An Unauthorized Biography of Catherine Gratwick

[The Andromeda Islands]

This thread was made in order to shed some light on the World Assembly's leader, Catherine Gratwick. Any elaborations, corrections or criticisms are welcome.

EARLY YEARS

Little is known about Catherine Gratwick’s early years. We do know that she was born in 1953 or 1954.

Gratwick graduated from High School at age 13. She earned a BA in Latin and Greek from a prestigious University at age 16 & an MBA from another prestigious University at age 18. She was a nationally ranked fencer and chess player in her home country.

A shrewd investor, Gratwick made her first million USD while in her first year of business school. She befriended the heir to the Starbuck Security Systems fortune in business school. Within a year, she had married the CEO of SSS. After the CEO died, Gratwick became the majority shareholder of SSS.


Catherine Gratwick, Secretary-General of the World Assembly, made her fortune investing in War before founding the Planetary Peace Organization.

THE DESERT YEARS

Gratwick and SSS supplied arms to insurgent groups throughout the Middle East and North Africa in the 1970s. Starbuck Security Systems became one of the largest arms dealers in the region. By 1980, Catherine Gratwick was one of the 100 richest women in the World.

Gratwick spent many of these years personally accompanying insurgent groups. During this time, the Red Guard started appearing around her. The Red Guard is Gratwick’s personal military force. According to legend, when Gratwick accompanied an insurgent force into battle, her mere presence among their ranks caused their enemies to surrender without a shot being fired. Some of the insurgents pledged their undying loyalty to Gratwick. These insurgents were the first soldiers of Gratwick’s Red Guard.


Gratwick has a personal security force, loyal only to her. This elite group established order in the World Assembly Territory during its early years. They continue to maintain order in World Assembly Territory and throughout key areas of the World.

There are several other ‘miracles’ credited to Gratwick during these years. According to legend, she personally healed 13 insurgent soldiers and 7 children who suffered from otherwise terminal conditions. Gratwick was also known for mind reading and levitation.

Gratwick is rumored to have given birth to at least one child during the 1980s. He is supposedly a person of some importance in World Assembly Territory.

THE WORLD ASSEMBLY YEARS

Gratwick founded the Planetary Peace Organization in 1988. This organization was instrumental in helping with the post-Cold War transition in Eastern Europe. She handed over the day-to-day operations of Starbuck Security Systems to her stepson and became heavily involved in the United Nations. When the UN was reorganized into the World Assembly was founded, Gratwick was appointed Secretary-General. Since then, Gratwick has ruled World Assembly Territory as if it were her personal Kingdom.

Gratwick and her inner circle, known throughout World Assembly Territory as ‘the family,’ are among the richest people in the NS Universe. She and her inner circle have received several substantial gifts over the years in exchange for favorable treatment from World Assembly Compliance Officers.


In the past, countries in the NS Universe have given substantial gifts to Gratwick.

There has also been criticism against Gratwick’s stewardship of the World Assembly Territory. Although order in World Assembly Territory is now maintained by a municipal police force, Gratwick’s personal Red Guard seems to hold ultimate authority in security and judicial matters. There is also ‘the family,’ Gratwick’s inner circle of personal advisors. The Family exists above the law and is treated like royalty throughout World Assembly Territory. Critics also suggest that members of the family have an intimate relationship with the Secretary-General!


The Secretary-General and her “family” are the most powerful people in World Assembly Territory.

GRATWICK’S LEGACY

Several other famous people in the NationStates Universe have been named for Gratwick, including a famous art school professor and one of the world’s most vocal advocates for beauty pageants.

[Authoritarian Libertarians]

When did this random person become the WA's leader?

[Abacathea]

I suspect they've posted this in the wrong forum... at least I hope they have

[Frisbeeteria]

Gratwick on NSwiki is pretty much canon. Doesn't seem to be a lot of agreement between these two ... and NSwiki is a better place for this sort of thing anyway.

[Abacathea]

Gratwick on NSwiki is pretty much canon. Doesn't seem to be a lot of agreement between these two ... and NSwiki is a better place for this sort of thing anyway.

Fris, fill me in, what am i missing here? o.O

[Authoritarian Libertarians]

Gratwick on NSwiki is pretty much canon. Doesn't seem to be a lot of agreement between these two ... and NSwiki is a better place for this sort of thing anyway.

Ah, okay. Thank you.

[Frisbeeteria]

Fris, fill me in, what am i missing here? o.O

Catherine Gratwick is an old-school RP character and presumed leader of the Secretariat, aka the Secretary General. She hasn't been around much since the Jolt days, so I'm not sure why the OP is bringing her up now. I don't recall exactly who originated her, but she was often mentioned by such old-school UN/WA luminaries as Omigodtheykilledkenny and Goobergunchia. Her name is hard-coded into several issues as well, as described in the linked article.

[Abacathea]

Fris, fill me in, what am i missing here? o.O

Catherine Gratwick is an old-school RP character and presumed leader of the Secretariat, aka the Secretary General. She hasn't been around much since the Jolt days, so I'm not sure why the OP is bringing her up now. I don't recall exactly who originated her, but she was often mentioned by such old-school UN/WA luminaries as Omigodtheykilledkenny and Goobergunchia. Her name is hard-coded into several issues as well, as described in the linked article.

Thank you for the clarification, I'll have to look more into it

Everytime I think this place can't throw anything new at me...

[Ardchoilleans]

She hasn't been around much because she's believed to be stranded in some hellhole of a jail somewhere in South America. The Secretariat has been working really hard for her release, though.

Someone sponsored an imposter Gratwick about eighteen months to two years ago, but it plainly wasn't her, as everybody had time to shred their files. The real Gratwick wouldn't have let that happen.

[Abacathea]

She hasn't been around much because she's believed to be stranded in some hellhole of a jail somewhere in South America. The Secretariat has been working really hard for her release, though.

Someone sponsored an imposter Gratwick about eighteen months to two years ago, but it plainly wasn't her, as everybody had time to shred their files. The real Gratwick wouldn't have let that happen.

lol i love it! NS does hold some fantastic little gems hidden within it. If there's any more "lore" such as this i'd love to read up on it too!

[Grays Harbor]

She hasn't been around much because she's believed to be stranded in some hellhole of a jail somewhere in South America. The Secretariat has been working really hard for her release, though.

Someone sponsored an imposter Gratwick about eighteen months to two years ago, but it plainly wasn't her, as everybody had time to shred their files. The real Gratwick wouldn't have let that happen.

lol i love it! NS does hold some fantastic little gems hidden within it. If there's any more "lore" such as this i'd love to read up on it too!

There is, mostly from the early days, but it has all been coded "Ultra-Secret-Burn-Before-Reading". Something about farming, I believe, as the minions in the main office keep talking about "dirt". Also, most ambassadors to the GA have bar tabs as long as a cruise ship. Oh, wait, that's not a secret.

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

Fris, fill me in, what am i missing here? o.O

Catherine Gratwick is an old-school RP character and presumed leader of the Secretariat, aka the Secretary General. She hasn't been around much since the Jolt days, so I'm not sure why the OP is bringing her up now. I don't recall exactly who originated her, but she was often mentioned by such old-school UN/WA luminaries as Omigodtheykilledkenny and Goobergunchia. Her name is hard-coded into several issues as well, as described in the linked article.

The way I heard it, Der Angst was the originator of Sovereign UN Territory*, and named Gratwick as its ruthless CEO, playing off some forum "in-jokes" at the time. I don't know if he borrowed the name from the issues library, or if the issues editors themselves actually stole the name from UN regulars. Maybe it was a little of both?

* (both those countries are probably dust by now.)

Thank you for the clarification, I'll have to look more into it

Everytime I think this place can't throw anything new at me...

One of these days we're gonna have to put together a comprehensive FAQ about WA roleplay and all the various eccentricities and wrinkles on the forum derived from old-skool memes. Inflatable Gandalf, for example. Does anyone still make jokes about that? I still hear about HIPPOS ARE REALLY QUITE LARGE from time to time, but I'd hate to lose IG or Mad Sheep Railgun to the dusty annals of history.

Here's some more NSwiki info, if you fancy reading:

http://www.nswiki.net/index.php?title=WA_Headquarters
http://www.nswiki.net/index.php?title=UN_Headquarters
http://www.nswiki.net/index.php?title=W ... l_Assembly
http://www.nswiki.net/index.php?title=W ... _in_the_WA

[The Andromeda Islands]

1) In the past, I published a story here in the forums called "President Knox." In the story, some of the main characters met with the head of the World Assembly who strongly resembles Catherine Gratwick.
http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=158170&p=8106507&hilit=Secretary+General#p8106507

2) Before the year ends, I plan to publish another story "Election 2028." In this story, a couple of characters meet the World Assembly head. While I don't want to be restricted entirely by Canon, I want to get a general idea of who this person is.

This person will be my depiction of Catherine Gratwick. I want this character to at least be recognizable to posters who have used this character in the past. I also want to write an entertaining story that readers will enjoy.

Again, any comments and criticisms of my interpretation of Frau Gratwick are completely welcome.

[United Federation of Canada]

Kenny, you missed mentioning the Deathstar, that only Flibble has the keys for.

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

Again, any comments and criticisms of my interpretation of Frau Gratwick are completely welcome.

See, the problem with your approach is, no one ever tries to publish biographies of Catherine Gratwick, because no one will ever believe them. There could be dozens of different versions of Gratwick's early life floating around out there, but no one knows which one is the real one. I can't really see her as a prodigy student (since her harebrained schemes for world domination always blow up in her face, she couldn't have been a very gifted scholar), or marrying anyone (unless it was part of a long con), or founding anything containing the words "Planetary Peace" (unless it was a false front for a international gun-running ring or something), or resembling a character from a Jane Austen novel (the image you used for her in your last RP is far more accurate), or ever being foolish enough to acknowledge a living heir (for fear that they would eventually kill her for her mountains of ill-gotten wealth). There have been one or two characters in the past who have been rumored to be Gratwick's bastard children (I especially like B&N's Kyle di Fontana, mostly because he made him his ambassador to my country), but I doubt anyone will ever know the truth about them.

In short, it's foolhardy to speculate about Gratwick's past, since she was always supposed to be a little dark and mysterious -- and in fact many Bothans died to bring us the little information we do know -- so you should probably just stick to the script and not ask questions. [looks around nervously, whispers:] She's always watching!

edit@Canada: shhhhhhh! If the fluffies ever found out about that thermal exhaust port...

[The Andromeda Islands]

See, the problem with your approach is, no one ever tries to publish biographies of Catherine Gratwick, because no one will ever believe them.

So my little bio is one of many? Fair enough.

I can't really see her as a prodigy student...

I figured that someone who became head of the World Assembly had to have some measure of intelligence and charm. Perhaps she's someone who thinks like a James Bond villain without actually looking like one. Cold and analytical with a dash of charm. It's an unauthorized bio, for my personal reference, so it's neither here nor there.

...or marrying anyone (unless it was part of a long con)...

It was part of a long con!

...or founding anything containing the words "Planetary Peace" (unless it was a false front for a international gun-running ring or something)...

BINGO!

...or ever being foolish enough to acknowledge a living heir (for fear that they would eventually kill her for her mountains of ill-gotten wealth).

Our concepts of the character are different. The original Catherine Gratwick would probably have a few clones made of her. My version would have had children in secret, placing them in key positions like pieces on a chess board & plotting to establish a Gratwick dynasty.

I'm sure I've taken way too much time on this subject. This is basically my personal twist on a canonical character & it's a work in progress. When the story comes out, I hope people enjoy it.

[Abacathea]

Kenny,

Some excellent reading there, thank you. Also, could you explain the mad sheep railgun??

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

You mean the nation or the silly proposal it was named after?

Personally, I find both freakin' hilarious.

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

I figured that someone who became head of the World Assembly had to have some measure of intelligence and charm. Perhaps she's someone who thinks like a James Bond villain without actually looking like one. Cold and analytical with a dash of charm. It's an unauthorized bio, for my personal reference, so it's neither here nor there.

Yes, but at this point you're just making shit up. If the canon character doesn't suit you, you can't just liberally add traits to her until she is the kind of woman you want to seduce your president (or whatever you have going on). Use some other character if you don't like Gratwick; heck, make up another rumored bastard daughter for her who is dark, cunning and beautiful, and have her disrupt your election proceedings. She won't bear a lot of resemblance to her reputed mom, but at least you can have fun with her without completely rewriting RP canon for your own purposes.

edit: oh, and whatever you decide to do, have fun with your RP; it should be an interesting read.

[Flibbleites]

\edit@Canada: shhhhhhh! If the fluffies ever found out about that thermal exhaust port...

Don't worry, I had that flaw fixed.

[Slafstopia]

"You mean that lady who just came into my office telling me I should let her breastfeed in public?"

- Comrade Sashka Vyhovsky

[Abacathea]

You mean the nation or the silly proposal it was named after?

Personally, I find both freakin' hilarious.

That proposal is amazing, it's hard to imagine it being done nowadays, lol! I love the idea, I might have to look at installing some in my nation.

[Araraukar]

So, OOCly, what exactly is this thread? GA meme spam thread? A joke?

[The Andromeda Islands]

Yes, but at this point you're just making shit up. If the canon character doesn't suit you, you can't just liberally add traits to her until she is the kind of woman you want to seduce your president (or whatever you have going on). Use some other character if you don't like Gratwick; heck, make up another rumored bastard daughter for her who is dark, cunning and beautiful, and have her disrupt your election proceedings. She won't bear a lot of resemblance to her reputed mom, but at least you can have fun with her without completely rewriting RP canon for your own purposes.

I understand your concerns. In order to address it, I'll give away some story elements.

1) The Gratwick character only appears in one scene & has little interest in influencing our election.

2) Two of our important officials feel the need to visit Gratwick. They will do it during election season, knowing that our country's media won't take notice. Although my country is a WA member, the World Assembly is not popular with people in my country.

Judging by the responses in this thread, people have had fun with the Catherine Gratwick character in the past. Although I can't promise that everything about my portrayal will 100% match the character you know & love, I hope it will be a character that posters recognize.

[East Klent]

"Huh, you'd think between all my secret meetings and drunken wanderings over the past few years I would've bumped into this woman... or version thereof."

~Jarred Stevens, Delegate