VV Magazine

[Vaclav Vinograd]

End of an Era in Osiris

Cormac abdicates as Pharaoh after three historic terms

By Vaclav Vinograd | Saturday, November 19th, 2016 | VV Magazine

Late Wednesday evening, crowds gathered outside the Palace of the Pharaoh for a surprise announcement from the Pharaoh, Cormac Rahl-Sethos. Few knew that this would be an announcement of Pharaoh Cormac's abdication from what has been called "the Throne of Sand".

After three historic terms of office, Cormac has stepped down.

His reign was a seven month tenure that saw Osiris transition from a republic to a monarchy, and move from a period of chaos to stability. Under his watch, the WA Delegate of Osiris became the highest-endorsed Sinker Delegate on Nationstates. Abroad, Cormac's Osiris forged deep relationships with Balder, the East Pacific, the West Pacific, and the Land of Kings and Emperors. In his final major act as Pharaoh, Cormac oversaw the ratification of the CAIN Treaty.

Nobody can say what the post-Cormac era will hold for Osiris. The Pharaoh role now passes to Neo Kervoskia, a long-time member. While Cormac's reign has not been immune to criticism, almost everyone agrees that the shoes the new Pharaoh will have to fill are enormous.

Indeed, the acclaim for Cormac's Nationstates career, now at its close, poured out late last evening and into today.

"We will miss you greatly here, it won't be the same," one user remarked, "but we will push forward all just the same so if you swing by to visit, it'll be something you can be proud of. "

Osiris, with a population of just over 5000, is currently the 7th largest region in Nationstates and an important geo-political player.

Closing his remarks to Osiris, Cormac urged his regionmen: "While a great deal has been accomplished, there is still much that can yet be accomplished, and there is no doubt in my mind that our new Pharaoh and his government will open up a new world of possibilities to explore and goals to meet together. The only limit is that which you impose on yourselves, so resolve once again that there will be no limit to what you can achieve together, and that you will work to make Osiris the best regional community it can be, for yourselves and those who will take your places."

And with that, Cormac, the legendary Pharaoh of Osiris, was gone, leaving his region to shape a new future without him.

[Sygian]

Very nice read. I like the IC/Roleplay aspect to it.

[Vaclav Vinograd]

Thanks, dude.

[Adytus]

Amazing! Thank you!

[Vaclav Vinograd]

Thanks, Ady!

[Vaclav Vinograd]

Imp Rights Dominates Arda's Senate Election

Candidates of the dominant After Party divided on questions of imp rights

By Vaclav Vinograd | Friday, November 25th, 2016 | VV Magazine

Arda en Estel, considered by some to be Nationstates' weirdest region, is currently in the midst of a Senate election.

Three seats are open in the regional Senate and four candidates have offered themselves up. All of the sitting Senators are running for re-election - Akillian Talleyrand, Jazzy, Gabrielis Telchuri - and one new challenger - Vaclav Vinograd.

Despite Arda's 5-party system, the Senate, and the elections, are completely dominated by the After Party (AP). That hasn't stopped the campaign from generating its share of controversy.

For much of Arda's modern history, the debate over the presence of the imp community has been a heated one. Despite the presence of imps in government, anti-imp sentiment has never been higher. When Arda's forums crashed, on account of a Zetaboards error, many blamed the imps for the trouble.

"I can't prove it but I know those tricky little buggers are behind it," said one resident.

This issue has now made its way into the Senate election.

Akillian Talleyrand, one of the Senators running for re-election, embraced the idea that the imp community was behind recent forum failures, saying "The official story is that it was a technological failure but there is now strong reason to suspect that it was caused by the pro Imp lobby who wanted to disrupt our elections to stop candidates who wish to stand up for the normal citizens of Arda."

Talleyrand added that, if re-elected, "I will finally be proposing an Imp Registration and Control Act and we'll make sure this dangerous section of the population is finally stopped."

Fellow After Party Senator and imp community spokesperson, Sacul Astoria, reacted, saying his colleague's "continued slander and unfounded accusations concerning the Imp community trouble me deeply."

He suggested the allegations of imp involvement were without proof, asking "if you have any proof whatsoever of the things you accuse us of, please show me the studies upon which you base your opinion."

After Talleyrand announced his support for Vinograd's proposed border wall, including the idea of Albion paying for the wall, many began to compare him to American President-elect Donald Trump, with some even nicknaming him "Akillimp Trumpeyrand".

"I reject any comparisons to other people because I alone will fix our Imp problem," Talleyrand said, rejecting the claim, "[and] it's time for the silent majority to stand up against this dangerous section of the population."

The question remains, what will happen on election day. Will the imp community swing the vote? Will the anti-imp sentiment, expressed around normal-sized kitchen tables, show in the tally? Will there be a border wall with Albion?

For Nationstates' weirdest region, the future in unclear but one thing is clear - this imp issue is a huge one and while some feel that life's too short to worry about big problems like this, others say it's high time for a wide view.

[Adytus]

This was an interesting read on Arda en Estel.

[Vaclav Vinograd]

Thank you Jon Stewart Adytus.

[Neo Kervoskia]

You have a keen instinct for journalistic flair.

[Vaclav Vinograd]

Thank you, Pharaoh!