Europeian Embassy - In Solidarity

[RiderSyl]

Evidently they do not leave an impression, as you also seem to have forgotten who was making such accusations which you refer to.

Not at all, I remember well, and I think you're just furthering my point. Such accusations aren't impressive, they're almost to be expected. We can handle them, we'll reply to them, everyone will have done their politicking duty. What matters and what really is impressive is this treaty. Two of the historically largest and most successful UCRs coming together to forge the promise of cooperation and a common future. That is huge.

How'd you type a comment that long and still manage to say nothing?

[Canton Empire]

Not at all, I remember well, and I think you're just furthering my point. Such accusations aren't impressive, they're almost to be expected. We can handle them, we'll reply to them, everyone will have done their politicking duty. What matters and what really is impressive is this treaty. Two of the historically largest and most successful UCRs coming together to forge the promise of cooperation and a common future. That is huge.

How'd you type a comment that long and still manage to say nothing?

This may be the most ironic and non self aware statement in the history of NationStates.

[RiderSyl]

How'd you type a comment that long and still manage to say nothing?

This may be the most ironic and non self aware statement in the history of NationStates.

That actually might've stung if it wasn't coming from Canton Empire

[Canton Empire]

This may be the most ironic and non self aware statement in the history of NationStates.

That actually might've stung if it wasn't coming from Canton Empire

Nah, because see, the difference between you and I is that I try to learn more and adjust my views. You’re content to wrap yourself in your delusions to the point where you cannot discern reality from fiction.

You attempt to force your lack of grasp on reality on to everyone else and get mad when you’re rightfully called out by everyone on it, and then you double down because god forbid someone actually wants to try to help you.

I can admit when I’ve made an ass of myself, but you’ll never be able to admit the same.

[RiderSyl]

That actually might've stung if it wasn't coming from Canton Empire

Nah, because see, the difference between you and I is that I try to learn more and adjust my views. You’re content to wrap yourself in your delusions to the point where you cannot discern reality from fiction.

You attempt to force your lack of grasp on reality on to everyone else and get mad when you’re rightfully called out by everyone on it, and then you double down because god forbid someone actually wants to try to help you.

I can admit when I’ve made an ass of myself, but you’ll never be able to admit the same.

[One Small Island]

Nah, because see, the difference between you and I is that I try to learn more and adjust my views. You’re content to wrap yourself in your delusions to the point where you cannot discern reality from fiction.

You attempt to force your lack of grasp on reality on to everyone else and get mad when you’re rightfully called out by everyone on it, and then you double down because god forbid someone actually wants to try to help you.

I can admit when I’ve made an ass of myself, but you’ll never be able to admit the same.

interestingly, sticking your fingers in your ears and going "nanananana no ur wrong" doesn't make the criticism magically go away.

[Reventus Koth]

Do you understand the criticism? I'm not sure I do.

This is also getting pretty weird for the Europeia thread.

[RiderSyl]

(Image)

interestingly, sticking your fingers in your ears and going "nanananana no ur wrong" doesn't make the criticism magically go away.

Neither of you are making any goddamn sense. What did I say in this thread that matches the description of what Canton wrote? Or are you and him just deciding to test out what you can get away with on NS these days?

[Canton Empire]

Do you understand the criticism? I'm not sure I do.

This is also getting pretty weird for the Europeia thread.

The criticism is that Syl has had things repeatedly explained to her and she refuses to listen because thinks she knows better.

It’s well established that Euro is an independent region - signing treaties with defenders and actively defending does not change that. I don’t know why the argument keeps being brought up that either raiding or defending makes them one or the other. Independents adapt to changes in geopolitics and adjust foreign policy accordingly. This isn’t hard to understand.

[RiderSyl]

You're retroactively trying to make your silly outburst about the topic at hand, and it's pretty obvious. Besides the fact that my disagreement was too tame to justify your reaction, that "force your lack of grasp on reality on to everyone else and get mad when you’re rightfully called out by everyone on it" bit? Where did that happen in this thread? Where did I get mad? I don't see it, Canton.

It's entertaining that you ended your weird tirade by saying you can admit when you've made an ass of yourself, when you're currently showing you can't.

[Canton Empire]

You're retroactively trying to make your silly outburst about the topic at hand, and it's pretty obvious. Besides the fact that my disagreement was too tame to justify your reaction, that "force your lack of grasp on reality on to everyone else and get mad when you’re rightfully called out by everyone on it" bit? Where did that happen in this thread? Where did I get mad? I don't see it, Canton.

It's entertaining that you ended your weird tirade by saying you can admit when you've made an ass of yourself, when you're currently showing you can't.

Do you have anything real to say about the Treaty of the Archipelagos, or Europeia’s independent policy?

It's funny to look back only a year or two when we were accused of being raiders in anything but name.

The difference between the people that made those comments and me is that I'm right.

Your comments, as the comments then, show a fundamental lack of understanding for Europeia and Independence. These comments don't impress us much.

Maybe it's Europeia that's forgotten what independence is.

This is the last thing that could be remotely construed as some sort of thesis statement on the topic at hand, and even then it’s pretty damn weak. So do you have any refute to my points made about Euro’s policy or are we 2 posts away from you going into a tirade about Europeia being transphobic or fascist or some weird shit.

[RiderSyl]

Nah, someone else can refute them if they want to. You seem to have it out for me tonight on an OOC level, so I don't feel comfortable debating you.

[Canton Empire]

Nah, someone else can refute them if they want to. You seem to have it out for me tonight on an OOC level, so I don't feel comfortable debating you.

That’s your right but you need to stop mixing OOC and IC and making those accusations, for your own sake

[RiderSyl]

Nah, someone else can refute them if they want to. You seem to have it out for me tonight on an OOC level, so I don't feel comfortable debating you.

That’s your right but you need to stop mixing OOC and IC and making those accusations, for your own sake

I've done no mixing of OOC and IC in this thread. Next time you want to come after me for something wholly unrelated to the topic but wholly related to me, I suggest just TGing me.

[Chingis]

I'm gonna need both of your to move the conversation back out of the realm of borderline flamebait

This is the last thing that could be remotely construed as some sort of thesis statement on the topic at hand, and even then it’s pretty damn weak. So do you have any refute to my points made about Euro’s policy or are we 2 posts away from you going into a tirade about Europeia being transphobic or fascist or some weird shit.

You should really consider taking a breather before writing the last line in an argument where you feel stirred up.

*** warned for flamebait ***

[A Bloodred Moon]

Not at all, I remember well, and I think you're just furthering my point.

You’re signing treaties with them, so I’m not confident you do. I’m confused at what point I’m supposedly furthering by noting it.

Such accusations aren't impressive, they're almost to be expected. We can handle them, we'll reply to them, everyone will have done their politicking duty. What matters and what really is impressive is this treaty. Two of the historically largest and most successful UCRs coming together to forge the promise of cooperation and a common future. That is huge.

You signed a treaty with a region that despises your guts. I agree that it is impressive, but I have my doubts we agree on the what exactly is so impressive.

[Tim-Opolis]

Congratulations to XKI and Europeia on this exciting partnership!

[Astrobolt]

I’m glad to see this treaty come together between our two regions!

[Chef Big Dog]

Two of the historically largest and most successful UCRs coming together to forge the promise of cooperation and a common future. That is huge.

It's actually incredibly small. Tiny, even.

[Ambrella]

Two of the historically largest and most successful UCRs coming together to forge the promise of cooperation and a common future. That is huge.

It's actually incredibly small. Tiny, even.

I guess since you say so it must be true. Thank you for the correction.

[Sanjurika]

Super excited to see what's to come of this! ^-^

[Tim-Opolis]

Two of the historically largest and most successful UCRs coming together to forge the promise of cooperation and a common future. That is huge.

It's actually incredibly small. Tiny, even.

Bigger than anything you’ve ever accomplished.

[Europeian Embassy]

Dungeons and Dragons: Liberation of New Westphalia

Sunday night, around a table, sits an unlikely group of people, some might say heroes, with grim yet determined faces. The suspense is so thick it could be cut with a knife. From the end of the table, placed mostly in the darkness surrounding the table, which is merely lit by an electric candle, you hear the voice of a bald man. He was known to many as Max, the most ruthless DM in the DnD world, an uncaring Master over the fates of his players. "Welcome party, I hope you have all had enough water and sleep in the days since our last mission. I come bearing news, one of my informants has led me know that the Wolves, one of the infamous groups of pillagers and vandalists roaming the lands, will make an attempt to raid one of the smaller provinces in the land tonight. It is imperative that you stop them by all means possible". Nervous silence befalls the party, only broken by the shuffling noises of preparation of nations…uhhh character sheets. "Alright guys y’all know how this works, we need to be on the lookout for potentially suspicious activity and we have to follow them as quickly as we can once we see them moving" say WS, carefully watching out for any activity. Max looks at him, unmoved "Everyone roll for Perception and then Initiative". Everyone rolls their die, good rolls all around, except for Gleg, who forgot his coffee and sprinted out the watch room to retrieve it at the exact moment the party spotted the raider movement. In a matter of seconds, they all used a dash action and all their movement to follow the Wolves into what the DM declared the region of New Westphalia. Gleg, having already used all his movement for this turn to retrieve his coffee had to come back to see that all his friends had left without him. "Dangit“, he muttered to himself. "Unfortunately, the wolves were able to take New Westphalia", states Max, "in fact, they seem to like it here so much, they get a couple of their friends, like the hawks, to come to occupy the region with them. They are this holding this territory hostage, freeing it so the natives of the community won’t be driven from their home is the only way forward."

"Alright, change of plan then, we gather our troops and attack at midnight" proclaims Quebecshire, ready to drive the wolves out by all means necessary. "I can lead the charge" offers WS, "I can help, I’m stuck on the inside anyways", proclaims Makasta, who managed to get in with the initial wave, Icarus, stuck in a similar situation says "Yeah me too". Midnight approached, the groups were readied and on the threefold "GO GO GO" scream thundering over the table, moved speedily towards the region. "Roll to hit" demands Max, in the driest tone known to humankind. The dice rolls across the table, the whole party holds their breath as the D20 comes to a halt on a 13. Max looks at the dice, with his dead, dead eyes "That does not hit". Grea Kriopia sighs but then puts on an optimistic smile "Okay we just have to try again at noon, everyone make sure you bring as many people as you possibly can". In a hurry Quebecshire and Tim started to collect people, while Icarus started directly approaching folks in the Based Initiative, aka the ERN Militia.

They realised that with the numbers they held they would have to find a way around the rather high AC the raiders had in New Westphalia. So they decided to switch up their strategy a little for this attack, targeting the wolf who currently held the power and replacing him with a different candidate who had not yet had time to collect enough influence to appoint more officials. The light of the weakly flickering candle reflected on his bald head as Max looked at the players, his face still not moving "Interesting. I grant you all inspiration for your next attack".

This was all the party needed to get to work, collecting troops from every corner they could find them in. With their inspiration and a little bit of extra caffeine Gleg managed to roll an insanely high charisma roll when recruiting people to join the fight, everyone else involved was doing the same, they came swarming from every direction, legions upon legions of friends joint in their just cause. As the final attack was only a few minutes out, everyone was scrambling for even more people, chaos ensued everywhere but so did hope. Tim screamed at Icarus who had passed out on the table roughly 30 minutes before the final attack that she could still make it if she woke up now. The sieging forces rolled the die one last time. Time seemed to stop as the dice hit the board, the whole party held their breaths as the die finally came to a stop. A perfect Nat20. A perfect Nat20 to hit the occupiers of New Westphalia. In the early hours of the 19th of December, defender and Independent forces restored the peace in New Westphalia and returned it to its people, removing the wolf-infestation in the most spectacular defense of the year.

ERN Sailors Reporting:

Commander-in-Chief Icarus
Vice Admiral Writinglegend
Vice Admiral Istillian
Rear Admiral Vor
Captain Kuramia
Commander Cove
Commander Forilian
Lieutenant Olde Delaware
Ensign Spagtop
Ensign Boisenburg
Able Hand PhDre
Cadet Sopo

Other Organisations Present:

Africa
Angels Encarmine
Eastern Pacific Sovereign Army
European Union
Evergreen Battalion of Declansburg
Free Nations Defense Association
North Pacific Army
Palatine
Rejected Realms Army
Saint Osmund
Sonindia Anti-Raider Armed Forces
South Pacific Special Forces
Spiritus Defense Force
Ten-thousand Islands Treaty Organization
Thaempirial Army
TGU Defense Force
The League Defense Forces
The Order of the Grey Wardens
The Union of Democratic States Armed Forces
Valiant Cavalry of Sparkalia
Warzone Europe
Warzone Sandbox

[Tim-Opolis]

Great report! It was an absolute pleasure having Europeia along with us!

[Europeian Embassy]

Launching: Project Athena

Hey y’all!

Firstly let me start off by wishing you all a fantastic new year! I hope 2023 brings all of you nothing but joy, good times and plenty of adventures. I know that whatever awaits us in the future I am confident we will get through it because I know I can count on all of you.

Now for the thing you’re actually here for: After a lot of preparation it is finally time to launch Project Athena. This series of EBC articles and radio shows is going to investigate and shine a light on neurodivergence in NationStates. Neurodivergence can be described as a way that someone's brain works differently, meaning that they have different strengths and challenges from those whose brains don’t have those differences. These differences can include medical disorders, learning disabilities and other such conditions.

Being neurodivergent isn’t always easy, we are not the norm and that makes life a lot harder to adjust to sometimes. A simple example of this is sensory overload, something that a lot of neurodivergent folks struggle with, where any kind of high sensory input e.g. simple background noises (train noises, passengers talking etc.) can’t be filtered and prioritised correctly and essentially overwhelm your brain with sensory impressions. Depending on the person this can lead to numerous different reactions ranging from inability to focus to restlessness, extreme discomfort and anxiety.

Now, our internet world provides a different framework, a world that is a lot more customisable to individual needs, including the needs of neurodivergent people. Things like the accessibility settings in discord for example can help prevent things like sensory overload, for example through removing colours or moving images etc. For this reason online spaces are often more accessible and from the many conversations and experiences I have had with and about neurodivergence, it seems to be a place where for example social connections and settings are a lot easier to engage in.

NationStates in its nature can both be very rewarding as well as particularly challenging for all kinds of people with neurodivergence. With the help of this project we want to investigate both sides, potentially find ways to make NS more accessible and shine a light on something that affects a large part of this community. This is a complicated topic to tackle because the actual manifestations of neurodivergence vary greatly from person to person even if they are both diagnosed with the same particular flavour of neurodivergence. We can’t paint the full picture with the resources we have here but we aim to have as nuanced of a debate as possible. The series will kick off with an interview conducted by Istillian that will be released in the EBC shortly and it will be followed by several radio shows and additional interviews.

Anyone looking to get involved is more than welcome to join a show, conduct an interview or get involved in any other capacity they want. Please direct your messages to our Minister of Communications PhDre, Vice President Istillian or me (Evil Mother).

Please note that if you feel like a lot of the things that are being discussed here and on the shows/in the articles seem to be similar to your own experience, please seek a professional opinion before coming to conclusions. Neurodivergence is incredibly nuanced and can often occur together with other conditions, I can only encourage everyone who is struggling to seek out help if possible.

Signed,
President Icarus