Tibby's Graphics and Grab-Bag Thread.

[Turquoise Blue]

The flag of the Tsardom of Sibir ('Siberia' in Western remarks, 'Seibir' in Siberian romanisation).

The flag of the Tsardom of Sibir is one of stripes above all - three blue stripes and three green on a white banner. This symbol of Siberia dates back to the post-Conquest days (even in modern Sibir, the conquest of the Khanate is capitalised to emphasise its key importance to the identity and foundation of Sibir, and a traditional Siberian date reckoning was 'X years since the Conquest') and to the great amount of fighting necessary to establish the new boundaries of this Slavic Siberian state.

Valentyn Klymenko - remembered in Sibir as the pleasantly alliterative Valëntein Vëleikĭ, Valëntein the Great - often led his troops, and to signify his retinue was part of them, he ordered the lifting of banners of green and white. In the fighting to expand the nascent Sibir, many of the emerging elite associated it with the green and white banners, and many feudal nobles took it as a symbol of Siberian power and used it themselves in their own struggles to expand their liege's power.

So far all well and good, but then the power struggles began after Valëntein the Great perished at the ripe age of 71. Many nobles sought to expand their power at the expense of others, and all turned to the green and white banner. To distinguish himself as he cracked down on his more upstart nobles, Valëntein II - remembered unfairly in history as Valëntein Malĭ, Valëntein the Little - added a blue banner to denote that it was the tsar, not just any Siberian host. His struggle to curb noble independence would be inconclusive, but end up establishing the first of a strong Siberian tradition - the zëmstva. In exchange for more power to the tsar, the nobles secured a council of the landed interest (in Siberian, zëmstvo literally means 'land-ness') which the tsar would summon every year.

The banner of the tsar would remain blue, white and green, and just as the white and green became a symbol of Siberian power, so did the blue, white and green, but the number of banners would vary with some merely using three, and increasingly the tsar to note his power and influence used eleven - three blue, three green, five white. The Civil War of the early 19th century was not over the question of noble power, but of that of the growing belief in leiúdeistvo - which is often translated into AEnglisk as 'folkism' but misses the distinct Siberian nuances. For one, it was not a nationalist movement, but a constitutionalist one, and their main cause was not quite suffrage - although they did acquire that goal as the Civil War raged on - but local autonomy. One can explore the many causes of the Civil War, including growing leiúdeinik thought, the genetical thinning of the House of Kleimënko, the growth of a mercantile class in Turahrad and so on, but the key thing is that the conclusion was the establishment of the modern system of zëmstva, in which each village council - long an institution of Siberian life - was regarded as of the same make as the Tsar's council and officially recognised as such. This, along with the broad suffrage and the marriage of the last Kleimënko - Tsarina Alĭa - with the leader of the constitutionalists, the noble Olëxandr Volodeimeir, marked the end of the Civil War. For our purposes, namely chronicling the development of the flag of the Tsardom, it is said to be either Alĭa or Olëxandr who came up with the idea of forming a modern flag for Sibir by taking the blue-white-green which was widely used by both sides in the Civil War, and formalising it as the flag of Sibir in that of the royal eleven. Before this, it was not regarded as of importance - everyone knew the blue-white-green was Siberian anyway.

To denote the flag further, they added the coat of arms of the Tsardom to it. The coat of arms has a very long pedigree, and is one of the things that marks the unusual continuity the Tsardom has with the Khanate. The crossed arrows was noted to be a symbol regularly used by the Khan, and it was adopted as part of the growing symbols of the emerging Tsardom, with the coat of arms becoming more complex as time went by, including a bow, two martens and 'spots' of ermine denoting fur - for fur was a key Siberian export and key to the coronation robes of every Tsar. It was a natural choice to mark the stripes as 'truly' Siberian.​

 

[Turquoise Blue]

Spoiler: Reform Party (WIP)

Leaders of the Reform Party
1894-1906: Joseph Chamberlain
1906-1913: Alfred Milner
1913: Leo Maxse
1913-1923: Bonar Law
1923-1930: Austen Chamberlain
1930-1931: The Baron Garvagh
1931-1937: Oswald Mosley
1937-1940: Leo Amery
1940-1946: John Beckett
- party dissolved 1946 -
1954-1966: A. K. Chesterton

Only those with a disturbingly nerdish knowledge of history would have understood the full historical implication of the article on page 3 [next to the girls in bikinis] in the Sun and Mirror talking of the final end of the Reform Party. It certainly was a very inglorious collapse, with Chesterton getting into a long and lengthy trial over his financial matters ending up in the court declaring that the party was to be declared disbanded. Sure, there were copy-cats immediately afterwards, sure a Democratic Reform Party won a seat in 1978, but 1966 was the final death of the party set up in 1894.

The Liberals have always trod a firm classical-liberal path. This got its discontents, of course, including Birmingham radical Joseph Chamberlain, who advocated Municipal Radicalism even in his failed leadership challenge in 1885 [which was won by the Marquess of Hartington who succeeded the late Gladstone]. In the end, after the (now) Duke opposed yet another proposed policy of Chamberlain's, he bolted along with 40 other Liberal MPs to form the Reform Party. It was not the party it would eventually become. Sure, it tended militaristic, but at that point everyone were. Socialists to Tories were all singing the praise of National-Collectivism and you even had a few weirdo biologists talk of eusocialism - aka structuring society so it worked like a bee hive. After all, the Japanese clearly were an example of that, just look at how the individual bows to the greater whole!

In the 1895 election, the Conservatives won a majority and was of course supported by the Irish Nationalists. This majority was enabled by Liberal-Reform vote splitting and everyone knew it. As Gerald Balfour became Prime Minister, the Reform Party was sitting quite comfortably on 61 seats, but that 61 seats were to be assaulted by Herbert Gladstone

 

[Turquoise Blue]

Lauren Bacall
Name: Sara Jonsdottir Welles
Gender: Female
Nationality: Brytisk (AEnglisk ancestry)
Date of Birth: TBD
Profession: Personal Secretary to the Princess
Aims: N/A
Unique trait(s): Holds herself to the highest expectations, is one of the Mannerology schools' most perfect students, very protective of her Princess and takes her position as secretary very seriously. There is no way you see the Princess without her secretary's approval.
Background: Some may murmur on how the daughter of a tradesman ended up personal secretary to the heir to the throne. The answer is simple, a lot of ambition, dedication and the triumph of manners above all else. That and charity, there was a good deal of charity. Nevermind that. The point is that she got into a Mannerology school and excelled. She ticked almost every box of the ridiculous requirements. She clapped in that uncomfortable way even. She proved herself more of Mannerology than many noble women ever did, and this opened up doors for her.

One of the people she got to know at the school was the Princess - the granddaughter of the Caesarin - and they got on well and formed a strong relationship based on trust. After they graduated, the Princess determined that she needed someone who was capable of managing her responsibilities as a royal yet was someone she could trust utterly. Sara was the obvious choice, especially as outside of the mannerology school, she had zero contacts. She became personal secretary in the autumn just before the Caesarin died and the AEtheling became Caesar.
Other Details: The Princess does not appreciate anyone disrespecting her personal secretary, for her secretary is an extension of her will.

 

[AstroRangerBeans]

Lauren Bacall
Name: Sara Jonsdottir Welles
Gender: Female
Nationality: Brytisk (AEnglisk ancestry)
Date of Birth: TBD
Profession: Personal Secretary to the Princess
Aims: N/A
Unique trait(s): Holds herself to the highest expectations, is one of the Mannerology schools' most perfect students, very protective of her Princess and takes her position as secretary very seriously. There is no way you see the Princess without her secretary's approval.
Background: Some may murmur on how the daughter of a tradesman ended up personal secretary to the heir to the throne. The answer is simple, a lot of ambition, dedication and the triumph of manners above all else. That and charity, there was a good deal of charity. Nevermind that. The point is that she got into a Mannerology school and excelled. She ticked almost every box of the ridiculous requirements. She clapped in that uncomfortable way even. She proved herself more of Mannerology than many noble women ever did, and this opened up doors for her.

One of the people she got to know at the school was the Princess - the granddaughter of the Caesarin - and they got on well and formed a strong relationship based on trust. After they graduated, the Princess determined that she needed someone who was capable of managing her responsibilities as a royal yet was someone she could trust utterly. Sara was the obvious choice, especially as outside of the mannerology school, she had zero contacts. She became personal secretary in the autumn just before the Caesarin died and the AEtheling became Caesar.
Other Details: The Princess does not appreciate anyone disrespecting her personal secretary, for her secretary is an extension of her will.

What's with the PoD?

 

[Turquoise Blue]

James Robert Mann
Name: Alfred Rikardsson Galbraith, 12th Earl of Strathclyde ('Alfie' to close friends, 'Herr Strathclyde' to everyone else)
Gender: Male
Nationality: Brytisk. Skots in particular.
Date of Birth: 13 April 1847 (56 years old)
Political Party: Progress (Alfred is a Lilid, like his entire family has been for centuries - apart from Cousin Lewis. We do not talk about Cousin Lewis.)
Profession: Aristocrat and Politician. Sometimes he donates to charities ran by his friends, but he's hardly a philanthropist. He doesn't understand business either.
Aims:
"Be Strathclyde unmannerly, when Yorvik is mad"
He reads of the Emergency Government, and takes off his reading glasses, sighing. He looks up in his room at the painting of a man in a tartan with a big bushy red beard. The eyes stare down at him. His hand shakes as he reaches for his glass of whisky. Even a hearty gulp doesn't soothe his turbulent heart. He mentally tries to make excuses on why Zelda's actions aren't Morcar's, but for every attempt, the realisation sinks - this is worse. Even Morcar argued to uphold liberty and the people's will. Zelda just seems to be seizing power through a sycophant.

The eyes stare down at him, baleful. Is he a true scion of the Red Earl, or is he a weakling who shies from the challenge? Closing his eyes, he sighs. He always upheld every one of his family's legacies. He was a family man, in every sense of the word. Would he rise to his family's duty to the nation?

Yes. He will. Even if it costs him everything.

He will seek to, as leader of the Progressive Party in the Lafordshus - and unofficial party leader since the last guy resigned abruptly - to mobilise a true Lilid challenge to this frankly unconstitutional Emergency Government. He may not have been a fan of the upstart Blair, but he was slain by one of the Styriande wasn't he, and the Emergency Government is very friendly to the Styriande are they not? Reaching out to his fellow Progressives of Laford and Folk chambers, and especially in wider society, he will push for them to refuse to recognise the Emergency Government.

"A Lilid for All Seasons"
He's not blind. He knows that while the Progressives do have their voter base, one admittedly much changed from the past, it's not enough to win power. It has not been enough for 20 years. Perhaps even more, when was the last majority government, huh? The 1860s? That's a half century ago! While some of his own sought to form an anti-socialist coalition in the past with the Orderites, he - surprisingly enough for someone as deeply conservative as he is, someone who deplored Lockrona and Blair's actions - rejected the idea. A Lilid and a Teague does not mix. They never have.

The Populists, he consoles himself, are not Socialist. Not really. They're a coalition of naive idealists and honest workers seeking a better wage. They're hardly synecists like the SWP. His reading those days has been about the early days of the Earl Lockrona, and of how he formed the Progressives in the first place. Perhaps the path to re-energise Lilidry comes from forming a new coalition of the popular interests once more. Sighing, he knows he hates every bit of this, but with the Caesarin seeking to subvert the constitution at a time when Lilidry is moribund, there's really no choice. He curses the names of Lockrona and Blair in his head, but he makes the phone call to the Populist leader.

He will seek to strengthen co-operation between the Populists and Progressives, forming a 'Unionist Pact' primarily between the two, with the Rustiks being brought in only if Oakes insists, and even then, Strathclyde will sigh in perpetual suffering. Nevertheless, the pact will be first to oppose the Emergency Government, but he does not disguise his ultimate wish for the pact to be a government-in-waiting, the cabinet Zelda will call upon once her government falls apart.

If the government falls apart, he will try his best to persuade the Caesarin that the potential Unionist government is not one violating her Vow.

Unique trait(s): Was known as a joker when he was at school, and this still shows up a good deal when he makes quips to cut through atmospheres he believes too serious. Regards his family's legacy as vital and makes sure to emphasise that his ancestor was an Executor. He was one of the people who lobbied for the Legitimist executors to be regarded as 'equally legitimate' with the Magnussine despite not controlling Bryten.
Background: TBD
Other Details: Here's a quip I came up with when I talked with Godwin. Feel free to incorporate it if you want.
"Well, we're very different men, Herr Oakes, that much is certain. I am of the upper ten thousand, you are of the masses. I am a Lilid upholding the constitution, you are one of the rabble seeking to change it. But there is one thing we can bond on. That we are both sons of men named Ricard!"
- The Earl of Strathclyde speaking with Jack Oakes.

 

[Turquoise Blue]

Spoiler: Code

{| class="wikitable"
|- Holiday dates in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Date !! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Occasion
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Notes
! scope="col" colspan="6"| Nation
|-
! scope="col"| [[England]] !! scope="col"| [[Wales]] !! scope="col"| [[Scotland]] !! scope="col"| [[Ireland]] !! scope="col"| {{nowrap|[[Hong Kong]]}} !! scope="col"| [[i|Territories]]
|-
| 1/2/3 January || [[New Year's Day]] || Marks the start of the [[I|Solar New Year]]. It falls on 1 January unless this is a Saturday or Sunday. 1 January was not a statutory holiday before 1969. In cases of ambiguity on which New Year holiday one refers to, it is customary to refer to this as "Solar New Year's Day", which is the preferred term in British [[i|calendars]]. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 6/7/8 January || [[i|Epiphany]] || Christian day commemorating the [[i|Adoration of the Magi]]. Made a bank holiday in Ireland in 1954. If 6 January is on the weekend, the next Monday is a bank holiday. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 25 January || [[Burns Night]] || Day to commemorate the life and works of the Scottish poet [[i|Robert Burns]]. Made a bank holiday in 1996 on the 200th anniversary of his death in 1796. It is only observed as a bank holiday when it is a weekday. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{ya}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 1/2/3 February || [[St. Brigid's Day]] || [[i|Feast]] of [[i|St. Brigid]]. Also known as the Gaelic pagan festival of [[i|Imbolc]]. Made a bank holiday in 2021. The bank holiday falls on the next Monday if 1 February is on the weekend.||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 9/10 February || [[i|St. Paul's Shipwreck Day]] || Commemorates the day when [[i|St. Paul]] is said to have been shipwrecked on Malta. It was declared the [[i|National Day]] of Malta in 1991. If the day falls on a weekend, the bank holiday is the nearest weekday. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}<br><small>([[i|Malta]])</small>
|-
| 12 February<br>(2024) || [[Lunar New Year]] || Marks the start of the [[I|Lunar New Year]]. The bank holiday falls on the subsequent first Monday if the first new moon is on a weekend. It was made a UK-wide bank holiday in 1989, extending an existing Hong Kong bank holiday to the wider United Kingdom. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 1/2/3 March || [[i|St. David's Day]] || Feast of [[i|St. David]], [[i|patron saint]] of Wales, and is seen as the National Day of Wales. It was declared a bank holiday in 1975 after lobbying from Welsh MPs. The bank holiday falls on the next Monday if 1 March is on the weekend. ||{{na}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 17/18/19 March || [[Saint Patrick's Day|St. Patrick's Day]] || Feast of [[i|St. Patrick]], patron saint of Ireland, and is seen as the National Day of Ireland. It has been a bank holiday since the [[i|Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act]] in 1902. The bank holiday is the next Monday if 17 March falls on a weekend. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 29 March<br>(2024)|| [[Good Friday]] || Day to commemorate the [[i|crucifixion]] of [[i|Jesus Christ]]. It is a variable date calculated by a process known as ''[[i|computus]]''. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 1 April<br>(2024)|| [[Easter Monday]] || The day after [[i|Easter Sunday]], which commemorates the [[i|resurrection]] of Jesus Christ. A bank holiday since 1874. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 4 April<br>(2024)|| [[i|Tomb Sweeping Day]]<br><small>''Ching Ming Festival''</small> || A [[i|traditional Chinese festival]] to pay respect to one's ancestors. A bank holiday in Hong Kong since 1957. If the day falls on the weekend, the next Monday is a bank holiday. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{ya}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 8 to 12 April<br>(2024) || [[i|Empire Week]] ||Originally celebrated on the [[i|King's Birthday]] as Empire Day due to the successful lobbying of the [[i|Earl of Meath]]. [[i|War Weapons Week]], held the second week of April, was a wartime occasion to encourage buying [[i|war bonds]] and after the war it was repurposed into Empire Week as a "patriotic commemoration".||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 23/24/25 April || [[i|St. George's Day]] ||Feast of [[i|St. George]], patron saint of England, and is seen as the National Day of England. It has been a bank holiday since 1975. The bank holiday is the next Monday in the event that 23 April falls on a weekend.||{{ya}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 1/2/3 May || [[May Day]] || Festival marking the beginning of summer. Associated with flowers and other flora. Declared an official bank holiday in 1981. Recently linked with celebration of [[i|queer]] identities due to shared [[i|floral symbolism]]. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 9 May<br>(2024) || [[i|Ascension Thursday]] || Christian holiday commemorating Jesus Christ's bodily [[i|ascension into Heaven]]. Made a bank holiday in Ireland in 1954.||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 20 May<br>(2024) || [[i|Whit Monday]] || Day after [[i|Pentecost]] which commemorates the descent of the [[i|Holy Spirit]] to meet the [[i|Virgin Mary]] and the [[I|Apostles]] in [[i|Jerusalem]]. A bank holiday since 1874. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 6 June || [[i|Remembrance Day]] || Day commemorating the end of the [[i|Great Continental War]] in 1938 and in remembrance of all who died as a result of war. Made a bank holiday in 1942 for if it falls on a weekday. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 10 June<br>(2024)|| [[i|Dragon Boat Festival]] || A [[i|traditional Chinese festival]] primarily celebrated by consumption of [[i|tsung]] (sticky rice dumplings) and holding [[i|dragon boat races]]. Made a bank holiday in Hong Kong in 1957. If the day itself falls on the weekend, the next Monday is a bank holiday. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{ya}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 1/2/3 July || [[i|Workers' Day]] || Commemorates the failed [[i|industrial strike of 1886]] (known as the "Match Days"), which is remembered as a lead up to the [[i|Splendid Revolution]]. Made a bank holiday in 1967 after two previous attempts in 1916 and 1943. If 2 July falls on the weekend, the nearest weekday is the bank holiday. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 7/8/9 July || [[i|Splendid Day]] || Commemorates the [[i|Splendid Revolution]] on the day the [[i|Representation of the People Act]] was given royal assent by Queen [[i|Victoria]]. Made a bank holiday in 1914. If 7 July falls on the weekend, the next Monday is the bank holiday. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 1/2/3 August || [[i|Lammas]] || First of two [[i|harvest festivals]], it is a Christian festival to celebrate the [[i|First Fruits]] of the harvest. Made a bank holiday in 1967. The following Monday is a bank holiday if 1 August is on the weekend. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 20/21/22 August || [[i|St. Bernard's Day]] || Feast of [[i|St. Bernard]], patron saint of Gibraltar, and is seen as the National Day of Gibraltar since a proclamation in 1991 that also established it as a bank holiday. The bank holiday is the next Monday in the event 20 August falls on a weekend. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}<br><small>([[i|Gibraltar]])</small>
|-
| 14/15/16 September || [[i|Minorca Day]] || Commemorates the first landing of the [[i|British forces]] in Minorca in 1814 during the [[i|War of the Spanish Succession]] that led to the island being ceded to Britain by the [[i|Treaty of Utrecht]]. Official National Day of Minorca and a bank holiday since 1991. The bank holiday is the next Monday if 14 September falls on a weekend.||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}<br><small>([[i|Minorca]])</small>
|-
| 17 September<br>(2024) || [[i|Harvest Moon Festival]]<br><small>''Mid-Autumn Festival''</small> || Second of two [[i|harvest festivals]], it is a commemoration of the end of the autumn harvest. Made a bank holiday in 1989, fusing informal local British harvest festivals with the Chinese [[i|Mid-Autumn Festival]]. The bank holiday is the next Monday in the event the autumn equinox falls on a weekend. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 10/11/12 October || [[i|Hong Kong National Day]] || Commemorates the day of establishment of Hong Kong's [[i|House of Assembly]] (now the sole chamber of the [[i|Hong Kong Parliament]]) in 1952. Made a National Day in 1987 on [[i|Hong Kong entering Union]]. The bank holiday is the next Monday if 10 October falls on a weekend. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{ya}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 16/17/18 October || [[i|Gambia National Day]] || National Day of the Gambia, commemorating its founding in 1816. Declared a bank holiday in 1991. The bank holiday falls on the nearest weekday in case 17 October falls on a weekend.||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}<br><small>([[i|Gambia]])</small>
|-
| 29/30/31 October || [[i|Halloween]] ||Liturgical day for remembering the dead, currently a holiday associated with macabre and supernatural themes. Made a bank holiday in 2011 in Great Britain and Hong Kong, and 2018 in Ireland. If 31 October is on the weekend, the previous Friday is a bank holiday.||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 1/2/3 November || [[i|All Saints' Day]] ||Christian day honouring all saints. It was declared a bank holiday in Ireland in 1954. If 1 November is on the weekend, the next Monday is a bank holiday.||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 30 November/<br>1/2 December || [[i|St. Andrew's Day]]</small> || Feast of [[i|St. Andrew]], patron saint of Scotland and Cyprus. Observed as Scotland's National Day for centuries and Cyprus' National Day since 1991. Made a bank holiday in Scotland in 1975 and in Cyprus in 1991. The official bank holiday is the next Monday in the event 30 November falls on a weekend. ||{{na}} ||{{na}}||{{ya}} ||{{na}}||{{na}} ||{{ya}}<br><small>([[i|Cyprus]])</small>
|-
| 24 December || [[Christmas|Christmas Eve]] || The day before [[i|Christmas Day]]. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 25 December || [[Christmas|Christmas Day]] || The day on the Christian calendar celebrating the [[i|birth of Jesus Christ]]. It is observed as a day of gifting and coming together.||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
| 26 December|| [[Boxing Day]]<br><small>''Wren Day''</small> || The day after Christmas. Officially called [[i|Wren Day]] in Ireland. Made a bank holiday in 1974 in Ireland and 1990 in Great Britain.||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 27 December /None|| Not named || Only in a year in which 25 December is either on a Saturday or Sunday. This adds an extra holiday when 25 December falls on a Sunday.||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 28 December /None || Not named || This is an extra holiday added when either 25 or 26 December falls on a Saturday.||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{na}} ||{{na}}
|-
| 31 December || [[Christmas|New Year's Eve]] || The day before Solar New Year. Only a bank holiday if 31 December is a weekday. ||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}||{{ya}} ||{{ya}}
|-
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Total holidays (in 2024) !! scope="col" | 22 !! scope="col" | 22 !! scope="col" | 23 !! scope="col" | 25 !! scope="col" | 21 !! scope="col" | 18
|}

 

[Turquoise Blue]

Elizabeth Debicki
Name: June Astrid Lunette von Rentelen-Williams
Date of Birth/Age: 14 May 2015 (37 years old)
Home State: Washington
Political Affiliation: Democratic (Socialist)
Previous Offices Held: TBD

Biography: TBD

Stances on the Issues: (please spoiler)

Economy: (Key aspects of the energy sector and infrastructure have been nationalized, while the NHS ensures Americans live longer lives. Despite this, concerns about inflation and overtaxation have been raised, leading to a significant movement to "cut the fat" through spending cuts or privatization.)

"There is no point to privatisation. It is but a folly dreamt up by capitalists who seek to create economic infighting. Nay, says I."

Foreign Policy: (While a powerful nation, America is no longer the top dog, having given way to a multipolar world order. Fischer has sought to revive Washington's influence with her Pan-American alliances and purchase of the Falklands, though many are torn on whether America should restore its influence or continue looking inward.)

"America should seek to be the leader of the world once more. By leader I don't mean dominate, but lead it should nevertheless."

Immigration: (Immigration reform has been a chief policy of the Amin administration, with plans for 100 million new Americans by the turn of the century. While many celebrated this turn away from the past policies, nativist sentiments remain alive and well with continuing refugee crises driven by climate change.)

"Immigration is a positive for the United States. We do not wish to embrace reactionary ideas that keep us back, do we?"

Amin's Legacy: (While beloved by most Americans as one of the most transformative Presidents of the century, Amin's heavyhanded prosecution of political opponents has led some to reassess her legacy. Regardless, both parties have established themselves as her heir, making mainstream criticism rather difficult.)

"She saw the world as it was, and moved to change it. That we should admire, and hope our future leaders are as bold as she was."

Religion: (Climate change, economic hardship, and government lobbying have led to the growth of new religious movements, some of them more esoteric and violent than others. This has led people on all sides of the political spectrum to embrace this "Fifth Great Awakening" in many different ways.)

"Religion is..." *has flashback to her parents' esoteric Aryanism* "something that people have. I'm not an atheist. That is all."

Artificial Intelligence: (The Amin administration saw the creation of the LIBERTY software to assist in public policy, economic planning, and judicial oversight. While many believe that AI should be further regulated in some aspects, most policymakers are charmed by LIBERTY's witty and likable personality.)

"Why should we deny ourselves a tool that we can craft a better tomorrow with?"

Space Colonization: (In the future, a vast network of settlements dot the stars while plans to terraform Mars are well underway. While most endorse space colonization, there are very real concerns about the expenses of such efforts and the flight of wealthy educated Americans to space causing a "second white flight" back home.)

"Carpe diem. Space is there, for our species to expand into. It is our future."

 

[Turquoise Blue]

WIP PM list that's just foreign politicians who were at one point involved in British politics

1929-1934: Peter Fraser (Labour minority)
1934-1943: R. B. Bennett (Conservative-led National Government, then Conservative-led Wartime Government)
1943-1945: Jan Smuts (Independent-led Wartime Government)
1945-1954: V. K. Krishna Menon (Labour majority)
1954-1957: David Lewis (Labour majority)
1957-1959: Ted Jolliffe (Labour majority)
1959-1965: Harvey Ward (Conservative majority)
1965-1967: Denis Walker (Conservative majority)
1967-1980: Harry Lee (Labour majority)
1980-1984: Albert René (Labour majority)
1984-1984: Hastings Banda (Labour majority, then minority)
1984-1990: Ralf Dahrendorf (Democratic-Conservative coalition)
1990-1997: Michael Ignatieff (Labour majority)
1997-2007: Benazir Bhutto (Conservative-Democratic coalition)
2007-2014: Jacek Rostowski (Conservative-Democratic coalition)
2014-2021: Axelle Lemaire (Labour majority)
2021-pres.: Cynthia Wu (Conservative-Democratic coalition)

 

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Ben Chifley (Labor) 1945-1950
1946 [maj.]: def. Robert Menzies (Coalition) and Jack Lang (Lang Labor)
1949 [maj.]: def. Robert Menzies (Coalition)
Arthur Calwell (Labor) 1950-1961
1952 [maj.]: def. Percy Spender (Coalition)
1955 [maj.]: def. Percy Spender (Coalition)
1958 [maj.]: def. Harold Holt (Coalition)
Harold Holt (Coalition) 1961-1963
1961 [min.]: def. Arthur Calwell (Labor)
B. A. Santamaria (Labor) 1963-1967
1963 [min.]: def. Harold Holt (Coalition)
1964 [maj.]: def. Harold Holt (Coalition)
Harold Holt (Coalition) 1967-1970
1967 [maj.]: def. B. A. Santamaria (Labor)
Bob Katter (Labor) 1970-1976
1970 [maj.]: def. Harold Holt (Coalition)
1973 [maj.]: def. Steele Hall (Coalition)
Steele Hall (Coalition) 1976-1981
1976 [maj.]: def. Bob Katter (Labor)
1979 [maj.]: def. Condon Byrne (Labor)
Brian Harradine (Labor) 1981-1985
1981 [maj.]: def. Steele Hall (Coalition), Syd Negus (Australia First) and John Singleton (John for Canberra)
1983 [maj.]: def. Steele Hall (United) and Tom Drake-Brockman (National)
Steele Hall (United) 1985-1986
1985 [min.]: def. Brian Harradine (Labor) and Tom Drake-Brockman (National)
Brian Harradine (Labor) 1986-1987
1986 [coal. with Nationals]
Don Chipp (United) 1987-1996
1987 [maj.]: def. Brian Harradine (Alliance) and John Button (Democratic Labor)
1990 [maj.]: def. Graeme Campbell (Alliance) and John Button (Democratic Labor)
1993 [maj.]: def. Graeme Campbell (Alliance) and Brian Howe (Democratic Labor)
Elaine Nile (Alliance) 1996-2002
1996 [maj.]: def. Don Chipp (United) and Stewart West (Democratic Labor)
1999 [maj.]: def. Malcolm Turnbull (United) and Stewart West (Democratic Labor)
Malcolm Turnbull (United) 2002-2008
2002 [min.]: def. Elaine Nile (Alliance) and John Cherry (Democratic Labor)
2005 [min.]: def. Tony Abbott (Alliance) and John Cherry (Democratic Labor)
Mark Latham (Alliance) 2008-2012
2008 [maj.]: def. Malcolm Turnbull (United) and John Cherry (Democratic Labor)
2011 [maj.]: def. George Brandis (United) and Hall Greenland (Democratic Labor)
Rob Borbridge (Alliance) 2012
Tony Abbott (Alliance) 2012-2014
Rob Borbridge (Alliance) 2014
Mark Latham (Alliance) 2014
Bob Brown (United) 2014-2021
2014 [maj.]: def. Mark Latham (Alliance) and Hall Greenland (Democratic Labor)
2015 [maj.]: def. Bob Katter Jr. (Alliance) and Hall Greenland (Democratic Labor)
2018 [maj.]: def. Bob Katter Jr. (Alliance) and Lee Rhiannon (Democratic Labor)
Tania Mihailuk (Alliance) 2021-2022
2021 [min.]: def. Bob Brown (United) and Lee Rhiannon (Democratic Labor)
Jacqui Lambie (Alliance) 2022-present
2023 [maj.]: def. Janet Woollard (United) and Natasha Stott Despoja (Democratic)

With the narrow passing of the Immigration Reform Act in early 2024, a long-held dream of the DLP and Unionists was finally reached.

After 123 years, the White Australia Policy, long hailed by Labor as a "guarantor of Australian welfare" and the one sticking point that made Australia fairly isolated on the international stage, was finally abolished. Liberal papers all over the world celebrated.

The new immigration policy was still restrictive - one must not forget that it is still a Labor government at the end of the day - but the final drop of a race-based immigration system was still meaningful. The legacy of the Labor Party of 1901 was finally at an end.

When Prime Minister Jacqui Lambie announced the reform, it was both expected and unexpected. As Australia's first indigenous Prime Minister, she was seen as naturally opposed to such a policy, but her own party and alliance was known as one of its strongest defenders. Memoirs will doubtlessly come out detailing the many heated nights of negotiation behind the final end of her party's most significant legacy. The Unionists and DLP gave their endorsement to the Immigration Reform Act, but so did 4/5 of her own Alliance, with a significant rebellion.

What does Australians think? Well, the polling shows that a majority think the White Australia Policy an "embarrassment", and that they were "reassured" that this "necessary" reform would still be very firm on immigration and on "protecting Australian jobs", including a greater funding for the Immigration Office to deal with the greater number of immigration applications expected to come.

Meanwhile, to shore up her Alliance's dissenting right-wing, the Prime Minister has pledged to "crack down" on the potential "migrant wave" from the Pacific, building off her cabinet's concern that New Zealand's 'problem' with "boat people" would now come to Australia with this law change.

 

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[obmibyag]

This is far out

 

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oh no, I'm back on my bullshit

 

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Creation by Jhorlihearts

Name: Aurelia von Verdin (nickname: Aura)
Gender: Female
Age: 18
House: Black Eagles

Crest: Crestless
Proficiencies: Reason and Faith
Stats:
- Knowledge: 1
- Skill: 1
- Expertise: 3
- Subterfuge: 3
- Charisma: 6

Biography: tbd
Views:
The Crest System: Critical
A Critical character believes that Crests have too much influence on society. Perhaps they believe that society should look past one's birth status and consider their merits, or that Crests cause unnecessary conflict - whatever the case, the Crests are to blame.

The Church of Seiros: Tolerant
A Tolerant character is a member of the Church of Seiros, but isn't particularly religious and it does not consume much attention during their life. They aren't concerned about nonbelievers and those of other religions, and they may or may not follow the tenets of the faith.

The Three Nations: Loyalist
A Loyalist is, as the name implies, loyal to their nation of birth. They may have reservations about their nation's certain actions and practices, but when the time comes, they would not hesitate to raise their sword in their ruler's name.

Beyond Fódlan: Prejudiced, lean Accepting
A Prejudiced character doesn't necessarily have harsh feelings towards foreigners, but learned prejudices about them during their upbringing and believes them. They know that Almyrans are all brutish and violent, that Duscurians are hostile and vengeful, and that the southern islanders only care about stealing your money, and will see foreigners they meet in the Monastery through the same lens.
An Accepting character doesn't treat foreigners with suspicion and is willing to accept them in friend circles and as battle comrades alike. They may simply be a good-hearted person who believes anyone has capacity to be good, or they could be actively fighting back xenophobia in Fódlan, but either way, they go against the grain.

First Kill Quote: "One wins or one loses. There is no in-between."

 

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My planned list for the list challenge.

"National Service means Service to the Nation"

Boris Johnson (Conservative minority, then majority) 2019-2026
2019 [min.]: took over from Theresa May (Conservative) after she lost confidence from the party
2019 [maj.]: def. Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP), Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrats)
2024 [maj.]: def. Keir Starmer (Labour), Humza Yousaf (SNP), Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats)

He lifted his head to see someone come in the room. It was Graham Brady. Good Sir Graham! He smiled, but Sir Graham didn't. He told the Prime Minister quite bluntly - "There will be a leadership election. You will no longer be Prime Minister."

What caused it? Surprisingly enough, after everything, it was minor. It wasn't Brexit, that was done easily. Covid and some scandals about some staffers being boozy, that was rode out, even if shaky. The national service thing, that was mildly controversial but the moaners shut up.

Turns out it was just him cheating on his wife with someone else and the papers caught it. Maybe the papers just were fed up with him.

A man made by the papers would be a man unmade by them.

Jeremy Hunt (Conservative majority) 2026-2032
2026 [maj.]: took over from Boris Johnson (Conservative) after he lost confidence from the party
2029 [maj.]: def. Wes Streeting (Labour), Humza Yousaf (SNP), Ed Davey (Liberal Democrats)

He felt as if it was his time to go. Six years as Prime Minister was more than enough, being the reluctant successor to a scandal-ridden Boris. Who else were there at the time it became necessary to step up? Liz Truss who was becoming seen as a 'celebrity foreign minister'? Rishi Sunak who resigned in 2023 over the budget? Neither of those people were capable of leading the country in this world or in any other.

Six years, yet another Tory win in 2029 against Wes Streeting [who he privately saw as a bit of a blowhard]. More financial adjustment, more expansion of the Armed Forces (he gently shook his head at the generals arguing that they needed more funding per head to accompany the expansion of National Service. Such couldn't be done easily), successful exploration of Britain's new role in the world - turns out Truss was useful for something.

Replying to all those oh so cynical BlueSky replies about Britain's finances from young people exhausted him as well. Sigh. One day they'll appreciate all he did for the country. Maybe under his capable successor we may finally get the deficit conquered.

Penny Mordaunt (Conservative majority) 2032-2034
2032 [maj.]: took over from Jeremy Hunt (Conservative) after he retired from politics
2034 [maj.]: def. Wes Streeting (Labour), Chuka Umunna (Liberal Democrats), Humza Yousaf (SNP)

She blinked her eyes as in disbelief. This was not supposed to happen in Britain of all places. The military just marched into Parliament and declared "get the fuck out, we're in charge". Those soldiers seemed young, she thought. Maybe a call to the generals could get them to walk away. The generals' reply caused dismay. They tried, they said. But those soldiers just didn't listen. The soldiers just seemed... angry.

Well, she was Penny Mordaunt, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. She wouldn't step down to any upstart colonels thinking they could play at being military dictators. She would defend parliamentary democracy any day of the year.

Getting into the armoured car, she told the driver to take them to Chequers, so she could move against this would-be coup. The car moved forward.

A sudden movement coupled with extreme heat was the last thing she would experience.

Liz Truss (Conservative... something?) 2034
2034 [????]: voted Prime Minister by the cabinet, succeeding the late Penny Mordaunt (Conservative)

In the end, her two months proved a failure. There was just too many people in the military rallying behind the coup as the long-promised change from Tory policy and the slow decline of Britain. Maybe it was Boris' fault, or Hunt's, for National Service, she thought bitterly. She always considered it an idiotic idea, but she was overruled by a cabinet keen on shoring up defence credentials.

Well, she laughed humourlessly, she was right in the end, wasn't she. Didn't help her, though, as she was in a cell waiting for her final day in the sun. They told her her fate, and she scowled. If anyone deserved her fate it was the last few Prime Ministers before her. She was the one who consistently stood against the anti-growth brigade that this so-called assembly was opposing, so why did they want to shoot her?

Well, she thought as they led her to the wall and blindfolded her and she waited for the final moment, at least I've been Prime Minister.

Amy Bieda (People's Assembly for the Liberation of Britain) 2034-????
2034 [junta]: took over in a coup, arguably succeeded Liz Truss (Conservative)

She took a drag on her vape as she looked at the war plans. Turns out the corrupt NATO did not appreciate the people seizing what was rightfully theirs from 24 years of Tory misrule, and there were deep rumbling sounds of cogs moving against her. Her Chancellor was sitting next to her, looking at his phone, and showed her the announcement. TIME, that American paper that did People of the Year, 'reluctantly' chose her.

She chuckled at that but shook her head. This was a mass movement led by people who had the ability to seize the day, it wasn't a coup by a select few. They didn't understand the real reasons behind this. They never did. A movement against Toryism was not a personal dictatorship. This she would insist. The ballot just failed to offer real change when it was needed, so it had to be the other way - the bullet.

She could remember when she was rudely drafted in 2024 as a mere 18 year old. She was told that she was going to do National Service, join the military for a bit and sacrifice two years of her life stuck in moldy houses and do drills while the country continued to go to hell.

Well, she looked outside the window, this was the ultimate act of national service wasn't it?

Many who feared for Britain's future would disagree with her, but kept their silence.

 

[Meppo]

Getting into the armoured car, she told the driver to take them to Chequers, so she could move against this would-be coup. The car moved forward.

A sudden movement coupled with extreme heat was the last thing she would experience.

Alas, the last hope of stopping the new Cromwell is gone

Liz Truss (Conservative... something?)

did 90% of the MPs get killed or what

The ballot just failed to offer real change when it was needed, so it had to be the other way - the bullet.

Does Keir Starmer stay in Britain or does he get exiled?

BoJo I'm quite sure is alive tho, either in New York City or in Alexander Lebedev's estate in Luzern

 

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did 90% of the MPs get killed or what

nah, it's just that majorities in Parliament no longer matters when it's forcibly disbanded by a military coup