Rebuilding the Union

[yoman82]

This last update didn't move the timeline forward, so the last map I posted is still the relevant one. When I end my traveling I'll have access to my maps again and will advance the timeline a bit.

I hope we get another update soon.

[izixs]

The Or'Conner Period: 250-279

AP 251: Cago proposes the Great Illinois Agreement to formalize the boarders of Cago, Springfield, Quadria, Terra-Hot, Indianap, and the Greater Lakes Republic (at least in the west). The only losers seemed to be Indianap and unaffiliated towns between the various groups. As Indianap had little choice in the matter as their surrender pretty much guaranteed the new boarder anyway, all nations would soon sign on.

Supreme General Or'Conner went to work at setting up policing of newly acquired areas, and elsewhere, shrinking the army. The harvests of that year were bountiful, but would likely not of been harvested if not for the returning former soldiers. The New Union Council feared however that as many homesteads had gotten along alright without the soldiers for at least a year or two, that some might not have a place back home. So the council decided to do two things. The first was to create a new council for the express purpose of training and equipping future New Union soldiers. The second was to open three schools for teaching and restoration of historical devices, one each in Memphis, Jackson, and Chattanooga. Indeed, a number of former soldiers flocked to these new opportunities. New retired general Mark became head master at the Chattanooga school.

253: Negotiations with N'arlens for the return of the captured territory break down. The N'arlens princes threaten an embargo of goods to the New Union if military threats are made. Or'Conner does move troops to near the boarder, but keeps them hidden for the mean time. It is never really known if N'arlens found out about this move.

A revolt begins in Indianap. Soon Indianap is anarchy, with three major groups, and several smaller ones, claiming to be in charge.

254: Grand Marshall Toll comes to power in Indianap, his 'Pacers United' group had managed to either kill off or bribe in to signing up the other factions vying for power. It soon became obvious that Toll had also had help from Columbia and in the first few months of his reign began to make laws against anti-Columbian sentiment, which there was much, and to encourage anti-Cago sentiment, which there was more of.

Or'Conner re-entered negotiations with N'arlens, specifically with Sara the Smile. They reached an agreement where Sara would personally supply recompense for the territory taken, but she would retain primary rights of defense and business there in. Such was not allowed in N'arlens territory, but this special zone got around that as it was agree that at least in name the territory was still New Union territory. The New Union would also be able to operate economically there, but the area would not be subject to New Union redistribution policies. As the only alternative it seemed was war with N'arlens, the New Union leadership begrudgingly agreed to these terms but made it know that if 'West N'arlens' became a destitute land or a place where good people were oppressed, they had the right to take it back no questions asked. Sara the Smile agree to this and she and her cartel began becoming the primary power in West N'arlens.

257: Grand Marshall Toll was killed via a poisoned breakfast. Those responsible were never found, but the resulting power vacuum was quickly filled by Grand Marhsall Jill, who too soon was killed by poison. The third Grand Marshall of the year, Henry, acted in a paranoid fashion and soon had gone completely insane. Forced evictions began to be common place as GM Henry was dead set on not letting the Evil Doers have any place to feel safe. Soon after were forced marches of random citizens. And soon after that rebellion. Henry was strangled by one of his inner circle in December. Again Indianap was in anarchy.

258: Atlan went to war with nations along the eastern coasts. Not much as to why or what of the war reached New Union lands, however the fighting was quick with Atlan victorious. When word came to Or'Conner, the real message was obvious. Atlan was making it clear that they were not push overs and that New Union expansion would not come at their expense. Or'Conner went to the New Union council and decided to lay out a new vision of the New Union.

First, the New Union would have to always be seen as the valiant force in any conflict and be on the side of right. Second, they must continue to expand, incorporating friendly neighbors when possible, and fighting against destructive kings when peaceful opportunities were not found. And thirdly, the New Union would have to prevent a coalition like that of the Wheat Pact from ever forming in opposition again. Or'Conner would likely of been laughed out of the chambers had he not had his prestige. But the council did reject the imperialistic part of Or'Conner's views. The council also pointed out that they're decisions were that of the now, and that long term planning wasn't something that they could do in a chaotic world. Or'Conner was not pleased.

259: Indianap finally stabilizes again. Now in charge was a mysterious group of three based off a local religion. Indianap shortly formerly left the Wheat Pact and began work in forming a coalition against Columbian interference. By years end, the nations along Columbia's southern boarder were a part of the O-hi mutual defense agreement.

Or'Conner lead troops to the boarder of Knox and began sending threatening messages to the Sheriff. Within a few weeks, several poses of Knoxians attacked the New Union encampments. With a reason to go to war now had, Or'Conner sent the new general of East Tenn, General Smoog to attack Knox while giving word to the council in Memphis that Knox had declared war.

The attack on Knox was highly successful and before winter most of their territory was secure. And thus by time orders to defend and not attack were sent from Memphis, it was already too late. Or'Conner was recalled back to Memphis.

260: Or'Conner was officially demoted to be General of Litter Rock. It was believed duties keeping people in line there would keep him busy for the time being. Retired General Mark was brought in to be new Supreme General. The question about Knox however was less clear cut. General Smoog seemed unresponsive to initial requests to withdraw. Eventually the council had Sheriff O'Malley of Knox brought to them to explain the Knoxian attacks. O'Malley spat on the floor and cursed them, and then claimed that the New Union was planning on killing them all and the proceedings were a show trial.

O'Malley was sent back to Knox but died in a carriage accident. After a few more weeks, fighting flared up again in Knox as it seemed to the locals that the occupiers had killed their leader. General Smoog, trying to save his own hide, forged evidence suggesting that the locals had killed their Sheriff and sent it back to Memphis. When the evidence arrived, the council was again divided. But eventually one of its members, Caesar Roh, representing Ark, called on the council to remove General Smoog and to set down a firm policy on Knox and the eastern reaches. Roh soon had a following on the council, but deadlock persisted for many months, all the while General Smoog continued to wreak havoc on the revolting Knox.

[izixs]

261: The Roh group was eventually able to replace General Smoog and set down a policy on Knox. Knox would become a New Union holding, but would maintain self governance otherwise. The New Union would be the only source of their defensive abilities. The give this new ruling legitimacy of any sort, the council would decree that the eastern boarder between Atlan and the O-hi river would be that of the old boarders of Kentucky and Tennessee, which would include all of Knox and some sparsely settled areas.

264: After much efforts, General Smoog admitted to all that General Or'Conner was the one whom created the 'Knox Plot'. General Or'Conner was removed from being General of Ark and brought to Memphis. As it would of been suicide to punish otherwise Or'Conner, a special position was made for Or'Conner as 'Advisor of Military Matters'.

The nations of Alabama began negotiating with the New Union for more protection against the increasingly militant Atlan.

Omaha began the 'Great Western Landgrab' as the Prince of Omaha decided that there were too many people in the city doing nothing of great use. And thus sent them out west to claim new lands for Omaha.

265: With Topeka growing, the Roh group forced through a similar measure to that of the eastern boarder, establishing the New Union extended as far west as the old Missouri boarder. Some of the locals in the newly acquired areas were surprised to be informed of their new citizenship, but no outright rebellion occurred.

Traders and explorers in the far north west find the Dakota nations and their agrarian society.

266: The Roh group made a condition of defense of the Alabama nations that they would submit a referendum on joining the New Union to their citizens. Caesar Roh began working with Or'Conner to create the first major post plague propaganda campaign to try to sway the vote towards Yes.  Or'Conner used his remaining connections to begin this.

269: The question of Louisville finally comes to the fore front for the New Union council. Prince Lance passed away in prison and the city began marching for and against thew New Union. The NU council opted to return the city and the region to normal status, the Roh group however forced this to only be possible if Ken was split between Ken and Tucky, with Louisville being a apart of Tucky.

N'arlens merchant prince, Tallius von Hornblower, sells maps of Florida to New Union craft and trade groups.

272: The nations of Alabama finally met and agree to the terms of increased protection from the New Union. Years of Or'Conner back propaganda made the results of the referendum a foregone conclusion, and soon almost the entire former state of Alabama was in the New Union, with all the new territories joining the Bama zone.

The Prarie Pact is formed between Omaha, Topeka, and Sioux.

275: The new councilors from Bama had joined the Roh faction, making them the majority on the council. Caesar Roh himself had retired, but the group kept his name in his honor. The Roh faction make Or'Conner general of Bama and soon entered negotiations with Atlan for a neutrality agreement which is quickly agreed too.

Traders in the east encounter the nation of Potomac. Word eventually reaches back to Memphis of the nation as well as its alliance, the Federal Union Group.

276: The Roh government made public a new grand plan for a peaceful middle America. At the center would be the New Union. In the north, the four major players along the Big River, Cago, Twin (which controlled the Twin Cities), Saints, and the Iowa Nations. And in the south, the N'arlens Trade Federation and Atlan. Of course most of this was pie in the sky. However, in interests in maintaining their influence, the Roh group felt that a big sweeping plan was needed to keep the status quo. Distrust was great of the national council for its previous treatment of Or'Conner and for the lack of new works since the end of the war. The Roh faction sent Or'Conner to Atlan to ask them to join the American Alliance, while other persons of power were sent north.

278: Twin joins the American Alliance. This starts a cascade of sorts to the south, as the Saints, fearing exclusion from this alliance would mean their near certain destruction, sign on to be permanent members. All three Metals swear their loyalty to the new America. Kacity reaffirms their support as well in this.

279: Or'Conner dies while in negotiations with Atlan. Soon after, the Queen of Atlan also dies. Her heir signs onto the American alliance, mostly as a way to scare off rivals for the throne.

[yoman82]

Please, please more.

[Kevinstat]

You didn't mention Cago joining the American Alliance, but they're shown in red on your second map.  The same with some smaller nation's I think, but those might not need to be mentioned.

Great timeline btw.

[izixs]

Cago joined at the end of the First New Union War as a reason to attack Indianap. Springfield and Terra-Hot were members before the war but had been overrun during it. After the war they kept with the alliance so that they'd have any chance if a new war started. They are uneasy about the Saints joining and make it obvious they think the Saints and Cago are bad for the alliance without just plain saying they oppose them being members.

[yoman82]

What's the population of the different nations now?

[izixs]

That's a very good question. In the timeline those numbers are highly unknown. Though I can say that there is between 500,000 and 1 million in the New Union with various population centers. Columbia, Cago, and Atlan would probably be in the 2-300k range each, with most of their populations centered around the major cities and falling off towards the frontiers. Most people live agrarian lives and with the exception of those in areas that have seen fighting (aka, most of the New Union at this point), many of those that live far from the cities only interact with traders and wandering representatives of their nations (aka, those that might collect taxes or to hunt down people causing trouble) beyond talking to nearest neighbors.

More will probably come out when a census happens.

[izixs]

Greater Memphis Period: 280-297

AP 280: With the death of the popular general, the Roh group decided that a new figure head for their faction was needed. The council was much more divided that year, so the resulting change didn't result in a Roh friendly general, but instead a new position, Council Speaker. The Council Speaker would be the chief diplomat of the New Union, as well as the one responsible for ensuring the council's will was being done in the nation. The Speaker would serve single five year non-consecutive terms (another condition of getting the change past). Each state would get one vote for the speaker.

The first Council Speaker was Deirdre Holbroc, a compromise candidate.

282: War breaks out between the O-hi Agreement nations and Columbia after some initial successes by Columbia, the war enters a stalemate.

283: Speaker Holbroc manages to get representatives from all American Alliance nations to visit Memphis. Among the representatives are Cali Metal, Prince Vow of Atlan, and Mayor Keelder, the leader of Twin. At the meeting, the representatives of the Iowa nations announce to the alliance that the three nations would be uniting as the restored state of Iowa. They also made clear that they were doing so on their own and that they would not become subservient to any one member of the alliance (as some nationalist New Unionists were hoping).

Also at the meeting, Mayor Keelder and the representative of Cago showed great interest in the city of Memphis itself. Of the known metros of the time, Memphis was only beaten by Cago in population, but the old city center was much more inhabited by the denizens than Cago. (Only Cago's elite were allowed into the old the old city center at the time. Sort of a forbidden city.) As such, the city center was less dilapidated despite nearly two centuries since the plague compared to most other city centers. And there had even been areas restored by this point.

The positive impression of the city convinced the Cago representative to admit to Holbroc that the leadership of Cago had thought the New Union a barbaric group and that their joining the alliance had not been as had been thought at the time, an opportunity and not much more. And further more, that his being there was in total to determine if continued involvement in the alliance was going to harm or help Cago. The rep told Holbroc that they would return to Cago to sing the praise of the New Union.

Also discussed was interest by Tulsa to join the alliance. As the alliance was already getting large and unwieldy, there was much resistance and the response was decided to be to tell them to wait five years for a decision.

Also discussed was the war in the O-hi region. It was decided in the end that the alliance would not as a group get involved and that any nation that did would be on their own.

285: The O-hi war comes to an end, with the aid of Pits and Mitchegan. Some minor territorial gains were had by some of the O-hi members as a term of the Columbia surrender.

Also that year, rumors of unrest reach Memphis from Caroline. The nation's president was apparently killed by an assassin, resulting in the coalition that controlled Caroline to fall apart.

Johnny Red becomes Council Speaker.

286: Johnny Red publicly backs  the formation of a new society: the Steam Society. Its goal is to build a railway along the Big River, and another going from Litter Rock to Tucky. The Steam Society was the brain child of Gerberty Herberty, a machinist. Unlike some of those interested in recovering or refurbishing lost technology, he wasn't interested in jumping in on the hard stuff as diesel or electric trains were not feasible due to lack of fuel or a working power grid outside a few communities.  So he had done his research and found had developed an older form of transportation involving steam power. Speaker Red was him self an old tech enthusiast and thus was able to pull the strings to get Herberty's group formalized by the council.

Rumors begin to reach Memphis about an attack on the Dakota nations. By years end the rumors turn to the Dakota's being overrun entirely by a strong army from further north.

287: Tulsa joins the American Alliance.

288: The first Steam Society train makes its way north from Memphis.

The nations of Colby and Spencer join the Prarie Pact.

289: Succession movements in Caroline begin to bear fruit. Over the year, six factions break from the Caroline republic. One of them joins the Federal Union Group as it was almost entirely surrounded by Caroline. The gambit works as the FUG is feared by the Carolines.

Cago's leadership announces interest in the Steam Societies new train system. Herberty proposes a line linking Memphis and Cago, work to be completed in around a decade. The main difficulty of course was not the finding of proper iron or other metals for the tracks, but the actual smelting, as there were still yet few foundries. But Speaker Red's favor with the Roh group and his campaigning for the Steam Society was helping change that.

290: Rumors of war in the Florida peninsula reach Memphis. Ularo Crass become Council Speaker. Speaker Crass another meeting of the American Alliance. The meeting is again in Memphis. In the years since the last meeting, the New Union council had worked hard to repopulate the old city of Memphis, even to the point of encouraging abandonment of farms near the city. Cali Metal, was amazed at how much better the city was looking since her last visit.

On the agenda this time was the petition of Green, a nation bordering Caroline and Atlan, to join the American Alliance. A surprise item was also on the agenda, the fate of Knox and The Kays. A number of other American Alliance members were concerned about the pseudo-occupations of these territories, and their being held in uncertain status. As the year was 40 years past, and even the once youthful Cali Metal's memory of it was fading, these two areas of contention were seen as black marks on the New Union's talk of being a representative nation.

Speaker Crass agree to push the New Union council to determine the ultimate fate of Knox and The Kays.

Green joins the alliance.

292: Omaha is attacked by an army from something called Edmunt's Empire

The New Union council finally agrees to act on Knox and The Kays. The Kays would be absorbed into Missy. Knox would be given the option of either joining the New Union or West Caroline. Knox votes and opts for the New Union. It is believed that this is the case as West Caroline had long been a rival of Knox even before the first New Union War.

Fearing Caroline rebels and O-hi influence, the towns of Western Virginia join the New Union as a new zone: Appalachia.

293: The Prairie Pact goes into action to try to repel the invaders of the far west Omaha lands. By fall it is known that the combined armies of the pact have been repelled.

The President of the Great Lakes Republic, Joseph Joseph Chrome Joseph, visits Memphis after hearing of its wonders in the yearly debate about their mutual boarder with Cago. The president wanted to see for himself why Cago was loosing people to the city of the New Union. In fact a number of families of the Cago elite had moved to Memphis in the last few years due to the rumors of a glorious city. The first new electric generator had been put to use only a few weeks earlier and so President Joseph was greeted by Speaker Crass in an electric light council hall. The president was impressed by made it clear that he was happy Cagoians were heading that way and that he would not be so easily swayed. But it would lead to Columbia trying to catch up...

295: A massive invasion of Omaha begins. Renewed efforts by the Prairie Pact to turn back the army of Edmunt's Empire seemed to only delay the onslaught. Lisa Moonshaker becomes Council Speaker.

296: Word came that Sioux Falls was entirely overrun Sioux was also being taken. Edmunt's Empire was reaching the Topeka boarder. The Prairie Pact turned to the American Alliance for help. All but West Saints out right refused. The last official act of the aged Cali Metal was to order assistance to defend Omaha. If she hadn't done such, word of the reality of the new threat would of not been brought back to the other major players of the American Alliance. That Edmunt's Empire had a seemingly large army, fully equipped with repeating fire arms.

297: Speaker Moonshaker brings the American Alliance back together again in Memphis, a city well on its way to attaining its former glory, to discuss Edmunt's Empire. Intelligence is shared. They figure out that the Empire was very mobile, heavily armed, and well supplied. The Empire likely came from either a placed called Montannia, or else the 'ice covered forbidden land of Cana-duh', as the Twin rep described the regions to their north. And what more, Edmunt's Empire had made no attempt to communicate in any way other than through force of arms.

A vote was had and the Alliance decided that this threat was to much and that several members would soon be in danger. Not much respect was had for the Prairie Pact's army at this point so they figured the pact would be overrun in under a year.

At the end of the meeting, Bonzi Metal, leader of Central Satins, announced his intentions to exit the alliance.

[izixs]

Religions of After Plague[/b]

Faith was a very important part of many people's lives immediately after the end of the old world and since. However, with only a couple exceptions, no central authority has yet to assert dominance over the various churches and sects the remain as left overs of the previous tapestry of faith in North America. In fact, most churches are wholly independent of each other other than sharing common names or rights.

The Faiths

Baptist - By far the most common faith grouping in the New Union, Dallas, and Atlan, baptist is used to describe the christian churches that still use the christian bible as the source of their faith, emphasize full body emersion for baptism, and which resist external control of the local church. Baptist churches do not believe that the plague was part of the end times as the full rapture and events of revelation never took place, and most importantly, that the second coming of Christ has not happened.

Free Catholics - More prevalent in the northern Nations (where they're allowed), the Free Catholics are another old school christian collection of churches. They disagree with the Baptists on the matter of specific ceremonial issues (such as the style of baptism and when), but share their independent zeal. However, they do at the very least, claim to be waiting for the return of the true Pope who will unite the churches from his castle in the long lost city of Vatica. Most Free Catholic churches have priests, a few have bishops or cardinals and only a few people know why.

Saintly Catholics - Before the First New Union War, Saintly Catholics was the official and only religion of The Saints. During the initial expansion of the Saints there was a pope appointed by the grower and the defender jointly. Eventually once the Metal line took over, only the reigning defender had say. The Saintly Catholics share most of the same rites and beliefs as the Free Catholics, but of course believe their own pope to be the one true pope to speak for all christians to God. Since the war, only Central Saints maintains the Saintly Catholic Church as the state religion as only the defender of Central Saints maintains the power to appoint that pope.

N'Arlens Catholics - Again, similar to the Free Catholics, but with more ritual and practices borrowed from the baptists and a few other faiths now unheard of in coastal south (such as Voodoo). The fifty seven priests of the N'Arlens Catholics elect a bishop of N'Arlens to manage their assets, settles disputes between churches, and to try to recruit baptist and free catholic churches into their coalition. The N'Arlen Catholic church is also viewed as very corrupt by outsiders, as the leadership is often seen enjoying an extravagant life style with no clear source of income. Adherents claim that such a perception of wealth is needed in the N'Arlens sphere of influence in order to keep the church from being bought out by merchant princes.

Methidox - The churches that self describe as Methidox are those that have agreed to adhere to the Decree of the Reversed Schism, which was a document written in AP 21 by a gathering of twenty seven holy men of the various churches of christianity near Cago. The decree declares that the various denominations of christianity of the previous world had been proven wrong by God's forsaking of the world, and that the end times were upon the world but that every single faith had been wrong on that matter, and that even worse, God had halted the final judgement as all whom had been judged so far had failed the test and thus a second chance was needed. The Decree of the Reversed Schism lays out clearly the rites of the faith and the basic tenants, which include a promise that if they follow through and seek salvation that eventually the end times will begin again and the process finished properly. Methidox churches are found in most known areas by AP 300

Second Islam - Found only in Columbia, Second Islam is based on a large number of holy books of whom the prophet Zunny claims each contains parts of the true word of the divine. Most of the practices, as the name would suggest, are most similar to that of pre-plague islam, and that there is only one God. The biggest divergence is that there also exists and number of adversaries to God and the good, all of whom are spirits and entities created by man in order to sow corruption into the cosmos. And that one must resist the efforts of these evil creations in order to find salvation. Some of these spirit adversaries come from holy books and myths, such as Ravana (from Ramayana), and others are from a more historical source, such as Hitler. Second Islam vests church authority in five hereditary judges whom settle disputes between believers and whom are responsible for spreading the faith.

Luthwin - Shares a great deal of their faiths and practices with the old Lutheran church and found mostly in the far north west. Very divided overall as far as governance and unification of practices, but the member churches keep in contact and actively seek to help each other when in need. Some believe the large Luthwin presence in Iowa helped with the unification efforts as Luthwin churches there had always ignored the claims of the factions and crossed boarders.

Cult of Vix - Founds mostly in Cago and Indianap, the Cult of Vix is the fastest growing after plague faith known. The Cult of Vix believes that one of the other faiths was correct about how the world came to be, but they don't care, and don't believe what ever divine force that acted then is still in effect shaping the world. They also believe that their founder, Vix, figured out a way to for a time seize the reigns of the cosmos and to end the plague. What more, that Vix control the cosmos for a time but grew tired of the labor and gave up the power to return to Earth and spread the good news that anyone could rise to seize the reigns of all creation and to give clues on how to do so.

Mormon - There are very few churches of mormon in the known world by AP 300, but rumors persist of a mormon promised land past the deserted western plains and hidden behind the cracky rocky teeth of the world. The latter day saint believers follow a faith almost unchanged since before the plague and have shown a great resilience in maintaining it. Mormons also tend to keep away from members of other faiths, and thus in some areas, are feared and used as scape goats. This of course perpetuates the isolationism.

-----

Authors note: I've resisted talking about religion much in my timeline, mostly out of fear of sticking my foot in my mouth. The religions of North America in this time line are not meant to be 100% continuations of what they are today. Also the world of AP 300 is still not very populated. The main sources of power are still military might and ideas, but most the big common ideas come from the lost heritage of America, as as the time line has been progressing, the main faction to use that idea (the New Union) has been doing so sparingly.

All the same, I'm interested in feed back on my evolution of religion into a new era for this time line. In a couple weeks I'll see about getting back to this thing a little more full time too. (like an update a week or something crazy like that)

[Goodbye Friends]

Excellent.

[yoman82]

Excellent.

[Kevinstat]

Ehhhxcellent.

[izixs]

I actually need to get back to this. I have a ton of maps to write history for! :-D

[yoman82]

PLEASE, post some more.