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This episode carries content warnings for slavery and indentured servitude, kidnapping, discussion of taxidermy, animals bred to be hunted, blood, injury, physical harm, death, and the discussion of sports-related injuries.

It is often noted that the Bilateral Commission (formerly the Curtain) is mostly comprised of people from Stels Kesh and Nideo, and likewise that the Pact is largely made up of Apostolosians and Columnar. Room is made for exceptions because, in many cases, such cases are all the more important.

Thus could be the case of Exanceaster March, Columnar data magnate and long time friend of the (ever diminishing) Solstice family of Kesh. Today, the troubled aristocrats bring their powerful ally to their estate for a visit, during which they hope to persuade March to leave the Pact behind.\\xa0

For the Solstice family, this could be everything they need to be catapulted back into the upper crust. For their servants, it will be just one more hellish event left for them to clean up after.

This week on the Road to PALISADE: Upstairs & Downstairs

Records Recovered from the Divine, Arbitrage

Factions

The Bilateral Intercession: This faction, made up primarily from Stel Nideo and Kesh assets, was formerly known as the Curtain. The rebranding comes as part of a \\u201ccivil coup\\u201d performed by Cynosure Whitestar-Kesh. In a move that surprised no group more than the Curtain themselves, Cynosure spent years growing in confidence and power, until that intelligence organization could be once again reduced to a tool. Still defined by their traditionalism, they wield their control on culture, religion, and history as a weapon\\u2014and the extensive spy network for which they are named when those come up short.

The Pact of Free States: While the Bilateral Intercession\\u2019s name change reflects a shift in leadership and posture for the Curtain, the shift from \\u201cThe Pact of Necessary Venture\\u201d to \\u201cThe Pact of Free States\\u201d is simply the public acceptance of what was already widely understood to be true. Led in name by Dahlia, the Glorious Princept, and in day-to-day operation by senior members of Stels Apostolos and Columnar, the Pact paint themselves as liberal reformists whose aim is to increase the degree of autonomy in each of the Stels, such that they become in reality five separate nations.

The Branched: A post-human culture from the Golden Branch star sector who have transformed their bodies into spectacular forms, but who are now weighed down by an endless war with the Principality.

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Persons

Crevera Solstice (she/her): (Largely absent) matriarch of the Solstice family.\\xa0

Coughton Solstice (he/him): Crevera\\u2019s husband. An absolute pushover.

Carvisle Solstice (he/him): The cruel son of Somerset House.

Catalina Solstice (she/her): Adventurous older daughter of the house, who\\u2019s never met a cause she wouldn\\u2019t turn into a vanity project.\\xa0

Catrina Solstice (she/her): Morose younger daughter of the house with a special interest in taxidermy.

Exanceaster March (he/him): Head of the vast Columnar multi-system conglomerate called the Frontier Syndicate, which is older than the Stel itself. While the Syndicate has its hands in many enterprises, the heart of it all is corralling and instrumentalizing data. One such effort, Exanceaster\\u2019s pet project the March Anecdatist Foundation, set its sights on Palisade as a testing ground.

Guliford Gain (she/her): March\\u2019s bodyguard. Cinephile.

Bel\\u2019Agos Bloom (bel/bels, they/them): Pact admiral and March\\u2019s sibling-in-law.\\xa0

Laris, Leah, and Laurice: March\\u2019s servants. Indentured indefinitely.\\xa0

Vivian Exler (she/her): Somerset House\\u2019s \\u201caward winning\\u201d gardener and groundskeeper.\\xa0

Martine Sprue (she/her): Somerset House\\u2019s mechanic, in charge of the family\\u2019s small fleet of terrible machines.

Eileen Lilas (she/her): One of Somerset House\\u2019s maidservants and erstwhile companion to Catrina.

Locations

Kaliope: A planet at the very periphery of the Golden Branch star sector. Once, it was known for cutting edge genetic modifications, avant garde fashion, and a streak of anti-authoritarianism. Now it is just one jewel on the bracelet of the principality.\\xa0

Somerset House: Estate of the Solstice family, deep in the forests of Kaliope. It\\u2019s hidden away and defensible, but some say that it carries a dark past connected to the Branched..

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Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker)\\xa0

Featuring Ali Acampora (@ali_west), Janine Hawkins (@bleatingheart),Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), and Sylvi Bullet (@GODSNEXTMARTYR)

Produced by Ali Acampora (@ali_west)

Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp)

Text by Austin Walker

Cover Art by Craig Sheldon (@shoddyrobot)

You can buy Upstairs and Downstairs right here: https://richardwrecks.itch.io/upstairs-downstairs