Questime

Black Cat Cabaret

About a plot

Welcome to the Cabaret Le Chat Noir,

where we are devoted to the muses and to pleasure.

Keep an open mind, stranger: the future is now!

Paris, 1893.
Political passions run high, anarchism is gaining momentum, and new forms of art are emerging. The hill of Montmartre has become the cultural center of the world, and Black Cat Cabaret is the center of Montmartre. Its patrons are artistic pioneers, cultured bourgeoisie, and, some say, even royal heirs! Every emotion is heightened. The Black Cat Cabaret never has an ordinary day: there is always music, laughter, artistic and poetic discussions, love, and freedom, and today is a special day: the owner of the cabaret is publishing a new magazine and all poets and artists dream of being on its cover. Some might be willing to go pretty far to achieve their dreams…

Legends are born on this hill, and the talk today is of a painting that is both valuable and unusual. It is said that if a talented person looks at it, he or she will become world-famous within months. But if an ordinary, talentless person beholds it, he or she will be found dead in four days’ time. But is it true? Is this fate or human scheming? Does anyone dare look at the painting now?

Don’t miss the chance to become part of legendary times, which future generations will call La Belle Époque!

How does it works?

Our Game Master will lead the game, providing costumes, accessories, and music to help transport you to the Monmartre in the end of XIX centuy.
Every player has a role and is assigned goals which can be achieved through interacting with the other players. Murder isn’t the only intrigue in the Black Cat Cabaret! In every quest there are multiple storylines that intersect with each other. Every hero has a variety of goals in addition to discovering the culprit. For example, for a given character it may be to arrest an anarchist leader, to find a bomb, and to poison someone at the end of the game. Even the culprit has more to do than just hide — they have their own batch of mysteries to worry about!

All roles are critical! We don’t believe in having any supporting roles. We’ve come up with a way to integrate new characters so that they either bring in a new mysterious plotline, or add to an existing one.

In every game there is a key event. For example, in the “The Black Cat Cabaret”, the event is the publication of a new magazine. At the end of the game, there is a time of dark doings, when characters freely murder one another. You can get back at your enemies — if they don’t get to you first! 

Who will lead the game?
Our professionally trained gamemasters will help you get into character, explain the rules, and be on hand to answer any questions. Their primary job is to get the participants to start to feel like they themselves are actors, artists, and writers in nineteenth-century Paris.

Where and when can we play?

“Black Cat Cabaret” is a good format for a birthday party, corporate event, prom, or any other celebration. The game can be held in a house (if there is enough space), in a restaurant (in a separate hall), or outside. 
Duration: 2.5-3 hours.

Number of players: 9-21 people

Age: 16+

Plot parameters:

Regulars of Le Chat Noir

Gender is indicated with either M, F, or M/F if the character can be a man or a woman. 

Louis/Louise Bristal (M/F), the host. А living legend who founded Montmartre as we know it today. Bristal likes getting the artistic medley drunk on absinthe. He/she lives in the cabaret.

Herbert Argent (M), art patron. Despite all his riches, he is modest and well-mannered – when he is sober, of course. What he values most is talent and female beauty. Argent lives on 53 Lepic St.

Andrea (M/F), art patron. With hot Southern blood flowing inside his/her veins, Andrea is unpredictable and short-tempered. He/she supports local poets and painters and, lately, has started writing poetry him/herself. It is advisable to admire it. He/she lives on 19 Dancourt St.

Maurice Verfé (M), eccentric art patron. If he is there, the party is on: he buys rounds of absinthe for everyone, gets drunk himself, and buys paintings by the dozen. He often escorts beautiful ladies home and stays at their places.

Moro (M/F), art critic. Every painter dreams of pleasing him/her. Moro has only three kinds of opinion on a particular painting: “Hm…”, “There’s hope…”, and “There’s hope…hm…” If an artist receives the latter, they can expect world renown. He lives on 76 Dancourt St.

Philippe Grantier (M), novelist. Here’s the new Maupassant! It has not been long since his ingenious, magnificent talent was discovered, and here he is, already a worldwide celebrity. Grantier lives on 12 Custin St, but is planning on moving to the Champs-Elysées.

Marianne (F), fiery-tempered poetess. Her eyes, like her poetry, spark with flame. She lives on 43 Dancourt St.

Steven (M), painter. He’s here from America with a friend on a search for glory. Steven’s paintings are of an unconventional, bold style that, we hope, will soon become known outside Montmartre. He lives on 5 Abbesses St.

Alexander/Alexandra Kessonsky (M/F), poet. Newly arrived from Russia, Kessonsky is intrigued, enchanted, exhilarated. The world is open to him. His address is yet unknown.

Eugene/Eugenie (M/F), painter. Usually usually seen with a glass of absinthe, he/she in a state of constant melancholy and endless brooding on eternal questions. He/she lives on 93 Lepic St.

Blanche (F), painter. She is a fighter, a rebel, and a stunner, both in life and art. Her art defies tradition by any means possible. It is best not to mess with her — she fights well. Blanche lives on 10 Dancourt St.

Henri (M), painter. Henri is a famous painter whose talent has only recently been acknowledged by the critics. His best known paintings involve dancers, painters, and poets. He lives on 3 Haussman Blvd.

Sophie Splendid (F), opera singer. A new star of the Grand Opera. Sophie’s path to fame started on the stage of the Le Chat Noir, which she half-heartedly exchanged for the big stage. Sophie now lives on 28 Haussman Blvd, next to the Opera Garnier.

Nana (F), Moulin Rouge dancer. She is kind, ready to comfort the unhappy and help the poor. She takes everything that happens to heart. Nana lives on 89 Dancourt St.

Claire (F), young dancer from the Moulin Rouge. Pretty and seductive, Claire is also impulsive and unstable. She dreams of the big stage and of big fame. She lives on 19 Lepic St.

Violette Gauthier (F), country girl. Violette has just arrived but has already charmed everyone. Her hobbies include knitting and dirty dancing. A perfect woman. Address as yet unknown.

Lady Catherine (F), a young woman from high society. What she is doing on Montmartre remains unknown. She lives on 4 Haussman Blvd.

Jacques/Jacqueline Verlaine (M/F), a popular journalist. Leave him without attention and you will be left in people’s memory as “some unsociable mediocrity”. He lives on 4 Haussman Blvd.

Victor/Victoria Charcotier (M/F), psychiatrist, head of a mental hospital. A very respected figure on Montmartre. That is no surprise, as each one of us might move to his/her clinic on 93 Lepic St someday.

Michel Pascal (M), waiter. Not just any waiter, but a waiter in Le Chat Noir! That is why he wears a scholar’s gown and constantly spews wisdom. He lives on 6 Pigalle Sq.

Joseph/Josephine Oller (M/F), doorman. He can’t stand serious people, and even less when they are serious and sober. His duty is to see that the charter of Le Chat Noir is strictly followed, whenever he happens to show up to work. Oller lives on 13 Abbesses St.

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