VDC (fictitious company of trade-guild)

VDC is the initials of a Secret society (Voluntary for the Defense of the Community) fictitious which appears in the series of books the Disastrous Adventures of the orphans Baudelaire, written by Daniel Handler alias Lemony Snicket. This company is characterized by a schism dividing its members and the fight of each one of them for the final destruction of the other.

Symbolic system and Mission of the company

the initials of the company, VFD in the original version of the books, is the abbreviation of Volonteer Fire Department , which one could translate by " Special department of the voluntary volunteers for Feu." This name has a certain ambiguity, because, in the English language, Fireman (fireman) and Fire Department (Fire station) can also mean " Incendiaire" and " Parliament of Pyromanes." name can thus have a positive or negative direction, particularly in the context of the schism: the VDC " nobles" try to extinguish the fires, and the VDC " scélérats" try to light them.

One distinguishes in the books the " Official Department Fire, " which indicates the fire stations of the government, and the " Volonteer Department Fire, " which designates the members of the company, having nothing to do with the first. Indeed, the name of the company is to be taken with the direction symbolic system. The " Feu" represent the evil here, in its egoistic form, which only thinks of consuming what surrounds it for its own pleasure, without thinking neither of the others, nor with the future consequences of its acts. The VDC are thus the " pompiers" of this fire: in the beginning, the mission of the company is thus to exert a positive influence on the World while limiting, via secret conspiracies, the extension of the scélérats and their misdeeds. One of the recurring ideas of this logic is that spite would be due to a lack of intelligence: the company must thus also promote education and the culture.

This interpretation is taken differently according to the two edges of the schism which tore the company. The VDC " nobles" refuse with any violent action and/or criminal and see the company only like one administration necessary to organize their noble mission with large scales. The VDC " scélérats, " they, adopt the currency " Let us fight fire by the feu" : they estimate that an violent action is necessary to arrive at the ends of the company.

the currency of the VDC " nobles" is, it, " The World is calm here" (Here the world is calm/quiet, peaceful is the translation in " Lemony Sniket the autobiography not - authorized). According to the direction which one can bring to the word, it can have two interpretations. " Calme" indicate the general headquarters of the VDC, supposed sure places to represent the perfection of the message of VDC, where people of good will can take refuge, to meet, and learn together. " Silencieux" is probably an allusion to the howling sirens of the trucks of firemen: as it is about a secret society, " pompiers" VDC must carry out their work without pointing out itself, therefore without siren, therefore in silence.

the symbol of the company is, for the two edges of the schism, an eye formed by the letters of the initials. The eye represents the vigilance of the volunteers vis-a-vis the evolution of the evil, their elaborate monitoring system (the volunteers are mainly detectives and spies), and justice (a representation of the omnipotent and incorruptible eye of God).

One will never know the exact significance of V.D.C but according to volume 13 of the " disastrous adventures of the orphans baudelaire" that to be " Volunteer for the Defense of Communauté"

General activities of the company

the company is, at the origin, nonlucrative (what appears strange since many its members have a personal family fortune). The members are thus many volunteers (within the meaning of voluntary) and do not receive unspecified wages on behalf of the company. However, certain children are removed very young people residence of their parents to receive a complete, and obligatory formation. Lemony Snicket, born in a bovine dairy, would have been removed in this manner. To mitigate that, the volunteers are often led to learn how a trade during their training from VDC, which will provide for their needs once adult: the company trains detectives, journalists, professors, mechanics, etc the question of the financing of the company (necessary is to pile up money to make it possible the company to be more powerful?) could play a part in the origin of the schism.
the training of a VDC starts very early, as of childhood. Several criteria can explain the choices of the recruiters: to be child of VDC in activity or in retirement (certain VDC seem to engage so that their child forms part of the company inevitably later), being an orphan (most of the VDC are it, this predilection is explained by the fact why it is easier of " recruter" somebody without fearing that his trace is followed), or showing exceptional predispositions for the observation and the catch of notes (two essential competences for a good VDC). For this reason, the Prufrock institute could be regarded as a gigantic recruitment center potentials: one tests there the capacities of the pupils (courses of Mrs.Bass and Mr.Remora consist indeed of catches of intensive notes and observations meticulous) and one gathers orphans perhaps there (the infamous shack with the orphans was installation to locate them). The majority of the children of the members also seem to land here. It is also implied that many VDC made their studies (and their training VDC) in this place, which suggests that Prufrock also has training centres to become member of the company. That they go or not in this place, the children are " recrutés" (it is acted in fact of an abduction with the agreement of the parents and/or the child) when the moment is judged good and/or that the situation is considered to be too critical. The child is initially led by his recruiter through all the sphere until it is sure that the investigations concerning removal have all be abandoned: the child will then be led towards one of the general headquarters of the company where it will begin his formation. It is implied that the new ones recruited re-examine with some recoveries their parents, but very seldom for safety reasons.

General history of the company

Foundation of the Company

The recent volumes suggest that the company was founded at least a century ago and inspired by " many large hommes." The Virelevent Captain implies that in beginning VDC was indeed an association of firemen, but that their mission extended to the point of covering too much with other fields so that they continue to be defined only as such. The fact that the majority of the families of VDC have consequent fortunes suggest certain suspicions as for the origin of the company. The first decades of the company were primarily devoted to the construction of the general headquarters, the installation of the special departments and the establishment of the members.

Causes of the schism

Episodes of the schism of VDC

In volume X, the count Olaf declares that at the time of the great schism of VDC, the noble hearts have kept the corbels travellers (volume VII) and the reptiles (volume II) but which they had kept lions (volume IX) and especially eagles.

State of the company at the oddment

At the end of the End let us not learn we more as for the future of the secret society. Basing itself on " it is said that… " the company still seems on feet: " Some affirm that these trois-là joined the rows of V.D.C and that to date still they are launched in noble missions. " At all events, through them the company perdure. Divided between the " hearts nobles" and " scélérats" , bringing, each one their turn, their stone at the building. " Letters with Béatrice, " describing some ten years events later at the end of the End, bring an interesting lighting on the state of the company. Certain classes of young VDC are still upright, certain members survived and train apprentices. It is specifically known as that VDC always has dangerous enemies. The Fire of the Dénouement hotel at the end of volume 12 thus does not seem to have dismantled the company; nevertheless, the war of the schism seems to have taken a less serious character, the two clans having undergone heavy losses. This temperance could be due to the fact that the sugar bowl is, thanks to the schemes of Dewey, forever lost vintage, which would make it possible to pacify the relationship between the two camps.

List members of the company

To follow: Noble V.D.C & the V.D.C Scélérats and their tasks. They are classified here according to the camp to which they belonged longest.

V.D.C. " nobles" and their possible function

Babs : person in charge of the files of the hospital Heimlich, it is charged there to index all the documents which could help VDC and to protect them.
Beatrice: actress whose mission is to deliver messages coded with the members in the plays organized by VDC. Voyageuses adjuster of bat being used to deliver messages between the members.
Bertrand Baudelaire: ex-adjuster of lions smoke detectors.
Bibliothéquaire de Prufrock: deliver with the good people the messages of the company. Guide possibly certain VDC in their research, and changes sometimes work place.
Virelevent Captain: captain of submarine VDC Queequeg, it achieves various missions for VDC.
Dewey Outcome: secret manager of the hotel Outcome, it deals with the secret functions of this high place VDC by compiling all information which it finds in a gigantic room of secret files. Its goal is in the long term to join together an enormous file holding all the evidence necessary to make fall the other side from the schism of only one blow. The ambition of the project is such as all the VDC " nobles" all to him their possible discoveries are arranged to bring if they can it.
the director of the Prufrock Institute (?) : direct in secrecy the Prufrock institute narrowly connected to VDC, and whose utilities are described above.
Fiona Virelevent : his/her father-in-law in the missions of submarine VDC Queequeg helps. Mycologist of reputation.
Franck Outcome: manager of the hotel Outcome, meeting room for the VDC. It occupies more official part of the activities of the hotel, such as the reception and the protection of the members who remain there.
Gregor Amberlu : Ichnologist of the company, he is the director of the Aquarium Anwhistle, a scientific research center working for the company, and develops various inventions likely to help with the fight against the other edge of the schism.
Gustav Sebald : scenario writer, his work consists in quickly creating films containing of the messages coded for the members.
Hall (starting from the medium of the series): initially assistant of Babs, it supervises then a restaurant with the Hotel Outcome.
Hector: remain with Villeneuve-of-Corbels to protect and supervise the corbels travellers which are used to the members to send messages between them.
Ignace " Ike" Amberlu: large explorer and sailor working for the company in partnership with his/her Gregor brother.
J, alias S, captain of the Prospero: captain charged to convey any VDC which requires it of him where it wishes it to help it in his escape.
Snicket Jacob: father of the children Snicket, it is obviously with the retirement of his activity in the company, but committed himself making there enter his children (it also recommended to the members young Daniel Handler).
Jacques Snicket: highly skilled detective of the company, it also takes part in the drafting of the Snicket file of which the goal is to make plunge Olaf and its accomplices in prison. He worked with Small Fastidious as a writer, initially while dealing with the financial heading, then by publishing certain articles aiming at ruining the other edge of the schism.
Jerome Solomon d' Eschemizerre (starting from the medium of the series): auxiliary VDC recruited after its meeting with Baudelaire. Its ambition is to put Olaf under the bolts by writing a treaty on the injustice.
Josephine Amberlu : ex-VDC, it was probably professor in an training institute of the members, and supervised the lake Chaudelarmes with the Widdershins captain and her Isaac husband.
Abott Judge (starting from the medium of the series): auxiliary VDC recruited after its meeting with Baudelaire, it makes use of its quality of judge to try to put the VDC of the other camp in prison.
Kit Snicket: detective of the company, it takes part in the drafting of the Snicket file.
Larry, waiter with the Anxious Clown: he supervises the restaurant and is charged to deliver messages with the members who would go there.
Lemony Snicket : former writer with Small Fastidious recruited for his competences in rhetoric, it takes part in the writing of the Snicket file and uses his books as weapons intended to make fall the enemies from the company. He is also detective at his lost hours.
Montgomery Montgomery : herpetologist of reputation, it involves and takes care of several reptiles intended to help the company in certain special missions.
Phil (starting from the medium of the series): recruited after its meeting with Baudelaire, it helps the crew of Queequeg in the capacity as chief-cook.
R, Duchess of Winnipeg: former writer with Small Fastidious, it occupies her functions of Duchess and uses her influence of best than it can to help the company.
Sally Sebald : sister of Gustav, it deals with her death her businesses and her studio.

V.D.C. " scélérats"

the count Olaf (young VDC in training having joined the clan of the VDC " scélérats, " he is more or less regarded as the chief of this clan).
Ernest Outcome (manager of the hotel éponyme, it is used to with it as observer for the clan of the VDC " scélérats).
Esmé Gigi Geniveve Deschemizerre Squalor (young VDC in training having joined the clan of the VDC " scélérats."
the Woman with hair without barb and the man with barb but without hair (old VDC having probably caused themselves the schism, they are the superiors of Olaf in the clan of the VDC " scélérats").
Fernald Virelevent (young VDC in training having joined the troop of Olaf, thinking that it would be about an amusing and enriching experiment, because of relational problems with his/her father-in-law).
Georgina Orwell (agent independent of the authority of Olaf, it was formerly a apprentie VDC).
waiters of the Coffee Salmonella and those of the " Sheer Delights of the Fields of Mars" are also supposed to belong to this clan.

Particular cases

Olivia (old VDC, it refused to take party in the schism, and east creates for itself a reputation of clairvoyant to protect itself from potential aggressions. She helps indifferently the two sides of the schism by them informing if they ask it).
Arthur and Eleonora Poe (although it is possible that they are conscious of helping the VDC scélérats, they does not know anything VDC in itself and is handled by this clan).
the bald person with the long nose, the creature semi-man semi-woman, Hugo, Colette, Kevin and Carmelita Spats (they help Olaf in her plans, but do not know anything VDC).
the two powdered women (two orphan who leave the troop of Olaf after having included/understood the truth on the murder of their parents, killed by the VDC scélérats).
Charles and the Director of the Sawmill (has a trade agreement with the VDC " noble, " know that it is about a secret organization, but nothing more. In connection with this financial agreement, the VDC proposed with the sawmill to build certain houses, such as that of the three Orphans, with the wood which they cut).
Néro, Mrs.Bass and Mr.Remora (apparently heard of VDC, but have no contact there).
Daniel Handler (trusty servant of Lemony Snicket, it appears sometimes in the series).

Specificities of the company

List Various Uses of the Initials

For better scrambling the tracks, this company often uses terms corresponding to the three consonants which compose its name. So some are in connection with the company itself, it seems that many of other entities carry initials, and do not have sometimes any relationship with the organization. Here various VDC quoted in the series, with their English translation between brackets. Let us recall that the original name is VFD:

Vacherin Double-Cream ( Valourous Farm Dairy ): work place of dairymen belonging to the company.
Valiant Carnivorous Detectives ( Volonteer Cat-like Detectives ): name given to the lions smoke detectors drawn up by VDC.
Valley of the Twelve Drafts ( Valley off Furnace Drafts ): site of a HQ of VDC.
Checking of the Coded Food products ( Verbal Fridge Dialogs ): code employed by VDC implying a refrigirator.
Genuine Lace of Calais ( Very Fancy Doily ): delude used by Olaf to mislead the orphans.
Verouillage in Cultural Digicode ( Vernaculary Fastened Door ): lock with code employed by VDC.
Deliberately Coded Versification ( Pours Fluctuation Declaration ): code used by VDC.
Vervain Lately Ceuillie ( Very Fresh Dill ): ingredient necessary of Locking to Cultural Digicode.
Vineyard of the Soft Doves ( Vineyard off Obvious Drape ): site of a fortified town of VDC.
Villeneuve-of-Corbels, the City devoted to the corbels ( Village off Fowl Devotees ): city having been able to be founded by VDC.
Speed, Diligence, Celerity ( Very Fast Delivery ): currency of a transport company intended for the VDC.
Voluntary Deportation of the Mushroom ( Volatile Fungus Deportation ): code name given to the scientific operation carried out by Gregor Amberlu in its laboratory.
Voluntary for Dérider the Convalescents ( Volonteers Fighting Desease ): troop of chorus-singers volotaires whose initial ones are probably a coincidence.
Voluntary Désenflammeurs Firebreak ( Volonteer Fire Department ): name " officiel" company.
Sheer Delights of the Fields of Mars ( True French Dinner ): name of a restaurant being used as cover to certain VDC.

The following initials were not restored in the translation.

Vaporetto off Favorite Refuse ( Vaporetto in Dear Refuses ): method used by the VDC to assemble rescue rafts quickly.
Venom Delightful Feels Close ( Editions Venom Soft and Cherished ): house dédition belonging to VDC. Professor Montgomery published a treating book of herpetology there, " Mamba of the Evil: a snake which will never attack me, " whose Klaus reads an extract in the second tome cheese of the series.
Verifying Fernald' S Defection ( Validation of the Conspiring Defection of Fernald ): titrate of an article published by Jacques Snicket in Small the Fastidious, revealing publicly the treason of Fernald Virelevent and sets fire to it the Aquarium Amberlu.
Versed Furtive Disclosure ( Worms Of Hidden ): work in which is exposed Deliberately Coded Versification, vestige of the Aquarium Amberlu.
Very False Documents Close ( Editions Truth-False Circumspect Documents ): publisher VDC having published " Ivan Chaudelarme: Explorateur."
Very Flavorless Diet ( True Categorical Diet ): joke made by Klaus in connection with their meals in the thirteenth volume.
Very Frightening Danger ( True Danger Certified ): warning posed by Lemony Snicket at the beginning of its autobiography.
Vessel For Disaccharides ( Dresser in Désacharinné Contained ): code name given to the sugar bowl.
Vincent Francis Doyle: " author; of Ivan Chaudelarmes, Explorateur."
Violet' S Fifteenth Dates: code name given to the festival planned for the fifteen years of Violet Baudelaire.
Worth visiting Fungal Ditches ( Visit Of the Mushroom beds ): secret chapter of a book of Mycology intended for the VDC.
Voluntary Fish Domestication ( Voluntariate for the Domestication of the Carps ): code name given to the fish raising by the VDC.
Voracious Film Discussion Close ( Voracious Discussions for Cinematography ): publisher VDC publishing the advertisements of films of Gustav Sebald.
Vital Fan Disclosure ( Vital Declaration for the Community of the Fans ): name given to the emails received by the fans of the official site of Lemony Snicket.

Names of the children of the VDC

There exists apparently a tradition among members of the company which would like that the children of the VDC are named in order to respect the alphabetical order. It is the case of the Dénouement triplets (Dewey, Ernest and Frank) and of the children Snicket (Jacques, Kit and Lemony). This tradition is not systematic, but its utility is unknown. The thirteenth volume reveals that certain children, in certain families of VDC, are also named in the memory of a death.

Tattooing

The members of VDC are normally supposed to relate to ankle a tattooing of eye, i.e. the logo of the company containing its initials. This operation devotes the bond eternal which binds a member to the organization. According to the autobiography, it would seem that tattooing is affixed with the members at the time of their arrival in a general headquarter of VDC. Nevertheless, the installation of tattooing fell in disuse after the schism from the company, officially because it " to mark in a permanent way a symbol is not wise whose significance can change. " at every moment; The true reason obviously seems to be to prevent that the members are too easily located. The members having a tattooing are the Count Olaf, the three Snicket (Jacques, Kit and Lemony), and Ishmael. It is possible that other members also have a tattooing (in particular oldest since their engagement must go back to before the schism). Other members probably do not have tattooing if one reasons by deduction (the parents Beauxdraps and Baudelaire, for example).

Various inspirations having led to the creation of the company

Random links: