NationStates Jolt Archive

Scandinvan Catholic Patriarch, Grand Cathedral of the Patriarch, Valdra:

“The Lord God has answered our prayers after ten long years of suffering under the blasphemer Niv. For ten years we were servants to a man who dared to deny the divinity of our savior Jesus Christ and refused to even acknowledge the existence of our almighty God, who created all things. Till, at least God choose to return our good Prince Godfrey to his people and intervened so that the proud folk of the Scandinvan Empire might have a leader befitting our heritage. Further, our great lord God choose to prevent Director Niv from escaping justice and guided loyal servants of the Emperor to the location of Niv and there they brought him the justice that so long awaited him.

Praise be to God! Alone does he free us from the false truths of heretics and does he grant us eternal salvation from the fires of hell that await all those who follow the Devil and accept the teachings of the Devil’s disgraceful servants. Alone, does God give us the laws that establish a moralistic society that will stand the test of time. Alone do the teachings of his most holy prophets, and of his son Jesus as interpreted by Jesus’s apostles, allow for a society that can properly exist within the realms of the planet that the Almighty created for his people.

Now I, using the powers invested in the successors of Peter which were given to him by Jesus Christ, thus do declare that Prince Godfrey, who has already followed the proper rites needed to become the Emperor of the Scandinvan Empire and has freed us from the filth of Niv, the reigning of the Glorious Empire of the Scandinvans. By the divine will of God do I now proclaim Prince Godfrey as Emperor Godfrey III, of the holy House of Erid, as the autocrat of the Scandinvan Empire and as defender of the Scandinvan Catholic Church.

Praise to God in the highest, and peace be to his people on Earth. Once more does an Emperor reign in our lands and his name is Emperor Godfrey III who shall reign as the Emperor of the Scandinvan Empire as long as the Lord God does see fit for him to do so, for as long as the Emperor is faithful so shall the people of the Empire, if they remain loyal to God, prosper.”

Emperor Godfrey III, Grand Cathedral of the Patriarch, Valdra:

“My brothers and sisters in God,

We are privileged enough to be alive in such a hollowed age as ours. Not only has God driven out Niv, with relatively few causalities, but he has seen fit to restore things to how they should rightfully be. Yet, we must not simply return to as our lives used to be, we must renew our covenant with the Lord so that the sins of our past might be forgiven and so that we might establish a secular state that embodies the virtues that God wishes to see in the world. We must return to the teachings of the prophets and apostles, we must accept the laws that God gave to each group and follow the laws of our ancestors as truly as they did if we truly wish to have eternal salvation.

For these reasons I have decided to set forth a new code of laws that are based off of the direly inspired works of the Bible. The commands given to us in the Bible shall serve as a framework for a new law system for our state that ensures that our people remain in the favor of our merciful God.

Though the news laws may be deemed as backward by some I assure you my people that the laws that will soon be implemented are indeed laws that the Lord wishes for us to follow. I have consulted with his most holy earthly representatives, the Patriarch and his Cardinals, and they have agreed that the new laws that are soon to be released are indeed the laws that our Father wished to have established as the code of any truly pious secular society.

I thank the Lord God for giving me the throne of his people and I promise to all here that I shall do what is commanded by the Lord in the holy laws as ascribed in the words of the Bible that God, in his infinite compassion and wisdom, gave to us so that we might live proper lives.

God vindicate us all and may he be forever with us in our attempts to follow the laws that he set forth, by the use of his holy messengers, in the Bible.”

Imperial & Parliamentary Decree, Scandinvan News Network:

“To honor the ways of our ancestors, and the laws set forth by God in the Bible we have decided, with consultation of holy figures, to implement the following laws so that we might established a truly holy nation, a nation of God.

Firstly we shall make new laws in regards to social order:


Divorce may only occur when adultery has been committed or when of the couple is infertile, thus rendering the couple unfit to establish a proper blood line worthy in the eyes of God.
All marriages must be first approved by a priest so that the couple might be deemed worthy in the eyes of God.
Children born out of wedlock are to be made wards of the Church till their fathers might be determined.
Once ‘bastard’ children have their fathers determined the father shall marry the mother of the child so that the family might be deemed fitting in eyes of the Lord.
It is unlawful to publicly defame God or his son Jesus. Any defamation of the two is heresy and must be punished for the sake of the community.
Sunday is declared a day by which none may do hard labor, though chores of the house are exempt from this. Any violations of this can result in a fine not exceeding two hundred Darvians.
All public buildings shall be closed for fifteen minutes at twelve and six in the evening so all might be free to say the Rosary.
Every morning citizens, of all ages and types, are required to say the Lord’s Prayer.


Secondly news laws of order shall be made for the sake of all:


All public officials must be a member of the Scandinvan Catholic Church, or be a part of a Church that is subordinate to the Doomani Pope.
God, being the creator of all things, must be honored by the government every day through communal prayer.
No local law may deny the laws set forth by the Bible.
No member of the government may keep his position is he commits blasphemy.


Thirdly, new laws regarding the property and keeping of others are now in place to affirm God's rule over our nation:


Slavery, being defended and affirmed by the Bible, is hereby recognized as a fully legal institution.
Slave may be kept as permanent property of a family and may be passed down as the owners of the slaves see fit.
Slaves may only be kept permanently if they are heretics, thieves, or Moslems.
Jewish people, as descendents of the people of Israel, shall not be allowed to be permanent slaves unless if they are criminals.
Christians, who are not heretics, may only be kept for a total of seven years as indentured servants, for they are God’s people and may not be treated as regular slaves in turn.
People who may be kept as permanent slaves are not considered truly God’s people by the Bible and thus can be treated as the owner sees fit, though if they kill their slaves or nearly kill them, they must release their family and/or said slave from bondage and accept as brothers in Christ.
People who convert to the correct religion of Jesus in bondage may not be free as the Bible tells us though we must treat them as fellows they are still slaves and must submit to the whims of their master.
Permanent slaves may be freely bought and sold in the Empire, and with other nations.
Individuals may become permanent slaves, those who are allowed to become as such in earlier laws, by selling themselves or by their parents into slavery, conquest, debt, purchase from another nation, or as declared by a Scandinvan court of law.


Laws regarding the people:


Marriage between different religious groups is hereby illegal, including Judaism.
The practice of heretical religions is banned in public places.
Heretical religions shall be considered as all non-mainstream Christian religions, Islam, and pagan religions.
Duels of honor shall be allowed.
All non-Christian religions shall be prevented from living in the same building as God-fearing Catholics. Jewish people though are exempt from this and shall be treared the same as Catholics in this regard.
No Socialist, or other ideologies inspired by the Devil, shall be tolerated in the Scandinvan Empire.


Otherwise all the laws shall be the same till further notice. God save us all from the fires of hell."

OOC: Well have fun with this one. I have effectively established a theocracy in my country. So good I hope I might create some lolz with this, thus feel free to have fun with this if you want.

A prelude to this may be found here.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=576979

Al'Išbūnah, Al'Tawā'if Al'Andalus Al'Muttaḥidah

The details of the Scandinvan Regression, as it was being preliminarily called in the Union, did not meet with much favour in the residence of Sultan Abu Saifullah Abdulhadi Wafi ibn Sabur al'Andalusi. In fact the generally mild and reclusive Andalusian premier wasted little time in deciding to address the matter officially, appearing on national television to express his deep unease over the reactionary nature of the imperial reestablishment in Valdra.

Filmed at one of his palaces in Al'Išbūnah -Lisbon, to some-, the little, middle-aged Sultan presented himself in a western suit tailored in London and spoke first in Arabic, then a clear English that hardly more than hinted at his Andalusian accent.

Ibn Sabur said that while it was very much his opinion that the domestic affairs of nations were their own, so too were the sufferings of the borderless Islamic brotherhood the concern of Muslim rulers everywhere.

"The forcible recitation of the prayers of an alien faith stand as a disrespectful indignity such as I should not dream of imposing upon the more than six and a half million Catholics of Iberia... and yet I find that laws passed today in the restored Empire of the Scandinvans may force Muslims to endure such discomfort each and every day.

"I would ask the newly risen Emperor Godfrey III and his deputies to carefully reconsider their policies in the context of a modern, global environment."

Many listeners unfamiliar with life in Al'Andalus may then be surprised by the turn that the Sultan's address would next take. Having first addressed the imposition of the Lord's Prayer on citizens without regard to their faith, Ibn Sabur only then moved on to the topic of slavery, adding what may appear a fantastic threat as if it were hardly worth attaching to an otherwise serious argument on the conduct of prayer.

"In this light I warn that the taking of observant Muslims as slaves in the Empire shall be answered by the forcible indenture until my further notice of such foreign Catholics as may be captured by the Jeish al'Andalus.

"An eye shall be taken for an eye until such time as the cessation of this provocative Scandinvan gouging."

Emperor Godfrey’s Response, Imperial Sanctum, Valgard:

“The Lord has decreed that those who deny the righteous path in their belief, those who do not believe in Christ as their savior and those who deny the authority of his chosen successors of Saint Peter, deserve nothing more then the whip or the sword as by the Lord God they are unworthy of any pity.

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB)

As I am sure Muslims will attempt to say that they do indeed seek the Lord I will simply state that they follow a man, whom they deem to a be a prophet of the Almighty, who is no more then a lying servant of Satan. They are foreign to the faith of Christ and to our lands, that is why they may become slaves to us and must be treated as the Infidels they are.

You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

For every Catholic the foul heathens in Jeish al'Andalus take we shall take ten more their Moslem brethren into bondage till they relent in their practice. If they commit genocide on our brother Catholics war is the only option left to us by them, as anything they have happen to them is a result of their own evil actions.

God defend and empower your righteous followers, for you alone may grant us victory over the numberless hordes of the non-believers who seek to grind us into dust!”

OOC: Just a quick disclaimer, all the Bible quotes I use are purely for the sake of the rp and do not reflect my own personal beliefs on the matter. Though to state this disclaimer is for you newbs who would attempt to bash me in some way, shape, or form in OOC. Though you may feel free to use any IC language you want to bash my NS nation if you want.

The Worker's State may not have had the chance to deploy our forces in assistance of your bid for power but we are still willing to give loans and assistance in rebuilding whatever ecnonomic and financial infastructures were ruined by Director Niv. Any assistance that may be needed will be given as best as we can and according to your guidelines.

-President Nevsky

The Worker's State may not have had the chance to deploy our forces in assistance of your bid for power but we are still willing to give loans and assistance in rebuilding whatever ecnonomic and financial infastructures were ruined by Director Niv. Any assistance that may be needed will be given as best as we can and according to your guidelines.

-President NevskyThough we thank you for the offer, we believe it would be best for our nation to simply use our private sector and tax revenue to rebuild any damage done during the breif conflict against the forces of Director Niv. Yet, to explain, our that since the military joined my cause there is only a minor conflict still occuring and only some damage was done as result of fighting thankfully.

God bless.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

OOC: Quick semantic note- the Jeish Al'Andalus is literally the Army of Al'Andalus, and is the blanket term covering our armed services. The nation is called Al'Tawā'if Al'Andalus Al'Muttaḥidah, or The United Taifas of Al'Andalus, the 'Taifas' being the petty kingdoms or Emirates that have risen at various times in Iberian history, such as after the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba. Today the numerous Amirs have significant local authority but are subordinate to a Sultan who rules over the whole peninsula. He has not chosen to claim for himself the whole Caliphate, partly because he is far from being the most devout Muslim leader in the world.

On Europe's Islamic peninsula, the Sultan's unusual decision to take an international stand on a matter of religious freedom had caused a minor sensation. While some 84% of the population were observantly or nominally Muslim, the tide of the Reconquista might never have been halted and rolled-back without the help of the region's Jews, who today accounted for some 7% of the population, and while 2% admitted to atheism or some minor faith and a further 2% attended different Christian Churches, the significant 5% Catholic minority had good cause to be especially unnerved.

Ibn Sabur had been an amiable Sultan, quite relaxed in relations with the Dhimma -community of non-Muslims under the protection of the state- so long as the Jizya -particular tax upon these, who were exempt from some taxes levelled upon Muslim citizens- was paid and no trouble was made. The fact that the Sultan was now talking about Catholic slaves could be nothing other than troubling, though so far no action had been taken.

It was to a Dhimmi that Ibn Sabur turned in response to the Scandinvan situation. A number of the nation's Catholics and Jews would be recruited to form a special section of the foreign ministry dedicated to observing the condition of non-Catholic -particularly Muslim- communities in the Scandinvan Empire, the Sultan apparently not wanting to send Muslims into harms way at such an uncertain and sensitive juncture lest they be targeted for aggression that could worsen the situation strategically.

In return for this service, the Dimam traveling to the Empire would be exempted from the usual 10% tax payable by those of their kind leaving the Union to conduct business, enabling some of them potentially to make money privately while also conducting surveys for the state.

Initially some twenty Catholics and Jews of Al'Andalus applied for Scandinvan temporary visas, though plans existed for a hundred more to follow once offices were established. Their organisation would report to the Sultan on life for Muslims and others in the restored Empire, and in particular would note the taking and holding of Muslims as slaves. Until such time as a significant body of evidence was compiled and judged to warrant it, no reprisals would be authorised by the state.

Still, commando sections of the Jeish Al'Andalus began major new training operations, particularly in amphibious assault and hostage rescue scenarios.

Sara reviewed the Emperor's proclomation, and the Sultan's response, then looked at a map.

"We have shipping near there." she noted. Admiral Davis nodded.

"They're acting like the ancient Crusaders that tried to convert our ancestors?" she inquired.

He looked uncomfortably at the ground. "Yes, Majesty." he said.

"Very well. I find it uncomfortable to agree with a Muhammedan." she said, "But I find also that to an extent, I am offended by the Scandinvan regression."

She turned-she had to twist a bit to bring Rabbi Liefowitz into her vision. "Rabbi, how does our Jewish community view the Empire's action?"

The Rabbi sighed. "First, they'll persecute other christians, then the Muhammedans, then, of course, they'll come after us." he said, "Historically, the Inquisition always comes after jews when they run out of easier targets."

Sara nodded. "Strikes me that way as well. My people gave your people safe haven from the Christians and the Mullahmen-er, Muslims."

"You never demanded we change or adopt your...pagan faiths." he said in agreement, "never forced us into Ghettos, never refused our rights to practice our faith, never restricted our civil rights either..." He frowned, "You aren't thinking of provoking them, are you?"

Sara shook her head, "No, no...I am thinking of asking their Emperor to do the decent thing." she said, "It might be unpopular with the Mullahmen, but at least their kin won't be trapped in dishonour."

"um..'the Decent thing'? by YOUR traditions, or Theirs?" he pressed.

Sara shrugged, "Better to die standing than live on one's knees, Rabbi." she said simply, "better to be killed, than to be a slave."

"YOu're going to ask him to Murder those people?" he was aghast, "Majesty! what you're suggesting is endorsing a holocaust!"

"No, I'm going to ask him to Free those people, and suggesting an alternative that would, at least, allow them to die with their honour intact." she corrected him, "Only free men can die in honourable battle."

"They do not believe in Aesgard or Hel, Highness." the Rabbi pointed out, "I don't think they'll appreciate such a gesture. You could be doing offense to two powerful nations at once if you sent such a message."

"They're going to war eventually over this, and when they do, it will impact our own trade." Sara reminded him.

"Then, you need to send careful overtures to both, and seek the stronger for an ally." Her Admiral piped up.

Sarah turned and regarded the man. "I don't like Islamics either, Admiral, but I will not compromise the right for the expedient. The Muhammedans aren't adopting laws that indicate a new round of Crusades-crusades that could very well result in bringing the Fimbulwinter and the Final Battle to the world-they trade fairly, and have left our traders alone. This Emperor's proclomation could put our merchants in their chains-how many Catholic Christians sail in our merchant fleets?" She turned from one to the other, "The correct answer is 'not enough'-not enough to guarantee their safety in any port that the Scandinvan Empire has controlling influence, not enough in their territorial waters, not enough if they decide to expand those waters."

The Rabbi nodded first. "You'll have to send overtures to the Sultan." he said, with a look of distaste.

Sara nodded, "I will. It may be unfortunate that we've barred their missionaries for so many centuries. Will they accept a Jew without attacking him?"

"They may-it's been more than four hundered years since the People of the Ships raided their lands, they may have forgotten, time may have healed the wounds..." He shrugged.

Sara chuckled a low, grim, raspy chuckle. "Of course they have-everyone forgot about us." she said, "Be careful, though-remember, we're under obligation to the Lynions for a quarter of our forces, land and Sea. When Vamp calls, we're likely going to be embroiled in a long war of the hunt."

"At least you didn't get us tied too closely to the Ralkovians-things look to be a brewing civil war there." The Rabbi said, "Not to mention Rechburg..."

"The Duchy has been kind to us, and we appreciate them." Sara reminded him, "I will send missives to both Emperor Godfrey, and Ibn Sabur Sultan. Perhaps they'll even read them."

"Godfrey's going to probably look at your note as yet another futile protest from unbelievers." the Rabbi pointed out.

"I know-and I expect the Sultan will welcome my input with a similar attitude." Sara said, "after all, the Islamics are almost as painstaking as we are about accounting offenses going back centuries." her tone was lighter now, "On the other hand...he may be as enlightened as his press releases."

=============================
TO: Emperor Godfrey III, Lord and Master of the Scandinvan Empire

From: Princepes Sara, Supreme High Chieftain and Sovereign Ruler of the Sudovan Principalities

Greetings and congratulations on removing the oppressive Director Niv, and presumably eliminating his mechanisms of oppression.

We write this letter, however, in a certain state of alarm-your recent proclamation has caused us some concern, as we have shipping and trade that moves through areas adjacent to your nation, and no mention is made of whether you will restrict your violations of decency to your own people, or extend it to everyone around you.

If this policy you have articulated is merely domestic, then we have no issue, save that it is common among our people that while killing a foe, his family, his friends, and burning his property are moderately justifiable, making a man into a beast by the means known as slavery, is inherently corrupting to both the man taken as property, and the man who does the taking. I would ask, as a plea from one Sovereign to another, that you reconsider this policy, that you either free the people you would put in bondage, or slay them with dignity for the sake of your own honour.
Blood is preferable to Chains.

With all respects,
Sara Garrettsdottr, Princepes of Sudova.

=================================================
TO: Ibn Sabur, called "The wise" by some, Sultan and ruler of the Islamic Peninsula known to some as the United Taifas.

From: Sara (1st)Garrettsdottr, Princepes of Sudova, High Chieftain of the People of the Ships, Sovereign Duchess of Klein

Reason: Potential Conflict, an apology, and a change of policies.

Having heard your public response to the regressive and irrational proclamation by the Scandinvan Emperor, we find ourselves in an uncomfortable agreement with your position-though perhaps not the sort of agreement yourselves might find amicable. We have long held that human bondage and human chattel are essentially corruptive, and have often viewed your tradition of "Dhimmitude'' as an odious and evil practice. However, at least under your system, unbelievers are permitted some degree of freedom, and therefore retain some of their honour.

It is my people's, and my government's, stance that death is preferable to chains. A man killed is at least killed as a man, not living as an animal-property. We are concerned that the Empire may see fit to spread their new, toxic and evil policy beyond their own borders. It is not my people's traditional habit to make alliances of convenience, and certainly you have cause to distrust this message, given that Islamic Missionaries are still forbidden to cross Sudovan borders and we have traditionally not engaged in exchanges with muslims that did not end in blood and fire.

I hereby make the first move to showing sincerity, and lift the ban on Muslims. Accompanying this message are several treasures looted by my ancestors from the Islamic Empire of Suleiman the Magnificent during the so-called 'middle ages'. I have been advised by a senior Rabbi in our Jewish community that this is considered to be among the better means of establishing a peaceful dialogue with a people of your faith.

Among them is an early, hand-drawn, copy of the Q'uran, which I have been assured is considered somewhat valuable. I am unaware of why-the margins were filled with notes, and there appears to be a hand-drawn battle-map on one of the pages. Perhaps one of your scholars could write back and explain why the Rabbi nearly had a heart-attack when I showed it to him. I do apologize for the overall condition-it was taken during a fire, and some of it was partially burned.

Our request is simply thus: that, should hostilities break out between your nation, and the Empire, that our vessels do not become a part of that conflict without our consent. we wish to remain neutral in this affair for as long as possible, and as your peninsula stands over one of the international community's primary trade-routes, our merchants are endangered should your disagreement with the Scandinvan Emperor break out into actual warfare.

With Respects:
Sara

On Europe's Islamic peninsula, the Sultan's unusual decision to take an international stand on a matter of religious freedom had caused a minor sensation. While some 84% of the population were observantly or nominally Muslim, the tide of the Reconquista might never have been halted and rolled-back without the help of the region's Jews, who today accounted for some 7% of the population, and while 2% admitted to atheism or some minor faith and a further 2% attended different Christian Churches, the significant 5% Catholic minority had good cause to be especially unnerved.

Ibn Sabur had been an amiable Sultan, quite relaxed in relations with the Dhimma -community of non-Muslims under the protection of the state- so long as the Jizya -particular tax upon these, who were exempt from some taxes levelled upon Muslim citizens- was paid and no trouble was made. The fact that the Sultan was now talking about Catholic slaves could be nothing other than troubling, though so far no action had been taken.

It was to a Dhimmi that Ibn Sabur turned in response to the Scandinvan situation. A number of the nation's Catholics and Jews would be recruited to form a special section of the foreign ministry dedicated to observing the condition of non-Catholic -particularly Muslim- communities in the Scandinvan Empire, the Sultan apparently not wanting to send Muslims into harms way at such an uncertain and sensitive juncture lest they be targeted for aggression that could worsen the situation strategically.

In return for this service, the Dimam traveling to the Empire would be exempted from the usual 10% tax payable by those of their kind leaving the Union to conduct business, enabling some of them potentially to make money privately while also conducting surveys for the state.

Initially some twenty Catholics and Jews of Al'Andalus applied for Scandinvan temporary visas, though plans existed for a hundred more to follow once offices were established. Their organisation would report to the Sultan on life for Muslims and others in the restored Empire, and in particular would note the taking and holding of Muslims as slaves. Until such time as a significant body of evidence was compiled and judged to warrant it, no reprisals would be authorised by the state.

Still, commando sections of the Jeish Al'Andalus began major new training operations, particularly in amphibious assault and hostage rescue scenarios.As per the orders of the new administration, specifically from decrees of the Scandinvan Imperial Intelligence Agency and the Scandinvan Catholic Church hiearchs, all persons who wished to immigrate into the Scandinvan Empire would have to undergo a very thorough personality test before they would even be allowed into the Scandinvan Empire as the new religion government did not want persons who were in some way ‘corrupted’ spreading their influences into the Scandinvan society at large. To this, any person who wanted to migrate to the Scandinvan, e.g. gain the right to have a residency visa granted to them, would have to first agree to undergo a thorough background check and a very intrusive personality test to ensure that they were capable of meeting the moral demands of the new Scandinvan order. It was thought that such harsh demand would ensure the most pure of persons would be allowed into the new order that the Scandivan Empire wished to established within all the people, be they free or slave, who resided in the Scandinvan Empire.

Furthermore, any individuals would have to be inspected by a priest to affirm their loyalty to the Catholic Church and that they truly practiced the doctrines that the Scandinvan Catholic Church affirmed. As well, any Catholic migrants to the Scandinvna Empire would have to agree to either become a full fledge members of the Scandinvan Catholic Church or a full member of the Doomani Catholic Church, the Church that the Scandinvan Catholic Church was subordinate too. Added to this, all such individuals would have to attend a nightly class for a year so that they might learn the Scandinvan language and be brought into the great community as full members of the Scandinvan Empire.

In regards to non-Catholic immigrants, they would be forced to reside within very strict areas and though they would be allowed to travel freely in public they were not allowed to leave a fifty mile radius from their homes. As well, they would be subject to harsh scrutiny for the first two years as all their letters would not receive privacy of correspondence, their internet access would be limited, and their phone calls would have be monitored by Scandinvan Morality Police to ensure that they were following the laws of the Bible and the laws of the Scandinvan Empire.

All this was to make sure that foreign ideals did not filter there way into Scandinvan society and threaten the strength of the new Scandinvna order in any way.

Establishing Communication Channel…

Receiving Incoming Message…..



Official State Directive......

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn
The Ministry of Foreign Relations

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn officially declares that no loyal citizens to the Fatherland are permitted to travel to the Scandinvan Empire. The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn also issues the edict that all residing or visiting Scandinvan citizens leave the borders of the Fatherland within a period of 48 hours Standard Xharnian time or face imprisonment in the concentration camps in the Northern Mountains for a term of the rest of their natural lives.


Those that die in the camps will be recycled into Soylent products to feed the masses of the Fatherland and their Families will also share the same fate. The Military Police have full authority to implement these measures and to purge these vile Imperialists from our glorious Fatherland. The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn refuses to allow any Catholics, Jews, Pagans, or Muslims in our Fatherland and should we find these dissidents they will all suffer the same fate.

The true god only believes in one thing that is we are all born to serve him by serving our fatherland. We shall not allow your slavery proclamation scare us or our people into your false and devil inspired believes…

In the name of His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg..

Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!









Signed,

Grand Ambassador Gerald Nomato
Head of Foreign Relations, Grand Ambassador

TO: Emperor Godfrey III, Lord and Master of the Scandinvan Empire

From: Princepes Sara, Supreme High Chieftain and Sovereign Ruler of the Sudovan Principalities

Greetings and congratulations on removing the oppressive Director Niv, and presumably eliminating his mechanisms of oppression.

We write this letter, however, in a certain state of alarm-your recent proclamation has caused us some concern, as we have shipping and trade that moves through areas adjacent to your nation, and no mention is made of whether you will restrict your violations of decency to your own people, or extend it to everyone around you.

If this policy you have articulated is merely domestic, then we have no issue, save that it is common among our people that while killing a foe, his family, his friends, and burning his property are moderately justifiable, making a man into a beast by the means known as slavery, is inherently corrupting to both the man taken as property, and the man who does the taking. I would ask, as a plea from one Sovereign to another, that you reconsider this policy, that you either free the people you would put in bondage, or slay them with dignity for the sake of your own honour.
Blood is preferable to Chains.

With all respects,
Sara Garrettsdottr, Princepes of SudovaTo Princepes Sara Garrettsdottr,

While we do thank you for your congratulations in regards to the overthrow of the despot Niv we do whoever feel that your implication that we might only be stating that we have is somewhat of an insult to our nation by you questioning the honor of our nation, and the personal honor of our beloved Emperor.

As for whether or not we shall extend the holy message of our faith to other nations through force I shall clarify that we shall not forcibly impose our beliefs on other nations unless if they are indeed the first ones to strike.

All I shall say about slavery is that to murder a person who has done no wrong warranting death is a sin, but to force them into slavery to make them repent for their actions is not a sin by any means. Also, know that the ones that we enslave have given up any right to their honor by their actions.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

[OoC; Hooray! Something to do! This isn't a war declaration, so don't bother invading me just yet.]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/dragonzlair2/HeiroFlag.png

Official Communique from Heirosoloa
--[To the Scandinvan Government]--
High Ministry Building
11908 Golden Ave.
Northern Shores, HEIR



The people of Heirosoloa applaud you for your ability in throwing off what appears to have been a dictatorship. But your recent changes in laws seem to oppose what we observed to be your original intent. You have rid yourself of a dictator, and replaced him with a controlling theocracy, which curtails the rights of many of your people based solely on religion. This we do not support whatsoever. We are a leftist government and shall remain so, and therefore we believe in civil rights for all. This foul discrimination is a stain on our planet's surface.

Furthermore, we are absolutely appalled at this message and what it indicates for our country. For the safety of our citizens, trade near your country shall be cut off. Any slave, whether an escapee or still under ownership, to get into the Heirosoloan border, shall be a free man. However, he will still need to go through the proper lanes to gain citizenship. Any ship carrying a Scandinvan flag that enters Heirosoloa's naval zone shall be escorted by armed ships, where it will be boarded to check for any security threats. Any ship that refuses to be escorted, or carries armaments shall be fired upon and be destroyed.

The citizens and officials of Heirosoloa believe in a firm separation of church and state, and hope that you never force this unholy breach of civil rights upon our people. However much it pains us, we still wish you fair seas and good winds. May your honey always be sweet.

Establishing Communication Channel…

Receiving Incoming Message…..



Official State Directive......

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn
The Ministry of Foreign Relations

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn officially declares that no loyal citizens to the Fatherland are permitted to travel to the Scandinvan Empire. The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn also issues the edict that all residing or visiting Scandinvan citizens leave the borders of the Fatherland within a period of 48 hours Standard Xharnian time or face imprisonment in the concentration camps in the Northern Mountains for a term of the rest of their natural lives.


Those that die in the camps will be recycled into Soylent products to feed the masses of the Fatherland and their Families will also share the same fate. The Military Police have full authority to implement these measures and to purge these vile Imperialists from our glorious Fatherland. The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn refuses to allow any Catholics, Jews, Pagans, or Muslims in our Fatherland and should we find these dissidents they will all suffer the same fate.

The true god only believes in one thing that is we are all born to serve him by serving our fatherland. We shall not allow your slavery proclamation scare us or our people into your false and devil inspired believes…

In the name of His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg..

Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!









Signed,

Grand Ambassador Gerald Nomato
Head of Foreign Relations, Grand AmbassadorThe few of our folk that dwelt in your nation for a time have already left and as such our hand is now free to honestly answer your venomous decrees in a suitable manner that befits your vile heretical thoughts and actions.

You have thoroughly used the Bible to advance your own cause and brainwash an entire people into believing that God demands that all must serve your state or they are in some way a demon. Ha, such a trivial interpretation of the divine works in the Bible can only come from a soulless heathen who seeks to ensnare a people for the sake that they might all follow him into eternal damnation that awaits him due to the sins of his past sinful heresies.

God vindicate us all!

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

[OoC; Hooray! Something to do! This isn't a war declaration, so don't bother invading me just yet.]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/dragonzlair2/HeiroFlag.png

Official Communique from Heirosoloa
--[To the Scandinvan Government]--
High Ministry Building
11908 Golden Ave.
Northern Shores, HEIR



The people of Heirosoloa applaud you for your ability in throwing off what appears to have been a dictatorship. But your recent changes in laws seem to oppose what we observed to be your original intent. You have rid yourself of a dictator, and replaced him with a controlling theocracy, which curtails the rights of many of your people based solely on religion. This we do not support whatsoever. We are a leftist government and shall remain so, and therefore we believe in civil rights for all. This foul discrimination is a stain on our planet's surface.

Furthermore, we are absolutely appalled at this message and what it indicates for our country. For the safety of our citizens, trade near your country shall be cut off. Any slave, whether an escapee or still under ownership, to get into the Heirosoloan border, shall be a free man. However, he will still need to go through the proper lanes to gain citizenship. Any ship carrying a Scandinvan flag that enters Heirosoloa's naval zone shall be escorted by armed ships, where it will be boarded to check for any security threats. Any ship that refuses to be escorted, or carries armaments shall be fired upon and be destroyed.

The citizens and officials of Heirosoloa believe in a firm separation of church and state, and hope that you never force this unholy breach of civil rights upon our people. However much it pains us, we still wish you fair seas and good winds. May your honey always be sweet.

While we fundamentally disagree with the fact that you have signaled out ships to be targeted for searches and with escorts being forced upon them we shall not take any action in response to this as we believe that it is your sovereign right as a nation to regulate those who come with the sovereign lands of your people, though we must voice our concern that your nation is offering sanctuary to slaves and by doing this you are denying our people the right to self sovereignty and property. However, we must point out that we will be more then willing to fill suit against you if your military does knowingly sink civilian vessels that are not armed and are not in violation of any your nation’s laws.

As well, we wish to point out that we are a sovereign nation and people who are free to regulate ourselves as we see fit. And in return for our respect of your nation's sovereignty you will agree to respect the sovereignty our own nation.

Otherwise, may the Lord bless you all.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

[OoC; The plot thickens! :D]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/dragonzlair2/HeiroFlag.png

Official Communique from Heirosoloa
--[To the Scandinvan Government]--
High Ministry Building
11908 Golden Ave.
Northern Shores, HEIR



Well then. We fully respect all the right's of your citizens, with the exception of owning slaves, and therefore shall not declare war, send 'peacekeeping' troops, or any other kind of military encouragement. However, we will not sink any civilian vessels. We may have worded ourselves incorrectly, or you have misunderstood us, so we will clarify. Any civilian [That for some odd reason are carrying armaments] or non-civilian vessels that enter our nation's naval space that do not declare their weapons, attempt to resist escort, or are seen as a reasonable threat, may be fired upon. Or, in the case of civilian vessels, refused entry into the naval space. If need be, they will be resupplied with oil for their return journey. May your seas be fair and your honey sweet.

The few of our folk that dwelt in your nation for a time have already left and as such our hand is now free to honestly answer your venomous decrees in a suitable manner that befits your vile heretical thoughts and actions.

You have thoroughly used the Bible to advance your own cause and brainwash an entire people into believing that God demands that all must serve your state or they are in some way a demon. Ha, such a trivial interpretation of the divine works in the Bible can only come from a soulless heathen who seeks to ensnare a people for the sake that they might all follow him into eternal damnation that awaits him due to the sins of his past sinful heresies.

God vindicate us all!

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III



Establishing Communication Channel…

Receiving Incoming Message…..



Official State Directive......

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn
The Ministry of Foreign Relations

His Holiness State Archon Karl Von Burgen has thus decreed that your devil worshipping believes is an affront to the true god and that your people are sent from the devil to attempt to take away the freedom of our people and crush our beloved Fatherland under your heretical way of thinking.

His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg has thus labeled your Empire an enemy of the State. All Imperial Scandinvans merchant vessels and warships are not welcomed inside the State’s waters and should they enter any part of our territory. They will be fired upon and destroyed without mercy. You demons are protected in international waters by the law of the sea and thus we shall not hamper your trade in open ocean but stay out of Xharnian waters if you know what is good for you and your people…

In the name of His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg..

Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!









Signed,

Grand Ambassador Gerald Nomato
Head of Foreign Relations, Grand Ambassador

[OoC; The plot thickens! :D]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/dragonzlair2/HeiroFlag.png

Official Communique from Heirosoloa
--[To the Scandinvan Government]--
High Ministry Building
11908 Golden Ave.
Northern Shores, HEIR



Well then. We fully respect all the right's of your citizens, with the exception of owning slaves, and therefore shall not declare war, send 'peacekeeping' troops, or any other kind of military encouragement. However, we will not sink any civilian vessels. We may have worded ourselves incorrectly, or you have misunderstood us, so we will clarify. Any civilian [That for some odd reason are carrying armaments] or non-civilian vessels that enter our nation's naval space that do not declare their weapons, attempt to resist escort, or are seen as a reasonable threat, may be fired upon. Or, in the case of civilian vessels, refused entry into the naval space. If need be, they will be resupplied with oil for their return journey. May your seas be fair and your honey sweet.
OOC: Sometimes being fairly nice pays off.:p

IC: Very well, thank you for the courtesy you have shown and thus we assure that we shall give all your shipping fair treatment in return for the fairness that you shown towards the Scandinvan Empire this day.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

Establishing Communication Channel…

Receiving Incoming Message…..



Official State Directive......

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn
The Ministry of Foreign Relations

His Holiness State Archon Karl Von Burgen has thus decreed that your devil worshipping believes is an affront to the true god and that your people are sent from the devil to attempt to take away the freedom of our people and crush our beloved Fatherland under your heretical way of thinking.

His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg has thus labeled your Empire an enemy of the State. All Imperial Scandinvans merchant vessels and warships are not welcomed inside the State’s waters and should they enter any part of our territory. They will be fired upon and destroyed without mercy. You demons are protected in international waters by the law of the sea and thus we shall not hamper your trade in open ocean but stay out of Xharnian waters if you know what is good for you and your people…

In the name of His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg..

Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!









Signed,

Grand Ambassador Gerald Nomato
Head of Foreign Relations, Grand AmbassadorSo say men who do not know where to find the Lord Almighty God and instead look to a lying scoundrel to fulfill their own demented vision of the Lord. And so say a man who models himself a rightful manifestation of the truly divine on this plane of existence, when he is nothing more then blasphemer who is seeking to forward his own petty agenda.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

So say men who do not know where to find the Lord Almighty God and instead look to a lying scoundrel to fulfill their own demented vision of the Lord. And so say a man who models himself a rightful manifestation of the truly divine on this plane of existence, when he is nothing more then blasphemer who is seeking to forward his own petty agenda.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III



Establishing Communication Channel…

Receiving Incoming Message…..



Official State Directive......

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn
The Ministry of Foreign Relations

So Say a man whose is slave to the Pope in Vatican, You can’t even really call yourself an Emperor can you? You are just another Vatican lapdog and like all dogs. You deserve nothing but to be beaten for pissing on the rug or digging up the garden.

The Fatherland pities the Empire of Scandinvans for their own self slavery to a man instead of god himself. You try to justify yourselves by enslaving anyone else that does not follow your false ideology but all you are doing is trading one master for another. It is in the opinion of the National High Command and the Divine State Church of Xharn that you and your people are no more than slaves to Vatican and Rome….

In the name of His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg..

Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!









Signed,

Grand Ambassador Gerald Nomato
Head of Foreign Relations, Grand Ambassador

Establishing Communication Channel…

Receiving Incoming Message…..



Official State Directive......

The Totalitarian Military State of Xharn
The Ministry of Foreign Relations

So Say a man whose is slave to the Pope in Vatican, You can’t even really call yourself an Emperor can you? You are just another Vatican lapdog and like all dogs. You deserve nothing but to be beaten for pissing on the rug or digging up the garden.

The Fatherland pities the Empire of Scandinvans for their own self slavery to a man instead of god himself. You try to justify yourselves by enslaving anyone else that does not follow your false ideology but all you are doing is trading one master for another. It is in the opinion of the National High Command and the Divine State Church of Xharn that you and your people are no more than slaves to Vatican and Rome….

In the name of His Exalted Excellency, Patron Joseph Stormberg..

Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!
Hail Stormberg!









Signed,

Grand Ambassador Gerald Nomato
Head of Foreign Relations, Grand AmbassadorSo say the slaves of a religion that is nothing more then heresy and inspired by the infinite trickery of the Devil in his attempts to force your people to become his instruments on Earth.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

To Princepes Sara Garrettsdottr,

While we do thank you for your congratulations in regards to the overthrow of the despot Niv we do whoever feel that your implication that we might only be stating that we have is somewhat of an insult to our nation by you questioning the honor of our nation, and the personal honor of our beloved Emperor.

As for whether or not we shall extend the holy message of our faith to other nations through force I shall clarify that we shall not forcibly impose our beliefs on other nations unless if they are indeed the first ones to strike.

All I shall say about slavery is that to murder a person who has done no wrong warranting death is a sin, but to force them into slavery to make them repent for their actions is not a sin by any means. Also, know that the ones that we enslave have given up any right to their honor by their actions.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

"I Believe I may have stung him there." Sara quipped calmly, "Christians are such peculiar folk." she shook her head, "Admiral, any of OUR merchie traffic heading past Their waters, I want in convoy, with escorts-this will either blow over, or blow up. See to it."

"What about Scandinva flagged ships in our ports?" Davis asked.

Sara frowned, "do they ever come here?" she asked mock-seriously.

He nodded, "They do."

"If they don't declare a formal state of feud, then we let them trade." she said, "We can't always wander around assuming everyone is as crazy as their leadership-after all, if the world worked that way no-one would ever trade with us." she motioned to her mutilated eye, "By foreign standards, after all, requiring your chief executive to seek visions by hanging, and survive a wounding before taking office are things viewed as quite mad... still..." she sighed, and looked to the Rabbi. "Have mediators keep tabs on their crews in port, what they unload, where they take it, who buys it, and what they're buying to return with...and keep an eye on any 'missionaries' as well. I'd as soon not have state-sponsored religious terrorists spring a crusade inside our borders-for now, treat them as you would the Mohammedans."

[ooc-"Mohammedan" and "Muhammedan", as well as "Mullahmen" are all pejoratives for Muslims dating back to the Victorian age. In some ways, the Sudovans are dreadfully backward. The "Mediators" are derived from groups of warriors who would investigate and bring halt to local feuds-they're effectively Sudova's version of a Secret Police, and one of the most popular career choices among Sudova's Jewish community for young men who want to serve a more...active...role in keeping the peace. Roughly analagous to the Counterintelligence Corps or FBI.]

==================================================================================================== ===================================

To:Emperor Godfrey III, Scandinvan Empire
From:Princepes Sara Garrettdottr.

RE: Trade and Theology.

I hope this finds you well. It is my understanding that some of your lesser trading organizations run ships in our part of the world. Be assured that your ships will, so long as peace remains between us, be unmolested and can dock and trade freely as they have in the past, should you so wish it.
Please be aware that, as none of my own nation's ships currently dock in your ports, I am taking steps to assure that your commoners experience no cultural contamination caused by contact with my people in your own. To which goal, I have issued a small travel advisory and Princepes order banning Sudovan merchant traffic from entering your waters, and have issued instructions to my Naval forces to enforce this upon our vessels- This is not an Embargo, it is simply one sovereign recognizing the implied desires of another nation's sovereign for continued privacy.

That handles the 'Trade' portion, such as it is.
I find Theology to be somewhat more confusing. In your reply note to myself, you mention that your human chattel are being enchained to aid their Repentance.

I had to look up the definitions, as we find that "repentance" generally requires the excercise of free will. Just as a coerced confession is of little use in crime-solving.

Now, according to the most frequently obtainable definition...

re·pen·tance (r-pntns)
n.
1. The act or process of repenting.
2. Remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin. See Synonyms at penitence.

It strikes me that being turned into animal-property and denied the status of a person will not lead to the desired effect. They may repent with their mouths, but the treatment is rather more likely to harden their hearts against those who seek to punish them. Is your god so much more concerned with matters of appearance over substance? Would it not be better, if they have committed a crime against your god, to forward them to said god for judgement post-haste? After all, only a god could truly know the heart of a man.

Further, if they are not guilty of a greater crime that demands death, why do you subject them to a fate worse than death?

Best wishes to you,

Sara

Western Parish, Valëka, Kiravian Empire


"Oh, this is not going to end well for our lot," said David Frostfield, Archbishop of Valëka and head of the Church of Kirav.

"No, it isn't," replied the preist who had delivered the report from Valdra.

"This is why so many people, even entire nations, have turned away from God, because they believe that He inspires these transgressions against His own Word."

"Aye," said the priest, a member of the Order of Jesus [Kiravic Jesuits, basically]

"Father Veldur, I want you to contact your Holy University in Canucroft. Have the Order members and the monks there bring me an abbreviated history of Scandinavian Catholicism."

"Aye, sir."

Archbishop Frostfield put down the report, and looked out his window onto his own little theocracy. Slightly smaller than the Vatican City and smack-dab in the middle of Valëka, the largest city of the Empire, Western Parish Sacerdotal Territory was a semi-autonomous state in the Kiravian Empire that served as the seat of the Church, and was governed under its temporal authority.

Kiravic, or more accurately, Coscivic Christianity was very different from its Western-derived counterparts. It was more liberal, less dogmatic, and far less conservative on theological issues.

Christianity already had a poor enough image in the World. The Blackhelm Confederacy and other such nations had seen to that. When Frostfield acceeded to Primacy of the Church of Kirav, he made it his mission to redeem the reputation of Christ's following, and to help bring the world back to God.

There was no more work to do in the Empire. Most Kiravians were members of his church, of the Roman Catholic Church, Non-Denominational, or adhered to smaller Kiravic Christian denominations. Those who weren't were primarily Coscivian Theists, who were simply Christians with no Christ.

As such, Frostfield had tried to go abroad. After a Christian preacher performed a suicide bombing in secular Agrandov, Frostfield requested permission to visit the country and make amends. He never recieved a response, and his first opportunity to spread his message abroad was lost.

He did not want to lose his second.

--
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/Glyphick47/KiravisKrux.png
Kiravis Kircuv
Church of Kirav

Fellow Christians of the Scandinavian Catholic Church,

Greetings. I am Father David Frostfield, Archbishop of Valëka and leader of the Church of Kirav.

I have recieved word of the legal changes implemented by the newly-reborn Imperial regime in the Scandinavian Empire. I do indeed support the return of the Imperacy to your nation, as it has performed many good works in the past, and has been quite freindly to my own people.

However, I am concerned about these new additions to your penal code, and the fact that you claim that they serve the greater glory of our Lord. Though I disagree with some elements of your family and marital policy, I do not demand that all churches act as my own does, and I respect your right to build a Christian society through them in your own ecclesiastical jurisdiction as you see fit. I also recognise your right to choose who can and cannot be married by your polity to be subject to your will.

It is with your new social and economic order that I am, quite frankly, disgusted. You claim that our God, who, through Jesus Christ, preached respect and equality for all regardless of creed, would have us enslave those who do not believe as we do? This is a heresy far greater than those you intend to use to create a punitive slave class. It takes but an infinitesimal inspective effort to see that these edicts are not the will of God, but the twisted intentions of an honourable and venerable Christian institution that has been led astray by politics and commerce, leaving true matters of spirituality secondary to earthly concerns. This is contrary to how Christ bade us to conduct ourselves.

It is because of practices such as these that our religion has earned such a bad name in the world. But Scandinavian Catholicism is still a deep and rich liturgical tradition, one that is, at its heart, true to Christ. I implore you: End these ungodly transgressions, and redeem yourselves by your return to the Christian way. Instead of regression, forge ahead with the Truth and the Light of the Lord.

To:Emperor Godfrey III, Scandinvan Empire
From:Princepes Sara Garrettdottr.

RE: Trade and Theology.

I hope this finds you well. It is my understanding that some of your lesser trading organizations run ships in our part of the world. Be assured that your ships will, so long as peace remains between us, be unmolested and can dock and trade freely as they have in the past, should you so wish it.
Please be aware that, as none of my own nation's ships currently dock in your ports, I am taking steps to assure that your commoners experience no cultural contamination caused by contact with my people in your own. To which goal, I have issued a small travel advisory and Princepes order banning Sudovan merchant traffic from entering your waters, and have issued instructions to my Naval forces to enforce this upon our vessels- This is not an Embargo, it is simply one sovereign recognizing the implied desires of another nation's sovereign for continued privacy.

That handles the 'Trade' portion, such as it is.
I find Theology to be somewhat more confusing. In your reply note to myself, you mention that your human chattel are being enchained to aid their Repentance.

I had to look up the definitions, as we find that "repentance" generally requires the excercise of free will. Just as a coerced confession is of little use in crime-solving.

Now, according to the most frequently obtainable definition...

re·pen·tance (r-pntns)
n.
1. The act or process of repenting.
2. Remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin. See Synonyms at penitence.

It strikes me that being turned into animal-property and denied the status of a person will not lead to the desired effect. They may repent with their mouths, but the treatment is rather more likely to harden their hearts against those who seek to punish them. Is your god so much more concerned with matters of appearance over substance? Would it not be better, if they have committed a crime against your god, to forward them to said god for judgement post-haste? After all, only a god could truly know the heart of a man.

Further, if they are not guilty of a greater crime that demands death, why do you subject them to a fate worse than death?

Best wishes to you,

SaraDue to the treatment that you have given to us I shall extend a reasonable courtesy to honor your own people as we believe that you though you are indeed unbelievers you are not a truly flawed society as you show a good deal of honor in your actions. Because of this we shall not interfere with the commerce of your nation in our waters and we shall only deny access to our territorial waters to your nation’s armed ships, though in case of a emergency we shall tolerate such vessels in our waters in small groups at the maximum. As well, we shall not endorse the sending of our nation’s missionaries to your nation out of respect for your nation’s sovereign rights, though if some of our private citizens do spread our interpretation of the gospel to your nation we believe that it would simply be best to expel them from your nation if you do not want them preaching.

To state, our religious convictions show us how an individual might repent for their crimes and to state slavery is considered a viable option for punishment. As well, slavery is not condemned by our faith, and is in fact condoned many ways. So before you condemn our beliefs are flawed examine the origins of our beliefs.

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their own masters as deserving of the highest respect, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be discredited. (1 Timothy 6:1)

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. Give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land won't be desolate. (Genesis 47:19)

for by whom a man is subdued, by him is he also brought into slavery. (Peter 2:19)

If a man takes without right another man's ox or his sheep, and puts it to death or gets a price for it, he is to give five oxen for an ox, or four sheep for a sheep, in payment: the thief will have to make payment for what he has taken; if he has no money, he himself will have to be exchanged for money, so that payment may be made. (Exodus 22:1 If)

That is all and we hope you realize that slavery is not a flawed institution but instead is a divinely inspired one.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/Glyphick47/KiravisKrux.png
Kiravis Kircuv
Church of Kirav

Fellow Christians of the Scandinavian Catholic Church,

Greetings. I am Father David Frostfield, Archbishop of Valëka and leader of the Church of Kirav.

I have recieved word of the legal changes implemented by the newly-reborn Imperial regime in the Scandinavian Empire. I do indeed support the return of the Imperacy to your nation, as it has performed many good works in the past, and has been quite freindly to my own people.

However, I am concerned about these new additions to your penal code, and the fact that you claim that they serve the greater glory of our Lord. Though I disagree with some elements of your family and marital policy, I do not demand that all churches act as my own does, and I respect your right to build a Christian society through them in your own ecclesiastical jurisdiction as you see fit. I also recognise your right to choose who can and cannot be married by your polity to be subject to your will.

It is with your new social and economic order that I am, quite frankly, disgusted. You claim that our God, who, through Jesus Christ, preached respect and equality for all regardless of creed, would have us enslave those who do not believe as we do? This is a heresy far greater than those you intend to use to create a punitive slave class. It takes but an infinitesimal inspective effort to see that these edicts are not the will of God, but the twisted intentions of an honourable and venerable Christian institution that has been led astray by politics and commerce, leaving true matters of spirituality secondary to earthly concerns. This is contrary to how Christ bade us to conduct ourselves.

It is because of practices such as these that our religion has earned such a bad name in the world. But Scandinavian Catholicism is still a deep and rich liturgical tradition, one that is, at its heart, true to Christ. I implore you: End these ungodly transgressions, and redeem yourselves by your return to the Christian way. Instead of regression, forge ahead with the Truth and the Light of the Lord. To Father Frostfield,

While, I most certainly understand that you have understandable reasons to be somewhat alarmed by the recent proclamations of my blessed homeland and the message that the Scandinvan Catholic Church is conveying the world I must disagree with the issues that you have raised. The reason for my personal disagreement with you is mainly because of the fact that you are simply interpreting the Bible too liberally and are not being conservative enough in your interpretation of the Bible, that is to say that we staunchly believe in the Scandinvan Catholic Church that the Bible is best read as very literal document that should not be viewed as mere book of stories that is only meant to serve a mere guide to our lives. Instead, me and my flock firmly believe that the Bible is meant to serve as a law book, with the New Testament being superior in rank to the laws of the Old Testament. Yet, as the New Testament, by itself, only provides a foundation for the laws of a truly pure state the Old Testament fills in the blanks and aids in the establishment of a truly full set of laws for all Christians to live, and die, by.

So in analysis, we are merely staying true to the beliefs so fervently scribed by the divinely inspired writers of the Old Testament and the masterful writings of the original fathers of our most holy of Churches. When we support slavery we are simply following the commandments of the Bible in our effort to better represent the original intent that the writers of Scripture intended when they first wrote the works that we accept in the Holy Bible. We can find many parts of the Bible that support the right of true believers to own persons who do not follow the one truth faith. As well, we have been unable to find a single quote of the Bible that explicitly forbids slavery, while slavery is explicitly condoned by many parts of the Bible.

God bless and save us all.

Signed,
In the Name of Jesus,
In the Service of the Doomani Pope,
The Patriarch of the Scandinvan Catholic Church,
Harold James Matthew

Imperial News Network:

Special Slave Status Press Release

“As the new Imperial laws take effect millions of heretics now face the threat of possibly becoming slaves due to the new laws. The main reasons for many of them entering into slavery is because they are either accused thieves, rebels, traitors, blasphemers, illegal aliens, debtors, or any number of other things that qualify such individuals to be enslaved according to the laws set out in the Holy Bible.

Overall, around three hundred million persons have been pressed into slavery due to their beliefs and actions as a result of the Imperial army and Imperial police forces are cracking down on various groups. Mainly the groups consist of people who aligned themselves with Director Niv during his reign of terror, are known criminals, debtors, or persons who are illegal residing in the country, mostly Moslems who dwell in the border regions of the Empire and have never bothered to register for residency.

Around ninety five percents of all persons pressed into slavery have had their citizenships revoked and be filed as permanent slaves, the other five percent consist of non-heretical religions and as such will only enter into a form of indentured servitude till any debts they owe are paid off by their labor.

It is expected more will be pressed into slavery as the Imperial forces crack down on more filth

Good night and God save the Empire!”

Western Parish, Valëka, Kiravian Empire

"Well, we can't convince everybody, can we?"

"No, we can't, Your Holiness."

"But there is a problem a bit more pressing: We don't maintain a diocese in the Scandinavian Empire, so I can't get exact numbers, but our own Empire has been trading with the Scandinavians for quite awhile. It's quite possible that there could be members of our flock facing up to seven years of servitude."

"We must free them, then."

"Aye. I'll send an appeal off to the Scandinavian Catholics. We may have to end up buying our people back if it gets there too late."

"Are we only saving members of the Kirk, or all Kiravians?"

The Archbishop stood, walked to a lectern in the corner, and opened up an ornate Bible, written in Liturgical Coscivian, the official language of the Church. This particular Kristverþuv [Christ-Book, Bible] showed signs of use in the Old Testament. Past Joshua, the pages were limp and worn.

"Deuteronomia 14:29," read Frostfield, "Crís dé niconheritix Lêvituv, et asdix dé Exortuv, dé Nisconpatur, et dé Lástmaritkóna, quo inordim es tur Comünitat pós asdix venim et lætim sur capacitav."

"That the Levite who has no share in heritage with you, and also the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow who belong to your community may come and eat their fill."

The Archbishop closed the book, and turned to the Jesuit. "We must provision for the foreigner among our people. We are responsible for repatriating any Kiravian in the Scandinavian Empire who is not a Scandinavian Catholic or a Jew. Our own must have priority of, course. We may need to cooperate with the Imperial Government to obtain the rest. Also, we will need to temporarily legalise slavery in Western Parish to make the transaction valid."

"Aye, Your Holiness," said the Jesuit, with a raised eyebrow.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/Glyphick47/KiravisKircuvLgraph.png

While we still cannot condone your practise of slavery, we recognise the fundamental differences betwixt our two theological outlooks. You are indeed correct that our conflict lies in our differing interpretations of Scripture. We respect your viewpoint.

We have responded, however, with a different purpose: We intend to purchase all Church of Kirav members residing in the Scandinavian Empire. This includes both nominal members, and all Non-Denominational Christians and Irreligious Theists born in the Kiravian Empire, as they are officially regarded as Lapsed Members by the Kirk.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/Glyphick47/KiravisKircuvLgraph.png

While we still cannot condone your practise of slavery, we recognise the fundamental differences betwixt our two theological outlooks. You are indeed correct that our conflict lies in our differing interpretations of Scripture. We respect your viewpoint.

We have responded, however, with a different purpose: We intend to purchase all Church of Kirav members residing in the Scandinavian Empire. This includes both nominal members, and all Non-Denominational Christians and Irreligious Theists born in the Kiravian Empire, as they are officially regarded as Lapsed Members by the Kirk.Your plight has truly moved me my friend. I have decided that since you have given such a true Christian request of me I have to actively prevent your people from having their freedom taken from them and instead of them being enslaved, or being turned into indentured servants, that I will give the followers of the Church of Kirav a special status as a Brother Church that will prevent them from having any of its members being forced into servitude, though heinous criminals will not be exempt form this.

May God bless both our flocks, for through him alone are we saved from the torments of Hell and through his grace are granted indulgence from whatever sins that we might commit.

Signed,
In the Name of Jesus,
In the Service of the Doomani Pope,
The Patriarch of the Scandinvan Catholic Church,
Harold James Matthew

Imperial News Network

Special Alert:

“Late last night, at approximately 2 A.M., a large riot consisting primarily of Moslems launched a riot in a Valdra suburb due to the growing efforts of the Imperial government to enforce the new laws that were passed to ensure the continued moral supremacy of our great Empire. Yet, the Moslems, who have key differences in belief then Christians, have demanded that all the recent laws, particularly the ones regarding slavery, to be withdrawn due to their own self-serving interests.

In response to the riots four legions, roughly forty thousand soldiers, of the Imperial Army were sent to subdue the riots and enforce the new curfew that was placed upon all Moslems. Despite the fact the soldiers were merely following orders to enforce new laws that were designed to protect the Moslem populations of Vladra, the Moslems, with fanatical enthusiasm, charged the Imperial troops being sent in with a horde many thousands strong. As a result of the violent charge, the Imperial troops had no other alternative but to open fire on the fanatics and drive them out of the streets so that he greater safety of Valdra might be secured from the vicious pack of savages. Around twenty thousand Moslems were shot during the course of the charge and around eight thousand were killed, or have died as result of their wounds.

A key thing to note though is that the riot still continues in the Moslem district of Valdra and a travel alert has been sent out by the Imperial government for all travelers to stay at least two miles away from the Moslem district due to the dangers that the Moslem rioters still pose.

God save the Empire, and God vindicate the righteous,

Lady Erida out.”

Kulikovian News Network (KNN)

"Good evening, I'm Sasha Berganov and this is your news. Voters flock to polling places around Kulikovia today as each of the 47 Provinces cast their ballots. As of now, President Nevsky is leading Senator Kronev in the polls. President Nevsky remains in the Preseidential Residence with the rest of his top advisors, supporters, and family. Senator Kronev is currently at the Mikhail Hotel. Polling stations close in just a few hours and though many political analysts and experts expect President Nevsky to win, others still have not ruled out Senator Kronev who's campaign has roused much support and donations for his bid for President over the last few months. We will keep you undated on the Election as it continues.

We hace received shocking news just a short while ago. The situation in The Scandinvan's is deteriorating into an ugly and sad situation. An angry mob of Moselms began rioting in response to the harsh and unethical laws being passed by Prince Godfrey III. Prince Godfrey, as you know, staged a successful rebellion against Director Niv. But, many in the government and the populace have agreed that one tyrant just replaced another. Senator Kronev, the PRP, and others have criticized President Nevsky in supporting Godfrey. The riots, having been quelled, have left over eight-thousand dead and thousands more wounded, the toll continues to climb.

Prince Godfrey passed several laws that outlawed numerous groups such as dissenters, illegal immigrants, and other groups. Many many more have been enslaved. This has shocked the international community. President Nevsky met with members of his cabinet to discuss options. Many people took to the streets in outrage at the government and in solidarity of those suffering in Scandinvans. It is unclear yet, as to Nevsky's response to this crisis.

"This is an outrage! Prince Godfrey pleaded for assistance, begging the world to help him topple a ruthless dictator. He appealed to the international community with his compassion for the people. The International Community was used. Kulikovia was used! We were all fooled by this man and direct action must be taken!..."

That is an excerpt from Senator Kronev's address in response to the ongoing events in Scandinvans. He is calling for economic sanctions and has also suggested possibly heavier actions. KPAF Commanders also met with the President today, many speculate that military action will be taken.

Kulikovian News Network (KNN)

"Good evening, I'm Sasha Berganov and this is your news. Voters flock to polling places around Kulikovia today as each of the 47 Provinces cast their ballots. As of now, President Nevsky is leading Senator Kronev in the polls. President Nevsky remains in the Preseidential Residence with the rest of his top advisors, supporters, and family. Senator Kronev is currently at the Mikhail Hotel. Polling stations close in just a few hours and though many political analysts and experts expect President Nevsky to win, others still have not ruled out Senator Kronev who's campaign has roused much support and donations for his bid for President over the last few months. We will keep you undated on the Election as it continues.

We hace received shocking news just a short while ago. The situation in The Scandinvan's is deteriorating into an ugly and sad situation. An angry mob of Moselms began rioting in response to the harsh and unethical laws being passed by Prince Godfrey III. Prince Godfrey, as you know, staged a successful rebellion against Director Niv. But, many in the government and the populace have agreed that one tyrant just replaced another. Senator Kronev, the PRP, and others have criticized President Nevsky in supporting Godfrey. The riots, having been quelled, have left over eight-thousand dead and thousands more wounded, the toll continues to climb.

Prince Godfrey passed several laws that outlawed numerous groups such as dissenters, illegal immigrants, and other groups. Many many more have been enslaved. This has shocked the international community. President Nevsky met with members of his cabinet to discuss options. Many people took to the streets in outrage at the government and in solidarity of those suffering in Scandinvans. It is unclear yet, as to Nevsky's response to this crisis.

"This is an outrage! Prince Godfrey pleaded for assistance, begging the world to help him topple a ruthless dictator. He appealed to the international community with his compassion for the people. The International Community was used. Kulikovia was used! We were all fooled by this man and direct action must be taken!..."

That is an excerpt from Senator Kronev's address in response to the ongoing events in Scandinvans. He is calling for economic sanctions and has also suggested possibly heavier actions. KPAF Commanders also met with the President today, many speculate that military action will be taken.Imperial News Network:

Speech from Emperor Godfrey III:

“Once more have our noble people spoken, and by their actions they have reestablished the rightful, and traditional, government of our great nation. At their behest the Imperial Parliament and I have decided to install a new codex of laws that is suitable for a nation of morals, a nation of God. Yet, as we embark upon the path of God foreign interlopers demand that we alter our ways, ways that have been alive for over FIVE THOUSAND years, to their satisfaction. They demand that we adopt standards that suit them and their communist ideologies!

They even go so far as to call me a dictator, when the people choose me to lead and have, with a 74% approval rating, implemented laws that they called for me to pass. Which I had the honor of doing as this is a nation of the people, where there whims have the right to be heard. Not, the despotic rule of the tyrant Niv who wanted us to follow his laws alone, and nothing more.

The foreign slime even go so far as to say that I requested aid from their nation, which is completely false. They merely offered to help us in our struggle for freedom, an offer I accepted. But never, do I recall, explicitly calling for the help of such twits, I merely accepted an offer as any gentlemen would, nothing more save for their treacherous lies and actions my countrymen.

I say in response to their foul voices that the Scandinvan Empire is a holy nation that bases itself off the laws of the Bible and our Fathers. That we are a strong people who will not entertain their vile laws, and that we will resist to the end, if need be, any attempt to ensnare us in their foreign beliefs!

Deus vult!”

Earlier that Day...

President Nevsky narrowed his eyes at the reports. Deputy Executive Gregor Kolokov of the MFS (Ministry of Foreign Security) sat across from him, hands folded on the table. The room was silent, save the occasional flip of a page and the timed rythmn of the clock in the corner. Nevsky's face contorted as he read along. Numbers, locations, briefing, all this onformation bombarded him.

"That's just an estimate that their State Media released" Kolokov broke the near silence, "The numer's are probably higher than that"

Nevsky removed his reading glasses, carefully folding them and placing the glasses on the table. He sat back in his chair and let out a long sigh, "And this is correct?"

"Our Man managed to get some photos too, they're on the next attachment"

Nevsky waved it off, "No, that's alright. I can only imagine what he saw"

Kolokov cleared his throat, "Things are too hot there. Our people had to leave. It was only a matter of time before foreigners were forced out, so better they leave quietly then under the careful eye of their security. The facts are clear Mr.President, Scandinvan units are sweeping into the Moslem quarters and shooting at civilians."

"Is there any justification?" Nevsky asked

"It was a large scale riot that was turning ugly, yes. But they are using leathal force at every turning point. You saw the numbers, over eight-thousand, that we know of"

Nevsky pondered this fact for several seconds. He sighed once more and viewed the photos, grueling and graphic depictions of violance against civilians.

Minister of State, Anton Hradec dipped his head down and saw the photos himself. The other members of the cabinet and assembled military officals stood and sat by as the President thought.

"What are our options?"

Hradec snapped back to reality, "Well, Mr.President-this is a tough situation. Kulikovia looks like an idiot now for having backed this religious nut. Now he's doing this sort of thing and worse. We have to do something"

"It's not that simple" General Tupolev interjected, "The Scandinvans is a massive nation, dense population and a large military force. Any military approach could be very costly, especially is its' drawn out. And we don't know of their nuclear capabilities"

Nevsky clenched his fist. Economic embargos are sissy tactics that rarely accomplish anything unless there are enough nations. He doubted that even with enough nations condemning Godfrey, he wouldn't relinquish his grip. A military approach could cost thousands of lives. This couldn't have come at a worse time.

To: Godfrey III, Emperor of the Scandinvan Empire
From: Sara (1st) Garrettsdottr, Princepes of Sudova, High Chieftain of the People of the Ships, Friend to the Children of Abraham.

RE:Rioting

I believe you may have sparked a few feuds as a result of your scriptural interpretations, and a few more trying to enforce them.

Are they worth all this effort, if you're only going to have to kill them anyway? (Four Legions to suppress ONE suburban neighbourhood?)

Your warriors no doubt had to fire on crowds containing children. A less personal approach might serve your eventual goals without damaging your soldiers. I'd suggest cordon-and-firebombing of concentrations over sending infantry to slaughter civilians, it is more efficient, and the men who do it can convince themselves they were not killing innocents more easily through a targeting reticle than they can through a rifle's sights.

As my ancestor Bulwei III, at the sack of Basra in ancient Babylon, in 954 AD (as you christians reckon dates) said, "Blockade the doors and burn the building, and the spirits can not find you in your sleep, but every face you see over your sword will be with you eternally in the mists. It is best only to see the face of a Warrior when the storms come, for a Warrior understands what a Widow does not...and Orphan's Tears sink many ships..."

If you will not have mercy on these 'heretics' and 'unbelievers', have mercy on your men, for theirs are the hands that hold you in power.

As always, I hope this finds you in good health.

Sara

Your plight has truly moved me my friend. I have decided that since you have given such a true Christian request of me I have to actively prevent your people from having their freedom taken from them and instead of them being enslaved, or being turned into indentured servants, that I will give the followers of the Church of Kirav a special status as a Brother Church that will prevent them from having any of its members being forced into servitude, though heinous criminals will not be exempt form this.

May God bless both our flocks, for through him alone are we saved from the torments of Hell and through his grace are granted indulgence from whatever sins that we might commit.

Signed,
In the Name of Jesus,
In the Service of the Doomani Pope,
The Patriarch of the Scandinvan Catholic Church,
Harold James Matthew

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/Glyphick47/KiravisKircuvLgraph.png

We thank you immensely for your most generous terms. Indeed, may God bless both our flocks, and grant them salvation.
--

Western Parish, Valëka, Kiravian Empire

"That went better than expected," noted the Jesuit.

"That it did. There is indeed divine motivation at the heart of Scandinavian Catholicism. Given time, given change, it will return to its core values."

"So, our people are safe."

"Yes, and that's what matters for now. We must continue on, preaching our message at home."

"Aye, Sèr."
--

OOC: Scand, I sent you the information that you wanted via TG, so I'm going to go ahead with my theistorian, if that's all right.

Valdra, Scandinavian Empire

"It turns out that I don't need to leave after all," said Ardin Nàheir, a Kiravian videographer and documentarian.

"Is that so?" responded Avi Cypris calmly.

"Aye. The Church's decided to recognise the Kirk as a Brother Church, and give its members reprieve from slavery."

"That's excellent. It gives us much more time to work here."

Cypris was a Theistorian. In fact, he was the most famous theistorian to ever write in a Coscivian language. He had written in-depth accounts of Terranism, the Church of Sweden, and Tengriism, and contributed pages upon pages to encyclopedias. He was well-known for his ability to uncover information on religious movements distant from Kiravia.

And he was in Valdra to do just that. He had been chartered by Yardford University to study Scandinavian Catholicism, and its role in Scandinavian society.

"Well, shouldn't we celebrate?"

Cypris thought for a second. "Yes. Why not?" He reached behind an effigy of Mary that he had placed in their apartment, and revealed a bottle of Kiravian liqour, which he threw to his videographer.

"Thanks!" cheered Nàheir, opening the bottle.

"You're welcome." For himself, Cypris ventured to the small refrigerator that they had purchased, and withdrew a soft drink, along with some chocolate from a neighbouring cabinet. Cypris didn't drink. No one knew why. No one asked. "So, any more news?" he inquired.

"Yes. Except this part isn't good."

"Oh dear."

"Remember the gunshots that woke you and Ana this morning?"

"Aye," nodded the Theistorian. Ana was Nàheir's assistant.

"Well, as it turns out, the Imperial military was quelling a Muslim protest in the suburbs."

"No!"

"Aye. I'd get violent too if I was going to be enslaved."

"You almost were."

"Aye. But do you think this would be good for the documentary?"

"Certainly. It'd play very well into the Religion-meets-Politics aspect of the film."

"Let's go, then. Maybe there's still some debris that we could film."

"You mean bodies?"

"I'd rather not disturb you. I know how you are with that kind of thing."

"In the end, my friend, we all have to face a single truth, whether it's what we want it to be or not."

To: Godfrey III, Emperor of the Scandinvan Empire
From: Sara (1st) Garrettsdottr, Princepes of Sudova, High Chieftain of the People of the Ships, Friend to the Children of Abraham.

RE:Rioting

I believe you may have sparked a few feuds as a result of your scriptural interpretations, and a few more trying to enforce them.

Are they worth all this effort, if you're only going to have to kill them anyway? (Four Legions to suppress ONE suburban neighbourhood?)

Your warriors no doubt had to fire on crowds containing children. A less personal approach might serve your eventual goals without damaging your soldiers. I'd suggest cordon-and-firebombing of concentrations over sending infantry to slaughter civilians, it is more efficient, and the men who do it can convince themselves they were not killing innocents more easily through a targeting reticle than they can through a rifle's sights.

As my ancestor Bulwei III, at the sack of Basra in ancient Babylon, in 954 AD (as you christians reckon dates) said, "Blockade the doors and burn the building, and the spirits can not find you in your sleep, but every face you see over your sword will be with you eternally in the mists. It is best only to see the face of a Warrior when the storms come, for a Warrior understands what a Widow does not...and Orphan's Tears sink many ships..."

If you will not have mercy on these 'heretics' and 'unbelievers', have mercy on your men, for theirs are the hands that hold you in power.

As always, I hope this finds you in good health.

SaraTo Sara Garrettsdottr, Princepes of Sudova,

Such an irate opinion do you hold. My nation’s men were ordered into a quarter of the Valdra’s Urban sprawl that has well over a million persons and the rioters consisted, at least 98% of them, were over the age of 15 and thus they were quite responsible for their actions when they choose to charge a line of heavily armed Imperial soldiers. So please do not recklessly state that my people are using overwhelming forces against a small community and that we are also not targeting children. Further, we shall not resort to attacks with such a reckless disregard for human life.

As well, we do not abide by the superstitions of your folk, my people simply believe in that as long as we abide by the laws of the one true God then we need not fear a terrible afterlife, that all moral people will be granted eternal paradise where all the troubles of this world will fade away.

God save us.

Signed,
Imperial Steward,
Lord Erida

OOC: Scand, I sent you the information that you wanted via TG, so I'm going to go ahead with my theistorian, if that's all right.OOC: All is in order and you have my full consent to continue with what you are doing, though please do not think that my people simply leave bodies in the streets, for long.:p

OOC: Would it be plausible to have a device that can literally blow up a slave's head if they try to escape, by using radio waves to track them?

OOC: All is in order and you have my full consent to continue with what you are doing, though please do not think that my people simply leave bodies in the streets, for long.:p

I recommend Soylent Green as slave fare. **nods**
--

Suburbs of Valdra, Scandinavian Empire

"Just this morning, Scandinavian forces dispersed a crowd of Muslim rioters protesting their impending enslavement," said Cypris in Coscivian, as he stood in the middle of the now-clear suburban street. Som bloodstains were still present, but not all that noticeable.

"The death toll stands at around twenty thousand. To give some perspective, there are twenty-thousand students at Yardford University. There are twenty-thousand settlers in the Colony of Kætria. The Atoverev ethnic group has about twenty thousand members. A massacre on this scale would end a college, a colony, or a culture. According to the state media, the demonstrators "The Moslems, with fanatical enthusiasm, charged the Imperial troops being sent in with a horde many thousands strong." It also claims that the Imperial Army had been dispatched to 'protect' Valdra's Muslim population. The riots continue in the Muslim districts of the city proper."
--

Valdra, Scandinavian Empire

Back in their apartment, Cypris sat on the couch, writing the next section of his book, while Nàheil was busy editing the tape.

Cypris was calm, his mood ethereal and distant as usual, but it became clear that something was bothering him. His pen commited a few more syllabics and logograms to the page, but was then left to fall and roll off.

"Avi? What's wrong?"

"This is horrible," replied the theistorian, as if the scope of the situation had just hit him.

"Yeah, it's pretty bad. But you've seen it all before, haven't you."

" 'Seen' is relative. I've read about, written about, even, the deaths of millions under theocracies. But every time, it wasn't really the fault of religion. It was always politics, using religion as a mask, or as a method. But here, it seems that the Church is pulling the strings. The heirarchy of the SCC seems to sincirely believe that what they are doing is right."

"Well, no matter what anyone says, Religion isn't God. You know that better than anyone else."

"True," admitted Cypris, a freelance monotheist.

"Religion is a human institution. And like all human institutions, it is subject to the inherent imperfection of Man. The will of the Church may or may not be the will of the Lord. 'Theocracy' is a misnomer. God does not rule. It is 'Ecclesiocracy', the Church rules, claiming to be God."

"Then how can you still participate in it, if you now it to be false as I do?"

"Not false, just not infalliable. I believe that what the Church of Kirav preaches is true, just as these people here believe that what the Scandinavian Church preaches is true. I do not need to belong to the Church to believe what it says, but it gives me structure and guidance. God is too big for us to handle on our own."

"Not true. I've managed all right."

"Really? You may not go to church, but you are by no means uninfluenced by organised religion. Your opinions are shaped by your work. You have used what you know of all the worlds faiths, and picked and chosen what you see as true and untrue for yourself. Navigating the entirety of religion has been your religion."

"Nàheil?"

"Yes?"

"Why the hell are you a videographer?"

"You don't need a baptismal certificate to believe in God. I don't need a university degree to think."

Suburbs of Valdra, Scandinavian Empire

"Just this morning, Scandinavian forces dispersed a crowd of Muslim rioters protesting their impending enslavement," said Cypris in Coscivian, as he stood in the middle of the now-clear suburban street. Som bloodstains were still present, but not all that noticeable.

"The death toll stands at around twenty thousand. To give some perspective, there are twenty-thousand students at Yardford University. There are twenty-thousand settlers in the Colony of Kætria. The Atoverev ethnic group has about twenty thousand members. A massacre on this scale would end a college, a colony, or a culture. According to the state media, the demonstrators "The Moslems, with fanatical enthusiasm, charged the Imperial troops being sent in with a horde many thousands strong." It also claims that the Imperial Army had been dispatched to 'protect' Valdra's Muslim population. The riots continue in the Muslim districts of the city proper."OOC: Truly funny how people are willing to believe the things their leaders tell them isn't it? *Nod*

OOC: Truly funny how people are willing to believe the things their leaders tell them isn't it? *Nod*

**nods in acknowledgement**

Ad Aired on the Imperial News Network

“With the ever growing slave trade, there is truly a need to better regulate the movements of your slave and allow you to better control their actions so they might not be able to disobey your commands or be to escape from their rightful owners who only seek to protect the welfare of their slaves.

To ensure the defense of your property we, at the newly founded Scandinvan Slave Corp, have quite a product for you. By using a series of old altered radio towers and by the use of communication satellites we have brought slave tracking and slave discipline into the 21st century.

For this we present the Slave Collar 2.0 for all who wish to buy it, though to note only permanent slaves can have it installed on them and all installations of the product must be done by a Slave Corp employee, of course though all installation fees are waived by Slave Corp.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/fallout/images//c/cb/Slave_Collar.png

Our product, by the use of radio waves, can track a slave’s movements within twenty seconds and display the slave positions right onto your computer screen.

As well, by the use of your issued controller, though it has a range of only five miles, you can shock the slave as a punishment of sorts.

If the slave does escape you can contact Slave Corp and give your product number, at which we will release a disabling shock into the slave’s body that will simply cause them to be knocked out till they can be recovered by yourself or by local law enforcement.

Further, we can assure you that any attempt to tamper with the slave collar will result in a shock going into the slave and/or the person who has any physical contact with the collar, the actual amount of shocks the collar can release is around one hundred, so please recharge the collar every two months of so.

That is all and please purchase the Slave Collar 2.0 if you want your property to be protected.”

OOC: Would it be plausible to have a device that can literally blow up a slave's head if they try to escape, by using radio waves to track them?

ooc oh you be wanting a Slave Collar (http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Slave_Collar),an it dose blow off the head seen it happen

The Emperor Yeongmu received the news on a flash drive early that morning. It had all of the news that he needed to read (and more), but one that caught his eyes was the recent development of a theocratic institution in The Scandinvans Empire. He immediately thought of his cousin there, who was - in some ways - living an exile's life following the sort of trauma. Yi Yeonghwa. How was she faring in this land that seemed to change government every 60 days?

Yeongmu got on the phone immediately and called to the Academy (of Foreign Affairs): "Count Han. I want you to send a message to the Scandinvans Empire, to inquire on the status of our daughter."

"Daughter?"

"Yi Yeonghwa!"

"Ah... yes. At once, sire."

General Communication to the Scandinvans Embassy in Hangyeong

To Ambassador Lord Frederick Erida:

Hearing recent news of religious disturbance in your home country, we have become interested in the fate of our daughter. The present Emperor Yeongmu wishes to inquire the circumstances in which the Princess Yi Yeonghwa has become. We greatly appreciate any update from the Empire, and we wish to arrange a trip for Her Imperial Majesty and her consort Prince Karl to the Han Empire for the duration of the incidents.

If The Scandinvans Empire does require any help discouraging rebellion and riots, we offer our services in the interim.

Count Han Seungsu
Academy of Foreign Affairs
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t156/daehanjeiguk/foreign.png

ooc: If you are willing, I can send Mujeongbu extremist anarchist terrorists to your country to foment more discontent. They'll pretend that they're devout Catholics heading on pilgrimage to the Scandinvans to see the relics of some patron saint. If you're willing to allow this sort of activity, do realize that the Mujeongbu are politically and ideologically opposed to the Han Empire, so anything that happens as a result of this would be something to blame against the Mujeongbu, not the Han. If this interests you, let me know. :p

ooc oh you be wanting a Slave Collar (http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Slave_Collar),an it dose blow off the head seen it happenOOC: But, I beat you to it in my previous post.:tongue:

OOC: But, I beat you to it in my previous post.:tongue:

ooc *looks back* oh fish sticks.. well at less yours not as messy

The Emperor Yeongmu received the news on a flash drive early that morning. It had all of the news that he needed to read (and more), but one that caught his eyes was the recent development of a theocratic institution in The Scandinvans Empire. He immediately thought of his cousin there, who was - in some ways - living an exile's life following the sort of trauma. Yi Yeonghwa. How was she faring in this land that seemed to change government every 60 days?

Yeongmu got on the phone immediately and called to the Academy (of Foreign Affairs): "Count Han. I want you to send a message to the Scandinvans Empire, to inquire on the status of our daughter."

"Daughter?"

"Yi Yeonghwa!"

"Ah... yes. At once, sire."



ooc: If you are willing, I can send Mujeongbu extremist anarchist terrorists to your country to foment more discontent. They'll pretend that they're devout Catholics heading on pilgrimage to the Scandinvans to see the relics of some patron saint. If you're willing to allow this sort of activity, do realize that the Mujeongbu are politically and ideologically opposed to the Han Empire, so anything that happens as a result of this would be something to blame against the Mujeongbu, not the Han. If this interests you, let me know. :pOOC: Princess Yi Yeonghwa and Prince Karl both died at the Imperial Palace when Director Niv killed off most of the Imperial family. Though their children are still alive, worked myself into a writing hole how though, and the old racism of the Imperial family has largely died off and have became fully accepted members of the Imperial family. As for the Mujeongbu, feel free to send them though keep their bombings to a reasonable scale and away from key characters.

OOC: Princess Yi Yeonghwa and Prince Karl both died at the Imperial Palace when Director Niv killed off most of the Imperial family. Though their children are still alive, worked myself into a writing hole how though, and the old racism of the Imperial family has largely died off and have became fully accepted members of the Imperial family. As for the Mujeongbu, feel free to send them though keep their bombings to a reasonable scale and away from key characters.

ooc: oops, i guess i took one too many sleeping pills... anyway, expect to see a formal yet belated response to the tragedy soon, and I'll introduce the "Catholic pilgrims" here. actually, if you could give me a hint as to a reasonable sacred site for your church, because I'll have my guys target the religious aspects of your country - attack the churches and the relics - that would be a good "going on" for me. Might give you a reason to strengthen your theocracy against the attack by the heathens :p

In response to Sudova

Considering the unusual communiqué from the people of the ships, the Sultan called in his chief Vizir for a consultation.

"Are these the same barbarians whom Mūsā allowed to take that Pamplonan? Ibn Wannaqo?" He asked, fortunately for his Vizir moving on without giving the wiseman an opportunity to convey his ignorance in the matter. "'Odious and evil'? Need an infidel even bother to say such? "

Belatedly, however, the Sultan indicated that the Andalusians would accept the Sudovan gift as a gesture of good faith. He added that perhaps the best thing that Sudovians could do to improve relations between their two peoples would be to visit Al'Andalus and find that, since the Catholics' admission of failure in their reconquista, peace and order prevailed. The practice of Dhimmitude, Ibn Sabur would insist, was infinitely preferable to the treatment rendered unto Muslims in the Catholic Scandinvan Empire, and he added that throughout the centuries in which Muslim people had been barred from even entering Sudovia, Catholics and Jews had lived peacefully in Al'Andalus (since the end of the Almohads, at least) and were exempt from the Zakat paid by Muslims and free of any obligation even to serve in the military in the nation's defence.

Ibn Sabur suggested that he may consider the future inclusion of such pagans as are to be found amongst the people of the ships under the protections afforded to the people of the Dhimma.

Bab el-Zakat (Strait of Gibraltar)

Clearly, the Scandinvans were not struck with fear or enlightenment by Ibn Sabur's words and warnings. Having brought the matter to public attention, the Sultan now felt pressed to act as the Empire killed and enslaved Muslims in great number. If he were to retain absolute power, Ibn Sabur had to keep pace with the changing tides of public opinion.

The Ghāzī Brigade put out to sea in the dead of night on Al'Andalus's first aggressive mission in generations. Zafar Class frigates Tariq ibn Ziyad and Yusuf ibn Tashfin and Taifa Class escort corvettes Shantarin, Ukhshunuba, and Yabura along with several quick LCPs and a cruise ship that had been moored at Jabal Tāriq made the short crossing to Ceuta, while a secondary expedition was being prepared to face Melilla. The fact that both operations could not be launched together on short notice perhaps did not say much for the readiness of the Andalusian military after so long spent in deep relaxation, but this fact belied the ferocity of the first mission as it unfolded.

The anomalys of Ceuta and Melilla, Christian-lead outposts on the North African coast, flanked by Morocco and Al'Andalus, would be subject to Ibn Sabur's revenge for the affronts committed in the Empire of the Scandinvans and thus far tolerated without much criticism by the rest of Christendom.

100mm deck guns sounded the first shots as the Andalusians steamed into the harbour at Ceuta and, moments later, Ghazi infantry began to flood ashore at the heart of the docks.

Before long, the night sky was illuminated by the wrath of the flames that consumed Santa Iglesia Catedral, and the dancing light fell upon the shapes of small vessels already returning to the north, weighed down with dumbfounded and terrified Catholics.

ooc: oops, i guess i took one too many sleeping pills... anyway, expect to see a formal yet belated response to the tragedy soon, and I'll introduce the "Catholic pilgrims" here. actually, if you could give me a hint as to a reasonable sacred site for your church, because I'll have my guys target the religious aspects of your country - attack the churches and the relics - that would be a good "going on" for me. Might give you a reason to strengthen your theocracy against the attack by the heathens :pOOC: My Church keeps up all of its relics under lock and key so do not expect to be able to destroy them.:p Yet, if you want there is the Church by the Water in Vismer that is relatively sacred spot.

Bab el-Zakat (Strait of Gibraltar)

Clearly, the Scandinvans were not struck with fear or enlightenment by Ibn Sabur's words and warnings. Having brought the matter to public attention, the Sultan now felt pressed to act as the Empire killed and enslaved Muslims in great number. If he were to retain absolute power, Ibn Sabur had to keep pace with the changing tides of public opinion.

The Ghāzī Brigade put out to sea in the dead of night on Al'Andalus's first aggressive mission in generations. Zafar Class frigates Tariq ibn Ziyad and Yusuf ibn Tashfin and Taifa Class escort corvettes Shantarin, Ukhshunuba, and Yabura along with several quick LCPs and a cruise ship that had been moored at Jabal Tāriq made the short crossing to Ceuta, while a secondary expedition was being prepared to face Melilla. The fact that both operations could not be launched together on short notice perhaps did not say much for the readiness of the Andalusian military after so long spent in deep relaxation, but this fact belied the ferocity of the first mission as it unfolded.

The anomalys of Ceuta and Melilla, Christian-lead outposts on the North African coast, flanked by Morocco and Al'Andalus, would be subject to Ibn Sabur's revenge for the affronts committed in the Empire of the Scandinvans and thus far tolerated without much criticism by the rest of Christendom.

100mm deck guns sounded the first shots as the Andalusians steamed into the harbour at Ceuta and, moments later, Ghazi infantry began to flood ashore at the heart of the docks.

Before long, the night sky was illuminated by the wrath of the flames that consumed Santa Iglesia Catedral, and the dancing light fell upon the shapes of small vessels already returning to the north, weighed down with dumbfounded and terrified Catholics.OOC: To ask are Ceuta and Melilla under your control, as relatively free city states, or are they totally free from your control?

OOC: I haven't used them before, but preliminarily I am assuming that they're NPC with an altered history thanks to the failure of the Reconquista (which didn't fail outright, but did see borders fluctuate wildly, cities fall and be recaptured, and so on). Possibly at some point they were seen in a 'soft underbelly' way, taken by semi-rogue knightly orders, or whatever else.

In any case, they will have been made to pay tribute to the Sultan in order that he should prevent the Taifas (states) from lauching raids, as each Amir (sort of state governor) has a large degree of control over his own armed forces until they are called upon by the Sultan.

I'm not opposed to finding that someone else already claims them, so long as it fits basically with what I've said so far and they don't mind what's happened to this point.

Erm, also, if this becomes a whole big thing and you don't want your restoration thread sidetracked, we can move it elsewhere. Up to you.

Edit: Possibly I should clarify that Catholics (and other 'people of the book' plus Mandaeans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians) who are already permanent residents of Al'Andalus are classed as Dimam and protected by the state, so are legally distinct from extra-Andalusian Catholics et cetera. Thus it it legally permissable here for foreign Catholics to be taken as slaves while local Catholics continue to live freely.

50 Miles from Ceuta, in the Mediterranean, aboard the Sudovan light Cruiser Gnaki, 0500 hours

"Smoke on the horizon, landward, and we're recieving distress calls." The Officer of the deck reported. Captain Herman Gordon stepped out of his sea-cabin, and listened for a few minutes.
"Inform the Merchant convoy, Ceuta and Melilla aren't safe port." he said after a moment, "whatever they were scheduled to deliver, it's not going there Now, and send to the rest of the escort force-keep the merchant ships well away from both sides, we're going to be going right down the middle of a war-zone."

"The Chiefs aren't going to like hearing that." his XO commented.

"I know-but I'm the CO of the escort force, and it's my call-these people are putting each other in chains, Without a directive from the Princepes and the Chieftain's council, we're Neutral-I'd as soon none of our people get mired in that mess...make sure you send a status-update over satcom." he sighed heavily, "have the Air-boss on the Kellen launch a CAP and a pair of eyes-and-ears."

Kellen, LHA straight-deck carrier

Four UAV's lined up on the deck, and with JATO and catapult assistance, took to the air, followed by six Sea-Harrier MK4's. The UAV's climbed to 40,000 feet, and turned their cameras at the coasts, imaging the destruction and forwarding the images to their human masters.

================================================================
Travellers Advisory from the Ministry of Trade and Travel and the Defense Ministry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All travel to the cities of Mellila and Ceuta is hereby suspended, captains are advised
that all ship traffic near the Andalusian Peninsula is considered endangered. Yes, this
relates to the rising tensions between the Scandinvan Empire and the United Taifas
under Sultan Ibn Sabur.
Reports from MedFltCom indicate that the United Taifas launched attacks on the cities
of Ceutas and Melilla last night, intercepted radio traffic indicates that Captives were
taken and not released, and that large areas of both cities were put to the torch.
Mediators ask that anyone with kin or Clansmen visiting either city come forward with
names and dates of arrival, to determine if Sudovan Citizens were taken in these raids.

Repeat, it is vital that all non-escorted traffic avoid this area.
================================================================
To:Sultan Ibn Sabur.
From: Princepes Sara Garrettsdottr.
RE:Ceutas and Melilla

Please ensure your raiders took none of our people. IF your raiders took our
people, I am open to negotiating their ransom for release. If negotiations fail, however...

it has been seven hundered and eighty five years since my people set foot on your land. I am certain,
as a wise ruler who does not wish his own people ill, you do not want a repeat of that
last visit, particularly not with modern weapons. I can not hold the Chieftains back if
the call is for the Torch, and I will not waste my men in empty wars of conquest.

Honestly I do not wish a war-we have our own issues closer to home, but I will not, and
can not, allow my people to be held against their will. I am delaying the moot to decide
this issue until an accounting of who may, or may not, have been taken is made. It is
my hope this can be handled without fire and blood.

Please respond,

Sara.

=================================================================
To: Emperor Godfrey III, Scandinvan Empire
From: Princepes Sara Garrettsdottr, High Chieftain of the People of the Seas and Sovereign ruler of the Principality of Sudova

RE: Examples made, Examples followed.

Your muslim neighbours have one-upped you, instead of enslaving their own citizens, they have launched destructive slave-raids against two open cities that are not theirs. I am given to understand they have taken Catholics into bondage. WE are trying to ascertain if any of OUR people were scooped up in that. If so, we may have to do something we have not done in centuries. I am reluctant to pursue such a policy unless conditions force it.

Your feud has spread beyond rational limits, and innocent bystanders have been injured. Please settle it.

Sara

[ooc: There should probably be set up a separate thread for this. I'm getting all kinds of neat story ideas.]

OOC: I haven't used them before, but preliminarily I am assuming that they're NPC with an altered history thanks to the failure of the Reconquista (which didn't fail outright, but did see borders fluctuate wildly, cities fall and be recaptured, and so on). Possibly at some point they were seen in a 'soft underbelly' way, taken by semi-rogue knightly orders, or whatever else.

In any case, they will have been made to pay tribute to the Sultan in order that he should prevent the Taifas (states) from lauching raids, as each Amir (sort of state governor) has a large degree of control over his own armed forces until they are called upon by the Sultan.

I'm not opposed to finding that someone else already claims them, so long as it fits basically with what I've said so far and they don't mind what's happened to this point.

Erm, also, if this becomes a whole big thing and you don't want your restoration thread sidetracked, we can move it elsewhere. Up to you.

Edit: Possibly I should clarify that Catholics (and other 'people of the book' plus Mandaeans, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians) who are already permanent residents of Al'Andalus are classed as Dimam and protected by the state, so are legally distinct from extra-Andalusian Catholics et cetera. Thus it it legally permissable here for foreign Catholics to be taken as slaves while local Catholics continue to live freely.OOC: Fair enough, though to note you need not worry about the claims as you have the right to have a fair amount of control over lands surronding you, though you cannot use their forces in war you can invade other NPC nations without much worry as long as they are fairly small.

Also, if you wish feel free to start a new thread.

To: Emperor Godfrey III, Scandinvan Empire
From: Princepes Sara Garrettsdottr, High Chieftain of the People of the Seas and Sovereign ruler of the Principality of Sudova

RE: Examples made, Examples followed.

Your muslim neighbours have one-upped you, instead of enslaving their own citizens, they have launched destructive slave-raids against two open cities that are not theirs. I am given to understand they have taken Catholics into bondage. WE are trying to ascertain if any of OUR people were scooped up in that. If so, we may have to do something we have not done in centuries. I am reluctant to pursue such a policy unless conditions force it.

Your feud has spread beyond rational limits, and innocent bystanders have been injured. Please settle it.

Sara

[ooc: There should probably be set up a separate thread for this. I'm getting all kinds of neat story ideas.]Princepes Sara Garrettsdottr, Sovereign ruler of the Principality of Sudova,

We will not yield to the demands, though we refer only to the Moslems now attacking the rightfully free Christian states that are now under attack, of those who so blatantly violate the sovereignty of other nations. Further, though we respect your right to the your own opinion, we believe that our nation must preserve its honor and as well we shall defend the liberty of our regardless of what happens.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

OOC: My Church keeps up all of its relics under lock and key so do not expect to be able to destroy them.:p Yet, if you want there is the Church by the Water in Vismer that is relatively sacred spot.

ooc: fine by me; desecrating sacred ground is good enough impetus :D

Baek Jonghwan and his accomplice debarked the bus. They paid for a round-way trip to Vismer. Their trip was made significantly easier by the fact that the xenophobic phase during their last attempt made it virtually impossible for them to complete their journey to the Church by the Water. Of course, why would they travel to this remote location? They gave no excuse, except that they came on behalf of an elderly gentleman who once hailed from the Church. The name was beyond their memory, and it might have been someone else's memory of the old chap. By the way they spoke, the old man might have been dead before they knew of him. Regardless, they were here for a private ritual and ceremony.

They seemed perfectly harmless. Pious believers who wanted to gave praise for the Word of the Dear Lord Savior, from the very place whose child had brought them the Word. Something like that. They were adamant fellows who insisted on the task. They had nearly every element present as well for their rituals, brought from their home land, most importantly a vessel of blessed oil for the Baptism that they would receive at the Church by the Water (they would ideally be baptized in the water at the Church...). It was the only element (besides their clothes) that they actively brought with them, and it was noticeably the first thing that the priest saw when they arrived at the church.

ooc: if you're willing, bring them inside.

ooc: fine by me; desecrating sacred ground is good enough impetus :D

Baek Jonghwan and his accomplice debarked the bus. They paid for a round-way trip to Vismer. Their trip was made significantly easier by the fact that the xenophobic phase during their last attempt made it virtually impossible for them to complete their journey to the Church by the Water. Of course, why would they travel to this remote location? They gave no excuse, except that they came on behalf of an elderly gentleman who once hailed from the Church. The name was beyond their memory, and it might have been someone else's memory of the old chap. By the way they spoke, the old man might have been dead before they knew of him. Regardless, they were here for a private ritual and ceremony.

They seemed perfectly harmless. Pious believers who wanted to gave praise for the Word of the Dear Lord Savior, from the very place whose child had brought them the Word. Something like that. They were adamant fellows who insisted on the task. They had nearly every element present as well for their rituals, brought from their home land, most importantly a vessel of blessed oil for the Baptism that they would receive at the Church by the Water (they would ideally be baptized in the water at the Church...). It was the only element (besides their clothes) that they actively brought with them, and it was noticeably the first thing that the priest saw when they arrived at the church.

ooc: if you're willing, bring them inside.An old priest, with piercing eyes, walked up towards the group as they entered the Church and he marched with his staff held firm in his hand and as he approached the men began to ask,” For what reason do you, who are not part of my flock, enter this blessed sanctuary of our blessed Lord? How might I be of service to folk whom I know nothing about?”

OOC: There is not at the door so I simply assumed they would right inside if that is alright with you.

Holy Imperial Palace - Saint Alexander City, Rathanan

Holy Emperor Tiberius Lucilius Severus read over the proclaimation from Emperor Godfrey III quietly, mouthing the words as he read. Before him stood his Minister of Diplomacy, Quintus Octavius Lepidus, who brought him the proclaimation.

After a short while of reading, the Emperor looked up at Lepidus with a quirked eyebrow.

"So.... What?" He asked at last.

"Well, they are a possible ally, Highness." Lepidus responded.

The Holy Emperor laughed. "This papal dog? Never. Rathanan has not had any formal dealings with a Roman Catholic nation since the Great Schism."

"Well, times have changed... Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians aren't exactly bitter enemies anymore." Lepidus shot back.

"Yeah, try explaining that to the Council of Bishops and the Patriarch."

"This is a matter of state, your Highness, you hold supremacy with the Senate."

"The Senate will never approve of this either..."

"It's just a thought, Your Majesty." Lepidus said with a slight grumble.

"A noted thought, Minister Lepidus... Just not a realistic one... The Rathani Orthodox Church, The Holy Imperial Senate, and above all... The people of Rathanan will never appove of open dealings with this.... Scandinvan Empire." The Holy Emperor responded as he lit the proclamation on fire and lit up a cigar with it. "Let the Papal dogs rot... We shall not ally ourselves with heretics."

Lepidus nodded for a minute and remained silent for a bit. "Truth be told, I mostly brought it over because I wanted to sit down and have a cigar with you." He said with a smirk.

"Lepidus, you've been a family friend since before I was born... You don't need to bring bad alliance ideas before me to come by and share a cigar." The Holy Emperor said with a grin as he handed the Minister a cigar and a box of matches...

((I'd like to get involved, but the usual precident for Rathanan is to avoid relations with Roman Catholic countries... A vendetta still in tact from the Great Schism I'm afraid. :( ))

((I'd like to get involved, but the usual precident for Rathanan is to avoid relations with Roman Catholic countries... A vendetta still in tact from the Great Schism I'm afraid. :( ))OOC: To be really technical, the Scandinvan Catholic Church is in communion, therefore acknowledges the power, with the Doomani Pope and as such does not follow traditional modern Catholic dogma so if you have a problem with the other Catholic groups feel free but there is more then one pope on NS. As well, my group was never part of the Great Schism as it broke with the ‘Roman’ Pope during the Age of Migrations. So when it comes down to it my Church is Catholic, just not Roman Catholic and not subject to the Roman Catholic Pope. Thus, some fun might come out of this yet.

OOC: Spin-off thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=578888) in which Al'Andalus moves to annex the city states of Ceuta and Melilla as retribution for the Empire's actions and the failure of other Christian leaders even to condemn them.

To: Emperor Godfrey III
From: Shah Khosru III of Parthia

Let it be known, your nation is truly blessed, standing firm against the lies proposed by the foul and evil. Verily, your decision to align your Church with the Doomanis is indicative that your people hold the highest and greatest of moral values and are an asset to this world, today so far from the divine will, possessed by the foul stench of environmentalism, the evils of Communism, and the lies of democracy.

We applaud your values, your ethics, your decision, your great morals. Truly, your nation is an island of purity in a sea of lies and will play a role in purifying this fallen world. Your policies will prove to make your nation pure, to destroy that which shows the touch of evil, the touch of the lie.

Yet, we must inquire and ask a small question of your fine state, my own goals, and the goals which are necessitated by my position requires me to defend the Zoroastrian faith. Whether you wish to practice slavery or not is your perogative, yet we would find our co-religionists trapped in slavery to be... shall we say, unpalatable? Of course, I am willing to come to some alternative means which settles this issue, assuming you even possess such minorities, and otherwise, are completely supportive of your new order.

May you reign long,

Shah Khosru III

To: Emperor Godfrey III
From: Shah Khosru III of Parthia

Let it be known, your nation is truly blessed, standing firm against the lies proposed by the foul and evil. Verily, your decision to align your Church with the Doomanis is indicative that your people hold the highest and greatest of moral values and are an asset to this world, today so far from the divine will, possessed by the foul stench of environmentalism, the evils of Communism, and the lies of democracy.

We applaud your values, your ethics, your decision, your great morals. Truly, your nation is an island of purity in a sea of lies and will play a role in purifying this fallen world. Your policies will prove to make your nation pure, to destroy that which shows the touch of evil, the touch of the lie.

Yet, we must inquire and ask a small question of your fine state, my own goals, and the goals which are necessitated by my position requires me to defend the Zoroastrian faith. Whether you wish to practice slavery or not is your perogative, yet we would find our co-religionists trapped in slavery to be... shall we say, unpalatable? Of course, I am willing to come to some alternative means which settles this issue, assuming you even possess such minorities, and otherwise, are completely supportive of your new order.

May you reign long,

Shah Khosru IIITo: Shah Khosru III of Parthia

I thank you for seeing the wisdom in the choice of our nation to restore the old laws and establish our state as a truly moral one where the good are blessed and the wicked punished for their crimes against God, the Scandinvan Empire. I wish to also remark that is good to see a nation of a non-Christians who shows a moralistic outlook of the world and who is indeed worthy of looking in the presence of the Almighty once the Lord chooses to embrace him in his arms.

Zoroastrianism, within our nation, is not well represented in the Scandinvan Empire and there is a sprinkling of fairly insular communities that practices, at least a form of, Zoroastrianism, with there being about a hundred thousand followers of Zoroastrianism in the Empire. To note, due to the somewhat isolated nature of the communities, they have not been affected by the recent changes in the law and we will promise you that no Zoroastrian has been enslaved and that we will not place any new restrictions on the communities as long as they respect the civil laws of the Empire.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

An old priest, with piercing eyes, walked up towards the group as they entered the Church and he marched with his staff held firm in his hand and as he approached the men began to ask,” For what reason do you, who are not part of my flock, enter this blessed sanctuary of our blessed Lord? How might I be of service to folk whom I know nothing about?”

OOC: There is not at the door so I simply assumed they would right inside if that is alright with you.

ooc: perfectly fine

The group hardly made any noise. Baek Jonghwan was the only who spoke the local tongue, having learned from the old master who supposedly came from this Church. Of course, to say that he spoke it perfectly would be a big fat lie.

"We with tribute oil in pot come, we in house which is hallowed baptism seek. Our father here home called, he to us would wish well. You help?"

ooc: if you need a translation: "We have come with a vessel of blessed oil as an offering for this hallowed house in which we seek baptism. It was our father's house, and [were he alive] he would wish for us [to be baptized here on his behalf]. Can you help us?

ooc: perfectly fine

The group hardly made any noise. Baek Jonghwan was the only who spoke the local tongue, having learned from the old master who supposedly came from this Church. Of course, to say that he spoke it perfectly would be a big fat lie.

"We with tribute oil in pot come, we in house which is hallowed baptism seek. Our father here home called, he to us would wish well. You help?"

ooc: if you need a translation: "We have come with a vessel of blessed oil as an offering for this hallowed house in which we seek baptism. It was our father's house, and [were he alive] he would wish for us [to be baptized here on his behalf]. Can you help us?The Priest responded," Very well my child I shall be happy to Baptism on behalf of our holy Lord and for the sake of your father. Simply allow me to anoint with said oil, after it has been mingled with Holy Water."

OOC: Spin-off thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=578888) in which Al'Andalus moves to annex the city states of Ceuta and Melilla as retribution for the Empire's actions and the failure of other Christian leaders even to condemn them.OOC: Well, it looks like one war of conquest is leading towards another one, also thank you for posting the thread.

The Priest responded," Very well my child I shall be happy to Baptism on behalf of our holy Lord and for the sake of your father. Simply allow me to anoint with said oil, after it has been mingled with Holy Water."

Baek Jonghwan nodded, seemingly understanding the words that came from the priest. He turned to the brother with the vessel, instructing him to hand it to the priest. There seemed to be little ceremony about it. Baek did mention one warning at the priest received the vessel - "Oil pure it is, to open before ready dirty it become. We open pot not before ready."

ooc translation: The oil has been purified; we shouldn't open it or risk contaminating it. We should only open the vessel when we ready for the anointment.

Baek Jonghwan nodded, seemingly understanding the words that came from the priest. He turned to the brother with the vessel, instructing him to hand it to the priest. There seemed to be little ceremony about it. Baek did mention one warning at the priest received the vessel - "Oil pure it is, to open before ready dirty it become. We open pot not before ready."

ooc translation: The oil has been purified; we shouldn't open it or risk contaminating it. We should only open the vessel when we ready for the anointment.As the group was meeting a member of the Imperial Security Force was somewhat afraid that the two foreigners might be up to something so he decided to talk to the bishop outside of the Church till the pair left. (OOC: It is a relatively common pratice in my nation to be fearful of foreign persons.)

The Priest responded," Very well then, come with me to the basin of holy water where I shall enter you into the Church of our Lord and after that is done I shall bless you with the holy oil you brought with you on behalf of those who came before."

As the group was meeting a member of the Imperial Security Force was somewhat afraid that the two foreigners might be up to something so he decided to talk to the bishop outside of the Church till the pair left. (OOC: It is a relatively common pratice in my nation to be fearful of foreign persons.)

The Priest responded," Very well then, come with me to the basin of holy water where I shall enter you into the Church of our Lord and after that is done I shall bless you with the holy oil you brought with you on behalf of those who came before."

ooc: no worries - this will be over before you realize it... perhaps you already know how this is going to end

Baek Jonghwan directed to his brothers, and they all followed the priest to the basin, where the baptism would occur. It was pristine and still water, glowing almost in the sunlight. The men severally began to weep, at the sight of such still beauty perhaps. They prepared themselves for the immersion.

=== 016 Embassy Avenue ===

An Sunhong was looking over the papers in the embassy. It was near noontime, and for the first time that afternoon, he was receiving an "URGENT" message in his inbox. It had all of the workings of an encrypted message, meaning that he was perhaps the only person to see the message at all. He yawned.

"Let's see..." he murmured to himself.

防御最高別知道:
安善洪月準五，

百宗桓來。給大火災。要罰不死。看看不說。


"White Tiger?" he remarked to himself, almost in shock. Why was he only now learning about this? Why was this madman allowed to get into the country? He quickly looked up the account profile for "White Tiger", noting that his visa was granted by another country, a country that was classified oddly. Classified to a level 5 Hwarang agent? What was going on? Did they want this madman to do what he does best? He tried to crack the encryption for the level, but he soon found that his computer was completely locked.

"Oh... great..." How would he pass on the information that a madman was now in the country? Especially since he was probably already in the country?

ooc: no worries - this will be over before you realize it... perhaps you already know how this is going to end

Baek Jonghwan directed to his brothers, and they all followed the priest to the basin, where the baptism would occur. It was pristine and still water, glowing almost in the sunlight. The men severally began to weep, at the sight of such still beauty perhaps. They prepared themselves for the immersion.

=== 016 Embassy Avenue ===

An Sunhong was looking over the papers in the embassy. It was near noontime, and for the first time that afternoon, he was receiving an "URGENT" message in his inbox. It had all of the workings of an encrypted message, meaning that he was perhaps the only person to see the message at all. He yawned.

"Let's see..." he murmured to himself.

防御最高別知道:
安善洪月準五，

百宗桓來。給大火災。要罰不死。看看不說。


"White Tiger?" he remarked to himself, almost in shock. Why was he only now learning about this? Why was this madman allowed to get into the country? He quickly looked up the account profile for "White Tiger", noting that his visa was granted by another country, a country that was classified oddly. Classified to a level 5 Hwarang agent? What was going on? Did they want this madman to do what he does best? He tried to crack the encryption for the level, but he soon found that his computer was completely locked.

"Oh... great..." How would he pass on the information that a madman was now in the country? Especially since he was probably already in the country?OOC: Thank you, as it allows me to rp the Bishop being wounded during the attack and in the aftermath become a rising star in the Clergy due to his rabid speeches againsts non-believers and their like.

The Priest then, while standing near the water, asked," Now my dear children please hand into the water and duck your heads into it one by one for a number of seconds. After you are done I shall bring you into the Church as full brothers in the love of our Lord."

OOC: Thank you, as it allows me to rp the Bishop being wounded during the attack and in the aftermath become a rising star in the Clergy due to his rabid speeches againsts non-believers and their like.

The Priest then, while standing near the water, asked," Now my dear children please hand into the water and duck your heads into it one by one for a number of seconds. After you are done I shall bring you into the Church as full brothers in the love of our Lord."

ooc: I hope you like your priests charred and burned :p

The men all ducked their heads under the water (one by one, of course) and stood attentively for the benediction to be given by the priest.

ooc: I hope you like your priests charred and burned :p

The men all ducked their heads under the water (one by one, of course) and stood attentively for the benediction to be given by the priest.OOC: They taste just like chicken I hear.:p

IC: The Priest then said," Welcome my new brothers to the Scandinvan Catholic Church."

Speaking a few words in Latin he then asked," May I please see the oil that your brought with you so I might anoint you with it now?"

OOC: To be really technical, the Scandinvan Catholic Church is in communion, therefore acknowledges the power, with the Doomani Pope and as such does not follow traditional modern Catholic dogma so if you have a problem with the other Catholic groups feel free but there is more then one pope on NS. As well, my group was never part of the Great Schism as it broke with the ‘Roman’ Pope during the Age of Migrations. So when it comes down to it my Church is Catholic, just not Roman Catholic and not subject to the Roman Catholic Pope. Thus, some fun might come out of this yet.

((I realize that, but Rathanan doesn't differentiate between Roman Catholics and the other sects of Western Catholicism... If you're a religious state, you better be Eastern Orthodox of some type if you want to be buddies with Rathanan... The only other states Rathanan will deal with are ones with no specific state religion but does not work against religion.. I'd be willing to get more involved if your country made the first move in diplomacy, but given the precident on how I rp Rathanan's leadership and culture, Rathanan would never take the first step.))

((I realize that, but Rathanan doesn't differentiate between Roman Catholics and the other sects of Western Catholicism... If you're a religious state, you better be Eastern Orthodox of some type if you want to be buddies with Rathanan... The only other states Rathanan will deal with are ones with no specific state religion but does not work against religion.. I'd be willing to get more involved if your country made the first move in diplomacy, but given the precident on how I rp Rathanan's leadership and culture, Rathanan would never take the first step.))OOC: Very well then, though for the time being my nation shall not open any diplomatic channels with your nation as my own nation has has relatively little history with yours and any new relations would have to wait for a future time because of the recent efforts of other nations to undermine the honor of the Scandinvan Empire.

OOC: Very well then, though for the time being my nation shall not open any diplomatic channels with your nation as my own nation has has relatively little history with yours and any new relations would have to wait for a future time because of the recent efforts of other nations to undermine the honor of the Scandinvan Empire.

((Fair enough, to sort of get my foot in the door, I'll have Minister Lepidus actually send a message to Godfrey telling him, "Congrats, but we can't get involved."))

To: Emperor Godfrey III

From: Q. Octavius Lepidus, Minister of Diplomacy; Holy Imperial Republic of Rathanan

The Holy Emperor and Imperial Senate of Rathanan wish to congratulate Emperor Godfrey III on retaking the throne of The Scandinvan Empire. We wish you many blessings on your rule and hope it turns out to be fruitful.

Despite this, The Holy Imperial Republic is unwilling to involve itself with the Scandinvan Empire for the time being, for several different reasons. Regardless, nothing is permanent and it is a possiblity the Holy Emperor is willing to bring before the Imperial Senate at a later date.

((Fair enough, to sort of get my foot in the door, I'll have Minister Lepidus actually send a message to Godfrey telling him, "Congrats, but we can't get involved."))

To: Emperor Godfrey III

From: Q. Octavius Lepidus, Minister of Diplomacy; Holy Imperial Republic of Rathanan

The Holy Emperor and Imperial Senate of Rathanan wish to congratulate Emperor Godfrey III on retaking the throne of The Scandinvan Empire. We wish you many blessings on your rule and hope it turns out to be fruitful.

Despite this, The Holy Imperial Republic is unwilling to involve itself with the Scandinvan Empire for the time being, for several different reasons. Regardless, nothing is permanent and it is a possiblity the Holy Emperor is willing to bring before the Imperial Senate at a later date.To Q. Octavius Lepidus, Minister of Diplomacy; Holy Imperial Republic of Rathanan,

I humbly thank the honorable Holy Imperial Republic of Rathanan in offering its recognition to myself, and my new government, as the new, and rightful, holders of power in the Scandinvan Empire. I would also like to affirm with your nation that it is my sincerest hope that both of our nations might establish more cordial diplomatic relations between our two great states.

As a gift of friendship, I would like to offer the Emperor of Rathanan a set of early Scandinvan Christian paintings that have been affirmed to be within the acceptable art of your nation’s Orthodox faith.

God bless.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

bump

From: Prime Minister Ivanovich Delgado of the United Empire of Lacamia
To: Emperor Godfrey III of the Scandivan Empire

It is a truly a great day to see a regime so attuned to the spiritual needs of the world take the power that they so deserve.

I am confident that our nations both share a concern for all that is holy and righteous. But it is truly unfortunate that my own nation is so surrounded by heretical, and unholy regimes.

With a variety of powerful, depraved enemies to the West, the holiness of our land is threatened.

With that in mind, I hope that the Scandivans will prove the righteousness of their new regime by furnishing the military or economic aid that our Empire needs to resist the wave of secularism and degeneracy sweeping the continent of Hourai.

We await your response. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=579249)

From: Prime Minister Ivanovich Delgado of the United Empire of Lacamia
To: Emperor Godfrey III of the Scandivan EmpireTo Prime Minister Ivanovich Delgado of the United Empire of Lacamia,

I thank you for supporting the news laws that my nation has established in order to secure the continued purity of our people's morals and in the hopes that the Scandinvan Empire will not fall prey, like so many have already, to the sinful pleasures that liberalism brings.

May the Lord bless our nations and encourage growing bounds of friendship between them as my nation is prearing aid for your people's sole benefit.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

Diplomatic Communique

From: Prime Minister Ivanovich Delgado
To: Emperor Godfrey III

We thank the Scandivan Empire for its understanding. We would also like to emphasize that it may be very soon that we need this military and economic aid. We would like to request that this aid be delivered ASAP, with our ministry being informed on its arrival.

SnipTo Prime Minister Ivanovich Delgado,

I sincerely hope that whatever aid my people provides you to your own will help your people establish a stronger, and moral, nation that might become the envy of the world.

As well, military aid shall be ready shortly.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

OOC: They taste just like chicken I hear.:p

IC: The Priest then said," Welcome my new brothers to the Scandinvan Catholic Church."

Speaking a few words in Latin he then asked," May I please see the oil that your brought with you so I might anoint you with it now?"

Baek Jonghwan pointed to the vessel, telling one of the brothers to go fetch it for the priest. He quickly parted from the line, grabbed the vessel, and handed it carefully to the priest. He then returned to the line, waiting for the anointing.

Baek Jonghwan pointed to the vessel, telling one of the brothers to go fetch it for the priest. He quickly parted from the line, grabbed the vessel, and handed it carefully to the priest. He then returned to the line, waiting for the anointing.The priest, after taking it from the brother, opened it...

OOC: I was expecting the jar to have some sort of device casuing an explosion to occur once it is is opened. Though, if I am wrong please tell me when the fireworks will go off.

The priest, after taking it from the brother, opened it...

The eucalyptus tree - a beautiful, aromatic tree. Its old has been prized for centuries as medicinal drug. Its flavor had added spice to culinary dishes. Its essence has been the secret of anti-pest treatments on crops. Of course, like most oils, it was extremely volatile. Purified... it could do wonders.

How a group of homily brothers managed to bring in so much of the oil is not a testament to their intelligence, but the witty construction of their vessel. There was nothing special about anything. It was just a simple crystal vessel. But opening the vessel was a task that was so profoundly simple and yet complicated. The change in pressure inside the vessel created a deformation in the crystal lattice; these changes generated an electric current.

Not a big current. You couldn't feel it. But in the presence of an extremely volatile chemical - like eucalyptus oil - you could theoretically create an explosion. And put enough oil in the vessel, and you have a bomb set to explode when opened.



The priest opened it. It exploded, scattering the crystal fragments in nearly every direction, carrying with them a sliver of burning oil. The priest himself was knocked back, falling into the baptism basin, while the brothers - all lined in a row - fell back off the sanctuary. Their clothes burned despite the water, and covered with oil, they all were burning in misery. They ran in every direction they could, unaware that their traveling spread the oils and the fire. But the oils were quick to burn; where there was no more fuel, the flames died, but where there was wood, paper, something to burn, it burned...

ooc: great job! here's a cookie (http://garlicpress.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/cookies-006.jpg)!

The eucalyptus tree - a beautiful, aromatic tree. Its old has been prized for centuries as medicinal drug. Its flavor had added spice to culinary dishes. Its essence has been the secret of anti-pest treatments on crops. Of course, like most oils, it was extremely volatile. Purified... it could do wonders.

How a group of homily brothers managed to bring in so much of the oil is not a testament to their intelligence, but the witty construction of their vessel. There was nothing special about anything. It was just a simple crystal vessel. But opening the vessel was a task that was so profoundly simple and yet complicated. The change in pressure inside the vessel created a deformation in the crystal lattice; these changes generated an electric current.

Not a big current. You couldn't feel it. But in the presence of an extremely volatile chemical - like eucalyptus oil - you could theoretically create an explosion. And put enough oil in the vessel, and you have a bomb set to explode when opened.



The priest opened it. It exploded, scattering the crystal fragments in nearly every direction, carrying with them a sliver of burning oil. The priest himself was knocked back, falling into the baptism basin, while the brothers - all lined in a row - fell back off the sanctuary. Their clothes burned despite the water, and covered with oil, they all were burning in misery. They ran in every direction they could, unaware that their traveling spread the oils and the fire. But the oils were quick to burn; where there was no more fuel, the flames died, but where there was wood, paper, something to burn, it burned...

ooc: great job! here's a cookie (http://garlicpress.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/cookies-006.jpg)!As the fire burst out the various persons inside the Church, for various reasons, began to flee in all sorts of directions as the fire went everywhere. Already though many people, about six, were on the ground either wounded or trying to put the fires out on their backs, death awaited those sad people shortly.

Failing to notice the people on the ground a dozen persons managed to flee the Church before the ceiling collapsed in upon itself, after the two main wooden pylons had failed for obvious reasons.

In the end of it all, nine people where dead and twenty were injured. Yet, by some sort of miracles the Priest had survived, albeit he had suffered 2nd degree burns over much of his body, he did survive.

The Church itself had all its wooden portions burned down, the priceless colored glass windows shattered by debris, and the inside basically gutted. Though the stone skeleton survived and some holy relics managed to wait out the flame in a fire-proof vault within the Tabernacle.

OOC: Yummy cookie.

bump

ralkovia, with a large Jewish population, asks Scandinvans to exempt Jewish people by putting them in special zones or sending them to ralkovia instead. The genocide and oppresion of the Jewish people has gone on long enough and while we are allies this cannot remain while such oppressive acts are going on against our people. Ralkovia doesn't not care for the rest so go ahed and do your thing, except to those of the Jewish faith.

Slaves may only be kept permanently if they are heretics, thieves, or Moslems.
Jewish people, as descendents of the people of Israel, shall not be allowed to be permanent slaves unless if they are criminals.

Laws regarding the people:


Marriage between different religious groups is hereby illegal, including Judaism. Heretical religions shall be considered as all non-mainstream Christian religions, Islam, and pagan religions.
Duels of honor shall be allowed.
All non-Christian religions shall be prevented from living in the same building as God-fearing Catholics. Jewish people though are exempt from this and shall be treared the same as Catholics in this regard.
No Socialist, or other ideologies inspired by the Devil, shall be tolerated in the Scandinvan Empire.
For all intents and purposes Jewish persons and are afforded, for all intents and purposes, the same rights as even Catholics within the Scandinvan Empire. Though laws are designed to prevent the intermingling of religious lines people who practice Judaism are in fact given special protection, in terms of general religions, are granted very explicit protections by the laws and are guarantied special protection under the law.

If this displeases you I am more then willing to extend further protections to Jewish persons to ensure their continued prosperity and safety, within the limits of a capitalistic system though.

Signed,
Imperial Steward,
Lord Erida

OOC: A note about 420,000,000 persons are currently slaves in the Scandinvan Empire.

lolz bump

As the fire burst out the various persons inside the Church, for various reasons, began to flee in all sorts of directions as the fire went everywhere. Already though many people, about six, were on the ground either wounded or trying to put the fires out on their backs, death awaited those sad people shortly.

Failing to notice the people on the ground a dozen persons managed to flee the Church before the ceiling collapsed in upon itself, after the two main wooden pylons had failed for obvious reasons.

In the end of it all, nine people where dead and twenty were injured. Yet, by some sort of miracles the Priest had survived, albeit he had suffered 2nd degree burns over much of his body, he did survive.

The Church itself had all its wooden portions burned down, the priceless colored glass windows shattered by debris, and the inside basically gutted. Though the stone skeleton survived and some holy relics managed to wait out the flame in a fire-proof vault within the Tabernacle.

OOC: Yummy cookie.

ooc: you ate it too quickly!

"... and I am trying to convey the point of this conversation to you concisely. There are dangerous people out there with bombs ready and willing to kill other people... I don't know how! All I can guess is that they have explosives of some kind!..." An Sunhong was having a difficult time trying to explain to some lackey in the Scandnivans bureaucracy that some crazed extremists were in the country, ready to commit crimes of the greatest sort against the Empire. And right about then, he wished that his computer wasn't scrambled, so he could pass the Imperial information. Of course... how many people in the Scandnivans Empire could actually read Imperial code in the first place? He'd already tried to get clearance from the Hwarang to send the intelligence, but they all rebuffed him, suggesting that there was no such intelligence.

"I don't care if I'm put on hold... oh, wait. I do! I need to talk to someone who can do something! These men are extremely dangerous... No I don't know their real names, but the lead man is named White Tiger... I told you already! My computer is scrambled... I don't know who scrambled it... and my government isn't exactly helping me either..."

At that, the phone disconnected. It wasn't often that a cell phone disconnected - almost like a land-line. An checked his phone battery - fully charged (well, not fully...). He tried redialing. "Agent An - you're not cooperating with us," a voice said.

"What do you mean? I'm trying to stop a man from raging needless inhumanities!..."

"Agent An... I suggest that you stay low for a while. Take a vacation or something. Just... don't start scaring our friends. We need time to sort things out."

"Wait... who is this?"

"Turn on the television."

An, uncertain who the voice was (although he was by then firmly aware that it was Han), turned onto the local television broadcasts over his computer. On it were pictures from the Church, already burned down. Local news were reporting the sacrilege upon the Church, the casualty counts, and the damage to the property. The building was utterly burned to ashes(well, the burnable parts at least), and as much as the LORD spoke of ashes to ashes, the Church was pretty much the epitome of the earth reclaiming her broken parts. An flipped the broadcast off - "It was White Tiger."

"We know," the voice said. "You know. They don't. And they don't need to know. Because we're handling it. Don't get in our way, unless you want us to handle you."

"Then who sent me that message?" Before An could get a reply, he got the click again. In a few seconds, he was back online with that Scandnivans lackey. "Did you just hold me?" he yelled.

"I'm sorry. Wrong number." An hung up.

OOC: Would you mind me launching a raid on some Moslems who were reported to be friends of the attackers?

OOC: Would you mind me launching a raid on some Moslems who were reported to be friends of the attackers?

ooc: me? I don't care. As long as you don't say I did it :p To be honest, the Mujeongbu are extreme anarchists, so whatever friends they have are either anarchist or unsuspecting. You could theoretically pin this madness on any Muslim nation and make them ultimately responsible for the whole calamity, and in some way, it might be true... ah, the beauties of relativism...

ooc: me? I don't care. As long as you don't say I did it :p To be honest, the Mujeongbu are extreme anarchists, so whatever friends they have are either anarchist or unsuspecting. You could theoretically pin this madness on any Muslim nation and make them ultimately responsible for the whole calamity, and in some way, it might be true... ah, the beauties of relativism...OOC: Good idea. Now I can build an Empire for Slavery, of course all in the name of peace.:p

OOC: Good idea. Now I can build an Empire for Slavery, of course all in the name of peace.:p

ooc:I eagerly await the results of the ensuing "investigation" so I can finish my RP storyline (albeit, it's almost done anyway...)

ooc:I eagerly await the results of the ensuing "investigation" so I can finish my RP storyline (albeit, it's almost done anyway...)OOC: Would you mind rping the Moslems I raid? Mind you, they will be killed or captured by me.:tongue:

ooc: I'm a bad impersonator for Muslims... I can do an excellent North Korean terrorist shindig though :p Besides, where would they be?

ooc: I'm a bad impersonator for Muslims... I can do an excellent North Korean terrorist shindig though :p Besides, where would they be?OOC: Some backwater province.

OOC: Some backwater province.

hopefully, you can find someone better, but I'll give it some thought

hopefully, you can find someone better, but I'll give it some thoughtOOC: That is all I can ask.

[OOC: Hope it's still open.]

New New Sodom, eastern Kahanistan

East Coast State University campus

A small, diverse group of activists sat in a dormitory, organising an affinity group and discussing the actions of the Scandivnan government.

"Have you heard?" asked Dmitri Antonovich Novski, in whose dorm they were meeting. "They're enslaving Muslims and God only knows what else."

"Catholics are all the same," said Ya'el Shamir, an Anti-Catholic Party activist. "They're all in league. They're in communion with the Doomani Catholic Nazis, for God's sake." Disturbingly, the average Anti-Catholic Party member tended to be better read on that religion than the average citizen.

"You start to generalise, you're no different," said Parvez Massood, one of roughly a million Zoroastrians in Kahanistan. He set down his AK-47 on the bed. "You wouldn't equate me with Khosru, would you?"

Parvez was a Communist and one of the most anti-Parthian people in the room. Ya'el shook her head. "You've shown time and again whose side you're on even if you are a bloody Red," she said. "And even if you aren't a pacifist."

"Ya'el, lay off him," interjected Fajr-ad-Din Mohammed, a Muslim anarchist. "And Parvez, leave the 'K here. You won't change each other's minds. So, we're going to the Empire?"

"Looks like it," said Ya'el. "So, what do we do?"

"I say we go in as a group of Catholics," said Rashad Brown, the newest member of the East Coast Affinity Group. A psychology doctoral student, he had copies of major personality tests he'd smuggled out of the office from under the nose of the senile centenarian dean.

"Good idea," said Ya'el, packing her copy of Doomani Latin for Dummies, bolt cutters, and her copy of the Doomani Bible in her suitcase with one of her fake Doomani passports and 'infiltration' clothes. She would never be recognised as a Jew. "I have two sets of Doomie men's clothes and a pair of stilts."

"Stilts?" asked Rashad.

"The average Doomie man is about 190 centimetres," said Ya'el. "I'm 172. Plus, this one has padding to hide these." She placed her hands over her C-cups. "But, I think I'll go as a girl this time. Rashad, you're new so you can be... my slave, if anyone asks. Fajr-ad-Din, Parvez, you dress as Doomies. Here are your docs. Your names are Octavius Septimus Otho and Deodatus Lupus Nero. Mine is Iulia Messalina. Rashad, you're my... ViZionarian slave, Marco Santini." She gave out the documents she'd forged and the plane tickets to the Scandivnan capital.

"Now... let's let our people go."

"And me?" asked Dmitri.

"Legal support, if one of us is busted," said Parvez.

---

The flight approached the capital...

OOC: Yay, time for someone to observe the absurd way I treats the slaves of my nation and of how socially abnormal my nation became over of a mere couple years. As well, to note I plan to enforce a number of… interesting… laws on your group if you do not mind.

Do you mind if I assume you are using a Scandinvan airline?

[OOC: Sure, though Scandivnan airlines probably are none too popular in Kahanistan. Let's see these laws.]

IC:

On the way...

Ya'el Shamir, 22, sat in her seat studying a personality test. She looked to the uninformed as an ordinary girl with reading material, a big rosary around her neck, and a subservient-looking black slave laughing next to her as 20-year-old Parvez Massood fell on his face in the aisle for the sixteenth time while practising with Ya'el's stilts in his thick combat boots.

Fajr-ad-Din Mohammed, 19, looked up from the copy of Doomani Latin for Dummies he had borrowed from Ya'el. "Wrap them in plastic," he advised Parvez in a Doomani accent. "You get more traction and more to stand on."

24-year-old Dmitri nodded from his book on the Scandivnan language. "Ya'el, do you have any bubble wrap?"

"Semper paratus," replied Ya'el. She pulled a roll out of her carry-on. As Parvez wrapped the stilts and his walk improved, the plane left international airspace...

OOC: The tide is just beginning to role.

As the plane began its final descent to Valdra, the Parliamentary capital of the Scandinvan Empire, the pilot said, in English, over the intercom.” Passengers please return to your seats and buckle up your seat belts as we are about to begin our final descent into Valdra, where the local time is 9:20 A.M. and the temperature is currently 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

All passengers who are traveling with your slave property I must remind that you are required by universal Imperial law to register any slave traveling with your person with the Scandinvan Chattel Property Liaison in Valdra International a soon as we land. If you are a foreigner a proper restraining device shall be provided for the duration of your stay so to ensure that your property does not cause any possible harm to themselves or those around.

Any foreign Catholics, Christians, or Jewish Persons should simply present their travel documentation as standard in your own homelands. However, any foreign persons of other faiths should immediately file the proper paperwork with the Scandinvan Foreign Persons Officer for special dispensation to travel in the Scandinvan Empire, any failure to do so may result in a fine or enslavement if you are unable to pay the fine post haste.

That is all and may God save our Glorious Empire.”

OOC: The device foreign slaves are required to wear while they are in the Scandinvan Empire.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14356657&postcount=39

"Oy," muttered Ya'el. She hadn't budgeted for a collar; she'd be skipping a few meals this week. Not good when I'm watching my figure. She stepped up and handed over her fake passport. The passport identified her as Iulia Messalina, age 29, 172 centimetres, 69 kilos, Doomani Catholic, living in Urbs Doomanus, married to Deodatus Lupus Nero. The smiling, pretty, dark-haired woman in the photo was definitely the girl with the passport. She was actually Jewish, but was trying to assimilate and felt the guise of a Doomani Catholic was less suspicious than that of a Jewish anti-Catholic activist.

"I... forgot to bring a collar, Marco is properly broken," she said in what she hoped was a convincing accent. "I have no need for one at home. What do I need to do?"

Parvez held out his ID. His passport IDed him as Deodatus Lupus Nero, 31, 201 centimetres (rather than his actual 183), 91 kilos, etc. As a Zoroastrian, his Catholic guise was more important than his "wife's."

Fajr-ad-Din Mohammed, alias Octavius Septimus Otho, 28, 196 centimetres, 94 kilos, Muslim but ID'ed as Catholic, likewise hoped that his ID stood up to scrutiny.

Dmitri Antonovich Novski alone went in under his real name and nationality and filed as an atheist. As legal support, he could not risk arrest; he had to bail his faux Doomani Catholics out if they were caught in actions.

The attendant at the gate, with a fully armed member of the Scandinvan Army behind her, quickly scanned the other two persons IDs and only made a cursory glance at the screen to make their heights were accurate and that there faces matched the photos on the IDs enough to ensure that they were not using cheaply made counterfeit IDs that they could have gotten just before leaving their home country.

After she had finished with ‘Deodatus’ and ‘Octavius’ the attendant finally took her ID and followed the same standard procedure as before. When she was finished she finally answered, roughly two minutes after the question,” Collars are supplied, free of charge, to residents of states that are considered friendly to the Scandinvan Empire.

The reason as to why the IDs are required is that all foreign slaves have to be given a greater measure of control then more local slaves. As well, the collars allow the Imperial government to track the movement of slaves in the event of any incident, and by having the collars on the Scandinvna Police force can prevent slaves from escaping due to inbuilt security devices that will paralyze the slave and send off an emergency signal in the event that the collar is tampered with outside of certain designated areas by licensed professionals.”

Ya'el sighed. It wouldn't cost her anything, but it might make actions more difficult if a member of her affinity group had to walk around with a big conspicuous collar. She agreed and filed the necessary papers to get one. Rashad, a.k.a. Marco, would have to test the limits of his slave device and generally act docile with her.

Dmitri handed over the forms he'd filled out. He had to appear normal and hoped his Kahanistanian cell phone worked in the Empire; he'd have to avoid overt contact with the rest of the affinity group while in country and receive calls if one were arrested.

Princepes Sara Garrettsdottr, Sovereign ruler of the Principality of Sudova,

We will not yield to the demands, though we refer only to the Moslems now attacking the rightfully free Christian states that are now under attack, of those who so blatantly violate the sovereignty of other nations. Further, though we respect your right to the your own opinion, we believe that our nation must preserve its honor and as well we shall defend the liberty of our regardless of what happens.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

To: Emperor Godfrey III
From: Sara Garrettsdottr, Princepes

RE: I didn't mean to step on sensitive toes with my last message, but the world observes and the world awaits, and while waiting and watching, we note that your actions have provoked others. Those others have in turn caused problems for those of us who would let you go your way, as we go our own.

To be quite to the shaft of the spear on this, by neither moderating your stance, nor exterminating your enemies, you have placed the commerce, and safety, of nations close and far from you at risk.

At this moment, an alliance of Christians fights the Mullahmen in the Andalusian peninsula, and that fighting has imperiled the honest commerce of nations un-involved in your religious squabble with the Mullahmen. AS this whole mess began with your decision to put them in chains, I would ask, suggest, recommend, that you should take the leading role in ending this farce.

I ask only that you either kill your enemies, or make peace with them, and if the latter, that you take the responsibility and enforce that peace-even if it is peace of the grave.

If you recall my earlier letters to your Highness, I did mention that it would be most honourable either to kill them, or free them, and that the measures and such involved in enslaving them would have a decidedly poor outcome.

I ask only that you clean up the mess your actions have caused.

Sara

With all the paperwork done the attendant handed over the slave collar, which weighed two pounds, and also the manual for the slave collar so as to ensure that no harm would come to her slave.

As well, due to the Scandinvan Empire never having closed itself to the world at large, any communications were still functional inside of the Empire, though the Imperial Internal Police would still keep track of any out of country calls that there were able to keep on the grid.

To: Emperor Godfrey III
From: Sara Garrettsdottr, Princepes

RE: I didn't mean to step on sensitive toes with my last message, but the world observes and the world awaits, and while waiting and watching, we note that your actions have provoked others. Those others have in turn caused problems for those of us who would let you go your way, as we go our own.

To be quite to the shaft of the spear on this, by neither moderating your stance, nor exterminating your enemies, you have placed the commerce, and safety, of nations close and far from you at risk.

At this moment, an alliance of Christians fights the Mullahmen in the Andalusian peninsula, and that fighting has imperiled the honest commerce of nations un-involved in your religious squabble with the Mullahmen. AS this whole mess began with your decision to put them in chains, I would ask, suggest, recommend, that you should take the leading role in ending this farce.

I ask only that you either kill your enemies, or make peace with them, and if the latter, that you take the responsibility and enforce that peace-even if it is peace of the grave.

If you recall my earlier letters to your Highness, I did mention that it would be most honourable either to kill them, or free them, and that the measures and such involved in enslaving them would have a decidedly poor outcome.

I ask only that you clean up the mess your actions have caused.

SaraWe shall not waste human capital by killing thousands.

Instead we shall bring our foes under our heel by the whip and the sword.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

We shall not waste human capital by killing thousands.

Instead we shall bring our foes under our heel by the whip and the sword.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

To: Godfrey III

From:Sara Garrettsdottr, High Chieftain of the People and Princepes of Sudova

RE: Swords and whips

Swords and whips are not efficient uses of manpower. I'd recommend guns, bombs, and fire-these are far more efficient for killing thousands, and waste considerably less human capital in the execution.

Notably, dead people don't have to be monitored if you burn the bodies. On the other hand, Enslaved people have to be watched every second, monitored, and devices employed to keep them under control=which wastes considerable human resources right there.

On the other hand, if you're really keen on using Whips and Swords, that should be a very interesting thing to see-from a safe distance. Your enemies use guns, and bombs.

Respectfully,

Sara

The activists except for Dmitri went to a cheap motel in the bad part of town. Dmitri got a room on the other side of town to distance himself from the highly illegal anti-slavery actions Ya'el and the others were planning.

Inside their room, Ya'el and Fajr-ad-Din scoured for bugs. Thinking Rashad's collar might have a listening device to prevent slave revolts, Parvez tried to open it and received a nasty jolt.

Ya'el cursed. She looked over the manual. Idiot. RTFM. No mention of a device, but after the fifth failed attempt to remove it, with bolt cutters, Rashad decided to keep it - it might help him infiltrate places where lots of slaves worked...

"So," said Rashad after the bug sweep was done. "We got in here without too much of a mess. What do we do?" The bolt cutters Ya'el had brought didn't seem like they'd be breaking the collars...

"I have an idea," said Fajr-ad-Din. "We find a way to jam the remote's signal. I might be able to fuse bits of my cell with this to disrupt reception. Rashad, we might be able to free you, but we'd have to shock you till the battery died."

"No!" Rashad bellowed. "Not another damned shock! Not one more!"

"We don't know what the shocks could do to him," agreed Ya'el. "Could do the same as electroshock, fuck him up for real."

Parvez nodded. "Make the jammer," he said in agreement. They'd have to test it, later, necessarily implying more shocks, but didn't mention it. He and Fajr-ad-Din worked for hours on a jammer, twice shocking Rashad unconscious over the next six hours...

To: Godfrey III

From:Sara Garrettsdottr, High Chieftain of the People and Princepes of Sudova

RE: Swords and whips

Swords and whips are not efficient uses of manpower. I'd recommend guns, bombs, and fire-these are far more efficient for killing thousands, and waste considerably less human capital in the execution.

Notably, dead people don't have to be monitored if you burn the bodies. On the other hand, Enslaved people have to be watched every second, monitored, and devices employed to keep them under control=which wastes considerable human resources right there.

On the other hand, if you're really keen on using Whips and Swords, that should be a very interesting thing to see-from a safe distance. Your enemies use guns, and bombs.

Respectfully,

SaraLet you know that slavery produces a good deal of profit by the owner if they know how to ensure that their slave in unable to escape.

The war that we shall we shall wage shall be done as per our ways of using overwhelming power to crush our foes and then using the whip, terror, to disharm our foes.

Signed,
Emperor Godfrey III

The activists except for Dmitri went to a cheap motel in the bad part of town. Dmitri got a room on the other side of town to distance himself from the highly illegal anti-slavery actions Ya'el and the others were planning.

Inside their room, Ya'el and Fajr-ad-Din scoured for bugs. Thinking Rashad's collar might have a listening device to prevent slave revolts, Parvez tried to open it and received a nasty jolt.

Ya'el cursed. She looked over the manual. Idiot. RTFM. No mention of a device, but after the fifth failed attempt to remove it, with bolt cutters, Rashad decided to keep it - it might help him infiltrate places where lots of slaves worked...

"So," said Rashad after the bug sweep was done. "We got in here without too much of a mess. What do we do?" The bolt cutters Ya'el had brought didn't seem like they'd be breaking the collars...

"I have an idea," said Fajr-ad-Din. "We find a way to jam the remote's signal. I might be able to fuse bits of my cell with this to disrupt reception. Rashad, we might be able to free you, but we'd have to shock you till the battery died."

"No!" Rashad bellowed. "Not another damned shock! Not one more!"

"We don't know what the shocks could do to him," agreed Ya'el. "Could do the same as electroshock, fuck him up for real."

Parvez nodded. "Make the jammer," he said in agreement. They'd have to test it, later, necessarily implying more shocks, but didn't mention it. He and Fajr-ad-Din worked for hours on a jammer, twice shocking Rashad unconscious over the next six hours...As the transmission from the collar went on and off for hours the Scandinvan Slave Group was becoming more weary of what was going on with the slave as after the first few attempts any normal slave would simply give up and resign themselves to their fate. Yet, this one slave, a foreign slave, was so set on either altering the collar or removing it that something most not be right with the slave.

So the Scandinvan service decdied to call the group by using the motel phone. After contacting the front desk the SSG was put through to the room phone and as such the phone in the activists' bedroom began to ring...

While Fajr-ad-Din continued to work on wiring parts of his cell phone to the collar remote to make a working jammer, Ya'el snatched up the phone, slipping into her Doomani persona. If it were Dmitri, he'd call her on her cell, rather than the land line. This was no friend...

"Who is this?" she asked irritably. She motioned for the others to keep quiet; security culture dictated that the caller could be a cop.

In response to the answer a harsh voice replied,” Good evening to you, I am with the Scandinvan Slave Control Agency, which is in turn a subsidiary of the Scandinvan Slave Group, and I seek to inform you that your slave has made repeated attempts, or someone else has, to remove his slave collar. Further, I must inform you that if you slave’s collar is deactivated in anyway Scandivan police forces shall be immediately informed and they shall be dispatched to ascertain your slave’s current status.”

"He's fine," Ya'el snapped. She scribbled down what the man was saying; it could prove useful. "He's just not used to the collar. We don't use them in God's Earthly Imperium." She raised her voice when he mentioned police. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll keep the police out of my business, you pagan syphilitic son of an AIDS-infected Kahanistani whore."

Ya'el's face went beet red and convulsed with rage as she got deeper into the act. She put the phone on speaker and kept taking notes.

The man, in turn, responded," The Scandinvan police seek to preserve the laws of Lord God himself on Earth and they shall become a part of this, regardless of your homeland, if you continue to address me, a humble servant of our blessed Empire, in such a way."

Parvez had been stunned by Ya'el's tirade. He gestured to her to calm down. She took a more civil, still irritable tone.

"We're fine. I'll tell him it's just while we're here," she said. "We'll manage."

Parvez had been stunned by Ya'el's tirade. He gestured to her to calm down. She took a more civil, still irritable tone.

"We're fine. I'll tell him it's just while we're here," she said. "We'll manage."The man simply, and calmly, said," Very well then, may God keep you from harm and may your property be kept secure from any incident."

"Thank you." Ya'el hung up. "If we deactivate this, we have every cop in Valdra flooding in here like Inquisitors to a gay pride parade in Urbs Doomanus. Fajr-ad-Din, keep working on the jammer. I'll go for a walk and get a map and a feel for the city in case shit starts going down. Maybe even find a slave market or plantation or another concentration of slaves to hit, too." She arranged her clothes and shower supplies.

"Remind me never to piss you off," said Parvez. "And to chart your cycle."

"Mark your calendar from the 28th to the 1st," Ya'el replied sardonically, stepping into the shower. She had a lot to clean off before her expedition; ten minutes later, she came out, her dark hair pushed away from her face, dressed in a black sweater and baggy jeans and heavy boots. Her passport was stuffed in her pocket along with a thousand Darvians. She wore a bandana on her head. She looked to all concerned to be an ordinary young woman on a stroll.

OOC: To note, Scandinvan slaves are not purely unskilled labor, like they are in many other countries. Instead, you can find slaves working as masons, accountants, nurses, etc. However, slaves do not hold truly professional positions as it is considered unwise to trust a slave to be a lawyer, doctor, etc.

Outside of the motel sirens went off as the Scandinvan Police core were raiding a series of homes in a nearby neighborhood to find Scandinvan Moslems who had attempted to go underground in the face of the growing oppression of Moslems and the growing number of Moslems were simply being arrested simply at random, after which a quick trial was held that resulted in the Moslems being reclassified as slaves and then sold to the highest bidder at state slave auctions.

Bloody hell... Ya'el looked at the officers in shock. Were the bastards on to her? No. They sped by, toward a neighbourhood word on the street had was full of Muslims.

Inside, the activists in the motel room heard the sirens too. Pervez grabbed Ya'el's Catholic-forbidden birth control pills and her copy of the February 2009 issue of Heretic, the Anti-Catholic Party's monthly newsletter. Its front page was devoted to a vicious attack on Kahanistanian politician and general Itzhak Ben-Yehuda. He stuffed the paper and pills in her pillow where she'd find them, but a less than thorough cop search wouldn't. Rashad peered out the peep hole while Fajr-ad-Din looked out the window.

Outside, once Ya'el had convinced herself that the police weren't looking for her or her friends, she walked on. She would have liked to use her copwatch training to find out what the cops were up to, but alone and with a fake passport it was too risky. She moved on, going into a store looking for a map of Valdra, some yellow and black spray paint, a tourist guide that could tell her where the slave markets were, and some clothes to better fit the local weather.

When the police where done they had captured another two dozens Moslems and had simply thrown all of them inside of the police truck to be hauled off the nearest processing center. Where they would get nothing more then a mock trial that would only result in them being declared legally slaves, at which point they would be sold, at the center, to the highest bidder.

At the store a slave was busy replenishing the shelves. While at the front cash register stood a Scandinvan who was reading a copy some sort of Scandinvan newspaper written in a deviation of the old Valgardian script. Hearing the woman come in he suspiciously gazed at the woman, due to her foreign appearance.

Ya'el walked up to the tourism section, easily locating a map of the capital, a map of the Empire, and a tourist guide that not only had the slave markets but also local and national laws and cultural guidelines that might be relevant to foreigners.

The clothes were a little harder to find, but not much. She found a balaclava and black hoodie that would be good for actions, looking for labels that they were imported; like most Kahanistanians she had a strong dislike for slave-made goods and was willing to pay higher for goods made by free workers. As an aside she also picked up a bikini - it might make her look less suspicious and she did think a break might be in order after the actions she was planning.

The spray paint was much harder for her to find. Walking up to the stock worker, whom she assumed to be a slave as it was a low-status job, she flashed a warm smile. "Would you know where the spray paint is?" she asked as kindly as her Doomani accent would allow.

The slave responded, in a strained voice," Mame, I am sorry but my master's store does not carry any spray paint products as he prefers not sell objects that might be used for mischief. Yet, we do carry standard paints in the next row on your right mame, just about six paces down."

"Thanks," said Ya'el, maintaining her smile. "But can you point me to a store that does carry spray paint?" Standard paint wasn't suitable for what she had in mind. She tucked the maps, guide and clothes under her arm.

"Thanks," said Ya'el, maintaining her smile. "But can you point me to a store that does carry spray paint?" Standard paint wasn't suitable for what she had in mind. She tucked the maps, guide and clothes under her arm."I am sorry, but since my master does disapprove of the use of spray paint I shall attempt to gain his laf (anger) and thus the sting of the whip," did the slave respond with a certain fear in his voice.

Ya'el nodded. "I understand," she said softly. She felt sympathy for the man. Maybe, if G-d was with her, she could do something for him and his ilk. Not now, though. She walked over to the counter to check out the clothes, maps and guide; she was apparently on her own for finding spray paint.

The man at the front desk stated," That will be a total sixty five Darvians for all the products please mame."

Ya'el nodded as casually as possible, then handed over the cash and walked out. She stepped into an alley to collect her thoughts; this was her first personal encounter with an actual slave. She pulled her new hoodie on over her head, feeling sick to her stomach. The slave had been too afraid of the lash to even help her find spray paint - what hope was there for widespread resistance?

She put the balaclava on top of her head, leaving her face exposed but in a position to pull it over if she felt the need, and headed out to look for a paint store that actually had spray paint, keeping her eyes peeled for targets and cops. While walking, she leafed through the tourist guide to see what weird legislation she might encounter and what dangers could conceivably await her.

In the notebook there were various laws governing the places where foreign persons non-Christians religion could find places of worship without fear of harassment by law enforcement, that those who stole goods in excess of two thousand Darvians could and would be enslaved, that foreigners should not physically interact with slaves unless if they were given specific consent to do by their owners, and that all those who attempted to free a slave would be enslaved.

Ya'el felt even sicker now. She tucked the guide into her pocket; she'd have to share the info in it with her affinity group when she got back - she wasn't planning to steal anything and didn't know what the guide meant by physical interaction, though she assumed sexual activity. She was no prude, but wasn't really looking for that kind of action here. She and her group had, however, come to free slaves...

She made a mental note of a local Zoroastrian temple and three synagogues. While she hadn't been to one in five years, an idea entered her head. Spying an art shop, she entered under the assumption that there was spray paint to be had...

As it was an art store it seemed quite likely that there would be any kind of paint there. Thankfully the store did have a small amount of spray paints and the store itself was run by a liberal, at least by Scandinvan standards.

Ya'el obtained four cans each of black, red, and yellow paint and one of purple. Thirteen cans of fresh spray paint would no doubt make for some interesting graffiti. She hoped it would also spark discussion of political issues and encourage other direct actions.

She handed a 100 Darvian note to the shopkeeper and smiled.

OOC: That is all I can ask.

ooc: next week, I should have some free time; I think I'll give this terrorist thingy a shot

Ya'el obtained four cans each of black, red, and yellow paint and one of purple. Thirteen cans of fresh spray paint would no doubt make for some interesting graffiti. She hoped it would also spark discussion of political issues and encourage other direct actions.

She handed a 100 Darvian note to the shopkeeper and smiled.The shop keep, seeing the hundred Darvian bill on the counter simply concluded it would be best not to record the sale and simply blame put that the spray paint cans had either been made defective by being kept outside in the sun for to long.

Ya'el looked puzzled, expecting change. After five seconds she concluded that spray paint really cost that much in the Empire, probably to price it out of the range of an anti-slavery activist. She walked out with her bag now full and her wallet that much lighter.

Heading for her motel deep in thought, she held her head high and dropped her hood, stuffing her balaclava in her bag. She wanted to look like an average girl on the streets, not like some anarchist or thug, and hoped to cover the five kilometres to the motel without running into a cop. Unlike 99.9% of the Anti-Catholic Party, Ya'el was a pacifist, opposed to fighting. That left talking and running as her options, and she was weighed down by about ten kilos of activist goodies. She also doubted that a cop here respected the same rights as the ones back home did, and they'd probably be very suspicious of a 'Doomie' asserting her rights, especially a woman. She looked as menacing as possible as she strode energetically toward the motel. Hopefully people would just think she was in a bad mood...

OOC: Would you be willing to rent out your 'slave' to a Scandinvan plantation as it is about the time when the cash crops need to be tended to the most as this is the time of their most rapid growth?

IC: As far as the Scandinvan police there were far more pressing matters to attend, such as capturing escaped slaves and hunting down the Moslems who gone into hiding after the restoration of the Empire. So a simple person, even it was a woman in a hurry, who was not causing any trouble at the present did not really concern them a great deal in any way. As well, with the recent legal changes people were far more concerned not to attract attention to themselves and would rather not cause any sort of trouble, unless of course if they themselves were affected directly.

OOC: Would you be willing to rent out your 'slave' to a Scandinvan plantation as it is about the time when the cash crops need to be tended to the most as this is the time of their most rapid growth?

IC: As far as the Scandinvan police there were far more pressing matters to attend, such as capturing escaped slaves and hunting down the Moslems who gone into hiding after the restoration of the Empire. So a simple person, even it was a woman in a hurry, who was not causing any trouble at the present did not really concern them a great deal in any way. As well, with the recent legal changes people were far more concerned not to attract attention to themselves and would rather not cause any sort of trouble, unless of course if they themselves were affected directly.

OOC: Sure.

IC: Ya'el arrived at the motel uneventfully. She seemed shaken, possibly angry about something.

"You look... different," said Fajr-ad-Din. "Halfway pretty actually for a Doomie," he referenced her false identity.

"Thanks," replied Ya'el. She smiled broadly. "I have some goodies to show." She threw her balaclava, 13 cans of paint, and red and black pushup bikini on her bed, the latter of which prompted an admiring glance from Parvez at her face, shoulders, her body.

"Read this," she said, a note of irritation in her voice as she threw a tourist guide on her bed. "Stealing gets you enslaved. Freeing a slave gets you enslaved. Relations with one gets you..."

"Enslaved?" asked Rashad. "I have an idea... what if I went to a plantation... stirred up shit?"

"Risky..." said Ya'el. "Think you're up to it?"

"Yeah," said Rashad. "For the cause, Ya'el."

"For the cause." Ya'el nodded grimly and filled out a document, ustng her alias.


Hello. My name is Iulia Messalina and I would like to rent out my slave Marco Santini for cash crop work. He is reliable despite his dislike of the collar and I hope to collect a sizeable wage from his labour.

[OOC: Consider this a glorified BUMP.]

Ya'el, alias Iulia, took Rashad, alias Marco, to a plantation about 100 kilometres north of Valdra. They stepped out of the rental car, Rashad's collar in full working order. The remote Ya'el had been given, however, had been tinkered with so as to jam the other nearby remotes and collars; whether it would work or not was going to be decided when Rashad decided to openly defy the plantation boss, thereby commencing Operation: Moses, where Ya'el and Rashad planned to incite a slave uprising. Ya'el hoped her hand would remain hidden - Rashad, being a 'slave' already, needed not fear slavery if he were caught, but Ya'el would be damned if she ended up in some brothel suffering horrific abuses.

"Good luck... Marco," she said as they stepped out.

"Deus... vult, Iulia."

They walked to the plantation owner. "I have a slave to rent. He is well domesticated and quite well behaved, but will need some farm training." He had little experience using farm machinery and would need to mix with the slaves for a few weeks before the shit hit the fan. Training would also help him get an idea of the area layout in planning his uprising.

---

Meanwhile, Parvez went to one of the Zoroastrian temples Ya'el had located to pray. He would need the help of Ahura Mazda to get him and his comrades through the massive actions they were planning...

Fajr-ad-Din, still disguised as a Doomani, took a can each of yellow, black and red paint. Secreting the bag in a bush along the way with gloved hands, he entered a Doomani Catholic cathedral to sit in on a service. He had enough knowledge of Latin to understand most of the church language and wanted to develop a pattern over the next few weeks as a regular churchgoer to hide the fact that he was a Muslim.

The plantation owner responded," I see then. Well, I can offer you two hundred Darvians a week in return for his labor."

"Very well," said Ya'el, signing the papers. She wasn't looking for money, but intel. The money was incidental, though it could go to more supplies if the movement got bigger...

"I am required by the law, to ask, would it be alright with you if I were to use more direct approachs to ensure your slave's loyalty?"

Ya'el nodded. It would look all too suspicious for her to be overly protective. She knew Rashad would not needlessly provoke the lash... but then, the owner may have had another idea of direct.

"How direct? I'd rather he not be damaged. I'm planning to stud him with a few females back in the Imperium. Breed more docile workers."

The man walking down the street was, to all appearances, a perfectly ordinary Scandivan. However, this was not the case, as he reported to the infamous Fifth Bureau of the Empire of New Chalcedon. This intelligence agency had made a name for itself internationally via its ruthlesness ,dedication, skill and - above all - the sophisticated equipment provided to it by a supportive and wealthy government.

In short, the Fifth Bureau, or B5 for short, was a relatively typical national intelligence agency, although significantly more efficient about its work. And the Emperor of New Chalcedon had instructed the Director of B5 to immediately begin establishing facts about the situation within the Scandinvan nation, as the state of affairs had come to the Crown's attention.

The Madam Director, as she was known by all and sundry, had personally briefed Canut on his mission. Which was a sign of at least significant importance in the scheme of things.

Ya'el nodded. It would look all too suspicious for her to be overly protective. She knew Rashad would not needlessly provoke the lash... but then, the owner may have had another idea of direct.

"How direct? I'd rather he not be damaged. I'm planning to stud him with a few females back in the Imperium. Breed more docile workers.""Very well, then please give me his collar's signal number so that in the event he turns violent or he tries to escape so that we can use the collar to prevent any serious damage from coming to your slave."

"All right." She gave him the signal number, then gave the 'slave' the doctored remote. "Anything else?"

"All right." She gave him the signal number, then gave the 'slave' the doctored remote. "Anything else?"Looking at the signal strength the Scandinvan said," Well, it seems your slave's collar has some minor problems as the signal strength seems to be somewhat weaker then what it should be, I might have to him looked at by a collar specialist."

Ya'el frowned. The jamming shouldn't have kicked in until the remote was turned on. Shit. If the shit really hit the fan, she could blame it on him, or on some anti-slavery dissidents, or otherwise deny knowledge in a way that didn't get her into deep shit.

"I wouldn't know. The batteries are probably just weak. It's not like I put a lot of effort into keeping him secured."

The Scandinvan Slaver replied," Very well, I shall have his collar looked at and make any needed repairs."

Canut had seen enough. He had the information that the Madam Director had requested, none of it classified - the Scandinvan Government boasted about the various items.

He sent his report back to Constantinopolis Secundus, and waited for his investments next quarter to pay the usual unusually high dividends.

Ya'el was slightly nervous, Rashad even more so. "It'll be fine." She didn't want to arouse suspicion by objecting. "Go ahead."

The owner responded," Very good then, everything should be in order and you are free to go now."

Ya'el nodded and went back to the motel. Parvez and Fajr-ad-Din hadn't returned, so she went to the motel jacuzzi to relax and take her mind off what might be going on with her 'slave.'

After finishing all the paperwork the slave owner sent his newly bought worker to a local slave collar techy in order to determine what might be wrong with the slave's collar.

Rashad seemed to be getting very nervous the last few minutes. He hoped they couldn't figure out that his affinity group had tinkered with the remote. He racked his brain for some lame-ass excuse he could give...

---

Ya'el was still sitting in the motel jacuzzi when Parvez returned and sat at the edge, next to her. "How goes your battle with the forces of Ahriman?" he asked her.

"Not too well," said Ya'el. "G-Dash-D only knows what's happening to Rashad. There was a goof with the device. The collar wasn't supposed to weaken until the remote went on. Hopefully he can get out of trouble, without being suspected..."

Parvez began to rub her shoulders. "He may be new, but he is intelligent. He will be fine... and so will his fellow slaves."

Ya'el smiled and rolled her head back to expose her neck. "I hope so," she said as his hands moved to her neck. "I'd hate for him to end up... whatever happens to rebel slaves."

---

Fajr-ad-Din left the cathedral at night and retrieved the paint. Making for the nearest synagogue, still wearing Doomani garb, he sprayed a Chi-Rho like the one on the Doomani flag and the slogan "Neco, Mutilo, Cremo. Deus vult!"

"I kill, I maim, I burn. God wills it!"

This, he was sure, would spark riots between local Doomani Catholics and local Jews. Fajr-ad-Din then picked up a large rock, using the bag to hold it so as not to leave prints, then threw it through the synagogue's front door with all his strength and casually jogged away.

If all went according to plan, the populace would get the mental image of Jew-hating, freedom-hating, woman-hating Doomani Catholic Nazis massacring innocent Jews. The state would have to take action against them...