The winds of early winter sweep through the capital city of Arkanis, the heart of the nation of Eldorra. It’s January 2025, and history is being rewritten. Despite losing the popular vote for the third election running, a polarising figure—flanked by a tightly aligned party—has ascended once more to the highest office of the land. As the newly inaugurated leader finishes the oath of office with the words “so help me Vires” (a reference to the Eldorran deity of justice), a long-prepared agenda begins to unfold.

This is the opening move of what the architects of a shadowy political initiative, known only as The Playbook, have waited decades to unleash. A manifesto developed by the secretive Concord Foundation, The Playbook promises nothing short of a revolution. Presented as a “return to traditional governance,” its critics call it something far darker: a calculated shift towards authoritarian rule.

During the campaign, the newly elected leader had made an effort to appear distanced from The Playbook, dismissing it as mere “consultative ideas.” But now, with slim parliamentary control and a loyal cabinet, the true agenda begins to emerge.

Phase One – A Government Purge

Within hours of the inauguration, sweeping changes ripple through Eldorra’s institutions. Thousands of public servants, including environmental inspectors, social welfare coordinators, disaster response leaders, and anti-corruption investigators, are unceremoniously sacked. The “cleansing” is framed as necessary to streamline government, but those familiar with The Playbook know better.

Entire agencies are disbanded, and those retained are repopulated with political appointees hand-picked from the Concord Foundation’s network. Many have little to no relevant experience but an unwavering ideological commitment. The result? A government bent not on serving the people but on enforcing conformity.

Phase Two – The Clampdown

Soon after, new laws are rushed through parliament, granting sweeping powers to local law enforcement and military forces. Neighbourhoods in the northern states of Eldorra, home to immigrant communities and political opposition, are targeted for mass sweeps. Families are torn apart as detention centres are hastily constructed in abandoned military barracks. Under new policies, lawful residents are stripped of their protections and deported en masse.

Simultaneously, censorship laws come into effect. Media outlets critical of the government face sudden shutdowns, and independent journalists are arrested on charges of “spreading dissent.” Public broadcasters go dark, replaced by government-run channels spouting propaganda.

Phase Three – The Economic Pivot

The Eldorran economy takes a sharp turn as corporate taxes are slashed to historic lows. Public schools lose funding, and the government announces the closure of early childhood education programs, leaving parents to fend for themselves. Infrastructure projects are abandoned in favour of privatisation schemes, leading to widespread job losses. Social safety nets, including disability support and aged care programs, are eliminated overnight.

Labour unions, a cornerstone of Eldorran society for decades, are effectively outlawed. Without collective bargaining, wages plummet, and workers face increasingly exploitative conditions. Meanwhile, the wealthiest citizens enjoy unprecedented tax cuts, solidifying the gap between rich and poor.

A New Moral Order

Framed as a return to “traditional values,” the government imposes rigid cultural reforms. Reproductive rights are abolished, contraception is restricted, and women are pressured out of the workforce under a policy called the “Family First Initiative.” Access to books and art that challenge the dominant narrative is banned.

Even more chilling, the education system is overhauled to emphasise “moral discipline,” with new textbooks erasing histories of resistance and diversity. Schools are required to prioritise religious instruction, and non-believers are stigmatised.

Resistance and Hope

For the people of Eldorra, the future appears bleak. But amidst the darkness, resistance begins to take shape. Underground networks of educators, activists, and workers emerge, determined to rebuild what is being destroyed. They expose The Playbook for what it is—not a return to tradition, but an unprecedented power grab designed to entrench inequality and dismantle democracy.

These resisters understand that fear alone won’t motivate change. Simply warning of the dangers risks paralysing the public. Instead, they call for a vision of hope: the rebuilding of schools and hospitals, the protection of workers’ rights, and the creation of a fair and just society where all are valued.

In secret meeting halls and encrypted online spaces, the rallying cry grows louder: “Plunder thrives on despair; solidarity is its downfall.”

As Eldorra’s government tightens its grip, the seeds of rebellion take root.

This is a fictitious article that could become real in 2025, lets see how close this is by the end of 2025.