Construction of The Wall

[Tim Stark]

From the Office of Pharaoh Tim Montresor-Stark:
A Statement on the construction of The Imperial Wall
January 6th, 2016 Osiris,

Our culture, it is threatened. Our liberties, they are infringed. Our people, they are scared. Over the past many months, unbeknownst to both the governments of Balder and Osiris, self-proclaimed "free folk" living outside of government jurisdiction have been crossing the southern border of Balder and pillaging the northern reaches of Osiris. With reports coming in weekly of Osiran settlements up in the frontier going "dark" so to speak, having their fires and their lives extinguished by these savages, who folks have taken to calling Villmen. Though we of cities like Memphis, Kadesh, Karnak and other great cities are not in danger yet, we must ensure that these Villmen do not achieve any more, both for the sake of our great cities and the sake of the Osiran frontierfolk.

It may come as a surprise to many that Osiris has a northern frontier, or that it is in fact for the most part a cold and barren wasteland, but the many campaigns of the Sekhmet Legion have extended the Imperial borders far past the traditional confines of the Nile River that many of us have come to know and love. Reaching deep into the tundras and frost of our world, the Northern Frontier of the Osiran Imperial Order is a savage place, not for the likes of most people. Those who reside there are hardy, simple souls, hardened by the wind, and forged by the cold. Yet, they are Osirans, and as it has been previously stated, we must ensure their protection from the Villmen.

It is, due to this, that I have spoken with both the architects and engineers behind our greatest constructs, as well as the imperial arch-mages, on the topic of construction, specifically that of a preventative barrier from the Villmen of Balder's southern frontier. In the end, it was concluded that while some outposts, watch-towers, or even patrols might deter these invaders, the only true solution is a solid barrier that increases the difficulty of assailing the Osiran Frontier one-hundred-fold. And so, after months of spellcasting, carving, planning, praying, and fighting the bitter elements of the cold, our most ambitious construction since the erection of the Great Pyramid of Mekhet is complete. I present to you, Osiris, very much inspired by a potentially existing fantasy series, The Imperial Wall, as rendered upon papyrus and sent back to Memphis with haste for our viewing.
This is no mere wall, mind you. Sparing no expense, this construct rises 300 meters tall and 30 meters wide, stretching across the entire expanse of the Osiran Frontier. While I apologize for not informing the nobles of main Osiris earlier, I felt that this wall, on which building commenced early into my second term and remained in progress until now, could not be compromised. Operational security was kept at a maximum, but I am now proud to say that our northern border will be more secure than ever. The Imperial Wall currently only has five fortresses established across its expanse, but as the years pass I hope to increase that number to ensure constant vigilance. However, at the moment, the following fortresses have been erected:

• Fort Amun
  - Situated at the dead center of the Imperial Wall, Fort Amun serves as the de facto center of operations for the current forces garrisoned at the wall. Staffed by about 1,500 men, it is the largest of our current fortresses.
• Sobek's Light
  - Spanning both sides of Bastet's Folly, the perilous ravine temporarily running parallel with the wall, Sobek's Light is lightly garrisoned with about 300 troops, with an additional 20 arcane troops there for the purposes of researching and delving further into Bastet's Folly. It is situated to the west of Fort Amun by a fair distance.
• Wolfsguard
  - Located in one of the most desolate parts of the frontier and the Imperial Wall itself, Wolsguard is more of an outpost than a fortress, containing an advance force of about 150 at most. Heavily fortified, however, it is the only currently existing fort build on both sides of the wall. The sole way of crossing between the two halves, short of ascending the wall, is through a narrow passage designed with the ability to be collapsed at any moment of potential danger. Wolfsguard is located on the Eastern part of the wall.
• Point Hawkswind
  - Established as the western-most point of the Imperial Wall, and built into and around the top of the wall itself, Point Hawkswind serves as both a spotting location for kilometers around, but also as a key defensive fortification. Staffed by 500 men, it boasts a surprising amount of warmth for a fortress hollowed out of the Imperial Wall itself.
• Harald's Overlook
  - Named for the naval figure of Balder lore, Harald's Overlook serves as both the eastern-most point of The Imperial Wall and as the furthest north port in the possession of The Imperial Order. Serving the dual purpose, therefore, of being the last stop for supplies and gossip before Osiran merchants brave the freezing cold waters leading deep into the Realm of Balder as well as a key fort of the wall, it has a sizable garrison of 800 as well as a small settlement already becoming established around it.

Of course, many Osirans will then question where in Ra's name the double-crown found the wealth to pay for such an endeavor, given the consistent progress on such innovations as extensive aqueduct systems and public works projects down South in the Nile Valley. Those nobles who continue to skirt government regulations will be pleased, I imagine, to hear that it did not end up getting siphoned from their pyramids and vaults. For the most part, as promised in some campaign speeches, much of the funding was paid by, whether willingly or not, the funds of North East Somerset. The rest came up from a successful piling of funds between the crown of Balder and the double-crown of Osiris, as well as from a small zero-interest loan from the Pharaoh's own coffers.

In addition to this construction, Pharaoh Tim Montresor-Stark concluded that to clear up much space for more public works as possible, the Temple of Horus would take a census deeming incredibly inactive embassies and consulates, of regions which weren't allies or friends, within the boundaries of the city to be cleared for destruction, with the obvious option of being rebuilt in the future if needed. The census gnomes came back with the following list of demolitions:

Embassy:

• The Embassy of Caprecia and Nysa, empty since July 2014
• The Embassy of the International Democratic Union, empty since April 2014
• The Embassy of Kantrias, empty since June 2014
• The Embassy of La France, empty since October 2014

Consulates:

• The Consulate of The Association of Imperialism, empty since September 2014
• The Consulate of Ainur, empty since July 2014

In addition, the Pharaoh declared the taking down of the following region flags displayed as associates of Osiris, due to either a lack of reason for their presence or in relation to the cutting of embassies.

"In-Game":

• West Atlantic Organization
• India
• The Confederacy of Narvolk
• PrayForParis
• Conservative League
• Funen

Many other embassies on the list are currently under scrutiny, but will first have missives sent to their home region's ruling bodies on the topic of maintaining the embassies.



To Greatness,

Pharaoh of the Osiris Fraternal Order

[Tomb]

lol

[Kyorgia]

Good shit

[Revall]

Campaign promise fulfilled+ cleanup on embassy row+ very entertaining read. Hit the trifecta there. . .

[Festavo]

Cool

I will say that I am the one who accepted the embassy Request of PrayForParis shortly after the terrorists attacks in Paris, France. It was a memorial to the attacks and I felt it was the right thing to do.

[Cormac]

This was the best post to announce inactive embassy closures that I've ever seen. 10/10

[Andrew]

Campaign promise fulfilled+ cleanup on embassy row+ very entertaining read. Hit the trifecta there. . .

This was the best post to announce inactive embassy closures that I've ever seen. 10/10

[Kajan]

:o Balder inactive embassy

i crei evri tim

[Transdavisia]

Bye to all you embassy people.