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Post by Fleischmann on Oct 14, 2021 1:03:12 GMT
At approximately 1900 hours local time off the western coast of Ostrea, a 8.0 earthquake woke up people as far away as West-Thosel-Cransconia. Immediately, some houses collapsed causing fires to start as cooking fires and hearths were lit at this time. As the shaking continued on, vital rail lines were severed causing several derailments and cutting off much of the logistical network, with goods only being able to be moved over long distances by river boat quickly. Within two hours, a tidal wave had been generated from this action and had travelled to tho Westajlandin, causing great destruction and chaos there. In total, around three-hundred thousand people died from the initial earthquake, with estimates for total deaths from the tidal wave and following chaos rising up to eight-hundred thousand. Many cities suffered catastrophic damages as a result, though none were quite as badly hit as the capital and Hlawbaugs, which were nearly totally levelled by the event. As of now, internal trade has ground to a near total halt between the interior of the Raikh and the exterior. Refugees clog up the roads and make overland trade difficult, with horror stories coming out of places about the great fires that raged through cities as buildings collapsed. Currently, most news stories have been stopped with government censors directing papers to print only vital information, such as maps telling people where there are shortages and where they should not be going.
Morthal (48% destroyed) Wovthal (16% destroyed) Widugarda (39% destroyed) Pinij-bi-Morei (24% destroyed) Hlawbaugs (75% destroyed) Blairhaim (80% destroyed) Railways (31% destroyed) Dangle Trains (64% destroyed) Home Seas Fleet (26% damaged) Mini-Rail (62% destroyed)  |
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Post by xander10 on Oct 14, 2021 14:29:13 GMT
Engineer companies and merchants from Sheen travel to Sadalen to provide their economic services to assist in repairs and feeding the homeless, while also boosting their profit margins.
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Post by Fleischmann on Oct 14, 2021 17:55:08 GMT
Engineer companies and merchants from Sheen travel to Sadalen to provide their economic services to assist in repairs and feeding the homeless, while also boosting their profit margins. For the first two weeks, dragoons, outriders, and those simply capable of riding a horse had been tasked with making emergency repairs to the telegraph lines. In areas where this was not possible, they had been turned into couriers, allowing for at last basic communications to resume. From one end of the Raikh to the other, martial law had been declared, with refugees now being rounded up and moved to ad-hoc settlement camps set up by the Harjisin. Estimates of the damages were quickly rising to astronomical amounts, with total estimates of the destruction reaching as much as around four-hundred and thirty-three million Thaler by the end of the month; even if the government was able to repair all the infrastructure destroyed in a month, the economic repercussions would be felt for years to come. As such, a bold new plan was being proposed. One which would transform the country and create far more redundancy in the transportation network. Due to the very limited nature of the rail network, a third of it being destroyed had been enough to cripple the rest of the network. There were only a handful of alternative routes to destinations from the cities lucky enough to be connected to the network, whilst most others had to rely on slow and winding roads, rivers, or canals to connect them to other parts of the empire. This state of affairs had previously been ideal, as it allowed for rapid deployment of military forces to the frontlines while also limiting how fast any invasion or rebellion could spread, but now it had become a deadly weakness that had to be dealt with. To tackle both the weaknesses in the rail network and also the vast numbers of homeless and displaced, Swersgesat set aside an incredible two-hundred and fifty million Thaler as a loan to the government for the purpose of buying land and the construction of a new spiderweb-like network of railways. Land survey data was called in from all the Landin, with outriders being sent to areas which had not been surveyed recently to confirm their state and resources. From that, new towns were planned and lines plotted out. It would take years, but if they did this, they would be able to recover from this grevious blow and come out stronger than ever. Now all that was needed, was to get the Sheenish to begin the initial work required to start the project and get the industrial heartlands connected once more to the outside world.  |
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Post by Fleischmann on Oct 15, 2021 18:00:30 GMT
The Raikhsgamotjing was in a state of chaos. Despite the rest of the city being flattened, all the government buildings were still in working condition and so they had not had any trouble continuing their business, even if it was an emergency. Once the lines of communication had been opened up again, the true extent of their financial troubles became clear. Sixty-eight milliard. That is how much they were short by. They had called upon the various Landin to provide funds, explaining the plans to rebuild, but they had almost all declined to do so and had only sent token amounts, with only the eastern Landin being able to contribute the amounts asked of them.
They were all in states of shock and were trying to deal with their own problems on their own. While admirable, it had led to a deadly division of resources. Things that should have been ignored and left on the back-burner were getting attention whilst things that needed to be dealt with immediately or else the entire Raikh face calamity were being left to fester. Sending the Raikhsharjis was not an option... While it would work, no one wanted to march an army through their homes and seize things by force. It would break what little was left of the balance between the Swersgesatt and the Landin.
This brought us to the current argument... Debasing the currency to pay for the repairs and work. 'Quiet down, quiet down!' shouted the speaker. The debate had been furious between the various camps, with guards having to be called in when weapons were drawn. 'Would the Lord speaking for the debasement faction please continue.' 'Thank you, Lord-Speaker. As I was saying, we are already going to be facing a great deal of inflation from all the spending we are doing, we must ensure that the damages we suffer to-day and to-morrow are worth it by enabling the Raikh to grow beyond its former heights!'
Standing up, a man from the opposition challenged him. 'And what of the elderly, let alone the authority of this august body and holy duty we have to our ancestors to uphold the traditions and good promises of the past? If we turn out backs on these obligations, we will not only bring shame to us, but to our ancestors and future generations! We must safe guard these things, not toss them aside for some temporary gain.'
The arguments went on like this back and forth. After six hours, they came to a compromise position. Rather than debasing the currency, they would issue bonds to the public with five percent interest upon maturation on top of the full amount returned. This would not cover all the costs, but it would at least be a start and would take some money out of the economy.
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Post by xander10 on Oct 15, 2021 18:01:24 GMT
In response to acquired data from the foreign affairs minister of Sadalen, it was seen to by a conglomoration of private investors, government officials and the Government of the City of Sheen that £30 Billion would be loaned to the Government of Sadalen at a 6% interest rate. Attached with this loan was a demand for a photo of the hostage to make sure it was okay.
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Post by Fleischmann on Oct 15, 2021 18:11:39 GMT
From: Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Vauhoks Abasunus
To: The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Garend Marston of the City of Sheen
Most Honourable and Steadfast Utlandugsgesatja,
We hope you are well.
As you have no doubt heard, our entire realm was hit by a great disaster recently. It brings shame to us to have to inform you of this, but the hostage which you send to us has unfortunately departed for its next life. It was tragically and cruelly crushed when one of our dungeon's vaulted sections collapsed, crushing it and many of its kind.
We would love to accept your loan, but we must first settle our obligations to you. We understand if you execute your hostage and will naturally be sending the body of ours back to you with full state honours and an honour guard. If it so pleases you, we would like to reaffirm our pact through the exchange of new hostages as well, but we understand if that must wait until later.
We hope that our future correspondences are not so grave going forward.
Yours,
Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Vauhoks Abasunus
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Post by xander10 on Oct 15, 2021 18:19:11 GMT
From: Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Vauhoks Abasunus
To: The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Garend Marston of the City of SheenMost Honourable and Steadfast Utlandugsgesatja, We hope you are well. As you have no doubt heard, our entire realm was hit by a great disaster recently. It brings shame to us to have to inform you of this, but the hostage which you send to us has unfortunately departed for its next life. It was tragically and cruelly crushed when one of our dungeon's vaulted sections collapsed, crushing it and many of its kind. We would love to accept your loan, but we must first settle our obligations to you. We understand if you execute your hostage and will naturally be sending the body of ours back to you with full state honours and an honour guard. If it so pleases you, we would like to reaffirm our pact through the exchange of new hostages as well, but we understand if that must wait until later. We hope that our future correspondences are not so grave going forward. Yours, Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Vauhoks Abasunus The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Garend Marston of the City of Sheen To: Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Vauhoks Abasunus Dear Vauhoks Abasunus, Hauhkuno af this Raikh af Hize Dalin, I am indeed well, and glad that you are too. I can also confirm that on hearing this dreadful news, our hostage was mysteriously hung, drawn and quartered before being given a sailors burial in Tholish Waters. We would indeed like to re-exchange hostages as soon as reasonably possible, preferably ones that contain fewer maggots. Regards, The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Garend Marston of the City of Sheen |
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Post by The Kerndom of Noreska on Oct 15, 2021 20:46:39 GMT
To the Sa Hauhkuno af this Raikh af hize Dalin, Vauhoks Abasunus
From the Kern of Noreska: Aelbert Vertorixx III
It has come to the attention of your northern neighbors of your current plight. We too have suffered minor harm not fit to be measured against the suffering of your people. Understanding your current plight, and what strides you have nobly taken at great cost to care for your people, I write to you now to offer a chance to alleviate that burden. It is well known that we in Noreska have strange ways compared to those who have been part of the international community longer than we, but among those strange ways is an opportunity to benefit your nation and ours. I have sent an offer to the City states of Sheen to purchase the debt owed by your government.
It is a windfall for us all that Noreskan banking practices have yet to catch up with modern systems, as our purchas of your debt will erase the expectaion of 6% interest, and will allow you to pay off your debt in agricultural yields equal to whatever you are willing and able to pay per year, until such time as the debt has been complete. We are offering a space of 10 years to pay off your debt to us in agricultural produce. We understand your recent troubles have left you in dire straights, and will forgo payments for the first year, should you be unable to offer any.
It is my hope that this deal will be mutually beneficial to us all, and foster cooperation between our nations for years to come.
With prayers to the gods for the return of your prosperity: The Kern of Noreska Vertorixx III
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Post by The Kerndom of Noreska on Oct 15, 2021 21:06:53 GMT
To The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Garend Marston of the City of Sheen
From: Kern Vertorixx III of Noreska
It has come to our attention that your nation has by various means acquired debt from the Nation of Sadalen, through your noble offers of aid and support for them during this difficult time. The Terns of Noreska have agreed and gathered a hoard of gold and silver with other precious metals to purchase that debt.
Our offered price:
10.000 ounces of Platinum
24.400.000 ounces of Gold
75.000.000 ounces of Silver
In addition to this, we have agreed under the law of the Terns to grant 5000 of your citizens Gelship, and rights to Free hyrd for the space of 10 years for the purpose of the construction of our own rail system, and the rights to operation and profits from the tariffs for that rail system for that space of 10 years.
We hope that this offer finds you well, and is adequate to your needs. Through this offer we hope to better the lives of all nations involved and foster cooperation between our nations.
Kern Vertorixx III of Noreska.
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Post by xander10 on Oct 15, 2021 21:42:10 GMT
To The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Garend Marston of the City of Sheen From: Kern Vertorixx III of Noreska It has come to our attention that your nation has by various means acquired debt from the Nation of Sadalen, through your noble offers of aid and support for them during this difficult time. The Terns of Noreska have agreed and gathered a hoard of gold and silver with other precious metals to purchase that debt. Our offered price: 10.000 ounces of Platinum 24.400.000 ounces of Gold 75.000.000 ounces of Silver In addition to this, we have agreed under the law of the Terns to grant 5000 of your citizens Gelship, and rights to Free hyrd for the space of 10 years for the purpose of the construction of our own rail system, and the rights to operation and profits from the tariffs for that rail system for that space of 10 years. We hope that this offer finds you well, and is adequate to your needs. Through this offer we hope to better the lives of all nations involved and foster cooperation between our nations. Kern Vertorixx III of Noreska. To: Kern Vertorixx III of Noreska From: The Right Honourable Lord Mayor Garend Marston of the City of Sheen Your Excellency, Having spoken to my advisors, I find your offer to have found us well and more than adequate for our needs. We will gladly accept your offer and in return, gift your nation with the tooling for our model 1194 service rifles as a mark of our gratitude. Kindest Regards, Lord Mayor Garend Marston. |
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Post by Fleischmann on Oct 19, 2021 0:57:11 GMT
Due to the recent government spending, the Hauhkunoleiksflutt has been forced to sell off the damaged ships from the Great Rumbling.
So Staua af Gedweolä (02-BKnS) - £166.444.847,77 - Sold to Sheen!
So Morthal (02-KSnS) - £89.141.093,42
So Grothaarigman (08-KSlS) - £41.701.759,42
So Supleiksfrijonds (12-KKtS) - £17.320.755,97
So Blotugs Frauja (13-KKtS) - £17.320.755,97
So Willkom Blom (14-KKtS) - £17.320.755,97
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Post by Fleischmann on Oct 24, 2021 7:47:25 GMT
As at first a stream of tens of reports turned into hundreds, the Hauhkuno looked on in a state of mild terror at what was apparently happening. Over the months, new ideas had started to come in from Sheen. Dangerous ideas, ones which if followed would destroy what unity the Raikh had and reduce it to little more than a set of squabbling states that would surely begin warring against one another if left to their own devices. The Common Law, the constitution, or simply the Ottoling Code... This was the unifying force that held much of their empire together, yet now it was being challenged.
At the same time, work on recovering from the earthquake had been slow to start. Not because of lack of will, but because they had been forced to wrangle bankers and chase after loans from foreign powers to afford the work. The Landin, for all their fears, had grown a backbone and refused to give up the resources necessary to help them and the Raikh as a whole recover. They were also now panicking at the spread of the dangerous thoughts and had started trying to deal with them on their own, only in the most dire of situations asking for assistance.
This fractured mess would not stand. If the crisis passed, then another would eventually come and the realm would shatter again and it might not simply reunify after another civil war. As loathe as he was to admit it to himself, he needed more power... His uncle's agitations for a divine monarchy swam in his head. While they were obviously too extreme, he was starting to admit that they had merit. A more centralised realm, with a stronger moral and material obligation to him, that was what was needed. Pulling out his bones, he began casting them to ask for guidance: Should his efforts begin in the spiritual, seizing the souls of his subjects and amplifying his divinity; should his efforts be political, mending the structures that exist now and reforging them into what they need to be: or should his efforts be military, taking his armies and once more laying waste to the Landin that oppose him, making himself into the visage of a conqueror and dragging everyone towards his vision of strength through blood and iron?
While he was certain he would need to take all three approaches, he just did not know which would be his main focus. As the bones clattered in his cup, he shook them and then threw them onto the table. After reading the runes carved into them, he understood what needed to be done. Political reform would be his main focus for now, he would get the priests to praise him later.
Sitting down once more, plans began to whirl in his mind. The Raikhsgamotjing had already taken a massive loan from him and his family. While they would be ruined should the loan not be repaid, it did give him extraordinary powers over the thoughts and actions of those that needed the money. He could not act openly and force them using his powers as Hauhkuno, no, that would incite revolts... He was going to need to use the money instead. He began searching through his reports and found those that outlined which realms were the weakest, which need money the most, and which were suffering from riots. He removed those he knew were loyal to him, his own Land, Meinitzmark, Uttamar, and Onabega would support him out of principle. No, instead he needed to win over Wistragel, Narvik, Widumar, Rukonen & Konn, thai Fraujinassusen, and Plattland.
They would all be desperate for money and the resumption of trade, as they were the hardest hit. Thinking it over, the solution seemed simple. He would begin work on their infrastructure, send troops in to help keep public order around the new lines, and then tell them to privately to support his reforms. If they said no, he would have funding and aid cut back using the excuse of some other place being in a more desperate situation and then ask again... Once they fell in line, he would not need to bribe or threaten the others. If the entirety of the west as well as Plattland and Meinitzmark fell into lockstep, the east would have little choice but to agree. Their livelihoods, their protection, and more importantly their new infrastructure were all coming from the west. It is only natural for them to agree.
Having a rough idea of how he would carry through his reforms, he now needed a plan... That could come later. For now, he should begin setting things into motion.
'Honourable Kuno Karl af Wistragel, I write to you this day in order to offer our aid in your rebuilding...'
I just felt like this would be a reasonable way to start. Thinking about it, the inability of the government to raise taxes in such a critical time would set alarm bells off. There is no way that the current system can survive, people will either realise how weak the Swersgesatt is or the Swersgesatt will have to rectify the issue of too much self-interest from its vassals.
Oh, and because I can not really think of a way to make the rebuilding interesting or to work it in, rebuilding has already begun in Morthal and the Land af hize Dalin, as well as in Uttamar, since those territories were both badly hit and are firmly supporting the Emperor and his government. The rest of the repairs have only just begun and will be getting followed on by secret communications strong arming the governments into allowing a reformation of the government to occur.
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Post by Fleischmann on Nov 2, 2021 16:05:10 GMT
'Orders from above say that we are to "quietly" observe proceedings. No one is to know what we are doing and for now there is to be no note taking... At most, you are to try and get involved in doing deliveries for them.' A bespectacled former naval officer stood in front of his new men. They had been drawn from the Raikhsharjis, the various Landsharjisin, local security agencies, detective agencies, and other law enforcement. Many of them were at the age of retirement, with only a few overly eagre young men mixed in. This was to be the first operation of the euphemistically named Fruma Hilpandbahts af Morthal. They were in effect, a new part of the military. They were for the moment part of the existing military intelligence organisations, but rumour had it that they would be assuming all internal responsibilities very shortly. The men all nodded their understanding and started lighting up pipes and pulling on their coats so they could go out onto the streets. As they shuffled up the stairs and out of the cellar, they were all greeted by the wonderfully cool and damp air of the city. They had been given a tip off that about some new 'reformist' meetings happening at a nearby poolhall and so they headed there at a leisurely pace, chatting as they went. For all intents and purposes, they appeared to be a bunch of workmen who had just come off shift. Reaching the poolhall, most of them were allowed in after nothing more than a cursory inspection, the few that were not had been told it was because there was not enough room, and truly there was not. Refugees and workers from all overy the city seemed to be gathered here, most of them primarily interested in the free soup and hot cider. The men broke up, some going to the free food and drink, whilst others wandered to the radiators and fireplace where people were talking. After about an hour and a half of socialising and getting comfortable, the doors to the place were quietly shut and then bolted. All the windows were covered up too. 'If I may have your attention, please!' shouted a man with a thick eastern accent. 'Thank you. I would like to begin this meeting by saying how glad I am to see so many returning faces! What's more, I can see that plenty of you have brought friends along too, since... Well, it's all elbows and hats in here, with nary enough space for an apple to fall.' This got a small chuckle from those gathered, as the man seemed to be more nervous temple goer than affable ideologue. 'It is written in this book, that the meek shall inherit the earth. It is likewise written that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than it is for a richman to get into heaven. I feel, that these words and many words like them in other religious texts are ultimately what keeps us down! Why should we have to suffer in this world with the only promises of comeuppance for tyrants and dictators being in the next life? Why should we be forced to send our children to fight in their wars, work in their mines, and toil in their fields, when their children are given teachers and schooling so that they might in future rule ours? I tell you why, it is so they can keep their comfortable live and keep us all in the darkness of superstitions and ignorance! They know that knowledge is power, they know that ideas can not be easily caught and killed, and they want us to become drunk off of dreams and fantasies so that we never seek to question the current order and try to better ourselves, as they do!' With each sentence, the nervousness of the man disappeared. He became fiery in his rhetoric and assured in the rightness of his words, with the crowd at first only agreeing but in time becoming enraptured by his ideas of freedom of thought, political equality, and education for all. By the time he was done, the crowd were cheering him on and clapping. 'So I must ask, who here is willing to work for this great cause? Who is willing to risk themselves against the oppressors to bring light and social justice to this country and the world?' Immediately, the officers in the crowd shot up their hands and shouted 'We are!' and 'Tell us what to do!', which caused a few others who were not with them to join in as well. 'Thank you brothers, thank you! Come forward, and join me then. To the rest of you, I thank you for your time and support and ask that you simply come when you can, tell others you think might be interested, and support us when you can. I will be surrendering my position now to others, who would like to tell you about their ideas and such. Please welcome Mrs. Beck.' With that, the man got down from his box and speaking position and a stout woman replaced him. She went on to discuss poor-relief and it became evidently clear that she was largely responsible for the food and drink here. The officers that had volunteered during the man's speech were allowed to go and talk with him and after a brief 'How do you do?' and other pleasantries, they were led into a back room with materials and most importantly lists for them. Each man was asked where they lived, what hours they worked, and so on, and were then given packets and a lists which they were to use for resupplying. They were given jobs, such as placing pamphlets discreetly in workmen's cafes and helping to deliver illegally printed papers to certain locations. After confirming that they were up to the task and then being introduced to some of the other staff, they were let go. A few hours later and after making sure no one was being tailed, the various officers met up in their dingy basement underneath a laundry and began comparing lists and things that they had observed. Their first operation and they had successfully gotten a good ways into infiltrating this 'Illuminati'.  |
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Post by Fleischmann on Nov 16, 2021 8:19:21 GMT
Operations in the Morthal area had been going well. Fifteen distribution cells had been discovered, identified, and infiltrated since the Fruma Hilpandbahts af Morthal had accidentally stumbled into being part of the Illuminati's network of couriers. While there had yet to be any chances to find out who was involved in operations in other regions or how extensive they were, evidence was pointing to the increasingly impossible to deny conclusion that this organisation had much wider reach than initially thought. Five days ago, they had several operatives tasked with carrying out hand-offs of multi-language pamphlets and sealed documents to railwaymen heading both east and west. Nothing was going towards the south it seemed, but that might have been just a quirk of their network. The names of the men had been noted down, their uniform numbers memorised, and trains looked up. They were all now being added to watch lists, with new offices being founded in other regions to try and expand the catchment. That said, there had been some good news. Besides the odd arrest and raids whenever one of the Illuminati groups or members did something a bit too obvious and illegal, three officers had been attacked by criminals belonging to so called 'Heiwräda', families of criminals who dropped their names and swore frankpledges to each other, tying themselves legally to their heads. These new organisations would have been concerning in any other time, but now they had taken on an almost beatific light to themselves. They had been providing protection to neighbourhoods and stores, running gambling and pimping, and engaging in every type of vice imaginable, but they had been ensuring that rather than having street fighting between various gangs out in the open, such things were kept quiet and away from the eyes of the authorities. To add to this though, they had found themselves in direct opposition to the Illuminati, who had for moral reasons, taken to trying to fight them and convert their workers and members to their cause. The Illuminati for all its appeal to the downtrodden, has managed to step on the toes of the criminal class a bit too much and were now finding themselves at the beginning of what promised to be a very long and blood gang war. Naturally of course, the Fruma Hilpandbahts were all over this and had now made contact with several of the Heiwräda. While slow to trust at first, they had started to experimentally act on the leads given to them and were now disrupting Illuminati operations with increasing vigour. This little war that was brewing was nothing but goodness for those loyal to the Hauhkuno, as it was promising to provide quite a bit of good propaganda against both the criminals and the Illuminati. There were a few of the Heiwräda that were outright patriotic from what could be gathered, but their strict membership requirements made infiltrating them a daunting task. It was one thing to lie to someone about your intentions to get into their good graces, it was another entirely to swear a frankpledge and then break it. For the time being, these groups and their inner machinations would remain a mystery, until one of their members could be induced to breaking his sacred pledge and made to turn on those he was tied to. Else where in the Raikh though, intelligence officers were being organised into new units and given command of veteran soldiers whose loyalty was beyond reproach. They had started to call themselves Kunosmen informally amongst themselves and were being tasked with acting upon the information that was being given to them by the Fruma Hilpandbahts and other sister outfits.
Pink - Controlled by Gangs Orange - Controlled by Illuminati Red - Controlled by the Military |
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