[i]"If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud. Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, my friend, you would not tell with such high zest to children ardent for some desperate glory, the old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori." [/i] -Wilfred Owen

[center][h2]Spring of 1801[/h2][/center]

[img]https://image.ibb.co/hdzrZf/Country-Labelled.png[/img]

[u][i][b]1st of February[/b][/i][/u] 

In [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b], a sweeping bureaucratic project begins, a task-force assembled to crack down on government corruption and embezzlement across the Republic. It is an extreme and brutally effective strategy, rigorously rooting out the corrupt, from every position of authority. In what is a controversial, and shocking move, this task-force descends upon the leadership of the Old Freedom Coalition. In only a matter of days, several of the most prominent members of the coalition are seized, including a handful of the senators themselves. Their position and reputation in ruins, a simmering of discontent begin among the staunch supporters of the Old Freedom, believing these reforms to be specifically targeted to weaken the Coalition. 

[b][i][u]3rd of February[/u][/i][/b]

The army of [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b], unchallenged by [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b] and [color=0054a6][b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b][/color] forces, pushes further into the province of Animara. The city of Ziva is the first to bear the brunt of this invading force, and they are found wanting. Presumably over-buoyed by the success of their comrades at the Siege of Batko, the garrison sallies out to meet the oncoming army. The elite cavalry of Vendsyssel cut them to shreds, and the city falls. 

[b][i][u]7th of February[/u][/i][/b]

The Western Territories of Toubres continue to go from strength to strength. Their economy booming, and their people more than content, [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] sends orders to expand to the north. As instructed, a colonist party makes the short journey across the frozen lakes of the north, and begin creating the colony of Leviz. Having already traded with the natives for years, this is an easy, and untroubled, move, and only further strengthens Toubres' global influence.

[u][i][b]12th of February[/b][/i][/u] 

[b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b] does not rest on it's laurels. With it's brutal victory over [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b] during the short-lived Siege of Ziva, they are confident. Pressing on, unphased by the cold weather that still clings to the land, they march on the city of Brasna. Here at least, the garrison has learnt from the mistakes of their countrymen, and they remain behind the relative safety of the cities walls. But it will not save them for long, as the guns of Vendsyssel begin their relentless roar. 

[b][i][u]15th of February[/u][/i][/b]

As expected, Brasna falls. The walls were breached during the night, and the garrison fell away in the face of the ferocious advance from [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b] forces. Only the capital of the province, the city of Animara itself, still remains in [b]The Kingdom of CLaidor[/b] hands. But for how long?

[b][i][u]17th of February[/u][/i][/b]

Despite the failure of it's previous diplomatic mission, [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] sends another. This time, their target is better known to them, as they travel to [b]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/b], attempting to mend the fractured relationship between the two nations. As they make their journey, they move beneath the forts, build months past in preparation for a potential invasion from the Holy Territories, that line the border between the two nations. Time, as they say, heals all wounds, and the Pope welcomes them. An understanding between the two, that neither desires war to consume Europe, forms the beginnings of a bond, and the diplomats return to the republic, content with their work. 

[b][i][u]18th of February[/u][/i][/b]

Continuing it's seemingly relentless push into the territory of [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b], the army of [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b] reaches the outer defences of the city of Animara. The province capital is more heavily defended than either of the cities that have already fallen, and has a larger garrison, but they are cut off from support, and facing a formidable force. 

[b][i][u]21st of February[/u][/i][/b]

Perhaps concerned by [b][color=39b54a]The Echyan Empire[/color][/b] recently expanding their influence in the region, [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] strengthens it's own hold in the area, sending a colonial party south from Toubrian Bravas and settling the colony of Trienz. The race to populate the remaining habitable lands of the region appears to be coming to life. 

[b][i][u]23rd of February[/u][/i][/b]

Many had been watching the armies of [b]The Eternal Hadeen of Dashkatar[/b] that still held their foothold in Europe, hoping perhaps that the influence of Majdi al-Selim could lead to peace. For now at least, a certain stalemate has descended over the region. The forces of Dashkatar are not pushing on, but neither are they retreating. They are waiting, strong in number, and secure behind formidable defences, waiting for whatever the European powers decide to do. 

[b][i][u]24th of February[/u][/i][/b]

In a pivotal operation, conducted by the elusive 'Sentinels' of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], spies are unrooted throughout the province of Belgae. They will not, of course, reveal their instructions, or even their origin. Work begins to drag this information from their lips, although few know how long it will take to break them. 

[u][i][b]26th of February[/b][/i][/u]

[b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] calls a National Conference of inventors, offering an impressive prize to whichever inventor is able to create the design that most greatly improves production. The Conference is popular, and the greatest minds from all across the Republic gather, some even travelling from the far flung corners of the Republic's colonial empire. Time will tell what the Conference will produce. 

[b][i][u]28th of February[/u][/i][/b]

The province of Animara has fallen into the hands of [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b]. Although they fought doggedly, [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b] garrison was outnumbered, outmatched, and outmaneuvered. With no aid in sight, and as the walls began to crumble beneath the bombardment of the Vendsyssel guns, the garrison surrendered in droves. Those that didn't were cut down without mercy. With the last shred of resistance eradicated, the Kingdom of Vendsyssel controls the province, and with it, a route into the heartland of the Kingdom of Claidor.