January 5th, 1900

After months of deliberation and meticulous vetting by the princes’ council of appointees known as the Duma, the assembly had elected a diplomat to oversee the relations for the neighboring Volanth Empire as the last man, Prince Nikolai Golitsyn, had retired from that position. The declaration had appointed the military commander Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel to the post, and a letter was drafted to each princedom as well as to the Empire itself. The contents of the Empire-bound letter read as follows.

"To our most gracious and benevolent neighbor,

	The Princely State of Mehrsaba has appointed Baron Pytor Wrangel of the Neva Governate as our dedicated diplomat for all affairs regarding our two nations. In a few days from now, he shall land in the capital port of the province of Varn, the heart of the Imperial-Princely sea trade. His decisions wield the blessing of the twelve princes of Mehrsaba and we trust your guidance, along with our co-operation and resources, shall usher in a new era of prosperity for us all. 

With utmost respect,

The Duma of Mehrsaba"

						[img]http://i.imgur.com/zgV5Yws.jpg[/img]
						[i]Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel[/i]
	
However, the true nature of this appointment was more spiteful than it seemed. The baron himself was no stranger to positions of power. Just before this, he was the commander of Neva’s provincial army known as the Black Army and led his troops on horseback at the frontline to squash a peasant uprising a few years ago. Rumors of his battlefield skill led to rumors of unchecked ambition, and this new diplomatic appointment to a far-away, foreign country was the answer those that feared Wrangel had come up with. Indeed, even the prince of Neva had thought that Wrangel would subvert the rule in his own principality. This was not lost on the Baron himself but he could not protest such an appointment without insulting not only his princes but also the neighboring Volanth Empire. 

As soon as the news broke, Baron Wrangel was immediately sent on the war galleon TPMS [i]Kovno[/i] escorted by 15 other cruisers headed to Varn. Those nearby when the ships sailed swore that they heard expletives as the ship left port but these rumors could not be confirmed.