[M:0]
Post by Nathan on Jun 10, 2008 1:22:56 GMT -6
Across the Strait: The Beginnings of Royal Tradition in Natopia
2005?
I.
The Grand Chancellor sat at his desk, viewing the sprawling metropolis of Lindstrom City that covered his window's view. It had been months since he had really looked at the city he loved so. His countrymen had chided him for spending so much time on the Southern Peninsula, away from the crumbling country. The people were angry, angry that their leader abandoned beloved Natopia for Lavalon. There were protests weekly outside Vista de Nada, the Imperial Mansion. The very name of the seat of power means "view of nothing," something the more learned citizens of Natopia took note of quickly.
The city itself was built during the early period of Natopia, back when there was promise. The city still looked magnificent, but to the Chancellor's trained eye, he could see the signs of neglect beginning. Natopia was sliding downward to obscurity. A series of inefficient ministers and representatives had crippled the government and demoralized the people. Immigration was at zero, tourism was dismal, and the economy was in shambles. A vast majority lived in poverty, while the top government officials lived in opulence.
Why would anyone stay? Who would remain in such a horrible country when, in the south, a glistening nation of democracy and stability existed? Some people didn't. The channel between Yellow Island and the Southern Peninsula was reachable for only the most capable swimmers. However, the Grand Chancellor simply took his jet to the Southern Peninsula for business. Which was everyday. He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court there, as well as the Secretary of the Interior, both very honorable and respectable positions. As an active member of the legislature, he had made some political and personal enemies, but he earned the respect of the people in the South. They even knighted him for his services.
He looked down towards the streets and noticed a protest group, a little larger than usual, brandishing signs. A great sigh escaped his mouth. While in Antica he was in awe over the general complacency of the people there. While he was a Korhali, a distinct minority of the Anticans, he was welcomed. When Korhal was dissolved, he remained in Antica, hoping for some military insight from the Anticans, who he beleived to know much of military affairs. This was short lived, as the public outcries forced him back home to Natopia much sooner than he had liked.
An aid came in and told him a Representative had finally shown up in the Legislative Frenzy. A smile crept across his face, he knew it was most likely the Prime Minister, a representative from the far-of Region of Tasneemia, but it was activity nonetheless.
The personal guards escorted him across the street to the Legislative Frenzy. Twice, citizens approached the Grand Chancellor pleading for aid. He turned his head, and silently walked towards the granite columns of the Frenzy building.
II.
Nathan was floored by what, or rather, whom, he saw sitting at the Tasneemian Delegation's table: Robert Davis. Long absent from Natopia, now sitting, chatting with the Prime Minister, in the Frenzy chamber. This had to be a good sign, the return of Natopian pride, industry, and craziness! Nathan rushed up to Rob, and they both heartily shook hands and caught up with each other briefly.
Rob took his seat with Tasneem, the prime minister, and Nathan walked up to the lavish Grand Consul's Chair, a relic from Natopia's early days, sat down, and called the three-person legislature to order. Business was quickly taken care of, after weeks of inactivity, a true legislature requires at least three people Nathan mused to himself.
III.
Nathan saw Rob and Tasneem off at the Central Tether Station. The tethers interconnected the major cities of Natopia, Lindstrom City, Anmutstadt, Tasneemia City, and Hazelwood Colony. They were built during Natopia's period of Allied Sovereign States and, using architecture and technology recovered from the ruins of Natopia City. After the Tasneemians were on board the Tether Capsule, the capsule was released and the released tension pushed it off for the other side of the island, towards the lush fields of Tasneemia. Nathan returned to the bleak inner walls of Vista de Nada and the protestors outside.
Despite the Imperial propaganda touting Tasneemia as the lush northern frontier of Natopia, the Region was lacking in organization. The Tasneemians were perhaps more mad at their Regional Chancellor, Tasneem, than they were at their Grand Chancellor, who ruled from across the island. Tasneem, was the President of Lavalon as well. And if the Natopians in Lindstrom City were upset over the offices Nathan held in Lavalon, the Natopians in Tasneemia were furious with their leader leaving to rule the Southern Peninsula.
Rob stumbled out of the tether capsule, rather dizzily. If you are not native to Natopia, tether travel can be as upsetting as space travel. Tasneem excused herself and Rob went to wander the Region he helped create. He was shocked to find the government buildings still functioning as they did under Natopia's previous policy on Regions: uniformity. The Government House had not been converted to the Majlis, as the Tasneemian constitution specified. The Tasneemian constitution that he wrote. Rob immediately walked up to the Government House and posted a list entitled: "A Couple of Questions" directed to the Regional Chancellor and inquiring how Tasneemia was to be re-invigorated.
The re-invigoration never occurred.
IV.
Tasneem and Rob met Nathan in Wild Goat Pub, the most famous eatery in Natopia. Nathan wished to discuss the role of Regions in Natopia. The first suggestion was to go in a completely different direction than traditional Regional philosophy and to strip the Regions of their rights and delegate specific powers to them. Rob, a duke from the Kingdom of Gotzborg, suggested a more royal or feudal structure. With that suggestion, Natopia went down the road of attaining a Noble class. References to Regions were removed from the Constitution, and the Regions dissolved themselves. Two Regions had already been dissolved by Decree prior to this, Macon and Hazelwood, and now the once illustrious Regions of Ziegeland-Lochhatonia and Tasneemia dissolved themselves. It was the end of the Regional tradition, a tradition that was established during the Second Reorganization, when Natopia was months old.
Now the Nobility would begin. The Order of the Black Hole, an honor society of Natopians was re-chartered as a chivalric order. The Defender of the Order, Nathan, was given the title of Sovereign. Protectors were knighted. The Sovereign gave knights Peerages and the right to administer sections of Natopian territory. The Region of Tasneemia was essentially dissolved, but Tasneem was a Knight, and granted the Title of Archduchess of Tasneemia, so now, where the Islamic Republic once stood, is an Archduchy. Rob was also granted an Archduchy, Robland. The two Founders beside Nathan were given Counties, Pavleton and Punkrock. Punkrock has taken a unique "pro-anarchy, pro-Natopia" policy and has attracted many non-Punkrockers to the county.
The Frenzy, with the dissolution of Regions, now had to be filled with new, non-Region-appointed Representatives. A suggestion of direct democracy was shot down due to experiences in Lavalon, a direct democracy, where executive and judicial officials participated in the legislature, effectively biasing them towards any legal issues. The solution was to have the entire populace vote for Representatives that have been nominated and seconded.
(this is an unfinished manuscript with no intention of being completed)
2005?
I.
The Grand Chancellor sat at his desk, viewing the sprawling metropolis of Lindstrom City that covered his window's view. It had been months since he had really looked at the city he loved so. His countrymen had chided him for spending so much time on the Southern Peninsula, away from the crumbling country. The people were angry, angry that their leader abandoned beloved Natopia for Lavalon. There were protests weekly outside Vista de Nada, the Imperial Mansion. The very name of the seat of power means "view of nothing," something the more learned citizens of Natopia took note of quickly.
The city itself was built during the early period of Natopia, back when there was promise. The city still looked magnificent, but to the Chancellor's trained eye, he could see the signs of neglect beginning. Natopia was sliding downward to obscurity. A series of inefficient ministers and representatives had crippled the government and demoralized the people. Immigration was at zero, tourism was dismal, and the economy was in shambles. A vast majority lived in poverty, while the top government officials lived in opulence.
Why would anyone stay? Who would remain in such a horrible country when, in the south, a glistening nation of democracy and stability existed? Some people didn't. The channel between Yellow Island and the Southern Peninsula was reachable for only the most capable swimmers. However, the Grand Chancellor simply took his jet to the Southern Peninsula for business. Which was everyday. He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court there, as well as the Secretary of the Interior, both very honorable and respectable positions. As an active member of the legislature, he had made some political and personal enemies, but he earned the respect of the people in the South. They even knighted him for his services.
He looked down towards the streets and noticed a protest group, a little larger than usual, brandishing signs. A great sigh escaped his mouth. While in Antica he was in awe over the general complacency of the people there. While he was a Korhali, a distinct minority of the Anticans, he was welcomed. When Korhal was dissolved, he remained in Antica, hoping for some military insight from the Anticans, who he beleived to know much of military affairs. This was short lived, as the public outcries forced him back home to Natopia much sooner than he had liked.
An aid came in and told him a Representative had finally shown up in the Legislative Frenzy. A smile crept across his face, he knew it was most likely the Prime Minister, a representative from the far-of Region of Tasneemia, but it was activity nonetheless.
The personal guards escorted him across the street to the Legislative Frenzy. Twice, citizens approached the Grand Chancellor pleading for aid. He turned his head, and silently walked towards the granite columns of the Frenzy building.
II.
Nathan was floored by what, or rather, whom, he saw sitting at the Tasneemian Delegation's table: Robert Davis. Long absent from Natopia, now sitting, chatting with the Prime Minister, in the Frenzy chamber. This had to be a good sign, the return of Natopian pride, industry, and craziness! Nathan rushed up to Rob, and they both heartily shook hands and caught up with each other briefly.
Rob took his seat with Tasneem, the prime minister, and Nathan walked up to the lavish Grand Consul's Chair, a relic from Natopia's early days, sat down, and called the three-person legislature to order. Business was quickly taken care of, after weeks of inactivity, a true legislature requires at least three people Nathan mused to himself.
III.
Nathan saw Rob and Tasneem off at the Central Tether Station. The tethers interconnected the major cities of Natopia, Lindstrom City, Anmutstadt, Tasneemia City, and Hazelwood Colony. They were built during Natopia's period of Allied Sovereign States and, using architecture and technology recovered from the ruins of Natopia City. After the Tasneemians were on board the Tether Capsule, the capsule was released and the released tension pushed it off for the other side of the island, towards the lush fields of Tasneemia. Nathan returned to the bleak inner walls of Vista de Nada and the protestors outside.
Despite the Imperial propaganda touting Tasneemia as the lush northern frontier of Natopia, the Region was lacking in organization. The Tasneemians were perhaps more mad at their Regional Chancellor, Tasneem, than they were at their Grand Chancellor, who ruled from across the island. Tasneem, was the President of Lavalon as well. And if the Natopians in Lindstrom City were upset over the offices Nathan held in Lavalon, the Natopians in Tasneemia were furious with their leader leaving to rule the Southern Peninsula.
Rob stumbled out of the tether capsule, rather dizzily. If you are not native to Natopia, tether travel can be as upsetting as space travel. Tasneem excused herself and Rob went to wander the Region he helped create. He was shocked to find the government buildings still functioning as they did under Natopia's previous policy on Regions: uniformity. The Government House had not been converted to the Majlis, as the Tasneemian constitution specified. The Tasneemian constitution that he wrote. Rob immediately walked up to the Government House and posted a list entitled: "A Couple of Questions" directed to the Regional Chancellor and inquiring how Tasneemia was to be re-invigorated.
The re-invigoration never occurred.
IV.
Tasneem and Rob met Nathan in Wild Goat Pub, the most famous eatery in Natopia. Nathan wished to discuss the role of Regions in Natopia. The first suggestion was to go in a completely different direction than traditional Regional philosophy and to strip the Regions of their rights and delegate specific powers to them. Rob, a duke from the Kingdom of Gotzborg, suggested a more royal or feudal structure. With that suggestion, Natopia went down the road of attaining a Noble class. References to Regions were removed from the Constitution, and the Regions dissolved themselves. Two Regions had already been dissolved by Decree prior to this, Macon and Hazelwood, and now the once illustrious Regions of Ziegeland-Lochhatonia and Tasneemia dissolved themselves. It was the end of the Regional tradition, a tradition that was established during the Second Reorganization, when Natopia was months old.
Now the Nobility would begin. The Order of the Black Hole, an honor society of Natopians was re-chartered as a chivalric order. The Defender of the Order, Nathan, was given the title of Sovereign. Protectors were knighted. The Sovereign gave knights Peerages and the right to administer sections of Natopian territory. The Region of Tasneemia was essentially dissolved, but Tasneem was a Knight, and granted the Title of Archduchess of Tasneemia, so now, where the Islamic Republic once stood, is an Archduchy. Rob was also granted an Archduchy, Robland. The two Founders beside Nathan were given Counties, Pavleton and Punkrock. Punkrock has taken a unique "pro-anarchy, pro-Natopia" policy and has attracted many non-Punkrockers to the county.
The Frenzy, with the dissolution of Regions, now had to be filled with new, non-Region-appointed Representatives. A suggestion of direct democracy was shot down due to experiences in Lavalon, a direct democracy, where executive and judicial officials participated in the legislature, effectively biasing them towards any legal issues. The solution was to have the entire populace vote for Representatives that have been nominated and seconded.
(this is an unfinished manuscript with no intention of being completed)