[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]Autumn of 1801[/h2][/center]

[img]https://i.ibb.co/JttwKW7/Country-Labelled.png[/img]

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

Undisturbed by the raging dissent still rife just across the water in [b][color=2e3192]The Kingdom of Aontas[/color][/b] colony of Suveren, the Western Territories of [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] continues to go from strength to strength. A colonist group embarks for the land to the west of the already established colony of Toubrian Budel. Unsurprisingly, due to the close bonds that Toubres already shares with the areas natives, the settling is pain-free, and the colony of Toubrian Lamao is formed. This only serves to further inflame the fires of rebellion in Suveren, as the natives continue to see their cultural brethren flourishing under Toubrian rule, rather than Aontas 'oppression'. 

[b][i][u]5th of August[/u][/i][/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]The Hastel Dominions[/b][/color] clearly does not want to be forgotten. All along the nation's border with [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b], the army groups of the Dominions begin military exercises. The military exercises are foreboding, as the soldiers are drilled in invasion tactics, attempting to raise the armies morale, and prepare for apparently inevitable action. News unsurprisingly reaches the Kingdom of Vendsyssel, and it is not received well. Much of the Kingdom's forces are to the east, engaged in the war against [b]The Kingdom of Claidor[/b] and [b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b]. They are poorly prepared for a war to the west, let alone a war on two fronts. And yet there are murmurings starting to reach across Europe, rumours that what many thought was an illicit agreement between Vendsyssel and [b]The Kingdom of Ilastiri[/b] was in fact simply the strengthening of an alliance, and that it was an alliance of three, not simply of two. 

[b][i][u]9th of August[/u][/i][/b]

For now at least, the seemingly relentless march of the combined army of [b]The Kingdom of Vendsyssel[/b] and [b]The Kingdom of Ilastiri[/b] grinds to a halt. With [b]The Empire of Rubrus[/b] finally having roused itself, the overwhelming advantage that the invaders possessed is slipping. Instead of pushing on, they dig in, deploying garrisons in the cities they have captured, and beginning the process of bringing the people into the fold. Both nations have gained a vital province, and the clearly intend to not lose it. 

[b][i][u]14th of August[/u][/i][/b]

Again, [color=9e0b0f][b]The Hastel Dominions[/b][/color] seems to prepare itself for war. Increasing their military spending, the army looks to ensure that all of it's forces are well-supplied for what may well be a long and drawn out war. However, as is often the case, the money allocated is never quite enough, and bureaucracy, as always, stands in the way. New ammunition and provisions are created, and some units are equipped, but it is ultimately a drop in the ocean, as the bulk of the army remains not re-supplied. 

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

A ship embarks from [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color]. A Frigate, built for speed, and a dwarf next to the formidable Ships of the Line that the Toubres fleet commands, it sails south. Cutting through the strait and entering the Mediterranean. From there, the Frigate is lost for some time, but rumours echo back to the European powers. Echoes of a ship sailing into a port of [b]The Republic of Oflua[/b], and of a party setting out with guides hired to lead them to the Holy City of Akteme. Other rumours follow, but they vary drastically between the absurd and mundane. Very few know what truly transpired in the Holy City. 

[b][i][u]19th of August[/u][/i][/b]

Still preparing for a war with [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b], in [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b], great strides are taken to prepare the economy for the inevitable drain that war will become. The intent is to motivate those who traditionally don't work to contribute to the war effort, chiefly the elderly, children, and women. This is no insignificant feat, and is met with mixed reactions. Those that have had the fires of patriotism lit by the nationalistic rhetoric being used in the last months are quick to join up and do their part, but the effort is ultimately crippled by the fact that war has not yet broken out. Not only that, but with the summit doing what it can to stave off war, many see that as a waste of time, expecting the soldiers to return to work in the coming months. 

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

Seizing on the opportunity, the colonising thirst of [b]The Echyan Empire[/b] seemingly satisfied, [color=f26522][b]The Republic of Toubres[/b][/color] sends colonists south from the colony of Toubrian Rintes, settling the land that they dub Toubrian Coviria. Not only does this effectively cur off the Echyan's southern expansion, it also provides Toubres with crucial ports on the eastern coast of the great continent. The colonial holdings of the Republic are vast, stretching to every corner of the explored earth, and almost comically outmatching any other nation. As well as bringing in huge amounts of wealth, the colonies also provide the Republic with a friendly harbour , no matter where they sail. As the most pessimistic Europeans begin to speculate that the next great war will be a global one, Toubres finds itself a global power. 

[b][i][u]25th of August[/u][/i][/b]

[b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] fleet, still pursued by a formidable fleet of [b]The Shuren Dynasty[/b], continue their flight to the north, attacking ports and merchant ships as they go, attempting to cripple the naval capabilities of the Dynasty. Yet every-time they hesitate, the hounding fleet of the Dynasty draws closer, and it does not take a brilliant strategist that eventually, the Attolian fleet is going to run out of north to run to. 

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

Keen to suppress their own rebellion, before it escalates to the chaos of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] province of Belgae, [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] begins promoting patriotism all across it's territories. While this proves to be unsurprisingly popular across most of the Kingdom, in the province of Obertal, it does not silent the murmuring of dissent. Something is fanning the flames, something that has taken root in the province, and refuses to be flushed out. 

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

As Majdi al-Selim continues to silently watch Europe squabble internally, at least one nation seems dedicated to being proactive. Attempting to use their connections with the Hijeen people, through their colonies, [b][color=007236]The Three City's Republic of Ianian[/color][/b] strives to seek an audience with the almost mythical man himself. Dark deals are done in the shadows, but somehow, the message appears to reach al-Selim. The Ianian representatives are told to wait, that their request for audience has been heard, and that it will be answered in time. 

[b][i][u]30th of August[/u][/i][/b]

In their capital province of Altubren, [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] begins preparing for a major infrastructure project. The province is in stark contrast with it's neighbour to the west, the province of Belgae. By now, Belgae is effectively under martial law, the Sentinels of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] forced to fight desperate battles against a rebellious population that is armed and motivated, and showing no signs of backing down. 

[b][i][u]31st of August[/u][/i][/b]

In what may prove to be a decisive move in the Ubren-Attolian conflict, spies seized by the Sentinels of [b][color=00aeef]The Empire of Attolia[/color][/b] during the early days of dissent in the province of Belgae are transported to [b]The Holy Territories of Edoniras[/b]. The journey itself is thankfully uneventful, and the Pope himself takes custody of the prisoners, preparing them for the coming tribunal. It is only [b][color=708090]The Kingdom of Ubren[/color][/b] that voted against the tribunal, and now, many are beginning to whisper the same thing about what the tribunal will prove.