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Agadar wrote:Why would you give your kittens autism?

Mental enslavement for the NWO of course.

As you may be aware, I'm incredibly unsure on a flag for my nation. I've tried a lot of things but for some reason none resonate with me. I am dead set on becoming the spaghetti paradise of the Isles, mafia included, but the flag is a real sticking point. My coat of arms is totally fine its just a flag. I can make them just fine too - all the flags I use are of my own design. Anyone got any ideas though?

Almorea

Austrovik-Germania wrote:As you may be aware, I'm incredibly unsure on a flag for my nation. I've tried a lot of things but for some reason none resonate with me. I am dead set on becoming the spaghetti paradise of the Isles, mafia included, but the flag is a real sticking point. My coat of arms is totally fine its just a flag. I can make them just fine too - all the flags I use are of my own design. Anyone got any ideas though?

For some reason based on this description I'm thinking of a green, yellow, and black flag with a modern weapon in it, but that may be too much mafia and too little spaghetti.

Nhoor wrote:For some reason based on this description I'm thinking of a green, yellow, and black flag with a modern weapon in it, but that may be too much mafia and too little spaghetti.

My nation is much more civil then that, dear friend. The Mafia in Austrenya (the Capi) are mainly underground organised crime units.

Athara magarat wrote:Gimme your tea please.

Tea Culture of the Isles

by Athara magarat

Tea culture is defined by the way tea is made and consumed, by the way the people interact with tea, and by the aesthetics surrounding tea drinking. It includes aspects of tea production, tea brewing, tea arts and ceremony, society, history, health, ethics, education, and communication and media issues.

Tea plays an important role in some countries of the Isles. It is commonly consumed at social events, and many cultures have created intricate formal ceremonies for these events. Morning tea and afternoon tea are national custom in coutries like Athara magarat. Tea may be drunk in small private gatherings (tea parties) or in public (tea houses designed for social interaction).

Different regions favor different varieties of tea—black, green, or oolong—and use different flavorings, such as herbs, milk, or sugar. The temperature and strength of the tea likewise vary widely.

Aprosia (New aapelistan)


Painting of medieval Aprosian tea ceremony

The tea culture of Aprosia is an important part of the different national cultures of Aprosia. Grown locally in the coastal regions and to an extent in the valleys of the inland, tea (tén, tʰe:n) has been grown in Aprosia for ages and has local many local variants. While regular black tea is usually served unsweetened and without milk or spices, certain cold variants and alcohol variants are sweetened, either by sugar or mixing with sweet rice wines. The considerable variations of tea in Aprosia has led to tea being widespread in Aprosia.

Regular Aprosian tea is commonly prepared by boiling water and tea at the same time. A samovar style contraption, ténšášd (tʰe:nʃaʃd), is also commonly used, especially in public tea serving establishments. Iced tea in Aprosia is prepared by steeping tea in liquid for a lengthy period, usually with sugar and possibly with alcohol, until it is cooled and the steeped tea leaves are removed.

Tea is served in several occasions and while a concept of tea time has not developed, tea is a common drink in restaurants and mazdénud (mazdʰe:nud), alongside regular teahouses. Tea servings in teahouses and mazdénud are often alongside tobacco consumption in Aprosia and different snacks and foods. In contrast to traditionally quiet and peaceful teahouses, the mazdénud are establishments serving different drinks and foods, accompanied by live displays of music and different games, a form of gambling in Aprosia. While regulated since independence, the mazdénud form of gambling and the tea culture related to them are relatively common in Aprosia and in the Aprosiatic diaspora.

Athara Magarat


One of the largest tea producers in the Isles, Athara magarat is a country where tea is popular all over as a breakfast and afternoon drink. It is often served with milk (usually of Kirati yak or horse), sugar, and spices such as ginger, cardamom, black pepper and cinnamon. Almost all the tea consumed is black Aruneli tea of CTC variety. Usually tea leaves are boiled in water while making tea, and milk is added.

Tea is unofficially considered the national drink of Magarat by most of her citizens. Offering tea to visitors is the cultural norm in Magarati homes, offices and places of business. The "Art of Tea" is a cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of tea. Small tea shops are prevalent across the entire country for Magaratis and foreigners who wish for readily-prepared tea while tea houses are used only for holding tea ceremonies.

There are two most famous hangates in the Magarat region that produce black teas:Arun Valley and Khumbuwan. Khumbu tea is known for its delicate aroma and light color. It has high aroma and yellow or brown liquid after brewing. Aruneli tea, on the other hand, is known for its robust taste, dark color and intense aroma. Hangate of Arun Valley produces the largest quantity of tea in Magarat, mostly of the CTC variety, and is one of the biggest suppliers of major international brands such as TBD and TBD.

Some unique Magarati teas include -

  • Chathaese Tongba: Despite its name, Chathaese Tongba (the actual tongba is a millet-based alcoholic beverage from northeastern Magarati hangates such as Arun Valley) is in fact a tea famous for its sour taste. It is said to have originated from the area which is now known as San Montagnan Chatha. The Chathaese Tongba is made from sweet black tea fermented with a mixture of yeasts and bacteria. The exact mixture is not known to outsiders so it still remains a mystery.

  • Chuli Style Yak Tea: Mostly seen in northern and central Magarati hangates, this is essentially tea with butter from Kirati yak as a substitute for milk. This tea is a very warming drink suited for cold weather in the central Chuli Mountain Range and northern Magarat. The tea also provides high caloric energy, as well as protection from chapped lips since it has butter. However, the butter should be from a Kirati yak or else it will just create a greasy film.

  • Hangun's Tea: Usually stalks, twigs and stems of green tea are used as fertilizers in other countries. But 13th Century Magarati nobility from the various constituent hangates of the Khas-Kirat Empire blended them to create this unique tea. As parts of tea plants usually excluded in other teas are found in this tea, one will find that the taste and aroma are very unique in a pleasant way. Regular Hangun's Tea comes from Arun Valley or Khumbuwan hangates.

  • Khumbuwani Cannabis Tea: This is a cannabis-infused drink prepared by stepping various parts of the cannabis plant in hot or cold water. Since both tea and cannabis are heavily-cultivated in Khumbuwan, the cannabis tea is readily available there.

  • Wrestling of Snake and Turtle: This is essentially a mixture of small amount of liquor and black tea. Usually, caffeine and alcohol mixed together can be very unhealthy if both are in large doses. It is essential to only use large amount of one and small amount of the other. The alcohol can be any, but brandy is touted as the best tasting in Wrestling of Snake and Turtle tea. Only 1/2 or 1/4 of the alcohol in the bottle's lid should be poured into tea cup while the rest should be boiled tea. It is also important to put in alcohol first and tea later, not in reverse.

  • Yarsha Chiya: This Magarati tea used to be very exotic but now it's becoming better known in the world of tea lovers. Yarsha Chiya is in fact a green tea slowly aged using a subspecies of the Ophiocordyceps magaratis fungus, and now Magarati government only acknowledge Yasha Chiya produced in Chuli Hangate as the authentic one. Yarsha Chiya is available as loose leaves, thick rectangular block, or a round disc-shaped which looks like a cake. In fact, carefully aged Yarsha Chiya are one of the most expensive teas in the Isles.

  • TBD Tea:

Dragao do Mar


Most people in the southern Dragao do mar drink tea everyday, while most in the north drink coffee. A small portion of Marians drink both coffee and tea, usually coffee in the morning and tea in the evening.

Martenyika


Tea is important in Martenyika not just economically, but culturally, and even medically. Black tea has grown in popularity throughout Martenyika, with two main varieties grown for export and domestic consumption, but old traditional brews also remain. Here are some of the teas Martenyikans enjoy:

Aromatique: "aromatique" (aromatic) is the colloquial name for Martenyika's signature light black all-day tea variety, which is unique because of the distinct fragrance of its leaves and the subsequent brew. Aromatique is often described with terms such as light, refreshing, and airy; it is almost exclusively drunk hot and without any additions, to avoid ice or other flavors influencing the tea's delicate nature. This tea has become very common in Martenyikan society, often serving as a form of basic hospitality or impetus for social interaction.

Jelani (AKA Janga/Jabali): While the exact name varies depending on the region, they all refer to the same strong black tea base, and in fact they all mean something along the lines of "strength." Jelani is both the name of the strong black tea itself, and more accurately the beverages that use it as a base. The full bodied, astringent nature of Jelani makes it difficult to overpower, so additions like honey or honey wine, lemon, and so forth are common. Jelani is enjoyed either hot or iced, because it is not at risk of being watered down from ice.

Chicory Tea: Chicory tea, like the chicory plant itself, is a staple of rural Martenyikans in particular. Chicory grows plentifully in such areas, and has been used for food as well as a range of medicinal purposes. This tea can be made with either the chicory flowers or dried roots. Reportedly these types of chicory tea can treat a vast range of issues, from increasing appetite and calming upset stomachs to relieving pain. Additionally it can act as a sedative if enough is consumed in one sitting.

Khat Tea: Khat tea is a base of almost any kind of tea that is brewed with the addition of khat. Khat itself is a plant whose leaves and stems may be chewed for euphoriant drug properties, and reportedly it can alleviate medical ailments such as diabetes, depression, stomach ulcers, obesity, headaches, and male infertility. Khat tea is mostly used for medicinal purposes, and it holds spiritual and cultural significance due to being featured in certain ritual traditions. The idea is that the properties of both the khat and the tea base would work together to amplify benefits on the one drinking it. Khat and khat tea drinking have come under scrutiny due to side effects, but they remain legal in Martenyika.

Ostehaar


A tehfaar in Haalban

Since the 18th century, when tea was first introduced to Ostehaar through Noronica during the Noronnican period, Ostehaar has been one of the region's greatest tea consumers, with an average annual per-capita tea supply of 1.23 kg (2.71 lbs). While in many other countries coffee has replaced tea as the most common hot drink - in Ostehaar tea has prevailed and gradually gained the status of a national drink. The Oster word for tea is teh (pronounced like day with a 't' instead of a 'd').

A Linkteahouse (tehfaar in Oster) is an establishment which primarily serves tea, usually having a quiet or subdued atmosphere. Like pubs, tea-houses in Ostehaar are common places for social gatherings, usually of a few close friends and for the purpose of having a calm conversation. Most Osters drink strong black tea with a bit of sugar, and no other additions (such as milk or lemon). Most tea brands consumed in Ostehaar today are imported from Noronica, Athara magarat and Negarakita.

Tea is often offered to guests by a host, and small food portions are often served during "noon tea" (ernteh, which literally means day-tea in Oster) and "evening tea" (aalarteh, lit. last-tea). It is the beverage of choice for many Osters when they are not drinking alcohol - for instance, tea is always the drink served to the designated driver in anti drinking & driving ads.

Segentova


Segentova stands out among nations, as tea and coffee seem to enjoy similar levels of popularity throughout Segentova, with certain regional differences. As a general rule of thumb, tea is more often consumed in the more temperate, southern regions (where tea is a common cash-crop cultivated in the lange plantations) while coffee is more often consumed in the arid islands and cooler climate of the north. Cultural customs surrounding tea broadly follow continental European trends, as such it is oftentimes served sweetened and with added milk.

Local taverns, pubs, and cafes, which serve as social and communal centers throughout the country commonly serve both coffee and tea as non-alcoholic alternatives throughout the day, and it is not an uncommon sight to see families or groups of friends sitting around a table and enjoying a cup of tea in the local Taverne ( Segen colloquialism for any establishment offering food and drink).

Common additions to Segentovan tea often include Sheep or Goats milk, as these have historically been the most common types of livestock held in the country, often sweetened with sugar, honey or molasses. An alternative to this is the use of condensed milk. Tea in Segentova commonly served with biscuits or small portions of cake or pastry on the side. Especially during winter, it is not uncommon for people to add particularly liquor or spirits to their tea. When served in an establishment, this is commonly referred to as an extra. As smoking-laws are comparatively lace in Segentova (allowing restaurants and bars to set their own policy, provided they warn about it at the entrance, and, should the have separate smoking and nonsmoking sections, segregate these), tobacco is oftentimes consumed along with tea. It is said by many that the stereotypical image of rural Segentova is and elderly shepherd wearing a beret and smoking his pipe while he enjoys a cup of tea, with a little extra in it.

Wellsia


Most Wellsians drink coffee in the morning, even though hot tea is also popular, iced sweet tea is common for noon and evening meals, with a hot tea often used as a mid afternoon snack.

Read dispatch

Added cannabis tea there today.

Tea War of 1821 - never forget.

Most Wellsians drink coffee in the morning, even though hot tea is also popular, iced sweet tea is common for noon and evening meals, with a hot tea often used as a mid afternoon snack

Segentova and Athara magarat

Austrovik-Germania wrote:My nation is much more civil then that, dear friend. The Mafia in Austrenya (the Capi) are mainly underground organised crime units.

Perhaps there can be some sort of cooperation between the Balniki smuggling rings and the Austrenya Mafia families?

Wellsia wrote:Most Wellsians drink coffee in the morning, even though hot tea is also popular, iced sweet tea is common for noon and evening meals, with a hot tea often used as a mid afternoon snack

I didn't think about ice tea... I need that added in as well!

Austrovik-Germania wrote:As you may be aware, I'm incredibly unsure on a flag for my nation. I've tried a lot of things but for some reason none resonate with me. I am dead set on becoming the spaghetti paradise of the Isles, mafia included, but the flag is a real sticking point. My coat of arms is totally fine its just a flag. I can make them just fine too - all the flags I use are of my own design. Anyone got any ideas though?

1. Look at irl flags for inspiration on design
2. Google the meanings of colors on flags (theres an actual red symbolizes bravery, white symbolizes purity, blue symbolizes justice) and that might inspire certain color combinations that you can then mesh with your design and coat of arms

Dothrakia wrote:1. Look at irl flags for inspiration on design

oh did you do that

Athara magarat

Havalland wrote:Havallish Ginger Tea
Havallish Cinnamon Tea

Need more info.

Post self-deleted by Athara magarat.

Alteran republics

Ioudaia, Athara magarat, Corindia, and Ktismandrasi

Alteran republics wrote:Are we GO or NO-GO?
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=357511&p=37262397#p37262397

No GO due to a drop of rain.

Alteran republics

Alteran republics wrote:Are we GO or NO-GO?
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=357511&p=37262397#p37262397

We are GO for launch... and GO for a drama-producing anomaly that still leads to a mostly successful mission.

Athara magarat and Alteran republics

Alteran republics

Ioudaia wrote:We are GO for launch... and GO for a drama-producing anomaly that still leads to a mostly successful mission.

How to get kicked out of regional space programmes:
1. Blow up your launch vehicle.
2. Blow up your launch vehicle with someone else's payload.
3. Blow up your launch vehicle with someone else's payload and its foreign crew.
4. Blow up your launch vehicle with someone else's payload, its foreign crew and then crash land into their capital.
5. ...
6. Profit!

Ioudaia, Corindia, and Ktismandrasi

Corindia I don't know why but I'm always super hyped to get new plants in. Spent around 85 bucks for the plants for the (finally going up) new tank and man did they come in super lush and full and awesome and I can't wait but I have to wait because the driftwood isn't done soaking yet

Shidei wrote:Corindia I don't know why but I'm always super hyped to get new plants in. Spent around 85 bucks for the plants for the (finally going up) new tank and man did they come in super lush and full and awesome and I can't wait but I have to wait because the driftwood isn't done soaking yet

planting and scaping is so fun, the main reason I'd want more tanks is to set them up tbh. I was actually about to tag you on the rmb because my amanos just arrived! They're all healthy and acclimating as we speak

Alteran republics wrote:How to get kicked out of regional space programmes:
1. Blow up your launch vehicle.
2. Blow up your launch vehicle with someone else's payload.
3. Blow up your launch vehicle with someone else's payload and its foreign crew.
4. Blow up your launch vehicle with someone else's payload, its foreign crew and then crash land into their capital.
5. ...
6. Profit!

Oh, use a little creativity. :) A decent spacecraft should be able to survive an anomly or two and still complete its mission.

Corindia wrote:planting and scaping is so fun, the main reason I'd want more tanks is to set them up tbh. I was actually about to tag you on the rmb because my amanos just arrived! They're all healthy and acclimating as we speak

You'll never have algae on your plants or hardscape again (unless it's blackbeard algae, my amanos won't even pretend to do anything about that). I'm definitely considering adding some to the new tank but I doubt I'm gonna have the tank sit around long enough w/o fish in it to get the tank seasoned enough the shrimp will thrive. So they'll probably be a little more hide-y than my current set who think they're the ultimate life form.

Some of the pieces of dragon stone I have are absurdly colorful (anywhere from grey-green to brown to red to purple to vibrant rusty orange all on the same stone) but I can't have them in the tank because the colors won't stand out as much as they deserve against my brown/tan/gold-ish gravel. But man are those ochre hues great. And my anubias is (hopefully) going to do great on the stone because of all the little pockets and holes. And moss too but I don't have that yet

I could also go on for days about the plants I've got ready to go. Instead of bright green (vallisneria, pogostemon, ruffle sword) in my main tank, these ones lean heavier on the darker green/brown/reds which I hope will look as good as it does in my head with the gravel and the rocks and the dark (and light too! on the same branch!) mopani wood

Shidei wrote:dragon stone

I wish I splurged on my hardscape for my tank. Or like, wasn't so conservative with how it was set up. It's the first one I ever set up so the actual hardscape is super bland, even if I'm happy with the plants and it's not like it's ugly by any means.

Shidei how well will 6 amanos clear out a 29 gallon with a ton of surface area? You really think they'll strip the hair algae bare? I know they chew through it, just not to what degree

Corindia wrote:I wish I splurged on my hardscape for my tank. Or like, wasn't so conservative with how it was set up. It's the first one I ever set up so the actual hardscape is super bland, even if I'm happy with the plants and it's not like it's ugly by any means.

That's the same with my first one. Wasn't enough hardscape but the plants (especially the indomitable vallisneria) have filled in the gaps

Corindia wrote:Shidei how well will 6 amanos clear out a 29 gallon with a ton of surface area? You really think they'll strip the hair algae bare? I know they chew through it, just not to what degree

I've got 8 amanos in my 29, and they cleaned all but the walls bare within 2 weeks. Not a huge amount of hardscape but there was a good amount of plant matter to grow on. And I had a lot of hair algae I was growing (somewhat on purpose, partially out of laziness). I did only drop a couple algae wafers in that time to encourage them to actually eat the algae itself. Keep an eye out for the other food you put in the tank to make sure it's not sitting around... after all, if someone put fresh baked cookies in front of you, or you could eat some plain kale instead, the choice is obvious

Shidei wrote:That's the same with my first one. Wasn't enough hardscape but the plants (especially the indomitable vallisneria) have filled in the gaps

I've got 8 amanos in my 29, and they cleaned all but the walls bare within 2 weeks. Not a huge amount of hardscape but there was a good amount of plant matter to grow on. And I had a lot of hair algae I was growing (somewhat on purpose, partially out of laziness). I did only drop a couple algae wafers in that time to encourage them to actually eat the algae itself. Keep an eye out for the other food you put in the tank to make sure it's not sitting around... after all, if someone put fresh baked cookies in front of you, or you could eat some plain kale instead, the choice is obvious

That makes sense. I still want to keep the otos and snails happy so I won't completely abandon algae wafers, but I'll hold off for a little while.

How is everyone today

Segentova, Dragao do mar, and Nhoor

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