Embassy of The West Pacific | April 2024 Western Post!

[Giovanniland]

-Snip

A very enjoyable read! And your chess events are always fun, I look forward to the next

Thank you! I'm glad that you've been a regular participant in the recent chess arenas, and I'm also excited to host more of them in the future.

[The West Pacific Master Dispatch]

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Join the Festival of the Perfections!
discord.gg/XRcfGvzZnD

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Come one, come all! The FESTIVAL OF THE PERFECTIONS is officially open!

Join The West Pacific, Lone Wolves United, Carcassonne, The Wellspring, and friends from across NationStates for the 6th Annual Festival of the Perfections: a fabulous community celebration of art! The festival runs all week from March 11 to March 17.

Celebrants may submit entries in the Perfections of Art, Poetry, and Craft until Saturday, March 16. Awards will be presented on Sunday, March 17.

Come for the art, stay for the friends. We'll see you there!


This event is brought to you by The West Pacific Cultural Trust and viewers like you, thank you.

[Reventus Koth]

Out of curiosity, can The West Pacific explain how they justify excluding Lone Wolves United from the sanctions they sign onto?

Relevant part highlighted:

The following regions/organizations are hereby sanctioned: The Brotherhood of Malice, The Black Hawks, The Communist Bloc, Sparkalia, and all regions which:
i. Constitute their territories or possessions;
ii. Are operated by their members and contribute to their military or support their cause;
iii. Have a treaty with them;
iv. Constitute the territories or possessions of regions mentioned in items ii or iii.

Say whatever you want about the other 3 regions, because someone could possibly BS their way into saying they have other "causes" and that the sanctions only apply to whatever those are, but The Black Hawks definitively only have one cause: the raider cause.

To quote The Wolfist Manifesto, pinned to the LWU WFE:

The Wolfist does not form a separate part opposed to other raiders.

They have no interests separate and apart from those of the raiders as a whole.

They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape or mold the raider movement.

For as long as Lone Wolves United supports the raider cause, the same one that The Black Hawks uphold (especially by working together with LWU), they should be included in any sanctions laid out by the MGC. I truly, earnestly don't care if The West Pacific elects to make an exception to the sanctions, because they are ridiculous garbage, but I'd also just like to know what the exact logic being employed on this front is.

[Varanius]

Out of curiosity, can The West Pacific explain how they justify excluding Lone Wolves United from the sanctions they sign onto?

By reading them correctly.

See, your interpretation has specifically and selectively bolded part of the sanction, when that is not how the sanction is meant to be read.

The following regions/organizations are hereby sanctioned: The Brotherhood of Malice, The Black Hawks, The Communist Bloc, Sparkalia, and all regions which:
i. Constitute their territories or possessions;
ii. Are operated by their members and contribute to their military or support their cause;
iii. Have a treaty with them;
iv. Constitute the territories or possessions of regions mentioned in items ii or iii.

See, the clause has 3 potential pre-requisites. Being operated by a sanction regions member (A), contributing to their military (B), and supporting their cause (C). The placement of “or” has lead to a lot of confusion, people seem to have been reading this to mean that the sanctions apply if A and B are true, or if C is true (a region must be operated by a BoM member and support their military, or any region entirely unrelated to the first two prerequisites that still supports their cause). In actuality, the sanctions apply to regions which fall under A and B, or A and C (regions with are operated by BoM members and support them militarily, or regions which are operated by BoM members and support their cause). This misconception has been making the rounds quite a bit, and to be fair it is a relatively easy mistake to make (the wording of that particular clause is not remarkably clear and prone to alternate interpretations. But no the intended and applied interpretation does not exclude LWU from participation.

[Reventus Koth]

By reading them correctly.

See, your interpretation has specifically and selectively bolded part of the sanction, when that is not how the sanction is meant to be read.

This misconception has been making the rounds quite a bit, and to be fair it is a relatively easy mistake to make (the wording of that particular clause is not remarkably clear and prone to alternate interpretations.

The snark of the first part of your post betrays the admission that the wording is confusing in the second part. Unnecessary.

Regardless, I'm aware that any interpretation is just window dressing for whatever you want to take from it. I won't even bother to ask if LWU members who are also members of sanctioned regions are allowed to participate in the festival, because it's clear that the answer is "whatever is most convenient".

[Teralyon]

What is the meaning of life? Well according to this weird crusty guide I found it's 42.

The West Pacific Armed Forces: Mission Report
Realm of the Whispering Winds Hold

Once upon a time, in the tumultuous seas of NationStates, there sailed a drunken pirate Captain from The West Pacific named Teralyon, known for only swearing fidelity to the Pirate Queen of The West, his sometimes-wild escapades, and unpredictable nature. Accompanying him on his adventures was his faithful companion, a chihuahua named Varanius, who had a heart as brave as any Pirate and lungs twice the size of any.

One morning while recovering from a particularly strong grog, Vara ran up to Tera with a note from their friend, the Khan of Lone Wolves United no less, Chef Big Dog (may his virtues endure!). Tera read the note, looked at Vara, then grinned and told him to go gather the crew—booty awaits! With the crew in tow, the Pirates set sail for a secret hidden bay known only to those with the keenest of navigational skills. Upon reaching their destination, they were greeted by their wolven allies, who had long been companions in their quest for freedom on the high seas. Together, Pirates and Wolves forged an unbreakable bond, united in their desire to carve out their own destiny in a world menaced by powerful nations and empires.

As rumors spread of an island ripe for the taking, one Realm of the Whispering Winds, their sights were set on this coveted prize. With the combined strength of Pirates and Wolves, they launched a daring assault, catching their adversaries completely off-guard and seizing control of the island before anyone could intervene. This surprised both the Pirates and Wolves—the coordinates of the island were spread everywhere…how had not a single person come to stop them? Regardless of that, the Pirates and Wolves stood united, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead to protect their island paradise from any who sought to take it from them. Fortunately for them, the first ships they saw on the horizon were not enemies, but more friends from Carcassonne!

The first Minor however, the Pirates and Wolves finally saw them—the enemy had come, and with more numbers. Things looked bleak, but due to a blunder on the enemy's side, our forces seized the advantage. After a hard fought battle, we came out victorious! Amidst the chaos of battle, the friends found moments of respite, sharing tales of adventure and reveling in the camaraderie. Now, with their flags still held high above the island they now called their own, the dust began to settle and the celebrations began. In the midst of revelry, Teralyon and Chef Big Dog (may his virtues endure!) realized that their victory would be short-lived without reinforcements to hold the island against future attacks…

While the Wolves howled in the evening, Tera sat with a tankard of rum in one hand and a quill in the other, sending impressment orders across The West Pacific to call upon any brave soul willing to join their cause and hold their newfound territory. To their surprise and delight, 42 eager individuals answered the call, drawn by the promise of adventure and the chance to stand alongside the legendary Pirates and fearsome Wolves. With their ranks bolstered by the fresh Powder Monkeys and Cubs streaming in, they prepared to defend their island against all who dared challenge their claim. At Major, the enemy was set to attack, but as they were about to do so, they activated the original inhabitants' traps. Some of their number were suddenly locked inside with us, but the vast majority fell outside the island. With the enemy’s morale seemingly crumbling, we steeled ourselves for what would come.

For several days and nights after, the Pirates and Wolves held their ground against anyone seeking to claim the island for themselves, but to their chagrin, no one dared. The enemy never returned, bewilderingly choosing instead to further sabotage the original inhabitants of the island.

With their flags still flying high above the island, the sun rose on the final day of battle and it became clear that victory belonged to the fearless Pirates, Wolves, and their friends. And so, amidst cheers and celebrations, everyone toasted to their triumph, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together: as friends, allies, Pirates, and Wolves, united in their quest for freedom, adventure, and the thrill of the open ocean.

Plundered Territory

Realm of the Whispering Winds

Members of The West Pacific Armed Forces

Chocolate Goddess - Darkesia
Commodore - Big Bad Badger
Dragon Emeritus - Elegarth
Shop Steward - Dalimbar
Crimson King - Westwind
Captain - Teralyon
First Mate - United Adaikes
Quartermaster - Bran Astor
Sailing Master - Giovanniland
Senior Chief Boatswain - Nagaraningrad
Chief Boatswain - Aluminum Oxynitride
Boatswain, Third Class - Fujai Astor
Boatswain, Third Class - Varanius (Non-Piling)
Striker, First Class - The Perfection Isles
Striker, First Class - Noton Mast
Striker, First Class - Hertfordshire and Jammbo
Striker, First Class - The Vergville
Striker, Third Class - The Demoractic Peoples Republic Of TNET
Striker, Fourth Class - Republic of Artago
Striker, Fourth Class - Nick Carraway
Leading Crewman - Nouveauterra
Crewman - Greiya
Crewman - Conania
Crewman - Montrandec
Crewman - Manchuria and Primorsky Krai
Crewman - Alliss
Crewman - Hashemites
Crewman - Zhiznovsk
Greenhorn - Libertasi
Greenhorn - Inscribia
Powder Monkey - Bobki
Powder Monkey - Candelu
Powder Monkey - Dalian Republic
Powder Monkey - Free Canada
Powder Monkey - Inner Ryxtylopia
Powder Monkey - Lzecov Islands
Powder Monkey - Nalibia
Powder Monkey - Pinemelon
Powder Monkey - Recuecn
Powder Monkey - Risani
Powder Monkey - Tupmonia
Powder Monkey - Wymondham
Powder Monkey -Zoran

[Bhang Bhang Duc]

That is an absolutely brilliant turnout Tera and an excellent report. Well done to all our pirates.

[Chef Big Dog]

Love the report and great to see this amazing turnout! TWPAF has been kicking ass lately.

[Fachumonn]

Nice read and report.

[The West Pacific Master Dispatch]

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The Western Post - April 2024 Issue

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Extra, extra! The Western Post has released its April 2024 Issue!

This edition features a special Delegate's Diaries about one year of OT, a retrospective of our 6th Festival of the Perfections, a spotlight of recent happenings in the world of TWP Roleplay, and much more!

Be sure to check out the new issue here, and don't forget to upvote!