July 2017 Newsletter

[Seperallis]

Show ContentThe Angirisian Empire posting code:

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"No onions for the Austrians, no onions for those dogs."

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[big][big]Community rules rewrite underway[/big][/big]
Currently, the Eternity community directorate has convened to sort out a new and improved set of community rules to govern etiquette moving forward. According to Staff spokesman and Chief of Public Relations, Flo, the new rewrite is a direct consequence of recent interactions that have required staff intervention. While the issues have been sorted and interactions have returned to being actually rather quite pleasant, the incident did highlight the weaknesses of the current ruleset.

The original community rules were a rough set of vague guidelines instated in 2014 as a quick fix for a mysterious and complete lack of any rules. Where did they go? It is a mystery.

While no official details were given as to what the rewrite will entail, Flo did explain that "most online communities have proper rules and procedures for infractions and it's about time we do the same" as well conceeding that "our present guidelines are pretty vague and haphazardly enforced." Discussion of the rewrite is still behind closed doors, though sources indicate that the resulting document will be placed in a public forum for proper debate "soon."

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[big][big]Other News[/big][/big]

• Forum descriptions made debut. Pretty!
  
• Virgin sacrifices to the Linear One increase as the "nation viewer" page is implemented; Value of shares in Excessive Details tripple overnight.
  
• Discussion underway as to how to determine what a season is in the RP world.
  
• Newer, fancier, flashier RP map currently being created by RP Directorate staff. We look forward to the results with trepidation!
  

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[big][big]Empire[/big][/big]
The continuing saga of the Holy Lanlanian Empire's slow collapse continues with riots in the streets of Halvadag. What started with a few overseas colonial protests over self-governance in Azreae has spiraled into imperial dissolution of the government under the pretext of stopping a coup against the Crown. How such apparent "traitors" were able to infiltrate the highest echelons of government is a mystery, and the revelation of the coup - and the riots both in support of and against the crown - have shocked and surprised the world that one of Siora's proud great powers could be brought to its knees in such a way. It's unknown how the country will move forward from here.

"This is unacceptable!" Sulkholm bellowed. "How dare you lay a hand on me! I will have your jobs for this!" The Prime Minister fumed in his armchair, glaring down the Imperial Marshals and the Secret Security Service officers that were ripping apart his office. They'd zip-tied his arms together after he'd made one too many attempts to stop them, and one of their agents had the specific job of pushing him back into his seat whenever he shot up.

The array of officers had arrived late in the evening, a little before midnight. Sulkholm had just changed into his sleepwear and joined his wife in bed when a knock on their door and the whispers of a sympathizing Executive Security officer warned him that Crown agents had arrived to detain him. He'd managed to shoot off a few emails and even attempted to escape before the Marshals and SSS pushed through his security detail and stopped him.

[center]>> Read More Here <<[/center]

[big][big]The Fork in the Road[/big][/big]
Little Nentsia has long had an overt and well-known democratic problem; following the collapse of the USR, the ex-communist nation became a worldwide poster child for corruption in business and government. Ruled by business oligarchs and headed by the Vynnychuk family, the ruling government has long taken a heavy hand in oppressing dissent. Now, however, the cracks in the regime are showing as massive street protests paralyze the government and bring the country to a standstill. Of course, when aging and sickly President Aliaksei Vynnychuk effectively appoints his successor by axing his Vice-President and appointing his daughter Ksenia to the position, an already angry populous has had more than enough of the government's endless assault on democracy.

But with all the resources of the government pushing back against an unarmed people, how will Nentsian democracy survive this fork in the road?

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We have not forgotten about the murder of Piotr Kohut! We have not forgotten how this Constitutional Court helped to rig the elections of 1578. We have not forgotten about Roman Tsikhin and Anzhela Vishnevskaya, members of the Election Comission that heroically defied the corrupt proceedings, and who have been in jail since 1577! We have not forgotten how Opposition leader Mikita Marcinkiewic was beaten into a coma by the riot police! We have not forgotten how the daughter of Oleg Zayats, editor of an opposition newspaper, was kidnapped! Enough is Enough. We want our country back! Vynnychuk: Resign!

The protests had lasted for two weeks now. Instead of shrinking, they were only growing larger and larger. Especially in Sierada and Yagaila, massive crowds had set up permanent camps before the government buildings in public squares. People from various backgrounds saw that this was a powerful movement, and maybe, something would finally change. Many neutral observers began to take sides, and if they did, it was often against the government. Vynnychuk seemed old, weak, confused, and indecisive. His daughter and heir-apparent was corrupt and hated. As long as the demonstrations remained peaceful, they could count on the sympathy of the public.

The media still refused to cover the events, only mentioning that ''extremists'' were continuing their ''occupation'' of public spaces. The situation was reaching a stalemate. The government had already promised reforms but refused to give anything more, the protesters demanded Vynnychuk's resignation, and the authorities were incapable of clearing the squares.

Ksenia Vynnychuk was growing increasingly worried about the entire situation. If the government did not restore its authority soon, the regime might begin to lose its allies. People currently supporting Vynnychuk might defect and present themselves as the new saviours of the people. Ksenia was working in her office when her telephone on the secure line rang. She quickly picked it up. ''Yes?''

''Mrs. Vynnychuk, the President has summoned you to his residence. A car is waiting.''

[center]>> Read More Here <<[/center]

[big][big]Other News[/big][/big]

• Angirisian forces continue to make headway against the Galasian regime.
  
• Sportsball! So much fun to put a thing in a thing!
  
• Grumblings reported as Nerysia starts waking from its slumber.
  
• The Balochian Crisis spreads, as what's become a civil war begins to stir regional powers into acting to end the conflict.
  
• Arrenlander ambassadors in Brymme unable to ease tensions after recent naval skirmish.
  
• Almaniania reawakens with new elections and seeking closer ties to local powers, especially Nyland.
  
• West Brigidna Economic Agreement members begin talks on "closer cooperation."
  
• Belayazemlya leadership receives sweeping worldwide criticism and sanctions after public report into country's so-called "mental hospitals."
  

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[big][big]Q3 Author's Challenge Opens![/big][/big]
The third quarter of the Eternity Author's Writing Challenge has begun! After a short delay to allow some participants fo finish their very not last minute writings, the Q3 prompt was posted at the beginning of July, and this time it's been mixed up slightly! Instead of word prompts, this quarter writers are asked to select from one of the three selected pictures to use as inspiration and a basis for their writing. No doubt we're going to see some rather interesting submissions and would love to have more, so why not showcase your own writing, and see what others have done?

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[big][big]Diplomacy[/big][/big]
War is in the air in Eternity, as the great European powers of old grow restless. Always ripe with good ideas, Nentsia has hosted a game of Diplomacy and all the best, devilish, scheming minds of the community have come together for a rousing game of wits and wiles. Already, the game has proven to be a veritable minefield of liars and traitors. Who's going to come out on top? When's Hadash going to pass along the movement orders to Nents? How long can we drag out this description?

"Everything is permitted. Cheating is encouraged. Let the game begin; may the biggest knife win."

It is Spring 1901. European Diplomats have assembled from all capitals of the continent to discuss crucial matters as the tensions between the great powers are ever increasing. We have entered the 20th century, and the question as to who shall dominate this century is still entirely open. Will Britannia rule the waves for much longer? Can Germany take over the waves while at the same time holding off her rivals on the European mainland? Will France, a hundred years after the emergence of Napoleon, conquer all of Europe with superior military tactics? Or should we perhaps place our cards on Italy, which, the last time it was under unified rule, led to the creation of the Roman Empire. Few might think about the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, because it is ''encircled'' as some like to say. But that also means Vienna can move into every direction it likes, while everyone is underestimating her. In the East there are the large Empires of the past: the Ottomans and the Russians. Their Despotic hordes threaten to overrun the Civilized world from the East, crushing European liberty beneath the hooves of their mounted soldiers.

[center]>> Follow the Commotion Here <<[/center]

[big][big]Other News[/big][/big]

• The Magyars are coming! The Magyars are coming!
  
• Talk of a Hearthstone tournament - or was it a league? - sprinkles the air.
  
• In an attempt to fight ad-related phishing malware, The Benevolent One releases new ad-less chat window for mobile users. How swell!
  
• Spam-to-productivity ration takes sharp increase with introduction of hip new cool spam games by Seperallis.
  
• Nentsia continues his treatise on the Dutch psyche, this time explaining Dutch organized crime.

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[small][small]Due to the forced 10 image limit on this forum, the above table may or may not display or link properly.
I apologize for the inconvenience.[/small][/small][/center]

Due to the forced 10 image limit on posts in the Angirisian empire, I had to edit the staff "advertisement" portion that uses 12 images on its own.

On a related note, the newsletter is now posted in the Angirisian Empire.