Rohirrim Rider: December 1906

[Ithekro]

July 4, 1906

The Marshals of the Mark and the various Naval Boards spent a great deal of time on the plans for the next Battleship of the Mark to be laid down after Walda is completed late this year.  The new Helm Hammerhand-class Battleships have gone through more revisions than any battleship since the end of the ironclad age.  "With all the techincal improvements and the change in Rohan's position in the world, the Mark must set the standard rather than defy the standard as we have done for the last several decades," said Eormil Eorlson, Marshal of the Northern Seas.  The final approved design is a jump from the Freawine-class with the removal of both the standard 4.5 inch quick fires and the 9 inch breach loaders in favor of an imported Confederate 6 inch weapon and two additional 14 inch cannons in a turret over the Freawine-class's aft turret.  The design is over 20,000 tons, which in some minds seems excessive until one looks at French designs and some of the new ships being produced because of the Freawines.

July 11, 1906

The Army of the Mark has suggested that a defensive structure be placed around the Canal in an effort to protect it in the future.  Combined with this has been the thoughts of the Marshals of the Mark over the future of the Navy.  While they have recently solved the problem of the Helm Hammerhand-class battleships, they have not solved the problem of numbers and just how many ships the Marks needs amd just who the Mark is trying to defend against in this post-Anahuac age.

July 17, 1906

Work began on a fortress at Erkenbrand, New Beleriand to eventually defend the mouth of the New Beleriand Canal after it gets finished.  Rumors have it that the new fortress will be armed with model 1899 14 inch guns, but there is speculation that they could be armed with model 1902 14 inch guns.  The ending decision seems to be based on a proposed deal with the Gran Columbians over the model 1899 guns.

July 20, 1906

The military budget has been issued for the upgrade of all Rohirrim and Gondorian infantry units using the newest technologies.  The price for such a move has been estimated at 160,000 troy ounces of gold.  The materials should be built early next year and the units fully equipped by this time next year.

August 10, 1906
(Theoden's Day)

Today we remember one king who helped shape our destiny. Theoden King is remembered as a legend, but is considered to have been an actual living person by historians, as the written evidence from the archives of Edoras, Mundburg, and Dol Amroth along with some mention from other coninental sources indicates that he did live and that he was king of Rohan 8,205 years ago. His grave is also still present in Edoras. While most of his reign is lost to history, just that he was considered to have decayed during the last decade of the Third Age until his spirit was rekindled just before the great battles before the Hornburg and Mundburg that pushed the darkness back to Mordor. Theoden died in front of Mundburg at the hieght of the battle, but his spirit remains to remind us to keep our head in the light and charge when the worse seems to be upon you. Some say his tactics imply that the best defense is a good offense. They may be correct, and Rohan has followed this logic for land and naval warfare. While on land the days of the horse are ending, they still are a heavy and quick offensive tool that reminds our potential enemies that we can strike them back fast and hard should they attempt to take our lands or those of our allies. On the sea, this has brought about the practice of arming our ships heavily. They have to come to us, unless they wish to wait for us to come to them, but we will make them pay dearly should they try either option.

Today the King went to the mound of his fathers, his great-grand mothers, and uncles that were King of Rohan. Vistiting the 274 graves of the kings and queens of old, Theocro is reminded that one day he will be grave number 275. The Simbelmyne (Evermind) still bloom on every grave. The traditional reading of the names was done as is done when a new King is put on the throne, but the line breaks at Theoden to drink then continues until Theocro King is named, then the second drink is had. Rememberance of Theoden still takes centerstage on this day

August 14, 1906

Serious investmests into the New Beleriand Canal have been made be the Confederates and Brandenburg.  Along with a renewed commitment by the Swiss the project looks like it will be completed on time and within budget.


August 27, 1906

Arcadia, Battleship of the Mark has been dispatched to patrol near various islands in the Caribbean Sea to see about rumors of piracy on the rise again.

September 2, 1906

Arcadia reports having found the wreckage of a Mesoamerican freighter some forty miles west of Cuba.  The hulk seems to have been burned but did not sink.  What little can be found suggest that his was fired upon by light caliber rounds.  Due to the fire, it is hard to say if the cargo was taken or not.  There is no report of if there were bodies on the ship or not.

September 15, 1906
The King's Birthday

On this the King's 58th birthday, he again was able to slip away from his guards after the sixth hour of celebration.  His whereabout are unknown, but he has always managed to escape on his own parties.  The core of the Grey Company officers and men are also not to be found.

September 22, 1906

Freawine, Battleship of the Mark and the Calmacil, Combat Cruiser of the Mark, have returned from the Review at Scapa Flow.  News as to what happened otherwise has not been released to the the public.

September 24, 1906

Theocro King was finally seen at Weathertop Junction.  It seems he and his men decided to take a private train north to see the the Downs and the surrounding peoples first hand.  He is said to be returning to Edoras sometime next month.

October 13, 1906

Mesoamerican officials have asked for assistance in ronstructing their seriously reduced and out of date fleets.  With most of there Pacific Fleet destroyed in the Battle of the Revillagegedo Islands and the Caribbean Fleet escaping to Brazil following the War, the remains of their once proud fleet has been getting older and older.  Rohan is unsure about rebuilding the Mesoamerican's ability to make war at sea as pretty much every armored bark and all battlebarges have been destroyed, sold, or scrapped since 1899.  What little remains is of little or no fighting value.  Some of the older ships are still unaccounted for, but it has been suggested that they were scrapped to build the heavy industry in central Brazil now in Columbian hands.  The Brandenburg Battleship P.D. is by all accounts the last Anahuac Battlebarge in the world.  However Mesoamerican officials have admitted that they have seen plans and technologies to Thrawn of Firanj for their own local disputes with the New Swiss as these weapons were superior to the Caliphate guns.  It seems this technical exchange had been going on under Cairo's nose for some time before the Caliphate fell in 1900.  Rohan has not say on that matter, but advises the Mesoamericans to not trade with Thrawn in the future if they are to receive aid from Rohan.

October 17, 1906

Theocro King returned yesterday to Edoras after touring the Downs around Weathertop and what was once the lands of Arnor many millenia ago.  "The peoples who settled their in the days of the Fifth Age are a hearty bunch and they live their lives and try not to worry about the outside world." said the King.

October 21, 1906

Gunsmiths at Isengard have begun looking at the imported Confederate 6 inch weapon since August.  "It looks like a reasonable weapon and certainly better than our older weapon that we still mount on the Bregos and other older vessels of the Mark."  Some suggest that we refit the older vessels with these newer cannon to keep them viable for another decade.

November 1, 1906

The Marshals of the Mark have come to the comclusion that many of the older vessels of the Mark need refits badly.  Even the Theodens will need a refit soon to stay in fighting trim.  Some say ships like the Brego-class and other ships of that era need to be scrapped or placed in reserve.  Others think the Theodens need a complete reconstruction to keep them in fighting trim with the Eormers and Elfwines, while the Bregos get placed as second class battleships in reserve.  The next year or two will decide that depending on the resources availible to the Navy.

November 6, 1906

Fengel, Battleship of the Mark has been sent to Forlond to be fitted with a wireless set that she's been neglected from getting since 1902.  Some speak of her getting a rebuild while she is there to match Eormer's superimposed turret.

November 18, 1906

Fengel arrived in Forlond and has begun a general removal of materials from the vessel.

November 21, 1906

Gollum!  The Fengel exploded at the pier in Forlond this morning.  While most of the ships crew were away on leave 239 dock workers and 102 officers and men from the Fengel were killed in the explosion.  The cause is not yet clear other than the anchor landed some three miles away and many glass windows were blown out in the surrounding area.

November 22, 1906

Theocro King acknowledges the familes of those lost in the Fengel explosion and their sorrow.  "Men of war should not die at home at peace when they are not old and grey."  The Marshals and port authorities are still trying to figure out what happened?  The remains of the Fengel will be have what can be salvaged saved after the investgation and the hulk towed out to sea and sunk.

November 29, 1906

While some say the blast of the Fengel was caused by a mine or a deliberate attack, the Marshals of the Mark acknowledge no one having the ablity nor time, nor motive to destroy the Fengel at this time.  "The only possible suspect would be the New Swiss, and they have no reason to destroy one of our older vessels".

December 7, 1906

The official report of the Fengel explosion:  The explosion was caused by the ignition of coal dust in the reduced bunkers and the flames reaching the open magazines that were being empited.  The vessel exploded under B turret and again at A turret.  The aft battery did not explode but the wreckage and fire from the first two magazines is enough to call the Battleship a total loss.  Her remains will be floated and taken out to sea on Fellowship Day and allowed to sink to join those that did not survive the battles of old.

December 17, 1906

Despite the recent loss of the Fengle, Walda, Battleship of the Mark was completed today in South Mithlond.  The King himself commissioned the vessel as a tribute to those that lost their lives in his service on the Fengel.  "Let it be known that the second Helm-class battleship shall bare the name Fengel, for those that cannot be with us this day to see this fine ship start its voyages."   Walda will go on trials until Sometime in June of 1907.

December 25, 1906
Fellowship Day

The Mark remembers its past, its present, and hopes for the future on this day.  Marking the date that the Fellowship of the Ring left Rivendel over 8,200 years ago, the Mark and especially the Navy reflect on this day as Fengel, Battleship of the Mark, takes her last voyage.  A lone cannon in Edoras will fire once ever hour for twenty-four hours from on this day in respects to the crew of the Fengel.  Her once stately form, now blackened and cracked, was the lightly patched up and was towed out of the Gulf of Lune and into the Great Sea.  What could be removed and used again was taken, and what bodies that could be taken removed.  Her tow was cut as Eomer, Theoden, Goldwine, and the new Walda, Battleships of the Mark, gave a twenty-four guns salute to their comrade in arms as the Fengel slowly sank beneath the wave.  "From the sea came the Men of Numenor, to the sea we return the brave Men of Numenor." 

December 30, 1906

Arcadia, Battleship of the Mark returns from her long partrols of the Caribbean Sea.  Finding only a few wrecks and one small time pirate preying on yachts, Lord Harlock is not satified that the pirates of the Caribbean are gone at this time.

[swamphen]

(ic)
The Reich extends its condolences to the peoples of the Mark who have lost friends and family in this tragic accident.

(ooc)
The Filipino Smoking Man strikes again!!  ;D

[Ithekro]

IC:
The Mark accepts the kindness of those of Brandenburg.

OOC:
Well someone complained that I wasn't loosing ships to accidents, so I decided I should have one.  I looked through the Navy list and found the ship that really hasn't been in the news much...also named after a king people didn't like historically...at least the first Fengel King.  So her number was up.

[Walter]

IC:
Japan sends its condolences to those who lost their friends and/or family members to this terrible accident.
OOC:

The Filipino Smoking Man strikes again!!

Yes and you are the one responsible for all that misery, Swamphen. Unleashing such suicidal smoking maniacs upon these worlds!!
At least my ships blow up by accident...
... aided by a healthy dose of aviation fuel and aircraft bombs. ;D

also named after a king people didn't like historically

I see. So the ship was doomed from the moment it received its name. :)

[Desertfox]

Which reminds me. If I was mike, Id be very very worried about a certain ship. The last Swampy built ship that made a stop there went up in flames...

[Carthaginian]

The Confederate States of America, both severally and in Congress assembled, send their most sincere condolences to the Men and  Women of the Mark who lost friends and family in this horrific event. Additionally, the Confederacy offers any possible assistance that can be rendered to Rohan in this sad time.

With Highest Regard,
Joshua Clark

*the names of all Confederate Senators and Representatives are below that of the President, and all are signed by hand.*

[Borys]

On the 25th December the Habsburg Ambassador, Count Przewalski, presented the King with an off-white banner with a straight black cross on it. A patch with white horse on green background was sewn in one of the corners. It was the banner of the 1st Squadron of the 1st Kuirassier Theocro Koenig von Riddermark Regiment, borne across 2350 miles of the Brazilian Interior during the Anuhuac Crusade. It was the wish of the surving troopers - 92 from original strenght of 170, for the banner to be presented to their Inhaber.

The ambassador offered the services of the  Austrian Inquisition in unraveling the mystery of the Fengel RV explosion.

[Ithekro]

December 25, 1906

A cannon fires on the hour, "Theocro King takes the standard of the 1st Squadron of the 1st Kuirassier Theocro Koenig von Riddermark Regiment in the manner in which it is presented."  said the King to the Count.  "May their services do their Inhaber and their Empire proud." 

"While the services of the Inquisitor are not needed at this time for the events tied to Fengel, Battleship of the Mark, there may be some use for them in Mesoamerica.  That land being Christian in this age, an Inquisitor might route any pockets of the 'heathen' Anahuac you've hunted in the jungles of Brazil."

[Ithekro]

The Riddermark acknowledges the sympathy from the Japanese Empire and hopes that one day we might have normal rather than distant relations across the Pacific Ocean.


Rohan thanks the Congress, PResident, and Peoples of the Confederacy that have sent there well wishes to those that have lost family and friends to this act of chance.

[Borys]

The Count nodded:
- "I will pass Your Majesty's words to the Regiment. As to the Mesoamericans - they don't expect the Austrian Inquisition ... "

[khymerion]

From the Desk of the Prime Minister,

Though we are late in getting word of the loss of the battleship Fengel, it is a sad day to hear of such an inglorious loss of both life and material, not fitting an end for a ship nor a good end for any of those who died in the detonation.  Please accept our sympathy for the loss.

Prime Minister Silbertann

[Ithekro]

One other little piece of news...probably not important.

December 31, 1906

The second railroad from the United Kingdom to Rohan across Siouxland will pass near frontier town by the name of Rock Ridge.  At present the town is not on the route for the railroad.  Mr. Johnson of Rockridge says that he's townfolk are not expecting the railroad to effect their little town much, but also don't particularly want the line running too close to town.  Work is expected to being in the spring on the new line.

[Walter]

Beware of the State Attorney General, Hedley Lamarr. :D

BTW, which Johnson would that be? :)

[Walter]

BTW... in case a fight breaks out in Rock Ridge make sure it stays in Rock Ridge and that it does not end up somewhere in the Wesworld.

[Ithekro]

OOC

BTW... in case a fight breaks out in Rock Ridge make sure it stays in Rock Ridge and that it does not end up somewhere in the Wesworld.

Awww  :(  Didn't you want some sort of massive brawl moving across Mollywood sets?

I think that would be Howard J. I believe, there being no clear spokesmen for Rock Ridge that I can tell.

I'm trying to figure out what the Governor would be governor of.  ???

IC:

The Mark thanks Prime Minister Silbertann for his and his peoples kind words.