Just a day after toned down Union Day festivities were held within the confines of Lichingrad Palace due to worries of the coronavirus pandemic, diplomats from Iustus and Essexia privately contacted the Imperial Household with a message which carried an unforeseen heft and solemnity. At the young age of fifteen, Nicholas Randolph Cordrey, known to many as Nicholas Randouler, died of a brain aneurysm, as internationally collected intelligence confirms. The Starlit Sky began to fly that morning with the famous 'death pennant' and wrapped finial, thought to be reserved only for Imperial Funerals.
The first sign of his death was found by Matthew S., one of three Essexian diplomats in the delegation sent to the 2020 London Summit. It was later broadcasted across Abeldane government channels by him as well as Iustian Emperor Austin Jaax, as Emperor Nicholas of Abelden, Vorsitzender Patrick Renwick, Stephen Freayth, and tens of other Abeldanes clambered to send their condolences.
Just afterwards, Posafian channels were flooded with love and hope from its people, who lost their figurehead and leader. Iustus and Millania were next to follow suit in taking action. The grief soon spread across the world as the GUM, the MOF, and ASPAA made official moves to offer their condolences, as well as prominent nations such as Essexia, Adammia, Hrafnarfjall, and others.
Periods of fifteen days of mourning were declared in the B3 nations of Posaf, Millania, and Iustus, who were the hardest collectively hit from the occurence, passing unanimously in their respective legislatures or household offices. Other nations where he held influence such as Essexia, Abelden, and Occitania also declared states of mourning. The GUM, with a much longer democratic process, is expected to pay its respects in a more thorough manner soon.
The morning of the ninth saw Imperial Order XXII (22) promulgated, entitled In An Effort To Remember Nicholas R. Cordrey. Within the order, it was declared that Nicholas would posthumously receive the rank of Knight Officer in the Order of Santiago I. Crown Prince Nicolás also relinquished his own rank of Knight Commander in the Order of Saint Emilian, the highest knighthood in all of Millania, and gave it to Mr. Randouler.
3 June, the date of his passing, was declared a National Holiday known as Squamily Day, where Millanians would remember their ties to the Posafian people and the life of Mr. Randouler. Additionally, the seat of the national legislature was renamed from the Houses of Parliament to Cordrey Place.
The Ministry of the Interior scrambled to contact the far reaches of the Union, as all six realms made their own efforts to remember Nicholas. Kayutsastan instituted twenty-two days of mourning, the number associated with the Imperial Order, and will be hosting an interfaith service. Kayuts donned the culturally significant white scarf, a sign of mourning, and changed their online avatars to the posafian flag. The Captain Regent of Kayutsastan, Thomas Kap, had this to say:
From the Government of the Kayut Commonwealth of Millania, we send our condolences to [Nicholas]. May God bless him in heaven, and may God bless his family who are going through such a sad time. I met Nicholas a couple of years ago, and he was always so nice and understanding. Losing him has been terrible. I again pray for him and his family.
Charlian officials, including the Sovereign Duchess herself, issued statements mourning his death. Duchess Charlotte released the short and sweet statement below:
I never actually met Nicholas, but I wish his family the best. I am so sorry for their loss.
Anderssonia, the least affected by Randouler, announced that it would be taking steps to remember his life over the weekend, and would also observe the mourning period.
Yochtia's Princess created a new chivalric order in Nicholas' name, called the Order of Cordrey. Perhaps the most touching of all, the seat of Crown Prince Nicolás, Sirusia, renamed itself as Cordrica in his honour.
In the evening, Millania took to the GUM and promised that its government would organise a public vigil and memorial for Randouler among the citizenry of GUM members on 23 June, the last day of mourning, in and from Pasabrillo. Smaller vigils are to be held in Curtis City in Iustus, and a sacred mountain near Misberia. Many nations, and the GUM, are in the process of cosponsoring the 'Union Vigil.' The Aenderian Coast Guard also flew the Starlit Sky along with its counterparts, the Iustian and Posafian flags, with others, on the C/F Megumin, which was also renamed the C/F Nicholas Randouler.
Nicholas Randouler was first seen by Millanian officials in January of 2018, shortly after the launch of the International Outreach Programme. Millania joined a new and sprawling organisation called the United Micropact, said to be the root of the community-wide shift to discord. With open arms, Nicholas welcomed the new Empire to foreign activities. A short three weeks afterwards, Iustus joined the organisation. Together with Danatia and its successor states, Posaf and Millania formed the Tri-Alliance, one of the first of its kind, and during the decline of the Leelandic States, Iustus, Posaf, and Millania formed the Big Three – or B3 – alliance.
Randouler, Austin Jaax, and Crown Prince Nicolás Millán exchanged citizenships as a form of diplomacy, and shortly after began taking high profile government positions in the other two's represented nations. As such, Nicholas entered into Millanian politics with a bang, winning a hung parliament as Millania's second and last Prime Minister, the only one ever to be a Conservative.
During his tenure as Prime Minister, he oversaw the reform of the administrative structure of Millania, the creation of subordninate ministerial offices, sweeping militaristic reforms, the gradual expansion of the Empire into the Andes, and mediated diplomatic schisms within the Aenderian sector. Even then, it wasn't enough for him. He oversaw the world famous Treaty of the Sea, which saw three of the six current constituent realms unite, reforming the Empire into the Union. Increasing pressure from the Grand Alliance, the opposition coalition at the time, saw his abrupt resignation from office. Since then, he served as Minister of Culture, Prefect of Sur Dela Valla, the Lord High Justice, and the Minister of Welfare; the latter three until his untimely death.
He served in Iustus in various top level offices, in Abelden as Generalmememarschall and then as Stellvertreter until his death, in Essexia, where he ran comedic media, in Aenderia as its president, in Verus as its King, in New Eiffel as its Prime Minister, and arguably served most substantially in the GUM, where he developed the Sister Cities project, which saw many alliances and relationships formed through small connections. He also notably served as the long time President of the MOF, where he oversaw the 2019 and 2020 games in Millania and Gymnasium.
Perhaps most importantly, he served as Prince and Foreign Minister of Posaf, as well as practically every other possible position within his home nation. His undying commitment saw Posaf drive itself ahead of both Iustus and Millania, becoming the most prominent nation of its time, and even was the very reason why the community transferred itself to discord.
Crown Prince Nicolás and Emperor Austin Jaax, among the first Nicholas met within the community, has this to say:
Nicholas has been a tremendous supporter of our State, and his help through thick and thin has pushed Millania and its Conservative Party into the position it is today. His undying spirit of humour, kindness, loyalty, and honour continues to shine brighter than the Star of Empire ever could. His tenure as Prime Minister saw this nation unite into what it is today, and there is no doubt that it is thanks to him that the Ministries were reformed into their current state. Our alliance with Posaf lives on as the greatest tie we have ever created with any nation state, all thanks to him, overshadowing our numerous connections in the Colombian National Cabinet. May he live on in our hearts and minds as we pray for him. God be with Nicholas Cordrey. - Nicolás Millán Prieto
Nick was my best friend. I had reached out to him on March 3rd, 2018, when I had first founded Iustus. At the time, I had little to no friends. He helped get me into Microwiki, and helped Iustus rise to where it is now. He helped this community survive and leap out of the Stagnant Era. If it wasn't for him, who knows where this community would be. Who knows where we would all be. -Austin Jaax
A pioneer throughout his life, his kindness, humor, and cheerful service saw him grow popular and close with many. His spirit lives on in all of us. May is spirit live on forevermore with God.
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