Balance of Power (Gameplay Thread) - Epilogue and Game Over

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

OOC: What happened with China? I was confused for about 10 minutes between when I found out about the scandal and when I declared war on Britain, and the cutting of military ties with China lasted about that long. I mean, I'm alone in this, so cut me a break.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

OOC: What happened with China? I was confused for about 10 minutes between when I found out about the scandal and when I declared war on Britain, and the cutting of military ties with China lasted about that long. I mean, I'm alone in this, so cut me a break.

The China issue will face resolution via event next turn.

Suffice to say, Cixi was not happy with you preliminary cancelling the weapons trade (it should be remembered that the concept of "saving face" has always been important to the Chinese), Prime Minister Balfour made a very generous offer, and General Yuan Shi-Kai (ever the opportunistic magnificent bastard) did the rest. You do have the full backing of the Orthodox Alliance, the Armenians, Kurds and Afghans on your side, though, as all of them have declared war on your enemies.

Does that mean Russia was behind troubles in my Kurdistan?

I wasn't, but I guess I am now.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Russian Empire - Late 1903

• The so-called Ankara Declaration is filled with brazen lies and is a clear indicator that the imperial powers seek to bleed our people white and colonize our land. We will not surrender to the aggressors. "Preventing Russia from waging aggressive war" is code for de-clawing and de-fanging the Russian bear to render us helpless against foreign aggressors.
• We will send supplies as well as limited reinforcements to Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania, our loyal allies. As a symbolic move, I will visit our allies' capital cities of Yerevan, Bucharest, Belgrade, and Podgorica before meeting with generals in Poland near the front lines.
• Rozhestvensky has proven his worth, while to my eyes Makarov's reforms have failed to display significant progress. He will remain a higher-up in our navy and I will take his advice into account, but Rozhestvensky shall head our navy for the duration of this war.
• The scheming, licentious, decadent British Empire has hit a new low. How dare you accuse my Tsarina of being an adultress?!?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The allegations delivered against our nation are false and malicious. In order to sell a war they have sent thousands of their men to die in, the aggressors have fabricated lies implicating us in acts we have not committed. The resolve of the Russian people will only grow stronger the more we see of our enemies' treachery and hypocrisy. We look forward to destroying the invaders and securing peace and prosperity in our nation and its allies.

X Tsar Nicholas II

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The six-power alliance continues to lie between their teeth. Japan and Germany have openly expressed territorial desires against Russia, with the latter having lied both about the Krupp bombing and the supposed poisoning of Wilhelm III. We appeal to the people in all nations to demand their leaders be honest and accountable.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Austria-Hungary will join Chancellor Bulow's attack in Poland.  Russia must not be able to further strengthen its sphere of influence in Europe, and Chancellor Bülow and I are committed to preventing that.

OOC: Thanks for telling me your war plans.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

In both Russia and the so-called Allied states, there is popular opposition to a war which has no end in sight and, if continued, will ruin us all. The Russian Empire hereby sues for peace on the condition that we are offered equal footing with the Allies in resolving this war diplomatically in a neutral city (Geneva?). We are fully prepared to make sacrifices so long as, again, we have a say in them. As proof of our commitment to peace talks, Russia hereby cuts off arms and training for Afghan, Kurdish, and Filipino rebels.

X Tsar Nicholas II

OOC: I actually expected to get thrashed in Asia-Pacific and do better in Europe, but I guess my fortunes have been reversed. Also, is Bulgaria a formal member of the Orthodox League now or just a co-belligerent?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

We are not pursuing a status quo peace and are prepared to make sacrifices, but we will not compromise our internal security. We have already taken a unilateral step towards peace and there will be more if the Allies are willing to come to the table.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Russia will not comment on American internal politics but denies any role in Mr. Bryan's death.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

X Tsar Nicholas II

We hope the other five powers shall see fit to end this war quickly and fairly as Japan and Russia have, especially as the Russo-Japanese conflict started this whole war.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

It is important to remember that the central conflict was between Russia and Japan, not between Russia and Germany or Austria or Turkey. As we have made peace with Japan, we feel it is only logical to make peace with your countries--a peace that does not utterly undermine Russia as in the proposed map, especially since we had no aggressive intentions in the first place against Germany or Austria, and we again vociferously deny any involvement in the Krupp bombings or having poisoned the German Emperor.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

In a copy of the map the Allies are throwing around, the Germans' demands would strip Russia to the bone and ensure Berlin's total domination of Europe. Russian Poland is one matter; to demand we cede everything west of Smolensk and completely abandon the Black Sea is another. We encourage the rational members of the Alliance to oppose the most radical expansionist proposals. Clearly we were right about the Ankara declaration--preventing Russia from waging "aggressive war" always meant carving Russia up like a turkey.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The Alliance continues to speak in codes. "Concrete steps to prevent future aggression" and "saving the Tsar from militarists in his government" both mean stripping our empire to the bone. Every Russian should resist, in any way they can, efforts to destroy and exploit our lands. To the minorities in European Russia--The Germans are conquerors, not liberators. Germany openly demanded in communications that Poland be made a German province, and Ukraine an Austrian province. In addition, treason to Russia will be punished harshly and swiftly.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

...did Germany just annex Austria?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The strong and valiant Slavic people will beat back the Teutonic barbarians from our lands.

To remove association with Germanic naming systems, I hereby order St. Petersburg to be renamed to Petrograd.
 
X Tsar Nicholas II

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The strong and valiant Slavic people will beat back the Teutonic barbarians from our lands.

To remove association with Germanic naming systems, I hereby order St. Petersburg to be renamed to Petrograd.
 
X Tsar Nicholas II

LOOOOOOOL

Well, the city was indeed known as Petrograd OTL.

And that's also why the city was renamed Petrograd at the beginning of WWI.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

While Bulgaria is not technically a Russian ally, we are nevertheless Slavic and Orthodox brothers. Turkey did violate Bulgaria's neutrality before Russia sent troops to defend it, and we believe the Turks see fit to treat the Bulgarians more fairly than they are now. We will not restart the war with Turkey, of course, unless Bulgaria's very existence (and the safety of Serbia, Romania, and/or Montenegro) is at stake. If necessary, we can negotiate a compromise between Sofia and Constantinople.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

OOC: Calling it Turkmenistan isn't really accurate either. The new...thing in Central Asia probably won't stay a single country for long.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

OOC: I know what you're trying to do, Spamage.

The Russian Empire provisionally recognizes the Turkmen Federation, or whatever it will be called when it stabilizes.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Russian Empire - Early 1904

• My sons, the legitimate heirs of Russia, shall be named Alexei and Vladimir.
• A scapegoat is necessary to maintain internal stability and support for the House of Romanov, so Sergei Witte will have to be sacrificed. He will remain an economic adviser for the time being, and may play a role in post-war domestic policy. I hereby appoint Ivan Goremykin in his place; Russia must embrace strength and nationalism if she is to win this war. The far-right organization, the "Black Hundreds", shall be incorporated and molded into an official paramilitary to enforce law and order in Russia while moving away from the more wanton acts of violence.
• I personally order a massive sweep of our government both to weed out graft and corruption and to identify any traitors or collaborators. In addition, our secret police shall investigate and put down potential ethnic rebellions and conduct campaigns against violent agitators on the far left.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Russia is concerned about reports of brutal treatment of subjects in the Congo Free State. We ask Leopold II to transfer control of the region to the Belgian government.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

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x King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy

x Prime Minister Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau

x Kaiser Franz Ferdinand I of Austria-Hungary

Why would Austria need to sign a transfer of land between Italy and France?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

We point out that the Ottoman Empire, a year after recognizing Bulgaria as an independent kingdom, blatantly violated its neutrality and now demands control over over half the country. We of course have our hands tied against the Germans, but Russia is willing to do what is necessary to protect Bulgaria's independence.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Just as you came to the aid of your Azeri compatriots, we reserve the right to protect the independence of a fellow Slavic and Orthodox kingdom.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

We acknowledge that context has changed, and we are not going to go to war with Turkey yet again unless Bulgaria's very existence is threatened. However, we advise the Sultan to seek a reasonable peace with Bulgaria rather than imposing an unfair one.