Kalistan

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Sir George Alvarez Speaks on "Dave Thompson Show"
Former Monarch discusses new book "Exile in Suldanor"
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
December 15, 5669


Former Baltusian King George Alvarez discusses new book with Sulari's Dave Thompson

"I will say, my time here has not been without event," began the former King of Baltusia, Sir George Alvarez, SKC, who made an appearance on the "Dave Thompson Show" on KRTVN-1 last night. Dave Thompson, a comedian turned Talk Show Host usually has musicians and public figures on his show and interviews them to get their take on the day's events. It was only a matter of time before the show had Mr. Alvarez on, and his new book tour for the memoir "Exile in Suldanor" provided the perfect opportunity.

The former King was given the opportunity to discuss his book on the hour long, wide ranging 1-on-1 interview. "The thing is," said Alvarez, "I was born and raised in San Luis State, lived their most of my life, and was a businessman in San Luis, the city, you see. But, my family, of course, is from Kalistan. Understand, we Alvarez' used to be Anantos. My Great grandmother was Duchess Margaret Alvarez-Ellison, and my great grandfather was Duke Mark Ananto, and of course, his grandmother was your Empress Nicolette The Great. I am related therefore by blood to the late Emperor Fredrick the II, as well as the current King of Egelion and the current Queen of Hutori, as well as the Grand Duke of Kalistan here and etc... We are what are left of the original Anantos, and we are all cousins of Her Imperial Majesty by adoption through Carolina. So you see, I am both quite Baltusian in a very real sense, and also very Kalistani. This book kind of tells the story then of what happened not only to me, but also the the Baltusian branch who settled in Athosia after Mark Ananto married Margaret Alvarez."

The former king was asked how he was finding his time in Kalistan. "I definitely miss my home. I feel that the Empress may easily travel back and forth to San Luis, but I don't necessarily feel that I can. I am not sure whether I will be arrested if I cross the border into Baltusia." He was asked why he thinks he would be. "Well, I read in the paper the other day that some people have called me a traitor for escaping from house arrest, for abdicating, and for moving to Kalistan. Since coming here I have been a leading voice for cooperation with Baltusia, and have consistently pressured both the Empress, and also the Crown Prince to continue to treat Baltusia with dignity as an equal sovereign nation. It stings that people might call me a traitor for escaping house arrest. I would happily return and resume my crown if I believed I could. As it is, Kalistan is still safer, for me, than Baltusia is right now, so perhaps in the future if there is any interest in my return to San Luis, I am open to any suggestions, assuming I am allowed to live at liberty."

Asked about the passage in his book which discusses his social life, the Former Monarch answered that he had indeed met a woman in Lucid, where he currently lives. "It is difficult to travel through life without a companion at your side. But I didn't have a lot of time to date while I was under house arrest and really wasn't allowed to marry when I was King, or even to really get to know anyone, you know. And yes, there is someone here who I care for very much. So we will see where this goes." Mr. Alvarez said he hoped to protect his love interest's identity, but said she is a television actress. "No I don't think marriage is in the cards, really. I'm a few years older than her, and I think my marrying days are over, but we do live together in Lucid right now, so marriage isn't really all that necessary anyway."

When asked what he thinks of the hard economic liberal turn Baltusia appears to be taking, the King seemed unconcerned. "The thing is, when economic liberalism is instituted in a formerly nationalized state, and a lot of stuff is privatized, those with lots of money tend to do really well--workers tend to bear the pain of that system. But Baltusia is not a socialist country. Socialism never really worked there. Baltusia has always been much better with free enterprise. I just happen to believe that workers who are getting kicked out of state-guaranteed jobs now, and suddenly find themselves having to compete for lower wages, less job security, and fully privatized social services will look at a place like Kalistan, or a place like Gaduridos, and say, 'I kind of liked the security my family had when I had a job guarantee, and free health, and cheap housing,' and many workers at least will likely turn their back on the free market. But I can more likely see them coming here to Kalistan to live and work, rather than staying put and suffering.

"The upside for Kalistan," continued the King, "is a new batch of skilled labor, but I think even more so: When Baltusia privatizes, it will fling the door open for international capital inflows, and Kalistan, I believe stands really ready to invest into Baltusia, to take a lead role in private sector investment. Kalistan has long wanted to help Baltusian development, especially in San Luis, which certainly affects its own economy in a major way. The massive inflow of capital will have the opposite effect of privatization: Instead of undermining worker power, it will create a boom in job creation, and there won't be enough workers to fill the ranks, or there will be a major skills mismatch for all the new industry, and even if Baltusia doesn't lose a significant chunk of its workforce to the lure of security in Kalistan, that will give the workers more power vis-a-vis the capitalists, who will be forced to cut profit margins so they can raise wages to attract workers. In short, it will create a situation that Kalistan likes to see, where employers are forced to compete against one another for workers, rather than having a system where workers have to compete against one another for wages, all while increasing trade opportunities for the Empire connected, on both sides by a short rail trip. Privatization in Baltusia works to Kalistan's advantage in both directions."

All of this is covered in the former King's new book. Early reviews for the book note the former King's obviously pro-Baltusian bias. He even offers very soft critique for his Host, Her Imperial Majesty's attention on Athosia, saying it is not really for him to speak on Kalistan's historical focus on the state, (which he refers to by its Baltusian name of San Luis throughout the book) but opines that Kalistan would do well for itself internationally if it surrendered a claim it can't ever enforce, especially since it is highly unlikely that Baltusia will ever be occupied by a government interested in surrendering it.

"Perhaps Kalistan should see Athosia as simply lost forever," said Alvarez. "It may be difficult for the Empress to hear, but it might allow her to sleep easier to simply surrender on Athosia, acknowledge it as Baltusian by rights, seized legitimately as spoils of war during our National formation, and unrecoverable. But I do know the sentimental attachment her family has for the territory, and when I was king 'the Athosia issue' was something we simply did not touch. Leaving that subject undiscussed and on the table ensured that Kalistan still believed they had a chance someday, and ensured we were able to stay on good terms with them. I trust that whatever else it does, the new Baltusian Government will do the same thing. It's really just better for everyone to allow the Empire to maintain their pipe dream, unattainable under any circumstances, but still available for the monarchs to dream about at least."

The King did note that, despite the Baltusian Government's patent unwillingness to surrender the territory under any circumstances, there was still heavy monarchist sentiment in San Luis, and with it, a not insignificant number of people in San Luis who are at least somewhat sympathetic to the Athosian cause. "Most members of the Alvarez extended family who I have ever had any contact with still refers to the land as Athosia, as do a fairly sizeable population in San Luis, and other places. Generally speaking the closer you get to the border, the more sentiment for that you will find, though it is still very much a minority position, probably not more than single digit support. Baltusia never took a survey, so there is no way to actually tell."

Other reviewers called the book a riveting tale of the Alvarez family in Baltusia, or remarked on the adventurous instances surrounding the elevation and then abdication of the King of Baltusia, a first in millennia for that state. One reviewer found the account of Alvarez' imprisonment and escape to be "harrowing" and said it was an appropriate climax for the book that would rival any survival novel printed in Kalistan.

"Obviously, I am honored by the praise for the book," said Mr. Alvarez, "but also, I would like people to read it so they can better understand the Baltusian people, especially those in San Luis. Understanding the people of San Luis is key to good relations between Kalistan and Baltusia, I think. And not just because I am from San Luis. I think that Kalistan has such a long history of coveting that stretch of land that every time Her Imperial Majesty utters that word, it sends chills through the political establishment in Johnston. But, who really cares, except the Anantos, how we got it originally? All of those people, the people who took it with the assistance of Luthori, and the people from whom it was taken, they are all long dead now. I hope Kalistanis understand that while Baltusians do not hold the sort of reverence for San Luis that Kalistan does for Athosia, we also want to keep what we see as now rightfully our territory, and a permanent settlement of Athosia is not possible as long as Kalistan dreams of stripping it from Baltusia. It's just a matter of fact. We can have peace and free movement over the border, as nature intended, or we can fight over where the border is. None of it changes the fact that the Baltusian flag, not the Kalistani flag flies in San Luis right now. I want the readers to understand that."

The office of Her Imperial Majesty issued a no comment, and that was mentioned by host Dave Thompson during the broadcast. The former monarch was not put off by that: "It's understandable that the Empress would not comment. Privately, I know she read the book, and we have had the opportunity to talk about some parts, but we definitely did not talk about the status of San Luis." The former monarch said he was more interested in the opinion of the Crown Prince. "That will tell me more about the future of Kalistani-Baltusian relations." When asked if the Crown Prince spoke with him about the book, Mr. Alvarez said," Not really. He said he read it during Order Day festivities. That's all he really said."

@TheRepublic

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Crown Prince Steps Up
Transition to Imperial Authority nearly Complete as CP is named Grand Duke
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 8, 5670


Crown Prince and new Grand Duke of Ananto, Fredrick Ananto-Collins relaxed at home ahead of transition

His Highness, the Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Collins was confirmed in his role as Grand Duke of Ananto, a title transferred to him by Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto last week. This step, which has not occurred within the Empire for many years, was traditionally considered the last step in transfer of authority before the official abdication and Coronation of a new incoming monarch. Kalistan is rare in that most of our sovereigns are allowed to go into retirement when the heir to the throne is ready to step up into the role. The transfer occurred in Formal Audience with the Chancellor of the Empire, leading Deputies of the National Assembly, and Ananto's full nobility, save foreign-born peers, present as witnesses.

The title of Grand Duke of Ananto is a title dating back to the founding of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan. Grand Duke Fredrick I was officially declared Emperor following his entitlement as Grand Duke, and throughout the 4th, Gaduri, Dynasty, the title of Grand Duke of Ananto and Emperor were ceremonially tied, though not officially. and since the passage of the House Law, the Emperor and Grand Duke of Ananto titles are formally linked. Meanwhile, the Grand Duchy of Kalistan is considered to be a formal, though only ceremonial position held by the Duke of Suldanor, who happens to be a member of the Alvarez family (Alvarez being the legal surname of the cadet line of Anantos descended from Nicolette I Ananto following the rise of the 5th, or Kundrati Dynasty.)

As His Highness steps into the role of Grand Duke of Ananto, he will be expected to serve at his mother's side for all formal activities of Government for the remaining year and a half of her reign. All documents requiring the Grand Duke's signature will need to be signed by him, and all laws pertaining to the Grand Duchy of Ananto will be issued by the Grand Duke. This last step in the future Sovereign's political training is designed to help him experience the burdens and prerogatives of government ahead of his coronation, while still maintaining a bit of a cushion to fall back onto should he need it. All Ananto's nobility, including Land Barons, have taken a pledge of loyalty and support to the Grand Duke as part of the transfer of power.

The ceremony was over quickly, and was reported out to the press after the fact. "I am deeply honored to accept the increasing responsibilities to my people," said the Grand Duke following his entitlement. "I take this responsibility seriously, and I hope to use this next year and a half to travel around this Duchy to meet people, to get to know them, to speak with children and adults alike. I have a very deep sympathy for the people of Ananto. We may be separated by tradition, and in fact, by the law, but this will be the last time I am able to speak with them with a measure of informality that I will no longer be allowed when I wear a crown on my head. So I want to hear from you, I want to shake your hand and let you know that I am listening to you. We all work for a better Ananto and we all work for a better Kalistan. And I think I can do what I need to do with your help and support."

The new Grand Duke also announced that he and his wife, the now Grand Duchess of Ananto, are to become parents. "We got the news this week and wanted to hold off until it was confirmed," said the Crown Prince. "But Jenn and I are expecting our first child in late July. It is a marvelous time to be alive and in addition to the challenges of government, I eagerly await the challenges of parenthood along with my wife." This will be Her Imperial Majesty's first grandchild, and knowing that the future of the realm is now secured for another generation, she stood silently beside her son and beamed with pride at the news.

"Now my mother may retire in peace to her forests," said the Crown Prince with a laugh. The announcements were followed by a string of questions from reporters, dealing primarily with Ananto issues, as well as softball questions asking the Crown Prince about what he looks forward to most during the final transition period. "I look forward to getting more sleep," said the Crown Prince, though as his responsibilities increase and then he enters fatherhood, that is highly unlikely.

@TheRepublic

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Kalistan inaugurates Annual Horse Race circuit in Sulari
Sulari Book Makers Syndicate takes over Sanctioned Horse Racing in Empire
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
March 30, 5670


Horse racing, previously informal and non-standardized, is finally becoming an sanctioned sport in Kalistan

Kalistan has long enjoyed informal horse races. Horses in Kalistan are historically difficult to come by with wild breeds having vanished from Kalistan's grasslands millennia ago, and domesticated animals having only been reintroduced in Kalistan within the last 120 years. But new horse populations, which have grown from a few hundred animals to a fully self sustaining stock, because of a selective reintroduction programs in Vrassa, beginning around Port Swedes, have led to a more regular and also more popular sport of racing. And now the sport has finally become sanctioned in Kalistan, and is well on its way to providing race lovers and betters a new hobby.

The first fully sanctioned hippodrome, or horse racing track is being built in Sulari, at the Sun City Resort and Casino. New Kalistani Horseracing Authority Director Michael Jenkins, who is in charge of overseeing the sanctioning program said this new track will allow Kalistanis to watch Kalistan's first fully regulated and sanctioned horse races. "The Majatran breeds that have been bred in Vrassa for more than a century, since they first arrived in Port Swedes when the navy of the Kingdom of Wrnuke was stationed there, have produced faster and faster horses," said Jenkins. "The horses we have now can match the speeds of racehorses around the world. And therefore it is time to bring this sport into sanction, for the protection of riders and horses. This includes health and safety standards, as well as standardized track lengths, conditions and rules. We are building a fully formal sport around a hodgepodge of different rules, requirements and local customs, to ensure that everyone has a level track, so to speak."

The legal sanctioning of horse racing in Kalistan will bring several other tracks of varying lengths and conditions into compliance: There are currently tracks in Dana and Bozo River as well as Sulari. "Sulari's track, which is built to international standards, will become the norm in the Empire, and the new Kalistani Horse Racing Authority will then work with the Dana and Bozo tracks to bring them into compliance. Additional tracks are planned for Senvias, Port Swedes, Kaliburg, and Nevaras City, and once they are completed, they too will be added to the circuit."

The Circuit will allow local horses to race for prize money, but most excitingly, it will also allow local gamblers to bet on race outcomes. "The main driver for this sanctioning is the book makers here in Sulari," said Jenkins. "They were complaining to owner of the Dana and Bozo tracks that they should standardize their tracks so punters can more easily make odds. The syndicate was challenged to put their own money behind a League, as an investment, you see, and so they contacted the Ministry of the Interior, took a loan against future earnings from the Bank of Suldanor, and here we are. The planned tracks are privately owned: The one in Sulari is owned by the Casino for example, and the bookies make their money back in a flat fee annually for certification of a track, which is a percentage of the house take. Its all above board, both the track owners and the syndicate make their money back, horse owners can now turn horse breeding into a profitable business, and gamblers get to satisfy their gambling itch at the track."

Along with new standardization and welfare standards for the horses and jockeys, a new standardized parimutuel and off-track gambling system is being developed by the Syndicate. Brent Albertson, Book Makers' Syndicate spokesman said, "We need to make sure that the live feed from any given track is completely live and direct, so that results are instantaneous, and people can have confidence that they are seeing a live race, so they will know that their bets are actually fair and someone isn't taking advantage of delays in feeds or odds." Albertson said new off-track betting parlors already are using the fiberoptic infrastructure to ensure that the feeds are live and instantaneous across the Empire, and latency in these specialized lines is brought to a minimum. "We really benefit from the improvement in information technology infrastructure that the Empire has been focused on for the last twenty years."

The Syndicate says it runs specific data collection centers to ensure odds are not only immediate based on nationwide betting, but also that customers have those live when placing their bets at the parlors. "Sanctioning will bring about a whole new secondary industry that exists to support the gambling part of horse racing. The syndicate, which makes their money from vigorish, relies on confidence of the public to continue to earn their commissions. If betters don't have faith in the televised results of each race, they will stop betting. It only works if the bookmakers are absolutely transparent in all that they do, from gambling odds, to honoring all payouts, to standardized rules, training conditions, race conditions, and health standards and programs for horses. They are obsessed with fairness and transparency, and their work with the Interior Ministry to sanction this sport shows not only their dedication to that fairness but their willingness to fully invest in horseracing."

Albertson said that online gambling won't necessarily rely on live odds, due to latency in the internet. "What we want to set up for our online components is a system that rewards primarily exotic bets and parlays. Those are easier to calculate odds for on a bet by bet basis, and when the parlay is proposed, a computer can calculate the odds based on general event odds we can work out one time a week. For example, when people do a parlay for a football game that say the QB for the Black Bears scores a touchdown in the third quarter, we already know what his odds of scoring a touch down is, what his third quarter performance rating is and what the defense's stop run and stop pass ratings are. We look at all of that stuff day to day. So if a better chooses to bet on that weird thing specifically, a computer can give him odds in a second, so he can choose to bet or not. That's not the same thing as parimutuel gambling, which is the primary method of gambling on a live event like a race."

The stock of racing horses in Vrassa is now large enough that populations will be transplanted to both Suldanor and to Green County in Ananto to take advantage of grazing territory in these two duchies. The goal is to reintroduce the horse to sufficient enough populations that Kalistan can begin to support wild populations once more, to allow genetics to take their natural course, and only race the domesticated breeds. For now, the reintroduction program has not gotten off the ground just yet. Meanwhile, a fully sanctioned nationwide circuit is just a matter of years away.

@LaModa

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Princess Nicki Ananto-Collins takes Kali Pipeline
"This year, its Triple Crown or BUST," said Princess
Wilson Beach, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 22, 5670


Her Highness, Princess Nicki Ananto-Collins, representing Dah Surf Co, adds Wilson Pipeline to win at Dana

Her early season overall win at the Dana Open late last month under her belt, Her Highness, Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins added the Kali Pipeline to her circuit titles this year as she goes for the coveted Triple Crown of Surfing this summer. "This year, its the Triple Crown or bust!" said the Dah Surf Company surfer and daughter of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto. "I just feel it: this is my year."

The Princess easily won the Dana Open, finishing first overall for the competition. "I think there was more I could have done in Dana," she said. "I had a lot of good waves on my rotations, and hit every thing I was trying to do, but, I think I was a little bit rusty from competing and just kind of needed to get the cricks out, you know. I surfed really conservatively in Dana, and when I got up here to Wilson, I decided I wasn't going to do that again."

At the Kali Pipeline tournament in Wilson, the Princess once more took first place over all, though she just edged out the men's category winner to take the tournament title. "Wren (Tellari, champion of the men's category) surfed an amazing program, and I gotta admit, I think maybe he did a little better than me, but he had one fall, right near the end, and he lost his whole last ride because of it." Tellari was alright from the bail, but he beat himself up over the fall, calling it "stupid."

"I shouldn't have stepped so far over the front of the board," he said. "That's kind of a showy move, where you sort of hang all ten toes off the front of the board as you're riding. But in my case, all I did was hit the water at the wrong angle and submarine my board. You don't get points for doing an endo, unfortunately." The Princess had a perfect set of rides, and slipped in front of Tellari after that bail.

"I got like a month and a half before Luxon, but I'm surfing in... um, Let's see, Sulari and Yoshimi in July, and Spencer has a little tournament now too, so I am going to go there, but for Dah, not to surf. Then I am going to be in Luxon the whole month of August until the Luxon Swell Invitational. They just finally made it an Invitational last year. They did only invite qualifiers before that but it was still considered an Open, but now, It's an invitational, because they made August the championship of the season, and moved the Open competition to June." The Princess did not compete in the Open this year, because she was preparing for the Pipeline contest, and she had already qualified for the Invitational at Dana.

"I'm so stoked to surf this season," said the Princess. "I have such a good group around me, and they are so dope: they really push me to push myself, to not hold back. And the girls are all just babies! They're so young. I think of the 16 girls here at the Pipeline, only like 3 of them, including me, are done with NSP. It's fun though, I kind of feel like they treat me kind of like a mentor, like a mother hen. Even though we're competing, we're all supporting one another."

Melissa Hetfield, who finished second in the women's category behind the Princess, is herself only 16. "I'm way too young to surf in Luxon this August: they won't let me. So me and the girls here are really supporting the Princess. We really want her to win: She's like a big sister, and she takes care of all of us girls. When one of the guys lip off, she's right there, she says, 'When you win something then talk...' She makes me really proud to be a surfer, and when I get done with the NSP, I'm gonna do just like her and come back and be a badass 'Surf Queen' like her." Hetfield said the girls keep the protocol, but refer to the Princess as Your Majesty in honor of their informal nickname for her.

This season promises to be a big one, whoever takes the title. But if Her Highness the Princess takes the Triple Crown, it will be one for the books. "I was there when Dawson won his Crown," said Princess Nicki. "He was like a God. If I can take Luxon, it'll just make me really proud of that accomplishment." She said her Brother, His Highness, The Grand Duke of Ananto, Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Collins, said he will be there. "They will probably have their baby by then, and hopefully Jenn can come too!" said the Princess. "That will be so rad..."

@LaModa

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Callie Rogers takes first in Luxon
Denied the Triple Crown, Princess Nicki vows to try again next year
Luxon Beach, Luxon, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 22, 5670


Luxon Invitational Champion Callie Rogers, with Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins hearing about her victory

The Surfing Competition season draws to a close this year as the Luxon Swell crowns a new victor. This summer, the overall winner of the contest was Luxon's Callie Rogers, 18, who dominated the field, while denying Princess Nicki Ananto-Collins her Triple Crown. The young surfer, who celebrated her 18th birthday two weeks before the competition is on her way into National Service in September, but this victory underscores a major season where Rogers finished second or third in each competition the entire season.

Her Highness, Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins said she was very proud for Rogers. "If I had to lose to anyone, I am glad it was her. She's the future of surfing in this Empire, I think, if she sticks with it. But I am so proud of her, she worked so hard. And she earned every point she got out there. She worked her butt off for that score." The Princess scored second in the women's category and third over all in the competition.

Rogers couldn't believe she took the competition. "You don't see a lot of kids my age win this thing," she said after they announced her name as Competition winner. "Mostly because young kids can't participate here. It's a dangerous wave even in the best conditions, so they make it so only adults can even compete, but luckily I just turned 18, so I got in." Rogers is one of the youngest winners of the August contest, and certainly the youngest winner since the Surfing competitions were formalized. Rogers was kind of shocked. "I really thought she had it," said Rogers, who outscored the Princess by a full 8 points and beat Male champion Wren Tellari by 7.5 points. Rogers lead came in the last 3 minutes of her final run, where she dazzled the judges, the spectators and the other competitors with her technical skills on the board.

"No, not even close," the Princess said during the competition as she watched in awe of Rogers' brilliant performance along with His Highness, The Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Collins, Lady Jennifer and their new baby His Highness the Minor Prince William-David Martin Ananto-Connor, who was born on August 10th. The Princess watched her lead in the competition evaporate, and with it her chance of winning the Triple Crown this year. Tellari, who surfed after Rogers, just came in slightly ahead of the Princess, but it wasn't nearly enough to erase the lead Rogers had wracked up. Following Rogers' return on the ferry boat from the break, the Princess was the first to run up and congratulate her and tell her how proud she was of the young surfer, but Rogers who had no idea she had already won the competition, when it was obvious to everyone, and the Princess held the incredulous young surfer's hand up in victory."

"This really was a great season this year," said Rogers. "I learned so much, I became friends with the Princess, it was amazing..." She said she intends to return to surfing following her national service. "I really think the Princess will take it next year," she said. "And then she really will be the Surf Queen."

"Yeah, I'm totally gonna be back next year," said the Princess. "Right now I got a new niece that I want to get to know, but you bet in March I'll be in Yoshimi surfing the first warm waves of the season on the Gaduri Current. And we're only losing two of these fine ladies to National Service this year, so most of us girls will be back. I can't wait!"

@LaModa

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Kalistani News in Brief: Son born to Crown Prince and Princess
Kalistan steps up treacle and rum production; Throne to be redesigned by Reed Jeweler
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
September 15, 5670


Crown Prince and Princess with new son last month in Kaliburg

Son born to Crown Prince and Princess
His Highness, Grand Duke of Ananto, the Crown Prince Fredric Ananto-Collins and Duchess of Ananto, Lady Jennifer Ananto-Connor gave birth to their first son, His Highness, the Minor Prince William-David Martin Ananto-Connor last month in Kaliburg. The child was born healthy and on time at Kaliburg Imperial Hospital just a few months from the Royal couple's house. Her Imperial Majesty Empress Mary I Ananto visited the two in the Hospital, along with Her Highness Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins and Count Martin Collins of Sulari flew up the following day for a visit.

The young prince was named after the last Emperor of the early Anantonese Era who was forced to abdicate by a Republican interregnum. "We named him William, for the Emperor William," said the Crown Prince. "I think we've had enough Fredricks for the time being. William I Ananto was a beloved Emperor while he reigned, and ensured that an irresistible republican impulse made its reforms without violence or bloodshed. he was a man of peace, and this is the kind of person I want my son to be as well."

Lady Jennifer made it through the labor uneventfully, though at one point, she spent more than two hours in an upright tub. "Jennifer thought the labor was progressing too slowly," said the Crown Prince. "So the midwife helped her to a bath tub and she soaked while passing through several contractions, until the midwife hurried her back to the bed so she could have our son. I guess the bath worked." The Royal couple stayed in the hospital for four days while various nurses kept an eye on mom and baby. Following the stay they were cleared to return home to introduce the future emperor to his new nursery.

Kalistan steps up treacle and rum production
In light of the ongoing labor problems in the Island nation of Vorona, Kalistan has stepped up its treacle and rum production this year. "ODEN has seen the potential for a shortage in the international market for rum in the coming years. Kalistan's cane crop is about to be ready for harvesting, and the Grower's Syndicate in Sulari have agreed to step up treacle production in the Duchy by 15% and rum production by 35%. "A lot of the cane we cut often ends up as silage," said Mario Savera of the Suldanor Grower's Syndicate. "Most of that will go to Suldanor's rum producers who will export the rum via ODEN to the markets Vorona can no longer cover."

The rum to be produced during this period will likely age for about a year and a half, and will be exported as white, overproofed rum. "Vorona still has their markets covered with the rums that are coming out of the barrels for the next couple years, but if rum production falls off a cliff this coming spring, as their news is suggesting it will, Kalistan will tool up now to begin producing spirits to cover the market until Vorona picks back up." Savera says Kalistan will also be upping its cane imports from Gaduridos to contribute to both treacle and rum production. "We are one of the main purchasers of Gaduri Sugar cane, and are seeking more from the Southern Kingdom to ensure world supplies of both treacle and rum."

Savera said the Syndicate considered just selling cane to Vorona to allow their distillers to continue production on schedule. "But we realized that Kalistan has almost no relationship at all with Vorona, despite their being one of our closest neighbors. So we wouldn't even know how to get cane to their distillers. The only reason we know of the shortages is because we read it in their newspaper. But they also haven't made an effort to reach out to Kalistan, so, we will just continue our business and take advantage of the shortage in the Anantonese." He also said Suldanor growers will be prepared to scale back cane production as well, as soon as the Voronan labor situations are settled.

Throne to be redesigned by Reed Jeweler
The Imperial Seat is set to be completely redesigned in time for the Crown Prince's coronation in under two years. The redesign is being overseen by Reed Jewelers, the company belonging to Imperial Jeweler William Reed, and will involve a design that permits the consort to sit at the same time as the Emperor. "A Consort throne will be an interesting challenge," said Imperial Jeweler Reed. "Our first task is to disassemble the current royal seat. That will involve unsetting the more than 1000 gemstones currently in the seat without damaging them, and then melting the gold that makes up its frame. It was a work of art, but I think the Consort Throne will be a wonder of the world."

Reid said Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto gave the go ahead to replace the Imperial Seat with a simple arm chair for the time being while the Throne is being rebuilt. "Her Imperial Majesty also gave me permission to use (almost) any stone in her collection to create the new Consort Throne. Though there are so many gems there, I couldn't possibly know where to start. But I worked with Her Imperial Majesty and she gave me an idea of how she would like it to look." Reid said she intends it to be made of white gold rather than yellow gold as her previous throne was. "And significant numbers of diamonds, rubies, Emeralds and Amethyst. She certainly wants the Imperial Amethyst displayed on the new Consort Throne."

Reed said the Crown Prince has asked for a Consort throne because it is his intention to name Princess Jennifer as Empress and Co Sovereign. This is not unprecedented in Kalistan: Fredrick II Ananto and Pavlina I Ananto were co-sovereigns, as were all of the Emperors and Empresses of the First period of the 4th Dynasty. "She said the Princess is a far more outgoing and gregarious personality, and the family has had numerous conversations on the question, and it appears that His Highness is going to have his way." Reed said that the new Consort Throne will be ready by the Coronation in June of 5672, and will be unveiled at that time.

"Her Imperial Majesty has also asked me to make a dress for the Princess as well," said Reed. "I am not saying a word, but am working with Del Valle. You all will see it when she wears it."

@TheRepublic

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Kalistan bids farewell to Princess of the Empire Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis
Empress' Mother and wife of Emperor Fredrick III Ananto was 88
Xanadu, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 7, 5671


Princess Monica, with husband Fredrick Ananto in 5606, and in Luxon in 5668

Her Highness, Princess of the Empire Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis has died at her home in Luxon. The official cause of death was listed as chronic pneumonia, which doctors say she was struggling with over the last few years. She was issued compassionate end of life care in the evening of January 6th. The former Empress was 88.

Princess Monica first came to the nation's attention in 5605, when the pretty Kaliburg socialite became engaged to the future Emperor Fredrick Ananto-Sandoval. Ms. DeLaurentis served as a party hostess for several years while dating the Crown Prince. The two were married in 5606, and DeLaurentis became Princess Consort (carrying the Courtesy title of Empress) in 5611. She gave birth to Her Imperial Majesty, Mary I Ananto in 5610, and Princess Margaret Ananto-DeLaurentis in 5614, and was present for the chemical weapons strikes against the Capital, Eshar and Port Swedes on the night of August 11, 5612 by the fascist Kundrati Mainland, from Likatonia.

She and Emperor Fredrick raised their two daughters in Cliff House, a house the royal family purchased as the primary imperial residence after Wilson House was rendered completely uninhabitable in the attacks, and leveled. She also served as an unofficial representative of the State, greeting foreign dignitaries like Queen Jaanika from Dolgava. She was largely responsible for bringing surfing to the Anantos: An avid surfer, she passed that hobby onto her daughter Princess Margaret, who then mentored both His Highness Crown Prince Fredrick Ananto-Collins and Her Highness Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins. Additionally, she attended Queen Nicole Ananto's wedding in Egelion to King Romulo for Kalistan.

In 5630, a grief stricken Monica announced, with Lady Allison Stewart, the death of the Emperor Fredrick III Ananto and Chancellor of the Empire David Levine, both of whom died when their plane got lost in fog over the Odufaray Range while flying to Lhasa, Nevaras. The Princess worked closely with Princess Michelle Ananto-Sandoval during her two year regency, and celebrated her daughter's coronation, before retiring from public life and finding a new career as patron of the arts, both in Kaliburg and Sulari. She met Baron Calvin Morrison and following their 5635 marriage, she relocated to his home in Xanadu, in Luxon County Ananto, but still remained active in the Kaliburg National Theater and the Imperial Opera House in Sulari with her National Foundation for the Arts (Originally the National Orchestra foundation), which funded both theaters in full through endowment by House Ananto.

Through her three decades of patronage to both the Kaliburg National Theater and the Imperial Opera House, as well their satellite programs, Kalistani fine arts has become an institution in the Empire. Classical theater, art and music is taught as a regular part of Anantonese Curriculum, and though the largest corpus of that curriculum originally focused on the contributions of Artania, Princess Monica was also insistent on inclusion of Seleyan high Art, and given its proximity, Seleyan high art ultimately took pride of place over Artanian music, theater, and literature. "We have our own tradition on this continent which is as unique, complex, and valuable to teach children in Kalistan," said Princess Monica in 5652. "And given our location, it is all far more relevant to our lives. This is not to say that Artanian historical music isn't important. But it is to say, for Kalistan, we should focus on what Seleyans have contributed to the arts, and celebrate that. Trust me, nobody is going to stop listening to Dundorfian classical music if Kalistan doesn't have every single one of their programs in Sulari feature a dundorfian composer."

Princess Monica stepped down from her role as executive director of the National Foundation for the Arts in 5656, and then served in a ceremonial role of Dame of the Opera and the Baroness of Xanadu. Her husband, Baron Calvin Morrison died the previous spring, and Princess Monica relocated to Kaliburg to spend more time with her grandchildren. She reportedly got to meet her first great grandchild last summer in Kaliburg, and was, as reported, "thrilled to see the new addition to the family."

As per tradition, Lady Monica Ananto-DeLaurentis has been interred at the Ananto Estate's Mossoleum in Eveari. A memorial ceremony is scheduled for January 9th at the National Theater in Kaliburg, and Her Imperial Majesty Mary I Ananto has returned from Athosia early to be with her family as they mourn and celebrate the late Princess of the Empire.

@TheRepublic

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Grand Duke Craig Alvarez Requests permission to form Ducal Council
"Dukes of Kalistan seek more localized authority"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 15, 5671


Her Imperial Majesty, Mary I Ananto meets with Grand Duke Craig Alvarez-Suldanor at Cliff House

His Highness the Grand Duke of Kalistan, Craig Alvarez-Suldanor has met with Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto in Kaliburg this week. His mission was to acquire consideration of a petition from the four Dukes of the Grand Duchy of Kalistan requesting the permission to create a Kalistani Ducal Council to better coordinate the activities of the Duchies and four free Cities in Kalistan Proper. "I made the request on behalf of the Peers in Kalistan because we have agreed that coordination between the Kalistani Duchies would be beneficial to all of our success. This marginal decentralization will permit us to focus on working together on Kalistani issues without having to individually appeal to the Empress on every issue."

The Empress for her part has officially accepted the petition, but has opted to not formally take action on the matter. "We have just about one year and a quarter left until our tenure in this office is completed and we hand the crown to our replacement. It is correct that the matter remains for him to decide, as he will need to establish his own working relationship with the Kalistani Peers." The Empress did signal her agreement with the pleas of the Kalistani Dukes. "We do find ourselves in agreement with many of the claims made in the petition. The notion that Kalistan has certain peculiar issues that they can handle themselves without the need for input from the Crown is certainly a reasonable claim. And indeed, cooperation with the Free Cities will definitely bring a little more public input into Kalistani affairs. We are more cautious, however, about the introduction of a new layer of government between the National Government and the people of Kalistan. So, there are pros and cons that the next monarch will need to consider."

The Grand Duke said he was satisfied with the meeting: "I feel like the Empress heard our suit fairly and treated the request respectfully. She was very receptive to the idea and gave me some hope that the Crown Prince will be willing to talk with us after he is crowned. She also gave me some very constructive feedbacks concerning where we will come upon sticking points with whoever sits on the throne, so we can go back and rework some of the proposals to make it easier the Crown Prince to consider. I appreciate her willingness to meet with me on behalf of the Dukes and Lord Mayors of Kalistan."

The Chancellor of the Empire was also present for the meeting, though it was marked as an informal audience. She noted her interest in the topic from a legislative perspective. "With a Ducal council in Kaliburg, we would obviously need some conversations about separation of authorities, and how it would work. Would the Ducal Council have the power to bind the national Government to its decisions, for example. Given that Duchies are allowed to collect direct taxes for their own local support, how will ducal funds be combined? These are nuts and bolts questions that will come up if this advances, regardless of the name of Monarch. So, I am happy to have been a part of this initial conversation."

The discussion about the Kalistani Ducal Council will continue into the next reign, while the Kalistani Dukes have some more to discuss over the next year or two.

@TheRepublic

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Princess Nicki Dominates at Sunset
Upcoming Surfer Matt Jones takes Youth Category
Sunset Beach, Davon County
May 8, 5671


Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins easily wins overall at Sunset, starting another title run off proper

Her Highness, Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins, this surf season's favored competitor, did not disappoint book makers in Sulari as she easily claimed the victory in the Sunset Beach Open, the Season's first circuit competition. She was favored to win Sunset by at least 14 points and she turned in a 65.82, which was 16.4 points ahead of the next closest competitor, Maggie Davidson from Luxon. The Men's Champion, Lynn Ryerson, finished 4th overall behind a very strong female field.

The Princess celebrated her win very modestly. "I was sort of humbled last year by my friend Callie Rogers," she said. "So this year, my main goal is to keep my head in the game, get the muscle memory down, and execute regardless of the conditions out there on the water. I think that part of what I am working to check this year is the expectations that I will win. I had to do a little soul searching last winter, and my grandmother died and I didn't even get back onto the water until April which was about two weeks later than I even wanted to, because I want to try to surf from an intuitive adaptive position, rather than one who treats surfing like a you know, you do this, and then that and then this every time... I am learning to just kind of go with the flow, it feels different to me, it feels more natural, less stiff, you know?"

The big surprise of the Tournament was in the youth Category where Matt Jones, 15 from Luxon took the Youth title. The Princess, who watched Jones' runs said "He surfs a lot like (Mike) Dawson. He's a big risk taker and it pays off." Jones is such a surprise because he only picked up surfing a couple years ago, when his parents moved to Kalistan from Baltusia. "Yeah, he didn't grow up near the water," said the Princess. "I think he started out skating, and then when he moved to Sulari, he transitioned to the waves, and has obviously done well."

Jones still skates in Sulari and snowboards in the Winters in Nevaras. "I think I would like to go for a sponsorship in skating," said Jones, after his victory at Sunset. "I am trying my hand at surfing I suppose, and I am just competing at Sunset this spring, because I wanted to try it out. I've got a few more years ahead of me where I can do pretty much anything, but the community here is so friendly and supportive, it would be easy to make a change." Jones is still a sophomore in High school, and to him this merely represents an impediment. "School cuts a lot into my skating time in the fall and spring," said Jones. "I suppose its useful, but I would rather be out skating."

The Princess was optimistic for Jones staying with Surfing. "I talked with him a little after the competition and I think I convinced his mom to let him come and enter the Dana Open later this month. It's a major competition, but there's no telling what this kid will do when he's up against older, more experienced surfers. He's got something that I think would be wasted if he just did Sunset and then that's it. So I think we'll see." Sunset is both the first sanctioned competition of the year, and also the only one with a specific youth category, to give those who are coming up the opportunity to face competition and not get totally overmatched by more experienced surfers.

"The youth category here at Sunset is hard, don't get me wrong," said the Princess, who is now herself on her way to Dana to compete in her ongoing quest to win the Surfing Triple Crown. "These kids are serious, and they are talented. I would love, someday to mentor the youths who surf at Sunset: I was there myself, and the girls who surf on the circuit are such wonderful kids, they are so earnest, so as we start to see ourselves as a team, and we travel together from competition to competition, you know, we begin to build friendships. That starts at Sunset for a lot of people. I still am friends with a lot of older competitors I first met when I was 15 or 16 at Sunset. I'd like to be that person for some of these kids."

Right now, Princess Nicki goes into Dana with a line of -285 in Sulari, or nearly 1:3 odds. She is given an over of 9 points at the Dana Open. The Competition, which happens at the end of the month, is expected to be another easy win for her, but she does have a few close competitors, including last year's Luxon Male Champion Wren Tellari, who currently sits at +175 or returning surfer Jacqueline Hammar from Port Swedes, who has a line of +290. "I'm just gonna, you know, not let the numbers get to me at all, or the expectations. Last year I was overconfident. This year, my focus is on the next competition. I'm just gonna surf the wave right in front of me, and not worry about the next one until this one rolls by."

@LaModa

[Doc]

Princess Continues Dominance of the Field
Dana and Wilson behind her, Princess focuses on Luxon
Wilson Beach, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 1, 5671


Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins turns in a nearly flawless performance at Kali Pipeline

Her Highness, Princess Nicolette Ananto-Collins has cleared the final hurdle before the Luxon Invitational. She placed first over all last week at the Kali Pipeline Tournament at Wilson River. The victory adds to her string of wins this season including the Dana Open in Late May. Her goal now: to focus on and train for the Luxon competition, where she hopes to complete her quest for the elusive Triple Crown.

"I have set that as my goal, as my life's goal," she said. "The Triple Crown is the highest honor in the competitive surfing world, and only two other people in the last century have won it. I hope to be the third, and the first woman to do so." Assuming nothing major happens during Her Highness' training regimen, she is the betting favorite in Luxon, though he odds are close to even.

"Now that the Kali Pipeline competition, which the Princess won handily with her near perfect performance, has completed, and no other surfer really stood out, she could win Luxon without much serious competition," said Sulari Book Maker Charles Miles, of the Bookmaking Syndicate. "But that said: there are still two qualifying competitions left in July, so someone could emerge from the field as a dark horse which can throw our lines off from where they stand right now. Her Highness sits at +115, which is just about even odds. We think she'll win, but a number like +115 suggests a lot of uncertainty in the outcome."

One surfer who could in theory upset the field at Luxon is Dana surfer Zeke Phillips, who placed a close second in the Dana Competition in May and finished a clear first in the Male Competition. "Phillips is sitting at about a -185 right now," said Miles. "If anyone that we already know is going to Luxon is going to actually overtake the Princess it will be him. But we have also seen upsets which even we could not predict. Last year Callie Rogers was at -1265. The few who actually bet on her to win made a killing. Most betters, including a lot of the Syndicate, lost a ton of money."

The Princess says she intends to relocate to Luxon and surf the swell every day between now and the Competition. "The Swell," she says, " has a special feeling to it. It's very much like a living breathing being. The peaks and the troughs of the wave are regular this time of year. But like a living being, it takes time to get to know, to become familiar with, to understand. The Ocean at Luxon kills people every year, but usually that's because people do not treat it with respect and the appropriate fear and reverence. This is one of the reasons why Luxon does not permit kids to compete. More maturity and experience is needed to ride that Swell with any hope of survival." She said she wants to spend her time before the competition.

The competition finale of the season will take place in late August, when the Swell is traditionally at its peak for the year and the waves are both regular and challenging. After the beginning of September, the North Ananantonese Current drifts too far into the Strait for the waves to be flat at Luxon, leading to very poor and very dangerous surf conditions and inclement weather until the next Spring when the warm regular Swell rolls back in from the South West off the Suldanoran Coast to bring warm weather and long flat waves back to Ananto. Princess Nicki says she's ready. "I've been waiting my entire life," she said. "I got so close last year. This year I'm going to be ready for it."

@LaModa