October 22: The Lovers

Lumiere, Auria

With a yawn and a stretch, Princess Ana opened her eyes as morning light filtered through the large east-facing window.

“Morning, beautiful.”

Leo Tellijā, the son of a connected banker who was recently made a member of the Royal Order of Elodie, laid next to her, gazing down at her from a stack of pillows with a cheeky grin. “Sleep well? Guess I should take that as a compliment, eh?”

She groaned, giving his chest a shove. “Shut it, you,” she grumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “You better get out of here, before the morning staff come through. I asked Kat if we could push breakfast back, so we should have a little more time, but that doesn’t mean that we should tempt fate.”

He sighs with a chuckle, eyes rolling. “You know, I’ll never get used to you calling the Queen ‘Kat.’ I get that she’s your sister, but… she’s still the Queen, you know!”

“Yes, but she’s still my sister. I’ve called her far worse things than ‘Kat.’” The princess draped her legs over the side of the bed, working up the energy to stand and walk across the spacious and opulent bedroom to her closet. “Usually when I’m mad at her, but still.” 

“I can imagine. I have two brothers myself, I know the life.” Tellijā stretched across the entire bed, looking content enough to stay there for the whole day. “Do you still bow to her?”

“Eh, sometimes, on formal occasions or in front of the staff. Depends on the day and my mood.” Emerging from the closet having donned a maroon halar embroidered with lilies, she picked up Tellijā’s various garments strewn about the room and started throwing them at him. “Now, come on, you oaf. Get up.”

He artfully dodged the chucked garments with fake indignation. “Who would want to wear clothes and be productive this early in the morning? Unless…” He winked, only to be met with a sock hurled at his nose.

“Did you not just hear me say I have breakfast with my sister soon? Unless you want to meet my family this early, I doubt you want to stay around.” She grabbed his arms and pulled him up, suppressing a giggle when he went for a spinning hug.

“Oh, alright, I guess I’ll leave you to your all-important royal business. Try not to crush too many of us peasants in your day to day duties, Princess.” The title sounded both teasing and admiring at the same time, making Ana almost blush.

She broke the hug first, handing him his wallet and cell phone. “Alright, you really should get going. You know how to get out the East entrance, right? Like last time?” 

He nodded. “Yep, all committed to memory,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll come in handy in the future too.” 

She smiled, before lightheartedly pushing him toward the door. “Go on, you rascal, before the trains get really busy.”

—

The palace’s private dining room was a moderately outdated, but still spacious, part of the Royal Residences Wing, with green wallpaper and dark moulding contrasting against a crystal and gold chandelier of Eirian make.

Princess Ana, now more composed and proper, nodded at the servant holding the door open for her as she entered, giving the same courtesy to her sister, who has already seated at the table. “Good morning.”

Queen Katherina, who looked both too old and too young to be in her mid-twenties, sat at the head of the table, a cup of tea in one hand and a piece of rye bread in the other. “Good morning, Ana. How did you sleep?”

“Fine, thank you,” she replied, picking up a porcelain plate and serving herself a couple of dishes from an elaborate tasting buffet in the corner of the room. “What about you?

“Oh, I slept well, thanks for asking.” Katherina traded the remainder of the bread for the Lumiere Record, hardly looking up from the newspaper as her sister sat beside her. “Mister Tellijā got home safe, I take it?”

Ana froze for a moment, before letting out a resounding and mildly irritated sigh. “Yes, he did. I gave him a transit card too, for his troubles.”

Katherina didn’t respond much to the attempt at humor, save for a little twitch in the corner of her mouth. “Good.” She waited in silence for a few moments. “In the name of the Angels, please tell me you used protection.” 

“Ew, Kat! What the-” Ana dropped her fork onto her shrimp pelmes in disgust. “Who the hell asks that at breakfast?”

“Just a concerned sister, that’s all,” The Queen replied, clearly not the most comfortable with the conversation either. “So… are you two serious?”

“Kat, I swear, if you don’t shut up, I’m throwing myself off of the northern terrace.” Ana picked at her dumplings for a few moments before replying. “I… I don’t know. I think, maybe, we could be? I don’t know…”

Dropping the cold, stony facade of a queen, Katherina reached out to grab her sister’s hand. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s not like I can judge someone for being uncertain about their romantic status. You don’t have to have anything figured out, just give it some time and some thought, okay?” 

Ana nodded her thanks, steadying herself. “Thanks. Speaking of… Any news on that front for you?”

The Queen looked downwards, her expression a mix of humor and disdain. “Nope, none.”

The princess looked at her for a few moments before donning a smile. “Don’t worry, Between me and Tōm, I think the family sees enough action.”

Katherina barked out a laugh. “Absolutely. Every day, I thank the Angels that he moved to Dernaca Manor. Seeing that revolving door of ‘companions’ would be more than I could bear.”

Taking a sip from her water glass, Ana shook her head with a smile. “Ugh. He’s gone through two-thirds of the college students west of the Davra at this point. You better get a move on, otherwise the realm will be left to one of his bastards.”

The Queen shrank back a bit, trying to fall behind her stony facade once again. “I guess.”

Ana immediately noticed her sister’s change in attitude. “I’m sorry if that hit a nerve,” she said sincerely, trying to discern what the issue might be. “Does that idea…make you uncomfortable? Are you uncomfortable with the idea of love?”

“I’m more than comfortable with it!” Katherina snapped, before softening again, trying her best to allow herself to show actual vulnerability. “I just… I’ve never really… wanted it like that. With all of the love from you all, my friends, and everyone who looks up to the Crown, I think I have enough love for a lifetime.”

Ana pursed her lips, nodding sympathetically. “I respect and appreciate that.” After picking at her breakfast some more in silence, she built up the courage to speak once more. “...that does mean that Tōm or his kids will inherit the throne, though, if you don’t have an heir.”

“I know,” Katherina said, staring down at her mostly empty plate in order to avoid looking her sister in the eye or reveal the cocktail of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

“Believe me, I know.”

Secretary-General Xochica walked briskly to the podium in front of the Council chamber, his expression flinty. In his hand, he clenched a blue and gold folder with the LIDUN seal on it. As everyone watched, he stepped behind the podium, laying the folder on top of it. He opened the folder, turning a page inside of it and briefly glancing at the page before beginning.

"Good morning, esteemed members of the Political and Human Rights Council. Before I get to the purpose of this meeting, I would first like to welcome our newest members, Eldid and Taragai. It is my hope that they will find membership in this body a worthy and fulfilling pursuit, and that they will be welcomed to the community of nations." Xochica nodded warmly at both delegations. "It is actually auspicious that I get to welcome Taragai to this assembly, as their nation is the subject of my concern today."

Xochica turned another page in his folder. "I come before this Council with a request. The LIDUN Charter grants this Council the right to 'appoint, or charge the Secretary-General with appointing, Special Envoys or Special Rapporteurs with the duty of investigating the condition of specific human rights worldwide, or instances of suspected breaches of human rights.' As of this moment, the Xiomeran Empire has engaged in what can only be described as a colonial occupation of Taragai." Despite the beginnings of angry murmuring from the Xiomeran delegation, Xochica continued without even glancing at them. "The Xiomeran government claims that their presence in Taragai is beneficial, desired and even welcomed by the local population. They claim that it is being led by local Taragaian leaders eager and willing to join the Empire. However, there have been many reports of this being a forcible occupation, rather than a joining of equals forming a commonwealth of nations."

Xochica tapped the podium. "I am requesting that this Council grant me the mission of appointing a LIDUN Special Envoy to investigate the Xiomeran presence in Taragai, and in particular the increasing reports of potential human rights violations by Xiomeran forces there. Xiomera claims that their occupation of Taragai isn't violating anyone's rights, and is in fact a willing act by the Taragaians. If that is the case, I am sure that the Xiomeran delegation, and the government they represent, would have no problem with this request. It will help us prove their statements as true, no?" Xochica finally turned to look pointedly at the fuming Xiomeran delegates as he said this, before raising his eyes back to the front of the room.

The IDU Advent Calender is a community RP Project where the goal is for each day in October, we will have one bite-size piece of IDU lore or roleplay to enjoy, themed around a particular prompt. This can take the form of a few paragraphs of lore, a news article or wiki page, a micro RP scene, or even a visual artifact from one of your nations. 

Saturday, October 17 –  The Queen of Coins – Laeral
Sunday, October 18 –  The High Priestess – Lauchenoiria
Monday, October 19 –  Spirits – Slokais Islands
Tuesday, October 20 –  The Emperor/The Empress – Xiomera
Wednesday, October 21 –  The Harvest – Laeral
Thursday, October 22 –  The Lovers – Eiria
Friday, October 23 –  The Chariot – Eldid
Saturday, October 24 –  The Hermit – LOM
Sunday, October 25 –  The Moon – Haesan
Monday, October 26 –  Potions – Eiria
Tuesday, October 27 –  Black Cat – Lauchenoiria
Wednesday, October 28 –  Ghosts – Eldid
Thursday, October 29 –  Costume – Eiria
Friday, October 30 –  Candy – Slokais Islands
Saturday, October 31 –  All Hallows' Eve – Lauchenoiria
Sunday, November 1 –  The Ace of Wands – Haesan
Monday, November 2 –  Masquerade – Eiria
Tuesday, November 3 –  Pumpkin – Laeral
Wednesday, November 4 –  Justice – Xiomera
Thursday, November 5 –  Cider – LOM
Friday, November 6 –  Demons – Slokais Islands
Saturday, November 7 –  Cauldron – Haesan
Sunday, November 8 –  Temperance – Laeral
Monday, November 9 –  The World – Xiomera
Tuesday, November 10 –  The Tower – Slokais Islands
Wednesday, November 11 –  Wheel of Fortune – Haesan
Thursday, November 12 –  Leaves – Eiria
Friday, November 13 –  Judgment – Lauchenoiria
Saturday, November 14 –  The Fool – LOM
Sunday, November 15 –  The King of Swords – Eldid
Monday, November 16 –  The Magician – Slokais Islands

I, President of the League of IDU Nations, hereby nominate to the Security Council the delegations of:

- Aredoa
- Darya
- Eiria
- Eldid
- Greater Acadia
- Haesan
- Laeral
- Lauchenoiria
- Libertas Omnium Maximus
- Novella Islands
- Opthelia
- Sanctaria 
- Slokais Islands
- Wosteaque

(Huenya will also automatically have a seat upon the Security Council, as per Article 7 of the Charter)

Voting will last for 72 hours.

Ketsalli restaurant, Chuaztlapoc
Private dining room
May 15th, 2026

"There's nothing else for it. We have to convince him to run," Ilhuicacihuatl said. She sighed irritably as she spooned sugar into her coffee. "I know that's not what either of you are wanting to hear, but you didn't hire either of us to mislead you."

Sitting next to Ilhuicacihuatl, Tochnehnemi issued his own slightly exasperated sigh. Tapping his fork against his plate pensively, he looked at the two men sitting across from him. "I hate to agree with her, seeing as I also hate her," Tochnehnemi said coolly. Ignoring the tongue that Ilhuicacihuatl stuck out at him, he continued. "If you both continue to run separate campaigns, as you are now, Xiadani is going to beat you both by at least fifteen points. And that's the number from the pollster that's friendly to us. You don't want to see the other numbers."

One of the men at the other end of the table adjusted his already perfectly-tied tie, shaking his head. "Unbelievable. It's really come to this." Popol, the presidential candidate for the Huenyan Conservative Party, took a large sip of wine from his wine glass. The other man next to him frowned at that. Acxopotl, presidential candidate of the Party of Huitzilopochtli, took a rather ostentatious sip from his glass of water in response. Popol rolled his eyes at the gesture. Seeing this, his campaign manager Tochnehnemi intervened to prevent yet another in a well-worn series of arguments between the two. "If we want to win, and for our parties to have any chance of boosting their own numbers in the Legislature to keep the Unificationists from steamrolling us, this is the only way. It sucks, but it is reality."

The other man across from them looked angry, unlike the resigned expression Popol had on his face. "Ilhuicacihuatl, do you agree? Do I really have no chance at all?" Acxopotl's expression, despite being angry like it often was, carried a faint hint of pleading as well. Ilhuicacihuatl shook her head bluntly. "Even if Popol dropped out alone, which he won't, the best you're likely to do against Xiadani is a fifteen to twenty point loss. It could even be worse. I also hate it, but if we want our parties to be anything more than a speed bump to the Unificationists, this is our only shot." Acxopotl was clearly stunned by her bluntness, but after a moment, nodded. "Then let us enact your brilliant plan. If you can make it work."

Ilhuicacihuatl and Tochnehnemi looked at each other briefly, realizing that they had just gotten their way. But sitting across from two of the most powerful men in Huenyan politics, something about being careful what you wished for couldn't help but run through their heads.

---

Press conference, outside the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
May 16th, 2026

"This is not a decision we make lightly," Popol said. Standing at a podium with the Huenyan flag draped on it, the Conservative candidate cut an elegant figure. On looks alone, he was exactly what a casting director would pick for someone playing president in a movie. Right down to the distinguished-looking gray at his temples and perfectly cut suit. The irony that such a perfect-looking candidate was basically handing his role to another escaped no one, including Popol. But he continued.

"Huenya's future is more important than any two men, or two parties. President Xiadani and the Unification Party cannot simply be given a blank check to run the country with no real opposition, or checks on their power. For a democracy to work, there must be a meaningful opposition. So today, the Conservative Party and the Party of Huitzilopochtli are joining forces. And we are making a personal appeal to the one leader in Huenya who has a chance at preventing us from becoming a defacto one-party state."

Popol gestured to Acxopotl, who was standing next to him. Acxopotl stood in front of the microphone, lights glaring on his clean-shaven head. "We are bringing two great parties together, in order to draft one great man. Director Cuetlancaona of the FIS, we know you're watching this press conference. So we are appealing to you, as a son of Huenya and a patriot, to take up our banner and run for president with us. Both Popol and myself are willing to step aside on your behalf, and put all of the resources of both our parties behind you. You're the one person who can help us ensure that Huenyan democracy and representative politics are protected. Milintica showed the dangers of being a one-party state. Huenya must avoid that fate. And Director Cuetlancaona, we know you can save our country from that. We'll be waiting for your call."

Acxopotl and Popol stood in front of the podium, hands raised together in what they hoped was an optimistically triumphant pose. "God, your hands are sweaty," Popol murmured disdainfully through his smile. "Shut up, you soft little drunk," Acxopotl murmured back through his own smile as they posed for the cameras.

As the two of them posed outside the Huenyan presidential residence, a curtain rustled slightly in an upper window. President Xiadani sat back down at her desk, thinking. After a moment, she picked up her phone. "We have a problem," she told the person on the other end of the line. "I need you and Yacanqui here in an hour."

Precisely an hour later, the two people that the President had summoned arrived. They were not a minute late, as Xiadani was notorious for disliking tardiness. Natcahuacu, the Chair of the Unification Party, took one seat in front of the large wooden desk. Yacanqui, Xiadani's campaign manager, took the other seat. Xiadani closed the lid to her laptop, looking steadily at them both. "I trust you both saw that press conference?"

Yacanqui nodded. "Sure did. Rather bold of them, to do it right on your front steps."

"It's a hollow gesture. They're trying to seem strong and unafraid, which doesn't really go well with their current messaging. 'Oh, big strong Director Cuetlancaona, save us from the monsters we can't actually defeat with our lousy campaigns.' Not exactly pictures of confidence," Natcahuacu said as he rolled his eyes.

"Perhaps. But we can't take them for granted. If they manage to somehow convince Cuetlancaona to take their offer, it changes everything. His poll numbers are ridiculously good for someone who isn't even running officially. He could pose a real threat to the President." Yacanqui took out her own laptop to begin taking notes. "We need to consider either warning Cuetlancaona off, or having a plan ready to weaken him if he does run."

"A plan? What kind of plan?" Xiadani's expression turned skeptical as Yacanqui continued. "Well, you could always indirectly or directly demand that he not run to remain FIS Director - privately, of course. We can also research some negative campaigning approaches. See if there's anything dirty or harmful in the Director's past that could hurt him politically. We could also 'find' such things if needed," Yacanqui continued, slowing as Xiadani's expression continued to shift. "Or, we could just redirect some of your negatives to him. We know that there are some in the electorate who blame you for the Golden Blade insurgency kicking off as badly as it did. He was FIS Director at the time, and would make a nice juicy target to bounce that blame to - "

Yacanqui suddenly halted as Xiadani raised her hand. "No. We are not going to do anything that weakens Cuetlancaona." Before either Yacanqui or Natcahuacu could object, Xiadani raised her hand again. "Cuetlancaona has done a superb job as FIS Director. We know that. More importantly, the voters know that. How can you be sure that people won't just see right through such tactics, and blame us for the smears?" Xiadani shook her head. "More to the point, even if he runs, I can take him. And after that election, I still have to work with the man. We still need him at FIS. Anything that weakens him in his role with the agency weakens Huenya. I don't want that on my conscience, when I can win this thing without it."

"So then...um...what do you want us to do?" Yacanqui said after a long pause.

"Just keep running the campaign as it is. Do not go negative, not even a little. You can hit the Conservatives and the PH for being so electorally weak that they had to pull this stunt in the first place, but that's it. Otherwise, focus on our accomplishments and our platform. That's the route we need to take," the President said firmly and confidently. "As for Cuetlancaona, I will handle that matter directly."

After another long pause, Yacanqui nodded. She stood up and left with Natcahuacu. The two of them exchanged a look as they exited the office that Xiadani recognized. It bore the same skepticism that the President had on her own face just a moment earlier. When she was alone, the President sighed. She was going to have to make another call later that day. 

---

Eztic Tower 3 residential block, Ixtenco
Five hours later

Five black SUVs pulled up at the entrance of Eztic Tower 3. FIS agents in black suits with blue ties exited two of them, forming a tight security perimeter. Two of the other SUVs disgorged another set of similarly clad FIS agents, as a single man exited the one in the middle of the convoy. FIS Director Cuetlancaona smiled and greeted the doormen as he entered the tower, followed by his security detail. The group boarded the two elevators in the lobby, using special keys to redirect them both only to the top floor. 

At the top of the tower, Cuetlancaona went inside his residence. The penthouse suite at Eztic 3 had been chosen both for its comforts, and its security. The Eztic tower block housed many important Huenyans and foreigners, and had top-notch security to include bulletproof windows and blast-resistant doors. FIS even maintained agents on top of Tower 3 with anti-aircraft missiles, in case someone decided to go after the FIS Director from the air. All of the security and duties attached to his role vanished, though, once he got inside.

"Tatsin!" A young girl came rushing to the entrance, throwing her arms around Cuetlancaona. "Well, hello, Yoyontli," he said as he wrapped his daughter up in a giant hug. "How are you doing, love?" Yoyontli proceeded to tell her father how she was doing and literally everything that had happened to her that day. A soft chuckle from the living room interrupted the girl's rapid-fire speech. "Your father just got home, let him rest a bit, child. Go wash up for dinner." Animitl, Cuetlancaona's wife, gently ushered her daughter off to wash up before giving Cuetlancaona a hug of her own. "Glad you're home," she said.

"I'm glad to be home. It's been a day. Had to deal with a residual Golden Blade cell in Aquiyahuatl, and the leftover mess from our Milintican intervention." Cuetlancaona sighed as he shrugged off his suit and began loosening his tie.

"And some people trying to draft you for president," Animitl replied with a mischievous smirk on her face. Cuetlancaona sighed again, pausing mid-tie-removal. "There was also that, yes."

"Have you....thought about that?" Animitl asked. Cuetlancaona shrugged. "It's tempting, I won't lie. I know I could win, if I ran. And I know I could do the job."

"I heard a but there," Animitl said. Cuetlancaona chuckled; she really knew him too well. "There are several buts. FIS is still doing extremely important work, and still learning how to do it. We've only been an intelligence agency for a couple of years now, going up against countries who have been playing the spy game forever. Especially the Empire. I don't know how I feel about leaving that - it's not a complete task. There's also the other questions that go along with this. Would I do a better job than Xiadani, or at least as good as she's done? Has she done anything, or not done anything, that is worth her losing her job? Also...men like Popol and Acxopotl are hardly the generous or self-sacrificing sort. What if they expect to be the power behind the throne? What if they expect to be able to control me, or puppeteer me, once I get elected? That would be a problem."

"You could appoint someone at FIS to make sure the job continues to get done right, and be in an even stronger position to protect Huenya as president," Animitl said calmly. "And you would make a damn fine president, if I do say so myself. And I do," Animitl smirked, earning another laugh from Cuetlancaona. "But you're right...Xiadani hasn't done anything that disqualifies her. I still think her heavy-handed response to the insurgents triggered the last big uprising. But if the rumors are true, it's also her threat to stuff a nuke down Calhualyana's throat that ended the insurgency. So there's that." Animitl paused. "I know you probably won't answer me...but are those rumors true?"

Cuetlancaona simply smiled and tapped his lips silently. Animitl smirked back. "Of course. So what else is making your decision hard?"

"The biggest reason of all. There are already people out there who want me dead, being FIS Director." Cuetlancaona looked around his apartment, eyeing the bulletproof windows and contemplating the security gauntlet around his residence. "If I become president, that only gets worse. You and Yoyontli would be even more at risk."

"There's no reward without risk. I knew that when I married you," Animitl replied. "You will protect us, as always. And it's not like I'm unfamiliar with how to protect myself or Yoyontli." Cuetlancaona nodded in agreement; Animitl had fought on the side of Huenya during the Civil War, earning a medal for her actions at Chuaztlapoc in defense of Yauhmi. She wasn't, by definition, a typical housewife. Cuetlancaona placed his head on Animitl's shoulder as she gave him a hug. "Whatever you decide to do, president or not, we're going to be right here with you."

A soft ping interrupted their hug. "Director? There is a call coming in from the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli. It's the President," a voice echoed over the intercom. Cuetlancaona stepped back slightly, looking at Animitl. "Don't let her grill you," she said with a grin. Cuetlancaona smiled as he went into his private office.

Once seated at his desk, Cuetlancaona steeled himself before answering the call. "Madam President," he said in a neutral voice. Xiadani smiled slightly on the screen. "Director. I hope I am not interrupting you. I know you're at home with your family, so I'll keep this brief."

Here it comes, Cuetlancaona thought. He had done enough interrogations to feel like he knew when one was beginning. But to his surprise, Xiadani's usual smile turned into something warmer. "We've worked well together over the past few years. We've worked to keep Huenya safe, helped it become more secure, and thwarted a bunch of Imperial schemes along the way. I think thwarting those schemes was my favorite part."

Cuetlancaona smiled despite himself, as Xiadani continued. "If you decide to run for president, I will run a hard campaign against you. But I will keep it decent. No lies, no smears, no personal attacks, no diving into the mud. All I ask is that you do the same." The FIS Director nodded as Xiadani continued. "I want to make sure that no matter what, whether as president or continuing as FIS Director, that you can do your job without being tarnished. Just extend me the same courtesy, and we'll be good."

"I agree. I have no wish to tarnish you either. Just so you know, I haven't decided if I am even running yet."

"I figured as much." Xiadani smiled again. "I honestly do not intend to try to influence your decision or place undue pressure on you. There are some that would like me to, but that's not how I want to be in power. Whatever you decide, I want us to be fair to each other so that we can both continue to serve Huenya no matter how this all plays out. As for your decision...sleep on it. Don't decide now. I'll hear about it like everyone else, on the news. Have a good night, Director."

Cuetlancaona nodded, a bemused smile on his face, as Xiadani ended the call. That went better than I expected. His always-analytical mind processed the call. Did Xiadani really mean it, or was she playing nice to throw him off? Cuetlancaona was, by sheer necessity, a very good judge of character. But this was a challenge to read even for him. The FIS Director continued to think as he went out into his apartment to have dinner with his family.

This June, tastebuds are in for a treat as the International Cheese Festival makes its return to the Eternity Convention Center, bringing together hundreds of cheeses from across the International Democratic Union in a demonstration of skill, innovation, and culinary craftsmanship. Wander through a world of flavor where artisan craft meets grand-scale mastery, and the finest cheeses from protected regions compete for the highest honors. Sip curated wine and beer pairings while music from across the IDU fills the air.
And for families, delight awaits—costumed characters sharing bites of joy at every turn. This year’s theme: “Tastes That Stand the Test of Time” promises a celebration of taste shaped by care for the earth and adoption of sustainable production practices.

Festival held June 5th-7th, 2026.
Tickets are on sale now.
The future of cheese... is delicious!

WHO: All IDU Nations and nations from IDU embassy regions
WHAT: Enter the International Cheese Festival 2026. 
WHERE: Submit an entry for consideration for awards in this thread.
WHEN: Entries Accepted April 9-May 10. Voting May 10 - June 5.
WHY: The Winner of "Best in Show" hosts next year's International Cheese Festival.

Entry Form
Nation: 
Name of Cheese:
Category: A) Artisan/Farmhouse, B) Industrial/Large Scale, or C) Cheese from protected regions or special origins D) Innovative production methods or sustainable/climate conscious practices. One entry from each category will receive a Blue Ribbon for that category. 
Description: Please include milk type (cow, sheep, goat, exotic, or mixed), Texture (fresh, soft, semi-soft, hard, extra hard, bleu/marbled), Age (young, medium, vintage), flavorings or other distinctive process, and where the cheese is produced within your nation. Why is the cheese is named what it is? Photos of the cheese are encouraged but not required.

Optional 
Will your cheese be paired with any beer or wine? If yes, please describe:

Will a Music artist/group from your nation perform on the Festival Stage? If yes, please describe:

Will a costumed character representing your nation stroll the festival passing out snacks to families? If yes, please describe:

May the best cheese win!

Yousef Chaher was at the end of his tether. It had been three years since he’d headed to Salad Land with his motley crew, and he was beginning to think that the Marquis would never allow them to leave. First it was jail, then it was lizards, and now it was these fur-covered sneeze machines. He’d tried writing to Leila, now that she was a queen, to ask for a nice, friendly invasion force, but he’d never heard back.
 
“Think about it this way,” Citlalnite said as he wiped down the counter and nudged a grey tabby to the floor, “you got out of Lauchenoiria, which was your original goal, no?”
 
“You’re just too scared to stand up to the government cause you think they’re Xiomeran puppets,” Chaher grumbled.
 
Citlalnite looked around sharply, as if they could be overheard by anything other than the twenty-seven cats of the Curious Cat Café, the home base for the Salad Land Cat Crew, and their current other job.
 
“Personally, I LOVE it here!” José enthused, scooping out a litter tray with an unnatural amount of joy. A calico batted at his fake cat tail as he tied the handle of the bin bag, eyeing himself in a nearby mirror to check that the fake whiskers he’d drawn on with eyeliner were still in place.
 
“Why are you still wearing that ridiculous costume? They did not give us a new uniform after they disbanded the lizard service,” Chaher grumbled.
 
“Because it’s FUN!” José laughed, ticking the calico under the chin.
 
“I hate you,” Yousef said, stomping over to the door to let the next round of customers in.
 
The Curious Cat Café had been set up around a month into their new roles as cat wranglers on the feline-infested island. While their primary job was TNR and rehoming, there simply weren’t enough homes to go around. It had been José’s idea to set up their own cat café for some of the homeless kitties, and Mayor Tlotli had approved the idea with great gusto. Tlotli seemed to approve every idea that meant Citlalnite had to stay near.
 
The cat café market on Salad Land was very saturated, to the point where pretty much every café was a cat café whether it intended to be or not. At first, with such a competitive market, they’d had very few customers. That is, until people started to realise that they were legally obligated to solve any cat-related problems. Then the queries started.
 
Today, there were a few regulars – Mickey Knife, the insane chef; a couple elderly men; and the owner of the Parrot House who gave a different name each time she was asked. There was also an anxious-looking middle aged couple, which Chaher immediately spotted, his heart sinking just a little more.
 
 “Excuse me,” the man said hesitantly. “I hear you can solve… problems.”
 
“Oh yes!” José interrupted, two pairs of cat ears perched on top of his head. “We’re great at solving problems – lizards and cats! Not boats though; we don’t do boats any longer.”
 
The couple looked at each other, clearly regretting their decision somewhat.
 
“Well there are no boats… as far as I know…” the man began.
 
“What is it?” Yousef asked impatiently.
 
“Well, you see, it’s Boots. He’s doubling,” the woman said.
 
“He’s… what?” Citlalnite asked. “I take it Boots is a cat?”
 
“Oh yes, he’s a wonderful cat!” she gushed. “So elegant; a tuxedo; always comes when he’s called and never eats things he shouldn’t! I couldn’t wish for a better cat!”
 
“Right, so what’s the problem?” Yousef snapped.
 
“He’s doubling!”
 
“I don’t know what that means,” Citlalnite apologised.
 
“Every morning when we come downstairs, there’s twice as many Boots!”
 
“I’m gonna guess you don’t mean footwear,” Yousef sighed, finally picking up his notepad.
 
“No, she means cats,” the husband said. “Identical cats. Four days ago, we came downstairs to find a second cat, with identical markings to Boots. We figured he’d just made a similarly-coated friend, but the next day there were four of them. And then eight. And then sixteen! And this morning…”
 
“Thirty-two identical tuxedo cats!” the woman exclaimed. “Not a difference between them!”
 
“Okay, even if they’re all littermates, that’s too many,” Citlalnite mused. “And completely identical markings are rare, especially in cats without a solid colour. Perhaps we best make a visit to your house and check this out.”
 
“Oh, please do!” the woman nodded. “We can’t afford to feed sixty-four cats tomorrow! And there’s not enough room!”
 
“Right, well, we’ll be round after close of business today. Please fill out this form with your details. Would you like a coffee while you do so?”
 
Citlalnite showed the couple to a table, taking their order and handing them a stack of complicated looking forms asking for their personal details and a description of their cat-related problem. The forms, which had been written in part by José and, naturally, approved by the Mayor, decided whether or not the problem was eligible for government funding. The forms were also, of course, designed to trick those filling them out into not being eligible for government funding. And also to confuse the filler, though that may have been unintentional on José’s part.
 
“Excuse me,” the man said at one point, while Yousef was passing, “what does ‘rank seven different superpowers in order of preference’ have to do with there being thirty-two tuxedo cats in my house?”
 
“I knew someone who wasn’t a parrot should’ve proofread those forms,” Yousef grumbled. “Just say you want to fly and don’t like invisibility; it’ll make José like you.”
 
And as evening fell, the crew shut up shop and prepared to go and solve the mystery of the doubling cat.

"The Best Fried Chicken in Lao Sansong"

Tara Chatelain peered down at the quiet stretch of the roadway below. The night was frigid and still, with snowdrifts knee-deep on the rocky ground. This side of the border, only a small handful of kilometers from Laeralian territory, looked no different from the Xueyan hinterlands where she had grown up. Even though their mission tonight was strictly secret, a black ops mission that had been foisted on Tara and her squadmates through Intelligence, the cold and the foreboding pines of the surroundings didn’t bother her. If it hadn’t been for the fence they’d had to cut through at the Sansongian border, it would’ve felt just like one of the many training missions in the Xueyan territory she’d undergone to make Special Forces. Deliver death from afar, and slip back through the fence into the Laeralian side of the border.

Her walkie-talkie clicked.

“Signal Gold, Signal Gold.” That was Cesar, the spotter, confirming the target en route and with the expected escort. Tara’s grip tightened on her rifle, and she flexed her fingers in their nimble shooter’s gloves. A moment later, a road along the empty roadway heralded the arrival of the target. Just as their contact, a disgruntled retainer in the powerful Arkunda clan, had warned them.

“Target confirmed. Signal Green.” That was for Tara. She flicked the switch on the detonation device to power it on. A few heartbeats later: a BOOM from the roadway, as a red-and-orange cloud blossomed to life in the air. The speeding limousine which had been racing down the roadway, the dual-feather crest of the Arkunda clan emblazoned on its side, went tumbling onto its side. One of the motorcycle outriders from behind the car spun off the road and into a tree. There was a moment of silence, and then the gunfire began from the Laeralites’ ambush.

Staccato bursts of gunfire, from cruder assault rifles than those the Laeralites customarily used, raked the overturned car. There was no gunfire in response, and at a signal from the squad’s leader, the Laeralian squad ceased fire. Silence reigned over the woods, apart from the hiss and pop of the small fire guttering on the roadway.

“Dancer Three here, I’m going in,” Tara said over the comm. Grasping her rifle in both hands, she crept towards the roadway, approaching it stealthily. In the ditch by the edge of the road, she took out an empty clip of ammunition, engraved with the quasi-religious Arikata verses common to a local militant clan, and tossed it to the ground with a gloved hand.

“No sign of life here,” she said over the comm. “Report target downed.” Arkunda Hachiro, a lesser member of the region’s dominant Arkunda clan, was the target of the night’s ambush. A shady character, with interests in cross-border gunrunning and narcotics, he was nevertheless too small of a fish to normally merit a special forces hit—even in the frontier regions of Lao Sansong, where Laeralian commandos routinely operated. No, the goal tonight was to stir up the hornet’s nest of Sansongian politics, keeping the local clans and warlords focused on each other rather than venturing across the border into Laeral.

There was a small pop from the road, and Tara froze, scanning the roadway for danger. There was nothing, except for a few trashed fast-food wrappers rustling in the breeze. Then, Tara saw it. Someone from inside the car, desperately wounded, had crawled out, and in his hands he clutched a brace of grenades. Smiling a coarse, bitter smile in Tara’s direction, he chuckled and pulled the pin.

____________________________________________________________

Tara woke up in the darkness. She was cold, uncomfortably clammy, with a pounding head, and she was wearing dark clothing. Where was she? Some kind of ditch, it appeared, next to the road.

The walkie-talkie clipped to her shoulder squawked. “Dancer Three, fall back to reserve extraction point. Hostiles are inbound. Dancer Three, fall back to reserve extraction point.” She didn’t know who was talking to her, but it sounded important. Her head ached in protest at the noise.

There was a burst of gunfire in the distance—not far away, and getting closer. Reserve extraction point. Where was that? It would have been covered in the pre-mission briefing, but Tara couldn’t remember anything about it. She couldn’t remember even going to whichever place—it looked like Lao Sansong—where she was now.

There were a handful of pieces of paper in the ditch and on the road around her. Tara picked one up.

Day One

Alpine Skiing

Men’s Downhill Ski

Brent van Norberg (Haesan): 1:40.31 [OR]
Vinod Solanki (Darya): 1:41.03
Rouzi Kambarov (Karakhtan): 1:41.65
Osvaldo Del Bosque (Lauchenoiria): 1:42.58
Talwyn Parker (Astoria): 1:42.78
Blake Fèvre (Auria): 1:43.04
Koichi Saito (Misumi): 1:43.65
Alain Colbert (Salad Land): 1:44.41

Chin-Hae Hu (High Fells): 1:44.94
Chimalpopoca (Huenya): 1:45.14
David Hadley (LOM): 1:45.22
Jackson Alvaro (Slokais Islands): 1:45.53
Selby Dawson (Opthelia): 1:46.11
Seon-woo Ok (Pharitaya): 1:46.53
Gordon Moody (Novella Islands): 1:46.57
Dominic Caviglia (Ecclesiastical Dominions): 1:46.58
Sigfrid Bosch (Kerlile): 1:46.60
Joaquin Tenstrike (Lavender Country): 1:46.84
Vicente Havana (Great Tequila Island): 1:46.92
Kiyoshi Roberts (Opthelian Commonwealth Team): 1:47.20
Marwan Doud (Mallacaland): 1:47.43
Maxeine Corubus (Kolda): 1:48.08
Tadeus Zirnis (Eiria): 1:49.45
Arthur Gan (Laeral): 1:49.52
Esteban Cañas (Aredoa): 1:49.71
Kenneth Broussard (Gardavasque): 1:50.24
Tequetzal (Xiomera): 1:51.55

Women's Downhill Ski

Elisa McKey (LOM): 1:40.16 [OR]
Silvē Alard (Auria): 1:40.44 {OR}
Megan Wright (Opthelia): 1:41:50
Masako Mikami (Misumi): 1:41.96
Agatha Stevenson (Salad Land): 1:42.34
Chandra Raihan (Darya): 1:42.75
Eileen Chu (High Fells): 1:42.76
Delphine Pajot (Laeral): 1:43.31

Asena MacClelland (Kerlile): 1:43.59
Dinara Navai (Karakhtan): 1:44.01
Michelle Ing-wen (Gardavasque):1:45.01
Eleanor Wright (Novella Islands): 1:45.90
Judita Ozola (Eiria): 1:45.95
Meg Duncan (Astoria): 1:46.06
Mira Szegedi (Lavender Country): 1:46.26
Alicia Heraldsley (Haesan): 1:46.83
Frida Montelobos (Great Tequila Island): 1:47.33
Ava Hangar (Ecclesiastical Dominions): 1:47.48
Jovie Cantillo (Slokais Islands): 1:47.68
Teresa Avilés (Aredoa): 1:48.18
Alica Almedine (Kolda): 1:48.19
Moyoletzal (Huenya): 1:48.73
Nayara Diaz (Lauchenoiria): 1:49.11
Qadr Sader (Mallacaland): 1:50.35
Tapayaxi (Xiomera): 1:50.53

Men's Combined Ski

Henry Thoraed (LOM): 1:59.96 [OR]
Thevakar Singh (Darya): 2:00.97 {OR}
Yukio Iwata (Misumi): 2:01.18 {OR}
Joel Fox (Astoria): 2:01.30
Davie Hepburn (Opthelian Commonwealth Team): 2:02.05
Julian Delest (Auria): 2:02.83
Julyan Hicks (Opthelia): 2:02.85
Ji-ho Park (Novella Islands): 2:02.88

Cihuanan (Huenya): 2:03.40
Oiva Jusic (Kerlile): 2:03.66
Simon Clarkson (Salad Land): 2:03.69
Amadeo Maglione (Ecclesiastical Dominions): 2:04.14
Stefan Rice (Lavender Country): 2:04.27
Maqsud Sabri (Karakhtan): 2:04.47
Ben Cantillo (Slokais Islands): 2:04.75
Riks Kallas (Eiria): 2:05.87
Joshua Flor de Caña (Great Tequila Island): 2:06.05
Man-shik Du (High Fells): 2:06.31
Seon-woo Ok (Pharitaya): 2:06.42
Renato Echevarria (Lauchenoiria): 2:06.46
Yolhual (Xiomera): 2:06.55
Damián Rebolledo (Aredoa): 2:06.94
Marwan Doud (Mallacaland): 2:07.65
Kenneth Broussard (Gardavasque): 2:07.70
Mongkut Intanon (Refugee Team): 2:07.82
Pierre Wang (Laeral): 2:08.18
Thabiut Beauchamp (Kolda): 2:08.39
Seong-jin Gim (Haesan): 2:09.85

Women's Combined Ski

Masako Mikami (Misumi): 2:00.15 [OR]
Sophie Taylor (Opthelia): 2:00.54 {OR}
Lucy Shelton (High Fells): 2:00.65 {OR}
Elisa Pikard (Auria): 2:01.31
Amannisa Kimsanova (Karakhtan): 2:01.62
Donatella DiGiornali (Ecclesiastical Dominions): 2:03.19
Samantha Xian (Slokais Islands) 2:03.71
Druti Bapodra (Darya): 2:03.85

Miku Sasaki (Novella Islands): 2:04.86
Yayauhqui (Huenya): 2:04.90
Ella Kealoha (Opthelian Commonwealth Team): 2:05.03
Erin Runnells (Astoria): 2:05.20
Junxuan Yang (Laeral): 2:05.38
Anong Intanon (Refugee Team): 2:05.88
Pauline Trudeau (Salad Land): 2:06.32
Iveta Vondrakova (Lavender Country): 2:06.40
Kornēlija Lapsina (Eiria): 2:06.55
Adelaida Caballero (Lauchenoiria): 2:06.73
Waimarie Wildgrube (Kerlile): 2:07.04
Soraya Zaya (Great Tequila Island): 2:07.37
Michelle Ing-wen (Gardavasque): 2:07.39
Sienna Torres (LOM): 2:07.54
Rosalía Montero (Aredoa): 2:08.21
Alicia Heraldsley (Haesan): 2:09.24
Mazahua (Xiomera): 2:09.64

Bobsled

Men's Monobob

Valdir Aleixo (Selifleur): 1:00.61 [OR]
Harry Brown (Opthelia): 1:01.20
Mark Howe (LOM): 1:01.24
Nathan Rogier (Eiria): 1:01.28
Jamal Rockland (Gardavasque): 1:01.77
Seleman Kimathi (Kabo Geshaan): 1:01.81
Wolf Princeton (Lavender Country): 1:02.11
Alejandro Garcia (Huenya): 1:02.11

Emiliano Santera (Great Tequila Island): 1:02.20
Ashur Umidov (Karakhtan): 1:02.80
Rafiur Malik (Andhrapur): 1:02.90
Mecaxiuitl (Xiomera): 1:03.08
Narciso Nabisco (Ecclesiastical Dominions): 1:03.47
Kristaps Piksons (Auria): 1:03.56
Wiley Carter (Salad Land): 1:03.66
Lázaro Balboa (Aredoa): 1:03.66
Khalid Ghanem (Opthelian Commonweath Team): 1:03.70
Leonard Rowland (Novella Islands): 1:03.74
Yaşar Aslan (Serriel): 1:04.01
Jun Wang (Laeral): 1:04.08
Rigoberto Suarez (Lauchenoiria): 1:04.17
Kenichi Amado (Misumi): 1:04.43
Pierre Aubin (Haesan): 1:04.44
David Zheng (Slokais Islands): 1:04.49
Pradit Ketukaeo (Pharitaya): 1:04.68
Hye-jong Ri (High Fells): 1:04.76
Arun Shastri (Darya): 1:05.16
Hamid Rosa (Kerlile): 1:05.21

Women's Monobob

Isabel Lewis (Opthelia): 1:01.75 [OR]
Stella Dupont (Laeral): 1:01.84
Mary Margaret McCleneghan (Gardavasque): 1:01.91
Ieva Kozlova (Eiria): 1:02.51
Misako Matsui (Misumi): 1:03.21
Glenna Jang (Kerlile): 1:04.03
Rozina Tabassum (Andhrapur): 1:04.08
Maral Daureneva (Karakhtan): 1:04.34

Clemencia Diego (Lauchenoiria): 1:04.44
Samantha Garrison (Salad Land): 1:04.52
Ichyaxi (Xiomera): 1:04.60
Masha Hanover (Lavender Country): 1:04.78
Zipactencatl (Huenya): 1:05.59
Zoe Conejos (Great Tequila Island): 1:05.68
Hanife Can (Serriel): 1:05.75
Rani Adhya (Darya): 1:05.78
Amália Maocha (Selifleur): 1:05.85
Soo-jin Jung (Novella Islands): 1:05.85
Manaia Pouri (Auria): 1:05.86
Isabel Peralta (Aredoa): 1:05.95
Tanissa Yoncè (Ecclesiastical Dominions): 1:06.01
Allison DeMille (LOM): 1:06.09
Liah Gatchl (Slokais Islands): 1:06.62
Gyeong-jun Bak (Haesan): 1:06.67
Kanlaya Cherinphon (Pharitaya): 1:06.81
Jemima Kincaid (High Fells): 1:07.29