Bran Astor

As the sun rises in a cloudless sky over The West Pacific, slumber ends for most of its residents. This is the day they celebrate the Enthronement of The Second Dragon-Emperor! Preparations that began as soon as Bran Astor was named Heir Apparent come to fruition today. No school or work! Real life is suspended! Everyone who isn’t part of the ceremony will dress in their finest and hurry to claim a prime vantage point for witnessing this historic event.
 

 
One resident greets the sunrise wide-awake. In a meditation chamber off the throne room, guarded by Sir Fujai, Xia of The Benevolent Order of The Three Perfections, and Dilber, a Guardian and close aide, Bran Astor, Delegate of The West Pacific, has been praying and fasting since the previous dawn, eager to gain The Mandate of Heaven. While The People’s Mandate had, through their endorsements, secured his power as regional Delegate several days prior, and even though he is more comfortable with a casual approach to governing, The Second Dragon-Emperor is happy to play his part in this ritual in order to affirm his allegiance to the principles and traditions of The West Pacific. His most fervent wish is that his Delegacy will serve and honor his people. He has risen to this region’s Delegacy and is now ready to ascend to The Dragon Throne. 
 

 
The Commander of The West Pacific Armed Forces, Kawaii Schoolgirl, Countess of Junshan, reviews her troops stationed in formation outside the palace of Zijin Cheng, The Forbidden City. Soldiers know that emperors blessed with The Mandate of Heaven are assured victory. They sense greatness in the one who will soon be enthroned, and stand a little taller.
 

 
Inside the ornate gold and red Hall of The Dragon-Emperor, the throne room of the immense palace, priests and acolytes have been at work polishing and lighting incense. All must be perfect.
 

 
 
 
The hour is near. Stately melodies on the erhu, pipa, dizi and suona intermingle with the rustle of the silks of the expectant crowd, and the Past Delegates and Peers process to the palace. Many of these dignitaries, such as Mediobogdum and Big Bad Badger, Royal Dukes of The West Pacific, Darkesia, Duchess of Hainan, and Yy4u, Xia of The Benevolent Order of The Three Perfections, have already assisted the new Delegate in his transition. Others, like Neenee, Royal Princess of The West Pacific, Elegarth, Royal Duke of The west Pacific, Davelands, Wickedly Evil People, All Good People, Bhang Bhang Duc and BIteland, have helped to build the region into the powerful cultural and educational center it is. In a region that venerates its elders, the sight of all these luminaries right before them almost causes several in the crowd to swoon.

  
The procession halts at the carved great doors to the throne room. Bran Astor has arrived and waits with facing the rising sun, attended by Dalimbar, Earl of Zhifu, Arkadia Universalis, Earl of Ping, and Overthinkers, Baron of Lantau. As the hymns reach a crescendo, Saint Mark, Emeritus Emperor of The West Pacific, Chancellor of The Hall of Peers, and Celestial Sage, nods and smiles to his new Dragon-Emperor, and opens the doors. 
 

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiXgOQ9_-RI
The angelic voices of The Imperial Choir of The West Pacific wash over the assembled from the balcony above.
 

 
 
Bran Astor is the first to enter, followed by Saint Mark and the others in order of precedence. The ancient hall fills to capacity. When all is ready, The Dragon-Emperor ascends to his rightful place on the throne as the choir’s last triumphant stanzas ring out. In the silence that follows, the Emperor Emeritus unfurls a scroll and calls out the Imperial titles:
His Imperial Majesty,
Bran Astor,
Dragon Emperor of The West Pacific, Delegate, Son of Heaven, Builder of Worlds, Supreme Squatcher, and Duke of Hebao
 
Confident, the newly enthroned Dragon-Emperor then rises to read his ascension edict:
http://www.westpacific.org/forums/index.php?/topic/3402-honors-of-the-west-pacific/
At the conclusion, a joyful cry erupts from those present, the epicenter of a thunderous wave of celebration that spreads across The West Pacific.
 
 

Through the night and into the morning, there are parades and parties, fetes and fireworks.
A new Delegate sits on The Dragon Throne. The West Pacific is assured of continued peace and prosperity.
 

 

The good news is it's done.  The bad news is it's been done since March.
>.<   I'm going to need Jameson to get me through the masking clean up here.

Orendi XXI: Summersend Edition #3
Our magazine-style Orendi has just returned for our third annual Summersend issue! Check out our full PDF Version, or take a look at the pages in image form below.
 
 

As all the world leaders are secretly TWP bots doing our bidding ... yes!

Done.
 

I nudged TWPAF for the roster.

Please mask @Varanius as Speaker, @Big Bad Badger as WA Minister, @Fujai as IA Minister

Please mask @Fujai and @Overthinkers as Guardians
If there happens to be a Chancellor of the Hall of Peers mask, please apply it to @Saint Mark
Thanks!

Thanks!
Yeah, I was very active during Z-Day. I think I also saw you curing!

All set to go!  

Once upon a time in NationStates, failure to clear the citizenship rolls of inactive members became a problem.
Entropy of Activity in NationStates is a problem that arises over and over again.  No matter how dynamic and active a region's community may be, activity eventually wanes, folks are distracted by RL, and Regional Officials get burn-out. Citizen/Players fade away.
Then newer players with their own ideas of activity come along. They find the inactivity of the existing citizenry boring.  So they write and present new Legislation to be voted upon, to shape the region with new activity that interests them.
The ideas come up for a vote, and those old inactive citizens that haven't posted in months come out of the woodwork to vote, and they vote against the new player's legislation. The idea dies.
Inactivity is thus perpetuated, and the frustrated new players go elsewhere.
To combat this phenomena of the 'Old Guard' coming out to vote when they are  otherwise inactive, Regions began to establish Activity Requirements to ensure that voting citizens are actively engaged in the regional community.
Posting requirements can be more important for Regional Officials as well. Once upon a time, there were requirements for Ministers and Deputies to post no less than every other day, and requirements to post a notice and assign a deputy if a Minister will be absent for longer than a couple days.
Activity begets Activity in NS, while the Entropy of Activity is the corrosive rust that destroys regions and communities.

I imagine he'll make it into a rocking chair, or maybe add some upholstery...

I agree with Reçu that working with you has been an absolute treat, Bran. You have all the makings of a fantastic delegate, and I'm excited to see what you make of the big chair!

Bran, you are undoubtedly a great choice for our next delegate.  I have watched with much pleasure your enthusiasm and dedication shining through all that you do for the region and the wider NSverse over the past many months.  
Halo, what can I say? Your wonderfully, energetic, enterprising, and hard-working run as TWP delegate is coming to a close.  It has been a sincere pleasure to have served under your tutelage.  Many, many thanks for your service to the region   

Hail to @Bran Astor! May TWP be ever be prosperous under your wisdom and guidance! 
 
 

Congratulations to @Bran Astor from all of us here at TSP! 
 
All the best on your next term. 

Massive congrats to @Bran Astor

congratulations!!! 

*Endorses the Delegate's choice of Heir*

Congratulations Bran, and best wishes on your upcoming term in the Big Chair. 
The Sacred Order will perform a Sacrifice to call the Blessings of Max and Admin upon your Delegacy.

An excellent choice. Congratulations Bran.  
*mutters*
Well that’s my coup delayed by another year or so.  The roo squad are going to be so unhappy.

Congrats!!! 

Congrats @Bran Astor
 
now you get to be annoyed by me

Congratulations Halo on a job well done. The region has been in good hands. I feel like your selection of Bran, is a wonderful choice. 
Bran, get ready man. Its going to be a ride. Be brilliant!

As Bran has already mastered the art of bullying me into doing stuff, he is definitely qualified to be the next delegate.
Self-deprecating snark aside, congrats Bran!

I'm happy that as Halo said in his discourse, he has been able to bestow the Delegacy on someone very qualified... working with Bran in IA has shown me exactly how much drive and passion he has. Congratulations!

Eeeeek! Congrats, Branigan! ^-^ Look at you! 
You've been amazing, Halo. Enjoy getting delegacy out of your hair! 

Congratulations to future delegate @Bran Astor. I believe you've definitely made the right choice, @Saint Mark. I look forward to the rest of your reign, and the dawn of our new squatchy emperor's term.