Winds o' Change - Yet Another ISOT Map Game

[Whenyouseeyou]

Oh new updoot

 

[Nevis]

Red Germany and Red France right next to each other is a powerful combo. Red Europe is pretty much locked in because there's really nothing that can stand up to that combo.

 

[FiskenIsFishy]

Also, I reclaim

 

[Kiridifferent]

Year 8​

​

Nation Name: People's Republic of Korea
Commonly Known as: Korea
Capital: Seoul
Government Type: Democratic republic under a provisional government
Governing Document(s): Declaration of the National Preparatory Committee
Year Founded: 15 August 1945
Year ISOTed: 28 September 1945
Territory ISOTed: All of it
ISOTed from: OTL
Head of State: Lyuh Woon-Hyung
Head of Government: Lyuh Woon-Hyung
Technological Level:1940s
Population: 27 million
Languages: Korean, English, Russian
Religions: Buddhism, Shamanism, Christianity
Special Traits: -
Brief History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_Korea
Other Notes:


Nation Name: National Revolutionary Government
Commonly Known as: Left Kuomintang, Republic of China
Capital: Nanjing
Government Type: Socialist republic under a provisional government
Governing Document(s): Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China
Year Founded: 1936
Year ISOTed: 25 November 1936
Territory ISOTed: Southeastern China
ISOTed from: Kaiserreich: Legacy of the Weltkrieg
Head of State: Wang Jingwei
Head of Government: Wang Jingwei
Technological Level:1930s
Population: 120 million
Languages: Chinese
Religions: Buddhism, Taoism, folk religions, Christianity, Atheism
Special Traits: -
Brief History: https://kaiserreich.fandom.com/wiki/MinGan_Insurgent_Zone/Paths#First_Congress
Other Notes: Flag (https://www.deviantart.com/adozeneggs/art/Left-KMT-ROC-Flag-850583636)

Asia

​

The seventh year after the Event heralds more arrivals to the Asian continent.

The first one, the People's Republic of Korea, or de facto the Allied administrations of Korea after the end of the Pacific Theater of the Second World War and the National Revolutionary Government of the Republic of China born from the struggle of the KMT previously defeated in the Northern Expedition in the world where Germany won the First World War.

The situation in Korea was rather tense before the Event, with the People's Committees facing hostility and distrust from the Americans who saw it as a Communist front, and from the Soviets who were intent on subverting them to their will. With the Event, the Soviet Union did not exist anymore, and the United States only in a truncated form.

Lyuh Woon-Hyung would seize this opportunity to negotiate Korean independence in more favorable terms, the game has changed and now the Soviets are anxious about the loss of their homeland while the Americans are more curious about their homeland in this new world. The Lyuh-Hodges-Shtykov Agreement finalized an independent People's Republic of Korea that would be neutral in world affairs by the middle of the year. The People's Republic of Korea would join the United Nations later this year.

The Soviets under Terenty Shtykov would either settle down to help the Korean left-wing movements, become advisors to the Left Kuomintang, or move to Singapore, France or Germany which had Russian emigre populations and were more developed.

Meanwhile the Americans under John R. Hodge are recalled back to the US through the Panama Canal to reinforce the US Army forces in Columbia. This force consisted of 45.000 men of the XXIV Corps and the cruiser USS San Francisco and some smaller support vessels.

However, not everyone is happy with the situation in Korea. The disarmed Japanese soldiers and Japanese settlers in Korea, around 900,000 people, were awaiting repatriation back to Japan when the Event happened. The news of the disappearance of their homeland caused a rash of renewed suicides and individual soldiers and units revolting or escaping which are stamped down by the new Korean Army (comprised of former Korean IJA soldiers and the forces of the 88th Separate Rifle Brigade and the Korean Liberation Army).

With the possessions of the Japanese settlers like land and other assets being nationalized by the new Korean government, many of the Japanese were forcibly interned in crowded camps throughout the country. This poses a security risk and conundrum for the young Korean government, whether the Japanese can be forcibly Koreanized (turnabout is fair play), or deported somewhere in the virgin earth, either to the north in Siberia or Manchuria, or to the Japanese islands starting with Tsushima. The "Tsushima" plan is favored, as after all the Koreans went through under their rule, most simply want them gone while having an easily subdueable small island.

Meanwhile in Nanjing, Wang Jingwei barely sat down in the Provisional Presidential Palace after the completion of the First Repatriated Congress of the Kuomintang when the Event happened. The newly proclaimed National Revolutionary Government was freshly out from the League War, with many relieved that the German lapdogs are now gone and preparing to reunify the rest of China. Now the rest of China is gone. The Kuomintang itself is riven with factionalism between the Reorganized Comrades Association of Wang himself and the Provisional Action Committee under Sun Yat-Sen's widow, Song Qingling.

The Republic of China quickly establishes contact with the Koreans, the Singaporeans, and Indonesians, and joins the Internationale as well as the UN. The Asian countries also agreed on forming an economic association, the Asian Cooperative Economic Partnership, or ACEP. Singapore would provide high-technology items while Korea uses its former Japanese industry, while China and Indonesia industrialize with their assistance.

North America

The situation in the former Holy Columbian Commonwealth continues to deteriorate. The smallpox plague continues to burn in the countryside even with humanitarian aid from France, Cymru and lately Germany, with the fact that only people who are in contact with the Americans are affected causing xenophobic sentiments to rise. Although theoretically under Washington's Boys in Blue, most of the countryside is made up of independent fiefdoms, warring factions, and the like that would make the Holy Roman Empire blush - though wherever a certain General goes these fiefdoms find themselves on the backfoot. The Emperor Julius Gee barely extended his rule out of Atlanta and its environs, even while backed by the might of the US Army. Evangelical zealots and Revelationist snake-handlers preached against the Emperor in the capital puppeted by "Americanists and Catholics" while banditry persisted despite the best efforts by the Americans to stamp them down.

The (re)introduction of gunpowder changed the face of warfare throughout the Holy Columbian Commonwealth.The heavily armored knights' primacy was diminished by the proliferation of muskets and pike-and-shot tactics among the lords' levies. Cannons also revolutionized siegecraft, although their primitive design (except some bought from Americans) limited their efficiency. In very rare cases, 20th century firearms bought from Yucateco smugglers are highly prized by the nobles, as a single machine gun can turn the tide of a battle almost single handedly. The problem is that without the industrial capacity to build more guns and ammunition their uses are incredibly limited. Many Columbians find the Kingdom of Alabama a beacon of stability in these trying times, although trade is limited since no nation is willing or interested to offend the US. Alabama has no interest in joining the "United Nations" and instead is focusing on self-improvement. King Huey captured a wandering Ground-Sloth and made it his personal court pet (Despite the multitude of men who died to its claws).

The Huntington Administration would be burdened by the events to their south, as the Liberals are attacked by both the Socialists and the NDP for their handling of the Columbian situation. The "Neo-Robberbarons" coming down south have a strange obsession with Early-Modern-Europe and Classical Greco-Roman style. If Columbia is from a new Dark Age, then America will recreate the Renaissance. Stories of peasants turning to poor workers in grand factories with bosses who live in newly-constructed white-marbled mansions spread like wildfire. Leonardo Da-Vinci like inventions are created by people who don't really know what they're doing, created out of the technological ruins of Old America; Cars, Calculators, Guns, Electric Guitars, etc. Meanwhile, Wesley continues making speeches across the nation and even further in other nations, discussing his ideology, his Gubernatorial run in Appalachia and its effects on the state today, and several other things. Generally, his speeches are well regarded among students at various universities and several Socialist ideologues, though some of his points fall through on those more conservative in either their ideology or thought.

And getting into specifics, the US has had an interesting time integrating its disparate parts into a coherent whole. While Panama is no doubt the most advanced, the fact that it can't produce the technology held within it does make things quite difficult for the locals. However, this is overcome by the fact that factories are being set up to produce the various technologies seen in Panama, and to fuel those factories various power plants are built across the nation fueled by Appalachian coal. This massive industrialization project has made the already-surprisingly rich state even richer, making surrounding states grumble at its success when in another time it would've just been another backwater state. While nothing in comparison to, say, France's already extensive industrialization, the fact that America has started to speed up its industrialization may lead to interesting consequences for everyone.

Yucatan continues to be rather prosperous especially in the air travel business, with the only competition being German airships and Singapore's airlines for transcontinental flights.

Europe, Africa and the Middle East

Palestine saw a higher volume of traffic through the newly-completed Suez Canal as trade began to blossom between Asia and Europe.

Cymru has had a great year despite fears of Oceania, colonizing their chunk of Iberia much quicker than previously thought thanks to modern technology. They continue to dominate North Sea trade, and have plans for even more colonies (Just incase the homeland falls). The Sapmi get more and more autonomy in their little settlement, while the settlements in Iceland begins to develop a mixed Celtic-Norsk culture. Plans to colonize more places around the world, such as Greenland, Bermuda, and more are starting to be planned, though nothing has been attempted yet.

France and Germany began preliminary plans to settle the Benelux region between themselves, establishing settlements along the Meuse and Rhine rivers. The lands of the Low Countries are becoming something of a European Wild-West, full of frontier towns, wanderers, and more. Both countries also receive advanced technology from the Singaporeans and work on replicating them, or at least applying the advances of the 21st century to their current technological base. More unnerving was the information from the Singaporeans that nuclear weaponry is possible and has been used in anger with a single nuclear warhead being shipped from Singapore, and the leadership of France and Germany are divided on building nuclear power and nuclear weapons or banishing the specter of nuclear war in the new world.

Other research also advanced in leaps and bounds. Naturalists in France and Germany advocated to preserve the population of Ice Age megafauna from overhunting for them to be studied in national parks and zoos, as problems with colonists in the Low Countries continue to mount. In particular, Hyenas and Cave Lions are big enough to be causing enough problems (Such as pack hunting, killing and/or eating a few colonists) that an unofficial war is starting. The "Hyena Wars" are similar to the Emu Wars of Australia, where "battles" occur between modern military forces and various apex predators. For the herbivores, the use of modern firearms cut a small but noticeable swathe through the population of Mammoths, Steppe Bison, Irish Elk, and Archangels, which the naturalists feared for their second extinction in this world.

Meanwhile, after recommendations by the Franco-Palestinian research team operating in the Rainshadow Coast, the New Communist International finally granted the Forktails the official status of personhood and declared the Rainshadow Coast, the name now used for Northwestern Africa as a whole, as a protected area. The UN soon followed that same year. However, there are a few legal debates still ongoing, such as Interspecies Marriage (The Franco-Palestinian branch of Wesleyism is leading the charge for this, arguing from a "they're consenting adults" standpoint).

The Forktails themselves made the first steps towards neolithic development and agriculture, domesticating figs, insects and small mammals; they've even started to develop independent writing, superficially similar to Hangul or Hieroglyphs. Without a truly unified culture or government, being too small for other sapients to keep full track of, and wings, widespread Forktail migration is inevitable. They hug the Sahara while spreading throughout Africa, and even into Iberia and Sicily, albeit in very small numbers.
The Serinan animals that travelled with them are adapting to this world well despite the hiccups (Womblers are having a real hard time with Hyenas), Archangels have spread through Europe and have become a rare, but well-known, majestic sight. Catholics in particular, who named the creatures, see the four-wing giants as watchers of God in this new world. Aardgeese and Axbills are seen in the frontiers of Celtic Iberia, while various Scientists begin studying the strange Canaries to get a better picture of Serinan history.

Meanwhile, more and more curious Mantises come up to the surface to meet the human researchers, relations are a bit more cautious and strained. While not hostile, the newcomers are even stranger than the birds, and are overly-curious. The Forktails are starting to develop a relationship with the Mantises, similar to Crows and Wolves, with the Forktails guiding them to/harassing prey animals and sharing the bounty. The humans managed to communicate using music and began to study the Mantis language, with several researchers camping at the fort/village entrance to the Mantis Village. The researchers quickly learn not to pry too closely, after a few close calls prevented from coming to blows by the Mantis Makai's timely mediation.

On the Human side, they initially report that the Tribe appears to be limited to a single fortified village of sorts on the surface. However, after some time they realize that the Mantis culture must be far larger than it seems, given the number of separate individuals they've identified coming in and out of the settlement, and the apparent scale of ongoing construction on the surface. Another shock comes with the first sighting of one of the Lords from a distance, standing a good meter higher than any members of the expedition, and wielding a long lance of solid metal.

Far below, the Tribe's leadership debated over the Human presence. Some of their machines strike them as reminiscent of Hallownest's tramways, in function if not form. That and the strange idols of a Cross and what seems to be a stylized Wanderer brought by some of the soft ones cause a sense of unease within the Tribe; Reluctant to be forced into the influence of another God-King. To quell some of the more reactionary tribesmen, the defenses of the surface fort are reinforced with a second gate, and efforts are made to cultivate native species of snails off fungus to reduce reliance on the surface for food.

Oceania made few noises of provoking Franco-German naval forces in the Atlantic, but mostly silent. The recent naval clashes are used by the Oceanian government as an explanation for the drop in rations. In truth, despite the party's claim of nearing ultimate victory, the Inner-Party is beginning to panic. Enemies surround them on all sides, and despite the words of Big Brother, Oceania is not particularly capable of a protracted war, let alone an occupation of Cymru.

Leaders of the People's Republic of Korea

1. 1945-????: Lyuh Woon-Hyung (Chairman of the National People's Representative Conference)

Chairmen of the National Revolutionary Government of the Republic of China

1. 1924-????: Wang Jingwei (Kuomintang-Reorganized Comrades Association)

Year 8, Beginning


Year 8, End

 

[Kiridifferent]

I reclaim too

 

[Nevis]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIQSEq6tEVs (Come on, you know you want to)

The following article was written in L'Etoile Rouge, a Parisian newspaper known for its aggressive rhetoric.

1935 No More!​

Citizens of France!

For years we have laboured, rebuilding the Fatherland after our sudden seperation from our sister republics in the Netherlands, Italy, and Algeria. We have patiently toiled and we have built a modern workers' state with technical assistance from the Orient.

Why then have we repeated the mistakes of 1935, when the ineffectiveness of the CGT allowed the Kaiser to disband the German unions? For years the false socialists of INGSOC have plagued England and yet our government has done nothing about it! Beyond them the Bourgeoisie maintain their wicked grip in the Americas; in Yucutan and the United States. Worse, the Celtic Isles languish under the ancien régime, even as it pretends to be a democracy!

Aux armes, citoyens! Formons vos bataillons!

We must demand an end to 1935! Just as we brought down the Kaiser and the pretenders in Algeria we must fight to strike down those evil men who hold the workers of the world in chains. France shall once again take its natural role as the defender of the socialist world. Raise the sanguine flag, our time is now!

For those who cringe in the face of war, those who cower from danger, let us remind you: This is no ill-conceived screed. At the current time our only neighbour is the German Socialist Räterepublik. Do you wish to wait for a White Russia with the nuclear weapons of Singapore to appear before we go to war? No! We must secure our flanks and the natural borders of France. We must crush the reactionary regimes now if we do not wish to be surrounded later! Tremble tyrants, and you, traitors. Tremble, your machinations will finally receive their just reward!

And so our call to arms: On the 27th​ January we must remember 'La Nivôse Glorieuse' and take to the streets once more to demand the declaration of war on the so-called "Airstrip One". March with your friends and brothers to the BGT and make your voices known.

Marchons, marchons! Qu'un sang impur, abreuve nos sillons!

 

[Waith]

I'd be interested to see how a war between INGSOC and France would play considering that both are nuclear powers with the ability to strike one another in close distance.

 

[Klaesick]

Year 9 - The seeds of Yggdrasil in another soil

(HD N0thingtosee Denmark Flag)
Nation: Kingdom of Danmǫrk
Commonly Known as: Danmǫrk
Capital: Sjælland
Government Type: Semi-Feudal Monarchy
Governing Document(s): None
Year Founded: 784 AD (10784 HIEC)
Year ISOTed: January 1st, 791 AD (10791 HIEC)
Territory ISOTed: Denmark, Norway
ISOTed from: Lost Seasons of the Danes
Head of State: King Þorolfr
Head of Government: King Þorolfr
Technological Level: Medieval
Population: Around 625,000
Languages: Old Norse Dialects
Religions: Nordic-Germanic Paganism
Brief History: The story of Danmǫrk under House Skjöldung begins during the reign of King Harald "Wartooth" Skjöldung, which lasted for 40 years until his death in 769, around the age of 70. His kingdom encompassed regions such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and parts of northern Germany. By the end of his reign, he became more of a legendary figure than an active warrior.

Upon Harald's death, the governance of Danmǫrk passed to his sons, Hrœrekr II took control of the Petty Kingdom of Sjælland, while Þrándr managed two provinces, leading to a rivalry with Hrœrekr.

Hrœrekr faced challenges from his brother Þrándr while managing his personal life, including romantic affairs. He engaged in the Great Danish-Geatish Conflict, emerging victorious. In 783, falling ill, he appointed Astrid, a servant girl he was having an affair with, as regent while addressing his succession plans. By 784, he solidified his power and transformed the Petty Kingdom of Sjælland into the Kingdom of Denmark.

Hrœrekr's reign concluded under mysterious circumstances with his death in a fire, leaving Danmǫrk at a crossroads. After Hrœrekr's death, Þorolfr took over amidst complex court politics, notably surrounding his father's murder. Between 786 and 787, rumors about his drinking habits increased, coinciding with his participation in a drinking contest. The high council greenlit an attack on Petty King Bersi Ulfing, which ended quickly, highlighting internal tensions.
Þorolfr faced familial strife, particularly after half-brother Magnichallenged him to a duel for honor. Despite the pressure, Þorolfr accepted and defeated the inexperienced Magni, who suffered severe injury, leading to the amputation of his leg. The king's relationship with Queen Gerðr felt strained and duty-bound, exacerbating his mental state.

Þorolfr made notable changes to high council meetings but struggled with alcohol and the pressures of leadership. Under the guidance of Jarl Alfr, Danmǫrk's military strategies aimed at annexing the remaining Norwegian states, which was successful, and at countering threats from the Geats which led to mixed outcomes. Following a successful ambush on the Estonians in Käkisalmi, Þorolfr celebrated victories with sacrifices to the gods, and after more battles, he negotiated surrender terms with Chief Ahti.
However, as the royals came home that winter assured of victory, a trick of the gods soon transforms the young Kingdom's destiny.

(HD Kelruss Sweden Flag)
Nation Name: Göterike-Sverige
Commonly Known as: Göterike, Sverige, Sweden
Capital:
Government Type:
Governing Document(s): N/A
Year Founded: 797 AD (10797 HIEC)
Year ISOTed: 858 AD (10858 HIEC)
Territory ISOTed: All
ISOTed from: Ready the Longships!
Head of State: N/A, Warlords
Head of Government: N/A, Warlords
Technological Level: Medieval
Population: Around 150,000
Languages: Old Norse Dialects
Religions: Nordic-Germanic Paganism (Majority), Catholicism (Minority)
Special Traits:
Brief History: The Kingdom of Göterike emerged out of the old Västergötland, founded by King Ragnarr II of House Ulfing. He grew into a bold and adventurous leader, known for his participation in raids, notably one in Scotland. Ragnarr II became king after his father's death in 793 CE, with a vision of unifying a divided Sweden. In 794, he successfully conquered Gotland from Gotish Jarl Yngvar and engaged in battles against King Emund of Småland.
Ragnarr II's reign was characterized by external tensions, particularly with Saxony and Francia. He played a role in the Second Franco-Saxon War (802 CE), allying with Saxons against Charlemagne and supporting the Frisian Revolt (803 CE). Despite his efforts, he could not secure independence for Frisia and faced resistance in Norway in 810 CE. Ragnarr tragically drowned in 819 CE, leaving behind his sons to carry on his legacy. Ragnarr III faced difficulties after his brother Albjörn's death but managed to organize his coronation and married Þóra. His rule involved attempts to reform taxes and military strategies, though he faced significant opposition. He sought to assist the Novgorodian Slavs but was defeated at the Battle of Narva (836 CE). Ragnarr III shifted focus toward administration and naval expansion until his death from a heart attack in 844 CE.

Ulrik II, seen with mixed opinions, matured into a capable leader. Following the death of Louis the Pious, he expanded Sweden's navy and initiated the Liberation of Frisia (845 CE). Despite initial successes, he faced defeats against the Franks, leading to rising tensions between pagan and Christian factions. Ulrik II's reign ended in 847 CE, leaving the kingdom in chaos. Njord Kveldulf became regent for the child queen Sigrúnn II, proposing marriage to stabilize the situation. Complications arose with the return of Prince Ulfing, leading to a power struggle. Njord attempted to manage noble dissatisfaction and proposed the Fylkirate election while backing Sveinn af Kalmar amidst controversies.

Njord's consolidation of power through military alliances led to diminishing influence, resulting in rivalry among factions. He sought to establish trade connections with Christian realms, gaining the right to preach in Sweden. Sweden became embroiled in the War of Vengeance (852 CE), marked by raids on Estonia and brutal territorial conflicts. Internal strife intensified, with accusations against rivals and ensuing battles weakening Njord's authority. The death of Queen Sigrúnn during a rescue attempt destabilized Njord's reign, leading to the rise of Ulfing and the onset of civil war, the Ofridr af Valdyr (Or as many historians call it, The War of the Wolves). However, this conflict now has a different field of battle entirely…


Group: Germanic Tribes, "Germani"
ISOTed from: "Original" Timeline
Year ISOTed from: January 1st, 477 AD (10477 HIEC)
Population: Around 500,000 People, spread across Germany (Roughly comprising to where they lived, although there is significant overlap between them now due to how the population is spread)
Languages: Various (West-Germanic Dialects, East Germanic Dialects) possibly similar to Proto-Germanic and Old High German
Religions: Continental-Germanic Paganism (Majority), Arianian Christianity (Minority)
Technology level: Late Antiquity, Iron Age
Leader: N/A, Various
Brief Description: The Germanic peoples were tribal groups located primarily in Central Europe, migrating from southern Scandinavia and northern Germany to areas between the Elbe and Oder rivers after 1000 BC. The first records of the Germanic peoples by Roman authors appeared near the Rhine in the 1st century BCE. The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest marked a significant loss for Rome, leading to their withdrawal and the emergence of new Germanic tribes, such as the Franks and Goths.

Most Germanic tribes operated under an elective monarchy where free men elected their kings and resolved disputes in assemblies. Contrary to Roman perceptions, Germanic societies were complex and engaged in farming, animal husbandry, and crafts. They constructed simple wooden houses and lived in communities centered around mead halls. Germanic tribes enhanced their agricultural practices, focusing on key grains and cattle husbandry, leading to greater stability and growth. Skilled craftsmanship flourished, including woodworking and ironworking. Trade was notable, with exchanges of goods like jewelry and amber.

The Migration Era saw various Germanic invasions, transforming much of the Western Roman Empire. Key events included the Tervingi crossing the Danube and the Visigoths invading Italy. The establishment of kingdoms such as those of the Franks under leaders like Clovis I marked a new political landscape in post-Roman Europe. The end of the Western Roman Empire is marked by Odoacer's deposition of Emperor Romulus Augustus in 476 AD, signaling a shift in power towards Germanic rulers. However, just months after the fall of Rome itself, these tribes now find themselves in radically different empires…

The Germani are roughly split into mixed-groups based on geography, with roughly equal populations. The Saxons, Angles, Frisians, and Jutes are in Hanover. The Alemanni/Suebi and Franks to the Rhine, Aslase-Lorraine, and Central Germany. The Thuringii, Marcomanni, and Lombards are in Bavaria and former Bohemia. The various different Goths, Vandals, and Burgundians are sent to Brandenburg-Prussia. There also a variety of smaller Germanic groups, both notable and unknown, scattered across these lands.
Every individual brought along knows another based on proximity and likelihood, with families being placed as close together as possible.

Other Notes (For future turns):
Viking Expansion
Introduction to Norse Mythology
Thralls in Scandinavia
Depictions of Norse

Saga of the Northmen

Europe experiences one of its greatest upheavals in the status-quo yet. Instead of the eclectic variety of modern nationstates many expected, the ghost of an old forgotten past reared its head at the world, ready to make a name for itself once again. Vikingrs.

Various Germanic tribes from all parts of Europe, from the lands of modern Germans to those who lived if even briefly in surrounding lands all found themselves in the future, a future completely alien to them but proves to be a unique wonder to others. Many scholars and historians are amazed at this opportunity, learning about the details of people with little written records and stories lost to time or changed so much they are practically unrecognizable to either a modern German or the Germanic peoples themselves. Especially getting to know some famous historical figures, such as Clovis I (Who by this time was eleven years old and went by the name Hlōdowig).

In order to deal with the sudden issue of a new minority group they aren't exactly keen on having, the German government encourages Germani settlement into the Low Countries, especially among Western Tribes. Back home, the Council institutes a plan to build many hundreds of "townships", as entire new settlements being planned and built up along the Ratepublik's rivers, roads and countryside, especially around land that while not seen as valuable to the relatively prosperous Germans, seem like treasure for the Germani. Consisting of encampments or small towns for individual Germanic tribes, these townships are relatively autonomous so the Germani can gradually integrate with both each other and wider society without being forcibly assimilated. Alarmed by the potential for widespread illness reminiscent of the devastation seen in Columbia, the United Nations and Räterepublik initiate an ambitious Mass Vaccination campaign, the first of its kind here. A common site of lines of tribespeople and modern citizens alike getting everything from flu shots to antibiotics from tents of International workers, nurses, and doctors.

The Germani do cause one interesting side-effect, the reintroduction of Paganism. Many Protestant Churches lost their influence after the fall of the Imperial regime, leaving room for other ways of spiritual thought to fill the void. This in effect, causes mass syncretism of thought, as Protestant structure and morals begin to mix with beliefs of the Old Gods. This goes to the point that some churches are ouright converted to temples to various Germanic deities, the most notable of which is in Hamburg.

General cultural exchange happens as well, as while the Germani economically assimilate, many Germans adopt some of their cultural lifestyle. This is especially pronounced in the younger generation who, even before the Shift, were literally growing up in a different world to their parents who saw the fall of the Kaiserreich. This blend of old and new, modern and ancient, shows the seeds of a vibrant German culture in later years.

The Danish were finishing campaigning in Käkisalmi when the great light came, as various commanders, such as Jarl Sigurd Ring and Jarl Alfr, dealt with confusing reports that the settlements they just left had vanished and been replaced with wilderness. Even more strangely, the entirety of the Svíþjóð provinces have become a collapsing kingdom calling itself "Göterike", apparently from some 70 winters in the future. Reports of even stranger neighbors appearing in the lands to the south and west also began appearing from various border and coastal settlements.

Those who would've been known as the Swedes found themselves around the start of their civil war when the transplant happened, with Njord Kveldulf and Fylkir Sveinn Sútulfr yearning for control, while Prince Mæstroghen Ulfing returned from exile as a third faction. While the first months of winter and spring saw little change in the initial skirmishes, the melting of the ice in spring gave the Göterike factions a true sense of what was happening, as Danmǫrk begins to start skirmishes on the border, which escalated into a full blown Danish invasion of the Northern Provinces, lead by Sigurd Ring, a man from Svíþjóð himself, upset at the "disloyalty". With the situation in Göterike already divided, there's not much they can do besides halt the Danes at the border.

Some members in the Socialist world have decided drastic action is needed, not just due to the gradual (or half-hearted) attempts at phasing out thrall slavery, but also expansionist sentiments, particularly in France. These radical men and women also feel this is simply the first step in a campaign of liberation, especially against Oceania and even Cymru.

"Aux armes, citoyens! Formons vos bataillons!" Some say, and soon a rogue army of NCI soldiers, mostly from France and Germany, are inspired by Victor Ward's campaigns in America, deciding that the "Feudalist" Vikings have no place in this renewed world. They form the Scandinavian Europe Revolutionary Front, or "SERF" (Yes this was intentional), intent on liberating Thralls and inciting a slave revolt. Atleast, that's its stated goal. The militia turned small army gained support from the Windunkist Party in Germany and its leader, Ernst Graf zu Reventlow, bringing a mix of his loyal soldiers and Germani he managed to sway to his ideology. Despite this support, the Windunkist remain distrusted at best due to their more esoteric beliefs, with other radical Socialists making up the bulk of it.

This audacious filibuster starts around late August, with around 2,000 troops, which soon head for cities such as Oslo and Copenhagen, only to find empty countryside or small villages, as both cities did not exist during the Viking Era. Regardless, they invade the Sjaelland coast, and find initial success against unprepared Danes and Swedes. But while some Thralls and sympathetic nobles join their cause, communication barriers hinder effective training and strategy. The SERF's inability to properly articulate the principles of communism to the Norse, compounded by their own dwindling supplies, leads to a grim reliance on raiding for sustenance. Their well-intentioned, yet ill-fated campaign spirals into chaos. Disunity festers within the ranks, as factions of Hardcore socialists, Christian socialists, Winduskists, and individuals longing for home clash. A medieval strain of flu exacerbates their plight, claiming lives and sapping morale.

By Christmas, the end result is far from the liberation they envisioned. Instead of freeing Thralls, the SERF's presence exacerbates the ongoing civil strife in Göterike-Sverige, further complicating an already tumultuous landscape as modern supplies left over trickle down to the Three Kings. However, this has left room open for Mæstroghen's forces to prove themselves. The heir of Ulfing sees where this war could go and manages to gain the allyship of Cymru against the other warlords in Summer. This small but necessary support only further his one-sided war against the two factions, with the bloody Battle of Kinna sealing this fate. Sútulfr was fully defeated and fled up north to the Danish. Mæstroghen's general compassion and good track record also make him the favored choice among the world for who shall be the victor of the War of the Wolves. Mæstroghen also halts the Danish advance through negotiations with Þorolfr, and manages to make a shaky peace deal, with Sútulfr reluctantly giving up his claim to the Geatish throne in exchange for partial rulership over the occupied frontier, though he will have to share with any of Danmǫrk's Svíþjóð jarls who lost their land in the shift.

The usurper Njord, however, makes a comeback thanks to modern weaponry (And convincing some trapped SERF personal he was a proto-socialist hero fighting against tyrannical monarchism… despite declaring himself a king), and has even invaded the region of Viken in Danmǫrk. However, his Chirsitan sympathies and general attitude has left him with a new, much more violent enemy. Reventlow and his personal troops survived relatively intact compared to the Franco-German units of the army, and they travel to unstable Noregr, their leader dreaming to implement a reformed version of his Volksrepublik Germania plan. There, he meets his greatest asset, Prince Mangi - Half-Brother and Rival to the Danish King, Þorolfr. The Prince wallowed due to his apamutation by his sibling, and his mother being tried for treason, being in a perfect position to be drawn in Reventlow's cult of personality. And with this new ally, Noregr's coast is now under new management.

Volksreich Midgard, or simply the Volksreich, is officially a "Theocollectivist" state with Mangi as the "People's King" and Reventlow as "High Chancellor". In truth, Magni is moreso a puppet ruler and personal bodyguard to Reventlow. The official religion is Irminism, created by the High Chancellor himself, a violent combination of various branches of Germanic Paganism with Widukindist National-Vanguardism and Ariosophic tenets. Several beliefs include equating the Jötnar with Jews, based on concepts like "Frost Giants" and Trolls mixed with Anti-Semitic stereotypes (Different from old Norse beliefs on what the Jötnar were like, silently ignoring that many gods are at least part Jötunn), central worship of Odin, Marx and Engels being prophets of the Æsir, Loki being portrayed more negatively & feminine, among other things. In practice, Irmnism and Widunkdism aren't separate, nor are they meant to be, rather they are the "religious" and "secular" arms of the state.
The Volksreich is less of a functioning country and more of a collection of raider fiefdoms who's assortment of Modern and Ancient soldiers is increasingly blurred (And they absolutely love being sea-faring vikings). They have been funneling their resources into things such as drug production and chemical warfare as modern equipment begins to break down or lose fuel without support. The state is officially at war with Njord's state, who Revntlow claims under the spell of "Philosemitism", and Danmǫrk has halted its campaign against the Swedes in favor of crushing what they see as a rebellious province. That's also not including the various locals who are under the Volksreich's boot, who soon begin to start a Peasant Rebellion, rallying under the Noregr warrior Hrafn Ytra and his banner of Mjölnir. While Hrafn had complicated feelings of the Danes, he had no good will towards the High Chancellor's petty kingdom and would happily see it destroyed. This rebellion is more of a Yellow Turban style revolt than a "traditional" socialist uprising SERF was hoping for. Mangi is riding around with troops in the only functional tank left while Reventlow secludes himself in his "office", further descending into his own warped reality of permanently uniting all the Germanic peoples (At Least in Europe, Americans don't count).

Meanwhile, in the Low Countries, the Hyena Wars continue to go on without much success. While the various "Cave" predators have been pushed back from the border, they continue to be a nuisance for megafauna-herbivores and frontier towns alike, targeting livestock and the occasional lone human. The introduction of the Norse & Germani have caused a huge shift in the fate of the Low Countries, or as they call it… Frysii. From Göterike-Swedish Refugees, Homesick Frisians, Danes, Saxons, Franks, and Jutes all come to the coast of the former Netherlands and rapidly begin to mix together. Villages of these blended Germanics, or "Frysiians" as they are starting to be called, connect together and outright reject the rule of Kings, creating a series of Jarldoms that result in a very loose Semi-Republican/Pseudo-Anarchist confederation. The end effect is that the land of Frysii is becoming a collection of overlapping micro-polities, with a spider's web of social connections between different groups. There's even a new unique Frysiian dialect/pidgin language developing amongst them, though the actual time to develop a full language of its own devoid of artificiality is longer than first believed by many.

The Frysiians also take advantage of the creatures of the Virgin Earth like no other. While Cmyru and the Norse dabbled in Mammoth usage, the Frysiians excel at it. Evolving similarly to both India and Nomadic Horse Tribes, the Woolly Mammoth becomes a big, almost sacred part, part of daily life for Frysiian tribes and villages as various men and women deeply bond with the massive animals. No warrior is complete without his steed, after all. Of course, there are issues due to the fact that ultimately taming such massive creatures, especially ones with incredibly high intelligence, takes a long time, time far greater than a year or ten at the very minimum - there is a reason Elephants aren't considered domesticated or barely tamed even with the several-thousand year long history humans of various civilizations have had with them in comparison to other animals. The Frysii/Low-Countries continue to evolve because of this, becoming even more of a "European Wild-West" or the "Lawless Lowlands" as it is more commonly known. It's not uncommon to see Mammoth-Riding Norse battle against a rugged crew of Franco-German settlers, without any actual push from their respective governments. Exaggerated reports on both sides of the violence committed have spread around (Such as a rumor the Frysiians introduced a form of Elephant Execution) although that's not to say it's constant warfare.

Whilst many Franco-German colonists are hostile to the Frysiian-Norse presence in the low countries and vise-versa, the Frysiian-Germani tribes are in an interesting position to be on speaking terms with both parties, resulting in trade and even friendly interactions amongst some of the many towns and villages that now dot Frysii/the Low-Countries. Especially in mutual-aid against the Pleistocene Predators in the Hyena wars. The remnants of Dutch and Belgian expats and tourists, meanwhile, have to come back to a radically different homeland, but not letting them get them down, these displaced men and women start the township of the "Little Netherlands" just near where the Flemish wilds (Under the rule of France of Germany, ofcourse). While many side with and assimilate into either the French or German cultures, a few take their chances with the Frysiians. Whatever happens to this land in the future is anyone's guess…

By year's end, Norse traders, both Dane and Swede alike, have spread across all of Europe like wildfire, intertwining their seafaring prowess with that of Celtic merchants. Some even dare to go as far as Washington and Rainshadow. Various innovations considered mundane by most have become high-valued trinkets among the Norse. Hardy crops such as Corn, Squash, and Potatoes soon become favorites among farmers, and the fact that there are so many new varieties of Alcohol does help as well. Mechanical inventions take a bit longer, but the Norse have their favorites. The Printing Press (being able to record records, poetry, and myths without relying on word of mouth or scribes onto paper was a gods-send), Outboard Motor Engine (due to the seafaring Scandinavians being strong both before and after the shift), and ofcourse Gunpowder.

However, not all Norsemen are inclined towards trade and diplomacy. Groups have emerged seeking to rekindle the fierce Viking spirit. This new generation of warriors, comprising lesser nobles, soldiers, merchants, and adventurers, sets sail once more, determined to carve their names into history. Their ships, borne of both ancient designs and modern innovations, take to the seas, becoming Vikingrs once again…

This variety of Nordic traders begin to take advantage of the simultaneously wild but modernized world now before them, and set up shop in the empty lands of Northwestern Europe. Iceland in particular becomes a hub of this, a midway-point between the familiar embrace of the old continent and the lands of the great west. Cymru, Göterike, and Danmǫrk agree to a joint-colony in Iceland in order to help foster friendly-relations, expanded the small Celtic-Norsk settlement into a cold, but expanding, mixed-settlement of the three Pagan states of Europe. In practice, it's independent in all but name. Norse and Celtic culture begins to blend, and while small, it's to the point the locals decide on a new name for Iceland based on tales of the south: Thule.

Saga of Regnskuggi & Miðjarðarhaf

The slow but steady expansion of the Forktails has only continued to go forward, with the island of Malta becoming host to the first permanent Forktail settlement outside of Africa. These Malta Forktails begin to take on more Franco-Palestinian influence. A small bunch of Windspeakers have been migrating out of the Rainshadow Coast and into the welcoming arms of the human European powers. France, Palestine, and Germany soon are host to small Fokrtials minority populations acting in various capacities. Cymru and the Swedes in particular have taken advantage of this. While only a dozen or so individual people are present in the Pagan lands of the North, the Windspeakers soon prove invaluable, especially for spying military positions of their enemies. Cymru can get right under Big Brother's nose while the Swedes can assess both themselves and the belligerent Danes with the "Children of Huginn and Munnin". This has also caused aspects of Pluvianist philosophy to slowly spread among man, and vise-versa.

Back in the "homeland" and outward, things have continued to go smoothly but uncertainty. They aren't inherently more peaceful than humanity despite the calm environment, and some superfamily/clan leaders are distrustful of humanity, especially going more south. And while there is no need just yet, many intelligent birds worry that the division within the various clans and the huge technological disadvantage they have with Man will lead to disaster in the future. But while said future is uncertain, it seems bright.

Clan centralization has only continued as the Forktails jump to the Chalcolithic, while small treehouse-like towns are emerging on coastal regions to trade with both Human Visitors and the Mantis. In particular, wrapping coins around the neck becomes a status symbol among various clans. The structure of clan/superfamilies is somewhat similar to a blend of a Federal-Council and Pseudo-Daimyo systems, made up of nuclear/extended families with each member having collective power.

The Mantis meanwhile, have been much more paranoid than the Forktails. Scientists and scholars are one thing, but missionaries? They can become a problem, and the bugs have seen enough of false prophets. The Sister Lords convene and continue to discuss how they must approach the eccentric Soft Ones, especially with their supply of Lifeblood. Mantis are familiar with it, and a select few Forktails have used it in hunts with the bugs, but no Humans have used it, let alone know much of it. Trading Lifeblood could prove beneficial in the short-term, but detrimental in the long run

However, one curious band of Soft Ones came to the tribe. They have none of the Pseudo-Hallownest machinery, and curiously seem to be familiar with the Mantis in someway, calling them Dvergr/Dökkálfar, and the tribe's underground home "Myrkheimr". They wish to make a series of trades, luckily more reasonable than expected, mostly fur-pelts and metal weaponry. However, their only warrior, the young Dane known as Ragnar Lothbrok, decides to prove the Norse's worth by challenging one of the Sister Lords to a duel. Surprisingly, Ragnar wins fair and square, which impresses the Mantis and the two parties separate. The legend of this duel spreads quickly, exaggerated and mystified perhaps, especially as the day of the duel was a rainy storm (Seen as a sign from Thor). This could potentially lead to some Mantis starting to consider a more outward perspective and cultural-syncretisms with the Vikings.

Saga of the Vinlanders

The Huntington Administration continues to fumble its occupation of Columbia, which has caused much political turmoil within the US itself, turning both the Conservatives and the Labor Party - members of which have been increasingly referred to as Hammers or Hammies, both as a status of pride and derogatorily, have argued against both the Huntington Administration and the Liberal Party while detailing why they would be far better. While the Tories give very little information on just exactly how they'd go about the occupation or even how they'd better run the nation outside dubious Nativist policies, the Hammers give a detailed list of options alongside publishing those options to various papers across the nation. Some elements of their plan include an overhaul of the already-existing rail infrastructure to modern levels to upgrade American logistics, begin tentative work on a version of the Interstate System, building several more power plants of varying types, general mass industrialization to give America an edge over other nations - a simple continuation of the past industrialization efforts but extended, introduction of further workers' rights reforms introduced in Appalachia and planned out by the Labor Party as a whole, introduction of further general reforms such as anti-discriminatory laws, expanding suffrage, and introducing various pieces of legislation from the various timelines deemed by the Labor Party as 'beneficial' to the United States as it stands.

This has caused a general uptick in Labor Party support among those who simply wish for actual plans and not for Politicians just say they'll do something, which led into Labor winning several seats in Congress from the Liberals/Whigs and Conservatives in the Midterms. Plans are made for both the Presidential election next year and the Census to take place, hoping to remap who gets what representation within Congress instead of the ad-hoc 'you keep what you had' system in place at the moment. The overall plan is that there will be 100 Congressional seats to divy up to each state - a number so-chosen due to the belief that it'd be a far more fair number even with the small count of states - with the results to be put into effect in 12 AT.

What the Liberals have been good at are mostly outside pacifying Columbia. Widespread plans for an Electrical Grid, while primitive, have gone underway without a hitch. Most Americans now live at a roughly 1880s-1890s level, with a scattering of advancements here and there - particularly in the Capital and in Appalachia, wherein the Capital lives with a modern near-1970s level of technology while Appalachia lives around the 1900s. They've also been good at integrating the desperate parts of the USA back into each other. Panama begins to consider itself part of the new Americo-Hispanic Caribbean, with its "cousin" states of Borinquen and Antillia, and work has begun colonizing its direct north thanks to immigration from both states and a small handful of Americans and Japanese from Korea. While initially small, the wave of colonists starts growing as Japanese increasingly (and rightly) fear the Korean government's project in Tsushima and view settling in the relatively unsettled Panama Territories, with a few going to Mainland regions, to be a better deal. Of course, many choose not to go to said territories, but the flow of colonists has raised the territories' population and the land it holds quite handily.

In local politics, the famous Congresswoman Isabella Stephens (Mountain Labor (ML)-AP) has been elected Senator of Appalachia in a surprising landslide. The first woman to join the Senate in at least this world, she practically dominates the chamber alongside her fellow Labor Senators when debating policies. Another interesting development is the growing relationship between the Celtic Empire and the United States, starting with the joint territory of New Cēsarēa (also Nīwcēsarēa). Named after what Charles II called New Jersey, the territory contains the aforementioned state, Long Island, and both of the mainland Celtic Colonies (Penrhyn Llewellyn and Manhata, the later being the capital as it's right where NYC was). The goal is that it will eventually become a US state once the territory is fully colonized and Cymru's lease expires, although they will retain partial ownership of the twin cities and full ownership over the island of Ynys Bwdica. The Celts are more then happy with this arrangement, as they still get rights, and their energy of colonization can be focused towards more exciting ventures rather than a few measly ports who's original purpose is no longer needed - that are already in America's sphere, plus the goodwill of creating a joint-venture with an ally.

Solarism has become more popular in Ohio than expected. The religion was heavily affected by the ISOT on a spiritual level, as not only did the Desheret Territory disappear, but along with it the religion's founder, Richard Delaney. However, the group went under a 2 year reform with a new leader, one Alexander Richard Spencer, and with the Church of Cathay also on the backfoot, Solarism has the opportunity to flourish, especially among those who's homes and lives were disrupted by the transplant. Unexpectedly, instead of furthering its descent into becoming a cult, the new leader took great pains to turn Solarism into a more legitimate religion. For example, there's more syncretism at work, and luckily more clear. Jesus and Serapis are equated - though both names are still used unlike Ra/God (And ofcourse with the moniker of Christ), Archangel Michael and Horus, Anubis takes a prominent role similar to Azrael, and "Aten" is interpreted as the proper term for the Sun itself to keep the monotheism intact. The Afterlife of the Duat is meant to symbolize two paths (Due to a misread of Duat and "Dual"), with one either going to heaven or "absence", as Solarists do not believe in the hell that emerged from Dante's Inferno, only the emptiness described in the bible. Those are only a few examples. Exodus is silently omitted, but Moses, a hot button issue in the religion in Delaney's time is addressed, stated to be Ra's messenger to his original people in the Egyptians, wishing for both them and the Jews to live in harmony (An extra element of tragedy is added, as the Egyptians not only rejected and sent the Jews to the wrong promised land, they failed to listen to their own god). It's always the second in command you need to watch out for… However, even with the sect's reform the religion still finds very little popularity among the general population even with the slight rise in religiosity as a result of the Transplantation, mostly being found in certain towns or settlements that at least accept the strange Egyptophilic weirdos.

Going to Columbia, the situation is still quite tense. While there are still some minor warlords kicking around, a liberal usage of trained Zonians, WW2 Veterans, and aircraft has allowed the US Army the ability to put the fear of god into any prospective warlord, which causes them to mostly have minor squabbles/petty-infighting among themselves rather than the occupying forces. Things in Alabama have not been as smooth as the king would like, and a conflict of a different sort is emerging: The Religious kind. The Evangelical Church has had many problems with the "Second Reformation" introduced by the Americanist Heathens, and viewed the Kingdom as a safe haven to regroup and rebound. However, the large Revelanist population has been fighting with the centralized Evangelicals, and other Christian groups for that matter. King Huey grows to see this problem with increasing concern, worried the lands of Alabama will be at war.

Saga of Farthest Asia

East Asia has been a simmering quiet force this year. ACEP is unofficially split in half, with China and Singapore on the leftist sphere, while Korea and Indonesia have gotten closer and try to maintain neutrality. Korea itself has turned Ulleungdo island into a Naval Base, and officially claimed the Liaodong Peninsula and the border regions of Manchuria, beginning to make active colonization plans of the region.

China is a bit upset by the action, but reluctantly accepts. There's not much they can do, considering maintaining cool-relations through ACEP, and their own internal division. In particular, Wang Jingwei's rule as the overall leader of the KMT and the Republic of China is shaken by the revelation of his alternate self's role as a collaborator to the Japanese invasion of China in the Koreans' home timeline. While he still leads the Reorganized Comrades Association, the standing of the Provisional Action Committee under Song Qingling grew stronger, especially the Chinese Syndicalist Party calling for further cooperation with the Internationale.

The "Chōsen-Japanese", meanwhile, are beginning to be slowly kicked off to Tsushima as the government begins to shut-down the camps and replace them with a variety of needed infantry. While officially in control of its local affairs, the "Tsushima Autonomous Territory" is basically an extended Internment Camp, overcrowded and weary, with a rather mean Korean military-police force. Some Japanese have made the most of this, and try to regain and continue happy lives, while others fall in desperate anger at their Korean "occupiers" (Not realizing the irony, of course).

Other Sagas

Mæstroghen's "restored" Kingdom of Göterike soon joins the UN, with the King himself making appearances and gaining a serious amount of humanitarian aid for his war torn state. He becomes a staunch ally of Cymru and takes a lot of inspiration from them for rebuilding, especially in the Welfare state and religion. Heithinnry is classified by the UN as the official term for any branch of Germanic/Norse Paganism, with two "sects" (Though in practice they tend to overlap in areas despite their differences). The first is Ásatrú, the more familiar Norse Mythology practiced in Danmǫrk, Göterike-Sverige, the Northern Islands of Cymru, and Thule. Danish and Swedish goðar have begun the process of centralizing the religion based on Christianity, Islam, and Druidism. Though it's still fairly loose and locally focused, with some more simplification (Týr is Vili & Hœnir, Loki is Vé & Lóðurr, Iðunn is Nanna, Heimdall is Ullr). The second is currently unnamed (But will be sooner or later), based out of the German Räterepublik. It's simultaneously more and less centralized than Ásatrú, as while it has regional variation across different tribes, it also borrows much from the structure of Protestant churches (Namely Lutheranism, Calvinism and Continental-Reform), and is heavily folkloric to appease Secular and Christian groups. There are also some other differences, for example they believe Freyja and Frigg are the same goddess, unlike the Norse who view them as different deities. The best comparison for this flavor of Heithinnry is Shintoism.

Danmǫrk remains out of the UN, though they are considering the offer to join, and Jarl Alfr has been making favorable negotiations. Although appreciated, there is still conflict within Scandinavia. The War of Wolves has transformed into a different conflict entirely, and some think it's only the prelude to a greater war in Europe. The failure of SERF sends ripple effects across the Communist world. China and Singapore are outraged at what they see as a rather imperialist display, and the existence of the Volksreich tarnishing socialism alongside Oceania. Germany's relatively dovish foreign policies means they officially apologize and harshly condemn German troops, and especially with the Winduskist exodus and participation in SERF led to the Räterepublik banning said party in the homeland. France, meanwhile, is much quieter on the matter. While they condemn the action and punish notable participants of French SERF members, they make no other statements. This only further complicates the matter of the Singaporan warhead, but after a multitude of debates and discussion, France and Germany surprisingly decide to dismantle the Singaporean Nuke.

Instead, they devote its contents and radioactive materials to building a collectively-owned power plant in former western Luxembourg - Whether this action was committed out of good will or to save face is another question. Singapore itself follows with this due to public pressure as they claim the tip of Malaysia. Never Again, people say across the world. The United Nations makes a landmark statement because of this, any Nuclear Research will be geared towards power and safe-energy, and any country who decides to join the UN in the future must dismantle their Nuclear Arsenal. Of course, any potential transplants in the future may not agree, and there are sentiments to make a stockpile of "International-Nuclear-Arms" or "INA". The specter of Mutually-Assured-Destruction isn't totally averted, especially with it being unknown if Oceania has missiles of its own, but for now, its cloud has given way to a morning sun.

As the first decade of this world approaches, the specter of more change, good or bad, continues to grow ever stronger…

Start of Year

End of Year

Author's Notes - Whew! This took a while to write but I'm super proud of this! Wanted to give a lot more flashpoints for new turns while also trying to avoid overly modern nations. Hopefully y'all enjoy reading!
For future players to know where the story will go, the Volksreich is meant to reference TNO's Holy Russian Empire and Age of Rust's Rhodes, with a little Mad Max energy. It not showing up on the map key is intentional, as it's not a legitimate state.

 

[Klaesick]

I'd also like to reclaim!

 

[Nevis]

I really like this update and I think you did a good job at integrating these people in an area that I didn't think you could get away with bringing in a 'blue' country.

"Aux armes citoyens, formons vos bataillons!" some say

Click to shrink...

is funny. "God save the King", Brits are known to say.

 

[Nevis]

The following pamphlet was distributed from libraries across France after a heated debate in the editorial sections of several newspapers, most notably the Occitan Times. The comment about Parisians was censored in the version of the pamphlet distributed in Paris.

Our Avian Neighbours - Everything You Need to Know About Forktail People​

For as long as mankind has walked the Earth, many have wondered about the seeming lack of fellow creatures, and this has led to a great deal of speculations and theories as to what type of soul would share the gift of intelligence, and how that gift manifests. But the extraordinary circumstances that brought all manner of people here has given a definitive answer to that question. Yes. Two known species outside of humanity stand side-by-side. The most famous of which, and the focus of this leaflet is the small but mighty Loquax Philosophus. The Forktail.

Their symbolic flight into popular culture has been nothing short of trend setting. All across the nation many tales have been told of the Forktail people and their continuing surprises. Regrettably, many of them are false, or otherwise misinformed, as idle gossip is likely to be. The following guide is intended to clear up several common misconceptions in an easy-to-understand manner about our new avian neighbours.

Forktails are really people!

Malicious and persistent rumours continue to insist that the Forktails have intelligence on par with crows, chimpanzees, elephantids, dolphins, dogs, snakes, or even bees. Whilst it is true that many of these animals have their own kinds of intelligence, the key difference between them and Forktails is that Forktails have an academic mindset. They have the honor of being the first species outside of Hominids to be recognized as having sapience.. Let us not forget that mankind itself is just one of the many orders of primates. Not every creature is a Person, but all People are creatures.

As proof of their distinction from the above animals, Forktail super-families have made unprompted attempts to educate French and Palestinian scientists on their language, which our finest ethnologists have been able to learn and "speak", using flutes to replicate their lighting-quick vocalisations. They are also able to mimic a variety of calls from other bird species (Including the rich diversity in related Canary offshoots that came with them in the Shift). Unfortunately, due to the nature of the Forktails throats, they are only able to mimic certain phrases of human language and are currently unable to speak French, but they are able to write in it using specialised pencils.

Whilst Forktails are not yet an industrious species they have a rapidly developing arts scene. They are making significant advances in the fields of painting, poetry, and cartography. In fact, their unique aerial perspective gives them an advantage over humans, as our aerial photography can not yet match the combination of their aerial views and excellent memories.


Forktails are not so different than us!

It is, bluntly, true, that the Forktails are completely alien to us in many ways. However, when dealing with the Forktails you have to show them that Frenchmen treat Forktails like we treat any of our allies, and that we respect them as sapient beings on an equality with ourselves. Yes there are differences, but there are similarities too. If you forget the differences and think of them as neighbours, as people who eat, sleep, work, and raise families as we do, you'll be over the first hurdle.

Furthermore, you must discourage anyone who acts as though the Forktails are strange. They are not strange. After all, there are just as many, if not more people in the world hunting and raising their families like a Forktail than there are people working and raising their families like a Palestinian. Their kind was also unfamiliar with humanity, with their home reality being one dominated by a wide variety of extraordinary avifauna that we've only just scratched the surface of. In that sense, we are also incredibly unusual. They live their own way and we must live ours. If you respect them, they will respect you.

Already the Forktails are adapting a more proletarian culture. They have learned how to reliably produce fire using tools and are consequently undergoing a revolution in clay-working and pottery. No longer facing the prospect of starvation or thirst they have cast off the feudal chains of their 'hierarchical breeding' structures and formed new social relations based on the equality of all Forktails. Like us, the Forktails are also humorous people. The Forktails love a joke just as well as we do, and they laugh at the same kind of thing. Their stock jokes are the same as ours – about former social elites, and overzealous adventurists, and Parisians. Their version of Parisians are people from what we know as the Canary Islands.



Forktails are not reactionary organisms that were sent to spy on us by the English!

The Forktail people live in Western Africa, not in Europe. Their human contact is entirely with Franco-Palestinian researchers, and they have no reason to lie to us about meeting or controlling any other foreign Human nation, especially in the case of the English State. The English refuse to speak to anyone, let alone people of another species.

There have been no verified sightings of mass numbers of Forktails in France, and every single shot bird submitted to laboratories has been confirmed as a local, non-intelligent species. There has been nothing to suggest that these specimens are unusual members of their species and France's top experts have confirmed that these species are still mere animals. There is no reason to fear them. There is nothing to be gained by shooting them.

Yes you can still eat chicken

Forktails, despite being called "babbling jays", are completely unrelated to any species of bird we knew before their arrival. This gives them a significant distance from other birds. To them, our eating common farm and game bird species, such as chicken and duck, is alike to some people eating monkeys in our former world. To them it is not even that unusual, as in their world birds were the only form of complex life on the planet. Do not chastise your friends and neighbours for eating

To reiterate, Forktail people are completely unrelated to common birds, they cannot interbreed with normal songbirds any more than we can interbreed with chimpanzees, and so there is no risk of their intelligence spreading. Furthermore there are no Forktails in France for them to interbreed with common farm animals. Stories about farms being quarantined are all the result of common disease outbreaks rather than the government hiding the spread of intelligent chickens.

Further Information

If you have further queries about the Forktail people, please direct your inquiries to the Office of Interspecies Relations. For queries about the Mantis people, please contact the Office of Interspecies Relations. To contact the Office of Interspecies Relations:
telephone or fax no: 555

Address: Office of Interspecies Relations, Rte de Bordeaux, 55555 Marsac-sur-l'Isle, France.

A/N With thanks to Klaesick for the review/suggestions, and to the guy who wrote this pamphlet (as I stole quite a lot from it.)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/A_Pocket_Guide_to_China_(1943).pdf

 

[TheTiredScot]

A lovely update.

 

[SadMuseGirl]

The Frisian Dossier​

Excerpts from the NCI "Frisian Dossier", up to date as of year 9 of Eden. It's a booklet put together by French/German intelligence and other sources before being donated to the NCI as a way to bring new members up to date with the 'relevant' organisations in Frisia [1] and several key events in shaping it.

All Frisia Services: the complex web of micropolities that make up Frisia are, with exceptions, united by 2 organisations. These are the All Frisia Health Service (AFHS), and the All Frisia Post and Messanger Service (AFPMS). The AFHS is the older one, having emerged as a knock on effect of the mass vaccination campaigns for the transported Germani tribes that arrived in Germany. Health, fundamentally, is a public issue: every person carrying a disease is a potential problem for everyone else, meaning that the patient's problem is everyone's problem. With both unvaccinated Norse and Germani, who though vaccinated would go on to have children without access to vaccinations, settling in Frisia alongside NCI populations; the NCI and UN organisations active in the region didn't see much choice but to keep the campaign rolling and the All Frisia Health Service was born from the consolidation of their efforts and resources in the region.

Quite stretched for resources and struggling with the lack of infrastructure in Frisia, outside of their vaccine campaigns the AFHS would focus heavily on the education of the Frisian populations to allow them to help themselves where the AFHS might not have the resources or reach to do so. This "educational solution to the healthcare question" covered both preventative methods of health care and also teaching the Frisians how manufacture a number of medicines themselves with their limited resource (most famously penicillin and some antibiotics).

Whilst praised and beloved across the peoples of Frisia it needs to be emphasised that the AFHS did have some unintended consequences. The educational method itself, combined with the organisation initially being overwhelmingly made up of French and Germans, resulted in the Norse putting a high value on French and Germans as educators and carers, providing the motivation for a series of kidnapping cases that helped fuel Les Querelles and culminated with the Marie Lavelle Incident.

These kidnapping cases and subsequent low intensity conflicts between Franco-German settlers and the Norse were not the primary motivating force behind the creation of the All Frisia Post and Messenger Service, which had it's foundations laid before any of these cases gained prominence, but this environment and the need for a peaceful messenger network nevertheless fed into its creation, character and initial development to a degree that cannot be overstated. Fundamentally, the difference in understandings of the world, of justice and governance and warfare between the Norse and the Franco-Germans was so great that ways to allow for de-escalation to even occur soon became deeply necessary even as questions were raised as to whether de-escalation between such different fundamental understandings of reality were even possible.

Recruiting heavily from the Germani tribes in Frisia for their relatively neutral stance on the conflicts between the Franco-Germans and the Norse, the AFPMS is often considered one of the most important organisations in Frisia both for keeping the peace and, increasingly, for allowing for larger scale infrastructure initiatives to even be possible in the so called "lawless lowlands". Both the Norse and the Germani understood the taboo of killing a messenger, and the idea of a genuinely neutral service to act as one was something all could see the appeal of (an appreciation further entrenched when it was realised that a postage service meant the infrastructure to deliver important or valuable packages).

The practical upshot of this is that the members of the All Frisia Services enjoy protection and hospitality across all of Frisia, their uniforms and sigil afforded respect wherever they travel; even in places that haven't specifically taken the path of not doing harm the members they often find themselves with Norse or Germani guards volunteering to protect them given. As one anonymous Norse man said:

"I have seen so many lost to pestilence or to a war that none wanted but none could stop before arriving in Frysii. The weight of the gift the Services have given us measured in the bodies of so many we would have lost had their medicines and messages and kindness not been there. The sword I offer in protection is paltry compared to what Services have gifted us all."​

Given the successes of the current All Frisia Services, there has been discussion to expand the services with either a range of hostels for travellers across Frisia or even road and railway networks, but this is judged to be unlikely. With resources dependent on either Norse immigration or NCI investment it's largely agreed that barring a change in the current situation future Services are more likely to be a result of separately built infrastructure being consolidated into a single service.

Anglish Conspiracy, The: Pre-dating colonisation of the Low Countries, the Anglish Conspiracy has its origins in the third recorded year in Eden. In it's own timeline, France was the centre of its own alliance, with both the diplomatic alliance the International and the military alliance INFOR having it's head quarters there, resulting in both official staff from the allied Union of Britain and a quite large British diaspora being marooned when France was transported to Eden. When the Celtic Empire came to Eden, contact was made between the substantial British remnants in France and the Anglish communities among the Celts (joined by the small but enthusiastic community of Bolshevik [2] exiles from the Franco-British Union that came with Palestine) and tentative but quite sincere plans were discussed for a joint colonisation of England under a single governing body.

Suffice to say, these plans hit a snag when Oceania was transported to Eden. However, by this point the networks between peoples and organisations had been made; and as such the remnants of the UoB in the International, INFOR and the ambassadorial staff in France consolidated into a true government in exile that existed at the centre of these networks. Due to the threat of Oceania making these networks hegemonic throughout Anglish communities among the Celts, as well as the increased cultural mixing between the two British populations, political commentators in the Celtic Empire started referring to them as "The Anglish Conspiracy" and the nickname stuck.

Anglish investment in Frisia was relatively small, most of their networks and resources were in Northern France or in the border areas of the Celtic Empire, but due to the sheer amount of support the Anglish Conspiracy received they were able to set up a collection of observation posts on the coast of Frisia. These were originally intended to listen in to Oceanian radio broadcasts, observe their ship movements and, in the event of cargo from an Oceanian ship washing up on shore, seizing the cargo for study.

When the Norse settlers arrived, they mostly took to the same coasts that the Anglish were using and, with the government in exile not wanting to lose their observation posts, the Anglish went out of their way to keep the peace with the Norse. This had the unintended effect of making the Anglish appear to be the reasonable members of the NCI to the Norse when compared to the clashes with the Franco-German (see Les Querelles), resulting in a number of Norse factions trying to use the Anglish as go betweens to contact other members of the NCI.

Whilst initially the Anglish reluctantly went along with it to keep the peace, increasingly they have taken a more active role. After going through the information gained from the defector Winston Smith on the Oceanian regime, there's been greater and greater demand for their equipment (to get a greater idea of their capabilities for the war increasingly perceived as inevitable) and their culture (to get a better idea of how best to deprogram a population as thoroughly propagandised as the Oceanians); and due to the Vikingr practice of piracy and raiding they are among the best sources of these two things. This has resulted in the Anglish Conspiracy having "unofficial" or "off the books" relations with a number of pirates active in the North Sea to varying degrees of controversy.

Board(s) for Democratic Management: as two of the larger organising bodies in the so called "lawless lowlands", the Boards for Democratic Management were founded as a result of initial French and German attempts of socialist internationalism. Whilst a joint ownership of contested land would have to wait until trust was truly built up, joint ownership of rivers that ran through both France and Germany was a relatively uncontroversial easy victory for internationalist feelings, with this applying initially to just the Rhine but after further negotiation this was applied to the Meuse with Germany moving it's Western border the small distance to eastern bank of the stretch of the river where the cities of Venio and Roermond would have been located.

This easy victory for internationism however would have long running consequences when it came to colonisation of Frisia. Even without the canals that connected them outside of Eden, with no infrastructure built or forests cleared the rivers of Frisia were the best way to traverse it and before houses could be built a boat was often a home to early settlers, meaning that space along the rivers was a recurring issue that required management. Further questions were raised about the usage of the rivers' resources: fishing and other natural resources were threatened by pollution from further up river, whilst building water wheels to provide power to the settler towns raised further questions about space usage. In the end, the rivers needed management that was accountable to those who used it, and as a result the Board for Democratic Management of the Rhine (BDMR) and Board for Democratic Management of the Meuse (BDMM) were formed.

At present day, the Boards include representatives from the joint Franco-German settlements along the rivers, a number of Germani communities, the little Netherlands settlement on the Meuse (see Low Countries Reconstruction Mandate) and one or two communities of the Church of Baldr as well as representatives from France and Germany proper. With the current lull in Les Querelles a number of Norse settlements on the Rhine and Meuse have applied to join the respective board: Germany is in favour of them joining and France against, with the other polities on the board being divided on the issue. The Church of Baldr is cautiously optimistic about the more standard Norse settlements joining as it hopes that it will encourage them to give up the institution of thralldom and the Germani settlements are in favour under the theory that letting the Norse join the boards is the next step in the peace process; whilst Little Netherlands is torn between frustration with the Norse for complicating their hoped resurrection of Benelux region culture and their understanding that the mammoth labour the Norse could provide would be a great boon for the proposed Meuse to Scheldt canal and the Franco-Germans settlements are divided between those in favour of bringing the Norse in out of pragmatism and those who don't yet trust them after the wounds inflicted by the conflict.

Of course, the elephant in the room is the other rivers of Frisia: the Scheldt and the Yser. None of these have a Board of their own, instead being claimed in their entirety by France and with the French settlements on their banks being governed as a single region of France proper. With the Yser, due to its small size, this worked out well and French rule and ability to project power there is uncontested. The Scheldt, however, has been something more of a problem.

Due to the Scheldt's size and lack of Germany's population to assist, France was unable to achieve full control of the Scheldt before an number of Norse polities had become entrenched downstream of the French, and without either Germani (who overwhelmingly settled where Germany proper had influence) or the Church of Baldr (who settled with the other Norse near the coast or along the more welcoming Rhine and Meuse river) there was no real neutral party on the Scheldt that could be used to broker a long term truce or agreement between the two parties. As a result, whilst a combination of the low populations involved and the comparatively small scale of the front has kept the conflict smaller and less intense than the rest of les querelles it's nevertheless been far more difficult to de-escalate. The continuing issues France has the Scheldt has resulted in them becoming one of the main backers for the proposals of the Low Countries Reconstruction Mandate for a "Little Belgium" settlement on Scheldt and for a Meuse to Scheldt canal, the former to provide a buffer zone between the French and Norse settlements [3] and the latter to allow for the easier transfer of German resources and population to the troubled region.

Church of Baldr: famously, the involvement of SERF in the Göterike civil war failed to produce a genuine socialist faction among the locals, but it did succeed in creating a religiously tinged slave and peasant revolt that was often compared by commentators to the Yellow Turban revolts in Han dynasty China. As the situation in Göterike stabilised however, participants in this revolt joined the more peaceful SERF Remnants in leaving Scandinavia for Frisia, where they founded utopian [4] religious communities centred around the Church of Baldr. Far more open to the NCI than other Norse communities, the Church of Baldr has been a boon to NCI academics looking to study the society in the process of being formed, and in particular the Norse relationship to Frisia's mammoth population.

With the fame of the "Frysii Mammoth riders" of the intermingling Norse-Germani population, NCI academics were interested in studying the relationship as a demonstration of the process of taming in action, but after studies with the Church of Baldr there was fierce debate as to whether the term "taming" was appropriate in a lot of circumstances. To clarify this requires a discussion of the Baldrites history with mammoths. When the Baldrites first arrived in Frisia, they were unprepared for the conditions of a cold Serengeti, and were set upon by the predators there. While various creatures never seen by the Norse like Homotherium and Cave Lions did cause problems, they had particular trouble with the Glottiār hyena [5] which were found to be frighteningly adaptable to human presence and opportunistic when it came to treating humans as prey. Frisia's mammoth population however, was mostly unfamiliar with humans and in particular unfamiliar with the Norse, meaning that the Baldrites weren't viewed as a threat by the mammoths whilst the predators were: resulting in the Baldrites in Frisia often following the mammoth herds for safety whilst finding a place to settle down, even joining in defending the mammoth herd from predators. When the Baldrites did settle down, the mammoths by this point had developed some attachment to them and an understanding that they would protect them. This resulted in them visiting the Baldrite settlements, often stopping there to give birth or with those too old or sick to follow the herd often staying with and being looked after by the Baldrites, and with dying mammoths staying there knowing that they'd spend their last days comfortable and protected.

A number of NCI academics have suggested that, whilst the mammoths are acclimatised to human presence and whilst there are examples of mammoths doing tasks for the Baldrites in exchange for food, that the mammoths the Baldrites have embraced are not really tame, and instead the relationship between the two should be considered something like symbiosis or an entirely new animal-human relationship that doesn't really have a comparison.

Notably, the Baldrites and their communities are arguably more shaped by the mammoths than the other way around. The concept of "mammoth time", coined when the Baldrites interacted with industrial society's understanding of time and summarised by the Baldrite saying "What cares a mammoth for a watch?", is an example of this that NCI theorists have been fascinated by. Simply put, whereas pre-capitalist societies rely upon natural phenomena to track time such as sun rise and sun set, capitalism has relied upon abstract understandings of time (most obviously the 24 hour day) to allow for it's day to day operations to continue free from such natural phenomena, notably with there being historical examples of worker's strikes and riots that specifically destroyed workplace clocks for this reason, and disciplines those who don't abide by this abstract time. "Mammoth time", however, refers to the fact that the mammoths are free of such discipline and would be difficult to discipline in any meaningful way: mammoths can do things for food, but only if they want to or are willing to, and with mammoths at the centre of the Baldrite community it was inevitable that this attitude would spread to them. Of course, given that abstract understandings of time are something inherited by France and Germany from their capitalist predecessors, "mammoth time" has divided those studying it, with some believing it'll stymie infrastructure build up in Frisia and others arguing that a society free of the time/labour discipline France and Germany failed to abolish should be celebrated.

Of course it would be remiss to talk of the Church of Baldr without discussing their beliefs. Baldr is most famous for being a God who died, and his place in Baldrite theology reflects this. Recalling the homeland they can't go back to, their time lost to slavery and those who didn't survive to reach life in Frisia, Baldr is the god of loss and mourning who waits for the Baldrites with all that they have lost on the other side of death; with many Baldrite communities seeing the mammoths that choose to spend their last days among them as embodying the spirit of Baldr and much of their art depicting Baldr as a mammoth.

Whilst Baldr is the final destination of Baldrite theology, Baldr's son Forseti, god of justice and mediation, arguably has more relevance in their day to day lives. Considered the same god as Forsite of the old Frisians and frequently conflated with Jesus/Yeshua in his role as a peacemaker with a number of tales reminiscent of and possibly influenced by Jesus saving a woman from stoning (ironic given the common assumption that Baldr is the Jesus figure of Norse paganism); if Baldr is the god of what the Baldrites have lost then Forseti is the god of all they have and the good will needed to keep it, the god of Frisia itself and their lives in it where Baldr is the god of the homes and lives they had to leave behind. As polytheists without a strict canon of which gods can or can't be worshipped the Baldrites will usually have a "commons of the gods" where small shrines can be set up, but a shrine to Forseti will be at the centre of these commons so as to mediate between the various gods present, keeping them all in balance.

Les Querelles: originally known as "La Petite Guerres" (translation: the little war), les querelles (translation: the quarrels) was the euphemism used among Franco-German settlers for a series of low intensity conflicts between various factions of settler in Frisia that came into common usage when the subject became more taboo in the aftermath of Germany's reaction to the Marie Lavelle Incident. Known to the Norse and Germani as "the many disagreements" or "the great disagreement", a number of activities from glorified pranks to paramilitary violence has been grouped under the umbrella of les querelles and the precise starting point of the conflict are hotly debated and deeply controversial, but consensus tends to place the conflict as crystallising around a series of kidnappings.

The kidnappings were prompted by the unintentional impact of the All Frisia Health Service (see All Frisia Services). Due to a combination of the educational approach the AFHS took to health care and it's largely Franco-German makeup at the time, the Norse settlers in Frisia came away with the impression of the Franco-Germans as a deeply educated people and at the time as a kindly and deeply peaceful people. The "deeply peaceful" impression would be turned on it's head by the end of the year, and would be ironic at the time given the existence of SERF, but the differences in behaviour between the AFHS and SERF gave the impression of SERF being the exception and the fact that the NCI governments actually denounced SERF intervention in the Swedish civil war emphasised SERF as the outliers of the NCI. The practical upshot of all this was that the Norse came away impressed with the value of Franco-German knowledge (notably just knowledge of French and German would be valuable for trading whilst NCI secondary school geometry, physics and chemistry alone all had uses the Norse would interested in) whilst not thinking much of them as fighters even if their technology of war was impressive. To a people with a history of Vikingr piracy, the temptation was too great for some.

Whilst the kidnappings would almost always target young and educated French or German women, contrary to what contemporary propaganda would show the kidnappings would commonly be pushed for and sometimes masterminded by Norse women themselves. The Norse women were in charge of childcare as well as the production of material wealth in the form of the fermentation of alcohol and weaving among things: the former of course meant that they had an immediate interest in the education of the young in a way men didn't, whilst the latter often gave them a mind primed to spot an investment in future material wealth. Combined with them being less likely to have encountered the NCI at war than the Norse men and a certain degree of overwork among the Norse women due to the gender demographics of early Norse settlement in Frisia leaning towards men [6] and result there was a trend of Norse women demanding both an extra pair of hands for the household and someone to educate their children to adapt to life alongside the NCI whilst also being ignorant of how the badly the Franco-Germans would react. Whilst SERF had shown that the NCI was against slavery, few of the Norse had actually visited the NCI and seen a world without it and so it cannot be emphasised enough how both slavery and the violence used to acquire slaves was a fact of life; the notion that Franco-Germans would treat an attack on one as an attack on all had not yet penetrated Norse understandings of their new neighbours.

Whilst early kidnapping cases varied greatly, trial and error eventually created a "text book" kidnapping method. A Norse woman (used due to Franco-German fears of Norse men) would approach the victim, attempt to befriend them while assessing their education and skills, and once the woman had determined whether they were worth seizing the victim would be encouraged to an out of the way spot where the Norse men could seize her. The most famous example of this was in Sophia Koch's autobiographical "Ten Months in a Norse Village", which whilst it diverted in some ways from the standard case [7] nevertheless contains all these elements. Norse women would be responsible for those kidnapped in this way: Koch's book documenting both their attempts to acclimatise her to her 'new life', their actions used to discipline her, and the genuine but unequal affection some developed for her.

The kidnapping attempts would be met be retaliatory violence from the Franco-German settlers that would be aided by SERF Remnants that had made a living among them. Where the kidnapped victim could be located, the standard response was either to raid the village to rescue the victim or to take hostages from the village to negotiate for the victim's return. When the victim couldn't be located however, the frustration of being unable to save them would commonly boil over into mob violence against Norse travellers or, as les querelles intensified, revenge attacks on any nearby Norse settlement. This would lead to an atmosphere of generalised "lawless" violence between settler factions, peaking with the Marie Lavelle Incident.

With intervention from the German Socialist Räterepublik and it's greater interest in the region however, les querelles are agreed to be declining (albeit not quite over), a trend that appears cemented by the founding of the All Frisia Post and Messenger Service (see All Frisia Services). Kidnappings still occasionally happen, normally done by a Norse settler group new to the region, but a combination of a formal demand sent by the AFPMS and stern advice and warnings from their fellow Norse on the matter usually result in the victim being sent back unharmed; instead what violence does occur tends to be based around land and resource disputes around the river Scheldt (see Board(s) for Democratic Management). Cynics point out that this could be a temporary lull in the violence but without a larger incident to set it off all actors in the region are planning ahead for the general stabilisation of Frisia.

Low Countries Reconstruction Mandate: a remnant of the original NCI plans for the region, the Low Countries Reconstruction Mandate started in France's timeline as the Belgium and Netherlands Reconstruction Mandates meant to rebuild the Benelux region after the sheer amount of devastation it experienced during the previous period of general war in Europe. With France being both geographically close by and being the centre of both the Communard diplomatic alliance the International and military alliance INFOR, a substantial amount of the staff for both mandates was brought along with it when it was transported to Eden. With an interest in colonising Frisia and keeping Low Countries culture alive still there however, the two organisations were consolidated into the Low Countries Reconstruction Mandate which would later be joined by the ambassadorial and Rotfront associated staff of Spartacist Luxembourg that were brought along when Germany was transported to Eden.

Initially, the plan to rebuild the Benelux region was to start a "Little Netherlands" settlement on the Meuse, a "Little Belgium" settlement on the Scheldt, and a "Little Luxembourg" settlement on the Rhine that would exist in a political union with each other with Franco-German assistance, eventually growing into a loose federation that could keep Frisia under wraps so as to leave France and Germany free focus their attention on other matters. Of these 3 settlements, only the Little Netherlands has been built, with the arrival of Germani and Norse in Frisia and the start of les querelles significantly complicating any attempt to resurrect Benelux culture.

The current make up of Frisia has made some skeptics question as to whether the Benelux cultural resurrection the Reconstruction Mandate hopes to achieve is even possible, with some calling it "defunct" or "partially defunct", but nevertheless the Mandate gets a good amount of support and from unexpected places.

The planned construction of the Meuse to Scheldt canal (ideally with a "Little Belgium" settlement where the canal meets the Scheldt) in particular has drawn a lot of support from all across Frisia. France is the biggest backer of course, but the project has had widespread if tentative support from the Norse and Germani as it would allow both allow for easier travel through the interior of Frisia and enable an easier colonisation of Frisia's still wild interior by creating a new, artificial river along which new settlements could be constructed. This combination of uncertainty for the future and broad support has made the Reconstruction Mandate invest more and more in it's canal projects, hoping to maintain relevance through the project's success.

Marie Lavelle Incident, The: agreed to be the turning point in les querelles, the Marie Lavelle Incident is still a source of controversy across Frisia and the NCI, something further compounded by the sheer number of questions about the incident that remain unanswered. The facts that are known are as follows: it began with the kidnappings of a young French woman Marie Lavelle by the Norse of the nearby settlement Alfarrvin in a similar manner and for similar purposes as the other Norse kidnappings in the conflict. Marie's home settlement Nouveau Bruge was alerted to her location by a Germani pagan priest who was traveling in the area and had assumed that the town would negotiate for Marie's release or rescue her.

What instead happened is that the town militia, joined by more volunteers from the town itself, proceeded to bombard Alfarrvin with light artillery and incendaries before killing between 60 and 150 Norse settlers fleeing the destroyed settlement with small arms fire. The priest was understandably horrified by this, and rushed to contact representatives from the German Socialist Räterepublik. Here the "Alfarrvin Massacre" as it became known amongst the Norse and in many German circles became linked in the German political conscious to the attempted red imperialism of SERF and Reventlow's deranged Volksreich regime, prompting in the short term an initial crack down on the settlement of Nouveau Bruge with the settlement being occupied by the German army, it's militia being disarmed and public trials for all known participants in the attack, and in the long term it prompted a greater German involvement within Frisia that is often credited with the decline of les querelles.

Even as the conflict declines however (ironically with Germany's crack down after the massacre having restored it's credibility among the Frisian Norse at least) there are a number of questions that remain unanswered, not helped by a number of participants in the attack arguably having motivation to lie. The most well known unanswered question being of course: why did the incident escalate so quickly compared to how the kidnappings normally did?

No definite answer has been found, though broadly the hypothetical answers are split into two camps: the emotional lashing out camp and the pre-meditated decision camp. Some of the former camp note the sheer pressure the Franco-German settlers had been under: the background of increasingly casual violence between settler factions combined with their fears of the Norse being more adapted to the wild lands of Frisia due to being used to living without modern conveniences, a general tension that exploded with the kidnapping of Marie. Another theory in the former camp emerged when it turned out that several of the participants in the attack were former members of SERF and that the weaponry used was almost certainly supplied by SERF Remnants. Noting the failure of SERF and the participants' disownment by their home countries, they argue that the escalation was a result of the trying to restore the wounded honour and masculine pride of the men involved, trying to recapture the martial spirit they lost in Göterike by butchering their "enemy" in Frisia.

The latter camp meanwhile argues that far from an emotional lashing that the attack had a rational, if morally unthinkable, basis. The Franco-German settler response in past kidnapping cases often resulted in a slow escalation through tit for tat interactions, thus leading to the conclusion that the conventional response would have just led to more problems, but leaving the kidnapping unanswered would have resulted in the Norse treating Nouveau Bruge as at best a pushover and at worst as a convenient source of slaves. As such, the argument goes, the militia felt they had no option other than the total destruction of Alfarrvin.

The questions raised by militia's escalation are politically and emotionally charged and remain a point of contention between France and Germany to this day, with the official stance of the French government being much more sympathetic to the militia than Germany with many French political figures believing that the militia's crime was ultimately the result of being forced into an impossible situation and should be judged in light of that and some more hawkish or chauvenistic political figures even arguing that the attack was an inevitable reckoning against the violence the Norse had initiated against the French settlers in Frisia.

There is of course a second unanswered question: the fate of Marie Lavelle herself. Some have speculated she might have died in the bombardment of Alfarrvin but no body was ever located afterwards, and as has been pointed out if Marie survived she might not want much to do with the town that almost got her killed. Missing person notices for her are still distributed by the AFPMS (see All Frisia Services) but given the lack of infrastructure in Frisia if she is alive it's likely she'll only be found if and when she wants to be.

SERF Remnants: the failed fillibuster in Göterike by rogue elements of the German and French armies had a number of long running consequences, not least of which was in where the rogue soldiers turned when they realised that their expedition had lost. Staying in Scandinavia wasn't an option and returning to their homelands would often mean being arrested. Moreover, even when there was no threat of arrest, a number of soldiers who linked the failures of SERF to the lack of either military intelligence to guide the filibuster and to a lack civilian administration to help govern the seized the territory would go on to blame the NCI's lack of support for the filibuster for its failure; meaning that a large number of SERF Remnants wanted nothing to do with the "traitors" back home.

As such, many of the ordinary soldiers in SERF instead moved to Frisia, using the "lawlessness" of the lands as a way to build their own lives away from the NCI, some quietly living among Church of Baldr communities that they helped save from thralldom, some integrating into Franco-German settlements and some trying to put together their own settlements.

The most famous and romanticised example is the overlapping nest of heavily armed micropolities including the "Free Soldier's Communes" of the Rhine delta, the semi-nomadic "Lost Boy" and "Merry Men" brigades that roam the nearby forests and the "North Sea Free Engineer's Association" which helps maintain the coastline and reclaim land from the sea lost to erosion, all combining militant internationalist or anarchist philosophy with barracks discipline and the libertine social mores of a post Great War paramilitary. However, as much effort as they put into propagandising their cause to NCI populations, their relatively self contained nature combined with their countercultural lifestyle means that they're not really considered a problem to the NCI, especially when compared to the SERF Remnants that instead have quietly decided to infiltrate the Franco-German settlements.

One of the consequences of the Marie Lavelle Incident was that it became clear that SERF Remnants were able to leverage their combination of military training, experience with the Norse, sympathy from the settlers and remaining military supplies to gain substantial power within the Franco-German settlements: sometimes acting as a militia or police force, sometimes acting as a mafia and sometimes as both at the same time. Attempts by NCI authorities to root them out or defang them have hit several issues. Many people within the settlements and even within parts of NCI bureaucracy have sympathies with them, enough to protect them or turn a blind eye to them even if they don't think the SERF filibuster was a wise decision. This is made all the more difficult by the fact that the SERF Remnants, as long as they're not causing too much trouble, are genuinely useful: the skills they got either in military training or on campaign in Scandinavia turning them into genuine pillars of their local community in Frisia. Even when the NCI authorities have caught up with them they usually retain contacts with other SERF Remnants in other settlements, meaning it's not uncommon for them to disappear into the night, spend some time in a friend's safe house in a different settlement until the authorities move on.

As such, whilst most SERF Remnants are criminals in the eyes of their respective homelands, and Germany in particular has an interest in bringing them to justice, the NCI as a whole currently has a policy of leaving them alone as long as they're not causing trouble, plotting against the NCI or it's member governments or otherwise "bringing further disgrace to their uniform".

[1] Few parties actually use the term "Frisia" for the region: the Norse and Germani settlers use "Frysii" whilst the Franco-German and other NCI settlers use "Low Countries". However, "Frisia" still has usage as a neutral term for the region among a number of official sources. "Benelux", meanwhile, is strictly used to either refer to the historical region as it existed in other time lines or to as a term for Belgian/Dutch/Luxembourg culture.

[2] For the purpose of clarity, NCI standard terminology is to refer to socialist/communist movements depending on which revolution after World War 1 they draw from. Movements that draw from a communist revolution in Russia are "Bolsheviks", from a revolution in France as "Communards", and from a revolution in Germany as "Spartacists", which neatly link up with the 3 timelines the European-Mediterranean members of the NCI came from. Some point out that this has the potential to become confusing should the Soviet remnants from Germany's timeline (nominally Bolshevik due to drawing from their failed Bolshevik revolution, but from the Spartacist timeline) are transported across to Eden, but this has yet to be a problem.

[3] Not mentioned out of courtesy is that the comparative success and flexibility of the Boards managing the Rhine and Meuse has led to France having an interest in creating one for the Scheldt (albeit one more strongly French controlled and influenced) and the creation of a Little Belgium settlement would be the impetus to create one whilst also allowing the French government to save face.

[4] utopian here is meant in the Marxist terminology sense to refer to communities that build socialism by moving to somewhere without capitalism and running their settlement along socialist lines (comparable to the word "hippie"), though broadly elements within the NCI have used it to mean attempting socialism without a history to draw from or just as a catch all for an unrealistic political project. Commonly derogatory due to the history of utopian communities being at best socialist islands in a capitalist sea that are inevitably eroded back into the sea and at worst glorified cults, it's usage here is unusual in that it's not really meant to be: the influence of Germany and France proper and the general context of Frisia being assumed to be enough to allow such communities to survive and develop freely.

[5] The new common name for the Cave Hyena, derived from the Norse word "Glotta" (To grin, to smile scornfully) and the old Frisian word "Diār" (Thing, animal, beast). This rechristening has spread out of Frisia and became so widespread it's in being used in official scientific papers through Europe, and will most likely replace the original term, such as with Cymru's label Fèidhmòr (Formerly the Irish Elk), though other animals have not received this treatment yet. This is one famous example of the developing "Frysii" pidgin language between the Nordic tongues and the various different dialects spoken by the Germani.

[6] Not mentioned partially for the sake of brevity, partially due to a lack of study on this reason and partially so as not to inflame tensions that could threaten the relative peace is the fact that this gender demographic difference often meant that Norse women also wanted to secure potential wives for family or friends, or as a way to secure potential allies with men within their own communities, though this was a secondary reason given that most Norse men would go back to Danmǫrk or Göterike to look for a wife.

[7] notably, the kidnapping occurred within a Franco-German settlement where normally it'd be on the outskirts of one or in a Germani settlement, and the kidnapper Asta appears to have plied Sophia with drink so she was unable to resist and so that Asta and her brother could pose as friends getting their drunken comrade home which is deeply unusual due to Norse taboos regarding hospitality and the offering of food and drink.

With thanks to @Klaesick for beta reading, editing suggestions, advice and contributing a lot to this side story.

 

[Klaesick]

I love this! You've really expanded on my original idea in ways I never thought of, and transformed it into something much more. Frisia will definitely be an important region in the game as time goes on. And working with you every step to way has been great!
Cheers!

 

[Nevis]

Yeah this was an excellent fleshing out of the Netherlands region. You really brought it to life

SERF did nothing wrong

 

[CubicAppalac]

@Board 3659's turn ran a bit longer than normal due to extenuating circumstances on my end but he has ran over the time I've given him to write up his turn. As such, @Vman0 is now to work on their turn. Reminder: you have a maximum of 15 days to work on your turn, which should be more than enough.

 

[Vman0]

@Board 3659's turn ran a bit longer than normal due to extenuating circumstances on my end but he has ran over the time I've given him to write up his turn. As such, @Vman0 is now to work on their turn. Reminder: you have a maximum of 15 days to work on your turn, which should be more than enough.

Click to shrink...

I will be able to get something posted here in a WIP state quick... Just need to have a latte.

 

[Vman0]

Nation Name: The Holy Empire of the German Indies
Commonly Known as: German Indies
Capital: Vunz, situated in OTL's Bogotá, Colombia
Government Type: Decentralized Composite Monarchy
Governing Document: Constitution of the German Indies
Year Founded: 1810 AD
Year ISOTed: 1815 AD
Territory ISOTed: All territory west of the Andes, excluding Northern Panama, with some presence in Northern Venezuela.
ISOTed from: What if the HRE colonized northern South America?
Head of State: Emperor Francis II (De-Jure; Not Brought Along); Margrave Ernst I ("De facto")
Head of Government: Emperor Francis II (De-Jure; Not Brought Along); Margrave Ernst I ("De facto")
Technological Level: Napoleonic Era, AKA Early 19th Century
Population: 2.8 Million
Languages: "New World" German (Majority), Italian, Spanish, and Native Languages (Minorities)
Religions: Protestant Christianity (Majority), Catholicism, and Native Faiths (Tolerated Minorities)
Special Traits: N/A, as this is just a nation of Hugh Menn.
Brief History:
During Charles I of Spain's rule, territories in the West Indies were ceded to the Holy Roman Empire and became New Germany, attracting settlers from across the Empire. By the 18th century, the colony flourished under the New German colonial model, which allowed regions meeting population thresholds to form intendancies. Migration and settlement expanded rapidly, especially along the Antbergen and northern coast.
In 1799, inter-intendancy conflicts began, with Backeten leading territorial expansions. After the Holy Roman Empire dissolved in 1806, the colonies became Austrian, facing uprisings that prompted Emperor Francis II to establish the Kingdom of Little Venice. In 1810, the colonies were elevated to the Holy Empire of the German Indies to prevent further instability, reorganizing intendancies into duchies, principalities, and Reichskolonies.
By 1813, political consolidation continued with the formation of the Backeten-Böiacks Margraviate through a dynastic marriage, solidifying noble control in the region... However, the transference of this nation a mere two years after 'peace' was attained may cause tension.
Other Notes: N/A

Nation Name: Sanctuary Crater
Commonly Known as: Sanctuary Crater
Capital: Sanctuary Crater
Government Type: Fluid, currently fluctuating between Monarchist and Democratic systems
Governing Document(s): N/A
Year Founded: 300 MPE
Year ISOTed: 300 MPE + 40,000 years
Territory ISOTed: Sanctuary Crater
ISOTed from: Serina
Head of State: Lord Karzavraz
Head of Government: Lord Karzavraz
Technological Level: Industrial Era, with steam-powered machines and electric lighting
Population: 25,000
Languages: Leucrocottan, Whisperwing, and Scrounger -Sylvanspark and Slaughtersprinter- languages
Religions: Animism?
Special Traits: Aside from using steam power, there's not much 'special' about these highly-derived Tribbets and Whisperwings.
Brief History: Here.
Other Notes: All critters associated with Sanctuary Crater are ISOTed.

Map Images:

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Winds o' Change
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Tenth Year: Beginnings of German Turmoil
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Worldwide:
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-As another year starts, so too would the annual appearance of new territories… This time, the continent of South America receives two potential wildcards.

​

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North and South America:
​

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"Once more, the peaceful transference of power is observed and passed." - Unknown Author circa November

NORTH AMERICA:
-While the North of Great America stands without any new additions, events continue as before. People live, laugh, go about their days, and try to make the best of things. Of course, elections are approaching in the US, and those have the potential for large impacts on various matters.

United States:
-As mentioned, election season rolled around for the United States without issue. Unlike the 6th Year, when America was still trying to figure out its new political position in this new world, the 10th Year's elections seemed more coherent.

First up, there were the elections in the House of Representatives. Of the 100 seats up for election—quickly divided among the states based on "vibes" until the return of the Year 10 Census for the Year 12 midterms—the Labor Party gains a surprising majority of 51 seats. Most of these come from the more urban parts of the nation, alongside all but one of Appalachia's allocated districts. The Liberals secure a respectable 38 seats, while the Conservatives manage a meager 11, hurt by the Whigs' growing unpopularity and the Tories' divisive rhetoric. While the Hammers (Labor Party) aren't widely liked outside Appalachia and Socialist pockets in other states, most agree the party is more likely to prioritize their needs.

In the Senate, the 16 seats were split surprisingly evenly, with 5 seats each going to the three major parties and a single seat claimed by Ohio's Independent candidate. This even split and the presence of the Independent Senator forced compromises between the parties. Of course, Labor controlling the House would allow for some increased leverage, even if the Tories or Whigs could leave a Hammer proposal in the dumps before it reached the Senate. All things considered, it's a small price to pay for a healthy democracy.

For the Presidential elections, Labor once again chose Till Loris Wesley, to the surprise of no one. Meanwhile, the Liberals chose President Huntington for their Presidential ticket. The Conservatives simply nominated a minor State Representative from Detroit as their candidate.

In the first round, Wesley made massive gains electorally, rising 7 percent above his performance in the last election. In contrast, Huntington and the Tory candidate did worse, which media and Election Analysts believe comes from the growing unpopularity of President Huntington and the general unpopularity of the Conservative platform, outside a small group. Wesley's surprising popularity and connection to President Lincoln may be the major reason for his boosted popularity. The second round, held a few weeks after the first one was fully tallied to show two clear winners, showed Wesley and Huntington swapping places and Wesley gaining a single point over Huntington from the last election.

After a week or so of counting the votes from both rounds and verifying them, Wesley is announced as President-Elect of the United States to cheers not just in the United States but also elsewhere in the world. The soon-to-be president promises many changes, including increased international cooperation with Yucatan and the pagan monarchies of Cymru and Göterike, alongside a revision of Columbian integration.

-While politics are important, they aren't the only thing that's relevant about America. As the nation continues its process of slow modernization, significant developments are underway. Railroads within states that previously lacked them are either being expanded or constructed anew, while efforts to build several power plants across the nation aim to accelerate electrification. Among the major cities experiencing substantial growth, Washington D.C., Charleston, Hinton, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Columbus, and Manhata (unofficially referred to as "Nīwcēsarēan City" following its purchase, formerly New York) stand out as the most dynamic. The first two cities, located in Appalachia, have contributed to the state's unexpected rise as a critical industrial hub within the United States. Nonetheless, the achievements of other cities and their respective states remain noteworthy.
Additionally, the University of Appalachia, among several other American universities, has garnered international recognition for its research efforts. These institutions have become renowned for their studies on the Transplantation phenomena, their investigation of various timelines, and their respective technologies. Within these academic halls, the foundations of a small, interconnected computer network are being established. This network, supported by computers acquired through trade with Singapore and domestically manufactured units, facilitates the sharing of research findings among universities. Predictably, this budding computer network has also been repurposed by students for more informal uses, similar to Singapore's equivalent system (referred to as the "Internet" or another yet-to-be-determined name).

The emergence of the first memes on this nascent network highlights its cultural impact. One such instance involves an anonymous law student, who shall remain anonymous, sharing a picture of President Huntington captioned "Labor rights? Is that some sorta dish?" While this initial attempt at humor was less than impressive, it signifies the potential of this developing internet to foster creativity and connectivity. Hopefully, the future of this digital landscape remains promising and productive.

- The joint territory of New Cēsarēa/Nīwcēsarēa has continued to grow after its establishment last year. Made up of an assorted mix of Celts and Americans (Mostly Brythonic & Gaelic speakers, and poorer Americans who lost their homes or wish to move into the Frontier), the territory receives a boost of immigration from Cymru, a minute amount of Japanese, former Columbian nobles, a few Solarist preachers, various Germani groups curious about the nation across the Atlantic, and Nordic refugees still dealing with the War of the Wolves.

Yucatan:
Yucatan celebrates the Day of the Dead with a parade of skeleton-themed dancers and floats. This tradition is not native to Yucatan but is based on a popular action movie made in Singapore.

After a heroic campaign by activists, the first gay marriage ceremony is held in Yucatan this year. The son and heir of the YucAcero chaebol married his long-term partner atop the company headquarters. Civil rights activists hope that the high status of the men will dissipate the association of homosexuality with communist subversion. Still, people all across the country are anxious about the most obvious line of succession being broken. They are wondering whether the daughter of the CEO will now inherit the firm or whether it will fall to a branch family.

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SOUTH AMERICA:
-In this corner of the world, the German Indies would appear in a flash of light. For centuries, this collective colony was a fragmented amalgamation of the long-vanished Holy Roman Empire, with intendancies clashing for dominance in the New World of their timeline. Only recently had the region undergone partial consolidation, a process completed just a few years prior…
-In the aftermath of their translocation to this virgin region, however, the lack of a strong central authority quickly caused tensions to boil. Seizing the moment, Margrave Ernst I of the Margraviate of Backeten-Böiacks declared himself the Emperor of the German Indies. This bold move was met with fierce opposition from the nearby Duchies of Mätthaus and Tilesiustal, who had long been rivals in the region.

-Over the decades, these three former intendancies had forged alliances with neighboring polities to bolster their respective positions. This network of partnerships became the basis for a broader conflict as the German Indies descended into civil war.

-Beyond the three competing Duchies, a growing native resistance movement emerged. Fueled by supplies and ideological support from Indonesia and Yucatán, this movement gained traction primarily in the northern cities, where relations between the locals and the native population were notably more hostile, in contrast to the amicable south. Minor nationalist rebel groups also appeared in the southern regions, drawing inspiration from Spain's rebellions and advocating for a fully independent German Indies free from Austrian influence. Though these groups remained largely isolated and disorganized for now, they held a significant presence in the rural areas of the nation's southwestern territories.

-Meanwhile, the third set of sapient non-humans would appear in a flash of light, as Serina's far-future sophonts became known to the world. Upon the arrival of Sanctuary Crater and its surrounding environs, the native fauna and flora of this region would become testy. Due to their distance from the other peoples transported to this new world, they would take a long time to be discovered, with many scientists believing that the German West Indies was the only place transmigrated this year, until late in October, when a team of Yucatani biologists stumbled upon them after setting out to do a fish census in the Rio de la Plata.

-The people of Sanctuary Crater had been greatly enjoying the bounties of the river, having to rely more heavily on fishing as strange animals from the jungle had been eating their crops and preying on their farm animals. The Yucatanis stayed with them as they completed their survey, and then promised to return with electric fences and camera traps to protect Sanctuary Crater's farms from predation.

-Luckily, though the Yucatani Forktail-derived speech seemed archaic to the denizens of Sanctuary Crater, it was at least understandable. The story of the "future-birds" spread around the world and many Forktails expressed interest in meeting them as soon as they found out. However, it was already mid-December by the time the news reached the Rainshadow Coast and so, being unable to cross the Atlantic themselves, they would have to wait for the new year until they could visit.

​

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Europe:
​

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"There's a lot of waterwork projects here? Dam." - Palestinian engineer. "Zeeland? I can't!" - Another Palestinian Engineer.

-The region of Scandza -referring to Fennoscandanvia- continues to be tossed and turned. The War of the Wolves has evolved into a much different conflict than the quick civil war it was a year ago. The Volksreich under Mangi and Reventlow has increased its reign of terror in Noregr and started expanding into surrounding land, but it would be a mistake to think of this as a sign of strength. To those paying attention, the desperate aggression of the Volksreich is a result of its weakness. Germany loathes it, and whilst the motion proposed to blockade the Volksreich failed due to fears of stepping further on Norse sovereignty, they still managed to push the UN to enact an embargo against the Volksreich (Also hampering its particularly cruel variant of Viking piracy) and NCI agents were able to use intermediaries among the Church of Baldr and other Frysiian-Norse to start smuggling weapons, equipment and advisors in modern warfare to Hrafn Ytra's peasant rebellion in the hopes of killing the damn thing. In short: the Volksreich has no legitimacy in its own territory, has at best a tenuous connection to the outside, and doesn't have the luxury of consolidating its gains. All it can do is take increasingly desperate gambles in advancing forwards, succeeding only because no one expects such aggressive action so quickly.

- In Viken, the Volksreich attempts to gain a source of income and connection to the outside world by using intermediaries to sell heroin there (thinking Viken is the weakest participant in the Scandinavian wars due to a combination of Reventlow believing it's Christian sympathies have weakened it and due to Göterike having more foreign support, whilst Danmǫrk remained comparatively undamaged), but as well as using up arable land the Volksreich realistically needs to grow food to grow opium poppies instead, this in practice kicks off another front draining the Volksreich's manpower as a low intensity conflict comparable to otl America's war on drugs kicks off; with Vikan using a mixture of American veterans turned into unofficial mercenaries, sympathetic SERF remnants in the region, and modern weapons sold by Yucatan to build a force more capable of bringing the fight to the Volksreich.

-Wanting to make up for the SERF debacle and to distance themselves from Reventlow's regime (and on a realpolitik level, wanting to make sure there isn't a hostile regime so close to them, regardless of current technological advancement), Germany offers Göterike a package of humanitarian aid, vaccinations and medical technology; getting some light criticism from some NCI parties for it. King Mæstroghen doesn't really trust the German government, but also doesn't want to offend them by outright refusing the aid. As such, under the logic that trust must be built up first, Göterike politely refuses the full package but also suggests that they could accept a mostly symbolic gift of medical knowledge (Germ theory, an understanding of quarantine procedures, plus antibiotic and penicillin manufacturing knowledge that the NCI had already spread to the Frysiian-Norse) whilst setting up a permanent embassy in Germany and sending a group of their trusted scholars to get a ground eye view of German society; implying an openness to future deals once trust has been built up. Germany accepts Göterike's suggestion gracefully, taking the limited deal to suggest that Reventlow hadn't permanently destroyed their reputation for the foreseeable future.

-Norse traders and Vikings continue expanding across Europe, North Africa, and even parts of America. Seen most with the gradual shaping of the mixed Celtic-Norse identity in Thule, although with some occasional regional complications. For one, many of the settlers aren't particularly happy being there, and are generally people their homeland no longer wished to deal with. Oath-breakers, minor criminals, political dissidents, poorer folk wishing to make it big, etc. Tensions between the Norse-Norsk and Celtic settlers were inevitable due to competing claims to land and were further enflamed by a noticeable divide between some Celtic settlers who objected to NCI influence in their homeland and Norse settlers who wanted to build something akin to the faintly anarchistic Icelandic Commonwealth from the stories of future history and were ironically sympathetic to some political currents within the NCI as a result. Violence between settlers is largely averted however by Thule rediscovering what has historically been a common replacement for warfare: sports. In a similar way to how the Catholic vs Protestant divide shaped the football clubs of OTL Britain, so the communities of Thule settle into seasonal games with each other as a way to "fight" one another without drawing the ire of the government, sometimes being used to resolve inter-community disputes and with the ownership of some land being determined each year by the results of a winter sports game. Whilst wrestling, caber tossing and keg tossing as well as a sport similar to OTL Finland's wife-carrying are widespread, the sport that draws the broadest appeal is a hockey like sport derived from the Norse Knattleikr and referred to as "the stick game" by outsiders. The sport is as notoriously rough as one would expect a replacement for open warfare to be, but then some would say that is part of the appeal. The Norsk settlers from Cymru mix with new (Or older depending on how you look at it) local Norse more thoroughly, though Celtic traditions and mythology are already rapidly blending into it.

Computer networks also spread in Germany and France. Since these states are Socialists, Singaporeans give them preferential treatment in assisting with the construction of computer networks. Cymru benefits from this, receiving a few computers from trade with other nations. However, despite leaping technologically almost a century or two from where they started, Cymru currently lacks the infrastructure for reverse engineering.

-In Germany, paganism was further entrenched. Ironically for a progressive state, the horrors of its timeline's Great War had engendered a certain cynicism about modernity being merely a "more mechanized form of barbarism" and had already created a certain interest in and nostalgia for the pre-modern and pre-capitalist times whilst also damaging the standing of previously hegemonic Protestant Christianity: in this cultural context, the paganism of the Germani and to a lesser degree the Frysii and Norse (Such as the Frysiian Church of Baldr) were primed to spread rapidly. It also led to the "re-paganization" of several Eastern Germani who converted to Arian Christianity some time before the fall of Rome, such as the Goths, Gepids, and Vandals. That is not to say Lutheran Christianity has disappeared. Instead, the faiths overlap: just as the saying of the OTL Japanese states that they "are born a Shintoist, marries a Christian and die a Buddhist" so many Deutsch casually integrate pagan rites and ceremonies into their daily lives alongside Christian ones, while Germani stick to or centralized their old traditions, or only loosely adopt Christianity. This overlap results in the remains of the Lutheran, Reformed, United Branch, and the revived Gothic Arianism beginning to discuss the future of God's faithful in Germany. Soon, they remerge back into a sect of sorts, named "The All-Landeskirche Movement" or simply Landeskirchist Christianity, even going so far as to try to create a "new" canon forging Arian and Protestant theology together. While this move is mostly uncontroversial despite the hiccups and seen as a "win" for Christians of the Räterepublik, it further solidifies the loosening of religious barriers as the reconnected church tries its best to not get on the secular government's bad side.

-The main exception to this is Bavaria. Fiercely proud of their regional identity and fiercely Catholic, they outright reject the "Two Ps" of Paganism and Protestantism, neither penetrate among the Deutsch here, with the polytheist faith remaining a strictly Germani religion. Instead, the Bavarians pick up a different cultural fixation: francophilia. The Catholics of Bavaria had been in an awkward position upon being brought to Eden, separated from a central papacy as they were. Still, with a friendly France on the border, the fact that old Catholic holy sites were suddenly available gave the Bavarians direction. The French tourist services were overwhelmed early in the year by Bavarians seeking to visit Notra-Dame de Paris and Lourdes, before the Bavarians first started spreading their interest to less famous but still notable Cathedrals and holy sites and by the end of the year had started embracing France in general: from the beaches on the Mediterranean to the picturesque villages of the countryside to the art galleries and monuments of the cities the Bavarians were hungry to experience a France untainted by the derangements of the Futurists that controlled the France they were familiar with… By the end of the year, the Bavarians managed to bring French culture back with them, as restaurants and cafés opened up across Bavaria, whilst the politically involved started devouring the political theory of French Communards.

- Many Germani have begun to adjust to their new world in rather interesting ways. The perception of them among their modern Deutsch descendants has also changed radically, with many developing an almost romantic view of the fierce but "honorable" warrior culture of the more notable tribes, resulting in a strange artistic movement that idolizes the Migration Era tribes while also advocating for explicitly modern and peaceful values. Of course, it is important to remember the tribes themselves are not a monolith, full of different subcultures and politics coming fresh after the fall of Rome at their hands. Especially some division over maintaining the 'stability' and peace granted by the German government, while others are emboldened by the idea of expansion into unknown territory and the promise of even greater glory in the modern age. As such, the Räterepublik is left at a crossroads. The vast network of tribes simply has a much different understanding than the modern ones they live with, with many oaths, regionalities, even feuds, that were previously lost to time but now are in full view due to the Shift. The new hot-button topic in government (To the point it's defining the upcoming election) is how to integrate the Germani politically.

-In Frysii, the widespread demand for engineers to help turn the swamplands that cover most of the Low Countries into something more habitable, as well as consistent interest in building canals between the rivers of the Low Countries, results in the NCI passing requests onto Palestine: having finished the Suez Canal, Palestine had a good number of engineers with experience of working on water-based projects, and they were happy to lend a few to assist their comrades in Europe. This hit a snag with the sheer amount of work that needed to be done, leading the Palestinians to take a more long-term approach. Whilst there were several windmills set up to drain the land by the engineers, the most high-profile action they took was founding the Frisian School of Engineering. At the time, the idea was to train the locals in engineering, to help them achieve more effective, self-sufficient development of Frysii in the long term. This was the start of a small but significant Palestinian presence in Frysii itself; and with their engineers and educators making more officialized teaching efforts towards the school-age youth of the Norse, Germani and Franco-Deutsch settlers started to settle into a more peaceful existence with each other with several Norse settlements joining the NCI founded boards for managing life along the Low Country rivers.

Windspeakers and other Forktail immigrants have started to make their presence known in this corner of the world, especially in France.

​

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Africa and The Middle East:
​

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"I was flying home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code, no less!" - Forktail Emo Philips

Some Forktails have learned to 'speak' Morse code through their singing, finally bridging the once indomitable language barrier. Their gradual absorption of various human concepts has visibly reshaped their society, blending ancient notions of humankind's dynastic and imperial traditions with modern ideas such as secular thought, republicanism, and diverse political systems. This memetic fusion has created a rich and unique cultural tapestry within Forktail communities (For example, they conflate republics as a concept with socialism due to their geography closeness to the NCI). However, their unique nature ensures that their evolution diverges significantly from humanity's path, as the ability to fly and migrate across vast distances makes traditional concepts like the Westphalian nation-states impractical. Instead, Forktail clans are forming what the United Nations has termed "cloud traveler associations". These entities are bound not to fixed territories or borders but familial ties, shared culture, and cooperation.
Although their population remains small, many humans are venturing into the vast and increasingly interconnected Rainshadow Coast. NCI explorers, Norse merchants, and scholars from distant lands like America, East Asia, and Cymru are all making their way into Forktail territory. Alongside them come new technologies: vaccinations—crucial for combating diseases that thrive in the region's wetter climates—and gunpowder, which is beginning to see limited, localized reproduction.

While the Mantis Tribe's denizens remain cautious about the wider world of mankind, peaceful contact has ensured the placation of these warriors… For now.

​

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"People worry we're going too far by engineering the Nile… But the way I see it, it's dammed if we do and we're damned if we don't." -Palestinian engineer.

Meanwhile, Palestine has quietly continued its ambitious projects. Now one of the most peaceful places on Earth, with no current enemies or neighbors, the Republic has turned its focus eastward, particularly toward the Fertile Crescent. With its expertise in large-scale Earth and waterworks projects, Palestine plans to keep the Middle East green and partially terraform the region. The success of the Suez project and Palestinian engineers' contributions to NCI settlements in Frisia further underscore the Republic's growing influence and technical prowess.

Palestine also sees its first shipment of computers arrive, which allows for revolutionary improvements in planning and engineering. The showpiece project for this new technology is the construction of a space centre in the empty desert of Sinai. Due to its centrality to the red world, ease of access by boat, position close to the equator, and the absence of the tribes who would normally live there, it is considered a near-perfect launch location. By the year's end, construction of a second facility would be commenced nearby, to study and build jet engines. As Singapore and Yucatan lacked a domestic aviation industry pre-event and had to rely solely on repairing their fleets, Palestine viewed efforts to teach their neighbors as imperative. In the meantime, French, German, and Indonesian aircraft would be considered dangerously primitive… Inevitably, some hoped that the jet and rocketry factories could share several material testing and production facilities.

​

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Asia and Oceania:
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"Nationalism cannot flower if it does not grow in the garden of internationalism." - Sukarno

Indonesia and Korea decided to adopt a more friendly stance toward the United States, appreciating its current neutral position. Indonesia becomes the first non-American nation to interact with the German Indies directly, ultimately siding with the natives in their efforts to gain independence from colonial rule. On the other hand, Korea focuses on expanding its colonization efforts northward while encouraging the migration of "Chōsen-Japanese" to Tsushima. Overpopulation in Korea leads to a gradual but growing migration elsewhere, primarily to the United States, where many settle in Panama and the Caribbean. Regions like Delmarva and Appalachia, known for their comparatively tolerant attitudes toward migrants, also attract a portion of this population. Meanwhile, China and Singapore work to strengthen their ties with the Internationale, driven by growing domestic leftist support demanding increased cooperation.

 

[Board 3659]

I'll reclaim. hope I do it next time

 

[CubicAppalac]

Alright, as of @FALman40's turn, the size limits of ISOTs will be changed. Here is the new ISOT size limit, for your perusal. And yes, I'll be updating the rules as well to show this.

ISOTs aren't capped regarding size when it comes to things from Post-Renaissance. Anything from 1700-1900 is capped to Russia west of the Urals. From 1901-1960 ISOTs are capped to around the original states of the US north of the Mason-Dixon line plus the modern state of Ohio. From 1961-2000 ISOTs are capped to the size of Metropolitan France. From 2001-2015 ISOTs are capped to the size of Rhode Island. And from 2016-onwards ISOTs are capped to simple cities, objects, and people.

 

[Vman0]

Forgot to mention this earlier, but I intend to reclaim.

 

[Nevis]

Thank you for the update btw!

Tbh I am a bit disappointed that there is basically nothing there for Sanctuary Crater, besides the bit that I put in. It would've been nice to see them fleshed out a bit more. Alternatively, I feel like they could've just been dropped.

That aside, the German West Indes ought to provide an interesting conflict zone, both as a relatively rare theatre of war and as a reactionary member of the german-speaking world. Perhaps that will poke the bear, so to speak!

 

[Vman0]

Thank you for the update btw!

Tbh I am a bit disappointed that there is basically nothing there for Sanctuary Crater, besides the bit that I put in. It would've been nice to see them fleshed out a bit more.

That aside, the German West Indes ought to provide an interesting conflict zone, both as a relatively rare theatre of war and as a reactionary member of the german-speaking world. Perhaps that will poke the bear, so to speak!

Click to shrink...

I was a bit stumped on what to do with those birds and fish for their first year, but I think I'll be able to work something out for 'em this year... Hopefully.

 

[FALman40]

Nation: Second French Empire
Nation Name: France
Commonly Known as: French California
Capital: Yerba Buena (OTL San Francisco)
Government Type: Colonial territory under the Second French Empire
Governing Document(s): French Constitution
Year Founded: 1840
Year ISOTed: 1870
Territory ISOTed: Northern Half
ISOTed from: Californie - French California
Head of State: Emperor Napoleon III
Head of Government: Governor-General Émile François Guillaume Clément de La Ronicière, appointed by Napoleon III
Technological Level: Late 19th-century Western nations, with advancements in industry, transportation (railroads), and communication (telegraph).
Population: Approximately 700,000, including French settlers, indigenous peoples, and immigrants from various nations.
Languages: French (official), English, Spanish, indigenous languages
Religions: Predominantly Roman Catholic, with Protestant and indigenous spiritual practices present.
Special Traits: Strong French cultural influence, evident in architecture, cuisine, and legal systems. Thriving wine industry, with techniques imported from France. Strategic Pacific ports facilitating trade with Asia and the Americas. Strong military presence to maintain control and assert French influence in the Pacific.
Brief History: French Californie became a formal colony of the Second French Empire during the 1840s after France took advantage of Spain's weakening grip on its colonies. By 1870, it was a thriving imperial territory, contributing economically and strategically to the empire. The discovery of gold in 1848 spurred immigration and development, while Napoleon III prioritized French Californie as a gateway to Asia and the Pacific. French institutions flourished, but the recent disaster regarding the construction of a canal in Mexico has sent shockwaves through the economy
Other Notes: San Francisco serves as the administrative and cultural heart of French Californie, featuring a strong French architectural and cultural imprint. The territory maintains trade relations with nearby British, American, and Mexican territories.


Nation: New California Republic
Commonly Known as: NCR, California, NCR-House Accord
Capital: Shady Sands
Government Type: Semi-democratic republic with technocratic oversight
Governing Document(s): New California Republic Constitution; Annexation Accords with Mr. House
Year Founded: 2186 (original NCR founding date)
Year ISOTed: 2282 (year of the "House joins NCR" timeline's divergence)
Territory ISOTed: Southern NCR territory, including the Mojave Wasteland, Divide, and Zion Canyon
ISOTed from: Fallout universe, post-New Vegas timeline
Head of State: President Aaron Kimball (re-elected due to House's backing and consolidation efforts)
Head of Government: Chief Technocrat Mr. House (serving as a non-voting executive advisor and director of Mojave economic zones)
Technological Level: Advanced pre-war technology (in small amounts) combined with robust post-apocalyptic adaptation (e.g., limited securitron army, fusion power systems, and efficient agricultural networks), though quite simply on the level of the mid-19th or 20th Century in most aspects.
Population: Estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million (inclusive of NCR proper, Mojave settlements, and New Vegas population)
Languages: English (primary), Spanish, local tribal dialects, indigenous languages
Religions: Various, with a mix of Christian denominations, tribal beliefs, and pre-war secularism.
Special Traits: Highly centralized economy in the Mojave region due to Mr. House's systems. Robust military enhanced by securitron divisions integrated with the NCR army. Focus on reconstructing pre-war infrastructure with House's technological expertise. Growing political friction between democratic ideals and technocratic governance alongside Brahmin Barons mucking things up in the background.
Brief History: After the NCR's annexation of New Vegas, facilitated by a power-sharing agreement with Mr. House, the nation entered a period of accelerated growth and technological renaissance. House retained control of New Vegas as a semi-autonomous economic zone while aligning his vision with NCR goals of expansion and reconstruction. This partnership allowed for unprecedented developments in agriculture, industry, and defense. However, tensions rose between House's technocratic approach and the NCR's more traditional democratic governance, leading to political struggles over the direction of the unified authority.
Other Notes: The courier destroyed Mr. House's Securitron army under the Legion fort, resulting in him voluntarily becoming an NCR citizen. Trade and commerce flourished as House streamlined supply lines, particularly in pre-war tech restoration. The annexation agreement remains controversial, with critics citing House's influence as a potential undermining of NCR democracy.

Year beginning:


Year end:



Worldwide

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The new year has begun once more…. With it, North America receives two more ISOTs, which are similar yet different.

North and South America:

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-The West Coast would start the year with a bang, as the NCR and the French Imperial Colony of Californie had split each other's territories in half due to the ISOT. Tensions would erupt quickly, as settlers and citizens from Californie and the NCR crossed into each other's territories.

-From the perspective of the New Californians, the wasteland around them and inside their borders had changed into a mostly untamed land, with mutated beasts of the future sharing the wider world with the Megafauna of the past. But further investigation yields first contact with… The Motherf[bleep]ing French?

-Yes, on the other side of the border that split both the NCR away from its northern half was replaced by an alternative, past version of North California settled by the French? Interstate trade routes with the old pre-war rubble had suddenly stopped, as well as both pre and post-war buildings being split in half by the sudden changes. More weirdly were these telegraph lines on the other side of the border that also suddenly stopped.

-The local authorities in charge of Californie would've taken some time to realize something had gone wrong in losing contact with the metropole. However, they were quickly given a harsh dose of reality when half of the telegrams and such from the Southern half of Californie stopped coming in, as well as strange people with advanced guns and cows with two heads!

- On the ground itself, multiple travelers, merchants, farmers, etc. from both Californie and the NCR would have a multitude of random encounters with one another. The outcome would often vary, but on average it would result in arguments,

- Although official contact between the two Californian governments would occur within the first months thanks to technology such as telegram lines, the rest of the year would see tensions and armed standoffs regarding territorial disputes, and land disputes between Brahmin Barons and French Ranchers on the border regions have resulted in the Rangers and the Foreign Legion facing each other down multiple times. Although in the long term, these are expected to die down due to some Brahmin Barons opting to buy up land in the unsettled regions outside of the Intra-Californian border.

- Among other issues, is the issue of NCR tribals such as the rather large (partially assimilated) Great Khans selling addictive Chems to Californie citizens. The Californie government's efforts to fight the tide of Chems shows mixed to negative results at best. Due to the large border being difficult to secure, the abundance of wilderness to stash Chems and weapons, as well as the weapons the Khans are using causing multiple casualties in seizure efforts. One drug in particular, Jet. Becomes a common sight amongst lower and middle class French Californieans. Causing further alarm amongst the authorities of Californie, and results in legislation being passed in an attempt to restrict and crack down on the chem.

- Within Californie itself, the rumors of the United States still being present on the East coast spread quickly. With Some within the government developing concerns that the American community of Californie may begin agitating to join the United States. More isolated cities such as Salt Lake City around Lake Youta, tucked away in the remote northeast of the colony. Although San Francisco has telegram contact with the city itself, the Mormons of Salt Lake City finds themselves under suspicion by French authorities for a multitude of (understandable) reasons, with the city officially maintaining loyalty to San Francisco. But in the countryside across Deseret, the Mormons have begun to organize themselves, having seen the ISOT as divine intervention by many.

The French government may be in de-jure control of Deseret, but the railroads haven't yet reached Salt Lake City, so sending in the Foreign Legion to put down a revolt wouldn't be an easy affair, although if the Mormons attempted to sabotage the telegram lines running to the city, the French government would know and act accordingly. However, the Mormons haven't made any drastic moves… yet.

-One of the first major challenges of Wesley's presidency has arrived; that being actually setting up the ruling Government of the United States of America… and the situation in California, but that's for later. But getting back to the problem Wesley has to deal with, his inauguration as POTUS goes off without a problem, with several Ambassadors from the Internationale being present for the event.

In the first few days of his administration Wesley quickly got to work compiling all the 1970 laws, Executive Orders, Amendments passed up to then, and several other minor points and began working to pass the things he personally agreed with or believed worked for the other version of the US they were familiar with. This decision also led to him establishing a Department of Education for the whole nation based on Appalachia's own Education System - a small difference for many to get used to is the naming schema for the levels of schooling, which goes from Preparatory, Elementary, Intermediate, and finally to Advanced. Several other ideas were implemented, but the DOE was quite important on its own.

Of course, while Wesley's many suggestions were accepted he still had to lower what he wanted to do due to the Hammer's loose hold over Congress. Wesley was quite able to implement a Federal Land Value Tax, which he was capable of due to Appalachia's own financial success showing the idea had more merit than at first glance, but in return he had to shelve a few of his ambitious ideas for after the Midterms - particularly if Labor was able to gain a larger majority in the House and even a slim Majority in the Senate.

However, even as Wesley continued to reform the US from the ground up into a proper Republic - at least in his and several of his 'fellow' Socialists' minds - he had to deal with diplomacy. And what kind of diplomacy is worse than a nation hating your nation for seemingly no reason, such as in the case of the New California Republic. Contact with the NCR would be made rather quickly after the ISOT via radio signals being received by New Californian radio sets and stations. Which have weaker signals compared to the transistor based radios from the Zonians. Meaning that the NCR knew of the East before the East knew of the situation in the West.

To President Wesley, the initial diplomatic conferences with the New Californians were like pulling teeth. Initial interactions had several figures fearful of American diplomats, simply referring to them as 'Enclave plants' and the like. However, after a lot of back and forth the New Californians revealed a bit of their history, what the Enclave was, and even what they planned to do. The information simply horrified most of the American diplomatic staff and they themselves began detailing the history of their version of America. Of course, the reveal that the current ruling government was Socialist in nature immediately led to many politicians in the NCR and large portions of the population, once they themselves learned about the fact, to immediately renew their distrust of the US. So, for all intents and purposes,

New California was really difficult for the current administration. On the other hand, Wesley has overseen the US slowly moving into the direction of the NCI though without officially joining the alliance itself. By October the US officially became an observer nation within the NCI, though an observer nation with a seemingly unique position - that being a Capitalist nation tied to a Socialist alliance. As for French Californie, conferences with them were somewhat tense, but overall more less of a hassle than dealing with diplomats from the NCR. Discussions over setting up official relations go rather well, although issues such as the American community in Californie agitating to be part of the United States results in the Californie delegation having a deep distrust of Wesley's intentions. Even with his reassurances that he wouldn't recognize an internal rebelling by Americans trying to make Californie a state without holding a referendum wouldn't be recognized, the Californie delegation was still rather weary.

On the topic of the Mormons, Wesley isn't too thrilled, both he and the delegation from Californie briefly discuss them, but Wesley assures Californie that he won't interfere with their efforts. The Californie government is hoping for an eventual crackdown on Mormon polygamy, although the split between them and the NCR has put a bit of a wrench in that for the time being.

Regardless, a deal is reached allowing for trade and migration between the two to occur over the course of the year. With Some wealthier Americans packing up and making their way first to America (and then to other greener pastures such as the frontier), with middle and working class Americans joining in limited numbers as well. The Wesley presidential administration (as with the general public at large) isn't too happy at California no longer being part of the Union. But Wesley is a pragmatic man, recognizing that trying to demand (and potentially risking a war) to bring them back into the fold would spoil any potential chance at diplomacy in the long term.

-Nīwcēsarēa begins seeing an uptick in immigration from Cymru proper due to (read in the Euro section) increasing tensions between them and Oceania, this results in further development of infrastructure, towns, and even an expansion into more inland regions of the Territory. The Territory also sees a massive upswing in births within Manhata from the already-existing city population and the new immigrant population, a major force of which are Japanese, Caribbean-Americans, African-Americans, and White-Americans, with smaller amounts of Germani and Ohioan Solarists. This major growth in the city has led to the Territory being ever closer to being the first of the new world Territories to gain statehood.

- Despite the NCR and United States being distrustful of one another, there is an exchange of immigration between the two, though that exchange mostly came from the NCR. Of the population emigrating out of the Republic, the majority - even if their status was secret - were those with ties to the old Enclave, whether through family or having directly been part of the faction when it still existed. Through the entire year, in a small trickle after contact with the US was officially established, the Remnants started moving to what they viewed as the safest nation for them to live in. And among this population are the Enclave Remnants of New Vegas; particularly Arcade Gannon.

- New California itself (and by extension French Californie) also has immigrants arriving on its shores this year. Some of whom are Chosen-Japanese seeking better opportunities, or are more ideologically driven, blaming Korean communists for much of their misfortunes.

-The strife within the German Indies simmers on for the year. With a multitude of battles between the Duchies occurring over the course of the year. These battles tend to vary in size, many of which are usually skirmishes and raids throughout rural towns and rural outposts.

-The more major battles have resulted in casualties ranging cumulatively from the high hundreds to the low thousands by the end of the year. Much of the casualties are still wounds from injuries involving poor medical knowledge that is considered mainstream for the German Indie medical community of that time. Many of these casualties were caused by older weapons such as muskets, which while still remaining in use throughout the coming conflict, would gradually find itself displaced by Indonesian, Yucatanian, (and later New Californian) firearms.

Speaking of New Californian firearms, the well-established merchant company, the Gun Runners, would end up seeing great profit this year. With many New Californian citizens stocking up on large amounts of weapons and ammunition to either head to the untamed frontier to defend against hostile wildlife and settle it, or hunting them… extensively. Often for food, but also for other reasons such as gathering hides, which some New Californian citizens would sell for profit. The Gun Runners would use these record profits to facilitate expansion of their operations, with a few ambitious members of the company opting to set up shop in the German Indies after getting a rundown of the international situation (especially after word meetings with prominent American officials and the NCR began spreading around). Seeing an opportunity to further multiply their profits and expanding to providing advisors to the factions that make up the current war in the Indies.

- The Courier despite having extensive connections within and the ability to get a job whenever he wanted with the NCR Postal Service, has made his way to the German Indies, one of the special objectives he's been ordered to do is make his way to the East Coast (or Singapore) and obtain advanced computing hardware for the NCR! However, that isn't really the highest on the priority list for him, as he's got money to make from doing jobs for the lazy bastard bureaucrats, engaging in combat against the communist backed rebels on contract for the Gun Runners. As for the aforementioned computer mission, the Courier will use his resources and connections to find a way to the United States and steal their computers. The main reason he chose the East Coast over Singapore was due to the United States having to deal with Columbia, and being easier to sneak into through either the coast or border. In which he'll sneak into the West Virginia computer labs… Next year.

- The addictive Chem known as Jet begins making an appearance across various nations, though particularly in Californie - as mentioned above - and the German Indies. The Chem has quickly seen mass-use by many in the battlefields of the Indies alongside regular civilians, which it seems the war has led into using addictive substances to forget their troubles.

-Meanwhile, Sanctuary Crater's denizens continue their adaptations to the wider world… Without the threat of a decaying ozone layer, some industrialist Leucrocottans would push for greater efforts in mining the virgin territory outside their slice of Serinarcta…

Europe

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The usage of morse code (And some rudimentary mimicry akin to ravens and parrots) amongst the Forktails has become the subject of fascination amongst social and art circles of Western Europe, with some literary circles in France undertaking efforts to learn more of their culture. Trying to transcribe stories dictated to them by Forktails has resulted in a few short stories, poems, and novels being published in the French literary scene.

Various Jarldoms in Frysii have begun something akin to centralization, or at least, improving connections between them. Not everyone was pleased by the centralizing efforts of the Jarl class though, which provoked a handful of notable protests throughout the region. Even amongst the centralizers there were disagreements between those who wanted all Jarls to hold equal standing and those who wanted some kind of higher power to manage and direct the roadways (be that an Althing council or unpopular concept of Kings). Along with this, basic primary schooling is in the beginning stages of being established, for both children and adults. This helps eliminate the immediate need for thrall educators, making great progress towards the whole "not enslaving people" thing on the Norse-Frysii's end.

The escalation of hostilities in the German Indies has caught the attention of the general public of the French and German, with calls to begin providing support gaining steam amongst some prominent officials such as Joseph Goebbels. In fact, some within the German and French governments begin to see great opportunity in the German Indies. Seeing it as either a chance to test out new firearms, or as a release valve to release radicals (encouraging SERF agents to leave) so they don't pose a direct threat to the German public safety, and spread the revolution abroad.

- The ever evolving War of the Wolves continues to rock the boat of western Europe. Oceania has also been paying some close attention to the ongoing events unfolding within their part of the world (Atleast what they're knowledgeable of anyway), practically and the Scandinavian peninsula with ever increasing interest, and concern. The former has the upper party organizing plans to begin smuggling arms, while the latter has resulted in the Ministry of Truth spreading propaganda to the proles regarding the brutal raids conducted by the Volksreich… were actually the NCI conducting a false flag attack against Airstrip One.

The few minutes of hate is being increasingly directed at prominent Celtic political figures such as the Empress Bwdica the Third being rather common sights, along with depictions of Cymru closely matching older stereotypes of the Celtic peoples as degenerate and uncivilized, needing to be "saved" in a very White-Savior way.

When word of this being spread to the populace gets around to the general public of Cymru, much of the populace nationwide (and particularly the border regions) begin to dread a potential upcoming conflict. Prompting the military to conduct further exercises with the German and French militaries in preparation to defend their home. Some Celtic citizens are worried enough that they've began emigrating to either French, more specifically in the Bretagne peninsula which itself has a Celtic culture (Also reignited years before due to Cymru), or Karpetani (Celtic Iberia) now finding itself transforming into a jewel of the imperial crown, giving greater access to the Mediterranean and Rainshadow.

Demonstrations to further promote the status and official use of the Breton language have occurred in major settlements in the region, although the French government hasn't commented (nor did they consider it a high priority) on any potential changes in the linguistic laws. Considering ongoing tensions with Oceania, and the War of the Wolves in Scandza.

- The War of the Wolves continues to ravage the Nordic nations, now having the silent gaze of Oceania, who have become increasingly more paranoid and radical, seeking to divert German and French resources away from tensions on the border with Cymru and instead use the Volksreich Midgard as a way of wearing the nations down and keeping up the forever war, until the time comes to strike… whenever that will be. Spillover from the conflict continues to plague Europe at large, with the North Sea becoming a hotbed of conflict between non-affiliated Vikings and Vikings who associate with the Volksreich. Tragically, this causes ships from Cymru to get caught in the crossfire, with one infamous incident resulting in a Celtic merchant and his crew being brutally executed after being caught up in a Volksreich raid on the coast. The Volksreich's efforts to conquer portions of Njord in Viken and Hrafn Ytra's growing resistance have begun to falter, with some of their gains reversed by the end of the year.

Despite some setbacks this year, the Volksreich does manage to get a small lifeline in covert support by a mysterious group meeting with the "People's King" Mangi, who has begun taking over more day-to-day operations due to Reventlow's condition having worsened. While now an ardent Windukist, Magni cares much less for ideological or racial purity than the High Chancellor, focusing more on settling the blood-feud against his half-brother, Þorolfr, and these benefactors just so happens to be supplying his forces with the firearms to carry out the task. These weapons come from Oceania's stocks of surplus weapons and ammunition, so while not exactly top of the line, they're more than good enough for the job when their mysterious advisors assist them in training them in maintaining the guns and supplying ammunition to them. The parts of the firearms commonly found on Volksreich have their serial numbers filed off. Giving the Oceanians plausible deniability should they end up captured by the enemy.

Africa and The Middle East

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- Palestine holds an election this year aaaaand… It's a sweep for the People's movement, or the Tahlah, with them gaining more seats thanks to the Palestinian economy showing excellent growth under their administration. Although other parties such as the Country's Party representing the Arab rural interests, and the Canaanist movement continue to see some grassroots success, showing a somewhat promising performance despite ultimately losing to the candidates from the People's Movement.

The Sinai peninsula and its development has continued to remain a high priority within the Palestinian government's agenda. With settlement having made further progress with migrants from Germany and France, as well as Scandinavian refugees also looking for better opportunities.

The Suez Project progresses at a steady pace. With increasing traffic from both Asia and Europe becoming extremely lucrative for the Palestinians. Subsequently, they further develop the canal facilities to handle the increased traffic. Like the Suez Project, the Sinai Space Center also contributes heavily to the developing economy of the region. With the Jet production facility beginning operations in the second quarter of the year. According to predictions made by some Palestinian economists, this facility will be of great benefit to the development and diversification of the Palestinian economy at large, marking a major milestone for the nation's industrialization efforts.

Although NCR relations with the NCI (which means by extension the Palestinians) remain negative, some Followers of the Apocalypse have made their way to Palestine to obtain advanced training in technological, educational, engineering, and humanitarian methods to better treat problems that plague everyday New Californian society and to build a better quality of life for their home. A few members of The Followers end up making a stop in Rainshadow to observe the Forktails and Mantis Tribe in person, and are amazed at what they find.

- The Mantis Tribe begins seeing large-scale adoption of Morse Code as a communication tool thanks to the assistance of the Forktails. It eases communication efforts between them and the international community at large.

Lifeblood consumption continues to be considered unclean, although rumors of its existence have spread out, though not to a coherent degree that anyone who would be interested are doing anything. Along with the Forktails visiting Mantis Tribe lands keenly hope they don't accidentally offend the locals. Further close geographic contact and cultural exchange between the Mantis Tribe and the Forktails has become the subject of interest amongst some Franco-Palestinian research teams operating within the region.

Certain segments of Forktail cultures have begun to further centralize, especially along the coast and islands, where large townships and ports are popping up for ease of trade, especially around NCI research facilities with a few exceptions. Mantis Tribe merchants begin seeing Forktails become a new customer demographic to conduct trade deals with. One product that has become a common sight in transactions between them outside the inventions of man is Wombler meat. Their meat ends up becoming a new dish in Mantis cuisine that becomes one of the more notable exchanges made since first contact between Mantis and Forktail was made. The meat has also been popular with a few human visitors, such as the Norse and former Columbians.

Forktail culture, such as Artwork and song has made its way to Mantis Tribe lands, some of the former ends up being displayed in a wide variety of ways in Mantis society, while the latter become commonly heard at public areas. Further development of the Rainshadow region has resulted in an unofficial trade network spanning multiple nations and cultures.

Asia and Oceania

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- China continues to do relatively well for itself all things considered, not too much other than organization of expeditionary efforts by the government to set up garrisons at the sites of important cities in other unoccupied parts of China in an attempt to get the jump on other versions of China that might appear.

With regards to internal politics, the LKMT is holding an internal party election, with the Provisional Action Committee performing relatively well thanks to the efforts of Song Qingling. However the hold of Wang Jingwei's Revolutionary Comrades Association in the party and government bureaucracy is hindering her efforts to consolidate power, with them resigning en masse from government positions.. While they were quickly replaced it gave a brief shock for the new Revolutionary Committee government, recognizing its fragile situation.

- Sukarno and the Government of Indonesia begin to organize further cooperation with Palestine, seeing it as a good example of an efficient secular Socialist state, and replicate the harmony between the different religions and clamp down on both ethnic and sectarian tensions. Both China and Indonesia continue to build both political and economic ties with the United States, which has increasingly become a surprisingly good near-ally for the two nations. In foreign policy, China would increase cooperation with the NCI and especially Singapore.

- Korea continues to see waves of Japanese emigration across the Pacific Ocean to North America, with some of the first Chosen-Japanese migrating to the NCR over the course of the year, seeing either seeking better opportunities there, or for political reasons due to aligning with the New Californian distaste for communism, communist-sympathizers or communist-adjacent sympathizers such as Wesley. Some Chosen-Japanese end up migrating away from the United States from the East coast all the way to the NCR due to the aforementioned ideological reasons due to tensions and competition with other immigrants such as Koreans.

- Singapore continues to see extensive growth over the course of the year, thanks to cooperation with its neighbors, as well as making some expansions onto the peninsula to their north with some assistance from Indonesia. Exports of computing equipment and training in technological fields to other members of the NCI continues to contribute to the growth of the Singaporean tech industry. With imports for materials needed resulting in further infrastructural development of the ports to increase import/exports. Cooperating with Yucatan, further military materiel support to the native liberation movements of the German Indies, specifically the Wayuu in the Northern regions and the Musicans in the southern regions. A modest number of advisors made up of Koreans, Indonesians, Chinese, and Singaporeans have begun to arrive as well.

The reports of New California Gun Runners providing support to the Colonials was cause for concern amongst the Internationalist cause, which resulted in the aforementioned advisors being given further supplies in order to continue their mission of liberation. Reports from the advisors back to their home governments also mention finding Jet and its effects on the performance and behavior of those using it for both combat purposes on the field, and the addictive recreational potential it has. Raising concerns amongst some officials of a potential drug crisis breaking out in the German Indies, and potentially spreading to Asia itself.






also I reclaim

 

[Nevis]

Thanks for the update, I think the two Californias offer a lot of opportunities for shenanigans. It should be fun!