La Chanson de la Victoire (The Song of Victory): La Petite Arpenteuse (Non, SV, you are a General of France in the Napoleonic War!)

[Macros]

I did a thing! A short thing, but still.

through His eyes​

The world was changing.

That was an easy statement to make, Napoléon Bonaparte thought. Valmy might have been a minor battle on a military level, but this first victory of the Revolutionary armies against the foreign invaders would have tremendous effects across Europe, of that no-one could doubt. Already the National Convention, in the general euphoria, officially ended the constitutional monarchy. After a thousand years, the Kingdom of France was no more, leaving instead a young Republic. The young Corsican captain could only guess what other changes this turn of fortune would bring.

But to him, Valmy was a symbol of personal hope. It was the definite proof that in this new order, where old figures vanished to make way to a new generation, it was finally possible to rise through the ranks through talent alone. Apparently, even gender no longer mattered, as he watched the woman of the hour stand tall against the accusations thrown at her, while Kellerman and Dumouriez rose to her defense. The Revolution needed new blood, and would welcome any charismatic leader who would rise to the occasion. And with all of Europe up in arms against France, the occasions would be aplenty.

And so while the people of Paris were probably busy drinking to the health of this Thérèse Auclair, this tribunal saw fit to give her a slap on the wrist in order to reassert their authority. He could sympathize with the scowl she sent when she was given three months of unpaid leave, though. A military pay had never been a lot to begin with, and to go without it for someone with little fortune would be a challenge. Still, he had no doubt she would be back. With foreign kings all coming in to crush the nascent Republic, every citizen of France would have to play their part. And while the girl seemed to have barely entered adulthood, valour knew no age... or gender, for that matter.

As for himself, the prospect of returning to Corsica to fight against the Kingdom of Sardinia left a sour taste in his mouth. His memories of home were often bitter, and being sent on a relatively minor front at this decisive hour was frustrating, to say the least. Still, his hour would come, of that he had no doubt. If a woman without birth could become the heroine of the hour, there was no doubt in his mind that he could do just as much, if not more. With all of France turning into a battlefield, it was only a matter of time.

As his eyes met the ones of Thérèse Auclair, the two of them exchanged a nod. They would meet again, of that he was certain.

 

[Magoose]

The General's Worry:

(François Christophe Kellermann POV)

You sat at the dinner table in your rented apartment in the city. You had a few more days until you had to march back out to the army of the north, and the battlefields of northern France. The celebrations of the victory of Valmy was nothing short of enthusiastic, citizens offering his men free drinks for the rest of their lives for their heroics.

You thought little of it. Valmy Hill was just the first battle of a long, arduous campaign to keep France from falling back to the Bourbons, and back under the power of foreign influence.

You wanted to believe in the revolutionary cause that many of the men in the Estates preached Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité. It was a noble dream, one that you hoped to see in your lifetime if the Lord was willing.

The Americans had done it, so why cannot France, one of the oldest, richest and culturally dominant nations on the planet, do the same.

The door opened and in came the man you were waiting for. "Charles." You stood and offered a seat to your fellow general.

"Thank you, François," he replied, taking a seat across from you. "What are you planning to serve?" He asked as a man came in with a silver platter. "Not quail I hope."

You let out a small laugh. "No, heavens no." The top was removed to show a nice roast chicken. "I wanted to enjoy myself, no go back to being on campaign."

The chicken was nice and plump, and as it was cut, it's juice splattering quite a bit on the table.

The small talk continued for a little while, the conversation going back to your son, and his new, second career in the Army, to the new republic that had been born mere days ago.

The food was delicious, but such pleasantries and conversations could not last forever. Especially with the way Charles was thinking.

"What's on your mind Charles?" You asked as he set down his utensils, his eyes deep in thought.

"I can't stop thinking about Valmy." He stated.

Ah, that's what it was. "Brushing with death is expected in our line of work. It is not something you need to worry about."

"It's not about my wounds or our brush with death François, it's about the girl." Charles replied.

Ah, Thérèse Auclair … La Petite Arpenteuse… a joke when she stood towering over most men within the army, by her even taller brother. "You still wonder how she led our forces to victory, with little experience?"

"No, I have little doubt that Brunswick got careless, charging his infantry across a muddy field, and getting thrown back, giving her time to set the cannon on the hill instead of sending his cavalry around the flanks to take out our cannons. The battle and how she achieved victory is not what I am worried about... It's about what she has become."

"And what has she become?" You asked. MAybe it was your wound on your head, but you had been trying to rest for the last few days until it healed. The news of the woman soldier of Valmy hill was the farthest thing from your mind.

"The Masses… the peasants, men, and women, have rallied to her, calling her a hero of France." He stated.

"Ah, so she has gained a reputation amongst the lower classes, and why should that bother us, when there are enemies at the gates of France?" You stated, nodding to your servant who brought in some more bread. "Could you bring more wine, we might be here for a while."

Your servant nodded and walked back into the kitchen.

Charles shook his head. "It's Robespierre. I believe he will try to make her an ally of his to secure power."

The room became quiet, as you processed the information. "And what proof do you have?"

Charles reached into his pocket and slide a letter, addressed for Thérèse Auclair. The seal was broken, but it was Robespierre's symbol in the assembly. By god. "Why the hell would he move like this, the republic is barely a month old?"

"He sees an opportunity, one that may grant him incredible political power over the rest of the country if he gets the Hero of Valmy to back him," Charles stated quietly. "I do not know what he plans, but I do know that is not in the best interests of Thérèse."

You nodded. "What is he offering her?"

"Complete command of the Paris National Guard, a promotion to General of the Division, 50,000 Franks bonus, and the republics personal thanks."

Bribing her with a high position, to buy her loyalty…. No, link her to him, turn her symbol into his. "I expected these tactics from the old order… not this."

"I'm going to reseal the letter later tonight and make sure it gets to her… and warn her of the danger that will come to her." Charles replied as he sipped his wine.

You then had an idea. "Charles. I have an idea."

"What?" He asked.

You remembered an officer from the tribunal. A very... well interesting officer from the tribunal. "I'm going to need a few weeks, but when it is ready, make sure she has not accepted Robsepierres offer."

"What the hell are you planning?"

"I'm we're lucky, giving France's newest star to someone who can allow her to grow her talents." You replied. "I truly believe that in a few years, she may be a better general than all of us."

That made Charles raise an eyebrow. "Even... him?"

You smiled. "Maybe even him."

AN: Enjoy this omake.

Historically accurate depiction of Kellerman? Not entirely from what I read about Kellerman, but the Butterflies have been flying since Valmy. Perhaps he respects Thérèse for her actions that saved their lives and recognizes talent when he sees it.

Either way, enjoy.

 

[Starmine Starbow]

Does this count as fanart?
E: okay

Spoiler: Art

 

[AilingStar]

Just an Omake, in return for the ones that @Plausitivity wrote for me.

+

For years, Adalene Durand knew what her future was going to be. She was going to be married off to some man, hopefully a rich one, so that her family might benefit from the marriage. It was just what happened.

Adalene hated it. She didn't want such a fate, not at all. She wanted to fight for her country, to be a hero that people could look up to. And with everything that had been happening as of late, her desire to serve only ever grew stronger.

She wanted to be like her grand-père.

A great man, he was, and a greater warrior. Antoine Durand was a cavalryman of great skill. His old books that Adalene had stolen away from the attic (it was a habit of hers to do so, ever since she found the book that she used to learn how to read) had given amazing accounts of his time in the army, and she could tell that the man was a genius.

His old books all just made so much sense to her. His accounts of his training fascinated her especially, and she absorbed every drop. Then, when she could, she would find a way to get experience by riding her family's horses, especially the steady-willed Cramoise, in the hopes that one day, she could put those skills to use.

But that hope had almost died. After all, there was no place for a woman on the battlefield, right?

Then… then word came to her town. Of the Battle of Valmy.

Of Thérèse Auclair.

Suddenly, that dream was not so distant.

Adalene had gone into a state of unrest after that. Practicing and planning. She knew that it would be no easy task to realize her old dream, but she was determined to see it through.

She smiled as she rode Cramoise around the pasture. "Soon, Grand-père. Soon, I shall make you proud, I swear."

+

This is made less to introduce a new character, and more to show the effect that Thérèse's actions have had on some of the young women of France.

Of course, if Adalene does appear, I wouldn't be against that.

I'll save my +10 for later.

 

[AilingStar]

Another Omake, because I can't help myself.

Have you ever wondered where this quest might end up if it was a magical girl anime? Well I've got something to satisfy your incredibly specific tastes.

La Chanson de la Victoire: Édition Fille Magique

Épisode ???: Roi Fou Arthur

Thérèse grimaced as she fell against the ground. "No… I came so close…!"

The Duke of Wellington smiled at the girl. "You know, this is not the first time I have fought against France." He idly slashed to his side, knocking Adalene off of Cramoise. "It was a long, long time ago. A man I trusted had slept with my wife." He slashed again, sending Renée to the ground. "I chased him to France. He had stolen my wife from me!" He shouted as he fired a beam at Tempeste, sending her plummeting to the ground. "His trickery made her go mad, made her think me mad!" He rode over the fallen bodies of Joséphine and d'Oettlinger. "So I chased the man, the prince of France, all the way to his kingdom, as the coward hid in the Dolorous Guarde."

Thérèse gasped. A Prince of France… the Dolorous Guarde…?! The man in front of her, he couldn't be…?

"Ah, I see you now understand!" The man laughed darkly. "I am not merely the Duke of Wellington! I am King Arthur, reborn after all these years, arisen to protect my kingdom from their greatest threat." He smiled at her. "And when I've defeated you, I'll make sure nobody threatens England again. Waterloo is only the first step.

"There were only two who could possibly defeat me." He smiled at her. "Lancelot's descendants. When I was asleep, I had very little influence over the world, but I was not completely powerless. Over the generations, I have manipulated events so that Lancelot's lineage petered out." He frowned and blasted at Thérèse as she was getting up. "It should have been EASY! Galahad had only been able to have one child! I should have been able to kill them off easily!" He shot at her again, causing her to cry out in pain. "But no! No matter how much I tried, they just refused to die! The Black Plague, the wars, no matter what I caused, one child of the Lake would always slip through my fingers.

"But when I was born again..." He chuckled. "There was only one left. A young girl. The moment I had regained enough power, I laid her low, and soon enough she died." His grin twisted into a snarl. "But I had… miscalculated. While I grew in power, the girl became a woman, and she had two children.

"Imagine my horror when I learned of her children because her daughter had summoned cannons and used them to fight back the Prussians at Valmy single-handed."

Thérèse understood. She finally understood.

This man… no, this monster was behind everything that had went wrong in her life. Her mother dying, her father growing distant…

And… Brian...

"Your brother was pathetic by comparison," Arthur gloated, not noticing Thérèse standing up, "but I would not take chances. I refused to allow a child of the Lake to once again cause my downfall." He looked at Thérèse and frowned. "So… you're still alive, Child of the Lake. Even when I have taken everything from you." He got off his horse and gripped his sword, Excalibur. "That shall soon be rectified." He swung forward…

And missed.

His eyes widened. "What? How-"

"You are wrong, Mad King Arthur." He looked up to see Thérèse floating above him, eyes shining bright. "You may have taken my mother from me, and my brother as well." She hummoned a cannon, bigger and more powerful than she had ever summoned before. "But you have not taken my Will." He fired a beam, but it didn't even singe Thérèse.

"You have not taken my country." The cannon began to charge, it's light falling upon the soldiers of France.

"And you have not taken my friends." Arthur felt magical binds form on him, and he looked around to see the other Filles Magique, faces full of determination, surrounding him.

"Now take this!" Thérèse shouted as the cannon finished charging. "Artillerie Céleste: Saint Graal!"

And the cannon fired.

And the Duke of Wellington, the Mad King Arthur Reborn, was no more.

Thérèse smiled even as she felt herself transforming back to normal, even as she fell to the ground. Even as her friends crowded around her, begging for her to be alive. "Brian… did I do well?"

+

I must be insane.

Joséphine and d'Oettlinger are Magical Girl versions of actual people. Adalene was the star of my previous Omake. Renée and Tempeste were also made by me.

Again, saving my +10 for later.

 

[Plausbius]

Warning: soft food porn. I restrained myself.

Ah, Paris!

The tavern's got a good smell, filled to the rafters with beer, bœuf, and baked goods. Well, it helped that the owner's son had been part of the Northern Army, God bless them. The food had been served up on large long oaken tables, all sorts of steamy meats and sizzling seafood adorning the metallic plates they were served upon.

This was a special occasion, and I wasn't one to refuse the hospitality of others!

"To The Army of the North, for protecting us!" Gordon perked up, his mug swishing some of the beer into the dark walls. He points at me with a fat sausage finger. "À Thérèse! La Protectrice de Valmy! Notre bouclier!"

Cheers rang out, all the soldiers and civilians gathered here to celebrate our recent victory gorging themselves on a feast for all. There had to have been forty of us? The poor owner...

Helping myself to copious amounts of meat, I thought back to the last time I had been able to enjoy a hot, fresh meal such as this. The warmth of the beef softly licked my tongue, its texture just the right amount of roughness. A bit of chewy fat on it was to be expected, but that was the price to pay for catering for a whole squadron of soldiers, my brother included.

He towered over the rest, a large shrimp in the sea of smaller shrimp... this shrimp is really good. Smokey, but not burnt.

Magnifique.

Brian was sitting beside me, a head taller. He's in plain clothes, a collection of an old buttoned shirt, blue coat, and pale pants. He'd never really looked after his own appearance as much, and that had a good effect on my plainness of dress.

Right... looking down, I had on...

[] Write-in your civilian clothing. Bonus point(s) to decorum if you have a picture or something.

Taking another slice of ham, dripping with honey, and a swig of frothy alcohol, I ruminated on Paris.

It had been only a few weeks since the King was imprisoned. I couldn't believe the news when we arrived. One day, we were going out on a march under the King's gaze; a few weeks, and a Republic took his place. The old flags and statues of the Roi were taken down or burned... the ashes still visible on the outside as we walked the streets.

I was conflicted at first. Father was under the employ of the Crown, and we wouldn't have gotten this far without their patronage. The income was a fortune for a poor family such as ours. It had given me so much of the things I took for granted.

I clinked glasses with Brian and the others in anticipation of another round.

When the decadence of the royalty was uncovered and their crimes against the People laid out in plain sight as we were soon told, however, a fire burned inside me. What right had they to squander the gifts and labor of the People? Were we not all children of God? I only hope that Louis, bless his name, can be forgiven, for history may not forget.

"Tu t'en sors? How's the chicken?" Joseph gaped his mouth at me, chewed-up fish inside. Gross.

"Ça va." My teeth tore at the leg, its juices spurting onto his face.

He wiped his face with his forearm. "Ahahah! Yes! Cheers, cheers!" Raising a glass, we and the others joined in another round of drinks and well-deserved revelry.

A few more rounds, and the feast winded down. Brian had fallen to the inevitable and unstoppable force of drunkenness and fallen asleep in an unflattering pose on the table. On top of the table.

Well, the others seemed like good sports about it, at least.

I sat with the crowd, joining in song with the men and women, swaying left and right with alcohol-induced mirth.

We sang of France.

We sang of the People..

We sang...
Of our Victory.

<><><><><><>

Ah, Paris.

You awake on a bed with a comforting, soft mass to your side.

Oh, it's just a pillow. The innkeeper had provided the best and fluffiest beds for you and your brother. For a low price, too!

"Je ne peux assez-vous remercier..." He was so formal in his gratitude, Monsieur Albert Roche. His son had been a part of the charge, and was also infinitely grateful and somewhat awestruck at seeing you. It was your height, wasn't it?

It's always your height.

Well, you've been teased by boys in your hometown of...

[] Write-in hometown name. Please be reasonable.

...for a while for being La Géante... well, they shut up after Brian reminded them of how rude that was.

Speaking of Brian, he was nowhere to be seen. You recall he passed out during the party.

Merde.

You slip on your coat and pants, waltzing out the door while excusing yourself through the busy morning crowd downstairs. The round, cheery, if a little wrinkled face of M. Roche greets you as he sees you in his haste.

"Ah, bonjour, mademoiselle! Or should I say, Notre Héroine?" He chuckles, handing you a nearby mug. "Go have a glass of milk or other. Your brother is sleeping in his quarters, next to yours, no need to worry yourself!"

You sigh. "Merci, Monsieur. Your hospitality is great."

He grins. "Just remember to pay your rent!" He leans in, whispering almost conspiratorially. "It might be greatly reduced, but I don't want to be too friendly, you know? You youngsters need to get jobs!"

You groan. Right. You and your brother's pay are both gone for the next three months. Thankfully, you had both stored a good amount in the bank, enough for food and shelter, with a bit left over due to the Roches' generosity.

Now, how will you plan your stay in Paris? You won't need to worry about money immediately, but it will go down if you buy anything apart from food and your rent.

October to December actions:
You have five (5) actions.

[] The Cafés of Paris: the fire of revolution was sparked in these establishments and even today the city's lower and middle classes speak of politics and war.

[] General Correspondence: General Kellerman has requested you send letters regarding the city's status.

[] The Offer: General Dumouriez has an offer for you. A very... interesting offer from one revolutionary 'Robespierre'.

[] The Handsome Man: The Officer you met at the trial is in Paris right now, looking over the city's garrison and training his new recruits. Perhaps you can speak to him in a more... personal situation.

[] The Trial: The former King is standing trial. Maybe you can see it.

[] Change of Uniform: your uniforms are filthy. It's best to correct that before going back to your unit. Maybe find some better clothing as well?

[] Study & Read: you have books to read and things to learn.

[] Study & Practice: choose a skill to study and practice. Can increase by 1 or 2.

[] Military Education: you are young enough to join, and your reputation means you might not get harassed by your peers. (This can lead to a timeskip of 2 years, however, you will lose 1 fame, however, all military stats will increase by 4.)

[] Party with Brian: you are young, alive and well. That means you deserve a drink. More partying ensues. (Potential to lose one wealth if you roll lower than 50. there is a danger to get pregnant with an unknown man's child.)

[] Swordswomanship: you are not a good swordswoman, you are only decent and lucky. That needs to change. (+1 to 2 to combat, possible new weapon)

[] A Small Gamble: Well, you have some money... maybe you can make some more. You're smart, so this shouldn't be hard... right? (Gamble 1 wealth to potential to gain up to 5 wealth. If you fail, the potential to lose 4)

[] The Streets of Paris: You have not seen the city in its true glory... hopefully, you can enjoy the luxury and the people before going out into battle again. (Can choose multiple times)
-[] Write-in what parts to see (specific store types, what districts etc.)

@Magoose for writing the actions!

Vote's open for 72 hours.
Plan voting for actions.
Appearance and hometown are separate votes no they aren't anymore, merci beaucoup!
6 hour moratorium!​

 

[AilingStar]

MOAR OMAKE! MOAR BONUS!

La Chanson de la Victoire: Édition Fille Magique

Épisode ???: Arpenteuse et Cavalier

+

Thérèse frowned. She had never asked for the life of a Fille Magique, but… well, someone had to do it, and she was the only one who could do it. She was the only one who could fight against the power that the Prussians used.

That was before Fille Magique Cavalier Inébranlable came along on her blood-red horse and mowed down the metal abominations that the Prussians had made.

After seeing the girl in combat, Thérèse had so many thoughts to sift through as she lay on her cot. Why was a girl younger than her by at least a few months fighting so skillfully? Why did Cavalier's powers seem so different from her own?

...Was she even needed anymore?

She was interrupted by the sound of footsteps outside. Thérèse stood and peered outside.

It was Cavalier. She may not have been dressed in vibrant red, but it was unmistakably Cavalier.

"Bonjour." Cavalier spoke softly. "You're Petite Arpenteuse, right?"

Thérèse bristled a bit at her Fille Magique title. "Please, call me Thérèse."

"A-ah, right." Cavalier seemed to blush a bit. "I apologize, I am a bit of an admirer. I'm Adalene."

Thérèse smiled. "It is nice to meet you." She looked at the moonstone charm that hung from Adalene's neck, one of a horse in motion. Idly, she touched her own cannon charm. "So… how did you get your charm?"

"A-ah, it was in my grand-père's old belongings. I think it belonged to Grand-mère, though." She sighed. "I have so many questions about my family now. What about you?"

Thérèse shrugged. "I just found it when the Prussians were attacking. I don't know where it came from, but it just seemed to call out to me."

"Ah, so did mine!" Adalene seemed to brighten a bit. "That was so odd! Do you think it might have been some form of magic?"

"Perhaps it was." Thérèse smiled. Perhaps it would be best to stick around for the time being...

+

Save the +10 for later.

My mind works in mysterious ways... that not even I understand.

Edit: posted right after a co-writer post encouraging more Omakes...

 

[Starmine Starbow]

Spoiler: Rush B

 

[Shadowhope]

Here's my sketch. The photo we've been using broke so I had to wing her hair on my own. I put together a waistcoat, the typical French Pesant Dress of the time, and an fancyish way to tie an ascot I saw in my research. The part I debated the most with myself over but went with in the end FOR THE REVOLUTION was the Phrygian Cap with an Tricolore Cockade on it, a must have for any revolutionary. The hat and badge were huge symbols during the revolution. My research indicates that while young, they are in use by now.

Anyway, I hope this link works. I'm on my phone, so I've been experiencing difficulties with getting these links to work.

Spoiler: Therese Outfit

Therese Outfit Sketch

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

m.imgur.com

 

[Starmine Starbow]

Spoiler: Wedding Dress