The Empire Strikes Back - Part 3

[Idhrendur]

(( That's what happens when you read a dead Emperor's speech without editing it. ))

 

[zenphoenix]

Perhaps we can also find out the reason for Senator Doukas's absence? Last I heard he was assigned to lead a security detail to protect the Emperor on one of his recent trips.

 

[Michaelangelo]

At least we taught Iraq and Hejaz to keep out of our colonial spheres. Indonesia belongs to Rome.

Of course Russia would be the one to call for a total war as the new type of warfare. They care nothing for the thousands of innocents that would be slaughtered through the use of such a strategy.

The emperor was kind enough to grant those damned socialists and communists some control of trade unions, and in turn they rose up violently anyway. They clearly know no other way to solve problems. Why we continue to tolerate their rebellious behaviour is beyond me.

- Senator Raphael Favero

 

[austrianemporer]

I completely agree with Senator Favero. We need to abolish the trade unions and establish syndicates that work for the greater good of the Empire.

I await your announcement, my Basileus.

-Senator Christophoros Palaiologos

 

[Arakhor]

"How will syndicates function any differently to trade unions? Besides, if you try to centralise the control of industry, that's what the communists want, whereas if you attempt to legislate for the conditions and labour requirements of the workforce, you are instituting socialist ideals.

"As I said before, the only other thing to do is to re-educate the populace, so if we wish to teach the trade unions a lesson, we mandate that they are responsible for ensuring that their members speak Greek and hold the unions personally liable for the social disorder that their members cause.

"If we wish to be even more radical, we can insist that their members are in communion with the Orthodox church, and then allow Jewish, Catholic, Protestant or Muslim unions as appropriate, so that all our potential offenders are in one place."

 

[austrianemporer]

How will we trust all the minorities? I am sure many are good people but some are threats to this society! How do you tell a Cult member from an ordinary minority?

I agree though, if we must have trade unions, we must hold them to the highest standards of this Empire and force through reforms good for this Empire. Syndicates are better because they are dedicated to the advancement of this Empire, not socialist ideals nor class warfare.

 

[zenphoenix]

Tell me, fascists, why is your faction called the Varangians? Were they not Norsemen and not Greeks at first?

 

[Arakhor]

Alexios says drily, "I would imagine that it's the job of the Ministry of Security to determine threats to the Empire, not the Ministry of Education."

 

[austrianemporer]

Tell me, fascists, why is your faction called the Varangians? Were they not Norsemen and not Greeks at first?

Ah, yes but you see, the Varangian Guard proved their absolute, undying loyalty to the Empire, to the Emperor, and to the people multiple times.

Can you say that about other non- Greeks? What about the Cult? The Varangian Guard fought for the greater good of the Empire, they assimilated into Greek culture too!

 

[zenphoenix]

Ah, yes but you see, the Varangian Guard proved their absolute, undying loyalty to the Empire, to the Emperor, and to the people multiple times.

Can you say that about other non- Greeks? What about the Cult? The Varangian Guard fought for the greater good of the Empire, they assimilated into Greek culture too!

How do you define assimilation? Is it ethnoracial assimilation, or just cultural assimilation? How do you know it has been completed?

 

[austrianemporer]

How do you define assimilation? Is it ethnoracial assimilation, or just cultural assimilation? How do you know it has been completed?

Both.

Do you see Norse people who practice the Norse religion and have Norse culture? I think not.

 

[zenphoenix]

Do you see Ashkenazi Jews and Arab Muslims? I think so.

 

[austrianemporer]

Do you see Ashkenazi Jews and Arab Muslims? I think so.

Bah, stop mocking me you old reactionary. They have not assimilated and may even join the cult!

 

[zenphoenix]

Are you talking to me? Because neither me nor Senator Doukas, whom I represent in his absence, are reactionaries or sympathize with reactionaries. We are liberals. If you want a reactionary to talk to, please talk with Senator Favero. I prefer you insult me properly and get my ideological leanings correct.

 

[austrianemporer]

Are you talking to me? Because neither me nor Senator Doukas, whom I represent in his absence, are reactionaries or sympathize with reactionaries. We are liberals. If you want a reactionary to talk to, please talk with Senator Favero. I prefer you insult me properly and get my ideological leanings correct.

Both of you harbor old,traditional, reactionary ways of thinking in your "liberal" ideology. Liberalism is as great as a threat to this Empire as reactionism or the Cult.

 

[Idhrendur]

Perhaps we can also find out the reason for Senator Doukas's absence? Last I heard he was assigned to lead a security detail to protect the Emperor on one of his recent trips.

At least we taught Iraq and Hejaz to keep out of our colonial spheres. Indonesia belongs to Rome.

Of course Russia would be the one to call for a total war as the new type of warfare. They care nothing for the thousands of innocents that would be slaughtered through the use of such a strategy.

The emperor was kind enough to grant those damned socialists and communists some control of trade unions, and in turn they rose up violently anyway. They clearly know no other way to solve problems. Why we continue to tolerate their rebellious behaviour is beyond me.

- Senator Raphael Favero

I completely agree with Senator Favero. We need to abolish the trade unions and establish syndicates that work for the greater good of the Empire.

I await your announcement, my Basileus.

-Senator Christophoros Palaiologos

"How will syndicates function any differently to trade unions? Besides, if you try to centralise the control of industry, that's what the communists want, whereas if you attempt to legislate for the conditions and labour requirements of the workforce, you are instituting socialist ideals.

"As I said before, the only other thing to do is to re-educate the populace, so if we wish to teach the trade unions a lesson, we mandate that they are responsible for ensuring that their members speak Greek and hold the unions personally liable for the social disorder that their members cause.

"If we wish to be even more radical, we can insist that their members are in communion with the Orthodox church, and then allow Jewish, Catholic, Protestant or Muslim unions as appropriate, so that all our potential offenders are in one place."

How will we trust all the minorities? I am sure many are good people but some are threats to this society! How do you tell a Cult member from an ordinary minority?

I agree though, if we must have trade unions, we must hold them to the highest standards of this Empire and force through reforms good for this Empire. Syndicates are better because they are dedicated to the advancement of this Empire, not socialist ideals nor class warfare.

Tell me, fascists, why is your faction called the Varangians? Were they not Norsemen and not Greeks at first?

Alexios says drily, "I would imagine that it's the job of the Ministry of Security to determine threats to the Empire, not the Ministry of Education."

Ah, yes but you see, the Varangian Guard proved their absolute, undying loyalty to the Empire, to the Emperor, and to the people multiple times.

Can you say that about other non- Greeks? What about the Cult? The Varangian Guard fought for the greater good of the Empire, they assimilated into Greek culture too!

How do you define assimilation? Is it ethnoracial assimilation, or just cultural assimilation? How do you know it has been completed?

Both.

Do you see Norse people who practice the Norse religion and have Norse culture? I think not.

Do you see Ashkenazi Jews and Arab Muslims? I think so.

Bah, stop mocking me you old reactionary. They have not assimilated and may even join the cult!

Are you talking to me? Because neither me nor Senator Doukas, whom I represent in his absence, are reactionaries or sympathize with reactionaries. We are liberals. If you want a reactionary to talk to, please talk with Senator Favero. I prefer you insult me properly and get my ideological leanings correct.

Both of you harbor old,traditional, reactionary ways of thinking in your "liberal" ideology. Liberalism is as great as a threat to this Empire as reactionism or the Cult.

 

[Idhrendur]

Senators, We have received notice that several regions of the Empire have declared independence. Among them are Brittania, Wales, Flanders-Wallonia, France, Burgundy, Aquitaine, Brittany, Catalonia, Spain, Italy, Azerbaijan, Israel, Mataram, Java, the Philippines, Australia, Aoteorea, and South Africa.

The following maps show their borders.

However, these borders may yet change. In addition to be at war with the Empire, many are at war with each other: Spain claims the rulership of all Iberia, France hopes to take from Flanders-Wallonia, France also hopes to take Champagne from Burgundy, Burgundy hopes to take Wallonie from Flander-Wallonia, Aquitaine hopes to take the Rhone region from Burgundy, Java hopes to unite the island by defeating Mataram, and Brittania hopes to unite their island be conquering Wales.

The legions are in disarray, it seems many have seen fighting break out among the regiments recruited in the rebellious provinces and those not raised there.

Wait. Are all the Senators still present?

 

[Idhrendur]

((
It’s time to choose loyalty or disloyalty! If you are a Senator of a province that has rebelled, you can declare yourself ruler of that province, choose what kind of ideology is represented there, and send messages to the Emperor and Senate (though perhaps use the quote tags to distinguish them so that we don’t respond as if you were in the room). If you are a Senator of a loyal province, or wish to rule a different province than your assigned one, you may immediately claim a free disloyal province, or wait until Senators have passed on taking up the rulership of their current province. You may declare your loyalty, too, of course, but where’s the fun in that?

If you're choosing to be disloyal, please indicate that you already slipped away before the Emperor's return. I'd prefer not to have more violence in the Senate chambers.

As always, there will be no in-game effects from your actions here, it is all just roleplay. And when the Empire is reunited, you likely will need to create a new character. Though maybe if you’re good at pleading or justifying yourself, your character might continue. We will have to see.

For reference, here are the currently assigned provinces (rebelling ones in bold):
Britannia - Senator Palaiologoi
Dalmatia - Senator Komnenos
Macedonia - Senator Angelos
Naples - Senator Septiadis
Palestine - Senator Doukas
Raetia - Senator Comminus
Sicily - Senator Smithereens
Italy - Senator Favero
Philippines - Senator Nguyen-Climaco
Wales - Senator Marcos
Brittany - Senator Gael
Thracia - Prince Konstantinos

The following provinces are rebellious but not assigned to a Senator (thus up for grabs):
Aquitaine
Australia
Azerbaijan
Flanders-Wallonia (Belgium)
Burgundy
Catalonia
France
Java
Mataram (the eastern half of Java)
Aeteorea (New Zealand)
South Africa
Spain
))

 

[austrianemporer]

((Jesus Christ, what is this!?! I am going to take some time to decide my loyalty. By the way, can you add Total War/Emergency Draft/Total Mobilization modifiers to the rebelling nations that give them for example 10 or 15 % mobilization size and -20% supply consumption? A decision can do that and make the decision also give military goods and leadership. For example, this decision is lifted straight out of /gsg/ and is not entirely accurate but gives a good picture.
total_war_in_taiping = {
alert = yes
picture = support_boxers
potential = {
exists = QNG
has_global_flag = taiping_has_happened
NOT = { has_country_modifier = taiping_draft }
NOT = { has_country_flag = taiping_draft_happened }
tag = TPG
}

allow = {
war_with = QNG
NOT = { num_of_cities = 50 }
}

effect = {
iron = 20
wool = 20
timber = 100
small_arms = 20
leadership = 40
define_general = {
name = "Yang Xiuqing"
personality = fanatic
background = natural_born_leader
}
add_country_modifier = {
name = taiping_draft
duration = 1825
}
set_country_flag = taiping_draft_happened
}
ai_will_do = {
factor = 1
}
}

The event modifier is

taiping_draft = {
mobilisation_size = 0.12
prestige = -0.02
icon = 18

Thanks for the consideration Idhrendur. ))

 

[Michaelangelo]

I will personally flay the Italian scum who dared rebel against the Emperor in my home province. Disloyalty must be met with death. I shall support the Emperor in all endeavours to restore order to the Empire. This shall be the last time we tolerate such rebellious behaviour from the provinces.

- Senator Raphael Favero

((For the Emperor! The Favero family is loyal until the end.))