King Lucien IV Announces Abdication

Almase 29, 799 WG: King Lucien IV has announced that he will abdicate from his position as King of the Realm Passio-Corum.  Earlier today, the King appeared atop the gates of Lucinspire, before a crowd of nearly 20,000 onlookers who gathered for the event, to announce that after nearly 50 years on the throne, he would be leaving his position at the head of the nation’s Council of Courts at the end of this year.  In his brief speech, which lasted little more than 20 minutes, the King discussed the accomplishments of the nation under his rule, with particular regard to the industrial expansion of the past two decades, while also emphasizing his hopes that the nation, under future rulers, might succeed where he could not.

“Our nation, since its founding fifty years ago, has accomplished much and failed at little, and where it has failed, it has adapted so as to prevent itself from failing again,” said the King to a cheering crowd.  “and by so doing, our nation has become a tremendous source of pride, not only for myself, but for all people who live, work, and prosper here.  Through our common efforts, Passio-Corum has come to represent the power of creativity insofar as we have become a nation unlike any other, in terms of cultural, political, and economic development.”

The King, who led the nation’s establishment in the early 750s, is beloved by the people of Passio-Corum, despite recent controversies surrounding the cancellation of a colony in Eastern Corum.  Known far and wide for his efforts to bring governance and infrastructure to all of the region’s under-served peoples, as well as for his efforts to exterminate organized crime and piracy in the region, King Lucien IV is seen as a father figure for many of the inhabitants of the region, some of whom even go so far as to revere him as a modern Hiu, or enlightened one.  Others however, regard him more moderately, as an individual who can be admired for having accomplished virtually all of what he set out to do.

“The King has done more for so many than any other, perhaps even including Lucien I,” said Ilgia Eola, a baker’s assistant from Cannassas who was present to witness the King’s abdication speech.  “That said, I don’t agree that it’s reasonable to start calling him enlightened.  He did fail in certain areas after all, most importantly in regards to foreign policy.  Surely an enlightened ruler could have put our nation on the international stage, rather than simply help to draft a few insignificant treaties with nations who hold our country in low regard.”

Despite disagreements over specific elements of the legacy of King Lucien IV, there is little doubt that the nation’s patriarch will be remembered as one of the great New Zimians, and perhaps one of the great Pallisicans, of all time.  What remains to be seen, however, is whether the king’s successor will begin to live up to his legacy.  Though the king did not name his successor in his speech, it is generally believed that he will be succeeded by his daughter, Duchess Evahn, who has returned to Passio-Corum from New Kirrie, where she was in the process of earning a degree at the University of New Kirrie.  Little is known of the king’s daughter, who has led an intentionally private life; a fact which is very troubling to many observers, who worry that the young woman is not prepared to assume the role left by her father.

“As the king’s only child, it is only natural to assume that Duchess Evahn will occupy the role left vacant by her father,” says Gedled Las, the Council Correspondent for the Standard. “What remains to be seen is whether she has any of the experience or understanding which will be required to propel our nation into the new century.  Having met with her on a handful of occasions, I can say with some confidence that she is an intelligent and capable individual, but  I must also admit that I do have some reservations as to whether she is actually prepared to take up the mantle.”

The King is expected to officially name his successor by the end of the month.

Council of Courts Calls For Cancellation of Portsmouth Colony

Almase 20, 797 WG: In a surprising, though perhaps not unexpected move, the Council of Courts has decreed that the New Zimian government will be required to put an end to efforts to establish new colonies, including ongoing efforts in Portsmouth.  The Council’s decree, which was issued early this morning, has been met with fierce opposition amongst members of the nation’s Industry Party, which leads the nation’s government, who claim that the Council is directly undermining the will of the people, who elected the Industry Party on the basis of the party’s willingness to explore opportunities to exploit resources across the continent.

“The Council has once again – for the second time in two years – overstepped its right to directly influence national policy,” says Eidod Edja, an Industrialist who has served in the Houses of Corum for three terms.  “Just like it did when it required the government to form the ill-fated commission regarding rights for the ghosts of Portsmouth, the Council has now overstepped its authority by requiring us to cancel our ongoing efforts to develop a sustainable colony in the East.”

None of the members of the Council of Courts were available for comment regarding today’s decree, but according to observers, Council is likely to justify its decision to cancel colonization efforts on the basis that the widespread conflict amongst the indigenous tribes of Corum now poses too great a risk to any colonies which might be established outside of the Realm of Passio-Corum.

“Despite the best efforts of the government to help bring peace to the continent,” says Gedled Las, the Council Correspondent for the Standard. “conflicts amongst the continent’s peoples – particularly the many various gamesmen tribes – have grown in scale and intensity, to the extent where the Council of Courts might claim that it has good reason to discontinue colonization efforts around Corum.  It is no secret that the nation’s military is not really currently designed to defend any number of colonies, should war encroach on lands claimed by the government.”

It is believed that the New Zimian government, along with Corum Expeditions, the company which oversaw colonization efforts in Portsmouth, will shift its focus to establishing communities within the frontier which still constitutes most of Passio-Corum, such as the land which divides the Regions of the West and Center from the Region of the East.  In the meantime, the Industry Party is expected to try to appeal the Council’s decree regarding the colony in Portsmouth.

“We are not fully prepared to call it quits in Portsmouth” says Eidod Edja.  “We have contributed too much time and effort to simply give up at the behest of a misguided Council.”

Council of Courts Issues Decree Regarding Portsmouth Hauntings

Almase 1, 795 WG: In a move which has proven to be highly controversial, the Council of Courts has approved a decree which will require the nation’s government to form a committee for the purpose of exploring means to extend rights of citizenship to the astral inhabitants of the colony in Portsmouth.  The tenth decree to be approved by the Council of Courts in the nation’s 42 year history, this decision by the Council has evoked criticism amongst many of the nation’s more liberal members, who question the extent to which the Council of Courts should be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the Houses of Corum.

“One must question the degree to which the Council of Courts is allowed to influence the nation’s official policies,” says Hovie Aelau, an avowed member of the Solidarity Party.  “especially when it acts in such a way which requires the nation’s legislative body to pursue goals which are not currently of the interests of the people.  If the people of New Zimia desire to extend the rights of citizenship to any group of people beyond the nation’s borders, then they ought to express that desire by voting in favor of policies which support inclusiveness, tolerance, and acceptance.  The Council of Courts should not act in such a way which infringes upon the right of the people to make that decision.”

Approved earlier today, Decree 10 comes at a time in which the nation’s government is engaged in efforts to explore and make use of reserves of the natural resources located in and around Corum.  As part of this effort, the New Zimian Government, led by the Industry Party, has worked with the Wallis Islands-based company, Corum Expeditions, to establish a colony in the city of Portsmouth, near the islands of Old Craitland, in Eastern Corum.  Established in 794 WG, the Portsmouth Colony has struggled to achieve its aims of harvesting natural gas from the reach, as a result of the large presence of ghosts who have taken to disrupting the flow of goods in the colony in an effort to prevent the colony from gaining a foothold in the region.  The decision to require the government to attempt to extend the rights of citizenship, according to Council Member Rafne Hife, comes out a desire to help the region’s ghostly people to see the benefits and advantages of the presence of the Realm of Passio-Corum.

“We believe it is important that the peoples of Corum realize that the tragedies and failures of the past need not infringe upon the prospects of the future,” says Hife, who voted in favor of the Decree.  “This applies to the astral peoples of Portsmouth.  Our decree ensures that they will have the opportunity to improve their future, despite the horrors of the past.”

The Committee which will set out to find ways to extend the rights of citizenship to the ghosts of Portsmouth will begin work by the end of the year.  Government officials have not yet confirmed their decisions regarding how the committee will be structured, or who will lead it.  It is unclear how the ghosts of Portsmouth will respond to the committee, once it is established.