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  The Drowned Angel

Posted by: Aramantha
09-08-2023, 09:56 PM
Forum: International Affairs
- Replies (3)

They found her facedown in the fountain.

What a place to die, eh?

We were on the scene in less than a half an hour. But like usual, it wasn’t fast enough. Somebody had already dragged her, lifeless, to the ground. People here never respected crime scenes. It was like everyone felt they personally had to feel like the savior of a woman who had already died. I personally always believed in leaving the dead well alone. They already had to go through dying, why put them through your phoney savior tears?

‘Course I say that and then immediately turn around and watch a dozen people get autopsied every month. In a way I’ve always wondered if the autopsy helped them find their own peace. They could feel us cutting them open and they knew we wouldn’t let their death be unavenged. Then again, the moment I write those words on paper, they sound like a buncha hokey bullshit.

In any case, the drowned girl’s body awaited us. It wasn’t a pleasant sight, slash marks deep and jagged across her torso. Almost looked like she’d been tortured at first glance, the way the knife had ripped instead of cut. We did our best to gather clues at the scene for the poor girl but it was hard enough just to keep the crowds away. God I hate this place.

Murder here is a spectacle. Within a week of the girl’s death, her pictures had infiltrated every corner of the internet. The sight of her body, splayed out in the fountain, red tendrils slowly seeping into the water around her. There was a certain twisted, dark serenity to it, but that didn’t mean the girl deserved to be turned into some kind of pariah. “The Drowned Angel” they called her. The funny thing was, they didn’t even know her. We didn’t even know her. Nobody knew who she was, not even the coroner. But nevertheless she was an angel, descended from above some said. How can you label someone an angel? Isn’t that a pressure they don’t deserve?

That’s a whole different rant though. What was more important was that the case was going nowhere. We’d cut open every inch of her, searched every identifying feature of her in the database, and we’d come up emptier than a birdbath in the summer. She was a ghost more than an angel. And goddamnit it frustrated me. I always hated cases I couldn’t solve. Still do. And shit this one was… blank. The file spanned three pages and two of them were a coronary file that basically said we had no idea what we were even looking for. The scene had been trampled and ruined of anything useful. Even the slash marks were essentially unidentifiable, just some kind of thick, dull blade. You know how many thick, dull blades there are in the world?

And still her popularity grew in the eyes of the people. There was a closed session of the church 11 days after her death. 167 people shedding blood in honor of The Drowned Angel. A shrine was enacted to her at the fountain. People began to herald her as a sign of the end times. Some even said she carried a message from the gods — that we were somehow hiding something that great. It was exhausting, irritating, and downright invasive. This country’s obsession with transparency meant privacy was impossible. A woman couldn’t be left to die without a million people shoving her into their own agendas and narratives.

It’s never bothered me when people vilify me. I’m an investigator, a detective, the man at the center of every major case this city sees. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve fucked up, I’ve missed clues, and I’ve made countless press conferences just to say that despite my best efforts, I’m completely fucking useless. At some point, the public needs someone to blame, and I’ve always been happy to be that person.

What does bother me is taking advantage of the dead. Taking advantage of me. Taking advantage of this nation and our obsessive compulsion toward the worst religious craziness. It’s so easy to brainwash people in a place where brainwashing is the norm.

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  Cat Wedding

Posted by: Lauchenoiria
09-05-2023, 11:01 PM
Forum: Planners' Office
- Replies (2)

[Image: siN3I4C.png]

Dear all world leaders (and other important figures) who own at least one cat,
Your cat (and you too, as a plus one) is cordially invited to attend the wedding of Princess Farvardin of Zargothrax (a cat) and Reginald of Salad Land (also a cat).
The wedding will take place in Salad Land on Saturday 21st October 2023.
Please RSVP.
RSVP (please fill out one form per human character attending):
Name of cat(s):
Nation:
Name of human:
Position of human:
No. of security personnel required:

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  Crucible of Chaos: Calhualyana's Revenge

Posted by: Xiomera
08-25-2023, 01:14 AM
Forum: International Affairs
- Replies (29)

Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged. - Samuel Johnson

I'm not a role model. I'm a role villain. -Marilyn Manson

---

Empress Calhualyana was not the sort of person who believed in breaking promises to herself.

She had promised herself to gain a measure of revenge on Eiria for its interference in Xiomeran affairs. This was something she could now check off her list. She had also promised herself to gain a measure of revenge against Milintica and Lauchenoiria. That hadn't happened yet. But it was coming.

But her next target was much more important. Both for her personal lust for revenge, and for her coldly dispassionate plan to restore her Empire. She had promised to break the back of Huenya, once and for all. And for both personal and business reasons, she was about to launch her plan to do just that.

Operation Tiquinpopolozque was the plan. The top Imperial Intelligence specialists had helped her plan it. Gabriel Fleming also had a hand in it. But ultimately, the sheer scope of the plan was Calhualyana's alone. She would utilize multiple resources within Imperial Intelligence to accomplish it.

And if she was successful, by the time it was over, Huenya would no longer exist.

---

Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli
Residence of the Vice-Speaker of the Huenyan Federation, Chuaztlapoc
5:55pm, August 24th

The servant moved quietly through the halls of the Vice-Speaker's residence and offices. It was dinnertime, but the Vice-Speaker was not dining with his family in the grand dining room. He was having a working dinner, and the servant was bringing him his supper.

Tiacihitli smiled as the servant, Izihuacan, walked in with her tray. She had been working at the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli for several months now, and the two had developed a pleasant rapport. "Ah, thank you," the Vice-Speaker said warmly, taking the tray from Izihuacan with clear relish. The chef that served the Vice-Speaker's residence was a particularly good one, and the meals tended to be excellent.

"The chef made sure to make the quail just to your liking," she said with a smile. Tiacihitli could smell the garlic and spices; it was one of his favorite dishes. He eagerly began his meal, washing it down with sips from a glass of wine.

Izihuacan nodded politely and walked out. She hid a small smile on her face. 

---

Xochuaxte Palace
Residence of the Great Speaker of the Huenyan Federation
6:02pm, August 24th

Texōccoatl smiled as he sat down with his family to dinner. "How was school today?" he asked Tonauac. "It was good," his son replied. "But I still wish it was summer break."

The Great Speaker smiled as he took a forkful of steak and chewed thoughtfully. "You know school is important though." Tonauac simply sighed in the tone of a child who had heard that many times from his parents, earning a chuckle from Tlalmaxxi.

Texōccoatl had more of the steak, enjoying the spicy sauce that it was seasoned with. It was one of his favorites. As he ate, however, he began to feel slightly odd. 

---

At his own residence, Tiacihitli had finished the quail and was finishing the last of his wine, looking over some reports. He began to feel slightly odd.

---

At the Palace, Texōccoatl found himself having trouble focusing. Suddenly, he slumped in his chair and fell to the floor. "Texōccoatl!" Tlalmaxxi shouted, as guards and palace servants rushed to his aid. "The Great Speaker is down! Get a medic in here ASAP!" a guard shouted into his radio.

---

At the Tecpancalli Tonaltzintli, Tiacihitli had also slumped onto his desk. Unlike at the Palace, no one was in his office to witness it.

---

At two different locations in Chuaztlapoc, a servant and a cook, respectively, were making their escape. The Itan had done their work well. The two leaders of Huenya were down and out. It was time for the second phase.

---

Multiple locations throughout Huenya
6:15pm
August 24th

As people in two different locations of the Huenyan capital frantically attended to the nation's leaders, other men and women had an agenda of their own. The Golden Blade had never gone away, even after the emergence of the so-called Western Xiomera. They would remind the security forces of the Huenyan Federation of their presence - en masse.

Throughout Huenya in cities and rural areas where ethnic Xiomerans dominated the population, armed men and women began attacking the institutions of state power. SIPS offices, Federal and local police stations, and Huenyan Army garrisons found themselves under assault. City halls, regional government centers, and even provincial capitals found themselves under fire at the same time. It was a fiendishly well-coordinated simultaneous strike, and the forces of Huenya struggled to respond.

And they would have to do so without their leaders to guide them.

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  Europeia Bulletin - New President!

Posted by: Cove
08-24-2023, 07:26 PM
Forum: Embassy of Europeia
- No Replies

[Image: p22021798.png]

This election was a fierce and competitive one, with four candidates who ran with an eventual dropout, leaving the polls with three candidates in the end. With polls having closed 7 hours ago, the winner of the election came out to be the ticket of JayDee and Pichtonia. We’ll be going over the election results and the President’s opening speech in this article.
The results of the election was a fairly decent race between President JayDee and Kazaman, with both respectively ending the polls with the President ahead and coming out to 52.9 percent and Kazaman coming to 38.2 percent! The third candidate, McEntire came in last at 8.8 percent. It was a great race and an honor for us to report and proceed to the live blog over the debate. If you’re interested in seeing what the campaigns for everyone was, feel free to look at the links that will be offered below! Now, to move on to the President’s opening address!

The President’s speech starts out by him addressing the “ideals of collaboration and working hard together” something which was very important in his campaign. Following his speech, President JayDee published his nominations for Cabinet and hosted a live reaction show on air for everyone. The Cabinet has received initially positive reviews, with many citing it as a, particularly fresh Cabinet. The President agreed with the assessment, claiming in the Radio show revealing his Cabinet that it was "one of the freshest but also one of the most experienced Cabinets."

Chief of Staff - Rand
Director of the Government Accountability Office - UPC
Attorney General - Forilian
Minister of Gameside - Gem
Minister of Outreach - ICH
Minister of Communications - Phoenix
Minister of Radio - Elio
Minister of World Assembly Affairs - Lime
Minister of Culture - Martyn Kiryu
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Sanjurika
Grand Admiral - Vor

Written by Phoenix

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  The North Star XXXVIII

Posted by: Meadowfields
08-17-2023, 03:40 AM
Forum: Embassy of The North Pacific
- No Replies

The next issue of the North Star can be viewed here.

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  2nd Slate of Applicants, August 2023

Posted by: Democratic Republic Of Eiria
08-15-2023, 05:49 PM
Forum: Voting Floor
- Replies (6)

I hereby call a vote on the LIDUN applications of the following nations:

Aredoa;
Legionas;
Misumi (Puppet - Haesan);
Glanainn (Puppet - Lauchenoiria);
Gesthenia;

The initial voting period shall be 72 hours, and may be extended.

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  Reckonings and Reconciliations

Posted by: Gesthenia
08-14-2023, 05:32 PM
Forum: IDU Newswire
- Replies (1)

Rosa Chapman listened to the buzz of voices from the hall next door. For a moment she suddenly felt all of her 47 years. It had been a long few months and a gruelling election campaign.


“Are you ready, Rosa?” Her campaign manager Annabelle Fisher appeared beside her.


“Give me a second please, Annie.” Rosa took a couple of slow deep breaths, cast one last look at her notes and pushed open the door. A loud cheer greeted her as she walked to the microphone. She forced a broad smile on her face and raised a fist. A fresh round of cheers and applause rose from the crowd.


“Well, here we are! I would like to congratulate all my fellow candidates for a well run, if at times tough, campaign. I also extend my profound thanks and gratitude to my campaign team and the thousands of volunteers and activists whose hard and tireless work helped make this victory a reality. Today marks a new chapter in Gesthenia's history. As a nation we have undergone many trials and tribulations in our past. But today we take a step towards putting them behind us.


“Gesthenia is a proud nation made up of proud people. I am grateful and humbled that the people of Gesthenia have entrusted me to guide this great country. I will repay this trust by working for the many, not the few! For too long have the poor, the disenfranchised and most vulnerable members of our society been left to fend for themselves. This must not be allowed to continue. I promise to everyone here, and also watching and listening across the country, to implement a series of comprehensive programs of reform and development, as promised in my manifesto. Something which would not be needed if not for the years and years and years of corruption and incompetence of the previous administration!”


She paused. “I apologise. I sometimes forget I'm not still on the campaign trail.” A smattering of chuckles drifted around the room.


“But on the subject of my predecessor, Mr Anthony Malvern... While I may fundamentally disagree with many of his views and policies, I have found him to be a worthy opponent, a man of strong convictions, both in the Chamber and on the campaign trail. However, like all of you by now, I too have been paying attention over recent months to the accusations and rumours surrounding Mr. Malvern and the activities of members of his government. Therefore, I am announcing that my first act as President will be the formation of a judicial commission into the actions of my predecessor.”


She stepped back from the microphone. There was a moment of hushed silence in the hall. Then the noise started. A cacophony of journalists all shouting questions, a sizeable amount of applause Rosa was pleased to hear and a few angry shouts and boos. Anthony Malvern grasped her hand and smiled for the assembled cameras.“You bitch!” he said.


Rosa leaned down to his ear. “Now, now Tony. You of all people should know the dangers of saying 'unfortunate' things in the presence of microphones.” For a brief moment a look of absolute hatred flashed across his features before he forced a grin back towards the crowd. After a few minutes, Rosa stepped forward and raised her fist in celebration then turned and headed for the steps off the stage. Annabelle, her campaign manager was waiting for her offstage.


“Well, Annie, let's see if they are still calling me 'bland and moribund' in tomorrow's papers now!” said Rosa, and strode off down the corridor.

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  A Snake in the Hay

Posted by: Aramantha
08-14-2023, 04:11 AM
Forum: International Affairs
- Replies (8)

Letter addressed to the Branchian capital, published in the Branchian Bugle (The BB) on August 10th, 2023:

Quote:Dearest Mr. Levensky, and for that matter whoever else it may concern,

My name is Lily Nils. For eighteen years I have worked as a professional hitman, assassin, and torture artist for the Branchian government. But you already probably know that. What you don’t know is that six years ago, I began a campaign to take down this corrupt and fraudulent excuse for a government from the inside. With the invaluable help of Mr. Andreas Holgersen of Zongongia, I have gathered concrete evidence of this government’s misdeeds and intend on releasing them in a public exposé in three days. 

So why write this letter then? I write this to petition Mr. Levensky to reveal his crimes and repent to the world of his own free will. Even the evilest of men must know when they’ve been defeated, and I allow you now one last chance for some kind of redemption in the eyes of the law. If not, you will meet your downfall, I promise you that. 

I hope this nations burns and both of us know exactly why, Mr. Levensky.

Best wishes,

Lily

•••

Tulen Levensky tapped his fingers against the desk.

“Get them.” he growled to the council gathered in the room

The room sprang into action. Seven phone calls were initiated, two men went downstairs to collect weapons, three computers began tracking locations. Cogs in an endless and lovely machine. God Tulen loved this place. 

What he did not love was the job ahead. 

The threat was hogwash of course. Whether or not such evidence had been gathered, they must have known that publishing a warning in advance could not, under any circumstances, end well for them. What was far more important was dealing with everything else. Tulen had spies in the BB, how had they not stopped that letter from being published? If the supposed co-writer was in fact a real person, how on earth was he expected to deal with the foreign affairs debacle that was bound to come out of that? Not to mention, if the Zongongian government had somehow been funding a project to take down Thousand Branches from within, how on earth had his spies there not figured this out?

In theory, some of these questions were things for his lackeys to answer. His spy connections were already hard at work gauging the Zongongian response. The editor of the BB had been taken into “questioning” aka interrogation (aka torture). The defacto control of the BB had then fallen to his plants there, who were now tracking the letter’s path to the offices of BB, a search that had already revealed it was sent from inside the country.

His team of investigators were at work, tearing apart the Nils woman’s home. His hitmen had assembled and were ready to go on a moment’s notice. Internet access had been restricted across the country to filter every user through the surveillance department. Everything working at maximum efficiency and yet he still had one major problem facing him. The public.

This country stood for freedom of information, right? Such was the facade that must be kept anyway. So the article has to continue to be allowed to run. By the time it made it to the public, an attempt to cover it up would only made them more suspicious. So the question was how could Levensky give the public something to chew on without breaking the facade? What crime could he reveal to pull the curtain over the eyes of 13 million people? 

It was just the way his brain worked. Ever logical in the face of infinite strain. Which isn’t to say Levensky was a man to look up to in any way, shape, or form, but to say that he was damn good at what he did. 

The next morning he would have a press conference. He would cry and admit something, some small crime, and suddenly he would be the victim in the eyes of the Branchian peoples. He would attend a religious ceremony to cleanse his crimes. He would shed his blood for the people of Thousand Branches and they would cheer for him. They would believe him the epitome of morality. He was just that good.

Or so he believed.

•••

Lily Nils was so very glad to not be alone.

Even as a professional murderer and a longtime underground agent of a corrupt organization, she was terrified. She was sitting, contemplating her death, knowing the end would be here soon. But at least she wasn’t alone. 

And damnit if she didn’t have one last adventure in her.

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  Revolution through Rhetoric

Posted by: Aredoa
08-08-2023, 01:42 PM
Forum: International Affairs
- Replies (3)

Theater of Visions, Caronia
Friday, 13th January 1872

“Another fantastic performance, Fabián. You’ve outdone yourself once again!” Fabián Pesina hurriedly brushed through the long row of fat cats sitting in the front row of the theater as applause rang out all around. The world-renowned playwright had just debuted his latest performance and it did not disappoint.

But with every successful play of his came the floods of aristocrats who wished to spin Fabián’s works as one of the many achievements of Costenan colonial rule of Aredoa, which could not be further from the truth. In fact, the only contribution of Costeno to Fabián’s brilliance is that most of his antagonists resembled what he saw as the stereotypical Costenan elite- wealthy, powerful, obnoxious, stupid, complacent.

Not that any of them got the reference. They had been born as the successors to their fathers’ wealth, a ‘career’ that did not require much intellect. Most attended elite schools in the capital where teachers were scared into giving all the aristocratic children nothing but the top grades.

“Congratulations, Fabián. I’ll be in contact with those ministry links we discussed.” The men were all just empty suits to Fabián as he sped through, giving each one a brief handshake and an ingenuine smile. He was in a rush. Normally he would be attending a post-show party with his cast, but not tonight. He had a prior engagement that was firmly in the center of his mind.

Fabián exited the theater. He did not take one of the many horses and carts waiting for passengers. Instead, he set out walking through the dimly lit streets on the pleasant January evening, taking in his surroundings as he strode. Fabián left the city center and headed towards the impoverished outskirts, rushing to catch one of the few carriages that would be headed to Bancoa that evening.


Ministry of State Security, Vahania

“So, a ‘Cultural Congress’, they call it?” Under-Secretary Segura smoked a fine Aredoan cigar, filling the room with the light mist of smoke, as he posed the question to the intelligence agents standing in front of him. A number of officials were gathered to hear the details of the intelligence briefing.

“Yes, sir. A ragtag group seeking to undermine the state’s cultural reforms that have brought Aredoa firmly under the sphere of Costenan influence. It is their stated goal to restore a bespoke Aredoan national identity.”

“Well, why haven’t we shut them down yet? These things inevitably lead to notions of separating from the empire. I’d rather that it doesn’t get there, Colonel.” The Under-Secretary made no effort to hide his frustration. He had much better things to do on a Friday evening than to listen to the ramblings of fools.

“We have spent months gathering information on the group, sir. It is a collection of socialists, communists, suffragettes, trade unionists, self-determinationists, you name it. A recipe for treason. Our goal is not just to ban the cultural movement, but to cut off the heads of the various undesirable political movements. In one fell swoop, we will be able to seize their leaders and have them imprisoned for their sedition.”

“How much longer do we have to let this group fester while you gather intelligence? Decisive action is no good if it is not swift.”

“You misunderstand, Under-Secretary, we believe we have all the information we need to act now. The Cultural Congress is meeting in Bancoa tonight. With your blessing, we can move into their meeting place in a matter of hours.”

Chief of Police Javier Murillo spoke up this time. “Bancoa? We don’t have much of a presence down that far south. The logistics of mass arrests just don’t make sense with our manpower.”

“I have men from the capital that are stationed down there in anticipation, Chief Murillo. All I need is the Under-Secretary’s signature and we’re a go.”

Under-Secretary Segura let out a deep sigh. He wasn’t known for being a very inspiring leader. “Well, if you insist, Colonel. Just know that any failure and the blame will be placed squarely on you. I have no time for incompetence." He was handed a piece of paper by one of the intelligence agents and, after giving it a brief scan with his eyes, placed his signature on it.

Under the Protection of the State Ordinance (1836), I, the undersigned, do authorize any and all means of force to suppress the seditious and treasonous activities in the region of Bancoa.

X      Anton Segura       

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  My Ideas for Thousand Branches (my nation)!

Posted by: Aramantha
08-07-2023, 01:53 AM
Forum: Nations of the IDU
- No Replies

A Quick Summary of my Ideas Big Grin

Sunil Shi, the mythological founder of the nation, arrived to the land many years ago, discovering what she described as an untouched paradise of the earth. According to legend, she came from a far-away tribe on a journey to seek out a new land away from the constant floods and disasters of their own land. Some modern bits of culture would support this theory including advanced flood barrier technology and alarm systems. That being said, despite there being no doubt that the woman herself existed (her journal entries are quite well documented), there is a considerable amount of argument over the validity of what was contained within her story. Her descriptions of the land and its inhabitants seem mostly accurate, many of them being linked to documented creatures and landmarks today, but her mental health continued to deteriorate as the journal went on and many of her entries become less and less based in reality. At one point she claims that she has reproduced asexually in her sleep without pregnancy or a male member of the species. She speaks of herself repopulating the island with people created from her own essence. The general theory surrounding this is that in fact her asexual reproduction was simply the arrival of the rest of her tribe, having been forced from their homeland waiting for the return of Sunil. One of the more recent proponent arguments in favor of Sunil’s journals centered around genetics and the historical record of early peoples of the land, a group that was entirely women. If each historical event, election, and obituary was centered around a woman, perhaps that was due to asexual reproduction and a dominant gene. Historians and anthropologists however believe otherwise, claiming that the cultural gender roles of the tribe that arrived on the island likely simply regarded everyone as women, regardless of sex. Several sculptures and drawings from old society depict male genitalia nearly as prominently as they depict female genitalia. Of course, further rebuttals have been cast between the believers and the non-believers, but to write out the whole argument would be unnecessary and convoluted. 

Instead, we should move on to the land itself. Sunil’s early theory of a land untouched by man was accepted for many years. The creatures and animals were of a kind not documented or seen by anyone in the nation before. Even once contact had been re-established with exterior nations, the living things of Thousand Branches were in a class entirely their own. In addition, the habitat seemed perfectly balanced and devoid of human structure. That theory prevailed until just the last hundred or so years when a foreigner had arrived in the land and was shocked to discover high levels of radiation across the entire country and even into the woods beyond. The question became: how can such levels of radiation exist in a land that was thought to be never habited? An early theory was that deep veins of radioactive material existed beneath the land but nuclear scientists brought in from outside the nation quickly dismissed that theory as impossible. The radioactivity present in the nation clearly had enough power once upon a time to mutate the creatures and plants of the land. Some trees had even evolved to use radiation as part of their photosynthesis process. That kind of radiation could only be caused by fallout and fallout necessitated the existence of some nation before this one many years ago. As the nuclear scientists explained the effects of nuclear fallout on a region, more parts of the story clicked into place. The psychological and biochemical effects on bodies, brains, and hormones could have been a partial cause of the insanity that grew in Sunil’s journals and the mental health issues that have plagued the nation for many years. The mutations and odd creatures had evolved and changed over many years in a unique environment. The long-time presence of cancers and thyroid problems that had baffled medical scientists for years could finally be explained.

A launch in nuclear research began in the nation, young and old being sent to foreign schools across the world in search of more research into fallout. Some wanted to know where the fallout had come from and instead opted to become foreign historians or diplomats. Others wanted to test the radiation and whether it was still affecting the population today. Even the ones who disagreed with many of the radioactive theories wanted to prove it was wrong and ventured out to schools of often dubious credibility. Today, a lab exists in the capital dedicated entirely to a cure for radiation sickness and to mitigating and blocking the risks associated with living in a land fraught with a new danger. And tomorrow, citizens of Thousand Branches look to a brighter future and further cooperation with outside nations, if they could only get people to come visit.

Obvs seeking any sort of critique or ideas from folks ^^ Always looking for ways to improve upon my ideas! Also want to know if this idea is acceptable/approvable by the folks in charge. Thanks all!

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