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  • 📅 October and November 2024 are YE 46.8 in the RP.

OOC International Relations Conference YE 46 Planning & Discussion

raz

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Hey! Because a thread on this topic hasn't been made yet, I've decided to go ahead and create one so that the goals and themes of Yamatai's renowned International Relations Conference of YE 46 can be ironed out. Traditionally, the biannual conference aims to begin early March OOC time and generally stretches until the RP fizzles out around July (the last one in YE 44 started late in July and went until October). The roleplay is usually undertaken by FM-level characters such as the Premier of Yamatai and Empress (or the Sky Marshal of Nepleslia) as well as their designated subordinates in some cases, with observers from smaller subnational governments often being present.

With a backdrop of the Third Mishhuvurthyar War having recently commenced, this year's conference is ripe for inter-faction negotiation. So here are some seed discussion points to figure out prior to when the in-character action starts.
  • The conference is hosted by Yamatai. Which other factions besides Nepleslia should Yamatai invite, both as primary participants and observers? (Tagging @Wes the Premier player).
    • The Mishhu? Previous Mishhu overlords have attended in the past, but the current Mishhu War is a different kind of conflict.
  • Where should the conference take place? Reikan Park? Pisces Station again? Another place?
  • Is there an in-/out-of-character theme for this conference that makes sense? In the past, as well as during real life diplomatic conferences, there is often an overarching goal participants wish to address.
  • Is there any desire for organized non-diplomatic roleplay or crossovers from other plots?
  • When should the conference aim to begin OOC? March 1 (soon) or later than that (less soon)?
Feel free to bring up anything else relevant that I may have missed, as well as your ideas for making it fun and memorable.
 
raz mentioned he could have Ketsurui Aiko organize the IRC in the same way Alastair Belmont did last time. I'd like to know if she can because if she did this, I'd like to have the kaiyo crewmen (player characters) be all-around helpers to her and, thus, the event as a whole. A diplomat needs their bags brought in? A Kaiyo PC can do that. Someone flooded the toilets? A Kaiyo PC can fix that. Someone is about to release several hundred thousand invasive, violent bugs? A Kaiyo PC can stop that. Just something to give them more RP to do and also a way to make sure that even a sole diplomat walking around alone will have someone to RP with ^0^

I think a theme could be new paths with relationships. There are many relationships between empires that are not new ones, but they need re-examining or additional thought put into them (I have seen this mentioned with Phods, Reds) and so that sort of "where are we going to take this?" question definitely hangs over the event.
 
I think it would be extremely remiss of Yamatai to not invite the following factions…
  • The Democratic Imperium of Nepleslia, represented by @SirSkully or @Charmaylarg Dufrain
  • The Elysian Celestial Empire, represented by yours truly
  • The Kingdom of Neshaten, represented by @SirSkully or @club24
  • The Conclave of Essia, represented by @Soban
  • The Poku Saeruo Degonjo (I don’t know who’d be responsible for playing them, though…)
  • The New Dusk Conclave, represented by @Alex Hart
  • The Imperial State of Tsenlan, represented by @Andrew
  • The Fujiko Development Corporation (representing the Reds), represented by @demibear
  • The Phods, represented by @Hollander
  • The Kodians, represented by @Dana
  • The Elves, represented by @Ametheliana
If I missed anyone or got the representations wrong, I sincerely apologize - I threw this together while watching the latest episode of Masters of the Air.

Edit: Knew I forgot someone - The Freespacers, represented by @Primitive Polygon. Sorry about that >v<
 
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I have only three Neps of any merit for the IRC.

One is currently lost in space.
Another is on his way to another sector.
And the final one is a cranky old cyborg in charge of neps police force and doesnt feel right for the IRC~

Maybe if I think of something else I can join in. But my only notable that wouldn't require retconning to be there is Shasta and while It would be funny and I like to meme I don't think it's a good idea to insert essentially an outlaw into the IRC because I'm sure I would end up getting freehold glassed... Again...

Though im sure someone could show up there to try to panhandle resources, ships, or funding for the Osman coalition.
 
The Spacers have always been a complete dumpster fire with no clear direction, to be fair. Negotiations did not work well in the past.

Could have some heads of splinter groups turn up, though- This is a narrative advantage that the old Free State lore didn't have.

I guess the big question is, what does Yamatai have the intention to use this conference for? Is every one really just scoping out their neighbors?
 
I got to sleep before I can make a legit post but I have some some notes:
  • Have Koenic join the YSE (Delsaurian Colony) - YSS Resurgence to visit there and flesh it out
  • Maybe the Hidden Sun Clan finally joins the YSE
  • "Designed for the international relations conference, Yamatai equipped its soldiers in special uniforms designed to show their soldiers could do shitloads of situps and crunches." Okay, okay, the sixpack-window uniform is a joke...right?
  • The International Relations Conference is this year, it would be a good place to renegotiate the treaty with Ohara. (Phods)
  • I probably need to have the Abwehrans do something to show they still exist
  • Euikoshi and Carter meet again?
  • Time for Hanako to shine in her role as premier!
  • Mishhu war cooperation
  • New sector exploration agreements?
  • International standards?
 
To return to the initial question regarding the Mishhuvurthyar, their involvement seems unlikely.

The Mishhuvurthyar attended the one conference, and it was the first one. To disastrous repercussions. I don't think Yamatai would even really want to get into inviting a representative of a nationality that poses an existential threat to them.

By the same way, I'm not certain the Neo Mishhuvurthyar would bother either. Just the same way public relations in Yamatai don't explore the similarities neko/mishhu have and focus on the glorious killing of Mishhu, the NMX likely paint humanity as vermin and then best way to portray that is to make their bleatings 'beneath notice'.

Even with the Mishhu intellectual whom would like to play with his food, Mefpralphra's (Melisson's) nearly decade-long involvement with humans and failures to adequately communicate (and she was arguably the best amongst them) paints a lesson to most higher-ups whom would be inclined to toy around that way. Many risks, little gains.
 
I'm trying to develop the Mishhu in my sector to where they might be able to do a peace treaty eventually of some form. But it probably should wait until the next IRC or the next.

I do want to extend an invitation to everyone to come to the new sector.
 
Just for clarity, I don’t represent the Phods. I have a Phod-related plot I’m recruiting for, but only if folks are interested.

Kaiyo PC’s - Sounds Awesome!
I think the idea of Kaiyo PC’s helping to manage the IRC. It sounds exciting, and it’s a neat way to get even more player character’s involved in the events.


Need NPCs Played?
If any of yall need an NPC run for your story ideas (Red-Green NPC talks? Koenix system representatives applying for YSE membership?) Let me know! I’d be thrilled to help your plot move forward at this conference.


Phod Plot Interest?
So I’ve been working on a plot where two factions of Phods from Ohara are looking to emigrate from their world and found colonies. I’ll only run this plot if others are Genuinely Interested! I feel there’s little point in putting steam and energy into a story if it doesn’t create writing opportunities for others. Here’s the gist:

On Ohara, there are two distinct political philosophies; the Representative-Democracy Capitalists, and the Authoritarian Socialists, with some religious folks sprinkled in. The Capitalists and the Faithful want a colony, and the Authoritarian Socialists want a colony. Much of the leadership of Ohara doesn’t really want them to go, as that means a huge loss in population, workforce, farmers, etc.

There’s good potential drama, as there are flaws in the economic and political systems of the Capitalists and the Socialists, and in how they want to run their potential colonies.

If you really, truly would find a discussion or workgroup about that interesting (even if there’s only one of you) I’ll move forward with the plot. The plot would involve a brief speech from the parties describing their dreams, Ohara trying to say “Hey we support these groups but we’d really rather they stay”, and a potential for your group or faction to try to get these Phods to colonize a region of ‘your’ space. Some of their colony laws might be controversial, so it could be fun to talk that out.

Let me know here, or through some other means, if you are definitely interested or if you have further questions. I’m perfectly fine letting the plot fade, so don’t feel obligated to say you want to work on it.


Hidden Sun Clan Interactions
I’m interested in bringing a Poku Saeruo Degonjo (Hidden Sun Clan) character or two to the IRC to interact with folks. If you would like your character or NPC to meet and learn about the Clan, please hit me up. This character won’t be an Emissary or Ambassador, as those are NPC’s appointed and approved by the FM.


Kactist Sector Pretty Cool!
I'm also seconding Soban's invitation to the Kactist Sector, where the 7th Fleet is hanging out. It's a neat place, lots of RP potential there!
 
I'm trying to develop the Mishhu in my sector to where they might be able to do a peace treaty eventually of some form. But it probably should wait until the next IRC or the next.
Sounds like a project. :)

I recommend you bounce some ideas around with Ametheliana. I've discussed Mishhuvurthar socio-politics with her at length and she should be a good up-to-date subject matter expert for you to rely on if you ever have a need to.
 
While we are waiting on “a legit post” from @Wes because his characters set the most important elements of the IRC (invitees, major agenda), I’d like to ask again for input on the locale people want to roleplay at.

Reikan Park on Yamatai and Pisces Station offer really different RP opportunities, with the former being on Yamatai itself. Is there a third choice, though? Any ideas here?
 
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