Shireroth Explodes

SHIREKEEP, SHIREROTH - The past few weeks have seen a massive surge in activity for the Imperial Republic of Shireroth, with the daily posts going from 39 a day up to (at most recent count) 111 per day! This surge in activity is most definitely attributable to one event: the 'practical joke' played by those of Shireroth's political elite referred to so amiably as 'the old boy's club' by their detractors and semi-detractors alike. This event, which saw one Kaiser deposed, another 'joke' Kaiser instated and then resign, and finally the 'real' Kaiser Los II take the throne, spurred the Shirerithian citizens, all set for the summer lull, into action.

Those elements already likely to kick up a fuss if something happened which really ticked them off (namely Duke Rakesh Ackbar of Brookshire and Duke Philip Locke of Hyperborea), were ticked off and kicked up a fuss, quite rapidly. They formed the Union for Progress, and (perhaps) PAST, although the author is unsure whether this is an organisation or some sort of maxim, and quickly displayed an overpowering ignorance of almost every political concept which has been fostered in Shireroth for the last couple of years, especially the infamous 'you have no rights, get used to it' philosophy.

People in Shireroth used to get resentful when compared to America, or when analogies were made using American comparisons, but only, admittedly, if these ticked Erik off. Now, just mention the words 'bourgeois republic', 'France', 'national assembly', 'rights', 'Prussia', 'federal' or a host of others, and you get a cheap fireworks display, courtesy of the new partisan pyrotechnical politics initiative in Shireroth.

The two 'sides', which have been named 'progressives' and 'conservatives', with both terms being used with pride and derision simultaneously, seem reluctant to find any common ground, at least without swearing rather immaturely at each other (admittedly this occurs far more frequently on one side than the other), or at least with some petty name-calling.

The idea came to both sides at once that they who produce the most legislation would then control the country. Unfortunately, either the progressives don't seem to be able to cope with the LawBook format, or their grand schemes are too massive to cope within its confining boundaries. Efforts to define ministries by the progressives, something which has been done in the past with no trouble whatsoever, have been met with howls of outrage, namely by those set to have 'their' ministries or institutions 'meddled with', and claims that the ministries were sacrosanct or above the Landsraad.

A casual observer, which the author must admit he is not, would perhaps comment that one side is finding their old weapons of complicity and unwritten laws fast becoming useless, and the other side is finding that the weapons they thought suitable for pursuing their campaign are fast flaking to show the rust underneath. The Praetor has ordered that no more bills be presented until he says so, has in fact done this twice, to cope with the further boom in legislation as his first order was removed, and has introduced another order stating that all bills must be in LawBook format.

Although amazement is forever being expressed at Shireroth's boom in activity, we must remember we were saying the exact same thing last year, when Kaiseress Aurefiction was in power. Gods willing though, the new Kaiser won't go out in a blaze of frustration, cursing all those who ever did anything and banning a person who is virtually a Shirerithian institution from taking power, comparisons must be drawn. There are rocky times ahead for Shireroth, the author is taking bets on three exiles and a public flogging, three to one, but only if the factions remain the same, though. The author takes no account for wild cards.

- Eoin Dornan, Shirithian Correspondent