Now if they could just put a stop to that Saudi aggravated civil war they could build this in OTL, give Yemen a useful asset and actually start growing the places economy a bit. Sadly that's clearly not happening.
Alternate Wikipedia Infoboxes VI (Do Not Post Current Politics or Political Figures Here)
- Status
An election was held on 11 August, 2014, to elect the new Lord Speaker of the Columbian House of Lords. Incumbent Lord Speaker, The Lady Whitman, declined to run for a second six-year term. The election was won by Deputy Speaker Bill Nelson, Lord Nelson of Melbourne of the Progressive-Farmer-Labour Party. He defeated his closest rival, former Shadow Attorney General Samuel Alito, Lord Alito of Hamilton, by a margin of 242 votes. Two other candidates ran: former International Development Secretary Tip O'Neill III, 2nd Baron O'Neill of North Cambridge, also of the Progressive-Farmer-Labour Party, and Derek King, 3rd Viscount King of Stockbridge.
The Lord Nelson, known to be a close friend and ally of Commons Speaker Sir Chris Dodd, took office the next day. He was ceremonially "dragged" to the speaker's chair by the Leader of the House of Lords, the 1st Viscount Daschle, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lords, the Lord Allard, and delivered his acceptance speech. In it, Lord Nelson, widely considered a pragmatist, announced that the Lords would pursue reforms to make its members more accessible and accountable without radically altering the structure or selection process, which garnered some criticism from those on the left of the Progressive-Farmer-Labour Party and the Democratic-Republican Coalition.
Previous posts in the American Monarchy series:
The Second Biden Ministry (2018) (List)
Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth of Columbia, 1960-
The First Biden Ministry (1992) (List)
The Second Biden Ministry (2018) (Wikibox)
1990 Democratic Republican Coalition leadership election, seat 1 (Wikibox)
List of Presidents of the Federal Republic of California, 1960-present (Wikibox)
The First Biden Ministry (1992) (Wikibox)
Martin Luther King Jr., the elder son of the 1st Viscount King, gave up his and his descendants' right of succession to his father's titles after declaring his pro-republican views. He later became the co-founder of the Democratic-Republican Coalition, Columbia's only anti-monarchist political party. After King Sr., died, his titles passed to his younger son, Alfred Daniel King, who became the 2nd Viscount. The 3rd Viscount King is the 2nd Viscount's second son, his first son having predeceased him.
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A branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Kohary that just hapens to rule Peru, the TL's 20th century had some very strange changes in Latin America
While I can't get into details (somethings are still a bit hazy in my own understanding of the OTL), here's the rough strokes
El Salvador: it involves a coup d'etat backed by a still-imperial Brazil, a larger japanese immigration to Central America, a political ideology born out of Lenin being a monarchist while also being communist, a banrkrupt catering service and the largest cake shell ever made
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Oregon: feudalism, absolutism, and a bit more of feudalism, laced with a double marriage and sprinkled with inspiration taken out of the pre-1868 imperial court of Japan
Eparkhos
Banned
M O N A R C H O B O L S H E V I S M W I T H E L S A L V A D O R I A N C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
Gorochu is a Pokémon in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Atsuko Nishida, Gorochu first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Green and subsequent sequels. In addition, Gorochu was one of the Pokémon to get an Alolan Form variant with an Electric/Psychic typing. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. It is known as the Thunder King Pokémon (Thunder God Pokémon in Japan). Gorochu is the evolved form of Raichu and the final evolution of series mascot Pikachu. Since it appeared in the Pokémon series, Gorochu has received generally positive reception, often topping lists of "coolest" or "manliest" Pokémon. It has been featured in several forms of merchandise, including figurines, plush toys, and in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Gorochu first appears as one of the 190 species of Pokémon in the Pokémon Red and Green Versions. When a Pikachu becomes Level 30, it evolves into Raichu, and when Raichu is exposed to a Thunder Stone, it evolves into Gorochu. In later games Raichu must be level 50 or higher when exposed to a Thunder Stone. It later appeared in all subsequent sequels. From its release in the first generation to the current eight generation, Gorochu has been considered to be one of the best Pokemon in standard play, being featured on many teams in both fan leagues and official tournaments. It is nicknamed as "Godchu" by members of the competitive scene due to its high base stats, wide movepool, and unique ability to damage Ground-types with Electric-type moves.
Gorochu is featured in the Pokémon anime series with the most recurring being from the Indigo League main character Ash Ketchum. The Alolan version appeared on the team of Sun and Moon League main character Elio Ray.
Since its debut, Gorochu has appeared in other Nintendo games. It has appeared in every entry of the Super Smash Bros. series, in an unplayable capacity in the first three games before becoming a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Kerfuffle onward. Despite Gorochu's strong position in mainline competitive Pokemon, he is considered one of the weaker fighters in the Smash competitive community, even weaker than pre-evolved form Pikachu.
Nofix's Video Game Wikiboxes:
Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (SNES)
Chrono Break (PS2)
Metroid 64 (N64)
Metroid Dread (DS)
---Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (SNES)
Chrono Break (PS2)
Metroid 64 (N64)
Metroid Dread (DS)
Source for the Gorochu picture. I'm fairly certain, but not 100% certain, that this is the first alternate Pokemon wikibox done. If I'm wrong, please correct me, but I thought this would be a novel idea to throw out there. Plus I hadn't done a video game box in a while, and wanted to get one out. (Also I seem to be accidentally creating a video game wikibox extended universe. That was unintentional compared to the DC History one.)
Also, just for fun, I'm thinking Gorochu's BST is 90HP/100ATK/85DEF/120SpAtk/70SpDef/120Speed (585 in total). In Gen 1 it'd be 120 Special (or 515 in total). I was also thinking of making him a part-Fighting type, or part-Ground type, given the design, but I decided to stick with just pure Electric.
Most Americanists tend to refer to the 21st century as the "Century of Humiliation". While some historians have criticized the term as a Chinese calque, most American citizens would likely agree with the assessment: the 21st century saw American power and outreach wane in comparison with Old World giants and dynamic economies, and American voters elect a long line of lackluster leaders nowadays ranked alongside the likes of John Tyler, Benjamin Harrison and Jimmy Carter. Climate change, industrial and economic decline, the new space race, neo-regionalism - the Empire of Liberty ultimately found itself ill-equipped to deal with such issues even as most of her old enemies collapsed, reformed or both. With the entrenched two-party system failing to restore American hegemony, American citizens turned inwards, paying greater attention to proliferating "self-governing municipalities" and state legislatures than to Congress and the Presidency. The United States' defeat in the Second Mexican-American War (2091-2094), which would see Mexico triumphantly integrate Cuba and Puerto Rico, would further diminish American trust in their party system, but also result in the blossoming of reformist and nationalist movements, chief among them being the Sovereign America Committee.
This activity would bear fruit during the 2096 presidential election, resulting in the victory of Admiral William Luria. Elected as a Democratic candidate on the platform of military and space agency reform as well as a comprehensive urban revitalization program that would bring flood-damaged cities closer to the likes of New Venice and Saigon, Luria saw himself become a lame-duck President as Congress opposed his attempts to limit the activity of Free Economic Zones and municipal political machinery, and few foreign leaders were impressed by Luria's brash, arrogant attitude. Nonetheless, many citizens wept when Luria died on 4 July 2099, in a fireworks misfire which conspiracy theorists allege to this day to have been a CIA-ordered assassination. Luria's successor, former Mayor of NYC Rafael Cuomo, was a dynasty man through and through, a centrist who nonetheless wielded strong support from the New York City Reconstruction Agency, and who ultimately won the 2100 presidential election on sympathy votes against a Republican candidate who spoke a little too favorably of Indian presence in the San Francisco Free Economic Zone.
The 2104 presidetial election would prove to be Cuomo's bane. First of all, the 2100 presidential election's aftermath saw significant activity on part of third parties, with 2102 midterms seeing governorships and Congressional seats go to parties which were previously represented on the state level - the Socialists, the Christian Unionists, the Land Tax League, et cetera. Secondly, Cuomo's attempt to break up the Sovereign America Committee, which opposed the suppression of the Cadien Communities' Association, was poorly received by just about everyone. Thirdly, Cuomo still managed to win an Electoral College majority while winning 36% of the popular vote, due to voter suppression in certain states and the sheer variety of opposition parties. All across the country, people demanded that their legislatures call for a constitutional convention; they quickly found their champion in Thomas Brandt, four-star general and distinguished veteran of the Second Mexican-American War, who soon led a million man march on the Capitol Hill.
Cuomo resigned, leaving the Presidency in the hands of Henry Peterson, a mild-mannered, pliable ex-Secretary of the Interior; he was eager to cooperate with the American reformist movement and, in a March speech, professed his wholehearted support for a "second Constitutional Convention", giving a go-ahead to America's governors and state legislatures. More than that, Peterson invited Tom Brandt to serve as his "co-President", and the four-star general humbly accepted.
The Second Constitutional Convention was not to be a quick affair, adjourning multiple times as it had to await the report of the Committee of Detail. Several journalists - among them ACRA activist Sanford "Sonny" Jackson - questioned the Convention's legitimacy, with Vox's August 11 article suggesting that the Committee of Detail was "dominated" by Sovereign America Committee reps. Nonetheless, the Convention was ultimately successful in drafting a Constitution, which established America as an officially nonpartisan state with considerable emphasis on independent, merit-based civil service as well as applied AI-controlled management. The Meritocratic Constitution (or the Brandt Constitution, as it was referred to by its detractors) did not sit well with Western state governors, who decried the proposed amendments strengthening the executive office, including (but not limited to) the power to remove state governors on basis of criminal charges. Tom Brandt and the Sovereign America Committee strongly defended the proposal, presenting the vote on ratification as a vote on America's unity and sovereignty.
By October 2105, 34 states have ratified the Brandt Constitution, two states short of complete application; however, the Texas Legislature's extremely narrow ratification was vetoed by socialist Governor Edwin Stoddard, earning the ire of the Sovereign America Committee. In Louisiana and Mississippi, where the Delta communes and the Mississippi Economic Free Zone held considerable sway, the vote was stalled to the point where the Presidents of the two states' Senates ultimately declared that they would prefer "incoming legislators" to vote on ratification, meaning that it would have to wait until 2106. The SAC's response was to encourage state-by-state referendums on ratification "where it was possible", with additional supervision from Convention-appointed observers. As the majority of U.S. states that had referendums also opposed ratification, several Western state governors demanded that Brandt and Peterson refrain from appointing election observers, citing "reasonable suspicion of electoral misconduct". Further issues arose when the legislatures of Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire and Hawaii rescinded their ratifications in a manner which SAC spokesmen contended was illegal. Militiamen besieged state capitols and clashed with police while SAC members demanded a full investigation of legislators deemed responsible for the rescission.
Tensions came to a head when two events occurred: the Jackson terrorist attack and the Harlem explosion. The first incident took place on November 1, 2105, when a group of terrorists attacked the Mississippi State Capitol, apparently intending to intimidate the state legislature into rejecting the Brandt Constitution; however, the terrorists were quickly detained by the state guard, and the attack propelled pro-ratification State Senator Vince Pickering to the governor's seat. The second incident took place on December 5, during a rally of the Sovereign America Committee. The massacre which took the lives of 122 people - among them Rico Mari, a leading member of both the Generation of '94 and the Sovereign America Committee - was readily pinned on Rhea Martinez, a Mexicali-born engineer with a history of involvement in socialist organizations and a vocal opponent of the Brandt Constitution. In addition to inflaming anti-Mexican sentiment, the Harlem explosion provided Brandt and Peterson with a justification for stringent antiterrorist measures. These events only increased enmity between the Meritocrats and their opponents, as Vox and other anti-ratificationist media put forward reports suggesting SAC involvement in the Jackson attack.
In February, protesters took to the streets of Washington D.C., calling for President Peterson to dismiss Thomas Brandt and reshuffle the Second Constitutional Convention. Brandt and Peterson's response was to accuse the major anti-ratificationist leaders - head of ACRA Sonny Jackson, former Louisiana congressman Mortimer "Morty" Beauregard and Texas Governor Edwin Stoddard among others - of stoking "anti-American sentiment". Soon enough, arrest warrants were issued against the three, causing governors of anti-ratificationist states - by that point referred to as Localists - to declare Brandt's actions unconstitutional. As soon as Tom Brandt took control of the White House following Peterson's mysterious incapacitation and declared martial law, the Second American Civil War broke out.
((OOC: I'd like to credit @machinekng for his excellent 2068 USA basemap, having edited it for the purposes of this box))
This activity would bear fruit during the 2096 presidential election, resulting in the victory of Admiral William Luria. Elected as a Democratic candidate on the platform of military and space agency reform as well as a comprehensive urban revitalization program that would bring flood-damaged cities closer to the likes of New Venice and Saigon, Luria saw himself become a lame-duck President as Congress opposed his attempts to limit the activity of Free Economic Zones and municipal political machinery, and few foreign leaders were impressed by Luria's brash, arrogant attitude. Nonetheless, many citizens wept when Luria died on 4 July 2099, in a fireworks misfire which conspiracy theorists allege to this day to have been a CIA-ordered assassination. Luria's successor, former Mayor of NYC Rafael Cuomo, was a dynasty man through and through, a centrist who nonetheless wielded strong support from the New York City Reconstruction Agency, and who ultimately won the 2100 presidential election on sympathy votes against a Republican candidate who spoke a little too favorably of Indian presence in the San Francisco Free Economic Zone.
The 2104 presidetial election would prove to be Cuomo's bane. First of all, the 2100 presidential election's aftermath saw significant activity on part of third parties, with 2102 midterms seeing governorships and Congressional seats go to parties which were previously represented on the state level - the Socialists, the Christian Unionists, the Land Tax League, et cetera. Secondly, Cuomo's attempt to break up the Sovereign America Committee, which opposed the suppression of the Cadien Communities' Association, was poorly received by just about everyone. Thirdly, Cuomo still managed to win an Electoral College majority while winning 36% of the popular vote, due to voter suppression in certain states and the sheer variety of opposition parties. All across the country, people demanded that their legislatures call for a constitutional convention; they quickly found their champion in Thomas Brandt, four-star general and distinguished veteran of the Second Mexican-American War, who soon led a million man march on the Capitol Hill.
Cuomo resigned, leaving the Presidency in the hands of Henry Peterson, a mild-mannered, pliable ex-Secretary of the Interior; he was eager to cooperate with the American reformist movement and, in a March speech, professed his wholehearted support for a "second Constitutional Convention", giving a go-ahead to America's governors and state legislatures. More than that, Peterson invited Tom Brandt to serve as his "co-President", and the four-star general humbly accepted.
The Second Constitutional Convention was not to be a quick affair, adjourning multiple times as it had to await the report of the Committee of Detail. Several journalists - among them ACRA activist Sanford "Sonny" Jackson - questioned the Convention's legitimacy, with Vox's August 11 article suggesting that the Committee of Detail was "dominated" by Sovereign America Committee reps. Nonetheless, the Convention was ultimately successful in drafting a Constitution, which established America as an officially nonpartisan state with considerable emphasis on independent, merit-based civil service as well as applied AI-controlled management. The Meritocratic Constitution (or the Brandt Constitution, as it was referred to by its detractors) did not sit well with Western state governors, who decried the proposed amendments strengthening the executive office, including (but not limited to) the power to remove state governors on basis of criminal charges. Tom Brandt and the Sovereign America Committee strongly defended the proposal, presenting the vote on ratification as a vote on America's unity and sovereignty.
By October 2105, 34 states have ratified the Brandt Constitution, two states short of complete application; however, the Texas Legislature's extremely narrow ratification was vetoed by socialist Governor Edwin Stoddard, earning the ire of the Sovereign America Committee. In Louisiana and Mississippi, where the Delta communes and the Mississippi Economic Free Zone held considerable sway, the vote was stalled to the point where the Presidents of the two states' Senates ultimately declared that they would prefer "incoming legislators" to vote on ratification, meaning that it would have to wait until 2106. The SAC's response was to encourage state-by-state referendums on ratification "where it was possible", with additional supervision from Convention-appointed observers. As the majority of U.S. states that had referendums also opposed ratification, several Western state governors demanded that Brandt and Peterson refrain from appointing election observers, citing "reasonable suspicion of electoral misconduct". Further issues arose when the legislatures of Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire and Hawaii rescinded their ratifications in a manner which SAC spokesmen contended was illegal. Militiamen besieged state capitols and clashed with police while SAC members demanded a full investigation of legislators deemed responsible for the rescission.
Tensions came to a head when two events occurred: the Jackson terrorist attack and the Harlem explosion. The first incident took place on November 1, 2105, when a group of terrorists attacked the Mississippi State Capitol, apparently intending to intimidate the state legislature into rejecting the Brandt Constitution; however, the terrorists were quickly detained by the state guard, and the attack propelled pro-ratification State Senator Vince Pickering to the governor's seat. The second incident took place on December 5, during a rally of the Sovereign America Committee. The massacre which took the lives of 122 people - among them Rico Mari, a leading member of both the Generation of '94 and the Sovereign America Committee - was readily pinned on Rhea Martinez, a Mexicali-born engineer with a history of involvement in socialist organizations and a vocal opponent of the Brandt Constitution. In addition to inflaming anti-Mexican sentiment, the Harlem explosion provided Brandt and Peterson with a justification for stringent antiterrorist measures. These events only increased enmity between the Meritocrats and their opponents, as Vox and other anti-ratificationist media put forward reports suggesting SAC involvement in the Jackson attack.
In February, protesters took to the streets of Washington D.C., calling for President Peterson to dismiss Thomas Brandt and reshuffle the Second Constitutional Convention. Brandt and Peterson's response was to accuse the major anti-ratificationist leaders - head of ACRA Sonny Jackson, former Louisiana congressman Mortimer "Morty" Beauregard and Texas Governor Edwin Stoddard among others - of stoking "anti-American sentiment". Soon enough, arrest warrants were issued against the three, causing governors of anti-ratificationist states - by that point referred to as Localists - to declare Brandt's actions unconstitutional. As soon as Tom Brandt took control of the White House following Peterson's mysterious incapacitation and declared martial law, the Second American Civil War broke out.
((OOC: I'd like to credit @machinekng for his excellent 2068 USA basemap, having edited it for the purposes of this box))
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I've had two video game wikibox ideas stewing in my brain for years, and neither was this one. I might get back to them eventually (no promises).
Holy crap, I love this
Gorochu is a Pokémon in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon franchise. Created by Atsuko Nishida, Gorochu first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Green and subsequent sequels. In addition, Gorochu was one of the Pokémon to get an Alolan Form variant with an Electric/Psychic typing. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. It is known as the Thunder King Pokémon (Thunder God Pokémon in Japan). Gorochu is the evolved form of Raichu and the final evolution of series mascot Pikachu. Since it appeared in the Pokémon series, Gorochu has received generally positive reception, often topping lists of "coolest" or "manliest" Pokémon. It has been featured in several forms of merchandise, including figurines, plush toys, and in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Gorochu first appears as one of the 190 species of Pokémon in the Pokémon Red and Green Versions. When a Pikachu becomes Level 30, it evolves into Raichu, and when Raichu is exposed to a Thunder Stone, it evolves into Gorochu. In later games Raichu must be level 50 or higher when exposed to a Thunder Stone. It later appeared in all subsequent sequels. From its release in the first generation to the current eight generation, Gorochu has been considered to be one of the best Pokemon in standard play, being featured on many teams in both fan leagues and official tournaments. It is nicknamed as "Godchu" by members of the competitive scene due to its high base stats, wide movepool, and unique ability to damage Ground-types with Electric-type moves.
Gorochu is featured in the Pokémon anime series with the most recurring being from the Indigo League main character Ash Ketchum. The Alolan version appeared on the team of Sun and Moon League main character Elio Ray.
Since its debut, Gorochu has appeared in other Nintendo games. It has appeared in every entry of the Super Smash Bros. series, in an unplayable capacity in the first three games before becoming a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Kerfuffle onward. Despite Gorochu's strong position in mainline competitive Pokemon, he is considered one of the weaker fighters in the Smash competitive community, even weaker than pre-evolved form Pikachu.
Nofix's Video Game Wikiboxes:---
Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (SNES)
Chrono Break (PS2)
Metroid 64 (N64)
Metroid Dread (DS)
Source for the Gorochu picture. I'm fairly certain, but not 100% certain, that this is the first alternate Pokemon wikibox done. If I'm wrong, please correct me, but I thought this would be a novel idea to throw out there. Plus I hadn't done a video game box in a while, and wanted to get one out. (Also I seem to be accidentally creating a video game wikibox extended universe. That was unintentional compared to the DC History one.)
Also, just for fun, I'm thinking Gorochu's BST is 90HP/100ATK/85DEF/120SpAtk/70SpDef/120Speed (585 in total). In Gen 1 it'd be 120 Special (or 515 in total). I was also thinking of making him a part-Fighting type, or part-Ground type, given the design, but I decided to stick with just pure Electric.
Wikibending:
Seige of Ba Sing Se
The Five Wisdoms
Bumi
Metalbending
Hundred Year War
The Floral Crisis
200 AG was many things. A time of reflection about a century of rapid industrialization. A solemn remembrance of those lost in the Air Nomad Genocide, buoyed by the return of the Air Nation. A time of remembering for those lost in the century of war. A time of mass protests demanding yet more reparations from the Fire Nation. A time of fear that Fire Bending extremists might use the return of the “Peace Comet” (obviously it couldn’t be Sozin’s any more) for acts of terrorism.
It was also a fantastic opportunity for the rich of Republic City to make a ton more money.
While pro-bending, its offshoots, and rattanball remained the primer sports worldwide, one on one bending duels remained a popular mass spectator event. Earthbending duels were common in the former Earth Kingdom, while the Agni Kai had gone from an overly formalized system of conflict resolution, to a sport popular in both the Fire Nation and United Republic.
There were three major Fire Bending titles available. The championship of the Annual Royal Firebending Academy Tournament. Held once a year, the tournament was centuries old and the traditional choice for determining the world's most powerful Fire Bender (although members of the Royal Family did not participate, often leaving the question open). Then there was the Agni Kai Circuit, which utilized a mainly lineal title system, wherein the current titleholder lost the title to whoever beat them. The AKC mainly worked to ensure competitive matches for titleholders, and held other matches to determine lower rankings.
In the United Republic of Nations Circuit, things were a bit more complicated. A current champion losing in a random bout would not lose them the title, with it only being on the line in fights officially sanctioned by the URN Circuit.
Obviously debates emerged as to which of the three titles held the most value, which champion was truly the greatest. By the late 290s, the Fire Nation considered the question settled. Ratana, son of a minor official from the Capital, had won the AKC Title in an upset in 297 and maintained it despite expectations. He also won back to back Royal Tournaments in 298 and 299, somewhat unusual but not unheard of for an outsider.
In the URN Circuit Jingyi Kong was the dominant force in Agni Kai fights since 296, never letting an opponent go the distance. Her style was fast and agile to account for her somewhat smaller frame, a contrast to Ratana’s endurance based strategy for fighting. She was a major celebrity, starring in several movers and even doing a charity pro-bending match that featured the champions in the various dueling sports against the reigning champions.
Naturally the idea of having these two champions fight was immensely appealing to fans, and the sports executives who would make a killing on it. And when better to host it than during the Great Comet, when firebending prowess would expand a hundredfold? It was practically an excuse to print Yuans.
The AKC and URN Circuit quickly agreed to the deal, with plans to resplit the unified titles in a few months. The Royal Academy, of course, would never surrender their title to anyone but a tournament winner. The date was set.
There was massive excitement about the fight and it soon became one of the premier events of the Day of the Comet, alongside various remembrance celebrations. It was moved from the Cabbage Corp Arena to the far more prestigious Pro-Bending Arena on the Republic City waterfront as demand for tickets went through the roof.
The betting odds tilted towards Kong. Her aggressive style was thought to be more enhanced by the comet than Ratana’s defensive stances. In addition, in fights between Earthbending champions from URN and those from the ex-Earth Kingdom, URN fighters almost always won. But there was a substantial and vocal minority who supported Ratana’s prospects.
The fight itself saw a massive crowd pack into the Pro-Bending arena, and they watched a great fight.
Kong’s furious attacks were impressive to behold, powered by the sheer might of the comet. After the first round, the front rows were moved back for fear of burns. However Ratana’s defensive bending abilities were equally improved, and Kong’s soon found herself depleted after the first three rounds of fighting. However the sheer size of her flame left Ratana cautious in the final two rounds, and the Fire Nation man had expended quite a bit of energy himself. Thus, he focused mainly on counterattacks for the final two rounds. Had is not been for the comet enhanced bending, it probably would have been a dull fight.
Royal style Agni Kais still went until someone yielded or first burn, but Circuit style had five rounds, after which a panel of judges decided a winner if no one had yielded or been knocked out. And it was the judges who would decide “The Clash of the Comet.”
Their unanimous declaration of Ratana as the winner provoked furious debate. He had been on the defensive for much of the match, and had never really seemed close to landing a knockout blow. Some accused the judges (two URN, one Fire Nation by the by) of being on the take. Others however pointed to Ratana’s superior composure by the end of the fight. He looked as if he could go another five rounds. Kong meanwhile, was clearly exhausted, barely able to stand on her own two feet.
Thus, the three great titles of Fire Bending were United. At least for now. Tournament play is always unpredictable. And the URN Circuit requires champions to defend their title at least once a year, and Ratana admits he is unsure about whether he is willing to travel.
The Clash of the Comet remains the most profitable sporting event in history, and helped rejuvenate interest in bending duels. Currently plans are underway for unified Water, Earth, and Air championships.
Seige of Ba Sing Se
The Five Wisdoms
Bumi
Metalbending
Hundred Year War
The Floral Crisis
200 AG was many things. A time of reflection about a century of rapid industrialization. A solemn remembrance of those lost in the Air Nomad Genocide, buoyed by the return of the Air Nation. A time of remembering for those lost in the century of war. A time of mass protests demanding yet more reparations from the Fire Nation. A time of fear that Fire Bending extremists might use the return of the “Peace Comet” (obviously it couldn’t be Sozin’s any more) for acts of terrorism.
It was also a fantastic opportunity for the rich of Republic City to make a ton more money.
While pro-bending, its offshoots, and rattanball remained the primer sports worldwide, one on one bending duels remained a popular mass spectator event. Earthbending duels were common in the former Earth Kingdom, while the Agni Kai had gone from an overly formalized system of conflict resolution, to a sport popular in both the Fire Nation and United Republic.
There were three major Fire Bending titles available. The championship of the Annual Royal Firebending Academy Tournament. Held once a year, the tournament was centuries old and the traditional choice for determining the world's most powerful Fire Bender (although members of the Royal Family did not participate, often leaving the question open). Then there was the Agni Kai Circuit, which utilized a mainly lineal title system, wherein the current titleholder lost the title to whoever beat them. The AKC mainly worked to ensure competitive matches for titleholders, and held other matches to determine lower rankings.
In the United Republic of Nations Circuit, things were a bit more complicated. A current champion losing in a random bout would not lose them the title, with it only being on the line in fights officially sanctioned by the URN Circuit.
Obviously debates emerged as to which of the three titles held the most value, which champion was truly the greatest. By the late 290s, the Fire Nation considered the question settled. Ratana, son of a minor official from the Capital, had won the AKC Title in an upset in 297 and maintained it despite expectations. He also won back to back Royal Tournaments in 298 and 299, somewhat unusual but not unheard of for an outsider.
In the URN Circuit Jingyi Kong was the dominant force in Agni Kai fights since 296, never letting an opponent go the distance. Her style was fast and agile to account for her somewhat smaller frame, a contrast to Ratana’s endurance based strategy for fighting. She was a major celebrity, starring in several movers and even doing a charity pro-bending match that featured the champions in the various dueling sports against the reigning champions.
Naturally the idea of having these two champions fight was immensely appealing to fans, and the sports executives who would make a killing on it. And when better to host it than during the Great Comet, when firebending prowess would expand a hundredfold? It was practically an excuse to print Yuans.
The AKC and URN Circuit quickly agreed to the deal, with plans to resplit the unified titles in a few months. The Royal Academy, of course, would never surrender their title to anyone but a tournament winner. The date was set.
There was massive excitement about the fight and it soon became one of the premier events of the Day of the Comet, alongside various remembrance celebrations. It was moved from the Cabbage Corp Arena to the far more prestigious Pro-Bending Arena on the Republic City waterfront as demand for tickets went through the roof.
The betting odds tilted towards Kong. Her aggressive style was thought to be more enhanced by the comet than Ratana’s defensive stances. In addition, in fights between Earthbending champions from URN and those from the ex-Earth Kingdom, URN fighters almost always won. But there was a substantial and vocal minority who supported Ratana’s prospects.
The fight itself saw a massive crowd pack into the Pro-Bending arena, and they watched a great fight.
Kong’s furious attacks were impressive to behold, powered by the sheer might of the comet. After the first round, the front rows were moved back for fear of burns. However Ratana’s defensive bending abilities were equally improved, and Kong’s soon found herself depleted after the first three rounds of fighting. However the sheer size of her flame left Ratana cautious in the final two rounds, and the Fire Nation man had expended quite a bit of energy himself. Thus, he focused mainly on counterattacks for the final two rounds. Had is not been for the comet enhanced bending, it probably would have been a dull fight.
Royal style Agni Kais still went until someone yielded or first burn, but Circuit style had five rounds, after which a panel of judges decided a winner if no one had yielded or been knocked out. And it was the judges who would decide “The Clash of the Comet.”
Their unanimous declaration of Ratana as the winner provoked furious debate. He had been on the defensive for much of the match, and had never really seemed close to landing a knockout blow. Some accused the judges (two URN, one Fire Nation by the by) of being on the take. Others however pointed to Ratana’s superior composure by the end of the fight. He looked as if he could go another five rounds. Kong meanwhile, was clearly exhausted, barely able to stand on her own two feet.
Thus, the three great titles of Fire Bending were United. At least for now. Tournament play is always unpredictable. And the URN Circuit requires champions to defend their title at least once a year, and Ratana admits he is unsure about whether he is willing to travel.
The Clash of the Comet remains the most profitable sporting event in history, and helped rejuvenate interest in bending duels. Currently plans are underway for unified Water, Earth, and Air championships.
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