Draws Sword, waves it in the air.

[Jacobus Loki]

Mors VI has left us. I honour him for his excellent intentions, and his good heart.

However, it is some actions, and some of his in-actions that need to be reformed, and the Nation restored.

The Kaisership should be used in the service of Justice, and for the Glory of Shireroth and of the good of the Sector.

I pledge to right wrongs and return Shireroth to its historic destiny.

RALLY TO ME, SHIRITHIANS! FOR JUSTICE! FOR LA GLOIRE!


(and for Gloria, and all the other CATS!)

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Hmm, now then. After your illustrious tenure as President in Cyberia permit me to be the first to say NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

[Jacobus Loki]

Ah, good Khan, remember not the empty windblown land of Cyberia, but recall instead the fun times of Loki III.

Who (when awake, at least) is better able to stir the Djin of Activity than Loki?

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

I claim the throne, as is my birthright. Stop this foolishness now and I will not hold it against you.

[Falkner van der Sluijs]

Birthright smirthright, there are many who descend from Raynor, myself included.

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

And your point is what exactly?

[Jacobus Loki]

Come on over by the Gate. The Khan and I are having some rice and lamb, and there is enough for a whole gaggle of royals.

[Falkner van der Sluijs]

Very well, I shall claim my birthright as you do.

I kill the Toketoshal movement, I leave Natopia, and I claim the throne as Kaiser Reynardine II.

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

You can try, but I don't see you having much of a claim to the throne. I am of the largest House and the Line of Mortis, while you belong to no House.

[Falkner van der Sluijs]

You belong to the Line of Grifos like your namesake.

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

I belong to the House and Line of Mortis. Erik can confirm.

[Ari Rahikkala]

* looks around *

* shrugs, and suddenly shouts *

May Death consider sparing Loki IV this day, for he might possibly be the rightful Kaiser of Shireroth! Or at least the most interesting one of the candidates!

[Jacobus Loki]

May Death continue to spare me, to do the Work that needs doing!

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

You mean like you did in Cyberia?

[Jacobus Loki]

I can help the living, but I cannot raise the dead.

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

Yeah, that's a good excuse.

[Jacobus Loki]

Truth usually is.

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

We were alive, at least marginally, and was waiting for your leadership. Instead, we got nothing, then some more nothing, then you resigned your citizenship.

Shireroth, this is what you can expect from Loki. Lots of talk and promises and changes that are not really thought through or supported by the general community. And then he gets bored and leaves.

[Falkner van der Sluijs]

This is why I support the Steward, not him or yourself.

[Scott of Hyperborea]

Rhanapt hum elisodari Raikothion, atsareithku asdazaide sumure, daneithku nidral quelinderal - Hear now the true will of Raikoth, calculated according to divine law and handed down by empirically verified oracles!

Jacobus of House Grifos, Corey of House van der Sluijs. Both of you were excellent Kaisers in your day; both of you I hope to see as Kaiser again some day soon. And you are not wrong when you say Shireroth has a tradition of rebellion.

But although Kaiser Mors did not expressly name an heir, he made it perfectly clear informally that he supported Kaiseress Anandja II. And he implemented a system, a system that carries the full force of Imperial Law, and that system selected the Kaiseress. And complain about democracy as you will, but that system also ensures that Kaiseress Anandja has a mandate from the Shirerithian people.

Jacobus, you are revolting because you want to restore the old Duchy system. I believe Kaiseress Anandja shares some of your concerns. You will not see the Houses done away with entirely, but during her reign I suspect you will see an adjustment away from the House system and back to something more recognizable.

Corey, I don't know what you want. Maybe just your innate Yardistaniness showing itself? You've gained a lot of kudos from being praetor, and I would support you for another Kaiserial bid sometime soon. But not now.

For our tradition of revolts to work, the revolts need to mean something. When we revolted against Kaiser Leto III, we had the support of a majority of the populace, and we did it only after giving the Kaiser a chance. When a new Kaiser is legitimately appointed, when he has the full support of a popular predecessor, when he's a well-respected citizen of the country who's served in the position well before, and when he hasn't even made any mistakes yet - that is not the time for revolt.

If the time for revolt comes, be assured that the Hyperboreans will be at your side. Until then, we will go as House Kalirion goes, but in the councils of the House we will cast our support for Kaiseress Anandja II Mita, long may death spare her.

[Falkner van der Sluijs]

Scott, you know damn well that my bid for the Kaisership is not in seriousness. I was just making a point.

I don't support Anandja II because I didn't support Anandja I. And it's the same reason I don't support Jacobus either. Both are adept at making incredibly controversial decisions and statements, and there must be something more to our community than controversy.

[Scott of Hyperborea]

Malliki can be a jerk, but he's our jerk, and last time he was able to separate his personality from his office as Kaiser. Besides, the noncontroversial Kaisers are the ones who let activity go down the drain.

(and my bad, I didn't realize you weren't serious - though I should've figured it out. And I meant what I said about supporting you in the future, or even for Steward if that's your thing).

[Falkner van der Sluijs]

Oh gods, I had an oddly long reign when you combine my stewardships and my kaisership.

I halfway want it again, halfway don't, and the don't side has a very good reason, and it's your first statement there.ä

Besides, the kaisership evolved me in an awful way.

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

I thank Hyperborea and Kalir for their support.

As for the House system, it will be evaluated and the necessary adjustments will be made. One adjustment that will probably be made is that core counties will be granted to the Houses.

[Jacobus Loki]

Scott, its cold in Hyperborea, so come and get some lamb and rice. The hummus is pretty good, too.

[Scott of Hyperborea]

If this is a bribe, then YOU HAVE INSULTED MY HONOR AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL.
If it's not a bribe, then mmmmmmm....hummus....I'm there!

[Falkner van der Sluijs]

If this is a bribe, then YOU HAVE INSULTED MY HONOR AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL.

This reminds me, I believe I challenged you to a fencing match a few years ago.

[Kaiseress Anandja II]

Corey vs. Scott

FIGHT!

[Scott of Hyperborea]

This reminds me, I believe I challenged you to a fencing match a few years ago.

Yeah, well, next time we're within a few hundred miles and in a place with access to fencing equipment...

[Jess]

Stop this nonsense!

I have returned!

I claim the throne as

Kaiser Mortisberg II

It is me that has been hiding in the bushes!