The great Misinterpreters of Moun formerly of the Theocratic State of Saraphia are now either pushing up cacti in the Empty Quarter, or are on the run looking for a new home for their demented version of Mounism. The coalition of states who responded to that bunch of kooks (well-armed, but kooks) are now in the occupying business. One assumes they'll be trying to rid themselves of that title as soon as a reasonable governance is returned to South Saraphia. More on that as events develop.
 
KaartoHz has prepared an update of their Atlas info on Kanan-Mori, including the state of South Saraphia before the Theocracy was declared, as well as its present occupied state. Here's a fragment:
 

For a more complete look, see that whole atlas.
 
Left unsaid so far is whether the reconstituted South Saraphia will be a Mounist Republic, or a majority-mounist pluralistic republic. Or some other political construct, for that matter. That question is bedeviling the architects of the new regime there, as they walk the razor's edge of an at-best contentious peoples' conflicting desires and beliefs. The Taizzi portion of South Saraphia had its roots in conservative mounism, or if you want to be inflammatory, "radically fundamental" mounism. As home to the holy city of Dar-al-Mounu-Akbar ("Sad'ah", under the Theocracy), that region is likely to remain a bastion of conservative theology, if no longer secular theocratic-state power. The former Mori provinces at the south of the country, those presently occupied by Turian and Schwerdtan troops, adhere to a much looser interpretation of the prophet's writings, as do the former Larenians of the Cyrian area (albeit somewhat different from the Morian tribesmen's interpretations).
 

 

 
The situation we reported on last year in Vladevania is having some beneficial resolution. The lawless demilitarized zone there lacked any law-enforcement, and the locals are, shall we say, not predisposed towards a peaceful anarchy.
 
Hz's Northern Kraj Forest Products is pursuing a two-pronged approach to doing business there. On the one hand, they are hiring as many locals as possible for their logging and lumber-mill operations. On the other, they are making use of off-duty Hz Border Patrol reservists to provide both law enforcement and training of locals in the principles of criminal justice. They're reportedly building new jail space monthly. The timber coming out of the DMZ has been on TV here, though you may not have known it. Seen the new Cathedral of Szent Iajos in Oroshtozer? Those soaring beams supporting the roof are single sticks of Vladevanian spruce - far taller and straighter than anything left here.
 

Scattered Trouble in the Cisteuvian         Summer 1515

Once again the middle of the Cisteuvian Ocean is the scene of war, or near-war. A couple of years ago we say the late (we hope) and unlamented dictator of the Doranian Islands go ballistic and rashly attack Sunamian interests. In short order the efficient military of the DNOS converted him to the former dictator of the tiny nation, and the tiny nation to a Sunamian protectorate. All concerned, except possibly his henchmen, agree the islands and thDoranians are better off without Hari the Terror.
 
Now some other strongman has pulled the tail of the wrong tiger. Remember Commander Diaz, of the Black Regiment and now of the United Cadenas? Remember the way he took his homeland away from the petty crooks that were running things there? Well, now a new category of "stupider than stupid" island idiot has been making raids on some of Commander Diaz' territory. We predict a short but interesting life for the culprits, and a new cadena or two to be 'liberated' into the UC fold soon after.
 

The fly in the ointment is that the Nordafsudic Union owns two major islands and several small ones in the archipelago. Nobody (nobody here in Haromszek) is suggesting the Colonsay and Colonsrose islanders are in league with the Scattered Islands terrorists or pirates. But the proximity of that sometimes-touchy nation's territory to the United Cadenas' operations, as well as their natural view that the island group is their sphere of influence, may make for a dicey diplomatic situation. Frankly, the view in Cerbesti and a number of other uninvolved capitals is that if the Nordafsudics or the Confederates before them had such a vital interest in the neighboring islands, why are there still pirates operating there? The CN was nothing if not a activist promoter of its own interests.
 
One supposes that the locals on Colonsay may have had some off-table arrangement with the warlords or militiamen on the non-Nordafsudic islands. Perhaps that kind of arrangement is something the NU doesn't care to take a chance of being revealed? At any rate, the overseas news in the next days and weeks is likely to be lively.
 
Right is a map of the area, for those whose last geography class has faded into the mists of the past. Acquisition in the Cisteuvian isn't always such a big deal. We note that Limor and Limadestan annexed (with their consent) the island kingdom of Murutali not long ago with only a minor protest from their Nordafsuduic neighbor of Ramsay Island, also pictured on the locator map.
 

 

 
News from Vladevania is always interesting, if only for the entertainment value. The press there has a refreshingly loose connection with reality. Usually their domestic reports don't have much to do with us here in Hàromszék, so we're free to be detatchedly amused. Lately, though, there have been indications of distress among their Magor minority. The biggest concentration of our cousins is along their s outhern border, much of which is territory tied up in the demilitarized zone.
 
The problem seems to be a stagnant economy paired with a lawless society. There's no military presence there, neither Vladevanian nor G.D.C. Even civil law enforcement there is so curtailed by the terms of the cease-fire as to be useless. Organized crime there of course doesn't abide by any agreement. This is one case where our government's noninterference stance may not be popuiar. The Magor/Ris-language newspaper Terpeskar Indizat has been calling for something to be done, with of course no consensus as to *what*.
 

 

This Page Illegal in Darheli

Using a constitutionally dubious chain of logic and scarcely related legal precedents, the Mayor and Council of Darheli Megye have outlawed paisley. No wearing of paisley, no paisley-shaped jewelry or swimming pools, no psychedelic paisley-printed black-light posters, and one would presume no painting your house or car in (gasp) paisley.
 
Predictably, the owner of The Paisley Parrot ( http://www.paisleyparrot.hz ), in the nearby town of Shelkrev Springs, is upset about the loss of business from the law-abiding citizens of Darheli's main town of Fruhec. Jan Muverat's sales of (what else?) paisley-themed clothing and gifts dropped by 30% in the weeks after the enactment of of Megye Code Article J37.A4.B001.K-41.1 . Constitutional lawyers from a number of different civil-rights, libertarian, common-law, and public-assistance organizations are vying for a spot in the upcoming challange to the law.
 
Stay tuned for more paisley coverage.
 
HaromszekiNet - proud to be outlawed in Fruhec...
 

 

Diplomatic Fracas for St. Maarten's Day

 
In a graphic demonstration of why many nations promote diplomatic exchange with only ONE side of a civil war, the Cerbesti Balto House hotel last week lost much of the bar at its classy Swishmere Ballroom. It seems the inexperienced organizer of the Nov. 11 St. Maarten's Day Gala there invited representatives of the entire diplomatic community... and compounded the problem by seating them alphabetically. As if the shouting match between the two Kantus wasn't bad enough, Medinat Tzion was next to Nord Seelander (Naarvul's delegation being absent), which started a food (and crockery) fight. Then one of the unofficial Attican observers at the bar shouted a Red Tzionist slogan, and while M-T Ambassador Haalmaan studiously ignored the provocation, one of his deputies lobbed a full bottle of vodka at the bar. The (now former) trade liaison Shmuel Lentz missed the Attican, but took out a good dozen bottles of assorted liquors, which flash-ignited from a candle flame. Also smashed was a mirror - one of the Sunamian contingent was sprayed with broken glass. The scene went downhill from there. Diplomatic immunity protects all the combatants from prosecution, but several have been asked quietly to leave Hz.
 
In an unusual development, Cymraeg Ambassador Dr. Riwyn Llancloudy-Sant Goch has offered for several of the expelled brawlers to take up posts in the United Cymraeg Principalities, saying he noted some moves that would go over well with the professional wrestling scene there. If made official, this would be the first diplomatic opening between Cymru and the Peoples' Republic of Kantu and betwen Cymru and Ostensia.
 
In a seeming miracle, the Tavats and the Montedorian Austral contingent stayed apart - yet another altercation that was possibly avoided by alphabetical alignment. The Cymraeg protocol officer Dywyn Rendifth did take a swing at one of the Tavats in the fracas, but as he failed to connect, his involvement is apparently being overlooked. We do note that the Tavat Union oficially disclaims connections with either the Cymraeg or Montedorian Tavat separatists, but there's still little love lost between the TU and AC or Cym representatives.
 
Madamoiselle Sylene Chaubernet is no longer employed by the Balto House; she is now organizing social affairs among the elite of Shopricti, a good 1600 kilometers away from Cerbesti. Balto House reportedly has not docked her pay for the repairs, which are estimated to be in the 80,000 skana range.
 

 

Vendan Motorcycles benefit ride

Thousands of riders of Vendan motorcycles, joined by plenty of other brands' riders did a coast-to-coast ride in support of the folks in Venda recovering from the civil war there years back.   In the largest Hàromszéki event of the kind to date, drawing around 78,000 cycles, over sk9,000,000 was raised.   Some sk1.5 million was from rider registration alone, then other events along the route raised even more.   Perhaps more importantly, the nations' awareness of Vendan affairs was raised.   Ride organizers hoped that would be the effect, and it does look like more individuals and charitable organizations than ever before are taking up advocacy of Vendan relief causes.   Immediate transfers of cash were made to distribution agencies in Venda, and further spending will be done here in Hz on materials to be shipped there.
 

 

Bergy Tow Challenge in progress

On a drizzling March 1st 1511's Bergy Tow Challenge kicked off, for once with only domestic contestants.   Hàromszék's premier ice-dragging games (actually, Scandia's only iceberg games) has drawn eleven teams for the individual-ship class, and six teams for the open/ team class.   With no megye-sized bergs in evidence, it looks like they'll be pitting themselves against run-of-the-mill one to two million tonne icecubes.      More  ...
 
 

Team Hz Cycles Sunamia

Lapinard takes Stage three!!   More  ...   includes earlier coverage...
 
 

Dramatic Rescue

Special Forces units from the Sunamian carrier Hunatius pulled a kidnapped Sunamian family from the midst of emir-loyal Saraphin locals.   From Austral wire reports, we understand that at about 0200 hours local time in the Saraphian Emirate, airborne Sunamian forces stormed a residence in the city of Ibrahim in the northern Saraphian Emirate.   More  ...
 

Year's last run

With the Zacont Slot Run, on October 19, another year of competition on Obilnice Province's steepest whitewater crashed to a close.   For this Slot Run, 94 kilometers of river were open, with the start being at the 16-meter drop of Possum Fall.
 

River EMT coordinator Janoz Gyurtec said "We had a pretty good year, all in all.   Only five fatalities, no spectators fell off the cliffs, revenue from TV coverage up for the third year in a row --    More  ...
 

Zeppelin Hz has taken delivery of the first 34 1510-vintage corporate model airships off of Oroszto Aviation's production line.   The 15-passenger airships are destined for lease usage by corporate customers across Hàromszék.   Current zHz contracts with OA call for purchase of 240 more of the diminutive airYachts, after which the general public will be able to buy their own.   More  ...

Where'd Hàromszék go ?!?!

Why do we seem to be the only .Hz domain presence on the net?   And where were even we for so long?   All of Hàromszéki ScandiaNet has recently been infected by a virulent nationwide cyberattack.   Virtually every computer connected to ScandiaNet within our borders has taken damage - software, hardware, or both.   We have partnered with another nation's prime net provider (just whom,we hesitate to say, lest they be brought down as well).   HzNet had offshore backups of all our critical systems.   After a period of running those restored systems on a sterile net fragment (disconnected from the rest of you folks) we are at last back online, with leased equipment, and a satellite link.   The first six times we put this site back on the net we and our host ISP took recurring damage from the cyberattack, so it is still "live" out there, and seems to zero in on Hàromszéki content.

Hàromszék's Government servers are being restored from scratch, and will not be reconnected to the outside world just yet.   For now, coming to you from the sunny shores of ________ :-), HzNet will be your net connection to the land of babbling brooks and babbling multilingual Mags, Yom, Alpàrd, and kin. 

More ...