NATION

PASSWORD

The Meeting of Imperials (Meillur Only)

Where nations come together and discuss matters of varying degrees of importance. [In character]

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Nemidia
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Founded: Feb 23, 2022
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Postby Nemidia » Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:12 pm

Minixus nodded, he had, from an economic, philosophical and environmental standpoint, and had found that really it was a mixture of all of the above fueled by necessity.

“Yes, and the reality is that it is a bit more complicated, it was as much a necessary change as it as a willi one, following my the great collapse, Nemidia was almost completely cut off from the rest of the world, including its supply of fossil fuels, which Nemidia almost completely lacks a domestic supply of oil, coal or natural gas. However, Nemidia has plentiful sources of cotton and wool, and other materials that can be used in making durable sails, and a sailing ship does not require fuel, merely food and water for the crew and spare sails, things Nemidia can provide in large quantities relatively easily, and I suppose now most people are reluctant to go back and risk the same thing happening again. However, these vessels are not that much more inefficient than their diesel and steam powered counterparts, as they can maintain the speeds needed for that type of ship just the same, the main difference is that they cannot be built to the same size, however, with the kind of cargo usually transported by Nemidian ships, that isn’t really an issue, and sails have a few other benefits as well, and sails are a millennium proven technology, despite their simplicity, which can be argued as a plus rather than a minus.”

He paused for a moment and said “But I suppose necessity has made something unusual into a tradition now, and Nemidias focus on agriculture is nothing new, it is simply what we are good at, and our island just happens to be very fertile farmland.”
Last edited by Nemidia on Thu Mar 10, 2022 8:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Kingdom of Derita
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Founded: Jun 09, 2014
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Postby Kingdom of Derita » Fri Mar 11, 2022 11:19 am

Marijani listened with great interest as Minixus described the Nemidian adoption of the sail and its place in how society and its economics viewed it and the ships that they carried on the waves. It was rather interesting and one that she understood.

“It is surely better for the environment. A few sacrifices in shipping quantity I suppose is little issue and we’ll worth when there is the future of the planet in the pros section of that list. We in the Celestial Empire have been working to be entirely on renewable energy by the end of the decade. Our fuel sources are few and depleting, but we have many rivers and valleys that make hydroelectric power well worth investing in. Once all the dams we have slated to be completed are done, it’s expected for us to even have an energy surplus.”

Marijani considered something and asked,“Do you feel your citizens happy with their agrarian lives?”

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Nemidia
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Postby Nemidia » Fri Mar 11, 2022 2:28 pm

He nodded and said “It may be better for the environment, but it was not really the driving force behind why we switched, nor why we keep using them.”

He listened to her, and was caught by her question on whether his citizens were happy, and thought for a moment and then made his decision based on past observations.

“I would think that is the case for most, although I cannot speak for all of them, I am sure there are those that aren’t, but that is the case for anything. However, I think it has more to do with safety and security than it does anything else. Here in Nemidia, the people can be reasonably confident that they won’t have their house burned down by an invading army, and that they will have a warm mean and roof over their heads, even if it won’t be the most modern of roof. But of course, as with anything, it isn’t perfect, and I won’t pretend to know what all, or even most of my subjects are thinking at any one point.”

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Kingdom of Derita
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Postby Kingdom of Derita » Sun Mar 20, 2022 9:12 am

Marijani nodded along as she listened to Minixus. She did at times forget that there were a great many nations were the threat of an invading army could destroy the homes of thousands of people. A winced slightly at the thought that as of late she had been as the head of such an army.

“I remember my father would tell me of a brief conversation, small talk amongst rulers from long ago, from before the collapse, where a prince was asked if he could rule any nation, which would he choose. He found himself spilt between two option, Vatoria and the Russen Empire. The smallest and the largest nations respectively at the time. When asked why he said, well, the Prince of Vatoria knows all of his subjects, while the Tsarina knows none of hers.”

Marijani smiled, shrugging her shoulders. It was funny to her, but she wasn’t sure of Minixus’ sense of humor, so she decided to press on as to get to the point. “It’s left for the rest of to find a balance in the midst of the spectrum.”

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Nemidia
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Postby Nemidia » Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:29 am

Minixus smiled at her humor, although he recognized the truth that lay in the statement as well. However, it had not been entirely what the Emperor had meant, even if the result was more or less the same.

"A balancing act probably describes it closest as you can get with such a simple description, although you would never quite get the whole picture with a simple description. When it comes to ruling, it is often complicated, and the answer is often not what many would think it would be, and it can change from moment to moment. A ruler must be prepared, or as prepared as one can be, for the fluid nature of governing a nation, it is why one cannot rule with either an iron fist, or a gentle hand, alone, a true ruler must know when to use one, the other, or even a combination of the two as the situation requires, and it is not always clear which one is more appropriate. Sometimes the most violent of protest can be quelled with a simple act of kindness, and other times, what from the outside may seem to be a minor trouble, may need to be put down with ruthlessness and strength."

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Kingdom of Derita
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Postby Kingdom of Derita » Mon Mar 21, 2022 2:00 pm

“And even then one might be mistaken,” Marijani said thoughtfully. She had not been empress very long, but she had prepared for the role her entire life in one way or another, and had seen how both her mother and father governed over states and people. Minixus was right. Marijani agreed. Balance was the key to surviving the longest.

“You are quite right to say that rulers can only be prepared so much. If there is one thing I have learned from the battlefields I have crossed over the course of my campaign it is that for every well laid plan, there is a greater wrench in that plan. Everyone needs a bit of luck on their side. And it’s up to a clever ruler to extend that luck to their advantage.”

Marijani consider the boats, moving on to the next. “It would be of course better if ruthlessness was not required. If all it took was a gentle hand, I would be so much happier.” The Mother Empress closed her fingers into a fist and then uncurled it, as if she were admiring something of a piece of odd work of art that enflamed disdain in her chest.

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Nemidia
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Postby Nemidia » Mon Mar 21, 2022 2:20 pm

“It would be better.” Minixus said with a nod, however, he noticed her clenching her fist, and held back a look of sympathy before saying “However, that is not the world that we live in, and any ruler that claims to never have been cruel is either lying, or has not ruled for very long, however, there is a way it should be done that, while not necessarily making it better, does help with making things balanced. It is as one of the best political novels says, if you need to commit a cruel act, do it all at once, it should never be repeated, and the reason is simple, if it has to be repeated, then it was not the answer in the first place.”

He then looked to her and said “We have all committed our share of wicked acts, it is the reason to do them, be what we do afterwards that matters the most.”

Minixus grabbed her hand, and gently held it up, carefully observing the lines on her palm, and even tracing one, before speaking again. “No ones story is perfect, and no matter what you have done in the past, you still have a chance to write the future.”

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Kingdom of Derita
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Postby Kingdom of Derita » Mon Mar 21, 2022 3:09 pm

Marijani smiled at the reference. It was one she knew well. It was something all Aurelains knew. She and her husband had practiced as much when he’d ascended the throne and he had destroyed the nobility and see to the execution of all the many enemies that he had gathered over the years as he waited for the crown. And it had admittedly worked. Save for his sisters in exile, there had been no one who’d dared opposed Andeja III.

But Marijani’s mind went to a different Andeja. Her son. He was young and had not sat on his throne long. She was not confident that he was ready for all the responsibilities that came with being the Emperor.

“I have done a great many brutal and harsh things. I have taken and sacrificed lives. I have even cause suffering where it was not my intent.” She thought of that wretched Black Wedding, something that while she had not approved of, she felt she held some of the blame for. It had been her words that have provided the cause that justified the Paras’ barbaric act. “But I have always done so for the greater good.”

“That,” said Marijani, “I can live with. But then I think of my children, and how they will have to make similar decisions, and that, that seems so much worse.”

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Nemidia
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Founded: Feb 23, 2022
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Postby Nemidia » Mon Mar 21, 2022 3:46 pm

Minixus nodded and said “It is a lot to think about, however, at the end of the day, all we can do is do our best to make sure that they are as well equipped as we can make them. Ultimately it will be up to them, as much as it has been up to us once our time to rule came.”

He stopped tracing the lines on her palm, and looked her in the eyes while simply holding her hand, before saying “At the end of the day, there is no one ‘right’ way to rule, everyone has to find their own way, with differences based on both themselves and the situation at hand. You are an incredibly intelligent woman, I am certain you have, and are, doing everything in your power to give your children the best chance for success.”

He then said “It is one of the primary reasons why I proposed to you in the first place.”

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Kingdom of Derita
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Inoffensive Centrist Democracy

Postby Kingdom of Derita » Mon Mar 21, 2022 7:59 pm

Marijani took a breath as she let Minixus hold her hand. It had been months since another man touched her, even in such a small way. But Deritains did not shake hands. Touching was reserved for those close to one another. It felt odd. She closed her eyes and for a moment she felt like her husband was there. His hands had been smoother than Minixus, his fingers meatier. Not for the first time she wondered what he would think.

Him? This is the man you will replace me with? she imagined him saying. Well at least you are not debasing yourself with a mere king.

Marijani opened her eyes and had tears in them as she found Minixus in the place of Andeja. She wasn’t sure if she would ever get over that. That loss of him. She would always love him. Marijani did not know if the same would be true for Minixus. He was kind, and clever and observant. She blinked away her tears as she focused back to the conversation at hand. His reasonings were flattering and logical in a way that was very different from Andeja III, but one Marijani understood

“Yes,” she said, agreeing to his statement. “That’s the same reason I said yes.”

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Nemidia
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Founded: Feb 23, 2022
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Postby Nemidia » Tue Mar 22, 2022 5:14 am

Minixus saw the look in her eyes, and knew that he couldnt say that he knew what she felt, but he could tell that it was painful for her, as he figured loosing someone that a person loved would be. However, he both knew he could never replace her first husband, nor was it what he wanted to do, what he wished to build with her would be theirs, separate from the love her and the former celestial emperor had shared.

"And I will do everything I can to help you in that goal, and to bring you what happiness I can."

He then remembered why they were heading this way, although he felt no rush to actually get there.

"The food should be ready by now, we should go to dinner." He then said "

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Kingdom of Derita
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Postby Kingdom of Derita » Wed Mar 23, 2022 8:42 pm

“Yes,” Marijani said, gently pulling her hand free from Minixus, flexing it at her side as she gathered up her skirts. The touch, as brief as it had been, had been odd and it left her feeling as if she had been ascending a flight at steps and had missed the last one. Food she thought, she hoped, would help her refocus. “Of course, please, you were leading the way.”

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Nemidia
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Founded: Feb 23, 2022
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Postby Nemidia » Wed Mar 23, 2022 9:36 pm

Minixus nodded, and led her down the hallway, before finally arriving at a set of thick, wooden doors, and he opened them, revealing the palace dining room, where a large table sat at its center, made of dark, beautiful Nemidian Walnut, with exquisite engravings.

Hanging on one wall was a portrait of the former emperor, but of note, not just there but elsewhere in the palace, was the complete lack of a portrait of Minixus. Part of the reason was that Minixus felt no need to glorify himself beyond being an emperor.

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Kingdom of Derita
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Founded: Jun 09, 2014
Inoffensive Centrist Democracy

Postby Kingdom of Derita » Thu Mar 24, 2022 9:54 pm

Marijani followed, her mourning veiling drifting behind her like a fog bank. She let her eyes devour the large room as she stepped through the heavy doors. It had been years since she’s seen palace dining room, her father-in-law’s move to Gaosa having gotten her used to the picnic like experience of the Celestial Pavilion. She admired the table and it’s fine craftsmanship. Her eyes drifted further up to the r portrait on the wall and was surprise.

“I believe that is the first portrait of a person I’ve seen since I’ve arrived,” Marijani said, happy to get her voice back after their moment in the hall. “I was beginning to suspect that Nemidians didn’t believe in capturing the human essence. An ancestor of yours?” Marijani asked.

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Nemidia
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Founded: Feb 23, 2022
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Postby Nemidia » Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:12 pm

Minixus smirked at her comment about Nemidian art and jokingly said "Only when we feel like it." he then nodded and said "He was my father, a wise man that went to his death bed doing everything he could to ensure the empires future."

He offered her one of the seats at the table, before he continued to speak.

"My mother practically begged him to have a portrait made, and eventually he did give in to her wishes."

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Kingdom of Derita
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Inoffensive Centrist Democracy

Postby Kingdom of Derita » Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:30 pm

“Each sovereign is well worth a good portrait of themselves.” Marijani smiled, a bit of laugh slipping past her lips as she made her way to the seat, still looking up at the portrait, pondering who he might have been. She thought of her late father-in-law, Andeja II, a soft hearted man forever perched on his throne, even in death.

“Is your mother…” Marijani considered her words carefully. “still alive?” She settled on bluntly. “I loss my own mother some years ago, she was quite the stateswoman herself, of the more parliamentary field. And I never got to meet my former mother-in-law, she having died when I was still a child.”

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Nemidia
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Founded: Feb 23, 2022
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Postby Nemidia » Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:44 pm

Minixus shook his head, however, no sadness filled his face, instead simple remembrance, and said "Both of my parents passed away peacefully some time ago, but she was a wonderful woman, and she did more for both my father and the Empire than the world will ever know."

He then took a seat near her, notably, Minixus made no effort to distance himself from the empress, outside of respecting her personal space.

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Kingdom of Derita
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Founded: Jun 09, 2014
Inoffensive Centrist Democracy

Postby Kingdom of Derita » Sat Mar 26, 2022 6:26 am

Marijani nodded in understanding. She noticed his seat placement and found it while out of the ordinary of what one would expect of Royals and such a grand setting, nonetheless charming, and practical.

“Now that sounds more like my father,” Marijani said. She rather believed her father preferred directing this from the shadows and then wanting his plans unfold seemingly naturally to the rest of the world. “What about siblings? I have an older sister.”

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