You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got.
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone.
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, Something's out there.
Floating in the summer sky.
99 red balloons go by.

DTNS Morning News Bulletin, 2/15/23: "Good morning. I'm Indrani Lal, and this is the DTNS morning news update. At the top of our headlines this hour, Lauchenoirian officials have reported the discovery of a large balloon apparently making observations within their airspace. The balloon was first sighted in the skies above Liaville, in Aeluria, before taking an easterly course over Elopolis. If it continues on its present route, the balloon is expected to fly over the Lauchenoirian capital, Buttercity, before possibly passing over Usera. Observers on the ground reported that the balloon seems to be able to shift direction on its own, implying an onboard propulsion source. Who owns the balloon, or what its function is, remains a mystery. No government or company has stated that it owns the balloon, and with the Lauchenoirian government not yet releasing an official comment on the balloon, the people on the ground in Lauchenoirian cities are left to speculate and debate on the unexpected arrival."

99 red balloons.
floating in the summer sky.
Panic bells, it's red alert.
There's something here from somewhere else.
The war machine springs to life.
Opens up one eager eye.
Focusing it on the sky.
Where 99 red balloons go by.

DTNS Evening News Bulletin, 2/15/23: "Good evening, this is Tyler Walsman with your DTNS evening news update. At the top of the hour tonight, a strange balloon sighted over Lauchenoiria has reached the nation's capital Buttercity, continuing on its still unexplained journey. It also appears to have spawned siblings, as sightings of similar balloons are now being reported in other countries as well.

In Milintica, a similar balloon passed over the island of Koputāroa before reaching the Milintican capital of Huānoch within the past hour. Milintican Su-25 attack jets shot the balloon down once it reached the capital, causing minor damage to a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. No casualties were reported. President Matōchmizalo of Milintica had this to say after the balloon was shot down.

Matōchmizalo: "This is clearly a violation of our sovereignty by some unknown actor, but we will recover the wreckage and determine who is responsible quickly enough. The Democratic Peoples' Republic of Milintica will not tolerate such offensive acts and will respond against the aggressor responsible in due time."

Walsman: "Koputāroa is the second largest of the five islands that make up Milintica, and is home to the country's second largest naval and air bases. Milintican officials stated that is proof of the espionage nature of the balloon.

Meanwhile, a third balloon passed over Manauia at the same time as the one that was shot down in Milintica. Manauian forces took no hostile action against the balloon, but did issue a formal protest at what they also termed a violation of their sovereignty. The balloon made a circular route over Manauia before heading eastward towards Antepec Island, a Xiomeran colony. This led Manauian officials to accuse Xiomera of operating the balloon, a charge that Xiomera's government has so far not commented on.

And reports have just come into our international desk of two more balloon sightings. Huenya's military has reportedly shot down a similar balloon just now near the city of Coamac, a few miles west of the front line between Huenyan forces and ethnic Xiomeran separatists in eastern Huenya. A surface-to-air missile brought the balloon down, causing some damage to the outskirts of Coamac. One person was reported injured on the ground. Huenyan officials called the balloon 'a clear attempt to gain intelligence'.

Another balloon has been sighted in Eiria, on a southerly route which will take it over New Riga towards the Eirian capital of Geminus. There has been no response yet from Eirian officials."

99 Decision Street.
99 ministers meet.
To worry, worry, super-scurry.
Call the troops out in a hurry.

- Lyrics from 99 Red Balloons by Nena

Prelude I: Xochuaxte Palace, Chuaztlapoc, January 25th
8:00 am, Huenyan time

Tonauac rode his favorite horse, Ehecatl, enjoying the sun and warm weather around the Huenyan royal palace. The 12-year-old, like his father, had taken to riding at a young age. It was an archaic form of transportation in a modern world, but it was a tradition that had the added benefit of being entertaining.

The plains to the east of the palace were relatively undeveloped, as the palace was a good distance from the center of the city. Cresting a small rise, Tonauac could see the rapidly growing sprawl of western Chuaztlapoc, where the new government capital had been placed. As he enjoyed the scenery, he heard a slight rustle behind him. Two men were stepping out of a jeep marked with Huenyan Army insignia. The two soldiers stopped some distance from Tonauac, nodding respectfully. "Your Highness, there has been an emergency back at the palace with your mother. Your father has summoned you. Please come with me. Your horse will be taken back to the stables," one of the soldiers said, gesturing to the other.

Tonauac nodded, and was about to step down from his horse, when he had a thought. "You said my father summoned me. Is he not currently on the eastern front?"

The soldier paused, then quickly said "He returned to the palace due to the emergency. Please come quickly, there is not much time."

Tonauac began to get an uneasy feeling. Normally, the palace would only send Shorn Ones to retrieve him. He noticed a third soldier in the back of the jeep, staring expectantly at him. "I think I will ride back to the palace," he said, taking a firmer grip on the reins.

"There is not enough time! Your mother needs you, you must come with us now," the first soldier said, stepping forward as if to grab the reins. Tonauac's sense of alarm spiked. He shouted a command to Ehecatl, and the horse bolted westward. The soldier who had been speaking to him cursed, unholstering his pistol and firing at Ehecatl. With a sharp jerk of the reins, Tonauac managed to dodge the gunfire. Okay, yeah, those aren't soldiers, the Huenyan prince thought with a sinking feeling. He had to get back to the palace, somehow outrunning people in a vehicle. While his horse may have been slower, Tonauac did have one advantage: he didn't need to stick to roads.

As the men following him shouted angrily, Tonauac guided Ehecatl off the road into the rough plains. More gunfire followed, but again, he was able to dodge it. As he led his mount through the plains and small hills, the men in the jeep began to fall behind. Tonauac knew the land around the palace better than almost anyone, and all the short cuts it contained. Soon, the angry curses faded behind him. Within moments, the walls of Xochuaxte Palace rose into view. Ehecatl ran full speed through the gates, startling the guards. 

In the front courtyard, his mother Tlalmaxxi had just emerged outside with several guards. "Son, are you okay? We heard gunshots," she asked, as the guards helped Tonauac off the horse. "I'm fine....but those people were shooting at me."

Tlalmaxxi's face twisted in a mixture of fear and anger as she rushed forward to envelop him in a hug. "Get out there and find whoever was after my son," she barked at the guards.

Prelude II: Northeastern Huenya, January 25th
8:00 am, Huenyan time

Texōccoatl was not, in fact, in Chuaztlapoc as Tonauac had suspected. The Great Speaker of Huenya would have run to his son as Tlalmaxxi had. But as the attempt to kidnap the future Huenyan monarch was happening, the present Huenyan monarch was dealing with a challenge of his own.

The broken cease-fire in eastern Huenya had sapped the morale of the Huenyan army. Even the famed Jaguar Warriors and Eagle Warriors were showing signs of being worn down, in the face of a relentless weeks-long assault by Xiomeran nationalists and their CSSC allies. If the Huenyan lines buckled, the separatists could seize the entire eastern coastline of Huenya, dealing a sharp blow to the Huenyan economy. The Canal Zone would be in jeopardy. And the efforts to rescue Xiomeran dissidents would grind to a complete halt.

The Huenyan lines could not break. They could not.

Texōccoatl was to give a speech to the troops on the eastern front, on the eve of the country's first Independence Day. The Great Speaker had thought long and hard about the speech. If Huenya was to hold the line, he needed to quite literally be a great speaker to raise the troops' morale and keep them in the fight.

As he stood on a dais, in front of thousands of his soldiers, others would be watching via the Huenyan military's television and internet channels. Texōccoatl wasted no time.

"As you all know, before events forced me into the role I now hold, I was once a soldier like you. In my heart, I still am. And indeed, all Huenyans must have the hearts of warriors. For we are fighting a battle for our very existence, our survival, against an implacable foe who will never stop trying to defeat us. Every Huenyan, whether they are in the armed forces or not, is fighting this battle to build our nation and secure our freedom, every day. From those who teach our children, to those who grow our crops and stock our stores, to the parents who work hard every day for their kids and those whose work keeps our nation going, we are all fighting for the dream of Huenya in our own way."

Texōccoatl paused. "But those of you on the front lines are fighting to make sure the rest of us can keep that fight of ours going. You are fighting to protect us, and to protect that dream of an independent, united and free Huenya. The fight the rest of us are waging depends completely on the fight you wage every day on these battlefields. And it isn't just our dream you are protecting. On these front lines, you are standing as the shield between freedom and tyranny. You stand as the tan and green line that is protecting not just Huenya, but the entire world, from the gaze of the tyrant. Calhualyana and the Empire she leads seek to subject as many free people as possible to their horrific oppression. If Huenya falls, they won't stop with us. Our friends, our allies, and other free peoples will become the new victims, their countries the new front lines. We have already seen the result of that in Auria. We can't let that happen again, not to anyone else. We must not."

Texōccoatl raised his hands. "Huenya has not been given a challenge, in Calhualyana and her machinations. We have been given an opportunity. An opportunity to show the world that Huenyans earn their freedom. That Huenyans fight for their freedom, and that of everyone else. That Huenya will be the wall that restrains the tyrant and the despot, and that upholds the dream of democracy and liberty for millions of people. This is nothing less than a war between freedom and despotism itself, and the world is watching. What will you show them? Will you show them that tyranny will prevail because we could not withstand its challenge? Or will you show them that freedom always wins, and that Huenyans are the very exemplars of that spirit? Will you show them our strength, which lies in our unity and our liberty? As our Independence Day dawns tomorrow, what will you do on these front lines? For everything that is at stake, and everyone who is at risk, will you fight - and will you win?"

The answering roar from the crowd of soldiers drowned out anything else Texōccoatl might have said. The Great Speaker simply nodded, raising his hands in salute to his soldiers once more.

---

For those observing the fighting in eastern Huenya, after the speech by Texōccoatl, there was a clear shift in the winds of war. Where Huenyan forces had been falling back, they began to hold fast. Where they had managed to hold their lines, they began to push the separatists and mercenaries back. By the end of the day, the Huenyans had held off everything that could be thrown at them. They had held the line, as January 25th became January 26th.

Huenya's Independence Day had arrived.

It's a celebration six centuries in the making, and you're invited. (Well, people from your NS nation are, anyway.)

Huenyan Independence Day is coming up on January 26th, and the event will be honored by major celebrations around the country. In Chuaztlapoc, the capital, a particularly grand celebration is planned. Most major Huenyan leaders will be present, including Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli, Great Speaker Texōccoatl and Nantzintli Yauhmi. This is where you can potentially come in.

Invitations will be sent to the governments of all nations that are friendly (or at least neutral) towards Huenya to send someone to represent their nation at the celebration. If you like, you can either RP as a government representative, or just as a visitor/tourist from your nation enjoying the celebrations. Alternatively, if you want to participate but find RP time limited right now, you can DM me on Discord with who would be attending for a later news article.

While there is a possibility that the Xiomerans (or their proxies) will try to disrupt the events, Huenyan security will be on maximum alert. Your officials would also be welcome to bring their own security, should they choose to attend.

As a side note, Empress Calhualyana will also receive an invite, but that's just to annoy her. 

Feel free to respond here or on Discord if you're interested in participating.

This post was updated on January 22, 2023...
Due to popular demand... The schedule has been extended as follows:
IDU Film Festival Awards Ceremony is now going to be held Sunday February 26th, 2023
Submissions for films to be considered are now due by Sunday February 5th, 2023 (11:59 pm California time)
Voting will begin on Monday February 6th, 2023 and end on Saturday February 25th, 2023

(Tuesday, December 20th, 2022, 11:56 am)Gardavasque Wrote: Wrote:The Event
As the year 2022 draws to a close, it is time to recognize excellence in the achievements and contributions of the year's outstanding films from across the IDU. The 2022 IDU Film Festival opens this evening in the city of Eternity, Gardavasque, and will run for approximately four weeks, culminating in the highly-anticipated prestigious celebrity eleganza, IDU Film Festival Awards Ceremony on Saturday, January 14th, 2023 Sunday, February 26th, 2023 at 8pm, GST (red carpet entrances begin at 6pm). Cities of every nation in the IDU and each of the IDU embassy regions are cordially invited to attend. 
The Venues
Each nominated film will be publicly screened with representative members of cast, crew and production company in attendance. Two exquisite historic movie palaces have been selected by the host committee for this year's event: the Majestic Theatre and the Castro Theatre, both located in the Broadway Arts District in the center of Eternity. The awards ceremony will be held at Dolly Parton Hall in the Eternity Civic Center. All film-festival awards ceremony attendees, regardless of nation of residence, must demonstrate proof of Tripledemic Vaccination and negative Blood Pox test within previous 48 hours; only exceptions approved by Health Ministry Gardavasque officials will be accepted. 
                       
Top to bottom: Castro Theatre, Majestic Theatre, Dolly Parton Hall
Submissions
Any film produced in an IDU resident nation is eligible for nomination in any category except "Best World Cinema Feature Film." Any film produced in a nation located within IDU embassy regions (North Pacific, 10000 Islands, Forest, Antarctic Oasis, World Assembly Legislative League, Yggdrasil, Texas, Europe, Balder, The South Pacific) is eligible for nomination in the category "Best World Cinema Feature Film." Multiple submissions are acceptable, and films may be nominated in more than one category. Categories include: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Lead Performance, Best Supporting Performance, Best Documentary, Best Costume Design, and Best Special Effects Design. To nominate a film produced in your nation, please fill out the form below by Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 Sunday, February 5th 2023.
Voting Procedure
Nominations open on December 20, 2022 and close on Tuesday January 3rd, 2023 Sunday, February 5th, 2023. Beginning Wednesday, January 4th, 2022 Monday, February 6th, 2023, Each IDU resident nation and each nation from an IDU Embassy Region is invited to participate in the voting process by voting for one film per category. Nations submitting a film nomination may cast one additional vote per category (maximum of 2 votes). Voting opens on Wednesday, January 4th Monday, February 6th 2023 and closes Friday January 13th, 2022 Saturday, February 25th, 2023. A new voting thread will be created on this forum on January 4th, 2023 February 6th, 2023. The nation sponsoring the winner of Best Picture will host the next IDU Film Festival. 
Nomination Form
Nation: 
Region:
Film Title, Language, Run Time:
Nomination Category/Categories:
Cast:
Director:
Synopsis:
Briefly, explain why this picture/performance/director/design is nominated:

This thread shall serve as the location for nominations and voting for the position of President of the League of IDU Nations for the 2023 term. Nations may self-nominate or nominate another for the position of President; nominations shall remain open for approximately 48 hours after the opening of this thread, until 11:59 pm EST on January 3, 2023. All players with at least one nation in LIDUN are eligible to nominate and vote. 

Duties of the LIDUN President may be found here: https://idugov.com/forum/showthread.php?...6#pid22346

Please reach out to Laeral via Discord or in this thread with any questions.

Matthew "Che" Vasquez, head of the Slokais Islands Board of Elections, had not slept in days, bags had formed under his eyes. Here he stood before
a mostly empty room. Before he stood, the 11 most important judicial figures in Slokais, the Supreme Court of Slokais Islands. "That's, why your honor, this election is decided then, it's clear that a majority of these invalid ballots, were therefore valid and should be accepted as such". 

"So, you truly believe that 6,437 of these ballots should be accepted as valid?" said Head Justice Jamie Arroyo 
"Indeed, your honor"
"This committee shall discuss this matter in private, you shall be notified by a clerk if we need you anymore Mr. Vasquez" 
"I am not trying to dedicate matters of this body, but I believe we should accept the report by the SIBC, immediately?" asked another Justice. 
"I concur, I believe this report should be accepted" added Director Vasquez
"Neither of you determines how this Court should operate, however, we shall endeavor to make a decision before the end of tonight," said, Justice Arroyo. 

Director Vasquez stepped out of the Supreme Court building, in front of the building a crowd had gathered. Like most political protests, it was a circus, an older man dressed in a Revolutionary Era costume was being confronted by a young woman with a megaphone. "that costume is disgusting, you're portraying a nationalist myth" she yelled. The man only looked amused by this statement, to the side, a group of families in orange robes, stood praying. 
"Politics is a mess," he thought to himself. As he stepped into his car, a reporter ran toward him "Is the election over, sir" 
"Elections never end, the heat of election season is always with us," he said as his driver closed the door behind him.

Quote:

Region ｜ Discord ｜ Forum ｜ Constitution ｜ Regional History ｜ Embassy Policy｜Regional Update - Summer 2022

---

This thread shall contain all official reports created and requested to be shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the region of Forest.

---

Government:
WA Delegate - Ruinenlust
Forest Keeper - Garbelia
Deputy Forest Keeper - Jutsa
Foreign Affairs Minister - Daarwyrth
Cartographer - Roless
Lore Minister - Kase
Archivist - Verdant Haven
Forest Rangers - Einswenn & Uan aa Boa

---

Credit for the header goes to Aclion/Bastiat/Areulder.

Capantzina stared at the television, lips fixed into a snarl. The DTNS anchor on the screen continued speaking, undisturbed by the glare from half a world away.

"Once again, Xiomeran officials have announced that the ruler of the country, Empress Calhualyana, is expected to give birth to a set of twins within the next few weeks. The announcement was met with celebrations in Xiomera..."

A soft thunk cut off the announcer, as the remote control bounced off the TV screen and shut off the broadcast.

"Mother, I know why the news about that woman upsets you, but breaking the TV won't help," a voice chided gently. Tlacatli bent down to pick up the remote, placing it back on the end table and sitting in a chair next to his mother.

"It's not fair. She gets to sit on the throne she stole from your father, in the country we are exiled from, and now she is having children," Capantzina rasped. She continued to glower at the television, her thoughts as dark as the screen. "And she is having twins, no less! Sometimes I wonder if the gods are fair...." Her voice trailed off.

"I know that expression, mother. What are you thinking?" Tlacatli asked.

"We still have resources and contacts. Calhualyana thinks she is untouchable. And perhaps she is. But her devil spawn...they may not be." Capantzina tapped the end table next to her. "She took a husband and a son from me. I will have two of her loved ones in exchange. If the gods will not be just, I will make my own justice." Her gaze shifted to the wall, where pictures of Xochiuhue and Teoctli stared back.

(03-31-2022, 03:06 PM)Lauchenoiria Wrote:

Quote:

The Nuclear and Zombie Defence Act
An act to protect the IDU from nuclear apocalypse and hordes of undead.

The League of International Democratic Union Nations,

BELIEVING it necessary to protect our region in the event of nuclear war or zombie apocalypse;

RECOGNISING that such cataclysmic events require experienced commanders to dedicate their time to the formulation of strategies for survival and victory;

ACKNOWLEDGING the need to grant temporary powers to such individuals to protect our region during these events;

Hereby resolves the following:

§1 Appointment of N-Day General

1. The President of LIDUN is required to appoint an N-Day General no later than the final day of August each year.

2. The N-Day General shall hold their post only until the conclusion of the N-Day event.

3. The N-Day General shall be responsible for:
b. Negotiating Non-Aggression Pacts and other event-only treaties unless we are in an inter-regional alliance.
c. Recruiting other officers before the event, where necessary.
d. Assuming overall command of IDU forces during the N-Day event.

4. The N-Day General has a responsibility to:
a. Ensure that at least one officer is online throughout the event.
b. Ensure other IDU participants are following orders.
c. Prepare and produce a strategy for the IDU’s participation in the event.

5. The Regional Founder shall give the N-Day General both Appearance and Communications authority for the period lasting from the formal announcement of the N-Day event to the conclusion of the event.

6. Any further officers appointed by the N-Day General are required to follow the orders of the N-Day General and uphold the General’s strategy.

§2 N-Day Alliance Formation

1. The N-Day General is responsible for conducting negotiations regarding the IDU’s participation in inter-regional alliances for N-Day.

2. IDU members are entitled to vote on whether or not to join any inter-regional alliance.

3. The President of LIDUN may impose restrictions on the N-Day General regarding topics of negotiation at their discretion.

4. The N-Day General is responsible for liaising with any inter-regional alliance if our participation in such has been decided.

§3 Appointment of Zombie Controller

1. The President of LIDUN is required to appoint a Zombie Controller no later than the 25th of October each year.

2. The Zombie Controller shall hold their post only until the conclusion of the Z-Day event.

3. The Regional Founder is required to give the Zombie Controller Border Control authority for the period of between the 29th October and 2nd November.

4. The Zombie Controller shall be responsible for:
a. Informing member nations of the Regional Anti-Zombie Policy (RAZP).
b. Ensuring the borders of the region are closed throughout the Z-Day event.
c. Ensuring nations adhere to the RAZP.
d. Warning nations violating the RAZP of the potential consequences.
e. Kicking nations who repeatedly ignore said warnings for the duration of the event.

5. The Zombie Controller may appoint further individuals to assist in the issuing of warnings and reminders of the RAZP.

§4 Ejection of Zombie Policy Violators

1. Violators of the Regional Anti-Zombie Policy are entitled to two warnings given by Telegram from the Zombie Controller or their appointees.

2. Nations who persist in the use of Zombie Hordes following two warnings must be expelled from the region by the Zombie Controller or Founder.

3. Nations who persist in the use of Tactical Zombie Elimination Squads following two warnings may be expelled using the Zombie Controller’s discretion.

4. Nations expelled in this way shall be invited to re-join the region following the conclusion of the Z-Day event.

Proposed legislation to deal with N-Day and Z-Day given the changes of government, and therefore who has the power to do certain things relating to these annual mini games with gameside permissions, coordination, and interregional communications.