Un Nouveau Départ - A Divergences AAR

King50000 said:

thats gota be pretty awkward for slovakia to own, having no coastal acces to ship troops over in the event of an invasion

Click to expand...

Same problem for Bohemia also actually But that's how they divided Venice

Chapter 13 - Prosper in peace (1855)​

Another year, another chapter. Under the Parti Libéral's leadership, the nation seems to be flourishing. Sadly, not much is going on besides that, which might be due to the divided Congress & Senate. Might? It is certainly the reason. The prospering nation has an effect on the rebellious sentiment in the country, and it seems to be slowly subsiding.


Half of the rebels have already moved on with their lives.

The ever increasing wealth of the Seven Republics is giving financial government the easiest years in recent history. While the treasury was barely holding together under the conservatives, money is rolling in for the liberals. This leads Congress to pass more tax cuts during February, reducing tax to 18% for poor and middle class strata, and 22% for the upper class.


The complete daily budget of the Seven Republics.

With the rapid industrialization of the world, progress in the field keeps being made. Our first discovery of the year comes in April, and it's a threshing machine. The Pitts Brothers invented a machine with an "endless belt" that would effectively and easily separate grain from it's stalks.


Invented in the state of Philippa.

In foreign affairs the President had full reign without Congress interfering. Zoude was a tad bit of an Isolationist though, but the nation was put on high alert when a big war broke out in central Europa.


Many alliances domino-ed into this war from the get-go.

May sees another farm industrial improvement invented. A reaping machine to speed up grain, fruit and tea harvesting. The Seven Republics produce a lot of grain, and with last month's invention of the threshing machine, production more than doubled within a month time.


The approximated effects of the reaping machine on production.


Drawing accompanying the patent, the machine is to be pulled by two horses or mules.


Highlight of national top production and top trade goods.

Late May, the establishing of a new market structure is completed and implemented. This increases our influence with other nations, and also makes it possible for large-scale industries to start up. An educational doctrine of Positivism is envisioned next, to make sure our children get educated sufficiently throughout their youth.


Education, education, education.

In August, the polypoly structure for business is implemented in the nation, making the supply of goods towards factories much more efficient.


The economy keeps booming.

A murder! Panic in the streets! Somewhere in Pays Tsagali a young prostitute was brutally killed and the police seem to be covering up the identity of the murderer. This has Congress in an uproar, and they demand answers from local authorities.


The police got forced to deliver the suspect.

The rebel threat seems to be slowly subsiding, but only the more moderate rebels are returning to normalcy. The more die-hard rebels keep amassing and are gaining strength each month.


Halved again, yet twice the firepower.

A Vinlandic poet who was inciting the people in Tobol, disappeared without a trace. This caused the local Vinlandians to be extremely upset, but that was a small price to pay.


This happened during President Werner Zoude's vacation/visit to the Turks & Caicos Islands.

In November another incident happened. It is a year of murders, as a colonial official got killed in Baizehu. Police unwittingly disturbed a holy site of the Native Arcadians there, and they turned violent because of an innocent mistake.


The things we do to keep the peace.

A few days later, news from Europa reaches us that the Ottomans have finally, after quite a few years, reconquered the nation of Greece. We sent our delicate condemnation of this act to the Ottoman leadership, but that was all that was done from this side of the ocean.


Another nation passes away.

In December, several corporate takeovers are uncovered and show that the market restructure has made it possible for a monopoly position for big companies, where they alone rule a corner of the market. This makes it more expensive for new factories to start up effectively.


Go directly to jail, don't pass go and don't collect your salary.

A fledgling Indian nation in 1836 has grown larger and larger and will now finally make it to the international stage. Travancore has decided to westernize, this enables them to start factories. We hope to have good relations with them in the near future as it will be countries like us and them that will decide the future of the world, and not the old guard of Europa.


They seem to be fending off the old guard from Europa right at this moment already.

The year of our Lord 1856 rolls around, and the upper house sees increased Liberal members once again. A new power loom is also invented at this time, which increases the production of textiles and fabrics immensely.


20 years played, 80 to go.

Sybot said:

Congratulations, you are the new WritAAR of the Week!

This is one of my favourite Victoria 2 AARs currently running, so keep it up!

Click to expand...

=O I am quite surprised :O Thank you!

Now I've got a ton to read for next week of course


And this deserves an update soon, so I'll do one tomorrow

Chapter 14 - Les Nouveaux Challengeurs Apparaissent (1856)​

The year 1856 would be a year of new powers, new challenges, and old crazies. In the light of their westernization, President Zoude decided that Travancore should become a close ally in our sphere. The Foreign Department was tasked with closely monitoring any and all activity related to Travancore, as they were to become equals compared to the children we had to protect on our own continent. With great pleasure, we were informed that Scandinavia had given up it's territorial landgrab, and both nations declared a white peace.


Travancore had 2 more wars to fight now.

Opposite of the good news in foreign affairs, the Department of the Interior had grave news on the 10th of January. Across the nation, mostly in Plantagenet-retaken regions, rebels revolted openly in the streets, and started to try and take over the bigger cities. Armies were immediately dispatched, with President Zoude taking care of a few of the smaller splinter groups. This gained him popular support for the military, an issue on which the Liberal government seemed to lack. At least in the eyes of the public. The rebellion was dealt with swiftly in less than two months time, and focus was put back into more important matters. Some reports went missing over the years, due to bad office management.


Rebel scum!


Swift action.


More reports have to be filed in compliance with history book law. Strangely.


They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes.

Late February, progress in foreign affairs is once again presented to Congress and the President. Four more nations have been turned to friendly, all on the continent of Ameriga. Travancore is also brought up to a cordial relationship, foreshadowing the future good relations that are to come to pass.


Excellent.

In Varaldskogen, Septiman children are being chosen ahead of the majority of Vinlandic children, and it is not reflecting well in Congress. The executive branch decides to mitigate the policies slightly, not fearing a rebellion any time soon, shortly after one was put down hard. Overall, we propel our research ahead by approximately three weeks.


With great legislature comes great responsibility.

In Telneset, a new Vinlandic poet emerges, and he is very popular amongst his peers. President Zoude is quite interested in his poetry, so he allows the poet to do his thing. But supervised. This is not intended to incite the populace, but to keep them in check.


Rhyme, it can pass the time.

June sees the insurrection of insurance companies. These companies take investments from people or companies, and if something happens with those people or companies, they are insured against it. For instance, when a fire hits the factory they are offered means to rebuild again. These insurance companies themselves invest in other businesses so they can earn money, and this money then can be used to pay of the insured.


Effectively, tax revenue is more efficient.

Our soon to be allies on the Indian peninsula, Travancore, suffer a sad loss of land to Bengal. Outrage was put outwards to the public and the world, but behind closed doors this was seen as a blessing in disguise. If India were to become the world's second powder keg, after Europa, we would have to worry less about their overtaking of the world. But for now, this was a grave loss indeed.


Only 1 war left for Travancore, with the world's superpower. The Dual Monarchy. Our closest rivals.

July, and our government rolls out changes into education. The doctrine of positive reinforcement is now to be taught to children in the Seven Republics. This will enable a more steady grow in literacy in the country, with the average nationwide currently being just over half of the populace being able to read and write. Furthermore will this increase the opinion of our colonial states and improve relocation towards these underdeveloped areas in the west.

After the rebellion of January, the military has been pressing on improvement. Right now, in the eyes of the Senate at least, they are a bunch of thrown together militia fighting with terrible tactics and with substandard leadership. This notion has made President Werner Zoude to direct the military into becoming a professional well-oiled machine, so that we are much better able to deter any foreign incursion onto our righteous soil, and gives us the better ability to deal with the evil Vinlandic and Plantagenet governments in the near future.


Ten-hut!

The following communique has been found in recent years, it was coming from the Hungarian King, directed at his military advisors:

Hungarian King: I say, our Hungarian army is beating the snot out of those Slovakians and Bohemians while they are distracted with them Burgundians. Let us demand...You, sir! What is that on this map?
One of the military advisors: That is the island of Crete, majesty, owned by Slovakia.
Hungarian King: Demand it, I say!

And so it came to pass, on July 17th 1856, the Aegean Islands shifted ownership from the landlocked nation of Slovakia, to the landlocked nation of Hungary.


Credit goes to NezzeOne, one of the Seven Republics' top spies in Europa.

Earlier in the year, citizens of Vinlandc descent made a ruckus in the north of the nation. Now, in August and September, we've got issues with Plantagenet descendants. We make sure not to offend too many people, but with the current school systems we should make an effort to change policies permanently. For now research gets a three week boost.


All work and no play makes the Plantagenet dull boys & girls.


Traders demanded equal opportunities, and got some.

The Department of Foreign Affairs released a press statement on September 11th, pertaining the ongoing expansion of the Russian Empire. They have most recently restored order to the Siberian provinces, demanding them to reunite with the true Russian people towards greatness. The general consensus was that these Russians might become a big player on the globe, and Congress urged the President to be wary of any signals coming from the evolved Tsardom.


The Russian Empire after the defeat of the Sibir Khanate.


Scooby-dooby-doo, where are you?

Late October, Foreign Affairs is happy to inform that our nation's relation with Travancore has risen once again, and we are now Friendly towards them. Once they get out of their war with the Dual Monarchy, we shall urge them towards an alliance, and we shall include them in our sphere. This will hopefully deter any transgression put forward against the fledgling Indian nation, it will give us a chance to station a base in the region and eventually ascertain longterm friendship of good will towards them. For now, a bottle of good wine is uncorked for the occasion.


The world is our oyster.

The beginning of November has two surprises in store for the Republics. First, another farmer's bank is uncovered, this time in Crèvecoeur. Once again, we believe it would discourage the local economy if we seize the bank, so we let the bank run it's course.


First, we shall dive into it like a dolphin. Then dig through like a mole. Finally we let it all clatter upon our heads.

Our second surprise is a much more positive one. At least for the people. Not so much for animals. At the beginning of November, slaughterhouses would now become equipped with a mechanical slaughtering-block, increasing the effective production of meat by 40%. Our wool industry also profits, even though the President is confounded by the reasoning behind slaughtering sheep for their wool instead of just shearing them.


You can't spell slaughter without laughter. Try it!

Finally, 1857 knocks on the door, and we get a new upper house division. The Liberals now cross the 40% gap, and we are coming closer every year towards passing political reforms. Near the end of 1856, improvements were made to the power loom invented last year, and they would now be able to be injected into our industries, increasing fabric production tenfold.


Another year in paradise awaits.

Chapter 15 - La Tranquillité Avant L'Orage (1857)​

Life was tranquil in the Seven Republics under President Zoude's tutelage. The national treasury had built up a gold stockpile worth over 200.000 pound, making sure the nation would be resistant against any recession of the economy. The year 1857 would become one of the nation's least turbulent in its history. A lot of this chapter is dedicated to oversees transgressions and tribulations.

Early in February, Travancore finally finishes its last war, after many naval battles. The Dual Monarchy sees no avail in pursuing land on the Indian subcontinent anymore, and they sue for a white peace. Now the fledgling nation can focus on factories and other more important matters, than being supposedly bashed in by a European power.


We wonder what will happen next.

With the government's plans to increase infrastructure nationwide, a new system of road signs was developed and was being rolled out throughout the country. In the south, this led to tension among the Plantagenian descendant population, as they demanded to have their own dialect of the French language used for the signs. In the north this was more easily solved as the distinction between Burgundian French and Scandinavian was big enough to warrant bilingual road signs.


And I would walk 500 miles.

In March, we manage to manipulate the puppet government in Andagoya to ban the ambassadors of the Dual Monarchy. They have been eyeing our possessions in Ameriga more and more so, thus they must be punished for this. Relations between the Seven Republics and the Dual Monarchy are tensing up more and more, and President Zoude hopes that it won't turn south anytime soon.


Plans to build a canal in Balboa are circulating around top government officials.

That same day, another big war erupted in Europa. The commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania decided to take back Latvia from Scandinavia. This unleashes both nation's full fighting force, for a war that lasted for a long time.


Poland-Lithuania vs. Scandinavia, Pskov & Courland. Round 1, fight!


Current Europa, it is a mess.


Another uproar concerning the new road signs in the south.

Late April, Bohemia finally surrenders to Burgundy, and Bohemia cedes their ownership of Hesse-Nassau. This lowers the combustibility of the region, but tensions remain high on all fronts.


The difference in land is really inconspicuous for our map makers.

Improvement to Harrock's Power Loom were made by Thomas Sharp and Richard Roberts, and this new loom was capable of maintaining high speeds. This increased the efficiency of cotton and wool production by up to twenty percent, which would help plantations in the south.


A boost to the textile industry.

After decreasing salaries for military personnel, the noncoms in the north and south started becoming more antsy and nationalistic towards their former country. A small officer purge was needed to deal with it. The army was overpopulated with officers as it was, and that was also the main reason for trimming salary; it would discourage more promotions towards officer under the footmen.


Early September and late November saw necessary action being taken.

On November 1st, training in the army towards professionalism was finished. With the resent officer trouble, an increase in morale was a godsend. Training among officers was now mandatory, which also increased the army's overall tactical prowess. This would be handy in the future.

The University of Philippa had been making headway into describing a new form of art, commonly referred to as Realism. It pertains the notion of describing things as they are, try to say that a chair is a chair without using the word chair. Regardless, government funding towards this cultural phenomenon is heightened tremendously to accommodate the university's efforts, and for the pride of the nation.


Expected to be determined in July 1859.

Late November, and a huge war erupts in Asia. Taiping decided it was time to deal with the traitorous Ming, and they manage to get the Khmer Empire and Manchu into the war also. With the size of Ming, this conflict might last a long time, and at this moment we cannot predict the outcome at all.


War is everywhere again, except Arcadia. For now...

1858 rolls around, and this chapter will contain the first 16 days of it. But when you call 1857 the epitome of tranquility, 1858 would be the complete opposite. It starts with the new upper house division, the Liberals gained another 2% and are well on their way to dominating both houses.


The people have spoken.

January is also the launch of the new elections. President Zoude hopes to keep office, and in the light of that he makes a huge commitment. Troops have been marching north for 2 weeks now, and soon they will cross the border, to engage Vinland in war.


An interesting period approaches.


Troops instantly swarm across the border and start occupying Vinlandic territories.

With tension between Septimen and Vinlandians up to record levels due to the war, education becomes a point of issue again. Teachers in the north are gearing towards the Septiman minority again, and this does not please Congress, especially during an election. The decision is made to mitigate the policies again.


Education is the cornerstone of society.

A huge uproar in the upper house happens during a debate on the 16th. Many Conservatives are persuaded by an extremely heated debate, and they are now in favor of pushing reform through the house. With the current elections underway, President Zoude feels that they should become as fair as possible, and Universal Suffrage gets pushed through the house. The Parti Libéral opened up a few bottles of champagne at their headquarters because this was a great victory for the liberal ideologue.


The debate.


The reform.


Meanwhile, in Vinland...

To be continued.