Dredge

Dredge, officially the Shikorvan of Dredge is a town built upon a chain of rocky islands located off the western coastline of Ashkavari Korqoriat, which is located on the continent of Iristoya in the world of Abexilas. The town was founded by Stanislav in the summer of 16 VE with the goals of becoming a large fishing center and market space. Dredge is both recognized as a town in Ashkavar, and a colony within the Azuma Shogunate, making it an interesting player within the political scene of both nations.
==Government ==
When Dredge was first founded, Stanislav brought in his company of Clap Co. to oversee renovations on the lighthouse to develop it into a store and dirt factory. Slowly, Stanislav began to integrate Clap Co. into every facet of Dredge's operational body; which striped the natives living on the island of any power they held. During this time the town was seen as a "free-city" within Ashkavar, as well as a colony of the Azuma Shogunate due to the "Dredge Pact" signed between both parties. This allowed Clap Co. to have full reign over Dredge, and the government operated similar to a "Banana Republic". Clap Co. continuously signed economic deals with neighboring towns (mostly Kamtargaa), and numerous nations, like the Pirates of Grogossos. These deals would grant markets and nations the ability to operate and be represented upon the islands. One notable trade agreement was between Clap Co. and West Abex Induzdriaa o Humblwod (Industry of Humblwod), where both parties agreed to regulate their markets off one another to crush/fabricate any competition between the two. As Clap Co. sunk it's claws deeper within controlling the islands, they began to excavate an old pyramid that laid dormant beneath the main island. The natives were quite fearful of it, but that didn't stop Stanislav from forcing them to dig out a pit to reach it from the top of the island. After the excavations were finished, Stanislav would make the final decision to turn this pyramid into a fishing center for all investors to use and profit from. It would be dubbed the "Clap Co. Pyramid", and become a symbol of Clap Co.'s power. For quite some time, Clap Co. held a full monopoly on governing the town, but that would all change when the C.E.O. of Clap Co. stepped into the political scene. 
File:ClapCologo.png|Clap Co. logo, designed by the Kapteni-Kator of Kamtargaa, Morn Humblwod Okrin
===34 VE Azumi Senator Election===
In the fall of 34 VE, Stanislav would return back to Azai, the capital of the Azuma Shogunate, and found his political party known as the "Clap Party". The party's goal was to implement large scale reforms to Azuma's military, economy, and most importantly, their governing body; which aimed to strengthen the senate, and uphold the values of democracy within the nation. The Clap Party was seen as a radical populist party, especially when you factor in the political rhetoric stated by Stanislav during some of his speeches. Some examples are: "These citizens running for a position in senate are doing this so they can get a one-up on you. And you want to know why? So they can rob you of all your worth.", and " Diplomacy? We are just abandoning it. If a nation wants something they can come to us, or we will come to them upon horseback. We will bring them peace, by force.", as well as "I caught Aussie Pom EATING one of my horses, truly a shameful sight to see. He’s a traitor to our party, and an enemy of the state. That horse was the pride and joy of this nation, a great war beast, named “Shades of Hay”, and I loved that horse.". The list of rhetoric tossed around by Stanislav can go on for hours, regardless, he would begin to gather a cult following within Azuma. As his party grew, so did the population on Dredge, and this would mark the first shift in Dredge's governing body. Stanislav would begin to appoint people like Donutt, IsopodHours, Monte, and SweetBobbySauce to minor roles when it came to operating on Dredge, which loosened the hold of Clap Co. on the town. Though on election night, the little island town would play a key role in the nation's future. For Azuma's election process, there are a number of rounds for voting (based on how many citizens chose to run) until the last three most voted for citizens are chosen to become senators. The final results go as followed:
Election 	Candidate 	Political Party	Vote Share	Total Votes
Final Round	Obsidian Tear 	Chūsei 	19% 	
 
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Final Round	ErrorPanda1 	Chūsei 	22% 	
 
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Final Round	Stanislav(Clap)	Clap Party 	25% 	
 
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Final Round	RoboticAuthor17	Anseito 	34% 	
 
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File:AnseitoParty.png|The Anseito Party, founded by Wassenaar
File:ClapPoster.png|The Clap Party, founded by Stanislav (_Clap_)
File:ChuseiParty.png|The Chūsei Party, founded by ErrorPanda1
With Stanislav securing a seat within the senate, he was able to pass one of the largest reform bills Azuma has ever seen with the help of a coalition body from the other parties. A large amount of reforms detailed on this bill do not reflect of the government of Dredge as a whole. It mostly covered the restructuring of Azuma's governing body, along with removing bureaucratic bloat, and reformatting the military. Though, the most important point on the bill for Dredge was the recognition of the Clap Co. Pyramid being consider a "national market", which meant more funding would be poured into the ever growing project. (If you'd like more details about the senate election, and the reform bill, you can refer to the Azuma Shogunate wiki page). The pyramid by this point was just starting to be reinforced by concrete and a thin coat of blue glass, but much of the interior was flooded with salt water from the ocean spilling in. This made it an extremely costly project, especially considering the loss of native "workers" being sent underwater to complete these risky tasks. Clap Co. would sweep these "losses" under the rug, and continue to suppress the native population of Dredge. Stanislav knew if word got out in Ashkavar about the mistreatment of traditional conservative Ashkavari natives, not only him, but his company would be placed in hot water. So, Clap Co. hatched a plan to "help" relocate the natives onto reservations/cultural sites, while the C.E.O embraced the same culture the company was suppressing. This was met with very luke warm responses within Azuma when a cultural heritage package bill was presented by Stanislav, and no resolution was ever passed. The yurts and grasslands would have to wait for another day to be constructed within Azuma. Still though, Stanislav would heavily embrace this native culture, to the point where reforms for the natives was on the horizon.
===Maritime Federation Shenanigans===
37 VE would be the most important year in Dredge's governing history. This was the year that President NanaMann, leader of the Maritime Federation, came to visit the islands of Dredge. After the President stepped foot on the island, both Stanislav and NanaMann knew a large deal was about to be put into play. After discussing the "Dredge Pact" with NanaMann, and showing him the Clap Co. facilities, Stanislav was met with an offer. "Join the Maritime Federation, you'll become a governor, and an executive on the board for BnL". This decision to invite Dredge into the federation would change the course of Dredge's purpose entirely. Stanislav took the deal, and within moments, Clap Co. had risen the ranks of becoming a partner company with one of the largest companies to operate on Abexilas. Dredge was welcomed into the federation, and a star was added to the flag. The two became close and discussed plans for building up both of their cities, making money, and ideas to push the federation forward. Sadly, their ever growing friendship would all be cut short by a shot heard across Ashkavar.
====Assassination of the Shepherd ====
On the cool fall morning in the year of 40 VE, President NanaMann stepped up to the podium in New Baiclite, the capital of the federation, to address the citizens. Standing beside him was Stanislav and Val Sol'oon Diarkes Kandoule. As the President was moments away from wrapping up his speech, a shot rang out through the crowd. Within seconds, the lifeless corpse of the Shepherd of the Federation laid on the ground. Moments before, the three of them were all laughing together, and were full of energy. Now Stanislav was kneeling in a pool of blood, barely holding his lost friend in his arms, as Val Sol'oon tried to chase down the gunman, and failed. The federation was in shambles, which allowed for the Karaqhor, Haroun, to step in. He called for an emergency election, and asked both Stanislav and Val Sol'oon to run for president. Stanislav remembered his campaign tactics he used 6 years prior in Azuma, and knew what he had to do to win. 
=====Make the Federation Great Again=====
Dredge was tossed into the spotlight of Ashkavar. All eyes were on the islands, and Stanislav knew that he needed to give them a show. Though, he knew one thing, if he was going to go forward with this, he would need to consolidate power around himself when managing the island town. Stanislav would make the decision to remove Clap Co.'s power from the island, and replace it with his. He feared the company might undermine him, or if the board would remove him as C.E.O through a vote of no confidence if the election went south. Regardless, what's done was done, and Clap Co. would dissolve into multiple companies split across the island, all overseeing a different sector of industry. This governing shift would completely mark the end Clap Co.'s Golden Age of power on the island, and the rise of a new one. As Stanislav sat in his office, he slowly began to form the building blocks for his next rhetorical masterpiece. He remembered the "duel citizen claus" in the Dredge Pact agreement with Azuma, giving him a devilish idea. Stanislav would merge the Azuma "Clap Party", with his new political movement dubbed "MFGA", or Make the Federation Great Again. He combined this with appealing to traditionalist conservative Ashkavari citizens, while forming backdoor deals with Kamtargaa, Vastaraa, and most of the upper leadership in Azuma and Ashkavar. Dredge began to snowball, and turn into a political machine within the region, which caught the eye of a certain religious leader named Ruham Çelikten. 
Ruham, the Angra Shoma (leader) of Wheelism, the largest religion within Ashkavar, noticed Stanislav's presidential campaign and decided to throw his political/religious weight behind it. Ruham approached Stanislav and proposed a deal. He would back his campaign, and endorse him on one condition. That Stanislav converted to Wheelism, and became a Shaomel (priest) if he became the president of the federation. Stanislav took the deal, and the two began to plan a Wheelist ritual. Rumors began to spread of the ritual, and Stanislav's opponent Val Sol'oon made sure to stay in the loop of knowing when it would take place. After seasons of planning, the ritual was planned, the date was presented to the Karaqhor. It would take place in the fall of 42 VE. This would be the first battle of the election, with two opponents going head to head with impressing the ritual goers. The Wheelist ritual started off rocky for Stanislav, who didn't understand that crossing the obsidian barrier of the shrine was forbidden before being told to by the Angra Shoma; but Stanislav stuck the landing, receiving an artifact of Wheelism, and stealing the show away from his opponent. Ruham has been quoted stating "Oh Val Sol'oon? I didn't even know you were running, uh well, I guess you can have this chaos shard too". 
With the first battle of the election finished, Stanislav would begin hosting more political guests at Castle Von Dredge to secure more endorsements. Speeches were made by both candidates as well. Val Sol'oon mostly stuck to campaigning throughout New Baiclite, Sifedşovan, Tarakon, Thennasus, Aúzran, and illegally in Kavrovaria; While Stanislav campaigned through Dredge, Vastaraa, Kamtargaa, Homganomganonogongia, Tarakon, Mikata, Azai, Collisto, and New Baiclite. Both New Baiclite and Tarakon would become the battleground cities for this election, with Menjaes Jesfusjh of Tarakon originally pledging support to the MFGA movement, but switching sides to Val Sol'oon after a trade agreement was made for red sand and potatoes. Regardless of this lose, Stanislav marched forward, spouting out radical populist rhetoric just like before in Azuma. He based his foundation for the MFGA movement under the appeal of returning to Ashkavar's nomadic roots, advocating for cultural heritage sites and reservations for natives to be constructed, while also planning large scale building projects for statues of horses to be built around the Federation; But most of all, Stanislav wanted a concrete constitution for the Maritime Federation, which would be drafted with the help of the Karaqhor's son Fehun Kurucan-Dhar. 
Fehun was a young up and coming politician who was famous for his bureaucratic skills. He also had a stake in this election. Fehun could potentially receive Collisto, and with that, would be granted the ability to oversee the construction of the royal family's vacation estate. Though, it all depended on who won the election to truly decide his fate. So once again, Stanislav took advantage of the situation at hand, and promised Fehun Collisto if he won, and all he had to do in return was write the Maritime Federation's constitution. Publicly, very little was discussed about what would go on that document; but behind closed doors, that was Stanislav's final step in conducting his future plans. At this point, any direction Stanislav took would lead to massive change within the governing structure of Dredge again, but what that constitution had in store for the region; no one saw coming. 
Finally, election day came. That morning Stanislav was in Azai, praying to the spirits that guided him to Ashkavar, and thanked them for the opportunity they given him. He packed his things and began the journey back to Dredge. He arrived to the islands just in time to cast his vote, only to then sit in his office, and await the election results. The results of the Maritime Federation Presidential Election goes as followed: 
thumb|400x400px|"MFGA" Propaganda posted by Stanislav the day before the election took place, making sure all voters were reminded to vote for MFGA
Election 	Candidate 	Political Movement 	Vote Share	Total Votes
Maritime Federation Presidential Election	Val Sol'oon	None 	33% 	
 
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Maritime Federation Presidential Election	Stanislav 	"MFGA" (Make the Federation Great Again)	67% 	
 
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Category:Ashkavari
In quite a turn of events, Stanislav won the election. Before the start of the election Val Sol'oon seemed to have won the popular vote, but after election night came to a close, Stanislav came out on top. In the middle of the night, Stanislav wrote to Val Sol'oon on the appointment that they will become their Vice President. At the time, this seemed like a good idea and a kind gesture, but in the industry we call this foreshadowing. Regardless, the next morning, Stanislav would address the people of the federation. He would state:
"I apologize for the lack of my speech yesterday, I was a little too excited while celebrating the MFGA movement’s success in this election. Regardless, here we are, and who would’ve thought huh? A Feles in the presidential chambers of the Maritime Federation. Crazy. Let me cut to the chase though.As you know, It is my duty to announce who will be taking the role of Governor on Dredge. I would like to appoint my good friend I met all the way back on my travels through Bel’Hor, Stubborn Ducky, to be the governor of Dredge. As for the governor of New Baiclite, I would like to leave that up to my soon to be Vice President, Val Sol'oon. They can call for an election for governor, or they can appoint someone, either decision they make is fine. To get the ball rolling, I will be focusing on three things at the moment. One, to redraft our constitution along with fellow countryman and bureaucrat, Fehun. That way we can actually understand what powers we hold, in terms of the Vice President, and Governors. Two, design and construct the Statue of NanaMann and the Statue of the Steppe Horsemen. And three, the restart of the construction of New Baiclite. I would like the city to be somewhat functional before we start mass recruiting people in.When these things are done or steaming along/set in stone, I will start a recruitment campaign. This will be structured similarly to how the Azuma Shogunate does their recruitment. If you recruit a player into any Maritime Federation claim, and they stay active within our region for longer than a week, I will personally pay whoever invited them 1,500 Abex Bucks, or a reward that will equal to that. This reward does stack, and you can collect more than once. I will keep everyone updated with the progress of the constitution, for now, hang tight while things are being reorganized. If you have any questions, feel free to ping me in the citizens chat, and I will get to you as soon as I can. Thank you everyone who participated by voting in the election. Having 30 people’s input on a single event like this was very impressive, and hopefully we can keep up that kind of activity going forward. For those of you who voted for me, thank you for placing your trust in my hands, and for those who did not, hopefully we can find common ground moving forward."