Power Play

[Sonereal]

Fifty years ago, humanity descended onto Hemera. Humanity's dreams for a better world spearheaded those first frenzied years of settlement-building. However, wherever humanity goes, so does the Original Sin of Division.

In Zheng, we have the Empire of New Rome, a vain faction built entirely on megalomania. It has very little redeeming qualities and is shackled by old world traditions and prejudices. The Emperor is just the grandchild of an industrialist whose grandfather learned to justify his rule by twisting Christian doctrines to suit his purposes, going so far as to declare a Pope. The Neo-Roman leadership lack vision, and its people cry out for the alternative.

The Vatican is more of the same. What more can be said? A theocracy built on failed traditions is no different from an imperial dictatorship built on failed traditions. For all the digital ink spilled on picking apart the religious conflict between churches, little ink has been dedicated to pointing out how utterly pathetic both factions are and how morally bankrupt the pillars of their legitimacy are. Their exclusionist, old worldisms have no place on Hemera.

Peoples driven by drives purer than simple megalomania (Rome, the Hemera Empire, and their ilk), greed (Kaaronian Industries, Starbucks, and their ilk), and failed traditions (the Vatican, Antipapacy, and their ilk) will always prevail in the end.

What is the best outcome for humanity? The technology exists to create the Egalitarian Society, but where is one on this planet outside of Soulmind? The will exists to create the Cooperative Society, but it is abused by leaders to boost their legitimacy.

Soulmind offers nothing less than an alternative to Original Sin. The belief that humanity should be united in pursuing the Cooperative Egalitarian Society drives us. The primitive mind is driven by painting maps and redrawing borders.

There will be no neutrality in the war for the soul and mind of humanity. You either stand on the side of the great work of progress, or you stand on the side of regression. This will be a complete and absolute war. This war will be fought in every region, in every home, within every mind, within every soul.

 

[Decamper]

Reminder that orders are due in three days. Handy dandy timer here or in my sig.

 

[christos200]

Roman Times
Official Imperial Newspaper

Financial News

- His Imperial Majesty, the Illustrious Emperor Lex Luthor Jr, Caesar and Augustus​

His Imperial Majesty Lex Luthor Jr, Illustrious Emperor of the New Roman Empire and Caesar and Augustus, has ordered the expansion of industrial facilities in New Athens and Nicaea and has also announced that a stimulus package will be given in order to support small private businesses and spur economic growth. The Imperial Secretary of Finance, Marcus Aurelius Bush, has publicized a report by economists showing that those new measures will create thousands new jobs and that wage earners will soon feel the benefits of economic growth. Small private business owners are very supportive of those measures and thank the Emperor for his virtue, clemency and right judgment. According to a resident of New Athens, James Fox, "this stimulus package is going to help a lot of people here. It will help the honest and hard-working men of those city to expand their shops and attract more costumers."

Pope Alexander VII sends message to Catholics

- His Holiness, the Roman Pope Alexander VII
​

His Holiness, the Roman Pope Alexander VII, has send a message to all Catholic believers. He urges them to follow the true path of God and Virtue and not the path to Hell. "The pretenders in Vatican and the anti-Papacy are used by the Satan to lure away the Christian flock from the righteous path and to lead them to a life of sins and eventually to hell. Only submission to the Roman Church can save the souls of people and ensure that a virtuous life is led according to the will of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Pope Alexander VII is the most virtuous priest of the world. Before becoming Pope, he spend most of his time roaming the realm and both teaching the Bible to the people and helping them with problems. He truly lived as a Saint. During one such travel, he was burned alive but thanks to the advanced technology of Luthor Corp he has managed to survive, although he has to wear a special uniform. As a Pope, he has taken a staunch stance against the fake 'Popes' and wants to see that Catholics across the planet follow the righteous path.

 

[Gurra09]

Tales of Stolitsa​

"I've lived in the city for 27 years now but it still feels odd to call it my home, you know? I mean, I wasn't born here. I don't have any family here. I remember as a child how we used to call it the City of Light, dreaming of what opportunites were to be had in the capital. Most of the people I know here would probably think I'm crazy to say this, but life in Stolitsa isn't much different from anything I could have had if I stayed in Novy Brest. Most days are the same, you see. Get up in the morning, drink my coffee, take the early tram to work to avoid rush hour, make sure the cargo goes where it's supposed to, take the tram home, eat dinner, go to bed. Maybe if I had told my 18-year old self what I'm telling you, he wouldn't have left everything behind to go to the big city alone. But why dwell on the past? Stolitsa is where I live. Maybe it should be my home too."

- Aleksey Liakhovich, 45, dockworker


"I never knew my father growing up. He was supposedly around, my mother told me he lived not far from us, but I never felt the need to meet him. Mom was a nurse at the district hospital and I looked up to her so much, that when my time came to choose a direction in life I decided I wanted to be a nurse too. But halfway through nursing school, mom got really sick and the doctors said there was nothing they could do for her other than ease her pain. She was my whole world and suddenly she was just... gone. I didn't know what to do after that, and I contemplated leaving school for a while but decided to keep going. In search for answers I began looking for my father, and it didn't take too long for me to find him. He has a newspaper stand at Otechestvo but I can't seem to work up the courage to approach him. How do you talk to someone whose existence you've ignored your whole life?"

- Ivanna Ivanova, 22, nursing student


"There's not much I can tell you without breaching security protocols, but it sure is rewarding to work in law enforcement. I suppose that's why I still enjoy it after ten years on the force. People say our capital is a city of secrets and lies but I don't see it that way. Stolitsa is the heart of our Commonwealth and a very beautiful city which I am proud to serve and protect. Being a police officer in a big city is challenging work but there's so much more to it than putting on a uniform and keeping order in the streets. Believe me when I say this place wouldn't function a day without us."

- Aleksandra Petryshyn, 34, police officer

 

[Seon]

Vatican's Blessings to the People

People of our See, regardless of your beliefs and loyalties to the Faith--whatever form it may be. The Vatican and the Pope extends to you a message of peace and hope.

This world, Hemera as it is known, is surely a blessing of our lord God. Even today, snow falls from the heavens, just as it used to in our old world. Yet the differences--the alien sky, the sun that rises so much closer to the horizon, and the gravity that our bones are not suited for, must be observed--as a warning. We humans are weak, and our desires are driven by those of the flesh. In the name of intolerance, blind faith to those above their stations, greed, and other foolish, shortsighted sins of the flesh, we have lost Earth: our Garden and Birthplace of humanity. Surely this act of burning down our own Garden is something much graver than the Original Sin, and we all must now carry both burdens in our quest for absolution.

Our God is a merciful God. He has not exiled us out of our homeworld in spite, but rather, to provide us with our third chance. It is not enough to simply know about our mistakes of the past--we must learn and change for the better. We must be better custodians of our new world, and seek to combat injustice and inequality. Only when all of God's creations commingle and join together in a single choir, regardless of race, gender, or belief, in peace and harmony, will we finally be absolved of our sins.

Until that day comes, we must remain vigilant. Do not be angered by lack of piety and divisions, for God loves all children equally regardless of their obedience to the written words and actions of mankind: there are much worse things to direct your righteous wrath. Be angered by those who act without justice in their heart, giving undue punishment and demands to his fellow brothers and sisters. Surely such men are the same who in their weakness, destroyed our birthplace and cast us out of our Garden. Do not be hesitant to speak out against corruption and injustice against your brothers and sisters. Do not hesitate to protect the fellow faithful, the weak, and the oppressed regardless of their beliefs and attitude towards the Church. Such an act of nobility, kindness, and faith is surely the greatest sign of virtue, and all who behave in such a way will surely be rewarded by God.

Our flesh may be weak, but the spirit given to us by our God is strong. Act with the virtue that exists in your heart, and seek to make this world a better place than we have found it. Perhaps, one day, when all choirs commingle, we shall finally, as one, be forgiven.

 

[Sonereal]

From: Soulmind
To: New Vinland
CC: World

Soulmind will guarantee the territorial integrity of New Vinland and the Odin-based government. Foreign powers and New Vinland may still freely associate.

 

[Decamper]

From: New Vinland
To: Soulmind
CC: World

New Vinland graciously accepts Soulmind's guarantee, and confirms that New Vinland is still open to cooperation with Hemera at large.

 

[inthesomeday]

OOC are there multiple copies of each card, and if not, when we sell/use a card does it return to the deck for others to use?

 

[Decamper]

There are 2 copies of 4 and 6 power cards, but only 1 for 8 and 10 power cards. Used cards are put into a discard pile, then added back into the draw pile once it is empty.

 

[Decamper]

Orders are due in roughly 30 hours. Only one order set has been sent so far.

 

[Decamper]

8/15 orders in. Extending the deadline by 6 hours since I won't have time until after that anyways. So 12 hours until hardlock.

 

[Decamper]

/Compiled Net Report H-2175
//Relevant Sections Selected
///Begin Review

Hemeran News Aggregator: Gagarin At War, Kaaronian Industries Overwhelms Judea, Hemeran Empire Surprise Invades Kaaronian Ind. After Wave of Failed Sabotage Attempts

-Connected Links

-Gagarin Independant: Judea Reserve Government Pleads for International Assistance from Anti-Pope and abroad.

--Trending Comments

--PM Penzig: 「...I call on our friends and allies of the Anti-Pope, and all free and peace-loving states and citizens of Gagarin and Hemera to object to this barbarism. Judea will stand as long as God grants us strength, but know that the hunger of the beast will be turned to you soon after we fall...」

--User RoseChild: 「...We didn’t have time to grab anything, just run. They just… they turned it all to dust! A whole city, to dust!..」

--User HebronRises: 「...let the Empire ground their bones to dust. Let the devils rip each other apart...」

-Imperial Citizen’s News: Imperial Forces Restore Order in Tiboca and Aesilon with Minimal Loss of Life

--Trending Comments

--Gen. Vasiliev: 「...I cannot comment on the operations of our special forces, but I can unequivocally confirm that our men and women performed professionally and heroically in the operations to return Imperial authority over the Kaaronian breakaway provinces...」

--User 1H1E: 「...proud to be a true Hemeran citizen this day. Salute to our boys and girls in uniforms, and I’ll buy you all around when you finish the job!..」

--User Randomadrien: 「...I don’t support the use of violence in general, and of course I don’t believe the State should have the authority to take human lives at will. But, if the world refuses unity, then what choice does the Empire have...」

-Purity Times: Row Over Captured Spies in Foiled Our Garden Sabotage Attempt

--Trending Comments

--Pres. Goodman: 「...after interrogating the spies, who of course had had the machines removed from their defiled flesh, we have revealed without a shadow of a doubt that the Hemeran Empire has targeted Our Garden. We can not allow for the impure to threaten humanity...」

Hemeran News Aggregator: Soulmind Draws Away Top LDS Officials Before Major Invasion

-Connected Links

-Thule Academy Press: LDS Scientists, Generals and Academics in Thule Comment on War

--Trending Comments

--Dr. Teyton: 「...I still have my faith, and I always will call myself Mormon, but my faith is in God, not in the Empire. I will better serve His Will in Soulmind than I ever would have under the corrupt Later Day Saints Empire. I pray my brothers still in Taylorland will come to see as I do, before it is too late...」

-Mormon Times: Taylorland Holds Strong

--Trending Comments

--Prophet Peterson: 「...we are all threatened by Soulmind, every one of us. No matter the size of your country, or which name you call God, Soulmind is here to steal your flesh and your heart. If you will not fight for us, fight for yourselves, please...」

--User HolyWarrior31452: 「...our armour took a beating, I swear I could see it folding in as the outer layers burned away. Ventilation was shot, and our gunner was barely even conscious he was so stroked out. I’ve never prayed so hard, and by God we repaid those bastards twice as hard as they gave…」

Gagarin Independant: Anti-Pope’s Influence Spreads Across Northern Gagarin

--Trending Comments

--Bishop Dave B2-1: 「...the Collective has come to a consensus, and accepts the Anti-Pope’s argument regarding its proximity to the possibility of divinity as opposed to the argument made by the flesh pope…」

--User the_jellodancer: 「...between a robo-pope cult and a neo-luddite cult, I’ll take the one that lets me surf the net without a hand-held device...」

--User hebronRon348: 「...I never thought I’d say it, but God help that synthetic pope retake Judea...」

Hemeran News Aggregator: Corporate Collective Executives Relocate to the Socialist Republic, Crippling Conclave Administration

-Connected Links

-The Red Times: Capitalists Renounce their Ways to Join the Revolution

--Trending Comments

--User swolinstalin: 「...they can’t even pay them to stay greedy. Good on them! Keep ‘em coming I say!..」

--User CCCoonts: 「...since when are we taking in pigs as refugees?..」

Argentine Broadcast Company: Socialist Saboteurs Apprehended in Sarmiento

--Trending Comments

--Sec. Director Garcia: 「...these flagrant breaches of sovereignty and decency by the Socialist Republic are shameful, and must not be accepted by the international community. We demand punishment, and for the Socialists to stay out of Argentine and Fadlan affairs in general...

The Drake Conversation: Khan’s Expedition Unilaterally Secedes from New Haven, Forms Newest Country on Hemera

--Trending Comments

-- Pres. Ricardo: 「...we are a free people, with our own culture, and our own way of life. We do not wish ill will on New Haven, but we cannot continue to lie to ourselves. This is who we are...」

-- User crunchynjaunty: 「...let’s see how they fare without us. Can’t pay for the heat? Too bad. Can’t defend yourselves. Too bad. That’s ‘who you are’, after all…」

The Drake Conversation: Librarians Side with Five Nations Alliance

--Trending Comments

--Head Librarian Hejal: 「...The Library is open to all that seek knowledge, but we also know that this world is not only interested in self-improvement. We hope that this friendship with the Alliance will bring a new era of education and advancement in Drake...」

--User era_tosthe_nes: 「...as long as they they’re quiet in the halls ;^>...」

God’s Word Today: Nomads Heed the Pope’s Call

--Trending Comments

--User dopepope420: 「...liberal multicultural religiously tolerant Vatican ftw (as long as you’re Abrhamic)...」

News of Our Mother: Gaia-Hemeran Security Director Confirms Breach

--Trending Comments

-- Sec. Director Lillith: 「...a number of operatives defected or were otherwise extracted with sensitive information. We are on top of it. I have nothing else to say at the moment...」

Roman Citizens’ News Cast: Cross-border Trade Bolsters NPA and Roman Economies

--Trending Comments

-- User dustywings:「...as a NPA Ranger I can't say I'm too enthusiastic about the possibility of Roman companies exploiting our land, but as a boy born and raised in Severny, I'm happy to see jobs for my friends and family...」

Stats
Maps

Spoiler :

Writing Bonuses
Souldmind: +1SP, fighting the war in the mind and soul
Empire of New Rome: +1SP, has the best pope
Commonwealth: +1SP, listen to the humans of Stolitsa
The Vatican: +1SP, we must carry our burden

Notes
@KaiserElectric - unable to improve Meiji with 4SP, instead improved Fatmawati
@jackelgull - it would cost 21SP to improve Roti from 1 to 4 (1->2=4, 2->3=8, 3->4=12). 12SP was used to improve Roti to 3.
Please check over your stats to check for mistakes. I make them a lot.

Reminder to please send orders via the same conversation where I send you your cards. This makes my inbox substantially less awful to sort through.

Rule Changes/Clarifications
-Controlling a minor gives you half of its SP rounded up.
-Provinces can now only be improved by 1 a turn.

Orders are due 8:00AM JST, Thursday the 19th.

PMs will be sent soonish.

 

[Double A]

To: Kaaronian Industries
From: The Antipope

Get out.

 

[Sonereal]

-Cards are now going to be processed after regular SP orders. This makes it much easier on my side, as well as less chance of messing players’ orders up.

OOC: I hate this and I hate you for this.

In all seriousness, can this be opt-out if a player specifies? Totally not asking because my war plan depended on the card power activating before SP spending.

 

[Double A]

Here's a list of cards that get hurt by that in some way:

Spoiler :

4SP Mutual Prosperity - +1PP in your least developed province and +1PP in another neighbouring state's least developed province.

4SP International Trickle Down - All of your controlled minors gain 1PP in their capitals.

4SP Promised Land - take 1PP from 1 controlled minor, add 1PP to your least developed province.

4SP Border Incident - cause a state (major or minor) to invade a neighboring province (major or minor) with a strength of 4SP.

4SP Changing Attitudes - switch influence levels with one state in a minor

4SP Nationalist Movement - remove all influence of all states from a minor.

4SP Coms Failure - the targeted state's played event card is disabled (if not played as SP)

4SP Peace Protests - All invasions cause -1 influence in all minors for the invading state.

4SP Local Guides - actions outside of your home region have no penalties for 1 round.

4SP International Investments - gain +2SP for every controlled minor this turn.

4SP Together We Stand - cooperative invasions/sabotage/defense gain +1SP this turn.

6SP Diplomatic Blunder - one state loses all influence in 1 minor.

6SP Continental Paradise - Take 1PP from all controlled minors in the region, add them to your least developed provinces one at a time.

6SP Chaffing Under the Empire - remove 6 influence from minors the targeted state controllers (no more than 3 per minor).

6SP Regional Revolts - remove 2 influence of 1 state in all minors in 1 region.

6SP Regional Coms Failure - all played event cards in one region are disabled (if not played as SP)

6SP Brain Drain - Remove 1PP from another state's capital and add 1PP to your capital

6SP Independence Movement - The least developed province of a state secedes and forms own minor.

6SP Regional Peace Protests - All invasions cause -1 influence in all minors for the invading state. This applies to all states in 1 region.

6SP Union Referendum - 3PP worth of provinces of a neighboring and controlled minor joins your state.

6SP For the Motherland - all provinces receive +2PP worth of defense this round.

6SP For the Fatherland - all invasions receive +2SP worth of attack this round.

6SP Super Spies - All sabotage attacks receive +2SP worth of attack this round.

8SP Urban Relocation - you may relocate 3PP to your capital from other provinces.

8SP Global Revolts - remove 2 influence of the targeted state in all minors.

8SP Regional Popularity - improve your influence by 1 in all minors in 1 region

8SP Terror Attacks - halve PP in one province.

8SP Industrial Revolution - +1PP in your 3 least developed provinces

8SP Special Envoy - Gain enough influence in the targeted minor to gain control.

10SP Global Popularity - improve your influence by 1 in all minors.

10P Epidemic - Remove 2PP in a province, and remove 1PP in all neighboring provinces.

10SP Global Coms Failure - all played events this turn are disabled (if not played as SP).

10SP Global Peace Protests - All invasions cause -1 influence in all minors for the invading state. This applies to ALL states.

10SP Center of the World - Take 1PP from all controlled minors, add them to your least developed provinces.

(I removed like three)

 

[JamesCaesar]

To: Kaaronian Industries
From: The Antipope

Get out.

Go pope somewhere else filthy Catholic the holy land is ours.

 

[Decamper]

Yeah, didn't think the card action switch through enough. Reverted back to normal.

 

[Decamper]

Orders are due in roughly 45 hours.

 

[Sonereal]

TREATY OF TEMPLE PRIME
​

ARTICLE I: Soulmind and the Empire of the Latter-Day Saints declare the condition of war between them has ceased. They have decided to live in peace and accord in the future.

ARTICLE II: The territories of Temple Smith (now Temple Prime) and Youngland which formerly belonged to the LDS will no longer be under her sovereignty. The LDS gives up all interference in the internal affairs of the said territories. Soulmind intends to determine the future fate of the said territories.

ARTICLE III: The prisoners of war of both parties will be allowed to return home.

ARTICLE IV: The Empire of Latter-Day Saints will make available upon ratification of this peace treaty two (2) State Power to Soulmind.

ARTICLE V: Soulmind agrees to guarantee the independence of the LDS Empire, defined as the government retaining territorial sovereignty over Taylorland.

ARTICLE VI: Diplomatic and consular relations between the contracting parties are resumed at once after the ratification of the treaty of peace.

ARTICLE VII: In interpreting this treaty the authentic texts between Soulmind and Empire of the Latter-Day Saints shall be the Solian texts.

ARTICLE VIII: The present peace treaty must be ratified. Exchange of ratification documents must take place in Thule as soon as possible. The LDS Government binds itself to execute the exchange of ratification documents at the desire of Soulmind in the course of two weeks (OOC: 7 hours, but LDS already agreed to the terms so no biggie). The peace treaty enters into force at the moment of its ratification, unless otherwise stipulated in the respective articles, appendices thereof, or supplemental agreements thereto.

In witness thereof the plenipotentiaries have with their own hand signed the present treaty.

Done in duplicate, Temple Prime, 3 July 2175
***
Joĉjo Joachim Felicitas Pfaff, Outreach Minister of Soulmind
[REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EMPIRE OF THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS]

 

[Nuka-sama]

Great update Decamper, will have some posts soon