NationStates Jolt Archive

The old city of Nauthánger was set on a high, relatively hilly site near the confluence of two rivers, the Faüstea and Helinône, far from the nation’s capital in west-central Xirnium. A Roman military settlement called Naumicum had been founded here in the early second century of the Common Era, and at the time it had marked the furthermost extent of Emperor Trajan’s imperial rule. Just beyond this Roman provincial capital had stood the impenetrably dark forests of the Elvêrin Mountains, and over their misty peaks was found the ancient city of Nyphëlhelm, nearest of the free Xirniumite city-states of the north.

Modern Nauthánger was a gleaming postmodern metropolis of polished steel and mirror glass, though really it was only a relatively minor city when compared with the greatest urban centres of the Eternal Republic. It had flourished greatly in the centuries after its founding and grew exceedingly wealthy during the Renaissance, particularly with the arrival of merchant bankers, artists and intellectual thinkers from Neúvenärta and Iáthërn. As early as the fifteenth century it had become something of a major printing centre in Northern Europe, and from the seventeenth century it had established itself as the silk-manufacturing capital for the region of Vestrânor.

The Industrial Revolution had brought important changes to Nauthánger and an economy based mainly upon iron foundries and textile, furniture and porcelain manufactories. Now crippled by decades of environmentally friendly legislation and restriction, the petroleum-refining industry to the metropolis’ south had once been one of the largest in Xirnium, exporting kerosene and fuel oils throughout the republic. No longer, however, did acrid black soot belch forth from its lonely terracotta brick smokestacks, instead what few historical examples remained stood mute testimony to a now dimly-remembered industrial past.

Like all major Xirniumite cities, Nauthánger was an important centre for higher education, perhaps the foremost in the province outside Nyphëlhelm, and the seat of a number of notable universities, polytechnic institutions and academies. The Universities of Nauthánger I, II and III had been established in the early sixties as successors to the original University of Hwên-Nauthánger, an ancient institution of learning founded some time in the murky late thirteenth century. Although quite young by the standards of the better known giants of Xirniumite academia, the universities had long since forged a formidable reputation of their own.

The University of Hwên, or Nauthánger I, taught primarily medicine, dentistry, engineering and the sciences, with numerous well-funded research centres and an observatory in the Elvêrin Mountains. The University of Ephôrian, or Nauthánger II, was concerned with languages and letters, history and literature, philosophy and the fine arts. The University of Esquiládris, or Nauthánger III, was a university of economics, law, and the political and social sciences.

Except from a cluster of large buildings near the prestigious Fâlch-Naüstaràth Public Library and the Vestrânor Museum of National Antiquities, the universities’ many facilities were spread rather widely throughout the vibrant metropolis. The primary campus of the University of Nauthánger III was situated in the heart of the city, comprising a number of monumental steel-and-glass buildings constructed in an elegant postmodernist style. At the time that they had been built, the campus structures represented the avant-garde of “green” architectural thought in Xirnium, reflecting fashionable concern for environmentally responsible, energy-conserving buildings.

In aesthetically appropriate places, roofs constructed of lightweight iron and chromed steel vaults allowed the faint grey daylight of the Eternal Republic’s overcast skies to filter inside and illuminate the vast uncluttered interiors of the university. Rectilinear shapes did not overwhelm the viewer, but instead merged seamlessly with asymmetrical, swirling angles and curving, freely flowing forms. The clever use of glazed transparency and cantilever construction lent a fantastical weightless quality to the work. Thin exterior walls sandwiched slender aluminium blinds between taut polished glass planes. Overall, the affect was of pristine cleanness and soaring optimism.

A small handful of students, six women and two men, clustered near the entrance of one of the impressive modern buildings. They smiled a little at one another as they looked around. All eight were from the Confederated Peoples and had only been to Xirnium once before, to visit the university as prospective students. They had met on the aeroplane and, somewhat nervous about being so new and foreign, had made fast friends with one another. Despite their nervousness, they were extremely excited and were eager to begin their classes. They all had Xirniumite Politics, Government and Society first, an introductory political science class, which was nice. It allowed them to ease into things gradually.

The first class was held in a packed semicircular auditorium whose seats must have accomodated several hundred new students at least. From its roof were suspended various floating panels of different sizes, perhaps for acoustical reasons. Professor Ingeltrúde Alyännän introduced herself as the director of the undergraduate politics programme. A multitude of unit guides were handed out and the structure of the subject, including the required contact hours per week and method of assessment, was described in detail.

The eight Confederals listened quietly, looking through their unit guides.

‘I strongly recommend that each of you carefully study your handbooks when you get a spare moment,’ Professor Alyännän explained from her lectern, adjusting her glasses. The lecturer wore a black academic gown and silk taffeta lined hood in addition to a pair of golden pince-nez.

‘The required reading for this unit is listed on page seven of the blue handout, Mörfindönion’s I think,’ continued the professor, checking her notes. ‘Let me see. Ah yes, Xirniumite Democracy in Theory and Practice. Make sure you obtain the latest edition. I think overall that it’s a good textbook, certainly we will be referring back to it constantly throughout the term, but some students might find it a little overwhelming in sheer detail. I recommend that everyone also purchase or borrow Saúthron and Silivrêthiel’s text, which explains the same topics in a simpler and more concise format.’

The Confederals took all of this down. They enjoyed the rest of the hour. It was a fairly familiar experience, the introductory lecture. When they were through, they hurried over to the book store in a group to get the required text. Afterwards, they went over to the Union House’s café for lunch.

Sipping a glass of caraway-flavoured akvavit, Félix Arphênon-Néndien was the first in the hall to notice the Confederals. He sat alone at a table, with a relatively simple yet appetizing meal of fresh bread, butter and cheese with pickled and marinated herring at his side. An open book lay in front of him, and as Félix ate his lunch he periodically jotted down notes in a blank exercise book. He looked up briefly at the small group of obviously foreign students as they entered the hall, smiling a little with amusement before returning to his work. The Confederals sat together at one table, eating a light snack while talking quietly and looking around the room.

Two ladies, Liésbeth Vördred and Agnétha Naglâthirel, spotted the new students from their own table. The Confederals had that air about themselves that immediately identified them as first year undergraduates, and after whispering briefly to each other the Xirniumites decided to come over and introduce themselves. Smiling friendlily, one of them, Agnétha, handed out some brightly coloured flyers and invited the Confederals to a Socialist Alternative meeting next Friday.

Elizabeth Fuller was originally from North Roanoke. She had brown hair, which she wore fairly short, and she also had glasses. She was a little bit on the chubby side and was dressed rather out of Xirniumite fashion in a pair of blue jeans, a white tee shirt with a moderate v-neck, and a pair of sneakers. She smiled up at Agnétha as she looked over the flyer.

‘So you’re a member of the Socialists?’ Elizabeth asked rather pointlessly as she adjusted her glasses.

‘Oh no, well I mean, well yes,’ Agnétha said with a nervous smile. ‘Yes, naturally,’ she added proudly.

Originally from the city of Nyphëlhelm, Agnétha was a pretty young lady with ash blonde hair and a fresh, fair complexion. Her hair was worn unusually short for a Xirniumite, hanging just above the shoulders in a playfully bobbed style, and she was dressed fashionably in a clingy white silk blouse, a short black skirt with heeled midcalf boots, and a knitted pink cardigan. Judging by her carefully applied makeup and perfectly made-up hair, one could tell that Agnétha spent a great deal of time during the mornings preening and prettying herself in front of a mirror.

‘But, I mean, you don’t have to be a socialist or anything to come along,’ Agnétha added hurriedly. ‘We’d still be glad to have you!’ The Xirniumite was beginning to feel a little panicky, although it was hard to tell with all her cheerfulness. ‘Actually, um... Lúcian! Come over here!’

The Confederals looked over to see who she was talking to. Lúcian Eleusiálwën was a tall, pale young gentleman with bright dark eyes and clever, incisive features. Having just come in from Nauthánger’s cold, he wore a long grey overcoat in addition to his scarf and tie.

‘Oh, hello Agnétha. Hello Liésbeth,’ he said with casual ease, greeting both with an exchange of kisses. Lúcian cast his eyes briefly over the foreign students and then looked back at his friends. ‘Yes?’

‘New students,’ Agnétha explained, smiling warmly at the Confederals.

‘Yes, I noticed,’ agreed Lúcian with wry grin. ‘Welcome to Nauthánger III, I’m Lúcian,’ the gentleman said, politely extending his hand to shake with each of the Confederals in turn.

‘Oh, we wanted to show you the designs we came up with for the badges,’ spoke Liésbeth. Liésbeth was somewhat plainly, but neatly, dressed in a sophisticated long narrow skirt and lavender woollen overcoat. Her hair was a mousy brown colour, descending down her back in a series of undulating waves, and her features were bright and quick.

‘They’re for a rally next week,’ Agnétha explained for the benefit of the Confederals.

‘They seem very nice,’ Lúcian replied in a musing voice as he thoughtfully examined what the ladies had been working on.

‘We’re not really sure about the colour,’ Liésbeth explained. ‘Agnétha thinks red. I told her it would clash with the banners.’

The Confederals all shook Lúcian’s hand. They seemed rather bemused by the entire exchange, as though it were happening around them rather than to them, even though Agnétha was going out of her way to make them feel included. Agostina Cacadino needlessly smoothed the light, colourful fabric of her skirt, earning a small smile from Lúcian.

‘So do you devote most of your free time to politics?’

‘Lúcian devotes most of his free time to working,’ Liésbeth replied banteringly.

‘Technically, that isn’t free time,’ Lúcian pointed out with a dry grin.

‘We’re all involved in activism, yes,’ explained Agnétha, although that wasn’t really the question that Agostina had asked.

‘Agnétha was the vice treasurer last year at Socialist Alternative,’ explained Liésbeth.

‘Only until the second term, though. I don’t really have the time any more,’ Agnétha clarified.

‘So what actually happens at these meetings?’ asked Cathalina Trestrail.

‘Oh, we mainly share ideas and discuss contemporary issues in news and politics,’ Agnétha replied with a smile.

‘And talk about how we’re going to run candidates for the Union and SRC,’ Lúcian added with a wink.

‘Sometimes, yeah,’ Agnétha agreed with a quick smile. ‘Our club is mainly just a friendly place to hold forums on current political issues.’

‘We’re not Xirniumite citizens,’ said Machar Bain, a young man with something of a gift for putting together a great outfit without looking like any effort went into it at all. Bain was a handsome man wearing a jacket, a dark shirt without a tie and fashionable trousers, all perfectly coordinated. He spoke in a heavy Finaran brogue.

‘I think that he’s only referring to student elections,’ said Hana Ganani, smirking slightly at him as she slightly tossed her curly dark hair.

Agnétha looked a bit off put by this, she already knew of course that they weren’t Xirniumites.

‘That’s okay, I think that’s wonderful,’ she said. ‘Of course we would still be happy to see you at Socialist Alternative. And if not, I still think it’s great that you’re international students. It’s always lovely to have fresh new opinions and perspectives.’

‘It might help with our studies to get a first hand look at Xirniumite politics,’ Yae Yakuta said, running a hand through her short, raven black hair. ‘Do all the parties have youth affiliates on campus?’

‘I think so, the Progressive Democrats certainly do,’ said Liésbeth.

‘Actually, I think the Progressive Democracy club is only loosely affiliated with the XPDP,’ Lúcian told Liésbeth.

‘Yeah, and there’s also a Greens society and a group for the Social Democrats,’ Agnétha explained as if she hadn’t heard.

‘I actually worked with the Progressive Democrats in the Confederated Peoples over the summer,’ Naim Gecaj mentioned with a smile. Then he stood and gestured to a larger table a short distance away. ‘Would you three like to join us?’

‘Sure, thank you,’ replied Agnétha.

‘I’m just going to quickly go and get something to eat first,’ explained Lúcian with a brief smile, excusing himself politely.

‘We’ll bring our stuff over,’ Liésbeth said as she went to pick up her books and papers from the other table.

The Confederals moved their things as well, smiling broadly as they did so.

‘How are you finding Nauthánger III?’ asked Agnétha offhandedly.

‘It’s really nice,’ Çaxla Bahçeli said as she settled into her new seat. ‘I hope that you don't take this the wrong way but political science seems... simpler... in Xirnium than it is back home.’

'Yes? Oh,’ replied Agnétha with a strange smile. Liésbeth sat next to her and adjusted her glasses.

‘Xirniumite men are beautiful,’ Agostina commented.

‘So what do you think of the Gílda Government so far?’ Elizabeth asked the socialists, ignoring Agostina’s digression.

Agnétha laughed a little and smiled, both at Agostina’s comment and at the look she shared with her friend. ‘Yeah... Liésbeth likes Lúcian,’ she explained. ‘Why do you keep looking around, Liésbeth?’ Agnétha asked her friend with a grin. ‘He said he would be coming back.’

‘Shut up,’ said Liésbeth, a little annoyed at her childishness. ‘The Progressive Government has hurt a lot of working class families,’ she said to Elizabeth.

‘Oh? How?’ Elizabeth asked.

‘Well, the Progressive Party’s Third Way centrist economics panders to the interests of corporations and big business,’ Liésbeth explained.

At that moment Lúcian returned to the table with a glass of honey-sweetened wine and a green salad garnished with tomatoes, onions, beets and peppers.

‘They’ve sacrificed the goals of social justice for growth and the gross domestic product. Their structural reforms have attempted to deunionise the Xirniumite workplace,’ Liésbeth continued. ‘The Progressives always talk about how the Eternal Republic’s economy has entered a new, post industrial age, and that therefore the age of the collective has diminished. But they’ve forgotten that not everyone works in the tertiary industry, not everyone can work in white-collar jobs. The proletariat has been forgotten, and only the middle and upper classes are provided for in Xirnium.’

Elizabeth nodded at the rather vague answer. Yae smiled broadly at Lúcian.

‘So is anything happening tonight?’ Yae asked.

Lúcian looked mildly amused. ‘Well no doubt Agnétha and Liésbeth have something planned, a dance perhaps, or maybe a concert. I hadn’t really made any definite plans.’

‘You promised that you would come with me to the poetry reading at the Palace of Fine Arts,’ Liésbeth said, a little annoyed.

‘Sorry, yes. Of course I did. Well, see, it seems that something is happening after all,’ said Lúcian with a quick wink at Yae.

Yae laughed slightly. ‘Who’s reading?’

‘Agmánd Falèriel,’ replied Liésbeth.

‘Do you like his work?’ Yae asked no one in particular.

‘I think he’s wonderful,’ said Liésbeth, perhaps just a little icily.

‘What about you?’ she said, looking at Lucien.

‘He is quite good,’ Lúcian agreed. ‘I certainly recommend him.’

Yae smiled a little. ‘I think I might go.’

‘I think you’ll enjoy it. He’s one of the best known poets of the modern antiromantic movement,’ Lúcian explained. ‘Perhaps we could all go together.’

‘That’d be just lovely,’ said Liésbeth with the slightest hint of flatness in her voice.

‘That sounds swell,’ said Elizabeth. ‘We wouldn’t want to... interrupt... anything though,’ she said with a chiding glance at Yae.

‘No, of course you aren’t interrupting anything. We’d love to share your company,’ Liésbeth said quickly.

‘Can I come too?’ asked Agnétha with an amused smile.

‘No, you can’t,’ Liésbeth said with a bit of a grin.

‘It sounds like a plan then,’ Hana said.

‘Splendid.’