Monday, June 4, 2012
Wedding Name Cards
Glen ‘Longshanks’ Brown: Gamekeeper of the Royal Estates to the north of the City, is a dead shot with his Massins & Tait custom made rifle. Came briefly to prominence during the Case of the Five Red Skulls owing to his particular knowledge of Mahunt tribal customs which he gained from his time in the Upper Nigerian Delta.
Kristen ‘Ruby’ Watts: Frequents many fashion salons across in the continent, and is a familiar face in most houses of Royalty. Generally provides accurate reports to the Home Office regarding the impenetrable web of plots and counter-plots most of the upper class are engaged in. Her government backed line of credit is up for review.
‘Madam’ Sze Wing Yip: Based in the market near Hemmersly Park, is the head of the local coven of Wiccans. Has been the subject of several investigations by the Department of Occult Occurrences, however no charges have been laid to date. Rumours persist she both caused the New Year’s Rift to open, and also closed it again.
Adam ‘Lord Westchester’ Banas: Sole remaining heir to the once great Westchester fortune, he has spent the last of his family’s wealth building a laboratory in the basement of his country estate where he spends much of his time, receiving packages marked with strange mail-stamps from Eastern Europe.
Caroline ‘Lady Westchester’ Banas: The famous ‘Baby on the Stairs’ from the Lewisham Affair, although few remember that fact and she is not inclined to remind people of it. It is now said she is only second in power to the Home Secretary himself when it comes to the ‘Spanish Question’ and effectively runs the government’s policy on the issue.
Jane ‘C.A. Dupin’ Roe: Amateur private detective. Has been of some use in investigations relating to missing persons, usually through improbable yet uncannily accurate leaps of mental logic. Generally operates with the Department of Occult Occurrences (the DOO) putting herself in considerable personal and mental danger. #348279348
Benjamin ‘Mr Stars’ Abell: Stationed at the American embassy as secretary-without-a-portfolio to the Ambassador. Undertakes the ‘bag work’ for the mission, with full diplomatic immunity. Is rarely seen in public however from the few appearances that he has made, it has been noted that he never seems to age. #382947238947
Keith ‘The Mad’ Mulhall: Kidnapped by Leprechauns as a small boy, he was blessed by the wee folk to always tell the truth, but cursed to be understood by no-one. His incomprehensible ramblings are taken to be the ravings of a lunatic which can only be stopped by copious amounts of alcohol. #984726342738
Miller ‘Miller’ Allison: The sole survivor from the Bravo expedition to the South Pole. Whatever horrors were faced on that ill-fated journey are kept secret from all but those who venture into his path during a new moon. Scotland Yard has set a watch on his house, and reports are coming in of strange miasmas flowing from the basement. #3489285239
Nick ‘The Trick’ Spackman: The latest in a series of confidence men seen frequenting the halls around St James. Differs from the usual run of the crowd that he only targets heirs of oil magnates. All suspected victims houses are found ransacked in the morning with all of the doors and windows locked from the inside. #982634728
Nathan ‘Wild Nate’ Gaddes: Last recorded sighting was during the ‘Illium Affair’ where he provided dubious assistance in tracking down the last heir to the Pelleton family. No fixed abode - but can be contacted by ringing the bell in the abandoned chapel on Rattinor Street, and leaving three Maria Theresa dollars on the old vestibule. #672374283
Sam ‘Deux la pile’ Morgan: Owner of the ‘La Vache’ bar on Cross street as well as several other dens in the Docklands. Has been raided several times on suspicion of illicit activities, but has always managed to be a step ahead. Several government MPs have been seen entering through the rear entrance of La Vache, where strange lights are showing. #7634923479623
Jessica ‘la Rouge’ Tang: The de facto boss of the Kowloon Gang since Shanghai Stan was caught. Still establishing her power base among the rougher elements, so turf wars with the neighbouring Six Axes gang have eased off. Suspected as the mastermind behind the theft of an entire season’s imports of cinnamon in a single night, her grip on power is assured. #928723
Jono ‘Fleet Street’ Roe: Beat reporter for the Evening Mercury. Although he scooped the ‘Harrington Scandal’ which ultimately led to the fall of the government, that was an exception to the general ‘yellow journalism’ that keeps the rag in print. Greatest proficiency lies in obtaining leaks over long long lunches and dinners. #29384729
William ‘Howling Willy’ Potts: Decorated veteran with service in India – fought in the ‘Mountain War’ in the foothills of the Himalayas. His regiment was cut off for three days in a snowstorm and when they re-emerged, they had all aged 20 years. No-one will tell what happened in those mountains and now he stands on the top of the Bailey, howling at the moon. #926342934
Charlotte 'le Papillon' Lecosse: When asked who would be starring in the lead role for the opening night of the Royal Ballet, the director merely smiled and said 'le Papillon... le Papillon'. The sensation of the season opened up to great effect with a performance in 'Arc d'argent', which, sadly, was never performed again. #2347293478
Stephanie ‘Dr Maelstrom’ Spackman: Chief Medical Researcher at the Diogenes Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Her experiments have drawn criticism from the academic community, however the results cannot be argued with. Residents in the neighbourhood of the asylum have noted all of their clocks stop at midnight, every Sunday night. #46738247362
La Mere: Having stepped down from her successful role with the Allegmaine Inquiry, she now has time to cultivate her award winning new hybrid strain of ‘Trieste’ roses. #463729347
Sam ‘Bulldog’ Raymond: Former sergeant-major in the Royal Sussex 95th regiment of foot. Having lost an eye to ‘a damned heathen’ he is generally found in the in the public bar of the Oak and Owl on Drury Lane. Carries a black wooden walking stick twisted into the shape of rolling crocodile that Tom Younghusband swears he saw move by itself.
James ‘Diamond’ Templeman: His reputation as the man who can get you what you want was sealed the time he was able to provide a giraffe to The Tall Man on only two hours notice. Runs most of the bare-knuckle and manticore-baiting fights down in the undercity where he will be most nights, drinking vodka with Russian émigrés. #9283424
Rebecca ‘Blackbird’ Morgan: Escaped the gallows after a three month trial returned a verdict of ‘not guilty’. Has gone back to trundling pies down Pettycoat Lane where her recent notoriety has done no harm to the volume of business. The only change from her previous routine is the store is now closed every Wednesday at 2pm. #843782946
Dharma ‘One Pint’ Deion: While usury is generally frowned upon, they are always needed and when all other options are exhausted, ‘One Pint’ is the lender of last resort. Has often been known to pay out loans in Spanish dubloons with the face of Charles IV, who died over three hundred years ago. #64832947
Ben ‘Pumphouse’ Garrow: Overseer on the floor at the Wiltshire & Wiltshire Mechanical Plant where he enforces the factory’s draconian work policy. Woe betide any worker who has to go ‘under the pump’. Keeps pigeons in his garrett attic and sells messenger birds from Tbilisi, Georgia. #0834729347
Clem ‘Harlequin’ Armstrong: The filibusterer who rode with Obediah ‘Rancorous’ Glanston against the Comanche; he now ekes out a living as a trickshooter with Monsieur Tzigane’s magic show by shooting holes in nickels that are between two sheets of paper - without breaking the paper. #78924739847
Ian ‘K.B’ Gant: Has just returned from a trip to Khiva in central Asia that he decided to visit simply because the Russian authorities had decreed no westerners were allowed to travel there. Traveling with little more than a rifle and some bottles of ‘Quinine’, he has returned as something of a celebrity. #6729343
Ed ‘Bezirksschornsteinfegermeister’ Chan: Head district chimney sweep for the Allegmaine region, his thick Dusseldorfer accent can be difficult to understand at times. Still maintains to this day that he once went up Lord Enderby’s main flu, and came down in Tapscot Hall, three miles away. #63284732
Aaron ‘Redbeard’ Finn: Head of the Lamplighter’s Guild, is leading the petition against these new fangled ‘electric’ lights. While scientists are convinced it will be impossible to generate enough power to light more than the manors of the ultra rich, the Guild is threatening to leave the city dark unless the government acts. #32934872
Jordan ‘Petunia’ Gaddes: Author of the recent bestseller which has created an entire new genre of fiction. Some have noticed the similarities in the novel to the freakish occurrence regarding Sir Garnet Tilsbury - however the author has replied there is no way she could have known that was going to happen at the time she wrote the book. #93264234
Phil ‘Calamity’ Coady: Is the reason why prisoners at the Margate Borstal have to wear masks. His trial was a seven day wonder where even the chancellor of the exchequer had to visit to give evidence under oath. Found guilty by a jury, his sentence was commuted from death to life through a bureaucratic error. #637294382
Mei ‘Dr Marrowsfield’ Garrow: Professor of medical studies at Chillingsworth University. Conducts coronial inquiries which are open to the public to visit and watch. The number of visitors has skyrocketed since the case of Jeremy Hardgraves who, as it turned out, was merely suffering from somnolent paralysis in extremis. #123917
Steve ‘Ballantyne’ Jamieson: Captain and opening batsman for the Chatham Street XI who made it to the final sixteen in last year’s tournament. Made a top score of 734 in the 13 day test match between the ‘Hammers’ and Lord Elphinstone’s XI. He has taken on a new spin bowler with a very odd action indeed. #3242048
Madonna ‘Vetrushka’ Mullens: Claims to be descended from a Moldovian Royal family, but is now destitute because ‘mother lived too long’. The claim can never be quite disbelieved as Vincente Trejillo, who knows about these things, always keeps a permanent reservation available for her at The Emigres Club. #734294724
Jessica ‘Panglossia’ Finn: Runs one of the most exclusive salons in Pemberly Park where none other than L____ is rumoured to appear from time to time. Some query whether the meeting between Allardyne and Mme Blanchard at her salon - which ultimately led to the resolution of the Railston question- happened entirely by chance. #20394284
Sandy ‘El Toro’ Morgan: Although his glory days in the bull-ring in Seville are behind him, he is still a regular attendee at the Cazadores Hotel where men can drink and tell true stories of women and of life and when it turns dark they will continue until the best of them can continue no more and will walk home in the rain. #203472834
Sheriden ‘the Countess ’ Lee: In her younger and more vulnerable years on Long Island she was renowned as quite the socialite. Most recently caught up in the Case of the Purloined Letter, she has baffled Scotland Yard who are not sure whether she is their best witness or their prime suspect. The matter continues... #9382404
Hillary ‘Elysee’ Spackman: Visiting lecturer at the LSE from the Augsburg School in Vienna. Main area of expertise is the arcane subject of cryptozoology which has seen a recent resurgence in popularity, especially since the discoveries of Sir Zelman Poole in the Amazon have been made public. #32904
Raymond ‘Typhoon’ Spackman: Went 137 rounds against the famed Blackpool Bramble under Queensbury rules, before finally landing the knockout blow. Has decided to come out of retirement for one final fight against the current champion - Greg ‘the Unstoppable’ Barrett who is also undefeated in his career. #93842462
James ‘the Mook’ Rigney Many people have asked through the years ‘just what, exactly, is a mook?’ Unfortunately the origins of the term have been lost in time. However, a recent find by the Sheldon Expedition in Abyssinia - who are excavating a previously unrecorded tomb from the late Bronze age - may yield some answers. #32943874
Rema ‘Lady Rambutan’ Derbas: Curator of the recent exhibition by Troussaint at the National Gallery where the controversial portrait of Her Royal Highness was first hung. Is now working on a new project with the City that has led to the closure of three whole city blocks - the only information given is that ‘it will be eerily humorous’. #02934824
Ingrid ‘Captain’ Oey: Recently returned from a successful trip to the Spice Islands carrying damask and a new limp. Some have remarked her ship, the ‘Reformed Pacifist’, has been sitting low on the waterline, even when fully unloaded of cargo and deckhands confirm no-one is allowed down into the bilges which have been triple-locked. #93428494
Sisiely ‘the Kyoto Rose’ Wong: Trained in the ancient arts of ‘shigeshuru’ which had been thought to be lost - the last known practitioner of that art disappeared in 1657 in mysterious circumstances. The skill set however is highly valued and she is believed to be currently in the service of Lord Wellesly. #839420423
Johnny ‘The Rebel’ Mulhall: Former anti-establishment figurehead turned lawman. He roamed through the west, making a name for himself as a quickdraw with a quicker temper. One of the only sheriffs to lose a star and then get it back through the capture of Rattlesnake Yuma. #12938123
Emily ‘Lady Gladstone’ Stephenson: The first women to break the Apollo Club’s standing orders, she has inspired many of the recent changes in policy. The Prime Minister will only ever refer to her as ‘the woman’, even when addressing Parliament. She is expected to make an announcement on her latest incitement soon. #6437284
Annette aka ‘the Yellow Rose’: Never seen without her remarkable headpiece she says she found in Calcutta. Owns half of the champion racehorse ‘Amber Blaze’ who won the recent Danvale Cup for half a million sterling. Rumor is about to break that she has now, through an intermediary, been placing bets against her own horse. #837426
Danielle ‘Van Zandt’ Gernandt: Her triumphal tour of the opera houses of Vienna, Milan and Zaragoza ended on a peculiar note when rather than sing the traditional aria from ‘Don Giovanni’, she sang the lesser known ‘De Kinasiska’. Some of her shows became increasingly remarked on and it is unknown if she will tour again. #3290482
Russell ‘the Admiral’ Hansen: Looking at his barometer he muttered to himself. It was low, the lowest he had ever seen it. But there was nothing else for it, the port of Saigon still lay 30 miles to windward and it would be a long night beating into the swell until the dawn. #240284
Eve ‘Dandelion’ Koh: Discovered by Lady Walton, she has turned heads in most of the fashion houses of Europe. Her fame has spread so fast she now has to travel by the assumed name ‘peony’ when travelling abroad for fear of being mugged by crowds of fans. #23490284
Mark aka ‘the Green Rajah’ Many believe his existence to be a legend spread by mischievous street urchins to strike fear into their fellow guttersnipes. However that cannot explain why Hotpie, usually dismissive of such stories, goes white and very quiet whenever his name is mentioned. #2049384
Judy ‘the Baroness’’ Yau: Head of the T.W.F which meets on the first Tuesday of every month. There was a slight scandal at last month’s meeting when Mrs Li revealed the recent theft, however in light of the extraordinary circumstances, it was agreed no more should be said about it. #1230919
Stanley ‘the Baron’ Yau: Rarely comes into town and prefers to maintain his estate to the south west of the city. There was some talk of his involvement in the failed coup d’etat against the old Marlybone government, however many have pointed out the (not so) obvious flaws in that argument. #98343242
Wendy ‘Porphyry’ Tien: Worked for many years as the assistant to the ‘Great Carduccio’ until the famous ‘final show’. Despite several inquiries, no charges were ever laid against her. She can now be found running a tote in the Guildsmith’s Quarter on races both within and without the 7 mile limit. #4304924
Cassia ‘Helga’ Munro: Thrown out of her own time by a violent surge in the 17th dimension, she has brought ruin and disfavour to bandersnatches and candyshriekers alike. Imitation vigilante groups have sprung up, however none are as feared as the blond bombasticated berzerker from Balongalongaloo. #0349237428
Vanessa ‘the Professor’ Williams: One of the great Dr Kepler’s last students, she has now assumed his old post at the University. Most of her students would be shocked to discover her moonlighting job that she goes to every Thursday, although it would explain to them the nervous tic that appears on Friday morning. #983424
Josh aka ‘the Harley Street Chevalier’: Leading a cell of one, he prints his own notorious pamphlets in his basement to distribute to workers at the close of business. Arrested several times for sedition, his current whereabouts are unknown. Suspected of being the mastermind behind the Stoke-on-Trent incident. #5696839
Carol ‘Sarawak’ Ng: Often sought out for her traditional remedies to common (and not so common) ailments. Will only accept as payment for her services items which the customer has owned for at least 14 years. She will always know if the item has been owned for a shorter period. #93472847
Ben aka ‘The Last Trujillo’: Was last seen riding into the Sarsaparilla badlands three years ago with Tall German Joe to look for the Hannity expedition. He promised he would return to the Old Post Office at the stroke of midday on the 3rd of next month. Rooms in the Carson Hotel across the road have been booked out for weeks. #23905
Leanne ‘La Mere’ Spackman: Having stepped down from her successful role with the Allegmaine Inquiry, she now has time to cultivate her award winning new hybrid strain of ‘Trieste’ roses. The Prime Minister has asked her to return to the cross benches however the press are certain not even that elevation could save the government. #3842947
Andrew ‘Beauchamp’ McKissock: Inventor of the ‘Tallesand Regulator’ which has been hailed as the greatest advancement in Garrolometry in over fifty years. There are claims by a Helvetican inventor that the plans for the regulator were drafted by him five years ago, but no proof of this has been forthcoming. #39402482
Grace ‘Jade’ Wang: Owner of the last known copy of the ‘Irredentalist’ manuscript, a 9th century illuminated copy of the Book of Romans. A text in the National Library states the manuscript was in fact written over a lost work of Aristotle, however any requests to view the manuscript closely have been refused. #094242
Kylie ‘the Wisp’ Attard: Long believed to be the author writing under the nom de plume ‘formidable’ whose monthly column in the Gazette tells of the latest salon room gossip. The theory was tested however when a column described, in some candid detail, her own involvement in the Calico Affair. #923472364
Amanda ‘Triple Aces’ Druce: Never one to shy away from a challenge, her latest enterprise will be to beat the great Robert Allcourt’s record that was set 73 years ago. The record was almost beaten last year, however the unusually warm weather meant any real possibility of succeeding had faded. #304823487
Rebecca ‘Staccato’ Liang: The world’s leading expert on Marjoram’s Condition and the effects it has on the nervous system. Spent several years in Siam where it is said a secluded group of monks have successfully been able to treat people with the condition through a process of expelling ‘bad humours’. # 46542834
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