The Alliance of DictatorsBoard

Troois Sul wrote:

A region-wide message is being broadcast...

The static fades away from the screen revealing a shadowy figure.

It speaks:

"The All Seeing has observed and judged this region and the nations within it, we have decided it is a good place to settle"

The shadowy figure disappears. Instead the iconic Eye emblem of The All Seeing flickers in its place as Static reclaims the screen.

OOC:

I'm kinda new here, are there any requirements or rules I should know of?

OOC: Welcome to the region! Overall, just be a decent fellow, nothing too convoluted. I highly recommend joining the region's Discord channel to be more up-to-date goings-on in the region, as that's where most of the OOC communication happens.

Once more, welcome to the region!

Jack Thatcher, dressed in his everyman clothes and driving his everyman car, quickly arrived at the skyscraper office building he worked at. The People's Tower was built to the standard of the vast majority of office skyscrapers and practically blended into it's surroundings. Jack parked within the parking garage built into the side of the building and quickly found himself in the executive elevator. It was not a long climb.

The elevator doors hissed open into a room that was definitely not standard. There was not a single window to the outside world and all the light within was bright and artificial. The walls were a combination of several metals that made the room look uninviting at best. The floors were a nice white concrete, however. Other than that the floor appeared to be like an ordinary office. There were many people sitting at many desks with many computers doing many things. Some were typing away, others were in calls, but all were essentially doing the same thing. Selling and trading hard drugs.

The People's Narcotic Organization was a business like any other, even if they do omit the Narcotic part of the name on all paperwork, and thus operated like one. Office workers did their jobs tirelessly, creating deals and gaining clients both legally and not so legally. PNOR transport trucks operated freely within MLG Gaming and loaded their goods onto the Afanc stealth submarines that the duarchy mysteriously 'misplaced into civilian hands'. Jack's company was a well oiled machine and held a monopoly on the drug trade within the Holy and Great Empire. Jack soon reached his office and, after disarming the fourteen different locks on the door, entered his domain.

The office was plain, practically bare, and only held one item of any importance. Jack approached his desk with subconscious caution before allowing the desk to scan his fingerprints, eyes, and saliva before unlocking. The CEO reached in and felt his fingers close around the object he came for. His heart rate suddenly slowed down and his body went cold. Jack Thatcher pulled the object closer to him and opened his hands. He had forgotten his PDA in his desk. Suppressing a shudder, Jack redid the locks and soon did the same for the entrance to his office. Within 15 minutes he found himself back in his car and sent a single message before he drove off.

Prepare the M.U.S.B for my arrival.

You hear blaring horns but nobody can tell where from
“This is a message from The Coal and Steel Commune
and a personal message from the father in wich he says
those that think alike are great minds, and great minds shall stick together in need” it stops.
But seriously I will do my best to contribute to the board.

'Troois' means 'Truth'

In the perpetually grey and foggy capital, Kargen Sul, the Tower of Saints looms over the city. Within it, on one of the highest floors, a meeting is taking place.

Upper members of the church of Seerism sat at a long table. At the end, was Father Lanthan, head of the Church, second only to The Saints.

"I'm sure you've heard about the problems with our Factbooks." he says drumming his fingers on the table, looking visibly frustrated.

"yes, your grace" the members responded in near unison.

"then why was this not sorted beforehand?!" Lanthan shouted, slamming his hand onto the table and startling the rest who were, understandably, tense.

"do you not understand that we are also judged by The Saints for our actions? How do you think they would judge us for allowing their image to be sullied by the lies found in our supposed national Factbooks?" He continued, only with a hint of fear, as The Saints judgement was harsh and absolute

"If the Saints can see all, surely they could foresee this and tell us to fix it..." one member protested. He was cut off by Father Lanthan who was staring at him with crazed eyes.

"You question the power of The Saints!?"

"No, I-" the member tried to defend himself.

"You have sinned, You shall be judged for your misdeeds!" Lanthan interrupted him. The member Sunk low in his chair for he knew what would come next...

"I want every article to be ammended, every history reviewed, every Blasphemer arrested and make it quick, we have an international audience to impress." Lanthan ordered.

"First Impressions are important, any nation that looks upon our factbooks and histories shall be presented with the truth, our truth. Do you understand?"

"yes, your grace" the members responded. Except for he who spoke out against the Saints, he was visibly shaking with fear.

"this shall be known as: 'Operation: 'Troois' means 'Truth'."

He got up and left.

"meeting's over."

Twilight Sparkle wrote:

Pearlescent was surprised at how good the meager food tasted. Her appetite had been relatively poor since her and Shield's narrow escape from her Father, and the food she had eaten while in orbit had mostly consisted of nutritious but bland ship rations. But right now, right here, she realized for the first time in weeks that she was actually quite hungry. It didn't matter that the food offered by the Bishop was nothing like the extravagant meals she had gotten used to in Father's mansion, it was simply good and took her hunger away. What more could a Pony ask of food?

She finished her bowl around the same time Shield Wall was done with his. After thanking the Bishop, she resumed her conversation with Black.

"To my shame, I admit I don't much about the general mood among the Earth Pony population of the Imperium," she told the Major, "but they are the silent, oppressed majority. Imperatrix Twilight and her supporters have done everything in their power to crush their spirits and make them docile, obedient slaves, but... were they somehow to unite against the Imperatrix's regime, they'd stand a good chance of overthrowing her... especially if they received support from you."

Shield said, "I don't know much about how other Earth Ponies feel about the current regime either, and I think that is the crux of the problem. We are not united. Each Earth Pony is simply trying to survive on his or her own and most see other Earth Ponies as nothing but potential threats and competitors for the small privileges granted by our masters. We are not sad or angry when we see yet another Earth Pony slave taken to be punished or sacrificed. No, we are glad because it wasn't us... It's monstrous but also efficient. I was barely an adult when the Imperatrix took over and only now do I realize that she has been since the beginning working on to destroy any kinship and harmony Earth Ponies feel towards each other. I hate to admit this, but I don't think we'll ever be able to unite on our own. Not without some incredibly strong outward sign."

“Well if there ever was a sign, I would think a big spacefaring army of ponies would be it.” Black commented blithely as the bishop collected the empty bowls. “But that’s not really for us to decide, is it?” He said, watching Pearlescent and Shield for some kind of reaction from the food they’d eaten. Seeing none, he gave the two a friendly smile. “Have to say, most Equestrians balk at eating Manticore meat but you two haven’t blown chunks everywhere. Maybe you’ll fit in better then most.” Black chuckled as he watched their expressions curdled.

Twilight Sparkle wrote:

“We refuse to reject power simply because it might be dangerous!" Professor Rainy Gloom said with a surprising amount of emotion in his voice. "In proper hooves those insanity inducing books can grant a properly bred and trained Unicorn powers beyond the meager imagination of a mere Mud... Earth Pony. Princess Celestia suppressed any knowledge she deemed too dangerous for 'Her Little Ponies' and locked it away in the Canterlot Archives. Look how that turned out when we were unable to resist the Demon Invasion. If the Imperium is to survive, we must embrace all useful knowledge we can get in our hooves."

"You've made your point, Professor," Twilight said. "That's enough."

The old Unicorn stallion went instantly quiet. Nopony else spoke as they watched the recording of the battle. When the recording was over, all three looked visibly shaken.

"Oh dear," Twilight said, "This is worse than I thought..."

"Indeed, Your Immortal Ladyship," Duke Silver said. "She really seems to think I'm some kind of evil, horrible monster that would kill her own daughter without a second thought. I would never do such a monstrous thing. I love my daughter and simply wish for her to be both safe and happy."

"She must have been the one who called the Windigos to attack the ship and possessed her bodyguard, either knowingly or unknowingly," Rainy Gloom said. "But those were no ordinary Windigos... In fact, I have no idea what was wrong with them. They looked somehow corrupted and not entirely in control of their own actions, but... I've never seen creatrures quite like them! Abbess, I don't know where you have taken Lady Pearlescent but I think she might be in terrible danger to both herself and everypony around her. If you value life and Harmony, you must return her to us before she does something even more destructive!"

Rising frowned at the half-aborted slight about her race. “Daemons can be fought without the need to delve deep into their dark, corrupting ways, Professor. The Diarchy has survived for over five thousand years, fighting and defeating heretic, heathen and xenos.” She said as the Magos manipulated the projector further, playing an old propaganda film about the tenants of religious and racial unity. As the new recording blathered on about the importance of praying to the Sisters Divine, the Abbess walked back over to the windows to look out at Manehatten. “We have seen losses, we have seen setbacks, we have seen worlds put to the sword and the flame but Holy Equis still endures, Equines still endure because faith and spite. And it was with faith and spite that we fought back against our daemonic invaders. Perhaps later we might discuss that but back to the topic at hoof.”

Rising turned back to her guests as she finally returned all four legs to the ground. “While I cannot return your daughter this instant, Duke Silver. I will endeavour to have her returned as soon as we can. Lord Skia will have much to answer for when I find him next. You have my word on this.” She said as the film reached its end and the next one began, showing the multitude of worlds under the Diarchy’s rule.

Veradax wrote:

OOC: Decided that the "evil bureaucrat" take didn't fit too well with how I had set things up.

OOC: A refreshing take on the trope, for sure. I've always found the evil bureaucrat stereotype somewhat unrealistic, and I've dealt with quite a few bureaucrats. Usually, even the most obstructive ones have a good reason for their actions.

Jack Thatcher began the drive to his private beach. He drove on the interstate alongside other daily drivers and Jack kept a careful watch on his speed. Soon enough, Jack pulled off of an exit and arrived at a security gate built into a large concrete wall that expanded in both directions. The jungle surrounded him on all sides and visibility of the interstate had been lost a while ago.The car sent out a signal that the security station accepted and Jack was allowed to approach the gate. The guard quickly confirmed Jack's identity with a fingerprint scanner and let Jack in.

Jack continued to drive for several more minutes before he pulled into an asphalt parking lot outside an office building. Jack left his car and unlocked the entrance to the building with his keycard. Once more, Jack Thatcher refused to even acknowledge the existence of his employees and simply strode through the building until he reached another set of elevator doors.

This, like many doors, were opened by his fingerprints. Jack Thatcher stood in the elevator and felt the jolt as it began to move horizontally. The CEO patiently stood as the elevator tumbled along it's path. Ten minutes pass in complete silence before the doors open once more.

Jack exited the elevator into a cold metal room. Technicians fiddled with dials and gears along the wall while two phone operators simply paid Jack a glance before returning to their duties. Jack walked passed everyone and entered the next room. A large reinforced window revealed the ocean blue in front of him. A small school of fish was idling in front of the window but scattered the moment Jack opened the door.

"Sir, welcome back." Spoke a bespectacled portly man nearby

"Doctor Steven, lead the way." Jack simply replied. Steven nodded jovialy before leading Jack towards a large reinforced steel door. The entrance slowly hissed open and revealed an airlock corridor.

"The M.U.S.B has been operating well since the explosion. No pressure or oxygen issues, the repairs are mostly complete, and the injuries have been accounted for." Steven explained as the airlock did it's job and allowed the two men into a much larger room.

The Mobile Underwater Sea Base was a modular station capable of packing itself up into an oil rig esque situation and shipping itself to a new location. The large room Steven and Jack found themselves in was the main Atrium which made up the large middle of any M.U.S.B. This particular Base had two surveillance modules, two vehicle bays, an administrative addition, and a visitor's center built around the Atrium.

Steven and Jack immediately headed for the Admin Center. The doors swished open and revealed a room not unlike a naval command center. Steven took a seat at his Science Officer station while Jack sat upon his Captain's Throne. Jack looked at his administration crew before clearing his throat.

"We're packing up and leaving the coast. Send the order to prepare for surface breach."

"Bring out the sacrifice!"

The thralls heeded the command, and opened the doors to the sacrificial chamber. Two more thralls emerged with a young woman before them. She was naked, shaved, and tattooed from head to toe yet she was neither bound nor chained and walked freely of her own accord to the altar even as the thralls escorting her departed.

"Are you prepared?"

The High Priestess' words set off anxiety in the sacrifice. She nodded though she was still nervous. She was honored to have been chosen, of course, but she was still uneasy. To walk to one's death willingly was a difficult thing to do, especially for someone so young and beautiful. But this was the role the Great Snake had chosen for her and she would fulfill it dutifully. She climbed upon the altar as the other priests and priestesses began to surround it. Laying down flat on the stone slab she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

The High Priestess peered through her skull mask toward her master, the Witch-King of Anjobar himself, who nodded in approval. The black-cloaked figures began the ritual, dropping to their knees and raising their hands to the heavens. It was perfect. The moonlight shone directly through the skylight of the ancient pyramid, bathing the sacrifice in it's reflected sunlight. It was midnight at last. The High Priestess approached the altar, in her hand a silver-bladed dagger with an ivory hilt. Slowly she raised the dagger above the sacrifice, who did not move, before thrusting it straight into the sacrifice's heart. The sudden strike sent the sacrifice into one last gasp for breath as her eyes flew open in shock, before immediately falling limp and lifeless. Removing and sheathing the now-bloody dagger the High Priestess began to speak an incantation.

"Ekameh hal ben sindi yit! Ekameh hal ben sindi yit! Ekameh hal ben sindi yit! Ekameh hal ben sindi yit!"

As she chanted the other hooded, robed, masked figures surrounding her chanted in unison alongside her though unlike her own voice - which began to increase in volume with each chant - theirs remained at the same volume. Slowly but surely an unnatural grey mist filled the room as they chanted, accompanied by a mystical blue fog of energy that ebbed and flowed like a rogue wind. The anomaly circled the room starting at the walls but soon began to encroach on the center of the room, passing the chanting priests and priestesses without consideration, before it began to circle the altar and the dead body upon it.

"EKAMEH HAL BEN SINDI YIT! EKAMEH HAL BEN SINDI YIT! EKAMEH HAL BEN SINDI YIT! EKAMEH HAL BEN SINDI YIT!"

The High Priestess' shouting grew louder and louder, the Witch-King watching with deep-seated interest as he clutched the serpent pendant around his neck and began to pray - his eyes rolling back into his head while he did so.

"EKAMEH HAL BEN SINDI YIT!"

With that final, thundering shout the blue anomaly flew into the dead woman's body via her slack-jawed mouth. Suddenly the still-warm corpse began to jolt and spasm for several moments before falling limp again. The chanting stopped, and everyone in the room froze in place. The Witch-King's prayer ceased, and his eyes rolled back into their proper place. Suddenly, the dead woman's eyes opened again and her body sat up. The wound in her chest healed quickly, and her expression changed from that of death and shock to a wicked, mischievous grin. Her head spun around 180 degrees, snapping her neck in the presence, and addressed the Witch-King eye-to-eye.

The voice that came from the woman was not her own, but something distorted and inhuman. It sounded as if six people were speaking at once, three men and three women of varying vocal tones. Whatever language she spoke was horrid and incomprehensible and impossible to speak by a human tongue. In truth, this was not the same woman who walked to her death only moments early. Something foreign now inhabited her body. Something otherworldly, and malevolent. The Witch-King rose from his throne of bones.

"Hear me, demon! I have given you this host at the behest of our common Lord, the Sacred Serpent! It is by His Will that we are to be wed, and you are to give unto me a child that will inherit your powers of the netherworld! Be it son or daughter, I care not, but our offspring shall take the world by storm! What say you?"

The demon's smile remained constant, but it's wickedness faded. Her head spun around 180 degrees again to it's proper place as the bones within repaired themselves, and the demon rose from the altar. She passed the hooded figures without consideration and approached the Witch-King. The thralls standing beside him, out of mindless instinct to protect their sovereign, blocked her path with their halberds. She glanced at them playfully before the Witch-King rose his hand, and the thralls let her through. She approached his throne, and dropped to her knee.

"We are yours, our husband. Our child will be strong, healthy, and powerful; just as our Lord commands it to be."

The demon's voice was no longer in it's natural, vile form but instead mimicked that of the woman whose body it now inhabited. She extended her hand, and the Witch-king took it in his own. She rose at his instruction.

"What is your name, demon?"

"We have no names, our husband. You may call us whatever you desire."

The Witch-King pondered for a moment.

"Assemakke."

He said confidently. It was a well-chosen name, for it mean 'Good Fortune' in the tongue of the Anjobari. The demon's smile brightened.

"So shall it be."

Veradax wrote:

OOC: Interesting post, certainly. Though may I ask where you intend to put your nation?

OOC: On the bones of your misbegotten empires!

Or maybe a peninsula somewhere. Still working on it.

Two new retainers were to join the company of Queen Asta. Advisers both, one from her holy brother, and one from her most divine father. Representatives of the two of them respectfully, entrusted with the guidance of Asta as she learned how best to rule her beloved Vespergale, the land of her mother. She had already taken steps to try and ensure the prosperity of the lands, especially of the Vespergalian race which was uplifted by her as pure and unable to do wrong. But, she still had to wait if her reforms would bring the country into a golden era filled with happiness or a slow decline. Though, her almost unhealthy levels of optimism always assured her that everything she did would go as planned. Advisers were just there to float around ideas and add suggestions to her own, something greatly appreciated as she molded them into her own. And, if she ever were to make a mistake they would surely prevent her from doing so -- which was something she thought was rather dubious, but took precaution nonetheless. It was also enjoyable to have a group of people to discuss various matters with, even if they weren't always of political importance.

In all of her divine grace, high upon a palanquin, lounging against a wall of pillows alongside her consort Neijing was Her Majesty, Queen Asta Bonnet. Her golden gaze affixed to the entering retainers who were to pledge loyalty to her. Asta's yellow wings of indefinable beauty brushing against the cushions that surrounded her. Long, well kept hair framing the splendor of her features. She was unrivaled by all mortal beings. Outstreaching her hand she motioned for them to bow, "We greet you happily."

OOC: Shanyang