ arrival, Miss Wynnewood and her guest were seen in the back garden of Wynnewood House, standing by a pair of iron buckets and a large, tied burlap sack . Miss Wynnewood took a flint and steel from her pocket, leaned over one of the buckets and started a small controlled fire within. Miss Thomas subsequently handed Miss Wynnewood the burlap sack which she dropped into the fire. The two of them stood by and watched the bag slowly be consumed by the fire and when the contents sufficiently burned, the two women lifted the other bucket, full of water over the fire, putting it out. After, The two then took a very pleasant afternoon tea in the veranda.