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  A Very Saladian Invasion (Xio-Salad Land crossover, open)

Posted by: Xiomera
01-23-2024, 04:27 AM
Forum: International Affairs
- Replies (4)

January 9th
Palace of Flowers

"They have seized our assets. They have insulted one of our highest leaders. And now this?" Empress Calhualyana slapped her tablet down on the table in frustration. Prime Minister Toquihu picked up the tablet and looked over the document on the screen. It was an aggrieved email written jointly by the CEOs of the Zacuetz hospitality conglomerate and the Mizhua Corporation. 

Toquihu read the letter aloud. "After we completed the agreed upon project to restore the former naval vessel SLS Neversink into a floating naval museum, along with adjoining hotel and visitors center, we awaited final payment for the project. Instead, the Marquis of Salad Land and his government sent us a letter 'thanking us for our donation'. Since then, the Saladian government has ignored all further demands for payment and has stopped responding to our attempts to contact them entirely. They have also kicked our corporate representatives out of the country. As a result of this blatant theft, we are jointly out of an estimated 74 million quetzals which we are due as payment for the project. We are requesting the help of the Imperial government in recouping these funds..." The Prime Minister trailed off as he placed the tablet back on the table. "What exactly are they expecting us to do?"

"They want us to pressure the Saladians to pay their bill, using the Imperial Navy as a cudgel." Xiyāōtl sighed grimly, as he picked up the tablet and looked it over. "It's ridiculous. The Navy is not a bunch of bill collectors."

"Yes, but a message needs to be sent here. The Saladians have been pretty blatantly snubbing us over the past year. We can't let the world see such small nations mocking us. They'll think we've grown soft. And we can't have that." Calhualyana looked at her husband. "How hard would it be to send a naval force and accompanying Imperial Marines to Salad Land?"

"Oh, not very," Xiyāōtl replied. "I mean, we wouldn't even need a full fleet. A task force with a thousand or so Marines ought to be more than sufficient to deal with the Saladians. Their military, well, isn't. And their last war was fought against a bunch of cats."

The Empress laughed in response. "Oh, yes, that cat war. Very well, put together a small task force and send them over to Salad Land. That should make them release our assets and cough up payment for their bill readily enough. I imagine the Marquis will wet his fancy pants when he sees them off shore."

---

January 22nd
Prime Minister's Residence
Port Salad, Salad Land 

Prime Minister Leighton Taylor was having a leisurely lunch. It was his favorite kind of lunch. He sipped a glass of port and nibbled at his dessert. As he did so, he looked out the window. It was a beautiful day, as it usually was in Salad Land. His view of the ocean stretched for miles, and he could see ships coming and going from the nearby port. One group of ships, though, stood out. It looked odd. Almost as if it was traveling in a convoy.

Taylor stood up and walked to the window. As the odd convoy of ships grew closer, he began to grow uneasy. Just then, his aide came running into the dining hall. "Prime Minister....Xiomerans..." he gasped.

"What about Xiomerans? Spit it out, man!" Taylor demanded.

"They're.....here." The aide pointed out the window. Taylor looked outside again, at the convoy of ships now parked outside the port. He dropped his fork. It rang lightly in the silent room.

---

At the Palace de Salad, the Marquis was receiving a similar message. He walked over to his own window; the dark gray ships were now blocking the port. A series of helicopters were now flying from the flagship towards the capital. "Xiomerans....here...." the Marquis murmured. He suddenly turned to his steward, Dominic Gardner. "I need to change outfits if I am to receive visitors!" He ordered Gardner to bring him his finest outfit. "Dominic, do you think the Xiomerans will want tea? We should prepare tea."

As his court watched in slight dismay, the Marquis began disrobing to change into his elegant clothes for receiving foreign visitors. "Um....your Grace....not to interrupt, but I think perhaps we should take this all a bit more seriously. The Xiomerans..." Gardner said.

de Salad turned to his steward. "Look, whatever happens, once the Xiomerans get here, just follow my lead," the Marquis replied, an unusually serious look on his face. "All of you, remember that....just follow my lead."

Having finished his change of outfit, the Marquis plastered his usual manic and pleasant expression on his face and walked out with Gardner to greet the unexpected visitors.

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  Do Novellans Dream of Technocratic Bliss?

Posted by: Novella Islands
01-19-2024, 11:26 AM
Forum: IDU Newswire
- Replies (1)

1 December 2023, 6:59 AM
Sydney, Aqis, Novella Islands
Apartment 44/G, Garden Park Tower

The serenity of the cool winter dawn was punctuated by the din of the Partridge household's early morning rituals, echoing about the apartment's walls. As the cacophony of a mother corralling her primary school son threatened to wake the rest of Garden Park, John began his final preparations for the day of work ahead. Latching onto his last piece of toast - generously slathered with edopru jam, as was his own morning tradition - he shrugged on his suit jacket, before yet another noise was added to the symphony of chaos.

7 AM alarm. Time to leave.

Swallowing the last bite of his breakfast, John grabbed his backpack on his way towards the front door; a quick detour to give his wife a parting peck on the cheek, and he was out the door. Stepping out of the lobby of the tower block and onto Felix Street, the unmistakable smell of his lunch wafting through the air caught his attention. The Hanafleuran across the footpath from John recognised him immediately, shooting a massive smile, and beckoning him toward the food stall.

"Mr. Partridge, Mr. Partridge! Good morning to you!"

"And to you, Mr. Sato. My, my, whatever you have for me today, it smells positively divine."

As had been the daily tradition since Kenji Sato had immigrated to the Novella Islands with his family seven years ago, opening the food stall on Felix Street, John fished the empty lunch box out of his backpack and placed it on the benchtop. Beginning to fill it with authentic Hanafleuran delicacies, Kenji began to speak once again.

"I am sorry to say, but I have bad news for you, Mr. Partridge... I will have to close my stall, very soon." A pained expression shot across his face, before returning to his typical starry-eyed cheerfulness. "My daughter, she will study in Hathon! And, I will open a real restaurant!"

Sato had routinely gushed about his daughter and her achievements to John - having mentioned on multiple occasions that she had applied to the Hathon Academy of Medicine - so it came as no real surprise to him. "Excellence deserves to be rewarded, Mr. Sato. I have no doubt she will flourish there, and I wish you luck on your own entrepreneurial endeavours."

Somehow, Partridge's comments only exacerbated the Hanafleuran's wide grin, as he finished boxing up the man's lunch. "Here you go, Mr. Partridge. Eat well!" Packing the lunchbox back into his bag, the Novellan tried to hand over a 1,000 Novelle note - only accepting cash as payment, a peculiar habit the Hanafleuran had retained from his home country - but Sato refused. "For you, my loyal customer? No charge."

After insisting, twice, John knew the other man was not going to back down. Putting the money back in his pocket, before bowing his head deeply in thanks, he set off for the metro station a block away.

"Ms. Gold, Ms. Gold! Good morning to you!" Sato's voice - greeting yet another regular customer - faded slowly into the omnipresent sounds of the city.

---

1 December 2023, 8:30 AM
Sydney, Aqis, Novella Islands
Office for the Minister of Social Affairs (Sydney Branch)

Exiting the elevator, John's eyes locked on the only other person on the floor; his junior officer, the diligent office earlybird. "Emilia! Just the person I was hoping to see."

The young policy officer glanced up, giving a slight but polite nod of recognition of her senior, before turning back to her work. "Yes, boss?"

"What's the queue on a Class C tenancy, in the... campus district of Rikal?"

"873," she responded to the non sequitur dryly, not even glancing up from her monitor, nor ceasing in her typing of the report she was presently working on.

"There is precisely zero chance you know that off of the top of your head," Partridge chuckled. Ask a joke question, get a joke answer, it seems.

"Would you like me to look it up for you?"

"No, no." Brushing his junior's all too genuine offer aside, he began walking toward his office, before something sparked his memory. With a heel turn, he continued speaking. "Oh, Em... I do need that agriculture report by the end of the day, though. The Minister is going to be on my back about it, otherwise."

Shaking her head with an apologetic expression and a shrug, Emilia rebutted. "Can't be done. NRO still haven't got back to me, yet." For dramatic effect, and to properly drive her point home, she refreshed her email, before giving him another glance.

John had already begun to walk away once again after her first response, confident she was more than competent enough to deal with it on her own. For good measure, however, he shot back a blow at their bureaucratic cousins. "Prod them again. Let me know by lunch whether it's actually a 'can't be done', or if it's just that the NRO can't be stuffed doing it on a Friday."

"Will do."

Darting between the arriving staff on the now-busying office floor and towards his office, interrupted by the occasional greeting, John finally sat down and booted up his own computer for the day. 31 new emails, 2 meeting reminders, and a call from the Minister in 25 minutes. A little bit of breathing time, before things started to get too hectic for the day; certainly enough to sate his own curiosity. Searching through the government database, in just a few minutes, he found the answer he was looking for...

873.

You can't convince me she's not a Tellarian!

With another chuckle, he opened up the spreadsheet with the list of applicants, and began scrolling.

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  The North Star - Issue XXXII, December 2023

Posted by: Comfed
01-19-2024, 06:17 AM
Forum: Embassy of The North Pacific
- Replies (1)

[Image: 9vT6tUO.png]
[Image: tns_separator.png]
Magazine version
Editor's Note

Dear readers,

Did you hear? There’s a new TNS out! I know, I know, it’s awesome and cool. We’re back with yet another issue of The North Star, and as always, I’m here to give you a rundown of the issue and offer thoughts no one asked for. But that has never stopped me before, so here we go!

This issue was delayed a tiny touch because of the holidays, which in retrospect, was bound to happen. We apologise for the delay regardless. That all being said, despite everything, the team did an amazing job at bringing this issue out and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve produced yet again. In comparison to the last issue, I was actually active in the process of making this publication. Therefore, I can actually tell you a little bit about the process behind this TNS. We got together and made something cool. That’s what we’re all about. Thank you to everyone involved.

This issue is filled to the brim with content. A retelling of what has happened this year in the North, a .telling end-of-term census, a wholesome article about new year’s resolutions expressed by various TNPers, the debut of a really fun Culture Super Quiz™, and finally, a really interesting interview of GAer and Deputy Minister Kenmoria. If you wish to see something specific in the next issue of TNS be sure to contact me via telegram or DM me on Discord (@ruuuuuuuuben).

We would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to you, our amazing reader! Your support means the world to us, and we're thrilled that you take the time to appreciate our hard work. We sincerely thank you and hope that you continue to enjoy reading our TNS issues.

Cheers,

Halsoni
Executive Deputy Minister of Communications

Note: at the time of writing, I was still Executive Deputy Minister.

Year in Review
by Picairn & Arawi

2023 has been an incredibly momentous year, with scandals, elections, legislation and court cases. Many of these events will shape the North Pacific for many a time and will be remembered with sometimes reminiscence, or regret. So do read on.

January – Hulldom and Gorundu win in elections, military reforms and ops

The first month of the year saw the beginning of a new governmental term, which meant it started off with general elections, electing the Delegate, Vice Delegate and Speaker of the RA. Hulldom and Gorundu were elected Delegate and Vice Delegate respectively, and both were elected with huge margins, Hulldom winning 91% of the vote and Gorundu winning unopposed. Skaraborg was also elected Speaker, but with a much smaller margin, taking just 52% of the vote compared to their opponent Bobberino.

As well as this, the month saw an operation to liberate Phillipines, a treaty region of TWP and therefore a protected region by PPO, from the Levant, which was also raided as part of the operation by the NPA. Speaking of the NPA, this month saw the passage of the Military Modernisation and Cleanup Act in the RA, which set procedures and restrictions for NPA behaviour in military activity.

February – St George elected Justice, Self-Checkout Act

February was very much an uneventful month, however it did see the conclusion of the January Judicial special election. Dreadton resigned from the Court due to an IRL emergency. St George was elected unopposed, with 54 voting for them.

The month also saw the presentation of the Self-Checkout Act, which created a fairer, more open and efficient citizenship application process. The legislation was passed in the RA on the first of March.

March - Three new justices installed

March was a similarly peaceful month, however, it did see the usual round of judicial elections, electing three new justices to the Court.

Only three candidates were on the ballot paper, meaning they were guaranteed a place in the Court anyway, however, Pallaith was the most popular candidate, followed by Attempted Socialism and Lord Dominator.

April - Frontiers update and Act, blackmail scandal and resignation of Hulldom

April was very much a contrast to the two months that went before it. The events in this month would shape the future of the region going forward. Lone Wolves United, an ally of TNP, abruptly closed their in-game embassy with TNP. They then released a rare statement, explaining the reason why the embassy was closed. Hulldom, Delegate of TNP had apparently sent a screenshot of a message from HumanSanity, The South Pacific’s MoFA, which was blackmailing TNP into voting against a Commend proposal of a prominent LWU proposal. TSP, alongside other defender regions, threatened Hulldom that defenders would go out of their way to oppose Commends/Condemns of TNP members if Hulldom voted for the proposal. It was then revealed that Hulldom had caved in to the defenders’ demands and would oppose the proposal. This meant that Lone Wolves United closed their embassy with TNP. It was also a major hit to Hulldom’s leadership; with their MoFA resigning over the scandal, Hulldom resigned on the eighth of April. Gorundu then succeeded them as Acting Delegate and Siwale ascended to the Acting Vice Delegacy.

The month also saw the NationStates Frontier/Strongholds update. What this meant was that some regions would get rid of the ‘Governor’ position that was previously a feature of all UCRs (User Created Regions), and instead give full executive power to the WA Delegate. As the Delegate is elected by being the most endorsed in the region, it means that the leader of the region can democratically, freely elected by the region’s community at any time. These regions also take 50% of all spawns into the game, the other half held by feeder regions. These regions are known as Frontiers. However, Frontiers are now more susceptible to raiding, as raiders can come into the region and endorse an unwanted nation to the Delegacy, meaning the raiders can control the region. Regions that choose to keep the ‘Governor’ position are known as Strongholds. The concept of Frontiers meant that the possibility of a region holding a territory was very much likely. This led to a colossal piece of legislation being introduced to the Regional Assembly, which allowed for TNP to hold territories, introduced legal provisions for the protection of allies’ territories, amongst other provisions.

May - Gorundu elected Delegate

May saw the next cycle of general elections to elect the Delegate, Vice Delegate and Speaker. Gorundu, who had already been serving as Acting Delegate, won a landslide victory over their opponent Kastonvia. Chipoli then won a slightly closer but still comfortable win over their rival Vivanco in the race for Vice Delegate, and Skaraborg won a very large victory over Oceanica for the keys to the Speaker’s Office.

One of the first actions of Gorundu’s administration was the return of the Ministry of Communications, which had been defunct. The Ministry returned fervently, with a now constant stream of publications and broadcasts informing the people of TNP.

June - Repeal of the Aurora Alliance

It seemed that relations between TNP and TSP were livening up, after the blackmail affair of April. However, many in TNP were outraged after the appointment of HumanSanity, one of the many who was at fault in the scandal, to a government role. Gorundu announced in a statement in late May that this was the last straw and that they would be opening a formal discussion in the RA on whether or not to repeal the Aurora Alliance between TNP and TSP. After much debate, the RA made the decision to repeal the Alliance on the sixth of June.

June also saw a very dramatic trial in the Court of The North Pacific v. St George. This trial was sparked by an espionage indictment by Delegate Gorundu, after an inflammatory message by St George on Europeia was leaked from TRR to Europeia by an unknown individual, and many espionage accusations were made relating to that scandal. The trial also saw the resignation of St George’s defence lawyer, after much fighting over the procedure of the Court in the trial.

July - Ministry of Cards disbanded, resignations and recalls over Gorundu’s inactivity

The first days of July began with former Delegate Gorundu’s announcement of a one-week leave of absence, although he would later terminate his absence a few days early. In his stead, then-Acting Delegate Chipoli – following consultations with Gorundu and the Executive Council – dissolved the Ministry of Cards on July 6th, which had fallen into a state of inactivity. The moribund Ministry was reverted to the old Cards Guild, albeit with three new Guildmasters appointed to collectively manage the program, as opposed to a single Guildmaster before.

“Inactivity” would soon become the word that defines this month. Three weeks after the dissolution of the Ministry of Cards, on July 22nd a Regional Assembly inquiry was launched into Gorundu’s alleged lack of activity as concerned citizens noticed a serious decline in his leadership and engagement. The discussion exploded into a full-blown scandal when, frustrated with the former Delegate’s inaction, then-Advisor to the Delegate Pallaith and three Ministers of Gorundu's cabinet simultaneously resigned from their positions the next day. Gorundu attempted to salvage his Cabinet by making several new appointments, but his self-appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs was received with outrage and prompted a motion to recall in the Regional Assembly on July 26th.

August - Gorundu resigns, The North Pacific attacked

August was arguably the most consequential month of this year, and perhaps one of the most significant in TNP’s history. The aforementioned recall failed by just one vote on August 3rd, which coincidentally was Gorundu’s Nay vote, lodged at the last minute. This act breached a long-standing norm in TNP’s politics: a politician should not vote on decisions directly concerning them. It generated further anger among the citizenry and quickly led to a second recall vote just one hour later. But as the second vote was ongoing, Gorundu surprisingly resigned as Delegate on August 10th, citing his inability to fight against the recall and run the government at the same time. His seat was temporarily taken over by then-Vice Delegate Chipoli, who became Acting Delegate.

While TNP was still reeling from political instability and partisan division as a result of this affair, it was attacked by foreign powers for the first time in many years. On August 27th, an invading force from The Communist Bloc (TCB) and the Brotherhood of Malice (BoM) jumped into TNP and Delegate-tipped the region, pushing then-Acting Vice Delegate Pallaith into the in-game World Assembly Delegacy and overthrowing then-Acting Delegate Chipoli from the seat, disrupting a decade of peaceful transition of power. The Regional Assembly quickly convened in the aftermath to discuss the region’s response, in which war was floated as the best course of action.

September - Kaschovia, Fregerson, and Cloud win General Election, Wymondham elected Justice in Special Judicial Election

While the Regional Assembly continued to discuss various options against TCB and BoM’s attack, a General Election was held in early September where our current Delegate Kaschovia and Vice Delegate Fregerson were elected by a small majority on September 12th, defeating former Acting Delegate Chipoli and Minister of Culture NutmegTheSquirrel (The Anddorran Commune) respectively. Cloud, in contrast, won the Speaker seat by an overwhelming 97.65% of the vote. A Special Judicial Election was also conducted shortly after to replace Pallaith, who resigned as Justice to become Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Wymondham was elected by 55% of the vote. Following much discussion, a motion to recognise a state of war between TNP, TCB and BoM was put to vote in the Regional Assembly in the closing days of September.

October - Solidarity offensive, war declared by the Regional Assembly

October carried with it two important milestones: the largest anti-raider offensive ever in Solidarity and the Regional Assembly’s ratification of TNP’s Recognition of a State of War. On October 1st, a coalition of defender militaries and the NPA invaded Solidarity at major update and seized its WA Delegacy, marking our region’s first military retaliation against TCB’s aggression. Four days later, war became TNP’s official response as the Recognition of War against TCB and BoM was agreed upon by an overwhelming majority in the Regional Assembly, the first in 15 years since our last DoW in 2008. Throughout October, the anti-TCB coalition in Solidarity successfully fought off numerous TCB's siege attempts, eventually conquering the region on November 1st, when it was converted into a Stronghold and Rhaza (Quebecshire) was appointed as its Governor.

November - Three new Justices elected, Rum & Eagles Solidarity Agreement ratified, Friently dismissed as Lead RMB RP moderator

For the most part, November passed by relatively uneventful for TNP compared to previous months. The regular Judicial Election was organised to elect three new Justices for the next term, which Eluvatar, Wymondham and Lord Dominator won on November 12th, defeating Just a Lore and Gorundu. Eight days later, on November 20th the Rum & Eagles Solidarity Agreement, a non-aggression pact between TNP and The League & Concord, was formally ratified by the Regional Assembly, marking a turning point in the evolution of TNP – TL&C relations.

However, this tranquillity was soon disrupted by a major scandal in TNP’s Strangereal roleplay. Friently – TNP’s former Lead RMB RP moderator – was discovered to have espoused OOC Nazi and antisemitic beliefs, and subsequently dismissed from his position on November 21st. He has since left TNP and brought several others to a new region, while continuing to spread falsehoods about the incident.

December - Kaschovia’s Delegacy transition complete amidst BoM’s sabotage

December saw the urgency of Kaschovia’s Delegacy transition pushed to the forefront, following a malicious unendorsement campaign conducted against him on December 12th by perpetrators from the Brotherhood of Malice. After 3 months of difficulties in gathering endorsements through Weekly WA Reports and gameside promotion, BoM’s disruption and sabotage brought the issue to a boiling point for Kaschovia and TNP’s citizens. Following public discussions, our Delegate decided to change course by carrying out a new telegram campaign and calling in TNP’s allies in rapid fashion. The renewed efforts finally bore fruit when Kaschovia successfully took over as WA Delegate of TNP on December 16th.

2023 has been an eventful year for The North Pacific, with two Delegate resignations, a direct attack on TNP by hostile powers, the first Declaration of War since 2008, and a lengthy Delegacy transition, among other highlights. But even as scandals and attacks shocked TNP, our democracy stood strong and the business of governance continued unabated. We kept on our momentum despite numerous setbacks, frustrating enemy plans, reaffirming old traditions, and reaching new heights. The North Pacific has overcome many difficulties this year, and whatever comes next in 2024, we are ready for it.

End of Term Census
by Chipoli

In the closing days of 2023, The North Pacific conducted the End-of-Term TNP Census, courtesy of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The census, in the form of a poll, asked its respondents to express their opinions on high-ranking members of The North Pacific’s government, namely the Delegate, Vice Delegate, and current members of the Cabinet. A total of 27 TNP residents answered the poll, who were presented with the following options: strongly approve, approve, disapprove, strongly disapprove, neither approve nor disapprove, and unable to judge. The final option was treated as an abstention. Now, let’s dive in and take a look at what my fellow TNPers thought about these members of our government.

Delegate Kaschovia - 62.9%

Our Delegate, Kaschovia, attained a respectable 62.9% approval rating. Kasch has most notably led the North at a time when we are at war for the first time since 2008. However, his supporters may feel that he was harshly judged. His delegacy has been well-received, with one respondent calling him “easily the best Delegate in recent memory," citing the success of his administration. Under him, The North Pacific has ratified the Rum & Eagles Agreement, hosted multiple interregional events, generated the most activity within the gameside community for a long time, and substantially grown The North Pacific Army. Kaschovia has also been praised for his level of activity, having been a very energetic and enthusiastic Delegate, and now seeks to improve upon what is widely considered to be his successful first term.

Vice Delegate PotatoFarmers - 32%

On the other hand, Vice Delegate PotatoFarmers has not been quite as active as Kaschovia has been. His approval rating of 32% is the lowest of all in the census. Unfortunately for PotatoFarmers, his activity has been hampered largely due to real-life issues - which is the main factor for the low approval rating that he received, along with a lack of support during Kaschovia’s World Assembly Delegate transition as the Vice Delegate. 33.9% of respondents disapproved of his performance, with 29.6% of them strongly disapproving. 2 out of 27 poll-takers indicated that they were unable to judge his performance. PotatoFarmers chose not to run again as Vice Delegate in the January 2024 General Elections.

Cabinet - 61.5%

The cabinet garnered a generally favorable rating of 61.5%, with 44.4% of respondents approving and 14.8% strongly approving of their performance. Commenters cited the government’s successful handling of the ongoing war, particularly the NPA's military performance, and the recruitment efforts undertaken by the ministries of Communications and Defense. Respondents additionally praised the activity of Gameside Advocates and the increased engagement with the on-site community. However, many TNPers highlighted certain areas for improvement. Concerns were raised about communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with commenters urging for more transparency and updates. Some expressed a desire for increased cultural engagement, ministry activity, and a reduction in the amount of telegrams being sent out. Overall, the cabinet's performance appears to have been received relatively well, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Minister of Defense Comfed - 77.9%

Our Minister of Defense, Comfed, gained an impressive 77.9% approval rating, with more than half of respondents expressing strong approval, marking him as one of the highest-performing ministers in the cabinet. Notably, Comfed led the North Pacific Army in what has been a successful war effort, orchestrating the largest anti-Raider offensive in history, resulting in the capture of the TCB colony Solidarity. He played a pivotal role in rejuvenating the NPA, which had become dormant for months before his appointment. Recruitment efforts under his have boosted the number of NPA soldiers significantly. Additionally, he oversaw the creation of the TNP militia, which integrated members of the on-site community into the NPA, and he oversaw the creation of the TNP militia which integrated members of the on-site community into the NPA. Overall, his management of the ongoing war has been widely praised by TNPers.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pallaith - 62.9%

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pallaith secured a 62.9% Approval Rating, matching Delegate Kaschovia. Pallaith's term was marked by notable accomplishments abroad, including successfully negotiating a treaty with two frontier regions - Carcassonne and The Wellspring. Additionally, he initiated a new chapter of relations with The League & Concord, playing a pivotal role in ratifying a non-aggression pact between them and The North Pacific. Pallaith’s performance was seen as a successful one, underscoring Pallaith's effective diplomacy and success in fostering new relationships with other regions, adding to our already extensive geopolitical landscape. While these achievements are certainly impressive, one commenter wrote that he felt there was not enough communication from the Ministry.

Minister of WA Affairs Simone Republic - 78.2%

Minister of World Assembly Affairs Simone, who replaced former Minister and current GenSec member Magecastle, was the only ministerial change made by Kachovia in the middle of the term. He racked up an impressive 78.2% approval rating - although that number may or may not have been inflated since 14.9% of respondents were unable to judge his performance. Regardless, Simone has still proven to be a popular Minister, with approximately two-thirds of residents approving of his performance. He has built upon his predecessor's success and under his watch, the WAA machine has been consistently delivering IFVs. With these results, Simone has assuredly proven that he deserves a full term in the Cabinet.

Minister of Home Affairs Lionsroar - 77.7%

Lionsroar, who will be featured twice in this article, ended a highly productive term with a remarkable approval rating of 77.7%, boasting the lowest number of disapprovals at only 7.4%. His productivity and proactive approach have led to him being considered as the Ministry's most effective member. Alongside his duties as Minister of Home Affairs, Lionsroar additionally served as the Lead Gameside Advocate, which will be discussed.

Minister of Culture The Anddoran Commune - 42.3%

The performance of Minister of Culture NutmegTheSquirrel (The Addorran Commune) was met with a mixed reception, and he received a 42.3% approval rating. During his term, Nutmeg helped organize numerous interregional events, including the Spirit Halloween Festival, TWP & TNP Interregional Chess Arena, and the 10 More Years Festival. Moreover, the first Delegate’s Day festival since 2019 was also held, where Siwale was crowned King of the North. However, many residents emphasized the need for more diverse events with other regions, a desire for increased cultural engagement, and reservations regarding the promotion of AI Art. While Nutmeg's tenure featured many highlights, such as the events we held with our allies, many TNPers feel that there are more improvements to be made in this department.

Minister of Communications Francois Isidore - 80.7%

Minister of Communications Robespierre (Francois Isidore) emerged from the 2023 TNP Census with an exceptional 80.7% approval rating, with his leadership and success being rewarded with the highest approval rating in the Cabinet. During his term, three new editions of The North Star (TNS) were released and four segments of The Northern Notes (TNN) were published, with one more currently in the works. Additionally, Robespierre created the collaborative design team to bring together TNP's best designers and artists - who have been used primarily to create graphics for issues of The North Star and produce propaganda posters for the war. On the radio front, the Ministry successfully tackled an editing backlog from the previous term, while recording eight new shows and releasing five, along with uploading four additional shows from the previous term. Furthermore, The Ministry additionally integrated all of the post-revival shows onto Spotify, offering TNPers, and other interested listeners an alternative platform for radio consumption. On the whole, this has been a greatly successful term for the Ministry and a good sign for future development.

Lead Gameside Advocate Lionsroar - 57.6%

Lead Gameside Advocate Lionsroar secured a solid 57.6% approval rating while leading one of the most active Gameside Advocate teams in recent memory. Introducing strategies such as posting advertisements on the Regional Message Board (RMB), he played a pivotal role in driving recruitment for the North Pacific Army during the initial stages of the war using war advertisements and posters. Lionsroar also implemented a new set of RMB Guidelines, which included changes to the double-posting rule. However, many residents criticized what they saw as the repetitive and spam-like nature of the ads. Some expressed a desire for increased interaction on the RMB with more TNP regulars on it and greater awareness among game-siders about the benefits of participation in the TNP government. Despite these critiques, Lionsroar received approval from more than a third of respondents, showcasing what has been a generally effective term.
How do TNPers feel the war is being handled?

Census Responses: How well do you think the war has been handled?:
Toward the end of the census, our residents were questioned on how they felt about the handling of the ongoing war between ourselves, The Brotherhood of Malice, and The Communist Bloc. While some TNPers were satisfied with the war effort, highlighting the successful mobilization of the NPA and activity from the Ministries of Defense and Communications, others wished for clearer communication about the next steps and long-term plans. Some respondents conveyed that they felt the region was not aggressive enough, while others showed content with the NPA’s level of aggression. A few residents appeared to be unaware of the ongoing conflict or expressed uncertainty about its progress. Despite the diversity of the responses, the common theme is the acknowledgment of a calm and confident response to the conflict, with some proclaiming that everything achievable in an inter-regional NationStates war has been accomplished effectively.

Summary

Delegate Kaschovia received a respectable 62.9% approval rating and was lauded for his leadership during a time of war and the success of his administration. In contrast, Vice Delegate PotatoFarmers faced a number of challenges, with a 32% approval rating reflecting real-life issues impacting his activity. The cabinet as a whole received a generally favorable rating of 61.5%, praised for its handling of the war and activity in the ministries but a few areas of been identified for improvement, particularly in communication and cultural engagement.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defense Comfed excelled with a 77.9% approval rating, credited for leading a successful war effort and rejuvenating the NPA. Similarly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pallaith received a 62.9% approval rating and was acknowledged for his successful diplomatic endeavors and the ratification of several treaties. Ministers Simone and Lionsroar secured high approval ratings at 78.2% and 77.7%, respectively.

Minister of Culture NutmegTheSquirrel, faced mixed reviews at 42.3%, with respondents primarily citing the lack of engagement from the ministry. Likewise, Lionsroar as Lead Gameside Advocate secured a 57.6% approval rating, faced critiques for repetitive ads on the RMB but was generally acknowledged for a productive term. Concurrently, Minister of Communications Robespierre stood out with an exceptional 80.7% approval rating, credited for the ministry’s productivity in TNS and radio.

Opinions on the war handling varied, with residents emphasizing the need for clearer communication and expressing both contentment and desire for increased aggression.

All high resolution census graphs can be found in the magazine version of this edition of The North Star.
Census Responses: What's something the government can make better?:

Census Responses: The Situation In TNP:

Census Responses: Feedback for the Census:


New Year’s Resolutions
by Kaschovia

What does it mean for a new year to begin in NationStates? For many, it could mean improving national rankings and getting more gold badges. For others, it might be getting more involved with the regional government, perhaps even going for an elected position. Everyone is likely to have a different idea of what next year will look like for them, so we decided to find out what North Pacificans thought! Looking forward to the year ahead, the Ministry of Culture asked the region’s residents what their resolutions were for 2024 in NationStates. We received a mixture of responses, in the form of a poll, on the Regional Message Board, and on the Discord. So, let’s have a look at what the region said!

The Regional Poll

On the 2nd of January, a poll was released by Delegate Kaschovia titled ‘New Year's Resolutions For 2024’, in which ten options for possible new year's resolutions were presented for residents to choose from. These were gaining more endorsements, improving rankings and statistics, becoming more active in the government, climbing the ranks of the NPA, writing and submitting issue ideas, authoring WA resolutions, working on national roleplay and lore, improving their cards deck, becoming more active on the RMB, and an alternative to specify on the Regional Message Board if their choice wasn’t one of the options.

Overall, the poll received an impressive ninety responses and closed on the 4th of January. Let’s take a look at the breakdown of the votes!

[Image: qgFwTNi.png]

As we can see, the clear favorite for most of the respondents was improving on the national roleplays and lore of their nation, which makes sense for a poll conducted gameside, where the RMB community, already home to an active RP scene, is more likely to see and respond to it. Twenty-two nations chose that option, making up 24.4% of the overall votes.

Rather surprisingly, improving card decks came in second with 14 votes (15.6%) out of 90. While the poll cannot be taken as a perfect representation of the interests of all North Pacificans, it is great to see that those most interested in cards still make up a large portion of the wider community and intend to continue that interest into 2024. I’ll have to start farming legendary cards again, I think!

Becoming more active on the Regional Message Board came in third place with 11 votes (12.2%). It’s no surprise that many of the respondents are interested in the RMB community, because it can be one of the most entertaining and enjoyable places in the region… if you can bear a little chaos from time to time. It is a great place for newer nations to develop a sense of belonging within the region and it’s home to some amazing nations!

Improving national rankings comes in at fourth with 9 votes (10%). Understandably, quite a lot of nations in The North Pacific see improving national rankings and statistics as a rewarding way to stand out and improve their own nation. It’s a great feeling when you answer an issue and get all of the effects you want. Earning gold badges and climbing the international rankings is something a lot of nations have even been commended and condemned for, so it definitely makes a lot of sense that a respectable portion of respondents are interested in further exploring that area of the game next year.

In joint fifth, gaining endorsements and improving activity within the government both received 8 votes (8.9%). This is super promising to see as two of our greatest priorities as a region should be encouraging executive involvement and pushing for World Assembly influence. Hopefully, all of those respondents succeed in their goals for next year so we can see some new faces in the executive and all benefit from the endorsements given!

Climbing the ranks of the North Pacific Army comes in at sixth with 4 votes (4.4%). Admittedly, we’d all like this to be higher, but alongside such common and well-known other interests I’m not surprised with the number of votes this option received. Since the majority of the response pool were not already members of the NPA, it makes sense that the option was ranked as such.

Second to last we have the goal of authoring World Assembly resolutions with 3 votes (3.3%), one of whom was our Minister of World Assembly Affairs Simone Republic. As usual, engagement with the World Assembly in terms of writing and drafting resolutions is on the lower side since the skill ceiling is so high, but it’s good to see that a couple of respondents were interested in it!

And finally, we have the relatively niche area of writing and submitting issue ideas with 2 votes (2.2%)! This turnout is relatively expected. Writing and submitting issue drafts is a process which takes a long time to get used to and therefore not a lot of nations will be familiar enough with it to vote for the option. Regardless, it’s good to see some votes for it.

Regional Message Board

Not only did we conduct a regional poll asking nations what their new year’s resolutions were, we also asked for direct responses on the Regional Message Board! Here are some of the responses we received.

Alogiada told us that they would like to “get at least 5 golden rankings and to get to 500 endorsements by 2025. (And maybe some improvements in SR too)” I’d definitely say those are realistic goals, so go for it!

United Orange Valley States said they would like to “become a GA and get to my goal of 500 puppets.” Very honourable resolution and I am sure the Gameside Advocates are always watching out for new members from the RMB community. Five hundred puppets is a lot, so good luck!

Le French Cat told us that they “Wanna be minor primitiveness and get an email to enter WA.” Yes, join the World Assembly and good luck with your rankings! Ropanama said they also wanted to join the WA. Go for it!

Soumilslandia and Basustandia would like to “get Top 1% in Defense Forces, Arms Manufacturing, Scientific Advancement, Manufacturing, WA Endorsements and much more along with the fact that this will be my main from now on, not abandoning it to create a new one by my liking.”

It was great overall to hear from so many different nations and get their perspectives on the goals they have for the year ahead. Whether that is to garner endorsements or climb the ranks of the NPA, there’s ample opportunity in The North Pacific for all of that and more.

Happy new year, everyone!

Culture Super Quiz
by Arawi

Locate all of the words on the list in the word search and attempt to answer all of the questions on the next page. There's one secret word missing from the list. The first person to submit as many correct solutions to the word search and quiz will be given a special shout-out in the next issue of The North Star and on various other TNP platforms!
Send your solutions to @Oriaga on Discord or Arawi on NationStates.

[Image: Re8W7j8.jpg]

This Year

1. On which date specifically was the delegacy transition completed?

2. How many World Assembly resolutions were passed by TNP authors in 2023?

3. How many unique Deputy Ministers are there?

4. How many NBS shows have been published since the start of the term?

5. The Spirit Halloween Festival was organized by which two regions alongside TNP?

6. Who has served as Vice Delegate this year, and in what order?

7. On which date was ‘To War’ posted?

8. Which faction was TNP in for N-Day and where did we finish on the leaderboard?

9. What was Chipoli’s statement after the BoM/TCB delegate tip titled?

10. How many new pages of the RMB have been created throughout the year?

General TNP Trivia

1. Which delegate has served the longest in regional history?

2. Who was the first known delegate of The North Pacific?

3. What was the highest endorsement count ever reached by a TNP delegate?

4. When was the first issue of The Northern Light published?

5. When did the World Assembly Development program officially start?

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  TNN | Delegate Kaschovia Re-Elected in The North Pacific

Posted by: Comfed
01-19-2024, 06:02 AM
Forum: Embassy of The North Pacific
- No Replies

TNN | Delegate Kaschovia Re-Elected in The North Pacific
For immediate release.

Kaschovia has been re-elected as Delegate of The North Pacific as of 11 January 2024. He received 69 votes coming in at 93.24% of the popular vote, while his opponents Osk!ebot and Vapia received one (1.35%) and four (5.41%) votes respectively. Seven people abstained, and seven voted to re-open nominations, representing 8.64% of voters. He will be the first delegate to serve two consecutive terms since Pallaith, who served from May 2022 to January 2023.

In his opening address to the region, Kaschovia stressed that he "[believes] in all of us to pull together and show the world what it means to be a part of The North Pacific," and emphasized continuity with the growth and advancement of the past term. His cabinet is as follows:

Minister of Defence - Robespierre (Francois Isidore)
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Comfed
Minister of World Assembly Affairs - Simone (Simone Republic)
Minister of Culture - Nutmeg The Squirrel (The Anddoran Commune)
Minister of Home Affairs & Lead Gameside Advocate - Lionsmeow (Lionsroar)
Minister of Communications - Halsoni

He is also joined in government by Speaker Arafuttio and Vice Delegate Chipoli. Arafuttio received 58 votes, with 23 abstained and 25 voted to re-open nominations, representing 30.86% of the voters, likely because they ran unopposed. The Vice Delegate race was certainly the most exciting of the three, with three candidates - Hulldom, Chipoli, and Nutmeg The Squirrel - entering the fray. However, Hulldom dropped out of the race during the voting period, leaving just the last two candidates. Ultimately Chipoli prevailed with 50 votes, 70.42% of the ballots, while Nutmeg The Squirrel received 21 votes, 29.58% of the final count. 10 voters abstained and 13 (16.05%) voted to re-open nominations.

Election Commissioners Gorundu and Simone supervised the election.

Click here for a dispatch version.

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  2023 IDU Film Festival - Voting

Posted by: Democratic Republic Of Eiria
01-10-2024, 08:00 AM
Forum: Film Festivals
- Replies (10)

I am in awe at the sheer number and quality of entries in this year's Film Festival! This is truly a record-breaking festival, and I am so proud of you all. Since the original entries thread is as crowded as it is, I will hold the voting here separately. To read each entry, please see this thread:

https://idugov.com/forum/showthread.php?...2#pid23452

Due to the number of entries, voting shall be handled a little differently this year. Any IDU member who has submitted at least one entry is eligible to vote in all categories. To vote, please list your top five entries in each category on your ballot (not including your own entries). The votes will then be counted in an instant-runoff system.

2023 IDU Film Festival Ballot:

Best IDU Film:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Best Lead Actor:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Best Supporting Actor:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Best Musical Score:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Best Costume Design:
1.
2. 
3. 
4. 
5.

Best Documentary Film:
1.
2.
3.
4. 
5.

Best Foreign Film:
1.
2.
3.


The entries in each category are:

Best IDU Film: Nouveau Riche (Haesan) - September Run (Laeral) - The Expanse (Novella Islands) - The Perfect Sandwich (Opthelia) - Feline (Zargothrax) - Margrethe and Olufemi (Zongongia) - The Death of a Madman and Rise of a Hero (Mansilla) - Hide the Mask (Eiria), Beyond the Waves (Aredoa) - Harvest Moon (Kolda) - A Leeward Phantom (LOM)

Best Lead Actor: Alex Gray (The Expanse, Novella Islands) - Jeremie Studer-Herth (September Run, Laeral) - Kim Yu-ri (Nouveau Riche, Haesan) - Sophia Shepherd (The Perfect Sandwich, Opthelia) - Farida Karim (Feline, Zargothrax) - Mawuli Abiodun (Margrethe and Olufemi, Zongongia) - Vitale Giordano (The Death of a Madman and Rise of a Hero, Mansilla) - Andrés Molina (Beyond the Waves, Aredoa) - Grant Page (A Leeward Phantom, LOM)

Best Supporting Actor: Lloyd Meyers (A Perfect Sandwich, Opthelia) - Pierre Mörch (September Run, Laeral) - Seo Chae-won (Nouveau Riche, Haesan) - Ismat Ahmadi (Feline, Zargothrax) - Jennifer Keyes (The Factory, Greater Acadia) - Stefen Vandel (Hide the Mask, Eiria) - Gabriela Riviera (Beyond the Waves, Aredoa) - Ally Leslie (Pointed, Glanainn) - Sokhna Bousso (Harvest Moon, Kolda) - Benjamin Wagner (A Leeward Phantom, LOM)

Best Musical Score: Adrift (Misumi) - Saltwater (Thousand Branches) - September Run (Laeral) - Margrethe and Olufemi (Zongongia) - The Death of a Madman and Rise of a Hero (Mansilla) - The Sunny Side of Life (Aredoa) - Hide the Mask (Eiria) - A Leeward Phantom (LOM)

Best Costume Design: Nouveau Riche (Haesan) - Margrethe and Olufemi (Zongongia) - The Factory (Greater Acadia) - Pointed (Glanainn) - Harvest Moon (Kolda)

Best Documentary Film: Adrift (Misumi) - One Thousand Butterflies (Lauchenoiria) - The Power of Words (Eiria) - The Sunny Side of Life (Aredoa) - Pine Gap: Triumph Amidst Adversity (Opthelia) - The Bluest Sea (Nuiqsut Confederation) - Kalapara (Andhrapur)

Best Foreign Film: The Favriskan Sting (Favrisko, TSP) - Too Camp to Camp? (Iceagea, Europe) - Lost Cause: Not Just a High School Story (Ottterland, Europe)


Voting shall begin as soon as this thread is posted, and the period shall initially extend to January 13th at 11:59 PM CST. Please only rank each entry by content found in the entry thread, not other factors. Congratulations to our nominees, and let the voting begin!

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  Days of Freedom (Taragai RP)

Posted by: Xiomera
01-09-2024, 05:23 AM
Forum: International Affairs
- Replies (8)

January 4th
Tebengri Square, Bor-Öndör

Khadagan Daldurkhan was worried.

He didn't show it, of course. Any outward sign of concern or fear would spread like wildfire among the people he was leading. Daldurkhan kept his strong, almost stoic expression up as he mingled among the crowd gathered in Tebengri Square. But the leader of the Taragaian Democratic Front was worried nonetheless.

The deadline issued by Chaghagan Khoga, the Director of State Security, had come and gone. Morning had passed into afternoon, and was sliding into evening. And yet, there had been no sign of the Army. Even better, there had been no sign of police from ᠤᠯᠤᠰ ᠤᠨ ᠳᠣᠲᠣᠭᠠᠳᠤ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠠᠮᠤᠷ ᠲᠦᠪᠰᠢᠨ ᠦ ᠲᠣᠪᠴᠢᠶ᠎ᠠ ᠃, the Internal Security Directorate. At the front of the protest, a rotating group of people with banners and signs was chanting protest slogans and occasionally interacting with the Internal Troops responsible for guarding the People's Great Khural. In the rear, others were resting and keeping each other company. The smell of cooking food and the shouts of the crowd, along with singing and laughter, wafted through the air. It was an almost idyllic scene, and that made it all the more surreal to Daldurkhan. Many in the crowd were cautiously optimistic that perhaps the government would not crack down on their protest after all. Daldurkhan was not so optimistic. He had dealt with the government too long, and too often.

---

At the Internal Security Directorate headquarters, Chaghagan Khoga was highly displeased. He had wanted to disperse the protesters immediately, but had been forced to wait two days while the presidium of the Central Committee debated on whether or not to use force against the protesters.

What is there to debate? These malcontents are breaking the law and insulting the revolution. They should have been arrested or run off days ago. Khoga was so annoyed, in fact, that he was beginning to wonder if certain members of the presidium should be sharing jail cells with the protesters. His thoughts were finally broken by the almost pleasant jingle of his desk phone. He picked it up. "Khoga," he said flatly.

"The debate is over." Khoga smiled faintly at the sound of the gravelly voice on the other end of the line.

At that end was Jirghogadai Tömörbataar, the Chairman of the Central Committee and leader of Taragai. Tömörbataar took a long drag off his cigarette, allowing the silence to stretch a bit. He knew Khoga would be eager for his next words, like an attack dog waiting for the signal to pounce. The Chairman finally stubbed out his cigarette, sighing slightly. "The presidium has agreed. Remove the protesters from the square at once."

Khoga acknowledged the command and hung up. He had already planned for what to do. It was just a matter of giving the order.

---

On the outskirts of Bor-Öndör, a sizeable force of Internal Security police and soldiers had been gathering quietly for several hours. They had not gone unnoticed, however. Opposition members had been carefully positioned in the area nearby, using their cell phones to advise Daldurkhan and his fellow leaders of the troops' movements. When the troops and police suddenly mounted their vehicles and began moving towards the center of the capital, the opposition members tried to text and call Daldurkhan with warning. Their phones had stopped working; Internal Security had shut down cell service in the area.

One of the protesters was quickly dispatched on a motorcycle to rush to Tebengri Square, while the others in the area tried to stop the advance of the police and soldiers. They were seriously outnumbered, and were either arrested or forced to flee very quickly. But they did manage to buy enough time for their colleague on the motorcycle. Deftly dodging the ranks of soldiers and police, she sped off down the road.

---

Fifteen minutes later, Narmandakh, the motorcycle rider, arrived at Tebengri Square. She quickly rushed to Daldurkhan. "The Internals and the army are on their way. I was only a few minutes ahead of them," she warned. Daldurkhan had a choice at that point. He could call on the protesters to disperse, and try to avoid a clash with the security forces. He could prepare them to fight. Or....he could do something unexpected by the government.

He chose the unexpected.

---

As the Internal Security police and soldiers arrived at the square, they were confronted by the sight of thousands of people sitting on the ground waiting for them. They were mixing protest chants with ancient Taragaian songs. They were still holding their banners and signs, but showed no hostile intent. An Internal Security commander marched to the head of the line of security forces with a megaphone. "This is an illegal assembly. By order of the Chairman and Presidium of the Central Committee, you are to leave the area at once. If you do not do so, you will be arrested."

The singing and chants only grew louder in response. The commander tried again. "This is your final warning. You are ordered to disperse at once - " The volume from the protesters grew even louder, drowning him out. He made a sharp, angry gesture with his other hand. The police and soldiers moved forward, releasing a volley of tear gas before surging into the crowd. No one resisted, even despite the aggressive and very physical use of force by the security personnel. One by one, anyone who didn't leave the area was roughly thrown to the ground and tied up with plastic handcuffs. Khadagan Daldurkhan was among them.

As this was happening, several of the Internal Troops who had been guarding the People's Great Khural building looked at each other. One by one, they laid down their weapons and went to sit with the protesters. They received the roughest treatment of all from the Internal Security police, receiving sound beatings before being arrested.

In all, 753 people were arrested that day, including the leader of Taragai's democratic opposition. Leaders like Tömörbataar and Khoga thought that would be an end to the aspirations of the opposition. They would be wrong.

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  Boarding School RP Threads (THAWS)

Posted by: Democratic Republic Of Eiria
01-04-2024, 04:12 AM
Forum: International Affairs
- No Replies

Kanēa Forest, Murdarbe Province, Eiria

For a majority of the year, you could almost forget that Eiria was a tropical nation. Frigid, snowy winters and cool falls were almost reminiscent of the climates of the northern hemisphere, and the rainy springs were as generic as they come. But, unfortunately, there was one season that brought Eiria’s inhabitants back to their geographical reality: summer. The sun bared down on anyone and anything it can find, confining many to the shade. Mosquitoes buzzed by the ears of their unsuspecting victims, hoping to snag a meal.

Despite this seemingly hellish climate, the beauty of Eiria’s northeast still shone through. The sunshine reflected off of vibrant blue lakes, serving as a spotlight for many species of local wildlife. Beautiful beaches provided stunning views of the ocean (as well as serving as fantastic tanning spots). And deep in the forest, the first official class of The Harmonious Academy of World Students (THAWS) were arriving at their new boarding school for the first time.

These students were coming from entirely different worlds (some from conflicting nations). None of them had any idea of what to expect from the new school that they were entering into. But there was no time for fear or doubt. They now must face their fellow students and their new professors as they attempt to represent their nations with pride.

—

THAWS is a state-of-the-art refurbished facility that was built on the site of a former private school situated in the Kanēa Forest in Murdarbe Province. It is equipped with amenities such as a combination gymnasium and weight room, auditorium, Olympic-size swimming pool, two-level library, and computer lab, as well as multiple buildings of comfortable dorms. The current student-to-faculty ratio is around 4:1 (but that is expected to rise in future years). Both students and teachers have access to a variety of opportunities in the local college town (and coastal city) of Upenceda, which is just a short bus ride away. 

The first ever academic year at THAWS has begun!

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  2024 LIDUN President Complete Election Thread

Posted by: Democratic Republic Of Eiria
01-02-2024, 06:48 AM
Forum: Voting Floor
- Replies (4)

Hello! As my term in office is pretty much up, it's time for me to open nominations for LIDUN President. Candidates may nominate themselves or have a fellow LIDUN member nominate them. Voting will be open to region members with at least one nation in LIDUN. The initial nomination period will be open until 11:59 CST on January 3rd. Thank you all, and happy election season! 

If you have any questions, please either see the IDU Constitution in "Law-Library" or feel free to contact me directly!

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  2024 IDU Baseball Classic (IC/Results)

Posted by: Haesan
12-27-2023, 10:54 PM
Forum: Stade de la Démocratie
- No Replies

Hello all, I'm Henry Yeong, and welcome to HSN's coverage of the long-awaited 2024 IDU Baseball Classic!  We're here live in Munseong, Namhae to cover the draw, and we have finally received confirmation of the 16 team slate, and a start time for the second iteration of this tournament! The Ministry of Culture is about to unveil the groups for this tournament, and we have a sterling team here to provide instant analysis and breakdown all the interesting matchups here.  We have Alexandra Yoo here, who specializes in the Haesan national team and international events.
AY: Happy to be here, Henry!
HY: Also joining us is Manuel Enriquez, a long time player, coach, and official within the Slokaisian organization.
ME: I'm excited to see what kind of chaos the draw will cause!
HY: Haha, very well then!  Last but not least, we have the former Laeral Crane, Zhuang Zhisheng.
ZZ: Thanks for having me!  And I know this might not be the most popular here, but go Striking Cranes! (Makes striking crane hand gesture)
Yoo gives a death stare from across the table
HY: Uhh... (awkward pause) It looks like they're about to reveal Group A!  Let's see who will be joining Haesan for matches in Suyang and Hanyeong!

Group A - Suyang/Hanyeong
Haesan (H)
Mallacaland
Elalia
Lao Sansong

HY: To my eyes, this looks like a group that's settled before it begins, but I want to get your thoughts.
AY: So obviously Haesan and Mallacaland are the teams to beat here, but a lot will depend on the Ibrahim Kamza situation.  If he's out, who knows?
ME: That's very much the case, and I really like Lao Sansong as a potential spoiler here if Kamza can't compete.  There's a lot of venom on this team, and there's a lot to play for considering the current, um, situation between Haesan and Sansong.
ZZ: I wouldn't be so sure of that... I think this Mallacaland team is surprisingly deep.  Kamza is definitely their heartbeat, but they're too talented and this group just isn't strong enough to pose a real threat of eliminating them at this stage.
HY: What matchup here are you looking forward to the most?
ME: Give me Haesan vs. Lao Sansong in Suyang!  Final game of the group, absolute hatred, and a surely roiling environment.  Even if Haesan ends up mercying the Warriors, the passion alone makes this one must watch.
ZZ: I'm more interested in the premiere: Mallacaland v. Haesan.  This is by far the toughest test Haesan will get in the group stage, Kamza or no.  We'll get to see how their new coach, and new philosophy, holds up against a top team in the IDU.
AY: I agree with Zhuang, for all the reasons he stated, and also just because of the atmosphere.  Haesan will pulling out all the stops for the tournament opener.
HY: Alright, so what are your predictions for this group?
ME: Haesan, Lao Sansong, Mallacaland, Elalia.  Kamza can't make it and the Lions fall apart.
ZZ: Whoa, that's bold!  I'll keep it chalk.  Haesan, Mallacaland, Elalia, Lao Sansong.
AY: I wouldn't discount Sansong that much, Elalia doesn't have a ton going for it.  Haesan, Mallacaland, Lao Sansong, Elalia for me.
HY: It looks like we're getting Group B in now!  Let's take a look:

Group B - Sinju/Hyangsan
Libertas Omnium Maximus
Laeral
Teyè
Thousand Branches

HY: Thoughts?
AY: This isn't quite a dream for Laeral, but they'll find a lot of comfort in Group B.  They'll get two games in Sinju, and there's a large Ren and Minjian presence there.  I expect those two, including a tantalizing fixture against LOM, will look a lot like home games for them.
ZZ: Indeed, but I honestly think this is close to a best case scenario for the Cranes.  I'm quite pleased with this draw for them.
ME: I think this group rests on two questions: one, is Teyè dangerous?  They're unproven, untested, didn't compete in Hanshui, and an absolute wildcard.  That matchup could be a trap game for the loser of Laeral-LOM.  The other question is: which version of LOM shows up?  If the team that upset a lackluster Haesan in the Olympics arrives, they could make a really deep run.  If they return to their usual mediocrity, or worse, as we saw in Trive, it's going to be a rough tournament to watch for fans of Madley's Mariners.
AY: I think that's a solid assessment.
HY: Ok, time for your guide to viewers.  If you only have time for one Group B match, what should it be?
AY: Laeral vs. LOM.  You have two prestige teams in a high profile head-to-head clash for control of the division, and more importantly, likely facing Mallacaland in the quarterfinals instead of Haesan.  Your chance of making the finals drastically increases if your team wins as opposed to getting second.
ZZ: Agreed.  Teyè doesn't intrigue me nearly as much as our Slokaisian friend here.
ME: It's not that I'm fascinated by Teyè, it's just I don't know what to make of it.  Laeral-LOM is the definitive match to watch here.
HY: Predictions?
ME: LOM, Laeral, Teyè, Thousand Branches.  Chalk for me.
AY: Agreed.  The Branchians can't really upset anyone I don't think, and I don't trust Teyè.  LOM seems the more complete team, so chalk for me as well.
ZZ: Laeral, LOM, Teyè, Thousand Branches.  The Sharks always perform worse in the group stage than in knockouts.
AY: Laeral winning?  From Zhuang?  Of course.
HY: I hear they're ready to release Group C now!

Group C - Anfa/Levesque
Wosteaque
Aredoa
Misumi
Pharitaya

HY: First impressions?
ZZ: Misumi was always going to be the wrench in the system, they're clearly the "best of the rest" so to speak.  Is Aredoa disciplined enough to withstand their fearsome pitching?  It's going to be close.
ME: Honestly, Misumi might be the team to beat there?  I feel like Aredoa is deeper for sure, but the Egrets are just always so well coached and disciplined.
AY: What about Wosteaque?  Are we ready to anoint them here?  They've got Norene and Draven, but outside of their stars, they could easily end up being number 3 on paper.  This is the tightest group, even Pharitaya might have had chances against a different set of competitors.
ZZ: Exactly.  If you pick any two of the top three teams to advance you'll have a reasonable justification for it.
HY: Ok, so this one's going to be tense.  What do you think will be the highlight?
AY: So I'm going to take the easy answer and say Misumi vs. Aredoa on the final day.  It's going to be cold, really cold, in Levesque, and with the wind off the lake too it could be just horrendous.  This is the closest matchup we've seen across all the groups, and the slight favorites might have both a weather and crowd disadvantage; there are a lot of Mizu up in the Northlands too.  Likely a "must-win to qualify" game, and Aredoa are going to get tested big time.
ZZ: No arguments.  An instant classic in the making.
ME: Ok, for the sake of diversity, I'm going to say Wosteaque versus Aredoa.  It's the opening game of the group, we all think Wosteaque is a bit of a paper tiger, and a loss here means the loser has got a high pressure game against Misumi to qualify.  That threat alone makes this an enticing matchup, it's two excellent teams and a tie that will set the tone for the rest of the group's play. 
AY: Agreed, this group will definitely be fun to watch!
HY: Alright, we're a bit overtime, let's get some fast predictions before we analyze the final group.
ZZ: Wosteaque, Aredoa, Misumi, Pharitaya
AY: Wosteaque, Misumi, Aredoa, Pharitaya
ME: Aredoa, Misumi, Wosteaque, Pharitaya
HY: Ok, we don't have time to process what Manuel just said, and we already know the final group, but here it is formally:

Group D - Anmi/Jeonyu
Trive
Slokais Islands
Mansilla
Eiria

HY: More chalk here, or what are we thinking?
ME: We have no clue how good over half these teams are.  Trive is very highly rated for a team that has been at rest for 5 years, and the last time they played, their results were mediocre at best.  Mansilla is making their international debut, and Eiria is just... overshadowed by their Caxcanan counterparts, to put it nicely.
AY: On paper, Trive is one of the most top-to-bottom solid rosters, Slokais is a marginal contender, and Mansilla has major bullpen issues, but on grass, how much really separates these teams?  A lot I'd wager, but I'm not 100% sure.
ZZ: Slokais is such a mystery.  They could easily be the best team in this group, or honestly, possibly the worst.
AY: Hard to make heads or tails of this one.
HY: What game do you think will help provide clarity?
AY: Well, the opener, Slokais v. Trive will provide a lot of info.  We'll see how shaky Slokais is, if Trive is ready for the bright lights again, and it'll generally help clarify who is on top of the group.
ME: Hard to disagree with that.
ZZ: Honestly, I don't think the Blue Bombers have much of a chance against Trive.  I think Slokais vs. Mansilla will resolve this one.  Slokais has the deeper bullpen for sure, Mansilla will need to keep their starter on for a while, but I just don't trust their lineup.  This one will be closer than many expect.
HY: OK, final predictions before we talk about knockout projections?
ME: Slokais, Trive, Mansilla, Eiria.  I can't root against my team.
AY: Haha, at least you're honest about it unlike Zhuang over here.  I've got chalk here: Trive, Slokais, Mansilla, Eiria.
ZZ: What's that supposed to mean? Anyways, I'm taking an upset by the Scudieri: Trive, Mansilla, Slokais, Eiria.

HY: Alright, before we go, I want to see who you're picking to win it all!  So, given your group stage results, who do you think is going to advance?  Alexandra, let's start with you.
AY: Ok, I'll take Haesan over Laeral, Mallacaland over LOM, Wosteaque over Slokais, and Trive over Misumi in the quarters.  Let's say Haesan over Trive in the finals, a battle of the hosts.
ZZ: Haha, and you say I'm the partisan?
AY: Hey, the Comets are favored to win, after all!  And they're at home!
HY: Zhisheng, what about your picks then?
ZZ: LOM v. Wosteaque, and Laeral v. Aredoa are my semis.  I have Wosteaque over Laeral in the finals.
ME: Haha, so he's not a perfectly loyal fan after all!  Well played Zhuang, well played.
ZZ: What can I say, I'm nothing but tactful!
HY: Alright, and Manuel, you can wrap this up with your picks!
ME: OK, so Haesan over Laeral, and LOM over Lao Sansong shouldn't be too controversial.  I'll also say Slokais over Misumi and Aredoa over Trive.  Haesan over Aredoa and LOM over Slokais seem pretty common sensical, and let's say the hosts get revenge for the Olympics in the final.  Haesan over LOM.
HY: Alright, that concludes our coverage of the IDU Baseball Classic draw!  We look forward to covering the action in February!  In the meantime, feel free to check out our website for more in-depth information on when and where the games will be, as well as information about the host cities!  This has been Henry Yeong, with Alexandra Yoo, Zhuang Zhisheng, and Manuel Enriquez, signing off.

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  2023 IDU Film Festival - Entries

Posted by: Democratic Republic Of Eiria
12-27-2023, 03:07 AM
Forum: Film Festivals
- Replies (20)

Atlantis: a bustling metropolis in northwestern Eiria. Besides being the biggest city in Jurmala Province, it is also a cultural capital of the Republic. The Harbor Bay district is the beating heart of the Eirian theater industry, and plenty of influential movie studios own estates towards the outskirts of the city. In short, you would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable place in Eiria for the 2023 IDU Film Festival. A blue and silver carpet has been rolled out in front of the iconic Lasaria Theater for the awards ceremony, and the nearby Augupen and Lēbela Balts Theaters have been reserved for screenings. Hotels all around the city have been fully booked for the three week festival, signaling a large attendance of film experts and enthusiasts alike. 

Anticipating the sudden influx of tourists (both foreign and domestic), the City’s Office of Tourism has published thousands of biodegradable pamphlets containing a list of all the city has to offer. Between showings and other performances, visitors can shop in the city’s grand shopping mall, rest on the beautiful beaches of the Nereus Sea, and explore a dozen nearby city, provincial, and national parks (including the picturesque Amalija Waterfall Park, one of the most popular parks in the province). However, a majority of tourist attention will be on the vibrant festival, with the world's finest actors, directors, and other media celebrities, clad in the finest fashion, showing off for the press and their fans.

The 2023 Film Festival will consist of six regional categories for IDU entries (Best Film, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Musical Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Documentary Film) and one international category (Best Foreign Film), which is open to nations from IDU embassy regions. Applications will be accepted as soon as this thread is posted, and will still be taken until January 9th at 11:59 PM CST. Movies from within the IDU may be entered into more than one category, as long as the name of the awardee (I.E. Composer for Best Score or Actor for Best Actor) is also listed. Each nation may only present one entry per category.

The award application will take this format:

Film Title (English and/or Native):
Nominating Nation (If not from the IDU, please also list region):
Nomination Category/Categories:
Language: 
Run Time:
Director:
Producing Studio/Company (optional):
Cast:
Brief Summary (No more than 2-3 medium paragraphs please):
What makes this film special? Why was it nominated for this/these category/categories? (No more than 1-2 sentences per category nominated):
Any additional info (optional, short paragraph maximum):

List of categories:

IDU:
Best Film
Best Lead Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Best Musical Score
Best Costume Design 
Best Documentary Film

Embassy Regions:
Best Foreign Film

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  1. IDU Regional Forum