Kalistan

[Doc]

King George Alvarez of Baltusia Abdicates
Former Monarch seeks asylum in Suldanor
Playa de Paz, Athosia, Baltusia
March 25, 5668


George Alvarez of Baltusia, seen here for the first time in 13 years, at Playa de Paz with Her Imperial Majesty, in Athosia

George Alvarez has been granted asylum in Kalistan by Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto. Alvarez, the former king of the Baltusia, who lived for the most part under virtual house arrest in his palace in the capital of Johnson Baltusia, and rarely was permitted to leave due to security precautions dictated by the Government of Baltusia, tendered his formal abdication by letter, and then made his way to Playa de Paz, where Her Imperial Majesty was in winter residence. Once there he was debriefed and was permitted to formally request asylum in Kalistan, claiming he fears for his safety if he stays in Baltusia.

"The situation in Baltusia's capital is fairly uncertain at the moment," said Mr. Alvarez, who is, for the moment a private citizen, to reporters who were called in to document the event. "I have not seen or heard from First Minister Merridan in months: I am not even sure if he still governs, and the only visitors who are allowed at the palace are my palace staff, so I did not have much news of what is happening in the world. The Palace is surrounded by members of the Monarch Dynamics, the private security agency that Merridan built, and they most certainly reman on duty."

When questioned by the press, the former king admitted to not knowing how long he had been in the palace. "I tried to count dinners for a while, but eventually I lost interest in doing so." He said that immediately before he escaped, he learned that he had been under house arrest for more than a dozen years. "I knew it had been a very long time, but I was never quite sure until I asked one of the new cooks that had been sent for me what day and year it was. When he told me it was 5668, I knew I had to escape and make my way into Athosia, where at least I knew I had friends. I was sort of left in limbo, I guess, and just got lucky."

Alvarez says he spent the days and nights reading books in the extensive library in the palace. "I would say the biggest issue was that I was fairly lonely most of the time. But I was never mistreated while in my home--I had plenty of food, I lived in a gilded palace, I got plenty of in house medical care, I wanted for nothing, really. If it was prison, it was the most luxurious prison cell I have ever heard of. And I had plenty of human contact while I was there, but they were all very careful to not tell me what was going on in the world around the Palace, said I would worry too much about it." Alvarez said that he made friends with the new cook who let him know the information about his tenure in the Royal Palace, and got him to leave the sally gate open one evening after the last meal of the day. He then snuck out and fled the capital. "It had been so long since anyone had even seen me that nobody even recognized me."

As it turns out, Alvarez was lucky. Her Imperial Majesty was less than three days from returning to Kaliburg when the former monarch turned up on her doorstep. "I got a ride from San Luis to the gate along the road, and when I called up to the house, I was able to let them know who I was, and the guy said 'Man are you lucky, The Empress was just about to return to the Capital in a couple days.' I made it just in time. That was two days ago. And I will travel with Her Imperial Majesty and Lady Jensen back to Kaliburg before I settle into Suldanor."

Alvarez had a final thing: "There is winds of change blowing in Baltusia, I feel. I know a lot of my family lives here in Athosia. If you can, begin making plans. I know things can change quickly, more quickly than you can respond to if you don't have a plan in place. Call up relatives up north or in Gaduridos. Prepare a bug out bag: If things go down too quick, I want all the Alvarez' here in Athosia to know, when I get to Lucid, I will be a contact for you. Come find me, I will help as I can." George Alvarez concluded by saying he looks forward to serving the Empress in Lucid as a liaison for Baltusians coming into Suldanor.

OOC: Permission to take control of George Alvarez was granted by Weimarska, former primary in Baltusia, here (https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-465.html)

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