Aurlûnor Forward Movement

AFM Logo

**Aurlûnor Forward Movement**, referred to as **Aurlûnor Póna Hatse** in Aurlûnoren, was a political movement in Aurlûnor, primarily active during the Aurlûnoren Free State.

## Beliefs

AFM was a movement pushing for radical liberalization of Aurlûnor Velande, reorganization into a liberal republic, the *Aurlûnor Renminde*. It based itself around five postulates, demanding the democraticization the Free State, the reduction of the Vale Mandate to former Temple Territories territory, the restoration of Lhûmar as the formal capital of Aurlunor, the reorganization of subdivisions into provinces and the nationalization of land in National Parks.

While these five postulates were the golden postulates of the movement for several years, this does not mean that its beliefs did not adapt to the changing world. However, their views for their whole existence revolved more or less around liberalism and republicanism.

The movement also strongly disagreed with the ethnic hierarchy in the country, although it wasn't included in the postulates due to it crashing down in the Free State era.

## History

### Foundation

The movement was founded shortly after the First United Crowns of Syltör collapsed and the Aurlûnoren Free State was formed. The liberalization of the Aurlunoren state forced by the collapse was seen as an opportunity to push further by the founders.

> People of Aurlunor!
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> The collapse of our Syltorean union was an unfortunate and sad event, but it also presented us with a great opportunity to liberalize our country!
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> A movement hoping to seize that opportunity is already forming, by the name of "Aurlunor Forward" Movement, under leadership of Yanis Chenon. Our postulates are:
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> - Power to the people! - Democraticize the Free State.
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> - Capital for Aurlunor! - Reduce Vale Mandate to former Temple Territories territory, bringing Lhumar back as formal capital of Aurlunor.
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> - Out with the Free Speech Wall! - Open up for foreign media outlets.
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> - Administrative reform! - Make subdivisions in provinces!
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> - Land in National Parks only for the state! - We have seen what happened when Ha Anga National Park had a Gen II plot inside, we don't want that to happen anywhere, especially not in a National Park.
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> We need you! No matter who you are, man or woman, elven or human.
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> JOIN AFM FOR BETTER AURLUNOR!
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> Signed Yanis Chenon
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> Leaflet announcing AFM's formation

### Propaganda and moderate Successes

Following the formation, AFM ran a massive propaganda campaign, focusing primarily on Lhûmar and Quacomar, the streets of which were showered in posters, however other cities were also included. The posters were mainly targeted at the lower class, which was especially apparent in Lhûmar, where most of the posters were located in the Phoenix District, informally referred to as slums of the city, and Lingrinwe, where middle class lived.

A massive part of the propaganda campaign was "The Wind of Liberty" which was the movement's newspaper. However that is described more in depth in a different section of this article.

The AFM, despite some moderate success, at the end of the day turned out to be a cardboard organization, with its only successes being pushing Nori Geon-Sauranis, the Phoenix Regent, towards action to bring back Lhûmar, running "The Wind of Liberty" and later pushing government towards enacting LCPA, which while brutally, succeded at cracking down on crime in low income districts of cities.

### Death of Yanis Chenon

In the late evening of the 6th of Luyander 1041, a hanging man was found in one of darker Phoenix District alleyways by a group of teenagers coming back from a house party. Shortly after, police arrived on the scene. The police investigators identified the person as the leader of the rebel movement, and found no signs of struggle, hinting towards the suicide of Y. Chenon.

### Decline and dissolution

Shortly after Y. Chenon's death, the AFM went radio silent, with The Wind of Liberty bankrupting, despite scoring really high in media popularity, in richer districts overtaken only by the IBS, and the absolute top in poor areas, and the movement itself shrouding itself in radio silence. Ever since then the movement has been considered defunct.

12 years after the AFM went radio silent and was declared defunct by the society, an announcement was made.

> 20th of Vinimas 1053, Hloamar
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> To the public, Good morning, or afternoon, or night, depending on when you read this, my fellow residents of Aurlunor. I'm Muinon Ténanis, and I'm a former member of the Aurlunor Forward Movement.
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>  The purpose of this public letter is only one. To end the radio silence, and to formally shut down what has been defunct for more than a decade, following our leader's suicide.
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> I announce formal shutdown of the Aurlunor Forward Movement.
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> We did not manage to create our ultimate goal, the Aurlunor Renminde, however we managed to make an impact upon this country. For the brand of the Wind of Liberty, it will be either sold to a private owner, or formally shut down too, after spending a decade in bankruptcy and defunction.
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> Signed, *Muinon Ténanis*

## The Wind of Liberty

The Wind of Liberty was the party newspaper of the AFM. Despite coming out as clearly anti-governmental at several occasions, it managed to slip through the tight censorship laws of Aurlûnor, partially thanks to the chaos in governmental structures and the recession that government-funded media outlets faced after UCS collapse, because the Free State's government decided to allow them to operate to keep the population satisfied with media quality, even though several hits from censorship were recorded, such as the delay in the 5th Nulanawe 1033 issue, which summarized Nori Geon-Sauranis's controversial political career, after she announced her retirement.

The newspaper itself was known for being staunchly anti-governmental, but besides often overdosing on government skepticism in its issues, it was known as informative, often even competing with the Lhumarite Imperial Gazette even in the richer districts who were perfectly satisfied with the current government. The newspaper shut down after the AFM went defunct.