[center][b]THE AGE OF NATIONS[/b]
[b]January 18th, 1836[/b][/center]

[b]Jarelian Independence Movement[/b]

With a cry to the civilized powers of the world against the oppression of the Second Kingdom of Murelia, Heinrich von Luck found his allies fleeting. Supplies did come, several regiments worth of muskets arrived with several weeks worth of ammunition from an anonymous donor. The revolutionaries were equipped within days and Hans von Ludick's Blackcoats began getting picked off while on patrol. The Jarelian independence fighters, named [i]Suyas[/i] in the hectic Jarelian language, numbered only about 7,000 and were not well organized. News became commonplace however that they had been equipped and they were fighting back.

The king of Murelia, Hans von Ludick IV was not without friends, however. Supplies had arrived by the crate load to supply King Ludick's blackcoats. Equipped with rifles from a slew of Great Power factories, the blackcoats were sent in force to exterminate the Jarelians. Fighting intensified and those who could fled into the Kingdom's of Osteria, Skeptoni and Dalatrum.

[[b]Minor Support for the [i]Jarelian Independence Movement[/i] is beset by larger support for the [i]Second Kingdom of Murelia[/i][/b]]
[[b]The Jarelian Independence Movement has intensified[/b]]

[center]-------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[b]Grand Room, Capital of Neya, Kingdom of Thennia[/b]

The diplomat was well received. Long in the tooth but fresh of mind, King Jacques of the Lower House of Hannis was nearing his seventieth winter. He met the Nehalanian diplomat with a gracious service of fruits and wines. Halfway through his speech considering the positive aspects of unrestricted trade between the Thennian kingdom and Nehalanian, the King raised his hand and silenced the diplomat.

"Sign the blasted thing," the King huffed, dropping his hand. The diplomat, surprised but prepared, pulled the document free and received the king's signature. He was sent away to his chambers, to be sent home at the next rising of the sun back south into Nehalanian lands.

[quote][b]Treaty of Friendship Between Nehalenia and Thennia (1836)[/b]

1. Nehalenia guarantees the independence of Thennia. Any hostile move or invasion against the state of Thennia will give Nehalenia a casus belli against the aggressor. In case of war against Thennia, Nehalenian forces are allowed to cross the border into Thennia to support its defense.

2. Nehalenia and Thennia agree to unrestricted trade between the two countries.

Signed by:

[X] King George Therus III of Nehalenia
[X] King Jacques of Hannis of Thennia[/quote]

[center]-------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[b]Uncharted River, Western Sides, Amazonian Territory[/b]

The [i]RNN Valhal[/i] had settled a few hundred yards off the coast for three days now. The last Captain Karas had seen of the Royal Marine expedition was them disappearing into the thick vegetation. So long as they were the ones rumbling around in the forest, he didn't have a problem with it. When the sun set, he checked in with the First Mate and set about the guard for the night on deck, a dozen or so Royal Marines with musket and saber. As was the standard, when the guard was set, Captain Karas overlooked pertinent files on board and ate his dinner in his cabin. The ship rocked gently to and fro, but things were quiet.

Lost in time, Karas looked up at the closed door ahead of him and immediately heard the shot of a musket. Then another. Then a volley. He pulled himself from his chair and ripped the pistol from his side. He swung the door open and climbed the stairs onto the deck. It looked worse than it was. He stepped over a man still gibbering about on the ground and cradling a huge laceration just above his waist. Several bodies lay tossed around the deck, and those marines and sailors still standing were firing off into the water below. Karas found the First Mate and accosted him.

"They came from the darkness, sir!"

"Are you mad, First Mate?"

"Nay, sir! They scaled the ship! Broads with swords and knives and hulking eyes!"

Karas dismissed the First Mate and leaned off the side of the boat to get a good look for himself. Without the light of industry, the Western Sides as a whole was dark and unknown. The waves splashed below but Karas could see nothing. He holstered his pistol and the men around him, their rifles spent, lowered their weapons. Sleep wouldn't come easy tonight.

[[b]Amazonians raid the [i]RNN Valhal (Third Rate) and kill 7 Royal Marines and 22 Sailors[/i].[/b]]

[center]-------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[quote][b]Treaty of Alliance between the Duchy of Fulric and Skeptoni[/b]

1. The Kingdom of Skeptoni guarantees the independence of Fulric. Any hostile move or invasion against the Duchy of Fulric will give The Kingdom of Skeptoni a reason to join the war against the aggressor. Should the Duchy of Fulric be at war and under attack The Kingdom of Skeptoni may cross the border into Fulric and aid their defense.

2. Unrestricted trade between the two nations by sea or land.

Signed By:

[X] King Herald Skaneg
[X] Duke of Fulric, Duke Konrad Steinmann[/quote]

[center]-------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

A short time friend of the multicultural Dalatrum, King Quinn the Guard had earned his name by being defensive in both military and political spheres. He was a recluse, and often poured over documents for hours, analyzing for weakness. It was then of the worst luck that the Dalatrian diplomat that was received on January 21st, 1836 was not as confident as his contemporaries. King Quinn met him in the Meeting Hall of the Sinesian castle, a high walled manor along the southern coast of the Sinesian kingdom.

As per his instructions, the diplomat attempted to explain his reasoning for the United Kingdoms of Dalatrum to guarantee the perpetual independence of a Sinesia nation, but instead was beset on all sides by a crimson jacketed man who stood just off to King Quinn's side. A new adviser, the Dalatrian diplomat assumed. His every statement was questioned by the man however, and with every answer, King Quinn's mood soured. The diplomat did his best, but for reasons beyond his explanation found himself feeling stupid by the learned man's attacks.

Finally, he pulled the document from his back and had a servant hand it to King Quinn. With a spectacle eclipsing his eye, the monarch unrolled the document and looked it over. Moments later and the diplomat was being led by two riflemen to his room. He was allowed to stay the remainder of the night and was then sent on his way back to north to Dalatrum. When the diplomat returned to Dalatrum, he explained what happened, to no avail.

[[b]The [i]Kingdom of Sinesia[/i] denies the [i]Guarantee of Independence[/i] by Dalatrum and falls to [i]UNFRIENDLY[/i] status by the meddling of another, anonymous state[/b]]