NationStates Jolt Archive

Before we get started here, I'd like to stress this is a LOOOOONNNG Term RP, charting the "European" discovery and colonisation of Southern Africa (ie everything south of the Sudan) and the Native Tribe's reaction and adventures as well.

The projected timeframe is 1495-1975, and it important that potential RPers realise that this RP is linked to the NS region of Southern Africa, so the ultimate outcome has already been decided. A map of the Region as it stands today can be found here:

http://groups.msn.com/NSRalishohan/maps.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=60

That's not to say that this won't be a rewarding RP- at the moment Roycelandia and Lusaka are involved, but there are room for some decent RPers to take on the roles of African Tribes, Imperialist Powers, or even Missionary Societies as we recreate the Age of Imperialism, starting in 1495 with the arrival of Roycelandian Colonists on the eastern Coast of Southern Africa, somewhere near RL Dar-es-Salaam...

Be it knowne unto all who shall heareth this proclamation, that I, Captain Arthur Brannigan, acting on behalf of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Martin IV, do hereby exercise the Royal Prerogative of Acquisition and Colonisation in regardes to all lands that shall be claimed on behalf of the Crowne of Roycelandia, lying over the Oceane Sea from our glorious Homelande and not being part of the Empire of another Civilised Ruler, and that upon Acquisition these landes shall forever be parte of the Empire of Roycelandia, to be used and enjoyed bye The Emperor and all Imperial Subjects for all Tyme, without interference or interruption by any persone or Natione in any waye

-The Imperial Proclamation, officially acquiring East Africa for the Roycelandian Crown, April 25th, 1495 (Original on display in the Port Imperial Museum, Roycelandian East Africa)

On the beach near the present site of Dar-Es-Salaam, East Africa- April 25, 1495

Captain Brannigan finished reading the Royal Proclamation, and nodded to the Flag-Raising Party. Two sailors erected a small flagpole above the High-Water mark, and with great pomp and ceremony, the Roycelandian Flag was raised over East Africa.

A bonfire was lit on the beach to signal the Colonists and Crew aboard the ship Blue Whale that the land was Roycelandian and that the Colonists could come ashore and begin the task of establishing some sort of settlement and acquiring supplies.

Everyone there on that Historical Day had the same thought: What would the Future hold for them? What adventures would they experience? And had they made the right decision leaving their homes in Roycelandia and sailing halfway across the world, into the great unknown, to start a new life?


OOC: If you're interested, either post below or Telegram me. All the nations currently in Southern Africa have automatic Invites, should they wish to partake in what I hope will be a rewarding and interesting RP...

OOC: Mark for interest, how I get more free time soon.

Though the day would come that saw Al Khals confined between the rivers Morogoro on Lusaka’s southern border, and Rovuma on Mozambique’s northern frontier, Al Khali influence had not always been so restricted.

25th of April, 1495- near Dar Es Salaam

“Well, friend, you are always saying that, ‘a change is as good as a rest’ if there’s truth to a single thing that ever came from your mouth, let my feet pray that be so.?”

Habib’s tired words did little to remove from his companion’s face the furrows that depicted his earnest concern at what the pair had just heard from the local merchant whose spices now burdened their mules. Christians this far south, can it really be so?

It was traders such as these that would carry the word to the fortified islands of Zanzibar and Mafia. White men in Southern Africa. A good opportunity for the expansion of trade, thought some, a potentially bloody backlash to the fall of Constantinople feared others.

The Emir at Dar es Salaam’s small Al Khali palace was as yet of the former conviction, and on hearing of the landings was quick to send representatives of the Al Khali Sultanate’s Zanzibar Emirate to make contact.

“Offer trade in spices, ivory, and slaves for whatever reasonable compensation they may offer. Make a good impression if you can, but at all costs we must make contact. A known mistake is better than an unknown truth!” Insisted the proverb-loving Emir.

(OOC: Vasco De Gama is due to arrive on Zanzibar in 1498, beginning the era of Portuguese East Africa. I wonder if anyone has much opinion on whether that will still be so (though different, with Roycelandia eating up a lot of what would otherwise be Portuguese). I suppose it depends on whether anyone knows/cares enough to RP Portuguese interests. If not, it looks like either Roycelandian East Africa must have been really quite massive at its height, or else we need new imperialists to rise and fall again before the modern era. There’s no way Al Khals could survive intact to the modern era and come up a vaguely socialist secular nation as we now are- someone or something has to break the Sultanate anywhere before the 1980s.)

Kingstowne, Roycelandian East Africa- April 30th, 1495

Captain Brannigan had been ordered to assume the role of Governor-General until such time as His Majesty. For most of the week, this had consisted of overseeing the construction of the first Roycelandian Settlement in Africa, named Kingstowne in honour of the Emperor.

It came as a surprise one day when Captain Brannigan's First Mate knocked on his Day Cabin door aboard the ship.

"Capt'n, emissaries from Al Karlz to see you."

Brannigan put down his Ship's Log. "Could you get them to wait a moment? Explain to them that I am not properly attired to receive the official representatives of another Ruler right this second, but shall attend to them presently, as soon as I don more fitting garments for the occaison."

"Yes, Cap'n" the First Mate said and withdrew. He ordered one of the crew to summon the Master Trader from the East Africa Company, and the Royal Scribe, to record the events of this hopefully historic first meeting...

Properly dressed, Brannigan met the Al Khali representatives in the Ward Room aboard the ship, thanking them for coming, then realising the possibility that none of them spoke English.

"May I be so forward as to enquire whether or not thou canst speaketh our Language, knowne as English?" he asked the Al Khali, very politely.

"Note to Self: Get a translator with all haste" he thought as he waited for their reply...

Bump... Anyone out there?

Captain Brannigan was sitting in the Wardroom, drumming his fingers on the table.

"Where are they? This is hardly the way to greet the representative of His Imperial Majesty!"

"They, uh, had to duck out for a bit, Cap'n" the First Mate said. "I'm sure they'll be back soon..."

"I hope so" said Cap'n Brannigan. "We all have important work to do, and it's not getting down sitting around here..."

OOC: BUMP!

(OOC: Sorry about the delay!)

The Al Khalis had experienced some difficulty in transfering chests full of diplomatic offerings from their little craft to the Roycelandian vessel. The four slaves -one Arab, two blacks, and one white man, an unfortunate Italian-born explorer who ran into pirates far north and was eventually sold into the protection of the Emir at Dar es Salaam- had strugled to contain laughter as one of their wards fell overboard between the two vessels and had to be hauled on deck looking like a drowned cat.

He was mostly irked to have washed away the scent of his expensive perfume, and grudgingly took up his place on one side of the emissary.

In all three Al Khalis came aboard with the slaves, the former carrying elaborate curved daggars with the emissary adding a sabre-like blade, the latter each hauling a chest. The foremost Al Khali introduced himself as Emissary Aban, for the Emirate of Dar es Salaam, part of the Grand Sultanate of Al Khals.

He then went on to indicate the Emir's pleasure at the decision of his hosts' nation to join the vibrant trading community of the Al Khali seaboard...

Captain Brannigan smiled and met the somewhat strangely dressed people.

"I am Captain Xavier Brannigan of the Imperial Roycelandian Trading Company. We have travelled many weeks, and have many fine things which we wish to trade. But I am being rude. May I offer you a drink? We have Tea, Ale, Wine, Mead, or Water..."

Captain Brannigan was flanked by three Imperial Marines, carrying shiny Arquebuses and broadswords. Chests from the hold, containing fine Roycelandian trade goods, had been bought onto the deck.

"Let us retire to my cabin so that we might discuss things..." Captain Brannigan explained to his guests.