The People's Republic of Lazarus

[Kringalia]

I was unaware, and gladly will send NSA to support.

Perhaps we should consider keeping more in touch with each other in future.

That sounds like a pretty good idea.

[Milograd]

As a note, the webhost company that we use is currently experiencing difficulties. The forum will be down for a bit until things are fixed. It shouldn't last for too long.

[Cerian Quilor]

Ouch. My sympathies.

[Mad Jack]

Back up now.

#wouldneverhappenonzeta

[Kazmr]

Ouch. My sympathies.

Its back up, thankfully Though there are still some kinks...

[Christopher Bishop]

Ouch. My sympathies.

Its back up, thankfully

Couldn't stand Cerian sympathizing with you, huh?

[Milograd]

Back up now.

#wouldneverhappenonzeta

We'd never have access to our database on ZB, so we'd be screwed if something happened on ZB.

[The Lazarene Liberation Army]

DEFENDING: The People's Popular Front Against Chaotic Subversion!

Hail!

Tonight, a strong coalition force consisting of troops from TITO, The Pacific, UDL, The Sovereign East Pacific, the LHCB, Wintreath, The South Pacific, Spiritus, Renegade Islands Alliance, the FRA, and, last but not least, the Lazarene Liberation Army, successfully liberated Makhnovia from Fascist occupation. The bandit army seized the region yesterday and 22 pilers poured into the region, but the combined liberation forces were able to topple them by moving in at the time that was decided by a well-placed trigger that Tim placed.

A total of about 40 defenders participated in the mission, be that in the form of being in #LLA or moving in-game, and the gangster delegate was overly confident that they wouldn't show:



We were pleased to prove the Right Wing Uprising bandit wrong and, as always were happy to cooperate with defenders and friends from across the pond and greater game. We are pleased to see the region free again and hope to see the native delegate back in his seat shortly.

In Solidarity,
The LLA

[Unibot III]

It was a pleasure, man. o/

[Feux]

Hail o/

[Cormac A Stark]

Congratulations. Always nice to see fascists routed.

[Tim-Opolis]

Always fun to give a region back to those who are native to it.
Plus, who doesn't love sending Nazis to Kandy's BBQ

[McMasterdonia]

Fratt loves it when the Nazi's are sent to him.

Well done on the operation guys.

[Letoilenoir]

It was a pleasure, man. o/

I'm arguing that a lot of our political situation is actually a product of the Nazi Hunts and its collapse:

I'm confused, isn't what just happen a continuation of the "2013 Nazi Hunts" that you derided as a contributing factor to the decline of defenderism?

[Anumia]

Well done.

[Kringalia]

Congratulations guys. Like I told you a few hours ago, that was a job well done.

[Unibot III]

It was a pleasure, man. o/

I'm arguing that a lot of our political situation is actually a product of the Nazi Hunts and its collapse:

I'm confused, isn't what just happen a continuation of the "2013 Nazi Hunts" that you derided as a contributing factor to the decline of defenderism?

No Nazi Region was Invaded?

[Mad Jack]

[Ambroscus Koth]

Meh, a lib is a lib.I'll give him that.

[The Lazarene Gazette]

Lazarus' Shepherd
Drop Your Pants

Twenty kilometers outside the Scarlet City, one may just stumble upon a certain cottage that would be a familiar sight across much of rural Lazarus. This particular abode, though, is unique; not because of the structure itself, but because of the man who resides there. Off an old dirt path, forking from the main highway, this is the home of Drop Your Pants.

The Hero of the Revolution who halted the Imperialists with his mere fists. The lazy Irishman who has nonetheless led can tell you more tales about the history of Lazarus, drunk or no, than any man drawing breath. General of the People's Liberation Army who in true Socialist fashion shies away from any credit for that organization's swift rise as a powerful anti-jaywalking force. The stories about this man, this true patriotic comrade, are numerous, but who is the man behind them? To find out, I ventured to his isolated residence.

Perhaps showing up unannounced was not the best idea; DYP was in the middle of tending to the sizable flock of sheep he cares for when not in the capitol on business. As I entered the clearing where his house could be found, I was amazed to see that that tale was true. In the midst of a pristine green meadow, supposedly his favorite color, perhaps five dozen sheep strolled. Their caretaker watched over them as they munched on grass and the occasional shrub, and at first glance I assumed he must be some assistant. As I ventured closer, though, to ask him where I might find DYP, I was astonished to see I had already done so. Up close, even in a loose herder's garments, the man was unmistakable; the strong jaw, the eyes that had seen countless powers rise and fall, the hardened face of a man who had fought ten thousand updates. This man, this man, was Drop Your Pants.

As I approached, he turned ever so slightly. At first his expression remained stoic, but shortly he broke into something of a subtle welcoming smile. Though he was happiest here amongst his sheep, remarkably the only non-communalized flock in Lazarus, he was apparently not a man to turn away a visitor.

"Comrade DYP, how are you?" I asked, hoping to set a good tone off the bat.

"Why, quite good I must say. Weather looks to be nice, so the jog over to the depot for the mission tonight won't be too difficult. Who might you be, if I may ask?"

"Oh, of course," I replied, somewhat embarrassed, "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm a reporter with the Gazette, and I decided that I wanted to meet you. Not really to do some canned interview, but really just to... understand you. Does that make sense?"

"When you've had a few glasses of the good Irish stuff, my boy, everything makes sense. Would you care to join me for a cup of coffee? The sheep can tend to themselves for at least a short time."

I told him, of course, that I would be absolutely delighted, and he showed me over to the one-room cabin that this Vanguard of Lazarus, General of the Lazarene Liberation Army, called home. Immediately, I could tell that the humility in this man cut to the true roots of our region's great socialist philosophy. Here was a man who in any unenlightened region, and many deeply socialist ones to boot, would be living in something resembling a palace, and yet he chose to live in the same fashion as countless of the working class proletariat across Lazarus. Not for some sort of statement either, no, this was simply a result of his character.

I was surprised to find that the 'coffee' he served me seemed to have more whiskey in it than actual coffee, but I suppose it helped ease into the conversation. At first, I fumbled around on where exactly I should start, having not really planned much out before my spur of the moment trip, but suddenly I had the idea that one of his most high profile actions of late was the right icebreaker.

"Comrade DYP-"

"DYP is fine, no need for the formalities," he smiled.

"DYP... I guess I should start with something that has been burning in me for awhile. Please tell me if this touches on something you would rather forget, but I want to know your side of the Gryfynn Incident. How long did you know Viktoria?"

He was silent for perhaps 20 seconds, seemingly lost in thought.

"I suppose," he began, "You could say from the beginning. I was here when she first immigrated to Lazarus, and in fact I talked her into running for Delegate. On one hand, I trusted that she would be suited for the job. More of it, though, was simply because I believed it would make Lazarus safe by having the TNI founder as our delegate. At the time, I was fairly single-minded; the 'security' of Lazarus in true Independent fashion was all that was important, at least in my mind. That was a long time ago, of course."

The way he responded, the barely visible sad look in his eye, told me that this really was a deep issue for him. Hopefully not being disrespectful, I decided to continue on my line of inquiry.

"So seeing as you had been so instrumental in her becoming a citizen and leader of Lazarus, how did it make you feel when she and her fellow Imperialists were banned?"

That same look continued. "I didn't like it. Of course, I didn't just blame the rest of the pre-revolutionary government, overall I think the whole thing was handled poorly on both sides. I tried to get her talking about it in a better way, I even invited her to return under a new name, but I got ignored a lot. That was probably the hardest part for me."

"So when she returned, then," I asked, "did you expect her recent actions?"

DYP gave a deep sigh. Perhaps he was simply getting a lot off of his chest. "The moment i saw her return to Lazarus after her exile expired i knew she'd try something. I just didn't expect it to be this petty. Revenge for the sake of revenge isn't a good plan."

"So if you were so against it, did that change your perception of her ban from Lazarus?"

"Not in the least. She's still more than welcome to come back to us under a different name and talk about it. I've even unbanned her from the public forum so she has another avenue for discourse. In fact, it I had to make one change to the government today it would simply be to repair relations with her. Despite all she has done, she still had an impact on our region's history, and for that deserves respect. Besides, isn't Lazarus the region of second chances, where our socialist virtues call for us to accept those who are willing to contribute their share to society? I think, with time, Viktoria may be willing to do that."

"Of course, you were also the one who had to expel her from Lazarus the second time. How exactly did you do it though? Everyone's heard the tales, the one where you talked her out of the region with nothing but words, or the one where you tie her up in the middle of Red Square and drag her all the way to The Rejected Realms. How did it really happen, though?"

"As it would for any soldier. It took some of my own strength to do so, but I fought her until it was clear my own influence on the fight was greater than hers, before issuing her banjection notice, arresting her, and exiling her once more. I hadn't done that in ages, and while I have to admit it was a bit of a rush, that is only because she brought it upon herself."

The picture itself was a bit clearer now. Here was a man who both respected the past and believed in the ideal of Lazarus; a true patriot of which there are fewer and fewer every year. This was not a man interested in that dastardly deed of revisionism, nor did he see the state as oppressing her but rather as protecting Lazarus' Harmonious Society itself. I wanted to find out more about him in particular.

"So, DYP, I suppose this is on an entirely unrelated not, but I've wanted your opinion on some more contemporary matters. Our government itself, namely. As in-"

"I wish I could tell you I cared, but I don't. I suppose in a way I haven't moved on past that old single-track mindset of security; the LLA is really the only district I care for. Perhaps that's just an old man talking, though, who knows that those carrying the torch today don't need the old guard meddling with every little detail."

"So then the Army at least? How would you say that is faring, as its commander?"

"Quite well, through no fault of my own. Even if security is still on my mind, I like to think I've changed my philosophy enough to know that committing the Revolution's guns to the cause of liberation around the world keeps it much stronger than the old 'independence'."

"But haven't you yourself been a defender for... ages?"

DYP gave a warm chuckle in acknowledgement.

"You seem to have me there. Yes, I suppose that played into my opinions a bit. Probably a year before the old Alliance Defense Network became the 'DSA'. Try figuring out when that is," he smiled.

Suddenly, DYP looked at his watch, and seemed sad, but in more apologetic way than before.

"I'm afraid I'll have to leave," he began, "I need to be at Army Headquarters for an operation. My deepest apologies for not being able to speak more. I really did enjoy our conversation."

I replied, "No need to apologize! This has been... enlightening to say the least. You have my sincerest thanks for your time."

"It was a pleasure," he said as he finished pulling on his uniform. In the new getup, he would be much more recognizable to a layman, but I felt that I had seen a deeper side than those garments showed. This man, who had been in Lazarus so long he couldn't even remember the date he arrived, had opened up a bit to me, and for that I was grateful.

As I headed back to the path, I noticed that the sheep were up to much the same as earlier. DYP soon followed, but just as I was leaving the meadow, I saw him stop and bend over. He was feeding a sheep. Tending to the flock. In some way, by being there as the old veteran to keep the region on the straight and narrow, he does the same for us all.

---

full disclosure: This article is based on a pair of interviews I conducted with DYP, but I took some artistic liberties with both my interpretation of the setting and with his responses. If anyone would like to get the transcripts, feel free to message me and I would be happy to provide them.

[Ambroscus Koth]

I saw him stop and bend over. He was feeding a sheep.

Right. "feeding"...

[Italian Frogs]

[Drop Your Pants]

Right. "feeding"...

Don't make me add you into my flock

Love the article, certainly better than the normal type we see

[The Egyptian Mau]

An excellent article, Comrade. Hail Lazarus! Glory to the Revolution!

[Milograd]

Based on some comments on Twitter and IRC, people seem to be assuming that my choice to step down as Chairman of the PRL is the same as me retiring from NS and/or from my active participation in Lazarus.

I want to clarify that is not. My activity in the PRL (as a troop in the LLA) and on NS in general will continue.