das
Regeneration In Process
OR
?
(The Characters that are Ten in Quantity)
stNES(Dis) - A Time of White Sorrow
- Thread starter Disenfrancised
- Start date
OR
?
(The Characters that are Ten in Quantity)
Disenfrancised
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das said:
Consistancy is for those with no imagination ;p
(I'm nearly done)
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC: And now, to add a twist long-planned...
IC:
"...Marmozov, perhaps surprisingly, was not only still alive, but also was to be found on the same place. Overcoming slight disgust as usual when talking with this interesting, and pleasant in his own way, but at the same time rather disturbing person, I informed him about Urluk-Baghatur. He smirked, winked as if to say that he knew why I was doing it - damn it, I still cannot get rid of that feeling that everybody apart from us, or even apart from just me, knows about everything! - and said that he will do his best to learn as much as possible about the Tartar, about his past and present alike...
...after leaving the inn, I went to the Imperial library. There, I have for several hours tried to find out more about the ancestors of Urluk-Baghatur... ever since Romka told me about them, I could not get this out of my head, my curiosity has turned into something akin to a mania. Alas, despite my luck, I found nothing new apart from some names, but the names were exactly what did not matter to me here."
"I see you have settled down quite well here. Not sure if you read up to that, but your kin of spirit spent five hours at a library, preying for information without a pause." - said Catherine, putting the diary away and smiling. Vladimir really envied his old friend Mikhail Glebov for having such a good... "friend" as the pretty, smart, youthful Catherine Nabokova, not to mention the fact that her father wasn't exactly the last man in the noble house of Nabokovs. But the aristocratic part of it didn't matter as much - they all were from the nobility here, after all, old or new... it didn't matter.
"An interesting job, I'll say." - smirked Mikhail - "Reading other people's diaries - ones almost like novels, in fact - and writing conspects for them, and they pay you so much for it."
"Twenty imperials isn't all that much." - said Vladimir, pretending to be hurt by this - "And this is quite important, historical research I mean."
"No, I understand, don't worry Catherine. But bl..." - Mikhail stopped in mid-word, remembering that Catherine was here (she, hwoever, didn't reprimand him or anything, didn't even look at him as she usually did) - "But I trully do envy you. While I have to walk around in a safesuit and crawl in some old ruins, you just sit around here all day and do what you would've loved to do for free, AND get money for it."
"Didn't you want to be an archeologist yourself?" - asked Catherine sardonically.
"Well yes, but its the principle of the thing! Vova, you're just lazy, admit it."
"Hey, what do you mean I'm lazy? I'm partaking in intellectual work!" - smiled Vladimir.
"So am I, but I also have to work manually!"
"And? You work out alot and get lots of fresh air..."
"Fresh air?! This is the Earth, you know." - said Mikhail, agitated but clearly still in good mood. He just was quite good at hiding it and pretending to be indignant, as Vladimir learned during the thirteen years he knew Mikhail Rostov.
"This isn't the 21st century, though." - replied Vladimir - "But lets continue this in the garden, Sebastian is waiting." - he took the diary and gestured for Catherine to lead them.
IC:
"...Marmozov, perhaps surprisingly, was not only still alive, but also was to be found on the same place. Overcoming slight disgust as usual when talking with this interesting, and pleasant in his own way, but at the same time rather disturbing person, I informed him about Urluk-Baghatur. He smirked, winked as if to say that he knew why I was doing it - damn it, I still cannot get rid of that feeling that everybody apart from us, or even apart from just me, knows about everything! - and said that he will do his best to learn as much as possible about the Tartar, about his past and present alike...
...after leaving the inn, I went to the Imperial library. There, I have for several hours tried to find out more about the ancestors of Urluk-Baghatur... ever since Romka told me about them, I could not get this out of my head, my curiosity has turned into something akin to a mania. Alas, despite my luck, I found nothing new apart from some names, but the names were exactly what did not matter to me here."
"I see you have settled down quite well here. Not sure if you read up to that, but your kin of spirit spent five hours at a library, preying for information without a pause." - said Catherine, putting the diary away and smiling. Vladimir really envied his old friend Mikhail Glebov for having such a good... "friend" as the pretty, smart, youthful Catherine Nabokova, not to mention the fact that her father wasn't exactly the last man in the noble house of Nabokovs. But the aristocratic part of it didn't matter as much - they all were from the nobility here, after all, old or new... it didn't matter.
"An interesting job, I'll say." - smirked Mikhail - "Reading other people's diaries - ones almost like novels, in fact - and writing conspects for them, and they pay you so much for it."
"Twenty imperials isn't all that much." - said Vladimir, pretending to be hurt by this - "And this is quite important, historical research I mean."
"No, I understand, don't worry Catherine. But bl..." - Mikhail stopped in mid-word, remembering that Catherine was here (she, hwoever, didn't reprimand him or anything, didn't even look at him as she usually did) - "But I trully do envy you. While I have to walk around in a safesuit and crawl in some old ruins, you just sit around here all day and do what you would've loved to do for free, AND get money for it."
"Didn't you want to be an archeologist yourself?" - asked Catherine sardonically.
"Well yes, but its the principle of the thing! Vova, you're just lazy, admit it."
"Hey, what do you mean I'm lazy? I'm partaking in intellectual work!" - smiled Vladimir.
"So am I, but I also have to work manually!"
"And? You work out alot and get lots of fresh air..."
"Fresh air?! This is the Earth, you know." - said Mikhail, agitated but clearly still in good mood. He just was quite good at hiding it and pretending to be indignant, as Vladimir learned during the thirteen years he knew Mikhail Rostov.
"This isn't the 21st century, though." - replied Vladimir - "But lets continue this in the garden, Sebastian is waiting." - he took the diary and gestured for Catherine to lead them.
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
Update 1 (1831): The Nations struggle to their feet
Please note that NPC nations will be spending their entire budgets, but I won't be mentioning what they do here (unless it affects a player nation in some way)
Non Military Events
Hispaniola expands its mining operations, particularly for gold and nickel and production soon increased leading to large stockpiles being amassed. Production far exceeds the demands of Hispaniola’s own industries, and a pretty penny is made selling stockpiles on to the ever hungry factories of the US eastern seaboard (+Economy), the Hispaniolian government even decides to set up a chartered company to expedite (and monopolize) these sales to America, the Kiskeya Caribbean Company. The KCC is quite successful in its first year of operation, and even manages to gain control of a large amount of raw material shipping from Colombia to America via somewhat dubious business practices (+Economy), however Hispaniola’s opaque and unaccountable government structure soon has large amounts of these profits disappearing mysteriously (-Economy), which has worried foreign investors. Analysts also warn that extraction is probably at the peak Hispaniola’s infrastructure can support right now. Tax breaks for large families are implemented, but the effect good or bad is unlikely to be noticeable for several years, though Juan Miguel's popularity does increase.
Portugal invests greatly in its Brazilian infrastructure, and whilst the empire as a whole may not have improved, this certainly makes the Brazilians feel more valued (+1 Confidence), especially when a new elite infantry corps is created mainly from colonial troops. They also make small gains in all their African colonies, no one particular site being singled out. This slow expansion may be beneficial as it has kept conflict with natives to a minimum except on the Niger River (see Military events). The proposal of a royal unification is met with some puzzlement in the Republic of Spain, but France, rightly or wrongly, reads threat in the proposal and begins mobilizing her army, Spain may turn to Portugal after all...
The race for the formerly icebound North Atlantic is on! As Ireland, Scotland and Canada embark on Boreal Adventures...
The Fourth Gayanashagowa/Dominion of Canada crosses the Saskatchewan and Nelson rivers and forges into the frozen north, no particular region makes great advancements but progress is steady as the infrastructure and connection with the south increases and the fur trapping industry is beginning to pick up once again. Canada also reaches out on the seas, expanding her navy and attempting to establish a base in Greenland; lack of funding means it is slow to get off the ground and arrives in old Julianehab to find an Irish base already established. The Canadians decide to head north to the far better fishing, but less desirable strategic-wise site of Godthab to build their colony.
Iceland is also a site of multiple landings as the Irish arrive in Reykjavik and the Scottish claim Hofn at the other end of the Island, the Scottish slowed by stopping to claim the Faeroe Islands along the way.
Scotland also sends her men to the sea, exploiting the vast fishing stocks that are now accessible where once there was but northern ice, the other two nations not yet gearing up to access this vast wealth. Selling these fish catches on in Europe nets Scotland considerable profits (+1 Economy), which is then spent on establishing all the colonies throughout the Northern Atlantic as well as expanding her holdings in Norway (-1 Economy). A small bit of tension occurs however when an Old Norwegian noble claims that he owns the land a new fishing deport was built on...
Northward expansion also occurs in the Baltic, but Prussia, who formerly has been leading the way has stopped to build an impressive series of canals in Germany itself, allowing Poland to plant an number of small towns in the northern reaches of the Gulf of Bothnia. Tensions mount in both countries as the various Swedish émigrés squabble over ancestral rights - Poland grows her regular army whilst Germany creates an elite corps of 'Sturmtruppen'.
On the other side of the Baltic Novogorodian money and manpower greatly aids the Finnish in their northward expansion, and the two countries have grown much closer. Novgorod’s economy has grown steadily and it has used the tension amongst its western neighbours to become the foremost merchentile state on the Baltic, even if it cannot match the westerners’ production. It has also used its new industriousness to build a series of fortification to the south fearing Tsarist revanchism, a move soon copied by Poland when the events in Zaporozhschina unfold.
Venetia and the Ottoman Empire both increase activity in the Indian Ocean, with the Italians beginning the construction of a monumental canal in Egypt. The two powers, normally allies suffer something of a disagreement over tariffs in Palestine; perhaps this is a reflection of their increasing lack of need for each other?
Tsarist Russia expands into Siberia and to the north, recontacting small populations isolated by the Winter, though attempts to exploit these regained lands prove unfeasible at present. Increased autonomy is granted to Caucasian tribes, just as immigrants from Russia and Europe are encouraged to settle in the region, a few years will tell whether this mix will be productive or explosive. Several steppe tribes are drawn into service with the promise of plunder (+5 irregular divisions)
Resistance is growing to Ottoman Rule in Persia and parts further east, as a few protests are put down in Tehran and Karachi.
As the edges of multiethnic Kalmykistan begin to crumble, the Khan gathers forces loyal to him in Samarkind; to what goal is currently unknown.
Portugal sends diplomats to the various Indian nations, on Venetian and merchentile ships so as to not break the letter of the Resolution treaty, the integrity of the treaties spirit however is less certain, and New Westminster is wary of what alliances the Portuguese may be forging.
Peshwa Alijah Srinath of the Marathas Confederacy may also prove an independent cause of worry to the Australasians, as he acts decisively to stem the gradual decline of the Marathas. Embracing secularization and centralization, harsh army discipline and educational reform; he throws the nations military and civil service open to anyone of merit, after making room for his new protégés by killing off any even slightly corrupt official. A few princes escape this fate due to their high station and connections however. Harkening back to the legendary founder of the Marathas empire, Shivaji Bhonslé, the Peshwa achieves some real success (+2 Civilian Leadership, +1 Centralization, +1 Army training), but at the cost of a great deal of capital, both economic and political (-1 Economy, -2 Confidence) and some discontent Princes and governors needed to be put down by his new Imperial Guard (See Military events).
All is quiet in the Far East this year as Xin Ming China, Qing Manchuria, Japan and Australasia all focus on growth of their economies...and armies. The expansion of the Chinese armies and the near doubling of Australasian troops under arms both causes a drop in training, and the Australasian Parliament warns PM Jennings that men are needed to establish farms and factories in the still young Dominion, and that further Army growth may stifle economic advancement...
Military Events
Portuguese expansion on the Niger River is resisted by local clans. No match for the Portuguese troops, their only significant victory was when a Portuguese Battalion drank from a Polluted well and an outbreak of disease spread through the ranks
(-1 Portuguese Division)
Tsarist Russia goes on a revanchist spree (see spotlight)
(+1 Russian Empire Confidence, -2 Muscovian Confidence, -2 Zaporozhian Confidence, -2 Russian Empire Divisions, -3 Russian Irregular divisions, -3 Muscovian League Divisions, -3 Zaporozhian Separatist Divisions, -1 Zaporozhian Separatist Irregular Divisions, -1 Zaporozhian Tsarist Divisions, -1 Zaporozhian Tsarist Irregular Divisions).
Discontent Muslim Princes, angry at Srinath's reforms begin to organize resistance to his rule, but are betrayed and quickly put down by the new Imperial Guard. Those west of the Indus however manage to flee with their forces into Kalmykistan and ottoman Persia.
(-2 Marathas Divisions, -1 Imperial Guard Division)
Random Events
A close election race in the Fourth Gayanashagowa/Dominion of Canada stirs up patriotism, although the winner is still undecided (+1 Culture)
Urluk-Baghaturs dynamic policies, and the encouragement of skilled immigrants increases the leadership and confidence of Tsarist Russia (+1 Confidence, + Civilian Leadership)
Continuing attempts by the Novogorodian Republic to forge a 'trans-Baltic' identity bear some fruit. (+1 Culture)
The agriculture of the North African coast, in dire straits for several years with the redirection of the Gulf Stream to its norther course experience another drop in profitablity (- Casablanca Economy Centre)
Spotlight: The Bear Awakes
"I assume you'll give us time to consider this proposal?" Fateful last words of Mikhail Samoylov, Commander of the Moscow Garrison, September 2nd, 1831
Tsarist Russia has experienced many a loss and diminishment in the last 50 years and is considered by many a mere shadow of its former self. However all that looks to be reversed at the command of Tsar-Imperator Peter IV, or at least that’s the command relayed by his dynamic foreign minister Urluk-Baghatur. Many measures were taken to rebuild be the country, rekindle its forges, resow its fields and regain its once numberless hordes, but as the year rolled on, it was clear that peaceful rebuilding was not the only item on the agenda...
To begin with the Russians sent patrols deep into Siberia and the Ural region, they found many villages and towns that had been quietly rebuilding after the winter and these soon restated their loyalty to the Tsar. Loyalty and control begin different things of course, with the infrastructure destroyed by half a century of neglect and Winter, taxing and instructing the new territories is an almost insurmountable task, and with other things on his mind, the Tsar recalls most of the patrols and leaves the expansion to the road builders who do make steady progress.
The empires attention turns counterclockwise throughout the year, at first the northeast where acceptable gains are made, then, as summer draws on, north and Moscow become the focus of attention. Russian diplomats had been contacting many a Muscovite lordling, turning their heads with riches and power, but a good number in the south wishes to retain the privileges and autonomy, and those in the north believing distance will give them time to make their decision. As midsummer approaches the Tsar grows impatient, and demands his rights. Many in south declare for the Tsar-Emperor, but some, including Moscow that symbol of all Russia has lost, do not. Within days the small force that had been assembled in Tula was marching north to Moscow.
The various militias and private armies of the Muscovian league were uncoordinated and filled with supply and communication problems due to the patchy nature of resistance to the Tsar, and in the end were simply brushed by the well-disciplined Russian troops as they advanced north. The real enemy of the Tsarist advance was the appalling roads and infrastructure which significantly delayed movement and resupply; a week alone was lost crossing the Oka. Eventually, inexorably, the Tsarists closed on Moscow. It was there that they faced their only real resistance as the Muscovite Militia gave up the city only after a few months of sporadic fighting, the Tsarist not having enough men to drive out the Militia decisively, and the Militia being wholly unqualified for the task of driving out the invaders. By autumn however, Moscow was in Tsarist hands.
The rest of the southern parts of the leagues spirits were broken, and would have been a walkover, if not for two factors; the Tsarists simply didn't have the men to troop all over northern Russia stomping on those who resisted, and they certainly didn't have the supplies which had been refocused...elsewhere.
With a great, if not complete victory over the Muscovians on their sides, the Tsarists finally turn their attention to the west where their, in Tsarist eyes, upstart vassals were debating on surrendering the autonomy they had worked so hard to gain throughout the Winter. The Rada of Zaporozhschina was divided on the subject, some supportive of the Tsar and the advantages of his rule (which their detractors say they already enjoyed), others also supportive, fearing the Tsars retribution, and finally some wanting to hold onto their current power and freedoms. In the end it was Tsarist actions in the Muscovian league that precipitated the crisis, the prominent pro-tsarist Stepan Skoropadsky deciding to call it to a vote within the week. When the separatists won by the narrowest of margins Skoropadsky stormed out and gathered those with affiliation to the Tsar, acting quickly he sent word to the Tsar of his rebellion. The message did not have far to travel, as the Tsars army was already gathered in Kharkov...
As Skoropadsky secured the south of Zaporozhschina from his base in Dnepropetrovsk the Russians crossed the Dneipr in a Dozen places, the city of Kremchuk surrendering without of fight, and Chernobyl falling to another pro-tsar group, and Kiev being surrounded within a week and put to siege. The Russians and the Pro-Tsarist faction soon spread across the west of the country, using the Cossacks own tactics against them with the guerilla warfare practiced by the Tsar's new Letuchiye Eskadroni divisions. The peasantry remained largely indifferent to the armies thundering across the lands. It was only the late start of the war in 1831 that prevented the Separatists from being overrun already, with but a few cities east of the Dnestr holding out, as well as the small garrison in the fortified centre of Kiev.
Diplomacy
From Spain
To Portugal
We would wish closer relations with the Empire of Portugal; perhaps a Mutual Protection Pact is in order?
From Venetia
To Portugal
You trade proposals are very interesting; perhaps you would like to go over them in more detail?
From the Marathas Confederacy
To Portugal
We are not an NPC, PM silver if you want to talk.
From Finland
To the Novogorodian Republic
Thank you for your assistance, we look forward to cooperating much more closely in the future.
From Hetman Skoropadsky
To the Tsar-Imperator
We would like to discuss the term of autonomy the new province of Russia will have, perhaps slightly more generous terms than your original offer would be for the best?
From the Zaporozhschinan Rada
To Tsar-donkey
To hell with you, and your slinking Muslim Catamite too!
Please note that NPC nations will be spending their entire budgets, but I won't be mentioning what they do here (unless it affects a player nation in some way)
Non Military Events
Hispaniola expands its mining operations, particularly for gold and nickel and production soon increased leading to large stockpiles being amassed. Production far exceeds the demands of Hispaniola’s own industries, and a pretty penny is made selling stockpiles on to the ever hungry factories of the US eastern seaboard (+Economy), the Hispaniolian government even decides to set up a chartered company to expedite (and monopolize) these sales to America, the Kiskeya Caribbean Company. The KCC is quite successful in its first year of operation, and even manages to gain control of a large amount of raw material shipping from Colombia to America via somewhat dubious business practices (+Economy), however Hispaniola’s opaque and unaccountable government structure soon has large amounts of these profits disappearing mysteriously (-Economy), which has worried foreign investors. Analysts also warn that extraction is probably at the peak Hispaniola’s infrastructure can support right now. Tax breaks for large families are implemented, but the effect good or bad is unlikely to be noticeable for several years, though Juan Miguel's popularity does increase.
Portugal invests greatly in its Brazilian infrastructure, and whilst the empire as a whole may not have improved, this certainly makes the Brazilians feel more valued (+1 Confidence), especially when a new elite infantry corps is created mainly from colonial troops. They also make small gains in all their African colonies, no one particular site being singled out. This slow expansion may be beneficial as it has kept conflict with natives to a minimum except on the Niger River (see Military events). The proposal of a royal unification is met with some puzzlement in the Republic of Spain, but France, rightly or wrongly, reads threat in the proposal and begins mobilizing her army, Spain may turn to Portugal after all...
The race for the formerly icebound North Atlantic is on! As Ireland, Scotland and Canada embark on Boreal Adventures...
The Fourth Gayanashagowa/Dominion of Canada crosses the Saskatchewan and Nelson rivers and forges into the frozen north, no particular region makes great advancements but progress is steady as the infrastructure and connection with the south increases and the fur trapping industry is beginning to pick up once again. Canada also reaches out on the seas, expanding her navy and attempting to establish a base in Greenland; lack of funding means it is slow to get off the ground and arrives in old Julianehab to find an Irish base already established. The Canadians decide to head north to the far better fishing, but less desirable strategic-wise site of Godthab to build their colony.
Iceland is also a site of multiple landings as the Irish arrive in Reykjavik and the Scottish claim Hofn at the other end of the Island, the Scottish slowed by stopping to claim the Faeroe Islands along the way.
Scotland also sends her men to the sea, exploiting the vast fishing stocks that are now accessible where once there was but northern ice, the other two nations not yet gearing up to access this vast wealth. Selling these fish catches on in Europe nets Scotland considerable profits (+1 Economy), which is then spent on establishing all the colonies throughout the Northern Atlantic as well as expanding her holdings in Norway (-1 Economy). A small bit of tension occurs however when an Old Norwegian noble claims that he owns the land a new fishing deport was built on...
Northward expansion also occurs in the Baltic, but Prussia, who formerly has been leading the way has stopped to build an impressive series of canals in Germany itself, allowing Poland to plant an number of small towns in the northern reaches of the Gulf of Bothnia. Tensions mount in both countries as the various Swedish émigrés squabble over ancestral rights - Poland grows her regular army whilst Germany creates an elite corps of 'Sturmtruppen'.
On the other side of the Baltic Novogorodian money and manpower greatly aids the Finnish in their northward expansion, and the two countries have grown much closer. Novgorod’s economy has grown steadily and it has used the tension amongst its western neighbours to become the foremost merchentile state on the Baltic, even if it cannot match the westerners’ production. It has also used its new industriousness to build a series of fortification to the south fearing Tsarist revanchism, a move soon copied by Poland when the events in Zaporozhschina unfold.
Venetia and the Ottoman Empire both increase activity in the Indian Ocean, with the Italians beginning the construction of a monumental canal in Egypt. The two powers, normally allies suffer something of a disagreement over tariffs in Palestine; perhaps this is a reflection of their increasing lack of need for each other?
Tsarist Russia expands into Siberia and to the north, recontacting small populations isolated by the Winter, though attempts to exploit these regained lands prove unfeasible at present. Increased autonomy is granted to Caucasian tribes, just as immigrants from Russia and Europe are encouraged to settle in the region, a few years will tell whether this mix will be productive or explosive. Several steppe tribes are drawn into service with the promise of plunder (+5 irregular divisions)
Resistance is growing to Ottoman Rule in Persia and parts further east, as a few protests are put down in Tehran and Karachi.
As the edges of multiethnic Kalmykistan begin to crumble, the Khan gathers forces loyal to him in Samarkind; to what goal is currently unknown.
Portugal sends diplomats to the various Indian nations, on Venetian and merchentile ships so as to not break the letter of the Resolution treaty, the integrity of the treaties spirit however is less certain, and New Westminster is wary of what alliances the Portuguese may be forging.
Peshwa Alijah Srinath of the Marathas Confederacy may also prove an independent cause of worry to the Australasians, as he acts decisively to stem the gradual decline of the Marathas. Embracing secularization and centralization, harsh army discipline and educational reform; he throws the nations military and civil service open to anyone of merit, after making room for his new protégés by killing off any even slightly corrupt official. A few princes escape this fate due to their high station and connections however. Harkening back to the legendary founder of the Marathas empire, Shivaji Bhonslé, the Peshwa achieves some real success (+2 Civilian Leadership, +1 Centralization, +1 Army training), but at the cost of a great deal of capital, both economic and political (-1 Economy, -2 Confidence) and some discontent Princes and governors needed to be put down by his new Imperial Guard (See Military events).
All is quiet in the Far East this year as Xin Ming China, Qing Manchuria, Japan and Australasia all focus on growth of their economies...and armies. The expansion of the Chinese armies and the near doubling of Australasian troops under arms both causes a drop in training, and the Australasian Parliament warns PM Jennings that men are needed to establish farms and factories in the still young Dominion, and that further Army growth may stifle economic advancement...
Military Events
Portuguese expansion on the Niger River is resisted by local clans. No match for the Portuguese troops, their only significant victory was when a Portuguese Battalion drank from a Polluted well and an outbreak of disease spread through the ranks
(-1 Portuguese Division)
Tsarist Russia goes on a revanchist spree (see spotlight)
(+1 Russian Empire Confidence, -2 Muscovian Confidence, -2 Zaporozhian Confidence, -2 Russian Empire Divisions, -3 Russian Irregular divisions, -3 Muscovian League Divisions, -3 Zaporozhian Separatist Divisions, -1 Zaporozhian Separatist Irregular Divisions, -1 Zaporozhian Tsarist Divisions, -1 Zaporozhian Tsarist Irregular Divisions).
Discontent Muslim Princes, angry at Srinath's reforms begin to organize resistance to his rule, but are betrayed and quickly put down by the new Imperial Guard. Those west of the Indus however manage to flee with their forces into Kalmykistan and ottoman Persia.
(-2 Marathas Divisions, -1 Imperial Guard Division)
Random Events
A close election race in the Fourth Gayanashagowa/Dominion of Canada stirs up patriotism, although the winner is still undecided (+1 Culture)
Urluk-Baghaturs dynamic policies, and the encouragement of skilled immigrants increases the leadership and confidence of Tsarist Russia (+1 Confidence, + Civilian Leadership)
Continuing attempts by the Novogorodian Republic to forge a 'trans-Baltic' identity bear some fruit. (+1 Culture)
The agriculture of the North African coast, in dire straits for several years with the redirection of the Gulf Stream to its norther course experience another drop in profitablity (- Casablanca Economy Centre)
Spotlight: The Bear Awakes
"I assume you'll give us time to consider this proposal?" Fateful last words of Mikhail Samoylov, Commander of the Moscow Garrison, September 2nd, 1831
Tsarist Russia has experienced many a loss and diminishment in the last 50 years and is considered by many a mere shadow of its former self. However all that looks to be reversed at the command of Tsar-Imperator Peter IV, or at least that’s the command relayed by his dynamic foreign minister Urluk-Baghatur. Many measures were taken to rebuild be the country, rekindle its forges, resow its fields and regain its once numberless hordes, but as the year rolled on, it was clear that peaceful rebuilding was not the only item on the agenda...
To begin with the Russians sent patrols deep into Siberia and the Ural region, they found many villages and towns that had been quietly rebuilding after the winter and these soon restated their loyalty to the Tsar. Loyalty and control begin different things of course, with the infrastructure destroyed by half a century of neglect and Winter, taxing and instructing the new territories is an almost insurmountable task, and with other things on his mind, the Tsar recalls most of the patrols and leaves the expansion to the road builders who do make steady progress.
The empires attention turns counterclockwise throughout the year, at first the northeast where acceptable gains are made, then, as summer draws on, north and Moscow become the focus of attention. Russian diplomats had been contacting many a Muscovite lordling, turning their heads with riches and power, but a good number in the south wishes to retain the privileges and autonomy, and those in the north believing distance will give them time to make their decision. As midsummer approaches the Tsar grows impatient, and demands his rights. Many in south declare for the Tsar-Emperor, but some, including Moscow that symbol of all Russia has lost, do not. Within days the small force that had been assembled in Tula was marching north to Moscow.
The various militias and private armies of the Muscovian league were uncoordinated and filled with supply and communication problems due to the patchy nature of resistance to the Tsar, and in the end were simply brushed by the well-disciplined Russian troops as they advanced north. The real enemy of the Tsarist advance was the appalling roads and infrastructure which significantly delayed movement and resupply; a week alone was lost crossing the Oka. Eventually, inexorably, the Tsarists closed on Moscow. It was there that they faced their only real resistance as the Muscovite Militia gave up the city only after a few months of sporadic fighting, the Tsarist not having enough men to drive out the Militia decisively, and the Militia being wholly unqualified for the task of driving out the invaders. By autumn however, Moscow was in Tsarist hands.
The rest of the southern parts of the leagues spirits were broken, and would have been a walkover, if not for two factors; the Tsarists simply didn't have the men to troop all over northern Russia stomping on those who resisted, and they certainly didn't have the supplies which had been refocused...elsewhere.
With a great, if not complete victory over the Muscovians on their sides, the Tsarists finally turn their attention to the west where their, in Tsarist eyes, upstart vassals were debating on surrendering the autonomy they had worked so hard to gain throughout the Winter. The Rada of Zaporozhschina was divided on the subject, some supportive of the Tsar and the advantages of his rule (which their detractors say they already enjoyed), others also supportive, fearing the Tsars retribution, and finally some wanting to hold onto their current power and freedoms. In the end it was Tsarist actions in the Muscovian league that precipitated the crisis, the prominent pro-tsarist Stepan Skoropadsky deciding to call it to a vote within the week. When the separatists won by the narrowest of margins Skoropadsky stormed out and gathered those with affiliation to the Tsar, acting quickly he sent word to the Tsar of his rebellion. The message did not have far to travel, as the Tsars army was already gathered in Kharkov...
As Skoropadsky secured the south of Zaporozhschina from his base in Dnepropetrovsk the Russians crossed the Dneipr in a Dozen places, the city of Kremchuk surrendering without of fight, and Chernobyl falling to another pro-tsar group, and Kiev being surrounded within a week and put to siege. The Russians and the Pro-Tsarist faction soon spread across the west of the country, using the Cossacks own tactics against them with the guerilla warfare practiced by the Tsar's new Letuchiye Eskadroni divisions. The peasantry remained largely indifferent to the armies thundering across the lands. It was only the late start of the war in 1831 that prevented the Separatists from being overrun already, with but a few cities east of the Dnestr holding out, as well as the small garrison in the fortified centre of Kiev.
Diplomacy
From Spain
To Portugal
We would wish closer relations with the Empire of Portugal; perhaps a Mutual Protection Pact is in order?
From Venetia
To Portugal
You trade proposals are very interesting; perhaps you would like to go over them in more detail?
From the Marathas Confederacy
To Portugal
We are not an NPC, PM silver if you want to talk.
From Finland
To the Novogorodian Republic
Thank you for your assistance, we look forward to cooperating much more closely in the future.
From Hetman Skoropadsky
To the Tsar-Imperator
We would like to discuss the term of autonomy the new province of Russia will have, perhaps slightly more generous terms than your original offer would be for the best?
From the Zaporozhschinan Rada
To Tsar-donkey
To hell with you, and your slinking Muslim Catamite too!
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
And heres the map...
das
Regeneration In Process
Not all went as well as I had hoped, but still, great update!
IC:
From: The Russian Empire
To: The Muscovite League
We express hope that you will now see reason and gather in Moscow for the negotiations of the terms of your surrender; if you agree to pledge allegience to the Tsar-Imperator, you will be granted amnesty and allowed to rule in his name in the lands of the Newly Re-Conquered North (to which you have reffered as to "the Muscovite League"). If you do not, you will be considered godless rebels and treated as such.
From: The Russian Empire
To: Hetman Skoropadsky
Our terms have been generous enough in Our mind; but what modifications exactly do you propose?
IC:
From: The Russian Empire
To: The Muscovite League
We express hope that you will now see reason and gather in Moscow for the negotiations of the terms of your surrender; if you agree to pledge allegience to the Tsar-Imperator, you will be granted amnesty and allowed to rule in his name in the lands of the Newly Re-Conquered North (to which you have reffered as to "the Muscovite League"). If you do not, you will be considered godless rebels and treated as such.
From: The Russian Empire
To: Hetman Skoropadsky
Our terms have been generous enough in Our mind; but what modifications exactly do you propose?
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
das said:
Its mainly because you tried to influence the other nations first, delaying your attacks till late in the year. You suffered no defeats or even significant losses. Also note that the area with the red outline in the Muscovian league is the area you captured, the other blobs are those hwo willingly declared for you (though you probably realised that
)From: Hetman Skoropadsky
To: The Russian Empire
Perhaps nearly complete internal autonomy, but you control our foreign policy and we send all of our regular army whereever you wish, but you cannot raise conscripts in Zaporozhschinan lands without our approval, and a clear and present threat.
From: Various Moscovian Lords
To: The Russian Empire
Very well we agree.
From Various Moscovian Lords
To: The Russian Empire
-Curious absense of reply-
1/2 the stats are up...copying and pasting the others as we speak.
Finmaster
The White Ghost
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2003
- Messages
- 2,716
From Novgorod
To Muscovian Lords and Zaporozhschina:
[secret]
We warned you, didn't we! And what's this about surrendering? Already you have forgotten our offers of friendship?
[/secret]
To Finland and Poland:
Since we are now allied to both of you, we propose that we could publically merge these alliances into one. We could call it "the Baltic Alliance".
To Muscovian Lords and Zaporozhschina:
[secret]
We warned you, didn't we! And what's this about surrendering? Already you have forgotten our offers of friendship?
[/secret]
To Finland and Poland:
Since we are now allied to both of you, we propose that we could publically merge these alliances into one. We could call it "the Baltic Alliance".
@disenfrancise, awesome update. And the whole Spain thing is a side-effect of me being in 8 nes' and getting things mixed up....my bad.
From: King Alfonso I of Portugal
To: Republic of Spain
Yes, we would be fully willing to agree to this.
From: King Alfonso I of Portugal
To: Venetia
Well, essentially, we want to work closer together on trade throughout the world...our navies are nearly unmatched, and if we can parlay this trade relation into a trade alliance of sorts, we will have no match to speak of on the seas.
From: King Alfonso I of Portugal
To: Lousine Empire
Your nation has endured enough and survived enough to be considered a free and soveriegn nation, we offer you a mutual protection pact to protect your freedom.
From: King Alfonso I of Portugal
To: Republic of Spain
Yes, we would be fully willing to agree to this.
From: King Alfonso I of Portugal
To: Venetia
Well, essentially, we want to work closer together on trade throughout the world...our navies are nearly unmatched, and if we can parlay this trade relation into a trade alliance of sorts, we will have no match to speak of on the seas.
From: King Alfonso I of Portugal
To: Lousine Empire
Your nation has endured enough and survived enough to be considered a free and soveriegn nation, we offer you a mutual protection pact to protect your freedom.
Finmaster
The White Ghost
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2003
- Messages
- 2,716
Mats spend the winter of 1831 in Finland. He had been given a special job: it was his duty to ensure that the help and money directed to Finland would go to the right place, i.e. rehabitating the north.
It was not a coincidence that he had been chocen for the mission. Sending Mats Åkerson there with his family had been a clever move by Prime Minister Igor Korolev. Mats was Korolev's main opponent in the upcoming presidential elections. Igor Korolev and planned it brilliantly: he made a public request in a newspaper, knowing that saying "no" would make Mats look like he didn't like Finland - and it had been Mats Åkerson himself who had originally proposed the help program.
So, he said "yes" to the request. He knew that his polls would go down no matter what he'd say.
"Is this where granny died?" asked Vladimir. The spring had come and the habitation program was almost done for Mats, he was getting ready to return to Novgorod and prepare for the elections. Now he and his son Vladimir were visiting the grave of his mother in southwestern Finland.
"No", responded Mats. "We were crossing the Sea of Bothnia when I was four. The winter had came and we had to leave Sweden. Sweden was quite a powerful nation those days, or so I've read from the history books. Hard to imagine that it is now controlled by Prussia.."
"What happened to granny?" asked Vladimir, who was not interrested in political history.
"She just.. fell down in the middle of the icy lake we were crossing. It was a cold winter evening and we had been walking for long. My dad didn't want to leave her there, so we walked here, to Finland, and buried her."
***
As the train arrived to Novgorod on late spring, Mats didn't even want to think of the elections. Before he had left Finland two days earlier he had heard the recent polls: Igor Korolev of the Conservatives 55 %, Mats Åkerson of the Liberals 29 %, and alltogether 16 % for the two lesser candidates. Mats was thinking of giving up already, it was starting to seem like Korolev was unbeatable.
Then he stepped out of the train, and it seemed like the entire Novgorod had appeared on the rail station.
"MATS! MATS! MATS!" they were shouting.
Mats bought the newest issue of Novgorod Times, and it appeared that he had surpassed Korolev in polls. 48% Åkerson, 42 % Korolev.
But the reason for this surprising twist was most unfortunate.
In the next page, the Times told a conclusive story how Tsarist Russia had attacked Novgorod's southern and eastern neighbour. Suddenly people remembered the age of the Czar. Conservatives - who were mostly former supporters of the Czar - were suddenly far less popular than before. Liberalism started to grow, and the further the Czar's troops advanced, the more Mats Åkerson was promoted as a man who would stop the continuing advancement of Tsarist Russia.
Suddenly PM Korolev's clever moves turned against him: if Mats had been in Novgorod, he would have said that he had no plans of interfering with what Tsarist Russia was doing. But he was not in Novgorod, Korolev himself had send him to Finland.
And now the train could no longer be stopped. Everyone knew it: the difference between Korolev and Åkerson was getting clearer every day.
When the final results came, Åkerson got 51 % of the votes, while Korolev got 40 %.
It was not a coincidence that he had been chocen for the mission. Sending Mats Åkerson there with his family had been a clever move by Prime Minister Igor Korolev. Mats was Korolev's main opponent in the upcoming presidential elections. Igor Korolev and planned it brilliantly: he made a public request in a newspaper, knowing that saying "no" would make Mats look like he didn't like Finland - and it had been Mats Åkerson himself who had originally proposed the help program.
So, he said "yes" to the request. He knew that his polls would go down no matter what he'd say.
"Is this where granny died?" asked Vladimir. The spring had come and the habitation program was almost done for Mats, he was getting ready to return to Novgorod and prepare for the elections. Now he and his son Vladimir were visiting the grave of his mother in southwestern Finland.
"No", responded Mats. "We were crossing the Sea of Bothnia when I was four. The winter had came and we had to leave Sweden. Sweden was quite a powerful nation those days, or so I've read from the history books. Hard to imagine that it is now controlled by Prussia.."
"What happened to granny?" asked Vladimir, who was not interrested in political history.
"She just.. fell down in the middle of the icy lake we were crossing. It was a cold winter evening and we had been walking for long. My dad didn't want to leave her there, so we walked here, to Finland, and buried her."
***
As the train arrived to Novgorod on late spring, Mats didn't even want to think of the elections. Before he had left Finland two days earlier he had heard the recent polls: Igor Korolev of the Conservatives 55 %, Mats Åkerson of the Liberals 29 %, and alltogether 16 % for the two lesser candidates. Mats was thinking of giving up already, it was starting to seem like Korolev was unbeatable.
Then he stepped out of the train, and it seemed like the entire Novgorod had appeared on the rail station.
"MATS! MATS! MATS!" they were shouting.
Mats bought the newest issue of Novgorod Times, and it appeared that he had surpassed Korolev in polls. 48% Åkerson, 42 % Korolev.
But the reason for this surprising twist was most unfortunate.
In the next page, the Times told a conclusive story how Tsarist Russia had attacked Novgorod's southern and eastern neighbour. Suddenly people remembered the age of the Czar. Conservatives - who were mostly former supporters of the Czar - were suddenly far less popular than before. Liberalism started to grow, and the further the Czar's troops advanced, the more Mats Åkerson was promoted as a man who would stop the continuing advancement of Tsarist Russia.
Suddenly PM Korolev's clever moves turned against him: if Mats had been in Novgorod, he would have said that he had no plans of interfering with what Tsarist Russia was doing. But he was not in Novgorod, Korolev himself had send him to Finland.
And now the train could no longer be stopped. Everyone knew it: the difference between Korolev and Åkerson was getting clearer every day.
When the final results came, Åkerson got 51 % of the votes, while Korolev got 40 %.
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC:
Actually, maybe I didn't word it correctly, but that IS what I suggested, apart from the conscript bit.
IC:
From: Russian Empire
To: Hetman Skoropadsky
That is reasonable, we agree.
From: Russian Empire
To: Poland
We extend to you the offer of a non-agression pact.
From: Russian Empire
To: Republic of Novgorod
We would like to know your reply on our previous non-agression pact. Should we be worried by your stalling, in combination with your recent alliances?
Actually, maybe I didn't word it correctly, but that IS what I suggested, apart from the conscript bit.
IC:
From: Russian Empire
To: Hetman Skoropadsky
That is reasonable, we agree.
From: Russian Empire
To: Poland
We extend to you the offer of a non-agression pact.
From: Russian Empire
To: Republic of Novgorod
We would like to know your reply on our previous non-agression pact. Should we be worried by your stalling, in combination with your recent alliances?
Finmaster
The White Ghost
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2003
- Messages
- 2,716
From Novgorod
To Tsarist Russia:
While we want nothing but peace with you, you place us in quite a difficult position. We are afraid we cannot sign NAP's or any other agreements for that matter for as long as you are on an aggressive rampage against other Russian nations.
To Tsarist Russia:
While we want nothing but peace with you, you place us in quite a difficult position. We are afraid we cannot sign NAP's or any other agreements for that matter for as long as you are on an aggressive rampage against other Russian nations.
das
Regeneration In Process
We are not entirely sure what are you reffering to here.
das
Regeneration In Process
OOC: Am in a hurry, so please reply soon.
IC:
Regardless, we would like to know your final answer - do you agree to sign the bilateral non-agression pact or not? This is not a threat, but if you do not there might be a few diplomatic complications, as you surely realize...
IC:
Regardless, we would like to know your final answer - do you agree to sign the bilateral non-agression pact or not? This is not a threat, but if you do not there might be a few diplomatic complications, as you surely realize...
das
Regeneration In Process
But still, what nations? There is but one Russian nation, and but two Russian countries. The Muscovite League is no more of a country than the barbarian hordes of Siberia - indeed, it is tragically similar to them in many ways. And Zaporozhschina, if you study the documents carefully, is already a Russian dependency, but with a high decree of autonomy. The actions of the Rada qualify as a rebellion, and will be dealt with as such.
Regardless, now that you dismissed all our overtures... will you declare the war now, or wait until your armies are more prepared for the campaign?
Regardless, now that you dismissed all our overtures... will you declare the war now, or wait until your armies are more prepared for the campaign?
das
Regeneration In Process
"My fear is spreading. Today I woke early in the morning and immediately headed to the library again, in part to avoid meeting Romka, who usually wakes up later. I knew I could not look him in the eyes, not without preparing myself, for I was afraid that he begun guessing something, that he has been offended... And I knew I could not lie to him, but lie I must. For the cause. When it is all over, I will tell him everything, and I hope he forgives me.
I increasingly doubt whether this is all worth it. We conspire against the state and the order, we lie to our friends... and we are preparing to break one of the Testament's laws, one of the laws of basic human morality. I am not sure if I could do it. But I am afraid that, when the time comes... I will be able to do it, just as I was able to join the Brotherhood, just as I was able - for a short amount of time - to lie to Romka, who, thankfully, was quite unlike his usual curious self in the last few days. He also seems worried. Perhaps... he knows. And maybe even... no, no, it is impossible! Yet he was not home when I came back. Could he do... what I at some moment wanted to do myself? Could he BETRAY us?
But that is only the least of my worries. I read up some more in the library, but did not find much. But there, I found an aging library clerk called Dimitry Alexandrovich Storopov, who too has been interested in this. Surprisingly enough, he mentioned Marmozov as well, but I did not pay as muh attention to this and did not mention the fact that I know Marmozov; for I was much more interested in what he told me. He told me a hypothesis that seems almost mythical... yet rational, and scaringly similar to truth.
Storopov explained that he believed that history must be treated as a whole, as a never-ending process, or "story" as he put it, such as the blooming and waning of flowers. This process is scarcely predetermined, for in both cases there are countless factors affecting it, but an experienced gardener could come quite close to understanding how it works, much closer than a botanist who has much tehoretical knowledge but less practical one. He then asked me, who influences history? And himself replied on this question in a peculiar fashion - "those whom we consider great people, based on their achievements". Those "great people" are gifted in one way or another, and use their gifts to influence history - just as a gardener influences what happens in his garden. None of these people, or nearly none, could predict with any accuracy even the most significant of consequences their actions might have. But... cannot a skilled gardener, especially a one who was preceded by generations of skilled gardeners that passed on their experience, naturally understand, without any theories, the most important consequences of the things he does in his garden, of what flowers will grow how and where? Anyone can change the garden's processes, by planting new seeds, tearng out old plants, by adding and removing factors. But how much better can one control a garden if he knows not all - that is impossible to know - but all the trully important things about the garden! Such a gardener - and indeed, there are such gardeners, Storopov said - would be able to put the garden on the path of development that he wishes for it. These factors that he is simply not aware of yet could be dealt with as well, and could not derail the development if quickly dealt with. And that our gardener can do.
At that point, I understood what Storopov was talking about. He confirmed my belief. Urluk-Baghatur and his entire lineage have, just like that hypothetic gardener, learned to understand history - back in the backwards 14th century, but... were there no great gardeners then? All that history has gained since then is theoretic knowledge - but they, they gained practical knowledge. They understood the way things work, and saw from afar the most significant factors, and with them, could understand whom to support and whom to fight. And as a gardener becomes at one with his garden... the Urluks have united themselves with history. And can we defeat history personified?
As I sit here now and write this, I realize that the answer is - yes. But it is so unlikely... The gardener of history, Urluk-Baghatur, will easily notice any threats to the garden... Hmm. But will he notice a threat to the gardener himself? Perhaps he suspects about our conspiracy... and does not realize that its goal is merely his death, and nothing more?"
I increasingly doubt whether this is all worth it. We conspire against the state and the order, we lie to our friends... and we are preparing to break one of the Testament's laws, one of the laws of basic human morality. I am not sure if I could do it. But I am afraid that, when the time comes... I will be able to do it, just as I was able to join the Brotherhood, just as I was able - for a short amount of time - to lie to Romka, who, thankfully, was quite unlike his usual curious self in the last few days. He also seems worried. Perhaps... he knows. And maybe even... no, no, it is impossible! Yet he was not home when I came back. Could he do... what I at some moment wanted to do myself? Could he BETRAY us?
But that is only the least of my worries. I read up some more in the library, but did not find much. But there, I found an aging library clerk called Dimitry Alexandrovich Storopov, who too has been interested in this. Surprisingly enough, he mentioned Marmozov as well, but I did not pay as muh attention to this and did not mention the fact that I know Marmozov; for I was much more interested in what he told me. He told me a hypothesis that seems almost mythical... yet rational, and scaringly similar to truth.
Storopov explained that he believed that history must be treated as a whole, as a never-ending process, or "story" as he put it, such as the blooming and waning of flowers. This process is scarcely predetermined, for in both cases there are countless factors affecting it, but an experienced gardener could come quite close to understanding how it works, much closer than a botanist who has much tehoretical knowledge but less practical one. He then asked me, who influences history? And himself replied on this question in a peculiar fashion - "those whom we consider great people, based on their achievements". Those "great people" are gifted in one way or another, and use their gifts to influence history - just as a gardener influences what happens in his garden. None of these people, or nearly none, could predict with any accuracy even the most significant of consequences their actions might have. But... cannot a skilled gardener, especially a one who was preceded by generations of skilled gardeners that passed on their experience, naturally understand, without any theories, the most important consequences of the things he does in his garden, of what flowers will grow how and where? Anyone can change the garden's processes, by planting new seeds, tearng out old plants, by adding and removing factors. But how much better can one control a garden if he knows not all - that is impossible to know - but all the trully important things about the garden! Such a gardener - and indeed, there are such gardeners, Storopov said - would be able to put the garden on the path of development that he wishes for it. These factors that he is simply not aware of yet could be dealt with as well, and could not derail the development if quickly dealt with. And that our gardener can do.
At that point, I understood what Storopov was talking about. He confirmed my belief. Urluk-Baghatur and his entire lineage have, just like that hypothetic gardener, learned to understand history - back in the backwards 14th century, but... were there no great gardeners then? All that history has gained since then is theoretic knowledge - but they, they gained practical knowledge. They understood the way things work, and saw from afar the most significant factors, and with them, could understand whom to support and whom to fight. And as a gardener becomes at one with his garden... the Urluks have united themselves with history. And can we defeat history personified?
As I sit here now and write this, I realize that the answer is - yes. But it is so unlikely... The gardener of history, Urluk-Baghatur, will easily notice any threats to the garden... Hmm. But will he notice a threat to the gardener himself? Perhaps he suspects about our conspiracy... and does not realize that its goal is merely his death, and nothing more?"
Finmaster
The White Ghost
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2003
- Messages
- 2,716
From Novgorod
To Tsarist Russia:
We have offered our friendship to the nations you are attacking and they have refused our help. Therefore, we see no reason why the two of us should be in a state of war. Perhaps the NAP you proposed can be rediscussed in the future, but for as long as you are fighting Moscow and Zaporozhschina, I, as a president elected from the liberal party opposing your offensive actions, can not sign a non-aggression pact with you. It is politically impossible for me to do so. I hope you understand.
To Tsarist Russia:
We have offered our friendship to the nations you are attacking and they have refused our help. Therefore, we see no reason why the two of us should be in a state of war. Perhaps the NAP you proposed can be rediscussed in the future, but for as long as you are fighting Moscow and Zaporozhschina, I, as a president elected from the liberal party opposing your offensive actions, can not sign a non-aggression pact with you. It is politically impossible for me to do so. I hope you understand.
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
the first page said:
Write one and I'll check it to make sure its reasonable (lazyness ++ on my part
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