1912: The World and a Powder Keg [AltHis|IC|Open]

[Tracian Empire]

1912: The World and a Powder Keg IC Thread OOC - MAP - DISCORD OP Tracian Empire “If there is ever another war in Europe, it will come out of some damned silly thing in the Balkans.” –Otto von Bismarck Welcome to the World and a Powder Keg, an alternative history RP set in 1912. The balance of power which has protected peace in Europe and in the world at large is teetering ever closer towards total collapse, as tensions rise between the great powers and their alliances, as national states and peoples rise and fight for their freedom and their brethren, as rising powers seek their own place under the sun, and as revolutions are plotted in silence. Are you one of the great powers, seeking to maintain your control and might? Are you a rising power, fighting for a place at the table of the greatest nations? A decaying empire, fighting to hold on to the scraps of power that you still have? A small power, seeking to fight for the unification of your people? It will be your choice and your responsibility to guide your nation as the Belle Époque nears its end. General Rules 1. The OP reserves the right to be subjective and will have the final world in all matters. 2. The Co-OP will enjoy the same prerogatives in the absence of the OP. 3. All site-wide rules apply. 4. No OOC writing in the IC. 5. No godmodding, metagaming, or other similar actions 6. No flaming, trolling, or harassment in the OOC or in the IC Roleplay Rules 1. The PoD is the year 1885, with the end of the Berlin Conference and the Scramble for Africa. No changes to history before this year can be done, so history up to 1885 in real life is canon. 2. Historical changes after the year 1885 can be done, after all this is an alternative history RP, but they need to be realistic and well explained. 3. Precedence in terms of divergences will be granted based on who finishes their app first, but the OP reserves the right to be subjective if necessary in order to ensure that as many people as possible can get their ideas in the roleplay. 4. The great powers of Europe are still at each other's throats and militarism, revanchism and irredentism still rule the continent. Divergences can be made to change the political landscape of European countries, but overall the continent is still moving towards a general war and is divided into various systems of alliances. 5. Colonies can be applied for, particularly in the case of colonial governments which enjoyed a certain autonomy, however, realism will still be maintained - colonies can't rebel against their home countries on the second day of the IC. 6. Some nations can have multiple applicants if there are in a situation where the power of the central government is weakened. 7. Political and rebel groups and organizations can be applied for, however interested players should take into account the fact that such groups are most often in an inferior position and that they can not achieve their goals without foreign backing or government weakness. Players who wish to play such groups need to obtain the consent of the player controlling the nation in which their group would be operating. 8. The map is an estimation and may not be constantly updated, make sure to also check the list and do a cursory search of the OOC before reserving.

[Tracian Empire]

Accepted Nations Last Updated: 01.06.2023 The National Dominion of Hungary - Russian Empire Dragos Bee - Ethiopian Empire Tracian Empire – Ottoman Empire The Rio Grande River Basin - United States of America Turkducken - United Mexican States Cybernetic Socialist Republics - French Empire Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States - Kingdom of the Netherlands Empire of Techkotal - German Empire Intermountain States - Korean Empire Reservations Last Updated: 01.06.2023 Chia Dal - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Sinyal - Japanese Empire[/nation] - Empire of China

[The National Dominion of Hungary]

Tauride Palace - Petrograd

Premier Sergei Witte stifled a chortle with a low rumble in the back of his throat as the Speaker of the Duma finished his droning sermons after the former speaker, Pavel Miliukov, party leader of the Kadets had gone back to his seat. Now, it was his turn. Walking up to the speaker's podium, Witte felt lightheaded, a dull ache in his chest. His health had been deteriorating in the past two years, casting a glance back across the assembled deputies, he spotted Pyotr Stolipyn, the man who just waited to swoop in and take the coalition Witte had so meticulously constructed under his wing. It would be soon, just two years at most, Witte did not have the strength in him to run, it had all been a bit too much for a bit too long. He just hoped it would be enough to save Holy Russia in the end...

The Premier stood behind the speaker's podium, looking across the assembled deputies before beginning his speech. "Honored members of the Duma. I stand before you today to speak of pertinent matters for our Empire and for all of us. In the last seven years, this very assembly has played an instrumental role in the stability of our great country, so nearly shattered during the year of unrest in 1905, so nearly gone down in history as a year of revolution and bloody upheaval." Witte took a breath before continuing.

"It is imperative we steer Russia further and further on the path of strength, growth and greatness." He let his eyes sweep across the hall. "We must be ambitious and look toward the future with unwavering purpose. Make no mistake in the fact that for our Holy Russia, the best is to come. We have everything needed to become a nation to eclipse the nations of the West in wealth and might. When we exlude colonies halfway around the world, inhabited by barbarians and savages we have a greater population than France, Britain and Germany combined. We do not have to look across vast oceans to find land for our people to settle, we have the vast expanses of Siberia at our feet and laid beneath our railways. Make no mistake, the soils of western Siberia are no less poor that those of our black earths west of the Urals and the soils between the Yenisei and Lake Baikal, seemingly if further study proves true, just as fertile as the chestnut soils of the breadbasket states of America."

"Indeed, honored members of the Duma." The Premier said, making a short pause. "We have all what we need, but in order to reach a greatness hitherto unattained by Holy Mother Russia, we need to place the ship of state upon a certain course. We have over 72500 kilometeres of railway tracks running through the vast expanses of our Empire. But that is not nearly enough, for ours is the largest Empire made by man other than that of the Mongols under Genghis Khan, or the one that the Englishmen lord over as we speak. There are only nine fully realized double-track railways running toward the western border with Germany and Austria, the Germans and the Austrians, when combined, are living in a much smaller land, but together they have fourteen double-track railways heading toward their border with us. Yes, fourteen." Witte said, making a short pause to catch his breath.

"And in our inlands, things are not always better. Around the Volga, or principle inland riverine waterway, the network of railroads is far from what it needs to be. People in the chernozem belts of Velikorossiya and Malorossiya are faced with hunger from overpopulation. In many parts of our Empire, close to half the men and a quarter of the women set out in great treks across the land each year, looking for seasonal work to be able to feed themselves. It is the intention of my administration to intensify railway construction across the Empire, it is the intention of my administration to continue the work of my able Vice Premier, mister Stolipyn whose reforms have greatly improved agricultural output and steadily improves rural standards. We shall help facilitate the proper settlement of the vast lands in Siberia and Turkestan who lay underpopulated, their vast potential and wealth untapped. To this end we shall form a special Settlement Comission under Internal Ministry tasked with managing and expediating settlement and administering the benefits extended to settlers as they bring civilization to the frontiers."

"We shall formulate a multi-year plan for the rapid growth of our railway networks, opening up new business opportunities across the country in manufacturing and resource extraction, providing work and wealth to the people forced to live as nomads in their own homeland, we shall oversee the future of the arms industry to make sure the fighting men of Holy Mother Russia have all the weapons and munitions they need to destroy any foe that dares come upon us." Witte paused. "Only by prusuing a consistent path of growth, of strengthening, will we ensure that Mother Russia has her brightest, most glorious days still ahead of her. Thank you, Mister Speaker." The Premier said and nodded to the Speaker of the Duma before making his way back to his seat, stifling a fit of cough with a wet chortle.

[The Rio Grande River Basin]

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United States Congress
3rd of January, 1912

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Ladies and gentlemen, fellow citizens of this great nation,

Tonight, as we gather under the vast canopy of stars, I stand before you with a heart heavy with both pride and sorrow. Pride, for I have witnessed the indomitable spirit of our people, their resilience, and their unwavering commitment to freedom and justice. Sorrow, for the weight of responsibility weighs heavily upon my shoulders, and I am acutely aware of the sacrifices that have been made in the name of progress.

As we stand at the crossroads of history, it is incumbent upon us to reflect upon the journey we have undertaken together. We have witnessed an era of unprecedented growth and innovation, where the American dream flourished and the world watched in awe as our nation rose to prominence. Our factories hummed with the symphony of progress, our fields yielded an abundance that nourished not only our bodies but also our souls, and our cities gleamed as beacons of hope and opportunity.

Yet, in this pursuit of greatness, we have stumbled upon the perils of our own success. Our unquenchable thirst for wealth and power has left scars upon the land we love. The unchecked pursuit of profit has clouded our judgment and led us astray from the path of righteousness. Our once-pristine rivers now carry the burden of pollution, and our majestic forests have been diminished by the relentless march of progress.

But let us not be consumed by regret, for tonight, I stand before you to declare the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. It is time for us to take stock of our actions, to reflect upon the consequences of our choices, and to summon the courage to forge a new path forward.

Change beckons us, my fellow Americans. It calls upon us to set aside our differences and unite in pursuit of a greater purpose. Let us reclaim the values upon which our great nation was founded – values of liberty, equality, and justice for all. It is not enough to proclaim these ideals; we must breathe life into them through our actions. We must extend a helping hand to the downtrodden, lift the voices of the voiceless, and ensure that every American, regardless of their station in life, has an equal opportunity to succeed.

But our vision extends beyond the borders of our nation. We stand at a precipice in world history, where the winds of change blow fiercely. The world yearns for peace, yet is ravaged by conflict and strife. We cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of our fellow human beings. We must be a beacon of hope, a guiding light that illuminates the path towards harmony and understanding.

In this pursuit, we must exercise caution and wisdom. We cannot impose our will upon the world, for that is not the way of a just and compassionate nation. Instead, let us lead by example, by fostering cooperation, and by embracing the principles of diplomacy and dialogue. Let us be the architects of a new world order, where nations come together not in pursuit of power, but in the pursuit of a shared vision of peace and prosperity for all.

But as we embark upon this new chapter, let us not forget the lessons of the past. Let us not forget the sacrifices made by those who came before us. The blood of patriots and heroes has been shed upon the altar of freedom, and it is our duty to honor their memory. We must heed the cautionary tales of empires that rose and fell, of societies that lost their way in the pursuit of greatness. We must learn from the mistakes of the past, for history has a way of repeating itself if we do not remain vigilant.

My fellow Americans, as I stand before you tonight, I am filled with both hope and trepidation. The road ahead is fraught with challenges, and the journey will not be easy. But I have faith in the indomitable spirit of our people, in their capacity to rise above adversity and forge a brighter future.

Let us summon the courage to confront our shortcomings, to make amends for our mistakes, and to build a nation and a world worthy of the sacrifices that have been made in its name. Together, we can usher in an era of peace, progress, and prosperity. Together, we can fulfill the promise of America.

May God bless you all, and may God bless the United States of America.

[Dragos Bee]

Imperial Palace, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopia needed more; more cannons, more guns, more trained men, and above all, the ability to produce the goods of The West by themselves. Thankfully, the United States was hungry for gold and coal, and was willing to build mines to extract them. Another nation will have to build the railroads needed to bring this wealth to the coasts where they can be shipped to America, but there were no shortage of companies jockeying for access for the wealth hidden in the Empire's lands, wealth that Ras Tafari Markonnen, Regent, was willing to offer in exchange for the technology only the West could provide.

Which was why the recent news that both the United States and Germany had tempered their prejudice against his race was a godsend. With the grudging agreement of Empress Zewditu, he now had the authority to send letters to both of these nations with a special request:

To the President of the United States, from the Regent of Ethiopia

You are the leader of a mighty nation, one whose industry makes the world tremble. I, a mere servant of my Empress, have been tasked with offering not just the services of your miners in extracting the gold and coal that lie underneath the rocks of my nation, but also requesting that you send teachers and professors to educate the youth of our nation, and even accept some of our very brightest youths into your own country's universities and colleges. In exchange, I will continue to push for the continued abolition of slavery in the lands of Ethiopia, and the crushing of this trade wherever it can be found.
- Ras Tafari Markonnen, Regent for the Empress Regnant Zewditu I.

To the Prime Minister of Germany, from the Regent of Ethiopia

We have heard of the achievements you have made as the most loyal servant of your King, and our hearts are gladdened to hear that your policy towards those of the African race has been more benevolent than your predecessors'. So to your nation's firms, we offer the right to build railroads that will connect our nation with the rest of the world, while requesting not just that these railroads remain under the shared control of the Ethiopian Crown and the private companies who undertake this task, but also the right for our nation to send students to your universities, including the military academies. In exchange, we vow safety and security for your traders and explorers, as well as preferential access to our coffee and cotton.
- Ras Tafari Markonnen, Regent for the Empress Regnant Zewditu I.

Top Secret Postscript, For your Eyes Only: The French on our borders are growing restless and covetous, which causes our Empress no small amount of concern. Would not giving us the means to defend ourselves be mutually beneficial, in this case?

[Tracian Empire]

The Sublime Ottoman State
Devlet-i ʿAlīye-yi ʿOsmānīye
دولت عليه عثمانیه

The Eternal State
Devlet-i Ebed-müddet
دولت ابد مدت

Two dreadnoughts were proudly gliding through the narrow expanse of the Bosphorus Strait near the Ottoman capital of Constantinople. The dreadnoughts, created by the German Navy as part of the Nassau class, were now flying the red banners with the Star and Crescent, and with the names of Mansur al-liwa and Mahmudiye. The pride of the Ottoman Navy, they were a sign of the new found determination and ambition of the Ottomans to protect their coasts and straights against any enemies who might dare to assault them. The captain of the Mansur al-liwa, Yusuf Bey, gave the signal for the ships to slow down, as he observed the bustling shoreline of the city through his telescope. Istanbul was a testament to the convergence of history and modernity. On one side, one could see the minarets of the Ayasofya, the greatest conquest of the House of Osman and the greatest symbol of its former glory, while on the other side of the Golden Horn, pillars of smoke filled the air, with the bustling the factories and dockyards of the Imperial Navy.

As they entered the port, the cheer of the people of Istanbul along the shoreline was to be heard clearly, their enthusiasm almost palpable. While the Ottoman Government had dealt with most of the cost for these two ships, the publicly funded Ottoman Navy Foundation had also contributed, with the rich citizens of the capital's rising bourgeoisie having contributed the most among the Empire's citizens. In many ways, this was their ship - and it symbolized, unlike few other things, the pride and nationalism of an idea that was still hated and rejected in many corners of the Empire - the idea of Ottomanism.

As the two dreadnoughts docked at the port, the crew members dressed in their finest uniforms, the dignitaries of the Ottoman Government were gathered to welcome them. Two years had passed since their acquisition, but the Ottoman Navy, unwilling to repeat the mistakes of the past, had spent these two years meticulously training the crews, developing the dockyards for maintenance, and with the help of the foreign military missions, they attempted to better integrate these two ships within their fleets. The two dreadnoughts were to be more than just parade ships - they were to be the Empire's shield and blade on the seas.The ceremony commenced with speeches by high-ranking officials, including the Minister of the Navy, Rauf Orbay Pasha, and the Minister of War, Enver Pasha. The crowd cheered and applauded as the officials spoke of the great potential of the Ottoman Navy, and how it would defend the country's sovereignty and interests. They represented a new era for the Ottoman Empire, one where it could stand proud amongst the great powers of the world. Or at least, that was what they said. Two dreadnoughts were not going to bring the Ottoman Navy any closer to matching the power of the Russians in the Black Sea, or being able to contest the strength of the Italians, French or British in the Mediterranean. Their purpose was to be a threat and a warning to the states of the Balkans which still held dreams of expansion. They existed to keep the Greek Navy in check, and to ensure that in the case of war, Ottoman troops could be disembarked anywhere along the coast, from Selanik to Istanbul.

The ceremony ended with the traditional prayers of the imams, but alongside them, Christian priests and Jewish rabbis prayed alongside them. A well organized display of propaganda perhaps, but once again, done in the name of the ideology and the idea which had guided the Young Ottomans and their governments. Countless peoples, countless faiths - but one nation and one flag, praying to one God.