[OOC] [TWI-Only] Open Minds

[Ainslie]

IC | OOC | Dispatch

[Aruia]

What is the Gael main powers opinion over Kevari?
Its ymusually unison

[Ainslie]

What is the Gael main powers opinion over Kevari?
Its ymusually unison

I can't speak for the others on this cause I haven't really heard their opinions about Keverai, but Ainslie is just a bit meh with them as long as they aren't messing with the Ahnslens which happens from time to time. I'm not necessarily intending the RP to be diplomatic at this point in time though...

[Aruia]

What is the Gael main powers opinion over Kevari?
Its ymusually unison

I can't speak for the others on this cause I haven't really heard their opinions about Keverai, but Ainslie is just a bit meh with them as long as they aren't messing with the Ahnslens which happens from time to time. I'm not necessarily intending the RP to be diplomatic at this point in time though...

i feel it can be expected to be watchful of Kevari for Gael, the are close to home abit. Aruia wasn't that altruistic persay neither was Gael when it game to Kevari and it came to verbal practice in the TWI League pretty much if i am not mistaken

[Scantarbia]

Tag.

The neighboring Enchanti Civil War could also add more dynamic to the whole issue. Arms smuggling or minor conflict spillovers probably. I'd probably also play with the first option because I have already mentioned it on my previous news post.

[Ostehaar]

I dig your idea. I'm in.

[Aizcona]

I like the opportunity here to expand on Aizcona’s role in Central and South Argus. Following some diplomats and the ambassador and maybe some intelligence agents might be fun. Also possibly exploring the business ties between the two nations.

[Ainslie]

The Situation

So it has come to my attention that the current situation in Keverai as it stands has not adequately been described. In this post, I’m going to attempt to try and paint a more vivid picture of Keverai, one which allows people to more easily write IC posts when the time comes.

The People and the Government
Keveraites are industrious people whose spirits were very much uplifted by the revolution and the chance that a new democratic government would be able to better address the needs of all citizens regardless of where they lived. However, systematic and widespread inequality between the cities and the rural areas remains to be a major thorn in the Government’s side.

The Renaut Government knows what it needs to do in the cities - maintain the status quo and change it a bit whenever it needs to. Outside of these areas though, it couldn’t be more lost, confused and hopeless. It needs to construct a whole new sense of civil society and socially rebuild, geographically speaking, three-quarters of its nation. There are pressing and confronting issues outside of these areas though and a new government unsure of how it is expected to govern is currently turning a blind eye to this both in an attempt to not negatively impact the quality of life of city folk (whose taxes would go up and public services go down in the short term to support country Keveraites) and expose a major, persistent issue which could trigger further political instability. Whilst it works out exactly what to do, it is projecting the outward appearence of stability.


A bit of geography:
Keverai, in a natural geography sense is largely subtropical forest in the lower areas which transitions into hills with a somewhat dense forest (Although as you get higher up onto the plateau these are less common). Finally, the higher areas between Leafy Valley and Southport is scrubland.

As for towns and cities, these are all of the ones with some level of relevance:

A map of major Keveraite population centres

Kevara and Southport are major cities, akin to conventional western cities but with a more tropical flavour - similar to Cairns, Australia or Singapore. Kevara gives off a far more tropical feel than Southport, which is a bit drier and is more similar in aesthetic to a city on a savanna. Also, it is important to note that Kevara makes its money through tertiary, white collar industries and is far more sleek and modern as a result. Southport is more blue collar and rough, although only slightly less stable than Kevara.

Another element of the setting worthy to note is the political geography - outside of Kertalin, Stratlan, Southport and Kevara which are generally referred to as ‘The Cities’, life is a lot harder and less certain.

A map of the Federal Government’s de facto reach/control into Keverai - green being total, yellow being partial and red being minimal

Also, I've got a map of major roads in Keverai, colourcoded, since that may be handy. :

Major roads in Keverai

Also here's a brief description of what some of these major roads are like. You can also assume that any roads outside of Kevara, Southport, Stratlan, Kertalin, Leafy Valley and the centre of Hivere that are not written here are unsealed.

• Pink Road - Borderman's Way, rough surface, mostly sealed road between Southport and Hivere - unsealed between Hivere and Kevara.
• Red Road - Kevere's Highway, major dual-carriageway sealed road connecting Kevara and Southport through Kertalin and Stratlin.
• Green Road - Hills Highway, a dual-carriageway sealed road providing access to the coast from Hivere.
• Purple Road - Western Highway, a dual carriageway sealed road between Kevara and just after Leafy Valley, where it becomes a single carriageway road.

You can also assume small towns (less than 1,000 residents) and hamlets would be found primarily along these highways.

Rural Keverai
Formerly, unethical businesses and corrupt local governments propped up by these groups (and partially by the Private Military Corporations that supported them) ruled over the rural areas of Keverai whilst the federal government (based and very much solely concerned with the cities) turned a blind eye. However, the Unraveling RP led to the shut down of the sweatshop industry in the north so now there is a lot of dissatisfied unemployed people looking for work and local governments who are desperate for a new partner to support them (or for the Federal Government to take a more active role).

It is not quite at the point of war or armed conflict, however gang situations is very likely and the area remains unstable because of the criminal organisations which have started to set up shop in the area. This uncertaintly and instability is preventing Keveraites from reaching their own dreams and goals, or just live the simple but safe lives that they want to.

An apt description of Keverai outside of the cities at the moment is similar to that of a developing nation recovering from a war (although no war happened) with criminal organisations sprinkled in.

Urban Keverai
Urban Keverai couldn’t be more different from the bush. A well funded security force run by the Government, backed up by personnel from the Ahnslen Regional Stability Force, manages Southport, Kevara, Stratlin and Kertalin in a way very similar to that of a major city in a developed nation. The search for identity is a much more civil and political one than a tangible concern about safety and personal autonomy.

Urban Keverai is very much open to soft power, whilst the rural areas are more likely to experience force. And yes, Buzz (a crystal methamphetamine whose trade was shut down in Ainslie in the High Life and Unraveling RPs) is still a problem in Keverai. Could become a whole lot worse, too.

Ignorance may be bliss and peaceful for urban Keveraites, but it could be anything but as well.

Hope this helps!

[Aizcona]

I would be very interested in following the Estral ambassador in Keverai as he seeks to open up Keverai more and more to Aizcona's business interests and possibly make it rely on Aizcona for protection, both from the outside world and from itself. Plus anything Aizcona can do to shift the balance of power in the region away from Brulafi would be beautiful

[Ainslie]

shift the balance of power in the region away from Brulafi would be beautiful

I see you've found an arch nemesis again

[Aizcona]

shift the balance of power in the region away from Brulafi would be beautiful

I see you've found an arch nemesis again

100%, been hating them since the times of the First Republic

[Negarakita]

Idk if there's anything we would be useful for but there's always a chance one tax haven to another

[Brulafi]

Ainslie thinks it would be a good idea for me to abduct a member of a Keveraite ship's crew as a way to get involved. While I don't see my nation as being one prone to abduction in foreign nations, I am open to other dastardly deeds using my foreign intelligence agency.

[Ainslie]

Ainslie thinks it would be a good idea for me to abduct a member of a Keveraite ship's crew as a way to get involved. While I don't see my nation as being one prone to abduction in foreign nations, I am open to other dastardly deeds using my foreign intelligence agency.

Aiz and I have been talking about potentially having Brulafi kidnap an Estral naval officer on R&R after the MSTO wargames. Since he is not open to it, is anyone else able/willing OOC/IC to do it? And yeah, I'd like to hear more ideas about how intelligence agencies can get involved with the RP as well.

[Brulafi]

Ainslie thinks it would be a good idea for me to abduct a member of a Keveraite ship's crew as a way to get involved. While I don't see my nation as being one prone to abduction in foreign nations, I am open to other dastardly deeds using my foreign intelligence agency.

Aiz and I have been talking about potentially having Brulafi kidnap an Estral naval officer on R&R after the MSTO wargames. Since he is not open to it, is anyone else able/willing OOC/IC to do it? And yeah, I'd like to hear more ideas about how intelligence agencies can get involved with the RP as well.

What if this naval officer goes hiking in northern Aizcona and gets lost in Brulafi wilderness, leading to the Estrals accusing Brulafi of kidnapping them but Brulafi insists they're "still looking for them" in the woods.

[Aizcona]

That would be interesting to me

[Roendavar]

I'm interested. What could my cults do?

[Ostehaar]

Ains, I'm planning to offer Keverai electronic intelligence collection systems for law enforcement, especially in the Hintere district. The plan is to post a news report about it sometime next week (or the one right after) during a minister-level visit.
What do I need to know about Keverai in order to write that post (names of relevant people, law enforcement agencies, etc.)?

[Brulafi]

Is the idea we developed with the Estral naval officer a good idea, and if so, what should I start posting and when?

[Ainslie]

Ains, I'm planning to offer Keverai electronic intelligence collection systems for law enforcement, especially in the Hintere district. The plan is to post a news report about it sometime next week (or the one right after) during a minister-level visit.
What do I need to know about Keverai in order to write that post (names of relevant people, law enforcement agencies, etc.)?

Island Guard, (city name) police are probably the only two that are developed enough to warrant any attention - especially that far rural. There's also local councils, and district governments. I don't have any particular names or anything like that - if you need it though i'm happy to make some up.

Is the idea we developed with the Estral naval officer a good idea, and if so, what should I start posting and when?

Up to Aiz. I'll send him a telegram directing him to this though.

[Dormill and Stiura]

The Situation

So it has come to my attention that the current situation in Keverai as it stands has not adequately been described. In this post, I’m going to attempt to try and paint a more vivid picture of Keverai, one which allows people to more easily write IC posts when the time comes.

The People and the Government
Keveraites are industrious people whose spirits were very much uplifted by the revolution and the chance that a new democratic government would be able to better address the needs of all citizens regardless of where they lived. However, systematic and widespread inequality between the cities and the rural areas remains to be a major thorn in the Government’s side.

The Renaut Government knows what it needs to do in the cities - maintain the status quo and change it a bit whenever it needs to. Outside of these areas though, it couldn’t be more lost, confused and hopeless. It needs to construct a whole new sense of civil society and socially rebuild, geographically speaking, three-quarters of its nation. There are pressing and confronting issues outside of these areas though and a new government unsure of how it is expected to govern is currently turning a blind eye to this both in an attempt to not negatively impact the quality of life of city folk (whose taxes would go up and public services go down in the short term to support country Keveraites) and expose a major, persistent issue which could trigger further political instability. Whilst it works out exactly what to do, it is projecting the outward appearence of stability.


A bit of geography:
Keverai, in a natural geography sense is largely subtropical forest in the lower areas which transitions into hills with a somewhat dense forest (Although as you get higher up onto the plateau these are less common). Finally, the higher areas between Leafy Valley and Southport is scrubland.

As for towns and cities, these are all of the ones with some level of relevance:

(Image)
A map of major Keveraite population centres

Kevara and Southport are major cities, akin to conventional western cities but with a more tropical flavour - similar to Cairns, Australia or Singapore. Kevara gives off a far more tropical feel than Southport, which is a bit drier and is more similar in aesthetic to a city on a savanna. Also, it is important to note that Kevara makes its money through tertiary, white collar industries and is far more sleek and modern as a result. Southport is more blue collar and rough, although only slightly less stable than Kevara.

Another element of the setting worthy to note is the political geography - outside of Kertalin, Stratlan, Southport and Kevara which are generally referred to as ‘The Cities’, life is a lot harder and less certain.

(Image)
A map of the Federal Government’s de facto reach/control into Keverai - green being total, yellow being partial and red being minimal

Also, I've got a map of major roads in Keverai, colourcoded, since that may be handy. :

(Image)
Major roads in Keverai

Also here's a brief description of what some of these major roads are like. You can also assume that any roads outside of Kevara, Southport, Stratlan, Kertalin, Leafy Valley and the centre of Hivere that are not written here are unsealed.

• Pink Road - Borderman's Way, rough surface, mostly sealed road between Southport and Hivere - unsealed between Hivere and Kevara.
• Red Road - Kevere's Highway, major dual-carriageway sealed road connecting Kevara and Southport through Kertalin and Stratlin.
• Green Road - Hills Highway, a dual-carriageway sealed road providing access to the coast from Hivere.
• Purple Road - Western Highway, a dual carriageway sealed road between Kevara and just after Leafy Valley, where it becomes a single carriageway road.

You can also assume small towns (less than 1,000 residents) and hamlets would be found primarily along these highways.

Rural Keverai
Formerly, unethical businesses and corrupt local governments propped up by these groups (and partially by the Private Military Corporations that supported them) ruled over the rural areas of Keverai whilst the federal government (based and very much solely concerned with the cities) turned a blind eye. However, the Unraveling RP led to the shut down of the sweatshop industry in the north so now there is a lot of dissatisfied unemployed people looking for work and local governments who are desperate for a new partner to support them (or for the Federal Government to take a more active role).

It is not quite at the point of war or armed conflict, however gang situations is very likely and the area remains unstable because of the criminal organisations which have started to set up shop in the area. This uncertaintly and instability is preventing Keveraites from reaching their own dreams and goals, or just live the simple but safe lives that they want to.

An apt description of Keverai outside of the cities at the moment is similar to that of a developing nation recovering from a war (although no war happened) with criminal organisations sprinkled in.

Urban Keverai
Urban Keverai couldn’t be more different from the bush. A well funded security force run by the Government, backed up by personnel from the Ahnslen Regional Stability Force, manages Southport, Kevara, Stratlin and Kertalin in a way very similar to that of a major city in a developed nation. The search for identity is a much more civil and political one than a tangible concern about safety and personal autonomy.

Urban Keverai is very much open to soft power, whilst the rural areas are more likely to experience force. And yes, Buzz (a crystal methamphetamine whose trade was shut down in Ainslie in the High Life and Unraveling RPs) is still a problem in Keverai. Could become a whole lot worse, too.

Ignorance may be bliss and peaceful for urban Keveraites, but it could be anything but as well.

Hope this helps!

So Ains has asked me to try and help kick this RP back alive so I'm going to start drafting up some things to get D&S involved properly, there are some other things that I want to do in the meantime that will build up other opportunities.

He particularly asked for a Doraltic military intervention to bring the countryside back under control so I'll need a few things to both know and prepare for before I actually send forces.

What is the current state of rural Keverai? Is it in a state of conflict or just social instability and lawlessness?
Are there any other actors involved in Keverai, state or non-state? If there are, how have they been involved so far and what are their goals?
Ains, what in particular do you want the Doraltic military to do? Do you want them to march out into the countryside and conquer the remainder of Keverai for the government or do you want them to do something else?
How should I develop the relationship with Keverai such that sending Doraltic troops would be reasonable? How would other nations in the region, most especially Aizcona and Wellsia, respond to the possibly permanent presence of Doraltic troops?

There's a lot I want to work on with this and I do want to get back into the swing of RPs so while this will not be as in-depth as As the Poppies Bloom was, I will still try to make my best effort to build a story here and one for the future as part of my overall plan to build tensions in the eastern half of TWI.

[Aizcona]

Aizcona likely has been taking advantage of lawlessness in the Keverite countryside while uttering up the current government and putting certain pressures on them to allow Estral interests to help both parties, unimpeded. Frankly I believe the Estral government sees the lawlessness as an opportunity rather than an impediment. Thus they’ll probably be slowing discourse in Keverai on that subject.

A permanent presence of Doralitic troops would be completely untenable for Aizcona. The nation would put a large number of political and economic pressures on Keverai. If Wellsia held the same belief Aizcona would probably work with them.

Also I’ll get to the other thing Ains when I get back home

[Ainslie]

stuff

The state of rural Keverai varies between where you go - places like Menardi, Kenendra and Hintere enjoy stronger local governments (subdivisional in the case of Hintere) who have been able to keep things in order (this includes all of the places Arri and Sarah have been in), whilst many local governments elsewhere (particularly further towards the west of Hintere) have been manipulated towards the serving the interests of businesses and criminal enterprise. There's no conflict as per se, but there definitely is social instability and lawlessness.

There's the odd criminal gang you'll definitely come across, especially when you're messing with "local governments". The only other major non-state actor you'll need to worry about are the private military corporations who are employed on both sides - Auriga's got gigs with the Government so they won't be much of a concern whilst the rest won't be unless you want them to be. The way I see the doraltic army getting involved is the same kind of way Ainslie was going to be involved (until we deny the Keveraites, for reasons including their poor management of Buzz). The Keveraites are looking for someone who can be more quiet and neutral, and there's every chance the police commissioner could be on the doorstep of the Prime Minister or President in Cour Rouge personally asking for assistance.

Renaut refuses to trust his own forces to get to the bottom of this and he wants to keep it quiet until he starts taking out all his political enemies and others resistant to this radical shift in focus towards the rural areas (and away from the cities). So essentially, I'd like your characters to do peacekeeping and nationbuilding (As in the IC/IRL meaning of it, not the OOC meaning of it) whilst dismantling some of these corrupt local governments and returning both the clean (those who remain strong and independent) and dirty (the ones backed by clandestine groups) councils under the oversight of the Feds.

EDIT: Aiz how do you feel about funding IC and writing OOC about a Buzz cartel that the Doraltic Army is trying to take apart?

[Aizcona]

Buzz Cartel? I'm in once you tell me what that is

[Dormill and Stiura]

Aizcona likely has been taking advantage of lawlessness in the Keverite countryside while uttering up the current government and putting certain pressures on them to allow Estral interests to help both parties, unimpeded. Frankly I believe the Estral government sees the lawlessness as an opportunity rather than an impediment. Thus they’ll probably be slowing discourse in Keverai on that subject.

A permanent presence of Doralitic troops would be completely untenable for Aizcona. The nation would put a large number of political and economic pressures on Keverai. If Wellsia held the same belief Aizcona would probably work with them.

Perfect, building tension in the region is what I'm looking for in the end so having a new rival for regional control is certainly within my OOC interests. ICly, however, the United Republics would not be happy with having to fight both Aizcona and Wellsia for further control of the gulf (whatever it is we call this part of the Southern Sea anyways) and would want to push Keverai into allowing the Doraltic military to post up a small air wing of fighters and a bomber or two to keep you two at bay for if and when D&S gets involved in affairs in the Southern Sea. I expect a lot of diplomatic barbs being thrown so lemme know if you need to know anything to use against the Dyson Administration or the Doraltic government in general.

-snip-

Alright, so that's all well and good so I have a small amount of a game plan to go with.

1. D&S Ambassador to Keverai tries to convince both Dyson and the Keveraite government to start cooperating as Ainslie pulls out, this will ultimately end in D&S sending an airborne battalion in piecemeal and a few planes with intentions of establishing an airbase from which all operations will take place.
2. While all this is going on, a group of employees from an old Pharmaceutical company that once operated in Keverai but left after the revolution starts stealing equipment and chemicals from across the Isles in general and Argus in particular to start building a drug cartel. They will specialize in amphetamines like Option One, Buzz, and other related drugs and will take advantage of the unstable state of the interior to set up shop in a relatively small river town along the river that goes from the general area of Hivere towards the southwest. That river will be one of the main ways they get their drugs out of the country, alongside driving it over the border to Hassar or flying it out in the typical drug smuggler manner, whichever works or all the above for extra effect.
3. Once the Doraltic military is allowed in, it will start by building the foundations of the new airbase south of Leafy Valley, where the extent of Keveraite government control is at its limit. From there, mostly using helicopters, the United Republics will deploy forces across the area to give aid, reconnect townships, and restore order, meeting at first limited resistance from the cartel until things get spicy.
4. Alongside using helicopters, the United Republics would also take the time to secure control over Kevere's Highway, allowing complete access across the nation, some people might have a vested interest in preventing this from happening.
5. Finally, the major combat against the cartel will wrap up as D&S secures control of 99.9% of the nation, what left being forests or towns literally falling off the map as the cartel scatters into Argus, destabilizing it further with their influence.
6. When all is said and done, the new airbase will be completed on schedule and the full compliment of a wing of fighters and a squadron of bombers, alongside a permanent detachment of ~2,000 troops or less. This will be the springboard from which operations in the Southern Sea, such as aiding Charbagnia, will be performed.