Tellia and an island

[Kaiser Ayreon]

Shirerithians,

The King of Tellia approached me yesterday with a request to acquire the Isle of Benacia. He claimed that Shireroth almost has a monopoly on south-coast islands off the Benacian continent. ANd I agree, we have a lot of islands.

It would be nice for them, he thought, to have an island they could call their own. I know that feeling...

So... I'm not going to do a Mog and just give away any island to them. But I think we should seriously consider this. Tellia is a nice country, they're king's a really nice guy, and some island near Tellia I am sure we can give them in return for something or lease them for a few hundred "years".

[Krasniy Yastreb]

For a second I took the 'Isle of Benacia' to mean the whole damn continent... after picking my stomach back off the floor I finally remembered that little island off the south coast. Your Niftiness will end up killing me one day

I can't see any major cultural importance in the place, but I haven't exactly been reading around. I'd say if we do give them the island, they sign a clause giving it back to us whenever they leave the map for whatever reason.

[Ari Rahikkala]

Well, it's good you asked because YOU'RE NOT GIVING AWAY THE ISLE OF BENACIA! The original home of the Pennà, natural habitat of the eight-legged chicken callamenni, home base of the Knights of the Burning Claw (who look almost as badass in action as the Hunters of the Stag), birthplace of Kaiser Mors IV (check out his post list - even if little of it survived through ezHack), the place where the Sky Pillar (since devastated) once shone in the dawn full of strange and ancient Khaz Modanian technology, and the list would go on if I weren't convinced by now you've gotten the message: There's more uniqueness and depth in Benacia than there is in the entirety of Tellia, and to give the isle away would be an insult to Shyriath, one of the best citizens this nation has ever had.



... so, instead, why don't we let them try their handwith one of the isles between Naudia'Diva and Benacia? They've been sitting almost unused there forever, the most significant use being a mention as a footnote in Naudia'Divan history (I *think* - though of course the documentation on what actually happened has been lost by now - that they had something to do with how the Hunters got there from the mainland on the first place, or maybe with Nelig... my memory fails me ). Not sure anyone even gave names to them. It's been making me sad how they've been neglected for so long while pretty much everywhere else in the island chain has found a use.

(I still don't actually advocate giving away land just like that. Not even if we've left it unused ourselves. It has to be quid pro quo, and the Tellians are going to have to come up with something very good in exchange.)

[Aurangzeb Khan]

I tend to agree with Ari the Isle of Benacia is too culturally sensitive to dispose of so light-heartedly. Perhaps Tellia could administer it if it agreed in return to become a Duchy of the Imperial Republic. That would be a fair quid pro quo.

Otherwise we should all pause at this moment to remember the tragedy of Mogbeth.

[Kaiser Ayreon]

Calm down, Ari. I'm not doing anything

Perhaps people misinterpreted me, it can easily happen with my language (heh). I told you what the King said, and I suggested to you "some island" (or atleast that's what I meant) off the coast either as a lease, or as part of a land-exchange deal.

We are discussing it, not making decisions. I refer that to the Landsraad. I'm tired of writing decrees as now

[Jess]

Noes Giving away my Barony! Anyway, I've asked or land before, and everyone told me to GTFO, so yes, Chris, GTFO.

[Ari Rahikkala]

Hey, don't worry, you misunderstood me, too . No anger felt and no appearance of anger intended, I'm just a little bit protective of the citizens of my duchy and the work they've done

[Malliki]

This reminds me of a little boy that's envious of his big brother for getting all the cool toys.

[Ari Rahikkala]

Perhaps Tellia could administer it if it agreed in return to become a Duchy of the Imperial Republic. That would be a fair quid pro quo.

You sure about that, after the whole... thing with Vanderveer?

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Hey, if that was to happen under us I'd just let Boris garrison the place and sit back to watch the carnage.

[Erik Mortis]

I say we move no land. It's ours, always has been.

[Malliki]

But Tellia is still very welcome to become a duchy...

[Jess]

How about a Semi-Autonimous Duchy?

[Erik Mortis]

Recognize the Kaiser as head of state or whatever.. as their monarch?

[Scott of Hyperborea]

Give away Benacia, and when Shyriath gets back B'Caw will take your soul.

I wouldn't mind leasing them a Naudia'Divan island or two in exchange for something nice if the nobles involved agreed, but making them a Duchy would be better.

[Jess]

NO NAUDIA'DIVAN ISLES!!!!!!!!!

[Erik Mortis]

That would involve Yardistan, yes? Benacia is in brookshire.

[Jess]

How about give Tellia no land unless they can prove that they deserve it.

[Andreas the Wise]

One thing currently unconsidered is that if we 'give up' some land ... arguably we could claim that amount of pixels back on MCS (I'm thinking the rest of Mar Sara) ... just putting it out there.

[Aurangzeb Khan]

Out of interest, who owns Base ID.21? It is so small I can barely make out the colour.

[Andreas the Wise]

CIS.

[b3n|<3r|\|]

Yes, I believe that island was accidently left on as CIS-controlled after they left... and when they returned Spangle sort of went "Hey, cool, island, OURS FOREVER."

[Jess]

Maraguo is getting North Mar Sara. If we give land to one nation, then others will be like "Hey Kaiser Man, can we plz have some land, you have too much!"

[b3n|<3r|\|]

Maraguo isn't getting North Mar Sara.

[Andreas the Wise]

Maraguo is getting North Mar Sara. If we give land to one nation, then others will be like "Hey Kaiser Man, can we plz have some land, you have too much!"

Swap, I think ... swap temporary control of an area for another set of pixels we want more.

[Christopher I]

I came to the Kaiser asking for a favor...An island or two for Tellia to build some colonies on. I expected that this would be no problem since Shireroth is huge and I considered our nations to be on friendly terms.

Obviously, I was mistaken. Instead of stating your opinions calmly, even if you are totally opposed to giving Tellia any land, many of you have just up and begun to insult me and to insult a nation I doubt you know anything about.

But, I'm sure you're correct, Mr. Rahikkala. I am quite certain that the loss of those eight legged chickens would be absolutely horrible for Shireroth. And being the culture-less fools that we are, how could Tellia expect to take such a great island?

I can understand if you are opposed to giving away Benacia or any other land...but what gives you the right to insult my nation? That was out of line, unnecessary, and I know that if I was a citizen of this nation, I would be embarrassed by comments like that.

I don't really think it is too much for us to ask for one of the many islands South of Benacia. We had planned to establish colonies and it would make more sense to start close to home.

"You sure about that, after the whole... thing with Vanderveer? "

Do you know anything about what happened? I doubt it. But, it's fine. We Tellians will gladly accept insults from the all mighty old ones here with your gobs of culture and sacks full of power. I'm sure that is the way things should be done in micronations.

It is sad that I've got people sitting here making plans to get Tellia to become a duchy of Shireroth (does it make sense for a nation to trade independence for an island? does it make sense for us to trade what we've established to join a bunch of 8 legged chicken breeders?). Oh, and whats up with people telling me to "Get The Fuck Out"? Jesus.

You people are ridiculous and this nation is lucky that it has a few people who are nice enough and intelligent enough to keep the rest of you from totally turning this place into a laughing stock. But they can't hold you back forever.

Doing things like this will only serve to reduce whatever power you've got and will make you even less appealing as an ally.

So Tellia would still love to have an island. We'd love to debate offering you something in return. We would love to do a great many things with Shireroth, but if this is the reception we can expect, then I really don't think it is in our best interests.

I hope that all of you realize that I don't dislike Shireroth, or the majority of it's people. I'm just angry (and rightfully so) and disappointed. I don't think the sort of people who made these comments are going to be the sort who will lead Shireroth in the right direction. They certainly won't lead you towards friendship with Tellia...or any other sensible nation.

Yours Most Sincerely,

[b3n|<3r|\|]

You people are ridiculous and this nation is lucky that it has a few people who are nice enough and intelligent enough to keep the rest of you from totally turning this place into a laughing stock. But they can't hold you back forever.

Yet another foreigner who doesn't understand our culture and makes fun.

*sigh*

Ah well. Apparently Shireroth doesn't get to lose land. Crying shame that.

[Hesam Jayatar]

That post was fantastic!

[Andreas the Wise]

Chris ... I've reread this thread and I see little actually insulting your nation. Oh yes, theres a lot of people who say "don't give away land," but they'd say that even if I asked for it. Oh yes, there are people saying "make it a Duchy," but you must understand that's become the standard Shirithian joke about everything. The last Malarbor bar talked about the Duchy of Babkha ... And yes, there's Ari/Scott raising legitimate objections about culture, but they'd raise that about any key cultural land, whoever asked it. The only thing possibly insulting to you is the comment about Vanderveer, which, in fairness, is a valid point. (I was there, at least for part of it, and the parting did not seem easy).

I think this is one of those things you have to step outside the normal micronational way of looking at things and look at it from a Shirithian perspective ... and I think you'll see that there's practically nothing there that's directed against Tellia or you in particular that wouldn't be directed against any other nation asking for Shirithian land. If there's one thing I've learnt in my time in Shireroth, its that they take their land seriously. A lot like Novatainia, actually. Practically every pixels sacred, a reduction is tantamount to heresy, and so you have to work carefully to find areas that aren't already culturally built up. So I hope you look at this discussion again and return in context. Shireroth isn't trying to be a big bully hogging all the land - we take land because we really believe we have a cultural attachment to it. Shireroth doesn't try to push other nations around (apart from Bosworth but in fairness, that was Hesam and Ardy with their old mate Jeremy, it wouldn't have happened to a normal nation), Shireroth doesn't try to impose their will on the non-Shirithian part of the world ... we just have survived seven years and have an immense amount of history and culture so that most of us forget bits of it as we go ... and an aversion to giving away land for that reason.

[Christopher I]

I understand that things are done a bit differently here (remember me sticking up for you guys when that INS article came out? yeah...)...But I do see some of the comments as insulting.

I was really shocked because I've met mostly great people out of Shireroth, people I really admire and respect...Carol, Ric, etc. I am just surprised that this sort of thing is allowed to go on.