NationStates Jolt Archive

It the middle of the day, well, if such a thing really existed in northern Callisdrun. All through the city of Drun, there was a great commotion. Everyone was about, clamoring about what was happening on “Holy Hill,” the site of all the most important temples and churches in Callisdrun. News helicopters braved the winter winds to go to the site.

At the hill, chaos reigned. Mobs waving their axes demanded justice for what was, in their minds, a most high crime. Several weeks earlier, two men from Comatica had arrived, ostensibly as tourists. At first, they behaved as such, but after seeing the pagan temples on Holy Hill, they began attempting to convert people to their interpretation of Roman Catholicism. They were peaceful about it at first, but as time had gone on, they had become more and more belligerent. Recently, they had started calling the pagan priestesses and priests heretics, calling for their deaths and for a crusade against Callisdrunian paganism.

And then today, they had apparently harassed the high priestess of Ithtyr, calling her a “damnable whore,” and threatening her with death. And then they had attempted to burn down the temple of Ithtyr itself. They discovered that stone does not burn well. When word got out of this, a mob formed to attempt to bring them to justice. Not even the Catholic cathedral on Holy Hill gave them shelter. In their flight, after being refused by every church, they came to the rebuilt Mormon temple. In it they sheltered while the assembled crowd outside became more and more furious.

The King and Prime Minister watched the unfolding drama on the news.
“Two unlicensed missionaries, after attempting to burn down the Temple of Ithtyr, have sheltered from their pursuers in the Mormon temple. The crowd appears to be getting more and more aggressive.” The news commentator spoke quickly on the TV.

“We should probably send some police or maybe even troops to diffuse the situation,” the King said with concern in his voice.
The prime Minister quickly went to the phone and made the order. However, it was too late, as one minute later, the news went back to the story.

“Uh oh, it appears things are heating up.” The news then showed the crowds surge forward, pushing past the bishop attempting to hold them back and running to the temple. Screams and gunshots followed. “It appears that the crowd has broken into the temple.”

“Oh no,” the King and Prime Minister said in unison. Prime Minister Anne Eriksen noted, “Wherever these guys come from, they’re not going to be happy about this.”

“What could be expected, though? The two were obviously idiots,” replied King Haakon, as the image of the Mormon temple being burned down (again,) while the two Catholic crazies were carried out, struggling, by the crowd flashed across the TV.

The next morning, there was no Mormon temple.

In front of the temple of Ithtyr, the corpses of the two missionaries were held to the trunks of trees by several metal stakes. They had suffered violent deaths, gashes from axes scoring their bloody bodies. Vicious bite marks adorned their throats.

The police found no clues amid the carnage. Almost everyone in Callisdrun carried a one handed axe, and 15% of the population were Moroii, so neither the axe wounds or bite marks revealed anything.

Emperor Titus paced his darkly lit office, Senatorat Manducus Cendalova seated near him, watching Titus struggle within his own thoughts. Manducus had watched this go on for an hour now, Titus occasionally halting to think aloud or to order his assistant to bring the two a pitcher of water. Titus had admitted that his throat was dry and parched.

Titus halted one last time when General Regulus Demius entered his office.

"Emperor Titus," Regulus said, rather breathlessly, kneeling down as he spoke. "I rushed as soon as I heard the news that something was wrong. Tell me what has happened."

Titus nodded. "Please sit down. " He offered Regulus a chair.

As the general took it, Titus sighed. "It appears that two citizens of Comatica illegally entered Callisdrun. They claimed to be missionaries of the Roman Catholic religion, and illegally attempted to forcibly convert Callisdrun's largely Pagan society."

"I see," said Regulus, crossing his legs.

"They went as far as to try to burn a Pagan temple down, and as a result, the angry mob on Holy Hill tore them to pieces."

"Someone must be held responsible," said Regulus, appaled.

"There is no one to prosecute. But I think it is fair to ask for a written apology for the deaths of these two citizens, whose children shall grow up without parents. And the apology shall be signed by all members of the federal government. Failure in cooperation shall result repercussions. Minor, of course."

"Is this your final word?" Asked Senatorat Manducus from the shadows.

"Make it so."

Bump...waiting for Callisdrun.

King Haakon read the letter and then handed PM Anne Eriksen, who read it twice to make sure she wasn't misreading it. "They're demanding an apology?!"

Haakon simply said "It would appear so. How this is our fault I don't know, but they certainly seem to think that way."

"They've certainly got nerve." Anne was quite irritated. "They let two... two... terrorists... militants... fanatics.... whatever you want to call them, get passports, and come to our country, where they try to force people to convert, along the way insulting, no, threatening a very important religious leader, attempting to set fire to a cherished historic building, and then blame it on us?!" She paced the office. "This is hogshit. We should demand that they apologize to us!"

The king did not so much as raise his voice. "I shall decline to apologize then. I won't demand an apology from them, though."

Message to Emperor Titus:
"We see no reason to apologize. The deaths of two people who were idiotic vandals at best and could be described using the English word 'terrorists,' should hardly come as a surprise considering the actions that led to their demise, and we do not hold ourselves responsible either for their actions, or for the actions of individuals in response. Furthermore, even if we so inclined to apologize for their end, getting the signature of every single member of the Unified Government (we assume this is what you mean by 'Federal Government') would be next to impossible. We will, however, send back their remains, in caskets at our own expense, as it would make no sense whatsoever not to. Fare thee well.
-King Haakon IX"

Titus issued this statement to King Haakon IX:

With all due respect, your declination has somewhat angered me. The Comatic citizens that entered Callisdrun were in no way associated with the Comatic government. They believed that they were sent by God, according to following investigations, and that Paganism is evil, and must be destroyed, one temple at a time. This, of course, is not the view of the Comatic government, and not even the view of Roman Catholicism. Yet, had you cooperated with our request for an apology, this situation would not be as elevated as it is now. The contents of the apology would have been kept confidential inside the government, and would not have been publicized. But, because of your failure to issue an apology, I declare a level 2 International Offensive. This is in no way a military mobilization or hostile gesture. This Offensive includes only minor restrictions. The government will not concentrate its energy on Callisdrun, but it will watch it's moves somewhat idly, as will the military. And, because the intruders were Comatic, we believe that Callisdrunian citizens will act somewhat coldly toward Comatic tourists, no matter what their beliefs. So, I have declared Callisdrun too dangerous for tourism, and will restrict civilian travel to Callisdrun. This will not result in an embargo, and businessmen will be allowed to travel there as well, but if Callisdrun becomes more dangerous than we initially thought, then more restrictions and possibly a minor embargo will be placed.

--Emperor Titus

"Just as the Comatic citizens who attempted terrorist actions were in no way associated with the government of Comatica, the Callisdrunian citizens who made retaliatory actions were not associated with the government of Callisdrun. If we thought that our government was somehow at fault for the results of the terrorists... idiotic actions, than we would make a formal apology, but even that would not be able to include the signatures of every single member of the Unified Government, as such would be impossible."
-King Haakon IX