[b]Spring of 2720[/b]

As the frosty chill retreats back from Alria, a deathly silent falls across the surviving nations. Soldiers stand ready to lay down their lives against foul creatures of the Darkness, but none come. The monsters do not appear to fall upon the defenders of freedom, instead a more sinister shadow infects the lands, creeping into the hearts of those who lead the survivors, tempting them to something that is evil, but powerful beyond measure. 

[b]New Engelica[/b] once more standing defiant against the Darkness, although they find themselves once more painfully futile in the face of creatures that even their magic cannot touch. Confronted by an enemy which adapts to their every move, countering defensive tactics almost before they can be drawn up, the Magi of New Engelica begin to grow restless, their immense power unable to be used. 

Also braced for the Darkness, [b]Tushienia[/b] too can only wait as the Shadow never comes. The well-tested defenses and fortifications are not used, the soldiers are not faced with hideous creatures, and the leaders of the nation must desperately plan as they seize the brief respite from the ferocious conflict. However even as they send help out to the west, the Republic of Outcasts begins to crumble under the Darkness. 

Having seized land from the Shadow just a handful of months before, the [b]Broken Empire[/b] had dug in to defend against the vengeful Darkness only to find no revenge coming, simply the choking black smoke that infects the very land the Shadow has touched. Still fighting a war on two front, in the north and to the east, the Dwarves and Orcs of the Empire must rally, and do what they can to best prepare for the Shadow's inevitable return.

As the Darkness encroaches upon their borders, the [b]Kingdom of Zakol[/b] too simply waits in disbelief as no Darkness comes, over land or over sea. The defenders of the nation can do nothing but prepare for the Shadow to return, as the leaders do what they can to plan for that inevitable return. 

The [b]Republic of Andinon[/b] faces silence as well, and they are perhaps most grateful for the respite, their armies hard-pressed for countless seasons, now given a chance to rest and perhaps prepare to push back against their greatest enemies. Whether they choose to hold their own lines, or to break rank and push against the Shadow, will be decided in the next couple of seasons. 

Once more bolstered by their allies, [b]Orngat[/b] is able to hold their own against the Darkness, although their navy suffers at the hands of creatures unlike any they have seen before. Desperate for new technologies, their engineers are pushed to their breaking points by their leaders. 

[img]http://orig15.deviantart.net/0d38/f/2016/068/e/b/map_by_romerorp-d9uhu55.png[/img]

[b][u]MAP KEY[/u][/b]
[hider]
[u][b]Provinces 1-24[/b][/u]
[hider]Province 1 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 2 - [b]Tushienia[/b][i](Bright_Ops)[/i]
Province 3 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 4 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 5 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 6 - [b]Republic of Andinon[/b][i](Eklipse)[/i]
Province 7 - [b]Tushienia[/b][i](Bright_Ops)[/i]
Province 8 - [b]Duringis[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 9 - [b]Duringis[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 10 - [b]Tushienia[/b][i](Bright_Ops)[/i]
Province 11 - [b]Tushienia[/b][i](Bright_Ops)[/i]
Province 12 - [b]Tushienia[/b][i](Bright_Ops)[/i]
Province 13 - [b]Republic of Andinon[/b][i](Eklipse)[/i]
Province 14 - [b]Republic of Andinon[/b][i](Eklipse)[/i]
Province 15 -  [b]Republic of Andinon[/b][i](Eklipse)[/i]
Province 16 - [b]Kingdom of Zakol[/b][i](BlackRose)[/i]
Province 17 - [b]Tushienia[/b][i](Bright_Ops)[/i]
Province 18 - [b]Kingdom of Zakol[/b][i](BlackRose)[/i]
Province 19 - [b]Republic of Andinon[/b][i](Eklipse)[/i]
Province 20 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 21 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 22 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 23 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 24 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color][/hider]

[b][u]Provinces 25-61[/u][/b]
[hider]Province 25 - [b]Kingdom of Zakol[/b][i](BlackRose)[/i]
Province 26 - [b]Iparis[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 27 - [b]Kingdom of Zakol[/b][i](BlackRose)[/i]
Province 28 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 29 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 30 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 31 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 32 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 33 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 34 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 35 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 36 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 37 - [b]Bripiak[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 38 - [b]Bripiak[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 39 - [b]Bripiak[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 40 - [b]Dolarti Tribe[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 41 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 42 - [b]Bripiak[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 43 - [b]Bripiak[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 44 - [b]Bripiak[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 45 - [b]Bripiak[/b][i](NPC)[/i]
Province 46 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 47 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 48 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 49 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 50 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 51 - [b]The Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i]
Province 52 - [b]New Engelica[/b][i](Legion02)[/i]
Province 53 - [b]New Engelica[/b][i](Legion02)[/i]
Province 54 - [b]Orngat[/b][i](PlatinumSkink)[/i]
Province 55 - [b]New Engelica[/b][i](Legion02)[/i]
Province 56 - [b]Orngat[/b][i](PlatinumSkink)[/i]
Province 57 - [b]Orngat[/b][i](PlatinumSkink)[/i]
Province 58 - [b]New Engelica[/b][i](Legion02)[/i]
Province 59 - [b]New Engelica[/b][i](Legion02)[/i]
Province 60 - [b]New Engelica[/b][i](Legion02)[/i]
Province 61 - [b]Broken Empire[/b][i](ForKhorne)[/i][/hider]

[b][u]Provinces 62-70[/u][/b]
[hider]Province 62 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 63 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 64 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 65 - [b]Pankra[/b][i](Mardox)[/i]
Province 66 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 67 - [color=red][b][i]Lost to the Darkness[/i][/b][/color]
Province 68 - [b]Republic of Outcasts[/b][i](Catchphrase)[/i]
Province 69 - [b]Republic of Outcasts[/b][i](Catchphrase)[/i]
Province 70 - [b]Republic of Outcasts[/b][i](Catchphrase)[/i][/hider][/hider]