[TWI-ONLY] The Western Isles Nationbuilding Prompt 2020-2021

[Corsitilia]

If most of you don't know, Corsitilia is a nation in the Eterna Sea which is really messed up. There's lots of flaws we have but we're not going to talk about them all.

A) How the leader is elected

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In Corsitilia, we have a different way of electing. Two candidates who have to be in the elite class will do a debate and the most convincing person is chosen by the judge. While most people call this strange it makes very sense. There are some cases where Judges select someone they are close to but they have all been fired and disappeared.

B) Civil rights

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Citizens are citizens. They work for the government so our supreme chancellor can go on vacations to 5 star hotels. Even though we have been criticised by many foreign leaders, we don't care. And if they do try to revolt against us, we wake them up at midnight, execute them in the back alley streets and get rid of the body. WAIT! CUT THAT PART OUT!

C) The environment

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The Ministry of Statistics calculated that about 200,000 animals die each year and that each hour forests about the size of 4 football fields are cut down. There are some certain protected areas and species such as the Bvortiskeilifortyn National Park and the Mooneson Falcon. Recently, we have lifted the whaling ban and our economy has went up higher than ever

D) Crime

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Due to poverty, many have turned to crime. While we have many police officers, there are too much crimes that they can respond to and half of them just laze around in the headquarters anyways. The best advice we can give is - Be careful. And if you think it's our fault you're wrong. It's the Ministries of Welfare and Education's.

E) Floods

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In areas with frequent rainfall it's more likely there will be a flood. Since not many people have equipment to survive it, we make sure that in the case of one everyone should climb to rooftops. If the flood reaches the roof or your building falls down then too bad. A certain governor have pointed out that it's because of deforestation and that plants help absorb the water to prevent floods but that's unlogical.

F) Smuggling

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In recent years, we have found many Corsitilians smuggling things to foreign nations and we are doing our best to prevent that from happening so. However, our airport security is just as pathetic as the police meaning National Guards must sometimes be deployed to replace them. But fear not as we will make sure it won't happen ever again.

G) Average age

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The average age of death is very low in Corsitilia. By the time people turn 50 or 60, they are most likely nearing the end of their life. In fact, the current record is held by a Jan C. Helvertonica at the age of 89. Poor people are more likely to die before their 60s due to a lack in public healthcare. Ministry of Healthcare's fault.

H) Poverty

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It is estimated that 74% of Corsitilia are in the lower class, 17% in middle class and 8% in upper class. Most people in the lower class work in factories and are paid 10 Dnirkos (about 2 Australian Dollars) per hour and earn approximately 33 Dnirkos every day (about 66 Australian Dollars). So if we do the maths, 33x365=12045. So the employed lower class earns about 12,045 Dnirkos (24,090 Australian Dollars) every year. And that brings us to our next topic.

I) Unemployment

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With many jobs filled and not lots of options, most people are unemployed or in other words have no jobs. Because of this, most of the unemployed are homeless. The government has funded some money to help and built many shelters. Many have complained that the shelters are just as worse even though it gives money to the authorities.

J) Safety of Transportation

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About 20 people die each day due to road accidents. Most are caused by Design flaws and improper checking by Corsitilian Transport Administration (FTA) reckless driving and because of that, more laws have been put in place so that only people with driving licenses are allowed to drive and anyone caught being drunk or using fake licenses will immediately be placed in jail. T

hose are some of the things that plague us until now. Of course we have more but they are too secretive to be revealed

[Specinakhem]

Specinakhem's main flaw would likely be that the United Worker's Party of Specinakhem is often too divergent on either side. A simple issue, like Uniformity in education standards, could easily spiral out of control, with some members claiming Education is an Unjust hierarchy and should be abolished, others claiming that the parental system should be abolished, with teachers becoming de-facto parents and caretakers, and some even advocating to militarize the school system so every child knows simple military strategy, and "basic stuff, like how to operate a tank turret". These lengthy debates often make domestic policy a pain to deal with, and many of these laws take much longer to put into action than usual.

[Westmoor Isles]

What flaws does your nation have?

On a fundamental level, Westmoor as a nation views itself as a dominant power in The Western Isles despite being a fairly rural island. The government is adamantly opposed to foreign intervention to the point of being plain stubborn. Westmoorish politics is also growing increasingly corrupt. The current Prime Minister of Westmoor Joseph O’Connor belongs to one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Westmoor and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that him and many others in parliament gained office purely by virtue of their wealth or family ties. Westmoorish politics also have a very high turnover rate with incredibly frequent elections making it harder for grassroots political campaigns to gain a foothold. At a federal level there are no term limits so it’s not uncommon for a PM to be re-elected several times purely by insisting to their constituents that they “haven’t finished working” or that they just need more time.

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of Westmoorish politics at the moment is the growing positive opinion towards the National Interest Party, an alt right political party with wings that support fascist and nationalistic ideologies.

What aspects might others see as negative?

First, most glaringly, is Westmoor’s disregard for the climate. Out of the major political parties only two support expanding environmental protection laws. The laws currently in place restricting pollution often penalize companies with relatively small fines that they can easily afford to pay. To these businesses, the cost of transitioning to greener methods is outweighed by what is seen as a “necessary business expense.”

Westmoorans are also notoriously ignorant to the going-ons of the world outside of their tiny island. This is changing as years go by and more immigrant families acclimate to the Westmoor Isles and introduce new cultures and perspectives.

[Roendavar]

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NATIONBUILDING PROMPT

POLITICAL EXTREMISM: CHALLENGING THE NORM
June 13, 2021 - July 11, 2021

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It takes thousands of years to build a civilization, yet only a single idea to reshape it entirely within a day.

We pride ourselves in our perceived ideological ascendency, that our beliefs and political systems are superior, thus, make us good. After all, the hallmark of a society is in its ability to be stable. Yet even those most astute or great do not see all. In every society, cracks and holes form. There are those who will be left behind. There are those who will be wronged and seek vengeance. There are those who will be disillusioned with the assured utopia that was promised. There are those who will believe that we must pave a different path, either a kinder or more ruthless one. There are those who will see themselves as superior, rightful to take the helms of humanity and guide it towards the "true way". Such is the anarchic state of our universe, so, too, must individuality be anarchic by form, thus breed difference, especially in thinking. However great we build, however hard we try to mold a singularity, in mind and in mission, as we look in history, it takes only one ambitious human, a suggestive book, a revolutionary idea, a single gunfire, or a single event, and any sense of uniformity becomes challenged.

In this nationbuilding prompt, we ask the question "What is political extremism?" What is considered politically extreme or "radical" in your country? Are there any political extremist groups in your country? How much power do extremist groups hold in your country? How extreme is your country in comparison to the rest of the world? Are there any instance in your history where politically extremist groups exerted their influence or changed the path of your country for centuries to come? Are they still operating? In answering this prompt, you may also choose to explain your country's political ideology. You may also explain how your nation deals with political extremism. Are they considered dangerous and must be suppressed or are they considered part of one's own freedom to believe in their own?

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[Nhoor]

As for Nhoor:

* What is concsidered politically extreme or radical? : anything that proposes a drastic alternative to the form of government of the country as it is in place.
* Are there any political extremist groups in your country? : apart from the traditional western 'extreme left' and 'extreme right' factions parliament, there is not a lot of extremism going on in Nhoor right now. At the moment however, one could say that some of the traditional parties behave in an extremist/radical way as they have been proposing to change the government structure as it has been in place since 1978. The current structure foresees indirect elections of the national parliament : the people elect the provincial parliaments who in turn elect the national parliament. The exectutive is however not elected at all, but self regulating; the cabinet as well as the provincial and local governments appoint and dismiss their own members. In extreme cases, parliaments can demand their corresponding governments to make some changes. Recently, a growing number of parties is proposing to elect the head of government, either by the parliament or directly by the people.
* How much power do extremist groups hold in your country? : the three right- and left-wing parties that could be considered extremist together have around 10% of the seats in parliament.
* How extreme is your country in comparison to the rest of the world? : politically, I think Nhoor is mostly a moderate nation. The differences between Nhoor and the rest of the world are mostly cultural and societal (religion, duodecimal counting system...).
* Are there any instance in your history where politically extremist groups exerted their influence or changed the path of your country for centuries to come? Are they still operating? : Yes, the Severence Party tried to end Nhoor's dependency on Razzgriz's predecessor nations from the 20s of the 20th century to Nhoor's full independence in 1969. The party was forbidden in 1930 but it continued to operate and used the more moderate Republican Party to have a say in Nhoor's parliament. The Severance Party was no stranger to violence and attacks. As far as people know, the Severance Party hasn't operated for several decades.

Currently there is no reason for any measures against extremism in Nhoor. The government and the police usually look if a party or movement is disrupting the public order or not; if it is, appropriate measures will be taken.

[New Aapelistan]

What is considered politically extreme or "radical" in your country?

Now while the concept of “politically extreme or radical” in Aprosia is relatively similar to other countries, that being a political thought or an ideology that promotes drastic and potentially bloody change in the country, what in practise is considered either extreme or radical can be very different. As an authoritarian regime, the regime constantly fights against what it consideres to be radical or extreme, such ideals and ideologies ranging from improved human rights and promoting for an actual democratic system to religious fanaticism and extreme ethnic nationalism.

Are there any political extremist groups in your country?

Yes, however relatively minor. While the regime is undergoing minor liberalisations and in general is much more liberal than the revolutionary generation of leadership for example, it doesn’t shy away from ruling with an iron fist if need be. Using promoting human rights and democracy as an example, the regime allows minor criticism but at that point it grows too large or becomes too “extreme”, it’s cut down.

However, it by many standards can be said that the ruling Aprosian People’s Front (APF or NAM) in both federal and national politics is extremely radical in its ideas. Promoting racial nationalism in the form of pan-Aprosiatic nationalism, rejecting almost every form of foreign influence in the country and attempting to recreate a new Aprosiatic golden era, as the party envisions went through under the qunihár monarchy of the past.

How much power do extremist groups hold in your country?

The ones considered extreme by the government, no practical power, while the APF runs a single-party state, where practically all political power is centered around it.

How extreme is your country in comparison to the rest of the world?

As stated above, the APF is by many standards a very extremist party, which runs the state as a single-party state. Along with that, the ideals of the APF, namely Aprosian socialism and pan-Aprosiatic nationalism, are held as state ideologies. However, it’s important to remind that the APF is far from the radicalism it showed earlier in its history, but the same ideologies still form the ideological basis of the party and therefore, the state.

Are there any instance in your history where politically extremist groups exerted their influence or changed the path of your country for centuries to come?

Not to sound like a broken record, but the rise of the APF to power. While there certainly have been radical groups vying for power in Aprosia’s history (said history pending), none of them have been as influential as the APF ended up becoming.

Are they still operating?

Going as strong as ever

[Jeriga]

What is considered politically extreme or "radical" in your country? Are there any political extremist groups in your country? How much power do extremist groups hold in your country? How extreme is your country in comparison to the rest of the world? Are there any instance in your history where politically extremist groups exerted their influence or changed the path of your country for centuries to come? Are they still operating? In answering this prompt, you may also choose to explain your country's political ideology. You may also explain how your nation deals with political extremism. Are they considered dangerous and must be suppressed or are they considered part of one's own freedom to believe in their own?

Jeriga is, at the end of the day, two things: Traditionalist and collectivist.

Most of Jerigan society is centered around the Church of Jeriga, the Crown which leads it, and the community activism and consciousness the Church helped form from the ashes of the Schism in 1617. Churches dominate community events and priest from the church often double as teachers, council members in towns and villages, or even local businessmen. This immersion of the church in everyday life of every town and city ensures that the populace keeps itself in line with the expectations, habits, traditions, and moral structure laid out by the church. This is also the basis of the collectivist culture that has formed under the leadership of the national church. Individuals are encouraged to look at themselves as part of a whole and community outreach without proselytization is corner stone of community service and fraternity.

Given this and the nature of political extremism to be either reactionary or progressive in nature, political extremists in Jeriga fall into two groups: Individualist, secular nationalists and progressive, hyper-religious reformers.

The nationalists are mostly centered around the isle of Varl, which was under Estral control for several decades. Indivualism, capitalism, and the sense of community built by the church, crown, and people on the main isle. They tend to favor policies of isolation or military supremacy, the absolute separation of the church and the state, and the abolishment of the Crown as an institution. They tend to support the idea of "hero history" where they worship individual leaders in history rather than looking at the context of a movement as a whole. This leads to the idea of a strongman being the best type to lead a nation.

Despite the popularity of this deviancy in Varl relative to the general homogeny of collectivist ideology in the rest of Jeriga, no militant or even oragnized groups tend to exist outside of small associations in Varl itself and have not been a threat to the cohesion of the state or national identity. They do, however, tend to sign up for groups like the Estral Foreign Legion or emigrate to Aizcona, where some of them feel they are more in tune with society there. Jeriga does nothing to prevent this.

It is a different story for the Reformists, which is what most of the latter camp call themselves. Most reformists in Jeriga support changing the church and state from within, often winning elections in the more rural centers. They call for a more rigid church structure and the general removal of the priests from government. They don't do this because they believe the church is infecting the government, but because they believe the opposite. The Church is to be the center of community and religion in the Isles, but by immersing themselves in society to the degree they have, the democratic state has corrupted the church into its acceptance of alternative lifestyles, including LGBT groups. They believe that the church must be reformed completely to return to some arbitrary "golden age" of Jeriga in the 1960s and that the church should exhibit control over the people not through the government, but by acting as a government outside of the state itself.

This has resulted in several religious extremist groups forming in the Jerigan countryside over the years which has influenced elections in the past. While mostly dormant now, they have been outspoken and even violent in the past. In 2011, when the King removed Homosexuality as a disqualifier for marriage in the Church, they rioted in several cities before being brought under control. Prior to this, harassment and violence followed LGBT or secular people wherever they became active or outspoken. A particularly public murder in Alvensin in 1999 caught the attention and sympathies of all who watched the trial and ultimately led to a strengthening of the LGBT movement. It also led to a harsh and even violent crack down from the government after the conviction of the murderers sent the Reformists to the streets, attacking any suspected LGBT person they found. While inactive on an organized scale today, the ideology looms in the country side.

[Devissan]

What is considered politically extreme or "radical" in your country?

Anything anti-government is seen as very radical. Far-left and far-right ideologies are viewed as politically extreme by most, but are generally accepted because of our political freedoms.

Are there any political extremist groups in your country?

Yes. The largest by far is the Freedom Front, which is a Fascist political party that is one of the three biggest political parties in the nation.

How much power do extremist groups hold in your country?

The Freedom Front holds seats in both houses of Parliament, but its influence is lessened because it does not posses a majority in either. They previously enjoyed large public support which allowed them to win seats, but recently public opinion turned against them because of rumors that the Front wishes to overthrow the current government and replace it with a Fascist one.

How extreme is your country in comparison to the rest of the world?

Devissan's government is not extreme at all.
Are there any instance in your history where politically extremist groups exerted their influence or changed the path of your country for centuries to come?

The creation of the country was marred by a war between fascists, communists, and republicans.

Are they still operating?

Legally as political parties.

Devissan is a republic so at its core is republican values. However, one of the tenets of Devissian government is the right to free speech and free political parties. As such, the existence of political parties with extreme views like the Freedom Front is tolerated.

[Biaten]

What is considered politically extreme or "radical" in your country?

The concept of political extremism in Biaten is the similar to the concept held in other countries, with some exceptions. For example, although historically communism has been considered to be extremely radical, it has entered the political norm in recent decades, with the Communist Party becoming the second largest political party. Many Biatenians consider anarchism to be politically extreme, despite it’s slow growth in support, as well as fascism and Nazism on the far-right and anti-secular religious groups. Extremism in Biaten is any view or movement that would drastically change Biatenian politics and culture. Terrorist groups are also sometimes referred to as “extremist”.

Are there any political extremist groups in your country?

There are many, although here is a list of few of the notable ones:

• National Socialist Biatenian Workers Party (aka Nazis) – The National Socialist Biatenian Workers Party, nicknamed the Biatenian Nazi Party by some, is a political party that has existed for over 100 years. It is currently very small, with only 50 members and a few hundred voters in elections, but during its earliest years it was a very big party, gaining many seats in National Diet election. In the 1930s, it was the Official Opposition. The party supported racist policies, such as Anti-Semitism and Antiziganism, and advocating for genocide or “cleansing Biaten of inferior races.” The NSBWP are also anti-democratic. The party was never dissolved or banned, but did diminish during the 1940s and 1950s, losing all of its seats in the 1956 election and not regaining any since then, Although they have experienced tiny increases in support over recent years, receiving 238 votes in 2016 and 349 in 2020.
  
• Social Conservative Party – Although not as extreme as the NSBWP, the Social Conservative Party is considered to be on the extreme side of conservatism, many even calling it fascist. The Party holds homophobic, misogynistic and racist views. One of its most controversial policies is advocating for the segregation of non-white people from white people (they effectively want to replicate the segregation of southern US states, or the Apartheid in South Africa).
  
• Death to the State Party – The Death to the State Party is an anarchist political party, considered to be the largest anarchist group in Biaten. Unlike other anarchist movements, the Death to the State Party runs in national elections in order to try and bring down the government from the inside. They advocate for the abolition of government, which they consider to be commanding, controlling and corrupting and believe that human morality and altruism, which government forces restrict and dampen, will prevent society from descending into chaos. Although the party has yet to win anything, the party were around 200 votes from winning a seat in the National Diet in 2020 in Lion City and has 7 councillors nationwide in local authorities.
  
• Salafi State Movement – The Salafi State Movement is a conservative Islamist movement in Biaten that has several hundred supporters. They are Islamic fundamentalists who have advocated turning Biaten into an Islamic State. This movement is supported by a small minority of Biatenian Muslims, and has been dismissed by many in the Islamic community has having unrealistic goals, given that only 5% of Biatenians are of the Islamic faith.
  
• Revolutionary People’s League – The Revolutionary People’s League, or RPL for short, is a Communist organisation designated by the government as a terrorist organisation. The RPL advocates for the implementation of a Communist regime through a violent overthrow of the government, as opposed to the Communist Party who seek to achieve power democratically. The group successfully carried out a mass shooting at a police station in Auvia in 2007 and orchestrated the 2011 Conservative Democratic Party Conference bombing in Bardham. Several violent activities have been thwarted by the DIB since then, although they are still considered to be at large. A few Communist MPs have been suspected of having links with the RPL, although none have been proven or convicted.
  
• Pagan Rebirth – Pagan Rebirth is a group, consisting of Pagans, that advocates for the return of Ancient Law that existed prior to Christianity, during the times of the Hachnian Empire. They support policies such as Power through Challenge, in which if the head of state is killed in fair combat, the winner becomes the new head of state, and prohibiting lesbianism.

How much power do extremist groups hold in your country?

The power of extremist groups depends on how much support and how many resources it has. Some political parties considered as extremist have politicians in the various legislative bodies, for example the Social Conservative Party have a Senator in the Biatenian Senate and the Death to the State Party have local councillors. Other extremist groups take on the form of pressure groups, campaign groups and terrorist groups, and either gain power through the power of persuasion or through intimidation.

How extreme is your country in comparison to the rest of the world?

While there are a wide range of extremist groups in Biaten, only a small minority of Biatenians actually hold membership or support of these groups. Compared to some countries, Biaten, as a democratic country with a social democratic government, is quite moderate, although what many foreigners would consider to be extremely left-wing is becoming normal for Biatenians.

Are there any instance in your history where politically extremist groups exerted their influence or changed the path of your country for centuries to come?

Not in recent history, although the National Socialist Biatenian Workers Party did create some political deadlocks during the 1920s-40s when they held seats in the National Diet.

Are they considered dangerous and must be suppressed or are they considered part of one's own freedom to believe in their own?

Most groups generally considered to be extremist are left alone and usually ignored by the government, with the exception of terrorist organisations. Although the government have attempted to crack down on some extreme political activities, such as racism and homophobia, these have been blocked constantly by the judiciary on the basis that the Constitution protects freedom of speech, thought and expression.

[Roendavar]

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NATIONBUILDING PROMPT

CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT: HORROR IN TWI
November 1, 2021 - November 15, 2021

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Hush, child. Keep your lips sealed. Do not heed the knocking on the window nor the eyes that shine with intent. And always remember, that if I call for you, it is not me.

It is often human nature that we prefer to keep the things hidden in the dark undisturbed. After all, what horrors beyond what we can understand is best left not thought of. What you do not believe exists cannot harm you after all. Yet, for some reason, there are those who relish in the thrill of it. There are those who enjoy the adrenaline that such thoughts give them. There are those that revel in the horror and the disturbing, relegating it to a form of entertainment. And, there are those, who are not affected at all, for only the meek are terrified of notions of fantastical stories that only seek to scare us.

In this nationbuilding prompt, we ask, are there any horror stories from your nation? Are there any urban legends that people believe? What about myths, theories, or tales that delve into topics that make us always look behind us? Are there any cultural stories that tell of beings that lurk in the darkness, waiting for people to fall victim to their clutches? Any monsters, ghosts, killers, or unknown beings whose missions are to cause pain, suffering, or fright? Feel free to post stories, encounters, pictures, or any other media. And, to an extent, what is horror defined by your nation and your culture? While tastes vary, is there a dominant horror culture that dominates your nature (slasher, psychological, etc.)? Let us know below.

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[Corindia]

The Corindi veneration of Santa Muerte is a blend of local Iza religion with the Catholic faith focusing on the folk saint of Santa Muere. Although it is estimated that up to 1 in 20 Corindi citizens and 1 in 12 Corindi Catholics acknowledges the folk saint, most believers either practice quietly at private shrines or behind a mask during public celebrations. For most practitioners, there is little difference between their faith and that of a more orthodox Catholic aside from a single heterodox saint, but at least some, particularly in isolated rural and impoverished urban areas, have elevated Santa Muerte to a level approximate to the Virgin Mary herself. Naturally, it is these more extreme manifestations of the belief which have captured the public eye and have filled the tabloids with rumors of heresy, black magic, and human sacrifice.

But is there really a cult of death worshipping heretics disguised as typical Catholics hiding in plain sight amongst the inhabitants of Corindia? It depends on who you ask. While many would hysterically point at the veneration of a figure of death and secretive worship as signs that something sinister is afoot, just as many would point out that most major figures in Christianity are associated with death and hiding is a natural response when a member of a marginalized faith. But who's to say that the latter aren't worshippers themselves, using honeyed words to detect fellow travelers amongst the unsuspecting, God fearing Corindi people. And how come the skulls on Santa Muerte icons look so real when they hold their terrifying masked parades through the streets of Carmo? Have you noticed how when you turn a corner into an alley, people will stop talking and shuffle off, only to inevitably reappear once the coast is clear? When was the last time you saw your neighbor at church? Didn't they used to have 3 children?

It's probably nothing, just another local saint.

[The United Partitions]

In the time of the continent spanning Chah-Chajd Empire, the Tchacuatl people of the empire as well as a large number of the people they conquered believed in the faith of the Tchacuatl, a form of animistic and polytheistic religion. With this religion came mountains of folklore, and a plethora of legendary creatures created by the Tchacuatl.

While the Chah-Chajd Empire no longer exists, Tchacuatl polytheism is waning, and Christianity dominates the Partitions as the primary religion, this hasn't stopped certain elements of cultural influence of the days of old to seep into the modern Western civilization of the United Partitions. There exists large amounts of folklore, and mythical creatures, that carried into the modern belief.

One creature in particular that gets a lot of attention around the time of of the year is a race of hairless beings that supposedly live underground, known as the Skhualemni, sometimes pictured as pale from the lack of sun, other times as dark brown from digging in the dirt. They were sometimes pictured as anthropomorphic, with two arms and legs, with fingers resembling plates for digging, and other times as worm-like creatures with no limbs. Both interpretations possess extremely sharp teeth and coarse skin.

Quazzacuatl; the God of the Sun and Blood in Tchacuatl polytheism, was considered a symbol of holiness along with all things that its light touched. Due to this, the Skhualemni were considered unholy beings of evil, not even Ptuajdingua (God of the Moon)'s rays of moonlight touched them. The Skhualemni are said to be fierce carnivores, feasting on any part of an animal or human. Their diets additionally consist of dirt and spirits. Occasionally, sacrificed victims in the ancient Chah-Chajd Empire were skinned before being placed into their ceremonial tombs, in order to appease the Skhualemni and avoid their immoral wrath.

Returning to the present, Halloween is celebrated in the United Partitions, and Skhualemni costumes are seen as often as a witch or a Frankenstein's Monster are. Skhualemni decorations exist as well; large comically cartoonish worms with sharp teeth sticking out of the ground, occasionally with spade hands.

Belief in Skhualemni in the modern day is scarce if not nonexistent among adults; it is seen as nothing but harmless folklore from the days of old. However, this does not stop gullible children from believing in them, and parents encourage leaving candy out for the Skhualemni the night of Halloween in order to avoid their wrath. The candy of course would be gone in the morning, obviously eaten by none other than the Skhualemni-

-who else?

[Roendavar]

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NATIONBUILDING PROMPT

THE LEADERS OF THE WESTERN ISLES
January 15, 2021 - January 31, 2021

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The great question of where authority lie may be argued amongst time immemorial but one thing is sure. Leaders rise above it all, leading their people either into greatness or ruin. Modern statehood is one that always features a form of authority, that is, in the personification of a leader. They go by many names, from President, to Prime Minister, to Kings and Queens, to Emperors, and titles more, but they all fundamentally represent their respective nations, and embody its present ideals and its ideas for the future. The citizens make the nation, indeed, but it takes leaders to take them to greatness.

In this nationbuilding prompt, we ask, who is/are your nation's leader(s)? What were their childhood like and what did they study? Are they known for any event or something that they have done? How did they rise to power? What do they believe in? What are their ideals, ideologies, and or aspirations for their nations? Do they have some sort of controversy? What are their current approval rates? Introduce the leader of your nation in a more personal and human level, and let us understand their inner motivations, their personalities, and their visions for their nation. Let us know below.

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[Nhoor]

Orumha Cany-Jwchmiqen is the 29th government leader of Nhoor and has been in office as such since February 2021. She entered the government on 23 June 2014 and first served as Minister of Justice until October 2016 and thereafter as Minister of Foreign Affairs until February 2021. Born in Chur on 2 June 1966 as Orumha Jwchmiqen, the only daughter of school teacher Sanhad Jwchmiqen and his wife Salvanī Jwchmiqen-Arƨoches, she studied international and business law and worked for private law firms such as Jwn & Cst.; Chasy, Chasy, Oƨɵmar & Chasy; and Vayda Halis loq Cwrdoliq. In 2014 she was invited to join the government, then headed by Sanhad Bōra̦. During her tenure as foreign minister, Nhoor became a founding member of the The Raedlon Organization of States.

In February 2021, Prime Minister Huldoro Sā̦ƨws-Patorheqh was dismissed by parliament and the government chose Minister Cany to suceed her. Although she once admitted that becoming Prime Minister was not her ambition, she has proven capable of managing the government in a time when an increasing number of political parties think that the self regulating government has too much power and should be composed in a more democratic manner. Cany herself is moderately opposed to such changes and has expressed her fear that abolishing the government’s autonomy will reduce its efficiency. A bribery scandal in parliament that emerged in October 2021 however took away momentum of the proponents of change.

Some highlights of Prime Minister Cany’s tenure so far include King Elerha Maximus’s wedding to Queen Calavī Victoria, after his first attempt to marry a Euranian princess failed at the last minute, the conclusion of an important trade agreement with the Republic of Laeden, and the first steps of the potential accession of Scaedia to ROS. She also had to deal with the political mayhem following multiple accusations of plagiarism that hit Nhoor’s political and diplomatic elite, as well as the gruesome discovery of 31 dead bodies in a truck in one of the dirtiest cases of human traficking Nhoor had seen in many years.

Orumha Cany-Jwchmiqen is married to Ƨonad Cany, who is also a lawyer, and to Aa̦n Tarhosy, who works as a cricket coach. They have no children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and taking care of the pigs in her small pig farm.

[Solaryia]

Leadership Prompt: Consul Conti Bellarys

Conti Bellarys is the 10th Consul in the 71 years that Solaryia has been a Republic, elected in December of 2019 and holding office until the end of her term in 2025. Taking office at the age of 34, she is Solaryia’s youngest state Consul, and the second youngest leader in the country’s modern history, after Førsteherre Segrun II was crowned in 1829. A young and progressive Consul, Bellarys is part of the National Alliance Party (NA), and is very popular with many modern Solaryis, in particular the younger and more socially liberal demographics. She's a Catholic in line with the Surovi Church, however not often practicing in comparison to much of the more religious portions of the populace.

History

Conti Bellarys was born on January 29th, 1988 to Jun Bellarys, a local politician, and Marya Rosendål, a librarian. She grew up in the small coastal town of Kernkau, in the Halvesk prefectura of southern Solaryia, where her father was currently acting as the town Mayor. Being right next to the coast in one of the warmer regions of the country, she spent much of her childhood time outside, developing a love for the environment and sailing. She would go on to do reasonably well in primary and secondary school with her mother offering tutelage, and later be accepted into Auboron University, a small private college just outside the city of Tyris. During her time in college, Bellarys double majored in political science and urban planning, intending to get a job focused on green infrastructure and city design once she left college.

Once leaving college, Bellarys continued to live in Tyris, which was a decently large and influential city while still remaining relatively close to her home in Kernkau. She started to get involved with the local government, eventually becoming the Director of City Planning due to her new innovative designs, most notably the newly rebuilt Tyris waterfront in 2012. This and other such projects garnered her much local notability, and she was later elected to become one of the two senators representing the state of Renhaus in 2016. She pushed a progressive agenda, focused on supporting small business, primarily the large local fishing industry, while also increasing environmental incentives and regulations. One of the largest projects was the creation of a large offshore wind farm which was able to support most of the energy needs of rural Renhaus; due to its terrain and distance the prefectura had been mostly disconnected from the greater grid generated by the large hydropower plants that powered the more mountainous areas of the country.

The election of 2020 was one of the most contentious and unusual elections in the recent history of the republic. Public opinion of the incumbent Consul, Hylde Korenssen, was at a record low due to his isolationist policies, which had been a roadblock against the formation of a prospective regional Raelosi alliance with Nhoor (which would later become ROS). In addition, he was facing allegations of corruption and alleged potential links to several wealthy oligarchs in the Oasis. However, a large portion of the population viewed these accusations as false and his party, the Independence Party (IZP) decided to still nominate him as their candidate from the Senate, as he was still popular with the large traditional demographic of the country.

Frustrated by past attempts to strike down policies and projects that Bellarys supported, as well as to make a point against corruption, the then-Senator decided to run for the Consulship out of protest, not with the intent or the expectations to win, but only to make a point and try to take votes away from Korenssen. However, this all changed a few months into the campaign period, when an anonymous whistleblower released financial documents linking Korenssen to several large international banks in the Oasis and Keverai. Suddenly, Bellarys with her primarily anti-corruption focused campaign was thrust into the spotlight, becoming one of the main runners against him and the IZP, which also managed to garner her the official endorsement of the NA party, to many Senators’ surprise.

In addition, Oskar Palensí, an IZP senator from Minaar, announced his intent to run for the Consulship as well, albeit independent of any political party support. This thoroughly divided the IZP, with some members deciding to stay with Korenssen, and others jumping ship and announcing their support for Palensí, who supported the more traditionalist ideas of the party but believed the actions of Korenssen were disgraceful. At the end, Bellarys eventually managed to win the election due to the party split, with roughly 53% of the popular vote and supported by 31 out of the 57 senators, with particularly large amounts of support coming from the southeastern region of the country where she grew up. She took her oath of office on January 1st of 2020.

In her time as Consul, Conti Bellarys has assisted in the formation of the Raedlon Organization of States with Prime Minister Orumha Cany-Jwchmiqen of Nhoor, and has worked to expand it to other nations on the continent, primarily Scaedia. She has also worked on reversing the previously socially isolationist policies, relaxing immigration laws and expanding foreign aid overseas, the most notable being assistance to Sud and Atolla during the Wake Islands disaster. She has also focused on furthering the environmental regulations that had been cut back since the leadership of Ensi Alsen, growing the area of protected natural land by nearly a quarter, and making current infrastructure more efficient and environmentally friendly, such as the proposition of a new high speed rail network. She's also focused on increasing more anti-corruption and government transparency laws, primarily centered around financial information of Senators and the electoral support by third parties.

As for future plans, the Consul is supportive of expanding the nation's large but currently idle space program, as well as solidifying relations with other members of the ROS and potentially expanding membership to smaller nations within Raedlon that the Solaryi government is friendly with, such as Sud or the Oasis, although relations with the latter are being called into question given recent events. She intends for the nation to stay peaceful and neutral in most world affairs, however rising tension in Gael and the Southern sea, as well as growing animosity and aggression from Lesva, a former Solaryi ally, may force the country and its leader to shift their perspective on Solaryia’s role in the world. She’s also potentially looking into rerunning for Consul in the elections of 2025, however hasn't definitively stated anything, despite her current approval rating being relatively high at around 64%.

Personality

Conti Bellarys’ personality has been described as a very upbeat and energetic person, particularly given her relative youth compared to most other members of government. This makes her a very good people person, popular with the Solaryi populace and much of the international community in general. However, this also comes with a reputation as being relatively naive and not knowing the minutiae of how governing the whole country works, which is true to an extent. The Consul often comes to blows with the more traditional members of the Senate, particularly the IZP, which often votes against most of Bellarys’ internationally focused proposals. In addition, she has also been said to have a strong moral compass, which has been reflected in her policies of strengthening the police force, as well as focusing particularly on anti-corruption in the light of the 2020 election. When alone or with close friends though, it is often said that Bellarys has a more quiet demeanor, being more introverted and soft spoken than her official “public personality.” She’s also known to be a relatively comedic person when in the presence of closer friends, always making jokes or remarks, even when at the more formal governmental gatherings.

Bellarys has a particular liking for board games, and despite her more pacificistic views, prefers military strategy names such as Risk or Neo Imperials & Free Powers, where she can get very competitive. She also continues to like the hobby of sailing ever since she was introduced to it in her childhood, however has rarely been able to do it recently due to the various security concerns associated with it. However she’s made a point to always watch the yearly Erune Bay Regatta, the national championships of the youth sailing league. One topic that she’s surprisingly not good at however, is history. Originally attempting to major in that in lieu of Urban Planning in college, Bellarys found that she greatly disliked researching history in a more formal and academic setting, primarily due to the great amount of writing involved. However, she still researches various topics as an unprofessional hobby.

Fun Facts

-She has two ragdoll cats, Kitka and Wiktí, who live with her in the Parlikhaus, the official residence of the Consul while in office.

-The Consul has stated that she didn’t have the best grades in primary and secondary school, and was able to get into college due to work experience and sailing. In addition if her college career didn’t work out, she would’ve enlisted in the Solaryi Navy or Merchant Marine as per threats from her parents due to her affinity for boats.

-Due to her lack of a romantic partner and apparent disinterest while she was in office, as well as being a supporter of LGBT rights, many Solaryi tabloid papers have reported that the Consul is asexual or aromantic.

-One of Bellarys’ most controversial moments was when she joked about dyeing her hair white or silver in order to better fit in with the rest of the Senate.

-Out of character, she’s actually a D&D character that I play in a campaign with some friends. I thought it would be funny to make her my nation’s leader to see her name come up in issues, and eventually just decided to keep her as the leader in TWI and grandfathered her into the canon, being only one out of a few things that I decided to keep from the old concept of Solaryia that I had before refounding the country back in early 2020. (And yes I know that she falls into the NS trope of being a young female leader, but it’s too late by now)

[Scaedia]

The Leader of Scaedia

Ashi Banglar is the President of the Republic of Scaedia and has been since 2010. At 53 years old, he was the youngest president of Scaedia when he was elected. Banglar had big shoes to fill as the third president of Scaedia and has spent his tenure trying to expand and improve the relationships between Scaedia and other nations. As a member of the Vadetrad Daet (Free Trade Party in English) he has worked towards instituting progressive social policies while also trying to reduce the government's involvement within the free market. Time will tell how he is remembered by the people of Scaedia, especially since he runs for reelection next month.

Early Life and Education

Banglar is the son of his mother, Dena Banglar, and his father, Sygun Anned. His mother was a Dredic farmer and his father was a soldier in the Royal Army of the Kingdom of Scaedia during the Second Scaedic Civil War. Dredic cultural norm dictates that children take the surname of their mother and, despite his father being a Scaed, they chose to continue the tradition. Banglar grew up on the outskirts of Allin, which is today the capitol of Scaedia. His father was honorably discharged from the Royal Army after his eye was shot out in a battle and he spent the rest of his days working at the farm owned by Dena's father. Banglar spent most of his youth in and out of school, with both the civil war and farm work requiring that he stay home for months at a time. His early adulthood was spent working on the farm and he didn't go to university until he was 28 years old in 1997. At university he studied law and would go on to earn his Juris Doctor from Timpal University in the city of Bejorn.

Political Career

His political career began late in life for him, as he only ran for political office in 2006 having spent several years as a lawyer. He spent three years as a member of the Daet and quickly gained public attention as he proposed several succesful bills that expanded the public transportation system of Scaedia. Instead of running for reelection as a member of the Daet he chose to run for the presidency as the candidate for the Free Trade Party. His candidacy was seen as a risky move by many politicians but Banglar quickly gained public support as a moderate progressive. He won the 2010 presidential election and quickly established himself as a forward thinker by promoting policies that would deliver reparations to families who were subjected to forced labor as political prisoners during Scaedia's fascist regime. When his first term ended in 2016 he had one of the highest public approval ratings of any president in Scaedia.

Banglar's second term as president began quietly with the passage of few significant pieces of legislation. However, his life would be greatly shaken up as his first wife passed in 2018, two years into his second term. He withdrew from public life for a month using his presidential powers to grant executive powers temporarily to the Daet. This move drew some criticism, as many claimed that the president should not give away such an important piece of power just because of difficulties in their personal life. The month passed and the Daet did very little with the executive power, peacefully returning it to Banglar as 2018 ended and 2019 began. His most recent political moves have been to push the nation towards integrating into the Raedlon Organization of States, a move that he believes will cement Scaedia's place as a modern democratic nation.

Personality, Personal Life, and Trivia

Banglar has a reputation for being quiet about his personal life and soft-spoken in general. He very rarely engages in conflict with political opponents and during debates he remains calm, even in the face of a belligerent opponent. He recently became engaged to a Solyari stage actress who, it is suspected, he will marry following the 2022 election. Banglar is well known for his love of sports, particularly hockey, and while he was a university student he briefly considered a career in professional hockey. He is distantly related to the former royal family of the Kingdom of Scaedia, with a cousin twice removed on his father's side who had a small estate.

[Hyukai]

NATIONBUILDING PROMPT:THE LEADERS OF THE WESTERN ISLES

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Biography

Gustaf II (Full Name: Gustaf Claude Bexter Jose de Francesco Lincoln Noel Wesley) is the second and current king of Hyukai. As the longest reigning monarch in the nations history, he has been ruling over the country for nearly 50 years.

On October 6, 1946, Gustaf was born to Prince Gustaf I of Parrlifurt and Princess Sierra of Poulvester in the tropical island of Saint Stockford. The middle child of three children, his family was well known for ruling several successful states in the 19th century. Following the Íszkárí invasion of Hyukai in 1893, the family was stripped off its royalty status and had spread out throughout Hyukai.

He spent most of his early years on the island and attended local schools. The family moved to the city of Rominska when he was 9. Gustaf was sent to a boarding school in Tzinkōche (Now Alventon). He attended Chamart University in the mid to late 60's. However, his brother Ludwig and several anti-colonial activists were murdered under mysterious circumstances. The topic is still highly controversial to this day. Gustaf eventually joined the navy in the 1967 and continued serving there until 1970 while tensions between locals and the Íszkárí government were rising.

Following his time from the navy, he became critical of the government and started joining rallies. He also helped lead the movement and got married to Joane Cloyt the next year. On August 11, local militias declared war on Razzgrizz. Gustaf led several campaigns in the strategic southern region, most notably the Second Battle of Chevenil, a bloody battle which lasted for 3 days. In the end however, the Treaty of Cappareus was signed in which Razzgrizz would give up the colonial gains of Hyukai, including its islands. Razzgrizz however, will still partially own the city of Porenberg, arguing that the 99 year lease agreement back in 1924 was still in place.

Gustaf I was enthroned the first King of Hyukai just days after its independence. However, he would pass away in 1974. Thus, Gustaf II was crowned on August 5, 1974. Although he is considered a great leader, there are allegations of his misuse of power, though this has yet to be proven. His heir apparent is Crown Prince Peter.

Personality

People close to Gustaf has described him as a relatively shy and reserved person who tends to only speak with those in his inner circle. Although quiet, he is ambitious and is always determined to complete his goals. The King enjoys making comedic jokes, as his former aide described conference meetings as a writers room. Gustaf and his wife Joane Cloyt have a strong and close relationship. She described him as a strong and caring man who always tries to bond with his family. He enjoys golfing and reportedly owns a private 400 acre golf course. Gustaf resides in the Tamako Palace with his family and 2 Pomeranian dogs.

[Roendavar]

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NATIONBUILDING PROMPT

A Perspective of the Present: Great Leaders Viewing the Modern Day
March 20, 2021 - April 3, 2021

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In a small speck of the vast expanding space-time, humanity has made its mark and has fundamentally changed the foundations of life in our corner of the universe. Thousands of history, of the past, culminating into this very exact same second, and a second more beyond it. Nations today are a product of times long past, and we have gone beyond what we used to imagine we could. Our languages evolved, our society has changed and the same moral values we hold, to some, have begun to change. Technology has reached new heights and have done marvels we never thought possible The past, and its products on the present, is known. Yet, the future remains elusive to us, unsure and uncertain. Perhaps humanity will flourish into something greater? Changed into a benevolent utopia? Or would there be nothing but fire and ash?

Imagine then, what the people of the past would have thought of the future. If you asked someone that lived in the Stone Age what they thought of the future, what would they say? If you asked someone that lived through the boom of the Industrial Age and asked what the future holds for our society, what would their vision be? Whatever these may be, they all differ, and they will soon come to know that sometimes, time takes us to realities we've never thought would happen. Now imagine a historical leader, and how they have yearned and acted for a greater tomorrow for their people. What would they say the future holds? And what would happen... if they have come to taste the tomorrow that they promise.

This nationbuilding prompt, we are taking a more creative route. Let us use the lens of the past to look to the present. Take your nation's greatest historical leader, and for some reason, they are taken to the present. What would it be like for them? Would they find any similarities or would be vaguely familiar with how things work? Or would they feel as if though they are transported into a different world and people entirely? Be creative with this prompt and tackle everything, not just differences in technology. From language, culture, and even to the very people in how they look or act, would there be any differences? You can answer this prompt in whatever way you want.

[The Western Isles Office of Roleplay]

Nationbuilding Prompt January 2022

The last month of 2022 has seen a slew of disasters across the globe in the real world and a ton of disasters in the IC world. With varying levels of competence, agencies around the world and the region have dived into dangerous and critical situations to save the day. Sometimes it's body recovery. Other times it's saving a family from flooding. In Jeriga, it was evacuating half a city. Each one of these events required an extraordinarily difficult level of cooperation, coordination, and planning. Whether it's a nuclear disaster or a riot that needs to be contained, local governments find themselves at the front line of crisis management.

The path to a coordinated crisis management system is not easy. In many countries, it took a series of horrifying disasters to create management teams. In others, existing teams found themselves unprepared for a new kind of crisis, shaking the confidence in the government to the core. Examples in the real world include the terrorist attacks on France and Germany, which killed between dozens and hundreds of people or the 9/11 attacks on the United States. In the IC world, any number of disasters can be chosen. Each of these contributed to the history of emergency services, intelligence, and security in that nation.

In recognition of our unstable little quasi-dimension, the writing prompt this month centers on your emergency services and interior crisis management agencies. Answer any of the following questions:

1. Who controls your crisis managment agencies and what government level has final say on what resources go where? Are you a federal state with strong state's rights that requires states to request the feds to come in or are you an authoritarian government who does what it feels it needs at a moment's notice?

2. Who funds these services, how large and numerous are they, and what kinds of taxes go towards their budget?

3. What is the history of your interior services?

4. Have they been used recently? Has your nation faced a disaster or have they been sent to alleviate another nation's pain? What kind of reputation do they have?

[Valhapia]

Who controls your crisis managment agencies and what government level has final say on what resources go where? Are you a federal state with strong state's rights that requires states to request the feds to come in or are you an authoritarian government who does what it feels it needs at a moment's notice? Who funds these services, how large and numerous are they, and what kinds of taxes go towards their budget? What is the history of your interior services? Have they been used recently? Has your nation faced a disaster or have they been sent to alleviate another nation's pain? What kind of reputation do they have?

Disaster response on a national level is conducted by the Office for Emergency Management, a subsidiary of the Ministry of the Interior. The OfEM conducts operations when aid is requested from local or provincial governments, or when authorized to do so by Parliament. OfEM is funded along with the rest of the national government, through a budget which is passed by Parliament yearly.

OfEM was founded in 1975 following the 1974 Coruka Earthquake and the haphazard response to it by the various agencies in charge of disaster management. It unified all disaster management into a single office, rather than having several offices in a few different ministries overseeing different or overlapping responsibilities regarding disaster responses. Originally, they were solely under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior and Parliament, meaning that whenever they wanted to give aid to an area, they needed Parliament's permission. This changed under the National Government (Restructuring) Act 1987, which delegated a lot of national government power to the provincial governments, including giving them the power to request aid from OfEM independently.

Recently, OfEM was used to respond to the 2022 forest fires in Valhapia, which saw a rapid containment of the forest fires. OfEM has a reputation of being mostly helpful, but still intrusive as they only seek to prevent damages and rebuild new, rather than consider the history of the area.