The cranes here in Novara are eerily silent as building crews have abandoned their construction sites amidst confusion over international jurisdiction of the country.

On July 16, the beleaguered Lady of Novara abdicated to Herwanese officials on a state visit after suffering from years of failing physical and mental health. Immediately, Herwan plotted Novara on a course of economic revival through the construction of multinational corporations and incorporation into the thriving Pacific Exchange (PXE).

The announcement stunned the world since it is widely known that Novara serves as a cruical focal point in the links of the Old World. Novara is only one of two remaining members of the Hanseatic League (SPQH).

Although now a modern anachronism, the Denisians and Novarans still share many internal Hanesatic links that their forebearers had designed to strengthen their League against external threats and to promote their proditist ideology.

It is on these links that the Amrylin of Denisia made her claim to Novara on July 24. Having contacted the now deposed Lady, the Amrylin received permission to take control of Novara and form the first Denisian protectorate on July 25.

However the Lady had already abdicated to Herwan nine days earlier. The competing Denisian claim immediately received support from the Ethnarch who demanded that Novara be ceded to Rattanjeetland (he later toned down his claim to the superbase which Rattanjeetland funded long ago). Denisia also received tepid support from Marcusburg which also shares a military facility with Novara.

Nevertheless, Congressional Parliament refused to acknowledge the Denisian claim and cautiously rebuffed the Herwanese claim, leaving Novara in limbo.

The question rests in whether the Novaran claim to Herwan on July 16th was legal. In other words, the question becomes if Novara was able to radically change its internal affairs without Denisian permission.

Repeatedly the Secretary-General has requested that a copy of the Hanseatic Constitution be provided for public examination to resolve the Novaran Question.

But because the Constitution was drafted by the former nation of Jared, it is reportedly lost due to that nation's partitioning by Denisia and Rattanjeetland following the Jaredian abdication.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, the Herwanese convinced Congressional Parliament to impose a deadline of September 1st for the Amrylin and her government to provide the Constitution. Otherwise, the Denisian claim will not be recognized and Novara will come under Herwanese jurisdiction.

So while the cranes are silent and the power flickers in Novara, the fate of these people rests in the hands of their counterparts in Denisia - for the ball's now in the Amrylin's court.