Bjornoya

Dear God don't make me go through that 200+ page monster to find them, they are a minority but they are on the winning side. And no I don't think that Karma would even consider this, but having these voices within their ranks considerably weakens the belief any substantial change will occur with this changing of the guard.

I am fully aware of this, but there are many individual voices coming from Karma that speak in favor of disbandment.

12:32 am bump

Maybe this will change people's mind's (doubt it) over the suggestions to make NPO disband.

The results of the 'are we harsh' poll, although with far less participation, now stand at ~40% yes, 60% no now. Make of that what u will.

wow first? won't benefit community at large imo Change in leadership and having NPO do 'community service' would set better example, instead went for same old bs. Meet the new boss, same as the old one.

First it would not be what can or can't be done, but what should be done. Second I hardly consider forum guidelines or alliance rules to be 'fancy papers' Having a set of community principles would not necessarily bring more propaganda, in fact that's what I'm trying to address. Many people accuse alliances and players of doing evil things in the game without really explaining themselves well or at all. Having a fairly concrete vision of what our principles are would remove riff-raff. I would rather this not degrade into a 'should we have a bill of rights' but rather what, if anything players should expect and contribute to the community as a whole. The assumption is to play this game you have to be in an alliance which I don't think should feel necessary.

I think that the creation of a player bill of rights in itself would serve a purpose, regardless of wither or not it could be enforced. IRL it is a similar situation, there are a set of human rights that cannot be enforced, but they are a good universal indicator of what 'good' and 'bad' is. It could be used to pass judgement on somewhat more universal grounds. In my view alliances have considerably hindered individuals' actions within the game, setting limits on who they can and can't declare war on, who they can and can't aid, even associate with. I am personally against tech raids but if that's how an individual wishes to a play so be it. From what I've heard there are worse evils going on. If the rest of your argument is correct then there really shouldn't be any talk of good or evil in the game with any objectivity, it is all merely a power struggle over pixels, which very well might be the case. But I think there is more to it than that.

It has come to my attention many members have difficulty expressing what they view as morally 'right' or 'wrong' within Cybernations, and with good reason. We attempt to equate in game situations with ooc events of the most extreme situations; the disbandment of an alliance is the death of a culture, the leaving of a player from the game under stressed situations is a death or murder. While I do agree that alliance disbandment and attempting to force individual players to leave under any circumstances are 'bad' I would not equate them with such extreme measures, but nonetheless need to be described so the perpetrator can understand why what they are doing is wrong. What I am proposing is a player's 'bill of rights' of sort that would be used to describe why an alliance or individual's action goes against common principle. I cannot and will not come up with what our 'common principles' are as I am but one member, but I have some ideas. 1) Respect, the most wishy-washy word we have to telling people to 'act nicely.' Disrespect can occur both on the forums, in game, and on IRC. Alliances and individuals have at times stepped up to correct disrespectful behavior in all these forums, but a joint consensus by the community on what this means would benefit all of us. 2) Self determinations; players should be allowed to play the game how they want to, on their own terms. Sadly alliances have at times stifled this notion, the ideals of 'honor' and 'loyalty' are used to see the Alliance's goals, not necessarily the individuals', and the community at large often stifles individuals. The ability to play on your own terms, in my view, is what makes the game 'fun.' The raging debate over NPO's actions, for example, I think is off the mark. Without holding 'fun' as an ideal, the only thing NPO has been guilty of is playing the game very well. But, in being so ambitious in trying to win an unbeatable game they have made the game considerably less fun for many individuals to the point where the individuals leave. 3) Which leads me to my third principle; community. The leaving of any player should be viewed as a loss to the community, the recruitment of any player should be a gain for the community. Many people decry rightful how alliances have urged (some say forced) players to leave the game. NPO as the example again, have committed actions which ultimately resulted in players leaving. In defeat, if the victors actually care about the community at large rather than their own alliances' (or own nations' ) strength why not make them recruit new members to the community? There are plenty of ways to introduce new members, either by RL contacts or online social networks. Anyway I am in no way set on these as I'd like to hear from the community what their views are. As I was looking through allainces' charters and constitutions very view had a preamble or anything similar to address what their alliance goals are for themselves or the community, (know mine doesn't should prbly work on that) so I come to ask what are your goals in this game, what are your principles other than merely alliance preservation? Survivalism alone is no principle, things should exist for a purpose, what is yours? Oh, and sense this contains both ic and ooc arguments I had no idea where it should go, hope it can stay here :/

I like it, a propaganda war. For those saying that no1 will listen to NPO I remind you that not all players have been here for as long as many of us. The crimes of NPO in the past will not be nearly as appalling to them as the are to those who experienced it. To the newer players a prolonged war being perpetuated by the dominant force will seem like the greater evil. The case will have to be made that they deserve it, but as time goes on that argument will become less effective, like explaining why a kicking a dead carcass 'deserved it.' Time is on Karma's side militarily, but for the propaganda war NPO will likely gain more support as time goes on. Let the battle of the words begin! I think i remember why i like playing this game

Wow, long time no hear. Well glad Moldavi doctrine is gone, as for the war seems like u guys are losing the military battle but if Karma keeps at it u guys might happen to win the CN community over.

1) People don't necessarily believe in the same ideals that their countries expound, in fact I've seen plenty of good rper's play racist or even genocidal nations to make the case against it. 2) I personally think its bad enough the kiddie wheels are on with the word filter, limiting realistic character dialogue in stressed situations. Taking out this evil would just further isolate and limit rper's options and imagination. Why not have every rp start and end like a cheesy Disney movie? Then we can really have that family oriented forum we always wanted... Let me says I watch the rp's but don't wish to participate on these forums due to the limitations in place.

Imperial Empires? Who woulda guessed....

The state's view is that any individual who does not believe in the sanctity of human life should be destroyed, and as I wrote the state is filled with paradoxes. I was aware of this when I wrote it. The additional rational is to criminalize and villainize those with suicidal tendencies in an attempt to shame potential suicidal individuals into not committing the act. This however has no studied basis either in Bjornoya or in rl. I had a thought a while back of rping a citizen who failed when committing suicide, then being sentenced to death by the state and changing his/her mind. Woulda been interesting, very existential.

ooc: Meh, took a look at some of the rp's here and they remind me too much of why I left rp-ing in the first place, so much bickering an squabbling, spend more time writing an argument then an rp. That and I can't say $%&@ on my list of capital offense criminal acts, have to settle for 'forced sex' whatever the hell that means. The lack of crudeness here would irreconcilably hinder my ability to rp my nation's citizens and leaders in an open and honest manner, even if there was a healthier rp-ing atmosphere. Oh well, this is here so if anyone says, 'I wonder what a comprehensive national factbook looks like,' someone might say, 'check Bjornoya's'

Bjornoyan Demographics- Age 1-10: 20.368% 11-20: 18.252% 21-30: 13.243% 31-40: 10.548% 41-50: 9.462% 51-60: 8.536% 61-70: 7.946% 71-80: 7.321% 81-90: 3.765% 91-100: .567% 100+ less than .001 Gender Male: 49.347% Female: 50.653% Sexual Orientation Heterosexual: 89.496% Homosexual: 3.175% Bisexual: 7.329% Family size Children: 3.571 Parents: 1.988 Grandparents: 1.378 Growth Rate 2.092% Average Lifespan Male: 85.281 years Female: 89.451 years Ethnicity White (Pomor): 78.235% White (Germanic): 12.204% White (Latin): 4.486% Jewish: 5.071% Religion Deist (Freemasons): .567% Deist: 25.214% Christian (Eastern Orthodox): 17.238% Christian (Lutheran): 32.302% Christian (Roman Catholic): 10.531% Islam: 29.210% Judaism: 3.432% Atheist: .506% Language Official: Bjornoyan Public use of other languages is considered a misdemeanor in northern states Known Minor Languages: Norwegian, German, Russian Geography Mainland: Archangelsk, Russia Capital: Esthar (Archangelsk) States: Bjornoya (Archanelsk, Komi, Nenetsia) Bjornoyan Highlands (Novaya Zemlya, Franz Joseph Land) Unemployment 3.412% Homelessness .437% Crime Minimal, as soon as the Bjornoyan educational process is fully implemented crime decreases substantially. Capital Offenses: Forced Sex (Age of Consent:18 years) Murder Homicide Grand Theft Domestic Violence Child Abuse Infidelity Drug Smuggling Cannibalism Incest Suicide Abortion Assault Battery Conspiracy Espionage Identity theft Kidnapping Perjury Racketeering Vandalism Felonies: Prostitution Slander Drug possesion Breaking and Entering Animal abuse Sexual Discrimination Racial Discrimination Theft Libel Extortion Arson Blackmail Burglary Theft Counterfeiting Embezzlement Fraud Forgery Larceny Manslaughter Stalking Error Margin +or- .03% Bjornoyan Federal Government Head of State: Patriarch Sedaht Rand Responsibilities: -Co-ordination, maintenance, and growth of the powers within Bjornoya -Creating and maintaining moral use of powers within Bjornoya -Interpretation of powers outside of Bjornoya -Willful support or suppression of above powers The Patriarch rules Bjornoya with near omnipotence. The Patriarch can either implement his will via the construction of a universal and semi-negotiable decree or in the form a negotiable and flexible bill or ammendment. He is capable of summoning Federal troops for use within and outside of Bjornoya's borders, bringing new ammendments and bills to the Word and the Will's floors, creating and signing economic treaties with other nations, and in the event of the death of a Herrgott appointing new members to be voted upon by the Word and the Will. The Patriarch may not force other Herrgotts to step down. Heart of State: Fraugott Lucy Rand Responsibilities -Public announcement and interpretation of decision made by head of state -Primary advisor to head of state -Interpretation, maintenance, and application of all information collected by Federal Government -Heads all non-military educational processes within Bjornoya -Leads all sessions within the The Word and The Will Serving both as Heart of State and the Patriarch's sister, Fraugott Lucy Rand has perhaps the most difficult task amongst the Herrgotts. Lucy must present new ammendments and bills to the Word and the Will for discussion and signing, must interpret, rationalize, and implement various decrees, ammendments, and bills throughout Bjornoya, advise regional governors. Grievances from the populace are presented to her before being discussed within the floors of the Word and the Will. Lucy alone has the power to challenge a decree by the Patriarch and bring it to a vote between the four Herrgotts. 3 of the 4 Herrgotts must vote in favor of a veto in order for it to nulify a Patriarchal decree. Lucy is also in charge of the Federal Ministry of Truth. She is responsible for presenting information to the Patriarch collected by Wilhelm as well as Federal employees within The Will. Lucy also bears the responsibility of determining successful curriculums for the various national schools and has the authority to cancel any educational readings or devices deemed unworthy for their purpose. In the event of the Patriarch's death the Heart of State is first in line to take the position. Right Hand of State: Herrgott Wilhelm Kaufmann Responsibilities: -Use of capital gained by Bjornoya -Maintaining corporate monopoly within Bjornoya (Visara Co.) -Proper redistribution of taxes as declared by the Patriarch The CEO of Visara Corporation and Right Hand of State Wilhelm Kaufmann serves as the primary economical leader within Bjornoya. Capable of raising, cutting, and distributing taxes within the limits of the Patriarch he may bolster or ruin the economy not only of Bjornoya but the world. Visara is the only organization spared regulations by the Patriarch, and bills, amendments, or Patriarchal decrees may not regulate the inner workings of Visara Co. Secret IC: Wilhelm maintains an absolute monopoly of communication and with it he watches for subversive and illegal communications throughout Bjornoya. Wilhelm Kaufmann is also single-handedly responsible for Visara Co. Security Forces which work entirelly independent from Bjornoyan Federal Forces. In the event of the Patriarch's death the Right Hand of State is second in line to take the position. Left Hand of State: Herrgott Jaksehn Hegel Responsibilities: -Logistical, tactical, and intelligent use of all Federal Armed Forces -Education of Federal Peacekeepers -Training of Armed Forces The Left Hand of State Jacksehn Hegel bears the responsibility of educating, training, and mobilizing Bjornoyan Federal Forces. During states of emergency the Herrgott has absolute authority over the movement of all Federal Forces. In the event of the Patriarch's death the Left Hand of State is third in line to take the position. Governors of Federal States Responsibilities: -Enforcement of Bjornoyan morality and culture within their state -Creation and enforcement of regional laws Current Governors Bjornoya Central (Archangelsk, Nenetsia, Komi): none (not necessary due to the Patriarch’s presence) Bjornoyan Highlands (Franz Josef, Novoya Zemlya): Kristopher Noslen Federal Institutions The Word Responsibilities: -Creating, maintaining, surveying, and defining the Bjornoyan language -Manifesting the Patriarch’s will into worded law -Regulating communications within Bjornoya Members: 13 Elected: Every 10 years Headed by the Heart of State The Word is responsible for maintaining the Bjornoyan language and implementing it through Visara Corporation. The precise meanings and complications that arise from Patriarchal decrees, bills, and ammendments are discussed and proposed solutions resolved here. Secret IC: The Word is also responsible for nominating and appointing new members to the Freemason Illuminati. The Will Responsibilities: -Enforcement of laws defined by The Word through courts, police, and prisons -Regulating relational and individual morality within Bjornoya -Advisor to religious leaders within Bjornoya Members: 35 Elected: Every 5 years from each Federal State Headed by Heart of State The Will is responsible for the Federal collection of intelligence, maintaining law and order, and providing their respective regions with appropriate prison centers. The Will is responsible for monitoring all uses of power within Bjornoya and presenting grievances including any human rights violations which would be immediatly voted upon by the Heart of State and Head of State. Only one would need to acknowledge the use of power as abusive for the action to be cancelled. The Will is also responsible for introducing issues to all religious denominations within the Federation to be presented and discussed by the populace. History of Bjornoya: The earliest artifacts of Pomarian ancestry date back to 300 B.C. The region now known as Bjornoya was first inhabited by a group of nomads called the Pomars. For nearly 700 years the Pomars lived within a hunter-gatherer society, never settling or creating large agricultural cities. The various Pomarian tribes lived in harmony, living isolated from one another and from the rest of the world. This created a problem for the Aryans, who had made their way to the Bjornoyan territory sometime during the 2nd century. The Aryans were masters of combat, but in Bjornoya found no concentrated regions of the Pomarian inhabitants to attack. Archeological evidence suggests Pomarian tribes defended themselves with primitive weapons. The lack of any major recorded battles during this time suggests the Pomarians never engaged the Aryans in large-scale combat. The Aryan invaders gave up trying to conquer the region, and settled the first known Bjornoyan town, now known as Esthar. Along with the introduction of tactical combat, the Aryan settlers brought with them the wheel, the horse, and their religion. For the next 300 years, these two groups resided in the same territory without conflict. With the exception of a few trading posts, the Pomars and Aryans never interacted. However during the 5th century the Pomars could not sustain their growing population within the limits of a hunter-gatherer society. During this time the town of Baum was founded by Pomarians in Nenetsia. Many Pomars immigrated to the Aryan town of Esthar as well. The Aryans were at first unwelcoming to the Pomarians. However, the Pomars proved their worth by introducing the Aryans to seafaring. The Pomars had been constructing longboats for centuries. For the Pomarians, the longboats served as a means to acquire fish. For the Aryans, the longboats served as a means to conquer. The Aryan population in Esthar had been dormant for over 400 years, and they grew restless. Some sought adventure, others sought combat. Longboats, navigated by Pomarians and manned by Aryans took sail. Many met a watery fate within the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean, but others were more successful. Archeological sites in Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland all suggest a Bjornoyan presence. More astonishingly, recent sites suggest Bjornoyan longboats made landfall in Bioko, South Africa, Sri-Lanka, Singapore, Wallis, and Futuna. Back on the Bjornoyan mainland, the populace was coming under attack by a new threat. Gothic armies made their way from the west to Esthar, and a bloody fight ensued in 812 A.D. The Goths and Bjornoyans fought valiantly, but in the end the Pomarian knowledge of the terrain coupled with the ferocity of the Aryan spirit drove the Gothic invaders back. During the battle, the Aryans successfully implemented sophisticated cavalry tactics, combining their horsemanship with their marksmanship, a crossbow-man on horseback. The Goths would return later for trading purposes. After the Battle of Esthar, the Aryans were overzealous. Eager to expand, the Bjornoyans looked westward. On horseback and in longboats, the Bjornoyans set out like the Vikings and Huns. The Bjornoyans ransacked the upper coast of Finland, Sweden, and Norway and made their way through Eastern Europe and Western Siberia in a period lasting from 814 to 867. The Bjornoyans were eventually driven from the region by fierce Cottish warriors. Epic poems written in the ancient Aryan language survive to this day, describing the battles between the Bjornoyans, Goths, and Cots. Bjornoya relaxed and flourished for the next 400 years, surviving various foreign invasions and the introduction of new diseases. However, in 1236 the Mongol Horde made their way to the frozen Bjornoyan north. The first city to fall was Baum, located in the far eastern Nenetsia. Reports of the ruthlessness of these new invaders reached Esthar. The local legislature in Esthar called an emergency meeting, summoning the leaders of the surrounding cities. The cities of Reise, Thyma, Gelt, Vutelty, and Esthar each sent their local magistrates. The Council of Esthar agreed the only way to defeat this new threat was to unify the armies of these 5 city-states. The Council could not decide who would lead this army. Turning to the most ancient Bjornoyan texts, the Aryan scribes discovered the first system ever implemented in resolving such matters, the Lottery. On that day, the Bjornoyans entrusted Ascenda, the Bjornoyic goddess of fate, with deciding the leader of this army. The entire population over the age of 13 was entered into this lottery. After a series of drawings, lasting three days the Council declared Samanya Zadora, a 14 year old Aryan girl, the leader of the Bjornoyan Army. No-one dared question the ancient texts, or the sages who professed it. For the next two week, Samanya studied battle-tactics, leadership, and logistics with the elders. By the time she was proclaimed worthy to lead, the Bjornoyan Army along with its leader was fortified in the town of Reise. The Mongols arrived at Reise within a month of ransacking Baum. The city was buried within a deep forest. A lone, wide stretch of flat dirt, then covered with snow was the only reasonable approach to the city on horseback. As the Mongols charged across the plain, they saw the Bjornoyans were employing catapults. This was nothing new. However, when they realized what was being catapulted, they grew tense. Samanya grew up on a small farm in Vutelty. It was there she aquired an abnormal fascination with the animals not being domesticated, particularly the Common adder. She had been keeping many of these snakes as pets, until she was called by the Council of Esthar. After studying the various tactics known and created by the Bjornoyans, she did not much care. She knew that the Mongols rode horses, and she knew horse hated snakes. Putting two and two together, Samanya armed the seven catapults with the Adders she had been collecting, along with others gathered by the army. As the Mongols charge across the field during the Battle of Reise, the catapults rained hundreds of adder snakes down on their position. As the beasts panicked, they threw their riders off, who were picked off like prey by the Bjornoyans, waiting in ambush within the forests flanking the open field. The Mongols were soundly defeated, and the Bjornoyan citizens celebrated. The Council of Esthar determined by means of the Lottery if the leader of the battle defeated the enemy on a full-moon, and if during the battle the leader never spoke the word, “nothing,” she would be proclaimed the matriarch of a unified Bjornoya. Amazingly, Samanya defeated the Mongols on a full-moon, and never said the word “nothing” during the battle. Bjornoya was officially unified as a nation under the leadership of Matriarch Samanya Zadora on July 7, 1236. The Bjornoyan Patri-Matriarchy flourished for nearly a century. In 1323, a group of foreigners never seen or heard of by the Bjornoyans made landfall. The group called themselves “Byzantines,” and brought with them various things to Bjornoya. Most importantly were Christianity and the plague. The two spread at about the same rate. The old Bjornoyan pagan religions could not predict or stop the plague, but Christianity at least offered a reason for the plague. “You are all born sinners, and this is what you deserve!” proclaimed the Christian priests. This asceticism became very popular amongst the Bjornoyans. Approximately 65% of the population perished to the disease over a period of 30 years. During the plague, the Byzantines founded two cities that were eventually assimilated into the Bjornoyan nation, Necropolis and Geopolis. Bjornoya fell into a cultural, economical, spiritual, and scientific slump for a century. Little is known or was recorded amongst the various city-states from 1323-1412. Bjornoyans either lived as powerful landlords or powerless serfs during this time. In 1425, the Bjornoyans recovered some of the stability that was so admired during the first years of the Patriarchy. Bjornoyan Patriarch Fillip Angosta looked to the stars, and to the sea. Thinking that Bjornoyan ships might find their way to heaven, he sent four Carracks under the leadership of Captain Theodore Burnside. 3 years and 7 months later, two of the ships returned to Esthar, the first to ever circumnavigate the globe. Many texts were recovered from 1535 when the Christian church became split into the Orthodox Church and followers of a man named Martin Luther, whose writing were being spread by the newly introduced printing-press. At about this same time, a shadowy and entirely unknown until recently group known as the Freemasons began to gather. They began as a well-educated group of elderly men, who carefully criticized the existing social assumptions, language, arts, and religion. This group, although not well known, held an enormous amount of power. During the religious split, the freemasons used their various connections with the hierarchies of both sides to successfully over-throw the Bjornoyan Patriarchy. A brief civil-war ensued, and out of the chaos, the Bjornoyan Republic was founded, based on the ideas that all men were created equal, and all deserved to be free so they might be happy in life. The Bjornoyan Freemasons were the first to introduce the philosophies of empiricism and utilitarianism. During this time, Bjornoya gave birth to some of the world's most brilliant scientists. Breakthroughs in astronomy, physics, chemistry, and philosophy abounded. What is now known as “Newtonian” physics was established in the Bjornoyan cities of Geopolis and Reise. A crude theory of capitalism was first established in the Bjornoyan city of Necropolis. For the next 500 years, Bjornoya was an imperialistic power, setting up trading posts and colonies throughout the world. In Africa, Southeast Asia, and the New World, Bjornoya created thriving colonies. The progresses made by the arts and sciences now helped the Bjornoyan economy flourish. An age of colonialism was followed by mercantilism, industrialization, and finished by full-grown capitalism. Throughout the 20th century, the Bjornoyan economy flourished with amazing strength. The citizens were happy and industrious, the cities grew, the children played, the adults worked, everyone was reasonably happy, except for two people. Sub Histories: Lingual The Bjornoyans had more or less succesfully unified their language by the time of its unification in 1236. The Aryans, when they invaded brought with them their pride as well. Like so many of the other regions they conquered, they distinguished good from bad as the difference between themselves and the rest of the world. They had light, blond hair, the Pomars had dark, black hair. For centuries, this prejudice was held in the language itself, darkness was considered inferior to light. Since the Aryan culture was dominant at the time, the Aryan language was dominant as well. For centuries, the language and thought revolved around viewing differences, conflicts, and dialectics. Although the language was perhaps a bit more truthful than what emerged, it was not beneficial to the populace or the government. In 1935, a radical re-development of the Bjornoyan language was spearheaded unknowingly at first by the master of communications, Visara Co. Because of its divided loyalties to so many different corporations, people, and ideas, the company held within itself so many inconsistencies, and much hypocrisy that the very moral and logical conscieousness of the company was threatened. As an example, Visara Co. would advertise the use of newfound pesticides and the messages of organic naturalists at the same time. The new forms of communication; the telephone, radio, and television only further dissilusioned the public's trust within the corporation that would soon overshadow the incompotent Bjornoyan Republic. A harsh reaction to the unwanted freedoms granted by capitalism was brewing within the public. Visara would not stand for it, they had worked and studied too hard to succesfully predict the actions of the populace to let it change; they did not want to start over again. An emergency session was called by Visara CEO Wilhelm Kaufmann to discuss the possibilities of resolving the conflict. The solution; slowly dissolve certain words from the Bjornoyan language. Words such as 'conflict,' 'war,' and 'opposition.' The plan was if such words could be removed, the very thoughts of them would perish. This along with the omnipresent communications from Visara and a stranglehold on the entire educational process due to privitization of education helped immensely with implementing the plan. At first, nothing seemed to change, but as the generations passed, those of the older generations were almost unitelligible to the re-educated youthful generations. By 1984, the majority of older Bjornoyan dictionaries had simply disappeared, and the new less comprehensive and complicated language was in place. To try and describe the Bjornoyan language in English would be impossible, let alone how one thinks in Bjornoyan. Imagine not being able to believe in opposite values, that "good" and "bad" could exist within a single object at the same time. The terms "lovingly hateful," "disgustingly beautiful," "powerfully weak," "unneccesarily vital," or "truthfully deceptive" are all coherent and explainable within the language scheme. Religious Until the introduction of Christianity by the Byzantines, a nearly universal pagan religion unique throughout history thrived in Bjornoya. Bjornoyic, as the religion is referred to now, centered around three major deities. Those deities were Janda, goddess of Destruction, Lazuli, god of Time, and Ascenda, goddess of chance and fate. The roots of the system are not well known, although it is suspected the Pomars had already established the religion, customs, and rituals by the time the Aryans came. The most ancient of these rituals dates back to the first century B.C. The first ritual from whence the rest of the Bjornoyic pagan religion sprung was a game. The game involved tossing four sticks into the air, and depending on how they landed, certain debts and payments would be made. The debts could vary from meager possessions such as tools or beasts, to more intense consequences, such as the loss of a body part, or the loss of a family member. In time, the game became extremely popular. The thrill of uncertainty that was the basis of the game caused it to grow in popularity. Those who refused to play were considered weak and cowardly. As time passed, the game became more and more complex. Pre-games would be played to determine the chances for other pre-games. Silent games were played by the priests. The consequences of their games engulfed nearly every aspect of the ancient Bjornoyans' lives. After hours of deliberation, agents of the priests would disperse to enforce the consequences of the their games; a lock of hair was snipped and burned from an infant, a tree was planted amongst the vast native forests, a stone was cast into the Arctic. Even further, the games decided who had power over others. A profitable game could lead to the acquisition of a slave for a week, the chance to be an executioner or torturer, a night with a woman (or man) you had an eye on, or in very rare circumstances, the chance to play a game with the priests themselves. An unprofitable game could lead to branding, temporary servitude, various forms of torture or death, and in the worst possible case banishment. The Aryan presence ruined the omnipresence of the Bjornoyic religion, but the system was still practiced for centuries in a lesser degree. When important decision needed to be made, for instance, the Bjornoyic priests were called upon to play a game. The introduction of Christianity to the region in the early 14th century would doom the influence and mystical aura of the Bjornoyic religion. Through this religion, or perhaps even before, the Bjornoyans held the decision and whims of fate in high esteem, being unusually at peace with the terrors around them. The plague would not allow them to play their games of chance anymore, everyone suffered the same fate. Millions died, and everyone suffered. There were no winners, and the Bjornoic religion could not hold. Christianity offered a solution; the more you suffer here, the more you will get in heaven. Heaven was an idea formerly unthought of by the Bjornoyans, who viewed Bjornoya itself as a sort of heaven. This Christian idea resembled a game, and thus Christianity spread. This gaming appeal, along with an unknown joy in suffering, the asceticism that is so apparent in Christianity became vastly popular and dominant. Until recently, Christianity was the dominant religion in Bjornoya, but recent cultural and economic phenomena yet to be dissected have forced Christianity to yield to a new form of religion that is not entirely contradictory to it. Deism, and the thought of a clockwork universe, has become an ever more popular religious movement. Some say it is an antithesis to the Bjornoyic pagan religion; insofar as it eliminates alternatives and with it chance. Others view it as an extension, even a perfection of it. Bjornoyan deists strive to predict the future in the belief that all things behave by certain predetermined laws; that everything is fated. Their ancestors tried to predict the future, to abide by nature's laws of chance. Modern deists simply have better means of discovering a person and the world's fate; genetics, economics, physics, etc. Visara Corporation Acting CEO: Wilhelm Kaufmann Visara Corporation is headquartered in the isolated nation of Bjornoya. Visara was founded in 1932 as an advertisement and marketing agency. During the years it researched the best ways to relate with, convince, bribe, seduce, and sell products and ideas to the Bjornoyan populace. Among its accomplishments are the successful development of propoganda for use by the former Bjornoyan Republic, and an extraordinary ability to control other markets by stressing certain economic sectors while ignoring others. Using this knowledge, it expanded quickly and in 1956 effectivelly had a state-wide monopoly on the entire advertising and marketing sector. Wilhelm Kaufmann succeeded his father as CEO in 1961. His ambition led to Visara's assimilation of key utilities and non-essential sectors including primary communication industries and various oil and coal mining industries. Due to the Bjornoyan Republic's laizze-faire attitude toward economical affairs, Wilhelm used superior marketing abilities and his monopoly on vast communication network to succesfully drown and silence his comptetion. During this time he befriended many well educated CEO's of various other corporations, including scientific research leader Amgen Corporation, agricultural specialist Tierra Corporation, transportation company Bjornoyan Motor Works, the textile and apparel industry's Masque Corporation, and the architectural Scalar Corporation. Judging these and other corporations as being under good economical leaders, he used his power to destroy all of these corporation's competitors. In 1993 Wilhelm assisted Bjornoyan Patriarch Sedaht Rand in overthrowing the weak and incompetent Bjornoyan Republic. During the revolution, Wilhelm seized a complete monopoly within Bjornoya partly through contracts and partly through Visara's independent security forces. With the exception of a few state-run organizations, Visara Co. owned every non-governmental asset, conducted nearly every transaction, and employed 83% of all individuals within Bjornoya. Other industries were willing to join Visara, considering Wilhelm allowed the CEOs to maintain their leadership position and wages. This helped to avoid an already large bureacratic overload. Wilhelm currently sways these sub-companies to do his bidding using his vast economical power. Visara Corporation Employees: Type: Alpha Occupations: Advertisers, Ambassadors, Religious Leaders, PR Specialists, Psychologists, Philosophers, Counselors, Educators etc. Description: Alpha employees make up approximately 9.5% of the Bjornoyan workforce. Alpha employees specialize in many different fields but are united by their common expertise in human relations and interactions. The more friendly, clever, and physically appealing Alphas tend to be placed in positions of international and business relations, entrusted with making foreign business and governmental contracts. A huge quantity of Alphas comprises the omnipresent Bjornoyan Educational System, becoming professors, teachers, counselors, and other youth guidance workers. These Alphas are under contract by the Federation and led by Fraugott Luct Rand rather than Herrgott Wilhelm Kaufmann. Also within the Alpha ranks are the countless advertisement creators that were the base of Visara Co. and continue to help with public awareness and interpretation campaigns. A small quantity of less ‘agreeable’ Alphas make up the ranks of Visara’s Security training officers and dreaded re-educational teachers. Type: Beta Occupations: Scientists, Engineers, Doctors, Architects, Economists, Market Researchers, etc. Description: Beta employees make up approximately 25.5% of the Bjornoyan workforce. Beta employees specialize in all things scientific in the natural world from biology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals and physics to architecture, economy, market research, and ecology. The majority of Beta employees are involved in biochemical engineering that keeps the nation of Bjornoya one of the healthiest places to live in the world. Recent breakthroughs in genetics has allowed for the creation of entirely new species, and Bjornoyan scientists have nearly completed labeling the countless genes within the human genome which is currently being used in Visara’s ongoing quest for a cure for cancer. Other fields of Betas assist in finding alternative means of natural resource exploitation. Type: Gamma Occupations: Record Keeping, File Management, Computer Programming, Transportation, Patent Documentation, Secretarial, etc. Description: Gamma employees make up approximately 11.5% of the Bjornoyan workforce. Gamma employees are silently frowned upon as the most intellectually inactive within Bjornoya. Gammas assist other Visara Co. employees with organization which they do mindlessly and in a drone-like fashion showing only the slightest hint of emotion when other employees do not adhere to their dogmatic sense of cleanliness. More agreeable Gammas help with organization in the form of public and product transportation including bus drivers, big-rig drivers, taxi drivers, merchant ship members, pilots and flight control members. Storage and good-transportation is dominated by Gamma employees. Visara employees fear having their taxes audited by Gamma employees. Type: Delta Occupations: Regional Directors, Corporate Oversight, Sub-Corporate Executive Officers, etc. Description: Delta employees make up less than .1% of the Bjornoyan workforce. In some ways Delta employees are the ‘cream of the crop’ of the Alpha employees but also exhibit the more stoic organizational approach of the Gammas. Delta employees are the near omnipotent Regional Directors of the countless territories Visara Co. operates in reporting the Wilhelm Kaufmann directly. Success is measured based on their adherence to basic morals and more importantly the capital produced under their guidance. Success is rewarded with the most opulent life-styles available to the Bjornoyan populace and a sense of freedom generally unavailable to the Bjornoyan masses, failure results in a slow and humiliating decay. In the past the few Delta’s who failed the corporation and the nation choose to down cyanide rather than face the shame of being demoted. Nowadays incompetence is non-existent due to the excellent Bjornoyan educational system and the addition of the Eta ranks. Type: Epsilon Occupations: Public Security, Police, Security Forces, Paramedics, Firemen, etc. Description: Epsilon employees make up approximately 18.0% of the Bjornoyan workforce. Although all Visara Employees are trained in public security Epsilons are selected to make a career of protecting the populace. Epsilon employees comprise the entirety of Bjornoya’s police force, all combatants in all branches of the Visara Security forces, paramedics, and firemen. Epsilons are chosen and raised from early childhood for the fierce loyalty they demonstrate to the defense of their friends which is eventually directed to the entire population. (ooc: See Silver Class of 'Plato's Republic') Type: Zeta Occupations: Manual Laborers, Gardeners, Construction Workers, Plumbers, Technicians, Farmers, etc. Description: Zeta employees make up approximately 30.5% of the Bjornoyan workforce. Zeta employees are chosen for the attraction they have with all things material. Enjoying hands-on activities Zetas gladly construct, clean, and repair performing the countless manual labors that keep Bjornoya intact and well. As expected Zetas demonstrate a more rowdy and risqué nature than most of Visara’s employees which is generally tolerated to a point. Although not viewed as the most intelligent of Visara’s employees they are generally acknowledge as living the happiest and fullest lives within the nation. Zetas are one of the few groups of Bjornoyans that willingly leave the country for vacations, showing a bizarre form of bravery different from the Epsilons. The children of Zeta families have the potential to become great Alphas adding revitalizing ideas to the Bjornoyan ‘thought-pool’ if it becomes stagnant. Zetas make the base of Bjornoya’s adult consumers and as such receive higher wages than expected of normal manual laborers to help the economy. Type: Eta Occupations: Public Observation, Online Security, Crime Prevention, Internal Affairs, etc. Description: Eta employees make up approximately 5.0% of the Bjornoyan workforce. Eta employees are a mysterious bunch, chosen for their perfect observational and memory skills. Etas assist Epsilon forces with crime prevention, monitoring countless Bjornoyan websites and checking for any and all form of perversion within the Bjornoyan populaces’ minds. More materially Eta employees evaluate the electronic monitoring of public and where permitted private domains visually and audibly. Not much else is divulged about Eta employee activities, and adding to their secrecy is their notoriety for being anti-social, rarely marrying or procreating. Type: Theta "Occupation": Student, Youth, etc. Description: Theta individuals make up approximately 38.0% of the entire Bjornoyan population. ‘Theta’ is Visara Corporation’s designation for the youth of Bjornoya. The educational process is headed by Heart of State Fraugott Lucy Rand. Visara has little say over how the educational process is run but contributes in many ways by rewarding outstanding performances or by lowering the wages of parents who raise ‘problematic’ children until they do their jobs better. At a very young age Bjornoyan children will know what the best possible position for them within the corporation will be and considering the incentives to chose the designated profession 98.0% of all citizens end up following the advice given to them by the educational system. By the age of 7 children no longer receive general education but instead are given a focused curriculum. By the age of 18 all children have acquired all the skills necessary for their chosen profession and are allowed to be hired by Visara. Children may, if proven become Zeta employees as young as 14. Certain exceptions exist for other employee types as well. By Patriarchal Decree the youth are to wear uniforms while attending school provided by Visara. Similarly Visara ends up selling all the various toys, food and other consumables to the youth which must pass safety tests under the watchful eyes of Eta employees. The Theta population makes up the majority of Bjornoyan consumption, even higher than Zeta employees. Knowing that the youth will become their employees Visara strictly abides to child protection laws both by Patriarchal Decree and internal restrictions and does all it can legally to create an atmosphere in which the youth will achieve their full potential. Type: Omicron "Occupation": Criminals, Social Undesirables, etc. Description: Visara Corporation Omicrons make up less than .05% of the Bjornoyan populace. Violent criminals are generally sent to labor camps for life where they end up doing tasks considered too hazardous for Zeta employees to perform. Most Omicrons have had their legal rights revoked by Bjornoyan courts and thus receive no protection from either the corporation or the Federation. Those who do not receive capital punishment for their crimes are sterilized and sent to re-educational facilities where in the course of a year are transformed into productive members of society. Once reformed however many do not have legal rights restored by Patriarchal Decree. It is not unusual that Omicrons are killed by the hands of their victim’s families or Epsilon employees. The Federation considers this a way for natural selection to take place in which the most violent and morally corrupt members, instead of the ‘weakest’ are routed out and removed from society. (ooc: see ‘Clockwork Orange’) Type: Omega Occupation: Right-hand of State, Herrgott, and CEO of Visara Corporation ooc: this was created on another Nation building rp game whose name shall not be spoken here, worked damn hard making it, thought would be good to share with this community as well, however unworthy. And if there's a limit to number of images that can be uploaded on a post let me know, gonna search for rules and such. Free to comment.

Possibly because the IRC is more open than the forums. But don't blame drama on IRC, there was plenty of drama on the old board when the game was played almost exclusively there (least I wasn't aware of any IRC back then).

What I think is more likely is NPO grunts will start leaving as soon a they stop receiving any re-enforcements or aid. Seen a few do so openly, assume more have and are doing so. Besides, not like they can do anything to change who leads NPO or who runs their alliance's forum even.

I am? I wasn't speaking for anyone but myself...

Actually when I fought the war I was in TGE on Karma's side, I left TGE after the war in part because the surrender terms did not accomplish the desired goals I wanted to see in CN.

If the alliances of Karma want to distance themselves from the deeds of those they are fighting against, harsh reps would not necessarily bring about the change that they are fighting for. If reps are used they should not be used to target the alliance as a whole, but instead punish the leaderships of said alliances. Reps could specifically target leadership, or part of the reparations could be demanding the resignation of the key players not just of this war, but those who have consistently made poor decisions that corrupted the whole of the CN community. Perhaps force those alliances, if there are any that don't hold elections for leadership to do so so that they can hopefully be self-regulating rather than needing to be regulated by outside forces via war. Reps through money and tech can go so far, but information, and removing failed alliance policies and leaders would do more to benefit the entire community. I guess what I'm trying to say is be creative with reps, not vengeful. Use the victory as a chance to change CN for the better rather than castrate an alliance and arrogantly assume that nothing bad will happen in the future because the enemies of today will be powerless to do so.

I'm fairly certain this wasn't the case as I the only buttons I clicked were 'forward' and 'back' on browser, and the log-in, log-out functions on CN

So I finally got around to changing the password so I didn't have to keep viewing that 'update password' notice from back in May-ish. Anyway after I changed my password I re-changed it back to the old one immediately cuz I liked it, then logged off and logged on again to make sure it worked and to my horror got a 'that nation does not exist' screen. In denial I did it another time and it worked, but still if a lesser soul went through this and did not try again, they may have left CN forever in disgust, or I'm being melodramatic... Anyway I hypothesize this might be an isolated event because my nation is a re-incarnation of an older one of same name that died long ago and got reborn when I rejoined. Either way might want to look into it.

TPF is dumb, because its I can't tell it from TFD when looking on forum while sleepy, therefore they dumb and I hate.

Well during the war I was in TGE and happy to find myself on the 'Karma' coalition, but it was precisely the white peace offered at the end of the conflict that made me disillusioned, partly because the leadership had promised it would happen to help us rebuild but also because it was an opportunity lost to make sure the same mistakes made by our then enemies weren't made again. NATO, a close ally of NPO went into the war with a certain $@iness and belligerence I haven't seen in a while (maybe being funny but their DOW on The International didn't come off as such to me), and were let off the hook. Personally I thought the victory would be a chance t isolate NPO diplomatically, that in the peace there could have been either a direct clause that NATO would remove itself from the Continuum and not conspire with NPO again, or a less direct 'either pay these reps or stop aligning yourself with NPO' incentive deal. Fortunately NATO left regardless of the terms and the Continuum disbanded. I think the goal of this, realistically should be the KARMA alliances use the end of the wars to isolate NPO so they cannot do the same misdeeds over and over again in our game. A more lucid and less monolithic culture should form after this, with a stern message to 'choose your friends wisely.'