[Map Game] Countries of an Alternate World

[Health]

Or using it as an attempt to "get back" at the Moose-lamic states.

I will make a state of Islamic Moose. Mark my words.

edit; Also that was my suggestion. Blame me for the idea and Ironhide for going along with it if you wish.

 

[Health]

But enough of that let us get some more nations painted onto this map. We really should think about formatting this history, so those who enter have a better idea of what has happened already. Also where did that East Asian states description disappear. Am I just blind?

 

[Tristanxh]

Maybe, I did sort of encourage Ironhide though. So I am willing to take responsiblity. The best response to trolling isn't however just trying to shut it down.

I say again, try to play with Catholic ERE. We already have Latin-Christian WRE. I would like to see some Catholic Arabs. Besides, we already have the damn Islamic Russian Princes of the North. Are they less odd than Catholic ERE? Maybe, but let us try to utilize it either way.

By Latin-Christian, at the time I meant Catholic on the western side of the schism. However, I think it will now mean that they refuse to recognize the Catholics and will only recognize the Pentarchy as a whole or the Bishop in Rome as their patriarch.

So, whoever is making the Italian Muslims, please allow Pope in Rome or we go to war.

Besides, making a Pope in Rome who refuses to recognizes Iconium would mean that Ironhide would have a schism and his nation would be in a dismal situation.

 

[XVG]

So, whoever is making the Italian Muslims, please allow Pope in Rome or we go to war.

It still doesn't take into account the Muslim Arab conquest of North Africa (mentions of Fatimids and Aghlabids and so on). Not to mention that 'was just shaped wierd I guess' isn't really a good explanation onto why the very creatively named Empire of yours managed to hold together.
Also as you made those remarks regarding Mecca, I guess we can also say that Papacy never left Rome, and instead stayed there just like the patriarch of Constantinople stayed in Constantinople OTL :^).

 

[Health]

I'm pretty sure both of those nations would try to dislodge their religious rival, but oh well. Also, I just re-read Super-Persia and it is sort of amazing.

 

[Tristanxh]

*snip*

Oh, huzzah! Christianity is divided... Huh, it doesn't seem like such a noble thing anymore...

I'm pretty sure both of those nations would try to dislodge their religious rival, but oh well. Also, I just re-read Super-Persia and it is sort of amazing.

Nah, it just turns into Constantinople vs Rome. They don't try and kill each other, they just don't try to help each other.

 

[Health]

Oh, huzzah! Christianity is divided... Huh, it doesn't seem like such a noble thing anymore...

Nah, it just turns into Constantinople vs Rome. They don't try and kill each other, they just don't try to help each other.

To be honest we already had the Arians in Iberia. This match has now turned into a Mexican Standoff by the Christians, a possible four way if the Romans have their own sect, whilst the Finnish in the North just train and prepare hedgehogs to fight.

 

[Corman50]

Official Name: The Confederation of South German Republics
Commonly Used Name(s): South Germany, Austria-Bavaria
Government Type: Federal multi-party Republic
Current Ruling Party (if applicable): Christian Democratic Party (Centre-right)
Capital: Vienna
Head of State: Chancellor Horst Mitterlehner
Cultures: German(55%) , Austrian(33%), Franko-Roman(10%), Rumite(2%)
Languages: German, Latin
Religions: Catholic (40%), Protestant (30%), Calvinist (20%), Latin Christian (9%), Islamic (1%)
Population: 38 Million
Founding Date: 1867
Date of Max Extent: 1820
Location: Switzerland, Austria, Bavaria
Brief History:
The region now known as South Germany was originally under the control of 3 dominating powers, The Kingdoms of Austria and Bavaria and the Knights Templar in Swizterland. Austria, who were the greatest of the 3 at their height controlled much of central Europe. However their extensive rule came to an abrupt end when in 1414 the last Austrian king died without an heir. The resulting succession crisis saw many territories under Austria secede, with various local nobles and distant relatives of the deceased king being crowned monarchs of the newly independent territories. During this crisis King Louis VII of Bavaria, himself a distant relative, laid his claim on the Austrian crown and while the Bavarian armies were not able to hold many of the outer territories of the Austrian kingdom, they were able to successfully integrate Austria into the new dual monarchy.

The Unified Kingdoms of Bavaria and Austria (or Simply Bavaria-Austria) continued for the next 2 centuries as one of the key states in Europe until 1618 when religious tensions erupted into full a full scale conflict that engulfed much of Europe. When King Maximilian I died, ruler ship of the country passed to his son Ferdinand, a known Protestant. Seeing this as their chance at to assert their authority over the Bavarian-dominated Kingdom, the largely Catholic nobles of Austria supported the claim of the late Maximilian's brother Philipp, who was raised in Austria and was a devout Catholic. The conflict amplified latent religious tensions in the country and soon other nations would intervene. Philipp received support from the Christian Empire and the Knights Templar, who themselves responded to rise of Protestantism with a series of religious purges that soon lead to a full lead to revolt against their rule, and his supported primarily in Austria and the Catholic regions of Bavaria, while Ferdinand support came mainly from the Western Romans, who several small wars with the knights due to the targeting of Latin Christians as well as Protestants in their purges, and neighboring states in Germany who desired to see the kingdom somewhat weakened by the war though he only received support from the Protestant regions of Bavaria

In the end Philipp was victorious though many of the noblity refused to recognize his authority and as a result the Kingdom greatly weakened. The saw two primary changes that many point to as the shaping factors for the Confederation today. One is that the administrative center of the nation shifted to Austria as Vienna was named the new capital. Next it lead to the decentralization of both Bavaria-Austria (now known as Austria-Bavaria) and the Switzerland who completely expelled the Knights from government in a revolution that saw power now rest in the newly formed Syndic Republic. The greatest revolution was yet to come however.

In 1795, the Kingdom was in an sorry. The careless fiscal policies of Maximilian IV saw the state enter bankruptcy and increased taxes followed by a general food shortage that year meant public option of the state was at an all-time low. Soon protests were staged, and the attempts to quell them led to riots, which sparked a full blown revolution. The King was forced to flee the country and an new Republic was declared. However the First Austrian-Bavarian Republic was ripe with issues and lacked foreign support. Eventually a failed attempt at a coup by members of the military lead to mass political purges and rumors that more conservative Swiss Republic was planning to invade in order to reinstall Maximilian, Republic invaded Switzerland, then other neighboring regions. By 1820, the Republic one of the primer nations in Europe, though also a pariah state, controlling territory in Northern Italy, Central Europe, and Germany. However internally the state was unable to deal with its social and economic problems and effectively imploded with several short lived break away states founded in it place.

Eventually the only the states that remained were the Republic in Bavaria, Austria, and Switzerland. Originally an attempt was made at uniting the nations into a single republic, however conflicts of interest between the three nations meant that this Second republic would be short lived. Eventually it was decided that the formation of a Confederation was most appropriate, though today South Germany's government far more centralized.

Spoiler: Flag

 

[Health]

Yea, I remember your satyr from FotD... Please don't write another 3 page long wedding IC in Latin for the sake of 'satyr,' please... We get it, you hate Vatican 2.

Could I get a link to this? It sounds amazing.

Also who is claiming the Radioactive Wasteland known as Sweden?

edit; I'm also starting to wonder how Megamerica formed without the British or any English presence considering the Gaels and Cymru.

 

[XVG]

Official Name: Al Jumhuriyah al-Yamani min al-Awtan al-Arabiat al-Janubi al-Dimuqratiat al-Sha’abi al-Ishtraki al-Azim (Great People’s Socialist Democratic Republic of Yemeni and other Southern Arabic Homelands)
Commonly Used Name(s): Yemen, Red Arabia, Free Arabia, Land of the Apostates and Idolaters (according to the Rumite Wahhabi preacher Ibn Wafflimi)
Government Type: Socialist Single-Party Dictatorship [de facto: Military Dictatorship]
Current Ruling Party: Hizb al-Arabi al-Yamani al-Sha’abi al-Ishtraki (Socialist Popular Yemeni Arab Party)
Capital: Madinat al-Sabia (City of the Sabaeans, located close to Sana’a)
Head of State: Chairwoman of the Supreme People’s Committee: Fatimah bint Abdullah al-Saleh (Various nicknames: Malikat al-Hamra (Red Queen), Sayidat Sayida al-Yamaniun (Lady of Ladies of Yemen), Amirat al-Aruba (Princess of Arabism), Khadmiat al-Ishtirakia (Maiden of Socialism), Khalilat al-Shaytan (Devil's Concubine (especially in European Islamist circles))
Cultures: Yemeni Arabic (75 %), Mehri (5 %), Soqotri (5 %), Eritrean (5 %), Omani Arabic (5 %), Somali (5 %)
Languages: Official Language: Yemeni Arabic Recognized Languages: Somali, Soqotri, Mehri
Religion: Zaydi Shia Islam (50 %), Sunni Islam (25 %), Arabian Neo-Paganism (18 % (endorsed under recent government nationalism campaign)), Oriental Christianity (5 %), Judaism (2%)
Population: 31 million
Founding Date: Yemeni Imamate 1098, Yemen Republic 1921, Current Regime: 1963
Date of Max Extent: Current
Location: Yemen (including Soqotra) and western Oman, Berbera, Dijbouti and Assab

The steadfast Yemeni people have resisted invaders since the ancient times when Himyar tried to oppress them. For centuries after they fought the invaders to their north, under the religious leadership of the Yemeni Imamate. Later, however, winds of modernity reached Yemen and the monarchy was toppled in 1921 in favor of a republican government, which however failed to address the main economic, social and regional problems the Yemeni people faced. But in 1963, the Yemeni army officers and Yemeni Arab socialists launched the glorious 12th of an-Nuwwār Revolution, seizing power simultaneously in Aden, Sanaa and other principal towns of the Yemeni republic. The Supreme Revolutionary Council of Yemen restored order and announced the creation of the new, People’s Yemeni Arab National Defense Forces (Quwat ad-Difa al-Sha’abi al-Watani al-Arabi al-Yamani). The new national militia replaced the army and became the main national institution after the ruling Socialist party. Under Izzat Iskandar al-Soqotri, the First Chairman of the Supreme People’s Committee overseeing the Defense Forces, Yemen launched an invasion of Djibouti, Berbera and Assab, securing a foothold in the war-torn continent to ‘protect the interests of the Yemeni and Arabic peoples’. Bab al-Mandab was heavily garrisoned with anti-aircraft and anti-shipping missiles due to the threat posed by the ‘Northern enemies’. In 1973, a National Defense Forces general al-Saleh launched the Tishrīn Corrective Arab Revolutionary Popular Military Action, seizing power in Sanaa. Al-Saleh launched a new campaign of Yemeni nationalism, constructing the new capital of Madinat al-Sabia and underlining the glorious past of the Yemeni people, who had resisted foreign invasion before the beginning of time. Grand People’s General and Martyr of the Homeland al-Saleh was killed in 1997 in a dastardly attack of sharks on his torpedo boat, and his daughter succeeded him. Even though Yemen was already a very advanced and modernized nation in terms of gender equality and cultural progress, this caused some ire. Thus she launched a purge of the armed forces, replacing many of the popular commanders with members of her own clan. Recently the government of Fatimah bint Abdullah al-Saleh has launched a campaign advocating a ‘return to the old glorious days’ with propaganda posters depicting her as the ‘Queen of Sheba’ and various Arabic goddesses visible everywhere in the urban environment. Since the time of Grand People’s General al-Saleh, Red Yemen has been very supportive of all Arabic, Islamic and just in general Socialist freedom fighters and militias, receiving funding and training from the Yemeni regime to conduct their wars of liberation in Africa, the Middle East and especially in the rest of Arabia. Yemen very likely has a highly developed WMD-program, in addition to other nasty things obvious to a military state.

Bonus: Socialist Yemeni propaganda

! الشعب اليمني العظيم يرفض الاستسلام
Al Sha'ab al Yamani al Azim yarfud al Aistislam!
The Great Yemeni People refuse to yield!​

! أميرة الأميرات الوطن والاشتراكية وعود لحراسة باب بلقيس
Amirat al-Amra al-Watan w al-Ishtirakiat wueud lihirasat Bab al-Bilqays!
Commanderess of Commanders of the Homeland and Socialism vows to guard Bab al-Bilqis*!
*Gate of Bilqis. The official Yemeni name for the heavily garrisoned Bab al-Mandab Strait, Bilqis being the Quranic and Arabic name for the Queen of Sheba ​

! سوف أبطال اليمن الدفاع عن الاشتراكية في بلاد السودان وزنج
Sawf Abtal al-Yaman al-Difae ean al-Ishtirakiat fi Bilad Al-Sudan w al-Zanaj!
Champions of Yemen will defend socialism in the land of Sudan and Zanj*!
​

The Great People’s Socialist Democratic Republic of Yemeni and other Southern Arabic Homelands invests great resources in numerous African regions in support of the local socialist (usually also Arabic) countries and militant movements. 32nd 'Bolt of al-Maqah' People’s Yemeni Arab National Defense Forces Parachute Brigade (right) is deployed permanently in Congo to aid the local government and has trained local special forces (center). The Yemenis also have deployed unknown units to aid the Socialist Republic of Nassun in Sudan, providing weapons and advisers, as well as training and logistic support. Yemeni special forces are rumored to use the area for supporting groups carrying out terrorist and rocket attacks in Egypt. Yemeni forces have created a Nassunese Republican Guard (left).​

*General reference to Arabic-speaking sub-Saharan Africa

 

[aedan777]

Official Name: Free Union of Aamrika Alwustaa
Commonly Used Name(s): FUAA, Aamrika Alwustaa, Central America (For non-Arabic speakers)
Government Type: Representative Republic
Current Ruling Party: Coalition between Unity Party and Liberal Party
Capital: Arroquadat (OTL Bogota)
Head of State: Prime Minister Khalid al-Tezid
Cultures: Arab: 73%, Arab-Berber: 18%, Various Natives: 9%
Languages: Arabic: 99% (Official) miniscule amounts of Berber and native languages
Religions: (Sunni Islam: 85%, Shi'ite islam 8%, Various native faiths: 7%
Population: 70 million
Founding Date: 1964
Date of Max Extent: 1964-Present
Location: South America north of the Amazon, Central America from the eastern half of Honduras south, Jamaica, and the Lesser Antilles

Brief History: The FUAA has its roots in the various groups fighting against the Berber supremacists that overthrew the Moroccan Kingdom in 1927. After centuries of intermingling, most of the distinction between a person being Arab or Berber came down to their familial identification. Most of those in Morocco considered themselves still the natives of the land, while in the Americas, most considered themselves Arabic, creating the schism that drove the civil war to last nearly three decades. The death of the Royal family and most of the Arab upper class in Morocco in the early stages of the war fractured the opposition to the Berber supremacists, allowing the Berbers to make early gains on the largest Caribbean islands, Qubba and Ha'aidia. However the various groups eventually began to organize into a united front, and successfully prevented the smaller islands from being held by the Berbers. On the mainland, there was nothing resembling a front line, merely roving armies that destroyed any towns and villages that didn't give them supplies and shelter. Both sides avoided more than small raids against each other, believing their forces too precious to waste on fighting, preferring to attempt to deny resources to their enemy. Beyond destroying much of the economy of the land, this accomplished little for the decades it was implemented.

A small but substantial minority came into prominence at this point, the Arab-Berbers. So-called because they identified as Berbers, yet fought on the side of the Arabs, both sides viewed them with disdain, with the Arabs mistrusting them, and the Berbers considering them race-traitors of the highest order. They opposed the supremacist methods of the Berbers, and thus supported the Arab forces. While they had been a insignificant group at first, as the war dragged on, they grew larger and larger. In the 1950s, they began the first real efforts by either side to reach a peace deal, which failed entirely, but drove both sides to seek battle with each other, to bring an end to the stalemate. Both sides won many victories, and suffered terrible casualties, driving them to desperation. Both sought a last gambit in 1960 to end the war. The Arabs planned to launch an expedition along the southern river, to reach the heart of Berber occupied territory, and destroy their ports and supply bases. The Berbers for their part planned an amphibious invasion of the oil-rich region of Mariqa'o. Both plans failed, but the Berber's failed more spectacularly, with their fleet dashed apart by a storm, and crushed piecemeal by Arab forces. While fighting continues for another two years, the war was effectively over. The final peace deal in 1962 saw the borders of the two nations replace the loose frontline that had formed between the armed groups.

But the end of the war didn't mean peace would settle. The nation that had become independent had no name, no ideology, and no future. Immediately various groups began to argue and sometimes come to blows over the nature of their new nation. There also those who wished to restart the war, and those who wished to crack down on the Arab-Berbers for not being Arabs. It took two years for the extremists to be defeated and opposition brought under control before a constitution was created in 1964, creating the Free Union of Aamrika Alwustaa, rejecting a racial label, and emphasizing the plurality of the new state. The new nation would be a republic, where all were equal before the law, and held equal opportunity for advancement. While several parties existed in the early days, the near universal desire to rebuild the nation from the devastation of war united many of them. By the time politics and the nation had stabilised by the late 70s, only 6 parties remained.

The Unity party is the largest, with near unanimous support from the natives and Arab-Berbers it has never been outside of a coalition government, though it has also never ruled alone. It believes in the spirit on the constitution and seeks to uphold the rights of all groups and ideologies, while providing a firm hand to continue the country's growth and recovery. The second largest party is the Conservative Party, which seeks to promote government support for tradition, and encourage the creation of local powers to oversee this. Many accuse the conservatives of being closet Arab supremacists, wanting to use government devolution to free up local persecution of Arab-Berbers and natives. The third largest party is the Liberal Party, which has been the main coalition partner with the Unity Party, barring a short period in the 90s when the conservatives and Unity coalitioned. The Liberal Party seeks to reduce government power, while also guaranteeing the rights of all citizens, and lowering taxes to support growth and entrepreneurs. The fourth largest party is the Socialist Party, which seeks to greatly expand the government's power and completely oversee distribution of resources and wealth to secure the wealthfare of its citizens. While popular in the early days, and close to governing power on occasion, its strength has waned over the years, with more and more losing conviction in the need for a more invasive government. The fifth largest party is the Arab Party, which consists of the most fanatical arab supremacists. The sixth party is nearly a non-entity, yet remains alive through narrow margins alone. The Annexation Party wishes for reannexation into the Greater Islamic Republic of Tamazight, and consists almost purely of radical zealots who believe the muslims of the FUAA are losing their way. Nearly all view them as Berber stooges, kept afloat by generous "donations".

The economy of the FUAA has relied mainly on its oil exports to support its economy, which remains largely backwards, even after half a century of rebuilding efforts.

 

[Tristanxh]

Official Name: Al Jumhuriyah al-Yamani min al-Awtan al-Arabiat al-Janubi al-Dimuqratiat al-Sha’abi al-Ishtraki al-Azim (Great People’s Socialist Democratic Republic of Yemeni and other Southern Arabic Homelands)
Commonly Used Name(s): Yemen, Red Arabia, Free Arabia
Government Type: Socialist Single-Party Dictatorship [de facto: Military Dictatorship]
Current Ruling Party: Hizb al-Arabi al-Yamani al-Sha’abi al-Ishtraki (Socialist Popular Yemeni Arab Party)
Capital: Madinat al-Sabia (City of the Sabaeans, located close to Sana’a)
Head of State: Chairwoman of the Supreme People’s Committee: Fatimah bint Abdullah al-Saleh
Cultures: Yemeni Arabic (75 %), Mehri (5 %), Soqotri (5 %), Eritrean (5 %), Omani Arabic (5 %), Somali (5 %)
Languages: Official Language: Yemeni Arabic Recognized Languages: Somali, Soqotri, Mehri
Religion: Zaydi Shia Islam (50 %), Sunni Islam (25 %), Arabian Neo-Paganism (18 % (endorsed under recent government nationalism campaign)), Oriental Christianity (5 %), Judaism (2%)
Population: 31 million
Founding Date: Yemeni Imamate 1098, Yemen Republic 1921, Current Regime: 1963
Date of Max Extent: Current
Location: Yemen (including Soqotra) and western Oman, Berbera, Dijbouti and Assab

The steadfast Yemeni people have resisted invaders since the ancient times when Himyar tried to oppress them. For centuries after they fought the invaders to their north, under the religious leadership of the Yemeni Imamate. Later, however, winds of modernity reached Yemen and the monarchy was toppled in 1921 in favor of a republican government, which however failed to address the main economic, social and regional problems the Yemeni people faced. But in 1963, the Yemeni army officers and Yemeni Arab socialists launched the glorious 12th of an-Nuwwār Revolution, seizing power simultaneously in Aden, Sanaa and other principal towns of the Yemeni republic. The Supreme Revolutionary Council of Yemen restored order and announced the creation of the new, People’s Yemeni Arab National Defense Forces (Quwat ad-Difa al-Sha’abi al-Watani al-Arabi al-Yamani). The new national militia replaced the army and became the main national institution after the ruling Socialist party. Under Izzat Iskandar al-Soqotri, the First Chairman of the Supreme People’s Committee overseeing the Defense Forces, Yemen launched an invasion of Djibouti, Berbera and Assab, securing a foothold in the war-torn continent to ‘protect the interests of the Yemeni and Arabic peoples’. Bab al-Mandab was heavily garrisoned with anti-aircraft and anti-shipping missiles due to the threat posed by the ‘Northern enemies’. In 1973, a National Defense Forces general al-Saleh launched the Tishrīn Corrective Arab Revolutionary Popular Military Action, seizing power in Sanaa. Al-Saleh launched a new campaign of Yemeni nationalism, constructing the new capital of Madinat al-Sabia and underlining the glorious past of the Yemeni people, who had resisted foreign invasion before the beginning of time. Grand People’s General and Martyr of the Homeland al-Saleh was killed in 1997 in a dastardly attack of sharks on his torpedo boat, and his daughter succeeded him. Even though Yemen was already a very advanced and modernized nation in terms of gender equality and cultural progress, this caused some ire. Thus she launched a purge of the armed forces, replacing many of the popular commanders with members of her own clan. Recently the government of Fatimah bint Abdullah al-Saleh has launched a campaign advocating a ‘return to the old glorious days’ with propaganda posters depicting her as the ‘Queen of Sheba’ and various Arabic goddesses visible everywhere in the urban environment. Since the time of Grand People’s General al-Saleh, Red Yemen has been very supportive of all Arabic, Islamic and just in general Socialist freedom fighters and militias, receiving funding and training from the Yemeni regime to conduct their wars of liberation in Africa, the Middle East and especially in the rest of Arabia. Yemen very likely has a highly developed WMD-program, in addition to other nasty things obvious to a military state.

I'm guessing Übermerica Reich and Großer Catholic Reich will team-up after Übermerica pulls off some sort of false-flag attack on itself and declares a war on terror before summarily invading Yemen for 'potential WMDs' ? I mean, this is Trump with supreme power that we're talking about.

Could I get a link to this? It sounds amazing.

If you wanted something interesting, prepare to be disappointed. But here you go,

Username: iluvamber

Status: Just Married
((written in third person. Also sorry the people in the image look a slightly different.))

Andrew O’Connor and Amber Cox stood before Priest John Walker, just outside the sanctuary of the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Dominic. Next to Father Walker are two priests, Father Brian Salmon and Father Robert Cummings, acting as the deacon and subdeacon for this Solemn High Nuptial Mass. Andrew stands on the Joseph/Epistle side of the church (the right from the point of view of the congregation), and the Amber stands on the Mary/Gospel side.


Father Walker turned to them and started in a loud voice, not in Latin but vernacular. “Andrew, wilt thou take Amber, here present, for thy lawful wife, according to the rite of our holy Mother the Church?”


Andrew responded, “I will.”


Father turned to the bride and said, “Amber, wilt thou take Andrew, here present, for thy lawful husband, according to the rite of our holy Mother the Church?”


Amber replied, “I will.”


Repeating the words of Father Walker, Andrew turned to Amber and said:


“I, Andrew O’Connor, take thee, Amber Cox, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”


Amber, doing the same thing, said,


“I, Amber Cox, take thee, Andrew O’Connor, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”


Nodding his consent, Father Walker chanted Latin as he sprinkled them with Holy Water and blessed Amber’s ring:


“Ego conjugo vos in matrimonium, in nomine Patris, + et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.”


Father then chanted:


“Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.”


The people responded: ((From Now on V. means Priest says it and R. means people say it))


“Qui fecit caelum et terram.”


V. “Domine, exaudi orationem meam.”


R. “Et clamor meus ad te veniat.”


V. “Dominus vobiscum.”


R. “Et cum spiritu tuo.”


V. “Let us pray. Bless, + O Lord, this ring, which we bless + in Thy name, that she who shall wear it, keeping true faith unto her spouse, may abide in Thy peace and in obedience to Thy will, and ever live in mutual love. Through Christ our Lord.”


The people responded with an “Amen”


((Just like to remind you that entire last section was sung.))


Father Walker then sprinkled the ring with holy water in the form of a cross; and Andrew, having received the ring from the hand of the priest, places it on the third finger of the left hand of the bride, saying the following:


“With this ring I thee wed and I plight unto thee my troth.”


Father Waker chanted: “In nomine Patris, + et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. Confirma hoc, Deus, qod operatus es in nobis.”


R. “A templo sancto tuo quod est in Jerusalem.”


V. “Kyrie eleison.”


R. “Christe eleison.”


V. “Kyrie eleison.”


Then Father Walker said most of the Pater Noster Silently, then he chanted verbally the last part of the prayer:


V. “...Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.”


R. “Sed libera nos a malo.”


V. “Salvos fac servos tuos.”


R. “Deus meus, sperantes in te.”


V. “Mitte eis, Domine, auxilium de sancto.”


R. “Et de Sion tuere eos.”


V. “Esto eis, Domine, turris fortitudinis.”


R. “A facie inimici.”


V. “Domine exaudi orationem meam.”


R. “Et clamor meus ad te veniat.”


V. “Dominus Vobiscum.”


R. “Et cum spiritu tuo”


V. “Oremus...Look down with favor, O Lord, we beseech Thee, upon these Thy servants, and graciously protect this, Thine ordinance, whereby Thou hast provided for the propagation of mankind; that they who are joined together by Thy authority may be preserved by Thy help; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”


Then the Nuptial Mass began.


Soon enough it came the Epistle, the letter from Saint Paul to the Ephesians. First Father said the Epistle Gradual and Gospel in Latin. Then he came to the lectern and read the Epistle in vernacular.


“Brethren: Let women be subject to their husbands as to the Lord; for the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the savior of His body. Therefore, as the Church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for it: that He might sanctify it, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life; that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it; as also Christ doth the Church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall be two in one flesh. This is a great Sacrament, but I speak in Christ and in the Church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself, and let the wife fear her husband.” ((Ephesians 5:22-33))


After this, he bade the crowd to stand up as he read the Gospel.


“The Most Holy Gospel According to Matthew: At that time: The Pharisees came to Jesus, tempting Him and saying; It is lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? Who answering said to them, Have ye not read, that He who made man from the beginning, made them male and female? and He said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore, now they are not two but one flesh. What, therefore, God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” ((Matthew 19:3-6))


After the Gospel, Father Walker gave a magnificent homily about the true meaning of marriage and how to best uphold the marriage. He covered many points, and his homily was so powerful that those who heard it at least forgot about the danger only miles from Forest City. No one was left unmoved by the homily, and it occured to them that this would probably be the last major thing of their normal lives.


After the Homily came the offertory. The water and wine were brought up, Father washed his hands in preparation for what he was about to do. He was about to offer Bread and Wine and by God’s power it would become the Body and Blood of Jesus. But at the end of the Offertory the choir sang the Sanctus, and the bells rung, symbolizing the start of the Canon, the most sacred part of the Mass.


“Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus

Dominus Deus Sabaoth

Pleni sunt cæli et terra gloria tua.

Hosanna in excelsis.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Hosanna in excelsis.”


The canon had begun. ((Here is a copy of the Roman Canon, since much of it is silently said by Father. It has a translation into english as well as instructions. The copy from the Google Doc is a little sloppy, and it is out of format. I apologize.))

Spoiler: CANON OF THE MASS

THE CANON OF THE MASS

Te ígitur, clementíssime Pater, per Jesum Christum Fílium tuum Dóminum nostrum súpplices rogámus ac pétimus (osculaturaltare) uti accépta hábeas, et benedícas (jungitmanus, deinde signat ter super oblata), hæc

dona, hæc

múnera, hæc

sancta sacrifícia illibáta (extensis manibus prosequitur): in primis quæ tibi offérimus pro Ecclésia tua sancta cathólica: quam pacificáre, custodíre, adunáre, et régere dignéris toto orbe terrárum, una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N. et Antístite nostro N. et ómnibus orthodóxis, atque cathólicæ et apostólicæ fídei cultóribus.


Wherefore, O most merciful Father, we humbly pray and beseech thee, through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord (he kisses the altar), that thou p. 465 wouldst vouchsafe to receive and bless (he joins his hands together, and then makes the sign of the cross thrice over the offerings) these gifts, these offerings, this holy and unblemished sacrifice (he extends his hands and continues), which in the first place we offer thee for thy holy Catholic Church, that it may please thee to grant her peace: as also to protect, unite, and govern her throughout the world, together with thy servant N., our Pope N., our bishop, as also all orthodox believers who keep the catholic and apostolic faith.

The Commemoration for the living.

Meménto, Dómine, famulórum famularúmque tuárum N. et N.


Be mindful, O Lord, of thy servants and handmaids, N. and N.

He joins his hands, prays a little while for those he wishes to pray for, then with his hands stretched out he continues:

Et ómnium circumstántium, quorum tibi fides cógnita est, et nota devótio: pro quibus tibi offérimus, vel qui tibi ófferunt hoc sacrifícium laudis, pro se, suísque ómnibus, pro redemptióne animárum suárum, pro spe salútis et incolumitátis suæ; tibíque reddunt vota sua ætérno Deo, vivo et vero.


And of all here present, whose faith and devotion are known unto thee; for whom we offer, or who offer up to thee, this sacrifice of praise for themselves and theirs, for the redeeming of their souls, for the hope of their safety and salvation, and who pay their vows to thee, the eternal, living, and true God.


Infra actionem.

Communicántes, et memóriam venerántes, in primis gloriósæ semper Vírginis Maríæ, genitrícis Dei et Dómini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beatórum Apostolórum ac Mártyrum tuórum, Petri et Pauli, Andréæ, Jacóbi, Joánnis, Thomæ, Jacóbi, Philíppi, Bartholomæi, Matthæi, Simónis et Thaddæi, Cleti, Cleméntis, Xysti, Cornélii, Cypriáni, Lauréntii, Chrysógoni, Joánnis et Pauli, Cosmæ et Damiáni et ómnium sanctórum tuórum: quorum méritis precibúsque concédas, ut in ómnibus protectiónis tuæ muniámur auxílio. (Jungit manus.) Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.


Within the action.

Communicating, and reverencing the memory first of the glorious Mary, ever a virgin, Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ; likewise of thy blessed apostles and martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, p. 466 Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus; of Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, john and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all thy saints; by whose merits and prayers grant that in all things we may be guarded by thy protecting help. (He joins his hands together.) Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

With his hands spread over the offerings, he says:

Hanc ígitur oblatiónem servitútis nostræ, sed et cunctæ famíliæ tuæ, quæsumus Dómine, ut placátus accípias, diésque nostros in tua pace dispónas, atque ab ætérna damnatióne nos éripi, et in electórum tuórum júbeas grege numerári. (Jungit manus.) Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.

Quam oblatiónem tu, Deus, in ómnibus, quæsumus,


We therefore beseech thee, O Lord, to be appeased, and to receive this offering of our bounden duty, as also of thy whole household; order our days in thy peace; grant that we be rescued from eternal damnation and counted within the fold of thine elect. (He joins his hands together.) Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Which offering do thou, O God, vouchsafe in all things.

He makes the sign of the cross three times over the offerings.

bene

díctam, adscrí

ptam, ra

tam, rationábilem, acceptabilémque fácere dignéris:


to bless

, consecrate

, approve

, make reasonable and acceptable:

He makes the sign of the cross once over the host and once over the chalice.

ut nobis Cor

pus et San

guis fiat dilectíssimi Fílii tui Dómini nostri Jesu Christi.

Qui prídie quam paterétur (accipit hostiam), accépit panem in sanctas ac venerábiles manus suas (elevat oculos ad cœlum), et elevátis óculis in cœlum, ad te Deum Patrem suum omnipoténtem, tibi grátias agens,


that it may become for us the Body

and

Blood of thy most beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who the day before he suffered took bread (he takes the host) into his holy and venerable hands (he raises p. 467 his eyes to heaven), and with his eyes lifted up to heaven, unto thee, God, his almighty Father, giving thanks to thee,

He makes the sign of the cross over the host.

bene

díxit, fregit, dedítque discípulis suis, dicens: Accípite, et manducáte ex hoc omnes.


he blessed

, brake, and gave to his disciples, saying: Take and eat ye all of this,

Holding the host between the first fingers and thumbs of both hands, he says the words of consecration, silently with clearness and attention, over the host, and at the same time over all the other hosts, if several are to be consecrated.

Hoc est enim Corpus meum.


For this is my Body.

As soon as the words of consecration have been said, he kneels and adores the consecrated host. He rises, shows it to the people, puts it on the corporal, and again adores. Then, uncovering the chalice, he says:

Símili modo postquam cœnátum est,


In like manner, after he had supped,

He takes the chalice with both hands.

accípiens et hunc præclárum Cálicem in sanctas ac venerábiles manus suas, item tibi grátias agens,


taking also this excellent chalice into his holy and adorable hands; also giving thanks to thee,

Holding the chalice with his left hand, he makes the sign of the cross over it with his right.

bene

díxit, dedítque discípulis suis, dicens: Accípite, et bíbite ex eo omnes:


he blessed , and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, and drink ye all of this;

He utters the words of consecration over the chalice silently, attentively, carefully, and without pausing, holding it slightly raised.

Hic est enim Calix Sánguinis mei, novi et ætérni testaménti; mystérium fidei: qui pro vobis et pro multis effundétur in remissiónem peccatórum.


For this is the Chalice of my Blood, of the new and eternal testament; the mystery of faith: which shall be shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins.

As soon as the words of consecration have been said, he puts the chalice on the corporal, and says silently:

Hæc quotiescúmque fecéritis, in mei memóriam faciétis.


As often as ye shall do these things, ye shall do them in memory of me.

p. 468

He kneels and adores; then rises, shows it to the people, puts it down, covers it, and again adores. Then holding his hands apart, he says:

Unde et mémores, Dómine, nos servi tui, sed et plebs tua sancta, ejúsdem Christi Fílii tui Dómini nostri, tam beatæ passiónis, necnon et ab ínferis resurrectiónis, sed et in cœlos gloriósæ ascensiónis: offérimus præcláræ majestáti tuæ de tuis donis ac datis,


Wherefore, O Lord, we thy servants, as also thy holy people, calling to mind the blessed passion of the same Christ thy Son our Lord, and also his rising up from hell, and his glorious ascension into heaven, do offer unto thy most excellent majesty, of thine own gifts bestowed upon us,

He joins his hands and makes the sign of the cross three times over the host and chalice together.

hóstiam

puram, hóstiam

sanctam, hóstiam

immaculátam,


a pure victim, a holy victim, a spotless victim,

He makes the sign of the cross once over the host and once over the chalice.

Panem

sanctum vitæ ætérnæ, et Cálicem

salútis perpétuæ.


the holy Bread of eternal life, and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.

He continues with his hands stretched out:

Supra quæ propítio ac seréno vultu respícere dignéris: et accépta habére, sícuti accépta habére dignátus es múnera púeri tui justi Abel, et sacrifícium patriárchæ nostri Ábrahæ, et quod tibi óbtulit summus sacérdos tuus Melchísedech sanctum sacrifícium, immaculátam hóstiam.


Upon which do thou vouchsafe to look with a propitious and serene countenance, and to accept them, as thou wert graciously pleased to accept the gifts of thy just servant Abel, and the sacrifice of our patriarch Abraham, and that which thy high priest Melchisedech offered to thee, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.

Bowing low with his hands joined together and then laid on the altar, he says:

Súpplices te rogámus, omnípotens Deus: jube hæc perférri per manus sancti Ángeli tui in sublíme altáre tuum, in conspéctu divínæ majestátis tuæ: ut quotquot (osculatur altare), ex hac altáris participatióne, sacrosánctum Fílii tui,


We most humbly beseech thee, almighty God, to command that these things be borne by the hands of thy holy angel to thine altar On high, in the sight of thy divine majesty, that as many of us (he kisses the altar) as, at this altar, shall partake of and receive the

p. 469

He joins his hands together and makes the sign of the cross over the host and once over the chalice.

Cor

pus et Sán

guinem sumpsérimus (seipsum signat), omni benedictióne cœlésti, et grátia repleámur (jungit manus). Per eúndem Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.


most holy Body and Blood of thy Son (he makes the sign of the cross on himself), may be filled with every heavenly blessing and grace (he joins his hands together). Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Commemoration for the dead.

Meménto étiam, Dómine, famulórum famularúmque tuárum N. et N. qui nos præcessérunt cum signo fídei, et dórmiunt in somno pacis.


Be mindful, O Lord, of thy servants and handmaids N. and N., who are gone before us, with the sign of faith, and sleep in the sleep of peace.

He joins his hands, prays a little while for those dead whom he means to pray for, then with his hands stretched out, continues:

Ipsis, Dómine, et ómnibus in Christo quiescéntibus, locum refrigérii, lucis et pacis, ut indúlgeas, deprecámur.


To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, we beseech thee, grant a place of refreshment, light, and peace.

He joins his hands together, and bows his head.

Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.


Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

He strikes his breast with his right hand, and slightly raising his voice, says:

Nobis quoque peccatóribus, fámulis tuis, de multitúdine miseratiónum tuárum sperántibus, partem áliquam et societátem donáre dignéris, cum tuis sanctis Apóstolis et Martyribus: cum Joánne, Stéphano, Mathía, Bárnaba, Ignátio, Alexándro, Marcellíno, Petro, Felicitáte, Perpétua, Ágatha, Lúcia, Agnéte, Cæcília, Anastásia, et ómnibus sanctis tuis; intra quorum nos consórtium, non æstimátor mériti, sed véniæ, quæsumus, largítor admítte. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Per quem hæc ómnia, Dómine, semper bona creas, sanctíficas, vivíficas, benedícis, et præstas nobis.


To us sinners, also, thy servants, hoping in the multitude of thy mercies, vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with thy holy apostles and martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecily, Anastasia, and with all thy saints, into whose company we pray thee admit us, not considering our merit, but of thine own free pardon. Through Christ our Lord; p. 470 through whom, O Lord, thou dost create, hallow, quicken, and bless these thine ever-bountiful gifts and give them, to us.

He uncovers the chalice, kneels, takes the blessed sacrament in his right hand, and holding the chalice in his left, makes the sign of the cross three times over it from lip to lip, saying:

Per ip

sum, et cum ip

so, et in ip

so,


By him, and with him, and in him,

He makes the sign of the cross twice between the chalice and his breast.

est tibi Deo Patri

omnipoténti, in unitáte Spíritus

sancti,


is to thee, God the Father almighty, in the unity of the Holy Ghost,

Lifting up the chalice a little with the host, he says:

omnis honor et glória.


all honour and glory.

He puts back the host, covers the chalice, kneels, rises, and sings or reads:

Per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. R. Amen.

((Here ends the copy of the Canon))

After the Canon was finished, Father Walker started saying the Pater Noster. To which the congregation responded “Sed libera nos a malo.” However, rather than go to the standard “Libera Nos” prayer, he instead chanted the Nuptial Blessing:

“Let us pray. Be gracious, O Lord, to our humble supplications: and graciously assist this Thine institution, which Thou hast established for the increase of mankind: that what is joined together by Thine authority, may be preserved by Thine aid. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee..,O God, who by Thine own mighty power, didst make all things out of nothing: who, having set in order the beginnings of the world, didst appoint Woman to be an inseparable helpmeet to Man, made like unto God, so that Thou didst give to woman’s body its beginnings in man’s flesh, thereby teaching that what it pleased Thee to form from one substance, might never be lawfully separated: O God, who, by so excellent a mystery hast consecrated the union of man and wife, as to foreshadow in this nuptial bond the union of Christ with His Church: O God, by whom Woman is joined to Man, and the partnership, ordained from the beginning, is endowed with such blessing that it alone was not withdrawn either by the punishment of original sin, nor by the sentence of the flood: graciously look upon this Thy handmaid, who, about to be joined in wedlock, seeks Thy defense and protection. May it be to her a yoke of love and peace: faithful and chaste, may she be wedded in Christ, and let her ever be the imitator of holy women: let her be dear to her husband, like Rachel: wise, like Rebecca: long-lived and faithful like Sara. Let not the author of deceit work any of his evil deeds in her. May she continue, clinging to the faith and to the commandments. Bound in one union, let her shun all unlawful contact. Let her protect her weakness by the strength of discipline; let her be grave in behavior, respected for modesty, well-instructed in heavenly doctrine. Let her be fruitful in offspring; be approved and innocent; and come to the repose of the blessed and the kingdom of heaven. May they both see their children’s children to the third and fourth generation, and may they reach the old age which they desire. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Amen.”


After this blessing, he said the Agnus Dei, and said the Domine, Non Sum Dignus prayer three times, each time the bells rung. After this, he consumed the Body and Blood of Jesus, and turning to the people, said in a loud voice, “Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum,sed tantum dic verbum, et sanabitur anima mea.” Meaning, ‘Lord, I am not worth that thou should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.’ once he said it, he gave communion to the Deacon and Subdeacon, and Andrew. Amber not being Catholic did not receive. Then he went down and gave the Body and Blood of Christ to all the faithful in the congregation. After this was done, they returned the remaining hosts to the Tabernacle. Then he ablutions came next, followed by the Communion and Post Communion readings. After a long period of silence, he turned to the congregation and said,


“Dominus Vobiscum.”


R. “Et cum spiritu tuo.”


V. “Ita Missa Est.”


R. “Deo Gratias.”


With this Father Walker turned around and prayed silently, before turning back and blessing the congregation, “Benedícat vos omnípotens Deus, Pater, et Fílius et Spíritus sanctus.” The people responded with an Amen.


He then turned around for the final part of the Mass- the Last Gospel. Taken from the Gospel of John’s 1st chapter, one of the most famous gospel sections. He said,

Inítium sancti Evangélii secúndum Joánnem.”

R. “Glória tibi, Dómine.”


V. “In princípio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in princípio apud Deum. Ómnia per ipsum facta sunt, et sine ipso factum est nihil quod factum est. In ipso vita erat, et vita erat lux hóminum, et lux in ténebris lucet, et ténebræ eam non comprehendérunt. Fuit homo missus a Deo, cui nomen erat Joánnes. Hic venit in testimónium, ut testimónium perhibéret de lúmine, ut omnes créderent per illum. Non erat ille lux, sed ut testimónium perhibéret de lúmine. Erat lux vera quæ illúminat omnem hóminem veniéntem in hunc mundum. In mundo erat, et mundus per ipsum factus est, et mundus eum non cognóvit. In própria venit, et sui eum non recepérunt; quotquot autem recepérunt eum, dedit eis potestátem fílios Dei fíeri; his qui credunt in nómine ejus, qui non ex sanguínibus, neque ex voluntáte carnis, neque ex voluntáte viri, sed ex Deo nati sunt. (Hic genuflectitur.) Et verbum caro factum est, et habitávit in nobis: et vídimus glóriam ejus, glóriam quasi Unigéniti a Patre, plenum grátiæ et veritátis.”

The people resoponded with, “Deo grátias.”


Then the procession led down the main aisle to the back of the Church and out. The Mass was over, and the wedding reception would soon begin.


***
The Reception


After the Mass, everyone filled out to head to the reception at the O’Conner Hotel. It was held in the Grand Ballroom. The food was nice but limited due to the food shortages that would soon be facing the city. As everyone came in they began to talk about things besides the apocalypse. For everyone it was one last time to be normal. There was no apocalypse, no annihilation of a huge amount of US forces near Detroit. It was just a wedding of a man and women in love. Among the important people at the Wedding was the Mayor, the remaining O’Conner family, the Chief of Police, and Herschel Spielman along with several others of the Forest City rich and famous. Other important guests, invited by the Bride, was her entire family, included both divorced parents and their new significant others, and Amber’s younger sister Joanna. She also invited the Woods who she was close friends with. Amber also invited several other guests, but not as many as the O’Conner’s invited.

It was a very nice reception. Everyone continued to eat as hotel employees worked to clear the empty dishes. While they talked and laughed, everything was a little quieter than usual as if something hung over the gathering. Everyone knew what it was but no one brought it up. People talked about their dogs or their kids. Some talked about the travel plans they had for the coming spring. A few comments were made about the speed of the engagement and wedding, but most agreed that 6 years of dating was likely enough in these times.

A bit into the party the doors opened and the Bridal Party entered and took their positions. Amber looked beautiful with her medium length blond hair tucked into a bun and wearing a large and gorgeous white dress. Andrew looked handsome in his black tuxedo. Eventually it came toast time. The best man, Phillip Rogers, stood up to give the big toast. He had been a close friend to both Andy and Amber threw much of their friendship, as he had been Andy’s best friend for a long time. He told of how they had been in kindergarten together, and how Andy had ignored her for cootie based reasons. He also spoke how they had come to be friends in Third grade. Then, he said, they were playing together, and found that they both shared a common attraction: soccer. After Third Grade they remained friends, although in Middle School and early High School they did hang out with very different friend groups as Andy focused on his studies and Amber fell in love with politics and soccer. However, after Middle School Andy has ceased playing soccer to better focus on his studies and academic programs. When her parents divorced Amber started to let her grades slip and hang out with some less savory people. After a stern talking to about the situation by her Coach and the Vice Principal, she decided she needed to change some things. She began talking to Andy again, and Andy was willing to become friends again, as he agreed to help her out with her schoolwork. It was very awkward for Amber as she had a huge crush on him since Middle School and she was certain he did not feel the same way towards her. About halfway through Sophomore year, as Winter Formal approached Amber finally gained the courage to make a move. She asked him to the dance as friends and he said yes. After the dance they started talking more outside of class and study sessions and after a few months were dating. Life became better for Amber as her grades started rising again, she hung out with better people like Melissa on her soccer team. Her relationship with Andy also helped as she felt that to be worthy to date the Valedictorian and a member of such a prestigious family as the O’Conners. By the end of senior year Amber managed to graduate in the the top 10% of the class. They went to college together, at the Mickinaw College, close to home. Andy could have gone to Harvard, Yale, MIT or other schools, but he chose to remain with Amber. The two went to college together, and were just about to start their senior year, having already settled in their separate dorm rooms, when word of the Crisis came out and classes were suspended indifferently. Even though Andrew was offered a place on the boat leaving with Adam, Amber wanted to stay so he decided to stay with her. He was training to take over his father’s business, she was trying to become a secretary to the mayor by training as an intern for him. After they talked about the engagement the story ended, for they did not wish to talk about the evil going on out and inside the city. A rather long and normally great toast, but the threat of the undead still weighed heavy on their hearts.

But then Amber called out, “Why don’t we dance?” The orchestra in the corner started playing, and beautiful music came flowing out. People came out to the dance floor. There were different styles of tasteful music and dance. In the center of it Andrew was dancing with Amber. Amber’s dancing skills were clearly better, and even though Andy tried his best, Amber seemed to be leading him, rather than the other way around. After the dancing everyone said their goodbyes and headed home to prepare for what was to come. Andy and Amber retired to the Presidential Suite, and have an one night honeymoon, to get away from the troubles of the world for a day. With as soft click, the door closed quietly behind them.

***

 

[Gorganslayer]

claiming australia, new zealand and the islands situated around the coast line.

 

[XVG]

I'm guessing Übermerica Reich and Großer Catholic Reich will team-up after Übermerica pulls off some sort of false-flag attack on itself and declares a war on terror before summarily invading Yemen for 'potential WMDs' ? I mean, this is Trump with supreme power that we're talking about.

! الشعب اليمني العظيم يرفض الاستسلام
Al Sha'ab al Yamani al Azim yarfud al Aistislam!
The Great Yemeni People refuse to yield!
​

 

[Afaslizo]

A new day. So I claim the coast between the Franks and Northern Jutland including Helgoland.

 

[Dadarian]

Official Name: The Only Holy Kingdom (Quduuska Boqortooyada Kaliya)
Commonly Used Name(s): "Axum", "Christian Africa", "That place with the big ass churches"
Government Type: Constitutional Theocracy
Current Ruling Party (if applicable): Liberal Monks of Saint Barnabas in coalition w. Party of Unobstructive Abbeys, Faith and God Party, & Federation of Independent Nunneries
Capital: Taasoo ah Ikoniyon Cusub [New Iconium] (pop. 1 million)
Head of State: His Holiness Gedeyon VII, Bishop of Ikoniyon & Only Shepard of the Christian Faith
Cultures: 25% Oromo, 20% Amhara, 15% Somali, 40% Assorted Tribals
Languages: 25% Oromo, 20% Amhara, 15% Somali, 40% Assorted Tribals
Religions: 63% Axumite Christianity, 22% Tribalist Beliefs, 11% Islam, 6% Catholic
Population: ~101ish million
Founding Date: 980 BCE (Kingdom of D'Mt), 100 AD (Kingdom of Aksum), 1100 AD (Ethiopian Empire), 1400 (as Axum)
Date of Max Extent: 1432
Location: Ethiopia and other

Brief History: The Only Holy Kingdom (Hereafter Axum) is a sad story of how religious pressure from outside forces combined with political insecurity can create a semi-failed state. Formed in 1400 as a result of the death of Emperor Dawit to Somalian raiders alongside of the Zagwe family left the Ethiopian Empire leaderless. The priests of the Ethiopian Eastern Catholic Church took the reigns, led by bishop (and soon Bishop) Gedeyon I. Declaring a crusade that would last some 32 years, the Ethiopians went on a conquering spree against it's Muslim neighbours. While this was a boon in Somalia in ending the raids and beginning what will be seen as the modern integration of Somalians into both Axum and Christianity, in the modern Sudan there was a different story. Tribes banded together to overthrow their zealous overlords, and proceeded to re-invade Axum. This led to an on-off bush war within the heights between Sudan and Ethiopia which would last some 300 years, until Bishop Emaneul II declared that the mountains be the everlasting border of Axum and the Sudan. He then spent far too much money building a pretty useless wall (Named the Ever-Holy Wall [Derbiga abid-Quduuska ah], and used exactly 182 times at modern count). This would be seen in the 'Jeer Waxa Gurguurta'.

Sometime during this entire thing, the Bishops of Taasoo ah Ikoniyon Cusub found it easier to call themselves the Bishops of Ikoniyon, the name of the main Patriarch in the Holy Christian Empire. This led them (alongside growing distance between the Pope and the Ethiopian Faithful, a constant need for a zealously religious backing in which to defend their nation, and growing political tensions with the Holy Christian Empire) led Axum to declare their independence from the Catholic Church and decree their own rites to be God's own words. By 1750, the Ethiopian and Latin rites were completely divorced and quite hostile when brought together.

In the modern day, two events define Axumite politics. The first is the Constitution, which decrees that all over the age of 20 may vote within the nation's election to help decide on the future of the nation. This is viewed as the people's input on God's Will, as the Bishop of Ikoniyon is still firmly the powerful Head of State. However, ever since the Bathhouse Debacle of Bishop Soloman VI in 1904, the Bishops tend to accept the will of the people as an important indicator of God's Will (also not getting deposed). The second important event is ongoing, and is commonly called 'Jeer Waxa Gurguurta' (The Creeping Times).

The 'Jeer Waxa Gurguurta' began in 1943 when Bishop Soloman VII was assassinated by Sudanese radicals, wishing to enact revenge by an Axumite inquisitorial hit on a tribal leader in the Sudanese border'states'. This would be the beginning of increased tensions and ethnic strife, as the Somalis begin rejuvenating their Paganist beliefs, terrorists from Yemen flood the border, and all the while the Bishops attempt to solidify their position by becoming increasingly hawkish to the Most Christian Empire, their historical foe.

As declared by Bishop Yohannes III in 1999, "[The] woes of the [Axumite] state are entirely due to the *CENSORED* of Egypt. It's their militias which fill our streets with violence, their weapons that fill the Sudanese hands, and their faith which has corrupted the Church so. They are the great devil, and their Pope nothing but a puppet of the false Kings of Iconium. The Only Holy Kingdom shall stand fast in the face of such heretical tyranny, and will fight until the last true Axumite falls. We shall never give in to traitors, heathens, and the [Greeks]!" It should be noted that this speech was delivered in person to a mob rioting in front of the Bishopric Palace.

Today, the capital may be a safe place, but that is it. If not for Muslim militias, Catholic gangs, Sudanese or Somalian tribes, or an increasingly dysfunctional demi-democratic system, one needs to worry for the Axumite Inquisition, the very powerful secret service of the Bishops of Ikonyon. But it could be worse, you could actually live in the Sudan, where a proxy war between Sudanese tribes aligned independently, to the Holy Kingdom, or the Christian Empire seems to have become more endemic than malaria or malnutrition.

Flag:

 

[Noco19]

​

Official Name: Islamic State of Iiliria

Commonly Used Name(s): Iiliria, ISI

Government Type: Theocratic Totalitarian State

Current Ruling Party: Al-Tullab

Capital: Sbalatyah (in place of OTL Split)

Head of State: Amir al-Mu'minin Rashid ibn Muhammad ibn Hassan al-Lohjali

Cultures: Arabs, Croats, Serbians, Albanians, Slovenians

Languages: Arabic (strongly impacted and merged into regional variants)

Religions: ISI holds that all citizens follow Islam

Population: 19 Million

Founding Date: Sultante of Kurwatiya (1333-1833), Sultanate of Iiliria (Est. 1833-1933), Islamic Republic of Iiliria (1933-1935), Interim Government (1935-1942), Second Islamic Republic of Iiliria (1942-1972), Islamic State of Iiliria (1972-Current)

Date of Max Extent: Current

Location: Illyria

Brief History:

As the Sultanate of Rum rose in the 1200's, sparking strife across the Italian Peninsula as it extended its reach northward, a different, but connected war began across the Adriatic. Seeking conquest of their own, a minor Arab dynasty within Rum known as the Qahtanids, due to their purported ties with the Banu Lahkm tribe and its founder Qahtan, amassed a force comprised mainly of tribal allies, Islamic zealots, and Mameluke slaves.

Falling upon the decayed and unready Croatian lands, the Qahtanids waged a violent war of usurpation. While these lands were de-jure under the Hungarian Crown, the Croatians had long held tension with their overlords, and it was this divide that allowed Islamic conquest. Spalatro (now Sbalatyah) was the first major city taken, and so it become the stronghold of Qahtanid power in the area, from where trade, mostly of the slave variety, and manpower, also of the slave variety, from the Islamic world could reach, sustaining its myriad of wars.

Over the course of the 1200's and early 1300's, the Qahtanids would hold control over the majority of the old Croatian Kingdom, declaring themselves the Sultans of Kurwatiya in 1333. Great numbers of immigrating Arabs were transplanted along the coast, and villages were heavily Islamized. Croatian nobility was essentially exiled from their lands, and following a period of chaos, villages and communities arose as the major organization of power beneath the Sultanate.

Similar subjugation was perused further east and west, as the disparate Serbian and Slovenian realms were conquered and turned into the Emirates of Srbyaa and Slovenya respectively. The Albanians were likewise brought under, although much more peacefully, as the various Albanian tribal groups adopted Islam and kept their relative positions of rights, organized under the Emirate of Albaniya.

This realm borne of conquest would eventually stabilize as a multi-ethnic Sultanate, using Islam as the primary bind between its peoples. A strong Arab bias of course existed for many years, but over time the scale equalized greatly. Many from these non-Arab groups gained prominence under the Jundidid System, as the Qahtanid Sultanate would take in quotas of children to teach in the ways of Islam. Some became great advisers, others leaders of the Qahtanid personal forces.

Throughout the 1700's and 1800's, the Qahtanid Sultante would reach its golden age of culture and intellectualism, as a number of movements shaped the state and strong Sultans successfully adopted and shaped them. Firstly was the so-called Illyrian Movement, which was a reaction at the purported inequities of the realm, as the legally the Serbian, Slovenian, and Albanian realms were of lesser status due to their position as principalities under the overarching Croatian Sultanate. Thus was born the Sultanate of Iiliria and thus died the Sultante of Kurwatiya, dissolved into an emirate, on par with its counter-parts in the realm. Likewise, representative organs became stronger as each emirate held its own official ulema, which together with an appointed governor, managed the day-to-day operations of the state. Secondly, a religious revival and shift spread across the lands, as the Sufi Bektashi Order succeeded in cultivating its sect on a wide scale. This unity and fervor did well to bind the state together, separating them from the other Islamic states as unique.

Things took a horrid turn in the 1900's however. Floundering from the blowback in 1929 - as their Rum friends faced a severe economic crisis - the Sultanate faced harsh criticism, culminating in the putsch attempt of 1933, known as the the Revolutionary Sexcentenary, given the 600-year anniversary of the state. Inspired by the secularist and republican coup in Rum, a handful of army officers and aspiring demagogues launched an attack on government forces, successfully killing the Sultan, most of his cabinet, and the Albanian Governor in a single, bloody bombing. While not totally debilitating by itself, in-fighting within the government and royal family paralyzed the state, allowing for an enterprising cadre of officers to seize Sbalatyah.

With the purported backing of Rum, the Islamic Republic of Iiliria was established. Unfortunately for this group of idealists, they failed to comprehend the power of the entrenched ulema, as well as the inter-workings of the ethnic groups in the nation. The Republican powerbase was surely multi-ethnic, but its top brass was primarily Slovenian, and many feared this would open to either Slovenian secession or Slovenian domination, taking the place of Croatia, and moving the power even further away from the Albanians. The Albanians in fact would prove to be the most stalwart of opposition to this Islamic Republic, perhaps for a myriad of reasons,.

Thus set the stage for the Green Revolution of 1935 or sometimes known as the Islamist Movement. As the ulema officially denounced the Islamic Republic, and public order deteriorated, a good portion of the Republicans fled the country, most into Rum, some ran further to the New World, where their ideals could shape a new nation. And so the Green Revolution easily succeeded, and in its wake was assembled a grand meeting of the ulema. Dominating this would be a faction of strongly theocratic, strongly autocratic jurists who would favor new system of government, inherently based on Islamic law and Sharia. For many years the state was in a state of status quo, as there was a degree of indecision, namely about the monarchy, and the state was governed by the Interim Council. Eventually, the Islamic Republic was officially restored in 1942, albeit as one dominated by the ulema and the faith, and moderate democracy reigned. This would continue until 1972.

Al-Tullab (trans. The Students) was an extremist coalition of radical ulema and totalitarian idealists from the madrasa system who flocked behind Islam to govern Iiliria. Disgusted by the "weakness" of the Islamic Republic and it's centrism, Al-Tullab operated a reign of terror from the shadows in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The democracy of the Republic was undeveloped and fledgling, and so when Al-Tullab officially arose as a resistance force, not many felt so connected to its survival. Meanwhile Al-Tullab found itself in abundance of volunteers. After a short but fierce civil war, Al-Tullab had ousted the Islamic Republic and proclaimed the Islamic State of Iiliria in 1972, which has continued to the modern day.

Espousing Sharia law, the state is governed jointly by the lifelong Amir al-Mu'minin (trans. Leader of the Faithful) and the Shura of Iiliria. Al-Tullab reigns as the only acceptable political organization. Although ostensibly all ethnic groups are equal, Al-Tullab has a strong subsection of Arabs and Albanians, with Serbians of moderate importance, and with Slovenians ostracized due to their perceived support of the old secularist coup of 1933. Thus, the regime has become increasingly antagonistic to the Slovenian peoples, and has in many occasions been faced with revolt and dissent by nationalist groups, countered with heavily militarization. Of late, Iiliria has allied itself with the interests of Rum, and to a lesser extent the various Islamic nations that don't outright condemn Iiliria for it's distinctly rightist flavor, and the Christian states are essentially treated as evil incarnate.

 

[Mathrim]

Claiming Kamchatka.

 

[Mathrim]

Official Name: Eretz Yisrael
Commonly Used Name(s): The Jewish tribes, Judeaitia
Government Type: Semi-Tribalistic Hunter-Gatherers
Capital: No sizeable settlements, but the Third Temple (home to the Levchadal) is the symbol of the Israelmens
Cultures: Israelmens 100%
Languages: Yehuchok, Liturgical Hebrew (spoken by the Levchadal)
Religions: Judaism
Population: 40.000
Founding Date: 1722
Date of Max Extent: 1722
Location: Kamchatka peninsula

The Jews almost disappeared from history books in the aftermath of the Phoenician Revolution. The overseas communities thrived (except for Cyprus where a combined Roman-Phoenician force threw them out around 105), but the bulk of the Jewish people was forced out of their homes by the invincible Phoenicians and their Samaritan sidekicks. The Jews set out East, trying to find a place to settle down. They had hoped the King of Adiabene would provide them shelter, but he died when they were on their way, and his successor kept them out of the kingdom. They kept marching, emulating Moses that slowly turned into the most important figure of Judaism. After a while, the journey became more important than the destination, and the Jews decided to keep searching for a homeland. They didn't wish to return to Palestine anymore, instead they sought to find the Lost Tribes who had certainly already found shelter in the true Israel.

The wandering Jews traveled through Persia, Northern India and over the course of centuries continued towards the Northeast. One day they found what they believed were their long lost kinsmen. Whether they truly thought the Kamchadal were the Lost Tribes remains up to debate, but regardless they set to recreate a homeland for their people. It is estimated that they reached it roughly 500 years after they had been expelled from Palestine.

They were discovered in 1722, and by that time their language had transformed into a pidgin between Aramaic and Itelmen, with various influences adopted during their long journey. The Western Jewish communities view them with contempt and refuse to acknowledge that the once proud Jews have turned into a few isolated settlements of hunter gatherers. But the signs were there, menoras and pictures of Moses are everywhere, a Third Temple was built by the Levchadal tribe, and even if they call Yahweh Y-K-T-K, there is no doubt they are the heirs of ancient Israel. The Israelmens don't acknowledge other Jews as true sons of Israel either as their oral traditions are clear: the Lost Tribes were found, and thus all true Jews live in Kamchatka, or Eretz Yisrael as they call it.

There are small villages spread all across the country, one for each tribe. The Israelmens remain thoroughly uncivilized, and the harsh living conditions of the region mean that their numbers have remained small throughout history. They wouldn't be relevant if not for their origins, but the importance of the Abrahamic religions all over the globe make it so that the Second Israel hasn't been conquered (although the irrelevance of the region may have played a role as well). They are but a footnote of history, but a long-lasting one.

 

[sealy300]

I claim the Polynesian Triangle.