Comment: Open Letter on Neridia

The following letter was sent to the Gazette by a consortium of Musican merchants and the Dirigent, Vilhelm Benkern.

The founding of Neridia was abrupt. Like many of the seminal moments in Shireroth's history, it was controversial. However it was legitimate, and ever since then that territory has formed an integral part of the Imperial Republic's ecosystem. As news comes today that the disgraced Prince whose government collapsed has sought asylum in St Andre, the need for urgent action to preserve the stability of the hemisphere, from the Shire Sea to the North Raynor Sea, becomes obvious to all.

Therefore we, a group of Musicans who have a dear sympathy with the nearby people of Neridia who have been abandoned by their government, and who also have a strong interest in the social and economic propserity of all parts of Shireroth, today call on the Kaiser and Landsraad to undertake to protect the people of Neridia and commit to ensure their survival and economic growth. Without intervention, there can be no hope of their survival. What form of government should remain in Neridia is a matter of rightful debate, which should be made in the open and without obscured secret motives, but there can be no argument that Shireroth has an obligation to the abandoned people of this fledgling land who, for now at least and in our view forevermore, we call fellow countrymen.

News: MiniTrade resigns amid currency row

GOLDSHIRE HAMLET, GOLDSHIRE - The Imperial Government has been shocked to its foundations this week as the Minister for Trade, Ryabin Merkayastreb, tendered his resignation. It followed public comments made by Kaiser Trantor IV about the MiniTrade's new currency designs, which included a representation of one Imperial State on the backside of each note. Trantor dismissed the notes, saying they were not to be put into circulation until the old denominations were restored and anti-counterfeit measures were put in place.

A sample of a 5-erb note, at the centre of the dispute

Merkayastreb, Duke of Goldshire, was a veteran Minister, appointed in 5248 ASC by Kaiser Aiomide following the death of his father, Krasniy Yastreb, who was himself appointed to the post by Mira Raynora Minor in 5079 ASC. In spite of praise for the new designs from many, another source of criticism was Thadeus Melange, Lord of Montauk in Aryasht, who suggested to their Prince that the representation of Aryasht by a tea-picker was less than favourable. These were the first published designs of Erb bank notes since those of Scott/Yvain of Wintersong (also of Brookshire/Goldshire) in 3293 ASC. It is also noteworthy that Krasniy Yastreb supplied coin designs for that older series of currency.

Reports from Goldshire indicate that the Duke and his retainers have suffered at the hands of the mysterious local organisation, the Assayers, as a result of the rift between the Imperial Government and the Imperial State best known for Shirerithian gold production, minting and storage, but these remain unsubstantiated.

News: Kildare-Siseran Tègōng Agreement Case Commences

SHIREKEEP, IMPERIAL COUNTY - Legal arguments and presentations of evidence have begun in earnest in a constitutional case in the Judex. Arbiter Benkern has been asked by the Steward of Elwynn, Tokaray al-Osman, to rule on the legality of an alleged relationship between the Dutchy of Kildare and the League of Nations for the Advancement of Purity. The Steward argues that the deceased Dutch "form[ed] [an] alliance" with an organisation of disputed origin called the Siseran Tègōng, related to the Count of Tè Gōng Lĭ.

The nature of the LON is disputed, though central to the case

These allegations are hotly contested by

the Emperor of Jingdao-at-Sea, while the incumbent Dutchess of Kildare, Sophia Myksos, whose father was killed under disputed circumstances, has appointed the Count of Tè Gōng Lĭ as her representative.

Al-Osman has applied for the relevant measures to be declared contrary to the Charter and therefore null under its terms. On acceptance of the case, the Arbiter brought its prosecution under the authority of the Imperial Republic, with the Steward of Elwynn as an interested party. This is the first such application under the new Charter, decreed into effect by Kaiseress Mira Raynora Major last December,  which established the former subdivisions of Shireroth as 'sovereign Imperial states'. They are now subject to few fetters except the Charter, the interpretation of which is the responsibility of the Arbiter, who is head of the Shirerithian judiciary.

The case continues. Judgment is scheduled for Tuesday.

Comment: Raynor Village #2

 

Welcome to the second edition of the funny corner of Shirekeep - and we're not talking about Lichkeep!

South Catavian arrival looked on pawsitively

Detractors: "You have cat to get kitten me"

The foundation of the a new state on Bastion was originally met with mixed felines, but purrhaps the tide has turned for the Empire of the Heavenly Kitty. Though their swipe at an MCS claim is currently on hold, their government expects no cat-astrophic denial. Said Master Diplocat & Chief Furnancial Officer Jezza Rasmus, "We were pawsibly considering being whiskered away to another distinguished cat-ographic organisation like the OIK but only because of the pun opportunities presented by the German word 'für'. After much purrcrastination we decided that beclaws Micras has such a strong litter-rary tradition our journalistic effurts would be better spent here." Pawdyguards removed our repurrter from the press confurrence before he could claw any meore out of Rasmus.

LIVE: Breaking News Footage From Eliria

Osmanli Economic policy lauded as mature response to 

humanitarian crisis, grounded in sound theory

Gralans reach milestone of 'almost doing something'

Micran governments across Micras today were shocked to learn of exciting developments in the thaumic corridors of power in the Gralan Empire: something might be happening soon, or not. Hush and a magic-powered indoor stormcloud gathered over the assembled journalists before Waldgrave the Wise made a special announcement, which the RV Magazine reproduces exclusively here in full:

Death and pestilence stalk the land. Poverty and impecuniousness affect the majority of our Empire's citizens. Inactive governments have led to a breakdown of social order, and normlessness is the word of the day, not least because it is so fun to say.

Therefore the Triumvirate has decided to make this special announcement: we might be getting on with something soon. It might happen, it might not. We're all very busy, you know. Why don't you estimated 1.5 billion citizens of varying magic and experience levels get up of your butts instead of giving us, what, three guys a hard time? Sorry, I didn't mean that. Let's talk about this over dinner.

The reconciliatory dinner will take place next Losday at the full-capacity venue of the Hypercube.

MicroWiki user Interview: "Blah blah blah"

Raynor Village: We're pleased today to welcome a randomly generated MicroWiki user today. Said user, a pillar of his community, has only agreed to this interview provided we treat his sector with an open mind and in return he says he will attend to a degree of respectful candour. Is that right?

MicroWiki User: Blah.

RV: Can you explain to us a brief history of your sector and just quickly - if possible - tell us a little about its contemporary membership?

MWU: Ah, blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah, blah blah 2003 blah blah. Blah blah Monsterfurby blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah. Blah however, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah, philosophy of the Quiet Area blah blah blah! Blah blah blah blah; blah, blah, blah, blah. Blah blah blah, blah: blah; blah; blah; Вультёьве; blah, and blah. So blah blah blah. Blah blah blah Rafghanistan.

RV: Fascinating. And tell us a little about the daily life of a MicroWiki user - I trust it doesn't revolve around forums as in our sector?

MWU: Hahaha, blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah worse than Hitler, blah blah blah blah irridescent glow. Blah blah blah blah learn to syntax scandal blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah. But in real terms blah blah blah blah blah vexillological murder blah blah. Blah blah blah blah! And when you blah blah blah, it all comes down to blah, really, doesn't it? Blah blah blah blah blah blah genuinely interesting blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah. But it's not all blah and blah - blah blah money blah blah blah, for blah to blah is as blah to a blah. But I've blahed on about this for too long already.

RV: Not at all, but we'll move on. Do you think that there is enough contact between MicroWiki and the Micras sector.

MWU: If the blah blah blah blah blah, A1 through to A4 blah blah blah blah pixels blah. Blah blah blah blah breadth and depth of exchange blah, then blah blah blah. But as I see it the blahest blah blah blah blah blah blah blah, and blah that blah blah blah. Anyway I'd very much like to blah Craitman's hand, for my part.

RV: This has been a uniquely informative experience - blah so much for participating.
MWU: It's no blah off my rosey blah.

Report: Batavian Queen's coronation masks instability

KONINGENWAARDE, BATAVIA - Dignitaries from across Micras yesterday descended on the Cathedral of s' Koningenwaarde to witness the coronation of the new Queen of the Batavians, Anna. Gazette reporters witnessed the moment of coronation amongst a crowd packed with foreign dignitaries. Those invited included representatives from Bastion nations such as Shireroth, Gralus and Natopia, as well as others such as Gotzborg and Alexandria.

A commemorative spoon
of Queen Anna III -
Does Micras swallow the
story of a stable Batavia?

The ascension of Anna Windsor-Rosendaal, child of Queen Fränzi-Ferdinanda I des Vinandy and Constantijn Windsor, to the throne of Batavia solidifies the constitutional arrangement of the Benacian empire which will henceforth be known as the Sixth Kingdom. A new constitution is planned but requires the signature and approval of the new monarch. Anna is the first ruler of the Batavians to follow Sisera, also known as the Heavenly Light, who ruled both Batavia and South Batavia (Zuidbatavie) as part of the Jingdao Empire. Since Jingdao collapsed, Batavia has been without a monarch, and Anna brings to an end a period of great instability for one of the great powers of Micras.

However, the stability presented by the coronation and the new constitution is undermined by the co-existence of another state claiming to be the true successor to the Batavian national legacy. Known as the 'St. Anna government' because of its capital city and claiming islands marked as a dependency of the Democratic Republic of Flanders, this Kingdom of Batavia is currently seeking full recognition by the Micronational Cartography Society. It is supported by Flanders as well as the Viking Empire of Stormark, who recently ratified a Treaty of Assistance providing direct military support to the fledgling 'Free Batavian' government. What is clear from a recent public claim of copyright infringement regarding the Batavian coat of arms made by Batavian Jonas - unofficially but not formally settled by Stormarker provision of a new one - is that this long-running clash will only produce more bad blood on Micras before the matter is settled as non-Dutch sector micronations form ranks and ally with either government. This was demonstrated by the recent, still-unresolved dispute between both Batavias and the new Micran State of Haifa, caused by the latter's attempt to recognise both states.

Comment: Vale, Batavia Post

It is with much regret that the Editor is given the opportunity to offer a valedictory homily in this special edition of the Gazette in dour recognizance of the decline and extinction of one of the greats of recent micronational journalism, the Batavian Post (BP), which was discontinued today. A simple one-word statement cross-posted on both the Bastion and Hub.mn BP threads by its long-time editor, Simon ben Erasmus, was succeeded by the deletion of the paper's online records, formerly located on their Blogspot site. Pressed by a commenter on Bastion, ben Erasmus' representative cited the "shrinking market" of Micran journalism as being a determinant factor in the closure of the paper.

Thousands of child labourers were employed across Micras in order to spread the journalistic truth emanating from the BP

It is worth firstly noting the nature and importance of the BP. It sat firmly on the thin borderline between satirical sniping and factual reportage. Its primary distinction was the ability of its editor to produce more frequently than any other modern news outlet on Micras. What came from the BP were articles of varying quality: from cartoons and single-paragraph news stories, to exclusive (sometimes liberally-sourced) interviews and detailed analyses of micronational events, readers usually finished articles dubiously informed but well cheered by the succinct comic style of its writers. Its importance primarily lay in bridging the gap between the small but vocal Dutch community and the rest of Micras, by offering a skewed but persistent window into the minds of those participants.

But perhaps the most important thing to take from the demise of yet another micronational newspaper - though, admittedly, with slightly more class albeit abrupt than many others, which simply fizzle out in the style of micronations themselves - is a chance to reflect on the wider problems that beset the journalistic side of this hobby. The BP represented the creative method of reporting through which micronational readers can learn about other micronations and engage with them. It was a success because it provided controversial opinions and points of view; it was able to grip the imaginations of hobbyists by making the political arguments and issues of the day seem worth reporting, by reporting them. Other outlets did not have the (semi-)professional edge to make them worth reading; others lacked the sense of humour that keeps us coming back; and others still, such as the Coprieta Standard, probably the gold standard of micronational newspaper over the years, simply do not put out articles often enough to command an active and engaged readership as the BP did.

Simon ben Erasmus is thought to be a great patron of micropatriology and micronational historical studies, and so any who may be interested in the BP and its archived articles stored on his hard-disk should contact him via the Bastion, Hub or Batavian fora.

News: Something shining this way comes - Raikothin Mapping

THULE, HYPERBOREA - Cartographers from across the Imperial Republic and further abroad have been humbled by the efforts of Kvani Neyin, also known as Scott of Hyperborea, who has revealed a a new, highly detailed map of the Shirerithian hegemonic county.

The Changing Shape of the Artic Island:

Clockwise from Top left: Mesyelon Neyin; Classic MCS; Scott's Quetzal; Shyriath's Gloria Mundi

Publicised as "AiRaikoth [Hyperborea Proper] as you've never seen it before", this new map represents a significant departure from orthodox depictions of the island once thought to be the land closest to the Micran north pole. Neyin attributes this to coastal changes since the original MCS map was compiled, and the difficulty of mapping in such a hostile clime. The product of "many years of exploration and surveying", the Shining Garden government's press release included a significant amount of cultural information along with the geographic.

With arresting placenames such as "You-Will-Die", "Never-Go-Here" and "Further-Still", this map offers what is hoped to be a faithful depiction of one of Shireroth's most heard-of but least known subdivisions, a land of natural beauty, ancient wisdom, technological and philosophical advancement, and frozen death. Neyin has also included other cultural items along with the survey information, such as a poem about Further-Still.