NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is a thread to tell the story and character of the current Emperor of Fluffywuffy, Alexander Ramius. The setting for this is a military parade, where the Emperor has invited world leaders to attend. If you wish to send an ambassador and / or leader to attend this military parade, feel free to do so.

Your representative can do whatever you want, just so long as there is no violence. Violent words = OK, violent actions = bad. All else will be ignored. Keep in mind you are talking to the head of state in the middle of his country. One with a major ego problem.

IC:

Oh glorious day! Oh glorious day! Finally, some respect and recognition. Finally! These foreigners, they fawn over my lavish parades, my grand pronouncements and requests. They would make better subjects than my own natives. They don't talk about "freedom" and "democracy." Ah, such good company. Well, some more leaders should be arriving soon.

Soon, there came a vision into the mind of Alexander Ramius. His titles swelled within his mind, his importance grew, and he imagined all the rulers of the world around him. He was on a magnificent hill, no, a mountain, with all the leaders bowing and paying tribute. Gold, silver, myrrh. A knock. This vision flew away. A porter entered the room and laid a silver tea set before the Emperor.

Alexander raised his head and flashed a terrible grimace at his servant. "How dare you disturb me on such a day as this! Get out of here!" The servent merely bowed his head and left silently, for he knew his lord was an angry, self centered man. Few could match his narcissism. Even fewer could exceed it.

Alexander turned towards a window, watching what he saw as toy soldiers maneuvering into position. His toys. His servants. They were his to command, and the thought came to him then to make use of that power. He wanted to appear even more glorious to his foreign equals. "Porter! Get me the general! I want a full legionary guard! Now!"

The Chancellor had spent the last few hours of his journey trying to complete some of his work; but the view's which he was provided with were far too captivating. Flight wasn't all to common in Hydrosteria, a fleet of armoured airships served in it's airforce but planes were often unmanageable in the weather that harried his nation. The Grumman G-73 Mallard "Encrinurus" which served as one of the M-RC's personal flight vessels slowly descended into Fluffywuffy airspace; embalzoned with the nations emblem and decorated in the standard black and white paint job it was easily notciable amonst other more "normal" craft that went amongst the clouds.

Message to Fluffywuffy Airspace Control:

*To Fluffywuffy Airspace Control, this is the Hydrosterian diplomatic vessel Encrinurus requesting permission to land and the appropriate co-ordinates to do so. Do you receive over?*

Encrinurus, this is Imperial Airspace Control, we read you loud and clear. Proceed on bering 2-2-6 for 20 miles. From there a guide wave will direct you to the appropriate landing space. Welcome to Fluffywuffy. Out.

The Encrinurus followed their appointed guides as directed by Imperial Airspace Control; descending down onto the runway the boatplane unfurled its landing gear and rolled down the expanse of asphalt and concrete before coming to a stop. A few minutes passed before a doorhatch swung open and a set of steps unfurled down to the ground.

From the Encrinurus stepped Chancellor Winston Everd with his two personnel security guards and aide clutching a datapad and briefcase; they awaited a representative from the Fluffywuffy Empire to greet them and escort them to the Emporer; assuming that such a man would not venture often from his sanctum.

The two did not have to wait long, for the runway had been selected very carefully by the Emperor's personnel. It was near Rexicum Military Academy, where the finest soldiers in the Empire were trained. These soldiers were now along the edges of the runway, marching in elaborate formations and approaching the plane. Before they got too close, the visitors would have been able to see a single, solitary man on horseback. His horse was a magnificent white steed, amongst the finest in the world. The man was decked out in purple robes intertwined with jewels and gems, and he carried a vicious, gem encrusted sword at his side. This was the Emperor.

Just before he reached the plane, he let out a single shout and the men arranged themselves into two squares seven men by seven men, one to the left of the Emperor, and one on the right. Then, each rank of men pointed his gun to the sky and let loose a shot of tracers. Two Captains, who had been standing behind each square, then came to the Emperor and helped him off his steed. The soldiers turned and saluted.

The Emperor put one arm forward to the plane, beckoning his guests draw near.

OOC: No offense, but how can one have a serious RP with a nation with the words "FluffyWuffy" in its name?

"We have just been shot by FluffyWuffy Soldiers!"

OOC: Believe me, it is possible. It's part of the reason for the name. It's so cute and cuddly, and then, BAM!

You're also not the first to point out the name. It's been going on since 2003 or 2002, I can't remember when I first joined.

OOC: I was going to include an IC reference to the names oddness but I restrained myself out of respect and politeness :P

IC:

Winston and his aide, Reginald Strattort, flanked in turn by their two guards watched the spectacle from the top of the steps descending down from their plane; they took in the view it afforded and the Emperor himself.

"Quite a show they've got going here." Winston muttered to Reginald.
"Quite so sir, if this is traditional they must have buckets of ceremonial duties." He replied.
"Indeed, what's this? Ahh, he's beckoning to us."
"Beckoning? What is this? The eightenth century?"
"Tradition I presume, come on then; let's take it as we go."

They stepped down from the plane, approaching the Emperor, the Chancellor wondered just how comfortable the man was withen all that finery. As they drew near the Chancellor guessed at the appropriate greeting to such a man in this nation; he didn't believe for a moment that this man was superior to anyone else, but certain formalities and customs had to be observed for politeness and respect. As such, when he had arrived in front of the Emperor he inclined his head for a moment in a micro bow, his aide followed his example. Straigtening up he took a step towards the man with a hand outstretched anticipating a handshake as was customary for his people; the Chancellor himself was dressed in a black and white pinstripe double breasted suit complete with matchign tie and a folded pocket handkercheif, a thick improportionaly large pocket watch of intricate design hung from a gold chain pinned across the left side of his jacket.

"Emperor Alexander Ramius I presume? Allow me to introduce myself, I am Chancellor Winston Everd, this is my aide Reginald Strattort and these two shaded characters are my securtiy team who are here out of formality; after all I expect no trouble withen a land that seems as organised as yours. Quite a display you put on for us; so much trouble, unneeded but we thank you for it."

He made a slight gesture to Reginald who opened up the briefcase and withdrew a small handsize box about two inches thick. The Chancellor took it and handed it to the Emperor.

"A customary token of greeting and respect in my culture my good man."

Inside the box was an elaborate and immensly complicated head hunter style pocket watch from Hydrosteria; about the size of a mans hand, possessing a multitude of hands and numbers on its face to tell the time, day, month, year, phases of the moon ect it was primarily made out of highly polished bronze but gold and silver plates with black and white border patterns were artistically placed across a large section of it; in Hydrosteria aethetics was everything.

To: The Government of Fluffywuffy
From: The Department of State, The Grand Duchy of Noordeinde.

Sir, Madam

The Grand Duchy of Noordeide saw how generous the Emperor is, and likes to accept the invitation of the Emperor to visit him and his country during your Great Parade.

I am verry honored to be chosen by my boss, the Secretary of State(who is to bussy to attend the parade himself) to officialy visit you and your great country and may attend your parade.

hearby I do send you a list of what I, as Under secretary, will take with me.
*My own Diplomatic Protection Group (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/MarkL/100_0895.jpg) (1 armoured Ford Scorpio Limousine, 2 armoured Audi A8 security vehicles)
* I will arrive with one of our Government Aircrafts (http://vliegtuighomepage.nl/f70phkbx.jpg), The vehicles will be transported by a Boeing C17 (http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060516-F-2034C-201.jpg)
*10 armed special agents of our secret service. All special agents carry a Walther P5 (http://www.guntechinc.com/WaltherP5_001.jpg) 9 milimeter Pistol.

Sincerrely Yours,
John Adams,
Under-Secretary of State.
The Grand Duchy of Noordeinde

"Indeed, I am Emperor Alexander Ramius, and I greatly appreciate your gift. It will not be forgotten, and it will not go without repayment to you and your nation."

The Emperor shook the hand of the Chancellor. With his other hand he pulled out the gem encrusted sword, complete with scabbard, and presented it to one of the Chancellor's aids. "This is my sword. I would that you have it, in echange for that watch."

Duke Traven Ramius appeared, dressed in a more modern suit and jacket; in fact, it was a common suit. He believed himself above wasteful pieces of finery, and would not stoop to the level of vanity. He came to the Emperor and patted him on the shoulder, whispering something about another national leader wanting to come. "Yes, yes," the Emperor said, "Let them come." With that the Duke turned to the foreign guests, bowed low, and extended his hand.

"Welcome to Fluffywuffy, land of the strangest name. I hope you enjoy the show we put on today. Now, if you'll excuse you, I have matters of importance to attend to." The Duke gave a polite bow and left for the airstrip the next nation had been invited to. He felt sorry, leaving the foreign guests with his egotistical brother, but things had to be done this way.

The Chancellors aide took the sword but stared dimly at it, as if in complete shock. He managed to get as far as "err" before the Chancellor delicatly took it from him,

"Dear Emperor it I am most honourd to receive it, indeed I feel as though I cannot possibly accept such a gift of collosal wealth; I mean you no offense and will indeed keep it if it troubles you not in the slightest where it will be placed on display withen our administrative halls." the Chancellor paused and realised that he was rambling, "Forgive me, I am just slightly taken aback by your generosity; I am truly honoured to receive it." He handed it back to the aide, "Now Emperor" he said watching as the Duke departed, "Would you care to show us the spectacle i'm sure youe palace would afford us?"

The Emperor smiled at the suggestion that he take the sword back. "This sword is our blessing to your nation, that they may do well in prosper. Please, I insist you take it. Now, if you'll follow me, I will lead you to the palace."

With that, a sleek limo pulled up to the men. A driver popped out and opened the doors, helping each man into the vehicle. Inside, the limo was not the extremely plush limo one would expect of an emperor. It was outfitted with leather seats and a computer, but that is as far as the amenities went. When the Emperor traveled, he traveled lightly.

As the limo driver took off, he took a winding route through the streets of Rexicum, showcasing all the grand sites of the city. There was the granite military academy, built in Greco-Roman fashion. There was the great Temple to the Almighty God, a grand cathedral built in the style of the Pantheon. It's granite, marble, and gold covered walls sparkled in the mid-day sun, giving off an aura almost as if the building were inhabited by the Divine. Finally, after a rambling route, they arrived the the Ramius Palace.

The Ramius Palace was the personal residence of most of the higher ranking members in the Ramius family, including the Emperor and the Duke of Rexicum. The palace was built on a plateu with sheer cliff faces guarding most approaches to it. On the other end, the ancient builders of the original palace dug a deep moat, which would deter most ancient invaders. The palace itself was less palatial than fortified, having served as a base of power and site of many sieges over the centuries. With its towering stone walls, now reinforced wtih concrete and steel, unapproachable sides and deep moat, the fortress was a difficult prize.

As the limo approached, a regiment of the Imperial Guard issued forth from the gate to greet the Emperor and his guests. Unlike the other soldiers that had had to practice numerous and elaborate drills for weeks to prepare for this event, the Guard had had no such training. They were trained solely in the art of war, not pleasantry. They gave crisp salutes and were loyal to their Emperor, but they did not do his shows.

bumpity bump

"How... what's the word? Romanus?" The Chancellor said commenting on the nations architecture, "Quite nice I must say, very different style from Hydrosteria's, although living near the artic circle and being bombarded with blizzards tends to affect the styles you pursue." As they neared the palace he took in the view from the limos window, "Must have been quite the fortress in it's time, I daresay subsequent rennovations to it have made it quite a spectacle."

"Yes, the interior of the fortress is really the spectacular part. The walls in modern times have been reinforced to help protect against civil wars--and we've had a few here--but the inside is the majestic, plush side of it. It is the side the Ramius family has cultivated for years, since the military necessity of the fortress was rendered obsolete. Come, and I'll show you. You can stay here for a day before the parade, while we await any other guests."

"Yes of course, i'd be delighted to see it. And naturally a castle is obsolete in modern times aside for a showcase for prosperity. What of these civil wars though? What causes such uprisings?"

The Emperor led the Chancellor into the Great Hall of the castle, a wall decorated with a variety of tapestries from the history of the nation. The walls were the original stone, dotted in places with damage from musket balls from some ancient battle. The room was drafty, having not been insulated in the modern way. It set the stage for the chilling tales of death, betrayal, revolution, and war that would come. A draft blew across the room as a large fire burned red in anger in the fireplace.

The Emperor gathered his composure, trying to summon all the political acting abilities that made him the leader he was. "Since you would like to know about these wars, I picked this hall, the Great Hall, to tell you about them. For it is here that my ancestor, roughly 30 years ago, stormed the halls of the palace and proclaimed the Second Empire. He was a high ranking commander of a mechanized division, and he saw the corruption and weakness of the old Confederacy, the former state. He saw to it that their corruption and weakness would never return. I myself achieved revolution and the return of the Empire with violence, but it was a close run affair and relatively bloodless.

But why do we have all of these revolutions and wars? Our people are divided. We have socialists, libertarians, conservatives, progressives, greens, all manner of political factions in great abundance. Our nation is large, and because of its size, there are many radicals from each spectrum looking for power. Especially those damned socialists! After whipping up the population to return to the Empire, they started waging an insurgency that has continued on to this day. They are weak, scattered, and annoying. They are murderers. I have no love for the bastards."

The Chancellor looked around the room, you didn't get this kind of architecture in Hydrosteria, it wasn't bad, just different; traditional, from a long ago pre-industrial past. He then listened to the Emporer as he touched upon the subject of their civil disturbances.

"Well, it would indeed seem that your nations population is greatly divided amongst their philisophical inclinations. In Hydrosteria our people tend to follow the same vein but it still gives rise to a great deal of variety amongst us; after all, people will pick and mix views as they wish. We have communists and socialists withen our nation, I bear them no ill, they are after all merely people seeking their own conception of utopia which is itself a mere matter of opinion." He waved a hand dissmissivly, "We follow Objectivist values and semi-pure capitalism tempered by the publics responsibility, we introduced the current model of government roughly two a hundred and twenty yers ago, there was alot of heartache and many lessons were learnt; but give the populace a good shake and keep a lid on the pot as we did and you'll get the situation into equilibrium." The Chancellor assessed the Emperor, "Clearly my good man there is no love lost between you and these various factions, but perhaps things could progress smoother if you simply let them do what they want. It's what we've been doing in Hydrosteria for about sixty years, first the communists shot up with Karl Marx's works wishing to find their utopia, so we just pointed to a patch of land and told them to do what they wish; their little town didn't even last a generation before they gave up and came back to us, a crash course in their own philosophy can do wonders Emperor, why not point them to some forested remote region and tell them your letting them live out in their own model of living in an act of benevolance. Once their living in squalid conditions of their own devising they'll surely come back humbled."

"The problem with that, Chancellor, is that the socialists here are not content to allow the rest of us to live as we please. They desire to bring down the hammer and sickle on us all, and they wish to do it by force. Even as we speak, my military is locked in combat with the Workers Liberation Army, a rebel group of socialists who hope to overthrow the government. They are small, poorly funded, and undermanned, but they have killed many innocents. Many foreigners haven't even heard of them. But, let me not trouble you with the worries of my nation; they are my concerns and shall be dealt with in their own times. Now, let us head to the parade."

The Emperor and his train of aids, advisors, and guards lead the Chancellor back to the limousine, where the spectacular sights of the city would kiss their eyes once more.

The limo wound its way through the cramped streets of Rexicum, its mission to pass by, once again, all the glory and splendor of the Imperial City before the parade and final return of the Chancellor to his homeland. The limo driver navigated through the bustling streets until he finally reached the Military Academy, a fine marble building built in the style of the Parthenon.

The beautiful Corinthian columns, the grand sculptures of ancient military heroes, the relief on the top of the building showing the formation of the Empire; it was all too great for the Emperor. He leapt out of the car, leading the Chancellor with pride into the Academy. They strode up the smooth steps of marble, entering the Academy to the crisp salutes of young cadets, loyal, brave, and proud. Two officers, in turn, lead the Emperor, Chancellor, and their train of guards onto a booth overlooking the shining streets of the city.

Below, throngs of soldiers marched in elaborate formations, occasionally firing one of their tracer rounds in the air as part of the complex drills. Every minute, exactly, a rank would take aim for the stars and fire their blanks Meanwhile, a swarm of aircraft in neat formation would sweep over the Military Academy, delivering a payload of dazzle and awe.

______________________________

Somewhere in the sewers beneath the city, the Worker's Liberation Army had gathered a cohort of men to bring the battle to the streets of the capital. Knowing full well that foreign visitors would be in full view, the militants hoped to stun the world with a bold decapitation strike against the Empire. Armed with cheap rifles and a few mortars, the band of about fifty militants hoped to launch a clean operation to kill the Emperor. Their commander addresses the troops:

“Workers, let us unite in our struggle against the capitalist oppressor! Workers, come together to fight against our harsh taskmaster the Emperor! Let him feel the sting of lead, for we feel the lashes of his whips and chains. How long have we let this murderer of our friends, this enslaver of people stand? Too long! It is time for change to come to this nation, for change to come to the world, and I. Will. Bring it! Go now my soldiers, bring the pain of death to the chief amongst our enemies. Give death to the bourgeois oppressor! Go now!”

The men storm out of the drains of the city, opening fire on ranks of confused soldier. Dozens die within seconds as the men storm out of the sewers, and men scurry for cover. The militants continue pounding the Imperial forces as they try to reorganize from their parade formations into an effective fighting force. Meanwhile, the militants open up the attack with the mortars, having been lifted out of other parts of the city. They aim for the Emperor's booth.

In the booth the Emperor's guard had already covered him and his guests with their bodies, shielding them from any bodily harm. Luck was not on their side, as a mortar round hit part of the booth, sending shrapnel through the Emperor's guard and into his chest. Blood ran free and far in the booth, and the smell of burning flesh was in the air. The Emperor survived the initial wound, and was quickly whisked away by his guards, along with the Chancellor.

The Chancellor once more took in the sights of the cities and watched the extravegent military parade with a bemused pleasure; that aloof suspensionof reality however was shattered as a morter smashed it's way into the booth, a second later one of his guards knocked him to the rear of the booth out of harms way. More or less dazed by the event the Chancellor went through the event with a dazed surprise, almost oblivious as his guards tried working with the Imperials to whisk them away and provide their medical assistance to the Emperor for the time being.

Duke Alexander Ramius rushed to the scene, his service pistol ready to defend the Emperor and the foreign guest. With the Emperor out of action, some of the reserve members of the Imperial Guard flocked to him, for he had now become the Regent of the Empire, Protector of the Throne. His train of men met up with the Emperor and Chancellor, where he quickly heard the Emperor's condition from the field doctors and then turned to the Chancellor.

"Chancellor! Are you okay? The Emperor has suffered a terrible wound from the mortar attack, and may not survive. It is unfortunate you were caught up in this, and the Empire shall pay for any medical care you need. Now, come, quickly! We're heading towards the bunker underneath the Academy for safety."

_______________________

Meanwhile, in the streets of the city, the firefight had died down. The attempt on the Emperor's life was a suicide mission, meant only to shake confidence in the Empire and help bring about a socialist revolution. As such, almost all of the Worker's Liberation Army assault force had been killed or captured, but there were still small pockets of resistance. The brazen attack had stunned the Empire, and may yet still decapitate it.

All throughout the nation, the Liberation Army began a coordinated assault on key cities, hoping to shake the Empire further. Military defeat for the WLA was inevitable; political defeat, however, hung in the balance.

"I... i'm fine, fine." The Chancellor stammerred in shock, he merely went "huh?" when the Duke mentioned the Academy. Reginald Strattort, the Chancellor's aide was in much the same dazed state, one of their guards however retained his professionalism and stepped forward with a simple blunt tone carrying out his duties. "Sir, evidently your nation is succumbing to some form of revolution and is clearly not safe for the Chancellor or other members of our nation, it is therefore my foremost duty to evacuate him to our aircraft and to safety; if I may be so brazen i'd advise you to come with us back to Hydrosteria untill your armed forces have secured the situation."

The Chancellor stirred somewhat from his daze and looked towards the Duke, "Sir if wha tyou say about your Emporer is... egh" he placed a hand on his for a moment, "If it's true then he should be taken to the most secure medical facility in close proximity, you however should escape and conduct your fight safe from any other possible attacks, come back to Hydrosteria for I myself need to return immediatly; perhaps I can convince the Council to dispatch forces on our way there to your nation to intervene."