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[i][b][color=#019AED]TL;DR: We signed an NAP with Balder[/color][/b][/i][/align]
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[i]The sea creatures of the South
 Pacific didn't react well at first
to the delegation from Balder...[/i][/box][/floatright]

⠀
[b][size=150]inally![/b][/size] Cried the representative from Balder, gasping for air while several sailors held him up. "I thought the beast would never relinquish me."

The old sea Captain laughed, exposing the gaps between his front teeth. "That's just the grabbers!" he chuckled. "Don't worry none about it, son, they don't mean you no harm."

Standing up, Mr. Frederiksen wiped a barnacle from his pants and regained his composure, nearly slipping on the deck as he did so. "I do say, Captain Roavin, the fauna of the South Pacific made for me nearly as unpleasant a welcome as that which your beef stew gave me some nights ago. If you can even call it beef!"

"Tar, you old dog!" roared the Captain, saltwater dripping from his long beard. "You just wait until we get beneath the ground, young feller! No axe can save ye from the clutches of what lurks down there. Now say you like me cookin', or I'll toss ye right back to Ol Briney's embrace!"
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[i]Our friends of the snow were amazed by the many sights
 found below the seas of the South Pacific.[/i][/box][/floatleft]Frederiksen gulped. He couldn't decide what was worse: a suffocating end in a watery grave, or another night in the privy after dinner with Captain Roavin. He quickly resolved that though the stew may be unpleasant, the ocean is eternal, and he would rather find himself on the right side of the porthole when the time came to go submarining. Later that night, he scribbled wildly in his journal of all the sights and sounds of the South Pacific. The King of Balder would surely be stupefied by his recounting the many creatures of the depths which came to greet him that week.

[i]Your Royal Highness,[/i] he began his letter. [i]It has been a most wondrous few weeks aboard the Lady Meridiem. I have no doubt in my mind that my mission here will be fortuitous. I have become companion to the rollicking Captain Roavin and his crew of tarpaulins on a tour of the vast ocean these folk call home. Soon, I am told, we are to begin our voyage beneath the sea in a novel invention they call a sub-marine. We are then to make an expedition to the centre of the Earth, whereupon I will tunnel with these good people back to Balder for the planned festivities. The people of the South Pacific are warm and kind, with a fondness for drink and socialization. The same cannot be said, however, for the creatures of their waters...[/i][hr][color=#019AED][b]The South Pacific is happy to announce the ratification of the Pact of the Centre of the Earth with our friends in Balder.[/b][/color] The Pact was officially approved by the Legislature following the close of voting on the 24th of January, bringing into force a pact of non-aggression between our two regions. If one were to dig a hole roughly from Scandinavia through to the other side, they would emerge in the South Pacific -- thus, it is only fitting that we style our agreement in reference to this.

We are proud to have negotiated this pact with Balder, a historic sinker region with a vibrant culture. The Pact provides for mutual recognition between the Coalition and the Kingdom, prevention of hostile acts against each other, and the construction of embassies to further interregional ties. The vote was passed with an overwhelming majority of support by legislators.

The South Pacific would like to thank the government of Balder, particularly Kazaman and Fuzzy, for their cordiality during negotiations, and toast to the success of our two great regions. Today we herald a renewed era of good relations for Balder and the South Pacific, and invite any interested Balderans to visit our warms sands -- cocktails and beach chairs are on the house.