What if Pyramid of Misfortune, the IDU's favorite challenge show, got even bigger and more challenging? What if, instead of just a pyramid, you had to conquer an entire city?
This is the discussion/planning for a potential sequel to the Pyramid of Misfortune RP from 2019. The idea is that, to counter lagging ratings, the producers of the show expand it to create a "city" that is a gauntlet for the competitors to run through, prior to getting to the Pyramid and climbing it. Think of it as a combination of every obstacle course show you've ever seen, with the nasty ingenuity of the Pyramid.
The task would be simple: two competitors are placed on either end of the "city", run the course, and climb the Pyramid at the center. Whoever finishes first (if they finish), wins the round and moves on. There would be either one or two competitors from each nation involved, depending on the amount of interest in the game.
This is the planning thread for Yauhmi's planned trip. Her goal, along with negotiating new trade and diplomatic agreements, is to convince everyone that Calhualyana and her Empire are a threat to everyone and get them to act. Will she succeed? That's all up to you.
Her destinations will be in the order of whoever responds to this planning thread. We can do this as either RP posts, or news articles describing the visit and the results. You can also message me on Discord if you prefer.
(RP note: At the end of 2019, then-Empress Yauhmi of Xiomera went on an international tour to mend fences with other nations. In 2022, Yauhmi found herself in a very different role. As the queen mother (nantzintli) of Huenya, her task was not so much to mend fences as to build bridges where none existed. In one of the new responsibilities of her position, she was to serve as an international ambassador to represent Huenya on the world stage. It was hoped that some of the old magic she had displayed on that stage would translate to good relations for Huenya with other countries. So at the end of August 2022, Yauhmi would undertake a second tour of the world.)
The Huenyan military transport plane cruised effortlessly over its homeland. Unlike many things in the rebuilding country, the plane functioned perfectly. Much attention was paid to it to make sure it did. It was carrying important cargo, after all.
Yauhmi looked out the window of the plane, musing to herself as the miles slipped by. Three years ago, on a similar trip, she had been the undisputed ruler of an immensely powerful and wealthy nation. Today, she was a deposed monarch of a different country that, though rebuilding fast, was neither wealthy or powerful. One that was under threat from the country she used to rule, no less. Life does love to throw curve balls at us, she thought without sadness.
She leaned back slightly in her chair, seeking a more comfortable position. The military plane, though maintained faultlessly and made as pleasant as possible, was hardly the same as the luxury she had once flown in when she was Empress. Despite the rather stiff chairs, Yauhmi made herself focus on the purpose of her trip. It was far more important than her comfort.
Yauhmi had to see if she could summon her old persuasiveness and charm to convince the world that the Xiomeran Empire, and the ruler who had replaced her, represented the greatest threats possible to world peace and stability. The world so far seemed to want nothing more than to bury its head in the sand concerning Calhualyana and her dreams of a "New Empire". Yauhmi had to wake her fellow leaders up to the seriousness of the threat.
While the negotiation of new diplomatic and economic agreements would be part of her trip as well, of course, the main goal was clear. Convince the rest of the world to take more concrete action to rein in Calhualyana, or depose her, if necessary. It was perhaps the most important task Yauhmi had ever undertaken. It was a deceptively simple goal. Fulfilling it would be anything but.
---
Unlike Yauhmi, the person seated next to her preferred the military plane to its luxurious Imperial rivals. It was much easier to secure than a civilian counterpart.
Tlalmaxxi had left her assignment to aid the counter-insurgency mission against "Western Xiomera" to come on the trip with Yauhmi. There had been little reason for her to remain on the mission, given the cease-fire declared by Vice-Speaker Tiacihitli. She had considered the cease-fire a grave mistake. She hadn't been the only one, either. The Milintican guerrillas who had been helping on the frontline, refusing to accept the cease-fire, had reportedly left their camp and crossed into insurgent territory en masse to continue fighting. The brave fools have probably all been killed or captured by now, Tlalmaxxi thought as she made herself focus as well on her own mission here. While Tlalmaxxi was partly there to help Yauhmi do her convincing, she was mostly there to protect the nantzintli. Imperial Intelligence probably saw the trip, which was taking Yauhmi far from her well-protected estate in the middle of Huenya, as a prime opportunity to remove her as a thorn in Calhualyana's side once and for all. It also could not be denied that not everyone loved Yauhmi, and the chance of her receiving a negative reception on her travels could not be ignored.
There was one other reason for her to accompany Yauhmi on the trip. Tlalmaxxi was to slowly begin assuming many of the duties Yauhmi was performing, beginning with this trip. While Yauhmi was still more capable than one might expect, being 74 years old was taking a toll. The torture and mistreatment she had suffered while imprisoned during the civil war had taken a greater toll, one unrevealed to most people. It was Yauhmi's typically pragmatic decision that it was time to begin training her replacement.
As the two of the worked through their thoughts, the plane sped towards its first destination.
United Commonwealth Press - Druk Abjadnanaj Sadružnasci
“The 11-year anniversary of the Czardom’s overthrow and the establishment of the Trans-Sastovian Commonwealth is being celebrated throughout the four republics that make up our great nation, with fireworks displays and parades held in each regional capital. Later today, Prime Minister Kraǔčanka is expected to make a public speech in Stoslaw, which will be broadcast both on television and your local radio stations.
The passing of Foundation Day will also mark the start of the 1993 election season, in what is sure to be a momentous occasion. Due to a combination of both alleged corruption within the FRP and criticism of Prime Minister Kraǔčanka’s response to the ongoing economic crisis, the leading Tryjarchat coalition, comprised of the Federal Republican Party of Vertansk and Solavan, Agrarian-Environmental Union, and the Ikuinist Movement have seen their position challenged by the up and coming Movement for the Defense of the Country, with a stated goal of -“
——
“Turn that off.”
In Stoslaw, a man in an expensive suit snaps, pressing his hand against his forehead. A team of advisors freeze, staring at him before an aide hurries to the radio and hastily unplugs it.
“Of course, Mr. Prime Minister.”
The man sighs, looking out the window onto the city below. “I don’t need to hear more doomsaying with the Army already breathing down my neck. I know things look bad, but we’ll figure out how to get out of this. We always do.”
——
“Turn that off.”
In a small village in the mountains of Otika, a child changes the channel to a static-filled recording of folk music. It is the child’s birthday, and the mother had been out all morning picking berries for the dessert. For that moment, none cared about their distant rulers' politics.
——
“Turn that off.”
In the outskirts of a Solavanian city, two men drive in a now-silent car. The older of the duo is covered in intricate tattoos known as taja by less savory parts of Commonwealth society. The other, a baby-faced young man, anxiously smokes a cigarette in the passenger seat. A loud thud emanates from the trunk as they hit a pothole, causing the younger to flinch.
“Pull over here.” The veteran commands, pointing to a small clearing. “It’s too late to back out now. Get out of the car and help me with this.”
——
“Turn that off.”
In a distant land, men in old military uniforms surround a map of the Trans-Sastovian Commonwealth. All but one is past their prime, with their once-regal attire now weathered and poorly fitting. In the center stands a tanned, clean-shaven man holding a glass in his right hand. He raises it, clearing his throat.
“We’ve spent eleven years exiled from our homeland. I was barely a man when my family was forced to flee in the night, hardly capable of understanding what was going on. Now, with my father gone, I am forced to take the reins. I assure you, gentlemen - this will be our last year away from home.”
A cheer erupts. The same has been promised every year, of course, but now they can feel it in the air - this time will be different.
Salvation in the Secular Age: Lehvant's Experiment with Community-Building and Spirituality
The following is an excerpt from the introduction of the book of the same title.
The modernization project of the French settlers in Lehvant was defined by a sense of disjointedness. Today, Lehvantians still use the idiom “to be like a Frenchman” to describe situations where someone is operating without any context of a particular environment.
Even prior to the 1830 invasion of Jezairé, French pressure was the primary driver of modernizing reforms such as the establishment of equal citizenship instead of the former religious hierarchy, more rights and opportunities for women, and banning practices such as the death penalty.
This state-driven process of reform, however, created an over-empowered state that came to define the beginning of the period of French rule. The highly centralized bureaucracy inherited by the French was especially destabilizing, which eventually led to the establishment of French Lycée systems to facilitate the education and indoctrination of technocrats.
In the meantime, the erasure of the traditional “scholarly class” from the public sphere and the lack of coherence of the new bureaucratic structure to much of the public, led to the well-connected and well-spoken elderly community leaders of the time filling this vacuum in public life. The fact that these leaders’ spheres of influence were limited to neighborhoods rather than large districts shaped the community-building processes we see in Lehvantian society today.
Unlike the French rulers who implemented their modernization project wearing cultural blindfolds, the first elected President of Lehvant, Mehdi Kamran, was highly cognizant of these nuances while introducing his secularizing reforms. This is why, as the precursor to these reforms, he recruited many of these community leaders to begin introducing community practices and superstitions of good and bad luck that would have previously been shunned for being pagan in origin or idolatrous. One of the examples of these initial experimentations that remains today is burying pomegranate seeds in the foundation of houses to represent fertility and abundance. Especially in rural communities where agricultural production was of particular importance, superstitious burials such as this became increasingly popular.
This is why in Kamran’s visits to rural Lehvant following some of his more hard-hitting reforms, such as the abolition of religious-political authority and establishments from public life, he urged people to turn to the communitarian practices of village life. During one of such visits, a villager pressed Kamran about how he is expected to repent, or if his government is forcing him to live in sin. In response, Kamran took the seeds of the olives he’d been served by an elderly woman, and planted one. Kamran famously then told the villager, “To plant a seed, to feed the earth and make something grow - what, if not this, could cleanse us from sin?”.
The “sin gardens” popularized by this story have become a staple of spiritual life in Lehvant, where the structure of organized religion has over time been replaced by norms and practices that symbolize and emphasize collective responsibility. Such practices have evolved through meditations and interpretations written by scholars and theorized as a communitarian, hyper-socialized form of mysticism. Communitarian mysticism involves the belief that people collectively create their common material-spiritual reality, as an intertwining of dualities or opposites. In his magnum opus “The Dialectic of Spirituality”, Lehvantian divinity scholar Hugo Azimi writes, “Lehvantian mysticism signifies the prospect of a community which emphasizes labor-sharing as a driver of the common good, balancing each person’s knowledge with the intuitive wisdom of others.”. Azimi’s socialist reading of spiritual life in Lehvant was a novel approach for its time. Since then, however, an increasing amount of scholars argue that while decentralized, communitarian practices of spirituality were manufactured during the nation’s transition to secularism, it is one of several factors contextualizing the unexpected success of democratic socialism in Lehvant. In a conflict-ridden geography where promises of empowerment for the working class have died quick, violent deaths at the hand of power-hungry authoritarian leaders, Lehvant stands alone as a nation that has lived up to these promises and sustained decentralized, redistributive policies such as workplace democracies and a robust social safety net for several decades. Spiritual life in Lehvant has become the backbone and fabric of a society where people are governed as partners, not beneficiaries.
INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNION Football Championship 2022
Welcome to the 2022 International Democratic Union Football Championship!
Hosted by Libertas Omnium Maximus in Litudinem, Iustitia City, Lumeniola, and Perra.
Maximusian Culture Information:
Litudinem
Litudinem, the Maximusian financial hub, is the nation’s capital and its second most populous city. Founded as a humble logging and caravan outpost, Litudinem now houses the expansive and imposing Senate Complex, which houses the nation’s legislature, and the Presidential Manor, the official state home of every Maximusian president since its construction in 1851. The city’s major hubs are linked by a state-of-the-art underground train system. Litudinem’s MLAF (Major League Association Football) club, the Litudinem FC Javelins, will be moving from their home stadium to the newly constructed Samuel Farthing Stadium at the start of the 2023 season.
Litudinem will host all of the Group I matches, which will be played in either the Bailey Sports Center or the Samuel Farthing Memorial Stadium. The Bailey Center can hold up to 65,000 spectators while Samuel Farthing, the largest sports venue in Libertas Omnium Maximus, can hold 91,000 fans.
Iustitia City
The oldest continually occupied settlement on Iustitia Island (also known as the “Isle of Gulls”), Iustitia City was founded in 1395 by Valahandian settlers. Today, in addition to being home to nearly 3 million Maximusian citizens, Iustitia City houses many of the nation’s largest corporations and tech startups. Visitors love Iustitia City’s crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. The Cathedral of St. Peter, constructed in 1737 and located in Iustitia City’s downtown district, is the largest religious-affiliated structure in the nation. The Iustitia City FC Watermen are the city’s MLAF team, playing out of the Marconi Stadium.
Iustitia City will host all of the Group II matches, which will be played in either the Marconi Stadium or the Iustitia City Athletic Compound (ICAC). Marconi Stadium can host 60,100 spectators and the ICAC can seat 33,000 persons.
Lumeniola
Lumeniola, the city of light, consistently ranks among the top Maximusian cities to live in. From safe streets to ample amenities, Lumeniola has practically anything a visitor could want in an urban vacation. In addition to hundreds of boutique shops, venues, and eateries within the city limits, Lumeniola is situated in the rolling hills of western Hampton, surrounded by world-renowned vineyards and orchards. A city bifurcated by the mighty Boenecca River, visitors may enjoy choosing a side in the friendly East Lumeniola v. West Lumeniola rivalry. In major league football, West Lumeniola is represented by the Lumeniola FC Sparks, while East Lumeniola generally supports the Lumeniola AC Vines.
Lumeniola will host all of the Group III matches, which will be played in either the Granite Park Arena, which is in East Lumeniola, or Stalton Grounds, which is in West Lumeniola. Granite Park can seat up to 34,600 spectators while Stalton Grounds has a maximum seating capacity of 39,393 persons.
Perra
Perra, though the smallest of the host cities, is the nation’s undisputed football hub. It is home to the MLAF headquarters and the Maximusian Football Hall of Fame. Once an unassuming, blue-collar railroad town, Perra has transformed into a vibrant and rapidly growing urban nexus over the past two decades. It is the perfect jumping-off point for visitors looking to explore the Maximusian northeast. An elevated train connects most of the city’s hotspots, including the historic downtown district and the now-famous Alta Boulevard, home to many clubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues. For the more outdoor-adventure-oriented visitors, opportunities to hike, climb, camp, and fish are less than an hour away in the Kapoulon foothills. Perra’s local MLAF team is the Perra FC Vanguards.
Perra will host all of the Group IV matches, which will be played in either the Mallory Gildon Memorial Sports Center or the Tannus Bank Stadium. Tannus Bank has a maximum seating capacity of 20,401 spectators, while the Mallory Gildon is equipped to seat as many as 53,750 persons.
Out of Character Information:
At the end of each week, brief game summaries will be posted by the host for every group stage match. These match summaries will contain information on goals scored (when and by whom), other notable player events (such as penalty kicks or yellow cards), and general notes on the course of play. Fan reactions, changes of strategy, and off-pitch player antics are left up to participating nations to roleplay out. All styles of roleplay are welcome and there is no length requirement to post.
If a participant is planning on roleplaying something with a lasting impact on the tournament, it is preferred that they notify/speak with the host and/or other involved participants before doing so. Such actions may include serious player injuries, terrorist threats to the stadiums or athletes, or mob/protest/riot events.
Groups
GROUP ONE
Elalia
Trive
Milintica
Slokias Islands
GROUP TWO
Xiomera
Greater Acadia
Huenya
Wosteaque
GROUP THREE
Libertas Omnium Maximus
Serriel
Laeral
Grundhavn
GROUP FOUR
Lauchenoiria
Eiria
Gardavasque
Lehvant
INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNION Football Championship 2022
Week One Schedule 8/22 - 8/28
ELA v. TRV - Samuel Farthing Memorial Stadium
FSI v. MLA - Bailey Sports Center
WTQ v. XMA - Marconi Stadium
HNA v. GAC - Iustitia City Athletic Center
LOM v. GHN - Granite Park Arena
LRL v. SRL - Stalton Grounds
GDV v. EIR - Mallory Gildon Memorial Sports Center
LHV v. LAU - Tannus Bank Stadium
Posted by: Cove - 08-02-2022, 07:09 PM - Forum: Embassy of Europeia
- No Replies
News:
The Europeian Republican Navy has officially transitioned to LibCord! LibCord is the primary operations center for Defender operations, and this shift in policy for the ERN marks an important step in our growth. As of the time of this writing, the ERN has already participated in 7 update operations with our LibCord friends. Additionally, the ERN participated in a detag operation with The East Pacific.
President Writinglegend released a strong statement condemning Operation Ragnorak and voicing support for our historic ally Balder
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sopo announced the closure of embassies with Osiris. This decision comes as a result of Osiris’s failure to condemn Operation Ragnorak.
Senator Peeps opened a discussion in the Senate regarding the reopening of Arnhelm, this time as a gameside oriented program.
Robust discussion occurred in the Grand Hall in regards to RMB moderation and how to properly address Europeia’s resident population.
The Ministry of WA Affairs initiated a staff swap with our allies in the Social Liberal Union.
A General Election was held, and led to the election of the 5 person 85th Senate. Senators elected were Prim, Peeps, Gorundu, McEntire, and Cove.
Culture News:
A Discord movie night was hosted with the Order of the Grey Wardens. The gang watched Turning Red! Additionally, a Discord trivia night and mafia game were hosted.
Culture collaborated with Interior for their manual recruitment incentive this week. As stated in the incentive, Culture is currently planning an exciting theme week!
Minister of Culture Istillian launched gameside roleplay prompts, along with gameside polling. Recent polling numbers indicate high participation among residents.
A Pirate Theme Week was launched on the forums and Discord.
Radio News:
Minister of Radio Lime oversaw the publishing of ten new radio shows.
Pax Polaris Occidens Interview where Minister Lime interviews The Pacific’s Senator of Diplomatic Affairs Xoriet and The North Pacific’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hulldom in regards to the signing of their latest joint agreement.
Please see attached the draft Charter of the League of IDU Nations. In authoring this draft, I've sought to preserve the feel of the real-life UN, including various councils and a Security Council, while also streamlining it for the benefit of RP purposes, particularly in an environment where nations may appear or cease to participate actively at any time.
I intend to bring this to a vote for ratification by the League one week from today, on Wednesday, July 6th. Please let me know any comments or suggestions below in the meantime!
International Democratic Union Football Championship
Hosted by Libertas Omnium Maximus and the cities of Lumeniola, Litudinem, Iustitia, and Perra
OOC Information
Seeing as we were unable to reach the required number of participants to actually have a tournament before the Christmas/Holiday hiatuses kicked in, signups for the 2021 tournament were indefinitely suspended... until today. Registration for the championship, which will ideally be held in late July or early August, are officially reopened. While participants who already submitted their team rosters last year need not resubmit their registration (unless they want to change the team info), it would be highly appreciated if they could reaffirm their desire to participate in the tournament. Since several nations have CTE'd or gone dormant, there are still a number of open slots for new participants.
The tournament is being rebranded to "IDUFC 2022", but will be mechanically identical to the original. The format, rules, and IC information will remain the same.
Returning Participant Form
Code:
[b]Nation:[/b]
[b]Would you like to alter your team roster or nation details?[/b] [Y/N]
[b]If applicable, please submit your updated roster or nation info:[/b]
New Participant Form
Code:
[b]Country Name (short form):[/b]
[b]Puppet (Y/N):[/b]
[b]Country Trigram (3-letter abbreviation for your country):[/b]
[b]Uniform (Optional description of uniform, +1 points for completing):[/b]
[b]Team Roster (Optional list of team members, +2 points for a list of names, another +2 for listing their home clubs):[/b]
Your offense score and defense score are each numbers from 1-9. You can allocate your total points as you wish to each stat. Total points are the number of points you may have received from the optional parts above, plus 10 points for main nations or 6 points for puppets. Only 1 puppet per player.
[b]Offense Score (1-9):[/b]
[b]Defense Score (1-9):[/b]
[b]Additional Notes (Optional, no points):[/b]
Registration
Registrations areCLOSED Registrations end: August 21, 2022
Registered Nations: Libertas Omnium Maximus
Laeral
Serriel
Democratic Republic of Eiria
Greater Acadia
Slokias Islands
Wosteaque
Lauchenoiria
Grundhavn
Gardavasque
Trive
Xiomera
Huenya
Milintica
Elalia
Lehvant
![[Image: p22021798.png]](https://static.europeians.com/img_repo/p22021798.png)
