Still Waters: Sign-Ups, OOC, and Discussion

CivOasis · Dec 24, 2015

Still Waters

Overview:

This project - I’m not sure if game or story is a more accurate way to refer to it - will be a character-and-story driven one. Players will create a character - one who ties into the existing world in some manner - and play as that character. You do not (inherently) lead a political party, corporation, military faction, or anything else as such - you are simply your character. That being said, part of the point in creating such an elaborate world for this project is to free up a broad range of interesting characters to play as. Nothing is stopping you from being the leader of a minor corporation, a military higher-up, or a prominent politician from one of the main parties - just as nothing is stopping you from playing a guest worker struggling to get by, or an average citizen caught in the machinery of the setting and ways in which others drive the plot. I have spent - and will continue to spend, up until launch - a considerable amount of effort in the backstory of this setting, but there is no established plotline moving forwards - simply a few ideas on different ways the opening can be pushed, and a desire to see how players interact with and alter the world I have built. You are not necessarily expected to read the entire backstory, but you are expected to respect it - in other words, at least read the bare minimum for you character to fit into their niche.

The purpose of this thread is two-fold; one is as a pre-thread - I would love to see players start to shape their characters here as I put the finishing details on the setting, and I am open to hearing what you as players or observers are interested in learning about the backstory that is not already present (some have already done so - see information on LGBT & gender issues on the country, foreign interactions, and my notes to return to the domestic transport once the districts are individually fleshed out). Again, my goal here is to build a detailed world for you all to interact with, so I am willing to address your interests to make that easier and more compelling for you. Once the game begins, I also hope to see this used as a place for all OOC discussion and any questions you may have for me (or others, OOC) as well, so that the main thread can serve as an entirely in-universe look at this world.

One last note - this is not a CityIOT. While of course this is a game, and meant to be enjoyable, it’s very much meant to be more serious and individually character-driven than many CityIOTs have been (Core, for those of you from NES, might be a better analogue), and I’ve tried to make this world more realistic than many I’ve done in the past (though again, not so much so as to make it mundane or unpleasant to interact with).

I hope you all join me in this project, and that it stays enjoyable for all. Now, onto the background.

Everything in the OP of this thread was designed in this Google doc. Personally, I think it's much easier to read there, but I'm providing it below as well for those who don't like that medium.
The IC game thread can be found here

CivOasis · Dec 24, 2015

Geography:

Hokoan/福灣

Spoiler :

By far the largest of the chain, and the most densely populated. The main island draws heavily from Singapore and Hong Kong in particular, and to a lesser extent places like Dubai - an incredibly dense city that has exploded in population recently. While old colonial architecture is - in some places - visible, the vast majority of the relatively minor colonial rule was held from other islands, and so Hokoan/福灣 shows much more of a hyper-modern architecture, full of towering glass-and-steel buildings. Hokoan/福灣 is the cultural, economic, and political heart of the country, and the harbor from which it stems lends its name not only to the island, but the nation as a whole. A major metro and road system runs across the island, making the entire territory easily accessible from any district on the landmass.

Spoiler Hokoan Districts :

Northeastern Chain:

Spoiler :

Southern Chain:

Spoiler :

To the south and southwest of Hokoan/福灣 are Còengdóu/長島 and Mahanavalaya, two of the larger and wealthier islands in the country. While not as densely populated as the main island, these serve as more of the historical district of the country - dominated by colonial and colonial-inspired architecture, with lower buildings and more open cities than the other islands. This region tends to be middle and upper class, and dominated by politicians and wealthy expatriates from other countries. Tourism and government agencies replace the corporate industries of the other islands.

MAHANAVALAYA (South of Hokoan/福&#28771
The smaller of the southern islands, Mahanavalaya was long the seat of the British colonial government in the islands, and the French regime before that. This legacy is still reflected in the island today, with it being a prominent home district for many major political figures, as well as a common destination for expatriates from the West or Africa.

Spoiler Mahanvalaya Districts :

The main harbor of the island is the northeastern district of Bandaburu, from which ferries travel to Shēngǎng/深港 on Háisai/海西, Tanjung Muarakerto and Hokoan/福灣 on the main island, Jalapura on Còengdóu/長島, and Banyuperak on Mahagni. With a relatively young average population, Bandaburu’s nightlife is famous internationally, with clubs and bars in the district tailoring to expats and foreigners. A section of the district often referred to as Little Kenya has become home to wealthy East African expatriates, particularly wealthy young business leaders from Kenya and Tanzania.

Moving west along the northern shoreline is Mahanavalaya proper, the most populous district of the island. A major government center, the district tends to be the preferred destination for foreign dignitaries - some countries even preferring to place their embassies here, rather than the more traditional Tiòngan/長安 on Hokoan/福灣. Much like neighbouring Bandaburu, the nightlife in this region is quite popular, although with more of a focus on the domestic upper class than foreign groups. Given the close proximity to Hokoan/福灣, a major bridge connects the northernmost point of this district with Tanjung Muarakerto on that island, as does the southern metro line (which in turn swings westward to end at Adyapura on this island).

Along the northwestern and western shores lies the downtown area of Adyapura, a more middle-class region than the rest of the island. Focused with many of the day-to-day industries needed to work on the island, this region is perhaps one of the most diverse and peaceful in the country, though it lacks many of the tourism draws that exist across the rest of the island. The subway system’s furthest terminus lies near the western end of the district, as does a bridge across to the Pangkal Kuning district of Còengdóu/長島.

To the southwestern edge of the island is the Ciwangi area, a predominantly tourist-driven beach district. With a lower population than the three districts mentioned so far, Ciwangi’s natural beauty makes it perhaps the most popular tourist destination in the country outside of Mahagni.

The final district of the island is the sleepy Amritakund, stretching from the lake-filled highlands down to the southernmost portions of the island’s shoreline. Despite bordering all of the other districts on the island, little traffic goes through Amritakund, with the area instead serving mostly as nationally-protected nature preserves.

CÒENGDÓU/長島 (Southwest of Hokoan/福灣; West of Mahanavalaya)
Còengdóu/長島, the larger of the two southern islands, was the seat of Dutch influence in the country during the colonial era. With a similar architectural style to its smaller neighbour, Còengdóu/長島 tends to draw more of the non-political elite of the country, as well as expatriates from other parts of Asia. The less inhabited regions of the island also serve as major agricultural regions.

Spoiler Còengdóu/長島 Districts :

The easternmost peninsula of the island, Pangkal Kuning, is connected via bridge to the Ciwangi district of Mahanvalaya. A small suburban district, Pangkal Kuning hosts a particularly high Thai and Indonesian foreign population, but otherwise does little but function as a suburb of neighboring Manikot.

Manikot, by contrast, is the largest district on the island, and moreso than any other district on the southern chain shows an industrial legacy. The population here is largely middle class, and though the area is a popular tourist destination, it tends to be marketed more as a budget destination than other regions of the country.

Jalapura, to the south of Manikot and abutting the remainder of Pangkal Kuning, is the primary port of the island. Primarily a shipping harbor for Manikot, it also serves as the ferry port for arrivals from and departures to Shēngǎng/深港 on Háisai/海西, Bandaburu on Mahanavalaya, Tanjung Muarakerto and Hokoan/福灣 districts on the main island, and Banyuperak on Mahagni.

Inland and to the north lies Cǎoguǎng/草廣, a flat expanse of grass and croplands that serves as the largest agricultural region of the country. While full-scale ranching or plantations are uncommon in this region due to the small size of the island in general, smaller farms still dominate the landscape.

Further west along the northern lowlands lies Diemensaranya, a large forested region that does serve as home to many plantations, in particular rubber and tropical fruits. While the scale of the region is relatively small, slash-and-burn operations in the region - much as in other parts of Southeast Asia - are a major environmental and political issue.

To the south of Diemensaranya, the Yúnhǎi/雲海 highlands draw into dramatic cloud forest peaks. While relatively uninhabited, the predominantly reservation land is one of the biggest ecotourism draws in the country, and is a popular hiking area - though attacks on tourists have led to some stretches of the district having a reputation for causing disappearances.

South of Yúnhǎi/雲海 and west of Jalapura lies the Piânchúi/平水 coastal region, littered with smaller beach towns and fishing villages. While lacking major urban conglomerations, the region is far from rural, with low-level habitation existing across the entire region, particularly from ethnic Chinese - both domestic and foreign.

The western end of the island is home to the titular Còengdóu/長島 district, the more upscale urban center of the territory. Predominantly newer constructions, Còengdóu/長島 has a reputation for a more liberal - and often dissident - streak than other parts of the country, and many prominent opposition politicians hail from this area.

Mahagni (WNW of Còengdóu/長&#23798:

Spoiler :

The second-largest island in the country, and the most remote from Hokoan/福灣, Mahagni is as active politically as it is geologically. With much weaker Chinese and much stronger Tamil influences than much of the country, and a strong power base to boot, many prominent figures on Mahagni are openly secessionist, with some advocating for armed conflict with the main islands’ regime if democratic independence attempts fail.

Spoiler Mahagni Districts :

The main port of the island is Banyuperak, which maintains active ferries to Shēngǎng/深港 on Háisai/海海, Bandabaru on Mahanavalaya, Jalapura on Còengdóu/長島, and Victoria, Tanjung Muarakerto and Hokoan/福灣 harbors on the main island. Prominent shipping industries on the island are run from here, often by Tamil-controlled businesses.

In the lowlands north of the harbor lies Aparaprastha, a thriving urban area serving as a central economic hub for the island. While not as flashy as the financial districts on Hokoan/福灣, Aparaprastha carries a substantial portion of the country’s economy in its own right.

In the northwest of Aparaprastha lies Achalakot, a mountainous city and de facto capital of Mahagni. The center of Indian culture in the country, Achalakot’s population consists primarily of Tamil-speakers, but also includes many other South Asian immigrants to the country - though notably few predominantly-Bengali guest worker populations; the district very much carries a “respectable” image to the outside world, and distances itself from many of the policies of the central government.

To the east of these regions lies Nityapradesh, a long stretch of grasslands from the lowlands to the coastline. Currently one of the most popular tourist regions in the country (as is Mahagni as a whole), political discussions of the district often revolve around converting some of the land to agricultural purposes to further distance Mahagni from Hokoan/福灣, though many fear the lost revenue from tourism would instead ensure the opposite.

To the west, by contrast, lie the highlands of Nisargadesh, a densely forested mountain region. While limited in population, the region is the source of almost all drinkable water on the island, and as such is viewed as an important and highly protected region by the other districts - something which the few inhabitants have used as leverage to gain support from the other Mahagni districts on various parliamentary bills in favor of the district.

Further west still lies the highest points of the island, Mahagni district proper - a highly volcanic region popular with tourists. Estimates place nearly 90% of all tourists to the country passing through this district, a fact which is not ignored by regional and national governments seeking to develop the region.

Southwest of Mahagni district is Tanjung Biru, a predominantly peninsular region including the westernmost territory in the entire country. Tanjung Biru is scattered with varying small to mid-size settlements, and contains a predominantly Malay population, in contrast with the Tamil majority in the other districts of Mahagni. The population in this district is more loyal to the government than other parts of the island, and settlement programs targeted at populations from the other islands are prioritized as a way of preventing a unified Mahagni from organizing for secession.

Northwest of the volcanic areas, by contrast, is Cibiru, another major tourist area. Predominantly inhabited along the low-lying beaches, Cibiru’s laws are relatively relaxed compared to other districts in the country, and smaller violations of drug and prostitution laws are often ignored to maintain the party-district reputation of the region.

CivOasis · Dec 24, 2015

Themes:

Spoiler :

Politics:

Spoiler :

I feel it important to note, first of all, that the parallels seen in much of the backstory to real-world political issues, particularly in SE Asia and Western Africa, are not accidental. While I have deliberately avoided bringing in actual actors from real world events, I nevertheless am aware that many of the issues presented here are very sensitive for many people, and I ask freely for commentary to ensure that I continue to build this world in a respectful manner. I do not, regardless of my own opinions on the matter, intend to make any sweeping commentaries on the politics of the region - or indeed, many of the other issues presented here. They are present to bring a degree of severity and realism to the setting, rather than to make calls on who is right or wrong. Similarly, I request players also be respectful of this - while by nature, I expect your characters to be entangled in these issues, this game is not your sociopolitical soapbox. Players who I believe to be using this setting to either incite arguments or to forward their own real-world opinions of the matter will be called out, and if the behavior continues, I will seek the blessing of the mods to intervene and remove them from the game. I’m not interested in mediating a real-world political debate, though the themes within are expected to be important and discussed in terms of the fictional setting itself.

Under the country’s current constitution, ostensibly democratic elections are held for candidates who must be approved by the military as a security formality. In practice, the military heavily restricts candidates and maintains tight control of the civilian government by approving no more than one or two candidates in many districts. While not universally the case, these politicians often have military background, or work closely with the armed forces in civilian roles. The new negotiated constitution seeks to broker a more democratic system - each district will have one candidate elected at large without military approval, while 25% of positions in the parliament will be elected at-large throughout the country from a pool of military-approved candidates. While both sides proclaim these will be fair and free elections, significant worries exist internationally about the degree to which the military will still control the government, as well as the fact that strict voter registration laws and civil unrest in some districts discriminate against many minorities, and entirely exclude non-citizen residents - including the very substantial and mistreated South Asian working population.

Major political factions tend to be split along two main lines. The first of these is the unofficial political party/coalition led by the military-backed civilian government; this group has long directed the country’s development, and has strong ties to foreign research and corporations. Though notoriously undemocratic and with a poor track record of civil and human rights, the group has some claim in having long directed the nation’s prominent economic growth.

The second major faction is the ostensibly pro-democracy coalition led primarily by the National Democratic Alliance. Though unproven and still accused of human rights violations towards guest workers and massive minority disenfranchisement in voting, these groups proclaim a move towards a liberalisation and expansion of civil rights, and claim to have stronger interests in the citizen population than foreign influences.

Outside of these groups, many foreign groups hold significant sway in the islands, and separatist and insurgent groups have particular prominence in some islands/districts.

The islands themselves are divided into political units known as districts - with each of the major islands constituting at least one district, and many of the larger ones having multiple.

On the eve of the game’s beginning, the country is preparing for what the ruling junta claims will be the return of democratic elections. Major players in these elections tend to be the pro-democratic opposition forces and the military itself, leaving many marginalized groups on the sidelines, and wide international speculation as to how free - or enforced - the results of these elections will be.

Internationally, the region’s main claim to fame is that it is a major corporate area. The nation has mixed relations with neighbouring countries; there’s a bit of a rivalry with Singapore and somewhat negative popular perception of Indonesia, though a lot of cooperation officially out of pragmatism. I’d rather not go into foreign interactions too much in this game, but this is a country that’s relatively conservative politically and built on a background of a solid finance sector and research, with the playground-of-the-rich mentality of Dubai. It tends to have positive relations with more open markets and is susceptible to influence from major western economies + China, Japan, and the Four Tigers - though many of the people in the country resent foreign influences; particularly China is viewed as rather imperialistic, given the large chunk of the population being Chinese diaspora but culturally and socially rather far removed from modern PRC identity. Public perception abroad is mixed, however - it’s not exactly a democratic country at the moment, with substantial disenfranchisement and discrimination against certain minority groups and guest workers, and much like Singapore, even enfranchised groups are perceived as having excessively curbed civil rights in exchange for development and economic growth.

All male citizens of the country are required to provide 18 months of military service upon turning 18 (though the process is automatically deferred until completion of secondary education, and can optionally be deferred until after pursuing an undergraduate education).

Major NPCs

Spoiler :

Kuang Kah Sye/鄺嘉使, Prime Minister:

Spoiler :

Born:
May 8, 1952; Victoria, British Hokoan
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Military Service:
Hokoan Army, May 1967 - June 1997
General after April of 1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minister of Defence:
November 19, 1998 - July 26, 2012
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Prime Minister:
Since October 3, 2014
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Hokoan's Prime Minister and oldest sitting politician, Kuang Kah Sye/鄺嘉使 lacked a formal education, and faked documents to join the military in 1967 at the height of the Indonesian Emergency. While the situation was defused peacefully and Hokoan itself never found itself in an immediate war, Kuang led volunteer forces aiding the Americans during the later stages of the Vietnam War and again near the end of his military career under the British during the Gulf War. A major military reformer, he spent much of his career studying and imitating the neighbouring Singaporean Armed Forces, a trend that has continued since his retirement. As Minister of Defence, Kuang was among the more aggressive members of the Cabinet, and frequently accused of using his power to undermine the few milestones in democracy and civil liberties the public had accomplished in favor of tighter military control. His candidacy for the position of Prime Minister came as a surprise, though his approval and lack of opponents did not. Despite his nominal approval of the new constitution and upcoming elections, Kuang's rule has largely highlighted factionalism within the military government between those seeking to broker a compromise with the opposition and those seeking to tighten control, and his commentary has led to fears of a civil war in the event of a military government collapse. Despite this, Kuang has vowed to step down as Prime Minister regardless of election results, and will not be campaigning for any positions under the new system.

S. Jayanti, Minister of Defence:

Spoiler :

Dr. James Tan, MD PhD, Minister of Science:

Spoiler :

Olivia Chua, JD, Opposition Leader (informal):

Spoiler :

CivOasis · Dec 24, 2015

Culture & Demographics:

Spoiler :

CivOasis · Dec 24, 2015

Miscellaneous Resources:

Spoiler :

List of Districts by Island:

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District Etymologies:

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Root Words and Etymological Resources:

Spoiler Indonesian Languages :

Spoiler Chinese :

Spoiler Sanskrit :

Acknowledgements:

Spoiler :

Again, link to the Google doc, where everything is easier to read. You may now post.
IC game thread can be found here

NinjaCow64 · Dec 25, 2015

Posting interest. What is the food like in Hokoan? Like the types of cusine, delecaies, ect.

Civ'ed · Dec 25, 2015

Interest thingy.
If you need a map just say so

CivOasis · Dec 25, 2015

Civ'ed said:
Interest thingy.
If you need a map just say so

This... would actually be extremely generous of you. Its not necessary by any means, but if you're willing, it would be greatly appreciated.

SouthernKing · Dec 26, 2015

sub post

thomas.berubeg · Dec 27, 2015

Name: Jason Ly
Work: CEO Four Brothers Shipping
Headquarters: Victoria
Home: On the border between Kota Emas and Quartier Pasteur
CEO of a highly profitable shipping company, Mr. Ly hasn't been able to escape rumors that his company undertakes less than legitimate actions, though nothing has ever been proven.

“Because these fools always look up for power. People above you, they never want to share power with you. Why you look to them? They give you nothing. People below you, you give them hope, you give them respect, they give you power, cause they don't think they have any, so they don't mind giving it up.”
― Orson Scott Card, Ender's Shadow

There was a boy on the island, years ago. He lived down by the docks. His dinner was watery rice with gristly meat, when he could get it, and moldy vegetables when he could not.

There is a man today on the island. He lives in a big mansion. His dinner is the finest of meats and the freshest of fish and the most luscious of fruits.

The boy lived with his mother, in a tiny shack. She loved him, and he loved her. So did many of the dockworkers.

The man lives with his wife and his daughters and sons in a large house. He loves them, and they love him.

The boy did what he had to survive. He worked at the docks, went to school, and won a scholarship. He traveled to England and saw many great sites, learned a great many things, and made many new friends.

The Man returned to the island unrecognizable. He had money, a name, and no past. His coffers are overflowing, and all his assets are in the black. People recognize him on the street, and many wish to be his friend. And an old woman who lived by the docks was given a good home far from the docks.

That is his life, who he is and who he was.

arya126 · Dec 27, 2015

Interested, just dont have any ideas for a character yet. Will think on it.

CivOasis · Dec 27, 2015

Thanks to everyone who expressed interest so far.

A reminder that, in addition to sign-ups, you can use this thread to ask me more details about the world, or if you want to have a very expansive backstory, to make sure it all fits in solidly and use it as a way to flesh out the history of the country.

Robert Can't · Dec 28, 2015

Just as a note: I'll probably be adding much more to this in terms of backstory over the coming days, this are just my initial ideas.
Also please note this is just adding back story for some of the themes I want to look at and not a sign up

The case of Catarina d'Herbinville - Investigation was inconclusive and the search called off in November 2014

Passport said:
Type: P
Code de Pays: FRA

Nom: D'HERBINVILLE
Prénoms: Catarina
Nationalité: Française
Date de naissance: 08 JUIL 86
Sexe: F
Talle: 1,59m
Couleur des yeux: BLEUE
Lieu de naissance: Gordes, République Française
Date de délivrance: 09 MARS 11
Date d'expiration: 09 MARS 21

Extract from Visa said:
Length of visit: 1 week
Start date: 12th September 2014
Reason for visit: Visiting Academic, attending the annual East Asia Philosophy and Theology Society conference.
Address for the visit: Miot Hotel, Shēngǎng

Abstract of Paper said:
Trinitarianism amongst the Huguenots of Mahanavalaya and Còengdóu

In this paper we seek to examine the extent to which the Huguenots of South East Asia - and specifically Mahanavalaya and Còengdóu - were affected by developments in philosophy that occurred after the first Huguenot missionaries arrived in the late 1700s. New evidence uncovered in the form of Piere d'Arcachon's diary of his travels in East Asia has allowed us to uncover more of the theology of those first missionaries and thus we can see more clearly how the traditions of the locals mingled with the trinitarian doctrines of those first Huguenots which has led to the unique theology of the area.

Testimony of Harriet Barnaby said:
I went to wake her up on the Tuesday morning, she'd asked me to make sure she got up as she said she was going to be out the night before. When I went to the door it was ajar so I walked in but she wasn't there - Everything looked normal though so I closed the door and went off to the conference. It was when she didn't appear all day that I thought to ask the hotel staff and that was what led me to ringing the Police.
Like I said I think she was going out the night before, but I couldn't for the life of me think if she told me where she was going or not. I really have no idea where she went!

Statement given to Police Inspector J. Pillai said:
This is the second foreigner to have disappeared under mysterious circumstances this week. We are confident that this is not the work of any isolationist group. We have not ruled out a connection between the two incident but we firmly believe that there should be no concern to tourists and we do not believe that foreigners are being specifically targeted.

A Totally Unrelated Incident

Internal memo said:
Officer Pillai has unfortunately decided to resign from his position here at the Shēngǎng Police department. We will be interviewing for a replacement later this moth meanwhile I think I speak for us all in wishing him the best in the future, he was a great department head and a valued friend.
There will be a leaving party at Officer Varadhan's house on the 12th. I hope we can all sit and celebrate the wondrous times we've had together.

Internal memo said:
I have some very sad news for you today. Our valued colleague Officer Pillai was found in his house yesterday having committed suicide. The party has sadly been cancelled however a memorial will be held on the same day with a celebration of the life of our valued friend later that day at Officer Varadhan's house.
Our condolences are with Pillai's family, especially his now orphaned son.

CivOasis · Dec 29, 2015

So I'd originally planned to start this within a day or two of today, but that also assumed people would have been working on characters all week.

I do intend to run this game, and will do so with a relatively low player count, but I actually need you guys to make characters first. Please do so.

NinjaCow64 · Dec 29, 2015

Name: Kuning bin Sari
Work: Kuning Hokoan Cuisine
Location: Tiòngan

Bio: Kuning bin Sari is the owner of a small restaurant in the Tiòngan district. It is known for it's cheap but surprisingly delicious food, its proximity to the Parliament and it's ghastly décor. It has become popular amongst politicians as a cheap, quick and private place to have dinner. Most of their clientèle are either the local middle class or politicians, usually but not exclusively those associated with the opposition parties. There are written testimonials from various important men and women praising Kuning's food lamented all across the walls. Kuning cooks what he calls "traditional Hokoan food", which is really a fusion of neighbouring cuisines.

Kuning was actually an activist for the pro-democracy movement in his youth, but he left for reasons that he has never talked about and has transformed into a bitter old man. Kuning comes from a mixed ancestry as his mother was Chinese and his father was Malaysian. He married a Malaysian wife who is now deceased, he had two sons: Rayyan bin Kuning, who was a important participant in the campaign for democracy, and Irfan bin Kuning, the youngest son who has stayed at home to help with the restaurant.

CivOasis · Dec 31, 2015

Will update some stuff about elections (in terms of gameplay) later.

For those interested in joining as a higher-up political figure, the only things that are actually off-limits are the head of either the main opposition party or the military government, head of the government research ministry, or the topmost authority in the military command. Those are the four main NPCs I will be detailing later.

They do not have plot armor and you can replace/kill/otherwise displace them once the game begins.

arya126 · Dec 31, 2015

Name: William Siu-Kei
Position: Assistant Director of Covert Operations
Age: 28
Background: Grandson of the "Admiral of the Sea", the staunchest pro-government military official in the country, William is the Assistant Director of Covert Field Operations. While the Director is technically the leader of the department, William is the one that handles the bulk of the field supervisory and administrative work, and those under him recognize this and have granted him their loyalty.

William started off growing up in the secluded mountainous region of Yunhai. There he picked up many of his survivalist attributes from his father and older brother, both of whom are now dead due to an opposition incited riot. He ended up skipping 2nd grade. At the age of 14 William was sent to a prestigious boarding school in Hong Kong. During his time on the island, he made contacts with the local Triads and began making friends in the organization by helping with their operations in capacities where his age and prestigious boarding school position helped shield the operations from the authorities. Upon graduation from Hong Kong at 18 he was granted admission into Cambridge University and attended there for 4 years. While there he struck up an unlikely friendship with what would become the opposition leader of his country. They developed a close friendship, but it fell apart in an instant when she declared her intentions to go on to Harvard then help lead the campaign for reform in their home country, while William remained staunchly in favor of the regime and returned home upon graduation to serve in it. William left for home a semester early, and completed his final 3 courses in a distance learning program arranged with his professors.

He completed his mandatory 18 months military service in the Navy, specifically Naval Intelligence. After 18 months, his grandfather convinced Will to join the Ministry of Intelligence and participate in Ministry wide reforms the Navy was pushing for. As a result, Will started as a field operative and quickly moved up, gaining experience both at the desk and in the field, until he was appointed Assistant Director of Covert Operations. He is the youngest to have ever held the position.

Office Location: Mahanavalaya

CivOasis · Dec 31, 2015

arya126 said:
Name: William Siu-Kei
Position: Director of Intelligence, DCO
Age: 26
Background: Grandson of the "Admiral of the Sea", the staunchest pro-government military official in the country, William is the Director of Intelligence, the youngest in history. He was brought up in the Yunhai Mountain region in a secluded but elegant home. At the age of 14 he was sent to Hong Kong and placed in an elite boarding school. It is there that he is suspected to have first made friends in the Triads, friends and connections that last to this day. Upon graduation he attended Cambridge University in the UK. It was there that he briefly struct up a romance with the current Opposition Leader in Hokoan. It was brief and intense and ended in tragedy; the OL left for Harvard, while Will was recalled to Hokoan by his grandfather to lead in reforming the Domestic Intelligence Agency, officially known as the Department of Covert Operations, or DCO. He quickly became a noted field operate and also showed an extreme aptitude for administrative and logistical duties. Because of his connections, he rose to the top office faster than any in History. The Department is loyal to him and him alone for the most part, yet the relationships of his past, both with the Triads and his brief romance, threaten his standing and loyalty to the government. So far, he has managed to keep these issues from his Grandfather and out of the public eye, yet soon his abilities and loyalties shall be tested.

Office Location: Mahanavalaya

Glad to have you on board. Some details VM'd to you re: our discussion before

CivOasis · Jan 1, 2016

Our starting list of our four most prominent NPCs:

Kuang Kah Sye/鄺嘉使, Prime Minister:

Spoiler :

Born:
May 8, 1952; Victoria, British Hokoan
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Military Service:
Hokoan Army, May 1967 - June 1997
General after April of 1993
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Minister of Defence:
November 19, 1998 - July 26, 2012
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Prime Minister:
Since October 3, 2014
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Hokoan's Prime Minister and oldest sitting politician, Kuang Kah Sye/鄺嘉使 lacked a formal education, and faked documents to join the military in 1967 at the height of the Indonesian Emergency. While the situation was defused peacefully and Hokoan itself never found itself in an immediate war, Kuang led volunteer forces aiding the Americans during the later stages of the Vietnam War and again near the end of his military career under the British during the Gulf War. A major military reformer, he spent much of his career studying and imitating the neighbouring Singaporean Armed Forces, a trend that has continued since his retirement. As Minister of Defence, Kuang was among the more aggressive members of the Cabinet, and frequently accused of using his power to undermine the few milestones in democracy and civil liberties the public had accomplished in favor of tighter military control. His candidacy for the position of Prime Minister came as a surprise, though his approval and lack of opponents did not. Despite his nominal approval of the new constitution and upcoming elections, Kuang's rule has largely highlighted factionalism within the military government between those seeking to broker a compromise with the opposition and those seeking to tighten control, and his commentary has led to fears of a civil war in the event of a military government collapse. Despite this, Kuang has vowed to step down as Prime Minister regardless of election results, and will not be campaigning for any positions under the new system.

S. Jayanti, Minister of Defence:

Spoiler :

Dr. James Tan, MD PhD, Minister of Science:

Spoiler :

Olivia Chua, JD, Opposition Leader (informal):

Spoiler :

[will update OP and Google Doc later]

Robert Can't · Jan 1, 2016

Extract from an internal memo: Police Internal Affairs investigation of Nityapradesh Police Department said:
At 14:32 on the 22nd December 2015 Nityapradesh Police Department reported a break in to the police station. Amongst items lost were large amounts of objects from the Evidence Lockers. Amongst these were various objects in connection with an ongoing investigation of violent secessionist activities in the area. Many of these objects had been recently brought in following a successful raid on a secessionist base in the mountains. Though they were due to be fully catalogued the day before the duty officer was reported to have been ill and thus could not complete the cataloguing. All we have to go on is the short descriptions given in the report of the Officer who organised the raid.

The lost objects:
5 European Passports
3 Bottles of Sherry
Grey frock coat
Collection of academic books
6 Police Handguns
Violin case
Immigration documents

Internal affairs is currently concerned that the Nityapradesh Police Department has been compromised by a violent secessionist presence and has attempted to cover up information relating to secessionist activities in the area.

DCI Srinivasa Anand who was leading the investigation that uncovered these objects was on paternity leave at the time of the incident. The Department of Internal Affairs has advised him not to return to Nityapradesh for the time being.

Extract from The Nityapradesh Police Department Newsletter 4th December 2015 said:
The whole department sends it best wishes to DCI Anand and his wife as they are soon to become proud parents of a wonderful child. The DCI will be taking Paternity leave and will be staying at his family home in Diemensaranya which after his daring escapade last night will surely be welcome. We wish him the happiest Christmas and the best of luck for the birth!

Name: Srinivasa Anand
Rank: Detective Chief Inspector, Nityapradesh Police Department
Age: 32
Place of Birth: Diemensaranya
Religion: Christian, Huguenot
Current Location: Diemensaranya
Languages: Tamil, French, Malay and English
Tamil and French were both used interchangeably in his village and so he fluently speak both as a native speaker. Malay and English were taught at school and he has frequently used both in his career as a police officer and thus i

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