Zoran

7 June 1420; 9:00 PM AMT
Not the Zoranian Times Live!
*shakey video with camera fairly close to Winotlisa's face*
"Hello again Zoran! I am Winotlisa Austenaco and I am currently hiding in an alleyway in a trashcan to watch the Zoranian parade for the first Annual Olympics without getting caught by the police. I may not have been fired by the Zoranian Times for definitely not chloroform ragging a security officer and the recording crew definitely did not leave me for a replacement which is why I am NOT live streaming from my phone right now! I am reading the chat right now and a lot of people are telling me that I am really close to the camera but I have no idea how to fix that."
*Sound of fireworks, confetti cannons, cheering, and singing in the distance becomes more audiable*
"Ah! The parade is about to go past the alley! Time for me to get out of this trashcan unlike a certain children's cartoon puppet! There are fourteen floats in total with our athletes on top performing incredible feats as well as dancers, sports brand mascots, fire breathers, and other incredible things! The gymnastics float is my personal favorite as the gymnasts are performing incredible gymnastic feats on their float!"
*video recording flips and now shows the parade showing Winotlisa being very close to the fence blocking him from reaching the road*
"Hey! I think I see Halona over there! I will get in closer to see if I can get an interview mid-parade despite what chat is telling me! I will be the best reporter in Zoran!"
*Video shows that Winotlisa hops the fence barricade and begins to run towards the float*
"HEY IT'S THAT FORMER REPORTER! STOP HIM BEFORE HE HURTS ONE OF THE ATHLETES!"
*Video shows Winotlisa getting really close to the floats before getting tackled by four members of the Raven Claws that have been assigned by the Security Council to protect the athletes, especially since two children of the president are competing in the competition*
"No! I am a reporter! You can't do this to me! FREEDOM OF PRESS!!!! I AM THE DESCENDANT OF THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF ZORAN"
"Will you just shut up you delusional and dishonorable man! The Zoranian Times already notified us on your termination! You no longer have protection of the press and even if you still did you would not be protected from doing this! Plus you aren't related to the Austenaco family, Austenaco is your middle name not your clan name you disgraceful liar!"
*Phone is then taken and the face of a man wearing black sunglasses and a black and white suit appears on the video feed*
"Hello Zoranians, we are sorry for having such a dishonorable and insane man to have reported the first day of this historical event. He shall not be returning to Zoran as he has committed a crime here, remember that T&C is not Zoran in the fact that actual laws are put in place as well as enforced here so he must be held accountable. We hope that the next reporter is a bit more competent will take his place and we wish that you all enjoy the events and cheer our athletes the whole time!"
*Livestream ends leaving photo of Halona Ani'-Wah' on the feed due to chat's demand to at least see a picture*
Photo of Halona Ani'-Wah' taken in photo shoots before parade: (OOC note: image is from https://thispersondoesnotexist.com/)

Sunday 7th June 1420 - Preview of the Häřtferdsierndeambeu Ęlimpik Kęmiti
The Double-Headed Hawk descends! As we speak, the Hertfordian Olympic Team are approaching the capital of Tara and Cambray, Saint Josalyn on the Greater Anglia. The reason they have travelled by train and boat to get here is one typical of their nation. The Olympic Committee did not have a large enough plane to fit all 150+ athletes in it. Oh dear, not again.
The Olympic Team have entered competitors into every single competition the Summer Olympics can muster up. Among them is the world famous Häřtferdsierndeambeu Ragbi Junjen, the winners of the West Pacific Rugby World Cup, who will be hoping for another trophy to add to their pile. All the athletes are known for having second professions which accompany their sporting talent, due to the low population of Hertfordia, many athletes here can actually perform two sports!
All the athletes here come from various backgrounds and some are more outlandish than others. The team contains members both old and young, and even a few members picked up from the Great Pacific Ocean, back when the nation freakishly slid into the ocean. Rumours claim that the freak accident was purposely conducted by a foreign power when the Prime Minister claimed that Andolia was the best continent.
Each day, we will go through the competing athletes and teams, who they are and what it is they will be performing in. We will try not to become lost on any roundabouts, but be warned that the team is being directed to the stadium by Captain Slow himself, so don't be surprised if the team turns up in the dead of night wondering where everyone is.
If anyone is wondering what the strange man on the telly is talking about when it comes to outlandish, just pay attention because coming up is a rundown of all the individuals and teams that have joined the trip straight from the southern reaches of Andolia and further beyond. It really does stretch the definition of outlandish...
The teams are shoddily put in because of the damn local news agency screwing up the copy-paste function somehow. They also shoved in their own features in one section, and made everything low quality! They just had to be cheeky on this specific day, didn't they?!
Tell the Olympic Committee that some people will be getting fired pronto!


Hertfordia - No Barrel Bottom Left Unscraped!
                

Lamé, pressed; foil polished; riding and hunting costumes ready; pistols and rifles cleaned ...
Edward Clarkson, Valet to His Royal Highness, Prince Marcarius, had everything in hand. Although preparing for His Highness' olympic debut was obviously not something he had done before, he had been in his service since the prince had come of age and was more than capable. Very little disturbed the calm of the prince's closest attendant. 
His Highness, on the other hand, was anything but placid. Although accomplished in all of the gentlemanly pursuits, he had never tested his skills against such talented competition before. The first olympics of The West Pacific! Wow! He had always been an open book ... and a rotten poker player ... and his face shown with excitement!

7 June 1420; 12 PM AMT; 
Zoranian Times Live!
*speaks in a whispering voice* "Good afternoon Zoran! It is I Winotlisa Austenaco and what you saw earlier today about a wig is definitely just a prank done by the editing team! I am currently in the athletes only area of the stadium where our athletes are currently practicing for their respective events. I can't be too loud or else I might get kicked out because unlike back home in Zoran, when a sign says 'Athletes Only' they will actually kick you out or send you to jail if they think you are a threat. It has been announced that the ACZ that today at 9:00 PM AMT there will be a large parade that will take up the whole main road of the city with confetti, cannons, a band, and-"
*Gets interrupted by a security guard*
"HEY! WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING HERE!? GET OUT!"
"Well, looks like I got to run Zoran, time for me to perform my signature escape plan."
*Camera shows Winotlisa walking up to the security guard to talk to him and points to a spot on the security guards face before pulling out a handkerchief and covering the mouth and nose of the security guard rendering him unconscious. Winotlisa then drags the unconscious security guard and puts him in a locker before returning to the camera*
"Ok I am back people of Zoran, I will have to get out of here now but I will be back when the parade takes place! I will see you at 9:00 PM AMT!"
*Camera is lowered but is still recording*
"You did stop recording when I went to the security guard right?...No?!...What do you mean you recorded the whole thing!?...By the Spirit I need to hide because of your stupid mistake!...Give me the camera and the audio equipment I am going to have to continue alone to hide!...YOU DIDN'T STOP RECORDING AGA-"

7 June, 1420;  6:00 AM AMT
Zoranian Times Live!
Location: T&C Saint-Josalyn International Airport
"Good morning people of Zoran! I am Winotlisa Austenaco reporting live from the T&C Saint-Josalyn International Airport where we shall see the arrival of the Zoranian athletes for the first ever Summer Olympic Games! A lot of preparation has gone into this by the National Athletics Clan of Zoran in collaboration with the federal government to make this possible. They have gathered the best athletes in the country along with some rising stars among national teams! Rumor has it that a great parade has been arranged by NA.C.Z  for later today!"
*Gets interrupted by airport security*
"Sir please get off of the runway you are preventing the plane, of which your own athletes are arriving in, from landing."
"Oh sorry officer! We will just get out of the way!"
*Moves to the side of the runway*
"I have just been informed that the plane is landing! The NACZ has made 83 entries to the olympics with a few famous names in the sports world such as three members of the famous Ani'-Wah' family, two of which are the children of our very own president, Walela and Jistu. The third is a surprise for everyone and has been kept secret until now! She is the biggest teenage sensation of the nation! The most popular heartthrob of the nation! Teenage girls want to be her and teenage boys dream of her! She is as famous as a singer as she is an athlete as well as being the nineteen year old niece of our president! She is the beautiful...Halona Ani'-Wah'!" 
*Teenage intern drops coffee, that he just brought, off screen due to fainting*
*Plane lands on runway behind reporter and his wig is blown off of his head*
"And here they are viewers! The plane has landed! Let's see if we can get some footage of our athletes going down the steps of the plane before they reach their buses and before I pass out of exhaustion now that my coffee has on the floor!"

Welcome to Saint-Josalyn, the Cambrian capital. Located in central-eastern Tara & Cambray, Saint Josalyn is a metropolis of 5 and three quarter million souls and by far the largest city in the country. Connected by high-speed rail and highway to the rest of the nation, its place in the northern plains of Polaris is very accessible.

 
 
 
 
 
Reserved for additional host information.

The logos of each team in the Hertfodian delegation to the Olympics
 Hertfordian Water Polo Team
 Hertfordia Baseball Team
 Hertfordian Basketball
 Hertfordshire and Jammbo Football Federation
 Hertfordia Handball Federation
 Hertfordia Lacrosse
 Hertfordshire and Jammbo Rugby Union
 Hertfordia Volleyball Federation

I recently joined 'NS' , ended up in TWP decided to join all the forums and discords and perharps maybe become more involved here with all of you amazing peeps! Take care in this changing world.  

Welcome to the West Pacific! I see you're already a citizen, which is great! Feel free to ask anything that you need help with.

"Life is the best fairytale."
Hans Christian Andersen

Edith Wharton: "There are two ways of spreading light, to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it"
My favorite 

"Insanity is the doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." 
   - Alibert Einstein 

"Please don't fire your guns at the hurricane!" -Every Florida police officer during Hurricane Season

Grievances of the Unheard
Once upon a time there was a dream to make a land for the free,
A dream and that is all it was as people of color were bound
In the chains forced upon them by their fellow men; as their lives
and cries were lost as the bells of freedom rang and drowned their loud sounds;
While their fellow men would whip and beat these poor black men to the hard ground, 
And yet for those that ran/to be free, they would be fed to the hounds,
 
But the Fathers that found this ravaged land had the chance to end it all
And yet they kept the system out of fear; to unite the states and doomed
Their posterity to centuries of hate and pain and spilt blood,
And now I watch the news of the people who are consumed by the gloom,
Unable to do my part at seventeen as men are inhumed
As they seek to be heard after being ignored as anger ballooned,
 
While those before who rebelled in Shay’s and Whiskey were pardoned
Along with those who left to keep the blood rusted chains in the fields
By Washington and Lincoln, who many admire and praise as heroes,
And yet the men and women who peacefully protest for ideals
Of justice after being ignored for far too long yell out pleads;
Only to be met with force and are sent to jail by some fiends,
 
After years of fighting for rights of colored people years ago
Were all those sacrifices of those who died for change made in vain?
Liberty may stand on broken chains but she cries in chains herself
As she watches as her people are shot and gassed, writhing in pain,
Meanwhile the orange man hides away tweeting away; guilty as Cain
As he guns down his own citizens, showing how he is insane,
 
But here I sit holding back tears writing these words to express how trapped
I feel; unable to do my part at seventeen when men before
Conquered nations at my age, and yet I am unable to help
Those who are on the ground taking a stand for true justice and more,
All I can do is sit and watch the world burn as more blood is poured,
Is this the land of the free or of the damned, I ask as I offer another prayer,

Grievances of the Unheard
Once upon a time there was a dream to make a land for the free,
A dream and that is all it was as people of color were bound
In the chains forced upon them by their fellow men; as their lives
and cries were lost as the bells of freedom rang and drowned their loud sounds;
While their fellow men would whip and beat these poor black men to the hard ground, 
And yet for those that ran/to be free, they would be fed to the hounds,
 
But the Fathers that found this ravaged land had the chance to end it all
And yet they kept the system out of fear; to unite the states and doomed
Their posterity to centuries of hate and pain and spilt blood,
And now I watch the news of the people who are consumed by the gloom,
Unable to do my part at seventeen as men are inhumed
As they seek to be heard after being ignored as anger ballooned,
 
While those before who rebelled in Shay’s and Whiskey were pardoned
Along with those who left to keep the blood rusted chains in the fields
By Washington and Lincoln, who many admire and praise as heroes,
And yet the men and women who peacefully protest for ideals
Of justice after being ignored for far too long yell out pleads;
Only to be met with force and are sent to jail by some fiends,
 
After years of fighting for rights of colored people years ago
Were all those sacrifices of those who died for change made in vain?
Liberty may stand on broken chains but she cries in chains herself
As she watches as her people are shot and gassed, writhing in pain,
Meanwhile the orange man hides away tweeting away; guilty as Cain
As he guns down his own citizens, showing how he is insane,
 
But here I sit holding back tears writing these words to express how trapped
I feel; unable to do my part at seventeen when men before
Conquered nations at my age, and yet I am unable to help
Those who are on the ground taking a stand for true justice and more,
All I can do is sit and watch the world burn as more blood is poured,
Is this the land of the free or of the damned, I ask as I offer another prayer,

Chapter 1: Rebellion
 
1018 AF: Thousands of farmers and other lower class workers demand better pay and rights. Middle class is also highly affected. Many of their salaries are significantly decreasing while taxes and tariffs are increasing rapidly. Many of them go bankrupt. At this point tens of thousands of people of the Northern Joman Empire are ready for rebellion and ready for war. 
A young, vocal, and strong middle class man named Joseph Vozayin took leadership because of his good relations with both the poor and the middle class. He wants to overthrow the current king, Jomali Francis. Jomali has just become king in 1014 AF after his father died and ever since, the Empire has gotten worse and worse. 
1019 AF: Civil war breaks out. The poor and middle class now call themselves the Jonaniys. Jon meaning proud and Niy meaning strong. Joseph also made an agreement with the Biongy, an ancient tribe that lived there long before the Northern Joman Empire was established. The agreement was that the Biongy would help win the war with their 3,000 fighters in return for land west of the Northern Joman Empire (today known as the Biongy Hills). The Biongy agreed and helped the Jonaniys. War raged on for years and things weren’t going great for the rebels but after a key battle outside the gates of the main palace where the king resided the Jonaniys and Biongy took control of the castle and took King Jomali hostage. They demanded what they asked for in the beginning, but Jomali refused and he was executed by Joseph in 1022 AF. This led to many of the king's army to surrender and stand down, allowing Joseph and his army to take over the nation as their own.
1023: The war is now officially over and Joseph has control of the nation. He and his most trusted men create a government where authority is a priority and fairness is a huge part of the government. He also believed in a strong military. After constructing his government, Joseph was crowned king in 1025 AF. He gave the Biongy what he promised and he started to rebuild the country. He decided to call the new nation Joniy.



 

Saint Aiaden Pride Fest Steering Committee is honoured to present
the 1420 Pride Fest schedule! Beginning June 1 and concluding June 6. 
 

 
 

Hertfordia is a confederal state under a semi-constitutional elective monarchy. King Mečislavs I is the monarch and head of state of Hertfordia. The monarch has the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right to warn and the right to declare war. The Constitution of the Confederal Kingdom of Hertfordia is uncodified and consists of a collection of statutes, judge-made case law and constitutional conventions. Basically, there is no real constitution to speak of. The Hertfordian Parliament has the political power to change or abolish any written or unwritten element of the constitution. No Parliament can pass laws that future Parliaments cannot change.
 King Mečislavs I, Monarch since 1420
 Clarkov Jammbonevych Sahaidachny/Furutani 'Clarkson', Prime Minister since 1419 [the picture is temporary]
Hertfordia has a unicameral parliamentary government based on the Harlow System that was once emulated around the continent: a legacy of the empire known as Greater Hertfordia which once spanned all of Eastern Andolia. The parliament of Hertfordia meets in the Palace of Hoddesdon and has one house: an elected Supreme Commons. All bills passed are given Royal Assent before becoming law.
 
The Palace of Horogia, seat of the Sűprïm Ķamenz/Векавен Хабстинаит of Hertfordia.
The position of Prime Minister, Hertfordia's head of government, belongs to the person most likely to command the confidence of the Supreme Commons; this individual is typically the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that holds the largest number of seats in that chamber. The prime minister chooses a cabinet and its members are formally appointed by the monarch to form His Majesty's Government. By convention, the monarch respects the prime minister's decisions of government.
The cabinet is traditionally drawn from members of the prime minister's party or coalition. Executive power is exercised by the prime minister and cabinet, all of whom are sworn into the Privy Council of Hertfordia, and become Ministers of the Crown. The current Prime Minister is Clarkov Sahaidachny/Furutani, a very shy boy who has been in office since 26 June 1419. He is also the former leader of the Anglian Nationalist Party having become an independent in 1420 after becoming overwhelmed with leading a political party. Thankfully he has the Tsar to help with ruling the country in a joint-ruling system in which the monarch & PM have almost equal power and authority. For elections to the Supreme Commons, the CK is divided into 47 constituencies divided further into 10 wards that each elect a member of parliament (MP) by single transferable vote. General elections are called by the monarch when the prime minister so advises, but the elections for Prime Minister typically occur at a 5 year period. Prior to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 1411, the Parliament Act 1349 required that a new election must be called no later than seven years after the previous general election. The royal elections to decide the monarch of Hertfordshire & Jammbo, known as the Tsar, occur every 4 years, but because the current monarch Mečislavs Deben was chosen personally as the successor of the previous ruler Charles Broxbourne, he will need to wait 7 years instead of the usual 4 to fight his first election campaign.
The Anglian Nationalist Party and the Labour Party have, in modern times, been considered Hertfordia's two major political parties, representing the Hertfordian traditions of conservative nationalism and democratic socialism respectively. In accordance with party policy, no elected Auęselvz members of parliament have ever attended the House of Commons to speak on behalf of their constituents because of the requirement to take an oath of allegiance to the monarch.
 
The 47 constituencies (and counties) of Hertfordia
 
This is now outdated. The nation does not have any political parties as of late 2022/1422.

Operation starting date: 14.3.1302
(OOC note: you can read the blacked out bits by dragging your mouse over it as though you were going to try and copy the text and you will be able to read it, please enjoy)
Agent Number: 0
Assignment: Military Infiltration of Varanius
Assignment status: Active
 
Date: 14.3.1302
Agent Inola Ani’-Wah’, AKA Agent 0, reporting in. I have begun my infiltration of the Varanian Military. In my time here I hope to be able to report not only the numbers of the different branches of the Varanian military but also troop movement, military plans, training regiment, people of interest, and anything of interest to Zoran.
 
I have taken the identity of Sgt. Pepper Weaver, I had to dispose of him in order to assume his identity and did so without issue. I followed him to a bar where he frequents daily. I pretended to be a drunk man and when he wasn’t looking I pretended to trip and fall onto him and injected 105 mg of experimental substance #612 AKA SUX. While I know that SIC R&D have been working in secret with Yeunatas Pharmaceuticals to develop this and that it hasn’t been perfected or released to the public, I was approved by Director Hinala to be able to use it before I left for my mission. While I know my access to certain information will be limited as a sergeant, it is easier to take the position of a sergeant than a higher ranking officer.
 
This is the end of my report for now, I will report back when I am able. Before I sign off, I would like to request that should anything happen to me during the mission to let my wife know about my career but to keep it a secret from my son, I do not wish for the young developing citizen to know while they are still so young and innocent. Agent 0 signing off.

Chapter 5
1 With His people established but corrupted and the Urakti threatening His people, the Great Spirit sees the need to redeem the Zoranian people along with humanity across the world. 2 He then came up with an idea and said,
3 “Let it be known that the material world is just a test for the moral and spiritual character of humanity. While I am the god of the Zoranian people, whom I favor as my chosen people, I shall appear to chosen people across the world. 4 While different religions shall be created and some may fight against each other due to conflicting beliefs, this is to be a lesson to show that there are multiple ways to join me in the Spirit Realm. Let this be known through my Chosen Shaman when He arises, do not hate upon others due to their religious beliefs for even if they do not worship me as Zoranians know me they still worship me in a different form and in a different way. 5 There is no need to convert others into the Zoranian faith for their religious beliefs and practices is just a different way to worship me. However, those who practice the Zoranian faith must follow the laws and teachings I shall share through my Chosen Shaman for that is the path to the Spirit Realm that you have chosen. 6 But be wary of heretics and deceivers, for not all religions shall be created by me. Some shall be created by malicious and deceitful people who seek to worship the Corruptor, these faiths must be avoided at all costs. 7 While the Inferno Gate Ritual is used to keep the Urakti at bay, false faiths who follow false prophets of the Corruptor have rituals or practices that praise and venerate evil spirits and entities.”
8 The Great Spirit then appeared to people in other lands, creating different faiths in different lands. 9 He continues to do it to this day and shall do so for a while as nations rise and fall. 10 Some will have similar beliefs to our own, some shall have different beliefs. Others may be corrupted by mankind’s greed and hunger for power. 11 Some faiths may declare us their enemy, but do not be aggressive or hostile towards them as they are simply misguided. 12 Should other faiths persecute us, do not be afraid to defend yourself but only do so if they actively are trying to persecute or kill you. 13 Always remember that they are followers of the Great Spirit in a different form and are striving to reach the Spirit Realm through a different path than our own.

Chapter 4
1 While I have spoken of the Urakti, I have never truly mentioned how they came to be besides the mention of a betrayal. 2 While I can not reveal much to you about how exactly they were transformed I can tell you what I know humanity can comprehend for the Great Spirit has spared me, His Chosen, from the madness that my knowledge and wisdom could cause a normal person. 3 The Urakti began as normal spirits, more specifically they were the Great Spirit's second most favorite creations known as the Voraltar.  4 The Voraltar were made of pure spirit, much like the Great Spirit and were made pure like we were originally, however; they couldn't interact with the material world like we could. 5 They were intended to be our spiritual protectors and servants towards the Great Spirit who help look over us and the universe. 6 They were granted basic powers over the world and the universe, many of which we cannot comprehend or imagine. But when the Great Spirit guided our ancestors to the land of Zoran, a group of the Voraltar felt we did not deserve this world and that they should be the favorite of the Great Spirit. 7 One in particular whose true name I am forbidden to utter and who we know as the Corrupter, gathered their like minded Voraltar and went to ask for an important task from the Great Spirit, a task which I cannot speak unless you wish for your minds to be warped and broken. 8 When they asked Him for a task, He answered in a way similar to this,
"The task you ask is great indeed, one might say it is ambitious for Voraltars. But I trust you all with this task for I must tend to my people."
9 But the Great Spirit knew of their deception and their intent, but He wished to give them a chance to turn their thoughts away from the betrayal in their minds. 10 The Voraltars that followed the Corrupter did complete the task, but when they did so they filled the result with their jealousy and pride along with other dark powers which I must spare you the details of. 11 Their betrayal hurt the Great Spirit and He was forced to punish them for their betrayal,
"You have hurt me and have put my people at great risk. Your tainted creations will end up harming my people and could cause them to suffer! While one of your many creations were microscopic, some living and some that aren't even considered alive, they shall cause my people to die! For your betrayal you shall be cast out of the Spirit Realm into a plane that I have made specifically for you to suffer! 12 On top of this, no matter what you do and what choices you make, your fate is sealed and shall end up leading to my triumph over you and your corruption!"
13 The Corrupter then spoke,
"While your power may be great, mine is greater! I am willing to give humanity what they truly desire and crave while you do nothing but observe and intervene when they are about to die out too soon! How can you claim to be a merciful being should you allow them to end up causing their own suffering!?"
14 The Great Spirit grew furious and exclaimed,
"Silence! I do so because I love my people, you do not understand my eternal wisdom and knowledge! You never shall and only see the world like they do, through a single pane of glass! I see the universe in ways you never can and I have power you hunger for! You wish to be a god but you do not know what it means to be a god!"
15 What happened next, I cannot say, I was forbidden to by the Great Spirit as it is too much for mortal minds and too...cursed and disturbing for humans. But I can say that this is when the Corrupter and their followers turned, physically and spiritually, into the Urakti. 16 They were then cast into the Underworld and the ritual of the Inferno Gate was given to the Zoranian people so that the people would have a basic way of keeping the Urakti out of the world, but it came at the price of blood. Alas the only thing that can satiate the Urakti is blood and the soul of mortals.  17 The way the soul is transferred and the inner machinations of the ritual still haunt me and my mind, but thankfully the Great Spirit grants me some peace of mind, 18 for without His aid I would be broken and mad for the Urakti are the embodiment of evil and madness and seek to perform things that go against the Great Spirit and the order of the universe. 19 They seek order and control over nature, they do not seek to coexist with it. Nature cannot be controlled, it goes towards entropy naturally and thus we must live beside it. 20 While we may manipulate it to some degree, we must be sure to not completely destroy and pollute it. The Urakti are lessons to us and examples of what we should not do, they live in fear and thrive in it, no man or woman should do the same as them.

Chapter 5
1 With His people established but corrupted and the Urakti threatening His people, the Great Spirit sees the need to redeem the Zoranian people along with humanity across the world. 2 He then came up with an idea and said,
3 “Let it be known that the material world is just a test for the moral and spiritual character of humanity. While I am the god of the Zoranian people, whom I favor as my chosen people, I shall appear to chosen people across the world. 4 While different religions shall be created and some may fight against each other due to conflicting beliefs, this is to be a lesson to show that there are multiple ways to join me in the Spirit Realm. Let this be known through my Chosen Shaman when He arises, do not hate upon others due to their religious beliefs for even if they do not worship me as Zoranians know me they still worship me in a different form and in a different way. 5 There is no need to convert others into the Zoranian faith for their religious beliefs and practices is just a different way to worship me. However, those who practice the Zoranian faith must follow the laws and teachings I shall share through my Chosen Shaman for that is the path to the Spirit Realm that you have chosen. 6 But be wary of heretics and deceivers, for not all religions shall be created by me. Some shall be created by malicious and deceitful people who seek to worship the Corruptor, these faiths must be avoided at all costs. 7 While the Inferno Gate Ritual is used to keep the Urakti at bay, false faiths who follow false prophets of the Corruptor have rituals or practices that praise and venerate evil spirits and entities.”
8 The Great Spirit then appeared to people in other lands, creating different faiths in different lands. 9 He continues to do it to this day and shall do so for a while as nations rise and fall. 10 Some will have similar beliefs to our own, some shall have different beliefs. Others may be corrupted by mankind’s greed and hunger for power. 11 Some faiths may declare us their enemy, but do not be aggressive or hostile towards them as they are simply misguided. 12 Should other faiths persecute us, do not be afraid to defend yourself but only do so if they actively are trying to persecute or kill you. 13 Always remember that they are followers of the Great Spirit in a different form and are striving to reach the Spirit Realm through a different path than our own.

Ani'-Wah' met with Mehmed by the limos and Ani'-Wah' said,
"Welcome to the Heart of the Spirit my friend. While I understand that you do not believe in the same god as we do, but it pleases me to see you so willing to at least admire the architecture and the craftsmanship of our ancestors."
The Sultan nodded and smiled at Ani'-Wah'. The President then continued,
"We shall be touring the top section of the temple. It is the major religious center of the temple and considered to be the most sacred part of the temple and it is where the Statue of Woya is located."
The Sultan then turned to his bodyguard and whispered orders to him in Lanorthan, which the President understood but saw no need to listen in. The bodyguards nodded with reluctance and they returned to the limos. The Sultan then motioned towards the temple so they proceeded forward. On their way there, the president decided to introduce Adsila to the Sultan,
"My friend, let me introduce you to my intern and daughter Adsila. A student at the Platypus Island University. She shall be accompanying us today and I hope you do not mind that she does."
The Sultan gave a nod and a smile to Adsila as they reached the site.
"I know that your people do not particularly like other religions due to faith in your own, but the tolerance you are showing in being willing to see the temple is admirable."
They proceeded to climb up the steps, Ani'-Wah' had some difficultly climbing up the long stair case but Adsila supported her father with a smile on her face and the old man was grateful that the Sultan slowed his pace to match his own.
While most of the world may look at the young Sultan as a tyrant, I know he is simply misunderstood. He is a kind man at heart that has simply experienced pain in his childhood. I only wish that whoever succeeds me in my position as President will learn what I already knew about the Sultan.
The old man thought to himself as they made their way to the top of the temple. They passed through the ancient marble archway and entered the religious center of the temple. The room was vast and made of gray stone that had stiacciatos carved into the walls depicting the arrival of the first Zoranians to Zoran and other events from the Zoracon. There were pews and prayer mats throughout the room but at the opposite side of the room from the entrance was a large marble altar with ancient Zoranian inscriptions that were carved into the altar. There was a large gold chandelier that was added in the thirteenth century that hung above and on the same ceiling was a mural depicting the Divine Shaman Adanvdo the Spirit Chosen kneeling before a large ball of light as he wrote the secrets of the universe on a piece of paper. But the one that was central to the temple was the Statue of Woya that stood in the very center of the room with a shallow pool of water around it that is caused from the stream of water that gently rolls down the statues face and comes from the eyes as tears. This statue has been tested dated by researchers to have been created centuries ago anywhere from 8960 BF to 8950 BF and is a marvel to them as the smoothness of the stone and how human-like it looked for something to have been created in that era. The statue is of a woman kneeling with her arms open but close to her side and looking towards to the ground in sorrow with tears streaming down her face.
The three of them admired the statue together for a while before they began to move on to looking at the altar and the other parts of the room.for about half an hour before leaving.
As they walked down the steps, the old man said to the Sultan,
"Next on our places to visit is the site of the Battle of the Covenant, ever since that battle Zoranians have kept it the same condition as it was when the battle ended and maintained it very well. There is a memorial there for the 600,000 men that died in the Great Spirit War in defense of the faith against heretics. Just to let you know ahead of time, it is expected for people who visit there to remove their shoes and any outwear such as jackets, coats, etc. before they even set foot upon the grounds. It is also expected for people not to carry weapons or wear any sort of armor there as it is a belief amongst Zoranians that the spirits of the men who died there still wander and wish to not see anything that reminds them of conflict as they wish to live their life there in peace. Of course this is nothing more than a form of respect to the deceased, it isn't a law as there are few in Zoran."

Hornar på Sundet // Horns on the Sound
Braskvik, Mærtesund Fylke - 23:37 12 februar 1319
A person walks up a hill on a dark, cobbled street. The rain is coming down heavily. They arrive at the door marked 15 and knock. A few seconds pass before they’re let in quickly to an unlit room.
“Where have you been, Anjar?” a gruff voice asks from the dark.
The soaked newcomer replies, making no move to take off their coat, “We haven’t much time, they’ll be here in the morning.”
The gruff voice grunts, digging out and striking a match. “What do you mean? Haugen should have been cut off at Svannes” it asks. They light a small oil lamp, spreading just enough light to see each other by.
“I mean they’ll be here in just a few hours, Halna, the Sundmarine fell,” Anjar replies, “We have to warn the others, Haugen will be quick to root out potential sympathizers once they get here, and unfortunately, we fit that bill.”
“But we can’t just give up all the progress we’ve made!" Halna says, “Just because the armies will change doesn’t mean our mission does.”
“Well what are we supposed to do then?!” Anjar says, their veneer of calm finally worn through, “We can’t leave and we can’t stay? That’s no choice at all.”
Halna pauses for a moment. “...Could we ask the others? We have to let them know at the very least, and we can come to a decision together. Skomedal will find out if we try to send a telegram to Strafsund, and we probably couldn’t arrange it quick enough anyway...fjann!1 We should’ve prepared earlier...”
Anjar presses their hand to Halna’s shoulder, “There was no way we could’ve known it'd be this quick, we weren't expecting it for weeks more. You've got a good idea, though, give me a few minutes and I’ll head back out to gathe—” they’re cut off as the sound of a horn echoes through the rain, coming from the sound. Two muffled cracks follow.
“Fjann.”
 
1. Fjann - "fuck" or "damn"

This is a place where will be put miscellaneous stories from Fujai. This post will be updated with an index of the stories contained within.
 
Hornar på Sundet // Horns on the Sound - A struggle in Braskfjord during the Fujansk revolution.
Part 1