Coup of Paloro

The **Coup Of Paloro** was a succession crisis in the Kingdom of Paloro occurring on the 9th of February 2021. King Keechoo of Paloro was pressured to abdicate by a religious unification movement within the government, who then pursued a policy of continental unification which was staunchly opposed by the former King leading to public conflict. The leader of the Asharu Unionists, Mayor Loic of Asahiri, who would ascend to the throne and confront most of Keechoo's claims of tyranny and underhanded politicking. Under Loic most states of Haven joined the proposed Federation, although after two hours this Union was disbanded due to uncertainty and Keechoo I was reinstated as ruler of Paloro due to outside pressures.

## Summary of Events

Under Keechoo I, Paloro experienced an age of peace, supporters attribute this to the King's steady hand steering the ship of state while detractors accused him of inaction and cowardice. On the 8th of February Mayor Loic of Asahiri and Carado of Gefail approached King Keechoo with a plan to unite all of the continent of Haven to create an Imperial Union of States. The parties that would be included in this unification would be Paloro, Boulderov, Dolária, Uldarash and (as a vassal) Aurora. After meeting resistance from the current monarch, Loic and Carado pressured Keechoo to step down as he obstructed efforts toward this project. Behind the scenes, threats were made, that if Keechoo did not step down willingly, violent force would be taken in an effort to remove him from the position. Not wanting harm to come to others, and facing public accusations of inaction, Keechoo abdicated on the same day.

The throne was ascended by King Loic I, and efforts to unify the continent intensified. The King and his cabinet, of which Carado was a vital member, began talks with Uldarashi representatives who along with Auroran representatives agreed to unite peacefully rather than face war with Paloro. Work on a constitution commenced and the Empire was officially announced to the public.

The abdicated Keechoo refused to remain silent in retirement and publicly accused the current King of usurpation by use of threat of force. The peaceful transfer of power a public farce that hid a much more menacing face of the current leadership. Keechoo wrote two separate announcements for the transfer of power back to him. The original announcement was viewed only by Paloro and its diplomats, while the official announcement could be viewed by the entire server, and contained more formal language. After the announcement, Uldarash and Aurora pulled out of the deal, and the whole plan was scrapped.

Many of the other powers in Haven did not agree to a united empire under Loic, some seeing it as a project bound to fail while others really did not like Loic, as threats of violence were made at several moments and agreement was seen as an easy way out.

### Keechoo's perspective

All information below can be found through the announcements Keechoo had made.

Upon hearing that Keechoo would have to give up power whether peaceful or not, Keechoo contacted Uldarash in hopes of preventing misunderstanding, and told them of Loic's plan to go to war with Uldarash if they denied peaceful annexation. Pleading for Uldarash to say no, Whiskey feared a deadly and overall costly war for the Empire, and instead opted for peaceful annexation. Eventually, Keechoo came to the conclusion that even if Uldarash went to war with Paloro, the city of Palovina would be razed, and Paloro itself annexed— an unsatisfactory outcome. As such, Keechoo instead prayed to Ashuntash, in which he received Palorii — a gift from Ashuntash that declared he was the rightful holder of the throne. Keechoo also got the idea for a method to peacefully take back the throne. Contacting the nations that Loic had said agreed to the term of the Empire's foundation, Keechoo found that they had supposedly not agreed to anything regarding who led Paloro at the time of its founding or during the invasion of Uldarash planned. As such, Keechoo stated the legal issues in the original announcement for his coming back to the throne. In an attempt to not hinder Loic's reputation any further, and to abide to Dolaria's demands, Keechoo did not state this in the official announcement.

*The following information has been fully declassified.*

After Loic had couped Keechoo initially, Keechoo organized with the former members of the Crescent Concordant, including Uldarash, to work up a resistance against Loic. However, attempts were largely ineffective. Soon after, however, Keechoo was invited to an Auroran-organized coalition against Loic. There, the majority of the planning was made— and Auroran protestors organized against Loic's proposed theocratic union of Haven.

### Loic's perspective

Players Loic\_exe27 (founder of Asahiri) and carado9 (founder of Gefail) approached the (at the time) King of Paloro; Keechoo, with a plan to unite all of the continent of Haven to create a Haven Empire of sorts on the 8th pf February. The parties that would be included in this unification would be Paloro, Boulderov, Dolária, Uldarash and (to an extent) Aurora. In order for this plan to work, Loic\_exe27 and carado9 had to persuade Keechoo to step down as King, as he disagreed with the plan and was known to not take initiative, which the King would need for this plan. Loic\_exe27 would replace him, and they made it clear that if he wouldn't step down willingly, they would forcefully overthrow him. Keechoo agreed, and publicly stepped down.

Loic\_exe27 took his place, and the plan to unify the continent took place. He had persuaded all nations to agree, and representatives from all nations were gathered to a call to help write the constitution, which can be read here. After this, the Empire had begun, and would only last 2 hours. Keechoo suddenly resurfaced and claimed that Loic\_exe27 was a tyrant who was tricking all the nations in order to pilfer them and become a dictator. Upon hearing this, Uldarash and Aurora pulled out of the deal, and the whole plan was scrapped. According to Loic's supporters, Keechoo had planned this from the beginning, waiting for Loic\_exe27 to put in all the work that he did so that he would waste his time and humiliate him. He then took back power and claimed himself King once again, and Loic\_exe27 decided to give up any attempt to re-obtain it.

## The Coup Itself

When carado9 heard about Keechoo's retaking of power the next day, he persuaded Loic\_exe27 that they had to keep to their word and take power by force. Keechoo's actions were deemed disgusting by the large majority of Paloro, and he was looked down upon by Boulderov and Dolária. Loic founded, and was the mayor, of the largest town in Paloro; Asahiri. Not only were these people loyal to Loic\_exe27 due to him housing them, but they were also mostly new players, and had no nostalgia or nationalism for Paloro (in fact, carado9 was the only non new player citizen of Paloro who sided with Loic\_exe27), therefore almost all players in the nation supported Loic\_exe27. He and carado9 created a new discord server and most people left the old one for the new one. Loic\_exe27 was made King, and carado9 Regent. Keechoo no longer claimed he was king of Paloro, although in private he held his claim. This claim was recognized by Auroran and Uldarashi officials, who had sided with Keechoo. During the coup, Keechoo had been killed twice, both times the killers; Biggegb and Cohen3012 had been punished by the admins as there was a server-wide ceasefire in place. After this, Keechoo was banished from Asahiri, but not Paloro.

### The Ultimatum

A few days after the events of the coup, Aurora took the reigns in handling Paloro. Keechoo was offered citizenship in Fornost as refuge, but refused to abandon his home. Thankfully for him, Aurora was drafting up an ultimatum to send to Loic.

The two week's peace, enforced by Stoney, ensured that no violence could occur in this period. As such, Loic and Keechoo were both utilizing this time to prepare, as some sort of conflict seemed inevitable. However, the two weeks quickly became one, as it was shortened by Stoney— giving Aurora the upper hand. Already well equipped with their time on the server, Aurora sent an ultimatum to Loic, demanding Keechoo's ascension to the throne, alongside the big wheel found in Asahiri. In response, Loic ordered that Asahiri be burned down, and he and his supporters fled to Viodoxa. The coup had ended, and war, though seeming impossible, was thankfully prevented.