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  The Lerbin Times

Posted by: Drambenburg
03-06-2020, 05:26 PM
Forum: IDU Newswire
- Replies (5)

Lerbin Times
January 23, 2020
The Death of a Bachelor!
January 22, 2020, at 20:07. Archduke Franz IX von Welf was declared dead in at Heidenbach General Hospital in Lerbin, Drambenburg following an assassination attempt at Dorf’s Theatre in the historic Werthington district. The Geheime Staatspolizei are investigating the assassination. "We have found the assassin and have taken him into custody for interrogation," said Oberst Steffenhausen, the lead investigator on von Welf’s case in a statement this morning. The motivation for Franz’s assassination is still unknown, although it was assumed that it was political in nature. House von Welf is in uproar, and is attempting to appoint a new Archduke to replace the now deceased Franz. Franz was recently coronated as the Archduke on December 26, 2019, and had yet to declare an heir to the family, as he was only 16 years old. Franz was also unmarried. With the elderly Obergruppenkaiser’s health failing, House von Welf has little time to choose a new Archduke. Franz was a favorite among the House of Lords. This was the first assassination of a reigning member of an Oberfamlien in over one hundred years. Franz IX von Welf is survived by his mother Claire.

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  Balder Bugle Issue VIII

Posted by: Fuzzy
03-06-2020, 12:07 AM
Forum: Embassy of Balder
- Replies (1)

[Image: Bal_Shine_Gold.png?width=121&height=112]

Balder Bugle Issue VIII

A publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Realm of Balder.


Statsminster Election

The second Statsminster elections under the Constitutional Reform Bill 2019 took place in February, with Balder's two legislative chambers putting forward candidates for the position. In the Odelsting - the lower house, consisting of all eligble citizens who choose to take their seat - Bowzin, a nominee in the last election and Minister of the Interior under Statsminster Theoden, was proposed and seconded by other members of the chamber. No other candidates came forward, and Bowzin went on to win the Odelsting vote with 8 votes in favour and one vote - from Bowzin himself - abstaining. In the Lagting - the upper house, consisting of Balder's princes and nobility - Bowzin was also proposed and seconded, with no other candidates coming forward, and went on to receive the unanimous backing of all those who voted.

With the backing of both houses, Bowzin was put forward as the presumptive Statsminster for the new term, awaiting his appointment by the King.


State Opening of Parliament

With the Statsminster election concluded, King North East Somerset formally opened parliament. Speaking of Bowzin's governmental positions here and abroad, and his status as a relative newcomer to Balder, the King stated "I think this shows there is great potential for Bowzin to lead the Realm over the next term, and I hope he will focus his drive and energy on moving us forwards positively. Indeed, Bowzin only became a Citizen during this my current tenure as King, and to me this demonstrates the opportunities of Balder."

Looking back over the previous term, the King noted that Balder has "begun to show our growing military strength in recent deployments, whilst in parallel we have maintained an active presence in World Assembly affairs." Hoping to see the same going forward, he thanked those who had served in the previous government and said "We must continue to engage with our allies and friends to ensure we progress our mutual interests with dynamism and enthusiasm."


Statsminster's speech and announcement of Statsraadet

Shortly after his appointment as Statsminster, Bowzin laid out his goals for the term in his opening speech. Noting the substantial changes that have happened in Balder recently, including opening the new bicameral legislature, introducing longer Statsminister terms, and providing new ways for citizens to get involved in Government, Bowzin promised he would keep up the pace, stating "now we must push forward to new territory and take advantage of the systems given to us".

Bowzin also announced his ministerial appointments in his speech, saying "I have a strong team behind me, and I have the utmost faith in them to accomplish great things this term." The ministers appointed to Bowzin's Statsraadet are:

Eriadni as Minister of Interior Affairs,

Vamperiall as Minister of War,

Fuzzy as Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Aexnidaral as Attorney General


Civil Service

One of Statsminster Bowzin's priorities for his first term as Statsminster is to see more citizens becoming members of Balder's Civil Service. To that end, the Statsminster has initiated a recruitment drive, asking all ministers to open a Civil Service application thread for their respective ministries, with the aim of making the Civil Service easier and clearer to access. Applications are now open across many of the current ministries, and the Government is looking forward to engaging with members of Balder's citizenry to move the region forwards. The Civil Service will, as always, provide an opportunity for citizens to engage with and take part in Government, giving them an excellent opportunity to help shape and implement policy and perhaps even start a Government career!


City Reform

The Princely Cities Act (February 2020) is currently up for debate in the Odelsting, following extensive Government level discussions. The Act, which if passed will be a Basic Law of Balder and therefore a core piece of legislation, aims to encourage activity at City level by legislating for the creation of City charters and governments. With each City possessing its own distinct culture, the shape of these charters will be left up to the citizens of each City, with the Prince who rules each City taking the lead on creating the charter, and having the final say in its shape and the scope of the powers any City level governments will have.


Trial of Griffindor13

On February 11th, the Realm of Balder brought charges of Treason and Deception against Griffindor13, for consipring to overthrow Balder's elected Delegate, King North East Somerset. In his statement announcing the charges, Statsminister Bowzin dismissed Griffindor13 from his position as Minister of WA Affairs.

Griffindor13 informed the Government of his intention to contest the charges and a hearing commenced on February 15th. Both parties agreed to appoint Crown Prince OnderKelkia to act as Arbiter (judge). Griffindor13 represented himself and Attorney General Aexnidaral represented the Government. Both parties were invited to present their arguments and evidence in turn, followed by a closing statement.

Five days of arguments followed, and on February 20th Arbiter OnderKelkia issued his judgement, finding Griffindor13 guilty on both counts. For Treason, Griffindor13 was sentenced to six months banishment from the region and forum, as well as a year long ban from holding an elected office within the region, beginning with and subsequent to the expiration of the six months banishment. A period of at least six months banishment, followed by a year long ban from elected office, is required by statute for all persons convicted of Treason. For Deception, Griffindor13 was sentenced to seven weeks banishment from the region and forum, to be served concurrently with his sentence for Treason.


Military Operations

Over this term and the last, Balder's military, the Jomsvikings, took part in a number of successful operations.

In December, the Jomsvikings deployed to Cretanja Queendom, supporting The Black Hawks in a raid they conducted of the region. The raid was completed successfully, and the Jomsvikings were recalled to Balder on January 1st.

At the beginning of February, the Jomsvikings again deployed in support of The Black Hawks, assisting in a raid they conducted of ASEAN REGION. The Jomsvikings were recalled to Balder on February 8th.

On February 16th, the Jomsvikings deployed to Slatos in support of the Eastern Pacific Sovereign Army's invasion and occupation of the region. The deployment ended successfully on February 23rd.

Vamperiall, the Minister of War, alongside the Chief of Defence and Viking Command, is working to further develop and expand our military capability, and the Jomsvikings look forward to a busy roster of operations in support of Balder's international objectives over the rest of this term. Anyone interested in working alongside the Jomsvikings, or as part of it, should contact Vamperiall via NationStates telegram or Discord DM at Vamperiall #2044.


Contact Fuzzy, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with comments regarding the Bugle.

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  2020 Film Festival Host Applications

Posted by: Lauchenoiria
03-05-2020, 07:21 PM
Forum: Film Festivals
- Replies (5)

2020 Film Festival - Host Applications

Hey everyone! So, as you may know, the IDU has a tradition of hosting a Film Festival, usually yearly. The last such festival was in 2018, you can see entries from the 2018 festival here. Traditionally, the winner of of the Best New IDU Film category is offered the chance to host, which last year was [nation]Gnejs[/nation].

However, both the winner and runner-up of the 2018 festival have expressed that due to time constraints, they will be unable to host this year. So, I'm opening it up to applications for who wants to host in 2020!

If you're interested, can you fill out the following form and post in this thread, preferably before the 20th March:

Code:
[b]Nation name:[/b] [b]Puppet (yes/no):[/b] [b]City applying to host:[/b] [b]Why would you like to host?[/b] [b]Describe your applying host city:[/b]

Thank you for your application!

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  Birds of the IDU (Summary)

Posted by: Bears Armed
02-21-2020, 08:43 PM
Forum: Regional Ecosystems
- Replies (12)

Overview

Introduction
Birds – Those of the vertebrate animals that are members of the Class ‘Aves’, distinguished from the other types of ‘Tetrapods’ (literally the “Four-footed”; those others are the Amphibians, Reptiles, and Mammals) by their possession of feathers, according to traditional taxonomic reckoning. An offshoot of the Dinosaurs, whose continued designation as a ‘Class’ is awkward because the Dinosaurs are generally defined as only a ‘Super-Order’ (which is a lower taxonomic rank…) within the class ‘Reptilia’, and whose earliest members’ differentiation from feathered “Non-Avian Dinosaurs” is hard to define, according to more current thinking.
As this thread will deal primarily with the IDU’s birds from the geological era after the extinction of the “Non-Avian Dinosaurs” I won’t really need to differentiate between these two groups here, and continuing to classify Aves as a ‘Class’ makes applying labels systematically to its various subdivisions easier, so that’s what I’m going to do.

This thread will simply list & explain the sub-divisions of the Birds down to the level of ‘Family’ — or possibly, in some cases, ‘Sub-Family’ — and state which of the IDU’s continents each of those groups is (or, at least, “was”…) found on & around: Further detail will be given in threads about the relevant continents, instead.

Basic Evolution and Taxonomy of the Birds
The earliest “birds”, such as the famous Archaeopteryx, were anatomically just feathered Dinosaurs whose forelimbs had developed into wings… and may have been only one group among several of Dinosaurs for which this was the case. They had long tails in which the vertebral column extended almost to the tip, had long jawbones with teeth rather than just [lighter-weight] beaks, had claws on their fingers, and did not have their breastbones expanded into ‘keels’ as anchors for efficient flight-muscles.
(Indeed, gaps in the fossil record mean that we cannot even be certain that Archaeopteryx was in the line of descent that led to modern Birds rather than just a less closely related side-shoot of the evolutionary tree…)

These ‘basal’ forms gave rise to two main groups, the ‘Enantionithes’ ( = “Opposite Birds”, so-called because of a significant detail in their shoulder joints) and the ‘Euornithes’ ( = “Good Birds”, i.e “True Birds”, the stock from within which the ancestors of all of today’s birds arose). Lineges within both of these branches evolved ‘pygostyle’-type tails (in which just a few vertebra persist, generally fused together in most modern birds, forming a short structure that supports a longer tail which consists solely of feathers) of various forms: they also developed more ‘keel’-like breastbones (presumably with improved flight-muscles attached), lost their finger-claws, and lost teeth in favour of beaks, to varying extents… but these changes happened at differing rates in different lines, so that groups showing quite significant differences in these respects frequently co-existed. Fossil evidence uncovered in recent decades currently suggests that on RL Earth it was the ‘Enantiornithes’ that dominated during the Mesozoic Era (‘Age of Dinosaurs’), at least on land: The best-known Mesozoic groups of ‘Euronithes’ were apparently seabirds, in the orders ‘Icthyornithiformes’ (the genus Ichthyornis contained “gull-sized” flyers with teeth) and ‘Hesperornithiformes’ (the genus Hesperornis was a larger, flightless, foot-propelled diver, also with teeth), although fossils of more land-based types have also been uncovered in recent decades.

All of the birds alive in modern times are classified together as a lineage called the ‘Neornithes’ ( = “New Birds”), which also contains their last common ancestor and all of its other descendants. It is not yet [and might never be] clear to us whether certain fossils from the later Mesozoic and the earliest parts of the following Cenozoic Era (the “Age of Mammals”) were members of surviving Neornithean lineages, ‘basal’ Neornithes descended from the same shared ancestor but in separate branches that died out relatively early, or even “pre-Neornithes” whose lineages branched off from the Avian family tree after the Hesperonithiformes (or possibly after the Ichthyornithes, with the Hesperornithiformes having arisen before rather than after those…) but before that Neornithean common ancestor.

It seems to be the case that the Enantiornithes and any last surviving lines of the ‘basal’ types died out at the ‘K-Pg Event’, the “Doom of the Dinosaurs”, and that so too did all Euornithean lineages which had branched off from the Avian family tree before the Hesperornithiformes… On RL Earth, the Hesperonithiformes also died out at that point, but in the IDU’s reality at least one species survived it and this lineage continued (with some returned diversity, for a while) until late in the Miocene epoch.


The most basal division within the surviving Neornithes is between the ‘Palaeognathae;’ who retain certain “primitive” features of the jaw & palate even as adults, and the far more numerous ‘Neognathae’ in which those traits do not persist past the embryonic stage or — at most — are lost during the birds’ growth from chicks into adults. It is not clear which of these patterns existed in the last common ancestor of the two groups, because it is possible that the “Neognath”-type jaw & palate did not evolve until after the lineages had already diverged genetically anyway but it is also possible that the “modern” structures had evolved earlier so that the presence of the older system in the surviving Palaeognathes is just an example of ‘neoteny’ (an evolved persistence of formerly-“childhood” features into adulthood) instead. They have only short tails, or even none at all, but — unlike the situation in all other surviving Avian taxa — their caudal vertebrae are not fused to form “true” pygostyles.
The most basal division within the surviving Neognathae, confirmed on the basis of molecular& genetic studies from the 1990s onwards, is between the ‘Galloanserae’ (containing the Order ‘Galliformes’, which is the Chickens & their close relatives; the order ‘Anseriformes’, which is the Geese & their close relatives; and some less well-known groups, now extinct in RL although one of them survives in the IDU’s reality, that were more closely related to these than to any other surviving Orders…) and the far more numerous ‘Neoaves’ ( = “New Birds”… again; containing all of the other surviving lineages).

Several rival patterns of evolution-based classification have been proposed for the Neoaves, and it has not yet been possible to determine for certain which [if any] of these is correct: Even genetic studies cannot yet give us a definitive answer, due to the length of time through which the various branches have been diverging and the amount of random variation that has therefore been possible during that process. We can be reasonably sure that most of the Orders are divided between seven ‘Super-Orders’, but the precise relationships between these larger groups remain unclear and three Orders that exist in RL (at least two of which also exist in the IDU’s reality) — plus at least two Orders that are endemic to the IDU’s reality — currently have to be left as singletons instead.

Super-Orders
Columbimorphae = Pigeons & relatives.
Mirnadornithes = Flamingos, Grebes, & [extinct] relatives.
Cuculimorphae = Cuckoos & relatives.
Strisores = Swifts, Hummingbirds, & relatives; Nightjars & relatives.
Phaetonimorphae = Tropic Birds & [extinct] relatives; Kagu & Sun-Bittern & [extinct] relatives.
Aequiornithes = ‘Higher Water Birds’ (although the latter term is sometimes extended to include the Eurypterygimorpha as well…).
Telluraves = ‘Higher Land Birds’, divided into ‘Afroaves’ (earliest evolution apparently in Africa) & ‘Australaves’ (earliest evolution apparently in South America, Australia, and presumably pre-glaciated Antarctica while that still formed a habitable connection between those other two continents…). Among the Australaves is the Order ‘Passeriformes’ ( = “Sparrow-like Birds”, commonly called the “Perching Birds”, with most of its members in the Sub-Order ‘Oscines’ which is the “Songbirds”), which alone contains over half of the “modern” Bird ‘Species’ and approximately half of the surviving Bird ‘Families.

Separate Orders
Charadriiformes = ‘Shorebirds’ or ‘Waders’ (including, despite that common name, both some purely land-based groups and the more maritime Gulls and Auks…).
Gruiformes = Cranes, Rails, & relatives.
Opisthocomiformes = Hoatzin & [extinct] relatives.
Ibidorostriformes = Ibis-beaks & close relatives ( endemic to the IDU; apparently not closely linked to the RL ‘Ibis-bill’[i], which is in the Order Charadriiformes instead).
Terpsichoraviformes = ‘White Dancers’ & close relatives (endemic to IDU).

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  The North Star Issue XV

Posted by: Kaschovia
02-06-2020, 02:00 PM
Forum: Embassy of The North Pacific
- Replies (1)

[Image: rSxlNQ0.png?1]

[Image: sG8YGQy.png] NPA Report

by Rom, War Correspondent


[Image: BquQOG8.png]


Leadership


Minister of Defense: Trondstorm

Deputy Minister of Defense: Colonel Rom


During the month of December, the NPA participated in a variety of operations. Whether it was going on tag runs, doing some detags, raiding regions with our allies, or partaking in a liberation or two, we definitely had plenty of operations to do in December.



Having just wrapped up our hold in Cretanja Queendom with our allies, we decided to go on a joint tag run with TBH on the 7th of December. In this joint tag run, there were three teams of tag raiders that consisted of both TBH and NPA soldiers, and we were able to tag well over 40 regions between the three teams. We also participated in another raid with TBH, and other allies including the ERN, LWU, LKE, and Balder. With NPA soldiers and soldiers from those allied militaries, we partook in a raid of Cretenja Kingdom during the 22 of December. The NPA would also proceed to stay in the region, and help our friends hold the region until the conclusion of that operation.



The NPA also did several solo operations during the month of December as well, including several tag runs, a detag run, some liberations, and a successful defense as well. During the month of December, we did five tag runs, and tagged a total of 16 regions. Besides the tag runs, we also did a detag run, where we detagged 5 regions. We also liberated our close ally Stargate on the 23rd of December. Other operations the NPA did over December was a Liberation of the region The Tyrannian Empire, where we thwarted a refound attempt that was made by The Vedigothic Imperium during the December 16 Major. During that same update, the NPA also successfully defended a region, World Alliance of Kingdoms and Empires, from a TVI invasion, that one with the help of TITO.



The NPA concluded 2019 with a tag run on the 27th of December, where we tagged a total of 4 regions. We had a very great 2019, where we continued to partake in a wide variety of operations, and we kept ourselves very busy over the last year.


[Image: sG8YGQy.png] The Spotlight #24 - Angshire

by El Fiji Grande and Angshire

El Fiji Grande: What made you decide to join TNP?


Angshire: Well, my nation Angshire was founded here. I decided to start getting involved in the community, first with roleplay, and then with government.


El Fiji Grande: When joining NS, nations are bombarded by recruitment telegrams. What about our community made you decide to stay?


Angshire: One of the telegrams that I received told me to block out all recruitment telegrams, which I did.


El Fiji Grande: It took you nearly three weeks to gain citizenship due to a duplicate account issue. What was that all about?


Angshire: Well, it was my older brother who introduced me to NationStates, and we shared a computer. He was involved in TNP as well, but not to the extent I am.


El Fiji Grande: Right, that sucks. Did you have to kick him off? XD


Angshire: He went off to college starting this September. Which was when I started actively playing and when I founded my main nation.


El Fiji Grande: You appeared on the RMB posters for the executive staff Home Affairs telegram list. Did this reach you/influence your decision to apply for the executive staff?


Angshire: Quite frankly, I don't remember the TG I recieved from Home Affairs. What made my decision to join executive staff was someone recommending it to me on the TNP RP server.


El Fiji Grande: I expected as much, but I figured I'd ask. Who recommended you join the RP server?


Angshire: I believe I found it after I joined the TNP main server, linked to the NS factbook.


El Fiji Grande: Right. Which roleplays have you taken part in since joining?


Angshire: Mainly RMB based ones. Strangereal, Hestis, Tempest Alpha, and Facet, all of which are RMB-based.


El Fiji Grande: For those who don't know, can you explain the major themes behind each of those RPs?


Angshire: Well, Strangereal is based on the modern world, similar to Eras. Hestis was based on the classical world, but I have no idea if Hestis is still running, or if it got discontinued. The rest, I presume, are also based on the modern world.


El Fiji Grande: Between October 9 and October 21, you became a member of all executive staff ministries. Is there a reason you didn’t apply to all of them all at once?


Angshire: Originally, I joined the Ministry of Culture. After being there for a couple of days, someone else recommended I joined Comms and WA Staff, which I did. Eventually, like a week or so later, someone else recommended that I join all of the ministries, so I could see which ones I liked and disliked. I ended up joining them all, and have decided to stay in them all.


El Fiji Grande: That's good news for TNP Big Grin

You applied for TNP University Senatus on October 28. While the Senatus is now obsolete, do you have any plans to expand your thread on the Basics of Statistics into a full course?


Angshire: I don't know what I plan to do with that.

TNP University is obsolete now, you say?


El Fiji Grande: No. Just the Senatus plan that was pre University re-integration with TNP government.

You showed strong support for Marcus Antonius’ SC vote on Oct 28, 2019. What do you look for in a Security Councillor?


Angshire: My biggest concern for a Security Councillor, or for any governmental position for that matter, is activity. While Marcus might have been new to TNP relative to other members of the council, he has consistently shown that he is active and eager to engage in the TNP community.


El Fiji Grande: McM appointed you to the External Affairs Oversight Committee. Can you describe your role as a member of this committee?


Angshire: In all honesty, the External Affairs Committee has been relatively inactive. The chair, St George, recently resigned, so we are currently electing a new chair as of now.


El Fiji Grande: Ideally, what do you think its role should be?


Angshire: I think it's best role is to ensure that the management and administration of WA Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Defense are being conducted with integrity, honesty, and in the best interests of the region and the citizens.


El Fiji Grande: What is your opinion of the oversight committee process - back when it was more active, that is?


Angshire: I believe that it had potential, and I still believe it does, but it seems to have taken a back seat to the ministries, both then and now.


El Fiji Grande: In your opinion, are Ministry reports useful for government transparency?


Angshire: Most definitely. I believe the citizenry is entitled to know what goes on the region and the decisions that TNP is making.


El Fiji Grande: Let's move on. On Oct 30, you started the Count to 10 until Angshire posts thread. Do you enjoy spam games?

You’ve lost 25 times (so far) in that thread. How much does losing there irritate you?


Angshire: I did for a little while, like 2 weeks. Then I ended up getting busier with other governmental things.

Speaking of, I need to check that thread, I haven't checked it in days.


El Fiji Grande: On Nov 2, you decided to run for Justice. What did running a campaign to teach you about TNP’s elections?


Angshire: Well, me running for Justice definitely gave me a firsthand experience of what the election process is like, how votes are counted, how declarations of candidacy are made, etc. I believe that my experience running directly contributed to and was essential to my appointment as Election Commissioner.


El Fiji Grande: As I’m sure you’re aware, Marcus Antonius once ran a campaign for Justice as a newcomer as well. Did his campaign influence yours in any way?


Angshire: Bold of you to assume I was aware of that. Jokes aside, I think what I really focused on with my platform was trying to answer all questions as honestly and to the best of my ability as possible.


El Fiji Grande: I had thought he may have encouraged you to stick with it and un-withdraw from the race. Could you discuss your thinking on what made you decide to run again then?


Angshire: I forget who it was, I think it was Bob, but someone told me that, even if I didn't expect to win, the learning experience would be worth it in the long run.


El Fiji Grande: You ran on a platform of Activity, Fairness, and Loyalty. In your mind, why are those important qualities for a justice to possess?


Angshire: Activity is, in my opinion, the most essential, as a judge who rarely shows up is hardly a judge at all. You have to be actively engaged in this situation to deliver the best verdict. As for fairness and loyalty, I believe that both of those are linked to integrity and transparency, acting in the best interests of the region, regardless of personal preferences, being fair and just to both parties.


El Fiji Grande: You stated in your campaign that you “think it is important to increase the role the citizens play in the government’s operation.” What do mean by that, and how can future administrations improve?


Angshire: My biggest concern, and probably my first priority if I were ever to be elected to a higher governmental office, would be to increase citizen participation in the Regional Assembly, most likely through telegrams via Home Affairs. Additionally, I believe that the power the Regional Assembly plays in government operation should definitely be increased, whether that be through referendums or increased checks and balances.


El Fiji Grande: Interesting.

You obtained roughly ⅓ of the vote, putting you second to last, above Bobberino’s campaign. What do you think was the biggest reason that made voters vote for you?


Angshire: Most likely, I think voters voted for me for one of two reasons: either they wanted to see a fresh face in government, or they knew me through my heavy involvement in RP. A lot of the votes I received were from other RMB RPers.


El Fiji Grande: On Nov 5, 2019, you nominated yourself for Newcomer of the Year. You later also nominated yourself for Best Tourist Destination and for having the Best Flag. - You nominated yourself for the Judicial race and again for the Lennarts. You’re definitely not the only one to have done it, but why do you keep nominating yourself for things?

(TNP has a tradition of getting others to nominate you first)


Angshire: Putting myself out there is something I have been doing. I nominated myself for Newcomer as I believed I had a chance of winning. As for Tourist Destination, I had a high in-game tourism stat, and for best flag, one of the other RMB RPers nominated themselves, so I did too. And as for the Judicial race, nominating myself was the only way I would've gotten it: I was a fresh, relatively unknown player in TNP at the time, so it would have been unlikely that someone else would have nominated me.


El Fiji Grande: For what it's worth, I nominated myself for Best Flag too, so you're not alone Tongue

Also on Nov 5, 2019, you applied for the University, and you were accepted the same day. I know I already asked you about the University Senatus - What makes you interested in TNP’s University?


Angshire: At the time, the TNP University was the only major TNP institution I wasn't actively involved in yet. Additionally, at the time, a lot of the TNP University things were new, and I believed that with my experience in other ministries I could help out and gain some experience as well.


El Fiji Grande: On Nov 14, 2019, you applied to join the NPA and you were accepted the same day. What influenced your decision to join?


Angshire: Someone on the discord encouraged me to join, and I did.


El Fiji Grande: Since you didn’t have any experience with R/D when you joined, what is your opinion of the training program?


Angshire: I believe it to be beneficial.

I think, based on my own experience, the best way to learn with the NPA is learning through experience.


El Fiji Grande: Have you found someone to mentor you there?


Angshire: Not really, whenever I joined I immediately took part in an operation. It was more like everyone was my mentor.


El Fiji Grande: On Nov 16, 2019, you were promoted to Private First Class after your first raid with the NPA, which hit nine targets. What’s your rank now?


Angshire: I am still a Private First Class.


El Fiji Grande: I noticed that you've got several hundred endorsements. It suggests you may not be as active in the NPA going forward. What are your thoughts on your future in the NPA?


Angshire: Well, here's the thing: I believe I told you before because I'm in radio, but I don't have regular access to a computer currently. I have a chromebook but eh...and doing ops through mobile is practically impossible.

I don't know whether I'll ultimately choose to stick with NPA or endotarting, it all depends on government positions that I take and my schedule.


El Fiji Grande: On the topic of NS Cards, you obtained your own NS card through the TNP Great Card Giveaway due to your Keeper status. What is your opinion of the program?


Angshire: I personally believe that this program not only has a lot of potential but has also raised involvement in the community. It has gotten players who spend more time on the actual game to get involved in TNP politics, and I think that it is great. Definitely the best thing that McM has done during their term.


El Fiji Grande: What makes you interested in cards?


Angshire: Idk to be honest, I just find it to be a sort of fun minigame in NS. It's something to do when there are no issues to answer.


El Fiji Grande: Do you think NS Cards are a suitable reward for participating in regional programs?


Angshire: It totally depends on whether the person receiving the cards is into it or not. But I think as of now it is the best available reward.

The amount of activity in the Cards Guild is amazing, and it really shows the nations of TNP have some real dedication to cards.


El Fiji Grande: Are they enough to motivate you to do tasks?


Angshire: Sure, kinda. They're not the primary motivator.


El Fiji Grande: What is?


Angshire: My biggest motivator is the possibility of getting noticed by the higher government ranks so I can be nominated for other things. I love trying to make TNP a great experience for all, and I love trying everything I possibly can.


El Fiji Grande: Fantastic! And you've been doing a great job of that Big Grin

On Nov 19, 2019, you applied to join the NS Cards Guild. You were accepted two days later, on Nov 21. Shortly thereafter, you were appointed to become Deputy Guildsmaster by Praetor. What do you believe led him to select you for the role?


Angshire: I think the main thing was my activity. While I certainly don't have the experience, the knowledge, or the skill of the other Deputies, I think what I bring to the table is an undying dedication to be an active participant.


El Fiji Grande: You certainly are active. What are your responsibilities as Deputy Guildmaster?


Angshire: Deputy Guildmaster is slightly different in terms of responsibilities than other Deputy executives in that, for the most part, the Deputy Guildmasters don't have so much to actually do, like make forum posts. The main thing we do is discuss ways to better reach out to the community, discuss events with cards, reward programs, etc.

We are kinda similar to the Ministry of Culture, but with a hyperfocus on Cards and a tie to reward programs.


El Fiji Grande: How does one become a Deputy Guildsmaster?


Angshire: Prae simply messaged me asking if I wanted to be a Deputy, and I said yes. My assumption is that Deputies are tied to the Guildmaster, like other ministry Deputies being tied to the Minister.


El Fiji Grande: For those who don’t know, can you explain what the Card Lottery, the Card Giveaway, the Market Watch, and the Card Queries page are?


Angshire: The Card Giveaway is for Guild members only - basically, you can request any non-legendary card you want, and when our farmers get it, then it is delivered.


The Card Lottery, on the other hand, is for Keepers of the North, rewards for exchanging endorsements and voting on WA resolutions.


The Market Watch, as the name suggests, gives statistics about the current card market in the form of plots and graphs. It includes card values, trades, deck values, and historical records for all of the above.


The Card Queries page can be found on the actual NS forum and basically helps you narrow down your search and find specific cards. For example, if I wanted to find the cards of commended WA nations, I could use the queries page to find it.


El Fiji Grande: How can someone who is new to the game start building a deck? How can they optimize their likelihood of winning a card here in TNP?


Angshire: I'd say the first step is to join the Card Guild. The people in the Card Guild are very experienced and could easily help guide a new player through the experience.

To optimize their winnings, just becoming a Keeper of the North helps tremendously.


El Fiji Grande: On Dec 2, 2019, you won a legendary on Day 2 of the 31 Days of Legendaries program. Your total deck value is now 99.66. Are you relying on a team of puppets, or can the majority of the growth be attributed to TNP’s card programs?


Angshire: My DV is almost entirely attributed to TNP card programs. All of the legendaries I have were obtained through TNP.


El Fiji Grande: On the subject of Foreign Affairs, you serve as ambassador to Forest. Forest is a relatively calm, quiet region as compared to some. Do you think such a region is best as the first assignment for someone new to the ministry, or would you have preferred a more engaging assignment?


Angshire: I definitely think that Forest is a suitable region for a first assignment. It isn't too much to handle and it helps an ambassador adjust.


El Fiji Grande: On Nov 5, you claimed the Spotlight interview #23 for TNS XIV. By the 29th, you completed your draft, having interviewed Koopa. How would you rate the experience?


Angshire: Not gonna lie, I didn't prepare enough for it. A lot of the questions I winged it, and I think that contributed to the relative lackluster quality of my interview.


El Fiji Grande: You shouldn't put yourself down like that - I thought your interview with Koopa was alright.

On Dec 4, 2019, you swore an Oath of Office to become Deputy Minister of WA Affairs, revitalizing the ministry with fresh blood. It’s been nearly a month since you became a deputy minister in WA Affairs - how is it going so far?


Angshire: Quite honestly I believe that, even though I have done some work, I haven't done as much as I'd wanted to. Personally, I also believe that two people in particular have shown dedication and activity exceeding my own: Deropia and Concrete Slab.

But, overall, it has been nice.


El Fiji Grande: Is WA Affairs the Ministry you're most interested in given your position there as Deputy Minister?


Angshire: As of now, yes. However, that could change, depending on if I get appointed in other ministries.


El Fiji Grande: nods I'll keep you in mind for Radio Tongue

On Dec 8, 2019, you were appointed to be an Election Commissioner by McMasterdonia. By Dec 14th, you were confirmed by the Regional Assembly. What makes you excited to take on the role?


Angshire: As always, I was excited to try out something new.


El Fiji Grande: In your mind, why is the election commission important?


Angshire: The Election Commission is not just important, it's necessary - having a group of trusted individuals who are able to cross-check each other ensures transparency, which is of the utmost importance.


El Fiji Grande: Of course. I'm glad to hear it from you.

Recently, on Dec 19, 2019, you approached McM and Prydania about having a Christmas-themed flag for TNP. What sparked the idea?


Angshire: I noticed other feeder regions with Christmas flags, and I thought, "Hey, TNP should have one too!" And one thing led to another.


El Fiji Grande: It's really cool the way it turned out. Thanks for the suggestion.


Angshire: My pleasure!


El Fiji Grande: That more or less brings us to the present. In the last three months, you’ve made an incredible mark on TNP as a newcomer. You’ve posted more than 400 times on both the RMB and the forum. You’ve really become a member of our community. Do you have any advice for other newcomers looking to get more involved?


Angshire: My biggest suggestion is to get involved in as much as you can. If that means trying out all the ministries until you find something that calls to you, then so be it.

And the biggest thing is to stay active. If I wasn't as active as I was my first couple of months, I likely wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am now.


El Fiji Grande: What can we look forward to from you in the future? Do you have any interest in running for elected office?


Angshire: I do eventually want to run for Delegate. However, that would be in the distant future, like in 2022. Hopefully I can be appointed as a Minister of some of the ministries, and maybe even become a VD before going for the Delegacy.

As for the near future my biggest goal is to be a Minister.


El Fiji Grande: I look forward to it!

And as a three-time former (and I suppose current) Minister and former delegate, I'd be happy to mentor you as you continue to advance in TNP.

I want your take: is the color of your forum name red or orange?


Angshire: I...I have no idea!


El Fiji Grande: Alas, it shall fore'er remain unresolved.


Angshire: Indeed.


El Fiji Grande: Your forum motto is that "Saying things in French makes you sound more cultured."

Why do you think that's true?


Angshire: My nation's motto in RP is "Longue vie au roi", which means "Long live the King" in French

And let's face it, "Longue vie au roi" just sounds fancier


El Fiji Grande: It does, it does.

What’s one question you’d like to be asked that I’ve overlooked?


Angshire: Maybe one question would be about me being one of the supervisors for the current election.


El Fiji Grande: Can you answer your own question?

For instance: What is it like to be a supervisor of the January elections?

Do you expect to encounter any challenges in performing the role?


Angshire: Well, me and Sil are the supervisors of the elections, and it'll be both of our first times. So far, it seems interesting and Siwale has guided us both through the steps.

Since McM is very likely to be re-elected, I expect no real challenges from the delegacy part of the election.


El Fiji Grande: Well, that's all I have. Thanks so much for taking the time to conduct this interview with me. Do you have any final thoughts?


Angshire: No, I think everything has been covered! Thanks for the opportunity for an interview!


El Fiji Grande: You're welcome!


[Image: sG8YGQy.png]Regional Assembly Highlights

by Gorundu, Legislative Correspondent


Regional Assembly Highlights, December 2019


Speaker: Deropia

Deputy Speakers: Bobberino, Kaschovia



Current Business


Total Term Limits Act by abc


Summary: This proposal aims to impose a total term limit of two terms for Delegates instead of the current consecutive limit of two terms. Although the author indicated he would be willing to increase the proposed total term limit, the bill was faced with widespread opposition, with the primary reasons given being that it would reduce competition and increase the chance of an incompetent Delegate. Just a few hours later, the author indicated he would like to withdraw the bill from consideration, which resulted in discussions on the Speaker's ability to table (withdraw) bills as rules were unclear. No subsequent action has been taken yet.


Status: In Discussion


[B]Passed[/B]


Confirmation of Angshire, Sil Dorsett, Scottie, Dreadton and Darcania to the Election Commission


Summary: Due to the rapidly decreasing number of Election Commissioners due to inactivity and term expiry, Delegate McMasterdonia appointed five new Election Commissioners in a short timeframe to ensure the number of Election Commissioners will not fall below the minimum requirement of five for some time. All five appointees were confirmed, though some felt the process was rushed and the appointees have not sufficiently answered all questions, leading to an objection to vote in the case of Scottie.


Results

Angshire: 16 ayes, 3 nays, 6 abstentions

Sil Dorsett: 24 ayes, 0 nays, 3 abstentions

Scottie: 16 ayes, 4 nays, 7 abstentions

Dreadton: 21 ayes, 0 nays, 6 abstentions

Darcania: 26 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention


by [URL=https://forum.thenorthpacific.org/profile/5032634/]Deropia


Summary: Following a trial in which the defendant presented likely falsified evidence, Deropia proposed to make perjury a criminal offense, separate from the existing crime of fraud, with more specific punishments designated. It is currently at vote where it is expected to pass.


Results: 40 ayes, 0 nays, 2 abstentions


[Image: sG8YGQy.png] World Assembly Digest

by Rocketdog, Deputy Minister


[Image: ga.jpg]

General Assembly

Improving the world one resolution at a time



Repeal "Ban on Secret Treaties"

Status: Failed | Delegate's Vote: Against

Final Vote (World): For - 5,507 (37.0%); Against - 9,385 (63.0%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 106 (20.1%); Against - 421 (79.9%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 40.7%


Currently at vote in the Festering Snakepit...er...General Assembly is the repeal of "Ban on Secret Treaties" and to be frank, the argument isn't that compelling. We are being asked to repeal a perfectly functional piece of legislation because of a "joke" within the text of the target resolution. Upon realizing that this was the only argument the repeal made, the staff of the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs spent the night reviewing previously passed resolutions and found that a number of them include these jokes. One proposal calls the assembled ambassadors "drunks, stoners and weirdos" while another repeal includes a recipe for an Orange Julius. Including jokes in proposals has been a part of the institution since its inception.


The Ministry of World Assembly Affairs, having given all due consideration to the repeal in question (which, let's be honest, wasn't very much.) recommends a vote Against the proposal.




Repeal "Promoting Natural Sciences in School"

Status: Failed | Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 5,663 (38.4%); Against - 9,087 (61.6%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 346 (64.7%); Against - 189 (35.3%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 41.0%


Currently under consideration by the General Assembly is the repeal of GA#475 Promoting Natural Sciences in Schools. Focusing on the possibility for intentional misinterpretation of the text of the resolution due to vague language, the lack of a requirement for the scientific information taught to students to have been verified by through peer review and requiring member states to fund the science programmes of private schools. The author makes a convincing argument. Though the Ministry believes that legislation supporting the advancement of the sciences is necessary, we believe that it should be written in such a way that doesn't mandate public funds be used to fund private schools and encourages the use of a peer review system. The Ministry hopes that with the repeal of GA#475 the General Assembly will pass a sufficient replacement that corrects these problems.


For these reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote For the proposal.




Repeal "Ban on Secret Treaties"

Status: Failed | Delegate's Vote: Against

Final Vote (World): For - 7,015 (48.4%); Against - 7,456 (51.6%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 170 (31.4%); Against - 371 (68.6%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 41.3%


Currently at vote in the Festering Snakepit...er...General Assembly is the repeal of "Ban on Secret Treaties" and to be frank, the argument isn't that compelling. We are being asked to repeal a perfectly functional piece of legislation because of a "joke" within the text of the target resolution. Upon realizing that this was the only argument the repeal made, the staff of the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs spent the night reviewing previously passed resolutions and found that a number of them include these jokes. One proposal calls the assembled ambassadors "drunks, stoners and weirdos" while another repeal includes a recipe for an Orange Julius. Including jokes in proposals has been a part of the institution since its inception.


The Ministry of World Assembly Affairs, having given all due consideration to the repeal in question (which, let's be honest, wasn't very much.) recommends a vote Against the proposal.




Repeal "Civilian Aircraft Accord"

Status: Failed | Delegate's Vote: Against

Final Vote (World): For - 1,672 (13.4%); Against - 10,810 (86.6%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 74 (12.7%); Against - 507 (87.3%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 44.1%


"Civilian Aircraft Accord" is an important resolution safeguarding protections for civilian aircraft. The interpretation of this resolution provided by the repeal proposal is unreasonable and made in bad faith. The arguments of the repeal are based on a single sub-clause of the resolution requiring member nations to provide "Assistance to any civilian aircraft that declares itself to be in distress within the communication range of that nation". The repeal ignores the fact that the same resolution ensures pilots are properly trained and would not make false distress calls, as well as the provisions of GA#334 that forbid military combatants from falsely utilising protected status as civilians. Furthermore, the repeal presumes nations would send aircraft to intercept a distressed aircraft, when that is entirely unreasonable as the most effective form of assistance is through air traffic control. The last clause of the repeals poses a more implausible scenario - that nations would send aircraft to hostile territory for this purpose, even though the nation that the aircraft is actually in would be more suitable to handle the distress call.


In accordance with the reasoning presented above, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote Against this repeal.




Ensuring Commercial Vessel Navigation

Status: Passed Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 11,876 (85.2%); Against - 2,056 (14.8%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 469 (94.4%); Against - 28 (5.6%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 38.1%


This is a clearly-written resolution with reasonable definitions and mandates that improves the safety of commercial maritime transport. It distributes responsibility to governments, by requiring them to provide and update nautical charts, and commercial vessels, by requiring them to carry nautical charts and instrumentation, and to submit pre-planned routes to governments for approval. Overall, by ensuring governments and commercial vessels are equipped with the necessary tools and information for navigation, the proposal contributes to safer sea travel.


For the reasons above, the Ministry recommends a vote For this proposal




Don't Shoot Strangers Act

Status: Failed| Delegate's Vote: Against

Final Vote (World): For - 2,779 (21.3%); Against - 10,285 (78.7%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 78 (17.2%); Against - 376 (82.8%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 34.9%


Don't Shoot Strangers Act is a well-intentioned proposal to promote world peace, though its definition of acts of hostility would hinder its effectiveness. Of concern is the listing of violating national borders as an act of hostility, without regard for intention and failing to account for nations that may not have exact knowledge of a previously unencountered nation's borders. Its listing of four specific acts of hostility also failed to take into account non-physical hostile actions towards a nation or a nation's citizens committed outside that nation's borders, such as some forms of espionage, or harming a nation's interests internationally.


The Ministry, in hopes of a more effective redrafted proposal, recommends a vote Against this proposal.




Repeal "Convention on Animal Testing"

Status: Passed Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 11,532 (90.6%); Against - 1,193 (9.4%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 397 (88.8%); Against - 50 (11.2%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 34.2%


The target resolution was an attempt to place ethical restrictions on the use of animal test subjects. Based on the proposed repeal and our previous arguments during the voting period of the resolution, we find that the targeted resolution allows for the suffering of test animals through the exploitation of various loopholes. These loopholes include allowing testing facilities to "humanely" kill animals rather than putting them up for adoption and testing facilities setting their own definitions of "ethical testing."


In hopes of a future loophole-free resolution that guarantees the rights of test animals to the greatest extent possible, the Ministry recommends a vote For this proposal.




Wartime Healthcare Protections

Status: Passed | Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 9,966 (74.9%); Against - 3,340 (25.1%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 434 (87.3%); Against - 63 (12.7%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 38.3%


The proposal aims to protect medical facilities and the rights of injured combatants during wartime. The GA has previously passed resolution protecting civilians, and this would be another step in ensuring that the rights of people in general are protecting even in the chaotic times of war. The passing of this proposal would help to further strengthen the protection of personal rights during a wartime scenario, by protecting the access to medical care and preventing medical facilities from being targeted, thus ensuring the least possible casualties in armed conflicts.

In light of the above reasons, the Ministry recommends a For vote for this proposal.




Subject State Enforcement Act

Status: Failed| Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 1,942 (15.2%); Against - 10,819 (84.8%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 199 (38.6%); Against - 317 (61.4%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 39.8%


This is a much-needed resolution that would prevent some World Assembly members from circumventing the enforcement of resolutions in parts of their territories. In doing so, it would ensure General Assembly resolutions are applied more fairly across all member states. Thus, all member states would have General Assembly resolution apply to all parts of its territory, closing any loopholes in this area that may have previously existed.


For the above reasons, the ministry recommends a vote For this resolution.




Data Protection Accord

Status: Passed Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 11,297 (79.7%); Against - 2,875 (20.3%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 450 (87.5%); Against - 64 (12.5%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 40.0%


Data Protection Accord is a sensible and well-written proposal that would protect the privacy of the individual from data-collecting organisations by requiring explicit consent from individual users for data collection (notwithstanding crime prevention) and ensuring users are informed on how their data is used and/or shared. Additionally, individual privacy is protected against governments as they are prohibited from viewing the data unless given consent by the individual and the data-collecting organisation (notwithstanding crime prevention and judicial orders). Furthermore, the proposal protects minors by ensuring consent for data collection is required from their guardians.


For the above reasons, the ministry recommends a vote For this resolution.



[Image: sc.jpg]

Security Council

Spreading interregional peace and goodwill, via force if necessary



Commend Duxburian Union

Status: Passed | Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 10,731 (83.6%); Against - 2,111 (16.4%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 492 (90.1%); Against - 54 (9.9%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 41.8%


The matter before the World Assembly Security Council is the commendation of the Duxburian Union, better known to the international community as Vincent Drake. Throughout their career in NationStates, they have participated in over 6,000 defender operations. Counted among these are the liberations of The Monarchist Entente, St Abbadon, Japan, and Anontia. They also participated in the refounding of both their home region and Greece. The latter which had been under the oppressive rule of Yauna for almost a decade. The Duxburian Union is also credited with the development of Breeze++, a tool used by military organizations the world over. Despite the high quality of writing, potential issues arise in addressing their accolades and accomplishments in a consistent manner given the rest of the proposal.


However the Ministry does note concern with these aforementioned insufficiencies in proving warrant and reputable subject material, we do ultimately recommend a vote For the proposal given the vast contributions made by the target nation to the greater NS community.




Repeal "Liberate Aurelia"

Status: Passed | Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 13,497 (93.7%); Against - 2,111 (6.3%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 498 (93.1%); Against - 37 (6.9%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 40.1%


Shortly after passing of 'Liberate Aurelia', the region was liberated by military forces and power was restored to natives. During a time of rebuilding, a password is very useful in ensuring there is no attempt to retake the region by hostile forces. As such, the liberation has served its purpose and now can be safely removed to allow the natives to restore appropriate control over the region.


In accordance with the reasoning above, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote For this repeal.


Commend Markanite

Status: Passed Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 10,192 (82.2%); Against - 2,208 (17.8%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 419 (90.1%); Against - 46 (9.9%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 35.6%


Markanite is a long-serving member of 10000 Islands, a commended region in itself. Currently the Chief Executive, and notably having been the longest-serving World Assembly Delegate of the region, Markanite has contributed significantly to the development of 10000 Islands and its place in the world. For an equally long time, Markanite has been a member of TITO, overseeing and participating in missions to restore lawful Delegates in large regions and protect founderless regions from external threats through refounding.


For the reasons above, the Ministry recommends a vote For this proposal.


Commend Ramaeus

Status: Passed | Delegate's Vote: For

Final Vote (World): For - 10,393 (79.7%); Against - 2,654 (20.3%)

Final Vote (TNP): For - 445 (90.5%); Against - 47 (9.5%)

Percentage of TNP WA nations voting: 37.9%


Ramaeus is a faithful and long-time citizen of The East Pacific, serving in many notable government positions, most notably three times as Delegate. In these positions, they have contributed to the development of the region internally and externally in a meaningful manner. Although their contributions are mostly concentrated in one region, they have been instrumental in enhancing the region's international image and fostering interaction between the region and the international community through the World Assembly, the East Pacific Sovereign Army, and alliances with other prominent regions. In addition, Ramaeus has been a prolific Security Council author, recognizing other nations for their achievements, and most recently played a significant part in organizing the liberation of their home region from a rogue Delegate.


For the reasons above, the Ministry recommends a vote For this commendation.


[small]The North Star: Lighting The Way To The Truth

Publisher: McMasterdonia :: Executive Editor: Marcus Antonius :

The North Star is produced by the Ministry of Communications on behalf of the Government of The North Pacific and is distributed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs externally and the Ministry of Home Affairs internally. Except where otherwise indicated, all content represents the views of the Government of The North Pacific.


Index of Issues

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  President Foley Sakzi

Posted by: Zamastan
02-04-2020, 10:53 PM
Forum: IDU Newswire
- Replies (2)

PRESIDENT FOLEY SAKZI

[Image: thunejohn_041616cl_lead.jpg?itok=y25NbT2p]

February 4th, 2020

Clouds hazed the recesses of memory. The feeling of smoke fogged the perceived sense of vision, as a strobing, pulsing red glare glowed through the thickening cover. Hands pounded against the glass shield of the box, smearing their fingerprints along the surface. The muffled screams of high-pitched voices shuddered the glass, and a crack emerged as the hands turned to fists. The glass suddenly shattered, the fists disappeared, and the mist pooled into the completely crisp black floor. Foley looked around in the void. There was nothing. Clenching his fists in reaction to the loneliness, he felt a squishing texture, looked down and saw blood covering his palms. Pouring from the crevices in his fingers, red liquid dripped obsessively to the floor.

A sudden flash of light, and before him stood a tall, stoic looking man with a gut. With a beard, rugged and torn suit, and a pair of sunglasses with a broken lens, Van’a Kamoni stared at Foley with a fire in his hatred filled eyes. Kamoni raised his left arm, producing a pistol with the chamber pointing directly in between Foley’s eyes. Foley couldn’t move. He felt himself overcome with dread. Foley squeezed his blood soaked hands closed, and Kamoni tightened his gaze. A blast of light, and Foley jerked back.

Foley sat up quickly, panting. He must’ve shouted in his sleep, as his wife Hannah was rolling over, palm to her face, murmuring.

“Foley, what is it?”

Foley steadied himself and slowed his breathing. Light calmly filled the room through the blinds of the Presidential Mansion’s bedroom window. Looking around, he noted that the faces of his children, Karina and Mylon, remained the same on their family portrait hanging across the room and over their dresser. Nothing had changed. The world was still the same. Just another nightmare.

“Nothing, Hannah,” Foley responded, softly. He lifted the sheets above his legs and swung them over the side of the bed, stretching his arms behind his head and cracking his spine. He let out a satisfied sigh and sat still, patiently looking towards the window. The air was warm today.

Hannah reached out and traced her fingers along Foley’s back, tapping gently against the two bullet scars that sat there as a present reminder of Foley’s injuries in the Battle of Amstelveen in 2004. “You had another nightmare, Foley.” Hannah looked at her husband. She was growing more and more concerned for her husband.

“It’s nothing I can control, sweetheart. I don’t dwell on them.”

“You whisper in your sleep.”

“I know.”

Hannah moved forward and sat next to her husband on the bed. “You’re whispering the kid’s names.”

Foley remained stoic. He didn’t know he was saying their names. His face didn’t show it, but he was struggling to keep in a protrusive frown.

Hannah breathed in, opening her mouth to say something, but paused, and sighed instead. She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Foley.”

The two of them sat still in the warmth of the sun’s soft beams. Rarely did these moments reveal themselves to the Sakzi family.

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Thirty minutes later, President Foley Sakzi was seated in the situation room of the Zian Presidential Mansion. His generals and lead intelligence officers surrounded him, clamoring with papers and documents, as General Avery Reynolds and General Chase Lyons appeared on the monitor in front of them on a live feed from their headquarters in Vulkaria. An icon flashed next to Reynolds’ box, and the military men halted their quick paced organization and stood at attention as Reynolds began to speak.

“Mister President, our intelligence teams may have picked up on a trail regarding Van’a Kamoni.”

Foley again showed no overdramatic expression, but a shiver ran down his back and his hairs stood on end under his suit. “Elaborate, General.”

“Sir, we detected and began surveillance on a contingent of pickup trucks moving from Monza to Vilnotra. We know that Kamoni likely has compounds and safehouses across the coastal region of the conflict zone, but this convoy was not carrying heavy weapons, any viable shipments of crates or boxes, and no visible extensive insurgent presence. It just appears to be multiple vehicles with one or two riders each. Minimal security, no obviously visible target. Except for this…”

A screen image enhanced, showing a moving video of drone footage. Two pickup trucks were pulled off to the side of the road, and a man appeared to be relieving himself into the brush in the ditch. On the other side of the vehicle, four men with heavy firearms visible stood still and patient.

“This individual seen taking a “break”, sir, brought up curiosity. The drive between the two cities is short, only a max of ten minutes without interruption. We became suspicious when we noticed that there was no security in the convoy except for this one specific vehicle, which had at least four heavily armed men and one unarmed, slightly overweight individual who was apparently important enough to stop the convoy so he could do his business.”

“You think that man is Kamoni?” Foley asked, voice raised.

“We think, yes,” Reynolds replied. “His figure matches recent descriptions we’ve received from sightings of him. In addition, the weapons the four bodyguards are holding appear to be silver plated, which is part of his known preference for customization in his personal guard and armament.”

Foley leaned back, and for the first time in what seemed like a long time, he smiled. If this was Kamoni, the Zamastanians could finally have a hit on their long-time biggest enemy figurehead. Maybe it could also quell some of his nerves. “Did you track the convoy to any place in particular, General?”

“Yes, Mister President. A compound in Vilnotra. It’s on a cliff face overlooking the Bay of Kas. Before the 2017 insurgency started, it belonged to a multi-millionaire oil tycoon. Now, it’s a heavily fortified home.”

“Keep it monitored around the clock. I want drafts for an assault on my desk by noon.”

“Yessir, Mister President.”

“Dismissed, men.”

As Foley stood and left the room, entering the long hallway of the Mansion towards the front rotunda, he felt heavy. Kamoni was in his grasp. Now, all he had to do was not screw it up.

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The clouds came back, and Foley was standing on the top of a rock piercing through the endless void of darkness. On a rock adjacent to him stood his oldest child, his daughter Karina. Karina was looking down into the void, shedding tears. Foley reached for her, but the distance only grew further with each strain of the muscle to extend his fingers to her. Karina peered her head over to her father, and Foley’s heart sank. Van’a Kamoni materialized from the mist on the rock behind her, and with an evil, blood soaked smile, pushed his arm forward. Karina lost balance and began to plummet into the void. Foley was helpless to do nothing but watch and scream empty screams.

Foley slapped himself hard. He hadn’t even fallen asleep, he was at his desk in the Gaviria Room. Rubbing his palms into his eyes, he excluded a large moan and slumped back into his seat, rocking back and forth aggressively.

His phone buzzed, and it took a moment for Foley to react and open his screen. A message on the secure line from one of his generals showed a new surveillance image from the compound in Vilnotra. The man in the image was smoking a cigarette, wearing a ragged suit with a tear down one sleeve. Sunglasses, a fedora, and cargo shorts leaned against an armored sedan, his gut stuck out from underneath the unbuttoned garb. Kamoni.

“I’m going to kill this guy,” Foley growled under his breath.

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  Iskirami Chronicle

Posted by: Shuell
02-03-2020, 10:38 PM
Forum: IDU Newswire
- Replies (4)

Iskirami Chronicle
Through Tradition Comes Strength

20th Anniversary of the Decimation Comes to Pass

Candles and trinkets decorated shrines to the dead today as men and women of the Sultanate remembered those lost in the Nuclear Decimation. On this day, 156 thousand people had their vessels annihilated when the Old Coalition detonated a nuclear bomb in the great city of Foujil. The muharib of the Royal Army honored their 32,000 dead today when a mass ceremony was held by priests of Oze’uis, as they attempted to pacify the turbulent spirits of the dead tormenting the souls of veteran warriors.

After the end of the Unification Wars and the eradication of the Houses that lead the Old Coalition, Sultan Ahmad III declared that February 3rd would be “remembered in history as the Day of Martyrdom.” Although Sultan Ahmad III continues to be in a state of incapability and is being treated by multiple skilled apothecaries, Lord Regent Uzida has seen fit to organize a remembrance of the fallen in Sahiyat, where great stone monoliths are to be engraved with the names of the dead.

The Academy of Natural Philosophy has yet to declare Foujil fit for rehabilitation, citing the fact that “atomic affliction” still lingers in the ruins and has taken ahold of many who enter the boundaries of the city. The Akhaniite Order and the Fruits of the Vine are currently the largest groups that hold expeditions to these ruins, in order to lay the dead to rest and plant holy vegetation in the city.

Watch Reports Flame-Worshippers in Slums

City Watchmen in the city of Halarus have reported a recent uptake in flame-worshippers present in their exile slums, to the alarm of many. During an interview by Chronicle transcribers, the Watch stated that they found multiple pamphlets in the homes of multiple manafaa during a cleansing, that declared that the world was soon to end in a nuclear war and doom our race to a cycle of suffering. The Organization of the Prophet of the Flame, denounced by the Oze’uis Church to be a doomsday cult led by a madman, has increased its efforts in proselytizing those exiled from their House, presumably due to the fact that only exiles would stoop so low to join their movement.

In response to this, the Akhaniite Order sect in Halarus has declared that they would root out this heresy as soon as the Order of Divination declared it advantageous. Although some state fears that the so-called “Guardians of the Cleansing Flame” would be present in Halarus, the Steel Mask interviewed stated that “their ramshackle weaponry and cloth robes would do little against the sword and armor of our faith.”

Lord Naim VI to Duel Pretender

Lord Naim VI of Khasireb has publicly arranged a duel between himself and a pretender to his claim, declaring it a “matter of honor” after he was slandered. Lord Tufail Ibn-Faisal Amer claims that Lord Naim Ibn-Naim Usman the Fourth’s claim to the beylik of Meqshabis is illegitimate and rightfully his own, being de jure a title of House Amer. 

Due to conflicting records in the Royal Archives on the beylik of Meqshabis, Lord Amer and Lord Naim IV have both agreed to duel to first blood for the title, to be held two days from now in at the banks of the River Thueban. The River Thueban has been commonly used as a field of honor throughout the ages, at least since the start of the Sharaf Sultanate. Lord Amer, age 57, is the founder of the Eternal Lion Dueling Guild and active in multiple fencing leagues.

“Respect and honor the enemy until they prove themselves undeserving of it, and in all cases prove that your cause is righteous and that you are the better man.” - Lord Arkaan II, Treatise on Iskirami Honor

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  Heavy is the Head that wears the Crown (Cape Auria)

Posted by: Democratic Republic Of Eiria
02-01-2020, 06:39 AM
Forum: IDU Newswire
- Replies (2)

Queen's Study, Aurus Palace, Lumière, Cape Auria
8:53 PM

Queen Sophie Laurent of Cape Auria rested in her study, reading a book in the light of her desk lamp. The moonlight peered in the window, bathing the Queen in a silver glow. She marked her page and closed her book, looking longingly out the window, into the big city that was Lumière. I wish I could go out there without a personal security detail. She thought, tracing her finger lightly across the glass. I miss being myself.

It hadn't always been that way for Sophie. She was born to a middle-class family in the suburbs of Lumière, and had worked hard to put herself through college, where she was studying Computer Engineering. There, at Dewarà College, she met Nicholas Laurent III, or Nick Lee, as he went by then. He looked different from the prince everyone saw, and no one ever thought he was the heir to the Laurent Throne. Hell, he had only told Sophie when he proposed to her.

She lived comfortably for a while as a princess, had four kids with Nicholas, and became queen when his mother, Thea, gave the family powers to him five years ago. But he wasn't in control for long. A few years after being crowned King, Nicholas Laurent III got into a car accident after a charity benefit and was put into a coma. Sophie survived, but has several long scars down her arms and back.

Now, watching the streetlights of Lumière glow with life, she felt so lost. Like she's been surviving, but not living. My Dear Nicholas. I so wish you were here. She blinked teary eyes, and moved over to her desk, where her crown glowed with the moonlight. It was silver, and bejeweled with Deep Purple and Blue Alexandrite gems. She gingerly lifted it to her head, and looked at her reflection in the window. It may fool the public, but she cannot fool herself. She was never meant to be a queen. And she may be the only one in Cape Auria who knows that Heavy is the Head that wears the crown.

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  The Europeian Wire: Edition One 22/01/20

Posted by: Maowi
01-22-2020, 09:46 PM
Forum: Embassy of Europeia
- Replies (1)

The Europeian Wire: Edition One



Recruiting Contest Underway: Will HEM finally succeed at something?

By Sopo



Minister of Interior Rand announced a new 1v1 recruiting contest on January 5 to kick off the new year. With 12 initial participants including First Minister Calvin Coolidge and Chief of State HEM, one question remains: will HEM finally succeed at something? The Europeian founder and general meme-ified punching bag is thus far facing tough competition from his first week’s foe, Rachael. All eyes are on HEM to see if he can finally manage not to screw things up the way he screwed up our miraculously enduring 13-year old region.



The City-State of Arnhelm

By Prim



Over the past few months, Europeia has been working on its newest addition to the legislative arena, the City-State of Arnhelm. This new independent legislative body is a mix of legislative training ground and Real-Life political simulation. Every citizen of Europeia who joins the City Council can discuss real-life legislation, vote on bills and ordinances, propose a budget, elect the mayor, or even become the city manager through crafty legislative maneuvering. Arnhelm is open for creative role-players and serious policy wonks alike!



Invading Iran: Living the Trumpian Dream

By Sopo



Supporting our allies in The North Pacific, Europeia is proud to be engaged in a hold of Iran, liberated region and generally non-controversial vacation spot. While real-world drama surrounds the region’s namesake, Europeian sailors are enjoying their stay. This marks the second hold operation for Europeia since Chief of State HEM and Grand Admiral Bowzin took office, with Iran following a successful week-long Europeia-led hold of North Ustaynga.



A Yule Ball Yule Be Sad Yule Missed

By Xecrio/Nate



Europeians brought out the festivity in the weeks surrounding Christmas with the launch of the Yule Ball. A successor event to perhaps Europeia’s most successful festival of all time in 2014, Christmas again merged with Harry Potter, a favorite Europeian theme. Citizens spent time in their Hogwarts houses while playing a variety of festive games to truly get them in the Christmas mood. Hogwarts House Spam Points dominated the spam games, with Ravenclaw wiping the floor with the competition. After perhaps a bit too much holiday cheer, some people simply refused to leave the server…



Read the full event recap from the Europeian Broadcasting Corporation here.



Best of the EBC


  • Former Minister of Communications Istillian explores returning to Europeia after a hiatus.

  • Attorney General Prim examines the concept of Mens Rea after the conclusion of Europeia v. Bri Shakespeare.

  • First Minister Calvin Coolidge summarizes the importance of Europeia’s radio efforts.

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  The Free Land of the IDU

Posted by: Bears Armed
01-15-2020, 06:16 PM
Forum: Nations of the IDU
- Replies (15)

Containing the main site for this region's various international councils and agencies, this territory has been under international administration -- rather than a nation in its own right -- ever since the 'region' was formally founded as an organisation of nations. Versions of it exist on the maps of both 'Earths' that the region has occupied, apparently with at least one route between these alternative realities situated within its boundaries. It was more-or-less uninhabited by humans before that foundation, although the version on the IDU's original world might have had a few earlier settlers scattered here & there... and had an independent clan of Ursines in the mountainous area closest to 'Bears Armed'.
(That version also contained ruins from the 'Luvarian' human civilisation, which had wiped itself out -- in "The Wizards' War" -- during the 1st century AD.)

The territory's "capital" is called Democracity.
(The capital wasn't actually named, OOC, until the issue about naming capitals came into use. I suggested this name as seeming appropriate, there was a discussion in which several players -- including the last to leave of the region's five original creators, Mikitivity, whom I was able to reach by email -- agreed with the choice and none disagreed, and then I answered the issue accordingly. AFAIK the name's original use was for a model "city of the future" that was among the exhibits at the 1939 World's Fair in New York...)

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  1. IDU Regional Forum