Barmenistan

[FPC]

Jusuv Frj Killed as Kutsyl Hzsrlji Krsyjogad implodes

Breaking: Leader of the Apostolic Army, Jusuv Frj is killed in a raid by Kazulian forces as the Sacred Hosian Union Party implodes due to a disagreement over the future of the party. Both the AA and the SHU were deeply connected and the loss of the latter will be a great loss to the AA who will be forced to halt their terrorist activities whilst a battle for the leadership inevitably commences. Frj, 58, was the figurehead of the organisation and a possible future leader of the SHU, which was a growing political force in Barmenistan.


Jusuv Frj former leader of the Apostolic Army

The AA and the SHU have left a profound mark on Barmenistan and Majatra already and experts believe the AA will continue to do so under a new leader.

[Polites]

Church Condemns Apostolic Army
Patriarch condemns terrorist group


Patriarch Abraham II condemned the Apostolic Army in Majatra

October 4295 - The unexpected death of Jusuv Frj, who has led the Apostolic Army in Majatra terrorist organization for years and is thus responsible for numerous attacks that have left hundreds of Barmenians dead, has plunged the organization into chaos and uncertainty. The actions of his terrorist organization are so grievous that the Patriarch of Kathura himself, Maran Mar Abraham II, officially condemned the actions of Jusuv Frj. Reminding his congregation of the Synod of Kathura, which recognized the Apostolic Army as a relief organization, Patriarch Abraham has condemned the terrorist and "un-Hosian" actions of the Apostolic Army under Frj's tenure and his deviation from the path set for the organization by the fathers at Kathura. The Patriarch also called for the Army's disbandment and required the Apostolic Community to submit to the lawful Barmenian authorities.

The Patriarch's actions clearly demonstrate that religious freedom is an essential right that all Barmenian subjects enjoy. The only ones that can rightfully fear the just punishment of the Twin Sultans are terrorists and cultists, those that have nefarious colonialist designs against the life and freedom of the Jelbic peoples. The Twin Sultanates remain grateful for the strong defense that Patriarch Abraham and other religious leaders in our free nation raise for the principles of justice and freedom. If all men and women of God in this nation were to be as committed as His Holiness to the cause of righteousness, we would never have to fear the anti-Jelbic plots of Istalians, liberals, Ruhis, communists, and homosexuals that seek to undermine the legitimacy of the Thaller-Banmek-Sntazed dynasty and the unity of the Jelbic race.

[Polites]

Modernist Government
Sultans appoint secular modernizers


Wrntukai Tuzmhamék, a physics professor turned Speaker of the Sultans

February 4296 - The collapse of the Sacred Hosian Union Party and the disintegration of the main Felinist and Ahmadist political parties in Barmenistan has opened the scene for a new generation of politicians, uninvolved in the corruption and chaos that have haunted the previous governments. Last year a group of university professors and academics formed an underground movement that they named the Union and Progress Party. Coalescing around Wrntukai Tuzmhamék, a physics professor who had also served in the Armed Forces, the young Party proclaims as its mission the reorganization of Barmenian society on a rational and scientific basis. Claiming to have discovered the secret for Barmenistan's successful economic and military modernization while leaving Jelbic culture and institutions intact, the men and women of the UPP caused quite an uproar in religious circles due to their irreverent attacks on "superstitions" and "irrational hidebound shamanic mores", which they blame for Barmenistan's economic and military backwardness. Instead the modernizers' pamphlets approvingly cite the example of Indrala's rise to the status of Great Power in the late 35th century, which it successfully achieved through the ruthless implementation of rational bureaucratic and meritocratic principles without sacrificing its Gao-Showan culture or its Jienist religion, all the while challenging and ultimately defeating Hosian powers that had dominated the world stage for millennia.

In spite of the new party's suspected Ruhi and Istalian sympathies, the Twin Sultanates are in dire need of fresh faces and new ideas. As a result, the by now infamous Wrntukai Tuzmhamék was tasked by the Twin Sultans to form and lead a new cabinet for the nation, and was given a mandate to weed out corruption and inefficiency, stamp out disloyal elements, upgrade and expand the armed forces, and revitalize the economy. Despite the party's unpopularity with large segments of the population, the fact that the new government enjoys the Sultans' full backing may help them achieve some of their goals and allow them to govern unimpeded for the time being.

[Polites]

Galt Freyja is Dead
Last Felis Supremis confirmed dead


Galt Freyja IV, the last confirmed incarnation of Holy Bastet, has been dead for centuries

August 4296 - Recently a large amount of formerly classified documents obtained from Hulstria years ago were released by the Union and Progress Party government. When Shb Lofrkadkai von Thaller, son of late Sultan Jens I, married Hulstrian Empress Beatrice II of the House Labsburg and produced an heir to the Hulstrian throne, the two nations entered into a secret cooperation agreement, which included the release of a large number of classified files by the Hulstrian government to the government of Barmenistan. The secret documents date from the time of the global cold war between the International Monarchist League and the Alliance of Terran Republics, when Hulstria and Barmenistan found themselves leading the opposite sides of the conflict. This year the UPP government decided to declassify a number of these documents and make them public in Barmenistan.

The most shocking revelation of the declassified files is the fact that Galt Freyja IV, the last Felis Supremis (Hldjeznka or Supreme Cat) of the Feline Homeland of Barmenia, is dead.

Galt Freyja IV was the fourth of the legendary Freyjas, a number of charismatic individuals who gained notoriety when they were successively recognized as the Felis Supremis, the incarnation of Holy Bastet the Moon Goddess, a position until then reserved for cats. The Galt Freyjas came to the forefront of international politics when Galt Freyja I became the chairman of the Alliance of Terran Republics, leading the global effort against the Hulstrian-led monarchist bloc. His three successors would also involve themselves in various conflicts against the International Monarchist League, including the Pontesian Civil War and the Davostag-Barmenian Debt Wars. The most legendary however was Galt Freyja IV, who in September 3399 departed on a mysterious mission to colonize the Third World and was never heard from again. Since then many prophesies, tales, and legends emerged that Galt Freyja IV would one day return and bring a colony and untold riches to the faithful Felinist people of Barmenistan.

But the declassified documents conclusively show that Galt Freyja IV and his small group of followers were apprehended by Hulstrian colonial authorities in Suyu Llaqta, at the time a colony of newly established Imperial Crownlands of Hulstria and Gao-Soto, after he was found aiming to incite the local cats and humans to revolt against Hulstrian rule. Galt Freyja and his followers were then summarily executed for espionage, and their deaths kept a secret.

Now that there is conclusive proof that Galt Freyja is dead, the Felinist community in Barmenistan is in shock. According to the Orthodox sect of Felinism, the Felis Supremis is the living incarnation of Bastet, the Goddess of fertility and the moon. During the Feline Homeland era, whenever a Felis Supremis died the entire nation would subside into ten days of official mourning that involved fasting, praying, suspending work, and wailing loudly through the streets whilst crawling on all fours with their eyes facing downwards, since it was feared that unless Bastet returned all plants would die and all living life would perish. However, since Galt Freyja IV's death was unknown until now, Orthodox Felinists maintained hope that the incarnation of Holy Bastet was still alive and would one day return with a colony. But the fact that the latest Felis Supremis has been dead for centuries and no apocalypse has yet occurred has led to a profound crisis of faith for Barmenistan's Orthodox Felinist population. Many Barmenians have spontaneously taken to the streets to mourn the death of the last living incarnation of Bastet, organizing processions involving weeping, loud public lamentations, and self-flagellation with the use of chains, knifes, and swords.


Shocked Orthodox Felinists are organizing public processions involving self-flagellation

In addition to the documents the Barmenian government also arranged for the transfer of the Felis Supremis' mortal remains to Barmenistan, and several historians and archaeologists have confirmed that they do indeed belong to the late 40th century Barmenian. However, many Orthodox Felinists remain in denial regarding Galt Freyja's death and still expect his return, while others believe that the lack of a confirmed incarnation of Bastet for so many centuries is divine punishment for Felinism's deviation from its republican roots and its embracing the monarchy of the Mede Dynasty, especially under the heretical reforms of New Felinism that recognized the Mede siblings as the incarnations of Bastet and Azaeran. Until now the Orthodox had been quiet about the monarchist bent of the dominant Felinist sects and remained secretly hopeful that Galt Freyja would overthrow monarchy on his return, but his confirmed death has largely put an end to these hopes. It is thus likely that the secular and modernizing UPP government took the decision to declassify these documents as both a way to discredit the "irrational superstitions" of the Orthodox sect and to reinforce the legitimacy of the Felinist Sultan and his Mede wife. Whether this new revelation would end up removing Felinist "superstitions" and strengthen the government, or rather lead to a rise in republican sentiments, will soon become clear.

[Polites]

Felinist Sultan Assassinated


Varishehr is under security lockdown

October 4297 - In a confusing and bloody series of events, Felinist Sultan Jemrkai was assassinated in the Varishehr palace by unknown assailants earlier this morning. The Sultan's 11 year old daughter Princess Jlemai, his half-uncle Prince Nyfnyrkai, Internal Affairs Minister Slejman Gilgamesh, and the Sultan's personal bodyguard were also victim of the shocking attack that has left five high-ranking Barmenian leaders dead.

The government met in an emergency session this afternoon and proclaimed a state of emergency. A curfew is now in place and the Speaker of the Sultans has ordered a security lockdown on the Felinist capital, including the closure of shops, schools, public transportation, and the placement of checkpoints. The armed forces have been ordered to assist in the lockdown, showing that the government is treating this as a military matter.

No organization or government has yet claimed the attack, although all signs seem to point towards one of the factions of the Apostolic Army, which has been left leaderless since the death of Jusuv Frj. Other potential culprits, including the Ruhi cult, Orthodox Felinists, radical Ahmadists, or foreign governments, are all under suspicion, as they all would have very good motive to murder the Great Khan.

The death of the Sultan Jemrjkai is a dark day for the Twin Sultanates, and will forever live on as a day of infamy. Whoever the murderers are, we pray to the Primal Gods that they will suffer a slow and painful death over many lifetimes. Our only consolation in these dark times is that royal consort Sultan Juliana Mede and Shb Set the heir to the throne have been preserved by the will of Azaeran.

[Polites]

Coup in Varishehr
Republican coup after Sultan assassination


Crowds attempting to stop Sultanate tanks

August 4298 - The assassination of Felinist Sultan Jemrjkai in October last year sparked a series of events that led to the collapse of Sultanate order in the Felinist capital and the installation of a "Federal Republic" in its stead. As soon as word came out of the assassination of several high-ranking Sultanate officials, including the Felinist Sultan himself, the government announced a state of emergency in Varishehr and placed the city on lockdown. However various religious extremist factions have taken to the streets in direct violation of the curfew and the state of emergency, and although the government has done everything in its power to prevent the rioting terrorist masses, it was ultimately unable to maintain order. The protests grew to such an extent that in January this year the Orthodox Felinist and radical Hosian crowds stormed the Felinist Palace and, led by Alexander bet Aws, an Apostolic Army leader, proclaimed the Federal Republic of Barmenia, with a claim to leadership over the entire nation. The surviving members of the Felinist dynasty, including Sultan-Consort Juliana Mede and Shb Set the new Felinist Sultan fled to the Ahmadi capital of Sekhmet, where the cabinet and the legislature are also located. Ahmadi Sultan Intrsmor, who was also present in Varishehr when the assassination had taken place, also fled to the capital. The Twin Sultanates promptly condemned the radical religious and republican coup in Varishehr and are now contesting the Federal Republic's attempt at asserting its control over the entire nation.

Although the republican coup seems to point out the likely culprits of the Sultan's assassination, namely the radical Hosian and Felinist coalition that took power in Varishehr in its aftermath, the identity of the assassins is still unclear. The most probable suspects, namely the terrorist Ruhi cult, which would have had plenty of cause to punish the Felinist Sultan for his trial and execution of their prophet, have so far denounced violence and spoken strongly against the assassination. The Apostolic Army is a more plausible culprit, although with their current disorganization and their condemnation by the Apostolic Church leadership they appear to lack the means to carry out what appears to have been an expertly planned and executed operation. Orthodox Felinist groups are another potential suspect, however Orthodox clergy have so far offered lukewarm support for the coup, and although they have celebrated the Sultan's assassination due to their radical republican ideals, they are unwilling to offer their full backing to the new Federal Republic unless the Felis Supremis is once again recognized as the Barmenian head of state. A number of conspiracy theories have also sprung up, one of them arguing that the assassination was the Ahmadi Sultan's doing, who attempted to eliminate his twin brother's side of the dynasty so that he could rule as sole Sultan. The theory argues that it was highly suspicious that Sultan Intrsmor was present in the Varishehr palace when the assassination took place, given that neither of the Twin Sultans had spoken to the other in years. Ridiculous as it may be, this theory is one of many attempts by Barmenians to make sense of the chaos and confusion that have suddenly taken over the nation.

[Polites]

Felis Supremis Identified
Orthodox Priests identify Supreme Cat


Felis Supremis Nudara studying Felinist scriptures

February 4299 - After the shocking revelation of Galt Freyja IV's death some 1000 years ago, the Orthodox sect of Felinism, officially organized into the Sacred Feline Cult, was thrown into disarray and a major crisis of faith. Blaming Bastet's absence from Terra and Galt Freyja IV's failure to return with a colony on Barmenian faithlessness and the corruption of Felinism by monarchist sects, the Orthodox are now demanding a return to the original purity and simplicity of the faith and the revelations of Lady Ershébef Kepahisn. Arguing that Felinism needs to be purified of monarchist elements, hundreds of Cat Priests and faithful affiliated with the Sacred Feline Cult have gathered in a conference in Varishehr this January, where they decided on a reform of Felinism and a return to the fundamentals. The Varishehr Conference led to the establishment of the Orthodox Feline Community (Heij'ibadejogadé Nkaé Grshjogad), a fundamentalist reform movement within the Sacred Feline Cult, centered on a rejection of the Mede dynasty and heterodox Felinism, radical republicanism, a belief in the necessity of having a living incarnation of Holy Bastet, and a full separation from Religio Seluciana.

Ten days after the Varishehr Conference the Orthodox Community initiated the traditional search for the Felis Supremis, which it has identified in the person of Nudara, a young kitten from one of the Felinist Temples in Qardajar, Murdhe. Nudara was identified after she appeared to recognize some personal items belonging to Galt Freyja IV, and she was immediately proclaimed the Living Incarnation of Holy Bastet and the Hldjeznka (Felis Supremis) of the Feline Homeland. Once Nudara was proclaimed the Hldjeznka, Orthodox believers throughout the territories under the new Federal Republic joined public celebrations and prayers for forgiveness for the sin of monarchism. Spurred by this renewed religious fervor, a new political party was founded in Varishehr, the Orthodox Feline Alliance, dedicated to the political interests of Orthodox Felinists and aiming to contest seats in the new Federal Republic. It is unlikely that the authorities in Varishehr will see this sectarian political party with favorable eyes, but for Orthodox Felinists the assassination of Sultan Jemrjkai is the first step towards the moral and religious renovation of Felinism and the reestablishment of the glory days of the Feline Homeland.

[Oakwood]

Republican forces seize Sekhmet; Juliana, Baroness Mede to be put on trial.

Varishehr- The office of the Ministry of Defense has notified the Republic that the city of Sekhmet has fallen to partisans loyal to the government. It was later reported by a spokesperson for the Speaker of the Assembly stated that Juliana, Baroness Mede shall appear before a Judge at the District Court of Ufne. The case of FR v. Mede shall be interesting indeed ; with nobility having been stripped of their privileges by order of the constitution, and the government not recognizing the claim of the fallen twin Sultanates, the woman shall face the charges of conspiracy against the state, false presentation of a government office, and the use of sectarian and ethnic violence to adhere to a terroristic ideology.

Meanwhile, her son has been sent to a state education center, where he shall be cared for by experts.

[Polites]

Fall of the Twin Sultanates
Barmenistan united under Federal Republic


Fall of Sekhmet

August 4300 - Last month the last remaining stronghold of the Twin Sultanates, the former capital city of Sekhmet, has fallen to Republican forces after a prolonged and deadly siege. The Republican forces, led by self-proclaimed President Alexander bet Aws, incurred a massive defeat against the Sultanate army, commanded by former Speaker of the Sultan Wrntukai Tuzmhamék, with significant casualties on both sides. The Sultanate army, numbering about 40,000 troops, managed to defend the Ahmadi Sultanate for the two years since the Republican coup in Varishehr, but suffering from a lack of resources and manpower it could not resist the concentrated Republican assault. The battle led to the death of thousands of civilians, and hundreds of thousands were displaced from Barmenistan's largest city. The 7 million former capital was largely reduced to rubble, and many historical buildings have been destroyed.

Following the fall of Sekhmet, several members of the royal family, including Sultan-Consort Juliana Mede and Shb Set, son of assassinated Felinist Sultan Jemrjkai, were captured by Republican forces as they were attempting to flee the city, and they are now on trial for conspiracy against the state and treason. Orthodox Felinists, organized in the Orthodox Felinist Alliance, have issued calls for the execution of any royal found within the Federal Republic, including Juliana Mede. Given that she is a Selucian citizen and a High Priestess of Lionist Felinism within Religio Seluciana, if she is found guilty this may cause a diplomatic dispute with the Republic of Selucia. Ahmadi Sultan Intrsmor was however not found in Sekhmet, as he appears to have fled the city before the Republican assault. Although his whereabouts are currently unknown, the Federal Republic has issued a warrant for his arrest, and the newly constituted law enforcement agency of Barmenistan is conducting a manhunt for the dethroned Sultan.

[Polites]

Juliana Mede and Set escape custody