Multipolarity IV Game Thread

[Mosher]

Half of Sweden surrenders, the other half will continue the fight.

Which half?

 

[Ailedhoo]

Which half?

The Swiss Brotherhood of the Norse Family have gotten half of the Swedish (including half the army) on your side!

 

[arya126]

Ravusianity.

A revival of the old religion of the earth has taken root in New America. A new prophet, Taqat has come to oversee this. He is the 4th prophet of Ravus, the all manipulating god. The first was an image of Ravus himself, come down from the heavens to guide a fledgling nation in England to power. The second was Mech, a powerful man full of Ravus' power who oversaw many miracles. The third was Whosit. Whosit however took it upon himself to organize the mortal world in a rebellion against Ravus, seeking Ravus' power for his own ends. So Ravus cast him down into hell as the Lord of Death and the Underworld.

Taqat is the 4th prophet. Nearly all of the region of New England has fallen under his sway, and he has even recreated the Stonehenge Monks, a martial and espionage order of religious monks devoted to Ravus and imbued with great powers as of old times.

Ravusianity is prospering once again. The times of the Great Crusade are upon us!

 

[Lighthearter]

Broken Anvils

Spoiler :

Brittany was a nation teetering on the edge, with government support down to eleven percent. The national GDP was only just above nine thousand, as opposed to the seventy thousand that was close to the average for major nationstates. True, Brittany was no major nationstate. But even its neighbor Occitania had held a GDP of close to thirty-six thousand prior to President Ducard’s administration taking root and revitalizing the Occitaninan economy. The Burgundians could boast of a GDP close to twenty thousand.

Brittany barely had nine. Less than half of Burgundy’s, which was little more than half of Occitania’s old GDP – what the current was, no one knew for sure, and wouldn’t until a full survey could be done.

The government in Brittany was highly unpopular, perceived as failing to adapt to the changing world and struggling to keep their nation lagging behind the global curve, let alone on or ahead of it. Though no one thought of outright rebellion, many voiced concerns that the Council of the General Will had failed and more proactive leadership was needed. Brittany’s army was miniscule compared to that of Burgundy or Occitania – the only two bordering nations – and her navy was not exactly grand either. Should they have desired it, the British or the Scandinavians likely could have won a handy province out of Brittany.

Not that anyone wanted them to. But the Council was hardly living up to the claims of eternal prosperity for Brittany. This bothered most of the population, after the faith they had placed in them for years.

And now something new was being added.

“It just isn’t fair,” Stephanie LeBlanc murmured sourly, eyeing her empty glass with the forlorn look of a woman unsure whether she could afford another drink. “We’re the rear end of France, not a doubt about it. A family here can get by well enough, yes, but all the luxuries the rest of the world embraces – takes for granted, even! – are denied to us. We don’t even have money for gas half the time. Jean-Pierre and I cycle to work often as not.”

“The Council is doing the best they can, I’m sure,” said Caroline Dinozzo. A native Florentine, Caroline had emigrated to Brittany through the Riviera years previously. “Their problem is that they aren’t capable of doing more.”

“Don’t I know it,” Stephanie said. She leaned back, drumming her fingers on the shabby café’s table. “Some days, I think about moving to Burgundy, but I don’t want to try that now.” she patted her growing belly for emphasis. “I’d rather stay put until the baby is born.”

“If you’re going to move, you should probably do so before the birth,” Caroline pointed out. “That way the baby will be born into a stable home.”

“Maybe.” Stephanie rubbed her eyes. “I wish there was another alternative. Something I could do . . . .”

“You could go south,” Caroline suggested softly. Stephanie looked up. “Occitania’s booming right now. Massive surges of people, increased GDP, lots of work exploding everywhere. It’s turning into a regional power sink because of their new President’s policies.”

“I don’t know,” Stephanie said. “I mean, I always wanted to go to Nice, but it’s so far away – and my family is here.”

“They likely don’t think any better of this life than you do,” Caroline urged. “I’ve been considering going to Occitania myself. There you’ll have a standard of life much better than you do right now.”

“Are you sure?” Stephanie watched rain pound the streets outside, harried walkers and cyclists racing to and fro. “I don’t want to wind up fleeing my home for a place that won’t be better. What if we can’t find work?”

“There’s always work in Occitania right now,” Caroline snorted. “People are streaming in by the thousands, every day. There’s more jobs than workers though – it’s a classic boom state. You could actually rise pretty high down there if you applied yourself. And since it’ll be five or six months until you give birth –” Caroline’s eyes softened “- you’ll have time to get settled in down in Nice.”

Stephanie swallowed. “Is it that simple, Caroline? I love this place. Abandoning it in favor of Occitania feels . . . .”

“Do you want to raise your child here?” Caroline waved around her. “In a land of poverty? Where you have to walk mile after mile through rain and sleet to get to a manufacturing assembly line job? The bicycle plant won’t need you and Jean-Paul forever, Steph. Sooner or later you’ll have to change something if you want to make it. I know how hard you have it as it is. In the Riviera, one of you could stay home with the child, all the time. They have schools, Stephanie. Real ones, not just glorified kindergartens. Colleges, universities. Sure, they’re young, but what isn’t in this world?”

“It’s closer to the Gold Coast War,” Stephanie muttered; more of an observation than a complaint.

“Not by much!” Caroline countered. “And there’s still a small ocean in the way. Nathalie Ducard is a shrewd woman. She won’t jump into a war that Occitania has no stake in. You’ll get a chance to work in a real field, not just manual labor. Jean-Paul can learn art, and you can study chemistry like you’ve always wanted to. The child can go to the University of Marseilles, or Nice, or Vichy.”

Stephanie looked back at Caroline. “You really want me to do this, don’t you?”

“It’s for the best,” Caroline replied. “At least, I think so. And there are a lot of others who could benefit from going to Occitania – your family, the Noires, the Perreaus, and others. Why stay in a nation that can’t keep itself together, when you could go to one that booms?”

“Taxes will be higher,” Stephanie countered – her last, weak defense.

“Your income will be dramatically higher,” Caroline riposted. “And goods will be cheaper. And you can buy foreign products straight off the boats, if you want.”

Stephanie looked back out the window. With one sigh, she nodded.

“I’ll talk to Jean-Paul. If he’s okay with this, I’ll bring the family on board and we’ll all set out for Nice or Marseilles in a month. I’ll tell him to talk to his friends.”

“Good,” Caroline said. “I’ll be heading that way in my own time, too. It’s the only sensible choice – even the Burgundians ought to start realizing that. Occitania is becoming a cultural and economic center, and it’s always best to go to the heart of things.”

“You sound like a recruiter or a poster,” Stephanie chuckled. The two friends shared a laugh.

Stephanie didn’t realize how close to the truth she was.




“Progress continues, better than expected, madame,” Pierre Sevigny reported. Nathalie Ducard quickly scanned the report.

“Bon,” she pronounced. “Trés bon, in fact. C’est magnifique.” She looked up. “Continue the efforts. Spread the word far and wide throughout France and Spain. I want ten thousand people pouring into Occitania a day.”

Pierre grinned. An impossible task always set the worker to working all the harder. “Bien sûr, madame.”

-L

 

[arya126]

ANNOUNCEMENT

A TERRORIST PLOT AGAINST PRESIDENT JEFFERSON HAS BEEN DISCOVERED. A CONSPIRACY AMONG THE MOLE MEN OF NEW AMERICA HAS BEEN UNEARTHED. FROM THIS POINT ON, ALL MOLE MEN ARE HENCEFORTH OUTLAWS AND CRIMINALS IN THE EYES OF NEW AMERICA. WE SHALL NOT STAND FOR ATTACKS UPON OUR PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE IS ONLY HUMAN. ANY AND ALL MOLE MEN CAPTURED SHALL BE MADE 'WORKERS' (slaves) TO WORK TOWARDS MAKING NEW AMERICA GREAT ONCE MORE.

ANNOUNCEMENT

NEW AMERICA IS OFFERING STAGGERING INCENTIVES TO ALL HUMANS WHO IMMIGRATE TO NEW AMERICA. HOMES SHALL BE PROVIDED, JOBS SHALL BE FOUND, AND PROSPERITY SHALL OCCUR! BE THE FIRST OF YOUR FRIENDS TO MOVE TO THIS LAND OF EVER INCREASING FREEDOM, RICHES, AND LIBERTIES!

The Jackson Doctrine

Henceforth, New America is here to serve America and Earth. Recent scientific studies performed by the previous government have unearthed data that shows the following races have strong genetic links to humans and may have had common ancestors on this earth: Humans, Elves, Goblins, Wookies. There are others, but these races are the closest, and shall therefore be treated as equal, while 'alien races' are no longer welcome in New America except as 'workers' to prove their loyalty to our cause.

 

[Tyo]

To: Aragon
From: Combined Syndicates

We would like to ask if you would like to have a garrison of 12,000 men from our army and 5,000 men from our navy to help defend your nation in the event of attack. We've done this with several of our allies. What say you?

 

[Ailedhoo]

To: Aragon
From: Combined Syndicates

We would like to ask if you would like to have a garrison of 12,000 men from our army and 5,000 men from our navy to help defend your nation in the event of attack. We've done this with several of our allies. What say you?

Aragon is in risk of war?! Well... we would traditional note we are fine but we are in knowing when we need help. I tell you what: set a garrison of 8,000 troops and 3,000 sailors will do. We can do a joint training programme from this and consider a meeting to discus economic policy! Deal?

 

[Tyo]

Deal.

 

[Dem Taqat]

Election time. In some countries that phrase was meaningful, a sign of political debate or change. Not Argentina. In Argentina the election was virtually meaningless. Everybody knew that McIronfist would win. It wasn't that he was particularly popular, although he was not disliked. Neither was it that he had some vast electoral machine behind him, although the entire political system was structured around him.

McIronfist would win because he cheated. McFreeman saw no way around this. For as long as he had lived, the elections for the president had been simply a ceremonial reaffirming of the leaders power. They had no meaning, they had no legitimacy, they had no value. It was simply the pretense under which the nation lived, that McIronfist had power because they let him. They could do nothing to stop him, and so nobody had any reason not to at least uphold the pretense.

McFreeman wished to do far more than simply pretend to accept a dictator. He wanted one day to see the oppressive boot cast off and find himself in control of his own destiny. He dreamed of fighting the machine of government until he had thrown down its component pieces, smashed away McIronfists control, and ripped apart the machine of The Man.

Somday, he told himself. Someday it would be true.

-----

In the glorious elections for the post of President of Mighty Argentina, another landslide victory has been won. President Ruthless McIronfist shall continue leading the nation into his second term, to build upon the astonishing successes of the first. Under his wise and benevolent leadership, our incredible nation shall continue its unmatched rise to political and economic pre-eminence.

All hail Argentina! All hail Democracy! All hail President McIronfist!

DT

 

[Patchy]

Here is a list of African diplo to NPCs that Ailedhoo should review based on the fact that it was not answered or influence and pre-existing diplo were not factored in.

Spoiler :

To: Kenya
From: Tayloristan

We request that you join the African Union. This is entirely voluntary - our alliance will be unaffected should you refuse.

Spoiler :

To Morocco, Libya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Namibia, Angola, Gabon and Egypt:
From Cape:
Join our glorious and cultured alliance....oppose the barbarians at our gates! We do not wish to rule over you...those are lies from the hordes to the east. The Eastern Hordes wish to break through our civilized gates but they shall not as our union and our holiness Nero shall smite them down. If you do not join this decentralized alliance I guarantee you you will be slowly pillaged by the barbarians of Tayloristan. His union is centralized in his and Congos hands thus he will have complete control. My proposition is the following.
-A Senate with 3 members from each nation
-Leader nation is elected every 5 years
-Prevention of foreign expansion into Africa
-Pacifism
-The Expansion of our civilization to other continents and uncivilized peoples (see Tayloristan)
-Mutual assistance

Spoiler :

(From Tayloristan in responce to Cape's offer of an alliance)
1) There is no need for a senate if all member nations are equal partners.
2) See above. Equal partners, no "leader" state.
3) This is best accomplished by a network of friendship allegiances, and a universal commitment to "Live and let live, except when it comes to our friends."
4) Given recent events and the content of the rest of the AoC proposal, Tayloristan feels confident in calling this point a blatant lie.
5) Tayloristan notes that this point is in violation of the "Live and let live" proposal, which is the best way of maintaining peace between Africa and the rest of the world.
6) The caveat to mutual assistance should be "Except in aggressive action". The African Union is a social/economic/defensive alliance between African nations. The Alliance of the Civilized is clearly an aggressive proposal intended to employ Cape Verde with the power to bring nations other than city-states under the iron boot of its "Emperor".

To: Africa
Ultimately, it doesn't matter who rules - only that the right thing be done. War is not a good thing - and the African Union's rules do not allow for it starting a war, only for preserving the peace, hanging on to security and prosperity for our sons and daughters for as long as possible without giving up our rights. Equally important to not giving up our rights is not trying to take away the rights of others. Everyone is entitled to self-determination - that is, everyone gets to choose what they do next. Cape Verde got to choose when it received this mad decree from its Emperor, Tayloristan got to choose whether it would stand up for what it believed in and offer the Post-State of Ashanti the right to choose whether it ceased to exist, Kenya had the right to choose whether it supported Ashanti or Cape Verde or did nothing. Even in our recent dialogue with the Congo, they always had the right to choose - if they had not wished to form this union with us, they would not be listed as a founding partner.

Never in its entire history has Tayloristan attempted to infringe upon another people's self-determination. The African Union is our brain child - of course it will mirror our philosophy to a point. And if we've learned anything from the Leth, even dramatically different cultures can come together to form a working relationship based on respect care without letting the little things get in the way. Little things like people who look different, or act different, or dress different.

This "Alliance of the Civilized" is either a throwaway proposal intended to thwart the African Union (See its contradiction of points, above) or its more likely an attempt to bring other powers under Cape Verde's control. Should they succeed, given Cape Verde's obsession with "culture" and their belief that there is only one proper culture, they will force any country which joins this alliance to structure its government and society to match Cape Verde's. If a nation allows its culture to be determined and ordered and destroyed by a foreign power, isn't that a form of extinction?

Nations are defined by their people, by how they look, act, smell, dress, speak. By what they do with their leisure time, by what challenges they face. In a lot of ways, the government doesn't matter so much. If a nation allows a foreign nation to order the former nation's culture into a neat little box, then isn't that giving up who they are? Doesn't a nation truly cease to exist when its people are destroyed?

So the question I pose to Africa is:

What do you want to believe in? Africa for Africans, or Submission is Preferable to Extinction?

Tayloristan made its choice when Cape Verde attacked Ashanti without reason or provocation. Kenya made its choice when it agreed to form a military alliance with Tayloristan. For Ashanti, they chose to fight against impossible odds. The Congo has chosen, or has told us they will choose, to stand for the defense and self-determination of all African nations. Even Cape Verde chose to heed its Emperor's mad, senseless decree rather than throw him out.

In ancient times, Africa was controlled by powers of Europe, of Asia, of America. It won't be again - we're choosing this time, and there is no point in revenge.

Africa for Africans.

Spoiler :

From: The Congo
To: Gabon and Angola

In the light of Cape Verde's unjustified aggression against Ashanti the Republic of the Congo has decided to take action and join Tayloristan's soon to be announced African Union against any threats to peace and stability in Africa.

We urge you as your good neighbor and primary holder in foreign property to join the African Union and provide support to Ashanti against Cape Verde. Already our forces more that triple that of Cape Verde's, add that to the larger industry and population on the side of the African Union and victory for us will be inevitable. Would it not be in your nation's best interests to be on the winning side?

Africa for the Africans.

-President Isidore

Also please note that Tani has already created a stance for some nations on a few of these issues.

Spoiler :

Kenya agrees to upgrade its alliance with Tayloristan into a full alliance; where Taylor's forces go, we shall go.

Ashanti appreciates the assistance and will be signing a full military alliance with Tayloristan as thanks.

Cameroon, Angola and Abyssinia shall not be declaring war, but shall most certainly send financial assistance to Ashanti.

Benin, Libya and Morocco shall not declare war, but find the violence concerning; Ashanti was a state that was friendly towards Cape Verde and had been a considerable source of revenue for the Cape Verde's citizens. As such we shall be freezing the assets of Cape Verde until the war's end.

 

[Dem Taqat]

Spoiler An Unusually Long RP :

Puppet McMaster was perhaps the third most powerful person in Argentina. She was also perhaps the fifth, sixth, or seventh most powerful person. There was even a slim chance she was the absolute most powerful person. It was hard to tell. In the upper echelons of the heirachy power became quite blurred, with influence amongst the various players being hard to quantify. Technically McMaster had very little power, but she had far reach with those who had more. There were, at best, only five people who knew the extent of her power, and none of them were inclined to talk about it.

Ruthless McIronfist was one of those people, and so he found himself to be particularly cautious when she appeared in his study the day after his 're-election'. "Congratulations." she told him "I'm sure you stunned the world with your recent display of public support. There can surely be nobody willing to dispute that you are who the people want to lead."
"Congratulations accepted, but I'm sure you have more in mind than simply expressing such sentiments."
"I always wonder what happened between you and ligth conversation to make you such bitter rivals. I am, of course, here on behalf of the ministry. We have been hearing some disturbing reports recently. The election has been stirring up a few...outdated ideals."

McIronfist sighed internally. "You mean that people are starting to get democratic again?"
"Precisely." McMaster's face crinkled into a slight frown "And the ministry thought it might be best to... pre-empt any problems. We have some suggestions, but you might also need to talk with Party to get more general ideas." Even as McIronfist shifted to look at the computer, the frown on Puppet's face became a smile, though the expression seemed no less foreboding. "He has no appointments right now."
"Your timing is always so precise." McIronfist went ahead and called up Party McScapegoat to join the conversation, certain that it was what McMaster had intended all along. The Ministry of Security loved to arrange things like that.

"While we are waiting for Party though, what did The Ministry have in mind?"
"The Ministry has noticed a certain lack of friction amongst the dissidents we've been encountering. They all seem to be united in opposition to you, despite very different ideological directions. It seemed to us that it might be best to break up that sense of solidarity and set them on each other. 'Divide and Conquer' as McConqueror used to say, prevent them from working together and then pick them apart one by one. A tactic as useful here as it was in his wars." The principle seemed sound enough to McIronfist, who had worked similar tactics under McConqueror during the unification.
"Dividing the dissidents sounds good, I'm sure security has several ideas as to how that would be done?" Puppet nodded serenely. "Excellent, unless you think any of them should be of concern to me then you may go ahead."

"Well..." Puppet hesitated "One of our ideas was to set up our own groups and turn anybody who joined to fighting the other, real groups. However, that would increase the number of resistance groups, they would take in actual dissidents as members, and they would be running on ministry funding. There is a slight possiblity they might go a bit..." she paused again "Out of control, as it were." McIronfist narrowed his eyes.
"You wanted to set up opposition groups, and set about recruiting, arming, and training resistance against us? The Ministry is certainly confident, but that sounds like going a bit too far. Almost treasonously too far." His voice became progressively colder until the last scentance was spoken with all the chill of a mountaintop glacier.
"I'll make sure our operatives are aware such plans are off limit." Puppet was well aware of the boundaries, and accepted the decision without complaint.

The was a knock on the door, and a few moments later Party McScapegoat entered the office, his eyes racing to take stock of the situation. McIronfist waved him to sit down, and filled him in on the relevent aspects of the discussion. "So what we need" Party asked at the end " is some more constructive passion for the people to take up than politics and revolution, yes?"
"I suppose so." McIronfist agreed slowly.
"McConquerors reconstruction programs were a great focus for the people's energies when he was in power, but now they are done and we are reaping the rewards we need something else to get them excited about. The big military spectacles worked for a while, but they weren't exactly a long term solution. We need some sort of regular showing of something they can be passionate about."
"How regular?" Puppet inquired, the wheels in her mind turning furiously.
"As regular as possible. As long as it doesnt fade from peoples memories before the next occurance. That means making it either big and showy, but somewhat rare, or smaller and on a more frequent basis."

The three of them procceeded to kick a number of ideas back and forth, before finally conceeding that they weren't exactly coming up with anything good. Party agreed to make sure his department came up with something, and the impromptu meeting ended rapidly, the various participants returning to either giving or receiving their reports.

DT

 

[Tani Coyote]

The Swiss Brotherhood of the Norse Family have gotten half of the Swedish (including half the army) on your side!

Nooooope.

This has the potential to rapidly grow absurd, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to use my power of judicial review and render this unconstIOTutional.

 

[Mosher]

Nooooope.

This has the potential to rapidly grow absurd, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to use my power of judicial review and render this unconstIOTutional.

Though half of Sweden's population has surrendered, even if not the army. Any bonus for that?

 

[Tani Coyote]

Though half of Sweden's population has surrendered, even if not the army. Any bonus for that?

I'm really, really iffy on the subject of allowing this to go beyond the realm of roleplay, because then every war zone (of which there's no shortage) suddenly develops a collaborationist population in the interest of balance.

 

[Lighthearter]

Just have one or two of Sweden's provinces submit to occupation without a fight. Easy.

Then adjust their army size from remaining pop. /speaks with the blithe confidence of someone who has no idea how hard it is

-L

 

[Tyo]

Two provinces is half their country still

 

[Lighthearter]

Tis the point Ailed said half, so 1 or 2 provinces depending on resource level and pop makes half.

-L

 

[Tani Coyote]

Orders shall lock in about 41 hours.

If you haven't cast a vote for UN Secretary please feel free to!

I say once more for Ailedhoo's sake that NPCs should just vote with a particular country to keep the system simple.

 

[Dem Taqat]

Meaningless McPeasant was not a religious man. He did not beleive that God, any God in any number, controlled his fate. But he was a realist, and his understanding of religion was that it was supposed to bring morality and peace. So it was that he found himself quite suprised by the latest dissident he had been ordered to deal with.

Religious McThrowaway was the archbishop of Buenos Aires. That didn't mean much inside the countries secular government, but he was the closest thing there was to a leader in the fragmented remains of the christian church in the country. Under his leadership it had re-established itself, going from a sense of vauge faith to a proper religion again, albiet one founded on an incomplete recovery of the holy books.

What the archbishop was not was a likely candidate for political activism and revolution. He was a man who taught peace, goodwill, and love, not violence or political fervour. But he had been quietly labeled as a dangerous enemy of the state, who must be dealt with quickly for the good of the nation. And so Meaningless had been sent in to take care of him.

It wasn't quite the usual style of the Internal security forces. The Archbishop was too popular to simply smash down the doors of his church and haul him away. So Meaningless was forced to be more subtle about it. A small dose of poison in some of the drinks, and several days later the Archbishop dissapeared from the realm of rebellion, forever.

-----

President McIronfist scowled at the report. How convienient, that so recently after they had agreed the need to channel the populaces energies into something, a popular religious figure was found dead. And the blame fell squarely on dissident groups, sure to divide them exactly as The Ministry had hoped. Perhaps he should have been more careful about giving them such free reign.

-----

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Religious McThrowaway, was found dead yesterday. Investigations by the police have determined that he was murdered, and several suspects have already been arrested. The killing is beleived to be an act by anarchist rebels attampting to strike down the central tenents of society in our country by wiping out this central figure of our most popular religion.

The Ministry of Security shall immidiately redouble its efforts to end these terrible attacks on our country, and we are certain that the menace of rebellion shall soon be quelled. Any citizens with information on further such dangerous anarchists should come forward immidiately for the good of the nation.

DT

 

[Mosher]

I'm really, really iffy on the subject of allowing this to go beyond the realm of roleplay, because then every war zone (of which there's no shortage) suddenly develops a collaborationist population in the interest of balance.

There is a collaborationist population here thanks to my humane occupation + the war being about cultural unification, though. An exception