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Unclaimed Territory, equidistant from LOM and Kerlile
Shortly before midnight

The Kerlian stood next to her truck, leaning against the front, sunglasses on her face in spite of the absolute darkness of the area. The others were spread out, waiting by the starlight in the middle of the desert. It was cold, the way deserts could get in the night, and the Kerlian wrapped her long trench coat around her tighter. She was aware of how stereotypical she looked; she relished it.

Her radio crackled, “they’re on their way.”

“Copy that,” she said, then with a gesture from her, the drivers of the two Kerlian vehicles switched on their headlights, blindingly bright in the starlight. After a few minutes, the Maximusian vehicles drove up, and sat, idling their engines, clearly wanting to be able to make a quick getaway.

The Kerlian walked forward as her Maximusian counterpart left his vehicle. His posture was stiff, and his nerves were visible on his face even as he tried to hide them. The Maximusians were more scared of Kerlians than the other way around. She was relaxed; she didn’t expect them to double-cross her, and since Kerlile wasn’t planning anything untoward, there was no need to be concerned unless some further evidence came to light.

“Here we go again, hm?” she said brightly. “We’ve got your people in the back, unharmed as you specified. Have you got what we agreed?”

“You first,” he said tersely.

“Still distrustful, I see,” she shook her head and made another gesture. The back doors of the van which had accompanied her own vehicle were opened, and three blindfolded women were led from the van.  “Two journalists and a spy, as promised. As you can see, there’s not a scar on them.”

She gestured again, and those leading the captives spun them around to show off their scar-free skin, shivering in the cold of the desert night. “Now your turn.” The Maximusian man hesitated for a few seconds, before turning and nodding to his own men.

The captive they led out of their van was in a much worse state than the other trio. She looked underweight and had some old scars – faded, whatever had happened to her, it hadn’t happened recently – across her skin. She was struggling to get away from her captors, fighting even as she looked too weak to fight. The Kerlian stiffened at the sight of her.

“Let’s get this over with,” she snapped, her falsely joyful tone gone from her voice. The two groups exchanged their prisoners without any further comment or hassle.

As soon as the three Maximusians were in the vehicles, the contingent from LOM drove off at high speed. The Kerlians lingered further, chuckling a little at the sand blowing around in the van’s wake. Maximusians were always so eager to get away from their Kerlian counterparts during these prisoner exchanges.

“So,” the Kerlian said as she leaned against the door of the van they’d managed to get the struggling Aurora into. “You don’t seem particularly happy to be returned to Kerlile.”

The Aurora remained silent, staring at the wall of the van.

“I know they tortured you, did they break you? You’re safe now, yet you look terrified. Did they give you some kind of drugs before they handed you back?”

She still did not respond, and the Kerlian sighed, motioning for the others to shut the doors. She got back in her own vehicle as they began the process of turning around and heading back to where they’d left the helicopter. “Next stop, Kerlile!” she said cheerily to her subordinates as they drove the Aurora home. “And long live the Matriarchy!”

December 1st, 2020
Haven House

President Matōchmizalo watched with pride as the group of Milinticans marched through the square in front of the presidential residence. Their green fatigues may have had the newly adopted flag of Manauia Island on their shoulders, but the small red patch underneath that flag was what mattered. PFM Manauia Island, the patch read.

On Manauia Island, for the first time, Milinticans had backed up the values they believed in with more than just words. The tiny nation had always demanded that the great powers of the IDU respect peoples' rights, but to no avail. Everyone ignored Milintica, because Milintica never did anything to back up their words.

Manauia Island had shown that Milinticans could do more than just talk about freedom. They could fight for it - and they could win. The comeuppance they had delivered to the Xiomeran Empire had proven that. The newly won freedom of the Manauians proved it.

As the parade to welcome the volunteers back home wound down, the President gave a final salute and walked back inside to begin a planning meeting with his top advisers. The liberation of Manauia Island had been a great accomplishment for Milintica, but Matōchmizalo wanted more. Much more.

---

February 3rd, 2021
Fort Amacatl

"We've completed the final preparations, sir," General Tlehuaque said. "We have begun training volunteers and forming them into cadres. Have you begun considering where they might be sent first?"

"Xiomera, for sure," Matōchmizalo said immediately. "I don't care what Calhualyana's fraudulent elections claim. There have to be Xiomerans who want to be free. The international community may have been duped by the sham she has presented to the world. I am not. We will send the first new PFM there, to continue the fight for freedom in Xiomera and support the underground there."

"And the next cadre?" the General asked.

Matōchmizalo thought for a moment. "Mallacaland, possibly. Once the peacekeepers are withdrawn - and they will be, after the latest debacle - there will be no one to protect the people there. We cannot stand by and allow the people there to be repressed."

The General nodded. "The first two cadres have gathered in the assembly area. I think a speech from you would be great to bolster their morale."

President Matōchmizalo nodded. He hadn't planned to give a speech, but he didn't typically need to.

As he stepped into the assembly area, the volunteers gathered began to cheer. The President smiled and waited for the applause to die down. "Volunteers! You have chosen to stand as the force behind our fight for freedom and democracy throughout the world. Milintica has always been among the first of nations to demand that all people be free, and their right to democracy respected. But our demands have gone unheeded. The great powers allow tyranny to flourish, because they are afraid to confront it. But we are not afraid. And for the first time, we showed that on Manauia Island."

The President pointed to the group of volunteers standing in front of him, their red patches glowing under the lights overhead. "These brave volunteers were the first, and they brought freedom to the people of Manauia Island and defeated the tyranny of the Xiomeran Empire. But they will not be the last. You will follow in their footsteps, and with your own bravery and willingness to sacrifice for what is right, you will help bring freedom to others suffering oppression and cruelty. The tyrants of the world have always ignored Milintica, and our call for liberation. They will be able to ignore us no longer. Our Popular Freedom Militias will stand with those seeking liberation throughout the world, and together, we will bring about a better tomorrow for everyone."

As the volunteers raised their rifles over their heads and cheered, the President raised his own fist triumphantly over his head. Milintica was no great power. But on Manauia Island, they had shown that even they could change the world. The entire IDU would soon see how Milinticans fought for change.

Despite my own real-life issues, I'm determined to continue organising our quarterly updates, which means it's time to incessantly ping people on discord to try and get them to write things again.

Remember: the quicker the submission, the more consideration to your time zone I'll give you when asking for updates on how you're getting on! Yes, I'm in a Kerlian mood today.

So, here's a few topic suggestions:
1. Kaijan Affair RP
2. Film Festival
3. Sports update

Suggest your other topics below please & preferably have articles completed ASAP with a preliminary deadline of the 5th February.

Ibrahim Moussa and fellow students at Mallacalnd City University read the new Social Guidelines for 2021:
"Still a ban on abortion"
"They reenacted the ban on same-sex marriage, I thought the supreme court said they could not do that"
"And still a ban on e-cigs and vapes?
There was always a political discussion on campus but whenever the council of emirs launched the new yearly guidelines, the "social and religious guidelines for a better Mallacland". However, even seemed to agree that these years were harsher than last years. Every year the council of emirs put out their rules for the country, at least recently there were some cutbacks, like the freedom to practice religion and being allowed to not were a head covering in public places for women. However, it looked like there were tightening them up again.
"They better not cancel the elections again," a fellow student said
"All I want to do is to vote inshallah," someone else said

Later, he was talking with some of his activist friends in a dorm room.
"We should have a protest, maybe they will allow elections this year," Ibrahim said
"but there is a ban on cardboard signs and posters," said one of his friends
"How about we use sports scarfs," he said
"Yes, how about we do it at the next National Team match"
"I am part of a supporters group, I will tell them to make some scarfs then hand them out before the game so during the national anthem we could hold them up," he said.
"All right, everyone, be safe out there"

Happy Holidays, International Democratic Union!

We at Europeia wanted to wish you a happy new year, and hope you ended 2020 on a high note, celebrating with your friends and family.

2020 has been a difficult year for us, but we’ve seen that the NationStates community is more resilient than ever. Among real-life issues like the pandemic causing us to change our way of life, we’ve seen our online community flourish and grow closer than ever before.

Europeia has had her own share of events this year, ranging from big ones like the re-merge of our executive to a single president, and a new world assembly delegate, but also smaller ones such as welcoming newer citizens during the Drew Boom, finally playing on a regional minecraft server, and attending NS-wide events like N-day and UCR Con!

We hope that your regional community has continued to grow closer together and stronger during the course of this year, and we are excited to see what 2021 will bring to the nationstates community. We are glad to have had you by our sides this year, and look forward to continuing to work with you.

Here’s to a great year, and onwards to 2021!

SkyGreen24
Europeian Ambassador to IDU

Application to attend the 65th International Women’s Congress in Kerlile

The 65th biannual meeting of the International Women’s Congress is due to take place in Grapevale, Kerlile in June August 2021. First held in North Fleura in 1893, the IWC has sought to promote women’s rights across the globe since then.

Representatives of governments, alongside third sector and civil society organisations dedicated to women’s rights are warmly invited to attend the conference. Each participating organisation and government is entitled to five voting delegates and up to 20 observing delegates.

Businesses and organisations without a focus on women’s rights may apply for a stall in the exhibition hall. Stall costs begin at 350,000 Kerlian Credits (~ 500 Sanctarian Pounds), dependent upon the category of applicant. Delegating organisations may also apply for stalls.

Delegates are responsible for the booking of their own accommodation, with the exception of the delegations of national governments who are invited to contact the board of the IWC to discuss security arrangements for their delegations.

There is a deadline of the 31st July 2021 for applications from organisations to attend the conference, or for an exhibition stall. Applicants should fill in one, or both, of the following forms. Each delegating organisation must fill out a separate form, even if they are from the same nation.

Applications for individuals seeking to run for board positions are now open and will close on the 31st July 2021. All individuals applying should fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQ...sp=sf_link 

(This thread is a continuation of the Xiomeran Chronicles thread, providing behind-the-scenes stories and one-off RP not part of an ongoing RP event. It will provide stories from both Xiomera and Huenya, along with Manauia Island and the Netlcoātl Islands. Although technically not part of Huenya, stories from Milintica may also be posted here as they are related.)

December 9th
Chuaztlapoc

The day after the final battle at Zapotlán, the feeling of most people in Chuaztlapoc was one of overwhelming relief. The Imperial counterattack had been stopped, and the talks to come at Jinyu promised a potential end to the civil war.

While most people were relieved, Cozamalotl was not one of them.

The Huenyan Assembly was having a session to discuss what their stance would be at the Jinyu talks when Cozamalotl walked into the room, Cuetzhual and Natcahuacu in tow. The opposition leader calmly waited as the Assembly members recognized him. "We weren't expecting you, Cozamalotl," Yauhmi said, seeming surprised. "Has something happened?"

"He's gone mad, is what has happened," Cuetzhual snapped. The younger opposition leader looked at Cozamalotl with something akin to exasperation. "He's come here to tell you something, and you need to talk some sense into him!"

Cozamalotl sighed, looking at Yauhmi. "He thinks I've gone mad, but I am quite sane, I assure you."

"That's good to hear, but could you please explain what this is about? We are in the middle of planning for the peace talks," Yauhmi said. Cozamalotl nodded, turning back to the Assembly. "I intend to return to Xiomera to participate in Calhualyana's elections."

Yauhmi looked at Cozamalotl as if he had sprouted a second head. "If you truly don't wish to live any longer, Cozamalotl, there are easier and far less painful ways to commit suicide," she said finally.

Cuetzhual shook his head. "Listen to Yauhmi, you will literally be committing suicide if you return to challenge Calhualyana. The 'elections' she is holding are a sham, just a way for her to cement her power. They will not be real elections; you won't be able to stop her being 'approved' by the referendum she is holding. She will be 'approved' as Empress, and then she will come after you. It is madness for you to return."

"I must agree, Cozamalotl. It is extremely naive for you to embark on this plan," Natcahuacu said. The opposition leader looked at Yauhmi and the other Assembly members. "You cannot let him return."

"We can't stop him from going if he wants to - we're not about to hold him prisoner even to save him," Yauhmi retorted. "I do appreciate that, given that wasn't always the case," Cozamalotl replied dryly. Yauhmi snorted slightly at the remark. "We don't do that.....well. not anymore," she said. "But why do you want to go back? It's surely a futile gesture."

"I do not believe it is. Of course the elections are a sham. Of course I will lose. But someone has to try. Everyone seems to think the fight is over now - even all of you," Cozamalotl said, looking at the Assembly. "It may be over here, but it is not over in Xiomera. People there still deserve freedom, and they need someone to fight for it for them. I will register an opposition political party in her elections, and will argue against her fake referendums on behalf of the Xiomeran people. I will be the opponent that the remaining opposition in Xiomera needs to rally around and fight what Calhualyana is trying to do. She wants to build a system that perpetuates the Xiomeran Empire forever. I can't stand by and watch that happen."

"But you're needed here, to help ensure that democracy becomes a reality in Huenya and that these people live up to their promises - no offense," Natcahuacu said, looking at the Assembly members. "None taken, we do need minding, especially some of us," Sirua, the Itotemoc leader, said with a grin. Yauhmi sighed at the remark, looking up at the ceiling.

"Am I really needed here? There are younger opposition leaders here, who can do what I do. In fact, I would argue that it is time for me to let them do that, and get out of the way," Cozamalotl told Natcahuacu. "You and Cuetzhual are both excellent examples of that, and I trust you to make sure that the promises being made by the leaders of Huenya will in fact be kept. But again, Xiomera deserves the same chance. And Calhualyana can't simply be allowed to push her plans through unopposed. If she accomplishes her vision, Huenya will remain forever divided, Xiomerans will remain oppressed, and the Xiomeran Empire will continue to exist like a dark cancer on the edge of Caxcana. I must do what I can to prevent that. As the most prominent member of the former opposition, before the coup, I am the only one that can rally what is left of the opposition in Xiomera. And if worst comes to worst....I am more expendable, frankly, than the rest of our leadership here. You all have many years ahead of you, Natcahuacu. Myself, not so much." Cozamalotl smiled. "It is really the only logical course of action, at least in this highly illogical situation."

Before Cuetzhual and Natcahuacu could object further, Cozamalotl turned back to the Assembly. "I am leaving today for the border, and hopefully they will actually let me in."

Yauhmi shook her head. "I suppose we cannot convince you otherwise. We will do what we can to help you in your efforts from here, but once you're back in Xiomera....if Calhualyana decides to punish you, we may not be able to save you." Cozamalotl simply nodded, already having accepted that fact. "Good luck, and keep us aware of events if you can," Yauhmi said.

As Cozamalotl turned to leave with the other opposition leaders, another voice spoke. "I thought you were a typical politician, all words and no actions. You're far braver than I realized," Huacue, the Necatli leader, said in what constituted high praise from a Necatli. "I wish you luck. Will you at least let us send some bodyguards with you?"

Cozamalotl thanked Huacue, but declined. "If things don't go well for me, a few bodyguards won't save me, and I don't intend to drag anyone else down with me. Whatever fate has in store for me, I will face it alone."

---

Several hours later
Saclamantón

The customs and border security checkpoint at the main ferry terminal in Saclamantón was busy, even with the civil war barely being on pause. In fact, it was even more busy than usual, between Xiomerans unhappy with the new "Huenyan" government heading east to return to Xiomera proper and Xiomerans unhappy with the old Xiomeran government fleeing west to leave Xiomera for Huenya. But even in the crush of traffic, the arrival of one of Xiomera's most prominent opposition figures back from exile was guaranteed to attract attention.

As a few reporters gathered at the checkpoint, Cozamalotl calmly presented his Xiomeran passport and identity documents to the guards. The guards, clearly not expecting him, hastily called their superiors. As the clock ticked, each person called kicked it further up the chain of command, not wanting to be the one responsible for approving Cozamalotl's return. Finally, the phone rang at the Office of the Golden Chamber. The Attendant transferred the call to the Empress. Calhualyana listened in silence as the situation was explained. After a moment, she chuckled softly. "Let him in. Yes, let him in. Don't arrest him. Let him travel freely and do whatever he likes. But have him watched, and document everything he does all the way down to whenever he takes a crap and for how long. ASI must not miss a single thing he does. And report his actions to me on a regular basis."

The Empress hung up the phone with another soft chuckle. Oh, Cozamalotl. If you really want to hang yourself, I'm more than happy to give you as much rope as you want. I will bury you in rope, if that's what you desire. And then.....I will yank the noose shut.

---

December 10th
Tlālacuetztla

The very next day after arriving back in Xiomera, Cozamalotl arrived at the offices of the Imperial Electoral Commission with a small army of opposition members in tow. Walking into the lobby, he walked up to one of the guards. "We are here to register on behalf of the Unification Party for the upcoming elections."

The guard seemed highly surprised that anyone had shown up to do so; the Xiomeran Citizens’ Party, the party widely seen as being a loyalist party for the Empress, had been the only one so far to actually do so. Another slew of phone calls commenced, before Cozamalotl was led to a nearby office to complete a set of registration documents and pay a sizeable registration fee.

With that, the Unification Party was born. Its platform was simple: end the Xiomeran Empire, unify with the rest of Huenya, and implement a democratic state. While the platform itself was simple, Cozamalotl was by no means blind as to how difficult achieving it would actually be. "This is the first step in a long journey. We don't know how long or hard it will be, or when we will get there. But for our people, we will take those steps," he told his followers outside the Electoral Commission.

As he spoke, there were already several ASI operatives scattered through the crowd, keeping track of things.

2020 IDU Film Festival: Hanshui, Laeral

Voting is now open! The following nations which submitted an entry are eligible to vote: Eiria, Gardavasque, Laeral, Latidonia, Lauchenoiria/Kerlile, Libertas Omnium Maximus, Slokais, Tsiba, Xiomera, Zamastan

So as to limit the issue of films receiving the award with only a plurality of the vote, ranked-choice voting will be used on the ballot. Please rank your top-three choices in order for each category on the ballot. Should no film receive a majority of the vote for a category, the votes for the entry receiving the fewest first-choice votes will be reallocated according to the delegation's second-choice preference, and so on until a film has received a majority.

Entries received are as follows:
Best New IDU Film:
- "A Different Life" (Lauchenoiria)
- "Craterfall" (Eiria)
- "Quiauhticue: Rise of an Empire" (Xiomera)
- "Sawdust" (Libertas Omnium Maximus)
- "The Back Country" (Gardavasque)

Best Classic IDU Film:
- "Legend of the Branded Swordsman" (Laeral)
- "Spring Unsung" (Latidonia)
- "Swirls of Magic" (Kerlile)

Best Actor in an IDU Film:
- Celino Austurias (Lauchenoiria)
- Eloi Liang (Laeral)
- Heather Grey (Gardavasque)
- Samuel Murphy (Libertas Omnium Maximus)

Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film:
- "Asal and Farideh" (Tsiba)
- "Survivors: Six Unlikely Stories of Unsung Heroes" (Eiria)
- "The Council of Reform" (Kerlile)
- "The Dangerous Lives and Amazing Loves of Trees" (Gardavasque)
- "Those Who Are Called" (Xiomera)

Best Foreign Film:
- "Gaviria" (Zamastan)

OOC Note: This is a continuation of the Artists of Progress roleplay, although nations which did not participate the Artists of Progress roleplay are welcome to join as observers. Please format your initial posts as interactions with other conference attendees or with any one of the Laeralian mediators listed.

Sunday, December 13, 2020
Jinyu, Laeral

Jinyu was a small, scenic city along the Beuvron River in southern Laeral. It was at the Jinyu Conference Center, a modern steel-and-glass building situated on a small bluff with picturesque views of the river below that the representatives of over half a dozen nations and unrecognized polities had gathered to find a way forward for Huenya and the surrounding islands. Unlike the Maivers conference, where the Laeralites had strived to create a private atmosphere for the attendees, this conference would be open to the media and as many national delegations as had wished to attend. The intent of this, President Liu had insisted, was to place pressure on the reticent delegates to make progress at the negotiating table. With the media and numerous other nations present, any delegation seeking to slow down the talks by negotiating in poor faith would be exposed for their actions.

“The delegates have been arriving since early this morning, Madam President,” said Alexandre Herault, President Liu’s Chief of Staff. He was a sharply-dressed Arrivée man with a slim build, barely a decade removed from grad school, but his rivals in the Laeralsford political sphere knew far better than to underestimate the young man who was perhaps President Liu’s closest confidante. “They’ve mostly been settling into their lodgings in town, but we’re expecting them to arrive at the conference center in a few hours.”
“Excellent,” said Liu Mei-han, president of Laeral and official host of what was officially being called the Jinyu Peace Conference. If the pressure of hosting the international conference meant to bring an end to the war in Xiomera was weighing on her, she didn’t show it. Her expression was as stoic as ever, as was her wardrobe-- a black blazer and pants over a white undershirt, with the sole decoration a Laeralian meihua (plum blossom) pin in gold, and the jade Minjian bracelet she often wore. “Tanvi and some of the others from the Foreign Ministry will be circulating to welcome them inside and distribute the agenda. The plan is to circulate and meet individually with the delegations on the convention floor and in the meeting rooms over the next few hours, so that we can get a sense of where everyone’s opinions lie and possible areas for compromise. Then we’ll make our conclusions and present to the delegations the draft agreements on the various issues at hand, and amend them as needed.”
“You did get a chance to look over the final handout for the delegates, didn’t you?” Alexandre said. The handouts, elaborate documents on fine cardstock, would be distributed to each delegation as they arrived.
“I did,” Liu said. “It's very good that we were able to get Cyril Lin to attend. He may have been in retirement for a while, but he’s the best Xiomera hand we have, and I want his expertise. Especially when it comes to the Xiomerans, since we don’t have much of a rapport with them.”
“Alright,” Alexandre said. He exhaled slowly. “Are you nervous at all?”
“Not at all,” said Liu. “I have my notecards, I know a great many of the attendees personally, and I have a wonderful staff behind me. It’ll be basically a relaxing backyard cocktail party, won’t it?”
“Since when has anything involving the Xiomerans been relaxing?” asked Alexandre.

A full-size version of the attached handout can be accessed at https://docs.google.com/document/d/16Zxb...sp=sharing