New-Kerguelen Crisis

The **New-Kerguelen Crisis** is a series of events that escalated into an international crisis between Ottacorp and the Empire of Ostenbourg.

### Background

At the beginning of September 2021, Ottacorp had a monopoly of power and influence because of its size and large population. When Kidcalvin74 accepted to join Yhorm and include Johanburg in Ostenbourg, the new faction did not hide its goals of developing and expanding. Even though Ostenbourg did not have near the number of buildings and population of Ottacorp, Ottacorp immediately decided to have hostile relations with Ostenbourg. This attitude was, according to Ottacorp, justified by the will to condemn the authoritarian regime of Ostenbourg. It is in this context of diplomatic tension that the New-Kerguelen Crisis took place.

### Attack on the Ottacorp Chairhouse

On 2021.09.11, an explosion damaged the left wing of the Ottacorp Chairhouse. Rapidly, several members of Ottacorp issued very emotional statements about what they consider a "terrorist attack". Pacal08's statement was a good representation of the general attitude of Ottacorp on the matter: "T*oday on 2021. 09. 11. the left wing of the chairhouse was attacked in a terrorist attack, whoever is responsible for this act of violence, will pay*." Yhorm, Emperor of Ostenbourg on his side, declares that "*Ostenbourg stays silent on the matter*."

Pieces of evidence were found at the place of the explosion: a banner of Ostenbourg and a sign stating: "Yhorm id card". In Ostenbourg it is believed that these pieces of evidence were falsifications and that the attack was self-inflicted to justify even more hostility towards Ostenbourg. No proof has been found and nothing can exclude a creeper explosion. This event is believed to have influenced the decisions during the crisis.

### Project Looney Tunes and building of New-Kerguelen

Having not yet built more than the Johanburg castle, the Empire of Ostenbourg wanted to secure enough space to build around it and expand the city. That is why, on 2021.09.05, Yhorm claimed Johanburg and the territories East of it as part of Ostenbourg. At the time, no one spoke up against it because it was common that someone asked to leave a given space free, to build future projects on it.

Ottacorp though, took a very negative view of this, as they considered Ostenbourg to be a dictatorship. It is believed that around 2021.09.13. (the first mention of project looney tunes is on this date), several members of Ottacorp (including Pacal08, CK Wagner, MonkOfDawnridge,...), secretly started to build a small city in the claims of Ostenbourg, hidden behind the mountains of Johanburg. This city, which included a lighthouse, a harbour, administrative facilities, and several other buildings, was first known by its code name "Project Looney Tunes" but was to be renamed to New-Kerguelen.

### Discovery and reactions

On 2021.09.19, the Emperor of Ostenbourg discovered an unknown settlement on the previously claimed territory of Ostenbourg by looking on the world map. After sending an expedition to the site, Ostenbourg discovered Project Looney Tunes, a refugee camp for the "oppressed people of Ostenbourg". CK Wagner released an official communicate from the Ottacorp Chairhouse, justifying the project: "*Ottacorp launched a preventive operation, aimed to all free people living in Ostenbourg "Empire". Our **"Ottaprotectorate New Kerguelen"**  will become a safe heaven for all quelled under oppressive jackboot, and centre of commerce for all parties involved.*"

Ostenbourg, which always denied the accusations of dictatorship, took this as a massive provocation and decided the same day to build a large wall around New-Kerguelen to prevent its expansion into more Ostenbourg land. The goal of Ostenbourg was to integrate or rather to recover the territory, as stated by Yhorm: "*New Kerguelen has always been a part of Ostenbourg since ancient times. The Ostenbourg Emperor would like to remind all citizens Kerguelen is not a separate nation, but rather an independent autonomous zone within the Ostenbourg Empire. The "wall" as pacal has so crudely put it, is merely a decorative border demarking the end of the Kerguelen Autonomous zone*.".

Darpleon's statement on the matter suggested that, despite the fact there is no official rule permitting to claim big spaces of land, he condemned the clear intention of provocation.

### Conclusion and aftermath

After the discovery of New Kerguelen and the building of the wall, one of the quick consequences of the event was the declaration of the Australite Order by Southern Gentleman. Due to the divisive nature of recent politics and to protect the integrity of the Australite Order, the Abbot of the order resigned from his position of stool man.

On 2021.09.24. an agreement was found between Ottacorp and Ostenbourg, declaring New-Kerguelen a free trade zone of Ottacorp and Ostenbourg. The conditions of this agreement were that New Kerguelen stays in Ostenbourg but shall not be a refugee camp anymore, not expand beyond the limits of the wall, remove the insulting signs and use both flags.

Despite the agreement, the diplomatic relationship between Ottacorp and Ostenbourg did not exit the crisis in a better state than before, Ostenbourg having gotten the confirmation that Ottacorp was an aggressive faction.

It is difficult to say if either of the sides benefited from this crisis in any way. Ottacorp badly deteriorated its diplomatic image and Ostenbourg did retrieve the land but still got secretly attacked right under its nose.

The constructions in New Kerguelen have since completely stopped and no additional building was built around this land.