Winter of Discontent (1856-1858)

The Winter of Discontent was a period of civil unrest on the continent of Orwald in Dimension T-2022. It coincided with a period of prolonged cold weather. The Winter of Discontent caused regime changes in the Republic of Balenj and the Principality of Inner Peria.

## Background

Due to the planet’s unique orbit around the sun, each season lasts 2 orbital years. While this has some advantages, especially during Spring and Summer, the downside is that the world is locked in a 2-year long Winter. The Winter of 1856-1858 was especially hard on Orwald since it arrived earlier than expected. As a result, nations that were underprepared faced a difficult reality, with food shortages, raids and civil unrest amongst the main issues. Under normal circumstances, each nation had different ways of coping with Winter. The Grenivik Chiefdom, for example, uses the Winter years to go on raids across Orwald to compensate for the loss of harvests. The Kingdom of Corellia constructed a hydroponics farm to continue their food production into the Winter years. The Kingdom of Duyn shifts from agricultural production to fishing, making use of the warm ocean currents south of Orwald. However, two nations in particular were severely taken by surprise when Winter hit early in 1856. The Republic of Balenj had just come out of a controversial presidential election in 1854 and already faced a divided society. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Principality of Inner Peria was paralyzed by indecision and inaction.

## Course of the Winter of Discontent

The first signs of change showed up in Balenj, where a divided nation started to feel the effects of the Winter cold. President Hadis, a man of the establishment, had come out of the 1854 elections as a controversial figure. Many accused him and his party of tampering with the elections. In addition, Hadis' focus on industrialization had left the agricultural sector severely underprepared for the cold, quickly resulting in food shortages. This resulted in a rising popularity of the Worker's Manifesto, as it became a popular rallying point against the government in face of its blatant neglect of the fate of Balenj’s working classes. Meanwhile, raids had been a common occurence on Balenj's southern border and the Winter years only amplified them. As a result, a local leader by the name of Mariah had made a name for herself by defeating some of these raiders, leading her village in battle. In 1853, Mariah came into contact with followers of the Manifesto from Balenj's capital, giving her an ideological base for her anti-establishment actions. When Winter hit in 1856, she called for an all out rebellion and the overthrow of the government. Her calls were quickly followed by actions and a civil war erupted. By 1858, Mariah had taken over control and established the People's Republic of Balenj as a proletarian dictatorship.

In the Principality of Inner Peria, a similar trend was occuring. The Principe had ignored all signs of an early Winter and had spent most of his resources and time on the dream of a floating city on Lake Peria. In doing so, he had neglected the already existing towns and cities across the Principality. In addition, by allowing Duyn and Corellia to construct a railroad through Inner Peria, the Principe had bowed down to international pressure. Conservative members of the Council of Aristocrats feared that Inner Peria was slowly fading away in importance under the leadership of Principe Tom. Meanwhile, the people of the Principality were suffering from the same raids that were occuring in Balenj. However, the Principality lacked the radical movement surrounding the Worker's Manifesto, which had become so prominent in Balenj. As a result, anti-government unrest was much more moderate and less violent. It manifested itself in sabotage acts against foreign interests, including the construction of the Device by Corellian scientists. Kojiman spies, funded by disgruntled Perian elites, managed to sabotage the Device, causing it to destroy Dimension T-2022 and transport the continent of Orwald to Dimension S-2012. In the direct aftermath of this disaster, Principe Tom and the Council of Aristocrats were ousted from power, the aristocracy was abolished and a Federation of city councils was established in its place. Instead of a hereditary Principe, the Principe would now be elected by these city councils.

## Effects

The Winter of Discontent had widespread ramifications for the political realities in Balenj and Inner Peria, causing regime changes in both these countries. In addition, it was indirectly responsible for the transportation of Orwald to S-2012. As a result, the effects of the Winter of Discontent are mostly overshadowed by those of the transportation. In Balenj, the line between the Winter of Discontent and the founding of the People's Republic is easy to draw since it occured before the collapse. However, in Inner Peria it is hard to say whether it is the Winter of Discontent or the collapse which directly led to the overthrow of Principe Tom. Nonetheless, in both cases, regime change only slightly improved the situation of both countries.