[Xiomera]

Culture

In war-torn Xiomera, a somber day to honor the dead


A mother and daughter pay tribute to deceased ancestors at a cemetery in Tlālacuetztla

November 1st, the beginning of celebrations in Xiomera centered around the queen of the underworld Mictecacihuatl and honoring those who have passed away, are normally happy celebrations. They are seen as a way for family members and friends of all generations, both alive and deceased, to be together as one. The entire country normally engages in huge and elaborate celebrations, parties, events and parades to honor this sacred milestone in Xiomeran religion and history.

This year, however, few Xiomerans are feeling like celebrating. The coup and civil war that have dragged on in the country for almost seven months now have dimmed the festive mood of Xiomerans, who are dealing with the very real sorrow of thousands dead, injured and imprisoned on both the Xiomeran side and that of the emerging separatist state of Huenya. In addition, both the war and sanctions have left many Xiomerans feeling economic hurt as well, further dimming the celebratory fervor.

"Nothing feels right to celebrate right now," Miahitlaco, a woman who we interviewed paying tribute to her deceased father at a cemetery in Tlālacuetztla, said somberly as she lit candles and laid marigold flowers at his grave. Her father, a lieutenant in the Xiomeran Imperial Army, was killed during recent fighting in the city of Zapotlán. "Everyone we know has lost someone recently. The entire country seems to be broken," she said. Despite a speech today by the new Xiomeran Empress, Calhualyana, promising an end to the war, Miahitlaco is not optimistic. "Most people we know aren't working right now. The industries are restarting, but slowly. A lot of people are worried about their future. And with so many people losing someone recently....everything is just sad."

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On the other side of the stalemate at what was once the city of Zapotlán, in the rapidly emerging state of Huenya, the mood is also grim. Never as prosperous as their eastern counterparts in historic Xiomera to begin with, and having borne the brunt of the fighting during the war, the people in the former western territories of the Xiomeran Empire are finding even less to celebrate.

"The entire situation is just horrible," Anchac, an Itotemoc man living in the regional capital of Ixtenco, said as he walked with his wife and son to a temple. Anchac has not worked for three months, and has also lost both friends and family members to the fighting that occurred in the Itotemoc region before the current stalemate. While he will be going back to work soon, Anchac is anything but optimistic. "The only thing that will bring us real peace of mind is if the leaders that are fighting come to some kind of compromise, and they don't seem to want to do that." The speech given by Huacue, the Necatli leader, today speaking on behalf of the separatist government, did not reassure Anchac or his family. "All it seems the leaders want right now is war and more war," his wife, Chimbi, said. "We just want it all to stop."

Arriving at their local temple to join the other people arriving to pay tribute, Anchac shook his head. "I just hope the people in charge find a way to come to terms with each other, or there will be a lot more people we have to pay our respects to next year."

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International news

Sunemia, Laeral sign free trade and free movement agreements

The governments of Sunemia and Laeral announced today that they have signed a free trade agreement, as well as an agreement allowing for free movement between the two nations. Sunemia has also established diplomatic relations with Laeral, and opened an embassy there.

President Liu Mei-han of Laeral issued this statement: "Fostering commercial and social ties with our friends in Sunemia offers both nations the opportunity to pursue the path of joint progress and sustainable economic prosperity as we advance into the future. It's my pleasure to sign this agreement and usher in a new era of mutual cooperation and international exchange between the Allied Provinces of Laeral and the United Republic of Sunemia."

President Chris Fairhax of Sunemia has also issued a statement: ''Sunemia is proud to foster diplomatic relations with Laeral. This agreement will benefit both nations and foster cooperation and prosperity.''

Economic experts believe that the agreement will improve regional economies and could lead to other nations pursuing free trade agreements and expanding freedom of movement. "With regional economies, especially in Caxcana, suffering blowback from the Xiomeran civil war and the trade war related to that, the pressure is on to find ways to revive regional trade," Rachel Couch, an economist with the think tank Renaissance Theory, told DTNS. "Nations will very likely be seeking ways to facilitate improved trade and international relations as a way to counter issues stemming from the Xiomera problem."