A Very Long Winter in Beira Alta

Beira Alta, town of Manteigas, 11 January of 1954

The winter is at the zenith of its power. Snow covers almost all Portusgalia, from the coast thill the mountains. Manteigas, a small town in the mountains of "Serra da Estrela", the main mountains of Portusgalia, and a ditch of Integralists. Life runs in its normal way, the workers go to the factories of wool, shepards take the sheep to the hills nearby... But at night, a few men gather in arms on a nearby oakland, they speak that "The King has returned!" to overturn the damn "White Niger Queen!" They speak also about Marshal Marquis of Avila, that has returned from the exile to lead the Kings men and return the "Old Order" taking off the Free-Masons that run Lisbon and their filthy Queen...

They are careful, the Guarda Real (gendarme/militarised police) is always with eyes open to meetings, they pretend to be hunters that going to hunt a big boar that attacked some sheep... The word spreads through the hills and mountains of the Province of Beira Alta. If it is real that Avila has returned to fight for the King, a new uprising will come.

Terrible news came in, D. Miguel II, the old exiled king has died, he was 101 years old! It is a dark day in Portusgalia mainland, the people mourn. Even his old enemies from the Civil War, like Marshal Corte Real, although not shown in public, says to his old comrades from the war, "a great man died today, it is a dark hour". In Portusgalia, a land of political passions, wich are lived with clamor, hate is generally a sub product of this. Yet the honor is preserved with great esteem, and enemies respect each other. The Neo-Septembrists are a new kind of political animal in the politcs zoology, very skilled by chance, can make a kind of mourning to the enemy inside their minds, but they will not tolerate it in public.

The government knows that Avila is coming, then spies and agents from Intendência da Polícia told it to the governament. Avila has actually Portusgalia try to make people recognize D. Duarte, son of D. Miguel II, as king. That is a nasty move for the Libertarians back in Lisbon.

Next day, real shit happens! Across the country, Masses in churches for the soul of D. Miguel II, the government is possessed! For many of the government oficials this is a clear demonstration of defiance, an act of public disobedience! And many "Administradores Municipais"* started moving the "Policia Municipal"** and the National Guard to end it. Across the country, many accepted the demobilization order, others responded with boos and jeers and then go home. The worst case, however, arises in Viseu, when the National Guard comes to brute by the Cathedral inside, and throws everyone out. Stoping a Mass, on behalf of someone's soul, this is a worst sacrilege for a commun portusgalian peasant. The commander of the force, was completly drunk, he stayed all night attending at bars drinking with is comrades. Already out side, he adresses his self to the people who was at the Cathedral and the clerics. Visually drunk, he bearly could stand up, so 2 of his soldiers subtly held him up:

Commander: The townhall forbiiiideee any mass today, you all shall go to bed and sleep!!! It is bad to stay woke up till so late!!!!

Soldier *whispers in his ear*: Captain, it is 6:30 in the morning... It is the first mass of the day!

Commander: Who cares! It is late, the sun isn't yet in the sky! So they sold go bed! Don't protest young fellow!

People go home and be good citizens!!!!

One of the peasants, not pleased with such, starts yelling at the captain:

Peasant: Hey duchebag! It is you that haven't go to bed yet! You smell like shit! You have been drinking all night! I saw you when I woke up and was walking here! You where at the tasca*** nearby the Cathedral! You should be ashamed! You disgust me! Asshole!

The commander suddenly gets angry, drop the sword, and will be running to grab the throat of the Peasant:

Commander: You smut!!!!! How dare youuuu...

And falls to the ground and faints... The people watching that depressing scenario, riots, and begins to beat the other soldiers, who were so drunk that neither resisted. With the National Guard lready beaten, and lying on the plaza, the people revolted returns again to the Cathedral and the mass proceds. The people held little respect for the National Guard. The mass end, and they still there! Now sleeping instead of fainted...


OOC Tips:

*Administrador Municipal: A kind of administrative magistrate, nominated by the governament, to supervise a mayor. All portusgalian towns have one.

** Polícia Municipal: It is the local Police.

*** Tasca: Tavern

Royal Arsenal, Lisbon

The times are of chance, the 50ties come with a new Era. The August Catastrophe, brought chances in warfare and the military leaders back Lisbon know it. The Secretary of War has stated, a new rifle is needed, the old portusgalian Vergueiro Rifle is old, although a very nice bolt action, it is started to get outdated. A spy managed to sneak a M1 Garand out of [MENTION=5]Sylvania[/MENTION], for long the portusgalians observe this rifle. In the Arsenal, the engineers dismantled the composing parts of the rifle to view the "secret". All semi-auto rifles of Portusgalia have been a fiasco, jamming problems, to elaborate systems that make the construction expensive... This one was one of the kind, the main Engineer eyes glow. One thing they dislike at the very first beginning, the the inability to unload the gun at any moment and change the charger at any moment. So, based on other portusgalian projects, they added a charger instead of a clip. After 20 trials, they finnaly got the model. The T20 rifle, an evolution of the Sylvanian Garand. The Secretary of War, D. João Mendonça, was called to the Arsenal..

D. João de Mendonça: Ok Karl! This better be good! I hope it isn't another boganish mambojambo of yours!

Engineer Karl Von Rupert: No sir, believe in me, this one is the last model! Test it!



D. João de Mendonça went to the firing chamber, and started to inspect the weapon... He fired the weapon til the mid of the magazine, then toke it out...

D. João de Mendonça: Hmmmm Nice job Karl, finnaly this isn't one of those stupid Garands that the Intencia da Policia brought to me, what a looser weapon, now this is a world classe weapon! Have you chambered it for the regular 7,92 Mauser!?!??!?!

Eng Karl: Of course!!!!

D. João de Mendonça: My old friend, you got your self a deal! Congratulations your T20 Rifle is aproved by me, I believe the Sovereign Congress will do the same. What do you say Corte Real?

Marshal Corte Real: Well it looks like a commun rifle, it will not confuse the soldiers.

D. João de Mendonça: I will sent you a M1 Carbine so you may study it. I wont you to make something new! An assault rifle, do you know what that is?

Eng Karl: A automatic rifle that fires low charge ammo... I know what you wont, the M1 Carbine is fine for the job, except for the damn cartrige.

D. João de Mendonça: Design a new one... 7,92!

Eng Karl: Again!?!?!?!

D. João de Mendonça: Do as I say!!!

After 26 years past, many still haunted by the Civil War ghosts. One of them is Corte Real, who is sincerely a good man. The bloodshed, the horrors, the privations, a whole generation sacrificed. The 20ties where difficult times, times of uncertainty, Republicans, Anarchists, Monarchists and then the secession between monarchists. The 20ties seem a distant Era but still lives in many minds. Corte Real is almost 60 years old, he is starting to get "old mans" conscience problems... Standing in front of his fireplace in Vila do Conde, nearby Porto, he thinks with is old comrad from the war, Major Augusto Lima, "the long standing soldier". Two heroes of the New September Revolution, two old men speaking of the past...

Major Augusto Lima: I hope, my dear friend, that the siege of Porto wasn't in vain...

Marshal Corte Real: I hope so too... Many died to live this days, and many would be disapointed. Portusgalia stills the same, after 26 years. Red Neck, Medieval, Hick... Retrograde living in the Middle Ages for its own will and consent. At least I'm happy, I feel that we have liberated the overseas from this world.

Major Augusto Lima: Corte Real... There are two worlds, and there will always be, all reforms here failled, and are still a faillure! The Phantom of Integralism still lives, this week in Beira a small riot on Viseu, the National Guard was beaten by peasants.

The old man begins to babble, angry to hear that name...

Marshal Augusto Corte Real: Those... Those fools! Argh! The anger.... They were supposed to be the pride of the nation!The true citizen armed to the service of the Fatherland! No... Instead they are a bunch of phonies playing soldiers! Drunkards and Play Boys using the uniform so may the girls smile at them. I hate the hour that I have given orders to create this monster. Now it is impossible to give a proper extintion to it... At least the ones in the colonies have more discipline.

Major Augusto Lima: At least, the ones from the Porto Uprising where the finest ones I ever known...

Marshal Augusto Corte Real: The only ones with dignity to call their selves members of the National Guard, those o died in the siege...

Major Augusto Lima: Augusto... Listen why don't we speak about our grandchildren? This thing, it is a wound on the soul that will hurt till I deliver my soul to the Creator...

Marshal Augusto Corte Real: Nice point old friend, lets taste my new wine! Its fine, its from my new vine yard!

Major Augusto Lima: Lets go, at least this sacred nectar makes us forget about many thing...

Marshal Corte Real: Sure lad...

The old men drink till they fall asleep. This is their way to forgot the ghosts...

Meanwhile in the imperial palace at Zessionsford, men can be heard having a secretive conversation;

Emperor Demetrius XIV: So I heard news of some trouble in Portusglaia, caused by some monarchy supporters... I think the time has come, wouldn't you agree?
Portusgalian Heir D. Duero: Of course, how are our preparations going Marshal?
Imperial Field Marshall Alexander Von Plastr: We have already begun sending weapons and equipment to pro-monarchy forces in Portusgalia and we will be ready to invade by the 16th of January you majesty.
Emperor Demetrius XIV: Good, good then get ready gentlemen, for we have a war coming and our enemy won't even expect it!
Multiple Voices: To the King! *glasses cluck*
*D. Duero exits the room*
Prime Minister Lord Anthony XVII: Now with him on the throne we'll expand our influence to mainland Europe. If only he knew...

Valkanian secret services have secretly sent specialists to train and organize guerrilla troops. At the same time a bomb has been placed at the National Party's HQ in Lisbon. Valkanian friendly preachers inciting revolt at Trás-Os-Montes and Beira Alta have also been reported. Valkanian agents have also approached Marquis of Ávila to express their support for his cause and deliver a message to him from Pretender-King Duero II in which he appoints him as head of the Royal Restoration Army and head of its Political Branch the Royal Restoration Front of Portusgalia. Meanwhile in Dimitrisburg the entirety of the Holy Alliance has officially announced her support for D. Duero's claim to the throne of Portusgalia after a unanimous vote.

The propaganda pappers that where dropped over Portusgalia main land, have several reactions. In Porto and Lisbon nobody cares, some people tore the papers and the must Neo-Septembrist fanatics in Porto even made a large fire and burned them screaming "KILL THE TYRANT!". The National Guard of Porto was the main promotor of this general burn.

In Trás-os-Montes and Beira Alta people regarded this as a message started getting agitated. General orders from the Governament to the Prefects stated them to order the "Administradores Municipais" to put the National Guard in red alert, and the "Polícia Municipal" in the streets in order to sustain and/or arrest any rioteers. The "Guarda Real" is also in great alert by direct orders from the Secretary of the Kingdom. In Lisbon the Council of State has a meeting with the Queen, meetings of this kind are rare, and are and are utter conflict or war, whether internal or external...

Queen D. Constança I: Counselors, Valkany is pressing their "friends" from the Holy Alliance in order to make D. Duarte King of Portusgalia. This is a very delicate situation... I need to hear your opinion since you are the wisest among the wise of the nation, and where nominated for that...

Professor Oliveira e Castro: Your Must Serene Masjesty, I shall give advise to you now. Me and my Council pairs have stated, you must not cut diplomatic relations with Valkany! Let our embassador stay there, we must solve this with pacience! The international community won't let them attack us. Your Highness should make a public statement to the nation, and send a statement, through our ambassador to the Emperor Dimitri!

Queen D. Constança I: Ok, I will take that in consideration... Has for the internal affairs?

Major Augusto Lima: Your Must Serene Majesty i suggest though love! Don't act until they riot...

Queen D. Constança: Major you are saying that there will be riots?

Major Augusto Lima: Yes, we all know that... The main difference will be, will they beat national guards or they will shoot them, thats the point for now.

Queen D. Constança: Slaughter is very serious...

Major Augusto Lima: For that reason I suggest though love. They shot we shot like in the old days. Unfortunately, this narrow-minded people here only understands the language of weapons in this situations. They will start yelling at something, for example see here in this propaganda paper from Valkany, "the governament explores you! The taxes are unfair!". It is always about taxes the motto... The problem isn't the taxes, if they where charged by the Integralists it was for the cause! Since it is us on power, we are blood sucking vampires... Easy.

Queen D. Constança: Some Riot by now?

D. Sebastião de Castro: No my Queen... Just a few slap scenes when autorities collected the propaganda papers...

Queen D. Constança: This meeting is ended, i shall take action upon your decisions. Thank you councellors...

The ambassador of Aptoglia has requested an audience with the queen of Portusgalia.

Aptoglian Ambassador: Hello your majesty, I believe we have a common enemy, Valkany. Until now Valkany has constantly created problems for the Aptoglian people, blockading our major port cities, placing an embargo on us and convincing all her friends in the Holy Alliance to stand against us. While you have been offered observer state membership Valkany's allies in the HA would never change sides. What do you think we should do about Valkany?

Portusgalia said:

Queen D. Constança I: I may say so that I don't like that league of evil. I may have my observer there, but he always bring bad news to me and I'm concern about, as other countries, with their imperial desire to control the World.

In my opinion we should show this case to the world, why don't you recall on other nations also?

Click to expand...

Aptoglian Ambassador: With all due respect Your Majesty not many share our views and they're far too small and weak to make any difference. Especially after Valkany requested an audience with Your Majesty and made a formal apology everyone suddenly thinks they've returned to the 1600's when neutrality was their specialty. It's a check mate move if you ask me. If Your Majesty says no everyone will call you the warmonger while if Your Majesty says yes their diplomatic approach will work and they'll come out as a peacemaker. And armed conflict is not an option as Europe's strong will intervene on their side. Does Your Majesty have any ideas on what we should do?

The embassador didn't know exactly the Queen, a bitter old women and a sneaky fox who was all is life a big landowner in Mozambia. She knows more from negotiations rather them ruling...

Queen D. Constança I: Warmonger me? I'm just an old lady, I'm almost a Queen Mother by my age! *smiles*

I just stand on my corner of the world in this... If Emperor Demetrius want so much to meet this "Terrible Steel Lady", just come and sit, and lets have a tea, as I'm doing right now with your excelency, and I'm enjoying very much your company. It's always good to contact with foreign people, it is sad to be forced to live in a red neck country...

Portusgalia said:

The embassador didn't know exactly the Queen, a bitter old women and a sneaky fox who was all is life a big landowner in Mozambia. She knows more from negotiations rather them ruling...

Queen D. Constança I: Warmonger me? I'm just an old lady, I'm almost a Queen Mother by my age! *smiles*

I just stand on my corner of the world in this... If Emperor Demetrius want so much to meet this "Terrible Steel Lady", just come and sit, and lets have a tea, as I'm doing right now with your excelency, and I'm enjoying very much your company. It's always good to contact with foreign people, it is sad to be forced to live in a red neck country...

Click to expand...

Ambassador: On that we can agree!

Portusgalia said:

Queen D. Constança I: So your excelency tell me about your country, it seems to have an interesting History...

Click to expand...

Aptoglian Ambassador: Not really. We were established by Greek colonists from Messinia almost 200 years after Greek settlers from Arcadia established Valkany. At first we got along, something rare since Arcadians and Messinians always fight but then those damn Doric-Arcadian Valkanians had to ruin it all! After we created a settlement on what is now Valkany's West Coast they considered it an invasion, allied with Vegon and attacked us! They kicked us out of mainland Scania and forced us back to Gamadia! Since then Aptoglia has fought Valkany and Vegon for more than seven centuries, with periods of peace of course. because of Valkany's militaristic nature we lost most of our wars with them. However in 1812 we pushed all the way to Zessionsford along with our allies and had a combined army of 600,000 men. Valkany only had 400,000 even with her massive population and militarist measures but when Vegon, Adamia and Warsava joined the war on her side they reached 800,000 men. Our army got slaughtered at Zessionsford and we got pushed back to the shoreline of the Valkanian Archipelago. We lost our hold of the land we had captured in the 400 previous years and where pushed back to mainland Aptoglia. The Valkanians under Demetrius X the great, or as we call him Dmitri the Butcher burned our capital, New Kalamis, to the ground. We then continued on a path of decline up to this day. And when we thought we were going to regain our strength the Valkanians and their friends at the HA blockaded our ports and occupied our southern provinces! Our entire history is a great war between us and them! Sorry, eh I got a little carried away.... Anyway I have to leave now but I hope we meet again soon Your Majesty. Enjoy your evening!

Queen D. Constança I: Thank you Your Excelency for this wonderful time, i will think in something for your country so it may help you with the Valkanians.

The Queen was about to meet Lord Johann Odessof.

The Portusgalians use the Regiment has tactical unit, rather than the Battalion. The only exception, is the Cazadores, that are in fact a light unit, and the Regiment only comes has an administrative issue, because each Battalion is independent.
The partisans, organizing the Royalist Army, even if it is more a prototype rather then fully functional, they will use the Battalion has the tactical unit.


João Fortusinho served in the Royalist Army, in the Royalist Volunteers, and all this volunteers worked in a Batallion mode, since they where equivalent to Cazadores. He only knows that system. He divides the Valkanians in several 250 men Battalions. He asks Viktor Vokranof to join him in command, with one point, when Ávila returns, they must give the command to Ávila, they are only interine commanders.

They meet in a abandoned shack in the middle of Serra da Estrela:

João Fortusinho: Finnaly we met Mr Viktor Vokranof, what was your rank on the army, and what expierience of war do you have? I have to know... We have to be fast wile the snow is slowing down the National Guard Patrols!

Portusgalia said:

The Portusgalians use the Regiment has tactical unit, rather than the Battalion. The only exception, is the Cazadores, that are in fact a light unit, and the Regiment only comes has an administrative issue, because each Battalion is independent.
The partisans, organizing the Royalist Army, even if it is more a prototype rather then fully functional, they will use the Battalion has the tactical unit.


João Fortusinho served in the Royalist Army, in the Royalist Volunteers, and all this volunteers worked in a Batallion mode, since they where equivalent to Cazadores. He only knows that system. He divides the Valkanians in several 250 men Battalions. He asks Viktor Vokranof to join him in command, with one point, when Ávila returns, they must give the command to Ávila, they are only interine commanders.

They meet in a abandoned shack in the middle of Serra da Estrela:

João Fortusinho: Finnaly we met Mr Viktor Vokranof, what was your rank on the army, and what expierience of war do you have? I have to know... We have to be fast wile the snow is slowing down the National Guard Patrols!

Click to expand...

Viktro Vokranof: I was a major in the XII Regiment of the Imperial Valkanian Army's Elite Northern Guard in Vostok. I fought in the January and December Revolts, the rise of Warsava, the Volgdovan wars, the 14th Valkanian-Aptoglian war and even both the Great Wars. And dont worry snow is like a home to me, or to any North Valkanian for that matter.