Bradley

Name: Jean-Paul Girard Age: 30 Gender: Male Occupation: General of The King's Cavalry Social Class: Noble Financial situation: Rich Appearance: Tall, handsome, with brown hair and dark eyes. Location ([|map]): Burgundy Habitual locations: Dijon Daily routine: Military training for the after noon, wake up late. I usually go for a morning jog in my garden in the morning after I wake up as to prepare myself for the training in the afternoon. While I am away, my servant cleans the house. My children go to their private school and their lessons last for the whole day. After I return home, I will take a long bath to relax my muscles, which become sore after a day of hard activity. Also, my trustworthy servant, Paul-Henri, helps me manage my Lady's shop while she is managing the land in Niverhnais. Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Determined, cunning. Past/individual-family history: My grand-father, Jaque Girard, was an admiral of the King's navy. Family: I am married with Lady Blanc, daughter of the wealthy Lord Blanc. Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): Lord Blanc is my father-in-law, and over the years I have made friends with other Generals and Admirals of the King's army. I rather like Lord Blanc, because he supports me in many things I do and creates many innovative ways to train my men. Other Generals and Admirals that I have met, such as General Fournier and Admiral Duran have discussed many wartime strategies that have been very interesting. I currently own a piece of land in Niverhnais, the province mext to Burgundy. My Lady runs the land and collects the dues from the peasants who work in our land. Religion: I am a Catholic, I got to church very often, when I have time. Education: I have been educated in school for 14 years, with extra teachings in Geography. Style of speaking in France: I have a slight southerner's accent (oui, un petit peu). Languages you speak: I can speak French, English, and I have learned a little of the oriental China's unique language. Main privileges and/or conflicts: I do not need to pay any taxes, for I am of the noble class and I serve the King. Portrait: of Me and my Lady Blanc.

Diary #1: Before the Storm

Today, I had le tartine avec le bur (baguette with butter) along with les oeufs (eggs). I took a quick jog in my beautiful garden, as an artist beautifully portrays below.



When I returned, Paul-Henri told me that the children had been sent to school and also the taxman had arrived to receive the taille. This was one tax that we nobles did have to pay, so I gave the money to the taxman and sent him on his way. Paul-Henri also told me to be careful on my way to the military camp, for there were many riots in the street today. I find them absurd, because our King cannot do anything about the taxation, for our Government is already bankrupt and levying the taxes would cause even more chaos. Outrageously enough, the crowds were protesting that we nobles and the clergy should pay taxes. It is rightful of us not to do so, because we are of the royal blood and it is very improper for us to pay taxes. This insanity cannot carry on any longer, someday I must request our King’s audience and ask him to put an end to this madness and stop the riots. Today, in military training, we practiced shooting at the shooting range today, many of our soldiers were able to hit the targets we set up for them. These will be a fine batch of soldiers after they have finished their training. I complimented them on their shooting skill, but it seems that they are not satisfied with their own results. Maybe they wish to be better, but that will take more training. As it is, they are already progressing very quickly, one of the finest troops I have ever taught.



Afterwards, I went to high tea with my fellow General Alphonse. I asked him of what was his opinion of the riots recently. He thought that we should directly take action for the King and order our soldiers to break up the riots. He also said that we should begin to silence the philosophers for starting the movement many call “The Enlightenment” in which they believe that they have the right to live better lives. This philosophy I do not believe in, as what better life could I have? I am rich, I have a lovely wife, I have smart children, and I am healthy. However, secretly, I disagreed with his thinking. Such action on the citizens would surely anger our King and would label us as traitors and he would have us hanged for such treachery. I do believe, though, that we should take action against the philosophers by imprisoning them or something akin to that, for they are surely the root of the riots in the streets. By removing this issue from it’s roots will surely put an end to the chaos. I must keep that in mind when I speak to His Majesty about this madness that has taken our citizens. After our high tea, I returned home. My lady is still in Niverhnais, but I miss her, and wait for her return during the end of the week. I asked the children how was their day at school, and they said they were learning about the American Revolution today and why we helped the Americans fight the war against the British. Then, I asked of them to speak no more. I have had enough chaos for a day. I returned to my chambers and I had a long bath, and then I slept.

Sources of picture: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255-s01/pleasure/fountain.jpg http://original.britannica.com/eb/art-9005/The-Duc-de-Boufflers-engraving-by-Claude-Augustin-Duflos-17th?articleTypeId=1

** Today was a day of utter chaos for me. The Bastille has been attacked by civilians and they have stormed it. Currently, Paris is under their control. My fellow General Alphonse has been assigned to the recovery of Paris and to attempt to maintain order there. I wish him luck, for it seems the will of the citizens are steel, or so I heard from the soldiers who managed to flee from the slaughter at the Bastille. They also say the leader of the revolution there is le Marquis de Lafayette. That man has helped in many revolutions, for he also helped the Americans revolt against their British oppressors. This man can be fairly troublesome, I see. However, that is not my assignment. I am currently on my way to Guienne and Gascony to settle a riot started by the peasants living there. They have burned down the mansions of the nobles that live there, the messenger tells me. But this is truly a period of utter chaos, and I hope my lady is safe in guarding our land in Niverhnais. So far I have heard of no attack on our piece of land, possibly because I am a General and they fear my wrath. However, just last night, I was notified by my servant, Paul-Henri, that another noble in Niverhnais has been attacked their landlord and burned the dues. I worry for my wife, but the Majesty has sent me on a very important task that I cannot neglect. I did send some troops to my mansion in Niverhnais in order to keep peace there. This mission that the Majesty sends me on, it is a mission that is very important, it seems. It is because the noble attacked was one of the King’s relatives, Jean-Claude Barret, the Duke of Gasconny. The rumors say that his mansion was burned down by peasants working together and they have taken him hostage. They demand 20 loafs of bread for each peasant there, but that is a terribly outrageous demand, which is why I am on my way to maintain peace between them. Some philosophers, I have heard, name this period the “Great Fear”. Even more insane are rumors that say we nobles hired gangs of people to attack the peasants and steal their food. That is impossible for me, at least. I do not know for the other nobles, but I would not send gangs to steal food from my own peasants. Possibly that is the reason for the rebellion, because the peasants fear the gangs. No matter, I must still rescue the Duke of Gasconny.
 * Diary #2



I heard that the leader of this little uprising is a peasant that goes by the name of Francois Cheney. He has united the peasants, which is quite an amazing feat, I must say. He must be stopped, at all costs.

Francois Cheney is an interesting fellow, I must say. His mother has died giving birth and his father has died of a disease. It's very interesting to see such a strong willed man. Unfortunately, he has chosen the wrong side. He would have made a good Lieutenant in the army. Usually, many good soldiers come from those poor peasant families who cannot afford their own living, so they send their sons to the army to work for them.

Currently the King has issued a Sealed letter for his arrest. The King also says that this man must not be killed, because we must interrogate him to see why they are revolting. Also, we need him to find out the other leaders of the rebellions. I am traveling with my elite infantry right now, with which we should be able to arrive in two to three days, if we do not slow.


 * Diary #3** ***NOTE: READ FRANCIS'S DIARY #3 BEFORE THIS*****

Finally, today, I have accomplished my objective of arresting Francois Cheney. I had no need of the other peasants, I just released them to go back and farm in their land. Besides, if I arrest the farmers, then where will the food for the country be? I see no need to arrest them. However, alerting news reached me that there is a hermit hiding in the woods who is very skilled at fighting. His name is Auguste Bonnet and he helped the rebellion against the Duke.

Auguste Bonnet was no where in sight, but I kept my eyes peeled for him, in case I would be ambushed by this peasant ninja. But he is not of my greatest concern now.

The King has been executed in his own mansion in Paris along with his servants and guards. This is insane. Apparently, according to one of the soldiers, a group of men who call themselves “Sans Culottes” have taken over Paris. They are people armed with weapons, and they have stormed his Majesty’s mansion and executed him. A new group of people have taken control, and they call themselves the “Jacobins”. What will I do now? I have no King, no one to command me. What is my purpose? Surely I would not want to serve these “Jacobins” and their little band of “Sans Culottes”. They are imbeciles! They executed the King! I decided to bring Francois Cheney back to my mansion in Dijon, Burgundy. It took several days to return, but we returned safely with no attacks from the “Sans Culottes”. But, after I have captured him, I have nothing to do with Francois Cheney, for there is no one to report the information to. I locked him up in one of the guest rooms, while I went to discuss with my wife in an abandoned village to discuss what we would do next.

We agreed that it was far too dangerous to stay in our house, for we were one of the few nobles left in Burgundy and it would be best for us if we maintained a low profile and hid for a while in the countryside and wait for the rebellion to die down. When I returned, I found the door to be unlocked and the room empty. It must have been that ninja Auguste Bonnet that rescued him! But no matter, I have no use for him anymore, for I am about to hide anyways. I told only the finest of my soldiers to come with me and the rest I stationed them at the mansion to give the image that I was still there. We quietly escaped from the mansion, for there were reports of large groups of armed men heading towards my mansion.

After I left, there were sounds of clashing weapons at the mansion. I pray for my soldiers there that they go to heaven, for they have fought valiantly against the evils of the “Sans Culottes”. I continue on my trek, to another village, to lead a new life, with my wife. On our secret escape, I saw a pair of eyes watching our swift run. I can only suspect that it is Auguste Bonnet. He was not a bad man, I think. He was only revolting because the peasants were hungry and Jean-Claude Barret, the Duke, was oppressing them. He must have been an unjust noble and he probably deserved what he got. According to Francois, Auguste’s parents were killed when he was twelve. He has been a poor little farmer hiding in the woods since, practicing his fighting skills and surviving on farming. I am very impressed with his ninja skills. He would be a very good spy for me. Perhaps I will hire him as a mercenary when I return, but as of now, I need to go maintain a low profile.