NationStates Jolt Archive


Playing Catch-Up: The Kelder Accords in Brief (OOC)

The SLAGLands
01-06-2004, 08:03
(OOC: A little catch-up thread, just to make sure everyone who cares knows what's been going on in The SLAGLands as of late, and why [ICly] the nation dropped off the radar diplomatically for a good while.

I'm also going to use this thread to introduce a rudimentary calendar system not based on the traditional BC/AD. That way, I avoid keeping things in a specific time frame while at the same time keeping things relative to each other. The years are all relative to the founding of The SLAGLands, and the months all operate under the standard solar calendar. Everything's fluid as always, though; this will just give you a good idea of how everything happened relative to everything else.)


TIMELINE:
June 4, 371 - Artifacts discovered on The Outset Islands. Team of archaeologists and scientists venture beneath the surface, discovering the tribes of the Brethren and Il Adib (literally, "The Blind"). This venture became known officially as "The Outsets Incident," or, more casually, "The Dig."
September 8, 371 - Wedding of Bodyguard Barry and S.H.O.D.A.N. in Freod. The wedding is invaded by Ortcan, one of the Adib leaders. Ortcan is killed, and, as per Adib biology, impregnates a nearby woman: then-Prime Minister Marlena Vera Cantrell.
September 29, 371 - Tribes break forth from beneath surface of the Outsets; a brief battle ensues, which ends with the calming of Esmerelda, "goddess" of the tribes.
October 29, 371 - Summit on The Outsets Incident, with honours bestowed upon those who actually entered the caves. The Outset Islands is declared an independent nation under the leadership of Esmerelda.
June 8, 372 - Ortcan Barry Cantrell is born to Prime Minister Marlena Cantrell.
December 31, 372 - Notorious SLAGLandic AI builder/rapist and financial bigwig Mark Biddlebaum is found dead in his cell. Visiting AI Sakura reports that Biddlebaum attacked her, and she killed him out of self-defense.
November 18, 373 - Doned Inglebert McIntyre, a businessman from Orgla, is elected Minister of Finance in The SLAGLands under the promise of "streamlining the nation's convoluted fiscal labyrinth" and "reducing taxes for all people." Immediate reforms see the release of hundreds of non-essential staff members within The SLAGLandic government, particularly the Tricameral Legislature.
April 7, 374 - Prime Minister Cantrell is attacked in her home just outside of SLAGTown and hospitalized. Her son Ortcan disappears.
April 11, 374 - SLAGTown Chief of Police V.V. Spitz names Ortcan the top suspect in the Cantrell attack.
November 18, 374 - Bonne Gregor Westerburg, a member of the Ministry of Community, is elected Prime Minister of The SLAGLands, edging out Bodyguard Barry.
December 15, 374 - Prime Minister Westerburg breaks tradition by announcing that, rather than choosing the election's runner-up as his Minister of State, he will select Janine Mendehlson, a noted libertarian and former mayor of Orgla. Runner-up Bodyguard Barry leaves The SLAGLands for The Outset Islands.
January 1, 375 - An explosion detonates inside a New Year's celebration in SLAGTown, killing 2 and injuring 14. No suspects are named, but Chief of Police Spitz suspects terrorist activity.
January 15, 375 - A second terrorist attack strikes the Fellanno Offices in SLAGTown, this time in the form of a gas attack. No one is injured, but 38 employees are hospitalized. Markings on the wall read, in Salabim (language of The Outset Islands and the "old" SLAGLandic tongue), "Adib Liberation, Adib Vengeance."
January 17, 375 - Prime Minister Westerburg announces that the government will do everything in its power to prevent attacks from this new terror group, dubbed the ALAV in light of the markings on the wall. Potential ALAV sympathizers are rounded up and questioned.
January 24, 375 - Major leaders within the Triumvirate of Yut visit The Outset Islands, where they are greeted by Esmerelda and Bodyguard Barry--now assuming the alias "Bari," his Adib name. Bari explains that a greater conspiracy may be at work within The SLAGLandic government.
February 11, 375 - In cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Psychology announces the desire to investigate the psyche of Il Adib children born to human parents. A volunteer program is established to allow parents to bring their Adib children to specialized clinics for study.
March 7, 375 - The ALAV strikes again, this time in the form of a bombing of a major dock in the port town of Kelder. 18 are killed and 27 more injured.
March 9, 375 - The Ministry of Internal Security announces that the top suspect in the ALAV attacks is none other than Bodyguard Barry. Minister of State Westerburg demands that Barry be surrendered from The Outsets so that he may be tried. Barry refuses to return.
March 14, 375 - Embargoes and economic sanctions are placed on The Outset Islands by Prime Minister Westerburg and the Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry of Psychology steps up its Adib studies.
March 31, 375 -Prime Minister Westerburg announces a forthcoming Moot, in which top SLAGLandic officials will meet in secret to discuss domestic and international policy. Those pledged to attend the Moot include Prime Minister Westerburg, Minister of State Janine Mendehlson, Minister of Commerce Maria Denada Elsington, Minister of Commons Chevre Renee Pollux, Minister of Community Alfred Albert "Al-Al" Brodine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wololo, Minister of Defense Redford "Red" Groening, and Minister of Finance Doned McIntyre. The Moot is scheduled to occur on April 15.
April 8, 375 - A member of the Ministry of Intelligence, Jamie Chandler, discovers documents linking the terrorist attacks to the Mirellis, a notorious organized crime ring associated with Mark Biddlebaum. Documents validating the pay for the attacks are traced to Doned McIntyre. Chandler also discovers evidence that McIntyre plans to detonate a bomb in the forthcoming Moot, killing everyone at the meeting except himself and making him the new Prime Minister.
April 9, 375 - More than 30 SLAGLandic government officials are arrested for conspiracy, murder, embezzlement, and numerous other charges. Among those arrested are SLAGTown Police Chief V.V. Spitz, Minister of Psychology Tarrah Fallsway, and Minister of State Doned McIntyre. All SLAGLandic officials involved in the conspiracy are later found guilty and stripped of their titles.
April 11, 375 - A search of McIntyre's home leads to the discovery of the body of Marlena Cantrell's son, Ortcan, dead only a few days. The Ministry of Psychology is also forced to release all Il Adib children under study. Prime Minister Westerburg issues an apology to Bari and the people of The Outset Islands, inviting Esmerelda and Bari to attend a summit in the city of Kelder to discuss the recent transpirings.
May 25, 375 - Prime Minister Westerburg, Minister of State Mendehlson, Minister of Commons Pollux, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wololo represent The SLAGLands at the Kelder Summit. Queen Esmerelda, Prince Bari, Brethren Chief Portent, and Adib Chief Mordiar represent The Outset Islands at this conference. Former Prime Minister Cantrell is invited to speak and mediate the conference.
May 27, 375 - The Kelder Accords are signed by all in attendance. Pamela Whiffleman, a top financial advisor in Newhart, is elected Minister of Finance.

PROVISIONS OF THE KELDER ACCORDS:

1. Members of the races "Il Adib" and "The Brethren of Shade"--the principle tribes of The Outset Islands--will be granted undeniable freedom due to all sentient beings, as per SLAGLandic and Outset law as well as the Charter of the Triumvirate of Yut.
2. The Outset Islands and The SLAGLands will receive the mutual trade and diplomacy status of "friendly," allowing for free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas between the two nations, as well as uninhibited travel.
3. SLAGLanders in The Outset Islands shall be greeted with the same rights due to all residents of The Outset Islands.
4. Outsetters in The SLAGLands shall be greeted with the same rights due to all residents of The SLAGLands.
5. A plural board of diplomats, the Emerald Heights Freedom and Rights Advocacy Council (EHFRAC), shall be formed. The EHFRAC shall be responsible for representing the needs of either The SLAGLands or The Outset Islands in opposite nations, enforcing the resolutions of the Kelder Accords, and reporting on a biannual basis to the governing councils of the respective nations.
6. Both The SLAGLands and The Outset Islands shall select, by majority election, a Chief Advocate to serve a term of one year, with possibility of reelection open for life. The Chief Advocates will be responsible for governing each sector of the EHFRAC, appointing officials as needed, and reporting back to their respective governing councils when necessary.
7. The Outset Islands selects Prince Bari to fulfill the role of Chief Advocate for its people.
8. The SLAGLands selects Marlena Vera Cantrell to fulfill the role of Chief Advocate for its people.
9. The terms of the Kelder Accords are binding and permanent, until such time that a council equal in number to the initial signees shall convene to rediscuss the terms of these accords.
10. Violation of the Kelder Accords will result in economic sanctions, among other things. Extreme human rights violations--particularly those within the borders of The SLAGLands--may be reported to the Triumvirate of Yut.