Kalistan

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Bjorksdattir returns to Xsampa
While modelling Dah Swimwear, she said she would like to learn to surf
Gramdkarpo, Xsampa
April 30, 5694


Alice Bjorksdatir, on break from Del Valle before the Fall Shows, modelling Dah Swimwear in Xsampa

Kalistani supermodel Alice Bjorksdattir flew to Xsampa this month for a 10-day shoot for Dah Surf Company. The country's It Girl, who recently signed a three year contract with Del Valle to model their clothes, also continues her work for the Dahriel-based surf and beach fashion company, which produces 85% of all surfboards used by Kalistanis, and it is assumed, by nearly all surfers worldwide, as well as deck shorts, wetsuits and swimwear. Dah Surf Co is a ₭130 million a year company, and is one of the largest apparel companies in Kalistan.

"Well, this is my second visit to Xsampa," said Bjorksdattir. "Last time I was here with a bunch of young models, but this time, it was just me. I got to do the entire shoot myself. This place is a total paradise: It's such a beautiful location, and we actually got to talk to Xsampan surfers who are really getting into the sport." Asked if she did any surfing herself, she just laughed. "No, I don't know how to surf. I barely know how to swim. But I would love to learn how to surf. I think when the season starts in Kalistan next month, I'll spend some time in Luxon to watch them surf and maybe take some lessons. It's definitely on my bucket list."

Bjorksdattir said she spent all week in the water. "My poor toes are pruned!" she said. "It's gonna take me a month to get all this sand washed off!" She and the crew rented cabanas near the beach where they were shooting for the 5695 Calendar, and woke up very early to get Bjorksdattir into makeup and get her clothes for the day laid out. "My pictures are really good, but I gotta tell you: It was a lot of work to look like I put no work at all into it. All those beachy hairstyles, they weren't gonna just let me go dunk my head in the ocean: First, that would mess up the metric ton of makeup I was wearing so I didn't look like I was sweating my ass off, and second, my hair gets a little frizzy, it's naturally got some curl to it, so if I put it into the ocean, just like dunked it, it would be super flat and then would poof up like I got a perm. No, it takes a lot of work to look like a beach bum."

Throughout the session, she wore more than 25 Dah Swimsuits. "They wanted to try all these different looks on me," she said. "Some were too revealing. I'm a big girl, and I got hit by one of the waves, and there was a wardrobe malfunction. I'm sure the crowd that were standing around didn't mind, but, that would never make the Dah calendar... you know, because the strap broke, and trying to keep my top up, I had the brand logo covered, so... Yeah, that might make the outtakes, but I don't think that one will see the light of day... too spicy..." She did have a suggestion for her employer however. "Dah tends to make black and white suits, that is their trademark colors. Black is good for a wetsuit, but people like color too, Dah, you hear me? Can you imagine me in a orange two piece suit? See, that would look tight as hell."

Back in Kaliburg, Bjorksdattir's modelling is not going unnoticed. No less than Her Highness, the Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins had words of congratulations for the young model. The Princess Regent, herself a former Dah model, was asked in an interview about what she thought of Bjorksdattir taking the Dah contract, and she said she was proud of her. "That girl is hot," said the Princess Regent. "It's undeniable. You'd have to be blind to think otherwise. So good for her and good for Dah for getting her." She did have some words of encouragement for Bjorksdattir. "Look: Surfing is easy, All she has to do is just go with what the sea wants her to, balance over the center of the board, and just ride. The board wants to stay on the surface. You have to work to get it to go under. But keep trying, Ms. Bjorksdattir, you got this, and maybe I'll see you in Luxon this summer."

Bjorksdattir is in country for another two days before she returns to Kalistan via Metz-Leonid. The 5695 Dah Surf Co. Calendar, featuring Alice Bjorksdattir, will be available in retail stores at the beginning of December, and is expected to sell out very quickly. The announcement that Bjorksdattir is modelling for the surf company actually sent Dah Surf Co.'s stock (DSC) soaring in the KalSiE, where they are up 23% month over month. "Yeah, she's gonna sell a lot of surfboards," said the Princess Regent.

@LaModa

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Feature: Deputy Mike Johnson, Quiet Reformer
Kaliburg backbencher is working to reform the system from inside
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 7, 5694


Deputy Mike Johnson, long identified with the Kaliburg Socialist Club, works for equality in the Institutional Party

"Oh, I'll never be in the government," said Deputy Mike Johnson, an Institutional Party Deputy from Kaliburg in a recent interview. "I'm not nearly conservative enough. But for what its worth, I am trying to make sure a more socialist viewpoint is kept on the floor in the National Assembly, and thankfully for me, the Institutional Party is not entire closed off to leftists." Johnson said that now that fellow socialist Chase Lawford was named as Kalistan's top diplomat in Xsampa, a nation with major international relevance, the spotlight back home has swung his way.

"Throughout my seven years in the legislature, I have tried to make sure that the policies we pass have measures of equality in them," said Johnson. "The Institutional Party has long stood on the side of the working class, despite it being the functional arm of the Monarchy, because I think in this country, all of the institutions, except the autocracy, are designed to promote workers' interest over owners' interests. We always have a lot of work to do to prevent the wealthy from using their power and their influence to erode those long cherished rights. It's a never ending job, and this is one thing I, even though I am a socialist, and certainly not a conservative, do have to credit my Party with. It has legitimately won the support of the workers in this nation, who value the job protection and the economic democracy we have in helping set production, wages, prices, and policies."

Johnson said that many of the problems in the society are caused by capitalist actors and those who seek unlimited wealth at the expense of every worker and every consumer. "Setting aside the monarchy, which, well, we really can't do much about, the inequality we see in this country is caused almost completely by private sector actors seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of their exploited workers. Kalistan has diligently worked on this problem for centuries and even we can't get ahead of it, because for better or worse, capitalists are more innovative than the state. Take this organized crime fiasco, for example, which was literally all at the top of our economic pyramid: These wealthy people who want just more wealth will do whatever they can to get it, even break the law, or use the institutions against themselves. It's just evidence that if they can't get in through the working class, they'll get in through the top. And corruption and maximization of profit go hand in hand. We're working to fight against that."

Some of the things Johnson has worked on in his tenure were measures to ensure that rural families get regular access to the same medical treatment that people who live in the cities take for granted. "After all these years, we are still talking about disparities between what people who live more than 50 miles from cities still face in basic social services," said Johnson. "Yes it is more expensive to build clinics out in the middle of nowhere to serve rural populations, but it is also essential to do so. People can't just rely on medical units from NSP to come through once every other month. Because what do rural people do when they move on to the next place?" Other disparities are the lack of paved roads across much of the country. "About 18% of our population, or one in six, lives more than 20 miles from a black top surface. Especially in the north, where it rains like half the year, for much of the time those areas are inaccessible from the cities. This is a real problem."

While Johnson is a Deputy from Kaliburg Free City, he also would like to see more socialists from across the nation get active in national politics. "The Conservatives have things pretty locked up in this Party, and of course, other parties are illegal, but this doesn't mean that leftists shouldn't participate in the government," he said. "Number one, there are about a half a dozen of us who are sitting in the legislature right now. The conservatives frequently work with us because we tend to be more populist minded than they are, and several times they have been caught out being tone deaf in their policies and have had to make changes. They see our group as having an ear to the populations of our Free Cities, which tend to be more centrist than the Institutional Party as a whole is. With more of us, we can have a larger voice, to make sure the Left in Kalistan is not simply forgotten."

Johnson says that the key to power in Kalistan is Institutional. "We've learned over the years that it does no good to try to raise the red flag and be revolutionary communists in this country. Many people will follow a fad promising to solve all the problems, but those movements usually end up in dead ends, because the institutional arrangement in this nation is designed to prevent revolution and dissipate radical energy at ever single turn. A lot of this is the old Socialist Party's fault--The Institutional Party was formed by socialists who got tired of democracy allowing right wingers to constantly undermine the social and economic gains the people had made, so we really have ourselves to blame for that. But working within and through the institutions of our nation does yield results, and unlike in other nations, we do not have to find a way to 'make peace' with the system, because peace with the system is inculcated in this society from the first day of schooling. It gets to the point where law breakers are seen as anti-social and horrifying to the population, and when faced with serious crime, they immediately turn back to the state.

"But getting our people into offices, especially on the city level does yield very surprising results. And getting our people into the bureaucracy becomes very easy when they have champions and advocates within the Legislature. We saw Chase get named as the Ambassador to Xsampa recently. There were fifty diplomats who could have done that job, but they picked a socialist, one of our guys, to do it, because the Chancellor and the Regent asked how they could best speak with communists: Send one of our guys who knows what they are talking about and wants to get to know these people and work with them, or one of the fifty of theirs who is just going to go there and start talking about how communists are a plague and Kalistan this that and the other. We were able to make that case to the Chancellor, and she may be a reactionary, but she is a reasonable person and saw the benefit to it, and the Regent agreed. So Chase is there now. And I have a list of 20 other people I could name right now for dozens of offices across the nation, who would just be more moderate on the hard nationalist front than you might see otherwise if we weren't here in the National Assembly, representing a more moderate, left populist streak for reform within the system."

Johnson said it is important that socialists come out of their funk and keep working for change. "There are socialist clubs in every major city in Kalistan and Ananto," said Johnson. "If you find yourself on the left, and want to help us make change and improve the lives of our people in this Empire, I'd encourage you to work with them, or start your own. The socialist clubs aren't a political party by any means. They do things like work on policy with our Cities to improve the lives of tens of millions of Kalistanis, they volunteer at projects they think are important, they provide a social setting for get togethers, like Kaliburg's quarterly Bowl for Change fundraisers. They host lectures on important topics, candidate forums, voter information. We have more than 380,000 dues paying members in 25 socialist clubs nationwide, and our numbers are growing. So if you happen to be of the left in Kalistan and would like to help us work to improve the lives of your comrades and fellow citizens, a socialist club probably meets regularly somewhere near you. They could use your help."

Johnson is up for re-election in 5696, and he said he is running because he still has a lot of work to do for Kaliburg, Ananto and the Empire.

@TheRepublic

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Miguel Santos takes Helm at Bookmakers' Association
Athosian Gambling Expert vows transparency and access
Sulari, Duchy of Suldanor
July 9, 5694


Miguel Santos, new skipper of Kalistani Bookmakers' Association says he hates cheats

The Kalistani Bookmakers' Association, whose operations were suspended following the massive money laundering scandal involving the Bank of Suldanor and which led to the eventual decapitation of the Undzer Shtik organized crime syndicate, is now under new management. Athosian-Kalistani immigrant, statistician and master odds calculator Miguel Santos-Marshall has been elected by the Association as its new Director. Santos, who has a sterling reputation and was not implicated in the money laundering scheme, has vowed to ensure that the organization goes above and beyond normal corporate best practices to provide transparency and access to Association records.

"Let's face it," Santos said as he gave reporters a tour around the Association main Offices, headquartered in the Sun Coast Resort and Casino in Sulari, "we have a lot to do to regain the trust of gamers who have left us when it became clear that some of our members were fixing bets and others were involved in money laundering and other nefarious crimes. Among those of us who escaped implication in those deeds, we are now the ones who make up a solid core of bookies in Kalistan and Ananto, and we all value the most honest game. Which is why, as we reopen our operations across the Empire, we want to do everything we possibly can to regain the trust of the people of Kalistan and the tourists who visit to make bets in our casinos and at our tracks."

Santos called the criminality that nearly brought down the gambling syndicate down "... just sheer greed. Look, the Bookmakers Association makes money just for existing and ensuring bets. Its called the vigorish- We don't have to fix anything. We get paid for taking the bet. But the responsibility part of that, which a lot of our former members failed to do, is to ensure a fair game. Some of these guys were betting on their own races, so they had a vested interest in the outcome they were supposed to be overseeing as fair for people who trusted them. And they went the extra mile and tried to cover it up through the bank. And they were in with the Yeudis in the mob and taking kickbacks from that--it was a failure of trust all around. Our guys broke that trust, and it is something we need to focus on to try to rebuild in Kalistan."

The Bookmakers' Association has now been re-authorized to begin overseeing the Pari-Mutuel at the race tracks across Kalistan and Ananto, and to reopen off track betting parlors in Free Cities. Those operations were taken away from the syndicate after the scandal, but the Interior Ministry is satisfied with their corporate restructuring, including the reorganization of the Association's bylaws, charter, and accounting practices. "We are under so much oversight right now, that the Bookmakers' Association is like one step away from being a public regulatory agency," said Santos. "We are still technically private, but we wanted to ensure that the National Government, and the public too, has as much access to our records as possible. That oversight is the only way we can create the kind of culture going forward that will help us rebuild our trust with the public."

Casino gaming regulations remain completely outside the Bookmakers' oversight and control for the time being, and rest with individual casinos themselves. "We are taking steps," said Santos. "Its kind of a probation: we do alright with the tracks, where we started, and then the Government will review our application to take the casinos back over. But currently those casinos are overseen by their own Boards, who are fiduciarily responsible to their own shareholders, and its possible that the Empire could see that more decentralized regulatory structure as something they want to maintain." Santos says he is confident that the Bookmakers will get the casinos back eventually, but he also worries, because House Ananto's investment group Miramar controls large blocks of stocks in casinos across Suldanor, Vrassa and Ananto. "To be fair, there is kind of a conflict of interest there," said Santos, "but we would like to focus on what the Association is doing to ensure gaming at the operations we ourselves oversee, and let the Government work the rest of it out among themselves."

Santos said the horse race season is in full swing, and he encourages gamers to participate in the Pari-mutuel, where the gamblers themselves set the pools based on how they move their money. Bookmakers also offer exotic bets on races, sporting events and even historical events, but these are side arrangements made between betters and punters, rather than public sanctioned and regulated regular bets made at Horse track pari-mutuel stands. "The Casinos themselves get about a half a point on each bet, the Bookmakers get four and a half points, and the winners get the rest," said Santos. "That vig is factored into payouts to the winning ticketholders, whether it be live racing or at the OTB parlors." The casinos are responsible for paying the purse for the horses and the jockeys.

"In a normal season, we'll make close to ₭700 Million just off the vig alone," said Santos. "This isn't including the private bets we cover or offer. And while we're in rebuilding, we will likely earn a lot less, but either way, this a very lucrative industry, especially when you talk about online gaming and all that. So the idea that we need to turn to crime or skimming really is just stupid and greedy, and I say good riddance to those criminals who were involved in all that. I hate cheats and at the end of the day, they were nothing but lowdown cheats who I wouldn't trust with my own money. Going forward, I want this organization to have a reputation for honesty, and for being good corporate citizens of this Empire. We're gonna be more like a real business than we ever have been, and we're going to work hard to earn the trust of every single gambler who comes to the track to put money down on their favorite horse."

Miramar issued a brief statement praising the selection of Santos to lead the Organization and Lady Allison Ananto-Westmoreland said Santos comes to the helm with a genuine desire to reform. "Miramar looks forward to cooperating with Mr. Santos to ensure that our interests in the gaming industry in Kalistan are both protected and profitable," said the House Spokeswoman.

@TheRepublic

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Coronation date is set for one year
Empress visits Reed in Kaliburg, and is sized for Coronation
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
September 12, 5694


Her Imperial Majesty visits Jeff Reed, owner of Reed Jewelers in Kaliburg

House Ananto has announced that Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto will be crowned on September 20, 5695, just a little over a year from now. She has decided that, since she will be able to complete her degree in May, before she completes her National Service, she will muster out in early August and take a month off to prepare for coronation and then step directly into her birthright and assume her full authority.

"Her Imperial Majesty feels that it is very important to relieve the Regent of her responsibilities as soon as possible," said Director of House Ananto, Lady Allison Ananto-Westmoreland. "The Empress feels that the Regent has done far more in service to her nation than anyone could ever expect, and would like to let her aunt return to her private life in Luxon." According to Lady Ananto-Westmoreland, starting the clock ticking now allows Her Highness, the Princess Regent to begin winding down her own administration, to begin transferring her various authorities, and getting ready to assume a lower profile once more. "The Princess Regent for her part is very eager to return to her life in Luxon. She hopes to return to teaching, mentoring and surfing, and looks forward to resuming her life without the pressures of the Crown."

Her Imperial Majesty was in Kaliburg, on leave from the NSP, when the announcement was made. Her short break from her service was more of a working holiday. Though she has formally held the title of Empress and Grand Duchess, her other titles were formally released from trust this week, and were conferred upon the Empress. After attending a formal investment ceremony in Eveari to formally promote the Empress to Sovereign of the Ancient Order of the Gray Smoke, the Chancellor of the Empire met with her back in Kaliburg at the Imperial Seat, to formally return her titles to her. Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto is now known, by Act of the National Assembly, by her Formal Style:

By the Consent of the People, Her Imperial Majesty, of the Ancient House of Ananto, Empress and Sovereign of The Anantonese Empire, Empress of Ananto, Kalistan and Gaduridos, Queen of Vintalli, Queen of Andalay, Queen of Karzon, Queen of Sekowo, Grand Duchess of Ananto, Grand Duchess of Isle of Sutton, Duchess of Icehaven, Duchess of Athosia, Duchess of Outannais, Countess of Davon, Countess of Dah, Baroness of Zappa, Commander in Chief of the Regular Forces of Kalistan, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Ancient Order of the Grey Smoke, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Excellent Order of the Anantonese Empire, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Order of Vintalli, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Order of Andalay, Defender of the Realm, Formal Head of the Anantonese Government, Embodiment of the Anantonese Nation, Evenstar, Guarantor of the Anantonese Ocean and Ananto Strait, Carolina II Ananto.

Following the formality of the investments in both Eveari and Kaliburg, the Empress visited Reed Jewelers in downtown Kaliburg, where she met with Jeff Reed, who now owns and operated the business which has served House Ananto as Imperial Jeweler for more than sixty years to commission new regalia for her coronation. "House Ananto has contracted Reed to work with Del Valle to create a new coronation gown, Robe of State, and crown for Her Imperial Majesty," said Lady Ananto-Westmoreland. "Ever since the coronation of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Nicolette I Ananto, each new Monarch has had these three items created for them specifically. And each new Monarch has tried to outdo the previous. The late Emperor and Empress had coronation garments that were encrusted with gems from the Imperial Gem Vault--The Empress' bodice was almost entirely made of amethyst shards, while the Emperor's tunic was primarily satin, but the breast plate and accents was made of dozens of rubies, emeralds and diamonds. But I suspect the vision here is even greater, because Mr. Reed has already scheduled a visit to the Gem vault, and has hired 20 gem cutters to his staff specifically for the next year." Reed will be working with Del Valle to create a garment that will will be a statement to the world announcing the long awaited arrival of this Empress.

Also in the works, said Lady Ananto-Westmoreland, is a newly commissioned throne for Her Imperial Majesty, to be placed in the Imperial Seat, where Her Imperial Majesty will perform state functions and listen to Formal Audiences. "Unlike the crown and the Coronation Garments, which are custom made, the thrones are recycled and created new each reign," said Lady Ananto-Westmoreland. "The previous throne was a dual throne which itself was worth hundreds of millions of Imperial Rubles as it was. But following the loss of the Emperor and Empress, the House ordered the throne Dismantled. As it was made of gold, the gems which were set in the throne were removed, returned to the Vault and the the gold was melted and returned to ingots. However, now that we have a new Coronation set, the Empress has ordered a new Throne to be built that will invoke the grandeur of her mother's and father's dual throne. We can guarantee it will more than surpass it." House Ananto is working with Reed in this project as well, along with the National Mint to create the structure of the Throne and to cover it, again, in precious stones. "We can preview that this one will be made of solid silver, as Her Imperial Majesty prefers the look of polished silver to either gold or white gold. We'll see what Mr. Reed comes up with."

It should be noted that Her Highness, the Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins opted to use a home arm chair that was her personal property to hear Audiences. "It was what she asked for," said Lady Ananto-Westmoreland. "She said if she was meant to sit for hours at a time listening to petitions from people who wanted things from the Empire, at least she should try to be comfortable. Beyond that, the Princess Regent preferred to meet with people at Cliff Offices and the Formal Audience Chamber at the Imperial Seat was rarely used during her Administration."

While many might view this extravagant display of House Ananto Wealth as, in the words of the Late Empress Jennifer Ananto, "obscene," most Kalistanis greeted the news of the coronation. Recent polls said that the anticipation for Empress Carolina II Ananto's coronation is growing in Kalistan, both from nationalists, who are proud of their National Avatar and look forward to hearing once more from their proper sovereign, and also from moderates and reformers, who are encouraged by her willingness to work for Kalistani interests while remaining open to building new ties overseas and her youth. "The see Her Imperial Majesty as an opportunity for a new start. We are still living in Empress Mary's shadow, and while this is perfectly acceptable for wide majorities, many are also clamoring for a new direction forward. For better or worse, Emperor Fredrick and Empress Jennifer, especially at the end, were largely considered to be continuation's of Mary's reign, but Empress Carolina II Ananto represents a new day and new possibilities for this Empire, in everything from toleration of a plurality of political viewpoints, to new alliances and closer ties with all of Kalistan's friends abroad."

Lady Ananto-Westmoreland added, "This next year will a year of building excitement, and a lot of work for House Ananto as we work to get everything ready. But we are very excited ourselves and it is certain that the Coronation Ceremony next year will be one for the books."

@TheNational

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January 5695 Elections: Socialist-leaning Deputies now number 13
Mike Johnson named Minister of Infrastructure and Transport
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 14, 5695


Deputy Michael Johnson, Her Imperial Majesty's new Minister of Infrastructure

Elections in Kalistan are frequently boring affairs. Races at the local level are often non-partisan, and at the National Level, they are frequently uncontested, with the Institutional incumbent being the only name on the ballot. The closet contests are over local referenda which many duchies and counties in Kalistan Proper have begun permitting on a limited basis upon direction from the Kalistani Ducal Council.

But last week's General Election produced unexpected results. Recent promoter of the Socialist Clubs movement, Deputy Mike Johnson of Kaliburg, managed to surprise the conservative Institutional Party Establishment by pulling off seven upsets, replacing key allies of the Chancellor in Kaliburg, Sulari, Eshar and Ananto. Members affiliated with the Socialist Club movement in Kaliburg now number 13. While there are 79 seats in the Chamber of Deputies of the National Assembly, and 13 seats still represents a very small minority, not capable of passing or stopping legislation, they could serve as an important counterbalance to conservative power in close votes, such as the Qualified Immunity Bill passed a few years ago when fighting the mob in Sulari.

More importantly, the gains of socialists in the National Assembly is a wake up call for the Conservatives. Socialists now control both seats in the Empire's two largest Free Cities (Sulari and Kaliburg-Port Davon), and one of two seats in the third (Eshar). They also have a majority of the delegation from Suldanor and Vrassa, and split the Delegation from Ananto. "The socialists right now remain loyal," said Political Scientist Martha Frasier, of the University of Suldanor in Yoshimi. "But people voted for these deputies for a reason: They want some reform, and they are putting their trust in the more socialistic leaning deputies to try to push that agenda in the National Assembly."

Kalistanis know that the National Assembly has no real power to originate legislation: Their only function is to create policy based off of Imperial Fiat. They do have some independent authority regarding the crafting, scope and implementation, but City Governments are viewed as far more independent than the National Assembly, for example. But the main power for the National Assembly is in advocacy of their constituents' issues. "You are gonna see more pressure from the Body on the Chancellor to bring up certain matters before Her Imperial Majesty," said Frasier. "The socialists are generally happy with workers' power in Kalistan, but they would like the benefits of society to be extended to more people, especially on the Mainland, where often it feels to some that they are forgotten by a self-focused Imperial Center in Kaliburg. It is certain that the more socialistic elements of the Institutional Party will be making more requests for consideration, especially for rural populations of the Grand Duchy of Kalistan."

Conservatives are frequently loathe to work with socialists, but recently, socialists have been stepping up into discussions and making their voice heard. In a surprise move following this election, Her Highness, the Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins required the Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Ericka Donahue, to name Deputy Johnson as Her Imperial Majesty's Infrastructure and Transportation Minister. The outgoing Minister, Guillermo Troxell retired from the Government last fall, and the position has been vacant since late December, ahead of the elections.

"Naming a socialist to the Government has probably irked some of the conservatives," said Frasier. "But, without any additional word from the Regent or the Chancellor on the Matter, it is assumed by those watching the events that Johnson has been brought in to the Government in an effort to moderate calls for reform." Johnson is known as a vocal advocate for expansion of roads and infrastructure into rural areas, and the portfolio seems to match his interests and gives him a real way to influence Kalistani infrastructure policy. "We are fairly certain that Mr. Johnson is excited to take up the post and serve in the Government, but it is also clear that the Chancellor is lukewarm on the appointment."

It is unclear whether the inclusion of Deputy Johnson in the government to replace Troxell was the decision of the Regent or if the order came from Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto. "The Regent still issues directives, because Her Imperial Majesty will be finishing her National Service into the beginning of August," said Frasier. "But Her Imperial Majesty is participating more directly in decision making and is in regular contact with the Capital, and she may have told the Regent to appoint Johnson. If that's the case, the rumors that Her Imperial Majesty could be reform minded could be true." It may also just be an acknowledgement of the election results.

For now, with Johnson in the Government instead of outside it, Kalistan will avoid larger scale, and more frustrated calls for reform. "The Chancellor will likely give Johnson something for him and his socialists to work on. Minister Johnson will have an opportunity to make a real difference and build his place in the Government, but time will tell whether Johnson is a man of action or if he is just a man of ideas. If he succeeds, he will provide additional legitimacy for calls to reform."

@TheRepublic

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Sympaticos: Her Imperial Majesty's Cabinet of Weirdos
The new Infrastructure Minister is just the next in a long line of "strange" people to take important posts
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 15, 5695


The New Infrastructure Minister in what looks like a handmade ODEN Shirt at the Winter Gala

Op-Ed
Her Imperial Majesty, our Empress Carolina II Ananto has not yet be crowned in Kaliburg, and Nationalists are already on the back foot, as it appears that there is a full fledged revolution against the Institutional Establishment in her Government. Whether it be from the surprising election results that gave more than a dozen seats in the National Assembly to avowed socialists, of all people, to the promotion of the leader of the popular left in Kalistan, Mike Johnson, himself a socialist firebrand from Kaliburg to the Cabinet as Her Imperial Majesty's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, there appears to be a full fledged revolt in the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan that will greet Her Imperial Majesty when she musters out of National Service this August.

And not surprisingly at all, the new Minister, who is himself quite odd in that setting, has found a very likely ally in Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Sir Thomas Harney, who years ago, took to wearing tuxedoes even to informal occasions, and is almost always seen in public wearing one. He may think his look is distinctive, but it is hard to take a man seriously who overdresses in all occasions, and yet, Sir Thomas Harney, who is considered a pest to many in the Institutional Party establishment, retains the confidence of, at least, the Regent, who has stood by him and his eccentricities, even when, it was reported by a source close to the Government, that the Chancellor wanted him removed for general buffoonery.

The pair of weirdos, both placed in proxy by the Regent, have taken to going out in public, and we will say, in our opinion, embarrassing Her Imperial Majesty. Sure, the Chancellor has to tolerate these two choices of the Regent, acting in the Empress' name, but it is clear that neither believe in professional bearing. Sir Harney has been chronically overdressed for years, and approaches laughing stock status among the upper crust, while the new Minister of Infrastructure is chronically under dressed, preferring hand made tshirts made under the likely heavy influence of Dah or LSD, or probably both. When we finally see one of them properly attired, such as the Kaliburg Winter Gala late last month, a strictly black tie affair, the Infrastructure Minister was almost ejected, because security thought he was just some guy who wandered in off the street. But, on schedule, the Foreign Minister was able to rescue his colleague and Mr. Johnson was permitted to stay.

But more troubling to us here at The National is not so much their respectively clownish senses of style, but the divergence of their policy preferences from the Chancellor's. Lady Ericka Donahue is a committed Institutionalist, an outspoken anti-communist, and the epitome of a classical conservative. She has had her spats with Sir Harney in the past over his more centrist approach to foreign policy and his apparent predilection for hiring socialists to important positions, such as the Ambassadorship to Xsampa, apparently over the Chancellor's reservations. It has gotten so bad that many in the more nationalist circles are whispering that Sir Thomas is himself, shall we say, not unsympathetic to communism. And Mr. Johnson is himself an outright and open socialist and is already on record as being critical to the Chancellor's handing of rural matters.

Publicly, we know the Chancellor has to support the Regent's fiat as if it came from the Empress herself. Whether the Chancellor agrees or disagrees, Her Highness, the Princess Regent has publicly stated support for both men. We aren't saying here at The National that the Regent herself harbors socialist tendencies: That would probably be a crime if we did say that, but hiring these two obvious leftist agitators for these important positions seems to undermine the basic conservative orthodoxy which has governed Institutional politics since the last time we experimented with Democracy in Kalistan. If we didn't know better, we might say that the Regent is deliberately using her exit from office to make Her Imperial Majesty's life more difficult when she takes office. And that critique doesn't even touch their strange choices in fashion.

We think it would be responsible though to give Mr. Johnson a fighting chance at least. There could be alternative readings of this, each with a vanishing degree of likelihood that we should at least consider. We are certain that both of these two Ministers are annoyances to the Institutional Party Leadership. The Chancellor of the Empire performatively took a photo with the Infrastructure Minister last month where the look on her face pretty much says it all: "I have to be here, I have to look enthusiastic to have someone in this position. Why does it have to be this guy?" However, as risible as the idea is, perhaps they are both in their positions because they truly are more qualified than other potential candidates. That scenario is more believable for Minister Harney than it is for Mr. Johnson, whose experience is as a Deputy from Kaliburg, and otherwise a public member of the Kaliburg Socialist Club, where he built his constituent base. What does he know about transportation? Nobody is sure. He just happened to speak on the need for it in the newspaper recently.

Another scenario is that the Regent puts people into positions that she herself gets along with. The Chancellor is meant to advise the Empress, and no doubt the Lady did her job and advised against either of these two guys. But it would seem that Her Highness, who knows her tenure in office was only ever meant to be temporary, put two people who wouldn't make many changes, and who she gets along with in positions that opened up: people she herself could work with, regardless of how difficult it made life for the Chancellor. That possibility is likely, but the Regent is supposed to be governing in the stead of the Empress, not in her own name. So keeping her own friends to the positions seems to be a violation of that responsibility. Additionally, it is very hard to see the Regent as being sympathetic with socialism, even in her own right. Anantos are not, shall we say, world renowned for their love of the left. As all conservatives know, it is very hard to talk to leftists about anything, and here are these two with real power over policy. It is doubtful that Her Highness, the Princess Regent would deliberately empower not one but two Metzist sympathizers, especially over the objections that the Chancellor no doubt has raised.

The last, and this one is so far outside the realm of realistic probability, is that Her Imperial Majesty herself named at least Mr. Johnson to his post. But we could also say Mr. Harney too: He would not still be at the Foreign Office if Her Imperial Majesty wanted him gone. Her Imperial Majesty has notoriously stayed out of all politics since she was formally made Empress upon reaching her Majority almost four years ago. If she has a hand in any political decisions, it is entirely transparent from the viewpoint of our editorial staff room. The only reason why someone would even consider that Her Imperial Majesty herself supports the Tweedle Comrades is that they are in office and not out of office. And yet, it is possible that Her Imperial Majesty does indeed support them in their positions, to the degree that she is paying attention while living at high altitudes on Mt. Schmee. There is some indication that she at least offered nominal approval of the appointment of Ambassador Chase Lawford, though nothing specifically tied her to that decision.

What is far more likely is that Her Highness, the Princess Regent is watching the political winds and knows which way they are blowing, and that her time is almost up. She's concerned about her legacy- How History will write the story of her Regency. She was considered a neophyte when she took office, and had to work very hard to gain not only the loyalty of Institutionalists, many of whom thought someone other than Her Highness should have become the Regent, but the acquiescence of the Government. Her Highness had no stronger ally in that effort than Lady Ericka Donahue who stood by her side throughout the entire transition. But since then, it has been poke after poke, whether it is keeping Mr. Harney on, or forcing the Chancellor to introduce the Qualified Immunity bill which many orthodoxos, including the Chancellor found so offensive to civil liberties that they voted against it, to now naming a socialist to the Infrastructure Ministry. Lady Donahue takes her orders like a good foot soldier, but the legacy of Her Highness' Regency will probably be remembered as one of appearing to make changes without making any changes at all.

At any rate, the real test of the theoretical explanation will come in September when Her Imperial Majesty is crowned. It is highly likely--In fact, this magazine's editorial board have all placed a bet on the matter-- that many of the Regent's more questionable policy decisions will be overridden when Her Imperial Majesty is crowned. We are so confident in fact, that The National's Editorial Board have put their entire annual bonuses on the question: We believe that Her Imperial Majesty, after she is crowned, will quietly repudiate the Regent's more questionable choices and reassert the orthodox positions held by Institutional Establishment. Mr. Johnson and probably Sir Thomas will be ousted by December and the Chancellor will be finally provided a Government she can use again to carry out the Imperial Fiat. A special election could be called as early as October if this is going to happen, and in that case, we would expect the socialists to be ousted from their seats in the National Assembly.

We could be wrong, but we do not think we are. Meanwhile, the National Government is saddled with these two, shall we be charitable and call them "gentlemen"? These two Gentlemen had better start providing results that support the Chancellor and ultimately the Empress, or their days are as numbered as the Regent's. And in this instance, like the Regent, when they are relieved of their duties, all Kalistanis will politely thank them for their service, and wish them well in their future endeavors.

@TheNational

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AYIC to promote Redn Language Institute in Kaliburg
"Redn is a cosmopolitan language" says Kaplan
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 8, 5695


AYIC Director Robert Kaplan with Rabbi Abe Fischer in downtown Kaliburg

The Anantonese Yeudi Interests Committee has announced the founding of the Redn Language Learning Institute in Kaliburg. The effort to revive and propagate the Redn language of the Yeudi Diaspora has been going on behind the scenes and began in earnest more than 50 years ago in Kalistan and, as AYIC states, was one of the main drivers in the founding of the Interests Group.

"Redn is a very cosmopolitan language," said AYIC director Robert Kaplan in AYIC Headquarters in Kaliburg, where he officially launched the initiative. "The History of the language is the history of our people in the Diaspora, and reflects our travels across the world, including our ancestors' sojourns in Artania, then to Seleya and eventually Kalistan, where today there are more than 350,000 of us who speak some amount of Redn in our every day language along side our Vrassan and Egelian. Admittedly, out of 2.9 million, that's not a lot, but we would like to change that. Here in Kalistan, it is a language we use among ourselves, but of course, due to Yeudi contributions to the broader Kalistani culture, we also see Redn loan words used a lot of times in Vrassan without the people even knowing of their Redn origins.

"I think of the words like 'klutz', for a clumsy person, or 'chutzpah' for like insane hubris, or 'schmooze' for socializing. Gamers who watch others play games 'Kibbitz', and during the game you can often hear those who are behind 'kvetching' about how unfair the rules or the refs are. Fashionistas and busineses people often refer to themselves as 'mavens' while workers often refer to themselves as 'schlubs'. People collect 'tchotchkes' during their trips abroad. Bookies collect their vig, which is just short for 'vigorish'. We 'nosh' on 'bagels' 'smeared' with cream cheese or topped with 'lox', and sweet or savory 'blintzes', while 'challah' is sold regularly at our bakeries; comedians have a 'schtik' while salespeople have a 'spiel'. Computers 'glitch'; after working out, some of us like to take a 'schvitz' in the sauna; people sit on either their 'tush' or their 'tuchas'; we 'schlepp' something when we carry it, and things are all 'fakakta' when they are all confused and in hopeless 'mishmash'. Meanwhile, things that are allowed are called 'kosher'. Kids get 'gelt', or chocolate coins during the winter Yule holiday. And people say 'Oi!' when they are trying to get your attention. These words are so common in Vrassan that nobody really even knows they are from Redn, but sure enough they are. And most Vrassans use these sorts of words daily."

Kaplan feels it is important for not only Kalistani Yeudis, but all Diaspora Yeudis and even non Yeudi Kalistanis to have the opportunity to learn to speak Redn. "Our goal, I hope to say, by the end of my tenure is that I would like to see at least one million Yeudis be fluent in Redn to the point where they can have a conversation in the language and sometimes speak it in Yeudi majority events, like at our synagogues and in our meetings, for instance, or in our homes. I don't expect that it will ever replace Vrassan or Egelian as the first language of anyone, and I think we would be doing ourselves a disservice to try to aim for that, because we would essentially cut ourselves off from the broader culture. But many of us already use Redn, or some mixture of Redn and Vrassan among ourselves anyway. The Mob, for example, conducted much of their conversations in Redn, and one of the ways they were brought down was the Cops brought in Redn translators. It's already here, why wouldn't we want to learn about our heritage in this way?"

Mr. Kaplan then introduced Rabbi Abraham Fisher, Professor of Dundorfic studies at Kaliburg Imperial University, who will take a sabbatical to develop the curriculum for the Redn Language Learning Institute. Rabbi Fischer discussed the origins of Redn. According to Fischer, around 1200 AD, as the Anantan Empire was in its middle ages, several large groups left Amudim and scattered across the globe. One group went into Artania through what we now call Narikaton and Darnussia. They settled across central and Southern Artania, and while they were there, the met with Dundorfian speakers, and mingled the early Yeudi they spoke with Darnussian and Dundorfic, forming the essential grammar and vocabulary of what we refer to as Redn, probably by 1500.

Meanwhile another group went to the area we refer to as Valruzia today, and mixed Redn as it was spoken much wider in the diaspora with Valruzian adopting a large amount of loan words to the language. "This was the Redn we got," said Rabbi Fischer. "Nearly all our Yeudi population can trace their ancestry either to Valruzia or Dundorf and Kundrati and they all brought a dialect of Redn to Kalistan. When those two groups mixed their languages together, that becomes the Redn you hear in Kalistani cities today." As other Yeudi groups imigrated into Kalistan through the end of major relocations around 2000 AD, they adopted Redn immediately, or faced losing their cultures all together into the dominant emerging Kalistani culture, which was based in Vrassan Luthorian and Egelian.

"Redn therefore is essentially a Dundorfic language at its core that first emerged in Narikaton and Darnussia," said Rabbi Fischer. "Its grammar is essentially Dundorfic, and therefore is easily learnable by Vrassan Luthorian speakers. Its structural words are Dundorfic, while its vocabulary is a mix between Middle Dundorfic, Middle Yeudi, early Vrassan and Early Lurrian. Traditionally it used Yeudi graphemes for its characheters, but in Kalistan and other places, it eventually adopted Selucic characters to transliterate the Yeudi characters. Today, Redn is primarily a spoken but not necessarily a written language, but Mr. Maxwell was and now Mr. Kaplan is working to promote the revitalization the use of Yeudi characters in writing alongside the Selucic transliteration, at least in simple instances, to help people begin to relearn the sounds associated with the characters. The Selucic transliteration is becoming more commonly written as a standard once again, but we still do not have whole books printed in Redn yet, in either Selucic or Yeudi Characters. We would like to possibly try to translate well known texts into Redn, and see how that goes."

The project to revive what is essentially a nearly extinct language which was at one time spoken as a first language and used for composition for thousands of years is daunting. "But I think we have a chance," said Rabbi Fischer. "There have been numerous examples of language revival throughout human history. Most language revival movements do not succeed, but we have noticed that those that tend to succeed are attached to cultural revival movements. The number of Kalistani Yeudis identifying as such is on the rise in Kalistan and across Seleya. Redn is a great way to galvanize that movement, to give us a banner around which to unite. Because you look at me, you see a Kalistani. You look at Mr. Kaplan, and if he doesn't tell you he attends a synagogue, how could you possibly know that he even is a Yeudi. Redn is a great way to revitalize that wonderful and very special identity that nearly 3 million Kalistanis share with 18 million Yeudis in Valruzia and tens of millions of others across Seleya and Artania, to name a few places."

Kaplan said that if the AYIC has some success with reintroducing Redn to the larger Yeudi population in Kalistan, he will attempt to work with other nations with significant Yeudi minorities to see if there is any interest in expanding the Redn program abroad. "I would love it if I could go to Dundorf someday, meet another Redn speaker, and just have a conversation though he might not know Vrassan and I don't speak Dundorfic. That would be a really powerful thing for our people across the entire diaspora." The Curriculum for the Learning Institute should be constructed by July 5696. Meanwhile AYIC is in the process of purchasing the old Newton's Department Store building in Downtown Kalistan and will be converting that into a 185,000 square foot education building with both lecture halls and classrooms, study spaces, and office spaces for instructors and scholars. He also says AYIC will be raising funds for endowed positions at the college, so funding for instruction will not be an issue into the future. His goal is to raise ₭50 Million Imperial Rubles from Yeudis across Kalistan and Seleya.

"If every single Yeudi contributes just ₭4 imperial Rubles to the project, we will more than meet our goal for the Institute's Endowment and will be able to open our doors. If its just Kalistanis contributing, ₭15 Imperial Rubles per Yeudi or ₭60 Imperial Rubles per family will do the trick." Kaplan already said that he has received pledges from anonymous donors for more than ₭10 Million toward the goal. "I don't want to say who they are," said Kaplan, "but let's just say they are very wealthy, and AYIC sincerely appreciates their ongoing support of our community. And when you get a gift like this, it gives others confidence in your mission: If one rich person donates, its almost like a signal for other rich people to open their bank accounts too. I suspect we will meet our fundraising goals ahead of our deadline."

@LaModa

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Princess Regent Prepares for Retirement
Her Highness says she's ready to be done with public life
Luxon, Grand Duchy of Ananto
July 20, 5695


Her Highness, the Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins, with husband Sir Andrew Rohrbach in Kaliburg, this Spring

As Her Highness, the Princess Regent Nicolette Ananto-Collins enters the last two months of her Regency, she reflects on her time as Regent for the soon to be crowned sovereign, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina II Ananto. She spoke with La Moda from her home in Luxon, where she has officially relocated, having moved completely out of Cliff House in Kaliburg. "I tried to make as few changes as I possibly could while I was the Regent," said Her Highness, the Princess Regent. "It was always my intention to leave the Empire as my brother and sister in law had left it when they died for their daughter, the rightful Empress of this Nation. It will very soon be her nation to change as she sees fit, as is her birthright. But it was never mine, nor did I hope anyone would have thought I intended it to be."

Her Highness visited with our reporter in the company of His Majesty, the King of Hutori, William James Steuart-Carmichael, who has been a guest of the Royal Family since soon after his accession to the Hutorian Throne while his grandfather governs the country as the Regent. "We have been happy to have His Majesty with us all this time, and he is doing exceptionally well here. We have spent the better part of the last few years ensuring that James attends school in the day, and then gets the opportunity to spend his afternoons with me as I finish up my day's activities. I have also been able to introduce the Minor King to the Chancellor, so he can see what she does. In September, he will move back to Kaliburg and shall stay with Her Imperial Majesty. Since he is 15 now, she will continue as his guardian and will be the perfect person for him to begin formal training under in preparation for his return to Hutori in a few years and his assumption of his own reign."

The Princess Regent was asked what she planned to do when her regency was over. "I've had more than my share of the capital for a while," she said with a smile. "I am a very private person, by my nature and much more of an introvert than I was when I was a kid. I grew to very much prefer the quiet life, where I can live free of a bunch of demands placed on me by people who can't do anything without me saying so. I have had a very privileged life. After I stopped surfing professionally, I found my real calling as a teacher: I got to teach surfing to about a dozen little girls each summer, and it was such a joy to see them stand on their boards for the first time, or catch their first little waves, or carve up the face a little. I had so much fun doing that and I don't think I am too old to go back to teaching, but we'll see. I have the rest of the season and then the winter to think about what I want to do. I'll be fifty next summer. And I haven't done nearly enough surfing while I was regent. I really got to get back in shape."

Her Highness said part of that regimen was holding to her sobriety, which is something she had to adopt when she took her niece in. "It was kind of against my will," she said with a smile. "I was smoking a lot of Dah when my brother died. It was a daily thing. I'd get up in the morning, blaze up, and then go surfing for a couple hours, and then I'd teach until mid afternoon, come back home, have a salad or something, burn a bowl, make some pasta for supper and spend the evening either hanging out with my husband or watching tv or something... I had to give all that up when I got Carolina... And to be honest with you, it had been so long since I had spent a whole day sober, it was kind of a bummer, but I also found that I felt a lot better after a while. And I got more stuff done, I started exercising more, and being more interested in what was going on around me. And I think I became a somewhat more interesting person." She said that even though her husband, Andrew Rohrbach is the Director of ODEN-K, he himself rarely uses drugs. "Since I became sober, I think Andrew and I have got a second chance at our marriage, and we plan on travelling more together when I am done with the regency. He's a very sweet man and I think I was a pretty boring wife, and so now I look forward to the next part of our lives together."

She said she also would like to take a cooking class. "I never really realized how bad a cook I am," she said. "I never really learned how to cook anything, and those around me were so polite about it that they basically ate whatever I fixed on the stove. I think Carolina was more honest, in her own way because I remember one time I came out of my bedroom and she was cooking something on the stove and I told her that she didn't need to cook anything, I was planning dinner already, and she smiled and told me that she just wanted to try a recipe. I was convinced that whatever she was going to make would be inedible, and I tried to take over and she just smiled, and said something like, No offence, Aunt Nicki, but I already know this will be better than whatever you are planning to make. So let me do it, and you can cook tomorrow if you want. And I'll be damned if she wasn't right. She explained to me that my food was food, properly speaking, but it either had too much seasoning in it, or the spices didn't go with the food they were in, or there was no flavor whatsoever. So, I started learning how to cook basic stuff with her and it was a lot of fun. And now I want to take a class and show her a thing or two."

The thing the Princess Regent looks forward most to is travelling. "Well, I am going to do it," she said. "I've already booked a flight for October 1 to Gaduridos with Andrew. We are going to go to Ciudad de Gadur. I have kind of been paralyzed of flying anywhere since I lost my brother and his family. But when I am done being the Regent and don't have to be responsible for keeping the nation afloat anymore, I am going to take the risk. They say that airplane transportation is far less dangerous than travel by car, but I would really like to return to Gaduri at last and October is such a wonderful time for a visit. We will stay in Vespiano with Lady Alvarez and her family for a couple weeks and just stare out at the ocean and relax and do absolutely nothing, turn the phones off, and just vanish from the earth for a while. It will be such a wonderful vacation. And then I also want to travel more in Seleya, and maybe even go back up to Hutori someday. That would be a real trip."

Over all, Her Highness said she feels that her retirement from the regency will open up a new chapter in her life. "I completely wasted much of the first half of my life in idleness," she said. "Part of that was losing my brother and sister in law, who were my best friends, but also I made a lot of really, I guess you might say, shortsighted, or maybe you might also say stupid personal choices that left me nothing but a bunch of hazy memories. I have the chance now to start over, and I think I am ready to take the step into a new life. I'll have my dear Andrew with me--together we really going to embrace everything there is in life, before we both in walkers and are playing cribbage all day with people at the old folks home like my mom does these days."

The Princess Regent thanked us for the interview, and then asked us to please excuse her. She and the Minor King William of Hutori were going up the coast to Sunset Beach this afternoon to catch some waves. And with that, the interview was over.

@LaModa

[Doc]

Empress is formally Crowned in Kaliburg
Dignitaries from around Terra visit Kalistan
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
September 21, 5695


Official Coronation Portrait of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto has been formally crowned in Kaliburg, and has claimed her full power. This is the first time the Coronation has taken place at the Imperial Seat, and is the first time a new formalized Coronation Ceremony was instituted to bring solemnity to the event. It was a surprisingly short event, but one with tremendous gravity.

The Ceremony began as the guests were shown to their assigned seats. In attendance Were Her Imperial Majesty's Government, most Deputies from the National Assembly, all Lords Mayor, all members of the Peerage, and noted invited dignitaries, including civil society members, entertainers and invited guests. The Formal Audience Chamber where the ceremony was to take place, was, itself very crowded. In the VIP section, were foreign Dignitaries that included:

• Xsampan Prime Minister Passang Asselin and the Custodian Dhanacktsang
  
• Her Excellency, Valruzian President Urszula Pawlik, along with Chancellor Krystian Barela and Deputy Chancellor Fryderyk Konik
  
• His Majesty Khan of Bianjie Nurhaci will attend the coronation with his wife, Nulanzhu
  
• From the Kerisian Empire, His Majesty, Emperor Leon Alexander Her Majesty, Empress Isabella, High Councilor Juan Carlos Formoselle y Castilla and Royal Councilor Andrea Mondragon y Astures
  
• The Istalian Empress, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Eleonora, Prince Consort Marco, Duke of Capranica Saliana, and Her Excellency, Mrs Lucrezia Tasconi, Ambassador of Istalia to Kalistan
  
• Representing the House of Orange-Villayn from Luthori, His Imperial Highness, the Prince of Orange, William and Her Imperial Highness, the Princess of Orange, Mary
  
• Representatives of Tel Bira
  
• His Excellency, Mordusian Prime-Minister Henry Humperdinck
  
• * His Majesty, the Minor King William James Steuart-Carmichael of Hutori, who is currently a ward of Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto, attended with the Royal Family
  

Once the guests were seated, the Royal Family were escorted in, to their seats near the great gem encrusted Imperial Silver Pagoda, which was commissioned by Empress Mary I Ananto and is the location of the Imperial Throne. For the ceremony, Silver Pagoda had a curtain attached around the outside, forbidding view into the pagoda and of the new Throne. Important members of the Royal Family were Her Highness, the Princess of the Empire, Mary Ananto-DeLaurentis, Her Highness the (new) Princess of the Empire Nicolette Ananto-Collins, who received her new title earlier in the morning, officially relieving her of responsibilities of state, as well as Lady Allison Ananto-Westmoreland, head of House Ananto, and Her Excellency Lady Anantonia Alvarez-Urquizo, Viceroy of Gaduridos.

Her Imperial Majesty accompanied them into the room, barefoot and dressed in a plain untailored white linen dress. Many agreed that they had never seen an Ananto so simply dressed. Her Highness, the Princess of the Empire Mary Ananto could be seen smiling proudly, confirming many of the rumors that this ceremony was her design. As the family sat down, Carolina proceeded to the stand before the Chancellor, who announced "Citizens of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, please recognize Your Empress and Sovereign, Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto." All Kalistanis in attendance responded "Long Live our Empress!"

At this point, The Empress' turned toward the Pagoda, and preceded into the curtained throne chamber. She was followed by the Chancellor, and the attendants. According to the program, the Empress was being stripped of her linen garments and being placed into her Coronation gown, which had been made for her specifically to be worn at her Coronation. The process took all of ten minutes, after which time the attendants left the pagoda. A moment later the Chancellor also left the pagoda and then in an instant, the curtains were opened and inside sat the Empress on her throne. The sight caused gasps among the crowd, and once more Her Highness, the Princess of the Empire beamed a wide smile.

The throne itself was solid polished silver. Inset along the entire throne were columns and rows of diamonds, all hand selected and cut for this event by Reed's team. The diamonds surrounded ruby uprights that were made of mosaics of countless rubies, all, according to the program, sold to Kalistan by Xsampa in raw form. The entire throne carried a red and white motif with it that symbolized the Grand Duchy of Kalistan. The posts were topped by large emeralds and the back rests were studded with deep blue sapphires that formed a base for very intricate and interweaving patterns of diamonds set into pliable leather. The arm rests were likewise made of solid silver and in the pommel of each was a massive round rough cut amethyst crystal, the precious stone which is declared exclusive possession of the Royal family and is a symbol of regal authority in Kalistan.

The Coronation dress was no less astonishing. It was made entirely of flat cut diamonds and rubies in alternating rows, again mimicking the flag and colors of the Grand Duchy of Kalistan.. It appears that Del Valle, who constructed the dress, worked with Reed to create several panels which were then sewn together to fit the Empress' Form. It was later learned that thick but breathable cotton stood between the stones and her skin, but the dress was so well made that there did not appear to be any cloth in it at all. Yet it moved with her very easily, like scale mail. She later reported that it was a very heavy dress. She sat down onto the seat of her throne, for the moment uncrowned and waited for the ceremony to continue.

At this point, The Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Ericka Donahue read a proclamation which included a minute of support from the Kalistani Yearly Meeting of the Brethrenist Society of Kalistan and then continued with her formal Duties.

"Your Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto, Your People call you step into your role as Our Ruler. We begin by reading a Minute from the Kaliburg Yearly Meeting of The Society of Bretheren, which says 'The Kaliburg Yearly Meeting, in discernment and clearness along with Monthly meetings from across Kalistan, Ananto and Gaduridos, including the Eveari Monthly Meeting, have asked all Kalistanis to hold Carolina Ananto in the light of the Truth, to provide her with only careful and disinterested counsel, and to join with her as she attempts to provide our nation with wise and moderate leadership. We pray that she remains just and compassionate and that she remember to always deliberate her decisions with consideration to the highest and widest good for her people. We say Welcome to our Friend and will take her up as a going concern of our Yearly Meeting. We wish her peace.'

Our purpose today is merely to place the crown formally upon the head of our Monarch, and restore her to her full authority and sovereign reign over the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan and her dominion over the Anantonese Empire. Before we attend to this, I would like to take a moment to say that Her Imperial Majesty's Peers and the Deputies here gathered have joined me in requesting that Your Imperial Majesty shall, at long last, take up your proper and correct place as our Ruler and our Sovereign, for as long as you can hold this office or until such time as you can pass it to some one trained and prepared for it. So I shall ask you, My Sovereign, Your Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto: Do you affirm that you will govern us honestly, administer justice evenly and fairly, according to the law, and rule with the end of the good and common welfare of your subjects and your citizens as your first, last, and only consideration, in all matters, from now forward?"

At this point, the Empress said "I affirm that I will try, though it may kill me."

The Chancellor smiled, turned and signaled for the attendants once more. She took the crown and with a bowed head, she said "Then we, the People of Kalistan offer you our loyalty and pledge our honor to you, our eternal sovereign, and signify so by offering you your Crown." The Empress took the crown, and placed it on her own head. The attendants then approached, and standing on either side of the empress, draped her robe of state over her. The Robe was bright orange and satin, and trimmed with burgundy velvet which was embroidered, using 24 Karat Gold thread, with images of the Kalistani Poppy, which is the National Flower and a symbol of the Empire. The collar, and the inside of the cap on the Crown were lined with spotted ermine fur. While her Dress and her Throne are Red and White, signifying Kalistan Proper (as well as Andalay and Athosia) her Robe of State, made of colors Orange, Purple and White, which she will wear for each Formal Audience during her career, are the colors of Ananto, and therefore of the Empire. When the attendants had finished dressing her, they lowered their heads and left the Silver Pagoda for the side chamber.

The Chancellor raised her head and pronounced,

"All Kalistanis, behold, your Empress. Her True and Complete Name is:

By the Consent of the People, Her Imperial Majesty, of the Ancient House of Ananto, Empress and Sovereign of The Anantonese Empire, Empress of Ananto, Kalistan and Gaduridos, Queen of Vintalli, Queen of Andalay, Queen of Karzon, Queen of Sekowo, Grand Duchess of Ananto, Grand Duchess of Isle of Sutton, Duchess of Icehaven, Duchess of Athosia, Duchess of Outannais, Countess of Davon, Countess of Dah, Baroness of Zappa, Commander in Chief of the Regular Forces of Kalistan, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Ancient Order of the Grey Smoke, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Excellent Order of the Anantonese Empire, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Order of Vintalli, Sovereign and Grand Master of the Order of Andalay, Defender of the Realm, Formal Head of the Anantonese Government, Embodiment of the Anantonese Nation, Evenstar, Guarantor of the Anantonese Ocean and Ananto Strait, Carolina II Ananto."

Upon completion of the Formal Style, the Chancellor, head still bowed, also backed away, and the Empress herself stood. The Kalistani members of the crowd, most of whom had never seen such a formal coronation, applauded and shouted once in Egelian: "Viva la Emperatriz!" though it was not expected of the foreign VIPs. As the Empress, now fully clothed in her Robe of State and her Imperial Crown took her place back on her jewel encrusted throne, The Chancellor again spoke a short benediction, using the National Motto: "In Wine, there is Truth. That said, please help your self to some in the Informal Audience Chamber just next door."

Following the Coronation, foreigners and all Kalistani commoners were escorted from the Formal Audience Chamber, and were asked to begin enjoying refreshments that had been set up there while the last couple orders of business were completed for the ceremony. After the last guest had left the Audience Chamber, the large gilded redwood doors were closed, and loudly locked. Inside the Audience Chamber, the entire Peerage that was assembled was commanded by the Chancellor to kneel and swear a personal oath of loyalty and defense, upon pain of death, to the Empress' person. Brethrenists were allowed to affirm rather than swear, but it was expected of every single Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron, Baronet and Knight in the room, and all complied. Additionally, all members of the Government were compelled to swear similar oaths. The details of the fealty oaths remain secret, and haven't divulged to the public because of press embargo. We know about it, because it was in the program. But we do know that every new Emperor and Empress receives these oaths, and swearing or affirming them is a condition for any Kalistani Life or Land Peer.

After the oaths and affirmations were received, the doors were thrown open and the Chancellor led the procession out of the Formal Audience Chamber. The Royal Family followed closely behind, and then the Peers. Meanwhile, the Empress sat for her new Official Portrait, a copy of which will be posted in each Government building along side that of the Chancellor's, as well as in all schools, and likely in millions of homes across the Empire. She then was helped to a side chamber where she was assisted by her attendants in putting on normal clothing for the celebration to follow. More than a half hour passed before she emerged from the Formal Audience Chamber. A reception line was organized, and Her Imperial Majesty, standing with the Chancellor greeted each guest individually, as others mingled and ate hors d'oeuvres.

The Chancellor then invited all to the parade in Downtown Kaliburg, which was about to begin, with the reviewing stands just outside the Imperial Seat. She welcomed all who wished to skip the event to begin making their way to the train station about a mile from the Imperial Seat, and begin heading to Eveari, where the Empress would join them in a couple hours, following the parade. Foreign dignitaries, Members of Her Imperial Majesty's Government and the Royal Family's invited guests, who included Mr. Robert Kaplan of AYIC and Ms. Alice Bjorksdattir, the super model who Her Highness the Princess of the Empire has taken under her wing and is trying to teach how to surf, went to the Reviewing stand.

The marching band from Kaliburg's College of Performance join huge parade to celebrate Coronation

There they joined a crowd of more than 130,000 Kaliburg citizens who turned out for the coronation parade. After a while, the parade finally arrived at the reviewing stand and guests were treated to musicians riding floats, civil society organization who were marching in the procession and handing out candy to children, numerous regular military units who marched in formation or hauled artillery behind 5 ton utility trucks, and countless marching bands from area schools, towns, and organizations. It was the best parade most Kaliburg Citizens could remember seeing, and was just the start of the revelry. Similar parades were held in most major cities and towns across the Empire, and like Kaliburg, most gave way to public concerts and were accompanied by fireworks displays to top the night off.

When the Parade was finished, the Royal Family and their guests relocated to Eveari by train, where the very informal Coronation party was held. The people of Eveari were welcomed to the Ananto Estate, and the party was an incredibly large gathering. A formal dinner was held which consisted of fresh caught grilled tuna steaks garnished with lemon for an entre, along with seasoned whole grain wild rice and a light garden salad with fresh baked ciabatta bread to be dipped into olive oil flavored with red pepper flakes and roasted caramelized garlic. There was sorbet for desert, and then ODEN opened up the wine and beer bars around seven.

Her Imperial Majesty takes a moment for a photo with President Urszula Pawlik and Princess Nicolette in Eveari

During the evening, the Empress mostly spent her time with Ms. Bjorksdattir and other young women her age. She had suspended the protocol for the event, and so people, often timidly, came up to wish the Empress well and say they thought she was very beautiful. "It was very strange" said Bjorksdattir after. "She explicitly said she was suspending the protocol, but people came up to her and they started talking to me to like get me to tell her things. 'Please tell her Imperial Majesty that the Jefferson Family loves the Anantos and will always stand by them forever,' you know, things like that. I tried to tell them 'look sir, tell her yourself, she is sitting right next to me,' but of course, these people would refuse. I get it. But she said she had suspended the Protocol, and nobody was listening to her."

For her part, according to Bjorksdattir, the Empress smiled and said things like "'We thank you for your support and it was a pleasure to say hello to you again Mr. Jefferson.' Because of course she knew them, she had met them dozens of times before: they were basically her neighbors. She eventually had to tell me to not worry about it or try to explain things to people. They knew already, and all I had to do was smile and nod politely at them and she would handle it. I sort of became her secretary a little bit."

When the Empress wasn't hanging out with the young luminaries in attendance, she was glad handing her foreign guests. She was of course thrilled to see Ms. Pawlik from Valruzia again. The two had formed a rather close bond when Her Imperial Majesty studied in the Western Seleyan state as a teenager, and this was the first meeting between them since that time, due to Her Imperial Majesty's enlistment in National Service. She was also excited to meet with the Prime Minister of Xsampa who she hoped would stay in Kalistan for a few days after the coronation celebration so they could discuss important affairs of state.

She graciously thanked everyone for their gifts on the occasion, and shortly after 9pm, the Royal Family, along with His Highness, the Minor King William of Hutori, retired to the Residence, and let the party continue without them. Upon their departure, the ODEN recreational bar opened, and eager guests decided to continue celebrating. Meanwhile across the entire Empire, firework displays treated millions to shows of pyrotechnic amazement, and the public concerts across Kalistan and Ananto lasted into the early hours of the next day.

Fireworks seen over Wilson Bridge in Kaliburg celebrate the Coronation of the Empress

Now that visiting dignitaries are headed home, Her Imperial Majesty will finally begin her reign as Kalistan's sovereign. Her Highness, Princess Nicolette, the now former regent, has been gratefully relieved and promoted to Princess of the Empire, a title she holds by virtue of her service to Ananto; she holds it along with her normal title to the county of Luxon.

The Egelian royal visitors will be stationed at their estate Casa Verastella in rural Eveari County, just up the harbor from Eveari, and Her Imperial Majesty is expecting to meet with them over the next couple weeks. In addition, she wishes to continue conversations with President Pawlik around trade and Continental Security. The Minor King is expected to be an observer at many of these meetings. She also has to do a lot of work in Kaliburg, but will put off her relocation back to Cliff House until at least the Egelians depart.

Long Live the Empress, Long Live Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto!

@TheRepublic

[Doc]

Kalistani News in Brief: Empress meets Egelion at Casa Varestela;
Kalistan seeks resumption of Ruby Imports from Xsampa; Bjorksdattir stuns in Sulari
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 5, 5695


Alice Bjorksdattir models Del Valle's Spring Casuals collection, complete with Gold Leaf floral patterns

Empress meets Egelion at Casa Verastela
It is now being reported that directly following her coronation, Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto accepted an invitation to meet with His Majesty, Emperor Leon Alexander Montelivet and Empress Isabella at Casa Verastela, on the Hereditary Baronetcy of Verastela in rural Eveari County. The Baronetcy has belonged to the Egelian Royal Family for generations, and is only occasionally used by the Egelian royals as a get away, but is more often maintained for the day that they will eventually come for a visit. This visit was Her Imperial Majesty's first state visit with a foreign Sovereign, and House Ananto reported early this week that it went quite well.

"Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress was, late last September, well received by Emperor Leon Alexander and Empress Isabella at Casa Verastela in Eveari," said Lady Rene Houston, who has been recently appointed as Her Imperial Majesty's personal assistant and spokeswoman. "It very much pleased Her Imperial Majesty that the Emperor and Empress served tea for the meeting: This courtesy on the part, especially of the Empress, shows that the Egelians understand Kalistan protocol. The tea was a Sekowan Green tea, which also pleased the Empress, who saw it as a very polite choice, and over all, she was charmed." The official state visit lasted throughout the afternoon and Her Imperial Majesty, as well as the Minor King William XVII of Hutori, who made the visit with the Empress as her shadow, and Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Ericka Donahue, were treated to a traditional Egelian meal for supper by her Hosts before returning to Eveari.

During the meeting, it was reported in El Reporto Alteano, besides the general discussions of regional trade, security and culture which were very welcomed by the Empress, who is curious about the world, and would like to better understand Kerisian culture and politics, the visiting Emperor felt it appropriate to advise Her Imperial Majesty to avoid the influence of the Nationalists who the Emperor felt were hurting relations between the two nations. While the characterization by the Egelian paper angered many among leading Kalistani nationalists, including the editors of nationalist oriented paper The National, who released a scathing editorial calling the meeting an offense and the discussion of internal politics in Kalistan "... wholly inappropriate for a visiting Monarch...", the Chancellor of the Empire, herself a staunch and very vocal arch nationalist issued the following statement:

"The comments by His Majesty, the Emperor of Keris and Her Imperial Majesty's Cousin, were perhaps less measured than we would have liked them, but Her Imperial Majesty has taken them in the spirit that they were offered, as an effort to improve relations between our two nations. And as a matter of fact, the Emperor was not quoted in the paper while I happened to have been in the room at the time, so it is possible that our respective newspapers may have overstated things a little. Her Imperial Majesty certainly took no offense at the advice, nor felt it was offered in anything but the best faith, and she said she was completely satisfied with her visit with the Northern Emperor and his Wife, who she found to be gentle people and who were open to discussing our nations' differences with an aim to resolution and building toward a more cooperative future."

Kalistan seeks resumption of Ruby Imports from Xsampa
Kalistan has announced that it intends to enter into talks with Xsampa to resume ruby imports from the Dovani Nation. "As can be imagined, a decent percentage of Her Imperial Majesty's Ruby horde went into the Production of her throne and her dress," said Her Imperial Majesty's (soon to be retiring) Trade Minister Melanie Boone. "She therefore wants to at least replenish her stock and then enter into a long term trade agreement that could also include resumption of aluminum sales from KalNaFerCo in trade. Obviously, we want to trade like for like. But House Ananto intends to purchase most of the gem quality rubies directly from KalNaFerCo." The others will be put up for sale in Kalistan for industrial applications like lasers, biomedical devices like defibrillators and pacemakers, and precision mechanics."

Trade between the two long time partners was ended when Xsampa became intertwined with Beiteynu during the reign of Emperor Fredrick IV Ananto. Since Kalistan and Xsampa have been slowly but deliberately working toward restoring relations between the two countries, with a number of visits between the two nations, including most recently the visit of the Xsampan Premier to Eveari for Her Imperial Majesty's Coronation. Boone is optimistic for the restoration of trade. "We just want to do it in a way that will ensure that our trade is roughly equal. It would be easy for Kalistan, or perhaps House Ananto, to simply buy all the rubies Xsampa produces outright by simply outbidding major customers in other nations. But that might create problems for the Xsampan economy and doesn't help Kalistan sell its surpluses either. So working out a fair trade agreement between the two nations is beneficial to both nations, and also to the rest of the world for that matter."

Boone also announced that House Ananto wishes to increase its purchases of gold and silver. "Miramar owns stock in most of the gold mining operations in Kundrati, but they don't pay their dividends in bullion," she said. "So House Ananto will likely need to purchase the physical gold commodities outright, which will likely drive up the price of gold internationally, especially at the amounts that they are talking about." A reliable and friendly source of Silver hasn't been readily identified yet, but Boone said that House Ananto is looking to purchase as much silver as they can lay their hands on to store in the Ananto's Gem Vault, and the Empress may consider calling in all precious metals held in private hands in Kalistan if she is not satisfied with international supplies.

Bjorksdattir stuns in Sulari
Alice Bjorksdattir, the current National It Girl, has had another triumphe deluxe in Sulari at the Annual Del Valle Spring Casuals Show. This time, she modeled their spring casuals collection; The dresses were long and flowy, and made almost exclusively with light fineweave breathable linen. The colors were bold solids, and each of the collection featured floral patterns of made of interwoven 24 karat gold thread. "She was wearing a fortune in the simplest lines and one of the more common fabrics," said Fashion writer Eugene Milgrim. "Bjorksdattir simply stole the entire show, and showed us all why she is the most in demand model in the Empire today. The clothes themselves were fabulous, but she wore them best. They looked like they were all designed for her in mind."

Bjorksdattir, 24, said she had a lot of fun with the collection. "I mean, think of my life," she laughed. "I get paid to put on clothes and walk around and look beautiful. That's literally my only job. Sure I have to stay in shape, but a ₭26 million Imperial a year contract gives me all the incentive I need to work out and eat well." The shapely supermodel says she was not blessed with a stick thin body. "It's easy for some of these girls to wear a lot of these clothes, because there is like a normal model size. I'm a bit, shall we say, rounder, than these ladies, so I have to work a little bit more. But... that chicken alfredo pizza doesn't just eat itself, you know..."

Literally nobody is complaining. Instead, Bjorksdattir is slated for three more major modelling contracts, including one for Reed Jeweler, and a public service campaign sponsored by the NSP. "Yeah," she laughs, "I did my national service... what did you think? I spent four years tending forests in Ananto. They kept trying to get me to go into the Publicity section, but I knew forestry would make me strong, and so now, the NSP agreed to let me do their campaign to encourage Kalistanis to consider returning to National Service after college. You know: 'Re-enlist as an non commissioned officer and you could meet this chick...' that sort of thing. Don't get me wrong: there are a lot of babes in the National Service, because its Kalistan afterall--Too bad for them, we are all there to work, but sex sells, you know?"

Dresses inspired by the Spring Casuals Collection will begin appearing on the shelves in clothing stores by mid march, and will be sold as Ready to wear. "I think Del Valle said the genuine 24 karat gold dresses will be available direct from the Del Valle House," said Bjorksdattir, "but the ones in the stores with the gilded linen thread floral designs will be just as beautiful, and soft and comfortable, though significantly less expensive, and really, I've seen some of the mockups and really the only one who will be able to tell the difference is the lady who paid for it."

@TheRepublic